@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

One of the most common misconceptions about trading is that it's no different from gambling. This belief often comes from people who misunderstand the discipline, structure, and effort that go into becoming a successful trader. The truth is, trading couldn't be further from gambling when done right. It's about edges, calculated risks, consistency, and discipline. Let's break down the key differences and why trading, when approached correctly, is a professional skill—not a game of chance. --- ## Why People Think Trading Is Gambling 1. **Lack of Understanding:** Many assume trading is about guessing market direction or chasing quick profits, which mirrors gambling behavior. 2. **Emotional Reactions:** Traders who rely on instincts or impulsive decisions often resemble gamblers, reinforcing the stereotype. 3. **Stories of Losses:** Headlines about traders losing their life savings due to overleveraging or poor risk management create the illusion that all trading is reckless. --- ## What Trading Really Is ### 1. Trading is About Edges - **What It Means:** An edge is a systematic advantage that gives you a higher probability of success over time. It could be a proven strategy, a deep understanding of market patterns, or an ability to exploit inefficiencies. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling relies on pure chance or unfavorable odds (e.g., the house always wins). In trading, a well-researched edge tips the probability in your favor. ### 2. Trading Involves Calculated Risks - **What It Means:** Every trade involves assessing how much you're willing to lose relative to the potential gain. Risk management ensures no single trade can wipe you out. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** In gambling, you often bet more than you can afford to lose. In trading, calculated risks are taken with predefined stop-losses and position sizing to minimize potential damage. ### 3. Trading is an Emotional Fight - **What It Means:** Success in trading depends on mastering your emotions—fear, greed, impatience, and overconfidence can destroy even the best strategies. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling thrives on emotional highs and lows. Trading requires emotional discipline, where decisions are based on logic and planning, not impulse. ### 4. Trading Demands Consistency - **What It Means:** Successful trading isn't about a single big win—it's about executing your strategy consistently over hundreds or thousands of trades. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling often relies on luck and one-off results. Trading builds wealth through steady, disciplined application of a proven system. ### 5. Trading Focuses on Long-Term Goals - **What It Means:** Traders work towards sustainable growth over months and years, prioritizing capital preservation and compounding profits. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gamblers often aim for immediate gratification, while traders take a marathon approach, understanding that success is built gradually. ### 6. Trading Requires Countless Hours of Practice - **What It Means:** Traders spend countless hours backtesting strategies, studying market behavior, and improving their skills. - **Why It's Not Gambling:** Gambling involves minimal preparation or reliance on skill, whereas trading is a craft honed through continuous learning and refinement. --- ## Key Differences Between Trading and Gambling | **Aspect** | **Trading** | **Gambling** | |------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | **Control** | Follows a defined plan | Relies on chance | | **Risk Management** | Uses stop-losses and proper sizing | All-in mentality | | **Skill vs. Luck** | Based on skill and strategy | Primarily luck | | **Timeframe** | Focused on long-term growth | Instant gratification | | **Emotional Approach** | Requires discipline | Driven by highs and lows | --- ## Final Thoughts: Trading is a Profession, Not a Bet The idea that trading is gambling stems from a lack of knowledge about what trading truly entails. While both involve risk, trading is a calculated, skill-based profession that rewards preparation, discipline, and consistency. Gambling, on the other hand, is a game of chance with the odds stacked against you. If you want to succeed as a trader, focus on building edges, managing risk, and staying consistent over the long term. These principles separate professionals from gamblers—and turn trading into a sustainable path to financial growth. **Remember:** It's not about luck. It's about skill. ---

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

In this episode, we invited Alexandra from the Bitcoin Reach community to share insights on the development, challenges, and adoption strategies of the Bitcoin community in Zimbabwe. **YakiHonne**: Before we begin, let me briefly introduce YakiHonne. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on Nostr—a protocol designed to empower freedom of speech through technology. It enables creators to own their voices and assets while offering innovative tools like smart widgets, verified notes, and support for long-form content. Today we'll be exploring more about community building and management with our honorable guest Alexandra. Could you please introduce yourself and your community? **Alexandra**：I'm Alexandra, and I founded a community called Bitcoin Beach, which is a suburban community. One thing that really astonished me was that there were already many Bitcoin communities worldwide before us. Before getting into Bitcoin, I worked for a podcast called Global Bitcoin Fest, where I interviewed community leaders from different countries, innovators driving change, and those advocating for Bitcoin regulations. Through these conversations, I discovered that Bitcoin communities existed all over the world—yet, surprisingly, there wasn’t one in Zimbabwe. **Alexandra**：This was particularly shocking because Zimbabwe has experienced some of the highest inflation rates in history—the second-highest inflation rate of all time. Many people associate Zimbabwe with its 100 trillion-dollar banknotes, which symbolize our extreme hyperinflation. In fact, we have gone through six currency failures, yet many still don’t fully understand inflation or how it affects us. **Alexandra**：Our community was created to educate people about Bitcoin and financial sovereignty, helping them navigate economic instability and regain control over their finances through Bitcoin. **YakiHonne**: It seems like you have a lot of people who genuinely want to learn about Bitcoin. They are not only focused on improving Zimbabwe’s economy but also actively engaging with the Bitcoin ecosystem. **Alexandra**：I think one of the biggest challenges is that people don't truly understand how devastating a failed monetary system can be. If you look at it this way—money is involved in 50% of all transactions, meaning it plays a fundamental role in every economic activity. When money fails, one of the first consequences is the inability to calculate capital effectively, leading to high time preference decision-making. **Alexandra**：Why is this a problem? Well, in a stable monetary system, when people have strong purchasing power, they receive fair value for their economic output. This allows them to buy goods and services, invest in their future, pursue higher education, start businesses, and invest in assets like real estate and stocks. Essentially, good money gives people the time and ability to build a better future. **Alexandra**：However, when money does not store economic value, people only receive a fraction of what they produce. Instead of earning a full dollar for their work, they might get only two to three cents on the dollar. This means their income is barely enough for basic sustenance—just buying food, bread, and milk, and often, that isn’t even sufficient. **Alexandra**：As a result, people shift from long-term financial planning to immediate survival, making economic calculations purely about what they need right now rather than investing in the future. This is why so many places remain impoverished. Without stable money, real estate investments disappear, housing becomes inaccessible, and infrastructure like malls and gyms is nearly nonexistent. The only way to secure housing is outright purchase, which very few people can afford. This highlights the severe economic limitations caused by a broken monetary system.  **YakiHonne**: It seems like you've already answered our first question. I was going to ask what sparked your interest in Bitcoin, but I can see that many factors actually led you toward the Bitcoin ecosystem. So, I think you've already covered that. Now, one more thing—I’d love to know what motivated you to build a community around Bitcoin? **Alexandra**：Absolutely. Like I said, we observed communities all across Zimbabwe, but we noticed that nothing was really happening in terms of Bitcoin adoption. In fact, Zimbabwe's adoption rate is significantly lower than in most countries. While sub-Saharan Africa has the highest Bitcoin adoption rate, Zimbabwe itself has one of the lowest adoption rates. **Alexandra**：I realized that if no one else was willing to pave the way to make Bitcoin adoption more resilient and accessible, then I should step up and do the necessary work to facilitate the process. My goal was to connect the people who needed to be connected—whether it's miners, individuals looking to buy Bitcoin, or those who need help installing and using it. **YakiHonne**: How did Bitcoin Reach begin? How was your community formed, and how did you initially attract new members? **Alexandra**：it all started with just a few people. I was highly motivated and kept asking myself, how can we create an impact in Zimbabwe? Strangely enough, it began with me simply chasing leads. **Alexandra**：The turning point came when Anita Posch visited Zimbabwe. Through her visit, I connected with other like-minded individuals in the Bitcoin space. From there, we decided to create a WhatsApp group, which became the foundation of our community. With this small collective, I started reaching out to more people. Having even a modest level of influence allowed me to leverage connections and secure sponsorships. **Alexandra**：Our first sponsor was Booking for Fairness, followed by Money on Chain, Rootstock, and Global Bitcoin Fest. With this support, we started hosting regular meetups, organizing at least two meetups per month in different cities and countries. So far, we've held meetups in over eight cities across four different countries. At these events, attendance ranged from 25 to over 50 people, and at times, we even filled an entire restaurant with Bitcoin enthusiasts.  **YakiHonne**: That's really impressive! You started with just three people, and now you're hosting events with over 50 attendees—sometimes even filling an entire restaurant. That’s truly amazing. Alexandra, you and your team are doing incredible work in Zimbabwe—it's a massive achievement! What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them? **Alexandra**： I think one of the major challenges that we do face is what we call an implicit ban, and some functions. Firstly, when we have what we call the negative order assumptions, a policy similar to what South Africa recently faced. Essentially, any country with bilateral relations with the United States must enforce the same sanctions imposed by the U.S. As a result, Zimbabwe is restricted from receiving goods and services from many companies. If you’re a Bitcoin business, you cannot provide Bitcoin services to Zimbabwe, cannot send hardware wallets, cannot hire people from Zimbabwe, and cannot offer sponsorships to Zimbabwean projects. This significantly limits the number of Bitcoin companies we could have collaborated with, which would have helped people earn Bitcoin and drive adoption. **Alexandra**：The second major challenge is implicit ban. If a Bitcoin company sets up in Zimbabwe, they cannot access on-ramps and off-ramps for funds. This means converting Bitcoin to physical cash is very expensive—normally, the cost should be around 2%, but due to the lack of formal channels, we have to buy Bitcoin at a 10% margin, making transactions extremely costly. As a result, it becomes difficult to establish a circular Bitcoin economy, and since we don’t have one, we struggle to secure funding. **YakiHonne**: What advice would you give to someone looking to start or expand a Bitcoin-focused community in today’s landscape? **Alexandra**：My advice would be to focus on the core issues, and the two most important ones are structure and education. Often, we get distracted by other elements when building a larger economy—such as organizing meetups, managing day-to-day operations, or maintaining WhatsApp groups for communication. However, for a community to truly grow and thrive, it needs a strong structural system and a functional circular economy. **Alexandra**：First, structure is key. If someone wants to learn about Bitcoin, where can they go? What courses or resources are available? Having clear educational pathways is essential for adoption. **Alexandra**：Second, building a circular economy is crucial. The first step is identifying people who are earning Bitcoin—whether through remittances, jobs, or services. Once there are enough Bitcoin earners, the next step becomes easier: figuring out where they can spend it. This is a far more practical approach than simply convincing businesses to accept Bitcoin without an existing customer base.For example, if you’re a vendor, shop owner, photographer, baker, or farmer, there are many potential Bitcoin customers who don’t want to cash out due to high fees. By accepting Bitcoin, businesses expand their clientele, which is a critical factor in establishing a sustainable Bitcoin economy. **YakiHonne**: Does your community engage in the technical or non-technical aspects of Bitcoin? Or perhaps do you guys do both? **Alexandra**：I think one of the biggest challenges is that we have people conducting thousands of dollars in Bitcoin transactions, yet they don’t understand what Lightning or Layer 2 is. Some even believe that Bitcoin has no real utility, despite using it regularly. There are people who are interested in the technical aspects, and we are gradually finding them. However, our community initially consisted mostly of people who used Bitcoin primarily for remittances. This is a common challenge in Africa—Bitcoin adoption grew rapidly because people saw it as a useful tool, not because they fully understood it. Unfortunately, we are currently more focused on the non-technical aspects, but we are actively working to change that. **YakiHonne**：Alexandra, how do you see the role of Bitcoin communities evolving as technology advances, particularly in areas like scalability, privacy, and adaptability? How do you think these communities will develop as these technologies mature? **Alexandra**：Yeah, I think Bitcoin communities play a crucial role in adoption and education. One of the most common things I hear when teaching people about Bitcoin is, “I wish I had learned about this from you first.” Many people's first encounter with Bitcoin was through scams, which led them to give up on it. Communities are essential because people are more likely to trust and engage with products when they come from a trusted source. **Alexandra**：When you build a community, every new member you bring in has the potential to influence five to ten others. These people are more likely to trust a friend’s recommendation when they say, “Bitcoin is good,” or when they explain how on-chain transactions might be slower or more expensive, but tools exist to enable faster, cheaper, and more private transactions. **Alexandra**：People buy into products they trust—or from people they trust. This is why communities are so important, even in a system built on "Don't trust, verify." Ironically, trust is still the first step for many newcomers. I think this is where Bitcoin might have missed the mark—there are so many incredible Bitcoin advocates, but if no one knows them personally, their messages, no matter how well-articulated, may not resonate. However, when the information comes from a trusted individual, people are much more receptive. **Alexandra**：Bitcoin communities serve as a solid foundation for introducing new solutions, including scalability, privacy, and other innovations. The key is communicating these ideas in a way that people trust and understand. Unlike expensive marketing campaigns, a passionate community can spread Bitcoin education almost for free—all they need are the right tools and resources to drive the movement forward. **YakiHonne**：As long as there is trust, expansion will happen more effectively. Every user, every community member is a stakeholder, as they have the ability to bring others into the community. I’m confident that Bitcoin Reach will continue to grow and make an impact. Now, moving on to my final question, is the government in your region supportive or opposed to Bitcoin? And how has that stance impacted your community so far? **Alexandra**：our government is against Bitcoin. As I mentioned earlier, they were the ones who imposed the implicit ban, making it very expensive for individuals to buy Bitcoin. Zimbabwe used to be one of the fastest adopters in sub-Saharan Africa, but as soon as the government banned Bitcoin, adoption plummeted from 100 to zero. This has made it much more challenging for people like me to build a community around Bitcoin. **Alexandra**：Now, people hold their own keys because they are all using hardware wallets, which is a major benefit. Since they don’t trust institutions, they have taken full control of their Bitcoin, which is a great step toward financial sovereignty. However, this also slows down adoption in some ways. For example, in South Africa, our neighboring country, Pick n Pay has over 1,500 stores where people can pay with Bitcoin. In Zimbabwe, however, there are almost no places to spend Bitcoin, making real-world usage extremely limited. **YakiHonne**：Thank you, Alexander.We've now reached the conclusion of today's interview, and I must say, I've learned so much from you. First, I truly admire how you were motivated by the low Bitcoin adoption rate in your country and took action to change that. I also appreciate your efforts to integrate economic growth with Bitcoin adoption, showing a deep understanding of both financial and technological progress. Your approach to community building is inspiring—you recognize that every community member matters, and the trust they bring is essential to the community’s success. It’s unfortunate that your government does not support Bitcoin, but with time, I believe that as Bitcoin’s influence continues to grow, they will eventually yield to its impact. I’m confident that there will be a stronger Bitcoin movement in Zimbabwe in the future.

@ 2f4550b0:95f20096

The role of a leader extends far beyond managing tasks or hitting targets. Great leaders don’t just steer their ships; they design environments where their teams can grow, adapt, and thrive. By wearing the hat of "learning architects," leaders can craft intentional, impactful learning experiences that empower their teams to take ownership of their development. This isn’t about spoon-feeding knowledge or enforcing rigid training programs. It’s about building a framework where learning feels natural, relevant, and self-directed, unlocking both individual potential and collective success. At the heart of this approach are two guiding principles: self-direction and relevance. Encouraging self-direction for your team will tap into the innate human drive to explore and grow when given autonomy. People don’t want to be told what to learn; they want to pursue learning that matters to them. Relevance, meanwhile, ensures that learning connects directly to real-world challenges, making it immediately applicable. When leaders weave these principles into their team’s growth strategy, they foster a culture of curiosity and resilience. Why does a learning architect mindset matter? Teams that prioritize learning are better equipped to navigate uncertainty. When leaders design growth opportunities, they signal trust in their team’s ability to evolve, boosting morale and performance. More importantly, in a world where skills can become obsolete overnight, fostering continuous learning isn’t optional; it’s a survival tactic. So, how can leaders build this learning ecosystem? Here’s a three-step blueprint to kickstart a team learning initiative that’s both practical and impactful: ## Step 1: Map the Terrain by Identifying Needs and Interests Start by understanding your team’s needs. What skills do they need to excel in their roles today, and what might they need tomorrow? Don’t assume; ask. Conduct one-on-one chats or a quick team survey to uncover your team members’ goals, pain points, and passions. For example, a marketing team might crave data analytics skills, while a product team might lean toward user experience design. Pair these insights with organizational priorities to find the sweet spot where individual interests meet business needs. This step ensures relevance by grounding learning in real-world demands, while inviting self-direction by giving team members a voice. ## Step 2: Build the Framework by Curating Flexible Learning Paths Once you’ve mapped the terrain, design lightweight, adaptable learning paths. Avoid heavy-handed mandates; instead, offer a menu of options. This could mean curating online courses from providers like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, organizing peer-led workshops, or even setting up a book club tackling industry trends. The key is flexibility; let team members choose what resonates. For instance, if someone’s keen on leadership, point them to a podcast series, while a hands-on learner might shadow a senior colleague. Add structure with loose milestones (e.g., “Try one new resource this month”) to keep momentum without stifling autonomy. This balance of guidance and freedom fuels self-directed growth. ## Step 3: Encourage Reflection and Application Learning doesn’t stick unless it’s used. Create opportunities for your team to reflect on what they’ve learned and apply it. Host casual “share-back” sessions where they present key takeaways or test new skills on a small project. For example, a salesperson who studied negotiation tactics could role-play a contract negotiation scenario, while a developer might prototype a tool they’ve explored. Tie these efforts to real challenges, like improving a process or brainstorming a product tweak, to reinforce relevance and connect their learning to the organization’s strategy. As a leader, your role is to cheerlead, ask questions, and remove roadblocks. Being a learning architect isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about designing a system where growth becomes second nature. By anchoring your approach in self-direction and relevance, and following a simple blueprint (map needs, build paths, open space), you empower your team to take the reins. The result? A group that’s not just keeping up, but pushing forward, ready for whatever comes next. Start small, iterate often, and watch your team transform into a powerhouse of learners and top performers. **Leaders as Learning Architects: Designing Growth for Your Team** The role of a leader extends far beyond managing tasks or hitting targets. Great leaders don’t just steer their ships; they design environments where their teams can grow, adapt, and thrive. By wearing the hat of "learning architects," leaders can craft intentional, impactful learning experiences that empower their teams to take ownership of their development. This isn’t about spoon-feeding knowledge or enforcing rigid training programs. It’s about building a framework where learning feels natural, relevant, and self-directed, unlocking both individual potential and collective success. At the heart of this approach are two guiding principles: self-direction and relevance. Encouraging self-direction for your team will tap into the innate human drive to explore and grow when given autonomy. People don’t want to be told what to learn; they want to pursue learning that matters to them. Relevance, meanwhile, ensures that learning connects directly to real-world challenges, making it immediately applicable. When leaders weave these principles into their team’s growth strategy, they foster a culture of curiosity and resilience.  Why does a learning architect mindset matter? Teams that prioritize learning are better equipped to navigate uncertainty. When leaders design growth opportunities, they signal trust in their team’s ability to evolve, boosting morale and performance. More importantly, in a world where skills can become obsolete overnight, fostering continuous learning isn’t optional; it’s a survival tactic. So, how can leaders build this learning ecosystem? Here’s a three-step blueprint to kickstart a team learning initiative that’s both practical and impactful: **Step 1: Map the Terrain by Identifying Needs and Interests** Start by understanding your team’s needs. What skills do they need to excel in their roles today, and what might they need tomorrow? Don’t assume; ask. Conduct one-on-one chats or a quick team survey to uncover your team members’ goals, pain points, and passions. For example, a marketing team might crave data analytics skills, while a product team might lean toward user experience design. Pair these insights with organizational priorities to find the sweet spot where individual interests meet business needs. This step ensures relevance by grounding learning in real-world demands, while inviting self-direction by giving team members a voice. **Step 2: Build the Framework by Curating Flexible Learning Paths** Once you’ve mapped the terrain, design lightweight, adaptable learning paths. Avoid heavy-handed mandates; instead, offer a menu of options. This could mean curating online courses from providers like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, organizing peer-led workshops, or even setting up a book club tackling industry trends. The key is flexibility; let team members choose what resonates. For instance, if someone’s keen on leadership, point them to a podcast series, while a hands-on learner might shadow a senior colleague. Add structure with loose milestones (e.g., “Try one new resource this month”) to keep momentum without stifling autonomy. This balance of guidance and freedom fuels self-directed growth. **Step 3: Encourage Reflection and Application** Learning doesn’t stick unless it’s used. Create opportunities for your team to reflect on what they’ve learned and apply it. Host casual “share-back” sessions where they present key takeaways or test new skills on a small project. For example, a salesperson who studied negotiation tactics could role-play a contract negotiation scenario, while a developer might prototype a tool they’ve explored. Tie these efforts to real challenges, like improving a process or brainstorming a product tweak, to reinforce relevance and connect their learning to the organization’s strategy. As a leader, your role is to cheerlead, ask questions, and remove roadblocks. Being a learning architect isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about designing a system where growth becomes second nature. By anchoring your approach in self-direction and relevance, and following a simple blueprint (map needs, build paths, open space), you empower your team to take the reins. The result? A group that’s not just keeping up, but pushing forward, ready for whatever comes next. Start small, iterate often, and watch your team transform into a powerhouse of learners and top performers.

