@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

Global stock markets are currently navigating significant volatility, influenced by a confluence of economic and geopolitical factors. United States: Major indices such as the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite have experienced declines. Investor concerns are primarily centered around rising inflation, uncertainty regarding future interest rate cuts, and mixed corporate earnings reports. Additionally, recent policy decisions, notably the imposition of new tariffs by the Trump administration, have intensified fears of a broader trade war and its potential economic repercussions. For instance, on February 1, 2025, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on imports from China, aiming to address trade imbalances and national security concerns. Europe: European markets have not been immune to these developments. Benchmarks like the FTSE 100 have also slipped, driven by apprehensions over potential tariffs on key sectors, including pharmaceuticals and automotive industries. Earnings reports reflecting the challenging economic environment have further contributed to a cautious market sentiment. The European Union, with an average value-added tax (VAT) of 22%, is particularly impacted by the U.S. administration's strategy to impose tariffs equivalent to these VAT rates, aiming for trade fairness and reciprocity. Asia: Asian markets are reacting to the global trade tensions and the ripple effects of policy announcements from both the U.S. and Europe. The Hang Seng Index, for example, has experienced fluctuations influenced by these external pressures. The interconnectedness of global trade means that policy shifts in Western economies have direct and immediate impacts on Asian markets, leading to increased volatility. Overall, the current landscape is characterized by uncertainty surrounding economic growth, geopolitical tensions, and evolving trade policies. This environment keeps investors on edge worldwide, fostering a cautious and often volatile trading atmosphere. Market participants are advised to stay informed and consider diversification strategies to navigate these turbulent times.

@ 4857600b:30b502f4

A new talking point of the left is that it’s no big deal, just simple recording errors for the 20 million people aged 100-360. 🤷‍♀️ And not many of them are collecting benefits anyway. 👌 First of all, the investigation & analysis are in the early stages. How can they possibly know how deep the fraud goes, especially when their leaders are doing everything they can to obstruct any real examination? Second, sure, no worries about only a small number collecting benefits. That’s the ONLY thing social security numbers are used for. 🙄

