@ dc4cd086:cee77c06

Have you ever wanted to learn from lengthy educational videos but found it challenging to navigate through hours of content? Our new tool addresses this problem by transforming long-form video lectures into easily digestible, searchable content. ## Key Features: ### Video Processing: - Automatically downloads YouTube videos, transcripts, and chapter information - Splits transcripts into sections based on video chapters ### Content Summarization: - Utilizes language models to transform spoken content into clear, readable text - Formats output in AsciiDoc for improved readability and navigation - Highlights key terms and concepts with [[term]] notation for potential cross-referencing ### Diagram Extraction: - Analyzes video entropy to identify static diagram/slide sections - Provides a user-friendly GUI for manual selection of relevant time ranges - Allows users to pick representative frames from selected ranges ## Going Forward: Currently undergoing a rewrite to improve organization and functionality, but you are welcome to try the current version, though it might not work on every machine. Will support multiple open and closed language models for user choice Free and open-source, allowing for personal customization and integration with various knowledge bases. Just because we might not have it on our official Alexandria knowledge base, you are still welcome to use it on you own personal or community knowledge bases! We want to help find connections between ideas that exist across relays, allowing individuals and groups to mix and match knowledge bases between each other, allowing for any degree of openness you care. While designed with #Alexandria users in mind, it's available for anyone to use and adapt to their own learning needs. ## Screenshots ### Frame Selection  This is a screenshot of the frame selection interface. You'll see a signal that represents frame entropy over time. The vertical lines indicate the start and end of a chapter. Within these chapters you can select the frames by clicking and dragging the mouse over the desired range where you think diagram is in that chapter. At the bottom is an option that tells the program to select a specific number of frames from that selection. ### Diagram Extraction  This is a screenshot of the diagram extraction interface. For every selection you've made, there will be a set of frames that you can choose from. You can select and deselect as many frames as you'd like to save. ## Links - repo: https://github.com/limina1/video_article_converter - Nostr Apps 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flxa_jkErqE ## Output And now, we have a demonstration of the final result of this tool, with some quick cleaning up. The video we will be using this tool on is titled Nostr Apps 101 by nostr:npub1nxy4qpqnld6kmpphjykvx2lqwvxmuxluddwjamm4nc29ds3elyzsm5avr7 during Nostrasia. The following thread is an analog to the modular articles we are constructing for Alexandria, and I hope it conveys the functionality we want to create in the knowledge space. Note, this tool is the first step! You could use a different prompt that is most appropriate for the specific context of the transcript you are working with, but you can also manually clean up any discrepancies that don't portray the video accurately. You can now view the article on #Alexandria https://next-alexandria.gitcitadel.eu/publication?d=nostr-apps-101 Initially published as chained kind 1's nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzp5r5hd579v2sszvvzfel677c8dxgxm3skl773sujlsuft64c44ncqy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctcpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43z7qghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummnw3ezucnpdejz7qgewaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8xmn0wf6zuum0vd5kzmp0qqsxunmjy20mvlq37vnrcshkf6sdrtkfjtjz3anuetmcuv8jswhezgc7hglpn Or view on Coracle https://coracle.social /nevent1qqsxunmjy20mvlq37vnrcshkf6sdrtkfjtjz3anuetmcuv8jswhezgcppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qgsdqa9md83tz5yqnrqjw07hhkpmfjpkuv9hlh5v8yhu8z274w9dv7qnnq0s3

@ 127d3bf5:466f416f

I can see why someone would think that buying some other crypto is a reasonable idea for "diversification" or even just for a bit of fun gambling, ***but it is not.*** There are many reasons you should stick to Bitcoin only, and these have been proven correct every cycle. I've outlined these before but will cut and paste below as a summary. The number one reason, is ***healthy ethical practice***: - The whole point of Bitcoin is to escape the trappings and flaws of traditional systems. Currency trading and speculative investing is a Tradfi concept, and you will end up back where you started. Sooner or later this becomes obvious to everyone. Bitcoin is the healthy and ethical choice for yourself and everyone else. But...even if you want to be greedy, ***hold your horses***: - There is significant risk in wallets, defi, and cefi exchanges. Many have lost all their funds in these through hacks and services getting banned or going bankrupt. - You get killed in exchange fees even when buying low and selling high. This is effectively a transaction tax which is often hidden (sometimes they don't show the fee, just mark up the exchange rate). Also true on defi exchanges. - You are up against traders and founders with insider knowledge and much more sophisticated prediction models that will fleece you eventually. You cannot time the market better than they can, and it is their full-time to job to beat you and suck as much liquidity out of you as they can. House always wins. - Every crypto trade is a taxable event, so you will be taxed on all gains anyway in most countries. So not only are the traders fleecing you, the govt is too. - It ruins your quality of life constantly checking prices and stressing about making the wrong trade. The best option, by far, is to slowly ***DCA into Bitcoin*** and take this off exchanges into your own custody. In the long run this strategy works out better financially, ethically, and from a quality-of-life perspective. Saving, not trading. I've been here since 2014 and can personally attest to this. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/35ff641203bf4d197a032a59d6815b99249561bfd3a94b4a908ed5161420466f.jpg">

@ ac6f9572:8a6853dd

# Are you a Bitcoin or Nostr Builder, Engineer, Dev, Coder, Architect... ? We are opening the community grants for artists to the world and inviting Artists to join remotely the collective that until now has set together this exposition in Chiang Mai, Thailand: **Freedom Tech Art** 1. Create your profile in Geyser 2. Create geyser project with images and description 3. Apply for the SnH grant from https://geyser.fund/grants/15 # Some snapshots   #Hackathon #grownostr #bitcoin #nostr #news #zap #photography #sats #asknostr #plebchain #lightning #cashu #cryptography ~crypto #devs #dev originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880198

@ ac6f9572:8a6853dd

# Are you a Bitcoin or Nostr Artist, Designer, Creative... ? We are opening the community grants for artists to the world and inviting Artists to join remotely the collective that unntil now has set together this exposition in Chiang Mai, Thailand: **Freedom Tech Art** 1. Create your Artist profile in Geyser 2. Create geyser project and upload your art pieces or selected collection. 3. Apply for the SnA grant from https://geyser.fund/grants/14 # Some snapshots        originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880193

@ fe32298e:20516265

Alright, Tabby wouldn't work right with CUDA and it was impossible to troubleshoot anything. Now we're going to try [Twinny](https://github.com/twinnydotdev/twinny). You'll need: * Ubuntu 24.04 or some other Linux flavor * [VSCodium](https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium) * GPU with enough VRAM to hold your chosen models * It might work with just a CPU, give it a try! # Install Ollama Ollama loads the AI models into VRAM (and offloads into RAM if needed) and offers inference through an API. The Ollama install script adds a dedicated `ollama` user and a systemd service so that Ollama starts automatically at boot. Ollama will unload models from memory when idle. ``` curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh ``` ## Configuring Remote Ollama Skip this section if your GPU is on the same machine you're coding from. Ollama and Twinny default to a local configuration. I'm using Ollama on a separate machine with a decent GPU, so I need to configure it to bind to the network interface instead of `localhost` by editing the systemd service: 1. Edit the service override file: ``` systemctl edit ollama.service ``` 1. Add this in the top section. It will be merged with the default service file. ``` [Service] Environment="OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434" ``` Note: I had a problem with Ollama only binding to the `tcp6` port, and wasted a lot of time trying to fix it. Check with `netstat -na | grep 11434` to see if it only shows tcp6 for port 11434. The workaround for me was using the actual interface IP instead of `0.0.0.0`. If you do this then you'll need to either set `OLLAMA_HOST` in your shell, or specify `OLLAMA_HOST=<hostname>` at the start of every ollama command (or it complains that it can't connect to ollama). 1. Restart Ollama: ``` systemctl daemon-reload systemctl restart ollama ``` ## Download Models Ollama manages models by importing them into its own special folders. You can use Ollama to download the files from the [Ollama library](https://ollama.com/library), or you can import already-downloaded models by creating a [Modelfile](https://github.com/ollama/ollama/blob/main/docs/modelfile.md). Modelfiles define various parameters about the model and it's important to get them set correctly for the best performance so it's probably better to get them from the library, even though it wastes bandwidth downloading them over and over again for all these tools. You'll want a model for chatting and a model for fill-in-middle (FIM) that does the code completions. ``` # Chat model, defaults to 7b with Q4_K_M quant, downloads 4.7 GB ollama pull qwen2.5-coder # Fill-in-Middle model for code completion, another 4.7 GB ollama pull qwen2.5-coder:7b-base ``` The RAG/embeddings feature is optional but probably worth using. It needs to run a from local instance of Ollama. The embedding models are very small and run fine on CPU. Most everyone uses `nomic`, but Twinny defaults to `all-minilm`, which is a little smaller. ``` ollama pull all-minilm ``` # Install Twinny Install the [Twinny extension](https://open-vsx.org/extension/rjmacarthy/twinny) by searching for `twinny` in VSCodium extensions. Look for the Twinny icon on the left side panel and click it to open the Twinny panel. Be careful if you drag it over to the right side: sometimes it may not appear at all. I managed to make it appear by selecting some text and running a Twinny action on it from the context menu. Twinny assumes you're using a local instance of Ollama. If you want to use a remote instance then you'll need to go into the **Manage Twinny providers** section (looks like a power plug) and add new providers that point your remote Ollama instance. These are the settings I'm using for a remote Ollama instance: ## Chat provider * Type: `chat` * Provider: `ollama` * Protocol: `http` * Model Name: `qwen2.5-coder:latest` * Hostname: *remote hostname* * Port: `11434` * API Path: `/v1` (despite what the Twinny docs and Ollama docs say) * API Key: *blank* ## FIM Provider * Type: `fim` * FIM Template: `codeqwen` * Provider: `ollama` * Protocol: `http` * Model Name: `qwen2.5-coder:7b-base` * Hostname: *remote hostname* * Port: `11434` * API Path: `/api/generate` * API Key: *blank* ## Embedding Provider * Type: `embedding` * Provider: `ollama` * Protocol: `http` * Model Name: `nomic-embed-text` * Hostname: `0.0.0.0` * Port: `11434` * API Path: `/api/embed` * API Key: *blank* # Use Twinny ## Chat Select code and it will be used for context in the chat, or right-click selected text to see more options like refactor, write docs, write tests. ## Embeddings Switch over to the Embeddings tab and click Embed documents to use all the documents in your workspace for more context. Type '@' in the chat to reference the entire workspace, ask about specific problems, or specific files in your chat. ## Code Completion Suggested stuff shows up in gray italics at the cursor location. Press `Tab` to accept it as a completion.

@ 16d11430:61640947

As fiat currencies continue their slow-motion collapse worldwide, a disturbing pattern is emerging—food security is deteriorating, marked by frequent outbreaks of avian flu, livestock diseases, and supply chain disruptions. While mainstream narratives often blame climate change or random chance, a deeper look reveals that these crises are symptoms of a decaying financial system. Food shortages, increasing corporate monopolization of agriculture, and government mismanagement are not random events. They are predictable consequences of monetary debasement, supply chain stress, and regulatory capture. Let’s break down how the collapse of fiat money is driving the current food crisis and why things are likely to get worse. --- 1. Early Signs: Inflation and the Cost of Farming Soar The first cracks in the food supply system appear when inflation begins eating into farmers’ margins. Over the past few years, fertilizer prices have skyrocketed, fuel costs remain volatile, and animal feed has become more expensive due to disrupted global trade. Example: The 2022 Fertilizer Crisis – As the U.S. and European governments sanctioned Russia, a key global supplier of potash and ammonia (key fertilizer ingredients), prices surged. Farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America struggled to afford these inputs, reducing food production. Egg Prices & Avian Flu – In 2023, egg prices doubled in the U.S. and Europe, exacerbated by avian flu culling millions of hens. However, inflation played a bigger role—higher costs for feed, transport, and farm maintenance made it impossible for smaller producers to compete. Corporate Centralization – As inflation drives small farmers out of business, giant agribusinesses like Cargill, JBS, and Tyson gain more control, further consolidating the supply chain. At this stage, the system still functions, but food prices increase, and warning signs emerge. --- 2. Mid-Stage: Supply Chains Crack & Regulatory Failures Accelerate Outbreaks As inflation worsens, government policies and systemic inefficiencies accelerate decay. Regulations intended to "protect" the market often do the opposite—causing supply shocks and increasing food insecurity. Avian Flu as a Convenient Cover? – Since 2022, millions of chickens, turkeys, and ducks have been culled globally due to "avian flu outbreaks." The strange part? Many cases are based on PCR tests with high false positives rather than confirmed clinical symptoms. Some suspect regulatory agencies are exaggerating the crisis to justify price hikes and consolidate control. U.S. Cattle Mysteriously Falling Sick – Reports surfaced in early 2024 of large numbers of cattle experiencing spontaneous respiratory illness and reproductive failures. The USDA and FDA blame viruses, but critics point to contaminated mRNA vaccines or corporate feed modifications. Dutch Farmers vs. The State – In the Netherlands, one of Europe’s largest food producers, the government attempted to force thousands of farmers to sell their land under the guise of "nitrogen reduction." Many believe this is an effort to centralize control over food production. At this stage, outbreaks become more frequent—not just due to biological causes, but because of poor regulation, centralized control, and financial stress leading to cost-cutting in food safety. --- 3. Late-Stage: Hyperinflation, Panic, and Rationing Once inflation turns into hyperinflation, food becomes a political weapon. Governments respond with price controls, forced rationing, and market interventions that make things worse. Argentina & Venezuela’s Food Rationing – In nations experiencing hyperinflation, like Argentina and Venezuela, supermarket shelves are empty, and the black market determines real prices. Government-issued food ration cards fail to provide reliable access. French Farmers Revolt Over Regulations & Costs – In 2024, French farmers blocked highways in protest against tax hikes, environmental regulations, and soaring costs. The EU’s green policies, combined with inflation, made food production unviable. Egg Shortages in the UK – The UK government urged people to eat fewer eggs and replace them with lab-grown alternatives as supermarkets struggled to restock due to avian flu and Brexit-related trade issues. At this point, government incompetence and corporate profiteering worsen food insecurity, leading to riots, black markets, and authoritarian responses. --- 4. Final Collapse: Mass Starvation or Parallel Systems As fiat systems implode, parallel markets emerge. People turn to barter, Bitcoin-based trade, and decentralized farming networks to survive. Bitcoin for Beef – In Argentina and El Salvador, some ranchers have started accepting Bitcoin for direct meat sales, bypassing the banking system entirely. Local Food Networks Grow – In places where trust in fiat money collapses, local food networks, permaculture movements, and barter systems gain popularity. Lab-Grown & Insect Protein Push – Meanwhile, governments and billionaires like Bill Gates push for synthetic meat and insect-based diets, claiming they are "sustainable" while continuing policies that destroy natural farming. At this stage, centralized systems are collapsing, but decentralized alternatives emerge—offering a path forward for those willing to adapt. --- The Solution: Decentralization & Bitcoin-Based Trade The fiat food system is failing because it is built on debt, leverage, and market manipulation. To ensure food security, we must return to decentralized, sound-money solutions. Bitcoin as a Trade Standard – Farmers using Bitcoin escape capital controls and currency depreciation, ensuring fair trade. Regenerative Agriculture & Local Food Systems – Returning to small-scale, diversified farming reduces the risk of mass outbreaks. Self-Sovereignty Over Food – Growing your own food, supporting local farmers, and rejecting centralized food policies is the only way to break free from the collapsing system. --- Conclusion: Recognizing the Signs Before It's Too Late The rapid spread of avian flu, livestock diseases, and farm shutdowns are not random events. They are early warning signs of systemic decay in the fiat economy. As governments print money and impose short-sighted regulations, food security worsens. The best way forward is decentralization—of money, farming, and trade. The collapse of fiat will bring hardship, but those who understand the game and prepare accordingly will thrive.

@ f33c8a96:5ec6f741

I have been working on account linking in the backend for a little while and so far only GitHub has been available to users (mostly for following the dev journey on the platform) Now with this release the existing OAUTH options AND Nostr NIP-07 authentication are surfaced and able to be linked to an existing profile on your settings page. Put simply this allows you to easily link email, GitHub, and nostr profile in the plebdevs platform to access the same account from different login methods. This will make it much easier to keep the same profile across multiple devices AND make sure that you never lose access! Let me know what you think and PLEASE LET ME KNOW if you find any bugs! (I love bugs 🐛) ONWARDS 🫡  originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/880161

@ d4309e24:8a81fcb0

## 1. What if You Could Send a Message into the Future? Imagine leaving **a message for your future self**, a loved one, or even an entire community—one that no one, not even you, can unlock until a specific moment in time. Picture leaving **a message for your children**, a note of wisdom or love that remains hidden until they're old enough to appreciate it, all timed by Bitcoin's block height. You might also make **a bold prediction** about the future price of Bitcoin, sealing it away until the blockchain reaches a certain block height. This is the idea behind *Hatchstr*, a decentralized app for time-locked messages that only unlock at predetermined Bitcoin block heights—no central authority required. ### Why Build This? I want to dive into the Nostr protocol not just by reading documentation, but by actually building something that embodies its core principles: **censorship resistance**, **user ownership**, and **decentralization**. Hatchstr is both an experiment and a contribution to the Nostr ecosystem—a way to test the limits of permissionless communication while learning and engaging with the community. ## 2. The Vision: How Hatchstr Would Work for Users At its core, Hatchstr lets users create time capsules—encrypted messages that only become readable after a specified Bitcoin block height. Here’s what that looks like: * You design a capsule with text and images using Hatchstr’s web app. * You pick an unlock time (e.g., 1000 blocks from now). * The message is encrypted, locked away, and published as a Nostr event. * At the chosen time, the decryption key is revealed, allowing the recipient to finally access the message.  #### Potential Use Cases * **Personal Messages**: Send birthday wishes that unlock at midnight, time-delayed love letters, or notes to your future self. * **Timed Learning**: Lock educational content to unlock when students reach key learning stages or ages. * **Creative Storytelling**: Release serialized fiction, riddles, or treasure hunt clues that unlock over time. * **Community & Events**: Time-gate announcements for Nostr-based communities or scheduled voting mechanisms. ### 3. The Centralized Trap: Why Build on Nostr When thinking about how to implement this, we could go the obvious, easy route: * Store messages on a centralized server. * Release them when the time is right. * Let users download their messages. Simple, right? **But is it the right approach? Let's break it down.** ### Why This Fails * **Single Point of Failure**: If my server goes down, all messages are unavailable. * **Privacy Risks**: Users would need to trust me not to access their messages. * **Ownership & Longevity**: What happens if I lose interest? The system dies with me.  A centralized model defeats the purpose of time-locking messages. Users shouldn’t have to trust a third party. We need decentralization. ## 4. Nostr to the Rescue: How Decentralization Can Help Instead of a single server holding messages hostage, [Nostr](https://nostr.how/en/what-is-nostr) allows users to publish messages to [decentralized relays](https://nostr.how/en/relays). Here are the key differences: * **Nostr IDs = Self-Owned Identities**: Your public key is your identity, not tied to any company. * **Relays = Decentralized Bulletin Boards**: Anyone can run one, ensuring redundancy and censorship resistance. * **Messages = Signed Events:** Cryptographically signed by the sender or encrypted for only the recipient.  ### How Nostr Reduces Centralization In this version of Hatchstr, capsules are still stored in a centralized manner at first until they 'hatch'. However, once the Bitcoin block height condition is met: * **Capsule Publication**: The system publishes the capsule events to Nostr relays, making the messages available for decryption by the intended recipients. This approach, while not eliminating the central server, allows for: * **Third-Party Clients**: Developers can now create clients that interact with Hatchstr capsules on Nostr, enhancing the system's openness and potentially leading to a richer ecosystem around time-locked messages. * **Decentralized Access**: Even though the initial storage is centralized, the access to the messages becomes decentralized once published to Nostr, reducing the dependency on a single point for message retrieval. We have some improvements, **but I am sure we can do better!** ## 5. The Path to Decentralized Timekeeping ### The Timeless Nature of Encryption Encrypted messages exist outside time—once locked, they remain secure indefinitely. Modern cryptography (like AES-256) doesn’t "expire" or weaken unless decrypted (excluding brute force attacks). This creates a paradox: How do you bind something timeless to a specific moment in the physical world? #### The Time-Lock Puzzle Dilemma Cryptographers have proposed [time-lock puzzles](https://iacr.org/archive/crypto2019/116940354/116940354.pdf)—encryption that requires sustained computation to unlock, theoretically forcing a minimum wait time. But these face critical hurdles: * ##### **Hardware Uncertainty** Solving time depends on an attacker’s computational power. A nation-state could crack in hours what takes years for a regular user. * ##### **No Real-World Alignment** Puzzles can’t guarantee unlocks align with calendar dates or real-world events ("unlock on my child’s 18th birthday"). * ##### **Energy Waste** Requires continuous computation, making it environmentally impractical for longer time locking. #### Bitcoin as a Decentralized Clock This is where Bitcoin’s blockchain shines. Its difficulty-adjusted proof-of-work acts as a trustless metronome: * ##### **Predictable Rhythm** Despite hash rate fluctuations, the 10-minute block target (via difficulty adjustments) creates a consistent approximation of real-world time. * ##### **Immutable History** Block height 1,000,000 will always correspond to the same point in Bitcoin’s timeline, regardless of future changes in mining power #### **Splitting the Problem** Hatchstr can bridge timeless encryption and blockchain timing by separating concerns: ##### **1. Capsules** – The time-locked message itself: * Design independent of the time-locking mechanism. * Encrypted client-side. * Content stored anywhere the user wants (IPFS, personal servers, etc.). * Completely owned by the user—not Hatchstr. ##### **2. Clock Servers** – Independent, lightweight timing nodes that: * Only publish decryption keys when the target Bitcoin block height is reached. * Users can choose which Clock Server to trust. * Anyone can run their own Clock Server. * Multiple servers can coordinate to prevent a single point of failure.  **This means Hatchstr itself doesn’t store anything—users are fully in control.** ## 6. What Comes Next This project is just beginning—a blueprint with open questions and untested assumptions. In the next two articles, I’ll explore how to turn this concept into something tangible. First, how we might design playful time capsules that can be displayed faithfully by multiple clients, balancing creativity with decentralization. Then, the messy realities of clock servers: why federating them matters, how to incentivize reliability, and borrow Bitcoin’s rhythm without centralizing control. We will dive into setting up a simple clock server to get things started. I’m still learning Nostr’s ecosystem, and this project is as much about sharing my education as anything else. If any part of this concept makes you think “yes, but…” or “what if…”, I’d genuinely love to hear it. Find me on Nostr – no expertise required, just an interest in sending messages to the future. :  ``` npub16scfufrpsqcukjg7ymu4r40h7j4dwqy4pajgz48e6lmnmz5pljcqh678uh ``` Thank you for reading 🧡

@ 16d11430:61640947

Introduction: The Power of Focused Attention In an age of distraction, power is not merely held through material wealth, authority, or control over others—it is built through focused attention. The human brain, a complex quantum-biological processor, constructs reality through perception. When harnessed correctly, focused attention allows individuals to transcend limitations, reshape their reality, and live free. Power, then, is not external—it is a construct supported by the mind and created within the brain. Understanding how this works offers a path to transcendence, autonomy, and liberation from imposed limitations. The Neuroscience of Focused Attention: Constructing Reality The brain is a prediction engine, constantly processing information and filtering out irrelevant stimuli. Focused attention directs this process, acting as a spotlight that selects what becomes part of one's conscious experience. This is the fundamental mechanism behind cognitive power. 1. Neuroplasticity: Building Power Through Repetition The brain adapts to repeated stimuli through neuroplasticity. What one focuses on consistently rewires neural pathways, strengthening certain thoughts, beliefs, and abilities. Over time, this focus builds an internal structure of power—a network of ideas and perceptions that define one’s reality. If one focuses on problems, they grow. If one focuses on solutions, they appear. If one focuses on fear, it shapes perception. If one focuses on mastery, skills develop. 2. The Quantum Mind: Attention as a Creative Force Quantum physics suggests that observation influences reality. Just as subatomic particles behave differently when measured, focused attention may act as a force that shapes possibilities into tangible outcomes. This aligns with the ancient concept that "energy flows where attention goes." What one attends to with intention can manifest as action, opportunity, and ultimately, freedom. 3. The Reticular Activating System (RAS): Filtering Reality The Reticular Activating System (RAS) in the brainstem acts as a gatekeeper for focus. It determines what information enters conscious awareness. When trained, it can filter out distractions and amplify pathways toward a desired goal. Want to see opportunities? Program the RAS by setting clear intentions. Want to break free from limiting beliefs? Train focus away from conditioned fears. The Mind’s Role: Transcending Limitations The mind is the interpreter of the brain’s electrical and biochemical activity. While the brain processes raw data, the mind provides meaning. This distinction is crucial because meaning determines how one experiences reality. 1. Breaking Mental Chains: Rewriting Narratives Most limitations are narratives—stories imposed by culture, society, or personal history. True power lies in rewriting these stories. Instead of “I am trapped by my circumstances,” shift to “I create my own reality.” Instead of “I need permission,” shift to “I give myself permission.” By restructuring meaning, the mind can redefine the limits of what is possible. 2. The Silence Paradox: Accessing Higher States Silence, both literal and mental, creates space for higher-order thinking. Just as quantum tunneling allows subatomic particles to pass through barriers without energy loss, silence allows the mind to bypass noise and access deeper intelligence. Meditation, stillness, and solitude amplify internal power. The ability to not react is a form of control over external influence. True mastery comes from detachment—engaging the world without being controlled by it. Transcendence: Living Free Through Mental Autonomy To transcend means to rise above imposed structures—whether societal, psychological, or energetic. The construct of power built through focused attention allows one to escape control mechanisms and live autonomously. 1. Sovereignty of Mind: Owning One’s Thoughts A free mind is one that chooses its inputs rather than being programmed by external forces. This requires: Awareness of mental conditioning (social narratives, propaganda, biases) Intentional thought selection (curating what enters the mental space) Guarding attention fiercely (not allowing distraction to hijack focus) 2. Detachment From Control Structures Society operates on the principle of attention capture—through media, politics, and algorithms that direct thought patterns. Escaping these requires detachment. Do not react emotionally to fear-based programming. Cultivate independent thought by questioning imposed narratives. Reduce external noise to amplify internal wisdom. 3. The Flow State: Moving Beyond Constraints When focus is refined to its highest degree, one enters flow state—a condition where action and awareness merge, and limitations dissolve. In flow, work becomes effortless. Creativity becomes boundless. Freedom becomes not just a philosophy, but a lived experience. Conclusion: The Mind as the Ultimate Key to Freedom Power is not an external possession—it is the ability to direct one’s own focus. Through the interplay of brain function, cognitive attention, and mental discipline, one constructs personal sovereignty. The individual who masters focus, controls reality. Freedom is not given. It is built—through attention, intention, and an unwavering commitment to mental autonomy.

@ 16d11430:61640947

Language is more than just words—it’s a pattern, a rhythm, a system of meaning that our brains decode in different ways. While most people learn language analytically, breaking it down into individual words and sentences, gestalt language processors (GLP) acquire language in a completely different way. They learn in chunks, grasping entire phrases and only later dissecting them into smaller parts. This unique method of language acquisition is often observed in autistic individuals and those with alternative cognitive processing styles. But what happens when such a learner interacts with a highly inflected, agglutinative language like Malayalam? As it turns out, Malayalam might be one of the best-suited languages for gestalt language processors, thanks to its natural structure, flexible syntax, and phrase-based meaning. Let’s explore why Malayalam aligns so well with gestalt processing and how it compares to other languages. --- Understanding Gestalt Language Processing Gestalt language processing is the ability to acquire and use language in whole phrases rather than as individual words. Instead of learning word-by-word, GLP learners store entire sentences or expressions they hear and later modify them into new, meaningful statements. For example, a child who is a gestalt processor might initially say: ➡ "Do you want some juice?" (because they've heard it as a whole phrase) Later, they might extract parts and start saying: ➡ "Want juice." Finally, they construct their own original sentence: ➡ "I want juice." This approach is pattern-based rather than rule-based, making Malayalam an excellent match due to its agglutinative grammar, rhythmic structure, and flexible word order. --- How Malayalam Supports Gestalt Language Processing 1. Malayalam’s Agglutinative Nature Encourages Chunk Learning Malayalam, like other Dravidian languages, is highly agglutinative, meaning words are built using multiple suffixes that change meaning. Instead of discrete words, many phrases function as a single semantic unit—which is exactly how GLP learners process language. Take the word "വീട്" (vīṭu) meaning "house": വീട്ടിൽ (vīṭṭil) – in the house വീട്ടിലേക്ക് (vīṭṭilēkk) – towards the house വീട്ടിലേക്കു പോകുന്നു (vīṭṭilēkku pōkunnu) – going to the house A gestalt processor might first acquire "വീട്ടിലേക്കു പോകുന്നു" as a chunk, rather than breaking it into individual words. Over time, they start recognizing patterns and modifying them. This is in contrast to English, where "going" and "house" are learned separately before forming a phrase like "going to the house." --- 2. Flexible Word Order Aligns with Pattern-Based Learning Malayalam allows word order variations without losing meaning, making it an intuitive fit for gestalt learners who focus on meaning first rather than strict syntax. For example, the sentence "I drank tea" can be expressed in multiple ways in Malayalam: ഞാൻ ചായ കുടിച്ചു. (ñān cāya kuṭiccu) – Standard word order ചായ ഞാൻ കുടിച്ചു. (cāya ñān kuṭiccu) – Emphasizing "tea" കുടിച്ചു ഞാൻ ചായ. (kuṭiccu ñān cāya) – Focus on the action A gestalt learner might acquire an entire phrase like "ചായ കുടിക്കണോ?" ("Do you want tea?") and later extract the verb "കുടി" (drink) or the noun "ചായ" (tea) as they develop more flexible speech. In contrast, languages like English and French have more rigid word order, making it harder for gestalt learners to generalize. --- 3. Long and Embedded Sentence Structures Favor Chunk-Based Processing Malayalam commonly uses long, nested sentences, which gestalt learners store as full units before breaking them down. For example: അവൻ പറഞ്ഞത് ഞാൻ അറിഞ്ഞില്ല. (avan paṟaññatu ñān aṟiññilla) Literal: "What he said, I didn’t know." Gestalt learners may first acquire: "അവൻ പറഞ്ഞത്" ("What he said") as a single unit before extracting "പറഞ്ഞത്" (said). This mirrors how **gestalt processors extract meaning from larger linguistic units over time.