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

U0Cp38MGIOL5TzaGvfIycZJgQ11ij6LtT5IVmNP8oZS04RKSHhvLTkaHRmnZHZ2kdZbWBVr5fsqc7sR6Gysv/9t+eX+F15l8sd8PokSCMU6l3EYZdP+draq30zuUH7fHHmrH6sKAKBXB8wzhG+da7km97dUO1KHELhR+vGFWtYIyuT1gbM2AvywldcugDWRpEE/a8UsLyROYNB/DhUrD62GN4qP6GCLYNgp7FuUvgD1QYL2kb/ctcwI+OAT1CSk70XwpQjWmKH+eo2Uhlp8bFg1Nm+AI9FTqgsnj2WFhjmfzbVPF4TtBGo1Kp+Guc+1M7jVro1Wy5bYVhZghJ7B4OdkePHcMWaQqXv+V1mgqUG/guOUqvtypP4ATNSj/tsw1?iv=fgZcFd3B4QHwr05LjzYfDQ==

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

bIzjKZ+i0/ZpWslLWXk1tkVypOiX0ErueLoBWso7NSKAdjOdPLPFcrJnePQIJrTHmFxb9hgNnThqbl8iD4/cFvCZb9fzeJpdVuiJ3S457HH1Rd+e/lp/eYxwLl/ZsjxV6jCBfhRH6UTAdwJlIubLf0lRgt3gghV1kQhC6Lhb8CFXe87Lt/0eMFR9xg6x9n96Rx14xqTq1pHnBl0zc6wPdwTebK7wVy6k6qoqP9TpAfbJP2Bcy3g0+p+Cz1j7Sv6hkqyY1w12Fsb+I/8TxI6rVEJdsCViZgjNvRZVBPjlsYrmrM6Kv2Sl/ZcmhCDyuDNzeA1/XtXNwzVX0l7SG5DduLvDt7qqRhPbZc9wZOwa1zg=?iv=6BgowrrUlWNFO8u9jGBCNw==

@ 4d41a7cb:7d3633cc

Money is more abstract than most people think, as I will show in this article. Debt slavery stems from financial illiteracy, which occurs intentionally. The biggest secret is how bankers actually create **currency claims out of thin air and transfer the wealth of their clients (including nation states) to themselves for free without risking a cent, real money, or currency.** ## **MONEY** Money, one of the most important things in our lives, is so important that we exchange wealth to obtain it. Not because we want it but because we need it in order to buy food, shelter, clothes, etc. Money is not inherently bad, although some may argue that the love for money is the root of all evil, and I'll agree. If you are willing to sacrifice your soul, honor, reputation, family, or friends for money, it indicates a lack of morality and a willingness to engage in harmful actions to satisfy your greed and materialistic desires. **Money is a technology, a tool, and like any tool or technology, it is impartial**; it cannot be inherently good or bad. It can be used to help others or to destroy them. At the end of the day, it’s all about the intention behind human behavior. Money is not just a useful tool; it’s **the most important tool** to have for global commerce, division of labor, specialists, and the level of sophistication and comfort we achieve as humanity. All of this will not be possible without this tool working as a common medium of exchange and standard of value, a common language for all humanity: the language of monetary value. **Money is the cornerstone of civilization.** Money is the bloodstream of commerce, and commerce is the spine of civilization; it’s what made our civilization so prosperous, letting any one of us decide how we want to provide value to society. Money is half of every transaction, and since we will always need to intermediate between every exchange, money is the perfect intermediary to help achieve millions of different combinations of exchanges. It will be practically impossible to barter on a global scale; even in a small community with a few different products, it will be a mess. For example, if there were 10 products, there would be 45 combinations; if there were 100, there would be 4950 combinations. Imagine a scenario on a large scale, requiring the exchange of hundreds of thousands of products every second.. This issue **necessitated the development of a new technology: money, which in turn led to the emergence of moneychangers (v4v). Money is a tool to exchange, measure, and store wealth.** Wealth is anything we can sell: our labor (time and energy), our house, a car, a product, a service, etc. **Gold and silver were money for thousands of years** because of their unique characteristics of scarcity, durability, divisibility, and transportability. The most important characteristic of these metals is that they are scarce, and they can’t be created out of thin air or reproduced with no effort. **Only God can control the supply of gold and silver found in nature.** Men can only extract it, and it requires investment, work, time, and effort to find and mine it. So the common knowledge and the common sense of the people over thousands of years consensually chose gold and silver as money. And **this money is the only lawful money under common law.** > “Gold is money, everything else is credit” > > J.P. Morgan 1912 As an interesting fact, the word "money" is used 140 times in the King James Bible, the word "gold" is mentioned 417 times, and the word "silver" over 320 times. But the word “currency” is not mentioned a single time. The most important function of money is to **exchange and store your time and energy**. You work to acquire money and then use that money to acquire other goods and services. **Our time and energy is our real wealth** because it’s limited. We all have a limited time on earth, and we can do certain things in the 24 hours we have every day, so we have to be conscious about how we administrate and store the fruits of our labor. Money is a means to an end; we don't want money; we want what money can buy, and guess what, money cannot buy more time. ## **CURRENCY = FAKE MONEY** **Currency exists as a money substitute.** Currencies began as the opposite of money, the **promise to deliver money in the future: debt**. Currencies can be used to exchange wealth, but they are not a fair unit of account and are never a good way to store it because men are tempted to create more and dilute its value (a process known as inflation) Currencies have almost all the same characteristics of money, but there’s a big difference: **currency is not scarce and durable**. Missing the store of value characteristic of money, since **its supply can be manipulated by men.** For wealth preservation and measuring, modern currencies make no sense. Men control the supply of currency; **banks and governments can inflate or deflate it in any amount they please, giving them supreme power and control over wealth distribution.** This creates two classes of citizens: those who work to acquire currency and those who create it instantly and for free. International banks have stolen money (gold and silver) over the past century, replacing its supply with currency or fake money (paper receipts). \[1913, 1933, 1944, 1971\] Under this monetary game, those with "fixed income," savers, and creditors are the biggest losers, while debtors and asset owners are the winners.. The **most important distinction to keep in mind is that nature controls the money supply, making artificial inflation impossible.** On the other hand, men can inflate currency in unlimited amounts. It is **a manifestation of God's power on earth, as the mediums of exchange serve as the lifeblood of commerce, the backbone of our economic system, and facilitate the division of labor.** If someone can **inflate the currency supply, this has the same economic effect as counterfeiting,** and he’s effectively stealing from everyone contracting, trading, and saving in that currency. Manipulating the mediums of exchange in an economy enables manipulation of every security, industry, and business. This is the reason the founding fathers of the United States made gold and silver only lawful money for the payment of debts. To give everyone equal protection under the law and to get rid of the nobility and two types of citizens: bankers and workers or nobles and plebeians. > Bank-notes are not money. It 's currency. It’s unfair to take banks' currency as a standard for comparison.  > > Bank-note currency is not “lawful money”. It never could be counted as part of banks cash reserves. ***It would be too much like a man writing and signing his own promissory note for a million and then claiming that this made him a millionaire.***  > > The very grave evils any currency depreciation always impose upon businesses and the people.  > > Alfred Owen Crozier, US Money vs Corporate currency, 1912 So money has three very important functions that work as the pillars on which the wellness of our economic system and civilizations relies. Currency is not a store of value because its supply can be easily manipulated, men in power can create more of it, and so using this always-changing currency as a standard of value or a unit of account is like using an always-changing ruler to measure distance. A dollar today does not buy the same as a dollar one year ago. So yesterday prices are not equal to today's prices; this is an unfair business calculation. So money has three very important functions that work as the pillars on which the wellness of our economic system and civilizations rel**ies. Currency is not a store of value because its supply can be easily manipulated**, men in power can create more of it, and so using this always-changing currency as a standard of value or a unit of account is like using an always-changing ruler to measure distance. **A dollar today does not buy the same as a dollar one year ago**. So yesterday prices are not equal to today's prices; this is an unfair business calculation.  There are several Bible verses that discuss the manipulation of weights and measures, emphasizing the importance of honesty and fairness in commercial dealings. 1. Leviticus 19:35-36 New International Version (NIV): "**Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity.** Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. 2. Deuteronomy 25:13-15: Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. **You must have accurate and honest weights and measures**. 3. Proverbs 11:1—"A "**dishonest scale is an abomination to the Lord**, but a just weight is his delight." **Fake money (currency) is always and everywhere a dishonest scale.** So if you want a real measure of value or wealth use something with real value instead, like gold, commodities, products, times, etc. Bankers have redefined the word money to mean fake money, currency, or debt. And this is not the worst part. Let’s introduce another concept: credit. ## **CREDIT = FAKE CURRENCY**  **Real credit is the promise to pay money in the future.** It involves delaying the payment of money. **Currency was born as credit**, as a money certificate or receipt. During the last century, banks gradually replaced 100% of the money with currency and bank credit to further boost their profits and control. \[1913, 1933, 1944, 1971\] But in order to achieve this goal, **bankers redefined the word money to mean the opposite of money: credit/debt. This is like calling a night a day or evil a good.** When you take out a loan from a friend, you receive credit from him, but you also incur a debt with him. You promise your friends that you will pay them (asset/right), and you owe them (liability/obligation). The asset and the liability are one and part of the same deal; they cannot exist without the other. There’s no credit with no debt, no debt with no credit, and no liability with no asset.  Federal Reserve notes, commonly known as **“dollars,”** are a private corporate currency; they are **not money** because they are not gold or silver, nor receipts for these metals as many people still believe. They were not redeemable in money from the start, despite being created under the assumption. The “peso” (Spanish word for weight) used to be a standardized amount of gold or silver, but it’s not any more; it's just a debt denomination. And what's owing? Currency. **How can someone lend the opposite of money and charge interest? O**nly deceiving you into believing that he is lending you money. So they redefined the word money to mean the opposite of it. But redefining words does not change the economic effect of the transaction. When currencies first appeared, I can imagine people asking themselves, "How can people trust these paper certificates in exchange for their money?" Who will be that stupid?” And **nowadays, people don’t understand the difference between money and currency, to the point that bankers redefined the word "money" to mean the opposite of "money."** Lesson: Money is not just a medium of exchange; it is also a store of value and a unit of account. Currency, the opposite of money, is debt. Since it can be created in unlimited amounts, it can't work as a store of value because its value depreciates as more units are created; for this same reason, it is not fair to denominate values in currency units since one currency unit today does not buy the same as a year ago because of inflation, the loss of purchasing power. Summarize: While money, currency, and credit all serve as effective mediums of exchange, only money serves as a reliable store of value for saving. Currency and credit are not stores of value (not good to save), and there are not fair units of account (not good for price). In simple terms, money is not currency, because currency is just credit and debt. We can conceptualize it as a ledger, a record of who owes what to whom. Currency is fake money since it’s the opposite of a store of value; it's always depreciating in value while its supply is inflated. This is the definition of inflation. **Modern credit is not currency; it’s the opposite. It’s the promise to deliver currency in the future, the promise of a promise of money (in theory). But there’s no money behind. It’s an air loan.** But how did we get here? Is everyone stupid? No, we have been tricked, manipulated, and dictated to use these currencies, and this banking system was forced on us. They stole our money and replaced it with fake substitutes to boost their profits. ## **MODERN MEDIUMS OF EXCHANGE = MONOPOLY MONEY** **So nowadays we have fake money acting as cash/currency and fake currency acting as bank deposits or credit.** One is worse than the other, but both of them serve only as mediums of exchange. Those who store wealth with them will be robbed, and those who calculate business will be lied to. Today we use currencies (government notes), coins, bank deposits (currency claims), checks (bank deposit claims), credit cards, and debit cards. All of them are ‘monopoly money’ fake claims based on a big and global fraud. - *Government notes (government debt)* Since governments are under the control of central banks, they can only create currency by borrowing. Governments must issue bonds, or debt, and the central bank can generate credit, or currency, to purchase these bonds. The bond (government liability) is the counterpart of the ‘asset’ (the currency, a central bank asset). Bonds are debt, and currencies are credit. When the central bank creates currency to lend it to the government at interest, it has literally the economic effect of **transferring the wealth of the nation to the banks for free**. The banks are not lending anything that they had to labor to produce; instead, they are creating it by printing paper notes or digital currency. On the other side, governments have to collect money from citizens (producers, merchants, and workers) to pay the interest on the debt. Despite their best efforts, governments are unable to repay the debt due to interest, which makes it bigger than the amount of currency. Let’s say the debt is 100 at 1% interest. So there’s only 100 in currency. But at the end of the year, there’s going to be a debt of 101. In order for the system to keep working, someone else has to go into debt to create more currency units, and governments have to keep borrowing and at least only paying the interest and rolling the debt. The important thing is that if you have government currency debt free, you own it. This is the new ‘money.’. **Government currency is the ‘real’ cash, liquidity, or water.** - *Bank deposits (bank debt)* When you deposit your government currency in the bank, you are legally lending your currency to the bank, and the bank owes you the amount you deposit. This currency is not stored by banks until you request it. Banks use this currency as if it were theirs, and they do business with it. That’s why I said, **‘Your money in the bank’ is not yours; it’s not money; it’s not in the bank.** Its currency, its owe to you, is only registered on the bank ledger as a debt, not in a safe box. The numbers you get in the bank account, or your balance, are government currency substitutes; they are bank deposits. Your currency deposit is the asset, and the number on your bank account balance is the liability. But this is not the worst part. Banks lend around 10 times more currency than they have in deposits. So banks have more liabilities than assets (they are literally broke). People often treat bank deposits, also known as government currency substitutes or bank tokens, as legal tender, allowing banks to create them arbitrarily and 'lend' them to unsuspecting clients who mistakenly believe they are receiving currency. This is possible only because the bank's deposit has equal cash value. ***Government bonds, government currency, and bank deposits have equal value. But they are not the same.*** All of them have counterparty risk, but **cash, or government currency, is better** or safer than bonds or bank deposits. If interest rates rise, the value of bonds can decrease, and default on bank deposits can result in total loss, a scenario that has frequently occurred. Keep in mind that bank deposits represent the bank's debts, also known as liabilities. Business activities and risk-taking make your currency unsecured, and they don't compensate you enough for the loan and risk. - *Debit cards (bank deposit transfer)* Your bank deposit is your right to get your currency back. When you use a credit card to buy something, you are transferring that right to the seller so he can redeem that bank token for currency if he wishes. But you have to have had a deposit before you can spend it or transfer it. - *Checks (bank deposit transfer)* The same applies to checks. Your bank deposit is your right to get your currency back. When you use a check to buy something, you are transferring that right to the seller so he can redeem that bank token for currency if he wishes. - *Credit card (bank deposit creator)* Credit cards are different. When you use a credit card, you are creating a bank deposit backed by your promise of paying it back. By allowing the bank to create a currency substitute out of nothing and charge you high interest, you are essentially working for them for free.  Not only this, but you are also letting them collect fees from the payments processing that cost them nothing and support their fake money as a medium of exchange. **Using credit cards is literally voting for financial slavery.** This is why companies make credit cards so convenient and offer benefits, with the intention of incentivizing and pushing people into the debt slavery system. ## **BANKS = MONEYCHANGERS** ‘Loans’ = exchanges Not only do they create bank deposits when you deposit currency, but they also create them when you "take a loan." Banks do not lend money, and they do not lend currency; they lend bank deposits (bank tokens/IOUs/currency substitutes).  Banks had to redefine the word money to mean the opposite of money (debt) to trick the people. How can you lend the oposite of money and expect to be paid back plus interest?  **The fact is that this is not a loan but an exchange.** When you take a loan, you sign a contract that creates a promissory note, which is your promise to pay. The bank then takes this promissory note, without your permission (steals), and sells it for cash (if you requiere it) or government bonds (to earn interest).  Your promissory note has equal value to cash and government bonds. And banks always need an asset to create a bank deposit (liability). So the banks literally steal your asset (promissory note) and sell them to create IOUs that they will ‘lend’ to you.  They ‘lend’ the oposite of money and call it a loan. The truth is that they are acting as moneychangers, and they are exchanging your IOU (promissory note) for a bank IOU (bank deposit) without your permission and pretending that you pay it back, but they never pay back theirs… How is this possible? This is only possible because most people treat bank deposits (bank tokens, IOUs, and debts) as a medium of exchange because they trust the banks. This is the root of inequality under the law. While one group can create IOUs from nothing and steal others, the other must work for them or exchange wealth. If this bank defaults, its IOUs quickly vanish. This is a mathematical certainty; that’s why banks that are 'too big to fail' demand bailouts. **Every bank is bankrupt** since they have 7–10 times more liabilities than assets, and the assets they have are not theirs but their clients' assets. The only thing that keeps them alive is the trust of the public and the bailouts of the government. **This is legalized slavery and theft.** There’s no other name. Banks own every industry, government, public figure, actor, etc. They have the power of God on earth, and it's time to stop them. If we let the bank take our wealth for free, we will end up bankrupt, and they will end up owning everything. Every medium of exchange nowadays is an IOU or an IOU of an IOU. Ultimately, it is mathematically impossible to repay all of those IOUs, and banks pretend to keep all the assets.  *Check: IOU = deposit; IOU = cash; IOU = bond; IOU + interest* The only way this system can continue is to keep creating new IOUs to pay the old ones, but even then (as it has been for over a century), the value of those IOUs keeps falling, causing hyperinflation. If banks and governments want to ‘avoid’ (imposible) or relent to hyperinflation, they need to incur a great confiscation. So heads you lose, tails they lose; playing this game doesn't make any fucking sense. Buy Bitcoin, self custody, and fuck the government and the banking system.  Live free or die trying. 

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

pNUdPvyEHgjojXtxjD1BOACaI89rMEdno/4NTVplJyoIXZz39sNoWhVbkd9p6I9J0kBWYuwmmiyJBTeJl/HZrx8nSXTa6IHJ83JeD9kZRb/hQghKXM4+ivG/MzH01EVlhlbb3mqNQmE0P3wVGJR4VYJv4LB70Mco6VSNJKEwPIp5qYhF+QsT1/Hd9zBsqREE2K8eOKy/4TGEQTd7PVBUoX61hpQCX4gr7Q8VL9AVZIwEnXjpWkKhuyMZ61SYjIJ6W/Ilsx+/bwTMasMfJxDC3ILXTU6VGm+zVm0IkRcgd2Es2Ukj5oKOVDD5403IcOY9Q+et7XFT7BQV5UvnEpZ4BSrLiLxHc7DgNPVXkKUgxvA=?iv=9erGHlZFRRgCb9x6SMl01g==

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The financial landscape has been dramatically reshaped with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) landmark approval of the first-ever batch of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This pivotal moment not only signifies a major leap forward for the cryptocurrency realm but also marks a significant evolution in traditional investment methodologies. The integration of Bitcoin into the ETF framework heralds a new era of digital asset investment, blending the innovative world of cryptocurrencies with the stability and familiarity of traditional financial markets. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Bitcoin ETFs, their profound implications for the investment community, and the transformative potential they hold for the future of financial diversification and strategy. **Table of Contents** - What is a Bitcoin ETF? - The Significance of SEC’s Approval - Impact on the Cryptocurrency Market - Benefits for Investors - Enhanced Accessibility - Portfolio Diversification - Regulatory Safety Net - Challenges and Considerations - Conclusion - FAQs **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** A Bitcoin ETF represents a seismic shift in investment opportunities, offering a bridge between the cutting-edge realm of cryptocurrencies and the established world of stock market investing. It functions as an investment fund that closely tracks the value of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy shares that mirror the performance of the digital currency. These shares are traded on conventional stock exchanges, akin to stocks, thereby democratizing access to Bitcoin investment. This innovative approach eliminates the technical barriers and security concerns associated with direct cryptocurrency investments, such as understanding blockchain technology, managing digital wallets, and safeguarding private keys. By simplifying the investment process, Bitcoin ETFs are poised to attract a diverse range of investors, from seasoned stock market enthusiasts to newcomers intrigued by the potential of digital currencies. **The Significance of SEC’s Approval** The SEC's approval of Bitcoin ETFs is a watershed moment, signaling a paradigm shift in the financial sector's approach to digital assets. It's a recognition of Bitcoin's growing relevance and maturity as an investment asset, and a nod to its potential to integrate seamlessly into the broader financial system. This move is not just about regulatory compliance; it's a strong endorsement of the legitimacy and viability of cryptocurrencies. The involvement of heavyweight financial institutions in sponsoring these ETFs is a testament to the growing confidence in Bitcoin's future. This development is expected to catalyze further innovations in the cryptocurrency space, encouraging more rigorous standards, enhanced security protocols, and greater transparency, all of which are essential for mainstream acceptance and long-term growth. **Impact on the Cryptocurrency Market** The launch of Bitcoin ETFs is set to revolutionize the cryptocurrency market. By offering a regulated, familiar, and accessible investment vehicle, these ETFs are likely to attract a new demographic of investors, including those who have been on the sidelines due to the perceived complexities and risks of cryptocurrencies. This broader investor base could lead to increased market capitalization and liquidity for Bitcoin, potentially reducing volatility and fostering a more stable pricing environment. Moreover, the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs could serve as a catalyst for the development of similar products for other cryptocurrencies, paving the way for a more diverse and robust digital asset market. This could also spur innovation in blockchain technology and crypto-related services, further integrating these into the mainstream financial ecosystem. **Benefits for Investors** **Enhanced Accessibility** Bitcoin ETFs represent a democratization of cryptocurrency investment, making it accessible to a wider audience. This inclusivity extends beyond individual investors to institutional ones, who may have been hesitant to invest in cryptocurrencies due to regulatory concerns or logistical complexities. By trading on major stock exchanges, Bitcoin ETFs offer a familiar and regulated environment, lowering the entry barrier for those new to digital currencies. **Portfolio Diversification** The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs offers a novel avenue for portfolio diversification. Historically, investors seeking diversification would turn to a mix of stocks, bonds, and commodities. Bitcoin ETFs add a new dimension to this mix, providing exposure to an asset class that has shown a low correlation with traditional markets. This diversification can be particularly appealing in times of economic uncertainty or inflationary pressures, where Bitcoin has often been touted as a 'digital gold'. **Regulatory Safety Net** Trading within the regulated framework of stock exchanges, Bitcoin ETFs offer a level of oversight and consumer protection not typically available in direct cryptocurrency investments. This regulatory safety net can be particularly reassuring for risk-averse investors and those concerned about the legal implications of cryptocurrency investments. Simplified Investment and Taxation Process: Investing in Bitcoin directly involves a complex maze of tax implications and ownership challenges. Bitcoin ETFs streamline this process, offering a straightforward investment vehicle that fits neatly into existing tax and investment frameworks. This simplification is a boon for both individual investors managing their portfolios and financial advisors seeking to incorporate digital assets into their clients' strategies. **Challenges and Considerations** While Bitcoin ETFs offer numerous advantages, they are not without their challenges and risks. The cryptocurrency market, known for its volatility, presents a unique risk profile that may not be suitable for all investors. The price of Bitcoin can be influenced by a range of factors, from regulatory news to technological developments, and investor sentiment. Therefore, while ETFs provide a more accessible route to Bitcoin investment, they do not shield investors from the inherent price volatility of the underlying asset. Additionally, as with any emerging investment vehicle, there is a learning curve associated with understanding how Bitcoin ETFs fit into a broader investment strategy. Investors should conduct thorough research, consider their long-term investment goals, and possibly consult with financial advisors to understand how Bitcoin ETFs align with their risk tolerance and investment objectives. **Conclusion** The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs is a landmark development in the financial world, bridging the gap between traditional investment mechanisms and the burgeoning world of digital currencies. This innovation not only expands the accessibility of Bitcoin to a broader range of investors but also enhances the overall credibility and stability of the cryptocurrency market. As the financial landscape continues to evolve, Bitcoin ETFs stand as a beacon of the growing synergy between conventional finance and digital asset innovation, offering a glimpse into a future where such collaborations are not just possible but are a cornerstone of investment strategy. As we move forward, Bitcoin ETFs will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of investment portfolios, offering a unique combination of innovation, accessibility, and diversification. **FAQs** **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** A Bitcoin ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy shares in the ETF on traditional stock exchanges, without directly purchasing and managing Bitcoin. **How does a Bitcoin ETF differ from buying Bitcoin directly?** Unlike direct Bitcoin purchases, which require a cryptocurrency exchange account and a digital wallet, a Bitcoin ETF allows investors to trade shares representing Bitcoin on conventional stock exchanges, simplifying the investment process. **Are Bitcoin ETFs safe investments?** While Bitcoin ETFs offer the safety of regulated stock exchanges and eliminate the need for digital wallet management, they still carry the inherent volatility and risks associated with Bitcoin prices. **Can Bitcoin ETFs be included in retirement portfolios?** Yes, Bitcoin ETFs can be included in various investment portfolios, including retirement plans, offering a way to diversify with a new asset class. **What are the tax implications of investing in a Bitcoin ETF?** Bitcoin ETFs simplify tax reporting compared to direct cryptocurrency investments. However, investors should consult with a tax professional to understand specific implications. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: @croxroadnews.co** **Instagram: @croxroadnews.co** **Youtube: @croxroadnews** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ 0463223a:3b14d673