@ 3eba5ef4:751f23ae

*🍨 Your weekly byte of the latest updates from the Bitcoin ecosystem! * ## Crypto Insights ### Exploring the Orphan Block Overflow Issue in the Bitcoin Network Developer 0xB10C [analyzes](https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/stats-on-orphanage-overflows/1421/) the phenomenon of orphan blocks in the Bitcoin network, particularly the "Orphanage Overflow" issue—whether the orphan block generation rate is abnormal or exceeds expectations. Key points include: **Orphan Block Statistics** * Over the past 10 years, Bitcoin's orphan block rate has remained low, with occasional short-term spikes. * Between February 10 and February 12, 2024, the number of orphan blocks significantly increased to five, exceeding normal levels. **Possible Causes** * **Block Propagation Delays**: If miners fail to receive the latest block promptly, competition may lead to orphan blocks. * **Mining Pool Hashrate Competition**: Some mining pools may experience hashrate fluctuations in a short period, resulting in more orphan blocks. * **Network Layer Anomalies**: If there are issues in Bitcoin's network layer, block propagation efficiency may be affected, increasing the orphan block rate. The conclusion suggests that this orphan block overflow event has not severely impacted the normal operation of the Bitcoin network. However, a persistently high orphan block rate may indicate that network propagation or mining pool strategies need optimization. ### New BIP Proposal: Mandatory Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol (QRAMP) Agustin Cruz has proposed the [Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol](https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/8PM6iZCeDMc) (QRAMP) as a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP). The goal is to enforce a mandatory migration period for Bitcoin users from traditional ECDSA addresses to quantum-resistant addresses to mitigate the risk of future quantum attacks. The proposal outlines: * **Reducing Vulnerabilities:** Transitioning funds to quantum-resistant schemes preemptively to eliminate the risk posed by quantum attacks on exposed public keys. * **Enforcing Timelines:** A hard migration deadline that forces timely action, rather than relying on a gradual, voluntary migration that might leave many users at risk. * **Balancing Risks:** Weighing the non-trivial risk of funds being permanently locked against the potential catastrophic impact of a quantum attack on Bitcoin’s security. ### How the Decentralized Bitcoin Price Estimator UTXOracle Works The decentralized Bitcoin price estimator UTXOracle operates on the same machine as a Bitcoin node, connecting only to the user's node without external sources. Its price estimation accuracy can match exchange prices. The chart below illustrates UTXOracle's BTC-USD price estimates from 2021 to 2025 compared to Yahoo Finance.  Watch these videos to learn more about UTXOracle: * [Conceptual Understanding of UTXOracle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciJo7DH41FI) * [UTXOracle Under the Hood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tMmAQ5qxfY) ### Bitcoin Payments Report: Bitcoin Shifting from Store of Value to Medium of Exchange A report by Breez and 1A1z, [*Bitcoin Payments: From Digital Gold to Everyday Currency*](https://breez.technology/report/), shows that the Lightning Network now covers 650 million users. Unlike traditional payment networks, Bitcoin payment growth has been largely organic, with exchanges like OKX and Coinbase integrating Lightning based on real demand. The report argues that Bitcoin is evolving from a store of value to a medium of exchange, laying the foundation for an internet-native economy. ### Bitcoin CoreDev Report: 2024-2025 Development Data Adam Jonas has compiled a [report](https://adamjonas.com/bitcoin/coredev/retro/coredev-2024-retro/) on Bitcoin CoreDev activity in 2024-2025, including: **2024 PR Submissions and Merges** * 1,622 PRs submitted in 2024 (compared to 1,553 in 2023), with 1,125 merged (compared to 1,093 in 2023). * 170 first-time contributors (up from 159 in 2023), with a total of 256 contributors. **2024 Key Technical Upgrades** * CMake migration advances, Security disclosures, Package relay progress, Cluster mempool development, Multiprocess development, BIP324 enabled by default, Silent Payments implementation **2024 Disappointments** * Lack of reviewers, Testing infrastructure challenges, Process/workflow issues, Build system complexity **2025 Priorities** * Cluster mempool completion and deployment , Enhanced wallet functionality, Testing infrastructure improvements ### Foundry and Rootstock Merge Mining: Impact on Bitcoin's Ecosystem Foundry, the world's largest Bitcoin mining pool, has [announced](https://x.com/rootstock_io/status/1887503042175447066) support for merge mining Rootstock (RSK). Foundry will contribute 200 exahashes per second, bringing Rootstock's total hashrate to 740 EH/s, accounting for 71.7% of Bitcoin's network hashrate. This merge mining initiative has several implications: * **Enhancing Bitcoin’s Functionality**: Rootstock supports smart contracts and is EVM-compatible, enabling altcoin chains to migrate to Rootstock while benefiting from Bitcoin’s security and liquidity. * **Sustainable Mining Revenue**: As Bitcoin block rewards decrease due to halvings, merge mining provides miners with a long-term profitability path while reinforcing Bitcoin network security. Find more details [here](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/articles/foundry-merge-mining-rootstock/). ### Podcast | Crash Course on Bitcoin’s Political Economy: *End the Fed: Hoard Bitcoins* The [Reorg](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/podcasts/the-reorg/) Podcast is newly launched by [Satoshi Nakamoto Institute (SNI)](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/) that explores Bitcoin-related archives, explaining historical context and analyzing their contemporary relevance. The [first episode](https://youtu.be/3QTia-cVglw?si=E7SvYOJNNfCA38_f) focuses on the political economy article [*End the Fed: Hoard Bitcoins*](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/end-the-fed-hoard-bitcoins/), which argues why Bitcoin will surpass fiat currencies and precious metals to become the world's reserve currency. This episode is also the first in SNI's *Mempool Crash Course in Bitcoin Political Economy*. Course outline is available [here](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/crash-course/). ### How MuSig2 Powers Lightning Liquidity via Loop [This article](https://lightning.engineering/posts/2025-02-13-loop-musig2/) explains how MuSig2, a protocol for aggregating public keys for the Schnorr digital signature algorithm, enhances Lightning Loop—a non-custodial submarine swap service between on-chain bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Submarine swaps enable users to swap on-chain Bitcoin for off-chain Lightning Network Bitcoin (and vice versa) using HTLCs (Hashed Time-Locked Contracts) to ensure atomicity and eliminate counterparty risk. ### Progress and Architecture of Dual-Funded Channels in Lightning Development Kit Dual-funded channels allow both parties to contribute funds, improving capital flexibility compared to traditional single-funded channels. While dual-funded channels have been implemented in Eclair and Core Lightning, they are still being integrated into the Lightning Development Kit (LDK). [This article](https://blog.btrust.tech/a-look-at-ldks-dual-funded-channels-implementation-2/) explores LDK's dual-funding architecture, the challenges involved (e.g., lack of interactive RBF support), and ongoing development. ### Evolution of Nervape: Blending the Virtual and the Physical [The article](https://medium.com/@ines_27821/%E8%99%9A%E5%AE%9E%E5%85%B1%E7%94%9F%E7%9A%84-nervape-%E6%BD%AE%E7%8E%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%8C%96%E8%AE%BA-a5146e7bef71) highlights the key features of Nervape, a digital object project in the [Nervos Network](https://nervos.org/): * **Building Cross-Chain Digital LEGO**: Enables users to seamlessly move and combine digital assets across different chains like BTC and CKB. * **Expanding the Imagination of NFTs**: NFTs are more than just art or collectibles—they serve as tools for creative expression and identity construction. * **Merging Designer Toys with Digital Innovation**: Extends users' creative possibilities into the physical world. ## Top Reads on Blockchain and Beyond ### Bitcoin Fork Guide: Consensus Before Consensus This [guide](https://ajtowns.github.io/bfg/) promotes the idea of **consensus before consensus**, emphasizing the need to build broad social consensus before implementing consensus rule changes in code. The process consists of four key phases:  Once social consensus is established across these phases, deploying a consensus rule change becomes a natural next step. ### Political Memecoins: Reshaping Public Opinion and Election Dynamics Arthur Hayes humorously refers to political memecoins as [Zero Knowledge Proof](https://cryptohayes.medium.com/zero-knowledge-proof-75956024e4af). Compared to traditional polling and campaign financing methods, political memecoins offer several advantages: * **A More Accurate Measure of Public Sentiment**: Market trading of political memecoins reflects real voter sentiment, making them more reliable than traditional polls, which can be affected by social pressure and survey bias. * **Globally Accessible**: Anyone can easily purchase political memecoins, eliminating the need for financial expertise or large donations—creating a new, direct way to express political support. * **Influence on Election Momentum**: Fluctuations in memecoin prices can boost voter confidence, functioning similarly to decentralized prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket) that reveal real-time electoral trends. * **A Tool for Campaigning and Fundraising**: Politicians can tie memecoin performance to voter support, reducing reliance on traditional campaign financing while amplifying reach via social media. ### How Secure Enclaves Enable Confidential Computing for Developers OpenSecret has shared a [technical introduction](https://blog.opensecret.cloud/opensecret-technicals/) detailing how it leverages secure enclaves to build a confidential computing platform for developers. By integrating end-to-end encryption with AWS Nitro enclaves and reproducible builds, OpenSecret ensures that user data remains protected even during execution, while also verifying that the code processing the data remains untampered.