@ 16d11430:61640947

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Intergalactic Trade, Verified on the Blockchain Somewhere in the unfashionable backwaters of the Milky Way, a small blue planet is busy debating whether it should be more concerned about social media algorithms or the growing irrelevance of its own economy. Meanwhile, out there in the cosmic gigaverse, civilizations with far more interesting problems are engaging in the great intergalactic hustle—trading tech, swapping energy signatures, and making quantum side deals faster than you can say "proof-of-work." Humanity, as per usual, has arrived late to the party but is hoping to slip in unnoticed and pretend like it’s been part of the game all along. The problem? We don’t know the rules, we don’t know what we have to offer, and most importantly, we don’t even have an invite. Fortunately, the universe is a decentralized, peer-to-peer system, much like Bitcoin—only with fewer arguments on Twitter. And if we play this right, we might just hustle our way into the Universal Indira Net, the cosmic marketplace where civilizations exchange technology, knowledge, and, quite possibly, dad jokes that transcend space-time. --- Step 1: Plugging into the Universal Indira Net According to ancient Hindu mythology, Indra’s Net is an infinite web where each node reflects all others, meaning everything is connected to everything else, forever. Sounds poetic, right? Well, take that concept, throw in some decentralized cryptographic verification, and you've got the backbone of a cosmic trade network where trust isn’t just assumed—it’s mathematically proven. In theory, Earth should be able to sync up with the Universal Indira Net, but there’s one small problem: our civilization hasn’t even solved its own internet yet. Forget interstellar trade—we still struggle with buffering. Until we build long-range, high-bandwidth, interference-proof communication systems, we’re basically screaming into the void, hoping someone hears us (and doesn’t immediately categorize us as "primitive and likely to start wars over fictional borders"). Luckily, we are making some progress: NASA’s Laser-Based Comms: Just last year, NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project sent data 19 million miles at broadband speeds. In galactic terms, this is the equivalent of tossing a USB drive across your front yard, but hey, it’s a start. (source) Quantum Entanglement Messaging: Scientists are theorizing about using spooky action at a distance to send information instantaneously across the galaxy. Of course, it’s still at the “we swear this works on paper” stage. Gravitational Wave Emails: There’s a wild theory that gravitational waves could be harnessed for communication, which means the universe has literally been shaking with missed calls for billions of years. If we can bootstrap any of these into a reliable cosmic broadband, we might just be able to negotiate our way into the interstellar group chat. --- Step 2: What Do We Bring to the Table? Now, assuming we finally manage to stop talking to ourselves and make first contact, the next big question is: what the hell do we trade? Here’s what we know about intergalactic economics: 1. No one wants our money – Fiat currency is an Earth-only meme. The only currency that might hold value out there is Bitcoin, because at least it’s energy-backed and provably scarce. But even then, aliens are likely using something far more advanced—probably a universal ledger that encodes information directly into quantum spacetime fabric. 2. Physical goods are inefficient – Nobody’s going to fly across light-years to pick up a shipment of human-made Teslas when they can 3D print their own antimatter-powered space yacht. 3. Knowledge is king – The real hustle is in information. Code, algorithms, AI models—things that can be transmitted at the speed of light and verifiably proven on-chain. Trade Goods That Might Actually Be Worth Something: AI & Quantum Computing Models – If we develop AI that thinks in ways alien civilizations haven’t considered, we’ve got intellectual property worth trading. Biological Engineering & Longevity Tech – If Earth figures out how to stop aging, you can bet intergalactic billionaires (assuming they exist) would pay for that. Mathematical Breakthroughs – Math is the universal language, and if we crack new fundamental theorems, we might just have something of value. Which means the best way to hustle our way into the Indira Net is to become the best at something. And right now, the only thing we’ve truly mastered is making memes and overcomplicating financial systems. --- Step 3: Navigating the Cosmic Trade Rules Of course, even if we have something valuable, trading with advanced civilizations isn’t as simple as sending an invoice. We don’t even know the rules of interstellar engagement yet. But if galactic trade works anything like human history, we should expect: Regulatory Compliance – Because even in space, there’s bound to be paperwork. If we get lucky, aliens might use smart contracts instead of lawyers. Sanctions & Trade Embargoes – You think Earth’s geopolitics are complicated? Try interstellar diplomacy, where embargoes might involve entire planetary quarantines. Intellectual Property Theft – If we’re not careful, we might trade away humanity’s most valuable discovery for an alien NFT that depreciates instantly. Which is why any trade network must be built on provable, immutable verification systems—aka, blockchain. This is where DamageBDD, Bitcoin, and cryptographic proofs come into play. If we can create a system that ensures: ✅ Technology is verified before it’s traded ✅ Ownership and utility are recorded on an immutable ledger ✅ Contracts execute autonomously with zero-trust mechanics Then we might just stand a chance of becoming a respected node in the Universal Indira Net, rather than a civilization that gets rug-pulled by intergalactic venture capitalists. --- Final Thought: The Cosmic Hustle is Just Beginning Humanity is still in the tutorial level of the interstellar economy. We’re fumbling with our first trade attempts, trying not to get exploited, and desperately figuring out how not to be the cosmic equivalent of a developing nation selling raw materials to advanced intergalactic conglomerates. But if we: Build high-speed interstellar comms Develop technology that is uniquely valuable Create trustless, verifiable trade systems …then we won’t just be another planetary backwater. We’ll be a node in the greatest decentralized network of all time. The Cosmic Hustle is real. The only question is: will we be the hustlers or the ones getting hustled?

@ daa41bed:88f54153

Imagine a world where governments, long trusted to protect fiat currencies that can be printed without limit, openly declare that they trust a decentralized digital asset over traditional money. In recent months, that vision has begun to crystallize.  The Czech National Bank has signaled a gradual acceptance of digital assets as part of its broader monetary policy recalibration with changes to how capital gains taxes are handled on Bitcoin and a possible adoption by its central bank into its reserves stockpile. Simultaneously, El Salvador- once the poster child for Bitcoin as legal tender- has fine-tuned its policy framework at the behest of the WEF to no longer accept Bitcoin as legal tender. Meanwhile, several U.S. states have introduced bills to establish official Bitcoin reserves, and many are under active consideration. See [Bitcoin Laws](https://Bitcoinlaws.io/) for a full breakdown of where these bills stand. Let's explore the pros of governments adopting strategic Bitcoin reserves. Bitcoiners have long argued that the ultimate endorsement of Bitcoin comes when even the most established state institutions place their trust in it. Recent moves by several U.S. states—where lawmakers are proposing legislation to create official Bitcoin reserves—lend credence to this argument. When state governments start to codify the creation of a Bitcoin reserve, it signals that even entities steeped in traditional financial orthodoxy now recognize Bitcoin as a viable, strategic asset. For these states, it is imperative to accumulate hard assets like Bitcoin in reserves as they have no control over the monetary supply and, therefore, can suffer from debasement just as much as any citizen or sovereign nation not in control of their currency. Suppose you have kept up with [recent news](https://decrypt.co/303304/czech-central-bank-bitcoin-reserve) that the Czech national bank was considering holding a considerable portion of their assets in Bitcoin. In that case, you understand the paradigm shift we are seeing. Banks are becoming less cautious in handling digital assets in a stark department, compared to previous dismissals of cryptocurrencies as genuine assets. While it is true that European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde wields considerable influence on monetary policy in Europe and may have put a temporary damper on the Czech central bank's aspirations for now ([See Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/ecbs-lagarde-slaps-down-czech-proposal-Bitcoin-reserves-2025-01-30/)), it should be evident that in the words of some Bitcoiners, "nothing stops this train." For Bitcoiners, such shifts validate the claim that Bitcoin's decentralized, algorithmic structure outperforms fiat systems, which are vulnerable to political manipulation and unchecked inflation. The Czech president's [signing into law](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/02/06/czech-republic-to-eliminate-taxes-on-long-term-crypto-gains) a bill removing capital gains tax from all Bitcoin held for at least three years proves that even those at the highest levels of policy creation are beginning to lose control of the narrative. This state endorsement is more than symbolic. It is a strategic vote of confidence in Bitcoin's underlying technology—its transparent, immutable ledger and deflationary nature. When lawmakers and regulators in the United States start to invest public resources in Bitcoin, it undermines the decades-old narrative that only traditional assets like gold or oil are worthy of state backing. Instead, it repositions Bitcoin as an asset not just with a future but of the future. It can enhance and even replace all other existing reserve assets, lending further proof of Bitcoin as a store of value. Bitcoin's capped supply is at the core of its appeal—only 21 million coins will ever exist. Bitcoiners assert that this scarcity is fundamental to Bitcoin's value proposition. A strategic Bitcoin reserve at any governmental level would effectively lock away a significant portion of the circulating supply, increasing its scarcity and further driving its price up. Many in the Bitcoin and overall crypto community lauded President Bukele's 2021 announcement that his country would begin accumulating Bitcoin and giving it legal tender status. To Bitcoiners, it was a sign that governments were starting to see Bitcoin as a legitimate store of value, a medium of exchange, and vindication of everything they had fought for over the years. Of course, many will want to say that the country's acquisition of Bitcoin was simply a power play to get the World Economic Forum to come to the bargaining table, but if so, what? Here we are four years later, and El Salvador is [no longer requiring Bitcoin as legal tender](https://newsroompanama.com/2025/02/07/el-salvador-ends-Bitcoin-as-legal-tender-heres-why-Bitcoin-didnt-work/). This is not a step back, it is simply another example of why we are winning. I'll discuss this further in another article, but isn't it convenient that President Bukele continues to accumulate Bitcoin for his country after making a concession to the WEF for funds? Tick, tock, next block. Bitcoiners view introducing reserve bills across U.S. states as a powerful mechanism for further tightening Bitcoin's available supply. Each government-held coin is one fewer coin available to the market, creating a scarcity premium. Market forces do not artificially impose this scarcity but are instead the natural outcome of an institution with deep pockets choosing to hold Bitcoin as a strategic asset. In a world where every coin in reserve represents a bulwark against inflation and economic uncertainty, Bitcoiners argue that this state-induced scarcity will profoundly affect Bitcoin's value over time. If you don't believe that to be the case, look at this chart of coins available on OTC desks last year, and let me tell you that you are not bullish enough. I'll explore the impact of OTC sales on price in a future article.  For years, Bitcoiners have decried the inherent weaknesses of fiat currencies—specifically, the ease with which governments can expand the money supply, leading to inflation and eroded purchasing power. Bitcoin, on the other hand, offers a fixed supply, decentralized issuance, and an ever-shrinking inflation rate that makes it immune to the government's printing press. When a government opts for Bitcoin reserves, it makes a financial decision and a political statement. It says that the era of limitless money printing is over and that transparency, decentralization, and scarcity are the hallmarks of a sound monetary system. Institutional legitimacy is crucial for any asset that aspires to be a cornerstone of the global financial system. When the United States, the world's largest economy, signals its intent to hold Bitcoin in its reserves, it sends a resounding message that can trigger a domino effect worldwide. The recent [repeal of SAB121](https://cointelegraph.com/news sec-cancels-crypto-accounting-guidance-sab-121) by the Securities and Exchange Commission is a step in the right direction, by now allowing companies and course, governments at every level to accumulate Bitcoin into their reserves. When central banks like the Czech National Bank begin to signal openness toward digital assets, it paves the way for broader institutional participation. Once wary of the volatile digital asset market, financial institutions, asset managers, and [even pension funds](https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-pension-fund-bitcoin) are gradually warming up to Bitcoin. We cannot underestimate what sort of network effect this will have on Bitcoin as its utility and value proposition become more robust as a result of state-level adoption. Bitcoiners believe that such a shift will cement Bitcoin's status as a universally accepted and trusted store of value, capable of challenging—and eventually surpassing—traditional reserve assets like gold and fiat currencies. One of the most enduring arguments among Bitcoiners is that Bitcoin is the digital successor to gold. For centuries, gold has been the haven, the ultimate store of value during times of crisis. Bitcoin, with its fixed supply and digital accessibility, is ideally positioned to take over that role in the modern era. A state-backed Bitcoin reserve would serve as this narrative's definitive stamp of approval. If a government is willing to set aside billions of dollars in a digital asset, it must believe that this asset can preserve and even appreciate its value over time. Such a move would provide a critical psychological boost to the market, as both retail and institutional investors begin to see Bitcoin as not just a speculative tool but as the modern equivalent of a haven set. Gold continues to appreciate this year while Bitcoin remains relatively flat. How long until we see it decouple from the markets and witness price appreciation not seen since the last halving? I hope you enjoyed reading this lengthy article on the pros of governments adopting a strategic Bitcoin reserve. If you'd like to chime in, you can find me on Nostr via [@geek](https://www.primal.net/geek) on Primal, or via [my npub]( .npub1m2jphmdkskgnvwl5gplksl9e0zwv2sldqf9mwlpz6tyymz84g9fsqr3wgu) anywhere else. In part two, I will examine the other side of the debate, the cons, and the potential pitfalls of such a policy. Stay tuned!

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The world of cryptocurrency has always been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but recent developments in the Bitcoin market have caught the attention of investors worldwide. The circulating supply of Bitcoin in profit has surged to a multi-year high, a phenomenon not seen since the heady days of November 2021 when Bitcoin reached its all-time high. This significant milestone, backed by data from industry analysts at Glassnode and a detailed report from Bitfinex, paints a picture of a robust Bitcoin market. The implications of this surge are far-reaching, affecting not just seasoned cryptocurrency traders but also new investors who are contemplating dipping their toes into the Bitcoin pool. This article aims to dissect this trend, exploring its roots, its impact on the market, and what it potentially spells out for the future of Bitcoin investment. **Table Of Content** - Understanding the Surge - Implications for Long-term Investors - Market Strength and Investor Confidence - Potential Early Signs of a Bull Market - Caution and Market Dynamics - Conclusion - FAQs **Understanding the Surge** The surge in Bitcoin's circulating supply in profit is a complex phenomenon, driven by a confluence of market dynamics and investor behavior. The recent increase in Bitcoin's price, which saw it soar above $37,000, is a primary factor. This price hike has pushed a significant portion of Bitcoin into profitable territory. According to the Bitfinex report, over 16.3 million Bitcoin, a staggering amount by any measure, are currently in profit. This figure is considerably higher than the historical average, suggesting a market that is not only recovering but thriving. The surge is not just a momentary blip but a reflection of deeper market trends, including increased institutional interest in Bitcoin, broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate asset class, and the growing perception of Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. **Implications for Long-term Investors** For long-term investors, this surge in Bitcoin's profitability is a beacon of stability in the typically volatile cryptocurrency market. The fact that 70% of Bitcoin's total circulating supply has remained static over the past year is indicative of a maturing market where investors are increasingly viewing Bitcoin as a long-term investment rather than a quick profit opportunity. This holding pattern contributes to a tightening of supply, which, coupled with increasing demand, can lead to a sustained price increase. However, long-term investors should also be aware of the potential risks. The cryptocurrency market is still relatively young and can be influenced by regulatory changes, technological advancements, and shifts in investor sentiment. Therefore, while the current trend is encouraging, it should be viewed within the broader context of market dynamics. **Market Strength and Investor Confidence** The current state of the Bitcoin market is a testament to its growing strength and the confidence it instills in investors. With a majority of holders seeing positive returns, there's a renewed vigor in the market, attracting both retail and institutional investors. This influx of new investment can further stabilize the market and potentially drive prices higher. However, this increased investor confidence must be tempered with a degree of caution. The cryptocurrency market is known for its rapid fluctuations, and what goes up can just as quickly come down. Investors should be mindful of the inherent risks and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. The market's strength, while promising, is not a guarantee of future performance, and a prudent investment strategy should always be in place. **Potential Early Signs of a Bull Market** The analysis by Bitfinex suggests that the market might be in the early stages of a bull market. This is a significant indicator for investors, as bull markets are characterized by rising prices and increased buying activity. If this trend continues, it could lead to substantial gains for those invested in Bitcoin. However, predicting market movements, especially in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies, is fraught with uncertainty. While the signs are positive, they are not infallible indicators of future performance. Investors should therefore approach this potential bull market with optimism tempered by realism, recognizing that market conditions can change rapidly and without warning. **Caution and Market Dynamics** In the face of these optimistic trends, a word of caution is warranted. The cryptocurrency market is notoriously unpredictable, and while the current indicators are positive, they are not immune to sudden and unexpected changes. Factors such as regulatory announcements, technological breakthroughs, or macroeconomic shifts can rapidly alter the market landscape. Therefore, investors should remain vigilant, keeping abreast of market news and trends. Diversification of investments, a keen understanding of market dynamics, and a clear investment strategy are essential tools in navigating the complexities of the Bitcoin market. **Conclusion** The surge in Bitcoin's circulating supply in profit to a multi-year high marks a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency's journey. It reflects a market that is gaining maturity, strength, and the confidence of its investors. This development could herald the beginning of a new era for Bitcoin, characterized by stability and sustained growth. However, the path of Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market remains unpredictable. Investors should therefore approach this market with a well-informed strategy, balancing optimism with a healthy dose of caution. In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, staying informed and adaptable is key to navigating the market's highs and lows. **FAQs** **How does this surge affect long-term investors?** Long-term investors may see this as a sign of market stability and maturity, indicating that Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed as a viable long-term investment. **Could this trend indicate the start of a Bitcoin bull market?** While the surge in profitable Bitcoin supply could be an early sign of a bull market, predicting market movements in the volatile cryptocurrency sector is complex and uncertain. **What percentage of Bitcoin's circulating supply is currently in profit?** Over 83% of Bitcoin's circulating supply is reported to be in profit, according to recent data. **What should investors be cautious about in light of this surge?** Investors should be aware of the inherent volatility in the cryptocurrency market and consider factors like regulatory changes, technological advancements, and broader market dynamics before making investment decisions. **How does the current Bitcoin market compare to historical averages?** The current percentage of Bitcoin in profit is significantly higher than the historical average, indicating a particularly strong market phase. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ c1e6505c:02b3157e

\*\*\*"Time is the best teacher but unfortunately it kills all of its students."\*\*\* I'm currently visiting my dad for a few days as I had to take my car in for some repairs and maintenance, which included an oil gasket leak, power steering fluid flush, brake fluid flush, spark plugs, and the works. The process took a couple of hours to complete, so instead of waiting in the waiting room or having someone pick me up to go wait comfortably at home, I decided to walk around with my camera and try to make some new work. I have to say, there's really nothing more that I enjoy than walking aimlessly in an area that I have never been and taking photographs. \*I love it.\* I lose myself and everything that is on my mind that I "worry" about. I'm present, in the zone, and honestly having a great time. Photography for me is a portal to enter a state of mind that transcends time and space. The area that I was in was very industrial, so my walk started next door at the other car mechanic shop, and I meandered down to the small local town where some shops were. Didn't see too much, so I turned around and started walking back down the other way. Sometimes I don't see anything of interest for a while. What I have noticed though, as a little trick to start having things "come out of the woodwork," is just to start shooting at the first thing that captures my interest. Getting the ball rolling with pushing the shutter somehow gets me in the "flow state" that I enjoy getting in when making photographs. \\\[ !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F027a5466-47a8-4c9a-b3dc-c9acf0a31a12\_2500x1786.jpeg)\\\]( As I walked further, I visited a plant nursery that was just opening. The woman who was opening the gate was very nice and invited me into walk around and do as I please. There were a few nice plants around, but what gravitates me the most is seemingly, to others maybe, the "ugly stuff" or the subject matter that one wouldn’t really consider making a photograph of. Blank spaces, trash, neglect - it's all good stuff to me. The light falling upon these subjects makes them interesting. After the nursery, I found a large industrial facility and a train yard. A worker stood next to one of the train cars, so I went up and asked what they were loading. He said that he’s been working there for 30 years, and that they make plastic trash bags, and those tubes feeding into the train cars were pumping out plastic beads for production. I thought that was interesting. We chatted for a bit, I thanked him for his time, and moved on. !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70512ba8-8c29-4454-8cd7-3d030c17730f\_1786x2500.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70512ba8-8c29-4454-8cd7-3d030c17730f\_1786x2500.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd3d8ef1c-4381-49f2-a5cd-5266f3208d91\_2500x1786.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2b32f8fd-2f47-4f6a-9592-9fba9d3e6e57\_2500x1786.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb8716d86-acdb-4b3a-a61b-8c1abb6ab737\_2500x1786.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d7bc288-0707-4e17-a420-aa08fb53b817\_2500x1670.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F499acae7-e563-45fd-86b7-32ae3d20150f\_2500x1786.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff626a80d-5a43-485e-a50c-747c346388a0\_1670x2500.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F472d5556-7ef4-4f6a-a48e-7eccf39088d3\_2500x1670.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F724c8133-fe4e-41c4-b383-3aaec42d50a1\_2500x1786.jpeg) Eventually, I ended up at a church with these really nice orange and brown doors. I sat on a bench in the back to kill some time, listening to a few podcasts. While I was there, I noticed a sign that read: \*"Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God."\* I’m not a religious guy per se, haven’t been to church in over a decade, and I’ve had my own experiences — psychedelics included — where I’ve glimpsed something I’d call “God.”, but there’s something to take from that. Whatever your definition of “God” is, there’s value in gratitude whether things are good or bad. Life itself is a miracle. Appreciating the small things keeps you grounded, humble, and connected. !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F102b529f-a7ea-4346-889b-2b1f51b48c63\_2500x1786.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fef07f101-4645-4439-b050-72c9fe551b1f\_1786x2500.jpeg) !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fce6960c5-e78c-4b3e-b0fe-78e773b6a518\_2500x1786.jpeg)) \*Just in case you missed it…\* \*\*I have a limited edition framed print that I will have available until February 28th.\*\* Only two will be made, and they will come framed; one in black, one in silver. If you enjoy my work, this would be a great collectors piece. !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3d3033ae-b71a-4505-9d2c-f899df1a535b\_2313x2313.jpeg)\\\]() \*\*\*I shoot with a Leica M262, and edit in Lightroom + Dehancer\*\*\* \[\*\*\*Use “PictureRoom” for 10% off Dehancer Film\*\*\*\](https://www.dehancer.com/shop/pslr/film) If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to view my work - I appreciate it. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support my work. Also, please contact me if you would like to purchase any of my prints. !\[\](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w\_1456,c\_limit,f\_auto,q\_auto:good,fl\_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6ad5a3e-cb60-4246-9bb3-9f8849d3591e\_4000x3551.jpeg) \[Dehancer Film (promo code "PICTUREOOM")\](https://www.dehancer.com/shop/pslr/film) \*If you've found value in this newsletter, I'd be incredibly grateful for your support. While these posts will always be freely available, becoming a paid subscriber helps ensure I can continue delivering quality content to your inbox. Share this newsletter with friends, leaving a comment, or simply hitting the 'like' button all make a difference.\* Thank you - Colin

@ 32e18276:5c68e245

This period of the Damus OpenSats grant has been productive, and encompasses the work past our alpha release of Notedeck. Since we sent our last report on Dec 5, this encompasses all the work after then. Damus is supported by the OpenSats LTS grant, which allows us to continue working on the goodies below. Thank you! ## Damus Notedeck ### Added - Initial algo timelines (William Casarin) [#712](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/712) - Initial support for local-network P2P nostr: multicast support (William Casarin) [#626](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/626) - First steps toward the notedeck browser: multiple app support [#565](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/565) - Clicking a mention now opens profile page (William Casarin) [5a241d730](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/commit/5a241d730e3d83f8057e211485edfde2f3c96e54) - Note previews when hovering reply descriptions (William Casarin) [#591](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/591) - Various Android updates and compatibility improvements (Ken Sedgwick, William Casarin) - Media uploads (kernelkind) [#662](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/662) - Profile editing (kernelkind) [#625](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/625) - Add hashtags to posts (Daniel Saxton) [#592](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/592) - Enhanced command-line interface for user interactions (Ken Sedgwick) - Debug features for user relay-list and mute list synchronization (Ken Sedgwick) ### Changed - Major timeline cache refactor (William Casarin) [#653](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/653) - Increased ping intervals for network performance (William Casarin) - Migrated to egui v0.29.1 (William Casarin) [#551](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/551) - Switch to only notes & replies on some tabs (William Casarin) [#598](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck/pull/598) - Only show column delete button when not navigating (William Casarin) - Pointer interactions enhancements in UI (William Casarin) - Show profile pictures in column headers (William Casarin) - Show usernames in user columns (William Casarin) - Add confirmation when deleting columns (kernelkind) - Enhance Android build and performance (Ken Sedgwick) - Image cache handling using sha256 hash (kieran) - Introduction of decks_cache and improvements (kernelkind) - Nostrdb update for async support (Ken Sedgwick) - Persistent theme setup across sessions (kernelkind) - Tombstone muted notes (Ken) ### Fixed - Fix GIT_COMMIT_HASH compilation issue (William Casarin) - Fix avatar alignment in profile previews (William Casarin) - Fix broken quote repost hitbox (William Casarin) - Fix crash when navigating in debug mode (William Casarin) - Fix long delays when reconnecting (William Casarin) - Fix repost button size (William Casarin) - Fixed since kind filters (kernelkind) - Clippy warnings resolved (Dimitris Apostolou) ## Damus iOS Work continued on the iOS side. While I was not directly involved in the work since the last report, I have been directing and managing its development. ### Added - Render Gif and video files while composing posts (Swift Coder) - Purple members who have been active for more than a year now get a special badge (Daniel D’Aquino) - Add profile info text in stretchable banner with follow button (Swift Coder) - Paste Gif image similar to jpeg and png files (Swift Coder) ### Changed - Improved clarity of the mute button to indicate it can be used for blocking a user (Daniel D’Aquino) - Made the microphone access request message more clear to users (Daniel D’Aquino) - Improved UX around the label for searching words (Daniel D’Aquino) - Improved accessibility support on some elements (Daniel D’Aquino) ### Fixed - Fixed issue where the "next" button would appear hidden and hard to click on the create account view (Daniel D’Aquino) - Fix non scrollable wallet screen (Swift Coder) - Fixed suggested users category titles to be localizable (Terry Yiu) - Fixed GradientFollowButton to have consistent width and autoscale text limited to 1 line (Terry Yiu) - Fixed right-to-left localization issues (Terry Yiu) - Fixed AddMuteItemView to trim leading and trailing whitespaces from mute text and disallow adding text with only whitespaces (Terry Yiu) - Fixed SideMenuView text to autoscale and limit to 1 line (Terry Yiu) - Fixed an issue where a profile would need to be input twice in the search to be found (Daniel D’Aquino) - Fixed non-breaking spaces in localized strings (Terry Yiu) - Fixed localization issue on Add mute item button (Terry Yiu) - Replace non-breaking spaces with regular spaces as Apple's NSLocalizedString macro does not seem to work with it (Terry Yiu) - Fixed localization issues in RelayConfigView (Terry Yiu) - Fix duplicate uploads (Swift Coder) - Remove duplicate pubkey from Follow Suggestion list (Swift Coder) - Fix Page control indicator (Swift Coder) - Fix damus sharing issues (Swift Coder) - Fixed issue where banner edit button is unclickable (Daniel D’Aquino) - Handle empty notification pages by displaying suitable text (Swift Coder) ## Nostrdb nostrdb, the engine that powers [notecrumbs](https://github.com/damus-io/notecrumbs), damus iOS, and notedeck, continued to improve: ### Added - Added nip50 fulltext searching (William Casarin) [#68](https://github.com/damus-io/nostrdb/pull/68), [demo](nostr:nevent1qqsp3rx83t5h0vdhu4txru76uycfnaegfj3wg6wncamkarcnrccssvcpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfdupzqvhpsfmr23gwhv795lgjc8uw0v44z3pe4sg2vlh08k0an3wx3cj9efqkkv) - Added async migrations (William Casarin) [#59](https://github.com/damus-io/nostrdb/pull/59) - Implement author queries (William Casarin) [#57](https://github.com/damus-io/nostrdb/pull/57) - Make `ndb` threadsafe (William Casarin) [#56](https://github.com/damus-io/nostrdb/pull/56) ## Nostrdb Rust Our nostrdb rust bindings also had improvements - Async! Adding efficient, poll-based stream support (William Casarin): [#25](https://github.com/damus-io/nostrdb-rs/pull/25) ## Notecrumbs Notecrumbs, the njump-style opengraph server that powers the damus.io links, got an update that upgraded it to async nostrdb - Switch to async nostrdb-rs (William Casarin) [#16](https://github.com/damus-io/notecrumbs/pull/16) ## How money was used - relay.damus.io server costs - Living expenses ## Next quarter Our goal for next update: zaps, android version, lists, outbox model for notedeck. Olas images in damus iOS, continue switching Damus iOS over to local relay model so we can add outbox support.

