@ 378562cd:a6fc6773

You're in the right place if you've feel like you have never known God but feel drawn to Him. The Bible is God’s Word, His way of speaking to us, and it holds the truth about who He is, who we are, and how we can have a relationship with Him. Here’s a *simple guide* to getting started: **Step 1: Begin with Jesus** The best place to start is with Jesus. He is the heart of the Bible’s message; we can know God through Him. Start by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. It clearly shows who Jesus is, His love for us, and why He came to save us. **Step 2: Talk to God as You Read** Reading the Bible isn’t just about gathering knowledge and meeting God. Ask Him to help you understand. A simple prayer like, "God, if You are real, show me the truth. Help me know You" is enough. **Step 3: Understand the Main Message** The Bible tells one big story: God created us (Genesis 1:1) Sin separated us from God (Romans 3:23) Jesus came to save us (John 3:16) We can be forgiven and have eternal life through Him (Romans 10:9) **Step 4: Accepting Jesus into Your Heart** If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that He rose again, you can ask Him to forgive you and come into your life. You don’t need fancy words—just a sincere heart. You can pray something like this: "Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I ask You to forgive me, change me, and come into my life. I want to follow You. Amen." **Step 5: Keep Going!** Read a little each day. Start with John, then move to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Find a Bible-believing church or group to help you grow. Pray daily — talk to God like you would a friend. Trust that God will guide you as you seek Him. If you’ve taken these steps, you’ve begun the greatest journey of your life—walking with Jesus. Keep seeking, keep learning, and know that God loves you deeply. 💙 I may not know you, and you may not know me, but this guide can be a lifeline if you carry burdens— drama, heartache, struggles, pains or whatever. If you commit to following the steps of this guide and make time to read your Bible daily, you’ll find wisdom, peace, and the strength to face whatever life throws your way.

@ bbb5dda0:f09e2747

**A couple weeks with a little bit of everything, TollGate marketing, app stability improvements, and some personal matters that needed my attention. Let's get into it:** ## TollGate App For starters, we worked hard to get an early version of the [TollGate](https://tollgate.me) website live. What do we want to communicate about the project, and to whom. We've identified three 'types' of visitor, each requiring its own 'customer journey' through the website. First there's the end-user, someone that just wants access to tollgate, but doesn't care about any of the technichalities. We try to guide those people to downloading our app as soon as possible. Currently that means downloading it straight from the website as an APK file. But we want to quickly move on to publishing it to the [ZapStore](https://zapstore.dev). The past couple weeks I put some efforts into getting the app stable. It was hard to identify what was causing the seemingly random crashes and full reloads (of the web content). After getting some outside help we've identified that we were trying to interact with the android API's on the main thread. Which is bad practice. I first couldn't figure out how to make a web request without having to spawn a seperate thread in the kotlin code, that then we'd have to create some kind of system to bubble up the callback method's result. I then found there's a proper [Tauri (the framework) way](https://tauri.app/develop/plugins/develop-mobile/) of doing this using Kotlin Coroutines, which I wasn't familliar with. But it just executes the entire Tauri 'command' (function call) on a background thread. Problem solved. I haven't had any full app crashes since. Which left me with the random page refreshes, the thing that was behind the demo-effect at Sat's and Facts. I noticed it happened around the moments I would go to settings to hit the 'sign in' button to dismiss the captive portal. That's where I had looked before, but I needed to zoom out. It had to do SOMETHING with moving the app to and from the background. Okay is it some kind of sleep issue? I don't remember where or how I found it but I saw a suggestion to run the Tauri dev build with a --no-watch flag. Which disables hot reloading of the app when I edit one of the TypeScript/HTML files. Somehow the reload would be triggered sometimes on app switching. Why? I don't know, but i'm glad I could pinpoint it. So now the demo part seems stable, finally. Which means I can move on and properly implement the wallet logic and making the download on the website work. ## TollGateOS  The second customer group will be people interested in running a TollGate. We're trying to get them to download our custom build of OpenWRT that includes all the required packages. We 'baptized' this version to be called **TollGateOS** as we say in proper Dutch ;). I think it will help to have these clear distinct names. I really want any moderately technical person to be able to install TollGateOS on a supported router. My vision for this is to have some kind of web installer, akin to what GrapheneOS does with their web-installer. It seems to be possible to do SSH from the browser, but I'll kill that bird when I see it (is that a saying? I think it should be...) By the way, in earlier docs/demo's we talked about a 'herald' module, which would do the advertising of the tollgate. But as we found that the crowsnest already interacts with the hardware antennas, which is needed for 'advertising' the tollgate, we thought it better to merge both of them into the Crowsnest. ## Developers TollGate is fully open source, so anyone looking to either look at or fork the source code is welcome to do so. Developers interested at looking at the code are probably already interested to some degree. For this group we added easy links to navigate to the project's repositories Currently our focus is publishing the Android version, but we're building the app in a cross-platform way. The only thing we have to customize are the system integrations, like scanning for wifi-networks and connecting to them. ## Gearing up for Sovereign Engineering As i'm writing this piece for you i'm at 10km (that's 30.000ft for y'all Americans) in the air on my way to Sovereign Engineering edition #4, SEC-04. I feel ready to go kick ass once again and build beautiful things with a bunch of my favourite plebs! ## A bit of a focus shift If you've been following me you might notice I haven't posted much about Epoxy recently. I found the momentum I see emerge on TollGate and GitHub Actions too good to let go to waste. So those will be my focus for a while, I'm hoping to circle back to Epoxy when these projects have a more steady pace.

@ df478568:2a951e67

In [my Soapminer article](https://habla.news/u/marc@primal.net/washing-the-invisible-hand-with-soapminer), I added quotes from various plebs. I earned over 12,000 sats! That's enough for a McJunk today, but maybe a steak dinner in a few years. That's my two sats anyway. *This is not investment advice* It feels great to receive value from people who support and appreciate your work. It's also nice to stack more sats by writing. I have a budget of $25.00 that I have sent to various people using Zapplanner, but I'm trying something new: Zapsplits. ## WTF Are Zapsplits? I asked [Unleashed.chat](https://unleashed.chat). Here's what the anthropomorphic Unleashed said. Me: What is a Zapsplit on nostr?  Unleashed: A Zapsplit on Nostr refers to splitting a Zap, which is a form of donation or tipping on the ~platform~ protocol, among multiple recipients. **It allows users to distribute their support more broadly across various content creators instead of just one**. That's more succinct than I would put it, but nostr is a protocol, not a platform. The important part about Zapsplits for me is that it removes the cognitive cost of deciding what percentage of my giving budget should go to each creator. Do I zap podcast guests? Do podcasters with ads get less than podcasters sans ads? How much value did this particular article bring me? If I zap Guy Swann, should I also zap the authors he reads? Should I zap long-form articles more than micro-blogs? There are 21 million different considerations. Zapsplits removes all this from me because I can use the following algorithm.  ### Does This Person Provide Me Value? Yes ⬇️ I add them to my Zapsplit post for that month. A portion of my monthly zapping budget, 25 dirty-fiat bucks, transforms into magic Internet money and is distributed among everyone in the Zapsplit. No ⬇️ If I don't get any value, I don't send value. Simple. #### Testing Zapsplits I added podcasters and devs to a nostr post and enabled a 10-way zapsplit on the post. It's based on [prisms](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/lightning-prism-nostr/), a little nostr feature that gives me prose writing superpowers. 1. I can earn sats for writing. 2. I can support others with a single zap. 3. I can add people who give me quotes to my zap splits. People appreciate attribution. I suspect they will appreciate it more if they also get paid. What if I added some quotes to an article and then split any zaps I get with the quoted plebs? Come to think of it, I'll try it. [Here's a quote from a dev on nostr](nostr:note1qf4277rudtflllrjr555890xsjp6u60f7xdvclkwc9t220duajeq0x665q I added Silberangel to the Zapsplits on Habla.news. My [V4V](https://blog.getalby.com/the-case-for-value-4-value/) payments can also get sent to ten different plebs with a simple click of a button. I am going to start using this for a lot of my monthly V4V budget. Every month, I'll think about the people's content I value most and add them to a single zapsplit payment. Then, I'll zap the post. Say I create a poll and make a wager with ten different people. If I lose, I can pay everyone pit at the same time. This is probably better for a football pool, but you get the idea. The options are limited only by your imagination.  nostr:nevent1qqspnhucgxc6mprhw36fe2242hzv7zumavyy7dhzjswtldhxk4dh7ugpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygxlg7zks3uauf454q7phhzdh2mpkhxg9cdrzt3t9z7gzksj49g7vupsgqqqqqqsl5uwfl Other people can also zap the post. As Siberangel says, we can use other people's money to provide value, too. This is a great option for stacking neophytes, people who don't have much bitcoin or cheap skates. Let's be honest, bitcoin has made most of us cheapskates. Bitcoin books with multiple authors can have QR codes that link to one of these Zapsplit posts. The authors can do a book signing and sell their books using this on nostr. Nerds like me can get three autographs and zap the book. The sats are split among all authors. Here's a Zapsplit that includes all the authors of Parallel.  Can you think of any other ways to use Zapsplits? Let me know. npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [885,610](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000000742c0f980fcfcbd25fade47c3ebcfd69eda93f6861c7) [Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch/)