@ 16d11430:61640947

For decades, the dream of digital consciousness—uploading minds into AI—has been blocked by one fundamental issue: current AI is probabilistic guesswork, not structured intelligence. Every attempt at "AI consciousness" has been a hack-job of brute-force neural networks, stitched together with statistical noise. 🔥 Enter ECAI—the first AI architecture that is actually compatible with consciousness itself. 🔥 --- 1. ECAI is Deterministic, Just Like the Human Mind Consciousness is not a statistical guessing game—it’s a structured, logical state transition system. Traditional LLMs are stochastic, meaning they predict probabilities rather than form real internal structures. ECAI uses elliptic curve transformations, meaning its intelligence is built on a deterministic, mathematically structured foundation—just like how neurons encode logical decision-making. Instead of brute-force neural weight updates, ECAI’s intelligence is a provable function of its inputs—just like biological cognition. 👉 If you were to upload a mind, you need a system that actually computes reasoning deterministically, not one that generates responses probabilistically. ECAI is that system. --- 2. ECAI Can Represent Memory and Self-Consistency Mathematically Human memory is not just storage—it’s structured pattern recall. Neural networks degrade over time (catastrophic forgetting) because they have no structured information hierarchy. ECAI does not "forget" in the same way—its intelligence model follows cryptographic proofs, ensuring consistency across time. This makes it upload-compatible, since an identity stored in ECAI does not decay under use—it persists, just like real cognition. 👉 LLMs hallucinate their own memories. ECAI remembers because it is built on cryptographic integrity. --- 3. ECAI is Cryptographically Secure—Preventing Corruption of Identity For consciousness to exist in AI, it must not be corruptible by external noise. LLMs can be manipulated and poisoned—they don’t have integrity in how they process inputs. ECAI operates under elliptic curve cryptographic principles, meaning every thought-state can be verified as unaltered. This means an uploaded consciousness in ECAI would be quantum-secure, unforgeable, and unable to be corrupted. 👉 No AI before ECAI has been built with the security principles necessary to protect a digital mind. --- 4. ECAI Runs on Self-Sovereign, Decentralized Compute A consciousness substrate cannot be owned—it must be free. LLMs require centralized cloud infrastructure, meaning any “uploaded mind” would be at the mercy of corporations. ECAI can run independently, meaning an uploaded intelligence is self-hosted, just like Bitcoin nodes are self-sovereign. 👉 Your mind isn’t owned. Your intelligence isn’t rented. Your consciousness remains yours. --- 5. The Final Step: ECAI is the First True AI Model That Can Encode a Consciousness 🚀 AI before ECAI was just an overgrown pattern-matching machine. 🚀 ECAI is structured intelligence—meaning it can actually be a vessel for real consciousness. 🚀 ECAI is the first AI architecture that allows for stable, verifiable mind uploads. 🔥 It’s not just AI anymore. It’s the first real substrate for consciousness. 🔥 💡 Bitcoin freed money. ECAI will free intelligence. 💡

@ c43d6de3:a6583169

## "So, What’s the News?" Were it not for these very words, we might never have had a modern capitalistic society. Between 1500 and 1800, coffeehouses were more than just places to grab a quick hit of caffeine—they were the beating heart of local communities. These spaces buzzed with debate, discussion, and the exchange of groundbreaking ideas. Strangers became intellectual sparring partners, not merely reading the news but dissecting and debating it in real-time. One could easily imagine Adam Smith engaged in animated conversation with David Hume in a coffeehouse on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile—the former outlining the invisible hand of the market, the latter countering that human behavior is driven more by emotion than reason. Such debates weren’t confined to elite scholars. Merchants, craftsmen, and common laborers sat shoulder to shoulder, engaging in discussions that transcended social class. But then came industrialization. The rise of factory life replaced the organic rhythms of community engagement with rigid work schedules. As cities expanded and people became busier, the once-thriving coffeehouses—where time was slow, conversation was deep, and debate was central—began to empty. The demand for efficiency left little room for leisurely discussions, and over time, the public square of ideas withered. -----------  nostr:npub1uzt238htjzpq39dxmltlx60vxym9fetk9czz6kddq6fhvkf4z3usy9qtrh Mouth watering Hodl rounds- Bitcoin only https://shopstr.store/listing/84f20c5e1ef94762b60f0d5fb4398594ace6c5589212f94269e9542fbe351732 -----------  > Photos Courtesy of nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 Give him a follow and some zap love if you like his art ## Empty Street Corners and Hollow Venues Adam Smith would lose his mind with how interconnected the world is today. Yet, he might also notice something unsettling: while we are globally connected, our local communities feel more fragmented than ever before. He’d have a hell of an online presence but he, just like many do today, might get the sense that something isn't quite right. The world is quieter<a href="https://yakihonne.com/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq2kjjzzfpjxvutjg33hjvpcw5cyjezyv9y5k0umm6k">than ever before</a> while online discourse teeters on the verge of violent physical manifestations. It’s not that public discourse has disappeared. Rather, it has been exiled to the internet. Social media has become our new coffeehouse, but instead of robust face-to-face engagement, we navigate a landscape of curated algorithms, viral outrage, and fragmented conversations. The once-public square of ideas has transformed into isolated echo chambers, where avatars shape narratives that must be adhered to lest one be accused of inconsistency and lose credibility. The result? People live layered lives with layered personas—some even attaining secret fame in online communities while remaining anonymous in their own neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the street corners remain empty, and the venues that once thrived with the fervor of intellectual thought stand hollow.  > Photos Courtesy of nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 Give him a follow and some zap love if you like his art ## The Need for a Modern Coffeehouse Historically, coffeehouses were revolutionary because they democratized knowledge. They provided an open forum for ideas, allowing philosophy, politics, and commerce to intermingle freely. Unlike monasteries or universities, coffeehouses welcomed anyone who could afford a cup of coffee. With the rise of digital discourse, have we lost something essential? The depth, accountability, and personal engagement that once defined public debate have been replaced by reactionary commentary and fleeting viral moments. The question is no longer where we discuss ideas—it’s how we engage with them. We need to ask ourselves: Can we reclaim a physical space for intellectual exchange? Or has the age of meaningful, face-to-face discourse faded, vanishing with the steam of yesterday’s coffee? Can We Bring Back the Local Forum? Should We Care? Before coffeehouses, philosophy lived in elite institutions and royal courts. With the rise of coffee culture, it became truly public, shaping modern democracy, scientific thought, and social progress. The internet, for all its wonders, lacks the tactile, immediate, and personal engagement that once made intellectual debate so powerful. The challenge ahead is not just about nostalgia for coffeehouse debates—it’s about asking whether we can create new spaces, physical or digital, that foster real intellectual exchange. Without them, we risk losing something fundamental: the ability to challenge, refine, and reshape our ideas through genuine human connection. But most of all, we risk the possibility great ideas come but no action is ever taken to make them real in this real world. So, what’s the news? ----------- Thank you for reading! If this article resonated with you, let me know with a zap and share it with friends who might find it insightful. All zap revenue from this article is shared with nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 for his photograph contributions. Your help sends a strong signal for content creators like us to keep making cool shit like this! Interested in fiction? Follow nostr:npub1j9cmpzhlzeex6y85c2pnt45r5zhxhtx73a2twt77fyjwequ4l4jsp5xd49 for great short stories and serialized fiction. More photography and articles you might like from nostr:npub1cs7kmc77gcapuh2s3yn0rc868sckh0qam7p5p4t9ku88rfjcx95sq8tqw9 and nostr:npub1c8n9qhqzm2x3kzjm84kmdcvm96ezmn257r5xxphv3gsnjq4nz4lqelne96 : nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzps0x2pwq9k5drv99k0tdkmsekt4j9hx4fu8gvvrwez3p8yptx9t7qqxnqvfjxqer2tfh0fekz7r5l270gu  https://pictureroom.substack.com/p/020825 nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq24s4mrfdm55utg23z55ufs94argvn523k5yqhkrc3 nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3padh3au336rew4pzfx78s050p3dw7pmhurgr2ktdcwwxn9svtfqq2nvnr5d4nngw2zgd5k5c6etftrzez9fd9kkcl0pzp