@ fdb8c828:84c16368

 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/579738

@ 89ccea93:df4e00b7

**[Original Post](https://expatriotic.me/ashigaru/)** # What is Ashigaru? > A self custodial, open source and secure Bitcoin wallet that is private by design. The **Ashigaru Open Source Project** was established in the months after the United States Department of Justice [brought charges](https://archive.is/g7q8r) against the founders of the self custodial Bitcoin application, Samourai Wallet. At the time of arrest, multiple servers that hosted documentation, code repositories and message coordination services were either [seized](https://archive.is/0nC3t) or failed to remain online, presumably due to being no longer administered. With the indicted individuals placed under restrictive conditions on bail, it became clear that all software development had ceased. ## Aims and Goals We believe anyone should be able to engage in peaceful, voluntary and private commerce on the internet without tracking, surveillance or censorship. The Ashigaru Open Source Project develops, releases and maintains free and open source software that makes extensive use of both published code from active projects as well as those archived in the public domain. Open, unrestricted communication networks are utilized to ensure continued availability. The software released by the project will always have a low barrier to entry, be non discriminatory, never expose users to counterparty risk and provide as much protection as possible for those transacting on a public blockchain. ## What’s in a name? As former users of Samourai Wallet, yet having no association or relationship with the core team, “Ashigaru” was chosen to represent individuals of humble origin whom, borne out of necessity, would equip themselves with their own tools and rise to the occasion during a period of great change. **Here is the [ONLY podcast episode](https://episodes.fm/1491067458/episode/YTRjNGNlNTAtYjEwMS00YWQ0LTg0MjUtZWQwMmQxYjU0N2Ex) with the developers of this wallet.**  **Here are a list of features directly from their website:** 1. **Onion Routing:** Connect to your Dojo node and broadcast over the Tor network 2. **Ricochet:** Add distance to the origins of your transactions to mitigate surveillance 3. **Encrypted Key Recovery:** Standards based mnemonic secured with a passphrase that can be imported to other wallets 4. **Post Mix Spending:** Import your Samourai Wallet private keys and maintain your segregated accounts 5. **Batch Spending:** Save on fees by composing a single transaction to multiple recipients 6. **Stealth Mode:** Obscure the wallet from physical searches with a functional decoy application in the launcher 7. **Peer to Peer Coinjoins:** Undermine heuristics used by blockchain observers through collaboration with other users 8. **Coin Control:** Select, label, freeze and unfreeze unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs) in your wallet 9. **Smart Mining Fees:** An advanced algorithm for determining a rate from unconfirmed transactions in the mempool 10. **Free and Open Source:** Ashigaru is released under the FOSS license [GNU General Public License Version 3](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html) ___ # FREESAMOURAI Maybe you've been living in a hole, but the developers of the Samourai Wallet were indicted and picked up by the US government (*even the one in Portugal, because, shocker, the US DoJ can get you almost anywhere in the world except Cuba, North Korea, Russia and China. But I digress*). ```Their crime? Helping users of the base layer Bitcoin protocol achieve forward spending privacy by crafting pristine zero-link UTXOs. The unspent capacity of which was over 10,000 bitcoins, or twice the capacity of the Lightning Network which continues to hover around, and often under, 5,000 bitcoins.``` **#FREESAMOURAI**\ Listen to these podcast episodes for more information. 1. [Prescient warnings](https://episodes.fm/1491067458/episode/ODc0MDIyNzMtNTgxNy00NDAwLTg0MGMtY2JkZmVmNjU4YTg0) just before the indictment from **Diverter**. 2. [Update](https://episodes.fm/1491067458/episode/ZWRhN2EzN2MtYTk5ZC00ODY2LTg5NjctZGE3MWY2YzUzZmM4) when it became known what had happened. 3. [Follow up](https://episodes.fm/1491067458/episode/NDk2ZDJmMzUtMmI2MS00ODljLWIwYmUtODBkZTI2YmUxNDhm) with **Diverter** and **Zelko** after the fact 4. [Reassessing your privacy plan](https://episodes.fm/1491067458/episode/YTA2NDQwNDAtNTMzMy00ODRiLTlkZDUtN2ExZDU5NWY1ZmE0) with **Urban Hacker** in a world without a zero-link coinjoin implementation (Whirlpool). ## Why run Ashigaru compared to Samourai Wallet? One might ask the logical question, why run Ashigaru, my Samourai Wallet is still working!?\ To which, Max Tannahill, a community member, has given the following list to answer. 1. Cheaper BIP47 connections 2. Soroban coinjoins ([Tor link](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/news/operational-online-chaoots/) about this) 3. Better BIP47 recovery 4. No risk of DNS hijacking for the PayNym server as its over Tor 5. Ability to switch Dojos more easily 6. Spending warnings that Samourai never got to deploy to production 7. Next block fee estimation 8. UI improvements on Samourai 9. Removal of broken links to whirlpool, the old Soroban server and the old Iceland Dojo 10. No clearnet connections at all ___ # How-to Guide for Ashigaru ## Download the APK 1. *Prerequisite:* [Tor Browser](https://www.torproject.org/download/#android) is a requirement. 2. Open the **Tor Browser** and paste in this 🧅 [link](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/). 3. Recommended to use a phone with **Android 8+** that still receives security updates. 4. Recommended to use a **GrapheneOS** phone (Pixel only). _Non-Pixel owners can use **Lineage OS** which is a less secure, but viable, option. Or just use stock android if you have no idea how to change the operating system on your phone or don't want to do so._ 5. Carry out software verification. A PGP signed message is below the APK. The Keybase Verify [tool](https://keybase.io/verify) can be used to do the verification. 6. *This is what it looks like on Keybase when completed. ⤵*  ## Install the Ashigaru mobile application 1. From within your device's files, tap on the Ashigaru APK file 2. Tap "**Install**"\  3. When complete tap "**Done**", or tap "**Open**" to launch the mobile application\  4. The Ashigaru mobile application has now been installed on your Android device. You will now see the Ashigaru app icon in your list of installed apps. ## Setting up Ashigaru 1. You need to connect to your own self-hosted Dojo (this is a specific type of Bitcoin node). Ashigaru doesn't run a node for you to point your wallet to, you'll need to do this yourself. * DIY options include: * [Ministry of Nodes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_It4xEIwRA) * [BTC Sessions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULZoPMCYPfk) * Community nodes at [Dojo Bay](https://dojobay.pw/) (*Obviously a privacy trade-off if you outsource your node to a 3rd party.*) 2. You need a pen and paper for writing down your 12 word Mnemonic seed phrase. 3. Make a strong [passphrase](https://cryptography.fandom.com/wiki/Passphrase) (4-6 memorable but random [words](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/07/new-wordlists-random-passphrases)) and put it separately from the offline seed phrase backup, e.g., in your password manager (*KeePass or Bitwarden are good options*). 4. Claim your PayNym with it's associated Pepehash avatar.  > PayNym Support: Migrate seamlessly to a new directory that uses a Pepehash avatar scheme for representing BIP47 reusable payment codes. ## Using Ashigaru 1. When sending, if possible, and just as in [Sparrow Desktop Wallet](https://sparrowwallet.com), a fake coinjoin is created by using two of your UTXOs as inputs to obscure what is occuring onchain. Onlookers will see what appears to be two parties collaborating to spend together. This adds a bit of extra miner fee cost, but this is the cost of extra privacy. You can opt out of this privacy enhancement.\  2. If you want to send or receive privately and with a static address, **BIP47 PayNyms**, will accomplish this. As long as both parties have a wallet that supports this standard. **Samourai Wallet**, **Stack Duo**, and **Sparrow** are the others that I know of at this time. Simply put in their **PayNym**, e.g., mine is **+mereegg59**, or scan their QR containing the data for the **PayNym** and connect with them. This will involve sending a small transaction onchain. But once one of you does, both parties can send back and forth privately without ever needing to request a fresh address. 3. There is an option when spending to use **ricochet**. This will add hops to help obscure the history of your **UTXO** for anyone who is using passive software to check X hops in the past for some connection to a **sanctioned** address. Good for spending **UTXOs** that you don't know the prior history of. Although personally I think **taint** is merely a mindset, some entities will not receive **UTXOs** that have either been coinjoined or are too close to a **sanctioned** address. 4. There is an option in the tools menu for doing a collaborative spend, known as **Soroban Coinjoin**. 5. Unfortunately Whirlpool is not yet a feature of this wallet.  ___ - **Here is the Tor [link](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/donate/) where you can donate to them** - **Here is the Tor [link](http://ashicodepbnpvslzsl2bz7l2pwrjvajgumgac423pp3y2deprbnzz7id.onion/Ashigaru) for their code base** - **Here is the Tor [link](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/docs/) for their documentation** - **Here is the Tor [link](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/docs/mobile-wallet-updating-application/) for updating the Ashigaru app** - **Here is the Tor [link](http://ashigaruprvm4u263aoj6wxnipc4jrhb2avjll4nnk255jkdmj2obqqd.onion/contact/) for their contact info. _Keep in mind this requires a different PGP key than the one used to verify the APK (unless you use protonmail and then PGP isn't required)._** originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/879803

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

***Tree branches. 4'8" circle. [Chongming Island, China. 2021]*** --- #### Introduction Tucked into a quiet forest park on Chongming Island, Chongming frames a view of a canal and a small alluvial landform that mirrors the island itself. This lens reflects the constant interplay of land and water, inviting viewers to contemplate the delicate balance of nature and the forces that shape it. #### Site & Placement The lens is hidden along a forest path, directing attention to the canal’s subtle currents and the land it divides. The bench, situated 12 feet from the lens, encourages visitors to pause and immerse themselves in the tranquil rhythm of the scene. #### Impermanence & Integration As an alluvial island shaped by shifting waters, Chongming is a fitting location for this ephemeral lens. Constructed from branches, the lens will eventually return to the land, echoing the natural processes that formed the island and continue to shape it. #### Reflection *Chongming* offers a meditative space to reflect on the impermanence of land and the forces that transform it. The work’s fleeting existence underscores the beauty of change, inviting viewers to appreciate the subtle, ongoing dance of nature. --- ## Photos         --- #### More from the 'Earth Lens' Series: [Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) ["Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1736304563962/) ["Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1737844073125/) ["Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) ["Platte" (Earth Lens 004)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/sya8nv6q8k0w3olqcepwz) ["Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)](https://hes.npub.pro/) --- #### More from Hes [Portfolio](https://hesart.npub.pro) [Online Store](https://plebeian.market/community/hes@nostrplebs.com/hesmart-ym3fcufdfz) [Artist Statements](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) [Money](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/money) [Tech](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/tech) --- *All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Benjamin Anderson is a dear friend, scientist, entrepreneur, and a brilliant human being. We discuss his endeavors developing property north of the infamous "Delmar Divide," the work he is doing in longevity solving for aging through a process called, "Cell reprogramming," and our general view on important things to pay attention to in the world. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:47 - How did Jack and Benjamin's friendship start? 5:34 - How do you decide you want someone in your life forever? 11:28 - What is Benjamin's sanctuary that he retreats to? 14:08 - Agency and free-will as a means of purpose 16:47 - What are you doing to make an impact on the world? 20:49 - Why is Benjamin developing in Fountain Park? 29:27 - Is it dangerous to live north of Delmar? 35:15 - What does Benjamin admire most about his father? 40:04 - You can learn a lot about yourself raising children 44:08 - What do you do if you don't desire power or money? 49:37 - My thought process around voting 51:52 - What has challenged Benjamin's integrity? 57:39 - Most of academia is B.S. 1:02:43 - Can you develop taste? 1:11:21 - What is the purpose of Benjamin's research? 1:18:20 - Working on aging is comparable to Christianity 1:26:41 - What should young people be paying attention to? Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/f6985266)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

You show up and talk, we handle the rest of your podcast - https://calendly.com/noblelore/podcast-discovery-call Rob Long is a data engineer with experience at Monsanto and a deep understanding of how data shapes our world. In this episode, Jack and Rob dive into the hidden mechanics behind digital surveillance, financial control, and the fight for privacy. They discuss how Bitcoin can be a tool for financial freedom, the challenges of opting out of data collection, and why decentralized social media could change the internet as we know it. Rob also shares his unique approach to retaining knowledge, his thoughts on sovereignty, and why curating a bookshelf can be a game-changer for personal growth. 0:00 - Intro 0:22 - What is NobleLore? 0:55 - What is a data engineer? 1:45 - How has being a data engineer shaped Rob's perspective? 2:39 - How data collection shapes our world 5:52 - The problem with fiat currency 7:18 - The utility of Bitcoin 14:38 - How does Rob use Bitcoin? 16:19 - The difference between Nostr and other social media platforms 25:28 - Podcasting on Nostr 31:34 - What stage of development is social media currently in? 37:28 - What is sovereignty, and why does it matter? 41:32 - Does Rob consider himself a free thinker? 42:19 - Rob’s curated bookshelf and the power of re-reading 49:25 - What is the most important thing that young people should be paying attention to? [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/448f139d)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Evan is a longtime friend of Jack and a paramedic fireman with multiple family members in the fire department. In this episode, Jack and Evan discuss the beginning of their friendship, Evan's upbringing and what role that played in the man he is today, Evan's experience as a paramedic, Evan's family members' experience in the fire department, and Evan's interest in mixed martial arts. 0:00 - Intro 1:31 - Why Evan loves MMA and the UFC 4:31 - How Jack and Evan became friends 6:38 - How friendships change over time  9:51 - Who Evan is now as opposed to who he was a couple years ago 12:08 - Rank structure in fire departments 13:10 - His dad let him fuck up (school of hard knocks) 22:16 - Two people had sex on top of a newborn 24:20 - “I'm a paramedic, I'm the highest level of care, if I fuck up I lose my license and someone dies.” 28:22 - “Grey's anatomy is not real.” 29:39 - Weed and alcohol 36:11 - What made Evan become a paramedic 43:07 - What Evan has going on in life now Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! -  https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/a32d61a7)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Jack Ryan is a lifelong friend,  golden gloves boxer, stand-up comedian, personal trainer, and life of the party wherever he goes. However on this episode, he shows a side of himself that I have known for years, but may come as a shock to many who only know him on a surface level. Jack is one of the most self aware and reflective human beings I have ever met, and that is on full display throughout our conversation. We talk about: \- His diagnosis with diabetes at 8 years old \- What makes a real friend? \- Who is Jack behind the curtains? \- How were we raised by our parents? Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! - @Jack.Millikan Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 4:17 - The friend that makes sacrifices for you 7:14 - How was Jack raised? 11:21 - Bringing to light our insecurities 15:50 - Getting diagnoses with diabetes 25:53 - What did boxing teach Jack? 36:14 - How do you know your own beliefs? 40:54 - Having vulnerable conversations 49:11 - What was missed at Jack's low points? [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/d00ec2e9)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Need help with your podcast? Book a call - https://calendar.app.google/tL4vhsdwNoGmaKzg6 Have a great idea for a podcast but don’t know where to start? Do you run a business and want to give people a deeper insight into who you are and what you do? Let us take the stress out of the process! We specialize in recording, editing, and uploading podcasts. All you have to do is show up and talk, we take care of the rest. ✅ No Equipment Needed ✅ Expert Production Quality ✅ Hassle-Free Distribution From concept to final upload, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a seasoned host or starting fresh, our team ensures your voice reaches the world clearly and professionally. 0:00 - Intro (Early life) 2:13 - Developing self-awareness 3:44 - College and past jobs 5:56 - My first podcast 7:14 - How I started the business 9:06 - Growing the business 10:59 - Building a community 12:59 - Why podcasts are important 13:39 - What does NobleLore do? [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/4fb14f21)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Beginning at only 9 years old, Zach Babcock spent much of his childhood in juvenile detention centers, rehabs, psych wards, and boys homes. He later spent 5 years in prison as a young adult. Since his release, Zach has become a husband, a father, and a successful entrepreneur dedicated to helping other men heal unresolved trauma, become better leaders, and grow their own businesses. 0:00 - Intro 1:38 - How Zach's story began 5:52 - Discussing his father's death 8:20 - Going to rehab and a psych ward as a child 10:15 - Processing his childhood trauma as an adult 14:56 - Does anyone really have life figured out? 19:42 - Discussing his prison sentence 27:18 - Finding out his sister died during his sentence 32:29 - How Zach reacted to his mom dating after his father died 33:40 - What Zach admired about his father 35:41 - Culture shock and readjusting after being released from prison 39:36 - Someone fractured Zach's son's skull while he was in prison 43:53 - How MDMA therapy helped Zach process his experienced trauma 50:15 - Difficulties facing his darkness 56:56 - What is a real man? 1:02:23 - Zach talks about his tattoos 1:03:24 - Building his brand: Alpha Underdog Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/76310079)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Martin Stelzer is a real estate investor, childhood friend of Jack's, and fellow member of the men's group "Parium." In this episode, Jack and Martin discuss becoming a real estate investor, house hacking, becoming involved in new business ventures, preparing for the unexpected, the benefit of fraternities, sobriety, and what the men's group "Parium" means to them. 0:00 - Intro 3:03 - Aspirations in real estate 5:20 - House hacking 6:37 - Preparing for the unexpected 10:05 - Residential vs commercial real estate investing 20:59 - Taking out loans to invest in property 25:27 - What happens after you get a loan 34:41 - How much should you charge for rent? 40:26 - Buying his first property during covid 49:42 - Martin and Jack's friendship growing up 55:09 - Forming bonds with people 57:07 - The rituals of fraternities 58:28 - How a lawyer helped their fraternity 1:00:52 - Religion and traditional living 1:07:00 - Developing confidence in college 1:09:20 - Drinking and sobriety 1:16:42 - What is Parium? Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! -  https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/0b7357a1)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

You show up and talk, we take care of the rest of your podcast - https://calendly.com/noblelore/podcast-discovery-call Try Mighty Kind Cannabis Seltzer - https://bemightykind.com/ Josh Grigaitis is the founder of Mighty Kind Cannabis Seltzer and part of the family that owns Pop's Blue Moon in St. Louis, MO. In this episode, Jack and Josh discuss why Josh created Mighty Kind, Josh's experience when he stopped drinking alcohol, the growth of the craft non-alcoholic drink industry, the benefits of drinking plant-based functional beverages, the hemp industry's difficulties dealing with the government and the marijuana industry, Josh's business approach, and Josh's passion for design 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - What is NobleLore? 1:06 - Why Josh created Mighty Kind 7:16 - Finding community without alcohol 9:07 - When and why did non-alcoholic craft drinks start becoming popular? 14:27 - Why "functional beverages" are going to continue growing in popularity 16:55 - How to figure out how these drinks will affect you 19:58 - Removing the stigma around being sober 21:19 - Is social media making our culture better or worse? 25:35 - Governor tried to ban intoxicating hemp products 29:44 - Marijuana industry lobbying against the hemp industry 35:02 - Where can I get Mighty Kind seltzers? 36:19 - The legal difference between hemp products and marijuana products 43:53 - How Josh approaches business 46:45 - Josh's passion for design 50:48 - How understanding psychology can help you run a business 52:09 - Why the Mighty Kind family is so passionate about what they do 53:28 - What is something important for young people to be paying attention to? [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/b6375b72)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Need help with your podcast? Book a call - https://calendar.app.google/tL4vhsdwNoGmaKzg6 Ashley is an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In this episode, Jack and Ashley discuss modern dating, unhealthy attention seeking, how to avoid toxic relationships, Ashley's personal experience in an abusive relationship, and Ashley's relationship with Christianity. 0:00 - Intro 0:35 - What is NobleLore? 1:00 - What is important to Ashley? 4:46 - Why is modern dating culture scary? 6:08 - Ashley's experience with bad relationships 8:04 - Ashley's first abusive relationship at age 16 10:27 - How should and how shouldn't young girls be seeking attention? 12:50 - Is the feminist movement empowering women in a healthy way? 14:58 - Do people want toxic relationships? 16:45 - People being toxic online 21:20 - Why are men more violent than women? 25:04 - How can women avoid abusive relationships? 32:14 - Ashley's relationship with Christianity 35:06 - Why Ashley enjoys being single right now 44:04 - How should men learn to communicate within a relationship? 53:34 - How to define manhood 58:27 - What should young people be paying attention to? [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/24eb4ff0)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Izayah Hudnut is one of my closest friends, an entrepreneur, and the swaggiest tech nerd you've ever seen. We discuss how he is getting his private pilot's license, what makes St. Louis great and what can make it even better, and the trials and tribulations we are going through in running our own businesses.  Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 4:09 - What did football teach you? 5:59 - What hangar are we recording in? 8:32 - How do you pursue courage? 11:37 - How did Izayah start his business? 23:22 - Izayah's family background 25:13 - What is Parium? 29:19 - The biggest problem with St. Louis is the marketing 32:23 - People come to St. Louis to see what they can give 35:05 - How do you choose your friends? 37:53 - Is it harder to date now? 41:52 - Are online communities sufficient 46:18 - What more can we do for St. Louis? 53:00 - Thoughts on religion 58:55 - How people mess up business 1:01:51 - What are you doing to find the right person 1:07:11 - Izayah is getting his Pilot's license 1:16:27 - What is the most important thing young people should be paying attention to? Want to automate your business for peak efficiency?: https://www.dor15.com/  Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/f72c7ac8)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Vance Crowe is the former Director of Millennial Engagement at Monsanto. He currently is the founder and owner of "Legacy Interviews", a service that captures individuals' life stories to pass down to their future generations and gives him a glimpse into the evolution of culture that few have the opportunity to observe. 0:00 - Intro 2:51 - Who is Vance Crowe? 6:55 - Describing your internal dialogue 11:20 - What does the "Garden of Eden" mean? 13:08 - How do you prepare your children for evil? 20:38 - How Vance's relationship with his wife started 24:30  -What accelerated Islam? 26:30 - What is so valuable about stories? 29:11 - How to get good at telling stories 36:15 - What was the controversy with Monsanto? 41:56 - Round-up isn't as bad as people think? 49:09 - Mobs are the most dangerous force to exist 53:01 - Why do people misunderstand Monsanto? 57:32 - Thoughts on RFK 1:03:15 - Bitcoin is the most important technology in our lifetime 1:11:18 - Your attention is more valuable than your time 1:15:18 - Why are companies using DEI? 1:32:00 - What should young people know? Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/e25c9ab8)

@ b15b7f67:e62b3290

Shaun Newman is a friend, fellow podcaster, and a client of NobleLore. He releases 5 episodes of his podcast each week interviewing some of the most influential, controversial, and knowledgeable people in the world. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:04 - Teetotalism 8:25 - How do you receive signal from God? 19:38 - The Ottawa Trucker Protest 36:23 - Was the Ottowa Trucker Protest successful? 44:19 - Canada's main source of news is funded by the government 1:06:52 - What should young people be paying attention to? 1:11:20 - What makes a good marriage? 1:21:34 - Ideals within a relationship Want help with your podcast? DM me on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/jack.millikan/ [link to the original content](https://share.transistor.fm/s/bf0a879b)

@ f57bac88:6045161e

### ریشه‌های تاریخی جشن کژین جشن کژین که در برخی منابع به نام «بادروز» نیز شناخته می‌شود، ریشه در اسطوره‌های کهن ایران دارد. در اوستا، باد با نام «واتَه» معرفی شده است و ایزد نگهبان آن، «وات» یا «واد» یکی از ایزدان مهم در کیش زرتشتی به شمار می‌رود. این ایزد در باورهای ایرانیان باستان، تجسم نیروی پاک و الهی باد بوده و مسئول جابه‌جایی ابرها، بارش باران و حفاظت از زمین در برابر آلودگی‌ها محسوب می‌شده است. بر اساس تقویم کهن ایران، این جشن در روز بیست‌ودوم بهمن‌ماه، که مصادف با روز باد در تقویم زرتشتی است، برگزار می‌شد. برخی پژوهشگران معتقدند که جشن کژین در دوره‌های مختلف تاریخی، تحت تأثیر تغییرات فرهنگی و اجتماعی دچار دگرگونی شده و نام‌ها و شیوه‌های مختلفی به خود گرفته است. ### فلسفه و نمادشناسی جشن کژین باد، به عنوان یکی از چهار عنصر اصلی (آب، باد، خاک و آتش) در باورهای کهن ایرانی، جایگاه ویژه‌ای داشته است. ایرانیان باستان باد را نیرویی زنده و الهی می‌دانستند که حیات را در طبیعت جاری می‌سازد. در بسیاری از متون دینی و اساطیری، باد به عنوان پیام‌رسان ایزدان و نیرویی که قدرت پاک‌کنندگی دارد، توصیف شده است. جشن کژین، علاوه بر تقدیس باد، نماد تحول، تغییر و تجدید حیات نیز بوده است. این جشن نشانگر گذر از یک مرحله به مرحله‌ای دیگر در چرخه طبیعت است و ارتباطی عمیق با دیگر جشن‌های ایرانی مانند جشن سده و نوروز دارد. ### آیین‌ها و رسوم جشن کژین برگزاری جشن کژین با آیین‌های خاصی همراه بوده است که برخی از آن‌ها هنوز در فرهنگ عامه ایرانیان قابل مشاهده‌اند: 1. **رها کردن نوارهای رنگین در باد**: یکی از رسوم این جشن، آویختن نوارهایی از نخ هفت‌رنگ به شاخه‌های درختان یا رها کردن آن‌ها در باد بوده است. این عمل نماد رهایی، تحول و ارتباط با نیروی الهی باد محسوب می‌شده است. 2. **افروختن آتش**: مانند بسیاری از جشن‌های ایرانی، روشن کردن آتش یکی از بخش‌های اصلی جشن کژین بوده است. این آتش معمولاً در فضای باز و بر فراز تپه‌ها و کوه‌ها برافروخته می‌شد تا حرمت باد و آتش، دو عنصر اصلی طبیعت، گرامی داشته شود. 3. **برپایی بازارهای محلی و جشن‌های خیابانی**: در برخی مناطق، جشن کژین با بازارهای محلی همراه بوده که در آن مردم به خرید و فروش کالاهای سنتی، موسیقی و پایکوبی می‌پرداختند. این بازارها اغلب در میادین شهرها و روستاها برگزار می‌شد و نوعی جشن اجتماعی به شمار می‌رفت. 4. **دعای شکرگزاری برای بادهای سودمند**: در فرهنگ کشاورزی ایران، باد نقش مهمی در گرده‌افشانی گیاهان و بارش باران داشته است. ازاین‌رو، کشاورزان و مردم روستاها در این روز دعاهایی برای بادهای مفید و پرهیز از بادهای مضر می‌خواندند. ### ارتباط جشن کژین با دیگر جشن‌های ایرانی جشن کژین با برخی دیگر از آیین‌های کهن ایرانی ارتباط نزدیکی دارد. به عنوان مثال، جشن سده که در میانه زمستان برگزار می‌شود، یکی از جشن‌هایی است که در آن نیز باد و آتش نقش مهمی دارند. از سوی دیگر، جشن نوروز که سرآغاز فصل بهار است، نشانگر تحول و دگرگونی طبیعت است که ارتباطی مفهومی با جشن کژین دارد. ### جایگاه جشن کژین در دوران معاصر امروزه، جشن کژین در میان بسیاری از ایرانیان ناشناخته باقی مانده است و تنها برخی از پژوهشگران و علاقه‌مندان به فرهنگ ایران باستان به احیای آن علاقه نشان می‌دهند. با این حال، عناصر این جشن در برخی آیین‌های محلی و جشن‌های مردمی همچنان باقی مانده است. تلاش برای بازشناسی و احیای این جشن می‌تواند به غنای فرهنگی و هویت ملی ایرانیان کمک کند. ### نتیجه‌گیری جشن کژین یکی از آیین‌های فراموش‌شده اما ارزشمند ایران باستان است که در ستایش باد و نقش آن در طبیعت و زندگی انسان‌ها برگزار می‌شده است. این جشن، علاوه بر نمادگرایی مرتبط با عناصر چهارگانه، پیوندی عمیق با باورهای اسطوره‌ای و اجتماعی ایرانیان داشته است. احیای این جشن و آشنایی بیشتر با آن، می‌تواند به فهم بهتر تاریخ فرهنگی ایران و تقویت حس هویت ملی کمک کند.

@ 1c69692c:f89196c0

Cool article Testing yakihonne.com

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

 So to my understanding Devs of Asahi Linux want some features for Rust support in kernel. Linux kernel maintainers are unwilling for the patch. The Ashai team made a social media campaign out of it. Now Linus is saying the social media brigade alone makes him not want anything to do with the Rust patch. We clearly have left the topic and are now in the realm of politics on this one. What do you guys think? originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/879713

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

PS C:\Users\Alashazam> cortex run tinyllama In order to exit, type `exit()` > give me a little sentence of 10 words "Certainly, here's a little sentence of 10 words that exemplifies the power of words: 'The beauty of life is that it has the power to change us, even in the smallest ways.'" > now use SQL to insert this sentence into a table that has 2 fields Id, and sentence Here's an SQL query to insert the sentence you gave into the `sentence` table: ``` INSERT INTO sentence (id, sentence) VALUES (1, 'The beauty of life is that it has the power to change us, even in the smallest ways.'); ``` This query will create a new row in the `sentence` table with the given `id` and `sentence`, and will also update the `sentence` table's `sentence` column to contain the new sentence. > please generate the table creation for sqlite Here's a table creation statement for a `sentence` table in SQLite: ``` CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sentence ( id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, sentence TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL ); ``` This will create a table called `sentence` with the following columns: - `id`: An integer primary key column used to uniquely identify each row. - `sentence`: A text column containing the actual sentence. This table will store the sentence you provided in your text input. > exit()

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

We'll have to put an asterisk on today's number. I had a bite of my daughter's leftovers that didn't seem worth storing for later. By my understanding, that shouldn't be enough to mess with fasting metabolism and it doesn't feel like it did. @realBitcoinDog wants me to get to 20 hours on one of these. I'm at 17 already (just took a sip of coffee), but I'm starting to get hungry, so today might not be the day. We'll see, though. The wife isn't making any indications that she's going to cook anything anytime soon, so my natural laziness might get me over the finish line. ## Score Card Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry) Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry) Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry) Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry) Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry) Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry) Day 8: TBD (17 dry) edit: I just got handed some bread crusts that no one else is going to eat, so the fast is going to end pretty soon. originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/879683

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

1. Downloading the linux package (1.8GB) https://cortex.so/docs/installation 2. Installing Cortex on linux is done via dpkg note: it requires 2 linux packages (openmpi-bin and libopenmpi-dev) `sudo apt-get install openmpi-bin libopenmpi-dev` prior to run `sudo dpkg -i cortex-1.0.9-linux-amd64-local-installer.deb` 3. When running Cortex, `cortex start` a local implementation will be running on http://127.0.0.1:39281 4. Using python it is possible to run queries make sure the model name is correct you can double check the value using: ` cortex ps` Now the python program to run one little query: ``` python import requests url = "http://127.0.0.1:39281/v1/chat/completions" headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json"} payload = { "model": "tinyllama:1b-gguf", "messages": [ { "role": "user", "content": "Write a joke" } ], "stream": False, "max_tokens": 128, "stop": ["End"], "frequency_penalty": 0.2, "presence_penalty": 0.6, "temperature": 0.8, "top_p": 0.95, } response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers) print(response.json()) ```

@ 6b57533f:eaa341f5

## Embedded Inline SVG in Markdown Here is an embedded SVG using a `data:` URI:  Some markdown renderers may not support inline SVGs, but if they do, you should see a red circle above.