@ 43baaf0c:d193e34c

eARThist vlog name represents the fusion of Earth and Art and me as traveling artist. I'm kicking off my vlogging journey with my first vlog, Bangkok Lightning Tour. My goal with vlogging is to share more about my art journey as I travel the world. After years of traveling and filming around the world, I’m now fully focused on my art. However, filming and photography remaining a passion of mine. I also create still some travel content for my company, @traveltelly, whenever I’m not drawing.  After spending time creating art around the world, this feels like the natural next step sharing more behind the scenes moments of both traveling and my artist life.  I started in Bangkok, a city I often visit and where I’ve spent the last five months creating the BangPOP art. Teaming up with Sats ‘n’ Facts, I explored Bangkok to see how Bitcoin Lightning adoption is growing here. Bitcoin has given me the freedom to create art, so I wanted to see if it’s also helping others in Bangkok. On a scorching 35°C day, we filmed three places where you can pay with Bitcoin Lightning. You can find these locations on btcmap.org.  I’m leaving Bangkok soon, but more vlogs from Thailand will follow when I return. I always find my way back to the Land of Smiles.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Bitcoin, since its creation by the enigmatic figure Satoshi Nakamoto, has revolutionized the concept of currency. Its journey from an obscure digital token to a major financial asset has been marked by dramatic bull runs, capturing the attention of investors worldwide. These surges in Bitcoin's value are not random but are driven by a combination of technological innovation, economic factors, and unique monetary policy. In this article, we explore the intricacies of Bitcoin's scarcity, the halving process, and the broader market dynamics that contribute to its periodic bull runs. The allure of Bitcoin lies not just in its technological novelty but also in its challenge to traditional financial systems. It represents a decentralized form of currency, free from government control and manipulation. This aspect has been particularly appealing in times of economic uncertainty, where traditional currencies and markets have shown vulnerability. Bitcoin's bull runs can be seen as a barometer of the changing landscape of finance, reflecting a growing shift towards digital assets. **Table of Contents** - The Concept of Scarcity in Bitcoin - Finite Supply - Impact on Value - The Halving Events - Mechanism and Purpose - Historical Impact on Price - Market Dynamics and Investor Sentiment - Institutional Investment - Global Economic Factors - Technological Advancements - Regulatory Environment - Conclusion - FAQs **The Concept of Scarcity in Bitcoin** **Finite Supply** Bitcoin's protocol ensures that only 21 million coins will ever be in existence. This limit is encoded in its blockchain, making it a deflationary asset as opposed to inflationary fiat currencies. The idea behind this is to create a form of money that can resist inflationary pressures over time, much like gold, which has maintained its value for centuries due to its scarcity. **Impact on Value** The scarcity of Bitcoin has a profound psychological impact on investors. It creates a sense of urgency and a fear of missing out (FOMO) as the available supply dwindles. This is particularly evident as each Bitcoin halving event approaches, reminding the market of the ever-decreasing new supply. The result is often a speculative rally, as seen in the past bull runs. Moreover, as Bitcoin becomes more scarce, its comparison to gold becomes increasingly apt, attracting investors who are looking for assets that can retain value over time. Scarcity also plays into the hands of long-term investors, often referred to as 'HODLers' in the crypto community. These investors view Bitcoin as a long-term store of value, akin to an investment in precious metals. The limited supply of Bitcoin reassures these investors that their holdings will not be devalued through oversupply, a common problem in fiat currencies. **The Halving Events** **Mechanism and Purpose** Bitcoin's halving is a genius mechanism that ensures a controlled and gradual distribution of coins. By reducing the mining reward by half every four years, Bitcoin mimics the process of extracting a natural resource like gold, becoming progressively harder and more resource-intensive to mine. This not only controls inflation but also adds to the scarcity, making each coin more valuable over time. **Historical Impact on Price** Each halving event has historically led to an increase in Bitcoin's price, though not immediately. There is typically a lag between the halving and the subsequent bull run. This delay can be attributed to market adjustment and the gradual realization of reduced supply. The anticipation of this price increase often starts a positive feedback loop, attracting more investors and further driving up the price. The halving events serve as key milestones in Bitcoin's timeline, providing a predictable pattern of supply reduction that savvy investors monitor closely. These events have become celebratory moments within the Bitcoin community, symbolizing the strength and resilience of the network. They also serve as a reminder of Bitcoin's unique value proposition in the world of cryptocurrencies. **Market Dynamics and Investor Sentiment** **Institutional Investment** The recent years have seen a paradigm shift with the entry of institutional investors into the Bitcoin market. This shift is significant as it marks a departure from Bitcoin's early days of being a niche asset for tech enthusiasts. Institutional investors bring with them not only large capital inflows but also a sense of legitimacy and stability to the market. Their involvement has been a key driver in the maturation of the cryptocurrency market, making it more appealing to a broader audience. **Global Economic Factors** The role of global economic factors in influencing Bitcoin's price cannot be overstated. In times of economic instability, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, investors increasingly turned to Bitcoin as a safe haven asset. This trend is indicative of a growing recognition of Bitcoin's value as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin makes it less susceptible to geopolitical tensions and policy changes that affect traditional currencies and markets. **Technological Advancements** The continuous evolution of blockchain technology and the infrastructure surrounding Bitcoin has played a crucial role in its adoption. Developments such as improved transaction speed, enhanced security measures, and user-friendly trading platforms have made Bitcoin more accessible and attractive to a wider audience. These technological advancements are crucial in building investor confidence and facilitating the integration of Bitcoin into mainstream finance. **Regulatory Environment** The regulatory environment for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, clear and supportive regulations in certain jurisdictions have provided a boost to the market, encouraging institutional participation and providing clarity for investors. On the other hand, regulatory crackdowns in some countries have led to market volatility and uncertainty. The ongoing development of a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies remains a key factor in shaping Bitcoin's future. **Conclusion** Bitcoin's journey is a testament to the evolving nature of finance and investment in the digital age. Its bull runs, driven by scarcity, halving events, and a complex interplay of market dynamics, highlight the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate asset class. As the world increasingly embraces digital currencies, Bitcoin's role as a pioneer and standard-bearer will likely continue to influence its value and relevance in the global financial landscape. Understanding Bitcoin's market dynamics is not just about analyzing charts and trends. It's about appreciating the broader context of economic, technological, and social changes that are reshaping the way we think about money and value. For investors and enthusiasts alike, staying informed and adaptable is key to navigating the exciting and often unpredictable world of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. **FAQs** **What causes a Bitcoin bull run?** Bitcoin bull runs are typically driven by a combination of factors including its built-in scarcity due to the finite supply, halving events reducing the mining rewards, institutional investment, global economic factors, advancements in blockchain technology, and the evolving regulatory landscape. **How does Bitcoin's scarcity affect its value?** Bitcoin's value is significantly influenced by its scarcity. With a capped supply of 21 million coins, as demand increases, the limited supply pushes the price upwards, similar to precious metals like gold. **What is a Bitcoin halving event?** A Bitcoin halving event is when the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks is halved, effectively reducing the rate at which new Bitcoins are created. This occurs approximately every four years and is a key factor in Bitcoin's deflationary model. **Why do institutional investors matter in Bitcoin's market?** Institutional investors bring significant capital, credibility, and stability to the Bitcoin market. Their participation signals a maturation of the market and can lead to increased confidence and investment from other sectors. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnewsco](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co/](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@thebitcoinlibertarian](https://www.youtube.com/@thebitcoinlibertarian)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** **Get Orange Pill App And Connect With Bitcoiners In Your Area. Stack Friends Who Stack Sats link: https://signup.theorangepillapp.com/opa/croxroad** **Buy Bitcoin Books At Konsensus Network Store. 10% Discount With Code “21croxroad” link: https://bitcoinbook.shop?ref=21croxroad** *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.*

@ 732c6a62:42003da2

 > De acordo com a Forbes, a Ripple (Empresa responsável pela Criptomoeda XRP) tem financiado e apoiado campanhas contra a mineração de Bitcoin. ## **Por que Ripple faz propaganda anti-bitcoin?** Simples: **eles são o oposto do Bitcoin em quase tudo.** Enquanto o Bitcoin foi criado para ser descentralizado, resistente à censura e independente de instituições, o Ripple é basicamente um serviço bancário 2.0. Eles precisam atacar o Bitcoin para justificar sua própria existência. ## **O que você não sabe:** 1. **Ripple Labs controla a maioria do XRP:** Eles têm um estoque estratégico que pode ser liberado no mercado a qualquer momento. Isso é o oposto de descentralização. 2. **XRP não é uma moeda para "pessoas comuns":** Foi criada para bancos e instituições financeiras. Basicamente, é o "banco central" das criptomoedas. 3. **Ripple não é blockchain no sentido tradicional:** Eles usam um protocolo chamado **Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA)**, que é mais rápido, mas menos descentralizado. ## **Os principais ataques do Ripple ao Bitcoin:** 1. **Anti-mineração:** O Ripple critica o consumo de energia do Bitcoin, mas esquece que seu próprio sistema depende de servidores centralizados que também consomem energia. 2. **Anti-reserva estratégica:** O Ripple tem um estoque gigante de XRP, mas critica o Bitcoin por ser "deflacionário". Hipocrisia? Nunca ouvi falar. 3. **Anti-descentralização:** O Ripple prega que a descentralização do Bitcoin é "ineficiente", mas o que eles realmente querem é manter o controle nas mãos de poucos. ## **Análise Psicológica Básica (para você que acha que XRP é o futuro):** - **Síndrome do Underdog:** Acha que apoiar o Ripple te faz um rebelde, mas na verdade você está torcendo para o sistema bancário tradicional. - **Viés de Confirmação:** Só ouve opiniões que validam sua decisão de comprar XRP. - **Efeito Dunning-Kruger:** Acha que entender Ripple te torna um especialista em criptomoedas, mas não sabe o que é um *hard fork*. **Estudo de Caso (Real, mas Você Vai Ignorar):** Carlos, 30 anos, comprou XRP porque "é o futuro das transações bancárias". Ele não sabe que o Ripple está sendo processado pela SEC por vender XRP como um título não registrado. Carlos agora está esperando o "pump" que nunca vem. ## **Conclusão: ou, "volte para a aula de economia do ensino médio"** Ripple não é o futuro das finanças. É só mais um player tentando lucrar em um mercado competitivo. E sua propaganda anti-Bitcoin? Essa só prova que **a descentralização assusta quem quer controle**. Agora vá estudar blockchain básico — ou pelo menos pare de compartilhar memes com erros de português.