I’m in a weird space of nostalgia. 24 hours without any pharmaceutical help for mood and anxiety problems. As mentioned previously, I’ve been boshing RRSIs and the like for 10 plus years. They’re very addictive to be honest. For context I’ve given up nicotine, amphetamines, crack cocaine and heroin in the past so I think I’m a decent benchmark for a drug’s addictive qualities... Top, without question was nicotine. Not for the side effects but the fact it took many years to kick and a lot of on/off usage. I can’t remember the last time I smoked a cigarette so it’s been quite a few years now. Heroin was fun…. Well if you call fun having a horrible case of flu where you also hallucinate, that sort of fun. But RRSIs have been very tough and it’s only been 24 hours (after slowly reducing the dose over 6 months). I feel pretty shit to be honest but I’ll get through today. I’ve also quit Pregabalin today which, as I understand, is an anti-psychotic so I can’t rule out the possibility of psychopathy today… I tried once before and it came close to ending my relationship with my wife (not for psychopathy I hasten to add, just an absolutely foul, unstable mood). This time I’ve taken the process a lot slower. I’ve been trapped in a weird feeling of nostalgia these last 24 hours, it’s odd as it is being trapped inside the perception of a piece of music. I don’t think I can describe the feeling well but the track is from a cassette I had as a kid. The true origins of the tape I don’t know. I taped it from a friend who told me it was from the club we frequented in 1991, a place called Slammers. Still without doubt the best club I ever went to. It was tiny, like not much bigger than an average house in the UK, in fact probably smaller, depends on your perception of house sizes. I’m going by turn of the century terraced houses common in the UK. The club coincided with a particularly good run of ecstasy tablets in the UK. The downstairs of the club was truly mental. There were no lights at all. Pitch black, the only lighting being from the turntables and mixer. It was nuts. It was a life changing experience. Being broke I only ever went a handful of times but the idea the tape originated from there was good enough for me. The in house DJ crew were the Get Down Crew from Bethnal Green (at least I think this is what I remember). Namely two guys by the names of Wigs and Easy T. The music played was a lot of what paved the way for Jungle in 1993 and the term Jungle Techno was being used by us around this time. Now the tape may not have been Wigs and Easy T, part of me wonders if it was DJ Rap (Or Fabio???). Whist the tunes were great, the mixing wasn’t amazing and reminiscent of Rap’s style (sorry DJ Rap!) but it exists in my memory, a very real artefact. So this tape was another source for me to find records, most that I really liked I identified over the years but some eluded me. One was Virtual by The Black Dog (ironic), that I found on night online, probably a few glasses of wine in… And I now know that there were only 500 copies of that record made, copies go for around £100 these days. Worst is I actually nearly bought it at the time but the dude in the record shop said it probably wasn't my thing!?!?!?!? Even back in 1991 the song sounded like some ancient artefact. Such a warm noise. “World World World, I sit in my room imagine the future”. Damn. The other track I only recently found out, and it was on the B Side from a group I already loved and had some of their records. However, unlike The Black Dog, it’s not rare, just overlooked as the group were more known for their Hip Hop output. It was The Cash Crew all along?! Fuck!!!! Now since finding I play on my streaming show a lot and given I’d listened so much on cassette too, I know that record inside out! Well no I don’t!??! After editing for a mixtape, I noticed layers of vocals I never knew existed and I’m also now trapped in this nostalgic frame and it feels immeasurably sad. The fact is I never actually heard that record in a club, despite it being on a tape that I help as an ultimate reference point for a moment in time that I never actually experienced. That sums up the feeling of coming off RRSIs. Maybe this all sounds frivolous but music has always make up a core of my identity, more so than being a fucking spastic ever did. Now I own the record, I am old as fuck and millions of miles away from a moment that never existed. I can’t explain. Cash Crew – HUMP https://video.mxtthxw.art/w/dQHPt96bXwMP8Ggyjrcq8x

@ e7bc35f8:3ed2a7cf

Contrary to what its multi-million dollar [international PR campaign]( https://youtu.be/D_MZKRG3frQ) would have you believe, the "White Helmets" are not a group of volunteer search-and-rescue workers that sprang spontaneously out of the Syrian soil. In November 2017, journalist Vanessa Beeley gave a [groundbreaking presentation]( https://www.youtube.com/live/lC7ZxdFzdzQ) to the Swiss Press Club in Geneva on the so-called "Syria Civil Defence" (better known as the "White Helmets"), which presents itself as an impartial group of volunteer search and rescue workers working "_to save lives and strengthen communities in Syria._" In her presentation, Beeley demonstrated the connections between this supposedly "neutral" organization, recognized terrorist groups operating in Syria, and the UK government. VANESSA BEELEY > During my time working in East Aleppo, it was clear that the councils were working hand in hand with [Al] Nusra Front. Their centers in each district were always next door to Nusra Front headquarters and White Helmet centres, i.e., they always formed an integrated complex. Less than three weeks later, [The Guardian]( https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/18/syria-white-helmets-conspiracy-theories) released a report painting all skeptics of the White Helmets, including Beeley and other "anti-imperialist activists", as proponents of a Russian propaganda campaign directed by the Kremlin. This is no coincidence. The White Helmets are in fact part of a coordinated propaganda campaign. But that campaign is not being directed by the Kremlin, but the western governments which have been responsible for the founding and funding of the White Helmets. And the ones promoting that propaganda are not independent journalists like Beeley, but establishment mouthpieces like The Guardian. The White Helmets won an Oscar at the 2017 Academy Awards. This is, after all, an organization that thrives on the magic of movie-making to make themselves into heroes. Surely any movie that could turn a group funded by the US and UK governments, associated with western intelligence operatives, and embedded with Al Qaeda terrorists, into a group of crusading heroes is as worthy of an Academy Award as any similarly fictitious movie about superheroes saving the world. It was also fitting that the leader of the group, Raed Saleh, [was not at the ceremony]( https://youtu.be/EJ5uFsEMLGw) to help accept the prize as originally planned. 🔸NPR REPORTER: > Hi, I 'm wondering…um, I thought the White Helmets we’re gonna be here, or the leader and the cinematographer who shot a lot of this film. What happened? 🔸ORLANDO VON EINSIEDEL: > Well, Raed Saleh, who’s the leader of the White Helmets, he couldn’t come in the end because the last couple of days in Syria the violence has really escalated and he does life-saving work[…]. Our cinematographer, I mean, you know we’re confused about this, too. The last two weeks have been very difficult. He had a US visa, he tried to board a plane, and he wasn’t able to come, so we - you know, we’re very sad about that. What Orlando von Einsiedel, the director of the film, neglected to mention is that this was not the first time that Raed Saleh, the leader of the White Helmets, failed to appear in the US. In April of 2016, InterAction, an alliance of NGOs, held a gala dinner in Washington, where it planned to honour Saleh and the work of the White Helmets in Syria. However, Saleh [was refused entry]( https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/world/middleeast/leader-of-syria-rescue-group-arriving-in-us-for-award-is-refused-entry.html?_r=0) into the country when he arrived at Washington’s Dulles Airport.  Declining to talk about the details of the case, a [State Department spokesman]( https://youtu.be/ehdAVgmPODY) merely said, "_The U.S. government’s system of continual vetting means that traveler records are screened against available information in real time_". 🔸MATT LEE: > You commend this group, you’re going to continue to support them, and yet you revoked the visa of their leader? I don’t…that makes zero sense to me. […] 🔸MARK TONER: > ...unfortunately, we can’t speak to individual visa cases. I think broadly speaking, though on any visa case we are constantly looking at new information, so-called 'continually vetting' travel or records and if we do have new information that we believe an individual would pose a security risk we’ll certainly act on that. 🔸LEE: > I’m saying that it just strikes me as a bit odd that you’re saying that this group is wonderful and does such a great job and you’re commending them for their heroism, and yet you’re doing this just 10 days after the leader of this group, who was supposed to be, you know…got his visa revoked or wasn’t allowed to travel here. […] 🔸TONER: > Well, he’s one individual in the group, and any individual—again, I’m broadening my language here for specific reasons—but any individual in any group suspected of ties or relations with extremist groups, or that we have believed to be a security threat to the United States, we would act accordingly. But that does not by extension mean we condemn or would cut off ties to the group for which that individual works for. So how is this possible? How could the leader of such a valiant team of crusading do-gooders himself be denied a visa to enter the United States as a potential security threat with ties to terrorists? The multi-million dollar PR campaign that surrounds the White Helmets, after all, portrayed the group as being pure as the driven snow. A perfect example for this is [the story]( https://youtu.be/L5ULObu2ByM) about the boy named Omran Daqneesh. A story that eventually turned to be totally [fake news]( https://www.mintpressnews.com/mintpress-meets-father-iconic-aleppo-boy-says-media-lied-son/228722/).  But what is always left out of these glowing mainstream media puff pieces is any actual information about the organization. Where did it come from? Who founded it? Where does it get its funding? And why did it operate exclusively in terrorist-held areas of Syria? The first clues about the real nature of the group come from their name itself. Calling themselves the "Syria Civil Defence" is misleading in multiple ways. First, it implies that the group was founded in Syria by Syrians. It was not. The group was in fact founded in March 2013 in Turkey, by James Le Mesurier, a former British military intelligence officer then doing contract work for the US and UK governments. None of this information is even controversial. This is the story as told by [Le Mesurier]( https://youtu.be/sw3NMEyMSTw) himself. The name "Syria Civil Defence" was also a lie because there was a [real Syria Civil Defence]( https://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/23/exclusive-the-real-syria-civil-defence-expose-natos-white-helmets-as-terrorist-linked-imposters/) that has been operating in the country for 65 years. The actual Syria Civil Defence, a volunteer search and rescue organization, was established in Syria in 1953. Unlike the White Helmets, the [real Syria Civil Defence]( https://icdo.org/) was a member of the International Civil Defence Organisation and (again, in contrast to the White Helmets) had an emergency number (113) that can be called in Syria by those needing assistance. But thar Syria Civil Defence does not enjoy the glitz and glamour of Oscar-winning documentaries, the constant attention of the international press, or the [more than $60 million]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170103120950/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2mWdvgCOqs) in [funding]( https://21stcenturywire.com/2017/12/02/white-helmets-local-councils-uk-fco-financing-terrorism-syria-taxpayer-funds/) by [foreign governments]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170730064327/http://www.adamsmithinternational.com/explore-our-work/middle-east-north-africa/syria/building-the-capacity-for-governance-in-communities-across-opposition-contr/) that have been bestowed on the [White Helmets]( https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/may/08/gazientep-turkey-tamkeen-quest-to-rebuild-syria).  But even more disturbing than the unusual founding of the group is the evidence demonstrating that the White Helmets, far from their official claim to political neutrality, are in fact intimately embedded with known and listed terrorist organizations in Syria. Again, the most damning evidence in this regard is not controversial in the slightest. It comes directly from the White Helmets themselves. Numerous videos and photos have surfaced showing the White Helmets parading on the dead bodies of Syrian government forces and flying the flags of known terrorist organizations. An in-depth report on "The Syrian War Blog" in 2017, examined the social media profiles of 65 different White Helmets-connected figures and found numerous posts in support of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and other listed terrorist organizations. Some even [posted pictures]( https://syrianwar1.blogspot.com/2017/11/white-helmets-exposed-as-extremists-65.html?m=1) of themselves with known terrorist leaders or waving the flag of terrorist groups like ISIS, and many proudly displayed images of dead Syrian soldiers. Most of this evidence is explained away as "bad apples" in the organization acting on their own. Some of these "bad apples" are then castigated in public displays, like when one White Helmet was fired when footage surfaced showing him [disposing the mutilated corpses]( https://www.newsweek.com/oscar-win-white-helmets-syria-volunteer-dump-bodies-rebels-628407) of Syrian government fighters. When a graphic video of the White Helmets [overseeing]( https://x.com/BenjaminNorton/status/865033499950145538?t=Ru67QyFS7hgqWRJWLuEb0g&s=19) [the execution]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170627003514/https://twitter.com/Ali_Kourani/status/877287658472472579) of a man in terrorist-occupied Daraa surfaced, the group actually [defended the workers]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170613015828/http://syriacivildefense.org/sites/syriacivildefense.org/files/18%20May%202017%20-%20.pdf) while acknowledging that they "did not fully uphold the strict principle of neutrality and impartiality". But incredibly, Le Mesurier, the former British intel officer who founded the White Helmets in 2013, defended the workers [caught in one bloody video]( https://web.archive.org/web/20190502060841/https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=fd8_1430900709&comments=1) from May 2015. The Middle Ground, a Singaporean website, ran a story [featuring Le Mesurier’s take ]( https://web.archive.org/web/20180212075744/http://203.211.130.27/2017/04/18/white-helmets-terrorists-fake-news-syria-assad-nobel-oscars/)on the incident. In opposition to the deafening mainstream media silence over this incredible mountain of evidence against the White Helmets standed only a handful of independent researchers, universally ignored or marginalized from the mainstream discussion on the issue. These independent researchers include [Vanessa Beeley]( https://youtu.be/NQL3rX6xWRg), a British researcher who has been one of the few journalists to report extensively on the ground in areas like East Aleppo over the last two years, and Eva Bartlett, a Canadian freelancer who has gained notoriety for using her own on-the-ground reporting from Syria to speak out against the mainstream narrative about the White Helmets. Given that there were so few voices speaking up against the White Helmets, it should come as no surprise that when "The Guardian" finally deigned to address what they termed the "conspiracy theories" about the organization, they turned their attention on these very researchers. In "How Syria’s White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine", The Guardian turned to Olivia Solon to dismiss all opposition to the White Helmets as the work of "anti-imperialist activists", "conspiracy theorists" and "trolls with the support of the Russian government". The choice of Solon to report on this story is especially odd; a "technology reporter" in San Francisco, Solon has no background of any sort in geopolitics or combat zone reporting and, as far as can be determined, has never set foot in Syria. Instead, she relied exclusively on sources such as the [murky PR lobbying firm]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170110212932/https://www.alternet.org/world/inside-shadowy-pr-firm-thats-driving-western-opinion-towards-regime-change-syria), The Syria Campaign, to praise the White Helmets and [castigate their detractors]( https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/18/syria-white-helmets-conspiracy-theories). Bizarrely, the report devotes a great deal of attention to the White Helmets’ [Mannequin Challenge video]( https://youtu.be/Zgl271A6LgQ), footage of an admittedly fake and staged "rescue" operation released by the group in an attempt to cash in on a viral internet video trend taking place at the time. The inference of the video is obvious: that the group is perfectly capable of staging incredibly realistic and completely fake "rescue" operations at any time. These fake videos, stripped of their context, would be uncritically promoted as authentic by mainstream outlets like The Guardian in the exact same way that the completely fictitious video of a "Syrian" boy rescuing his sister under sniper fire was uncritically accepted by the mainstream media…until it was admitted to be a [fake video produced in Malta]( https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-30057401) by a Norwegian film crew "_to see how the media would respond to such a video_". The Guardian’s headline when the fake Norwegian film production was released? "[Syrian boy 'saves girl from army sniper]( https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/nov/12/syrian-boy-saves-girl-from-army-sniper-video)' – video." Strangely, Solon’s report does not mention that incident. The majority of The Guardian's report focuses on why the innocent and virtuous White Helmets would be so viciously attacked by independent journalists and how all opposition to the group is connected to the Kremlin. This is supposedly demonstrated in an utterly meaningless "infographic" of colored dots showing precisely nothing of substance. Unsurprisingly, Solon's contact with the reporters whose work she was set to impugn displayed her biases from the very start. [Bartlett exposed the conversation]( https://www.globalresearch.ca/how-the-mainstream-media-whitewashed-al-qaeda-and-the-white-helmets-in-syria/5624930) she had with Olivia Solon and the emails received from her, where you can see her real [dishonest intentions]( https://ingaza.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/those-who-transmit-syrian-voices-are-russian-propagandists-monitors-of-fake-news-negate-syrian-suffering/). Olivia Solon contacted Beeley as well. Her attempt to put them in a position of having to defend themselves [becomes obvious]( https://youtu.be/NQL3rX6xWRg). Of course what would you have expected from The Guardian? [In 2016 it lobbied]( https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/05/the-guardian-view-on-the-nobel-peace-prize-give-it-to-syrias-white-helmets), effectively, for the White Helmets to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and when it was inundated with negative comments it simply closed comments. Researchers like Beeley, Bartlett and Professor Tim Anderson, also mentioned in Solon’s report, are easy enough targets for The Guardian. Independent journalists taking it upon themselves to counter the Syria narrative, they would never be taken seriously by establishment media circles in the first place. Curiously omitted from The Guardian article, however, are the award-winning, internationally respected journalists who have similarly expressed skepticism about the White Helmets, their backers, and the PR campaign that surrounds them. There is [Gareth Porter]( https://web.archive.org/web/20170104164043/https://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/how-syrian-white-helmets-played-western-media), the award-winning journalist who has contributed to Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Nation, Al Jazeera, Salon, The Huffington Post, Alternet and countless other outlets, who wrote "How a Syrian White Helmets Leader Played Western Media" in November 2016. There is [Philip Giraldi]( https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/the-fraud-of-the-white-helmets/), a former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer who wrote "The Fraud of the White Helmets" in July of 2017. There is [Stephen Kinzer]( https://www.theguardian.com/profile/stephenkinzer), former New York Times correspondent who tweeted his [congratulations to "al-Qaeda and Syrian jihadists"]( https://x.com/stephenkinzer/status/836216952913809409?t=1hqvhtGMQn1FYbz7OL7y6Q&s=19) when the film about "their PR outfit, the White Helmets", won the Oscar. So the issue here is not merely one of PR and propaganda, as appalling as the uncritical reporting about the White Helmets has been. What is worrying is that the so-called Syrian Civil Defence is, as we have seen, not Syrian at all. Founded, funded and promoted by foreign governments, foreign contractors and foreign lobbyists and PR agencies, the White Helmets are not a spontaneous Syrian search-and-rescue operation, but a template. A template that, if successful, can and will be employed anywhere and everywhere that those same foreign powers want to destabilize targeted governments in the future.