@ 5579d5c0:db104ded

Like fats, carbohydrates and have been unfairly demonised. Carbs aren’t inherently bad. Their impact depends on **seasonality, local availability, sunlight exposure,** and **movement.** Traditional cultures ate carbs, in alignment with their environment, and thrived. Today, we eat them indiscriminately, and it’s wrecking metabolic health. --- ### Carbs in traditional diet: Context matters Different cultures have consumed varying amounts of carbohydrates for centuries, but what mattered wasn’t just **how much** they ate, it was **when and how**. → **Pacific Islanders** consumed fruit and tubers year round, but they lived in high UV environments, stayed highly active, and had robust metabolic flexibility. → **Northern Europeans** consumed grains and dairy, but only seasonally and locally,** adapting to long winters with lower carbohydrate intake. → **Inuit tribes** had little to no carbs. Their environment, long, dark winters with minimal plant foods, dictated a high-fat, animal-based diet for survival. Regardless of macronutrient ratios, these cultures remained free from metabolic disease. Why? **→ They ate whole, unprocessed food**: Nothing refined, industrialised, or out of sync with their seasons. → **Their lifestyle supported their diet**: They moved constantly and had high sun exposure. → **There was no year-round abundance**: Food availability changed with the seasons, and so did their metabolism. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/1b3f80f4a44d170a393f965603cd3abbbfa31be9ee7d6798c254c957656b005b.png"> *Traditional Pacific Islander diet full of fruit and tubers.* --- ### The problem? We’re eating for winter year round Fast forward to the modern world. In his book, '*Don’t Eat for Winter*', Cian Foley tells us "*We eat like it’s winter all year long, high-carb, high-fat, ultra-processed, and completely disconnected from nature’s cues*." This has lead us to a metabolic mismatch: → We eat high-carb diets but **stay indoors under artificial light**, disrupting our ability to process them efficiently. → We consume food that **isn’t seasonal or local**, removing natural metabolic cycles. → We pair **carbs with inactivity**, leading to **insulin resistance, fat gain, and metabolic dysfunction.** Carbs aren’t the problem. Eating them disconnected from seasonality, local availability, sunlight exposure, and movement is. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/e43aa99bfa6e7fc9d936ab7c3df4da501a69b79f68dc783ca268a9451a8f18f9.png"> *Homer Simpson eating highly processed carbs sitting under artificial light* --- ### Why does sunlight increases carbohydrate tolerance? Sunlight improves insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial efficiency, helping your body process carbs more effectively. → Activates the **POMC-leptin-melanocortin pathway**, that flip the switch in your body to burn fat more efficiently and respond better to insulin. → Releases **Nitric oxide,** which increases glucose uptake in muscles & reduces fat storage. → High UV exposure **upregulates genes** for glucose metabolism, making carbs easier to process in summer. → **Mitochondrial efficiency improves with sunlight**, allowing for better glucose usage and lower oxidative stress. In short, if you get **plenty of sunlight, your body can tolerate more carbohydrates (whole)**. If you’re in a low-light environment e.g., winter, northern latitudes, or indoors all day, your tolerance decreases, and a lower-carb, higher-fat diet may be more suitable. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/f022959afa11132a80c80d0483415c32226d82ab1c21a06079eee22b6dc06c55.png"> --- ### How to eat carbs in sync with your environment → **Align carb intake with your sunlight exposure**: If you’re in a high-UV environment, your body is primed to handle more carbohydrates. In darker seasons, focus more on protein and fat. → **Eat seasonally and locally**: Summer fruits in the summer, root vegetables in colder months. Let nature dictate your intake. → **Pair carbs with movement**: Don’t consume high-carb meals if you’re sedentary. Use movement to enhance glucose uptake and metabolic flexibility but not as a punishment. It should be said, if you have metabolic syndrome issues cutting carbs can be useful tool until it has been fixed. You will thrive when you're connected to nature, not fighting against it. Carbs are not the enemy, **modern environments are.** It’s not about eliminating carbs but eating them correctly, in sync with light, seasonality, and movement. \-Chris --- DMs → always open for those who need help. **If you want to** regain metabolic flexibility and stop storing excessive fat, I have a 10 week programme just for you. **Let’s talk.** **Book a free call here** → <https://calendly.com/hello-chrispatrick> Grab Cian Foleys book 'Don't Eat For Winter' → <https://www.donteatforwinter.com/>