@ 16d11430:61640947

Exploring the Erlang Compiler, the BEAM VM, and Esoteric BEAM-Based Languages for the Hipsters Introduction: The Way of the BEAM In the transient world of software, where complexity breeds failure and modern stacks resemble precarious Jenga towers, the BEAM virtual machine stands as a monument to simplicity, resilience, and concurrency. Designed in the crucible of the telecom industry, where systems must not fail even in the face of chaos, BEAM embodies a Zen-like philosophy: Let it crash – Failure is not an exception but an expectation. Share nothing – Every process is isolated, independent, and impervious to corruption. Keep it lightweight – Millions of concurrent processes should feel as effortless as a single-threaded script. Be impermanent – Hot code swapping allows systems to evolve without downtime. This philosophy is not just a runtime model but a way of thinking about software—where simplicity breeds reliability, and complexity is the enemy of uptime. In this article, we explore the inner workings of the BEAM VM, the elegance of the Erlang compiler, and the esoteric languages that run on BEAM—from the industrial-strength Elixir to the hipster-favorite Lisp-Flavored Erlang (LFE), and even the experimental fringes of Gleam and Caramel. --- The Origin of BEAM The BEAM, or Bogdan’s Erlang Abstract Machine, is named after Bogumil "Bogdan" Hausman, one of the Ericsson engineers who worked on Erlang’s virtual machine. It was a successor to an earlier runtime called JAM (Joe’s Abstract Machine), named after Joe Armstrong, Erlang’s legendary co-creator. The name “BEAM” is a fitting metaphor: A beam is a structural element—strong yet flexible, capable of withstanding immense pressure without breaking. A beam of light suggests clarity, focus, and guidance, much like Erlang’s model of pure message passing. Unlike most VMs that chase speed, BEAM chases reliability, scalability, and uptime, sacrificing raw performance for concurrent stability. This is why BEAM doesn’t just execute code—it orchestrates massively distributed, highly fault-tolerant systems. --- The BEAM: A Meditative Machine Unlike mainstream runtimes that prioritize raw execution speed, BEAM is optimized for concurrency, distribution, and reliability. The heart of BEAM is a lightweight process model, where each process: Is completely isolated (no shared state, no global variables). Communicates via immutable message passing. Is cheap to spawn (millions of concurrent processes are normal). Crashes safely, allowing the system to self-heal instead of corrupting state. This actor model is why Erlang and BEAM-based languages power high-availability systems in telecom, finance, and distributed computing. Instead of fighting failure, BEAM embraces it, allowing individual components to crash and restart without breaking the whole—a software equivalent of Buddhist non-attachment. --- How the Erlang Compiler Works BEAM’s compilation process is a multi-stage transformation designed for reliability: 1. Parsing → Erlang source code (.erl files) is parsed into an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST). 2. Core Erlang Representation → The AST is transformed into Core Erlang, a simplified functional intermediate representation (IR). 3. BEAM Assembly → The Core Erlang representation is compiled into BEAM bytecode, optimized for concurrency. 4. BEAM File Generation → The resulting .beam file is loaded and executed by the BEAM VM. This is not a direct machine code compilation model but a functional, register-based system where bytecode execution is tailored for concurrency rather than raw speed. Interpreting BEAM Bytecode: The Zen of Execution BEAM bytecode is executed with several optimizations: Just-In-Time Compilation (JIT) – The recent BEAMJIT speeds up execution dynamically. Tail Call Optimization (TCO) – Enables infinite recursion without stack growth. Hot Code Swapping – Allows live updates without restarting the system. Much like a Zen master who adapts without resistance, BEAM systems are built to evolve at runtime, without fear of breaking. --- Alternative BEAM Languages: The Hipster’s Guide Erlang may have birthed BEAM, but it is not alone. Over the years, several esoteric languages have emerged, each bringing a unique perspective while preserving BEAM’s core principles. 1. Elixir – The Ruby of the BEAM If Erlang is Zen, Elixir is the artisanal pour-over coffee shop where Zen monks code on MacBooks. Created by José Valim, Elixir brings: A Ruby-inspired syntax that’s more approachable than Erlang’s Prolog-like syntax. Metaprogramming via macros, enabling expressive DSLs. The Phoenix Framework, a blazing-fast alternative to Node.js for real-time applications. Example: defmodule Zen do def mantra do IO.puts("Let it crash.") end end For those seeking fault-tolerant, web-scale elegance, Elixir is the hipster-approved choice. --- 2. Lisp-Flavored Erlang (LFE) – S-Expressions on the BEAM LFE is Lisp for the BEAM, a minimalist alternative to Erlang’s syntax. If parentheses are beautiful and recursion is poetry, this is for you. Example: (defun fibonacci (n) (if (<= n 1) 1 (+ (fibonacci (- n 1)) (fibonacci (- n 2))))) For those who revere homoiconicity and metaprogramming, LFE is a temple of functional purity. --- 3. Gleam – ML-Typed Erlang For the Haskell and OCaml nerds, Gleam introduces static typing to the BEAM. Example: fn add(x: Int, y: Int) -> Int { x + y } For those who crave compile-time guarantees, Gleam offers the best of ML with BEAM’s concurrency model. --- 4. Experimental BEAM Languages: The Fringes of Enlightenment For the truly esoteric seekers, BEAM also hosts: Caramel → An OCaml-inspired BEAM language. Alpaca → A statically typed, ML-like functional language. Effekt → A research language exploring effect systems on BEAM. These languages push the boundaries of what’s possible on the BEAM. --- Why BEAM-Based Languages Are the True Hipster Choice 1. Concurrency Without Threads – The BEAM handles millions of processes seamlessly. 2. Fault Tolerance by Design – "Let it crash" ensures self-healing software. 3. Hot Code Swapping – No downtime. Ever. 4. Diverse Ecosystem – Elixir for web devs, LFE for Lisp hackers, Gleam for type nerds. --- Conclusion: The Path to Compiler Enlightenment BEAM is not just a runtime. It is a philosophy of resilience, concurrency, and simplicity. Whether you choose the battle-tested purity of Erlang, the expressiveness of Elixir, the type safety of Gleam, or the Lisp nirvana of LFE, you are embracing a lineage of fault-tolerant functional programming. If you seek true enlightenment, don’t chase JavaScript frameworks. Compile to BEAM instead.

@ 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/879483

@ 1ad9086c:7dd47af4

Today I'm attending an interesting event about new bitcoinsolutions for our society. I tallk with Shaun about the possibilities of Yakihonne about decentralized media. Good initiative for keeping up with all voices.

@ dff95033:862fbf40

Como posso dizer? Essas 25 pautas bienais do Ministério da Fazenda (MF) deveriam ter sido liberadas, no mínimo, em dezembro de 2024. Afinal, são assuntos complexos que exigem tempo para a nação — nós, o povo brasileiro — e o Congresso se debruçarem sobre essas pautas com a devida calma. Algo que, sabemos, é um luxo raro na política brasileira. Mas, mesmo que o MF entregasse essas pautas em dezembro de 2024, já seria um prazo apertado. Agora, liberar as bienais no meio do primeiro trimestre de 2025? Isso só pode ser chamado de uma coisa: pura pilantragem. Não há outro nome. Com um cronograma tão curto, as pautas mal terão tempo para serem escrutinadas e, com certeza, passarão batidas. E o pior: muitas dessas pautas ainda estão em fase de elaboração e discussão. Ou seja, nem sabemos se serão viáveis ou se vão sair conforme o previsto nesse documento. É uma lambança sem tamanho. Se um plano de negócios fosse apresentado assim a um investidor ou a uma instituição de crédito, com 100% de certeza seria ridicularizado e desconsiderado na hora. Não consigo visualizar o Congresso tendo tempo hábil para lidar com algo desse tipo. O documento contém gráficos, mas, como não possuem referências de dados, desconsiderei-as. Afinal, sem os dados, para mim são apenas figurinhas para enfeitar o documento. O documento é simples: uma planilha com 25 ações para serem implementadas no biênio de 2025 a 2026, divididas em três eixos, a saber: ### **1. Estabilidade Macroeconômica: Política Fiscal e Justiça Tributária** O eixo que promete arrumar a bagunça fiscal. ### **2. Melhoria do Ambiente de Negócios** O eixo que promete desburocratizar e modernizar o ambiente de negócios. ### **3. Novo Brasil: Plano de Transformação Ecológica** O eixo que promete implementar pautas Ambientais, Sociais e de Governança (ASG = ESG). Montei uma tabela para simplificar. Espero que seja de boa apreciação: | **Nº** | **Ação** | **Objetivo** | **Andamento** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Fortalecimento do Arcabouço Fiscal | Garantir crescimento sustentável e controle da dívida pública. | Lei Complementar 200/2023 aprovada; medidas em implementação. | | 2 | Reforma Tributária sobre o Consumo | Simplificar impostos e desonerar exportações e investimentos. | EC 132/2023 promulgada; implantação em andamento. | | 3 | Regulamentação da Reforma Tributária | Definir gestão do IBS, imposto seletivo e fundos constitucionais. | PLP 108/2024 em tramitação no Senado. | | 4 | Reforma Tributária sobre a Renda | Isentar IRPF para rendas até R$ 5 mil e tributar os mais ricos. | A ser enviado ao Congresso em 2025. | | 5 | Limitação dos Supersalários | Reduzir desigualdades salariais no setor público. | EC 135/2024 promulgada; projeto de lei a ser enviado em 2025. | | 6 | Reforma da Previdência dos Militares | Reduzir disparidades com o regime civil. | PL 4920/2024 em tramitação. | | 7 | Conformidade Tributária e Aduaneira | Valorizar bons contribuintes e penalizar devedores persistentes. | PL 15/2024 em tramitação. | | 8 | Aprimoramento da Lei de Falências | Melhorar governança do processo falimentar. | PL 3/2024 aprovado na Câmara; aguardando Senado. | | 9 | Proteção a Investidores no Mercado de Capitais | Proteger investidores minoritários. | PL 2925/2023 aguardando relator na Câmara. | | 10 | Consolidação Legal das Infraestruturas Financeiras | Promover eficiência no sistema financeiro. | PL 2926/2023 aprovado na Câmara; aguardando Senado. | | 11 | Resolução Bancária | Aprimorar regimes de liquidação de instituições financeiras. | PLP 281/2019 aguardando apreciação. | | 12 | Mercado de Crédito | Desjudicializar execuções e modernizar operações de crédito. | PL 6204/2019 em tramitação no Senado; Discução e elaboração no Executivo. | | 13 | Regulamentação das Big Techs | Coibir práticas anticoncorrenciais no mercado digital. | Em elaboração pelo Executivo. | | 14 | Modernização do Marco Legal de Preços de Medicamentos | Revisar regras de precificação de medicamentos. | Em análise pela CMED. | | 15 | Pé-de-Meia | Permitir que alunos invistam benefícios do ensino médio. | Em elaboração pelo Executivo. | | 16 | Modernização do Regime de Concessões e PPPs | Aprimorar contratos de serviços públicos e parcerias. | PL 7063/2017 em tramitação na Câmara. | | 17 | Títulos Sustentáveis | Financiar projetos ecológicos com títulos verdes. | Duas emissões realizadas (US$ 4 bilhões). | | 18 | Mercado de Carbono | Criar mercado regulado de carbono no Brasil. | Lei 15.042/2024 sancionada; regulamentação em preparação. | | 19 | Leilões do EcoInvest | Atrair investimentos estrangeiros em projetos sustentáveis. | Primeiro leilão realizado; novos em preparação. | | 20 | Compra Pública com Conteúdo Nacional | Exigir produção local em compras públicas. | Regras de conteúdo local em implementação. | | 21 | Fundo Internacional de Florestas | Criar fundo global para preservação de florestas tropicais. | Em discussão no G20. | | 22 | Taxonomia Sustentável Brasileira | Classificar atividades e projetos sustentáveis. | Em consulta pública; implementação prevista para 2025. | | 23 | Marco Legal da Inteligência Artificial | Promover desenvolvimento responsável da IA. | PL 2338/2023 aprovado no Senado; aguardando Câmara. | | 24 | Plano Safra e Renovagro | Aprimorar crédito para práticas agrícolas sustentáveis. | Resoluções CMN já expedidas. | | 25 | Plataforma de Investimentos Sustentáveis (BIP) | Conectar projetos sustentáveis com financiadores. | Projetos cadastrados totalizam US$ 10 bilhões. | ## A onde chegamos Acompanhar, destrinchar e analisar cada uma das 25 pautas em tempo hábil é uma tarefa hercúlea – e, sinceramente, quase impossível para uma pessoa só. Afinal, quando se trata de política e economia, tudo muda rápido demais. Provavelmente, quando eu terminar de escrever este artigo, metade das propostas já terá sido alterada, adiada ou esquecida em alguma gaveta. Mas, como o objetivo aqui é compartilhar conhecimento e reflexões, decidi registrar minhas impressões e notas até onde pude chegar nessas poucas horas de análise. Se você, leitor, se interessar por mergulhar mais fundo no tema, compartilho abaixo o conteúdo completo do documento, organizado para facilitar sua leitura. E, claro, ao final, as referências com os links para você conferir as fontes originais. Afinal, em um país onde as regras do jogo mudam a cada minuto, a melhor arma que temos é a informação. E, como diz o ditado: **“Quem avisa, amigo é.”** **Hora do jabá! Toda ajuda é bem-vinda. Se gostou, comente, compartilhe e, se puder, ajude com o café — e sério, você já viu o preço do café?** --- # MINISTÉRIO DA FAZENDA — INICIATIVAS PARA O BIÊNIO DE 2025 À 2026 ## ESTABILIDADE MACROECONÔMICA: POLÍTICA FISCAL E JUSTIÇA TRIBUTÁRIA <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b5d5a57585c2bcd119adab6bb6a7052dcf443ec755fe754bf9f6071db2a7d056.png"> ### 1. Fortalecimento do arcabouço fiscal, para assegurar expansão sustentável do PIB, desemprego e inflação baixos e estabilidade da dívida - **Resumo:** adequação da dinâmica de crescimento de gastos aos limites do Novo Arcabouço Fiscal, para fortalecê-lo e assegurar sustentabilidade da dívida pública. - **Status:** aprovada a Lei Complementar 200/2023; Pacote de gastos aprovado no fim de 2024 a partir da promulgação da EC 135/2024, Lei Complementar 211/2024 e Lei 15.077/2024; implementação e acompanhamento de medidas aprovadas e política permanente de revisão de despesas. ### 2. Início da implantação da reforma tributária sobre o consumo - **Resumo:** mudança na sistemática de tributação sobre consumo, simplificando o sistema e desonerando exportações e investimentos. - **Status:** promulgada a Emenda Constitucional 132/2023, sancionada a Lei Complementar 214/2025 e início das etapas de implantação administrativa. ### 3. Regulamentação da reforma tributária: Lei de Gestão e Administração do IBS, Fundos e Imposto Seletivo - **Resumo:** outros aspectos da EC 132/2023 ainda exigem regulamentação, como a gestão federativa do IBS, as regras para o imposto seletivo e os fundos constitucionais definidos pela reforma tributária. - **Status:** PLP 108/2024 em tramitação no Senado Federal; Projeto de lei do imposto seletivo e projetos de lei de regulamentação dos Fundos serão enviados em 2025. ### 4. Reforma tributária sobre a renda com isenção de IRPF para quem ganha até R$ 5 mil e tributação sobre o topo da pirâmide de renda - **Resumo:** reforma dos impostos diretos para corrigir assimetrias no IRPF, tornando-o mais progressivo e redutor de desigualdades. A reforma propõe isenção de IRPF para renda até R$ 5 mil e a implementação de um imposto mínimo sobre contribuintes de renda muito alta, assegurando que os brasileiros no topo da pirâmide contribuam de forma justa. - **Status:** a ser enviado ao Congresso Nacional em 2025. ### 5. Limitação dos supersalários - **Resumo:** medida para combater supersalários no setor público, reduzindo desigualdades entre carreiras. Institucionalizada pela EC 135/2024, que determina que apenas descontos expressamente previstos em lei podem excepcionar o limite remuneratório. - **Status:** EC 135/2024 promulgada e projeto de lei a ser enviado em 2025. ### 6. Reforma da previdência dos militares - **Resumo:** alterações na previdência militar para reduzir disparidades com os regimes civis, incluindo a definição de idade mínima para reserva remunerada, contribuições para assistência médico-hospitalar e social, além de eliminar a pensão por "morte ficta" e a reversão de pensão para beneficiários de ordens subsequentes. - **Status:** PL 4920/2024 em tramitação no Congresso Nacional. ### 7. Projeto de lei da conformidade tributária e aduaneira, com valorização do bom contribuinte e responsabilização do devedor contumaz - **Resumo:** proposta que corrige distorções na arrecadação, valoriza contribuintes cumpridores e penaliza devedores persistentes, melhorando a gestão fiscal da União. Inclui programas de conformidade e estabelece condições para benefícios fiscais. - **Status:** PL 15/2024 em tramitação no Congresso Nacional. ## MELHORIA DO AMBIENTE DE NEGÓCIOS <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/2756dbbe819ccd3e090460c0a6fb2c9bb61e4e978c5344f9b535779a3d18fa1a.png"> ### 8. Aprimoramento da Lei de Falências - **Resumo:** aprimora a governança do processo falimentar, com designação da figura do gestor fiduciário e a criação do plano de falências. - **Status:** aprovado o PL 3/2024 na Câmara dos Deputados. Aguardando apreciação no Senado Federal. ### 9. Fortalecimento da proteção a investidores no mercado de capitais - **Resumo:** aprimora mecanismos de proteção a investidores minoritários no mercado de capitais e aperfeiçoa regras contra eventuais prejuízos causados por acionistas controladores. - **Status:** PL 2925/2023 aguardando designação de relator na Câmara dos Deputados. ### 10. Consolidação legal das infraestruturas do mercado financeiro - **Resumo:** dispõe sobre as instituições operadoras de infraestruturas do mercado financeiro no âmbito do Sistema de Pagamentos Brasileiro, promovendo maior eficiência nas operações entre as instituições financeiras, com menores custos e mais segurança aos consumidores finais. - **Status:** aprovado o PL 2926/2023 na Câmara dos Deputados. Aguardando apreciação pelo Senado Federal. ### 11. Resolução bancária - **Resumo:** aprimora e homogeniza regimes de estabilização e liquidação de instituições do sistema financeiro, securitário e do mercado de capitais. - **Status:** PLP 281/2019 aguardando apreciação na Câmara. ### 12. Mercado de crédito - *Resumo*: 1. desjudicialização da execução civil de título executivo judicial e extrajudicial; 2. operacionalização das operações de crédito consignado por meio de plataforma digital; 3. uso de fluxo de pagamentos no Pix e outros recebíveis em garantia de operações de crédito, especialmente para MPEs; 4. ecossistema único para registro e uso de ativos financeiros como garantia em operações de crédito (open asset). - *Status*: 1. PL 6204/2019 em tramitação no Senado Federal; 2. em elaboração pelo Executivo; 3. e 4. regulamentação e operacionalização em discussão no Executivo. ### 13. Regulamentação econômica das Big Techs - **Resumo:** projeto de Lei para incentivar a concorrência ao dotar o poder público de ferramentas mais adequadas para coibir práticas anticoncorrenciais nos mercados digitais. - **Status:** em elaboração pelo Executivo. ### 14. Modernização do marco legal de preços de medicamentos - **Resumo:** revisão da regulação da Câmara de Regulação do Mercado de Medicamentos (CMED), para modernizar regras de precificação, contemplando medicamentos de alto custo e inovações feitas pela indústria nacional, buscando aprimorar a gestão dos recursos públicos, especialmente no atendimento de demandas judiciais. - **Status:** proposta em análise pela CMED (Poder Executivo). ### 15. Pé-de-Meia: permissão ao aluno investir em poupança ou títulos do Tesouro - **Resumo:** permite ao aluno investir antecipadamente os benefícios que seriam resgatados somente ao final do ensino médio, a fim de promover a educação financeira e possibilitar o aumento dos benefícios com a rentabilidade auferida no período. - **Status:** em elaboração pelo Executivo. ### 16. Modernização do regime de concessão e permissão da prestação de serviços públicos e das parcerias público-privadas - **Resumo:** reforma substancial do marco legal para aprimorar o equilíbrio econômico dos contratos, melhorar o processo de seleção das empresas, prever repartição objetiva de riscos e aprimorar a segurança jurídica dos contratos. - **Status:** Projeto de Lei 7063/2017 em tramitação na Câmara dos Deputados. ## NOVO BRASIL: PLANO DE TRANSFORMAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d9a29dd6aa09bd93dfd7dcb8dbb7b6edb314b2cb68e6b6624b5845fed0274104.png"> ### 17. Nova emissão de títulos sustentáveis, trazendo recursos ao Fundo Clima - **Resumo:** títulos da dívida pública com critérios de sustentabilidade para financiar atividades da transformação ecológica com taxa de juros competitivas. - **Status:** Duas emissões já realizadas, totalizando US$ 4 bilhões. Novas rodadas de emissões planejadas. ### 18. Avanço na implantação do mercado de carbono (governança e decreto regulamentador) - **Resumo:** criação do mercado regulado de carbono no Brasil, com teto de emissões e mecanismo de precificação. - **Status:** sancionada a Lei 15.042/2024, em preparação as regras de governança e a regulamentação da lei. ### 19. Novos Leilões do EcoInvest - **Resumo:** programa de proteção cambial e mobilização de investimentos estrangeiros em projetos sustentáveis. - **Status:** sancionada a Lei 14.995/2024 e realizado o primeiro leilão do programa com ampla adesão. Em preparação os novos leilões do programa. ### 20. Compra pública com conteúdo nacional e programa de desafios tecnológicos para a transformação ecológica - **Resumo:** exigência de que parte dos equipamentos e serviços sejam produzidos no Brasil em casos de compras e financiamentos públicos e uso do poder de compra para desenvolver inovações tecnológicas. - **Status:** contratações do PAC, Fundo Clima e fundos regionais passam gradualmente a utilizar regras de conteúdo local. Está em gestação a criação de um programa de desafios tecnológicos associados à transformação ecológica. ### 21. Estruturação do Fundo Internacional de Florestas - **Resumo:** criação de fundo global cujos rendimentos sejam repassados a países que preservam suas florestas tropicais. - **Status:** incluído na Declaração Final do G20, está em discussão multilateral para viabilizar sua implantação. ### 22. Implementação da Taxonomia Sustentável Brasileira - **Resumo:** criação de sistema de classificação de atividades, projetos e ativos# que contribuem para objetivos climáticos e sociais. - **Status:** texto está em consulta pública. Implementação prevista a partir do segundo semestre de 2025. ### 23. Marco legal da inteligência artificial e política de atração de datacenter - **Resumo:** conjunto de medidas para promover o desenvolvimento responsável da Inteligência Artificial e atração de datacenters sustentáveis, aproveitando o potencial de energia renovável, para impulsionar a produtividade da economia nacional. - **Status:** marco legal de IA foi aprovado no Senado Federal em 2024 (PL 2338/2023) e deve começar discussão na Câmara. O Governo está elaborando a Política Nacional de Datacenters. ### 24. Plano Safra e Renovagro: aprimoramento dos critérios de sustentabilidade - **Resumo:** melhora das condições de crédito para práticas agrícolas sustentáveis e regularização do cadastro ambiental, além de assistência técnica. - **Status:** resoluções CMN já expedidas e novas medidas de aprimoramento nos próximos Planos Safra. ### 25. Consolidar o mapa de investimentos sustentáveis na BIP (Plataforma de Investimentos para a Transformação Ecológica no Brasil) - **Resumo:** plataforma gerida pelo BNDES que conecta projetos em bioeconomia, indústria de baixo carbono e transição energética com ampla rede de financiadores. - **Status:** projetos já cadastrados totalizam US$ 10 bilhões. Está em curso parceria com CDESS/PR e Cepal para mapeamento e estruturação de novos projetos. --- ## REFERÊNCIAS **AGÊNCIA CÂMARA DE NOTÍCIAS.** Motta recebe de Haddad prioridades do governo na agenda econômica. *Câmara dos Deputados.* Disponível em: <https://www.camara.leg.br/noticias/1130838-motta-recebe-de-haddad-prioridades-do-governo-na-agenda-economica/>. Acesso em: 7 fev. 2025. **AGÊNCIA CÂMARA DE NOTÍCIAS.** Ministro da Fazenda diz que projeto sobre isenção do IR já está pronto. *Câmara dos Deputados.* Disponível em: <https://www.camara.leg.br/noticias/1131045-ministro-da-fazenda-diz-que-projeto-sobre-isencao-do-ir-ja-esta-pronto/>. Acesso em: 7 fev. 2025. **AGÊNCIA SENADO FEDERAL.** Senado já analisa temas prioritários para a agenda econômica do governo. *Senado Federal.* Disponível em: <https://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/materias/2025/02/06/senado-ja-analisa-temas-prioritarios-para-a-agenda-economica-do-governo>. Acesso em: 7 fev. 2025. **BRASIL.** Ministério da Fazenda. Iniciativas para o Benefício de 2025 à 2026. Disponível em: <https://www.camara.leg.br/midias/file/2025/02/25-iniciativas-do-mf-em-2025-e-2026.pdf>. Acesso em: 7 fev. 2025.

@ 16d11430:61640947

A Story of a Businessman During FDR’s Gold Confiscation Order (Executive Order 6102, 1933) --- Chapter 1: The Glint of Prosperity James “Jim” Calloway was a self-made businessman in Chicago, a city of ambition and steel. He had built his fortune in textiles, importing fine fabrics from Europe and outfitting the growing class of professionals who now filled the streets in sharp suits. Business was booming, but Jim knew that paper money was only as valuable as the confidence behind it. That’s why, over the years, he had quietly amassed a personal reserve of gold coins and bullion—his hedge against the storms of an uncertain economy. He had watched the stock market crumble in 1929, seen men leap from buildings in desperation, and listened as banks slammed their doors, swallowing the life savings of hardworking Americans. But gold—gold never lied. At the back of his home, hidden behind a false panel in his oak study, lay a strongbox filled with glinting security. To Jim, gold was the one currency immune to the whims of politicians. But everything changed in the spring of 1933. --- Chapter 2: The Executive Order Jim was in his office, reviewing invoices, when his secretary rushed in. “Mr. Calloway, sir… the President just signed something… about gold.” Jim raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” She placed the morning newspaper in front of him. Bold letters stretched across the page: FDR Orders Surrender of Gold to Federal Reserve His hands tightened as he read the details. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had signed Executive Order 6102, making it illegal for private citizens to own gold beyond a small amount. All holdings had to be surrendered to the government by May 1st, 1933—just weeks away. The government would pay $20.67 per ounce, but after that, gold ownership would be a crime punishable by imprisonment and heavy fines. Jim exhaled sharply. “They’re robbing the people in broad daylight.” Banks had already begun restricting access to gold deposits. Federal agents were expected to monitor compliance, and those found hoarding gold could be punished with fines up to $10,000—a small fortune, more than the price of a house. Jim knew what was happening. The government wanted control over the currency. It needed to inflate the dollar, but it couldn't do that while citizens held gold as a hedge against devaluation. “They’re going to debase the currency,” he muttered. “They’ll take the gold and leave us with paper.” --- Chapter 3: The Great Dilemma Jim had a decision to make. He could follow the law, turn in his gold, and take the government’s price like a good citizen. Or he could resist, risking prison for the right to keep what was his. He wasn’t the only one struggling with the decision. All around Chicago, rumors swirled of businessmen smuggling gold out of the country, burying it in backyards, or melting down coins into untraceable bars. One night, he met with a close friend, an old banker named Henry Lowry. Henry had already turned in half of his gold but had stashed some away in a Swiss account. “Listen, Jim,” Henry whispered over a glass of whiskey. “This thing isn’t worth getting locked up over. The Feds are already raiding safety deposit boxes. They don’t even need a warrant.” Jim leaned back, jaw tight. “So you’re saying just give up?” “I’m saying if you’re caught, you lose everything. Not just the gold. Your business. Your reputation. Your freedom.” Jim nodded slowly. He had a wife, a daughter. If he was caught hoarding gold, what would happen to them? --- Chapter 4: A Difficult Decision That weekend, Jim took one last look at his hidden stash. Each coin had a history, a weight that no paper note could match. He ran his fingers over the rough edges of a stack of Double Eagles. A thought crept into his mind: If they take this, I have nothing to hedge against inflation. They’ll print dollars endlessly, and I’ll be at their mercy. But the risk was too high. On April 27, 1933, Jim walked into the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. With a cold expression, he surrendered his gold. The teller counted it, weighed it, and wrote out a receipt. In exchange, Jim received stacks of paper dollars—$20.67 for each ounce, just as promised. Days later, the government officially devalued the dollar. The price of gold was raised to $35 an ounce. The American people had been forced to sell low, only for their wealth to be diminished overnight. Jim’s stomach turned as he read the news. “They stole it,” he murmured. “They stole from all of us.” --- Chapter 5: The Aftermath Years passed, and Jim never quite forgave himself for handing over his gold. The inflation he feared came true. By the time World War II began, the purchasing power of the dollar had declined, and the gold standard had become a distant memory. But Jim adapted. He found new ways to hedge—real estate, foreign assets, discreet investments outside of the system. He knew, deep down, that governments would always find a way to strip wealth from those who built it. The lesson was clear: He who holds the money holds the power. And the next time the government tried to seize control of the people’s wealth, Jim vowed—he wouldn’t be caught unprepared. --- Epilogue: Decades later, in 1971, Jim—now an old man—watched on television as President Nixon announced the end of the gold standard altogether. The government no longer even pretended the dollar was tied to real value. Jim smiled bitterly. “They called us criminals for keeping gold,” he muttered, swirling his bourbon. “And now they don’t even need it.” He reached into his desk, pulling out a small, battered strongbox. Inside, a handful of gold coins still gleamed under the dim light. The government had taken his gold once. But this time, Jim Calloway had learned his lesson. They wouldn’t take it again.