@ d360efec:14907b5f

**ภาพรวม BTCUSDT (OKX):** Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) ยังคงแสดงความผันผวนและแนวโน้มที่ไม่ชัดเจน แม้ว่าแนวโน้มระยะยาว (TF Day) จะยังคงมีลักษณะเป็นขาขึ้น (แต่*อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก*) แนวโน้มระยะกลาง (TF4H) และระยะสั้น (TF15) เป็นขาลง/Sideways Down การวิเคราะห์ครั้งนี้จะเน้นไปที่ SMC, ICT, และรูปแบบ Chart Patterns เพื่อเพิ่มความแม่นยำในการระบุแนวโน้มและจุดเข้า/ออก **วิเคราะห์ทีละ Timeframe:** **(1) TF Day (รายวัน):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) *อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, มีความเสี่ยงที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้ม* * **SMC:** * Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) *เริ่มไม่ชัดเจน, ราคาหลุด Low ก่อนหน้า* * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน *แต่มีการปรับฐานที่รุนแรง* * **Liquidity:** * มี Sellside Liquidity (SSL) อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า (บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000) * มี Buyside Liquidity (BSL) อยู่เหนือ High เดิม * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคาหลุด Order Block ขาขึ้น * **FVG:** ไม่มี FVG ชัดเจน * **EMA:** * ราคา *หลุด* EMA 50 (สีเหลือง) ลงมาแล้ว * EMA 200 (สีขาว) เป็นแนวรับถัดไป * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * *สีแดงยาว* แสดงถึงแรงขายที่แข็งแกร่ง * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง (เมฆแดง) แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง *และไม่มีสัญญาณซื้อ/ขายปรากฏ* * **Chart Patterns:** *ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน* * **Volume Profile:** Volume ค่อนข้างเบาบาง * **แท่งเทียน:** แท่งเทียนล่าสุดเป็นสีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **แนวรับ:** EMA 200, บริเวณ 85,000 - 90,000 (SSL) * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, High เดิม * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาขึ้นอ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, *สัญญาณอันตรายหลายอย่าง*, Money Flow และ Trend Strength เป็นลบ, *หลุด Order Block และ EMA 50* **(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend) * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง * **Liquidity:** * มี SSL อยู่ใต้ Lows ก่อนหน้า * มี BSL อยู่เหนือ Highs ก่อนหน้า * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** ราคาไม่สามารถผ่าน Order Block ขาลงได้ * **EMA:** * ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA 50 และ EMA 200 * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแรงขาย * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * แดง/ไม่มีสัญญาณ * **Chart Patterns:** *ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน* * **Volume Profile:** * Volume ค่อนข้างนิ่ง * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ Order Block * **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลงชัดเจน, แรงขายมีอิทธิพล **(3) TF15 (15 นาที):**  * **แนวโน้ม:** Sideways Down (แกว่งตัวลง) * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) * Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง * **ICT:** * ราคา Sideway * **EMA:** * EMA 50 และ EMA 200 เป็นแนวต้าน * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * แดง/เขียว สลับกัน * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * สีแดง แสดงถึงแนวโน้มขาลง * **Chart Patterns:** *ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน* * **Volume Profile:** * Volume ค่อนข้างนิ่ง * **แนวรับ:** บริเวณ Low ล่าสุด * **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200 * **สรุป:** แนวโน้ม Sideways Down, **สรุปภาพรวมและกลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT):** * **แนวโน้มหลัก (Day):** ขาขึ้น (*อ่อนแรงลงอย่างมาก, เสี่ยงที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้ม*) * **แนวโน้มรอง (4H):** ขาลง * **แนวโน้มระยะสั้น (15m):** ขาลง/Sideways Down * **Liquidity:** มี SSL ทั้งใน Day, 4H, และ 15m * **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes * **Trend Strength:** Day/15m เป็นขาลง, 4H Sideways * **Chart Patterns:** ไม่พบรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน * **กลยุทธ์:** 1. **Wait & See (ดีที่สุด):** รอความชัดเจน 2. **Short (เสี่ยง):** ถ้าไม่สามารถ Breakout EMA/แนวต้านใน TF ใดๆ ได้ หรือเมื่อเกิดสัญญาณ Bearish Continuation 3. **ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy:** จนกว่าจะมีสัญญาณกลับตัวที่ชัดเจนมากๆ **Day Trade & การเทรดรายวัน:** * **Day Trade (TF15):** * **Short Bias:** หาจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาเด้งขึ้นไปทดสอบแนวต้าน (EMA, Order Block) * **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short * **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป (Low ล่าสุด) * **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long** * **Swing Trade (TF4H):** * **Short Bias:** รอจังหวะ Short เมื่อราคาไม่สามารถผ่านแนวต้าน EMA หรือ Order Block ได้ * **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short * **Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป * **ไม่แนะนำให้ Long** **สิ่งที่ต้องระวัง:** * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** มีโอกาสสูงที่ราคาจะถูกลากลงไปแตะ SSL * **False Breakouts:** ระวัง * **Volatility:** สูง **Setup Day Trade แบบ SMC (ตัวอย่าง):** 1. **ระบุ Order Block:** หา Order Block ขาลง (Bearish Order Block) ใน TF15 2. **รอ Pullback:** รอให้ราคา Pullback ขึ้นไปทดสอบ Order Block นั้น 3. **หา Bearish Entry:** * **Rejection:** รอ Price Action ปฏิเสธ Order Block * **Break of Structure:** รอให้ราคา Break โครงสร้างย่อยๆ * **Money Flow:** ดู Money Flow ให้เป็นสีแดง 4. **ตั้ง Stop Loss:** เหนือ Order Block 5. **ตั้ง Take Profit:** แนวรับถัดไป **คำแนะนำ:** * **ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes:** มีอยู่ แต่แนวโน้มระยะกลาง-สั้น เป็นลบ * **Money Flow:** เป็นลบในทุก Timeframes * **Trend Strength:** เป็นลบ * **Order Block TF Day:** หลุด Order Block ขาขึ้นแล้ว * **ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ อย่าเพิ่งเข้าเทรด** **Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ 86a82cab:b5ef38a0

Not everyone wants a super app though, and that’s okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with it—whether it’s simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer. \ \ Not everyone wants a super app though, and that’s okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with it—whether it’s simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer.</span> [IMage](https://nostrtips.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/nostr-structure-1-1024x576.jpg)

@ d360efec:14907b5f

$OKX:BTCUSDT.P **Overall Assessment:** Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) on OKX continues to exhibit high volatility and an uncertain trend. While the long-term trend (Daily chart) is technically still an uptrend, it has *weakened considerably*. The 4-hour and 15-minute charts are in downtrends, creating conflicting signals. This analysis focuses on identifying potential areas of Smart Money activity (liquidity pools and order blocks), assessing trend strength, and identifying any relevant chart patterns. **Detailed Analysis by Timeframe:** **(1) TF Day (Daily):**  * **Trend:** Uptrend (*Significantly Weakening, High Risk of Reversal*). * **SMC (Smart Money Concepts):** * The Higher Highs (HH) and Higher Lows (HL) structure is *becoming less defined*. The recent price action has broken a previous low. * Prior Breaks of Structure (BOS) to the upside, but the current pullback is very deep. * **Liquidity:** * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Significant SSL rests below previous lows in the 85,000 - 90,000 range. This is a likely target for Smart Money. * **Buyside Liquidity (BSL):** BSL is present above the all-time high. * **ICT (Inner Circle Trader Concepts):** * **Order Block:** The price has *broken below* the prior bullish Order Block (the large green candle before a significant up-move). This is a *major bearish signal*. * **FVG:** No clear, significant Fair Value Gap is apparent at the current price level on the Daily chart. * **EMA (Exponential Moving Average):** * Price has *broken below* the 50-period EMA (yellow), a bearish signal. * The 200-period EMA (white) is the next major support level. * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * A *long red bar* indicates strong and sustained selling pressure. * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * Red cloud indicates a downtrend. No buy/sell signals are present. * **Chart Patterns:** No readily identifiable, classic chart patterns are apparent on the Daily chart. * **Volume Profile:** Relatively low volume on the decline. * **Candlesticks:** The most recent candlestick is red, confirming selling pressure. * **Support:** EMA 200, 85,000-90,000 (SSL area). * **Resistance:** EMA 50, Previous All-Time High. * **Summary:** The Daily chart's uptrend is significantly weakening. The break below the 50 EMA *and* the bullish Order Block, combined with the negative Money Flow and bearish Trend Strength, are all major red flags. The SSL below is a key area to watch. **(2) TF4H (4-Hour):**  * **Trend:** Downtrend. * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL). * BOS to the downside. * **Liquidity:** * **SSL:** Below previous lows. * **BSL:** Above previous highs. * **ICT:** * **Order Block:** The price failed to break above a bearish Order Block. * **EMA:** * Price is below both the 50-period and 200-period EMAs (bearish). * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * Predominantly red, confirming selling pressure. * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * Red, indicating no particular trend or a sideways movement. No buy/sell signals. * **Chart Patterns:** No readily identifiable, classic chart patterns are apparent. * **Volume Profile:** Relatively consistent volume. * **Support:** Recent lows. * **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block. * **Summary:** The 4-hour chart is in a confirmed downtrend. The Money Flow is bearish, price below both EMAs. **(3) TF15 (15-Minute):**  * **Trend:** Downtrend / Sideways Down * **SMC:** * Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL). * BOS to the downside. * **ICT:** * **Order Block** Price could not break up the bearish Order Block. * **EMA:** * The 50-period and 200-period EMAs are acting as resistance. * **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** * Red and Green * **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * Red cloud (Bearish) * **Chart Patterns:** No readily identifiable, classic chart patterns are apparent. * **Volume Profile** * Relatively high volume. * **Support:** Recent lows. * **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block. * **Summary:** The 15-minute chart is in a downtrend, with price action, EMAs, and Money Flow all confirming. **Overall Strategy and Recommendations (BTCUSDT):** * **Primary Trend (Day):** Uptrend (Significantly Weakening). * **Secondary Trend (4H):** Downtrend. * **Short-Term Trend (15m):** Downtrend/ Sideways Down. * **Liquidity:** Significant SSL zones exist below the current price on all timeframes. * **Money Flow:** Negative on all timeframes. * **Trend Strength:** Bearish on 15m and Day, Sideway on 4H. * **Chart Patterns:** None identified. * **Strategies:** 1. **Wait & See (Best Option):** The conflicting signals and the strong bearish momentum on the shorter timeframes, combined with the weakening Daily chart, make waiting the most prudent approach. Look for: * **Bearish Confirmation:** A decisive break below the recent lows on the 15m and 4H charts, with increasing volume and continued negative Money Flow. This would confirm the continuation of the downtrend. * **Bullish Confirmation:** A strong, sustained break above the 15/4H EMAs and Order Block, a shift in the 15m/4H Money Flow to green. 2. **Short (High Risk):** This aligns with the 4H and 15m downtrends. * **Entry:** On rallies towards resistance levels (EMAs on 15m/4H, previous support levels that have turned into resistance, Order Blocks). * **Stop Loss:** Above recent highs on the chosen timeframe, or above a key resistance level. * **Target:** The next support levels (recent lows on 15m, then potentially the SSL zones on the 4H and Daily charts). 3. **Buy (Extremely High Risk - Not Recommended):** Do *not* attempt to buy until there are *very strong and consistent* bullish reversal signals across *all* timeframes, including a definitive shift in market structure on the 4H and 15m charts, positive Money Flow, and a clear break above resistance levels. **Key Recommendations:** * **Conflicting Timeframes:** The primary conflict is now resolved toward the downside. The Daily is weakening significantly. * **Money Flow:** Consistently negative across all timeframes, a major bearish factor. * **Trend Strength:** Bearish on 15m and Day, Sideways on 4h. * **Daily Order Block:** The *break* of the bullish Order Block on the Daily chart is a significant bearish development. * **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Be aware that Smart Money may target the SSL zones below. This increases the risk of stop-loss hunting. * **Risk Management:** Due to the high uncertainty and volatility, *strict risk management is absolutely critical.* Use tight stop-losses, do not overtrade, and be prepared for rapid price swings. * **Volume:** Confirm any breakout or breakdown with volume. **Day Trading and Intraday Trading Strategies:** * **Day Trade (TF15 focus):** * **Short Bias:** Given the current 15m downtrend and negative Money Flow, the higher probability is to look for shorting opportunities. * **Entry:** Look for price to rally to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks, previous support levels that have become resistance) and then show signs of rejection (bearish candlestick patterns, increasing volume on the downside). * **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order above the resistance level where you enter the short position. * **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (recent lows). * **Avoid Long positions** until there's a *clear* and *confirmed* bullish reversal on the 15m chart (break above EMAs, positive Money Flow, bullish market structure). * **Swing Trade (TF4H focus):** * **Short Bias:** The 4H chart is in a downtrend. * **Entry:** Wait for price to rally to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks) and show signs of rejection. * **Stop Loss:** Above the resistance level where you enter the short position. * **Take Profit:** Target the next support levels (e.g., the 200 EMA on the Daily chart, SSL zones). * **Avoid Long positions** until there's a *clear* and *confirmed* bullish reversal on the 4H chart. **SMC Day Trade Setup Example (TF15 - Bearish):** 1. **Identify Bearish Order Block:** Locate a bearish Order Block on the TF15 chart (a bullish candle before a strong downward move). 2. **Wait for Pullback:** Wait for the price to pull back up to test the Order Block (this may or may not happen). 3. **Bearish Entry:** * **Rejection:** Look for price action to reject the Order Block (e.g., a pin bar, engulfing pattern, or other bearish candlestick pattern). * **Break of Structure:** Look for a break of a minor support level on a *lower* timeframe (e.g., 1-minute or 5-minute) after the price tests the Order Block. This confirms weakening bullish momentum. * **Money Flow:** Confirm that Money Flow remains negative (red). 4. **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order *above* the Order Block. 5. **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (e.g., recent lows) or a bullish Order Block on a higher timeframe. **In conclusion, BTCUSDT is currently in a high-risk, bearish environment in the short-to-medium term. The "Wait & See" approach is strongly recommended for most traders. Shorting is the higher-probability trade *at this moment*, but only for experienced traders who can manage risk extremely effectively. Buying is not recommended at this time.** Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and represents a personal opinion. It is not financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Investors should conduct their own research and exercise due diligence before making any investment decisions.

@ a876a108:419b647e

Getting verified on Kraken requires completing the KYC process, which involves submitting personal information, including a government-issued ID, proof of residence, and in some cases, financial details. The verification process has different levels, including Starter, Express, Intermediate, and Pro, each offering varying limits and access to features. Many users wonder, can I use Kraken without KYC? The answer is that while basic accounts may allow limited access to the platform, KYC is required for fiat deposits, withdrawals, and full trading capabilities. Some users also ask, why is it so hard to withdraw from Kraken? The platform enforces strict compliance measures, and withdrawals may be delayed due to verification, security checks, or bank processing times. Ensuring that your account is fully verified and your banking details are correct can help avoid issues. Despite these security measures, a Kraken account is free to create, though trading fees apply depending on the transaction type and volume. Understanding these requirements can help ensure a smooth experience while using the exchange.

@ 044da344:073a8a0e

# Worüber schreibt man am Tag nach einer Bundestagswahl? Über morgen und übermorgen, worüber sonst. In der Medienwelt heißt die Zukunft KI. Was passiert mit den Redakteuren, mit den Inhalten, mit dem Publikum? Längst vergeht kein Tag mehr ohne entsprechende Umfragen und Wasserstandsmeldungen. Es genügt eigentlich schon, die Stellenanzeigen zu sichten. Am meisten verdient, wer vorgibt, den besten Prompt zu schreiben. Sag der Maschine, was sie machen soll. Wenn du das Optimum herauskitzelst, sparen wir drei Kollegen. Eigentlich ist das nicht mein Thema, auch beim Schreiben nicht. Ich habe das natürlich ausprobiert und ChatGPT gebeten, diesen Text zu übernehmen. Etwas zu „KI und Medien“ im Stil von Michael Meyen. Versuch eins war so lala. Viele Kommas. Begriffe und Konstruktionen, die ich nie verwenden würde. Eine „der größten Herausforderungen der Geschichte“. Gähn. Auch eine freundliche Nachfrage hat nicht geholfen, obwohl mir der Bildschirm versprach, jetzt „kritisch und analytisch“ zu werden und meinen „klaren, prägnanten Schreibstil“ zu berücksichtigen. Nicht ein einziger Satz, den ich so formulieren würde, vom Inhalt ganz zu schweigen. Das übliche Blabla, schon in der Überschrift: „Die Zukunft der Medienwelt: Künstliche Intelligenz als Schlüsselakteur“. Vielleicht hätte ich ein Bezahl-Modell nutzen sollen. Vielleicht wäre aber auch die Billigvariante besser gewesen, wenn Laura Lewandowski schon unser Interview veröffentlicht hätte. Laura hat ein paar Jahre bei der dpa gearbeitet, dann den Kanal [Meet Your Mentor](https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourmentor) zu einer Nummer gemacht und nun eine neue Idee. Sendungen rund um das Thema KI. Mich hat sie eingeladen, weil sie spannend fand, was ich zu Medien und Journalismus zu sagen habe. Um KI ging es dabei bisher so gut wie nie. Wie sagt ChatGPT so schön: eine der größten Herausforderungen in der Geschichte. Laura hat es mir leicht gemacht. Sie kennt das YouTube-Publikum. 50 Tabs offen, mit einem Auge schon woanders, immer auf der Suche nach dem nächsten Kick. Dieses Publikum braucht Struktur. Ich sollte ihr deshalb vorher drei Thesen schicken. Futter für die Haie und für uns zugleich etwas, woran wir uns entlang hangeln konnten. ## These 1: KI ist ein Angriff auf die Zukunft der Menschheit. Größer geht es nicht, ich weiß. Was ist der Mensch? Was unterscheidet uns von anderen Tieren? In so einer Kolumne kann ich das nicht auflösen, schon gar nicht am Tag vor der Bundestagswahl. Deshalb nur zwei Punkte. Wir können Instinkte, Prägungen, Vorurteile hinter uns lassen. Der Hund muss fressen, wenn er Hunger hat. Wir nicht. Vielleicht noch wichtiger ist Transzendenz. Wir können uns etwas vorstellen, was es noch nicht gibt, und das Wirklichkeit werden lassen, wahrscheinlich meist nicht allein, aber mit ein paar Leuten, die an uns und unsere Idee glauben. Die Sprache verschleiert das, wenn sie *er-finden* sagt oder *ent-decken* – ganz so, als ob schon alles da ist und nur auf uns wartet. Ich zitiere hier freihändig Axel Klopprogge und verweise auf unser [Gespräch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUiUAhb2OXY\&t=). Selbst eine perfekte KI (also eine, die weiß, welches Wort ich nie schreiben würde und was ich bisher über sie gesagt habe) schaut immer nur zurück, verlängert deshalb die Vergangenheit und zerstört so die Zukunft. Anders formuliert: Der KI fehlt sowohl die Transzendenz als auch die Option, heute alles ganz anders zu machen als bis gestern. Wenn dieser Satz nicht mehr stimmt, können wir das „K“ streichen und haben tatsächlich ein Problem. Der Begriff KI ist eine Mogelpackung, die uns etwas verspricht, was nicht zu haben ist (ein Mensch ohne seine Schwächen, ohne seine Natur, ohne die Launen der Tagesform), und uns so das nehmen könnte, was uns als Menschen ausmacht. Das ist so ähnlich wie beim Begriff [Faktencheck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiMtwqp_lKk). DIE Wahrheit, und das auch noch von Profis geprüft. An den Begriffen werdet ihr sie erkennen.  ## These 2: Gerade die Kreativen und die Medienleute, die KI jetzt feiern, sollten sich eher fürchten. Ich habe gerade Mathias Döpfner gehört, im [Podcast](https://omr.com/de/daily/mathias-doepfner-axel-springer) von OMR. Ein Loblied auf KI. Endlich, endlich könne sich der Journalist auf seinen Job konzentrieren. Recherche, exklusive Nachrichten. Zusammenschreiben, was da ist: Das mache die Maschine jetzt schon besser. Mag sein. Ich halte es wieder mit Axel Klopprogge, diesmal mit seinem Buch „Liebeserklärung an die Arbeit“, herausgegeben vom Goinger Kreis. Dort heißt es: Jede definierte Arbeit kann ersetzt werden. Alles, was von der Wiederholung lebt. In der Bewusstseinsindustrie sind das acht von zehn Jobs. Möglichkeit eins: Harari bekommt Recht. Lauter Nutzlose und Überflüssige, abzulenken mit Drogen und Computerspielen. Möglichkeit zwei: Die acht wollen das nicht, klammern sich an ihre Jobs und ziehen dafür die beiden auf ihr Niveau herunter, die bisher das verkörpern, was Döpfner als den Kern des Journalismus feiert. Überraschend bleiben. Nicht ausrechenbar sein. Ich muss das nicht ausbuchstabieren und auch nicht sagen, was ich für wahrscheinlicher halte. Kein Text von Michael Meyen mehr. Stattdessen überall Vorgestanztes. Die KI schreibt dabei nur weiter, was wir seit Jahr und Tag erleben. Es ist ohnehin fast alles verschwunden, was sich nicht in [Zahlen](https://medienblog.hypotheses.org/521) ausdrücken lässt. Bauchgefühl, Urteilskraft. 10.000 Schritte musst du gehen, auch wenn der Körper sagt: Ich will das heute nicht. KI wird das verstärken. Eins oder null. Und wehe, dir gefällt das Ergebnis nicht. Schon heute schreiben selbst schlaue Menschen Bücher, die KI als Letztbeweis nutzen. Schaut her, liebe Leute: Die KI sagt das auch. Ich muss also Recht haben. Na da. ## These 3: KI ist ein Machtinstrument und könnte so ein neuer Filter für die Meinungs- und Willensbildung werden. Wer schreibt, der bleibt, hieß es früher beim Kartenspiel. Übersetzt: Es gewinnt der, der die Maschinen füttert oder ihnen sagt, wo sie zu essen haben und wo besser nicht. Ich habe den [Überwachungskapitalismus](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/31) gewürdigt, den [Digital Services Act](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/brussel-greift-nach-dem-netz) und auch ganz grundsätzlich alles, was es zu [Propaganda und Zensur](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/139) zu sagen gibt. Um das nicht wiederholen zu müssen, erzähle ich eine Anekdote – eingesammelt bei einem Spaziergang mit jemandem, der in einem der Medienkonzerne ganz weit oben ist. Dieser Manager erzählte mir, dass sein Haus ein paar Jahre herumgebastelt habe an einem Programm, das die dpa ersetzt. Inzwischen sei man so weit. Kein Unterschied mehr zwischen dem, was über den Ticker kommt, und dem, was das Tool aus dem Netz zusammenbaut. Und? Hat man die dpa abbestellt, einen nicht ganz billigen Dienst? Das nun doch nicht. Es fiel das Wort Opportunitätskosten. Die Nachrichtenagentur gehört den Medienkonzernen. Wenn einer aussteigt, wird es für alle anderen teurer. Fast hätte ich geschrieben: Es wäre auch schwerer geworden für Regierung, Behörden, Parteien und überhaupt alle, die die Medienwirklichkeit formen wollen, weil damit Herrschaft steht und fällt. Ein Anruf oder ein Mensch bei der dpa – und der Journalismus ruft im Chor zurück. KI macht sowohl den Anruf obsolet als auch den Brückenkopf im dpa-Raumschiff. In den USA hat dieses Beben längst begonnen, Stichwort USAID. Meine Wahlempfehlung ergab sich daraus fast von selbst: Bleiben wir offline, wo immer es geht.  [Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/) [Unterstützen](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/unterstuetzen)