@ b83a28b7:35919450

## **Preamble** *I used OpenAI's o3-mini reasoning engine to construct a thesis for the Russia-Ukraine conflict using the positions of Jeffery Sachs and John Mearsheimer. I then asked it to create a counterargument to those positions- the antithesis. And I finally asked for a synthesis that concludes in lasting peace in the region. In all three cases, I prompted it to only use axiomatic deductive reasoning and first principles thinking, emphasizing facts and ignoring the opinions and assertions of so-called experts.* # The Thesis ## **John Mearsheimer's Position: A Realist Perspective** ### **First Principles** 1. **States prioritize survival**: In an anarchic international system (no overarching authority), states act to maximize security and minimize threats. 2. **Great powers seek regional hegemony**: States aim to dominate their immediate regions to prevent rival powers from threatening them. 3. **Proximity amplifies threat perception**: The closer a rival power or alliance is to a state's borders, the greater the perceived threat. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. NATO's eastward expansion brings a U.S.-led military alliance closer to Russia’s borders. - From the principle of proximity, this increases Russia’s perceived insecurity. 2. Ukraine’s potential NATO membership represents a direct challenge to Russia’s sphere of influence. - A great power like Russia would logically act to prevent this encroachment, as it undermines its regional dominance. 3. Russia’s actions (e.g., annexation of Crimea in 2014 and invasion in 2022) are defensive responses to NATO's perceived encroachment. - From the principle of survival, Russia seeks to neutralize threats by ensuring Ukraine does not join NATO. 4. The U.S. and NATO ignored Russia’s stated red lines (e.g., no NATO membership for Ukraine). - This provoked predictable countermeasures from Russia, consistent with great-power behavior. ### **Conclusion** From a realist perspective, NATO expansion is the root cause of the conflict. Russia’s actions are not imperialistic but defensive responses to protect its security and sphere of influence. ## **Jeffrey Sachs' Position: A Historical and Diplomatic Perspective** ### **First Principles** 1. **Agreements create expectations**: Commitments between states establish norms that guide future behavior. 2. **Security is interdependent**: One state’s pursuit of security can increase another state’s insecurity (the "security dilemma"). 3. **Conflicts are preventable through diplomacy**: Negotiations and compromises can avert wars by addressing mutual concerns. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. In 1990, U.S. officials assured Soviet leaders that NATO would not expand eastward if Germany was reunified. - If such assurances were made (even informally), subsequent NATO expansion violated these expectations, fostering mistrust. 2. The U.S.'s unilateral withdrawal from treaties like the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (2002) and its push for NATO enlargement exacerbated Russia's insecurity. - By the principle of interdependent security, these actions predictably escalated tensions with Russia. 3. Putin proposed negotiations in 2021 to prevent NATO expansion into Ukraine, but these were rejected by the U.S. - Diplomacy could have addressed Russian concerns without war, but its rejection left military action as Russia’s only perceived option. 4. Ukraine’s neutrality could have prevented conflict by satisfying both Russian and Western security concerns. - Neutrality would reduce NATO's proximity to Russia while preserving Ukraine's sovereignty. ### **Conclusion** From Sachs’ perspective, the war is a consequence of U.S.-led NATO expansion and missed diplomatic opportunities. A negotiated settlement based on Ukrainian neutrality remains the logical path to peace. ## Deductive Insights 1. Both positions agree that NATO expansion is central to understanding the conflict but differ in emphasis: - Mearsheimer focuses on structural inevitabilities in great-power politics. - Sachs highlights historical commitments and missed opportunities for diplomacy. 2. Both rely on axioms about state behavior: - Mearsheimer emphasizes security maximization through power balancing. - Sachs underscores trust-building through adherence to agreements. In conclusion, reasoning from first principles supports both scholars’ views as internally consistent frameworks for explaining the Ukraine conflict, though they emphasize different aspects of state behavior and international relations logic. To construct counterarguments to the positions of John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs using axiomatic deductive reasoning, we will start with alternative first principles and challenge their logical conclusions. This approach ensures that the counterarguments are rooted in logic and facts, without relying on external opinions or assertions. ## **Counterarguments to John Mearsheimer's Position** ### **First Principles for the Counterargument** 1. **Sovereign states have the right to self-determination**: All states, regardless of size, have the right to choose their alliances and political alignments. 2. **Security is not zero-sum**: One state’s pursuit of security does not always come at the expense of another’s; collective security arrangements can enhance stability. 3. **Aggression undermines security**: A state that invades its neighbors creates insecurity for itself by provoking opposition and strengthening rival alliances. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. NATO expansion was voluntary and driven by the sovereign decisions of Eastern European states seeking protection from historical Russian aggression. - From the principle of self-determination, NATO enlargement reflects the legitimate choices of countries like Poland, Estonia, and Ukraine to align with a defensive alliance, not an act of Western aggression against Russia. 2. Russia’s perception of NATO as a threat is not inherently justified. - NATO is a defensive alliance with no history of invading non-member states. From the principle that security is not zero-sum, NATO’s presence near Russia does not necessarily reduce Russian security unless Russia itself acts aggressively. 3. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine contradicts Mearsheimer’s claim that its actions are purely defensive. - By attacking Ukraine, Russia has provoked a stronger NATO presence in Eastern Europe (e.g., Finland and Sweden joining NATO) and increased its own insecurity. This undermines the principle that great powers act rationally to maximize their security. 4. The analogy to the Cuban Missile Crisis is flawed. - In 1962, the U.S. objected to Soviet missiles in Cuba because they posed an immediate offensive threat. NATO membership for Ukraine does not involve stationing offensive weapons aimed at Russia but rather a defensive commitment. ### **Conclusion** Mearsheimer’s argument fails to account for the agency of smaller states and overstates the inevitability of conflict due to NATO expansion. Russia’s actions are better explained as aggressive attempts to reassert imperial influence rather than rational defensive measures. # The Antithesis ## **Counterarguments to Jeffrey Sachs' Position** ### **First Principles for the Counterargument** 1. **Informal agreements lack binding force**: Verbal or informal assurances between states do not constitute enforceable commitments in international relations. 2. **Security dilemmas require mutual restraint**: Both sides in a conflict must take steps to reduce tensions; unilateral blame is insufficient. 3. **Sovereign equality underpins diplomacy**: No state has the right to dictate another state’s foreign policy or alliances. ### **Logical Reasoning** 1. The alleged 1990 U.S. assurance against NATO expansion was never formalized in any treaty or agreement. - From the principle that informal agreements lack binding force, subsequent NATO enlargement cannot be considered a violation of commitments since no legal obligation existed. 2. Russia’s actions have escalated tensions far more than NATO expansion ever did. - By annexing Crimea (2014) and invading Ukraine (2022), Russia has actively destabilized its neighbors and created insecurity across Europe. From the principle of mutual restraint, Russia bears responsibility for escalating the conflict rather than solely responding to U.S./NATO actions. 3. Diplomatic solutions require both parties to negotiate in good faith. - Putin’s 2021 proposals demanded guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO—a condition that violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-determination. From the principle of sovereign equality, such demands are inherently illegitimate. 4. Neutrality is not always a viable solution. - Ukraine attempted neutrality after independence (e.g., refusing to join NATO for decades). However, this did not prevent Russian aggression in 2014 or 2022, undermining Sachs’ claim that neutrality would have ensured peace. ### **Conclusion** Sachs’ argument overemphasizes historical grievances and ignores Russia’s active role in escalating tensions through aggression and coercion. The failure of diplomacy lies as much with Russia’s demands as with Western policies. ## **Deductive Insights from Counterarguments** 1. Both Mearsheimer and Sachs underestimate the agency of smaller states like Ukraine, which made sovereign decisions based on their own security needs rather than being mere pawns in great-power politics. 2. Both positions assume that Russia’s actions are primarily reactive or defensive, but this ignores evidence that Russia has proactively pursued aggressive policies (e.g., Georgia 2008, Crimea 2014). 3. The principle of sovereignty challenges both scholars’ frameworks: - Mearsheimer overlooks Ukraine's right to align with NATO if it chooses. - Sachs dismisses Ukraine's agency by suggesting neutrality could have been imposed as a solution. In conclusion, while Mearsheimer and Sachs present internally consistent arguments, their frameworks can be challenged by emphasizing sovereignty, rejecting inevitability in great-power conflict, and highlighting Russia's active role in escalating tensions beyond what can be justified by security concerns alone. # The Synthesis: A Balanced Framework for Resolving the Russia-Ukraine Conflict ### **First Principles for Synthesis** 1. **Security is interdependent**: A state’s pursuit of security can create insecurity for others, necessitating mutual accommodation. 2. **Sovereignty is fundamental but constrained by geography**: States have a right to self-determination, but geography imposes practical limits on absolute sovereignty in a multipolar world. 3. **Great powers act to preserve their spheres of influence**: In an anarchic international system, great powers prioritize regional dominance to ensure their survival. 4. **Diplomacy is essential for de-escalation**: Durable peace requires negotiated compromises that address the core interests of all parties involved. ### **Reconciling the Thesis and Antithesis** #### **Thesis (Mearsheimer and Sachs' Positions)** - NATO expansion near Russia’s borders provoked a predictable response from Moscow, reflecting structural dynamics of great-power competition. - U.S. and NATO policies ignored Russian security concerns, contributing to the escalation of tensions. - Diplomacy and neutrality for Ukraine are necessary to resolve the conflict. #### **Antithesis (Counterarguments)** - NATO expansion was driven by voluntary decisions of Eastern European states seeking protection from historical Russian aggression, not Western provocation. - Russia’s actions are not purely defensive but reflect imperial ambitions that violate Ukraine’s sovereignty. - Neutrality alone would not guarantee peace, as Russia has acted aggressively even when Ukraine was neutral. #### **Synthesis** Both perspectives contain valid insights but fail to fully address the complexity of the conflict. The synthesis must: 1. Acknowledge Russia’s legitimate security concerns while rejecting its imperialistic actions. 2. Respect Ukraine’s sovereignty while recognizing that its geographic position necessitates pragmatic compromises. 3. Balance great-power dynamics with smaller states’ rights to self-determination. ## **Proposed Solution: A Comprehensive Peace Framework** To achieve an enduring peace in Ukraine and stabilize Eastern Europe, the following steps are proposed: ### 1. Immediate Ceasefire - Both sides agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities under international supervision (e.g., UN peacekeeping forces). - A demilitarized buffer zone is established along current frontlines to prevent further clashes. ### 2. Neutrality with Conditions - Ukraine adopts a status of permanent neutrality, enshrined in its constitution and guaranteed by international treaties. - Neutrality includes: - No NATO membership for Ukraine. - Freedom for Ukraine to pursue economic integration with both the EU and other global partners without military alignments. ### 3. Security Guarantees - Russia receives legally binding assurances that NATO will not expand further eastward or station offensive weapons near its borders. - Ukraine receives multilateral security guarantees from major powers (e.g., U.S., EU, China) to deter future aggression from any party. ### 4. Territorial Dispute Resolution - Crimea’s status is deferred to future negotiations under international mediation, with both sides agreeing to maintain the status quo in the interim. - Donetsk and Luhansk regions are granted autonomy within Ukraine under a decentralized federal structure, ensuring local governance while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty. ### 5. Economic Reconstruction - An international fund is established for rebuilding war-torn regions in Ukraine, with contributions from Russia, Western nations, and multilateral institutions. - Economic cooperation between Ukraine and Russia is encouraged through trade agreements designed to benefit both parties. ### 6. Phased Implementation - Peace agreements are implemented incrementally to build trust: - Initial steps include withdrawal of heavy weaponry, prisoner exchanges, and humanitarian aid delivery. - Subsequent phases involve constitutional reforms (e.g., neutrality), elections in disputed regions, and gradual reintegration of territories under international supervision. ### 7. Long-Term Regional Security Framework - A new regional security framework is established involving Russia, Ukraine, NATO members, and neutral states to manage disputes peacefully. - This framework institutionalizes dialogue channels for arms control, economic cooperation, and crisis management. ## **Rationale for the Solution** 1. **Balances Security Concerns**: - Neutrality addresses Russia’s fears of NATO encirclement while preserving Ukraine’s independence. - Security guarantees reduce mistrust between NATO and Russia while protecting Ukraine from future aggression. 2. **Respects Sovereignty**: - Ukraine retains its independence and territorial integrity (except for deferred issues like Crimea) while accommodating regional realities through federalism and neutrality. 3. **Acknowledges Great-Power Dynamics**: - The solution recognizes Russia’s need for a secure sphere of influence without legitimizing its imperial ambitions or violating international law. 4. **Builds Trust Through Gradualism**: - Incremental implementation allows both sides to verify commitments before proceeding further. - International monitoring ensures compliance with agreements. 5. **Incorporates Lessons from History**: - Neutrality models (e.g., Austria) demonstrate that such arrangements can work when backed by strong guarantees. - Phased implementation mirrors successful peace processes in other conflicts (e.g., Colombia). ## **Conclusion** The synthesis reconciles the structural realism of Mearsheimer with Sachs’ emphasis on diplomacy by proposing a balanced solution that addresses both security dilemmas and sovereignty concerns. Neutrality serves as the linchpin for de-escalation, while phased implementation builds trust over time. By integrating immediate conflict resolution measures with long-term regional frameworks, this approach offers a realistic path toward enduring peace in Eastern Europe. *Citations:* [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/1drhxxh/john_mearsheimers_take_on_the_russoukrainian_war/ [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/CredibleDefense/comments/14ktcv2/the_darkness_ahead_where_the_ukraine_war_is/ [3] https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalScience/comments/1bp64ub/what_is_with_mearsheimer_and_russia/ [4] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskConservatives/comments/1gznjks/do_you_think_appeasing_putin_is_the_right_way_to/ [5] https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1hu8iop/cmv_the_united_states_should_continue_to_send_aid/ [6] https://internationalpolicy.org/publications/jeffrey-sachs-matt-duss-debate-u-s-russia-talks-to-end-ukraine-war/ [7] https://www.reddit.com/r/IRstudies/comments/17iwfpr/john_mearsheimer_is_wrong_about_ukraine/ [8] https://scheerpost.com/2024/11/23/jeffrey-sachs-explains-the-russia-ukraine-war/ [9] https://consortiumnews.com/2023/09/21/jeffrey-sachs-nato-expansion-ukraines-destruction/ [10] https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/18/russia_ukraine [11] https://www.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/15kwpx3/ukraine_war_and_the_paradox_of_mearsheimers/ [12] https://braveneweurope.com/jeffrey-d-sachs-the-real-history-of-the-war-in-ukraine-a-chronology-of-events-and-case-for-diplomacy [13] https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/nato-chief-admits-expansion-behind-russian-invasion [14] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2c06cbc711d95427489f8bc781c45daab461ccde [15] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/46e28172de2a520e4f77e654a37687a7757d9d49 [16] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/e8c17a15a554054c755a1b1d53d3e1099d159033 [17] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/65cbcec6ac255413086db567774844f84c813600 [18] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d11db25ffa5b50ef38d18c2a1e2243e4c7c53b24 [19] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/5b750f3d763d728ae2bcf2ce3e6cf67a8281bb2b [20] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/34883bf28c7a988eb2c2fe458b7eab3180b36dcc [21] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b64319315d02b2cc1dff936d69be40d78d15f6b9 [22] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/c4ca4d645825a5b8d7389c45bcfcad0eeebecd81 [23] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11734947/ [24] https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalScience/comments/17iwhqi/john_mearsheimer_is_wrong_about_ukraine/ [25] https://www.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/1ih646n/john_mearsheimer_is_offensive_realist_who_should/ [26] https://www.reddit.com/r/neoliberal/comments/tjhwi4/a_response_to_mearsheimers_views_on_nato_ukraine/ [27] https://www.reddit.com/r/IRstudies/comments/1b12pdh/genuine_structural_realist_cases_against_us/ [28] https://www.reddit.com/r/lexfridman/comments/17xl8jk/john_mearsheimer_israelpalestine_russiaukraine/ [29] https://www.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/17xve8j/people_give_too_much_credit_to_the_realist/ [30] https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalDiscussion/comments/zvfquu/do_you_agree_with_john_mearsheimers_complex_view/ [31] https://www.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/1bghzbp/john_mearshimer_and_ukraine/ [32] https://www.reddit.com/r/LabourUK/comments/tbzs2d/john_mearsheimer_on_why_the_west_is_principally/ [33] https://www.reddit.com/r/IRstudies/comments/1gjus1i/playing_devils_advocate_to_john_mearsheimer/ [34] https://www.reddit.com/r/TheAllinPodcasts/comments/1fipvmu/john_mearsheimer_and_jeffrey_sachs_on_american/ [35] https://www.e-ir.info/2024/03/31/dissecting-the-realist-argument-for-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/ [36] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6YOVl5LKTs [37] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362890238_Mearsheimer_Realism_and_the_Ukraine_War [38] https://www.ndsmcobserver.com/article/2024/01/john-mearsheimer-talks-war-and-international-politics [39] https://euideas.eui.eu/2022/07/11/john-mearsheimers-lecture-on-ukraine-why-he-is-wrong-and-what-are-the-consequences/ [40] https://academic.oup.com/ia/article-pdf/98/6/1873/47659084/iiac217.pdf [41] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qciVozNtCDM [42] https://metacpc.org/en/mearsheimer2022/ [43] https://www.fpri.org/article/2023/01/the-realist-case-for-ukraine/ [44] https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Why-the-Ukraine-Crisis-Is.pdf [45] https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/why-john-mearsheimer-blames-the-us-for-the-crisis-in-ukraine [46] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/cd2fd9e8ea82fa4e7f2f66a2eb517f4ba34981a0 [47] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/99942047e1e43e77ef76e147e51b725a63d86e22 [48] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/a53f98c63c58e4268856bde3883abc72e43e03bf [49] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/471f43cd36c53141ee24a431eef520bec311c15c [50] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d56b89349fade26cef69c1d0cffd6887adca102d [51] 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@ d360efec:14907b5f