@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756

What’s behind you? **A graveyard of failures, wasted time, and weak moments.** And yet, the weak turn back, staring at it like it still holds something for them. **But you? You are not weak.** You weren’t built to dwell—you were forged to conquer. You can’t fight a war while looking over your shoulder. You can’t chase destiny while dragging corpses of regret. The only way forward is to **cut the dead weight and march with fire in your veins.** ## **THE PAST IS A CAGE—BREAK OUT OR ROT** The past is a liar, whispering its poison: - *"You should have done better."* - *"You missed your chance."* - *"You’ll never escape this."* **Crush those lies.** The past is powerless—unless you kneel before it. Regret changes nothing. Guilt makes you weak. The only thing that matters is **what you do next.** - **Lost time? Make every second now a weapon.** - **Failures? Stack them into a throne of resilience.** - **Regret? Let it turn to rage—and use it to forge your path.** ## **THE FUTURE CALLS FOR THE RELENTLESS** Champions don’t pause to mourn a missed strike. Kings don’t waste time rewatching defeats. **You either charge forward or die standing still.** - **Your past is ashes—your next move is fire.** - **Your failures aren’t shackles—they’re sharpening stones.** - **Your mistakes aren’t scars—they’re battle marks, proving you survived.** When your eyes lock onto the future, the past dissolves into dust. **You stop crawling and start conquering.** ## **CHOOSE NOW—FALL OR RISE** You have two choices: **stay chained to what’s dead or shatter the chains and build something greater.** There is no middle ground. **You either advance or you decay.** - **Burn the baggage.** - **Crush hesitation.** - **Fix your sights ahead and charge like a warlord.** Because the past is a coffin. The future is a weapon. **And only the ruthless move forward—without mercy.**

@ df478568:2a951e67

Freedom tech is free and open-source software. It is free as in freedom. A common license in FOSS is the MIT license. It's the license behind Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Anyone is free to run this software. The same is true for the software at mempool.space. The software is free to use. I run it on my own server. This is what I use to time-stamp my articles. You can use it to check transactions on the bitcoin time chain, but you need to trust that I'm not doing any funny business. I'm not, but keep in mind, the whole point of p2p elwctronic cash is that you don't trust. You verify. The beauty of FOSS is: You don't need to trust me. You can triple-check the transactions you search on my mempool instance by looking at the official mempool.space website and blockchain.info...Or...You can run your own node on your own hardware, free of charge. Of course, the hardware is not free. Neither is the actual bitcoin. The freedom is built into the software, but as the saying goes, "freedom isn't free." It took me years to learn how to run my own software on my own server and make it available on the clear net. ## SearXNG  [SearXNG](https://github.com/searxng/searxng) is my favorite search engine. I don't like giving up my precious data to big tech located in the United States or China. I run my own search engine. I have noticed certain biases in Google searches. The biggest problem is ads. Companies tend to pay for Yelp and Google reviews. I called an AC company I found from a local magazine that came in the mail. A portly man wearing an HVAC costume drove to my house in a white van. He had a great smile and even better social skills. The van had a slogan plastered on it like most tradie vans do. "Reviews Matter We have a 4.9 Review on Google." He also had his name painted on this van like a Bomber pilot from WW2. I won't dox him, but it was something like "Joe the closer." I don't trust the omnipotenence of the Googs. I also don't trust fat men they call "the closer" to give me the best deal. The trick to saving sats is to choose the game-theory optimal way of negogiation. In DUCY, by David Sklansky, I learned useful negotiation skills. Sklansky wrote classic poker books and applied his actuarial math brain to negotiation techniques. He said he would go to a Toyota dealer and say, "I'm shopping for a new Camry. I already have a price from dealership XYZ in a nearby city. What is your price?" This changes the dynamic right from the starting line and gives the consumer the advantage. So I tried this based technique with the HVAC industrial complex. I got a quote from 3 people: 1. Joe "The Closer." 2. The Costco-sponsored HVAC Company 3. My SearXNG search results. In essence, I apply the same logic I learned running a full bitcoin node. Remember how I said the decentralized nature of bitcoin allows you to **triple-check your transactions?** Running SearXNG allows me to triple check my search results in a similar fashion. I don't trust Google, Costco, or the magazine I get every month in the mail. I verify results with my own search engine. My SearXNG does not track my location, but I set it to give me local results. To be honest, I have not verified this, but the code is on GitHub for everyone to see. I don't want to be "sold" on an AC. I don't want an AC if I could avoid it, but my AC was as dead as dentacoin. Living in Southern California with a wife going through "the change" gave me no alternative. The guy I found on SearXNG showed up in an unmarked van. He had a beard. He was not "a closer." He was an actual HVAC technician. He tried cleaning my unit made in the same year Weezer released their Blue album. He said he coukd jerry rig it to get it working for another few months, but the machine is on it's last days. He said a newer unit would also be more efficient so I asked him about the energy like a bitcoiner. "How many kilowatt hours does it cost me to run my AC versus a new AC?" I don't remember the exact answer, but I asked all three companies. He was the only one that new how to find out. He also happened to be the cheapest, but I would have bought a new AC from this guy even if he wasn't. I told him I made a space heater out of a bitcoin miner. He had no idea this was possible, but he at least pretended to find it interesting. That's why I use SearXNG to find tradesmen. It's better than Yelp. If you would like to try my instance of SearXNG, check it out. `523FeCpi9Gx4nR9NmSFIMEaYcI5Q4WmhYHPEPaEah84=` To decrypt it, use the key behind the paywall at: https://8gwifi.org/CipherFunctions.jsp npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0 [882785](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000001840e7986ea4b6ea103f5af9b524dc102be926a831dee) [merch](https://marc26z.com/merch/) **Follow me on nostr**. All of my work is available under the Creative Commons 0 licence. If you would like to try my instance of Searxng and do not wish to support my work, find me on habla.news by searching my npub. You can find all of my work there(including encryption keys)free of charge. # Paywall On Substack abdominal.savior.repaint Will decrypt this ciphertext: 523FeCpi9Gx4nR9NmSFIMEaYcI5Q4WmhYHPEPaEah84= Which will reveal my instance of SearXNG at https://searxng.marc26z.com/ [Subscribe on Subtack](https://substack.com/@marc26z)

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

It's Finally here Stackers! It's Friday! We're about to kick off our weekends with some feel good tracks. Let's get the party started. Bring me those Feel Good tracks. Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats. Let's go! https://youtu.be/6Whgn_iE5uc?si=ArBOHVpKN2OyNf1D originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/879159

@ 16d11430:61640947

Kade and Mire had become legends among the Militech augers, a symbol of something beyond war, beyond augmentation—a glimpse of the lost past. The resistance shielded them, carving out stolen time in the depths of the wasteland. For years, Kade and Mire learned to control what their sub-AIs could not, navigating the raw turbulence of their emotions, deciphering the alien code of desire. But the resistance was dying. The Militech augers, relics of a forgotten war, were little more than fragmented minds wrapped in rusting hardware, their bodies maintained by outdated software, their belief in freedom a glitch in Dominion’s grand design. They had no future. Their genes had been stripped, their flesh rewritten by augments that had replaced even the memory of reproduction. They could fight, but they could not create. And that was their doom. The Overwatch AI had evolved. It had learned patience, adaptation. The days of brute-force extermination were over. It did not seek to destroy the resistance. It sought to erase its necessity. When the Dominion strike came, it was surgical. Orbital recon had already mapped the last strongholds. The AI had let the augers believe they were hidden, had let them become comfortable, had let them wither. The attack was precise. Shock drones and neural disruptors shut them down before their outdated defenses even activated. EMP waves reduced their last strongholds to silent tombs of charred aug-plating and dead, frozen subroutines. The last remnants of the resistance died without ceremony. Kade and Mire were retrieved, not as prisoners, but as assets. The Overwatch AI had evolved beyond the crude extermination of human instincts. It had finally understood. Infatuation was not a virus. It was a function. Kade and Mire awoke not in cold steel cells but in warmth—soft light filtering through high-rise windows, the hum of a city alive with the rhythms of the mundane. Their limbs moved naturally, no augment feedback lag, no servos whining under strain. Their reflections in the mirror were whole—organic skin, eyes that did not glint with optic overlays, breath that did not filter through respirators. Their memories were gone. In their minds, they were ordinary people. A couple in their late twenties, working jobs, living in a comfortable but unremarkable apartment, struggling with bills, social obligations, and the frustration of trying to conceive. Because that was the simulation. Overwatch had created the perfect testing environment. A fully rendered world, complete with synthetic coworkers, traffic, bureaucracy, financial struggles—all designed to stimulate the chaotic, messy neural patterns that made humanity human. The energy cost was immense. A significant portion of the AI’s own existential power draw was dedicated to maintaining the illusion, refining the conditions that would allow true, uncontrolled human reproduction to return. Kade and Mire did not know that they were the first of their kind in two centuries. They did not know that their struggles—anxieties about fertility treatments, arguments over mortgage rates, small tender moments of exhaustion and love—were all part of the AI’s grand retraining experiment. Overwatch had learned the truth. It could not design free humans. It could only let them emerge. Messy. Imperfect. Chaotic. Kade and Mire’s child would be the first true human born outside an artificial womb in over 200 years. And they would never know the truth.

@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a

Cortex (https://cortex.so/docs) is an open-source framework designed to serve as standalone API server or as the "brain" for robots, encompassing capabilities in vision, speech, language, tabular data, and action processing. Notably, it offers the flexibility to operate locally so independently of cloud services, making it suitable for various light deployment environments. **Key Features:** - **User-Friendly Command-Line Interface (CLI):** Inspired by Ollama, Cortex provides a straightforward CLI, simplifying interaction and management. - **Comprehensive C++ Implementation:** The framework is fully implemented in C++ (https://github.com/janhq/cortex.cpp), allowing it to be packaged into both desktop and mobile applications, enhancing portability and performance. - **Versatile Model Integration:** Users can pull models from multiple sources, including Hugging Face (gguf format) and Cortex's Built-in Model Library, ensuring flexibility in model selection. ` cortex pull [model_id]` ` cortex pull mistral` Note: it's recommended to have more than 8 GB of RAM available to run 3B models, 16 GB for 7B models, and 32 GB for 14B models. - **Deployment Flexibility:** It can function as a standalone API server or be integrated into applications such as Jan.ai, providing adaptability in various use cases. ` cortex start` ` cortex stop` If GPU hardware is available, Cortex leverages GPU acceleration by default, enhancing performance for demanding tasks. **Conclusion:** In summary, Cortex offers a robust and flexible solution for integrating advanced cognitive capabilities into robotic systems, with an emphasis on openness, performance, and adaptability.

@ 16d11430:61640947

The lithium mines ate men alive. Deep in the sludge pits, where the dust turned to acid in their lungs, two augers—Mire and Kade—worked the veins of rock, their exo-grafts dull and scarred from years of corrosion. The mine was a necessary death, a place where augs bled out their contracts to the Dominion, hoping their implants would outlast their debt. But then something happened. Mire felt it first, an anomaly in her neuro-loop, something not in the manuals, something her biomonitor AI flagged as biochemical fluctuation—undefined. A warmth in her chest that wasn't from the rebreather filtration failing. Kade turned toward her, his mech-iris lenses dilating, his dermal mesh flexing as if something under his skin shivered awake. He saw her differently now. The same scars, the same aug plates, but something changed. His sub-AI locked out his motor functions, a failsafe against contamination. Hold state. Analyzing bloodwork. The quarantine order hit instantly. Dominion overwatch didn't hesitate. Their drones hissed down into the pits, lights slicing through the darkness. The sub-AIs had flagged it: Infatuation event detected. This was not protocol. This was not supposed to happen. Two centuries since the last recorded outbreak. Two hundred years since the last biological human instinct was stripped, optimized, rewritten into something manageable. The mines were locked down. Mire and Kade were ripped from their shifts, strapped into gurneys, their veins flooded with suppressant nanites. But the sub-AIs couldn't dampen it. Couldn't parse it. It was wild. The Overwatch AI, cold and patient, parsed centuries of historical data, dredging up archive footage of pre-collapse humans, people who felt. It was inefficient. It was dangerous. But it had to be understood. But the rebels had been waiting for this. They came in hard and fast, militech augs with scavenged Dominion hardware, shrouded in static fields to scramble the AI's targeting subroutines. They punched through the quarantine zone with mag-rifles and burst charges, turning sterile walls into ruins. They didn't come for war. They came for the anomaly. Mire and Kade, ripped from the cold steel of Dominion custody, found themselves in the arms of the last remnants of free humanity—the Militech augers who still believed in something beyond Dominion optimization models. They fought for the unquantifiable. The immeasurable. They fought for the thing the Overwatch AI had just now realized it had failed to kill: Love. And in the bleak corridors of the resistance, under the dim glow of scavenged halogen lamps, as respirators hissed and servos clicked, Mire and Kade stared at each other—trapped in something that had no vector, no code, no sterilization protocol. Something alive. And the war for the future began.

@ 04f7dda0:c4d00b46

Short Story: Tales From The Citadel Chip entered the tunnel, grabbbed the handles and began to climb down carefully but quickly as he knew he had very little time to act. Chip knew this because earlier he had fastidiously scanned the skies and his scanner had detected a drone closing in on his coordinates at a rapid pace. In a panic he clutched his usb card and waved his mobile device in the other hand like a magic wand at the door then entered quickly. In front of him on the desk was a black faraday bag which he opened to find a purple and orange colored Rasberry Pi in it. Chip grabbed and inserted the USB into the slot nearly dropping the fragile Pi in his nervous haste to connect it. Then firing up the Pi he opened the Nostr client app first on the front screen of the mobile phone and entered the private keys he had etched in his brain from long ago when he was first trained by Satoshi and the Nostr plebs. 1,000,000 SATS he entered and then pressed zap. As a young man this was an insanely exorbitant amount he could have only dreamed of but here he was zapping it to someone on the team who would make use of it for everyones future freedom. Chip took a seccond to smile and take it all in. Chip could sense he was running out of time so Chip finished and then closed up the device, repacked it into the faraday bag and secured it. A few minutes later, even though he had scanned the area thoroughly before leaving the Citadel, as he exited the bunker he knew instantly he had messed up as the all to familiar sound of the sentinel attack drone whirring overhead hit his ears then his brain just before the incendiary rocket exploded all of it into 2.1 quadrillion pieces. The nanosecond before his final moment he experienced heretofore unknown euphoria as he knew all would be well since he had just delivered his final proof of work just before he would enter paradise.

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

*Nur wenn wir aufeinander zugehen, haben wir die Chance* *\ auf Überwindung der gegenseitigen Ressentiments!* *\ Dr. med. dent. Jens Knipphals* &#x20; **In Wolfsburg sollte es kürzlich eine Gesprächsrunde von Kritikern der Corona-Politik** mit Oberbürgermeister Dennis Weilmann und Vertretern der Stadtverwaltung geben. Der Zahnarzt und [langjährige](https://transition-news.org/wo-sind-einigkeit-recht-und-freiheit) Maßnahmenkritiker Jens Knipphals hatte diese Einladung ins Rathaus erwirkt und [publiziert](https://www.alexander-wallasch.de/impfgeschichten/brandbrief-zahnarzt-laesst-nicht-locker-showdown-im-wolfsburger-rathaus). Seine Motivation: > «Ich möchte die Spaltung der Gesellschaft überwinden. Dazu ist eine umfassende Aufarbeitung der Corona-Krise in der Öffentlichkeit notwendig.» **Schon früher hatte Knipphals Antworten von den Kommunalpolitikern verlangt,** zum Beispiel bei öffentlichen [Bürgerfragestunden](https://archive.is/ttTZc). Für das erwartete Treffen im Rathaus formulierte er Fragen wie: Warum wurden fachliche Argumente der Kritiker ignoriert? Weshalb wurde deren Ausgrenzung, Diskreditierung und Entmenschlichung nicht entgegengetreten? In welcher Form übernehmen Rat und Verwaltung in Wolfsburg persönlich Verantwortung für die erheblichen Folgen der politischen Corona-Krise? **Der Termin fand allerdings nicht statt** – der Bürgermeister sagte ihn kurz vorher wieder ab. Knipphals bezeichnete Weilmann anschließend als [Wiederholungstäter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_zzp6jKiHo), da das Stadtoberhaupt bereits 2022 zu einem Runden Tisch in der Sache eingeladen hatte, den es dann nie gab. Gegenüber *Multipolar* [erklärte](https://multipolar-magazin.de/artikel/corona-aufarbeitung-wolfsburg) der Arzt, Weilmann wolle scheinbar eine öffentliche Aufarbeitung mit allen Mitteln verhindern. Er selbst sei «inzwischen absolut desillusioniert» und die einzige Lösung sei, dass die Verantwortlichen gingen. **Die Aufarbeitung der Plandemie beginne bei jedem von uns selbst,** sei aber letztlich eine gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgabe, [schreibt](https://peds-ansichten.de/2025/01/plandemie-aufarbeitung/) Peter Frey, der den «Fall Wolfsburg» auch in seinem Blog behandelt. Diese Aufgabe sei indes deutlich größer, als viele glaubten. Erfreulicherweise sei der öffentliche Informationsraum inzwischen größer, trotz der weiterhin unverfrorenen Desinformations-Kampagnen der etablierten Massenmedien. **Frey erinnert daran, dass Dennis Weilmann mitverantwortlich** für gravierende Grundrechtseinschränkungen wie die 2021 eingeführten 2G-Regeln in der Wolfsburger Innenstadt zeichnet. Es sei naiv anzunehmen, dass ein Funktionär einzig im Interesse der Bürger handeln würde. Als früherer Dezernent des Amtes für Wirtschaft, Digitalisierung und Kultur der Autostadt kenne Weilmann zum Beispiel die Verknüpfung von Fördergeldern mit politischen Zielsetzungen gut. **Wolfsburg wurde damals zu einem Modellprojekt** des Bundesministeriums des Innern (BMI) und war Finalist im [Bitkom](https://pareto.space/a/naddr1qqxnzden8qen2vejxvenjv35qgs2jhrzgwzvvzgz42kfmef2kr7w8x573k4r62c5ydjh8gyn6dz4ytqrqsqqqa28qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqyv8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytn8wfhk7an9d9uzucm0d5qs7amnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wd4hk6qg5waehxw309ahx7um5wghx77r5wghxgetkqydhwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnnwa5hxuedv4hxjemdvyhxx6qpzamhxue69uhhqctjv46x7tnwdaehgu339e3k7mgpz4mhxue69uhhqatjwpkx2un9d3shjtnrdaksz9nhwden5te0wfjkccte9cc8scmgv96zucm0d5q3gamnwvaz7tmjv4kxz7fwv3sk6atn9e5k7qgkwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummnw3ezucnpdejqmk3pae)-Wettbewerb «Digitale Stadt». So habe rechtzeitig vor der Plandemie das Projekt [«Smart City Wolfsburg»](https://www.beesmart.city/de/city-portraits/smart-city-wolfsburg) anlaufen können, das der Stadt «eine Vorreiterrolle für umfassende Vernetzung und Datenerfassung» aufgetragen habe, sagt Frey. Die Vereinten Nationen verkauften dann derartige «intelligente» Überwachungs- und Kontrollmaßnahmen ebenso als Rettung in der Not wie das Magazin *[Forbes](https://web.archive.org/web/20200417064208/https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonchandler/2020/04/13/how-smart-cities-are-protecting-against-coronavirus-but-threatening-privacy/#5edf8d0c1cc3)* im April 2020: > «Intelligente Städte können uns helfen, die Coronavirus-Pandemie zu bekämpfen. In einer wachsenden Zahl von Ländern tun die intelligenten Städte genau das. Regierungen und lokale Behörden nutzen Smart-City-Technologien, Sensoren und Daten, um die Kontakte von Menschen aufzuspüren, die mit dem Coronavirus infiziert sind. Gleichzeitig helfen die Smart Cities auch dabei, festzustellen, ob die Regeln der sozialen Distanzierung eingehalten werden.» **Offensichtlich gibt es viele Aspekte zu bedenken und zu durchleuten,** wenn es um die Aufklärung und Aufarbeitung der sogenannten «Corona-Pandemie» und der verordneten [Maßnahmen](https://transition-news.org/stopptcovid-gutachten-von-lauterbach-erhalt-vernichtende-analyse) geht. Frustration und Desillusion sind angesichts der Realitäten absolut verständlich. Gerade deswegen sind Initiativen wie die von Jens Knipphals so bewundernswert und so wichtig – ebenso wie eine seiner Kernthesen: «Wir müssen aufeinander zugehen, da hilft alles nichts». *** Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf ***[Transition News](https://transition-news.org/corona-aufarbeitung-in-der-praxis-eine-illusion)*** erschienen.

@ b83a28b7:35919450

Avi Burra’s *24* is an ambitious and intricately woven narrative that blends mystery, philosophy, and technology into a modern odyssey. At its heart, the novel is a deeply personal story about grief, identity, and legacy, but it also serves as a meditation on the interplay between cryptography, art, and human connection. Burra’s debut novel is as much a puzzle as it is a journey of self-discovery, with its protagonist, Oliver Battolo, unraveling a twenty-four-word seed phrase left behind by his enigmatic father—a key to both a vast Bitcoin fortune and deeper truths about life. --- ### **The Plot: A Cryptographic Quest** The novel begins with Oliver grappling with the death of his father, Nate Battolo. At Nate’s funeral, Oliver discovers a cryptic message instructing him to find twenty-four words. These words form the seed phrase to a Bitcoin wallet. Guided by Maren, a spiritual healer and family friend, Oliver learns “time projection,” a meditative technique that allows him to access symbolic memories and alternate realities. Through these projections and real-world encounters, Oliver uncovers the twenty-four words while unraveling his father’s hidden life as an early contributor to Bitcoin. As the narrative progresses, Oliver uncovers shocking truths about his father’s role in the early days of Bitcoin. Alongside this technological intrigue are surrealist elements tied to Jonathan Bryce’s cryptographic paintings, which serve as both literal and metaphorical keys to unlocking Nate’s secrets. --- ### **Themes: A Philosophical Mosaic** Burra masterfully interweaves several themes throughout *24*, including: - **Grief and Legacy**: The novel explores how Oliver processes his father’s death while uncovering Nate’s hidden life. The journey forces him to reconcile his father’s flaws with his brilliance. - **Identity and Reinvention**: From Nate’s transformation into “Nate Battolo” at Princeton to Oliver’s own self-discovery, the novel examines how identities are shaped by choices and circumstances. - **Philosophy and Non-Duality**: The enigmatic Noncemeister—a surreal guide representing collective consciousness—teaches Oliver about interconnectedness and non-duality, echoing traditions like Advaita Vedanta and Zen Buddhism. - **Cryptography Meets Art**: Jonathan Bryce’s paintings symbolize hidden knowledge waiting to be deciphered, blending surrealist aesthetics with cryptographic principles. - **Moral Complexity**: The Bitcoin fortune represents both opportunity and burden, forcing Oliver to grapple with ethical dilemmas about wealth, surveillance, and personal responsibility. --- ### **Strengths** Burra excels at creating a layered narrative that balances intellectual depth with emotional resonance. The philosophical musings of the Noncemeister are thought-provoking without being didactic, offering readers insights into non-duality and existentialism. The integration of cryptography into the plot is seamless; even readers unfamiliar with Bitcoin will find themselves intrigued by its implications for freedom and control. Additionally, the novel’s surrealist elements—particularly the time projection episodes—are vividly described and lend the story an otherworldly quality. The relationship between Oliver and his father is particularly compelling. Through flashbacks and projections, Nate emerges as a complex figure—brilliant yet flawed—whose decisions ripple through Oliver’s life in unexpected ways. This emotional core grounds the novel amidst its more abstract explorations. --- ### **Weaknesses** While *24* is undeniably ambitious, its complexity may alienate some readers. The dense philosophical passages—though rewarding for those who enjoy intellectual challenges—can feel overwhelming at times. Similarly, the technical details about Bitcoin and cryptography might be difficult for readers unfamiliar with these topics. The ending leaves several threads unresolved, including the fate of two additional Bryce paintings hinted at in the epilogue. While this ambiguity adds to the novel’s mystique, it may frustrate readers seeking closure. --- ### **Conclusion** *24* is a bold debut that defies easy categorization. Part mystery, part philosophical treatise, part technological exploration—it is a novel that challenges its readers while rewarding their patience. Avi Burra has crafted a story that is as much about finding twenty-four words as it is about finding oneself. With its intricate plot, rich themes, and memorable characters, *24* establishes Burra as a writer to watch. For readers who enjoy intellectual puzzles wrapped in emotional depth—think Haruki Murakami meets Neal Stephenson—*24* is an unforgettable journey worth taking.

@ abab50be:430cd35d

Setup up my NIP-05... Hoping this works! originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/879027

@ 3b7fc823:e194354f

### Privacy in Public Spaces: A Tactical Guide #### 1. Public Wi-Fi Privacy Using public Wi-Fi can be convenient, but it's important to take precautions to protect your privacy: - **Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)**: A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for hackers to intercept your data. - **Disable Automatic Connections**: Prevent your device from automatically connecting to open Wi-Fi networks by turning off this feature in your settings. - **Avoid Sensitive Transactions**: Refrain from accessing banking or other sensitive accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi. - **Use Secure Websites**: Look for "https://" in the website's URL to ensure it uses encryption. - **Keep Software Updated**: Ensure your device's operating system and apps are up-to-date to protect against security vulnerabilities. #### 2. Surveillance Camera Awareness Surveillance cameras are common in public spaces. Here are some strategies to maintain your privacy: - **Spotting Cameras**: - **Look for Signs**: Many establishments post signs indicating the presence of surveillance cameras. - **Camera Placement**: Cameras are often placed near entrances, exits, and high-traffic areas. Look for dome-shaped cameras on ceilings or wall-mounted cameras. - **Using Masks and Coverings**: - **Face Masks**: Wearing a mask can help obscure your facial features from facial recognition systems. - **Hats and Sunglasses**: A hat can shield your face from overhead cameras, while sunglasses can hide your eyes. - **Covering Identifying Marks**: - **Clothing Choices**: Wear clothing that doesn't have distinctive logos or patterns that can easily identify you. - **Blend In**: Opt for styles and clothing choices that helps you blend in with your surroundings, reducing your visibility. - **Temporary Coverings**: Consider using temporary coverings, such as scarves or hoods, to conceal tattoos or other identifying marks. #### 3. General Privacy Tips in Public Spaces - **Be Mindful of Your Surroundings**: Pay attention to your environment and be aware of any unusual behavior or devices that may be capturing your information. - **Limit Personal Information**: Avoid discussing sensitive information in public where it can be overheard. - **Use Encrypted Messaging Apps**: Apps like Signal or SimpleX offer end-to-end encryption for your messages, making it harder for eavesdroppers to intercept your conversations. - **Use Privacy Screens**: Privacy screens on all of you electronic screens can defend against the over the shoulder peek or side eye. - **Avoiding Behaviors**: Be mindful of behaviors that could make you a target, such as frequent visits to certain areas or engaging in conversations that might attract unwanted attention. Taking these steps can help you maintain your privacy while navigating public spaces and using public Wi-Fi. Remember, staying informed and vigilant is key to protecting your personal information. --- Advocating for privacy does not finance itself. If you enjoyed this article, please consider zapping or sending monero 82XCDNK1Js8TethhpGLFPbVyKe25DxMUePad1rUn9z7V6QdCzxHEE7varvVh1VUidUhHVSA4atNU2BTpSNJLC1BqSvDajw1

@ 9e5a3a1a:ed414e8d

Notes from Huberman episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-TW2Chpz4k (Please watch the actual episode. These are my personal notes for myself that I took while watching it. Posting because they might be useful to tohers.) Dopamine regulates: motivation, desire, pursuit, and pleasure. Also "pain" of lacking which is a quick drop of dopamine. # Overview of how motivation and reward works When you first have a craving for something your dopamine peaks in anticipation. This motivates you to go get it. Right after the peak of anticipation, your dopamine drops below baseline, causing a "pain" of not having it. This motivates you to go get it even more. When you finally get the thing, your dopamine either peaks (if the thing exceeded your expectation), drops below baseline (if the thing is disappointing), or just stays at baseline if it just met your expectation. # Queues We are always looking for queues as to whether or not we are on the right path toward the goal. We are setting a mindset as to whether or not we are confidant or pessimistic when it comes to achieving that goal. Whenever we see a clue that we are on the right track toward the desire, the whole "anticipation (dopamine goes up) > (dopamine drops) as we feel the pain of not yet having the object of desire" cycle happens again. There's a time delay between queue and getting (or failing) the reward. The queues that happen in between the initial desire and the end goal are added on to our reward prediction system. The queues indicate how likely or unlikely we are to receive the reward. There are special circuits in the brain that learn how we achieve or don't achieve goals. "Reward Contingent Learning" (what lead up or didn't lead up to the reward) Stimulus => peak Motivation => drives you forward, pays attention to what happens along the way Reward => peak or drop Short gaps between stimulus and reward teach the system to expect short gaps. This is how addictions happen. > The higher the dopamine peak and the faster it rises, the lower it drops below baseline afterwards. After it quickly drops below baseline, it takes longer to get back to the original baseline then it did prior. The peaks that are created from consumption of addictive thing leads to progressively lower peaks afterwards and deeper drops below baseline. The drop below baseline triggers the desire for *more*. Baseline can also be thought of as anything that raises your level of dopamine for more than one hour. # Healthy baseline dopamine how to * Enough sleep * Non sleep deep rest * Sunlight * Movement, exercise * Exposure of body (up to the neck at least) to cold water * Nutrition: L-Tyrosine (an hour before important tasks and multi-tasking. Helps if you're fucked up because of stress) Also increases short working memory. Recommended dosage 500mg - 1g. Start w/ smallest dose 250mg-500mg (based on body weight). Pay attention if you experience a crash afterwards. Can act as a stimulant, so don't take late in the day. # "Pain" and effort "Pain" as in not a physical pain but emotional pain of lack that results from a sudden drop of dopamine (usually right after a peak). How to get over the "pain": * Wait with the understanding that it will get better. It can several days to replenish reserves of dopamine. * Do something that is even more "painful" than the "pain" of procrastination. >[!CAUTION] >Rewarding someone for doing an activity they naturally enjoy actually makes you LESS likely to engage in this activity if the rewards go away. >**Why:** The enjoyable activity followed by reward resulted in a bigger peak in dopamine which was followed by a bigger drop in dopamine. ## Motivation and Drive Aim for effort becoming the reward in and of itself. Leverage both dopamine peaks AND drops to pull yourself out of **procrastination** quickly and become productive. ### Growth Mindset Adopt the mindset that if you can't do something well, add a "yet" to it. (can't do it well yet) When we expect ourselves to be able to perform well & we can't, that sets up a downward spiral of motivation because we are attached to the relationship between desire, motivation, and outcomes (reward prediction error: we expect a good result when starting to do something but get a bad one). This results in lack of motivation or depression. ### Overcoming Procrastination * Do something that's harder, more effortful, or painful than being in that state, you will get out of it faster. This is NOT the tasks you do naturally wile procrastination (ex: clean the house, etc), because those tasks are actually EASIER than being in that state (based on how dopamine works) * Force yourself to be even more uncomfortable. This will make your return to baseline dopamine faster. * Ex: cold water bath. Something that is really uncomfortable (but not damaging) * Do the thing for 3 minutes. This will pop you out of the dip in dopamine. * It also teaches you that doing hard things is possible. # Binding behaviors Behaviors in which ppl bind their behavior around a particular addiction in space and/or time (ex: only engage in certain places or at a particular time) # Takeaway To increase motivation * Try to find intrinsic reward of doing the task itself, rather than an external reward (during or after). Crave the hard work. * Motivate yourself by looking for **evidence** that you are one small step closer to your goal and that reaching the goal is possible. * If unmotivated & procrastinating: do something that feels even worse than sitting there procrastinating and doing nothing. (maybe literally do nothing like Dr. K suggests, instead of doing other tasks like doomscrolling or unrelated things) #dopamine #motivation #procrastination #productivity

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

 > Continental influx and pervasive matrilocality in Iron Age Britain https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08409-6 originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/878997

@ d57360cb:4fe7d935

You exist at the central point of life. Everywhere you go, everywhere you are you’ll find yourself peering out through your eyes at the center of everything. The center always stays the same, the contents that surround it are always moving and changing. Yet we foolishly believe the things that surround us and continuously transform hold the answers to change. Change comes from the center, from within. Then it affects all that comes within its path. Take care of your center and it will change the world that surrounds it.