@ 04ea4f83:210e1713

Erschienen im [The Bitstein Brief](https://bitstein.substack.com/p/mises-the-original-toxic-maximalist?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) | Veröffenlichung 10.12.2022 |\ Author: [Bitstein (Michael Goldstein)](https://twitter.com/bitstein?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)\ Übersetzt von: [Sinautoshi am 11.12.2022 - 766906](https://twitter.com/Sinautoshi_8_21?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) *„Die gesellschaftliche Funktion der Wirtschaftswissenschaft besteht gerade darin, solide Wirtschaftstheorien zu entwickeln und die Irrtümer bösartiger Denkweisen zu entlarven. Bei der Verfolgung dieser Aufgabe zieht der Wirtschaftswissenschaftler die tödliche Feindschaft aller Schwindler und Scharlatane auf sich, deren Abkürzungen zum irdischen Paradies er entlarvt. Je weniger diese Quacksalber in der Lage sind, plausible Einwände gegen die Argumente eines Ökonomen vorzubringen, desto wütender beschimpfen sie ihn.“* \- Ludwig von Mises, „Nationalökonomie, Theorie des Handelns und Wirtschaftens” *** Das „toxischste" an einem Bitcoin-Maximalisten ist seine unerschütterliche Bereitschaft, „*Nein” *zu sagen. Nach dem Studium der Geldtheorie und -geschichte und der Erfahrung mit den unerbittlichen Kräften des Marktes, hat der Bitcoiner ein Verständnis für die Realität des monetären Wettbewerbs, ein Bewusstsein für die kritische Natur dezentraler Systeme, einen Fokus auf die Lösung der wichtigsten monetären Probleme und eine strikte Ablehnung der unvermeidlichen Ablenkungen, Opportunitätskosten und ethischen Bedenken bei der Einführung und Förderung von Altcoin-Projekten. Einige Kritiker bemängeln unhöfliche rhetorische Schnörkel, die als Hindernis für die Gewinnung neuer Bitcoin-Nutzer angesehen werden. Wenn das wahr wäre, gäbe es in der Arbeitsteilung eine Chance für eine qualitativ hochwertigere Bitcoin-Ausbildung, die die Bitcoiner meiner Meinung nach gerne wahrnehmen würden, vor allem die Kritiker, die die bestehenden Unzulänglichkeiten besser erkennen. Doch egal, wie höflich die Bitcoiner ihre Ansichten darlegen, bestimmte Möchtegern-Unternehmer und Influencer werden immer im Streit mit einer leidenschaftlichen Bevölkerungsgruppe stehen, die einfach nicht interessiert ist - und ihr Desinteresse lautstark kundtut. Die „toxischsten" Bitcoiner sind oft diejenigen, die die Weisheit der Bitcoiner erst erkannt haben, nachdem sie von Shitcoins verbrannt wurden und ihr neu gefundenes Desinteresse unmissverständlich zum Ausdruck bringen wollen. Was soll man also als Bitcoiner tun? Ich empfehle, sich der Wahrheit und der Förderung der Wahrheit zu verschreiben und die Wirksamkeit von Rhetorik an ihrem langfristigen Einfluss und nicht an ihrer kurzfristigen Popularität zu messen. In dieser Hinsicht sollten sich die Bitcoiner von dem ursprünglichen toxischen Maximalisten inspirieren lassen: Ludwig von Mises. Der bedeutende Wirtschaftswissenschaftler setzte sich unbeirrt für die Wahrheit, freie Märkte und gesundes Geld ein und scheute sich nicht, das zu sagen, was gesagt werden musste, auch wenn er sich damit keine Freunde machte. Langfristig wurde er zu einem der einflussreichsten Ökonomen und Denker des 20. Jahrhunderts, und seine Arbeit hat den Weg für den Bitcoin geebnet. ### Mises, der Geldmaximalist Einer der Hauptkritikpunkte an den Bitcoin-Maximalisten ist die Behauptung, dass die Welt auf Bitcoin (als Geld) konvergieren wird und es generell keine Verwendung für andere Währungen gibt. Dies wird als normative Aussage betrachtet. In Wirklichkeit machen die Bitcoiner eine positive, beschreibende Aussage darüber, wie der monetäre Wettbewerb funktioniert. In der 1912 veröffentlichten *[Theorie des Geldes und der Umlaufmittel](https://mises.org/library/theory-money-and-credit?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)*[ ](https://mises.org/library/theory-money-and-credit?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)schrieb Mises: *** *„So haben die Erfordernisse des Marktes allmählich dazu geführt, dass bestimmte Waren als gemeinsame Tauschmittel ausgewählt wurden. Die Gruppe der Waren, aus der diese ausgewählt wurden, war ursprünglich sehr groß und unterschied sich von Land zu Land; sie wurde aber immer mehr eingeschränkt. Wann immer ein direkter Tausch nicht in Frage kam, war jede der an einem Geschäft beteiligten Parteien bestrebt, ihre überflüssigen Waren nicht nur gegen marktgängigere Waren im Allgemeinen, sondern gegen die marktgängigsten Waren einzutauschen, und von diesen wiederum bevorzugte sie natürlich die marktgängigste Ware. Je größer die Marktfähigkeit der zuerst im indirekten Tausch erworbenen Waren ist, desto größer ist die Aussicht, das endgültige Ziel ohne weitere Manöver erreichen zu können. So gäbe es die unvermeidliche Tendenz, dass die weniger marktfähigen Güter aus der Reihe der als Tauschmittel verwendeten Waren nach und nach verworfen würden, bis schließlich nur noch ein einziges Gut übrig bliebe, das allgemein als Tauschmittel verwendet würde: das Geld.“* *** Mises zufolge wählen die Akteure zunehmend das marktgängigste Gut als Tauschmittel aus und der natürliche Verlauf des Marktes geht in Richtung Vereinheitlichung zu einem einzigen Geldgut. Das ist schlicht und einfach monetärer Maximalismus. Mises unterscheidet sich von den Bitcoinern lediglich durch die Stärke der Behauptungen, die er über die tatsächlichen empirischen Entscheidungen der Wirtschaftsakteure zu treffen bereit ist. Mises weist darauf hin, dass sowohl Gold als auch Silber an vielen Orten zu Geld gemacht wurden, wahrscheinlich wegen ihrer ähnlichen Eigenschaften, und dass es den Rahmen der Geldtheorie sprengt, zu sagen, ob Gold oder Silber letztlich besser verkäuflich ist. Trotzdem sagt er: *** *„Denn es ist ziemlich sicher, dass die Vereinheitlichung auch dann ein wünschenswertes geldpolitisches Ziel gewesen wäre, wenn die ungleiche Marktfähigkeit der als Tauschmittel verwendeten Güter kein Motiv geboten hätte. Die gleichzeitige Verwendung mehrerer Geldarten bringt so viele Nachteile mit sich und verkompliziert die Technik des Tauschens so sehr, dass das Bestreben, das Geldsystem zu vereinheitlichen, in jedem Fall unternommen worden wäre.“* *** Die natürliche Tendenz zu einem einzigen Geldgut ist so stark, dass seiner Meinung nach die Vereinheitlichung der Geldsysteme auch dann angestrebt würde, wenn zwei Güter genau gleich marktfähig wären. Zuvor stellt er außerdem fest: *** *„Das endgültige Urteil könnte erst gefällt werden, wenn alle Hauptteile der bewohnten Erde ein einziges Handelsgebiet bilden, denn erst dann wäre es unmöglich, dass andere Nationen mit unterschiedlichen Geldsystemen sich anschließen und die internationale Organisation verändern.“* *** Jede neue Handelsbeziehung eröffnet die Möglichkeit, ein brandneues Geldgut einzuführen, das bisher nicht verwendet wurde. Wenn seine Qualitäten ein höheres Maß an Marktfähigkeit aufrechterhalten könnten, ist es möglich, dass sich die gesamte internationale Währungsordnung aufgrund seiner natürlichen Überlegenheit bei der Bewältigung der Funktionen des Geldes um ihn herum neu organisieren könnte. Im [Bitcoin Standard ](https://aprycot.media/shop/der-bitcoin-standard/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)liefert Saifedean Ammous zahlreiche Argumente dafür, warum Gold dem Silber als Geldwert überlegen war, obwohl Mises nicht bereit oder nicht daran interessiert war, diesen Punkt zu diskutieren, und warum Bitcoin ein noch besserer Geldwert ist. Mises hat die Einführung von Bitcoin in die Weltwirtschaft zwar nicht mehr erlebt, aber seine Wirtschaftstheorie erklärt genau, warum Bitcoin an Wert gewinnen würde und warum es plausibel ist, dass die gesamte internationale Währungsordnung auf einen Bitcoin-Standard umgestellt wird. Er gibt auch den theoretischen Rahmen, um zu verstehen, warum Altcoins Bitcoin nicht allein durch ihre Eigenschaften ausstechen können. Sie müssen eine bessere Marktfähigkeit in Bezug auf Raum, Zeit und Größe bieten, um einen ausreichenden Vorteil gegenüber Bitcoin zu haben. Wie bereits an anderer Stelle beschrieben, ist dies einfach nicht gelungen, und nur Bitcoin bietet ein stark dezentralisiertes, überprüfbares und glaubwürdig knappes digitales Geldgut. ### Mises, der Marktmaximalist Die Geldtheorie ist nicht der einzige Ort, an dem der Leser eine Art „Maximalismus" in Mises' Denken spüren kann. Sein gesamtes Werk läuft auf einen unverhohlenen Marktmaximalismus hinaus, der sich weigert, durch rigorose ökonomische Theorie und Analyse sozialistischen oder interventionistischen Argumenten nachzugeben. Ein großartiges Beispiel für seine Verteidigung des freien Marktes findet sich in einem Vortrag aus dem Jahr 1950 mit dem Titel „[Die Mitte des Weges führt zum Sozialismus](https://mises.org/library/middle-road-leads-socialism?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)". In dieser Vorlesung greift Mises Interventionisten an, die behaupten, eine Politik der „Mitte" zwischen den beiden Extremen Kapitalismus und Sozialismus zu favorisieren. Durch strategische Interventionen kann der Staat die Auswüchse beider Systeme verhindern. Mises betrachtet Kapitalismus und Sozialismus jedoch als diametral entgegengesetzte und unvereinbare Organisationssysteme und nicht als ein Spektrum der Wohlstandsverteilung: *** *„Der Konflikt der beiden Prinzipien ist unüberbrückbar und lässt keinen Kompromiss zu. Kontrolle ist unteilbar. Entweder entscheidet die Nachfrage der Verbraucher, die sich auf dem Markt manifestiert, für welche Zwecke und wie die Produktionsfaktoren eingesetzt werden sollen, oder der Staat kümmert sich um diese Angelegenheiten. Es gibt nichts, was den Gegensatz zwischen diesen beiden widersprüchlichen Prinzipien abmildern könnte. Sie schließen sich gegenseitig aus. Der Interventionismus ist kein goldener Mittelweg zwischen Kapitalismus und Sozialismus. Er ist der Entwurf für ein drittes System der wirtschaftlichen Organisation der Gesellschaft und muss als solches gewürdigt werden.“* *** Dieses dritte System ist jedoch im Grunde nur ein längerer Marsch zum Sozialismus, indem es ein falsches Lippenbekenntnis zu Privateigentum und freier Marktwirtschaft ablegt. Auf jeden Eingriff, der stattfindet, müssen weitere folgen. Die Festsetzung eines Preises hier erfordert die Festsetzung eines anderen Preises dort, und so geht es die ganze Lieferkette entlang. Am Ende hat der Interventionismus die gesamte „Marktwirtschaft" im Würgegriff. *** *Der Interventionismus kann nicht als ein Wirtschaftssystem betrachtet werden, das dazu bestimmt ist, zu bleiben. Er ist eine Methode zur Umwandlung des Kapitalismus in den Sozialismus in mehreren aufeinanderfolgenden Schritten. Damit unterscheidet er sich von den Bemühungen der Kommunisten, den Sozialismus auf einen Schlag zu verwirklichen. Der Unterschied bezieht sich nicht auf das letztendliche Ziel der politischen Bewegung, sondern vor allem auf die Taktik, die zur Erreichung des von beiden Gruppen angestrebten Ziels angewandt wird.* *** Trotzdem sind selbst die meisten vermeintlichen Befürworter einer freien Marktwirtschaft in Wirklichkeit von interventionistischen Ideologien und Denkweisen durchdrungen, und ihre Strategien sind immer zum Scheitern und zu Kompromissen verurteilt. *** *„Dies hat zur Folge, dass praktisch kaum etwas getan wird, um das System der Privatwirtschaft zu erhalten. Es gibt nur Mittelsmänner, die glauben, erfolgreich gewesen zu sein, wenn sie eine besonders ruinöse Maßnahme eine Zeit lang hinausgezögert haben. Sie sind immer auf dem Rückzug. Sie nehmen heute Maßnahmen in Kauf, die sie noch vor zehn oder zwanzig Jahren für undiskutabel gehalten hätten. In ein paar Jahren werden sie sich mit anderen Maßnahmen abfinden, die sie heute noch für undiskutabel halten. Was den totalitären Sozialismus verhindern kann, ist nur ein grundlegender Wandel der Ideologien.*\ \ *Was wir brauchen, ist weder Antisozialismus noch Antikommunismus, sondern eine offene Befürwortung des Systems, dem wir all den Wohlstand verdanken, der unser Zeitalter von den vergleichsweise beengten Verhältnissen vergangener Zeiten unterscheidet.“* *** Mises nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund, wenn er eine interventionistische Politik fordert, und es gibt viele Lehren, die Bitcoiner daraus ziehen können. Erstens ist das Bitcoin-Netzwerk nicht einfach nur eine andere Art des Werttransfers als eine bestehende zentralisierte Lösung, eine Art PayPal 2.0. Es ist ein strukturell anderer Ansatz für das gesamte Problem der doppelten Ausgaben. „Blockchain, nicht Bitcoin" ist eine Mogelpackung, weil sie den Kern dessen, was Bitcoin einzigartig macht (Dezentralisierung, unabhängige Überprüfbarkeit usw.), wegnimmt, während sie behauptet, „die zugrundeliegende Technologie" zu nutzen, ähnlich wie ein nationalsozialistisches oder faschistisches Regime die staatliche Kontrolle über die Produktion übernehmen könnte, während es behauptet, für Privateigentum zu sein. Wenn du die Vorteile des Marktes nutzen willst, musst du tatsächlich einen Markt haben, und wenn du die Vorteile von Bitcoin nutzen willst, musst du Bitcoin tatsächlich nutzen. Außerdem sollte die Dezentralisierung als binäres System betrachtet werden. Entweder ist ein System dezentralisiert, oder es ist dazu verdammt, zentralisiert zu werden, manchmal mit einem Hard Fork nach dem anderen (*vgl. Ethereum*). Bitcoin-Maximalisten werden regelmäßig als toxisch bezeichnet, weil sie entschlossen an bestimmten Netzwerkparametern festhalten, selbst wenn diese willkürlich oder trivial erscheinen. Ein ganzer[ Krieg über die Blockgröße](https://amzn.to/3OZX84g?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) wurde um eine Begrenzung von 1 MB geführt. Die Zahl schien willkürlich und die Lösung trivial zu sein, aber die Bitcoiner weigerten sich, davon abzuweichen. Und warum? Eine höhere Blockgröße würde die Kosten für den Betrieb eines vollständigen Knotens (Full Node)  erhöhen, der für eine unabhängige Validierung und Dezentralisierung notwendig ist. Ein Hard Fork würde einen vernichtenden Präzedenzfall schaffen und alle zukünftigen Ansprüche auf Abwärtskompatibilität gefährden, die für die Glaubwürdigkeit der Geldpolitik und die Fähigkeit der Nodes, sich vertrauensvoll mit dem Netzwerk zu synchronisieren, erforderlich sind. Die Blockkapazität stieg zwar an, aber nur, weil SegWit, dessen Vorteile weit über die bloße Verbesserung der Skalierung hinausgingen, über einen Soft Fork aktiviert werden konnte, sodass denjenigen, die dies nicht wollten, keine neuen Kosten auferlegt wurden. Andere Projekte hingegen akzeptieren nicht, dass [die Kompromisse bei Bitcoin nicht wirklich willkürlich sind](https://medium.com/@nic__carter/bitcoin-bites-the-bullet-8005a2a62d29?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com). Sie bieten Turing-complete Smart Contracts, schnellere Blockzeiten, größere Blöcke oder alle möglichen anderen „Features" an. Die Features werden nicht mit demselben extrem konservativen Engagement für Sicherheit produziert wie Bitcoin und bedrohen oft die Fähigkeit, überhaupt einen vollständigen Knoten (*Full-Node*) zu betreiben. Nur bei Bitcoin kümmern sich die Leute darum, dass die Geldmenge tatsächlich überprüft werden kann. Mit der Zeit verlieren die Projekte, wenn sie überhaupt aufrechterhalten werden, jeden Anschein einer glaubwürdigen Dezentralisierung. Ethereum, das einst mit unaufhaltsamen Anwendungen und der Aussage „Code ist Gesetz" warb, erlebte den DAO-Hack und ist nach der Einführung von Proof-of-Stake (das von Natur aus zentralisierend ist) der OFAC-Zensur in unterschiedlichem Maße unterworfen. Bitcoin akzeptiert nichts von alledem. Er beugt seine Regeln für niemanden. Bitcoiner wissen auch, dass das System gar kein Bitcoin mehr wäre, wenn die Regeln gebogen *würden*. Mises hilft uns zu verstehen, dass eine Politik des Mittelweges zu Shitcoinerei führt. Eine Währung ist entweder Bitcoin oder dazu verdammt, ein Shitcoin zu sein. ### Mises, der toxische Maximalist Im Jahr 1947 fand in der Schweiz das erste Treffen der Mont Pèlerin Society statt. Bei diesem Treffen trafen sich viele der einflussreichsten Verfechter der freien Märkte und des klassischen Liberalismus, von Ludwig von Mises über F. A. Hayek bis hin zu Milton Friedman und vielen anderen, um darüber zu diskutieren, wie man die steigende Flut des Totalitarismus und seiner Wirtschaftsideologien durch die Förderung freier Märkte und des Privateigentums bekämpfen kann. Man könnte meinen, dass Mises genau in diese Diskussionen passt. Doch wie [Milton Friedman berichtete](https://reason.com/1995/06/01/best-of-both-worlds/?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com), kam es anders: *** *„Die Geschichte, an die ich mich am besten erinnere, ereignete sich auf dem ersten Treffen in Mont Pèlerin, als \[Mises] aufstand und sagte: „Ihr seid alle ein Haufen Sozialisten." Wir diskutierten über die Einkommensverteilung und darüber, ob man progressive Einkommenssteuern haben sollte. Einige der Anwesenden vertraten die Ansicht, dass es eine Rechtfertigung dafür geben könnte.*\ \ *Eine andere Gelegenheit, die ebenso aufschlussreich ist: Fritz Machlup war ein Schüler von Mises, einer seiner treuesten Jünger. Bei einem der Treffen in Mont Pèlerin hielt Machlup einen Vortrag, in dem er, glaube ich, die Idee eines Goldstandards in Frage stellte; er sprach sich für freie Wechselkurse aus. Mises war so wütend, dass er drei Jahre lang nicht mit Machlup sprechen wollte. Einige Leute mussten die beiden wieder zusammenbringen. Es ist schwer zu verstehen; man kann es einigermaßen nachvollziehen, wenn man sich vor Augen führt, wie Menschen wie Mises in seinem Leben verfolgt wurden.“* *** Wie bereits erwähnt, hielt Mises drei Jahre später einen Vortrag, in dem er eindrucksvoll erklärte, warum sie tatsächlich alle ein Haufen Sozialisten waren. Wer staatliche Eingriffe in die Einkommensverteilung akzeptiert, ist dem Sozialismus bereits verfallen, sobald genug Zeit vergangen ist. Mises war einfach nicht bereit, den sozialistischen Irrtümern, die er im Laufe seiner intellektuellen Karriere so akribisch aufgespießt hatte, Glauben zu schenken. Jörg Guido Hülsmann stellt in [Mises: *The Last Knight of Liberalism*](https://mises.org/library/mises-last-knight-liberalism-0?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com) fest, dass „Mises zwar in der Lage war, Sozialisten hoch zu schätzen, aber der Vorfall zeigte, dass er wenig Geduld mit Sozialisten hatte, die sich als Liberale ausgaben." Doch Mises' giftiges Verhalten blieb nicht ohne Folgen. Laut Hülsmann: *** *„Der Schlagabtausch zwischen Mises und seinen neoliberalen Gegnern prägte den Ton in der Mont Pèlerin Society für die kommenden Jahre.... Obwohl die Libertären um Mises eine kleine Minderheit waren, hatten sie die finanzielle Unterstützung der amerikanischen Hauptsponsoren wie dem Volker Fund, ohne die die Gesellschaft in jenen frühen Jahren schnell ausgestorben wäre. Solange Mises aktiv an den Treffen teilnahm, war es daher unmöglich, die technischen Details eines genehmigten staatlichen Interventionismus zu diskutieren. Das** **Laissez-faire hatte ein Comeback gefeiert. Es war zwar nicht die Mehrheitsmeinung, aber es war eine diskutierbare und diskutierte politische Option - zu viel für einige anfängliche Mitglieder wie Maurice Allais, der die Gesellschaft genau aus diesem Grund bald wieder verließ.“* *** Indem er toxisch war, konnte Mises dazu beitragen, den Ton für eine wirklich *laissez-faire* Mont Pèlerin Society zu setzen, die ihrem erklärten Ziel gerecht werden konnte, und sie wählten F. A. Hayek zu ihrem Präsidenten. Er hatte keine Angst, Klartext zu reden, aber lautstark, sogar gegenüber Leuten, die vermutlich zu seinem „eigenen Team" gehörten. Ludwig von Mises war ein Mann, der seine Ideen ernst nahm und die Wahrheit noch viel ernster. In seinen [Memoiren ](https://mises.org/library/memoirs?ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)schreibt Mises über seine Zeit in der österreichischen Handelskammer in den 1910er und 1920er Jahren: *** *„Ich wurde manchmal beschuldigt, meinen Standpunkt zu schroff und unnachgiebig zu vertreten. Es wurde auch behauptet, dass ich mehr hätte erreichen können, wenn ich eine größere Kompromissbereitschaft gezeigt hätte.... Die Kritik war ungerechtfertigt; ich konnte nur dann effektiv sein, wenn ich die Dinge so darstellen konnte, wie sie mir erschienen. Wenn ich heute auf meine Arbeit bei der Handelskammer zurückblicke, bedauere ich nur meine Kompromissbereitschaft und nicht meine Unnachgiebigkeit.“* *** In dieser Zeit trug sein Rat dazu bei, die Hyperinflation in Österreich aufzuhalten und ihre Auswirkungen im Vergleich zur Weimarer Republik abzuschwächen. Bitcoiner werden von endlosen „Krypto-" und „Shitcoin"-Betrügern geplagt, die auf dem Rücken der innovativen Technologie und des wirtschaftlichen Erfolgs von Bitcoin reiten wollen. Den Bitcoinern wird gesagt, dass sie alle im selben Team sind. In den Augen der Öffentlichkeit sind sie das auch. Das Ergebnis ist eine getäuschte Öffentlichkeit, der zentralisierte Pump-and-Dump-Systeme und Rugpulls, Affen-Jpegs und Rube-Goldberg-Maschinen verkauft werden, die auf Schlagwörtern basieren und die Vorstellung vermitteln, dass sie in der gleichen Liga spielen wie die großartigste Geldtechnologie, die je geschaffen wurde. „Krypto" profitiert vom Erfolg von Bitcoin, und die Bekanntheit von Bitcoin sinkt mit den Misserfolgen von „Krypto". Doch wenn Bitcoiner die Unterschiede ansprechen und diese Projekte ablehnen, die sie uninteressant oder sogar verabscheuungswürdig finden, wird das als schädlich angesehen. Den Bitcoinern schadet das nicht, denn sie können weiter (Satoshis) stapeln und bauen, aber die Menschen, die unter Fiat-Regimen leben müssen, leiden darunter, dass ihnen kein Weg zu Freiheit und Wohlstand gezeigt wird. Abgesehen davon, dass das Geld des Einzelnen in Gefahr ist, kann die Offenheit für Shitcoins auch Veränderungen im Netzwerk fördern, die die Dezentralisierung beeinträchtigen. Wenn es Unterstützung für einen Shitcoin gibt, der auf einem bestimmten Merkmal basiert, warum sollte das Merkmal dann nicht in Bitcoin existieren? Wenn es tatsächlich eine Tendenz zu einer einzigen Währung gibt, ist die Förderung einer alternativen Kryptowährung selbst ein Angriff auf das Potenzial von Bitcoin. Wirtschaft und Technik sind mit gnadenlosen  Konsequenzen konfrontiert. Eine falsche Abfolge von Schritten kann zu absoluter Verwüstung führen. Bitcoiner nehmen das sehr ernst und machen keinen Hehl daraus, dass sie diese Konsequenzen fürchten. Wenn sie das tun, lehnen sie ganze unternehmerische Vorhaben ab und stellen ihre gesamte Einnahmequelle in Frage. Das ist toxisch. Bitcoiners sollten immer den Mut haben, Mises zu zitieren und jedem zu sagen: „Ihr seid alle ein Haufen Shitcoiner." ### Der aufgehende Stern von Mises Obwohl er aus einer adligen Familie stammte und in Österreich hohe Positionen innehatte, hatte Mises, als er auf der Flucht vor den Nazis in die Vereinigten Staaten emigrierte, nur wenige Möglichkeiten. Bis zu seiner Pensionierung war er „Gastprofessor" an der New York University. Er arbeitete im Grunde genommen im stillen Kämmerlein und unterrichtete hauptsächlich in seinen inzwischen berühmten informellen Seminaren, an denen auch Murray Rothbard und andere teilnahmen. Er benötigte die Unterstützung verschiedener philanthropischer Fonds. Hinzu kam, dass die Wirtschaftswissenschaften, wie alle Sozialwissenschaften, dem Szientismus und der Technokratie erlegen waren, so dass Mises' strenge logisch-deduktive Methoden im Vergleich zu mathematischen Formeln und statistischen Modellen als altmodisch galten. Der Goldstandard wurde zugunsten eines Fiat-Systems abgeschafft, und als Mises starb, hatte der US-Dollar keinerlei Verbindung mehr zu Edelmetallen oder realen Ersparnissen, so dass die Geldpolitik allein den Launen der Politik überlassen blieb. Es gab allen Grund, Ludwig von Mises völlig in Vergessenheit geraten zu lassen. Doch seine Schüler, wie Murray Rothbard, hielten die österreichische Schule am Leben. Im Jahr 1982 wurde das Ludwig von Mises Institute von Rothbard und Lew Rockwell gegründet und von Dr. Ron Paul finanziert (beide wurden von ihren Kritikern als „toxisch" bezeichnet). Dr. Paul selbst wurde zu einem legendären Verfechter der Ideen von Mises und anderen, sowohl im Kongress als auch im Präsidentschaftswahlkampf. In letzterem machte Dr. Paul die von der Federal Reserve verursachte wirtschaftliche Zerstörung zu einem zentralen Bestandteil seines Programms und zum ersten Mal seit Jahrzehnten zu einem wichtigen Thema in der politischen Debatte, was den Diskurs danach für immer veränderte. Es ist also kein Wunder, dass viele Menschen, die sich als erste für Bitcoin begeisterten, treue Schüler von Mises waren und dass seine Ideen mit dem Wachstum von Bitcoin noch mehr an Bedeutung gewonnen haben. Seine rigorose Erläuterung der Wahrheiten des Wirtschaftsrechts, die auf Subjektivismus, Marginalismus und methodologischem Individualismus beruht, gab den Menschen den Rahmen, um zu verstehen, wie Bitcoin die Geldpolitik veranschaulicht, die zu Frieden, Wohlstand und Freiheit führt. Anstatt irrelevant zu werden, ist Mises heute wichtiger denn je. Wie Ron Paul bemerkte: „[Wir sind jetzt alle Österreicher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=467hCNuGvNw\&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)." ### Fazit Das Toxische liegt im Auge des Betrachters oder des Bagholders. Die Wirtschaftswissenschaft ist, wie jedes Streben nach Wahrheit, kein Beliebtheitswettbewerb, und die Wahrheit wird immer von denen bekämpft werden, deren Geschäft und Status von der Verbreitung von Irrtümern und Unwahrheiten abhängt.\ \ Ludwig von Mises stand fest zu seinen gründlichen Analysen der Wirtschaftswissenschaften und des klassischen Liberalismus und scheute sich nicht, das zu verteidigen, was er für wahr hielt, selbst auf Kosten von Prestige und Popularität. Heute steht er weit über fast jedem anderen Sozialwissenschaftler des 20. Jahrhunderts. Ich habe an anderer Stelle über [Memes und Rhetorik ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAuHv5cPl8\&ref=europeanbitcoiners.com)gesprochen, und es gibt viel zu diskutieren über bestimmte Strategien und ihre Wirksamkeit. Aber vor allem muss jede Strategie die Wahrheit in den Mittelpunkt stellen. Die Wahrheit ist zeitlos, so dass ihre Relevanz nicht auf kurzfristige Popularität beschränkt ist. Wenn dies der Fall ist, ist der Vorwurf der „Toxizität" entweder eine Aufforderung zur Verbesserung oder ein Ehrenzeichen dafür, dass man trotz aller Widrigkeiten für die Wahrheit einsteht. Wie das Motto von Ludwig von Mises schon sagte: *tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.* Weiche dem Bösen nicht, trete ihm umso mutiger entgegen.