**ภาพรวม (Integrated Overview)** ถ้าพิจารณาทั้ง TF Daily, 4H, และ 15m (พร้อมข้อมูล Money Flow ที่เป็นลบในทุก TF) ราคาปัจจุบันประมาณ 84,579 **การวิเคราะห์แบบรวม*** 1. **แนวโน้ม (Trend):** * **Daily:** *ขาลง* (Bearish) แม้ว่าราคาจะอยู่เหนือเส้นค่าเฉลี่ยเคลื่อนที่ (EMA) แต่ *Money Flow ที่เป็นลบอย่างรุนแรง* บ่งชี้ถึงแนวโน้มขาลง * **4H:** *ขาลง* (Bearish) Money Flow เป็นลบอย่างมาก และมี *รูปแบบ* Head and Shoulders ที่มีโอกาสเกิดขึ้น * **15m:** *ขาลง* (Bearish) Money Flow เป็นลบ 2. **SMC & ICT (Smart Money Concepts & Inner Circle Trader):** * **Buyside Liquidity:** อยู่เหนือราคาสูงสุดปัจจุบัน ระดับราคาที่ *อาจ* เป็นแนวต้าน (จากกราฟ Daily): 90456.8, 92755.8, 95054.9, 97354.0, 99653.1, 101952.1, 104251.3, 106550.3, 109998.9, และ 117000.0 ใน TF 15m, Buyside Liquidity คือจุดสูงสุดของแท่งเทียนก่อนหน้า * **Sellside Liquidity:** แนวรับสำคัญ: 80,000 (Neckline ของ Head and Shoulders ใน TF 4H, ตัวเลขกลม, แนวรับทางจิตวิทยา) แนวรับอื่นๆ: 83559.5, 81260.4, 78961.4, 76662.3, 74363.2, 72064.1, 69705.1, 67400.0, 66811.7, และ 65166.9 (จากกราฟ Daily) ใน TF 15m, Sellside Liquidity คือจุดต่ำสุดของแท่งเทียนก่อนหน้า 3. **Money Flow:** * **Daily:** *เป็นลบอย่างมาก* (Strongly Negative) * **4H:** *เป็นลบอย่างมาก* (Strongly Negative) * **15m:** *เป็นลบ* (Negative) * **นี่คือตัวบ่งชี้ที่สำคัญที่สุดในขณะนี้ และเป็นขาลงในทุก Timeframe** 4. **EMA (Exponential Moving Averages):** * **Daily:** ราคาอยู่เหนือ EMA 50 และ 200 *แต่ถูกหักล้างด้วย Money Flow ที่เป็นลบ* * **4H:** ราคาอยู่เหนือ EMA 50 และ 200 *แต่ถูกหักล้างด้วย Money Flow ที่เป็นลบ* * **15m:** ราคาแกว่งตัวรอบ EMA 50, อยู่เหนือ EMA 200 *แต่ถูกหักล้างด้วย Money Flow ที่เป็นลบ* 5. **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** * **Daily:** เมฆ Ichimoku เป็นสีเทา (Neutral - เป็นกลาง) * **4H:** เมฆ Ichimoku เป็นสีเทา (Neutral - เป็นกลาง) * **15m:** เมฆ Ichimoku เป็นสีเทา (Neutral - เป็นกลาง) 6. **Chart Patterns (รูปแบบกราฟ):** * **Daily:** ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน แต่มีการอ่อนตัวของราคา * **4H:** *มีโอกาสเกิด* รูปแบบ Head and Shoulders (กลับหัว) (Bearish - ขาลง) * **15m:** ไม่มีรูปแบบที่ชัดเจน แต่อาจเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของ Right Shoulder ใน TF 4H **กลยุทธ์ Day Trade (SMC-Based)** เนื่องจาก Money Flow ที่เป็นลบอย่างท่วมท้นในทุก Timeframes และรูปแบบ Head and Shoulders ที่มีโอกาสเกิดขึ้นใน TF 4H กลยุทธ์การซื้อขายที่สมเหตุสมผล *เพียงอย่างเดียว* คือ **การป้องกันอย่างเข้มงวด** โดยเน้นที่ **การหลีกเลี่ยงสถานะ Long** และพิจารณาสถานะ Short *เฉพาะ* เมื่อมีเงื่อนไขที่เข้มงวดมากเท่านั้น 1. **Long (Buy):** *ไม่แนะนำโดยเด็ดขาด* (Absolutely, unequivocally not recommended) การทำเช่นนี้จะเป็นการซื้อขายสวนทางกับแนวโน้มหลักและสัญญาณ Money Flow ที่ชัดเจน 2. **Short (Sell):** * **Entry (จุดเข้า):** นี่คือการเทรด *เดียว* ที่ *อาจ* มีเหตุผลสนับสนุน, แต่ *เฉพาะ* เมื่อเงื่อนไข *ทั้งหมด* ต่อไปนี้เป็นจริง: * รูปแบบ Head and Shoulders ใน TF 4H *เสร็จสมบูรณ์* ด้วยการ Breakout ที่ชัดเจนใต้ Neckline (80,000-81,000) * การ Breakout ใต้ Neckline เกิดขึ้นพร้อมกับ *Volume ที่สูง* * Money Flow ใน *ทั้งสาม* Timeframes ยังคง *เป็นลบอย่างมาก* * คุณมีสัญญาณ Bearish อื่นๆ ยืนยัน (เช่น รูปแบบแท่งเทียน Bearish, Bearish Divergence) * **Target (เป้าหมาย):** ระดับ Sellside Liquidity (เช่น 78961.4, 76662.3) * **Stop Loss (จุดตัดขาดทุน):** *เหนือ* Neckline หรือ Right Shoulder ทันที *จำเป็นต้องมี Stop Loss ที่เข้มงวดอย่างยิ่ง* 3. **No Trade (ไม่เทรด):** เป็นตัวเลือกที่ *ดีที่สุด* สำหรับนักเทรด/นักลงทุนส่วนใหญ่ ความเสี่ยงที่จะเกิดการปรับฐานครั้งใหญ่มีสูงมาก **สรุป** สถานการณ์ของ BTC คือ **Bearish อย่างมาก** *Money Flow ที่เป็นลบอย่างมากในทุก Timeframes* เป็นปัจจัยสำคัญที่สุด ซึ่งมีน้ำหนักมากกว่าสัญญาณ Bullish ใดๆ ก่อนหน้านี้จาก EMA รูปแบบ Head and Shoulders ที่มีโอกาสเกิดขึ้นใน TF 4H ช่วยเพิ่มการยืนยันแนวโน้ม Bearish **สถานะ Long ไม่สมเหตุสมผลอย่างยิ่ง** สถานะ Short *อาจ* พิจารณาได้, แต่ *ต้อง* มีการยืนยันสัญญาณที่ชัดเจน *ทั้งหมด* และมีการบริหารความเสี่ยงที่เข้มงวดมาก **"Wait and See" (รอดู) และการรักษาเงินทุนเป็นสิ่งสำคัญที่สุด** **Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ d360efec:14907b5f