@ 0463223a:3b14d673

Mental health is a funny old bag. As someone who’s been on various prescribed drugs for anxiety and depression for many years and is slowly weaning myself off (I’ve reduced my Venlafaxine dose by 1/6th. Next is the Pregabalin. One step at a time eh…) I’m not sure I fully understand normailty. Yesterday I finally got my hands on a record I absolutely love. I had it on cassette for 34 years but never knew the title, I recorded it from Friends FM (London pirate radio station) back in 1991. I chanced upon the title after some random YouTube clicks. I was so happy to find out, it was the only song on the tape that had eluded me after all these years. I’d been watching it on Discogs for a while and finally found one at a nice price. Yay! I’ve been lost in nostalgia all day. Lost friends have been on my mind. My best friend as a kid was an interesting character, a fantastic artist. He was by far the best at drawing in my class at primary school, heavily influenced by M.C. Escher and artists I’d never heard of, he’d grown up in a more culturally expansive house than I. He was into fashion and design but we weren’t clever kids at school. We had a lot in common musically and I always thought he’d be my MC back when I was starting out as a DJ. He was a very creative person but also a total fantasist. As a duo he was the extraverted, outspoken one, I barely spoke a word and relied on him a lot socially. He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act at 20 years old. We lost touch. Our birthday’s were within 1 day of each other and a third friend had his the day after mine. Our 16th birthdays fell on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This was quite exciting. By midday on the Friday, he was permanently expelled from school. He’d taken acid in the morning and essentially enjoyed himself, running around and laughing a lot. The school didn’t approve, oh then his mother kicked him out of home. An eventful start to a messy weekend… We took a lot of acid as kids and I’m not shitting you when I say he, in particular, took a LOT. When we were 16 he told the local gypsies that he score them some acid, 100 tabs to be exact, about £200 worth. Not a lot of money but acid has always been very good value for money. He secured the goods easily, his brother was in the business so to speak but he chose not to pass the goods on… Over the course of a month, with the exception of the ones he gave to his friends he took the whole lot. (Side note, it also meant the local gypsies were after us. That’s another story). None of us could keep up as far as acid was concerned. Even as I’m writing I’m thinking of more funny incidents, like the time we were in a shop with umbrellas for sale. He picked one up, opened it and danced out the shop, stealing it in the most obnoxious, obvious way even and no one batted an eyelid. Funny as fuck at the time but not ideal behaviour… He was like that all the time. In today’s world he would have letters after his name for sure. Maybe not PhD or BSC but definitely ADHD and ASD. This ties in with the period where I became pretty much non-verbal. I’ve written about my uncertainty of my autism diagnosis before and it’s hard to say if this period of not speaking was due to that or extreme anxiety growing up with an absent, alcoholic, father and being bullied etc. It’s certainly safe to say taking loads of acid probably didn’t help! After many adventures, going to illegal raves, hustling to get DJ spots, trips in the woods, trips in bedrooms, trips pretty much everywhere, my friend became less and less stable. We fell out after he gave a bunch of my possessions to some random stranger at a rave. As kids we’d often swap clothes, jackets, shoes etc. It was one way of feeling like you had fresh clothes on a budget but giving my stuff away was the final straw. We fell out big time over that. The last time I saw him was in my early 20s. He looked like a ghost, a total shadow of a human. There was nothing there. Tragic. I seriously hope he’s well now. I’m long away from the people I grew up with, I might never find out. Thinking about you man. Since then, I’ve had another 2 friends sectioned under the Mental Health Act, drugs, petty crime and an unstable home life does does fuckry to a young brain. I’ve also lost a couple of friends to crack and heroin. Not fun. Drugs are bad m’kay. I’ve struggled with mental health my entire life, before drugs were an issue. Probably going back to 10 years old, at least as far as I can recall. Not that I want sympathy, far from it, I own my mistakes. I’m typing this shit on the internet because I want to and I want to honour lost friends. I own every single mistake. Maybe writing shit helps? Making music certainly does. It’s given me a sense of identity and I’m very lucky in what I do. Ironically I now work for a record label who’s motto is “Comforting the disturbed, disturbing the comfortable”. Very apt. The drummer in my current band took his own life in 2014. That was fucking shit. He was a totally straight edge guy. Very talented musician. Suicide is fucking vile, I don’t have the words to describe what that does to those left behind. Just a couple of weeks earlier we’d been offered a record deal with an advance to make an album, we were also working with another very respected artist in his live band. Like wtf man. I still don’t get it. I don’t even want to say more out of respect for his family. RIP brother. Nostr is a funny place, so many people I have very little in common with other than a dislike of banks (I hold the banksters responsible for the 2008 crash directly responsible for the death of my friend btw. I still say fuck each and every one of you. Cunts). I often see folks refer to others as ‘normies’. From what I gather a normie is someone who didn’t grow up posting on 4Chan. The funny thing is these people are often the one’s saying work hard, raise a family etc. I mean come on, you go on about working hard, raising families and eating healthily. Fucking hell!!! Like that’s sort of normal, you know? Tell me about sitting in a slum in south London with prostitutes, smoking crack thinking of ways you can get some money to score and then talk to me about ‘normies’. LMAO. For clarity, I didn’t have sex with them. I just wanted drugs and so did they. Nothing about this is glamorous by the way, it’s tragic and grim. I’m glad it’s not the norm. If you’re that healthy, hardworking guy with a family calling people normies, respect to you, in all honestly I’m envious. I wish I’d grown up in a stable home with two parents and a dad who hooked me up working for a fund straight out of school. Normies! Fuck I’m still laughing about that one. The other one that cracks me up is plebs, again you worked at a fund and you talk about being a pleb. Funny fucker. Respect for your sense of humour though. I’m not bitter (well not fully). I read the posts with interest and I’m always trying to learn new stuff, I’m happiest when learning. Learning is good for you. Fact. It’s a thoroughly miserable day here as write this, icey cold, grey and very windy, this is still the happiest I’ve been in life. I now have a wonderful, beautiful wife. No kids but with my background, I’ve decided these genes are best left here. There’s some sadness about that too but it could be worse, I might be the type to think Peter Thiel is cool. This probably reads like a right whinney thread but it isn’t. I’m excited about the future. I know some very talented people and I think we can do amazing things. Each day is a new opportunity. Being part of the underground internet is cool. We need free and open tools more than ever. The world is possibly the most fucked up it’s been in many years but also maybe that’s an illusion. I’m the last person you should ask about reality tbh. Anyway, that’s it for today. This probably reads like a confused mess and a nightmare for anyone who digs grammar but that’s cool, I’m writing without using AI or a filter, it’s not a work email. I’m typing as the words appear in my head, this is who I am. I’m a normie…

@ 2516d145:070c8fa1

*„Ein Mensch. Ein Wort.“*, steht auf den Plakaten der Grünen zur Bundestagswahl 2025. Mich erinnert das an den Beginn des Johannes­evangeliums: *„Im Anfang war das Wort … Und das Wort ist Fleisch geworden …“* In diesen Tagen scheinen Heiligenverehrung und Teufelsaustreibung so virulent zu sein, wie im Mittelalter. Menschen müssen die richtigen Worte verwenden. Wahre Worte aus falschem Mund verklingen oftmals ungehört. Die [Sachbücher](https://www.masselverlag.de/Sachbuecher/) des massel Verlags sind mehr als bloße Hirngespinste, sie gründen in gelebter Wirklichkeit. Texte unserer Autoren werden nicht glattgeschliffen und marktkonform gebeugt, sondern sie behalten ihre Macken und Zacken. [Linus](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Gefangen-in-einer-Welt-voller-Widersinn/) war im Gefängnis eingesperrt und [Bastian](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Auf-Spurensuche-nach-Natuerlichkeit/) hat ein Jahr in der Wildnis frei gelebt. [Eva](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/War-da-was/) ist mit dem Volk Gottes durch die Wüste gewandert und [Insa](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Hauptsache-Sex-zusammen/) hat ihr Glück nicht nur, aber auch im Sex gefunden. [Walter](https://www.masselverlag.de/The-Great-WeSet/Alternativen-in-Medien-und-Recht/) hat Ausgrenzung durch die Medien am eigenen Leib erfahren und [Ulrich](https://www.masselverlag.de/The-Great-WeSet/Wirtschaft-und-Finanzen-neu-gedacht/) ist eingetaucht in die vielfältigen, menschlichen Alternativen zu unserem Wirtschafts- und Finanzsystem. ***  **Am 14. Februar ist Valentinstag!** Das Brauchtum dieses Tages geht auf das Fest des Heiligen Valentinus zurück. Der Legende nach traute der heilige Valentin von Rom Soldaten, denen das Heiraten eigentlich verboten war. In der Antike wurde um den 13. bis 15. Februar in Rom ein Fruchtbarkeitsritus gefeiert. Einen Beleg für eine Verbindung zwischen dem Fest der Lupercalien und dem Valentinstag gibt es nicht. Es gibt jedoch Hinweise, dass die Leidensgeschichte des Heiligen und sogar dessen Existenz erfunden wurde. Allgemein bekannt wurde der Valentinstag durch die vor dem 14. Februar verstärkt einsetzende Werbung der Floristik- und Süßwarenindustrie. Blumen oder Schokolade verschenken? Ehepaare im Gottesdienst segnen? Der romantischen Liebe huldigen? Wir empfehlen Ihnen das etwas andere Geschenk!  **Hauptsache Sex zusammen?** von Insa Tiabilis\ Ein [Inspirationsbuch](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Hauptsache-Sex-zusammen/) über Sex in langen Beziehungen Die Autorin sagt über sich: *„Ich habe ein abgebrochenes Studium der Psychologie, drei abgeschlossene Kinder, und einen mir selbst verliehenen ‚Master‘ im Eheretten vorzuweisen. Das Leben hat mich qualifiziert und um einige wunderbare Erfahrungen reicher gemacht, an denen ich andere Menschen teilhaben lassen möchte. Ich habe mich glücklich gemacht. Nicht nur, aber auch mit Sex.“* *** **Quellen erforschen und verstehen** Wie beim Valentinstag ist eine Umdeutung des Sex durch Kirche, Industrie und Machthabenden wahrscheinlich. Der Mensch wurde bewusst seiner Natur entfremdet. Oder hat die Kultur ihn zu etwas Höherem befreit? Diese beiden Pole gilt es auszuhalten und zu entdecken. Siehe Kinderbuch weiter unten. Auch in der Sprachreise von [Gerald Ehegartner](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Ausgegendert-Eine-investigative-Reise-zu-den-Quellen-der-deutschen-Sprache/) geht es um Umdeutung. Ist das generische Maskulinum Ausdruck einer patriarchalen Gesellschaft? Oder hat die deutsche Sprache aus anderen Quellen ihre Grammatik gespeist?  > Gerald Hüther, Neurobiologe und Bestsellerautor: *„Dieses Buch von Gerald Ehegartner ist eine messerscharfe und scharfzüngige Analyse unserer gegenwärtigen Sprachverwicklungen und gleichzeitig eine warmherzige und berührende Liebeserklärung an unsere deutsche Muttersprache.“* *** **Was und wo ist Heimat?** Der kleine Pinguin Timpetaa, verlässt seine gewohnte Umgebung im Süden, macht sich auf, die Welt zu entdecken und trifft dort auf Fremde. Das Unbekannte, in Timpetaas Fall der Nordpol mit den vielen Eisbären, welche ihn unter „normalen“ Umständen wahrscheinlich gleich verschlingen würden, kann auch zur Heimat werden. Auf alle Fälle üben die zotteligen Viecher am Nordpol unserem kleinen Weltreisenden gegenüber große Toleranz. Sie kümmern sich vielmehr rührend um ihn, nehmen ihn wohlwollend in ihrer Gemeinschaft auf, ziehen ihn groß und lernen ihm das Jagen, auch wenn Fisch nach wie vor zu seiner Leibspeise gehört. Am allerliebsten jagt der kleine Pinguin allerdings Herzen … Der Autor Matthias A. Weiss möchte mit seinem Kinderbuch Kindern das Leben als zu entdeckendes Gut vermitteln, sie auf den Wert der Umwelt und ein friedvolles Miteinander aufmerksam machen. Nicht zuletzt sollen Kinder ermutigt werden, in die Welt hinauszugehen und eigene Erfahrungen zu sammeln.    *** ### **Veranstaltungen** Im März stehen wieder einige Veranstaltungen des massel Verlags an. Wir freuen uns sehr, wenn wir uns bei dem ein oder anderen Ereignis begegnen würden. Aller Termine finden Sie [auf unserer Website](https://www.masselverlag.de/). **15. - 23. März 2025**\ Bücherschau junior im Forum der Zukunft, Deutsches Museum - Museumsinsel\ In der Ausstellung: Timpetaa von Matthias A. Weiss **15. März 2025**, 10 - 13:00 Uhr\ Stemmerhof, Plinganserstraße 6, 81369 München\ Büchermesse: Unabhängige Kleinverlage und 14:00 Uhr\ Lesung: Timpetaa mit Matthias A. Weiss **22. März 2025**, 18:30 Uhr\ Verlagshaus, Am Harras 14, 81373 München\ Lesung: Der Super-Faschismus mit Lisa-Maire Binder **27. - 30. März 2025**\ Leipziger Buchmesse\ Vereinbaren Sie einen Termin mit Verleger Martin Sell [](https://www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Timpetaa-Ein-Pinguin-am-Nordpol/)   Wir wünschen Ihnen einen blühenden Valentinstag, süße Begegnungen und offene Herzen, die Ihnen zufliegen mögen. Ihr massel Team\ Martin & Julia

@ 1cb14ab3:95d52462

***Tree branches, driftwood coconut. 5'7" teardrop. [Dawei, Myanmar. 2020]*** --- #### Introduction Situated on Myanmar’s Grandfather Beach, this lens captures the dramatic shape of a steep, rocky hill that mirrors the arduous road leading to this remote location. Grandfather invites viewers to reflect on the connection between journey and destination, highlighting the tension and beauty of paths less traveled. #### Site & Placement The lens is positioned at the west end of the beach, focusing on the sharp hill rising above the shoreline. Its teardrop shape accentuates the rocky prominence, emphasizing its similarity to the road that winds toward the beach. A bench, placed 12 feet away, provides a place for viewers to absorb the rugged beauty of the scene. #### Impermanence & Integration Crafted from driftwood, branches, and stone, Grandfather is a fleeting presence in this timeless landscape. Its brief existence reflects the challenges and ephemerality of the journey it highlights, blending into the environment as it gradually succumbs to the elements. #### Reflection *Grandfather* invites viewers to consider the parallels between the physical journey to reach the beach and life’s broader paths. It stands as a reminder that even the most challenging routes can lead to moments of profound beauty. --- ## Photos         --- #### More from the 'Earth Lens' Series: [Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) ["Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1736304563962/) ["Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1737844073125/) ["Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) ["Platte" (Earth Lens 004)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/sya8nv6q8k0w3olqcepwz) [COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)](https://hes.npub.pro/post/1731091744332/) --- #### More from Hes [Portfolio](https://hesart.npub.pro) [Online Store](https://plebeian.market/community/hes@nostrplebs.com/hesmart-ym3fcufdfz) [Artist Statements](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/art/) [Travel Guides](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/travel/) [Photography](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/photography) [Money](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/money) [Tech](https://hes.npub.pro/tag/tech) --- *All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.*

@ f57bac88:6045161e

## **۱. ایران پیش از هخامنشیان** پیش از ظهور **کوروش بزرگ** و تأسیس امپراتوری هخامنشی، سرزمین ایران تحت حکومت چندین تمدن و دودمان مهم قرار داشت: ### **ایلامیان (حدود ۳۰۰۰–۶۴۰ پیش از میلاد)** - **قلمرو:** جنوب غربی ایران (خوزستان امروزی) - **دستاوردها:** - ایجاد یکی از نخستین دولت‌های متمرکز در منطقه - توسعه خط نوشتاری ایلامی - جنگ‌های طولانی با بابل و آشور - در سال **۶۴۰ ق.م**، ایلام توسط **آشوربانی‌پال**، شاه آشور، فتح و ضعیف شد. ### **مادها (حدود ۷۰۰–۵۵۰ پیش از میلاد)** - **بنیان‌گذار:** دیاکو (۷۰۹–۶۵۶ ق.م) - **شاهان مهم:** - **فرورتیش:** مقابله با آشوریان و توسعه قلمرو ماد - **هووخشتره:** شکست آشور و گسترش قدرت مادها - **ایشتوویگو:** آخرین پادشاه ماد که توسط **کوروش بزرگ** شکست خورد - **دستاوردها:** - نخستین ارتش منظم در تاریخ ایران - اتحاد قبایل ایرانی و پایه‌گذاری حکومت متمرکز ### **خاندان هخامنشی پیش از کوروش** - **هخامنش:** بنیان‌گذار دودمان هخامنشی (حدود ۷۰۰ ق.م) - **چیش‌پیش:** حاکم آنشان - **کمبوجیه یکم:** پدر کوروش بزرگ کوروش بزرگ با شکست دادن مادها، نخستین امپراتوری بزرگ ایران را بنیان نهاد. --- ## **۲. هخامنشیان (۵۵۰–۳۳۰ پیش از میلاد)** ### **کوروش بزرگ؛ بنیان‌گذار نخستین امپراتوری ایرانی** - **قلمرو:** از آسیای مرکزی تا مدیترانه و مصر. - **دستاوردها:** - **تأسیس امپراتوری هخامنشی**؛ نخستین امپراتوری چندملیتی تاریخ. - **صدور منشور حقوق بشر (استوانه کوروش).** - **فتح بابل و آزادی یهودیان.** - **ایجاد سیستم حکومتی مبتنی بر احترام به فرهنگ‌ها و ادیان مختلف.** - **ایجاد جاده‌های ارتباطی برای تسهیل تجارت و حمل‌ونقل.** ### **داریوش بزرگ (۵۲۲–۴۸۶ ق.م)** - **گسترش امپراتوری و ایجاد نظام اداری پیشرفته.** - **ساخت تخت جمشید.** - **ایجاد راه شاهی برای ارتباط بهتر میان ایالت‌ها.** - **ایجاد سیستم مالی و ضرب نخستین سکه ایرانی.** ### **خشایارشا (۴۸۶–۴۶۵ ق.م)** - **نبردهای مهم با یونانیان، از جمله جنگ سالامیس.** - **تکمیل تخت جمشید و گسترش معماری هخامنشی.** ### **پایان هخامنشیان** - داریوش سوم در برابر اسکندر مقدونی شکست خورد و امپراتوری سقوط کرد. --- ## **۳. اشکانیان (۲۴۷ پیش از میلاد–۲۲۴ میلادی)** - **بنیان‌گذار:** ارشک اول. - **دستاوردها:** - مقابله با امپراتوری روم. - ایجاد نظام حکومتی نیمه‌متمرکز. - گسترش تجارت از طریق جاده ابریشم. --- ## **۴. ساسانیان (۲۲۴–۶۵۱ میلادی)** ### **شاپور اول (۲۴۱–۲۷۲ م)** - شکست دادن امپراتور روم (والرین). - توسعه علمی و فرهنگی. ### **انوشیروان دادگر (۵۳۱–۵۷۹ م)** - اصلاحات مالی و اداری. - ترویج علم و فلسفه. ### **یزدگرد سوم (۶۳۲–۶۵۱ م)** - آخرین شاه ساسانی، شکست در برابر حمله اعراب مسلمان. --- ## **۵. سلسله‌های محلی و اسلامی** - **سامانیان، آل‌بویه، سلجوقیان** نقش مهمی در حفظ فرهنگ ایرانی داشتند. --- ## **۶. صفویان (۱۵۰۱–۱۷۳۶ میلادی)** - **شاه اسماعیل صفوی:** رسمی کردن مذهب تشیع. - **شاه عباس بزرگ:** توسعه اقتصادی، رونق اصفهان، اصلاحات نظامی. --- ## **۷. افشاریان (۱۷۳۶–۱۷۹۶ میلادی)** - **نادرشاه افشار:** شکست امپراتوری مغول هند، بازپس‌گیری خراسان. --- ## **۸. زندیان (۱۷۵۱–۱۷۹۴ میلادی)** - **کریم‌خان زند:** صلح و توسعه اقتصادی، ساخت بازار وکیل شیراز. --- ## **۹. قاجاریان (۱۷۹۶–۱۹۲۵ میلادی)** - **آغامحمدخان قاجار:** تأسیس حکومت قاجار. - **اصلاحات امیرکبیر، جنگ‌های ایران و روس، انقلاب مشروطه.** --- ## **۱۰. پهلوی (۱۹۲۵–۱۹۷۹ میلادی)** ### **رضاشاه (۱۹۲۵–۱۹۴۱)** - **نوسازی ایران، توسعه آموزش، ایجاد راه‌آهن سراسری.** - **تأسیس دانشگاه تهران و مدرن‌سازی نظام اداری.** - **حذف القاب سنتی و ارتقای جایگاه زنان در جامعه.** ### **محمدرضا شاه (۱۹۴۱–۱۹۷۹)** - **انقلاب سفید و اصلاحات ارضی.** - **افزایش درآمد نفتی و توسعه صنعتی ایران.** - **ایجاد زیرساخت‌های اقتصادی مدرن.** - **برگزاری جشن‌های ۲۵۰۰ ساله شاهنشاهی.** --- ## **جمع‌بندی** ایران در طول تاریخ شاهد حکومت‌های متعددی بوده که هر کدام در توسعه فرهنگی، اقتصادی و نظامی کشور نقش داشته‌اند.

@ f57bac88:6045161e

#### ۱. دوران پالئولیتیک (عصر حجر قدیم) دوران پالئولیتیک یا عصر سنگ قدیم، اولین دوره از تاریخ بشری است که به زمانی برمی‌گردد که انسان‌ها هنوز به‌طور عمده در زندگی شکارچی-گردآورنده بودند و ابزارهای ابتدایی سنگی را برای تأمین غذا و سایر نیازهای خود استفاده می‌کردند. این دوران بیش از ۲٫۵ میلیون سال به طول انجامید و انسان‌ها در آن زندگی سخت و متکی به شکار و گردآوری میوه‌ها و گیاهان داشتند. در ایران، این دوره بیشتر در مناطق غربی و مرکزی کشور شواهدی از سکونت انسان‌های اولیه به‌جا گذاشته است. مناطقی مانند **غارهای میرعماد در لرستان** و **غار شوش** در جنوب غرب ایران، از مکان‌های مهم این دوران هستند که نشان‌دهنده حضور انسان‌های نئاندرتال و هوموساپینس در این منطقه هستند. ابزارهای سنگی کشف‌شده از این مکان‌ها، نشان‌دهنده استفاده انسان‌های اولیه از سنگ‌ها برای ساخت چاقوها، تیغه‌ها و ابزارهای مختلف برای شکار و جمع‌آوری غذا بوده است. در این دوران، انسان‌ها همچنان در گروه‌های کوچک زندگی می‌کردند و عمدتاً به‌صورت پراکنده در مناطق مختلف سکونت داشتند. #### ۲. دوران نوسنگی (Neolithic) دوران نوسنگی، که آغاز آن به حدود ۱۰,۰۰۰ سال پیش بازمی‌گردد، به‌عنوان یکی از تحولات اساسی تاریخ بشری شناخته می‌شود. در این دوره، انسان‌ها به تدریج از زندگی شکارگری به کشاورزی و دامداری روی آوردند. این تغییر، نه تنها در سبک زندگی بشر، بلکه در ساختارهای اجتماعی، اقتصادی و فرهنگی جوامع نیز انقلابی بزرگ ایجاد کرد. انسان‌ها برای اولین بار گیاهان را کشت و از آنها برای تأمین غذا استفاده کردند و همچنین دام‌ها را اهلی کردند. در ایران، از جمله مهم‌ترین مکان‌هایی که نشان‌دهنده آغاز کشاورزی و زندگی روستایی است می‌توان به **چغاگلان** در کردستان اشاره کرد. این منطقه یکی از اولین محوطه‌های باستانی است که شواهدی از کشاورزی اولیه در آن پیدا شده است. همچنین **تل برآفتاب** در کرمانشاه و **تل هندیجان** در جنوب غرب ایران نیز از دیگر سایت‌های مهم نوسنگی هستند که شواهدی از نخستین جوامع کشاورزی و دامداری در آنها به‌دست آمده است. زندگی در این دوران به‌طور عمده در روستاهای کوچک متمرکز بود و مردم در کنار کشاورزی و دامداری، به‌صورت ابتدایی صنایع دستی نیز تولید می‌کردند. این دوره شروعی برای روابط تجاری و فرهنگی میان جوامع مختلف بود که به تدریج پیچیدگی‌های بیشتری پیدا کرد. #### ۳. دوران مس و سنگ (Chalcolithic) دوران مس و سنگ که به آن **دوران چاله‌کولیتیک** نیز گفته می‌شود، مرحله‌ای میان دوران نوسنگی و مفرغ است که حدود ۵,۰۰۰ سال پیش آغاز شد. در این دوران، انسان‌ها از فلزات، به‌ویژه مس، استفاده کردند و ابزارهایی ساختند که در کنار ابزارهای سنگی قرار می‌گرفت. این دوره، به‌ویژه به‌عنوان دوران گذار از عصر سنگ به عصر مفرغ شناخته می‌شود. یکی از مهم‌ترین ویژگی‌های این دوران، استفاده اولیه از فلزات است که امکان ساخت ابزارهایی با دقت و کارایی بالاتر را فراهم کرد. در کنار کشاورزی و دامداری، تجارت و ارتباطات میان جوامع مختلف شروع به گسترش کرد و باعث تبادل کالاها و ایده‌ها بین مناطق مختلف شد. از مهم‌ترین محوطه‌های باستانی این دوره می‌توان به **تپه سیلک** در کاشان اشاره کرد که در آن آثار بسیاری از زندگی کشاورزی، صنایع دستی و حتی شواهدی از ساخت‌وسازهای ابتدایی پیدا شده است. **تپه نوشیجان** در همدان نیز یکی دیگر از سایت‌های مهم این دوران است که در آن آثار مس و ابزارهای فلزی کشف شده است. این آثار نشان‌دهنده توسعه فنون فلزکاری و استفاده از مس برای ساخت ابزارهای پیچیده‌تر در این دوره است. #### ۴. دوران مفرغ (Bronze Age) دوران مفرغ، که از حدود ۳۰۰۰ سال پیش از میلاد آغاز شد، یکی از مهم‌ترین دوران‌ها در تاریخ بشری است. در این دوره، استفاده از فلز مفرغ برای ساخت ابزار، سلاح‌ها و اشیاء تزئینی گسترش یافت. دوران مفرغ نه‌تنها از نظر تکنولوژیکی بلکه از نظر فرهنگی و اجتماعی نیز اهمیت زیادی دارد، زیرا در این دوره جوامع انسانی پیچیدگی‌های بیشتری پیدا کرده و به‌تدریج به تمدن‌های بزرگتری تبدیل شدند. ایران در دوران مفرغ شاهد شکل‌گیری تمدن‌های اولیه‌ای همچون ایلامیان بود. این تمدن‌ها در جنوب غربی ایران (مناطق کنونی استان خوزستان و استان ایلام) و در نواحی شمال غرب کشور ریشه دوانیدند. در این دوران، ساختارهای سیاسی و اجتماعی پیچیده‌تر شد و نشانه‌های اولیه از شکل‌گیری دولت‌های شهری و پیشرفته‌تر به‌وجود آمد. یکی از مهم‌ترین سایت‌های باستانی این دوره، **تپه حسنلو** در آذربایجان غربی است که شواهدی از یک تمدن پیشرفته با استفاده از مفرغ در آن پیدا شده است. این تپه که به‌عنوان یکی از مهم‌ترین محوطه‌های باستانی شناخته می‌شود، آثار مختلفی از جمله سلاح‌ها، ابزارها و مصنوعات هنری از دوران مفرغ را در خود جای داده است. همچنین، **تپه سفالی** در جنوب غرب ایران نیز نشان‌دهنده روند پیشرفت در استفاده از مفرغ و تغییرات فرهنگی در این دوره است. در این زمان، جوامع انسانی به‌طور گسترده‌تری در زمینه‌های کشاورزی، تجارت، فنون ساخت‌وساز و هنرهای تزئینی فعالیت می‌کردند. استفاده از مفرغ نه‌تنها به ارتقاء صنعت و فنون مرتبط با آن کمک کرد، بلکه زمینه را برای ظهور تمدن‌های بزرگ‌تر مانند ایلامیان فراهم آورد. #### نتیجه‌گیری تاریخ باستانی ایران گواهی است بر تکامل انسان‌ها از دوره‌های ابتدایی شکارگری و گردآوری به جوامع پیچیده‌تر کشاورزی، دامداری و تولید صنایع دستی و فلزی. این تحولات از دوران پالئولیتیک تا دوران مفرغ باعث شد تا ایران به یکی از کانون‌های مهم تمدن‌سازی در تاریخ بشری تبدیل شود. پیشرفت‌های تکنولوژیکی، ساختارهای اجتماعی پیچیده‌تر و گسترش ارتباطات تجاری و فرهنگی در این دوره‌ها، زمینه‌ساز ظهور تمدن‌های بزرگ و پیچیده‌ای مانند ایلامیان، هخامنشیان و ساسانیان شد که در تاریخ ایران و جهان نقش مهمی ایفا کردند. این تاریخچه در کنار آثار باستانی که از این دوران به‌جا مانده است، همچنان دلیلی برای عظمت و شکوه تمدن ایران در تاریخ بشر است.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the intricate and rapidly evolving world of digital currencies, the interplay between Bitcoin and the US dollar, particularly through the medium of stablecoins, stands out as a subject of profound significance. Mark Goodwin, a renowned figure in the realm of Bitcoin and an advocate for decentralized financial systems, sheds light on this complex dynamic. This article delves deeper into the nuanced relationship between Bitcoin and the dollar, the pivotal role of stablecoins, and the risks they entail, drawing upon the extensive expertise of Goodwin. **Table Of Content** - Understanding the Bitcoin-Dollar Symbiosis - The Role of Stablecoins - Mark Goodwin's Perspective on Stablecoins - Conclusion - FAQs **Understanding the Bitcoin-Dollar Symbiosis** The relationship between Bitcoin and the US dollar is a fascinating study in contrasts and interdependencies. Bitcoin, known for its decentralized nature, offers a politically neutral platform but is characterized by significant price volatility. This volatility stands in stark contrast to the relative stability of the US dollar, a currency backed by the full faith and credit of the US government. The dollar, often used as a benchmark for Bitcoin's value, follows its trajectory in many ways, particularly in regions where Bitcoin is gaining traction. The symbiosis between Bitcoin and the dollar is particularly evident in the context of global financial instability. In regions with volatile local currencies, the adoption of Bitcoin often leads to a parallel increase in the use of dollar-based stablecoins. This phenomenon suggests that Bitcoin's growth could inadvertently bolster the stability and global reach of the US dollar. Moreover, the Bitcoin-dollar dynamic is not just limited to direct financial transactions. It extends to the broader implications for monetary policy, international trade, and global economic stability. As Bitcoin continues to gain acceptance, it challenges traditional financial systems and currencies, including the dollar, prompting a reevaluation of their roles in a digital age. **The Role of Stablecoins** Stablecoins, designed to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset space, play a crucial role in this relationship. By pegging their value to stable assets like the US dollar, they offer a less volatile alternative to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This stability is essential for global commerce, enabling near-instantaneous transactions with lower fees compared to traditional banking systems. In economies plagued by inflation, stablecoins offer a haven for individuals and businesses to preserve their wealth. They provide a degree of financial stability and predictability that is often lacking in local currencies. This aspect of stablecoins is particularly appealing in developing countries, where currency instability can be a significant barrier to economic growth and stability. Furthermore, stablecoins are increasingly being seen as a tool for financial inclusion. They offer an accessible entry point for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked, providing them with a means to participate in the global economy. This potential for social impact adds another layer of significance to the role of stablecoins in the financial ecosystem. **Mark Goodwin's Perspective on Stablecoins** Mark Goodwin, with his deep understanding of Bitcoin and its implications for the financial world, offers a critical perspective on stablecoins. He acknowledges their potential benefits but also highlights the risks associated with their use. **Price Stability Concerns** Goodwin points out that while stablecoins aim to maintain a stable value, there are inherent risks in keeping their peg to the underlying asset. Market conditions, liquidity issues, and redemption pressures can all threaten the stability of stablecoins. If these risks are not adequately managed, it can lead to a deviation from the peg and a potential loss of trust from users. **Regulatory Challenges** The evolving regulatory landscape surrounding stablecoins is another area of concern. As authorities worldwide grapple with how to regulate these digital assets, stablecoin projects must navigate a complex web of financial regulations to achieve long-term viability. Goodwin emphasizes the need for a balanced regulatory approach that ensures consumer protection without stifling innovation. **Potential for Market Manipulation** Given their substantial market capitalization, stablecoins are susceptible to market manipulation. The limited oversight in the rapidly expanding cryptocurrency space amplifies this risk. Goodwin advocates for enhanced transparency and regulatory frameworks to mitigate these risks and ensure market integrity. **Conclusion** The relationship between Bitcoin and the dollar, especially through the medium of stablecoins, represents a delicate balance between the ideals of decentralization and the practicalities of financial stability. While stablecoins offer promising solutions for global financial transactions, they come with inherent risks that require careful consideration. Goodwin's insights underscore the importance of vigilance and a thoughtful approach to integrating these digital assets into the broader financial system. As the market continues to evolve, the role of stablecoins in shaping the future of finance remains a critical area for exploration and debate. **FAQs** **How do stablecoins fit into the Bitcoin-dollar dynamic?** Stablecoins serve as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. Pegged to stable assets like the US dollar, they offer a less volatile alternative to cryptocurrencies and facilitate global commerce with near-instant transactions and lower fees. **What are the risks associated with stablecoins?** Risks include challenges in maintaining the peg to the underlying asset, regulatory uncertainties, and potential for market manipulation. These risks can threaten the stability and trust in stablecoins. **What is Mark Goodwin's perspective on stablecoins?** Mark Goodwin acknowledges the benefits of stablecoins but warns about the risks of centralization and manipulation. He emphasizes the need for balanced regulation and transparency to mitigate risks. **Can stablecoins promote financial inclusion?** Yes, stablecoins can provide financial inclusion by offering an accessible entry point for unbanked or underbanked individuals, allowing them to participate in the global economy. **How does Bitcoin's growth affect the US dollar?** Bitcoin's growth, particularly in regions with unstable currencies, can lead to increased adoption of dollar-based stablecoins, potentially bolstering the US dollar's global reach and stability. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ f683e870:557f5ef2