@ 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/895451

@ 583e5ea1:b44effdd

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Parag Kumar Das, a fearless journalist and human rights activist from Assam, on what would have been his 64th birthday. Though he's no longer with us, his legacy lives on, inspiring generations to continue fighting for justice and human rights. Das's journey as a journalist began in the 1990s, writing for local newspapers in Assam. However, he soon realized that true power lies not in reporting events, but in giving voice to the voiceless and holding those in power accountable. This marked the beginning of his journey as a human rights activist. Throughout his career, Das criticized state-sponsored violence, human rights abuses, and social injustices. His writings shed light on pressing issues in Assam, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and internally displaced persons. He relentlessly campaigned against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), highlighting the need for its repeal. Das faced harassment, intimidation, and physical attacks, but these challenges strengthened his resolve. He received several awards, including the prestigious 'Scoop' Award for Investigative Journalism. However, for Das, the true reward lay in knowing his work made a tangible difference in people's lives. As we reflect on his remarkable journey, we're reminded that the pen is mightier than the sword, and voices of truth and justice will always prevail. We salute Parag Kumar Das, a champion of human rights in Assam, on his 64th birthday. His courage, conviction, and commitment to justice continue to inspire us. Though Das was assassinated by SULFA in 1996, his memory lives on, and his work continues to inspire human rights activists in Assam and beyond. With love and respect on your 64th birthday, sir! May your courage, conviction and commitment to justice continue to inspire generations to come. We salute you, on this special day, and always. 🙏🏼 For reference, here is the Wikipedia article about him: [Parag Kumar Das]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parag_Kumar_Das)

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

As your involvement in open source design increases, you’ll face challenges that go beyond basic UI work. From creating scalable design systems to mentoring new contributors, these advanced areas require strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership. This chapter dives into these complexities, helping you handle real-world situations while continuing to grow as a designer. - Championing Design Initiatives - Creating and Maintaining Design Systems - Handling Complex Design Challenges - Conducting In-Depth User Research - Balancing Open Source Work with Other Commitments - Navigating Project Dynamics -0 Mentoring New Designers Read more: https://opendesign.guide/10-advanced-topics ``` #design #nostrdesign #bitcoindesign #ln #grownostr #asknostr #zap #btc #bitcoin #nostr #cashu ``` originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/895377

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

The French fiscal catastrophe is unfolding exactly as Austrian economists predicted. Government intervention breeds more intervention, trapping the economy in a death spiral of debt, deficits, and monetary debasement. France’s public debt has surged to 111% of GDP in 2023, with projections showing 119% by 2029. The government’s much-touted €60 billion “budget effort” is a political charade—by 2025, the deficit will still exceed 5.4% of GDP. To stabilize its finances, France would need €120 billion in permanent savings—an impossible task in a system where political survival depends on endless spending. ## The Political Crisis: A System Losing Legitimacy Economic crises create political ones. In December 2024, Prime Minister Barnier was ousted over austerity measures, replaced by Bayrou—a desperate attempt to calm markets. But leadership changes won’t fix the fundamental issue: France is ungovernable under its current fiscal trajectory. Every attempt to “fix” the problem—more regulation, more spending, more monetary manipulation—only worsens the crisis. Political chaos is a symptom of economic insolvency. ## The ECB’s Stealth Bailout: Germany’s Growing Revolt France is functionally bankrupt, but the ECB is quietly shifting the burden onto German savers through Target2 claims and monetary expansion. This amounts to a silent wealth transfer—bailing out Paris at Berlin’s expense. The German public is noticing. Support for the AfD’s “Dexit” movement is rising, as voters realize they are being forced to subsidize failing economies. The eurozone’s fault lines are deepening. ## The Likely Scenarios: What Comes Next? Based on current conditions, three major outcomes are most probable: ### Scenario 1: ECB “Muddles Through” The ECB takes a “too little, too late” approach, avoiding decisive action while failing to restore confidence. This leads to: • Wider French bond spreads as investors demand higher yields • Weakened ECB credibility, as markets lose faith in its ability to contain the crisis • Prolonged volatility without addressing the fundamental debt problem ### Scenario 2: IMF/ESM Bailout France is forced into a formal bailout via the IMF and European Stability Mechanism (ESM). This would trigger: * Harsh austerity measures, politically toxic in a nation that riots over pension reforms * Severe political fallout, as both left and right-wing factions resist external control * A crisis within the ECB itself, as its French president faces backlash for “bailing out his own country” * Northern European pushback, with the German Bundestag and creditor states reluctant to approve another bailout ### Scenario 3: Communications Crisis A severe market panic caused by ECB miscommunication leads to: * A European-style “Taper Tantrum”, triggering a selloff in French bonds * Spreads widening rapidly, forcing emergency interventions * Loss of market confidence, accelerating capital flight * Potential contagion, pulling in weaker Eurozone economies The remaining probability accounts for more moderate scenarios, where France manages to delay disaster through temporary measures. But at this level of debt and deficit spending, delay is the best-case scenario—not resolution. ## The Endgame: Default or Hyperinflation? France’s pension system alone is set to bleed €30 billion annually by 2045. The debt load is unsustainable, the political will to cut spending is nonexistent, and the ECB’s ability to print euros without consequence is rapidly eroding. #### There are only two ways this ends: * Massive defaults, triggering economic and social chaos. * Hyperinflationary money printing, destroying savings and purchasing power. #### Ludwig von Mises warned about this nearly a century ago: “The ultimate outcome of credit expansion is either a depression brought about by the voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or a catastrophe of the currency system involved.” France—and the entire euro system—has reached this fork in the road. The only question left is: Will they choose ruin now, or ruin later? Mises was right. And in the end, economic reality always wins. The only choice left is whether you want to be a victim—or prepared.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

## **age** - Simple, modern, and secure file encryption. ## SYNOPSIS ```bash age [--encrypt] (-r RECIPIENT | -R PATH)... [--armor] [-o OUTPUT] [INPUT] age [--encrypt] --passphrase [--armor] [-o OUTPUT] [INPUT] age --decrypt [-i PATH | -j PLUGIN]... [-o OUTPUT] [INPUT] ``` The **age** tool provides a robust solution for encrypting and decrypting files. It simplifies the encryption process while ensuring strong security through modern cryptographic standards. **age** primarily focuses on: - Encrypting data to specific recipients or using passphrases. - Decrypting data based on available private keys or passphrases. - Supports both binary and ASCII armored (Base64-encoded) outputs. - A compact, secure design suitable for integration into diverse environments. - **RECIPIENTS**: Public keys or identities to which a file is encrypted. Each recipient can decrypt the file with their corresponding private key. - **IDENTITIES**: Private keys that allow decryption of files encrypted to corresponding recipients. - **Passphrase**: A user-defined secret key used to encrypt or decrypt data interactively, typically used when specific recipient identities are not available. ### Encryption Process: Files are encrypted using public keys or passphrases. The `-r` option encrypts the file to specific recipients, whereas the `--passphrase` option allows encryption using a passphrase. In the absence of these options, **age** will prompt the user for the necessary inputs interactively. ### Decryption Process: Decryption is automatically handled by **age** based on the format of the encrypted file. If the file is encrypted with a passphrase, **age** will request the passphrase interactively. Alternatively, it will use the private key specified by the `-i` option to decrypt the file. ### Binary and ASCII Output: The default output for **age** is binary, which is suitable for storage and transmission. However, when using the `--armor` option, the encrypted file is encoded into a text format that is easy to handle in text-based systems. --- ## OPTIONS ### General Options: - `-o, --output=OUTPUT`: Directs the encrypted or decrypted content to the specified OUTPUT file. If OUTPUT already exists, it is overwritten. In the case of encryption without `--armor`, the tool refuses to output binary to a TTY. - `--version`: Displays the **age** version and exits. ### Encryption Options: - `-e, --encrypt`: Default mode for encrypting files. Specifies that the input file should be encrypted. - `-r, --recipient=RECIPIENT`: Encrypts to the recipient's public key, which can be a native X25519 key or an SSH key. This option may be repeated to encrypt for multiple recipients. - `-R, --recipients-file=PATH`: Encrypts for recipients listed in a file, each recipient specified on a new line. Lines starting with `#` are treated as comments. If `PATH` is `-`, recipients are read from standard input. - `-p, --passphrase`: Encrypts the file with a passphrase. The passphrase is requested interactively, and **age** offers an option to auto-generate a secure passphrase. This mode cannot be combined with other recipient options. - `--armor`: Encrypts the output to an ASCII "armored" encoding (strict Base64). This makes it more suitable for text environments. - `-i, --identity=PATH`: Specifies the path to the private key(s) that correspond to the recipients. Used to generate a file compatible with recipient encryption, allowing seamless encryption to private keys. - `-j PLUGIN`: Specifies the use of a plugin for encryption, typically used for non-standard encryption schemes. ### Decryption Options: - `-d, --decrypt`: Decrypts the specified INPUT file. If the file is passphrase-encrypted, the passphrase is automatically detected and requested interactively. - `-i, --identity=PATH`: Specifies the private key file used for decryption. This can be a native age private key, an SSH private key, or a passphrase-protected identity file. The file path can also be `-` to read from standard input. - `-j PLUGIN`: Decrypts using a plugin, similar to how the plugin is used in encryption. The plugin should contain no data-specific encryption information. ### Plugins: **age** supports the use of plugins to extend its encryption and decryption functionality. A plugin is used when encryption or decryption requires a non-standard method. The plugin executes specific cryptographic operations as defined by the plugin. --- ## VARIOUS EXAMPLES ### 1. Encrypt a file to a recipient using a native X25519 key: ```bash age -r age1ql3z7hjy54pw3hyww5ayyfg7zqgvc7w3j2elw8zmrj2kg5sfn9aqmcac8p file.txt > file.txt.age ``` ### 2. Encrypt a file to multiple recipients: ```bash age -o file.txt.age -r age1ql3z7hjy54pw3hyww5ayyfg7zqgvc7w3j2elw8zmrj2kg5sfn9aqmcac8p \ -r age1lggyhqrw2nlhcxprm67z43rta597azn8gknawjehu9d9dl0jq3yqqvfafg file.txt ``` ### 3. Encrypt to recipients listed in a file: ```bash cat > recipients.txt # Alice age1ql3z7hjy54pw3hyww5ayyfg7zqgvc7w3j2elw8zmrj2kg5sfn9aqmcac8p # Bob age1lggyhqrw2nlhcxprm67z43rta597azn8gknawjehu9d9dl0jq3yqqvfafg age -R recipients.txt file.txt > file.txt.age ``` ### 4. Encrypt and decrypt a file with a passphrase: ```bash # Encrypt with a passphrase age -p secrets.txt > secrets.txt.age Enter passphrase (leave empty to autogenerate a secure one): Using the autogenerated passphrase "release-response-step-brand-wrap-ankle-pair-unusual-sword-train". # Decrypt with the same passphrase age -d secrets.txt.age > secrets.txt Enter passphrase: ``` ### 5. Encrypt and decrypt with a passphrase-protected identity file: ```bash # Generate a passphrase-protected identity file age-keygen | age -p > key.age Enter passphrase (leave empty to autogenerate a secure one): Using the autogenerated passphrase "hip-roast-boring-snake-mention-east-wasp-honey-input-actress". # Encrypt using the identity age -r age1yhm4gctwfmrpz87tdslm550wrx6m79y9f2hdzt0lndjnehwj0ukqrjpyx5 secrets.txt > secrets.txt.age # Decrypt using the identity file age -d -i key.age secrets.txt.age > secrets.txt Enter passphrase for identity file "key.age": ``` --- ## EXIT STATUS - `0`: Encryption or decryption was successful. - `1`: An error occurred during the operation. --- ## BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY Files encrypted with a stable version of **age** will be compatible with any later version of the tool. When decrypting older files, **age** might provide a flag to force the operation if the operation poses a security risk. --- The **age** tool is designed with security and simplicity in mind. It uses strong encryption methods to ensure that your files are protected against unauthorized access, with flexibility in how encryption keys are managed and applied. [Age Github Repo](https://github.com/FiloSottile/age?tab=readme-ov-file)

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

> Something stinks in the crypto markets, and it’s not just OpenSea’s suspicious trading activity. The recent regulatory pivot in Washington—driven by the Trump administration’s aggressive push to make the U.S. “the world’s crypto capital”—has set the stage for a wave of unchecked fraud. OpenSea’s sudden regulatory relief and strategic transformation are just the beginning. ## The SEC’s Curious Retreat Let’s start with the smoking gun: the SEC was investigating OpenSea for unregistered securities violations, even issuing a Wells notice in August 2024. Then, in a complete reversal, they dropped the case without explanation. This wasn’t some random bureaucratic oversight—it happened right after Trump took office. The timing is too perfect. His administration wasted no time signaling its pro-crypto stance, and the SEC, once an enforcer, is now rolling over like a neutered watchdog. > The message? As long as you’re playing the “crypto-bro” game, the rules don’t apply. ## OpenSea’s Convenient Pivot With the regulatory threat gone, OpenSea immediately rebranded itself—not just as an NFT marketplace but a full-blown token trading platform. Here’s what they did: * Launched OS2, a rebuilt exchange expanding into token trading. * Dropped the SEA token on February 13, 2025—perfectly timed with the regulatory climate shift. * Slashed fees to near zero to attract volume and dominate the market. This wasn’t just a business move—it was a power play. OpenSea knew that under the previous administration, tokenizing its platform might have triggered another securities probe. But under Trump’s SEC? It’s open season. ## Wash Trading and Market Manipulation And it worked. The SEA token launch sent OpenSea’s market share skyrocketing from 25.5% to 71.5% in just four weeks. Daily trading volume exploded from $3.47 million to $17.4 million—but the numbers don’t add up. The surge was so artificial that OpenSea had to suspend its XP-based incentives system after accusations of wash trading flooded in. ### Let’s be clear: this isn’t real market growth. This is manipulation. By incentivizing rapid-fire, circular trading, OpenSea created the illusion of demand. The goal? Pump the SEA token, dominate competitors, and make insiders rich—at the expense of everyday traders. ## Who’s Really Benefiting? The financials paint a grim picture. #Coatue Management, once a major investor, slashed OpenSea’s valuation from $13.3 billion to just $1.4 billion. Trading volume has collapsed from its $5 billion peak to just $190 million per month. And yet, insiders are doubling down. Consider these strategic moves: * OpenSea relocated from New York to Miami, aligning with Florida’s looser regulatory environment. * It established a foundation in the Cayman Islands—a classic move for dodging scrutiny. * It’s benefiting from a hands-off #SEC, which has abandoned enforcement actions under the new administration. This is the new crypto economy: a lawless Wild West where the biggest players game the system while retail traders foot the bill. ## What Comes Next? With #Trump’s administration actively reshaping crypto regulation, OpenSea is the first of many companies to exploit this new reality. We’re entering an era where politically connected #crypto firms will enjoy total freedom to manipulate markets, while ordinary investors will be left holding the bag. ### The lesson? If you’re not on the inside, you’re the exit liquidity. This isn’t just about #OpenSea. It’s about a government-sanctioned crypto casino, where fraud is no longer the exception—it seems to be the business model. I really hope am wrong on this one #nostr.