$OKX:BTCUSDT.P **Overview (Integrated Overview)** All three provided timeframes (Daily, 4H, and 15m, *all now confirmed to have negative Money Flow*), The current price is approximately 84,579. **Integrated Analysis** 1. **Trend:** * **Daily:** *Bearish*. While the price is above the EMAs, the *strongly negative Money Flow* on the Daily chart overrides the EMA signal, indicating a bearish trend. The Ichimoku Cloud is neutral, further supporting the idea that the previous bullish trend is weakening. * **4H:** *Bearish*. Strongly negative Money Flow and a *potential* (but not yet confirmed) inverted Head and Shoulders pattern. * **15m:** *Bearish*. Negative Money Flow. 2. **SMC & ICT (Smart Money Concepts & Inner Circle Trader):** * **Buyside Liquidity:** Above the current high. Potential resistance levels (derived from the Daily chart image, assuming it's from 2025): 90456.8, 92755.8, 95054.9, 97354.0, 99653.1, 101952.1, 104251.3, 106550.3, 109998.9, and 117000.0. On the 15m chart (though we are prioritizing the Daily and 4H now), Buyside Liquidity would be represented by recent swing highs. * **Sellside Liquidity:** Key support: 80,000 (this is the approximate neckline of the *potential* Head and Shoulders pattern on the 4H chart, a round number, and a psychological support level). Other support levels (derived from the Daily chart image): 83559.5, 81260.4, 78961.4, 76662.3, 74363.2, 72064.1, 69705.1, 67400.0, 66811.7, and 65166.9. On the 15m chart, Sellside Liquidity would be represented by recent swing lows. 3. **Money Flow:** * **Daily:** *Strongly Negative*. This is a major bearish signal. * **4H:** *Strongly Negative*. This reinforces the bearish signal and is consistent with the Daily chart. * **15m:** *Negative*. This confirms the short-term outflow of money. * **The consistently negative Money Flow across all timeframes is the most important and dominant indicator in this analysis.** 4. **EMA (Exponential Moving Averages):** * **Daily:** Price is above the EMA 50 (yellow) and EMA 200 (white). *However, the strongly negative Money Flow overrides the bullish signal typically provided by the price being above the EMAs.* * **4H:** Price is above the EMA 50 and EMA 200. *Again, the strongly negative Money Flow overrides this.* * **15m:** Price is oscillating around the EMA 50 and above the EMA 200. *The negative Money Flow overrides this.* 5. **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha Indicator):** * **Daily:** The Ichimoku Cloud is gray (Neutral). This is *not* a bullish signal and is consistent with the negative Money Flow. * **4H:** The Ichimoku Cloud is gray (Neutral). * **15m:** The Ichimoku Cloud is gray (Neutral). 6. **Chart Patterns:** * **Daily:** No *fully formed* classic chart pattern. However, the recent price action shows a loss of upward momentum and the beginning of a potential downward move. This *weakening* price action, combined with the strongly negative Money Flow, is bearish. * **4H:** *Potential* inverted Head and Shoulders pattern. This is a *bearish reversal pattern*. It's crucial to understand that this pattern is *not yet confirmed*. Confirmation requires a decisive break *below* the neckline (approximately 80,000-81,000), *with increased volume* and *continued negative Money Flow*. * **15m:** No clearly defined classic chart pattern. The 15m price action is best understood as potentially forming the right shoulder of the 4H Head and Shoulders. **SMC-Based Day Trading Strategies** Given the overwhelmingly bearish evidence – primarily the strongly negative Money Flow across all timeframes, combined with the potential Head and Shoulders pattern on the 4H chart – the *only* justifiable trading strategy is **extreme caution and a strong bias against long positions**. Short positions have a *slightly* higher probability of success, but only under *very specific* conditions and with *extremely* tight risk management. 1. **Long (Buy):** *Absolutely, unequivocally not recommended*. There is no technical justification for entering a long position at this time. This would be trading directly against the dominant bearish signals. 2. **Short (Sell):** * **Entry:** This is the *only* trade with *any* potential, and *only* if *all* of the following conditions are met: * The Head and Shoulders pattern on the 4H chart *fully completes* with a decisive break *below* the neckline (80,000-81,000). * The breakout below the neckline occurs on *significantly increased volume*. * The Money Flow on *all three* timeframes (Daily, 4H, and 15m) remains *strongly negative* at the time of the breakout. * Additional bearish confirmation is present (e.g., bearish candlestick patterns, bearish divergences on other oscillators like RSI or MACD – which we cannot see from the provided images). * **Target:** Sellside Liquidity levels, derived from the Daily chart. Potential targets include, but are not limited to: 78961.4, 76662.3, 74363.2, and potentially lower. * **Stop Loss:** *Immediately* above the neckline (after the breakout) or above the high of the right shoulder (if placing the trade *before* a confirmed neckline break – which is *extremely* risky). *An extremely tight stop-loss is absolutely mandatory* due to the inherent volatility of BTC and the potential for false breakouts. 3. **No Trade (Cash):** This is, by far, the *best* and most prudent option for the vast majority of traders and investors. The risk of a substantial price decline is extremely high, given the confluence of bearish signals. Preserving capital should be the primary objective. **Key Levels to Watch:** * **80,000 - 81,000 (4H Chart):** This is the neckline of the potential Head and Shoulders pattern. A sustained break below this level, with the confirming factors listed above, would be a strong bearish signal. * **Money Flow on all chart**: **Conclusion** The overall technical picture for BTC, **strongly bearish**. The *dominant factor* is the *consistently and strongly negative Money Flow across all three timeframes*. This overrides any seemingly bullish signals from the EMAs. The potential (but unconfirmed) Head and Shoulders pattern on the 4H chart adds further weight to the bearish case. **Long positions are completely unjustified and extremely risky.** Short positions *might* be considered, but *only* with the strictest possible entry criteria, complete confirmation from multiple indicators, and extremely tight risk management. **The "Wait and See" approach, prioritizing capital preservation, is the most prudent strategy for most market participants.** This situation calls for extreme caution and a defensive posture. **Disclaimer:** This analysis is a personal opinion. It is not financial advice. Trading and investing in cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Always do your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