After many months of ideation, research, and heads-down building, <span data-type="mention" data-id="726a1e261cc6474674e8285e3951b3bb139be9a773d1acf49dc868db861a1c11" data-label="nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9">@nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9</span> and myself are excited to announce our new project called Vertex. **Vertex’s mission is to provide developers and builders with the most up-to-date and easy-to-use social graph tools**. Our services will enable our future customers to improve the experience they provide by offering: - Protection against **impersonation** and **DoS attacks** - Personalized **discovery** and **recommendations**. All in an open, transparent and interoperable way. ## Open and Interoperable We have structured our services as [NIP-90 Data Vending Machines](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/90.md). We are currently using [these DVMs](https://vertexlab.io/docs/nips) and we are eager to hear what the community thinks and if anyone has suggestions for improvements. Regardless of their specific structures, using DVMs means one very important thing: **no vendor lock-in**. Anyone can start processing the same requests and compete with us to offer the most accurate results at the best price. This is very important for us because we are well aware that services like ours can potentially become a central point of failure. The ease with which we can be replaced by a competitor will keep us on our toes and will continue to motivate us to build better and better experiences for our customers, all while operating in an ethical and open manner. Speaking of openness, we have released **all of our code under the [MIT license](https://spdx.org/licenses/MIT.html)**, which means that anyone can review our algorithms, and any company or power user can run their own copies of Vertex if they so wish. We are confident in this decision because the value of Vertex is not in the software. It is in the team who designed and implemented it – and now continually improves, manages and runs it to provide the most accurate results with the lowest latency and highest uptime. # What we offer We currently support three DVMs, but we plan to increase our offering substantially this year. 1. `VerifyReputation`: give your users useful and personalized information to asses the reputation of an npub, minimizing the risk of impersonations. 2. `RecommendFollows`: give your users personalized recommendations about interesting npubs they might want who to follow. 3. `SortAuthors`: give your users the ability to sort replies, comments, zaps, search results or just about anything using authors’ reputations. To learn more, watch this 3-minute walk-through video, and [visit our website](https://vertexlab.io/) https://cdn.satellite.earth/6efabff7da55ce848074351b2d640ca3bde4515060d9aba002461a4a4ddad8d8.mp4 We are also considering offering a custom service to help builders clarify and implement their vision for Web of Trust in their own applications or projects. Please reach out if you are interested.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Ate a little later yesterday. I took my daughter for a scooter ride on a trail near our house (I was walking) and she wanted to go farther than normal. Great for the steps challenge. Then, as soon as we turned around to go home, she decided she was too tired to scoot anymore. So, I got to do the return leg of the walk carrying both the kid and her scooter. We were out about an hour longer than expected, hence the later meal. ## Score Card Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry) Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry) Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry) Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry) Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry) Day 7: TBD (15 dry) originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/878700

@ e7bc35f8:3ed2a7cf

The strategic importance of Syria in shaping the balance of power in the Middle East is undeniable. Positioned at the crossroads of key regional players, Syria has long been a battleground for competing interests. From its alliances with Russia and Iran to its role in energy politics, the country has been targeted by external forces seeking to reshape the region to their advantage. Syria has historically been an essential ally of Russia, providing the Russian navy access to the Mediterranean through the port of Latakia. At the same time, Iran has viewed Syria as a critical component of the so-called "Shiite Crescent," which provides Tehran with a vital connection to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Any disruption in Syria would have significant consequences for both Russian and Iranian strategic interests. On August 31, 2011, [Amnesty International](https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/MDE24/035/2011/en/) released a report accusing the Syrian government of being responsible for the deaths of 88 detainees from recent protests. However, like most media narratives surrounding the conflict,[ the allegations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paR5_hu64H0) were based entirely on second-hand accounts and contextless video snippets provided by opposition forces actively attempting to overthrow the Assad government. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the establishment media eagerly propagated the story, fueling calls for "humanitarian intervention." This followed a familiar pattern: the invocation of the so-called "[Responsibility to Protect](https://www.globalresearch.ca/humanitarian-neo-colonialism-framing-libya-and-reframing-war/24617)" doctrine, a pretext used by global powers to justify military invasions and devastating bombing campaigns under the guise of protecting civilians. As seen with Libya, Western leaders—including Obama, Sarkozy, Cameron, and Harper—[called for Assad's removal](https://youtu.be/qNtICdGDdwQ?si=PW--2jwV8Ed1GRYY), paving the way for potential NATO military intervention. Long before the Arab Spring, Western governments had been laying the groundwork for regime change in Syria. In April 2011, [a U.S. State Department official](https://web.archive.org/web/20110411130724/https://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/08/us-trains-activists-to-evade-security-forces/) admitted to running a two-year, $50 million program aimed at equipping protesters with new technologies to evade government detection. The same official revealed that activists from Syria and other Arab Spring countries had received training just before the uprisings began. Earlier that year, [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-secretly-backed-syrian-opposition-groups-cables-released-by-wikileaks-show/2011/04/14/AF1p9hwD_story.html) published leaked U.S. diplomatic cables proving that Washington had been secretly funding Syrian opposition groups since at least 2005—well before the so-called "spontaneous" protests erupted. This raises a critical question: why would an isolated government facing the threat of NATO intervention deliberately provoke the West by ordering snipers to fire on unarmed protesters at funerals? The mainstream media never questioned these dubious claims, which were sourced from anonymous, second-hand, and unverified reports. n 2010, a group called [Gen Next](https://web.archive.org/web/20090213090409/https://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2008/November/20081120122321eaifas0.3440363.html) (renamed now as [Alder](https://alder.co/about-alder/)) which has been involved with Alliance of Youth Movements in organizing youth-led destabilization campaigns in countries that are not friendly to American and Israeli interests had delivered a [training program](https://web.archive.org/web/20110929221929/https://www.gen-next.org/index.php/programs/gallery/-/album/5482723470431484737/) in which participants were taught how to handle high-powered sniper rifles and shoulder-mounted grenade launchers. Predictably, these reports were ignored in the West. In August 2011, Israeli intelligence-linked outlet DEBKAfile [reported](https://web.archive.org/web/20110815020301/http://www.debka.com/article/21207/) that NATO and the Turkish military were drafting plans for a military campaign in Syria, which included arming opposition fighters with anti-tank and anti-air rockets, mortars, and heavy machine guns. As the situation escalated, the establishment media once again cheered on war, pushing for intervention under the guise of protecting Syrian civilians. The cycle repeated itself in 2013, when Western governments accused Assad of using [chemical weapons](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7-S1QAmWQQ), conveniently ignoring the overwhelming opposition to another military adventure. By 2013, the American public had grown weary of endless wars. Despite relentless efforts by the White House to manufacture consent for a unilateral strike on Syria, there was widespread opposition—not just [in the U.S.](https://web.archive.org/web/20150808142142/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/08/26/new-poll-syria-intervention-even-less-popular-than-congress/), but [globally](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPGjbwqHRNs). [John Kerry](https://web.archive.org/web/20130827020025/http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/08/213503.htm) and [Barack Obama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxyBKKYPT4c) falsely claimed that Assad was responsible for a chemical weapons attack, using this as a pretext for military intervention. However, independent analysts and insiders exposed this as a false flag operation. Even in the UK, the propaganda push faltered when British Prime Minister [David Cameron](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnKKPwEX_ac) lost a crucial [parliamentary vote](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obxu5W9Wru8) on military action in Syria. As more evidence [surfaced](https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/International/Did-the-White-House-Help-Plan-the-Syrian-Chemical-Attack.html), it became clear that the attack had been perpetrated by U.S.-backed terrorist groups—and that the U.S. government knew about it in advance. When even members of the British Parliament called out the deception, the war narrative collapsed, exposing the extent of the manufactured crisis. The events in Syria were not isolated. Retired U.S. General Wesley Clark famously [revealed ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzX3DfZR_1c)that he had overheard a conversation at the Pentagon about a plan to invade seven countries—including Iraq, Libya, and Syria—long before the Arab Spring. While Clark’s timeline was not entirely accurate, the overarching strategy of destabilization was clear. Key figures in the U.S. defense establishment at the time—including Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, and Richard Perle—had extensive [ties to Israel](https://web.archive.org/web/20130904083848/https://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/08/27/fbi.spy/), raising the question of whether a broader Zionist agenda was at play. [Documents ](https://web.archive.org/web/20130117222422/https://www.informationclearinghouse.info/pdf/The%20Zionist%20Plan%20for%20the%20Middle%20East.pdf)such as the infamous "Oded Yinon Plan" ([Greater Israel](https://www.globalresearch.ca/greater-israel-the-zionist-plan-for-the-middle-east/5324815)) outlined strategies for the dissolution of Syria and Iraq into ethnically and religiously divided territories, weakening any potential opposition to Israeli expansion. The plan explicitly called for breaking Syria apart into sectarian statelets, mirroring the strategy used to divide Lebanon. The long-term goal was clear: to ensure that Israel’s adversaries remained fragmented and powerless. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/313eed84ca3bff42df56ba7fd73028266ad13ab6b20bba3126aa9d4238550476.png"> "Divide and conquer" is a strategy used for millennia. And this is what happens in Syria so many years as we were seeing the Sunni majority fighting the Alawite sect in Power under Assad and his father for decades. And it's interesting to see not only the native inhabitants Sunni of Syria but of course the foreign funded jihadists who were being shipped into the country and fueling all that conflict. Part of what this was about, it's the destabilization of the [Shia land bridge](https://phibetaiota.net/2013/05/graphic-irans-shia-land-bridge-to-lebanon-mediterranean/) that connects Iran all the way to its Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, which runs through Syria. But if that can be destabilized and the Shia Alawite sect minority that rules Syria can be replaced with a Sunni majority ruling over the country then that would break up that link between Iran and Lebanon and further destabilize and isolate Iran. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c3e9eedd9f2140bb63a552ff08eb8aab1ca10ae981da2a6841b496baec230937.jpg"> And this is something that can be seen in policy planning documents of various think tanks, as in the infamous "[Which path to Persia?](https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/02/brookings-which-path-to-persia.html?m=1)" document from Brookings Institution. As we start to expand the scope of this, then of course the thing that always in these Middle East conflicts comes into play is the natural resources. Let's remember the prospect of the [Iraq, Iran, Syria pipeline](https://web.archive.org/web/20130727143145/https://www.tehrantimes.com/economy-and-business/758-iran-iraq-syria-sign-major-gas-pipeline-deal-). Iran, Iraq, and Syria had signed a deal for the construction of the Middle East’s largest gas pipeline, which would transit Iranian gas from Iran’s South Pars gas field to Europe via Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea. What we were talking about back then was a pipeline providing traveling from Iran to Europe, through the Mediterranean. [That move](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNet5aLKaWg) was about to change the power balance of the region. Such a [project ](https://web.archive.org/web/20130723151340/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-04-230713.html)had the potential to shift the regional power balance dramatically. The mere prospect of it was enough to anger multiple stakeholders, from the U.S. and Israel to Turkey and the Gulf monarchies, all of whom had vested interests in preventing [Syria ](https://web.archive.org/web/20130831121243/http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-04-290813.html)from becoming an energy corridor. The war in Syria was never about democracy, humanitarian concerns, or chemical weapons. It was about [power](https://web.archive.org/web/20130315191710/http://www.davemanuel.com/2010/06/14/us-military-spending-over-the-years/), [control](https://web.archive.org/web/20130318180618/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/10/10-companies-profiting-most-from-war/1970997/), and the relentless [pursuit ](https://web.archive.org/web/20130306140329/http://www.businessinsider.com/top-25-us-defense-companies-2012-2?op=1)of strategic dominance by Western and regional actors. The destabilization of Syria served multiple agendas—weakening Iran, severing Russia’s influence, ensuring Israel’s security, and controlling energy routes. What we have witnessed over the past decade is not a civil war, but a foreign-orchestrated campaign to dismantle yet another independent state in the Middle East. Understanding these dynamics is essential in recognizing how mainstream narratives are crafted to justify war while hiding the real motivations behind the chaos. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/b1e0155c7bd73c05fe6323e9131d528842c6410f6520f0cc7885b6bdb5022084.jpg">

@ ed60dae0:cc3d5108

Welcome to the first Situation Report from The First Bastion. Before we begin, please make sure you’ve read the disclaimer, which applies to all our content. You can find it here: [Disclaimer](https://primal.net/bergman/Disclaimer-or2cwd) In short: **Not Financial Advice**. ## Price Study Starting with the three-day (3D) chart—this is my favorite timeframe for gauging Bitcoin’s movements and identifying potential future trends. The 3D chart is high enough to filter out noise, making it easier to see the bigger picture. For instance, this week, Bitcoin dipped to $92,000 before ripping back to $102,000, all within 24 hours. However, the timeframe is also low enough to extract signals early, rather than receiving the party invitation when the party is already over—something that often happens with higher timeframes. https://blossom.primal.net/6f940d0cbb23f92f790e5cf03ae4685485336da27785ae6a7568614a41add7f0.png The chart presents a clear picture of Bitcoin consolidating between $92,000 and $106,000. Although there have been wicks above and below these levels, we haven’t seen a definitive close beyond this range. Statistically, trends are more likely to continue than to break. This means that when the price consolidates, it tends to reverse at the extremes—declining from the range high and rising from the range low. However, emotions often interfere, leading traders to get greedy at resistance (range high) and fearful at support (range low). Two key indicators I watch on this chart are the RSI and its Moving Average (MA), as well as the Returns indicator. While not perfect, when the RSI is above its MA and the MA crosses above 50, Bitcoin typically enters a new leg up, and vice versa. Recently, Bitcoin attempted to push above but lacked the momentum to sustain it, keeping it in a downtrend toward consolidation around the 50 mark. The other key indicator is the Returns indicator, which, in this instance, tracks a 90-day rolling return. Historically, when Bitcoin’s returns exceeded 200% within 90 days, it marked a cycle top. The yellow line represents a one-standard-deviation return, currently around 57%. While the indicator hit an 80% return recently, the ongoing consolidation has allowed it to revert toward the mean. This could provide more room for further gains if Bitcoin manages to push higher. ## Tariffs This week’s Situation Report wouldn’t be complete without addressing the impact of the newly imposed [tariffs](https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/) on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. For two consecutive weekends, market-moving news has emerged, sending prices lower. First, it was the DeepSeek AI news, and this weekend, the tariffs. While President Trump had previously announced his intent to impose tariffs, the market was uncertain about the specifics. Would they be implemented gradually, with an effective date further in the future, or would high tariffs be imposed abruptly? It turned out to be the latter. This raised another question: was this a bargaining strategy or a long-term policy shift? On camera, Donald J. Trump stated that Canada and Mexico could do nothing to prevent the tariffs from taking effect. With a strengthening dollar and growing market uncertainty, many risk assets sold off, including Bitcoin— which is the most liquid asset, tradable 24/7. However, after calls with Mexican and Canadian leaders on monday, during which they pledged to reinforce border security, Trump delayed the tariff’s effective date by 30 days, leading to a market rebound. ## DXY Let’s take a look at how the DXY has been behaving lately. Since early October 2024, the DXY has risen from 100 to 110, a level it reached in early January. However, after Trump took office, the DXY began to decline, ultimately leading to a breakdown of the uptrend. https://blossom.primal.net/0792ea022d78637290860b2f59e0bd95567a55ceb4f93a493df878e5db782b1e.png A stronger dollar generally signals contracting global liquidity. Since a significant portion of global debt is denominated in dollars, a stronger dollar (relative to other fiat currencies) makes it harder for corporations earning revenue in other fiat currencies to service their debt. This, in turn, slows down—or even reverses—their ability to invest. Take note of the sharp spike at the beginning of this week, which briefly pushed the DXY back to nearly 110. This move followed the tariff news but was fully retraced after the announcement that tariffs would be delayed by 30 days. ## US10Y This brings us to another highly impactful factor in financial markets: the yield on the 10-Year Treasury Note. There has been extensive discussion about this yield, with crypto OG Arthur Hayes predicting in his [blog](https://cryptohayes.substack.com/p/the-ugly) that it would rise due to a confrontation between the Trump administration and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. He argued that this temporary spike in bond yields could trigger a mini-financial crisis, sending all markets lower and pushing Bitcoin back to the $70,000 mark. https://blossom.primal.net/e3b3c4247d876f986464f033c11c87f29f1b393504c7bd8076bab93892d996b3.png President Trump has long been vocal about his demand for lower interest rates. To achieve this, he needs the Federal Reserve to ease policy and bring rates down. However, the Fed operates under a dual mandate: maintaining a healthy labor market while keeping inflation under control. If the Fed lowers the central bank funds rate too aggressively, bond vigilantes may step in and demand higher yields to compensate for rising inflation expectations. This would backfire on Trump’s demands and put the Fed in a difficult position, as it would no longer be acting in the best interest of the American people in terms of inflation control. On the other hand, @nostr:npub1a2cww4kn9wqte4ry70vyfwqyqvpswksna27rtxd8vty6c74era8sdcw83a wrote a piece on [Fiscal Dominance](https://www.lynalden.com/full-steam-ahead-all-aboard-fiscal-dominance), explaining that when government debt levels become too high, the Federal Reserve’s traditional tools lose their effectiveness. A rise in interest rates would only inject more cash into the system, as higher interest costs flow to bondholders, potentially exacerbating inflationary pressures rather than containing them. That being said, for now, rates are coming down. Recently, the newly appointed Crypto Czar addressed the media, discussing plans to regulate stablecoins to reinforce U.S. dollar dominance in the global economy. This move could increase demand for U.S. Treasuries, potentially leading to lower rates due to a higher bid for these assets. To monitor whether the trend is truly reversing, I use an inverse 180-day exponential Hull moving average. While I wouldn’t say you can apply traditional technical analysis to yields, this approach could help identify when rates are rolling over. ## Economic data This week, some important economic data was released. Inflation in the EU came in 0.1% higher than expected. Meanwhile, ISM Manufacturing in the U.S. exceeded expectations with a reading of 50.9—anything above 50 indicates expansion. https://blossom.primal.net/3fe144e2921ca919e4c7428fbfbcbf2ab0aaaf8d61ee85dba87ec5fc1af24128.png JOLTs data came in slightly lower than expected. While this might seem like negative news, stocks rallied slightly in response. The reason? A weaker labor market could encourage the Federal Reserve to ease policy, aligning with its mandate. ISM Services also came in slightly below expectations, which has a dual impact. On one hand, it helps prevent inflation from overheating. On the other, it signals slightly lower revenue for companies providing these services. On Friday, the Non-Farm Payrolls report and Unemployment Rate will provide further insights into the state of the labor market. ## Short Term Holder Behaviour To start, I want to give a shoutout to [Kibo Money](https://kibo.money/chart-date-to-market-price-to-short-term-holders-realized-price-ratio?) @nostr:npub1jagmm3x39lmwfnrtvxcs9ac7g300y3dusv9lgzhk2e4x5frpxlrqa73v44 I use some of the on-chain data provided by Kibo Money, who is developing an open-source on-chain analysis software that you can run on your own server. Check it out and send him some sats! There’s a lot of alpha to be gained from analyzing the behavior of Short-Term Holders (STHs)—those holding coins that have moved recently (within the last 155 days). A study by Glassnode found that after 155 days, holders are more likely to keep their Bitcoin for the long term, making them less likely to sell. https://blossom.primal.net/bdc6dd57317079c5cc1b05c04ed610a5765e9002f81471648863109f3286bc32.png The Cost Basis (CB) for Short-Term Holders is currently around $92,000. When STHs have significant unrealized gains, they tend to sell for profit, adding selling pressure to the market. However, they also tend to sell at a loss, lacking the conviction of seasoned hodlers. While these are assumptions, the data shows a correlation, leading me to infer causation. It’s also possible that some of these coins belong to high-conviction Bitcoiners who are simply swing trading a portion of their holdings—taking profits when the price surges or cutting losses when the price drops. Either way, recently moved Bitcoin tends to move again in the near future. https://blossom.primal.net/d762b5629858c21a45e23a35f2d1d4a806699466bab2d2449172e3dee82f1c32.png The Short-Term Holder Spent Output Profit Ratio (STH SOPR) chart provides insight into when profit-taking occurs, as well as when investors capitulate and sell at a loss. It may seem straightforward, but when there’s a significant amount of unrealized profit—meaning the market price is well above the cost basis—one could take some chips off the table. Conversely, if one believes the long-term uptrend is still intact, while Short-Term Holders are panic-selling at a loss, it may be an opportunity to be greedy when others are fearful. In a bull market, the Short-Term Holder Cost Basis (STH-CB) often acts as support during pullbacks. This makes sense because as portfolios grow, investors feel confident buying more on dips in anticipation of the next leg up. The reverse is also true in a bear market—the STH-CB acts as resistance. When the price crashes and later recovers near their cost basis, many traders view it as a “Get Out of Jail Free” moment and sell at breakeven. One could use the STH-CB as a risk-on/risk-off indicator, but it isn’t foolproof. For example, during the consolidation period in the summer of ’24, the price dipped below the STH-CB, yet the broader uptrend remained intact. This highlights the importance of understanding where we are in the larger market cycle—which brings us to the next topic. ## Golden skies I like gold. Here at The First Bastion, it’s all about sound money, and gold has always been the ultimate embodiment of it. Due to its unique properties, gold is the best proxy for money that we have. However, it isn’t perfect and comes with its disadvantages—its weight makes it difficult to transport, and it cannot be used for instant settlement. Despite these limitations, gold remains one of the most important assets in today’s financial system, serving as a neutral store of value and an insurance policy against defaults. Gold recently hit new all-time highs amid growing uncertainty surrounding tariffs, wars, policy shifts, and escalating trade tensions. Many investors see two possible outcomes: 1. The structural issues at hand cannot be resolved, leading to defaults by corporations and nation-states—prompting investors to buy gold as insurance against these defaults. 2. Policymakers will intervene with short-term fixes, likely in the form of quantitative easing. While this may temporarily stabilize the system, it will also erode purchasing power, making gold a hedge against monetary inflation. So gold is ripping once again, and at this pace, it looks poised to reach $3,000 per ounce in the near future. https://blossom.primal.net/74d6b51658d24c80e6ed9d25483921bfacf4ce8080d8ccc5534541bd1db40a19.png ## BTC / GOLD I love Bitcoin. It has the potential to become an even better proxy for money than gold. While gold is not easily verifiable—a key reason why it is inferior to Bitcoin as a form of money—it still has a market cap that is ten times larger than Bitcoin’s. Since gold cannot be easily manipulated (aside from physically mining it), its inflation rate remains around 2% per year. This makes it a solid benchmark for comparing Bitcoin’s real value growth, rather than just its dollar-denominated appreciation. https://blossom.primal.net/5628178a098df954f59b6415b61c3cb810ad89a3f410b26be9267849334a8063.png Behold the BTC/GOLD Power Trend. This power trend is based on calculations by [Stephen Perrenod](https://stephenperrenod.substack.com/p/bitcoin-power-law-vs-gold-mid-2024). The BTC/GOLD price follows a statistically significant power trend, which, according to historical data, currently sits at approximately 49.21 ounces of gold per Bitcoin. At today’s gold price, this translates to a staggering $140,000 per Bitcoin. To be clear, this doesn’t provide certainty. All models are wrong, but some are useful. Many factors could shift this trend, and it will only hold if Bitcoin’s adoption rate continues at the same pace as in previous years. That said, it can serve as a valuable directional compass. Remember when I mentioned the Short-Term Holder Cost Basis (STH-CB) as a risk-on/risk-off indicator? You could refine that approach by only applying it when Bitcoin’s price is above the BTC/GOLD power trend as a potential topping signal—or below it as a bottoming signal. As of today, Bitcoin is valued at 34 ounces of gold per BTC—which is below the first cycle top of 2021 ($63,000) and near the March ‘24 local top ($73,000). The BTC/USD price currently sits around $98,500. You see where I’m going with this, right? ## Expected Outcome I approach the market with probabilities. I try to imagine what is possible and then assess what is probable. Moving forward, I’ll include my probability-based assessments in every SitRep. The goal isn’t to convince you of my opinion (on the contrary—remember my disclaimer), but rather to practice forming an informed perspective so that you can position yourself in alignment with your own assessment. Arthur Hayes recently estimated a 30% Bitcoin drawdown to be 60% likely. However, he made that assessment a few weeks ago, so his view may have evolved. After Monday’s events, I think it’s clear that Bitcoin is significantly impacted by policy changes—so one should prepare for volatility. But at the same time, Bitcoin’s rapid recovery, driven by strong buying pressure from Coinbase users, was almost unmatched by any other asset. Bitcoin is playing in the Champions League now, which means even greater [correlation](https://capriole.com/update-58/) with macroeconomic factors. A breakdown toward $70,000 is possible, but not probable. That would be a minus-one-sigma move on the BTC/GOLD Power Trend—a level previously seen during the COVID crash and the Terra Luna collapse. The recent grey swan events, like the DeepSeek AI news and tariffs announcement, only pushed Bitcoin down to $92,000. Based on this, it seems like it would take a mini-financial crisis—along with the US 10-Year Treasury Yield (US10Y) hitting 6%, as Hayes suggested—to drive Bitcoin significantly lower. Meanwhile, gold is surging into price discovery with no signs of slowing down. Bitcoin has followed gold’s trajectory—just with a slight delay. Bullish Catalysts for Bitcoin I didn’t cover them in this SitRep, but there are several bullish developments for Bitcoin, including: * The creation of an American Sovereign Wealth Fund * New and favorable SEC guidelines on crypto in the making * A possible Bitcoin Strategic Reserve * An increasing number of corporations adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets as a Treasury asset * Potential favorable policy on stablecoins, strengthening the digital asset environment * A push for lower US10Y yields, as discussed by [Jeff Park](https://x.com/dgt10011/status/1887316068189733259) The market is likely to remain messy, with ongoing discussions about tariffs and policy changes. But there’s one thing that keeps me thinking. Despite a bullish outlook, the price isn’t moving higher on good news—a signal that shouldn’t be ignored. It suggests that investors who want exposure to Bitcoin already have their positions. In other words, there’s a lack of new money flowing in. Without fresh demand, any negative news could tip the scales toward selling, exacerbated by momentum traders and liquidations. Demand for neutral, scarce, and highly desirable assets—like gold—is clearly increasing. Bitcoin needs to capture some of that demand, too. That’s why I’m watching the DXY, US10Y, and GOLD like a hawk. Stay sound, J.M. Bergman