@ 629c4a12:f822cc1a

Treasury bonds, once considered the gold standard for conservative investments, have struggled to maintain their appeal in an era of low yields and rising inflation. Governments face mounting pressure to rethink their traditional treasury instruments, especially the long duration bonds. Enter Bitcoin—a neutral, decentralized, scarce, and globally recognized asset. By integrating Bitcoin into treasury bonds, governments have a unique opportunity to breathe new life into their sovereign debt markets and attract a new wave of investors. ### Problem: The decline of long-duration sovereign bonds Around the world, governments are grappling with declining investor confidence in their long-term debt instruments. Major institutional investors have been reducing their exposure to long-dated sovereign bonds due to rising inflation, unsustainable debt levels, and uncertainty around global monetary policies. In Europe, countries like Italy and Greece have faced heightened yield spreads, reflecting investor wariness over fiscal sustainability. In Japan, long-term government bonds have seen weak demand, despite interventions by the Bank of Japan to stabilize yields. Emerging markets, too, face significant challenges, with higher borrowing costs and limited foreign investor participation in their sovereign bond markets. Globally, yields on long-term sovereign bonds have risen as investors demand higher compensation for the perceived risks. This inverse relationship between yields and bond prices highlights a broader issue: governments are finding it increasingly difficult to issue long-term debt at sustainable costs. ### Key factors contributing to this global decline include: * **Persistent inflation:** Eroding the purchasing power of fixed-income returns across global markets. * **Increased government borrowing:** Leading to an oversupply of bonds in developed and emerging economies alike. * **Monetary policy uncertainty:** Central bank actions in response to inflation and slowing economic growth have added volatility to bond markets. As a result, global investors are increasingly favoring short-term bonds or alternative assets, leaving long-term sovereign bonds struggling to attract sufficient demand. Solution: Bitcoin as collateral for treasury bonds Governments can collateralize 10% of their 10-year and 30-year treasury bond offerings with Bitcoin. In practice, this means a portion of the bond’s value would be backed by Bitcoin reserves held securely by the issuing government or a trusted custodian. Investors would gain exposure not only to the guaranteed yield of the bond but also to the potential upside of Bitcoin’s price appreciation. To sweeten the deal, governments could offer tax-free capital gains on any Bitcoin price appreciation realized through this instrument. This would make Bitcoin-backed treasury bonds not only a conservative, yield-generating investment but also a potentially lucrative one. ### Why this matters for governments * **Attracting a new investor class:** Bitcoin has a growing base of institutional and retail investors. A Bitcoin-collateralized bond could attract Bitcoin enthusiasts and institutional investors seeking compliant exposure to Bitcoin. * **Strengthening national bitcoin reserves:** By holding Bitcoin as collateral, governments would gradually build Bitcoin reserves, which could act as a hedge against currency devaluation and macroeconomic instability. * **Enhancing bond appeal in inflationary environments:** In inflationary periods, traditional bonds struggle to offer real returns. Bitcoin’s historical performance as an inflation hedge could help offset this concern. * **Diversifying reserve assets:** Bitcoin offers a unique diversification benefit compared to traditional reserve assets like gold and foreign currencies. ### Why this matters for investors * **Dual upside potential:** Investors not only gain the fixed yield of a treasury bond but also the upside of Bitcoin price appreciation. * **Tax-gree gains on Bitcoin exposure:** The tax exemption on Bitcoin gains would be a significant incentive for investors looking for capital-efficient exposure to Bitcoin. * **Low-risk Bitcoin exposure:** For more conservative investors, Bitcoin-backed bonds offer a lower-risk pathway to Bitcoin exposure compared to direct ownership. ### Why focus on 10-Year and 30-year treasuries? Long-term treasuries, such as 10-year and 30-year bonds, are ideal candidates for Bitcoin collateralization due to their extended maturity periods. These longer timelines allow Bitcoin’s historical price appreciation to play a more significant role in generating value for investors. Additionally, they align better with Bitcoin’s long-term investment thesis, making them more attractive to investors seeking both yield and potential asset growth. Short-term treasuries, on the other hand, are less suited for Bitcoin collateralization due to Bitcoin’s volatility and shorter investment horizons. Implementation and challenges While the concept is innovative, there are several practical and regulatory challenges: * **Custody and Security:** Governments must establish secure custody solutions for Bitcoin reserves. * **Volatility Management:** Bitcoin’s price volatility could introduce risk into the bond’s collateral structure. * **Regulatory Clarity:** Clear regulatory frameworks would need to be established to govern these hybrid financial instruments. However, with the right infrastructure and governance, these challenges are far from insurmountable. A win-win opportunity By collateralizing 10-year and 30-year treasury bonds with Bitcoin, governments around the world can tap into the growing Bitcoin economy, attract a new wave of global investors, and future-proof their financial strategies. Investors, on the other hand, gain access to a secure, regulated, and potentially lucrative investment vehicle. In a rapidly changing financial landscape, integrating Bitcoin into long-term sovereign bonds is not just an opportunity—it’s a strategic imperative. Governments that act decisively could position themselves at the forefront of a new era in global sovereign finance.

@ 629c4a12:f822cc1a

I’ve always been drawn to minimalism. There’s a certain peace that comes from stripping away the unnecessary, decluttering both physical and mental spaces. Yet, when it comes to finances, I’ve found myself tangled in complexity. As an ‘optimizer,’ I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about investments, managing risk, and endlessly tinkering with my portfolio. This preoccupation contradicts the minimalist principles I try to live by. It seems absurd to me that the financial world has become so complicated that we need money managers to simply preserve the value of our money. If investing is so intricate that the average person must hire professionals just to preserve (let alone grow) the value of their savings, then something is fundamentally wrong. For the past five years, I’ve immersed myself in the history and mechanics of financial systems. The deeper I delved, the clearer it became: Bitcoin is a force of minimalism in an increasingly financialized and complex world. ### The Clutter of Modern Finance Our financial system has become bloated with complexity. The hyper-securitization of assets has created an environment filled with financial clutter. Derivatives, for example, represent layers upon layers of financial engineering, often so convoluted that even experts struggle to understand them fully. More troubling is the way nearly everything of value has been financialized. Real estate and art, two things that should embody personal value and cultural significance, have been transformed into mere asset classes. They are bought, sold, and speculated upon not for their intrinsic qualities but as instruments in the game of wealth preservation. But why has this happened? It’s actually quite simple: our money is constantly losing value. The dollar, for example, debases at a rate of around 7% per year. Holding cash feels like holding melting ice, so it’s only natural for people to seek out scarce assets to preserve their wealth. The Never-Ending Game of Diversification This pursuit of scarce assets sets off a complex game—a game that forces people to diversify endlessly: * Equities * Bonds * Real Estate * Commodities * Art * Collectibles We’re told to spread our investments across these asset classes to mitigate risk and preserve our hard-earned money. Those who can afford to hire money managers generally fare better in this game, as they have access to expertise and strategies designed to navigate this maze of complexity. Ironically, this system creates an incentive for more complexity. The more convoluted the financial landscape becomes, the more we need money managers, and the more entrenched this cycle of financialization and securitization becomes. It’s a force of ever-increasing entropy—quite the opposite of minimalism. ### Bitcoin: Simplicity in a Complex World In the midst of this financial chaos, Bitcoin emerges as a beacon of simplicity. It offers a way out of the clutter, a chance to reclaim financial minimalism. Bitcoin embodies the concept of scarcity with a rare kind of perfection: there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins. No more. This scarcity makes Bitcoin the perfect savings technology. Unlike traditional currencies, no one can debase your holdings. You don’t need to chase after real estate, art, or other assets to preserve your wealth. You don’t need to constantly diversify and rebalance a portfolio to stay ahead of inflation. Bitcoin’s scarcity gives you a way to hold your wealth securely, without the need for endless tinkering. I’m not blind to Bitcoin’s short-term price volatility. However, it’s crucial to understand that we’re still in the early stages of adoption. As more people embrace this perfect form of scarcity, Bitcoin’s qualities as savings technology will express itself. Bitcoin has the potential to de-financialize the housing market. It can de-financialize art. Ultimately, Bitcoin has the power to replace those aspects of our lives that currently serve as proxies for scarcity. ### A Minimalist Approach to Wealth Bitcoin allows us to step off the treadmill of constant financial optimization. It offers a simpler way to safeguard the fruits of our labor. Rather than spending our time, energy, and attention on navigating a complex financial system, we can focus on what truly matters: living a meaningful life. By embracing Bitcoin, we embrace a minimalist approach to wealth. We reject the idea that we must play a never-ending game of diversification to maintain our standard of living. Instead, we adopt a simple, elegant solution that aligns with the principles of minimalism. ### Conclusion In a world that grows more financially cluttered by the day, Bitcoin stands as a path to financial minimalism. It frees us from the complexities of traditional finance, allowing us to preserve our wealth without the need for constant vigilance and management. By embodying scarcity and simplicity, Bitcoin gives us a way to reclaim our time and energy. It’s not just a financial tool; it’s a way to simplify our lives, to step back from the chaos, and to focus on what truly matters

@ 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/887305/r/AG) are some of the items stackers recently spent and #zap #sats on. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/895134

@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

Social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have long dominated online communication. However, many people are looking for alternatives due to increasing censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and corporate control over user data. One of the most promising new protocols I have found is Nostr, a decentralized and open-source alternative to traditional social media. But how does Nostr compare, and why should you consider making the switch? If you're reading this, presumably, you already have made the switch, but share this with friends if you like. Let’s dive in. The Fundamental Differences Between Nostr and Traditional Social Media 1. Decentralization vs. Centralization Facebook and X are owned and operated by massive corporations that control everything from content moderation to algorithmic visibility. Your posts, followers, and interactions are at the mercy of the company's policies and changes. Nostr: No single entity owns Nostr. It operates as a protocol where anyone can run a relay (a server that transmits messages). Users are not tied to a single company or platform, ensuring freedom from corporate control. 2. Censorship Resistance Facebook & X: Heavily moderate content, often removing posts or banning accounts based on internal policies, government pressure, or **advertiser** demands. Nostr: Built to resist censorship. Since users publish to multiple relays, blocking content on one relay does not remove it from others. You control where your messages are sent, not a centralized authority. 3. User Ownership and Privacy Facebook & X: Your data is stored on corporate servers and often sold to advertisers. You don’t truly own your content or connections. Nostr: Users control their private keys, which function like cryptographic signatures. Your identity is yours alone, and no company can take it away. 4. Algorithm-Free Experience Facebook & X: Content is curated by algorithms that determine what you see based on engagement metrics, often promoting divisive or viral content over meaningful conversations. Nostr: No forced algorithms. You decide which relays to use and what content to follow. Your feed remains chronological and free from corporate influence. Pros and Cons of Nostr ✅ Pros: True freedom of speech: No corporate moderation, allowing open discussion. User-owned identity: You control your account with a cryptographic key. No ads or tracking: Your data isn’t harvested or sold to advertisers. Resilient against shutdowns: Multiple relays ensure content persists even if one relay goes offline. Customizable experience: Choose the relays and clients that best suit your needs. ❌ Cons (If Any): Early-stage adoption: Not as many users as Facebook or X (yet!). Technical learning curve: Requires setting up keys and understanding relays, though improving rapidly. Lack of centralized moderation: While this is a pro for free speech, it can also mean exposure to spam or undesirable content if it is not filtered properly. However, they are developing hidden or block features to help control your feeds. I don't have a lot of worries here. To be perfectly honest, it seems like a better class of people come here. Why Should You Leave Facebook and Join Nostr? If you’re tired of algorithmic manipulation, invasive tracking, and corporate censorship, Nostr offers a fresh start. It’s a place where your voice truly belongs to you, and a centralized authority cannot control your connections. Yes, it may take some time to adjust to using Nostr, but the benefits far outweigh the minor learning curve. If you value digital freedom, privacy, and resistance to censorship, now is the perfect time to explore the future of social networking. How to Get Your Friends to Leave Corporate Social Media and Join Nostr Switching to Nostr is one thing, but convincing your friends to make the leap can be challenging. Here are some practical ways to help them transition: Explain the benefits: Many people don’t realize how much control corporations have over their online experience. Share this article and highlight the key points. Make it easy: Walk them through setting up a Nostr account, generating a private key, and connecting to relays. Show them the community: Introduce them to active Nostr users, groups, and discussions to make the transition feel worthwhile. Lead by example: Use Nostr consistently and post compelling content that makes it appealing to your friends. Keep the conversation going. As more people join, Nostr will become even more engaging, making it a true alternative to corporate-controlled platforms.

@ badc29af:a92bd071

**Part I: The First Hour (Blocks 694,200–694,205)** **Block 694,200: The Coder**\ Sarah Chen sat hunched over her keyboard in her San Francisco apartment, the fog smudging her window. Debugging a fintech app, she watched block 694,200 confirm on the Bitcoin blockchain. Suddenly, its architecture snapped into focus: not just code, but a defiance of artificial abundance.\ "Holy shit," she whispered, easing back from her desk, her monitor casting light on scattered ramen cups. She’d coded financial systems for years, but now she saw money’s true potential—scarce, digital, unbound. **Block 694,201: The Entrepreneur**\ Ten minutes later, in a steamy Lagos cybercafé, James Okonjo’s world shifted as block 694,201 locked in. Struggling with payment delays under Nigeria’s currency controls, he read about Bitcoin’s borderless flow.\ "No more gatekeepers," he said, startling nearby patrons. His hands shook as he set up his first wallet, already dreaming of a Bitcoin education platform for African developers. **Block 694,202: The Economist**\ In Caracas, Maria Rodriguez paced before her Universidad Central de Venezuela class, dissecting inflation’s latest surge. As block 694,202 formed, the idea of fixed-supply money hit her like a revelation.\ "Forget this slide," she said, closing her laptop. "Let’s talk proof-of-work." Her students stared, but her mind was already racing with possibilities. **Block 694,203: The Retiree**\ In Tokyo, Hiroshi Yamamoto sipped tea during his morning portfolio review when block 694,203 confirmed. A retired salaryman, he saw Bitcoin as a shield against decades of yen erosion. Quietly, he began researching wallets, his curiosity ignited. **Block 694,204: The Prodigy**\ In Toronto, 16-year-old Emma Chen, a coding whiz, stumbled across block 694,204 while tinkering online. The power to program her own money dawned on her. She grinned, diving into Bitcoin’s whitepaper with reckless glee. **Block 694,205: The Shopkeeper**\ In Buenos Aires, Carlos Mendoza tallied his shop’s dwindling profits as block 694,205 ticked into existence. Sick of the peso’s collapse, he found Bitcoin—an escape from financial quicksand. By nightfall, he’d downloaded a wallet app. --- **Part II: The First Day (Blocks 694,206–694,343)** **The Morning Wave (Blocks 694,206–694,247)**\ Over the next 42 blocks—about seven hours—as Asia slept and Europe stirred, the awakenings multiplied: **Block 694,206**: A Swiss banker questioned her fiat career. **Block 694,207**: A German programmer marveled at Bitcoin’s consensus beauty. **Block 694,208**: A Korean gamer saw virtual gold turn real.\ The chain hummed, each block birthing new believers, ten minutes apart. **The American Session (Blocks 694,248–694,295)**\ As Wall Street woke, blocks 694,248 to 694,295—eight hours—marked a finance-world reckoning: **Block 694,248**: A Connecticut hedge fund manager saw through fiat’s illusions. **Block 694,249**: A Chicago commodities trader grasped digital scarcity. **Block 694,250**: A Texas pension admin envisioned a sounder future.\ Each block stamped a timestamp on their transformation. **The Global South Rises (Blocks 694,296–694,343)**\ The day’s final stretch—48 blocks, eight more hours—saw the global south ignite: **Block 694,296**: Brazilian students planned Bitcoin beach hubs. **Block 694,297**: Indonesian merchants linked Lightning payment loops. **Block 694,298**: South African miners turned solar power into hash rate.\ The chain pulsed, relentless, binding them all. --- **Part III: The Network Effect (Beyond Block 694,343)** **The Teachers (Block 694,344)**\ Sarah quit her job at block 694,344, coding Bitcoin education tools. James’s platform launched, reaching Africa’s devs. Maria’s NOSTR lectures spread, her voice a beacon. **The Builders (Block 694,345)**\ At block 694,345, innovation bloomed: privacy upgrades, scaling fixes, Lightning finance tools. The awakened built atop the chain. **The HODLers (Block 694,346)**\ By block 694,346, others simply held—silent sentinels whose faith grew with each block, each halving. --- **Epilogue: The Endless Chain (Blocks Onward)** The awakening rolled on, ten minutes at a time. Block 694,347 saw a Mumbai coder join Sarah’s cause. Block 694,348 brought a Nairobi merchant to James’s platform. Block 694,349 swayed a Manila policymaker with Maria’s words. Every block—144 a day—sparked new stories: dreamers seeking freedom, builders crafting tools, HODLers standing firm. Money, they understood, was too vital to be ruled by power. From block 694,200, the chain stretched forward, a living testament to scarcity, ownership, math over might. Each block was a birth, each hash a heartbeat, each Bitcoiner a node in a network of financial truth—marching on, block by block, toward a harder, sounder world, forever verified, never permissioned, growing but never diluted, ten minutes at a time.

@ 629c4a12:f822cc1a

This is test 2

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Hockeypuck is an **OpenPGP keyserver** that allows users to publish, search, and retrieve **PGP public keys** for secure communication. It is designed for **federation** with other keyservers and supports a **high-performance, scalable** architecture. --- ## **🛠️ Usage** ### **1. Public PGP Key Directory** - Organizations, security researchers, and privacy-focused users can **publish and retrieve PGP keys** for encrypted email and document verification. - Similar to **SKS Keyserver**, but actively maintained and more scalable. ### **2. Enterprise PGP Key Management** - Companies can **host a private keyserver** for internal teams to share PGP keys securely. - Prevents reliance on external keyservers like keys.openpgp.org. ### **3. Decentralized Identity and Key Distribution** - Used in federated **PGP keyserver networks** like **Hockeypuck & SKS pools** to distribute OpenPGP keys across multiple servers. - Useful for **distributed trust models** where multiple organizations manage keys collaboratively. ### **4. Bitcoin & Nostr Applications** - Can be used alongside **Nostr** for key verification, ensuring public keys are retrievable for cryptographic signatures. - Useful in **Bitcoin** applications where PGP-signed messages confirm identity. ### **5. Software Package Signing** - Developers and package maintainers can **sign software updates** using OpenPGP, and end users can fetch public keys from Hockeypuck to verify authenticity. - Example: **Debian and Arch Linux package signing**. ### **6. Secure Messaging** - Supports secure email systems using **PGP-encrypted mail (e.g., ProtonMail, Thunderbird + Enigmail, Mailpile, etc.)**. --- ## **📌 Key Benefits** ✅ **Docker-Based Deployment** → Easily installable with **Docker** and **docker-compose**. ✅ **Federated Keyserver** → Can join existing **PGP keyserver networks**. ✅ **High-Performance Storage** → Uses PostgreSQL for better performance than older SKS keyservers. ✅ **Supports HTTP & HTTPS** → Can be hosted publicly with **TLS encryption**. ✅ **Fully Open Source** → Maintained as a modern alternative to SKS. ## **🔑 Signing a Nostr Event Using PGP & Verifying It on a Relay** If Alice wants to **prove she controls `npub1xyz...`** using **PGP**, she can sign a Nostr event and publish both the event and signature. --- ### **🔹 Step 1: Create a Nostr Event (Kind 0)** Alice generates a **Nostr profile metadata event**: ```json { "id": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", "pubkey": "npub1xyz...", "created_at": 1700000000, "kind": 0, "tags": [], "content": "{ \"name\": \"Alice\", \"about\": \"PGP Verified Nostr User\" }" } ``` She saves this as **`nostr_event.json`**. --- ### **🔹 Step 2: Sign the Event with PGP** Alice uses GnuPG to sign the event: ```bash gpg --clearsign --armor nostr_event.json ``` This creates **`nostr_event.json.asc`**, which contains the event with a **PGP signature**. 🔹 **Example of the signed event:** ``` -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 { "id": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", "pubkey": "npub1xyz...", "created_at": 1700000000, "kind": 0, "tags": [], "content": "{ \"name\": \"Alice\", \"about\": \"PGP Verified Nostr User\" }" } -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEbGSk4HTlMz5tG0tF0Y8fO3HTQYYFAmS8mOkACgkQ0Y8fO3HT QYYX4w/+JwzbfM1EZ2F7H3yqbdGBJ2cGd... -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ``` --- ### **🔹 Step 3: Upload the Signature to a Public Keyserver** Alice submits her signed Nostr event to the **Hockeypuck keyserver**: ```bash curl --data-binary @nostr_event.json.asc https://keyserver.example.com/pks/add ``` --- ### **🔹 Step 4: Publish the Event to a Nostr Relay** Alice **publishes the original event** to a Nostr relay: ```bash curl -X POST https://nostr-relay.example.com/ -d @nostr_event.json ``` --- ### **🔹 Step 5: Verification** Anyone can **fetch Alice’s PGP-signed event** and verify it: ```bash curl "https://keyserver.example.com/pks/lookup?op=get&search=alice@nostr.example.com" | gpg --verify ``` If successful, it will show: ``` gpg: Good signature from "Alice <alice@nostr.example.com>" ``` --- ### **✅ Use Cases** 1. **Proving Ownership of a Nostr Public Key** with PGP. 2. **Bitcoin Applications**: PGP-signed messages can confirm identities for multisig coordination. 3. **Decentralized Web of Trust**: Verifying Nostr users via signed events. --- Additionally a simple JS or python script could automate signing process.