@ ed5774ac:45611c5c

**Trump and Vance Expose Zelensky: The West’s Narrative Machine Meets Reality** In the modern era, the West has perfected the art of ruling through narratives. Stories, carefully crafted and disseminated, have become the primary tool for shaping public perception, justifying actions, and maintaining control. This narrative-driven approach to governance has been the cornerstone of Western power since the 20th century, and nowhere is this more evident than in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Enter Volodymyr Zelensky, the comedian-turned-president, who has become a poster child for this narrative-driven world order. But in a recent confrontation with Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, Zelensky’s carefully constructed facade crumbled, exposing the fragility of the Western storytelling empire. **The West’s Narrative Machine** As Alastair Crooke astutely observes in his article **The Western Way of War: Owning the Narrative Trumps Reality** ( https://www.unz.com/article/the-western-way-of-war-owning-the-narrative-trumps-reality), the West’s power lies not in its military or economic might alone but in its ability to control the narrative. Crooke argues that the West has mastered the art of “owning the story,” creating a reality that serves its interests, regardless of facts on the ground. This narrative dominance ensures that the general public—often referred to as the masses—follows along without questioning, accepting the official line as gospel truth. To maintain this control, the West relies on carefully curated protagonists who can sell its stories to the world. Take, for example, the story of Volodymyr Zelensky, a former actor whose rise to power was itself a narrative triumph. Portrayed as a relatable outsider who defeated the corrupt establishment, Zelensky promised hope and reform. But behind this carefully crafted image lay darker forces. Oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine’s most powerful and controversial figures, played a pivotal role in Zelensky’s ascent. Kolomoisky, who owned the TV channel that aired Zelensky’s show Servant of the People, used his media empire to propel the political novice into the spotlight. This was not a grassroots movement but a calculated maneuver by Ukraine’s oligarchic elite to maintain control under a new, more palatable face. **Zelensky’s Rise and the West’s Geopolitical Strategy** Zelensky’s rise was not just a domestic political shift; it was a calculated move by the West to advance its long-standing goal of containing Russia and dominating Eurasia. The West, particularly the EU and NATO, saw Ukraine as a critical piece in its geopolitical chess game. By installing a pro-Western leader like Zelensky, the West aimed to pull Ukraine firmly into its orbit, knowing full well that such a move would antagonize Moscow. This was not an accidental escalation but a deliberate provocation, designed to create a pretext for further Western intervention. To polish Zelensky’s image and present him as a beacon of hope for peace and the Westernization of Ukraine, the West also needed to whitewash Ukraine’s darker realities. This meant turning a blind eye to the corruption and oligarchic influence that underpinned Zelensky’s presidency. Equally ignored were the neo-Nazi crimes and policies that had been well-documented before 2014, such as the rise of far-right groups like Svoboda and the Azov Battalion, their glorification of Nazi collaborator **Stepan Bandera**, and their violent attacks on ethnic minorities, political opponents, and LGBTQ+ communities. These atrocities, once reported in Western media, were suddenly erased from the narrative after 2014, as if they had never existed, to preserve the image of Ukraine as an innocent victim in the West’s geopolitical chess game. **The Grand Chessboard: Ukraine as a Proxy** The West’s use of Ukraine as a geopolitical pawn is not a recent development. Its roots can be traced back to Zbigniew Brzezinski’s 1997 book The Grand Chessboard, in which the former U.S. National Security Advisor laid out a blueprint for American dominance in Eurasia. He famously wrote, “The one who rules the heartland rules the world, the one who rules East Europe rules the heartland, the one who rules Ukraine rules East Europe.” This statement foreshadowed the West’s strategic interest in Ukraine as a tool to contain and destabilize Russia—a goal that has driven Western policy for decades. Even in 2008, Western leaders like Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership, recognizing that such a move would provoke Russia. Classified cables from William Burns, the U.S. Ambassador to Russia at the time, echoed this sentiment. Burns warned that NATO expansion into Ukraine was a “red line” for Moscow, succinctly stating, “**Nyet means nyet**.” The West was fully aware that it was playing with fire, risking a direct confrontation with Russia that could escalate into a potential World War III. Yet, despite these warnings, the West pushed forward with its agenda, pulling Ukraine into its orbit. The stakes were simply too high to abandon the plan. At the heart of this strategy lies the West’s desperate need to sustain its faltering economic system. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the Western debt-driven financial model has teetered on the brink of collapse. Sovereign debt crises loom large, and the banking industry, reliant on endless money printing, urgently needs new collateral to back its ever-expanding debt. Russia’s vast resource-rich territories—filled with oil, gas, minerals, and rare earth metals—offer a tempting solution. By dominating Russia and seizing control of its natural wealth, the West could issue **resource-backed bonds,** financial instruments tied directly to Russia’s oil and gas reserves. These bonds would allow the West to leverage Russia’s resources as collateral, providing a stable foundation for its debt-ridden financial system. Controlling access to these resources would ensure currency stability and keep Western economies functioning, even as debt levels soar. But the West’s ambitions extend beyond economic survival. Controlling Russia’s resources would also allow it to sever China’s access to critical raw materials, undermining Beijing’s economic and military development. By dominating Russia’s energy exports, the West could manipulate global energy prices, stabilizing its own economies while weakening rivals like China, which relies heavily on Russian energy. The U.S. and EU view China as the greatest geopolitical challenge of the 21st century, and by encircling and weakening Russia, they aim to isolate and contain Beijing. In this grand strategy, Ukraine is not merely a pawn but a critical linchpin in the West’s efforts to reshape the global order—even at the risk of catastrophic conflict. **Zelensky’s Role in the West’s Strategy** To execute this high-stakes strategy, the West needed a compelling narrative—one that could justify its actions, rally public support, and obscure its true motives. Therefore, they created the narrative around Volodymyr Zelensky, casting him as a global symbol of resistance, a hero fighting against the “evil” of Putin’s Russia. The West, particularly the EU and NATO, embraced this narrative, using it to justify billions in aid—much of which served as a cover for money laundering—sanctions on Russia, and the broader geopolitical agenda outlined above. Zelensky became the face of this narrative, a willing participant in the West’s grand strategy, even as his own country was turned into a battlefield. Zelensky’s narrative, however, is built on shaky ground. Take, for example, the claim that Putin is “non-agreement capable”—a talking point frequently parroted by Western media and politicians. This assertion is not only baseless but laughably ironic. Unlike the West, which has a long history of signing agreements only to disregard them (e.g., the Minsk agreements, the Istanbul peace deal in March 2022, or NATO’s broken promise not to expand eastward), Putin has consistently honored the contracts and treaties he has signed. The West, not Russia, is the true exemplar of “non-agreement capable” behavior. Yet, Zelensky and his Western backers continue to peddle these lies, confident that the general public will follow. The narrative is simple: Ukraine is the victim, Russia is the aggressor, and any suggestion to the contrary is dismissed as propaganda. This black-and-white storytelling leaves no room for nuance, truth, or accountability. **Trump and Vance: Slapping Down the Narrative** Enter Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. In a recent meeting with Zelensky, the duo did what few in the West have dared to do: they called out the narrative for what it is—a fabrication. Trump, known for his blunt rhetoric, and Vance, a rising voice of realism in foreign policy, confronted Zelensky with the uncomfortable truth. They exposed the contradictions in his claims, highlighting the West’s role in prolonging the conflict and the absurdity of expecting the world to believe in a one-sided story. Zelensky, accustomed to the adulation of Western elites and the uncritical support of the media, was unprepared for this reality check. His carefully rehearsed lines fell flat, his confidence wavered, and the mask slipped. The confrontation was a rare moment of clarity in a sea of narrative-driven fog, a reminder that truth, when spoken boldly, can still shatter even the most entrenched lies. **The Meltdown of a Narrative Puppet** Zelensky’s meltdown in the face of Trump and Vance’s truth-telling is emblematic of a larger crisis in the West’s narrative-driven order. For decades, the West has relied on storytelling to maintain its dominance, but this approach is increasingly unsustainable. The rise of alternative media, the growing skepticism of the public, and the emergence of leaders like Trump and Vance who refuse to play along are exposing the cracks in the narrative machine. Zelensky, the figurehead who believed he could sell his lies to 8 billion people, is a cautionary tale. He is not the master of his narrative but a puppet, manipulated by his masters in the EU and NATO. His failure to withstand scrutiny is a testament to the hollowness of the stories he tells and the fragility of the system that props him up. **Conclusion: The End of Narrative Dominance?** The confrontation between Trump/Vance and Zelensky is more than just a political spat; it is a microcosm of the broader struggle between narrative and reality. The West’s reliance on storytelling as a tool of governance is reaching its limits. As Crooke warns, when the narrative diverges too far from reality, it risks collapsing under its own weight. The general public, once content to follow blindly, is beginning to question. Leaders like Trump and Vance are challenging the status quo, forcing the world to confront uncomfortable truths. Zelensky’s meltdown is a sign of things to come—a harbinger of the end of narrative dominance and the return of reality-based governance. The question is, will the West adapt, or will it cling to its stories until the very end?

@ 6a6be47b:3e74e3e1

Hi frens, 🎨 While painting today, my mind wandered from [my latest blog entry](https://samhainsam.art/2025/02/28/exploring-beelzebub-the-mystery-and-the-beauty-of-insects/)to future artistic endeavors.[I've been open about my feelings as an artist](https://yakihonne.com/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzq6ntu3amztepmkq0rmelmu5y6y4zjv2vagxxnk67e5z2k5l8fclpqqgrzeryvd3nwctrvcer2dmpvserxs5na9p), but that's just the tip of the iceberg. I realized I haven't properly introduced myself here, so let me remedy that. 🖼️Art has been my lifelong passion. Nostr and its wonderful community have reignited my belief in my work, showing me that art can be both enlightening and potentially profitable. I'm truly grateful for the warm welcome and positive vibes I've encountered here. 🦋Nostr made me feel confident enough to speak my mind on a social platform (or should I say protocol? 😉). Some fun facts about me: 🐹 I'm a "golly jolly" kind of gal who's always curious about the world and seeking answers. 🐹I'm a sunscreen enthusiast in summer (but in winter, I'm buried under so many layers, I practically double in size!) 🐹Birdwatching is a hobby of mine. I've researched and painted some cool birds like [shoebills](https://samhainsam.art/2024/06/25/shoebill-%f0%9f%90%a6/) and [bearded vultures](https://samhainsam.art/2024/07/04/bearded-vulture-%f0%9f%90%a6/). (Any suggestions for my next avian subject?) 🩷I'm truly happy to be here and grateful for each day. My goal is to spread joy through my art and interactions. Thanks for being part of this journey with me! In your personal experience, how has it been discovering Nostr wether you're an artist or not? What's you favorite part of your journey so far? Godspeed 🚀 

@ 4fe4a528:3ff6bf06

Technology adoption has been hard for a lot of people to understand. Tucker this week finally understood why gold became money. He finally understood that hard money drives out money that isn’t scarce. Still, most people don’t store their wealth in the hardest money ever made—Bitcoin. Yes, Bitcoin went down 20-25% this week. How can the scarcest asset vary that much? Humans tend toward emotion—fear or greed. I am no exception, but if you have a plan or have been here before, you can control your emotion. Let me illustrate. I installed a camera on the barn this week so I could save time checking on the cows. Lo and behold, the WiFi wasn’t strong enough, so I bought two outdoor access points. Whenever I would add them to the house, the WiFi mesh system would cause my internet to go down on the main computer. Fear of losing internet was causing me to consider taking a $100 write-off on my idea of saving time. Because I have solved networking issues before, I had the courage to be greedy and keep working at it. I know a lot of people would give up on technology and throw their cell phone in the snowbank - my neighbor does that. He usually comes back for it because he likes communication. Is a cell phone a feature or a bug? Answer… both. What Satoshi solved 16 years ago was how to move 1s and 0s to different devices and keep them secure. What Vint Cerf solved 35 years ago was how to route 1s and 0s and have the packets arrive at the intended destination. Both Bitcoin and the Internet rely on people not throwing their cell phone in the snowbank. This last drawdown in Bitcoin has given me hope that people will start to understand technology better and give up on Sol and Eth. Finally, people are realizing that printing digital coins doesn’t help people, just like printing Canadian dollars doesn’t help the average Canadian get ahead. It could be that Sam Bankman-Fried is in jail, but I think it has more to do with people starting to get comfortable with technology. https://youtu.be/fxWZO0FEQ1g