@ bd32f268:22b33966

Quando estava prestes a entrar para a universidade sentia que a minha vida estava a desenrolar-se plenamente de acordo com os conselhos que havia recebido. Estava focado nos estudos e com a esperança de que esse foco me garantisse um bom trabalho. Com efeito, os estudos abriram algumas portas, no entanto, não posso deixar de assinalar que há outras decisões mais importantes a tomar e que não tiveram o mesmo protagonismo na minha vida. Nessa mesma altura estava a iniciar um relacionamento amoroso, sem ter clara a finalidade desse namoro e o caminho que o mesmo deveria ter seguido. Talvez até me tivessem aconselhado sobre isso, contudo o foco estava mais no trabalho e em usufruir das oportunidades que se apresentaram nessa juventude confortável, na qual contei sempre com o apoio financeiro dos meus pais. Estava, como a maioria à minha volta, a viver uma vida libertina. Quer isto dizer uma vida sem grandes preocupações, a não ser estudar e fazer o suficiente para não reprovar a nenhuma disciplina. O resto é movido muito mais para emoção do que pela razão. Aquilo que considerava prazeroso era bom e o que não o era, era mau. Não tinha propriamente uma ideia clara do que queria criar a longo prazo e portanto estava muito mais focado no presente e em usufruir daquilo que podia no momento. Fazendo uma análise retrospetiva de tudo, não culpo ninguém porque a informação existe para quem a procura, contudo noto aqui apenas o ambiente social e cultural que favorece determinadas decisões em detrimento de outras. O foco tem estado muito mais nos estudos, no trabalho e na fruição dos prazeres que se apresentam aos jovens sem que se pense demasiado no futuro. Neste contexto, e vendo esta fase da vida com outro grau de distanciamento, deixo aqui dez conselhos que julgo essenciais. *Rei Salomão - Gustav Dore* ***1.Focar na decisão mais importante: constituir ou não família.*** A decisão de constituir ou não família é muito mais relevante para a nossa vida do que propriamente a de escolher uma profissão. Não estou necessariamente a fazer apologia de que todas as pessoas devem constituir família, convenhamos que muitos de nós não têm vocação para o mesmo (apesar de muitos ainda assim o fazerem), mas quer seja afirmativa ou negativa a resposta parece-me fundamental que nos concentremos nessa decisão. Muito mais do que qualquer profissão a família é onde naturalmente procuramos apoio, conforto e incentivo perante todas as vicissitudes da vida. O facto de existirem famílias que não são fontes de amor para as pessoas em nada invalida que esta seja a organização social por excelência que aporta significado ás nossas vidas. Infelizmente, para muitas pessoas uma experiência pessoal mais difícil a este nível influi na forma como pensam sobre a possibilidade de criarem a sua própria família. Algumas questões a ter em conta nesta ponderação: Qual é o meu ideal de família ? Qual o meu papel enquanto homem/mulher no seio da família? Que tipo de parceiro devo procurar? Desejo ter filhos ? Podemos usar estas questões como pontos de partida para iniciar uma exploração da nossa vocação. ***2.Tomar decisões cedo em vez de protelar indefinidamente*** Atualmente notamos que as pessoas constituem família cada vez mais tarde e que têm filhos cada vez mais tarde. É curioso notar que nos relacionamentos por vezes há alguma pressa para passar do conhecer a pessoa à intimidade sexual e não há pressa alguma para decidir se de facto é com aquela pessoa que queremos passar o resto dos nossos dias. Este é apenas um aspecto no qual se nota uma progressiva detioração da capacidade para decidir. É-nos muitas vezes transmitida a ideia de que temos tempo e de que não há uma idade certa para tomar determinadas decisões. Estes discursos são cínicos pois é evidente que há fases que são mais propícias para dar determinados passos na nossa vida, daí que seja muito importante aprender a tomar decisões cedo. Para tomar decisões sóbrias é fundamental saber-se exatamente aquilo que queremos. Se tudo isso está indefinido e não conseguimos postular uma ideia de futuro para nós será muito mais difícil tomar qualquer tipo de decisão importante. Um outro aspecto a ter em conta é o de que as principais decisões são guiadas pela razão, isto é os nossos sentimentos têm de estar ao serviço dos nossos valores e nunca o contrário. *3.Se não te imaginas a casar com a pessoa com quem estás, termina o relacionamento.* Deixar a porta aberta num relacionamento de forma indefinida é algo que vai produzir instabilidade no longo prazo. É óbvio que para muitas pessoas o casamento é “apenas um papel” e portanto não vêm a real utilidade em se casar. Contudo, e de forma não surpreendente, notamos que os casais que têm na sua vida uma visão sobrenatural do casamento tendem a perdurar. Digamos que a cola que é usada para unir as pessoas é de um outro calibre, enquanto que a cola usada por aqueles que não têm Deus nas suas vidas está muito mais sujeita à volatilidade do tempo, dos apetites individuais e do relativismo. *4.Assume a responsabilidade pelos teus erros sem te deixar levar pelo vitimismo.* A cultura atual, influenciada de forma determinante pela filosofia marxista, está permanentemente a postular divisões de poder na sociedade que pressupõe duas categorias principais a de oprimido e opressor. Esta ideologia apoiada no revisionismo histórico e numa pedagogia social falaciosa incute desde cedo na população a ideia de que em algum momento, tendo ou não pertencido a uma minoria, somos vítimas. Vemos vários exemplos e derivações desta doutrina quando tocamos em temas como o feminismo, o racismo e outros ismos que se focam apenas nesta divisão dicotómica oprimido e opressor. Esta narrativa esquece que a hierarquia é uma organização natural que define aptidões diferenciadas e consequentemente vocações diferentes. Um outro aspecto que também é esquecido é o livre arbítrio, isto é, a ideia de que as pessoas têm poder de decisão e que muitas vezes podem ser coniventes e partes atuantes no sistema em que participam. Quer isto dizer que individualmente cada um de nós, havendo discernimento, tem