@ 3ffac3a6:2d656657

## Renoters: Proposal for Anonymous Event Relaying in Nostr *This document is a proposal and not an official NIP.* This Document proposes "Renoters," a mechanism for anonymous event relaying in Nostr, inspired by the Mixminion remailer design. Renoters aim to enhance privacy by obscuring the origin of events, making it difficult to trace the author of a message. ### **Motivation** While Nostr offers a decentralized platform, current relay mechanisms can potentially reveal the source of events. Renoters address this by introducing an onion-routing-like system where events are encrypted and relayed through a series of nodes, making it harder to link the event to its originator. This enhances privacy for users who wish to communicate anonymously or protect their identity. In some totalitarian regimes, the use of Tor and VPNs is criminalized, making online anonymity dangerous. Even in some democratic countries, merely downloading Tor can mark individuals as suspects. This underscores the need for a decentralized and anonymous communication system that operates independently of commonly surveilled privacy tools. ### **Proposed Solution** Renoters operate on the principle of "gift-wrapping" events, using asymmetric encryption. A user wishing to send an event anonymously performs the following steps: 1. **Event Creation:** The user creates the Nostr event they wish to publish. 2. **Renoter Path Selection:** The user selects a path of Renoters through which the event will be relayed. This path can be pre-configured or dynamically chosen. 3. **Gift Wrapping (Encryption and Signing):** The user encrypts and signs the event for each Renoter in the path, working in reverse order: - A *new* random Nostr private key (`sk_wrapper`) is generated. - The event (or the previously wrapped event) is encrypted using the *next* Renoter's Npub (`npub_next`) using Nostr's standard encryption mechanism (e.g., using shared secrets derived from the private key and the recipient's public key). - A *new* Nostr event is created. This "wrapper" event's content contains the ciphertext. The wrapper event is signed using the newly generated private key `sk_wrapper`. The wrapper event also includes the next hop's `npub_next` (or the final destination if it's the last renoter) in cleartext, to allow for routing. 4. **Publication:** The user publishes the *first* gift-wrapped event (the one encrypted for the last Renoter in the path). This event is sent to a regular Nostr relay, which then forwards it to the first Renoter in the path. 5. **Renoter Relaying:** Each Renoter in the path receives the gift-wrapped event, verifies the signature using the `sk_wrapper`'s corresponding public key, decrypts it using its own private key, and forwards the decrypted event (now wrapped for the *next* Renoter) to the next Renoter in the path. This process continues until the event reaches the final Renoter. 6. **Final Delivery:** The final Renoter decrypts the event and publishes it to the Nostr network. ### **Example** Let's say Alice wants to send an event anonymously through Renoters R1, R2, and R3. 1. Alice creates her event. 2. She generates a random private key `sk3` and encrypts the event with R3's public key `npub_r3`. 3. She creates a wrapper event containing the ciphertext and `npub_r3`, signed with `sk3`. 4. She generates a random private key `sk2` and encrypts the previous wrapper event with R2's public key `npub_r2`. 5. She creates a wrapper event containing this ciphertext and `npub_r2`, signed with `sk2`. 6. She generates a random private key `sk1` and encrypts the previous wrapper event with R1's public key `npub_r1`. 7. She creates a final wrapper event containing this ciphertext and `npub_r1`, signed with `sk1`. 8. Alice publishes this final wrapper event. R1 decrypts with its private key, verifies the signature with the public key corresponding to `sk1`, and forwards to R2. R2 decrypts, verifies the signature with the public key corresponding to `sk2`, and forwards to R3. R3 decrypts, verifies the signature with the public key corresponding to `sk3`, and publishes the original event. ### **Renoter Incentives (using Cashu)** To incentivize Renoters to participate in the network, this NIP proposes integrating Cashu tokens as a payment mechanism. - **Token Inclusion:** When a user creates the initial gift-wrapped event (the one sent to the first Renoter), they include a Cashu token *within* the event content. This token is itself encrypted and wrapped along with the original message, so only the receiving Renoter can access it. - **Renoter Redemption:** Upon receiving a gift-wrapped event, the Renoter decrypts it. If the event contains a Cashu token, the Renoter can decrypt the token and redeem it. - **Renoter Behavior:** Paid Renoters would be configured *not* to relay events that do *not* contain a valid Cashu token. This ensures that Renoters are compensated for their service. Free Renoters could still exist, but paid Renoters would likely offer faster or more reliable service. - **Token Value and Tiers:** Different Cashu token denominations could represent different levels of service (e.g., faster relaying, higher priority). This could create a tiered system where users can pay for better anonymity or speed. - **Token Generation:** Users would need a way to acquire Cashu tokens. This could involve purchasing them from a Cashu mint or earning them through other means. ### **Security Threats and Mitigations** - **Anonymity Against Correlation Attacks:** Even when using Tor, traffic patterns can still be analyzed to infer the origin of events. To mitigate this risk, Renoters can introduce: - Random delays in event relaying. - Dummy packets to complicate statistical analysis by malicious observers. - **Replay Attacks:** To mitigate replay attacks, each Renoter must store, for a reasonable period, the IDs of received events and the decrypted events that were forwarded. This ensures that duplicate messages are not processed again. - **Sybil Attacks:** Sybil attacks can be mitigated by requiring payments via Cashu tokens for relaying events, increasing the cost of launching such attacks. By ensuring that each relay operation has a monetary cost, attackers are discouraged from creating large numbers of fake identities to manipulate the network. - **Traffic Analysis:** Traffic analysis can be mitigated by using Tor for Renoters. Routing events through the Tor network adds an additional layer of anonymity, making it more difficult to track message origins or infer sender-recipient relationships. While Renoters enhance privacy, sophisticated traffic analysis might still be a threat. ### **Operational Considerations** - **Renoter Reliability:** The reliability of the Renoter network is crucial. - **Latency:** Relaying through multiple Renoters will introduce latency. - **Key Management:** While each layer uses a new key, the initial key generation and path selection process need to be secure. This NIP provides a robust framework for anonymous event relaying in Nostr, leveraging encryption and Cashu-based incentives to enhance privacy and usability. ### **References** - **Untraceable Electronic Mail, Return Addresses, and Digital Pseudonyms**: David L. Chaum (https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/358549.358563) - **Mixminion Design**: Mixminion: Design of a Type III Anonymous Remailer (https://www.mixminion.net/minion-design.pdf) - **Nostr Protocol**: Official Nostr Documentation (https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr) - **Cashu Token System**: Cashu: Ecash for Bitcoin Lightning (https://cashu.space/) - **Tor Project**: The Tor Project - Anonymity Online (https://www.torproject.org/) - **Onion Routing**: The Second-Generation Onion Router (https://svn.torproject.org/svn/projects/design-paper/tor-design.pdf) #Privacy #Nostr #Anonymity #Crypto #CensorshipResistance #OnlinePrivacy #Decentralization #Encryption #Security #ThreatMitigation #Micropayments #CryptoEconomy #NextSteps #Development

@ f3873798:24b3f2f3

A liberdade de expressão e a descentralização do poder estão intimamente ligadas ao avanço do pensamento humano e à construção de uma sociedade mais justa e consciente. A evolução da compreensão sobre o certo e o errado surge da comunicação, da observação empírica e da análise das consequências de ações passadas. Para que haja uma aproximação real com a verdade e uma relação equilibrada entre a razão da vida e o convívio com o poder, é essencial garantir a liberdade de expressão. Somente por meio do livre debate de ideias é possível avaliar as diversas perspectivas, identificar erros e aprender com eles. Embora a maioria das pessoas busque o aprendizado e a compreensão do que é correto, o apego cego a uma ideia evidentemente equivocada pode fazer com que percam o real propósito da busca pela verdade. Em vez de refletirem criticamente, muitos acabam apenas defendendo um erro pelo simples fato de se identificarem com ele. Esse é um dos motivos pelos quais a censura tem se tornado uma ferramenta tão temida e contestada. Ilude-se quem acredita que a censura existe apenas para combater crimes e golpes. Na realidade, quanto maior a censura, mais favorecidos são aqueles que desejam ocultar informações, tornando ainda mais difícil a identificação e o combate a abusos. Nos países livres, onde a liberdade de expressão é respeitada, há maior autonomia nas decisões políticas e um engajamento mais ativo da população. A participação cidadã fortalece o controle do povo sobre as influências que moldam o convívio social, garantindo que o poder não fique concentrado nas mãos de poucos, mas distribuído de forma mais democrática e justa.

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

6/WRXHyH0NZbnQJ9LX+VZnSZBv5Y3iYgws/SZV0BVXSE4c8GJp9/HVp2ZfUsstNeQ6KDIA2LVlmrnnW7Dwb6rr09Tbh79cQp7LukzkVzjtWJ6FlWkM8iaHW6YgET77s1PfZV0fZ9tVpXo77byWCMI/R8feh2BhQ7Nhr35AnLhWa++0jKtIRSShY+BRKGusyT8zn09pYg4Wg8rDosilrbd4GUX6QqMguLuiBSi7D8VRWAXEkSefV0T04QUeVyvIcIloKAkLqQloVAHGPMJc65GtVc1705lI4aa62aGraGhg1yEXkr5PelI3X1P5PYx29NZbPyeSUBh40dJQFZmYDxV9WSPUtJqIn/1gQUW0jueCuQASpNfKr17F2bHvcIOeOp+ukbWfbYDWt4IammFZCuXw==?iv=r1dw0EG1b8Fvsxm+8ykvRA==

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

UvEa5PR6FF+PYlYXJM9Sqt06t01ARuO5vW2ct5SyIg4+aA4nq38Mofx2NI5YydZJcn9iQO2f0nlgIJaMFuDYBLXQFHklMlq7OfY5UyTnOFZ8Js9NwIMI1I7IVWp6qPEBSp5z0OmKOB1g2Z1jEZrySpkMd53AjaeYXiEyT5IMSDsKjxAbwuLRWaZiCWKtxKJxRdT/VUvYeE9dIfnadSkZdF8oIT6PlZYlgQ836Rt7X4O6hA/ydm1Hrc/1H/eTuKS8ePXZs5E4b/+XtgPclYqMPdUzD5/4rplIRJJXZQZX3cWiGC/0ilWIqyItead3JhwPAb+lNAyycfYelZRNjI10U719a0wjBsc0q7PgjQvSze4=?iv=uIyBfCznssKHgZaTSeUpbw==

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

jBiT1F1hY5a3Vq2M4HQw8gzVRLsjgq55R7BiuA27ArQTWpw4IPwLwljsZ5LDgw3GrZLbDXwFJchQxD7uBvMnMJWhyNTCcrrtG+HEwOKI2QNoOuvD/7ilDa6LRkH27dcJkwYykm4m2Z/55OKy/tFlDmuILrVI292kLmYtaM5a9J0BCzEjUYD2y3rsSEao33ffBPr1sguZqJ4v+6+JPI/v2g90RrJx4SUS8rwi4u+JK7NmFZ8kvQ/2q3pkxQlGQwHO6QJvjojhnP1wh10Hfjv55Zy12QCoIFEwfEyXiVgiY28eiLqMmFwuew73/KlDac/7cK46SY8Ctc9XCCVyMIeWrtvAf9Xv/gaXf+Bdma9nFd49ajE0vTu1ek0w/VAjbDMM?iv=0lLA9SdWMNruCC1dP2LLgA==

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

3jqbINLb+Eu6xeXqFoZnxGx1vWAPYzmPDiD7QWXr7gEmomwqlvfMkaP//6lgCfRZWMgQ+CwOy8O87HiQVlKz4S7Or1EJD50aWxSLkPWsIxvP7qbQucBZT4dGJZcfx1roCbmatYwiFsEx82qmbpm8otkry7GI5tCFVMpFzvgW2W03j+ogXmvPgrgrta5RJT6eHX0HlzoRPmUi7MUzulSCnIWWwB+mrSbP5UHsPuwyNAsS5y3o4v0poQKEFEPRhin1x3e+Ng1TaaSvtqS8cDsJbl+MR/Tg+rf5tY7vJYWfE08I7oAu5onu5sPwQxRAdsugUUkHTqV4NFHPtRdUXETzpZWMnMzjRNQQxJxKCvAx1kNQPAawWMmiVm+D2CxTMsQF6ppj7Fy/2k071Atbyo1U24EAxnpe4QKxmRYmqGFi1/8=?iv=putQEJoUu8Jq2j5iMUe+5w==

@ ef1744f8:96fbc3fe

PYb07VjQ46ph8Nm/1ChBV/71d/mvwfdg1JbshVfDENrQm77om+bb4qswyBwZ9Jd7j2ZWbQJZ4RLwEu4UG/kz93RkY7z8/fGDZWp4X2BGQKnayQmlVZW+nVfyQ1EWHiAUSbDZglbFBCM7OfpEA/bSTC0K0hacqvNF/c7OStbcK3rtYAlSoOmOd18uYFaCnZFC20IplacQitbEPRkWbCY7jk1J1n1axFXcYO37n9fR/Phor6TCLx0Mlqdv1AlqCA0Z9kuf9OwqGO/vp7FtdMDNowDFLdFSiYTO+q0Mt40oiGuHbJKdCRXczEnLZiXEuhgIIckFdN0pPHvyl9bfuU5H587nNhIBgkG8uh1U5RVVBCbixHkXGgtXUzUbPE/66AKTkYlXZM85VuOVduEoKzGwBqZCHcD/s33mdKI0eDUXrE5VrgzUFMBP1FKz7R2P6L6d?iv=EwWM5EBKuyRHXzIajYDOkw==

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

 > 1 in 5 women with a BA are willing to marry a man without one  > But crucially, the men without a BA married to women with a BA are those with better earnings. So women "marry down" educationally, not so much economically  > Why aren't women without a BA marrying men without one? Short answer: economic viability. In areas where men from lower-income backgrounds are doing better. women are more likely to be married  https://aibm.org/research/will-college-educated-women-find-someone-to-marry/ originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/895044

@ 0f4795bf:a8365abe

## Der neue Pareto-Client Unter der Adresse <https://pareto.space/read> lässt sich der neue Pareto-Client aufrufen.  Durch Klicken auf **Anmelden** (rechts oben) kann mit einem vorhandenen Nostr-Konto angemeldet werden oder ein neues Konto erstellt werden.  Sofern schon ein Nostr-Konto vorhanden ist, kann nach Klick auf **Log in** einfach z. B. mittels Browser Extension angemeldet werden.  Nach dem Anmelden wird das Profilbild rechts oben angezeigt und ggf. eine Kategorie mit den Artikeln der Autoren, denen man folgt.  Nach Umschalten vom Leser- in den Autoren-Modus (Schalter oben, rechts neben Logo) werden die bereits veröffentlichten Artikel angezeigt. Sollte der Schalter nicht angezeigt werden, bitte bei uns mit dem npub melden, damit wir ihn in die Liste der Pareto-Autoren aufnehmen können.  Eine zweite Kategorie zeigt die bestehenden Entwürfe.  Unter dem Punkt Bilder links lassen sich Bilder hochladen, die in Artikeln verwendet werden sollen. Sollte noch kein Medien-Server (Blossom oder NIP-96) konfiguriert sein, wird angeboten, den Standard-Server des Pareto-Projektes zu nutzen.  Nachdem der Server konfiguriert wird, werden alle hochgeladenen Bilder angezeigt. Weitere Bilder lassen sich über den Knopf **Bilder hochladen** hinzufügen.  Nach Auswahl des Punktes **Schreiben** wird der leere Pareto-Editor angezeigt.  Neben dem Titel sollte auch die Zusammenfassung aufgefüllt werden, da diese beim Teilen des Artikels (Telegram, Social Media, ...) neben dem Titel und dem Bild des Artikels angezeigt werden. Das Bild kann durch Klicken auf den grauen Rahmen rechts oben gewählt werden.  Nach Doppelklick auf das gewünschte Bild wird es rechts neben Titel und Zusammenfassung angezeigt. Neue Elemente können im Text durch Klicken auf das Plus-Symbol hinzugefügt werden.  Neben Überschriften lassen sich so auch Zitate, Aufzählungen, Programm-Code, Tabellen und Bilder einfügen.  Nachdem ein Bild-Element eingefügt wurde, kann es entweder mit einem Link auf ein Bild bestückt werden oder - durch Klicken auf "Select file" ein bereits hochgeladenes auswählen. Durch Klicken auf die kleine Sprechblase rechts oben in einem Bild lässt sich eine Bildunterschrift hinzufügen.  ### Markdown Neben dem Hinzufügen von Elementen über das Plus-Symbol kann natürlich auch direkt [Markdown-Auszeichnung](https://www.ionos.de/digitalguide/websites/web-entwicklung/markdown/) eingegeben werden. Es gibt im Netz diverse Anleitungen für Markdown. Allerdings gibt es im Kontext von Nostr die Einschränkung, dass keine HTML-Elemente in Artikeln enthalten sein dürfen. Durch Tippen eines Doppelkreuzes, gefolgt von einem Leerzeichen, lässt sich beispielsweise eine Überschrift einfügen    ### Besonderheiten Der Pareto-Client stellt Links unterschiedlich dar, je nachdem, ob sie innerhalb eines Absatzes oder allein erscheinen. *Links innerhalb eines Absatzes* werden ganz regulär dargestellt als Link, auf den der Leser klicken kann. *Alleinstehende Links* (also ohne Text davor oder dahinter) hingegen werden ggf. mit einer Vorschau versehen und nach einmaligem Klick wird der Inhalt eingebettet dargestellt. Für Links zu **YouTube**, **Odysee**, **Rumble**, **SoundCloud**, **[theplattform.net](https://tube.theplattform.net/)**, und andere können die Inhalte direkt im Artikel konsumiert werden. Auch alleinstehende Links zu Dateien mit den Endungen .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi, .m4v und .webm (Videos) sowie .mp3, .wav, ogg (Audio) und .pdf (PDF-Dokumente) werden eingebettet dargestellt. > **Tipp:** > > Beim Schreiben längerer Artikel empfiehlt es sich, diese zwischendurch immer wieder als Entwurf zu speichern, um Datenverlust zu vermeiden.  Oberhalb des Knopfes zum Speichern von Entwürfen wird immer der aktuelle Status des Artikels angezeigt. Schlüsselwörter werden einfach durch Komma getrennt. Es ist üblich, diese klein zu schreiben.  Nach dem Speichern wird der Knopf deaktiviert. Der Entwurf sollte anschließend unter dem Punkt **Artikel** unter **Entwürfe** eingeblendet werden.  Ein Klick auf **Bearbeiten** bringt den Entwurf wieder in den Editor. Nach Klicken von **Veröffentlichen** kann noch die Liste der Nostr-Relays ausgewählt werden, auf denen der Artikel veröffentlicht werden soll.  Nach dem Veröffentlichen sollte der Status das entspr. anzeigen.  Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Dein erster Artikel wurde über den Pareto-Client verfasst und veröffentlicht!

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

(This was originally posted on melonmancy.net which is a blog on write.as, an ActivityPub based blogging instance) Listeners rejoice as we are joined today by [ironee212 @ shitposter.world](https://shitposter.world/ironee212) Another major videogame release happened since we last recorded and it looks like a big stinker, or is it? All that and more in today's episode. We mentioned a few things in the show you might want to pull up while listening, they are the following: - [Avowed steam chart](https://steamdb.info/app/2457220/charts/) - [TF2 SDK news](https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809) Obligatory: - [Listen to the new episode here!](https://melonmancy.net/listen) - [Discuss this episode on OUR NEW FORUM](https://melonmancy.cafe/d/103-mp101-my-favorite-body-type-b) - [Get the RSS and Subscribe](https://feeds.rssblue.com/melonmancy-podcast) (this is a new feed URL, but the old one redirects here too!) - Get a modern podcast app to use that RSS feed on at [newpodcastapps.com](http://newpodcastapps.com/) - Or listen to the show on [the forum](https://melonmancy.cafe) using the embedded [Podverse](https://podverse.fm) player! - [Send your complaints here](https://melonmancy.net/contact-us) Reminder that this is a [Value4Value](https://value4value.info/) podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors! Our podcast is created entirely with free software and is proudly hosted on [RSSBlue!](https://rssblue.com)