@ a95c6243:d345522c

*Ständige Lügen und Unterstellungen, permanent falsche Fürsorge* *\ können Bausteine von emotionaler Manipulation sein. Mit dem Zweck,* *\ Macht und Kontrolle über eine andere Person auszuüben.* *\ Apotheken Umschau*   **Irgendetwas muss passiert sein: «Gaslighting» ist gerade Thema** in vielen Medien. Heute bin ich nach längerer Zeit mal wieder über dieses Stichwort gestolpert. Das war in einem [Artikel](https://norberthaering.de/propaganda-zensur/dwd-referenzperiode/) von Norbert Häring über Manipulationen des Deutschen Wetterdienstes (DWD). In diesem Fall ging es um eine Pressemitteilung vom Donnerstag zum «viel zu warmen» Winter 2024/25. **Häring wirft der Behörde vor, dreist zu lügen und Dinge auszulassen,** um die Klimaangst wach zu halten. Was der Leser beim DWD nicht erfahre, sei, dass dieser Winter kälter als die drei vorangegangenen und kälter als der Durchschnitt der letzten zehn Jahre gewesen sei. Stattdessen werde der falsche Eindruck vermittelt, es würde ungebremst immer wärmer. **Wem also der zu Ende gehende Winter eher kalt vorgekommen sein sollte,** mit dessen Empfinden stimme wohl etwas nicht. Das jedenfalls wolle der DWD uns einreden, so der Wirtschaftsjournalist. Und damit sind wir beim Thema Gaslighting. **Als** **[Gaslighting](https://bayern-gegen-gewalt.de/gewalt-infos-und-einblicke/formen-von-gewalt/psychische-gewalt/gaslighting/)** **wird eine Form psychischer Manipulation bezeichnet,** mit der die Opfer desorientiert und zutiefst verunsichert werden, indem ihre eigene Wahrnehmung als falsch bezeichnet wird. Der Prozess führt zu Angst und Realitätsverzerrung sowie zur Zerstörung des Selbstbewusstseins. Die Bezeichnung kommt von dem britischen Theaterstück «Gas Light» aus dem Jahr 1938, in dem ein Mann mit grausamen Psychotricks seine Frau in den Wahnsinn treibt. **Damit Gaslighting funktioniert, muss das Opfer dem Täter vertrauen.** Oft wird solcher Psychoterror daher im privaten oder familiären Umfeld beschrieben, ebenso wie am Arbeitsplatz. Jedoch eignen sich die Prinzipien auch perfekt zur Manipulation der Massen. Vermeintliche Autoritäten wie Ärzte und Wissenschaftler, oder «der fürsorgliche Staat» und Institutionen wie die UNO oder die WHO wollen uns doch nichts Böses. Auch Staatsmedien, Faktenchecker und diverse NGOs wurden zu «vertrauenswürdigen Quellen» erklärt. Das hat seine Wirkung. **Warum das Thema Gaslighting derzeit scheinbar so populär ist,** vermag ich nicht zu sagen. Es sind aber gerade in den letzten Tagen und Wochen auffällig viele Artikel dazu erschienen, und zwar nicht nur von Psychologen. Die *Frankfurter Rundschau* hat gleich mehrere publiziert, und [Anwälte](https://www.anwalt.de/rechtstipps/gaslighting-beispiele-anzeichen-strafbarkeit-212449.html) interessieren sich dafür offenbar genauso wie Apotheker. **Die** ***Apotheken Umschau*** **machte sogar auf** **[«Medical Gaslighting»](https://archive.is/Wx5YM)** **aufmerksam.** Davon spreche man, wenn Mediziner Symptome nicht ernst nähmen oder wenn ein gesundheitliches Problem vom behandelnden Arzt «schnöde heruntergespielt» oder abgetan würde. Kommt Ihnen das auch irgendwie bekannt vor? Der Begriff sei allerdings irreführend, da er eine manipulierende Absicht unterstellt, die «nicht gewährleistet» sei. **Apropos Gaslighting: Die noch amtierende deutsche Bundesregierung** [meldete](https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/service/newsletter-und-abos/bundesregierung-aktuell/ausgabe-08-2025-februar-28-2336254?view=renderNewsletterHtml) heute, es gelte, «weiter \[sic!] gemeinsam daran zu arbeiten, einen gerechten und dauerhaften Frieden für die Ukraine zu erreichen». Die Ukraine, wo sich am Montag «der völkerrechtswidrige Angriffskrieg zum dritten Mal jährte», [verteidige](https://transition-news.org/wikileaks-der-westen-wusste-dass-ein-nato-beitritt-der-ukraine-riskant-war) ihr Land und «unsere gemeinsamen Werte». **Merken Sie etwas? Das Demokratieverständnis mag ja tatsächlich** inzwischen in beiden Ländern ähnlich traurig sein. Bezüglich Friedensbemühungen ist meine Wahrnehmung jedoch eine andere. Das muss an meinem Gedächtnis liegen. *** Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf ***[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/bitte-nicht-von-gaslichtern-irritieren-lassen)*** erschienen.

@ 04c195f1:3329a1da

***Yesterday's chaotic Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky exposes a harsh truth: Europe can no longer depend on American protection. The time has come for Europe to reclaim its sovereignty and rebuild as an independent power.*** ## A Diplomatic Theater With No Happy Ending Yesterday's chaotic scenes in the Oval Office revealed more than just diplomatic tension—they exposed the fundamental weakness of Europe's strategic position. As President Trump, Vice President Vance, and President Zelensky engaged in their uncomfortable public spectacle, one truth became painfully clear: Europe can no longer rely on American protection. The awkward press conference featured about 40 minutes of relative calm before descending into 10 minutes of complete chaos. This final meltdown was likely never intended to produce meaningful results. Each participant appeared to be performing for different audiences—Trump and Vance signaling to their base, Zelensky demonstrating resolve to European allies. Without concrete security guarantees, any agreement would be meaningless for Ukraine, a reality all parties surely understood beforehand. When Vance spoke of diplomacy as a "new strategy"—ignoring numerous failed diplomatic initiatives—he crossed a line that provoked Zelensky's visible frustration. The subsequent breakdown wasn't merely a failure of diplomatic protocol but the public collapse of a relationship Europe has staked its security upon. ## The Price of Misguided Priorities This moment of crisis presents an opportunity if European nations are willing to confront uncomfortable realities. The time has come for Europe to emerge as a third global power, independent from both Eastern and Western influence. However, the path forward requires acknowledging our current weaknesses. European leadership has squandered decades pursuing ideological luxuries while our industrial and military capabilities have atrophied. While obsessing over multicultural social engineering, progressive identity politics, and globalist agendas, we've neglected the fundamental responsibilities of sovereign nations: securing borders, building defensive capabilities, and fostering national cohesion. The defense of European nations begins with domestic policy. A society divided against itself cannot stand firm in the face of external threats. This principle applies whether discussing Sweden's defense posture or the broader European security architecture. Photo by [Christian Lue](https://english.daneriksson.com/p/true) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/) ## Reclaiming National Identity and Purpose To rebuild our defensive capabilities, we must first address the internal fragmentation deliberately cultivated across the political spectrum. The active policies of societal division pursued with increasing fervor since the latter half of the 20th century have undermined the very foundations of national identity and common purpose. Strengthening national defense requires citizens who understand their shared heritage and believe their nation is worth defending. In practical terms, this means confronting difficult questions about immigration, assimilation, and the presence of potential fifth-column elements within our societies. Nations with higher social cohesion demonstrate greater willingness to defend their collective interests. The current crisis in Ukraine and the uncertain American commitment should serve as a wake-up call. European nations must rapidly rebuild industrial capacity, military strength, and most importantly, a sense of shared purpose. This demands breaking free from the ideological constraints that have guided European politics for generations. Although European establishment politicians show little appetite for such fundamental reassessment, events are accelerating rapidly. The dramatic scenes in Washington should catalyze serious reflection across European capitals. We cannot hold our breath waiting for political leadership to regain sense—we must push the conversation forward ourselves. Europe stands at a crossroads. We can continue our dangerous dependence on unreliable partners, or we can reclaim our sovereignty and rebuild our strength. The choice should be obvious, but making it requires courage our leaders have thus far failed to demonstrate. ■