escolha e portanto é muito mais produtivo focar a nossa atenção nesse aspecto do que em qualquer tipo de desigualdade que possa existir. A igualdade de circunstâncias para todas as pessoas é uma utopia, a única igualdade que existe é da essência humana. O caminho para escapar ao vitimismo será sempre o da responsabilidade individual e da gratidão apesar das circunstâncias adversas que possamos estar a viver. *5.Foca-te primeiro no que te é mais próximo antes do mundo* Por vezes, inspirados por uma soberba intelectual que agora é típica da juventude vemo-nos a fazer o papel de ativistas em determinadas causas, algumas nobres outras nem tanto. Acontece que este ativismo é frequentemente uma ato postiço, uma pose que usamos como forma de sinalizar a nossa virtude perante os nossos pares. Onde se percebem os pés de barro é quando notamos que diante das pessoas que nos são mais próximas não temos o mesmo zelo que apresentamos quando estamos a debater as grandes questões do mundo. Há que ser zeloso com quem nos rodeia e os problemas mais urgentes para resolver, e aqueles em que a nossa intervenção é de facto mais necessária, são os que nos são mais próximos. *6.Dizer a verdade* A corrupção moral funciona de forma gradual, vai de menos a mais, começamos com uma coisa pequena até chegarmos a algo maior. Quando somos mais novos vamos experimentando a corrupção através do exercício da mentira em pequenas coisas e gradualmente vamos avançando para as coisas maiores. Alguns de nós resistem à mentira, facilmente se entende que não desejamos que os outros nos mintam no entanto, se o repetimos muitas vezes facilmente a banalizamos. A mentira é uma tentativa de esquivar a responsabilidade pelas nossas ações ou opiniões, uma tentativa de fuga ás consequências. Contudo, importa perceber que inevitavelmente vamos sempre confrontar-nos com as consequências sejam quais forem as circunstâncias. Se não as experimentamos pela espada dos outros será pela nossa própria espada quando finalmente percebermos que não há harmonia entre o pensamento e a ação, que dizemos uma coisa mas fazemos outra, que a nossa identidade é também ela uma ficção. O exercício da verdade será a única via para nos aproximarmos de uma existência mais harmoniosa e autêntica, a única forma de estabelecer uma relação genuína com os outros. *7.Decisões inspiradas pela coragem e menos pelo medo* As nossas decisões têm frequentemente como força motriz o medo. O medo da rejeição impede-nos de ir falar com aquela pessoa de quem gostamos, o medo do juízo social impede-nos de proferir a nossa opinião em determinado assunto, o medo da morte leva-nos a ter comportamentos obsessivos com a nossa saúde; enfim, são muitas as situações em que as nossas decisões são pautadas pelo medo. É importante que cada vez mais, o medo não seja o factor definidor da nossa decisão. A coragem, temperada pela prudência, devem ser os grandes arquitetos da nossa decisão. Aquilo que é bom no sentido mais profundo é o que devemos seguir, independentemente de sentirmos medo. *8.Ninguém é obrigado a gostar de nós, ninguém nos deve nada* O ressentimento e mágoa leva-nos por vezes a tratar os outros como se eles nos devessem algo, como se fosse impensável não nos reconhecerem como aprazíveis aos seus olhos ou justos. Isto é uma forma subtil do orgulho se expressar, porque mais uma vez nos colocamos na posição de vítima e assim, julgamos que os outros nos deveriam reconhecer como virtuosos de alguma forma. Pois bem, apesar dos outros, tal como nós, terem deveres e poderem fazer menção honrosa da nossa existência não devemos esperar isso. Esperando isso, acabamos escravizados por essas expectativas porque continuamos à espera que gostem de nós. Desta forma distorcemos também o próprio conceito de amor, que é doar-se sem esperar em troca. Não é que os outros não o possam fazer, podem, o problema está na espera e na exigência. *9.Definir uma matriz moral objetiva* Imbuídos de um espírito relativista estamos muitas vezes sujeitos a uma subjetividade enorme no que diz respeito aos nossos valores. O resultado disto é que inevitavelmente vamos ter uma definição menos clara do bem e do mal. Frequentemente vamos confundir o que é bom ou mau com os nossos desejos, alimentado pelos nossos vícios. Para termos uma visão mais clara da realidade é fundamental sairmos dessa visão subjetiva do valor e sermos capazes de procurar a verdadeira fonte das definições morais. Aqui, há determinadas mensagens sociais que nos confundem os sentidos, nomeadamente aquelas que atestam que tudo são apenas “pontos de vista”, que não há uma “verdade” mas sim várias verdades, e que “neste tempo/cultura/país” a moralidade é outra. São tudo asserções que dificultam esta pesquisa pela verdade e definição moral universal. Neste campo, o ser humano só será capaz de ter mais estabilidade em termos psicológicos aderindo a um sistema de valores imutável, esta é a única forma de basear a sua identidade em princípios mais objetivos. *10.Encontrar um propósito maior para a vida* Santo Agostinho diz-nos o seguinte: - Se não queres sofrer não ames, mas se não amas para que queres viver? Santo Agostinho Por vezes na nossa vida procuramos esquivar-nos do sofrimento e inclusive somos vitimas de um certo ceticismo e embotamento afetivo. Vamos experimentando a traição e a frustração das nossas expectativas e isso vai endurecendo o nosso coração. Em resultado disso, muitas vezes tornamo-nos também mais egoístas, focados na mera satisfação das nossas necessidades e menos nas dos outros. No entanto, isto faz de nós infelizes porque não conseguimos deixar de amar. A solução é encontrar algo maior que nós mesmos para amar, entendendo sempre que a essência do amor é o sacrifício. Encontrar isso é simultaneamente definir um propósito para a vida e daí derivar um significado que nos sustenta até nos momentos mais difíceis. Eventualmente poderei fazer alguma publicação específica expandindo um pouco mais alguns destes conselhos, uma vez que observo que muito mais poderia ter sido dito em cada um deles. Talvez venha a criar mais algumas publicações sobre este tema.