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

**Author**: Zhengyu Qian, Eric Zhang **Original Link**: https://research.dorahacks.io/2025/02/22/maci-mailbox/ We are not reinventing email. Even a glance at the TOC of [IETF RFC 5322](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5322) reveals: email is long-standing and well-established, but far from simple. This is just one piece of the puzzle in today’s email system. What we would like to do first is to review the essence of message delivery. ## Proto-mail A typical process of message delivery can be broken down into three critical components: 1. Individuals intending to exchange messages—referred to as the **users**. 2. An intermediary, or **agent**, that facilitates the delivery. 3. The **message** itself.  Message delivery takes place when the sender hands over the message (e.g., a written note) to an agent—a person (a messenger), a device (a beacon), or an institution (a post office). The agent then dispatches the message to the recipient. Though direct communication, such as face-to-face conversation, falls outside the scope of this context. ## The Protocol of MACI Mailbox The MACI Mailbox is an encryption-based mailing protocol that builds directly on the three components above, with modifications and extensions.  1. The **user** consists of two parts: - An **account**, typically with a publicly visible **mailing address**. - A **keypair**(a private key and its corresponding public key), which works its magic in encrypted communication. 2. The **agent** has a similar structure: - An **account**. - A **keypair**. 3. The message is simple, consisting of two fields: - **Subject**. - **Body**. The following outlines the flow of message delivery in the MACI Mailbox protocol. The process of sending a message is addressed first.  1. The sender writes a **message**. 2. The **agent** encrypts the message **using its public key**, posts and stores it in a shared public database (e.g. a blockchain, Nostr), and assigns it a queryable **ID**. 3. The sender wraps the **ID** of encrypted message together with the **agent’s private key**, encrypts them using the **recipient’s public key**, and broadcasts the resulting encrypted data to a public space. Yes, **broadcasts it publicly**—feeling like encrypted radio communication yet? In this process, asymmetric encryption is introduced twice, achieving something valuable: the decoupling of message storage from broadcast. This has at least two key implications: 1. It’s highly flexible to choose the infrastructures for encrypted message **posting and storage** as well as **broadcasting** facilities—both of which are **modular, replaceable, and trustless**. 2. Storage and broadcast infrastructures can be separately tailored to meet specific requirements. Typically: - Message storage is expected to be inexpensive, reliable, and scalable. - Broadcast infrastructure can be customized to fit the varying user ecosystems or needs.  Receiving a message is basically the reverse process: 1. The recipient indexes their mail in the broadcast space, decrypts it with **their own private key** (guaranteed by the principles of asymmetric encryption), and retrieves both the **ID of encrypted message** (storage address) and **the agent’s private key** (which, as you may recall, was bundled with the message ID before broadcast). 2. With the message ID, the recipient fetches the encrypted message from storage and decrypts it using the agent’s private key to obtain the plaintext message. 3. Tada. It can be observed that the agent’s role described above is highly procedural, lending itself to a modular and replaceable design. This enables significant flexibility in the implementation of MACI Mailbox services and applications. ## Vota-Nostr Mailbox: basic architecture The Vota-Nostr Mailbox is the first implementation of the Protocol by Dora Factory, consisting of several core modules: - **A smart contract** deployed on [Dora Vota](https://research.dorahacks.io/2023/07/31/vota/) appchain to handle the broadcasting of messages. - [Nostr relays](https://nostr.com/relays), used for publishing and storing encrypted messages. - **An indexer service** to assist users in locating relevant messages, such as those sent to or from themselves. - **A web app** as the interface for interacting with the Vota-Nostr Mailbox.   First, user accounts are implemented as on-chain accounts of Dora Vota (represented as a wallet address) paired with a public/private [ECC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic-curve_cryptography) keypair. Message content is kept simple as plain-text strings, with the flexibility to upgrade it later (Everybody Loves Rich Text). Next, let’s push the boundaries for the agent. Ideally, users shouldn’t have to learn how to interact with it actively—think about fully automated agents. Or picture a stylish scene from *[The Day of the Jackal](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24053860/)*: [Eddie Redmayne](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519666/) casually discarding a phone after each call. Thus, a disposable, one-time auto agent is designed for each mail flow. This agent consists of a randomly generated ECC keypair and a temporarily created Nostr account (essentially another keypair: [npub/nsec](https://nostr.com/get-started#understanding-keys)). ## Vota-Nostr Mailbox: communication workflow In [Vota-Nostr implementation](https://vota.dorafactory.org/mailbox) of MACI Mailbox Protocol, the communication flow is as follows. Both the encryption/decryption of message content and the broadcast rely on elliptic-curve cryptography.   To enhance user experience, a “Sent Messages” feature has been implemented, allowing senders to index, decrypt, and review their sent messages. In general, with asymmetric encryption, only the recipient’s private key can decrypt the encrypted content. Technically, there are cryptographic methods to enable mutual decryption by both sender and recipient. For simplicity at this stage, this issue is addressed by creating **a duplicate of each broadcast data** (on Dora Vota appchain). This duplicate is encrypted using the sender’s own public key, allowing the sender to decrypt it with their private key. Since the Protocol decouples the storage of encrypted message from the broadcast data, this duplication doesn’t significantly increase the payload on the broadcast infrastructure. Only the **message ID** and the **agent’s private key** need to be processed as duplicates, both of which are compact and independent of the actual message size (the length of your address line and the size of your front door key don’t depend on the dimensions of your house). Below outlines the entire communication process: 1. The sender encrypts their message using the **agent’s one-time public key** and publishes it to Nostr relay(s) via the **agent’s one-time Nostr account**, obtaining the encrypted message’s ID (i.e., **Nostr event ID**). 2. The sender wraps the encrypted message ID along with the **agent’s one-time private key**, encrypts them using the **recipient’s public key**, and broadcasts the resulting encrypted data to the appchain via **their own Dora Vota account**. This process leverages wallet apps/extensions for transaction submission and the smart contract for processing, closely resembling how users typically interact with blockchains and dapps. 3. Once the on-chain transaction is processed, the encrypted data is broadcast on Dora Vota. Both the sender and the recipient can retrieve the data at any time via the **Mailbox Indexer**. 4. The recipient decrypts the broadcast encrypted data using **their own private key**, finding the **Nostr event ID** and the corresponding decryption key (**one-time agent private key**). They then fetch the encrypted message from Nostr relay(s) by the ID and decrypt it with the one-time private key. 5. The sender can follow a nearly identical process to fetch and decrypt their own duplicate, enabling them to review sent messages. ## **Acknowledgements** The MACI Mailbox protocol was conceived during a Dora Factory developer meeting in Kyoto, March 2024. Eric Zhang supported its implementation in October as a tool to facilitate communications and campaigns in MACI decentralized governance. Shrey Khater and Divyansh Joshi contributed to an MVP of the Vota-Nostr implementation. The protocol was officially integrated with Dora Vota appchain as well as its frontend with efforts from Zhengyu Qian, Dennis Tang, and Vegebun.

@ 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/900550

@ 95cb4330:96db706c

Embracing The Principle of Asymmetric Bets Embracing the principle of asymmetric bets, as practiced by visionaries like Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel, involves seeking opportunities where the potential gains far outweigh the possible losses. This strategy enables bold decision-making while minimizing exposure to significant failures. --- ## Understanding Asymmetric Bets - **Definition:** An asymmetric bet is a strategic decision where the potential upside is substantially greater than the downside risk. This approach allows individuals and organizations to pursue high-reward opportunities without jeopardizing overall stability. --- ## Examples in Practice - **Jeff Bezos and Amazon Web Services (AWS):** Bezos invested in AWS when cloud computing was still emerging. The potential upside—a trillion-dollar business—vastly outweighed the moderate research and development costs, exemplifying an asymmetric bet. - **Peter Thiel's Investment in Facebook:** Thiel's early $500,000 investment in Facebook transformed into a multi-billion-dollar return, showcasing the immense potential of asymmetric bets in venture capital. --- ## Implementing Asymmetric Bets 1. **Identify Opportunities with High Upside and Low Downside:** Seek situations where the potential benefits are disproportionately higher than the risks involved. 2. **Evaluate the Risk-to-Reward Ratio:** Assess scenarios where even a small probability of success can lead to substantial rewards, justifying the risk taken. 3. **Diversify Bets:** Spread resources across multiple asymmetric opportunities to increase the likelihood of significant returns while mitigating individual risks. --- ## Action Step Identify a decision or project where the potential upside is considerable and the downside is limited. Take action on this opportunity today, leveraging the principle of asymmetric bets to maximize success while minimizing risk. --- By adopting this mindset, you position yourself to capitalize on transformative opportunities that can lead to substantial growth and innovation. ---

@ b4403b24:83542d4e

https://x.com/JacquiHeinrich/status/1895547519117246611 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/900278

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi eget mi euismod, porta enim at, congue erat. **Vivamus in ante leo. Vestibulum feugiat**, mauris a faucibus ultrices, enim massa bibendum magna, eu consequat leo mi eu velit. Mauris et magna rhoncus, ornare justo a, dictum sapien. Maecenas mattis rhoncus lacus ac lacinia*. Donec pulvinar finibus rutrum. Cras quis sapien lectus.* Ut odio est, condimentum vel consectetur at, elementum et neque. Donec dignissim metus eu nisi vestibulum vehicula. Maecenas vel dictum leo. Ut nisi lorem, tempor nec enim a, porta elementum augue. Vestibulum dictum ex at magna viverra, a tincidunt sem tempor. Fusce sit amet bibendum dui. Pellentesque congue tempus purus eu faucibus. Suspendisse non ex nunc. Quisque posuere euismod dui eget euismod. Praesent convallis turpis ac tellus gravida suscipit. Sed nulla lorem, auctor at ornare vel, tristique sit amet metus. Nullam id tristique arcu. Morbi sit amet velit nisi. Quisque quis est ut ex tempus lobortis in ut turpis. Sed eu diam ut leo suscipit dapibus nec at nisi. Etiam vel vulputate turpis. Suspendisse non ligula finibus, vestibulum magna ac, semper sapien. Integer dignissim dolor eros. Morbi nisl arcu, tincidunt non libero luctus, sagittis tempor urna. Duis sagittis nisi sed sagittis iaculis. Donec neque mi, fermentum nec suscipit ac, scelerisque vitae augue. Pellentesque id felis pharetra urna ornare congue ac quis augue. In posuere vulputate libero at pulvinar. Integer tincidunt justo nec cursus varius. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Donec fringilla tellus nibh, at feugiat risus vulputate in. Nulla commodo sem porttitor erat sodales, eu tincidunt nibh vulputate. Sed non massa volutpat nibh venenatis laoreet. Etiam arcu lectus, placerat sed porta et, aliquet sagittis elit. Integer pharetra nunc eget lacus vehicula bibendum. Fusce non libero interdum, vulputate mi a, ornare justo. Sed fermentum sapien lacus, et iaculis est pharetra a. Cras elementum magna velit, et tempor nibh egestas sed. Cras sollicitudin maximus ligula sit amet interdum. Aenean ullamcorper congue tincidunt. Aliquam condimentum, nisl quis ullamcorper facilisis, urna est ultricies lorem, quis dapibus velit quam eu ante. Integer vulputate feugiat molestie. Donec vestibulum eros eu velit gravida accumsan. Phasellus elementum arcu non ultricies rutrum. Morbi ac rhoncus ante. Maecenas scelerisque scelerisque nibh, ac lobortis tellus aliquam quis. Proin mi tellus, fringilla et hendrerit id, tincidunt nec turpis. Aenean ultrices magna iaculis felis tincidunt, eu molestie lorem cursus. Sed est eros, ultricies ut ornare non, suscipit vitae dui. Nunc nec rhoncus est. Aliquam at laoreet sapien, in ornare turpis. Morbi in quam at mi elementum vulputate. Donec sed sagittis purus. Morbi rutrum non mi vitae hendrerit. Nulla auctor ante lorem, eget scelerisque nunc hendrerit ornare.