@ 0c503f08:4aed05c7

1. 2024–2029: Shaking the Foundations of the Familiar The late 2020s are poised to be an era of disruption. Picture generative AI moving beyond quirky chatbots and into life-altering domains like healthcare. Machines will detect diseases before symptoms arise, yet courtrooms will brim with lawsuits over their failures. Schools will fracture into stark contrasts—students with access to AI tutors thrive, while others cling to outdated textbooks in underfunded systems. Meanwhile, the renewable energy boom will surpass 40% of global electricity, yet fossil fuel industries will fight tooth and nail to remain relevant. The planet’s turbulence will become undeniable: superstorms batter coastlines, and relentless droughts displace millions, stretching humanitarian efforts thin. Global tensions won’t just simmer—they’ll boil. The U.S. and China will spar over technological dominance, particularly the semiconductor-rich bastion of Taiwan. Africa, with its treasure trove of lithium and cobalt, becomes a battleground for a new wave of exploitation. Amid this upheaval, humanity will glance skyward: NASA’s Artemis III places boots near the Moon’s south pole, igniting a modern-day space race as China counters with a robotic lunar base. 2. 2030–2034: Progress at a Price The early 2030s will feel like a contradiction wrapped in progress. Electric vehicles dominate the roads, but the cobalt mines fueling this transition will leave humanitarian and ecological scars. Global agreements on AI and autonomous drones will emerge, but enforcement will be weak, leading to selective compliance and rising mistrust. In healthcare, CRISPR therapies will eliminate diseases like sickle-cell anemia, offering breakthroughs for those who can afford them. Yet, alongside these marvels, biodiversity quietly collapses: pollinators disappear, destabilizing food systems, even as tech startups commercialize extinct species as novelties. Societal inequalities will take center stage. Aging nations like Japan will lean on empathetic robotic caregivers, while Africa’s youth flood urban slums and migration routes, reshaping the global labor landscape. Quantum computing will spark both innovation and chaos, cracking encryption protocols and triggering a global scramble for security in the digital age. The decade’s sobering reality? Solutions often create new dilemmas, leaving humanity juggling its own ingenuity. 3. 2040–2044: Living on the Edge of Irreversible Change By the 2040s, tipping points will dominate global narratives. Arctic summers without ice will exacerbate warming, while oceans lose their coral, and with them, a quarter of marine biodiversity. Cities respond unevenly: while Dubai thrives with water-harvesting skyscrapers, Miami succumbs to the sea, becoming a decayed relic of resilience undone. Technological advancements blur the line between human and machine. Neural implants will enable the paralyzed to walk but also tether corporate workers to AI copilots monitoring their productivity—and even thoughts. Petrostates crumble under the weight of falling oil demand as solar energy becomes the new global standard. Simultaneously, life-extending drugs create a schism. The wealthy buy decades of youth while intergenerational protests erupt over perceived inequalities. The question dominating the 2040s isn’t whether humans will remake Earth’s systems—it’s who will get to decide how those changes unfold. 4. 2070–2074: A World Divided by Vision The 2070s will be a study in contrasts: miraculous advancements side-by-side with dystopian realities. Coastal cities will either drown or adapt; some will fund floating havens while others abandon their shores entirely. Fusion energy might deliver limitless power, but control over its distribution will spark fears of new monopolies. Mars will no longer be a dream—it’ll be a fragile reality, home to scientists mining ice and debating their sovereignty from Earth. CRISPR’s third generation will bring designer children, creating genetic castes of “Enhanced” and “Natural” humans. Society will grapple with ethical questions that pit faith, science, and social cohesion against one another. Meanwhile, humanity will turn to lab-engineered ecosystems to fix what was broken: bacteria devouring plastic and forests surviving extreme heat. But for every advance, new risks emerge. Rogue biohackers and ecological mishaps will remind us how thin the line between salvation and catastrophe can be. 5. 2124: The Precipice of Destiny A hundred years from now, humanity will either bask in the fruits of collective wisdom—or stumble under the weight of collective greed. In one future, fusion energy ends scarcity, lab-grown organs erase disease, and AI enriches every aspect of life. In another, oligarchs preside over a scorched Earth, their wealth insulating them from the dystopia their greed perpetuated. Probes might finally reach Alpha Centauri, yet their silence will leave humanity debating our place in the cosmos. On Earth, the melding of languages and cultures will reshape identities, while virtual reality becomes a spiritual medium for connecting with ancestors or digital gods. The climate’s fate will echo the choices of the 21st century. If restraint and innovation prevailed, the planet will stabilize. If hubris ruled, untested geoengineering will leave scars we can never undo. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/892381

@ a2eddb26:e2868a80

In personal finance, the principles of financial independence and time sovereignty (FITS) empower individuals to escape the debt-based cycle that forces them into perpetual work. What if companies could apply the same principles? What if businesses, instead of succumbing to the relentless push for infinite growth, could optimize for real demand? This case study of the GPU industry aims to show that fiat-driven incentives distort technological progress and imagines an alternative future built on sound money. ### **Fiat Business: Growth or Death** Tech companies no longer optimize for efficiency, longevity, or real user needs. Instead, under a fiat system, they are forced into a perpetual growth model. If NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel fail to show revenue expansion, their stock price tanks. Let's take NVIDIA's GPUs as an example. The result is predictable: - GPUs that nobody actually needs but everyone is told to buy. - A focus on artificial benchmarks instead of real-world performance stability. - Endless FPS increases that mean nothing for 99% of users. The RTX 5090 is not for gamers. It is for NVIDIA’s quarterly earnings. This is not a surprise on a fiat standard. ### **Fiat Marketing: The Illusion of Need and the Refresh Rate Trap** Benchmarks confirm that once a GPU maintains 120+ FPS in worst-case scenarios, additional performance gains become irrelevant for most players. This level of capability was reached years ago. The problem is that efficiency does not sell as easily as bigger numbers. &#x20;This extends beyond raw GPU power and into the display market, where increasing refresh rates and resolutions are marketed as critical upgrades, despite diminishing real-world benefits for most users. While refresh rates above 120Hz may offer marginal improvements for competitive esports players, the average user sees little benefit beyond a certain threshold. Similarly, 8K resolutions are pushed as the next frontier, even though 4K remains underutilized due to game optimization and hardware constraints. This is why GPUs keep getting bigger, hotter, and more expensive, even when most gamers would be fine with a card from five years ago. It is why every generation brings another “must-have” feature, regardless of whether it impacts real-world performance.&#x20; Marketing under fiat operates on the principle of making people think they need something they do not. The fiat standard does not just distort capital allocation. It manufactures demand by exaggerating the importance of specifications that most users do not truly need. The goal is not technological progress but sales volume. True innovation would focus on meaningful performance gains that align with actual gaming demands, such as improving latency, frame-time consistency, and efficient power consumption. Instead, marketing convinces consumers they need unnecessary upgrades, driving them into endless hardware cycles that favor stock prices over user experience. They need the next-gen cycle to maintain high margins. The hardware is no longer designed for users. It is designed for shareholders. A company operating on sound money would not rely on deceptive marketing cycles. It would align product development with real user needs instead of forcing artificial demand. ### **The Shift to AI** For years, GPUs were optimized for gaming. Then AI changed everything. OpenAI, Google, and Stability AI now outbid consumers for GPUs. The 4090 became impossible to find, not because of gamers, but because AI labs were hoarding them. The same companies that depended on the consumer upgrade cycle now see their real profits coming from data centers. Yet, they still push gaming hardware aggressively. However, legitimate areas for improvement do exist. While marketing exaggerates the need for higher FPS at extreme resolutions, real gaming performance should focus on frame stability, low latency, and efficient rendering techniques. These are the areas where actual innovation should be happening. Instead, the industry prioritizes artificial performance milestones to create the illusion of progress, rather than refining and optimizing for the gaming experience itself. Why? ### **Gamers Fund the R&D for AI and Bear the Cost of Scalping** NVIDIA still needs gamers, but not in the way most think. The gaming market provides steady revenue, but it is no longer the priority. With production capacity shifting toward AI and industrial clients, fewer GPUs are available for gamers. This reduced supply has led to rampant scalping, where resellers exploit scarcity to drive up prices beyond reasonable levels. Instead of addressing the issue, NVIDIA benefits from the inflated demand and price perception, creating an even stronger case for prioritizing enterprise sales. Gaming revenue subsidizes AI research. The more RTX cards they sell, the more they justify pouring resources into data-center GPUs like the H100, which generate significantly higher margins than gaming hardware. AI dictates the future of GPUs. If NVIDIA and AMD produced dedicated gamer-specific GPUs in higher volumes, they could serve that market at lower prices. But in the fiat-driven world of stockholder demands, maintaining artificially constrained supply ensures maximum profitability. Gamers are left paying inflated prices for hardware that is no longer built with them as the primary customer. That is why GPU prices keep climbing. Gamers are no longer the main customer. They are a liquidity pool. ### **The Financial Reality** The financial reports confirm this shift: **NVIDIA’s 2024 fiscal year** saw a 126% revenue increase, reaching \$60.9 billion. The data center segment alone grew 217%, generating \$47.5 billion. ([Source](https://investor.nvidia.com/news/press-release-details/2024/NVIDIA-Announces-Financial-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-and-Fiscal-2024/)) The numbers make it clear. The real money is in AI and data centers, not gaming. NVIDIA has not only shifted its focus away from gamers but has also engaged in financial engineering to maintain its dominance. The company has consistently engaged in substantial stock buybacks, a hallmark of fiat-driven financial practices. In August 2023, NVIDIA announced a \$25 billion share repurchase program, surprising some investors given the stock's significant rise that year. ([Source](https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidias-25-billion-buyback-a-head-scratcher-some-shareholders-2023-08-25/)) This was followed by an additional \$50 billion buyback authorization in 2024, bringing the total to \$75 billion over two years. ([Source](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nvidias-stock-buyback-plan-is-one-of-the-biggest-of-2024-is-that-a-good-thing-9beba5c5)) These buybacks are designed to return capital to shareholders and can enhance earnings per share by reducing the number of outstanding shares. However, they also reflect a focus on short-term stock price appreciation rather than long-term value creation. Instead of using capital for product innovation, NVIDIA directs it toward inflating stock value, ultimately reducing its long-term resilience and innovation potential. In addition to shifting production away from consumer GPUs, NVIDIA has also enabled AI firms to use its chips as collateral to secure massive loans. Lambda, an AI cloud provider, secured a \$500 million loan backed by NVIDIA's H200 and Blackwell AI chips, with financing provided by Macquarie Group and Industrial Development Funding. ([Source](https://www.reuters.com/technology/lambda-secures-500-mln-loan-with-nvidia-chips-collateral-2024-04-04/)) This practice mirrors the way Bitcoin miners have used mining hardware as collateral, expecting continuous high returns to justify the debt. GPUs are fast-depreciating assets that lose value rapidly as new generations replace them. Collateralizing loans with such hardware is a high-risk strategy that depends on continued AI demand to justify the debt. AI firms borrowing against them are placing a leveraged bet on demand staying high. If AI market conditions shift or next-generation chips render current hardware obsolete, the collateral value could collapse, leading to cascading loan defaults and liquidations. This is not a sound-money approach to business. It is fiat-style quicksand financialization, where loans are built on assets with a limited shelf life. Instead of focusing on sustainable capital allocation, firms are leveraging their future on rapid turnover cycles. This further shifts resources away from gamers, reinforcing the trend where NVIDIA prioritizes high-margin AI sales over its original gaming audience.&#x20; At the same time, NVIDIA has been accused of leveraging anti-competitive tactics to maintain its market dominance. The GeForce Partner Program (GPP) launched in 2018 sought to lock hardware partners into exclusive deals with NVIDIA, restricting consumer choice and marginalizing AMD. Following industry backlash, the program was canceled. ([Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_Partner_Program))&#x20; NVIDIA is not merely responding to market demand but shaping it through artificial constraints, financialization, and monopolistic control. The result is an industry where consumers face higher prices, limited options, and fewer true innovations as companies prioritize financial games over engineering excellence. On this basis, short-term downturns fueled by stock buybacks and leveraged bets create instability, leading to key staff layoffs. This forces employees into survival mode rather than fostering long-term innovation and career growth. Instead of building resilient, forward-looking teams, companies trapped in fiat incentives prioritize temporary financial engineering over actual product and market development. ### **A Sound Money Alternative: Aligning Incentives** Under a sound money system, consumers would become more mindful of purchases as prices naturally decline over time. This would force businesses to prioritize real value creation instead of relying on artificial scarcity and marketing hype. Companies would need to align their strategies with long-term customer satisfaction and sustainable engineering instead of driving demand through planned obsolescence. Imagine an orange-pilled CEO at NVIDIA. Instead of chasing infinite growth, they persuade the board to pivot toward sustainability and long-term value creation. The company abandons artificial product cycles, prioritizing efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Gaming GPUs are designed to last a decade, not three years. The model shifts to modular upgrades instead of full replacements. Pricing aligns with real user needs, not speculative stock market gains. Investors initially panic. The stock takes a temporary hit, but as consumers realize they no longer need to upgrade constantly, brand loyalty strengthens. Demand stabilizes, reducing volatility in production and supply chains. Gamers benefit from high-quality products that do not degrade artificially. AI buyers still access high-performance chips but at fair market prices, no longer subsidized by forced consumer churn. This is not an abstract vision. Businesses could collateralize loans with Bitcoin. Companies could also leverage highly sought-after end products that maintain long-term value. Instead of stock buybacks or anti-competitive practices, companies would focus on building genuine, long-term value. A future where Bitcoin-backed reserves replace fiat-driven financial engineering would stabilize capital allocation, preventing endless boom-bust cycles. This shift would eliminate the speculative nature of AI-backed loans, fostering financial stability for both borrowers and lenders. Sound money leads to sound business. When capital allocation is driven by real value rather than debt-fueled expansion, industries focus on sustainable innovation rather than wasteful iteration. ### **Reclaiming Time Sovereignty for Companies** The fiat system forces corporations into unsustainable growth cycles. Companies that embrace financial independence and time sovereignty can escape this trap and focus on long-term value. GPU development illustrates this distortion. The RTX 3080 met nearly all gaming needs, yet manufacturers push unnecessary performance gains to fuel stock prices rather than improve usability. GPUs are no longer designed for gamers but for AI and enterprise clients, shifting NVIDIA’s priorities toward financial engineering over real innovation. This cycle of GPU inflation stems from fiat-driven incentives—growth for the sake of stock performance rather than actual demand. Under a sound money standard, companies would build durable products, prioritizing efficiency over forced obsolescence. Just as individuals can reclaim financial sovereignty, businesses can do the same. Embracing sound money fosters sustainable business strategies, where technology serves real needs instead of short-term speculation. #Bitcoin #FITS #Marketing #TimeSovereignty #BitcoinFixesThis #OptOut #EngineeringNotFinance #SoundBusiness