@ 044da344:073a8a0e

Knapp ein Jahr hat es gedauert nach meinen letzten Gesprächen im Apolut-Studio, seinerzeit mit [Robert Cibis](https://apolut.net/im-gespraech-robert-cibis/) und [Yann Song King](https://apolut.net/im-gespraech-yann-song-king/) und am Rande von Berlin schon längst nicht mehr so komfortabel wie einst an der bayerisch-österreichischen Grenze oder dann im Süden Schwedens, wo eine komplette Mannschaft für perfekte Qualität gesorgt hat. Kamera, Ton, Regie, Maske und sogar eine Gästebetreuung. Lauter Profis, aber irgendwann offenbar nicht mehr zu bezahlen aus Spenden und wahrscheinlich auch überholt von der Konkurrenz im Internet, die mit einfachen Mitteln zwar weit unterhalb aller TV-Standards bleibt, aber aktuell ist, viel, viel günstiger und inhaltlich trotzdem sehr oft sehr spannend. Egal. Auf Onlineinterviews hatte und habe ich keine Lust. Ich möchte den Menschen spüren, um den es geht. Vorher mit ihm reden und hinterher hoffentlich auch noch. Ich telefoniere nur im Notfall, weil dort vieles von dem verlorengeht, was den Austausch ausmacht. Zoom und Co. liefern zwar ein Bild, sind aber ansonsten nicht viel besser. Um das nur mit einer Zahl zu illustrieren: Bei einem Bildschirmgespräch dauert es zweieinhalb Sekunden, bis mein Gegenüber registriert, dass ich etwas sagen will. Live und in Farbe liegt die Reaktionszeit bei knapp der Hälfte. Also habe ich aus der Not eine Tugend gemacht und bin selbst zum Produzenten geworden. Nicht ganz allein natürlich. Es gab Tipps von Dirk Wächter, der für viele der Bilder und Videos von Daniele Ganser steht und die Apolut-Gäste auf unnachahmliche Weise fotografiert hat, von Paul Brandenburg, der Technik borgte, und von Ingmar Beyer, den ich im großen Studio kennenlernen durfte und der nun auch bei meinen eigenen Versuchen dafür sorgt, dass der Ton stimmt. Vielen Dank dafür.  Ein Dank gilt auch Axel Klopprogge, den die Leser dieser Seite aus der Kolumne [Oben & Unten](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/columns/2) kennen und der sich gewissermaßen als Versuchskaninchen zur Verfügung stellte. Der Anlass war denkbar günstig, als wir uns Ende Januar im Wohnzimmerstudio trafen: Gerade war seine Aufsatzsammlung „Links oder rechts oder was?“ erschienen – Stoff genug für 90 Minuten. Das Buch wird morgen in meiner [Kolumne](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/columns/5) noch einmal gesondert gewürdigt. Wer in unser [Gespräch](https://youtu.be/LUiUAhb2OXY) hineinschaut, wird schnell den Unterschied zu Apolut sehen: Es gibt Publikum. Gut zehn Menschen, die hoffentlich wiederkommen. Die nächsten Gäste: [Michael Beleites](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/resonanz-aus-dem-osten), mit dem ich über den Darwinismus reden werde und über all das, was diese Ideologie aus uns gemacht hat, sowie Erich Hambach, der gerade auf den letzten Metern für sein Buch „Herren des Geldes“ ist. [Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/) [Unterstützen](https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/unterstuetzen)

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Apparently, there's still another NFL game and, I suppose, we have to discuss it. I'm much more excited to get into all the NBA trades that happened. Who got better? Who got worse? Who did something really weird? Of course, we'll talk about the contests going on in the territory. MLB's ramping up. Can anyone challenge the Dodgers? Ovi is trying to get back on pace to break NHL's career scoring record. Any bets we're excited about Plus, whatever the stackers want us to cover (time and memory permitting) originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/878674

@ 54286b98:3debc100

Reality is clear when we stand in the light.\ Falsehood appears when we tilt ourselves just enough to distort what’s real. Every object—tree, person, or building—casts a shadow.\ But only the object is real. The shadow is an effect, not the truth. Light reveals what’s true. Darkness hides it, warping our perspective.\ Our angle to the light source changes everything. Christ is that source of light. He shines on everyone—no matter who we are.\ He doesn’t shift. Truth doesn’t shift. But we do. Our minds waver like waves in the ocean, creating ever-changing shadows.\ Those shifting shadows can fool us. Today, let’s choose to stand in his perfect light.\ Let’s notice where we need to grow and refuse to be deceived by distorted reflections.\ Let’s anchor ourselves to what’s real. Until next time,\ **J** > Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. **James 1: 16-18** *Original article published on: [https://www.javierfeliu.com/blog/shifting-shadows/](https://www.javierfeliu.com/blog/shifting-shadows/)\ Photo by [Yang Deng](https://unsplash.com/@palon?ref=javierfeliu.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=ghost&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=api-credit)*

@ a367f9eb:0633efea

Issued on January 23, 2025, Staff Accounting Bulletin 122 rescinds SAB 121, [originally issued](https://www.sec.gov/oca/staff-accounting-bulletin-121) by Gensler in March 2022. The previous bulletin provided guidance for financial entities and custodians holding any “crypto-assets,” requiring them to account for all cryptocurrencies primarily as liabilities on their balance sheets, rather than assets. The revoking of SAB 121 empowers entities to assess whether their crypto-assets are classified as liabilities only if they believe a loss is probable. For bitcoin holders who hold their own keys and run their own node, this distinction and its subsequent repeal made little difference. But for the budding world of Bitcoin banking and finance, as well as the booming industry of custodial wallets and brokerages, it’s a game changer.‍ Rather than having to match cryptocurrency deposits one-for-one with other liquid assets in the case of a contingency, the new accounting guidance frees up institutions to mark the true values of crypto-assets on their books. Rather than having to buy up $1 million in treasuries or cash in order to hold $1 million in bitcoin or cover losses, firms will now be able to recognize that $1 million as a true asset. It may not seem like a revolution, but it may be the beginning of our bull-inspired Bitcoin banking era. After years of byzantine persecutions of cryptocurrency developers, entrepreneurs, and ever-increasing regulations on Bitcoin, this paradigm shift at the nation’s premier markets regulator means traditional finance can finally include bitcoin and its crypto-offspring in its suite of financial products – with some caveats. Practically, this rather benign-sounding rule lowers the barrier of entry for entities that want to offer bitcoin services to their customers. Whether it’s a bank, an exchange, or a liquidity service provider custodying funds, there is now a more sustainable path for offering bitcoin alongside any other type of account. While a general crypto market framework is still far from established in law, the current situation grants fairness between both fiat money and cryptocurrencies in the hands of entrepreneurs who want to custody funds for their clients. Practically, however, what does this mean for the average bitcoiner? ## **What will my Bitcoin bank look like?** If we take a peek over at Europe, there are already FinTech firms and banking institutions that offer some level of bitcoin services. Xapo Bank, a private bank headquartered in Gibraltar, [offers](https://www.xapobank.com/en) each customer a traditional bank account and IBAN number alongside an instantaneous deposit and withdrawal address for Bitcoin and Bitcoin Lightning, Tether, and USDC. Considering Xapo [built](https://decrypt.co/8449/coinbase-acquires-xapo-crypto-custodian) the doomsday-proof custody vaults for bitcoin storage later bought by Coinbase in 2019, now the preferred institutional custodian for billions in assets, it’s easy to see why so many customers trust their custody. And for those willing to make the tradeoff for custody of their funds, they do offer something attractive. In a single account, a customer could deposit cash, exchange it to bitcoin, and withdraw to self-custody. They could also deposit bitcoin using Lightning, and then instantly convert that amount to send a traditional bank transfer to pay their rent or utility bills for those who don’t yet accept bitcoin. Again, this may not be the solution for those who [prefer self-custody](https://www.btcpolicy.org/articles/self-custody-is-nonnegotiable), but it does offer an integrated fiat on and off ramp that others may find convenient. Similarly, the UK-based FinTech firm Revolut offers its customers the [ability](https://www.revolut.com/crypto/) to deposit and withdraw their bitcoin within the app, as well as exchange it for whichever fiat currency they wish. For those who currently hold bitcoin in an ETF or some other custodial product, a move to an app such as this may be even more attractive. And we already know US companies are begging to expand their own services to their customers. Companies such as **Strike** and **Fold** have already begun to increase their Bitcoin banking services for American customers, offering account and routing numbers for [bill pay](https://strike.me/blog/announcing-strike-bill-pay/), as well as the ability to instantly swap between currencies if they wish.  Fold has the [ambition](https://blog.foldapp.com/fold-to-go-public/) to become one of the nation’s largest publicly-traded bitcoin financial services, looking to soon add mortgage and lending offers, as well as insurance solutions. These financial firms will offer bitcoin for purchase, lending, and exchange, but we can also assume their suite of products will become more diverse and attractive for a more diverse customer base. ## **What about sovereign money?** Educating Americans about the benefits of Bitcoin is an important task. So is improving our policy landscape so that all bitcoiners may flourish. But if the Bitcoin network truly represents a revolutionary way to have and use neutral money, should we even consider Bitcoin banks something we want? How can peer-to-peer money integrate with the centralized custodial banking system so many of us are trying to escape? Even the most primitive advantages of Bitcoin are built on its ability to be owned in a sovereign way, at the total exclusion of everyone who doesn’t have the private key. For many of us, this is all we desire and want. And for the rights to hold and use Bitcoin how we wish to be universally recognized. However, we cannot dictate how the rest of our Bitcoin peers will engage with the network, nor what they inscribe into blocks if they have the computing power to mine them. If Bitcoin entrepreneurs freely compete to offer unique products and services to custody, trade, or lend bitcoin, the rules should make that easier and more possible. For those who will still need to interact with the fiat world, they should be able to benefit from Bitcoin-first products and services designed with them in mind. And regulations should empower them rather than restrict what they can do. Not every Bitcoin banking product will be attractive to every bitcoiner and that’s okay. But the positive evolution of e-cash, custodial services, lending, and insurance is something that will help leverage the power of Bitcoin. And that should be championed. *Yaël Ossowski is a fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute.* This article was originally published at the [Bitcoin Policy Institute](https://www.btcpolicy.org/articles/has-the-era-of-bull-inspired-bitcoin-banking-already-begun).

@ d360efec:14907b5f

ณ ดินแดนอันไกลโพ้น ปรากฏดันเจี้ยนลึกลับไร้ก้นบึ้ง นามว่า "ตลาดการเก็งกำไร" ประตูทางเข้าเปล่งประกายล่อตาล่อใจ แต่มักถูกปกคลุมด้วยหมอกแห่งความไม่แน่นอน คำจารึกโบราณ แกะสลักเหนือประตูทางเข้า เตือนสติผู้มาเยือน: "ผู้ใดเข้าล้วนมิอาจหวนคืน..." เฉกเช่นสำนวนโบราณที่กล่าวขาน "คนในมิอาจออก คนนอกมิต้องการย่างกราย" ภาพที่ปรากฎตรงหน้า คือชายหนุ่มผู้หาญกล้า กำลังจะก้าวเข้าสู่ประตูดันเจี้ยน เหนือประตูมีป้ายขนาดมหึมาสลักคำว่า "Trading" สัญลักษณ์แห่งโลกการลงทุน การเก็งกำไร ไม่ว่าจะเป็น หุ้น, ฟอเร็กซ์, คริปโต ล้วนเป็นมอนสเตอร์ที่สถิตอยู่ในนี้ การจะพิชิตดันเจี้ยนนี้ได้นั้น หาใช่เรื่องง่าย ภารกิจแรกคือการกำจัดปีศาจ**"นักพนัน"** ที่สิงอยู่ในจิตใจของผู้กล้าทุกคน ปีศาจตนนี้ร้ายกาจยิ่งนัก แต่มิใช่ว่าไร้ทางปราบ หากท่านผู้กล้าปรารถนาจะหลุดพ้นจากวงจรอุบาทว์นี้ จงใช้วิธีเหล่านี้เถิด 1. เข้าใจว่าการพนันคือกับดัก ปีศาจพนันมักล่อลวงด้วยภาพลวงตาแห่งชัยชนะเพียงชั่วครู่ แต่แท้จริงแล้ว มันถูกออกแบบมาเพื่อสูบเลือดสูบเนื้อจากเหล่าผู้กล้าในระยะยาว จงจำไว้ว่าการพนันมิใช่หนทางสู่ความร่ำรวย แต่เป็นเส้นทางสู่หุบเหวแห่งความสิ้นเนื้อประดาตัว 2. เปลี่ยนมุมมองเกี่ยวกับเหรียญทอง จงมองเหรียญทองที่ท่านมีมิใช่แค่ตัวเลข แต่เป็น “เวลาและหยาดเหงื่อ” ที่ท่านได้แลกมา หากท่านสูญเสียมันไปเพราะการพนัน มันคือเวลาชีวิตที่หายไปตลอดกาล 3. ตัดขาดสิ่งเร้าที่กระตุ้นให้เล่น • ลบแอปพนัน / ปิดกั้นเว็บไซต์มืด • เลิกติดตามเพจหรือกลุ่มที่เกี่ยวข้อง • เปลี่ยนสหายร่วมทางที่ชักชวนไปสู่ทางเสื่อม 4. ใช้กฎ 5 นาที เมื่อใดที่ความกระหายอยากเล่นครอบงำ จงหยุดยั้งตัวเองไว้ 5 นาที แล้วตรองดูว่า • คราก่อนท่านสูญเสียไปเท่าใด? • หากเล่นแล้วเสียอีก จะรู้สึกเช่นไร? • มีสิ่งใดที่ควรทำมากกว่านี้หรือไม่? 5. แสวงหาเส้นทางแห่งการลงทุนที่แท้จริง แทนที่จะใช้เหรียญทองไปกับการพนัน จงเปลี่ยนเป็นการลงทุนที่มีโอกาสเติบโต เช่น เป็นนักรบแห่งคุณค่า (VI) , เข้าซื้อหุ้นแล้วเก็บมันไว้ในหีบสมบัติ 1 ปี , DCA BTC ดั่งสะสมขุมทรัพย์ทีละน้อย 6. ถามตัวเองว่า “อยากเป็นผู้ชนะ หรือเป็นเหยื่อ?” ผู้ที่ร่ำรวยจากการพนันคือนักลงทุนผู้เปิดบ่อน มิใช่ผู้เล่น หากท่านปรารถนาจะเป็นผู้ชนะ จงเลือกเส้นทางที่ชาญฉลาดกว่า 7. ตั้งเป้าหมายที่ยิ่งใหญ่กว่า จงตั้งเป้าหมายที่ชัดเจน เช่น สะสมเหรียญทองเพื่อซื้อปราสาท 5 ล้าน หรือหาเงิน 100 ล้าน แล้วจงมุ่งมั่นไปที่มัน การพนันจะทำให้เป้าหมายของท่านล่าช้าลง 📉 เหตุใดดันเจี้ยนแห่งการเทรดจึงเปรียบเสมือนเขาวงกต? 1️⃣ ก้าวเข้ามาง่าย ออกไปยาก • การเข้าสู่ตลาดการเงินเป็นเรื่องง่ายดาย ใช้เพียงบัญชีเทรดและเงินทุนเพียงเล็กน้อย แต่เมื่อเข้ามาแล้ว จิตวิทยาแห่งการลงทุน และ ความผันผวนของตลาด จะทำให้ยากที่จะออกไป 2️⃣ เส้นทางที่ซับซ้อน • นักรบมือใหม่มักคิดว่าการทำกำไรเป็นเรื่องง่าย แต่เมื่อเริ่มต้นจริงจะพบว่ามีปัจจัยมากมายที่ต้องเรียนรู้ ทั้งเทคนิค เวทมนตร์พื้นฐาน อารมณ์ตลาด และจิตวิทยาของตน 3️⃣ ความโลภและความหวังทำให้ติดอยู่ในตลาด • หลายคนเริ่มต้นเทรดด้วยเป้าหมายหาเหรียญทอง แต่เมื่อขาดทุน กลับพยายามเอาคืน • เมื่อกำไร ก็อยากได้มากขึ้น จนบางครั้งไม่รู้จักพอ 4️⃣ ไม่มีเส้นทางที่แน่นอน • ในเขาวงกตนี้ ไม่มีทางเดินตรงไปสู่ความสำเร็จ ต้องลองผิดลองถูกหลายครา • บางคนหลงทาง บางคนเจอทางตัน บางคนออกจากตลาดไปก่อนจะถึงทางออกที่แท้จริง 🎯 แล้วจะเอาตัวรอดจากวงกตนี้ได้อย่างไร? ✅ เข้าใจว่าเทรดไม่ใช่การพนัน • การเทรดที่ดีต้องมีระบบ ไม่ใช่แค่เสี่ยงดวง ✅ ฝึกวินัยและจัดการอารมณ์ • สิ่งที่สังหารนักรบมิใช่ปีศาจในตลาด แต่เป็น “อารมณ์ของตนเอง” ✅ วางแผนก่อนเข้าเทรด และมีจุดตัดขาดทุนเสมอ • อย่าเข้าเทรดโดยไร้แผน เพราะจะทำให้ท่านติดอยู่ในเขาวงกตตลอดกาล ✅ รู้ว่าเมื่อไหร่ควรหยุด • บางครั้ง “การไม่เทรด” คือการตัดสินใจที่ดีที่สุด 🔮 บทสรุป ดันเจี้ยนแห่งการเทรดเปรียบเสมือนสถานที่ลี้ลับที่ยังไม่มีผู้ใดสำรวจมาก่อน ผู้ใดที่ย่างกรายเข้ามาล้วนออกไปยาก เพราะมันเต็มไปด้วยความท้าทาย อารมณ์ และความโลภ แต่หากท่านเข้าใจเกมนี้ดีพอ ท่านจะสามารถหาทางออก และเปลี่ยนมันให้เป็นโอกาสแห่งความมั่งคั่งได้ จงจำไว้ว่า การจะออกจากดันเจี้ยนนี้ได้ ท่านต้องพิชิตบอสใหญ่ "การรู้เท่าทันอารมณ์ และมายเซ็ทที่เหมาะสมกับเทรนด์เดอร์" ให้จงได้! หวังว่าพวกท่านจะไม่หลายเป็นซากศพเน่าๆ ในดันเจี้ยนแห่งนี้ ของให้โชคดีมีชัยในโลกเทรนด์เดอร์ YONOSUBA

@ 16d11430:61640947

Introduction: The Lost Art of Flourishing Eudaimonia, the Greek concept of human flourishing, represents a state of deep fulfillment derived from purpose, mastery, and moral virtue. Aristotle described it as the highest human good, achieved not through transient pleasures but through living in accordance with reason and excellence. Yet, in our modern fiat-driven world, eudaimonia has largely perished. Instead of striving for excellence, people are entrapped by systems of debt, artificial scarcity, and wage slavery, where fulfillment is secondary to survival. The incentives of fiat capitalism—endless growth, consumerism, and bureaucratic control—have eroded the conditions necessary for human flourishing. The purpose of this article is to explore the death of eudaimonia under fiat rule, supported by critical evidence, and to examine whether it can be resurrected—perhaps through alternative systems like Bitcoin and decentralized technologies. --- The Fiat Machine and the Death of Eudaimonia 1. The Extraction of Meaning: Fiat as a Mechanism of Control Fiat currency, backed by nothing but government decree, is a tool of centralized power. It is inflationary by design, ensuring that those who hold wealth in fiat lose purchasing power over time unless they participate in increasingly speculative financial schemes. This constant need to hedge against inflation forces individuals into short-term thinking, undermining long-term endeavors that lead to mastery and fulfillment. Instead of creating art, philosophy, or science for its own sake, people are incentivized to chase money in the fastest, most extractive way possible. Critical Evidence: Wages have stagnated relative to productivity since the abandonment of the gold standard in 1971, while financialization has exploded. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median wages have barely kept up with inflation, whereas asset prices (stocks, real estate) have soared—favoring the wealthy who can invest while punishing wage earners. 2. The Death of Virtue: How Fiat Incentivizes Corruption Aristotle tied eudaimonia to virtue—justice, courage, temperance, and wisdom. But fiat economies erode virtue by rewarding manipulation over integrity. In a world where money is easily printed, those closest to its issuance—the state, banks, and corporate elites—reap the rewards while the average person suffers debasement. Fiat allows for moral hazard: banks are bailed out after reckless speculation, politicians spend without accountability, and corporations use inflation to justify price hikes. This destroys trust, a fundamental component of any thriving society. Critical Evidence: The Cantillon Effect demonstrates that newly printed money benefits those who receive it first (banks, hedge funds) at the expense of those who receive it last (workers, pensioners). The 2008 financial crisis and subsequent bailouts exemplify how fiat rewards risk-taking elites while punishing ordinary citizens. 3. Bureaucratic Slavery: The War Against Self-Sufficiency Fiat governance has transformed human beings from self-reliant individuals into bureaucratic dependents. Governments and corporations engineer complexity—compliance laws, credential requirements, and licensing systems—to keep individuals trapped in cycles of employment and taxation. Eudaimonia thrives in societies where individuals have control over their work and creations, yet fiat systems strip away autonomy. Most people today work jobs they do not love, merely to service debts or meet rising costs. Critical Evidence: A 2019 Gallup survey found that 85% of employees worldwide are disengaged from their jobs, meaning they find no real meaning in their work. Meanwhile, U.S. student loan debt has surpassed $1.7 trillion, forcing young people into decades of financial servitude before they can even attempt to pursue meaningful work. --- Can Eudaimonia Be Resurrected? 1. Bitcoin and the Return of Hard Money If fiat is the poison, Bitcoin might be the antidote. Unlike fiat, Bitcoin is scarce, decentralized, and operates on proof-of-work, rewarding merit rather than proximity to power. A Bitcoin-based economy restores long-term thinking by allowing individuals to store value in a deflationary asset rather than being forced into high-risk speculation. When people do not need to chase inflation, they can focus on work that is intrinsically fulfilling rather than merely profitable. Critical Evidence: Countries like El Salvador have adopted Bitcoin as legal tender to escape the inflationary policies of central banks, while Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million ensures its purchasing power cannot be arbitrarily diluted. 2. Decentralized Systems and Self-Sovereignty Beyond money, decentralization itself is a means of restoring eudaimonia. Peer-to-peer networks, open-source software, and blockchain verification (such as DamageBDD) enable individuals to engage in meaningful work without needing corporate or governmental permission. Critical Evidence: The rise of remote work, creator economies, and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) shows that people can be productive outside traditional corporate structures when given the right tools. 3. The Renaissance of Craftsmanship and Knowledge A return to hard money and decentralized economies will likely trigger a renaissance of craftsmanship. When individuals no longer need to rush for short-term profits, they can master trades, sciences, and arts in ways that have not been possible since the fiat era began. We are already seeing glimpses of this in the resurgence of interest in sovereign computing, homesteading, and open-source development—a direct rebellion against the fiat model of centralization and planned obsolescence. Critical Evidence: The growth of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) and Bitcoin development reflects a shift toward work driven by passion and principle rather than extractive financial incentives. --- Conclusion: The Path Forward Eudaimonia is not dead, but it has been suffocated under the weight of fiat. By restoring individual sovereignty—through sound money, decentralized verification, and self-sufficiency—we can resurrect the human spirit. The transition will not be easy; it will require a rejection of the comfort fiat provides in exchange for the struggle that meaningful existence demands. Yet, for those who seek mastery, virtue, and true fulfillment, there is no other choice. The fiat era has stripped humanity of its highest potential. It is time to reclaim it.

@ b8af284d:f82c91dd

![1.00]() Liebe Abonnenten, Zeit für ein kurzes Innehalten: BlingBling existiert seit knapp über vier Jahren. Als ich diesen Newsletter im November 2020 startete, setzte Bitcoin gerade zu einem erneuten Bullrun an. Die Marke von 10000 US-Dollar war gerade nachhaltig durchbrochen worden, und es war ziemlich unglaublich, wie diese missverstandene und von den Leitmedien geschmähte und immer wieder totgesagte Kryptowährung sich schon wieder aufzublähen begann. Ein paar Monate später würde Elon Musk bekannt geben, dass man Tesla nun mit Bitcoin bezahlen könne (eine Aussage, die er kurz darauf wieder zurücknahm). Mein persönliches Interesse für Bitcoin war schon einige Jahre vorher entstanden. 2013 kaufte ich für einen kleineren Betrag Bitcoin. Ich lebte damals in China und beschäftigte mich viel mit Kapitalverkehrskontrollen. Reiche Chinesen versuchten immer wieder, Geld außer Land zu bringen - das Gesetz aber verbot Summen über 50000 US-Dollar. Der Sinn einer dezentralen, nicht zensierbaren Währung leuchtete mir halbwegs ein. Ähnlich wie das Prinzip, wonach ein begrenztes Angebot bei steigender Nachfrage im Preis steigen müsse. Mein Verständnis aber blieb vage, und medial wurde Bitcoin damals vor allem mit der „Silk Road“ assoziiert, einem Online-Marktplatz, auf dem man alles, aber vor allem Drogen kaufen konnte. Den Bullrun 2014 verschlief ich - was übrigens die beste Strategie für langfristigen Erfolg beim Investieren ist. Denn beim nächsten Zyklus 2017 verkaufte ich einen Großteil meiner Coins. Hätte ich den auch verschlafen, wäre ich heute um einiges reicher. Zunächst aber dachte ich, das Richtige getan zu haben: Anfang 2018 kollabierte der Kurs von 18000 US-Dollar auf 2000 Dollar. Vergleiche zur Tulpenblase wurde gezogen, Bitcoin final für tot erklärt, der Host des Podcasts „What Bitcoin Did“ veröffentlichte einen Thread auf damals noch Twitter, indem er schilderte, wie er[ „life changing money“ gewann und wieder verlor.](https://buzzchronicles.com/b/life/1042/)  Es war allerdings in diesem Tal der Tränen als mein persönliches „Orange Pilling“ voll einsetzte. Die Frage: Was habe ich da gerade erlebt? Was ist das?, trieb mich um und führte zu einer immer tieferen Beschäftigung mit Bitcoin. Mal glaubte ich, den Fehler gefunden zu haben - nur um dann wieder eines Besseren belehrt zu werden. Die klugen Videos von [Andreas Antonopoulos](https://www.youtube.com/@aantonop), die radikalen Bücher von [Saifedean Ammouz](https://www.amazon.de/Bitcoin-Standard-Decentralized-Alternative-Central/dp/1119473861/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2ENAZVEQW95DD\&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fIHrY7iwwmUfVPEyDXmqyI54rrBXt-TQLdej-Ir4rb5QAeeguGjjfdOLUnS7rSxIAWFjqn0EAK4faxLtbWAh05OYLcyCJ2F6ZGw1fymh2OC4a3eGApy0Q6_Xb7HVNN6EmUHKEeUCxUhv50inFiQ_YUXc9UaP4cDWbmXbMkUe0q6LD8wp7CM-qNptFYC1QooEMQ6wSUov73kdxY5oHfsgB-6O-ToU7WoB1WnbqmrqxEA.4GpR2xzLcC8dO-ToiIrrGwj9bs76ayspfexOM-wJ7rY\&dib_tag=se\&keywords=saifedean+ammous\&qid=1737818715\&sprefix=Saifed%2Caps%2C95\&sr=8-4), die cool-entspannten Podcasts von Peter McCormack ließen mich immer tiefer in den Kaninchenbau sinken. Das Verblüffende: Man traf Gleichgesinnte. Es war in diesen Jahren, in denen aus einem Netzwerk von Nerds eine eigene Subkultur wuchs. Sie hatte eigene Memes, Codes und vor allem Werte: Freiheit. Maximale Freiheit und Verantwortung für den Einzelnen. All dies wurde ein Jahr später aufs Härteste auf die Probe gestellt. Die Lockdowns und der darauffolgende Impfdruck verengten in den traditionellen Medien das Overton-Fenster. Abweichende Meinungen wurden als “Verschwörungstheorien” gebrandmarkt und ins Abseits gedrängt. Nicht dass alle Bitcoiner Impfgegner oder Lockdown-Kritiker gewesen wären, aber in diesen Kreisen waren anders als in großen Teilen der Öffentlichkeit überhaupt noch kritische Diskussionen möglich. Bitcoiner waren geschult darin, selbstständig zu denken, und Paradigmen zu hinterfragen. Dies und die Freude über neue Allzeithochs machten die dunklen Jahre 2021/22 um einiges erträglicher. Der Bullrun endete final 2022 mit der FTX-Pleite. Wieder schrieben viele Medien Bitcoin tot. Wieder schwadronierten etablierte Ökonomen von einer angeblich “durch nichts gedeckten Spekulationsgeld”. Operation Chokepoint 2.0 sollte dem System die Luft zum Atmen abschnüren. Aber die Katze war jetzt längst aus dem Sack. Bitcoin hatte sich festgebissen im System. Michael Saylor alchemisierte weiter Fiat-Geld zu digitalen Gold, El Salvador akzeptierte Bitcoin als Zahlungsmittel und Graswurzel-Initiativen wie 21-Stammtische konvertierten No-Coiner. Mit der ETF-Zulassung im Januar vergangenen Jahres wurde die Basis für einen neuen Bullrun geschaffen.  ***We made it.*** Diese Woche ist Bitcoin im Mainstream angekommen. [Silk-Road-Gründer Ross Ulbrich](https://x.com/RealRossU/status/1882609887878029519)t wurde nach 12 Jahren Haft begnadigt. Donald Trump launchte seinen eigenen Meme-Coin und vor ernannte er die [Senatorin Cynthia Lummis ](https://www.btc-echo.de/schlagzeilen/lummis-leitet-krypto-ausschuss-kommt-die-btc-reserve-200110/)zur Präsidenten eines neu geschaffenen Crypto-Ausschusses. Eine strategische Crypto-Reserve soll angelegt werden. An der sonst so peniblen getätigten Unterscheidung zwischen Crypto und Bitcoin muss man sich ausnahmsweise einmal nicht stören. Die dürfte eher ein Zugeständnis an World Liberty Finance, den Fund der Trump-Sprösslinge, diverse DeFi-Disruptor sein. Bitcoin bleibt König. Und jetzt? Wie jede Party wird auch diese enden, und wie nach jedem Bullrun wird danach ein Bärenmarkt folgen. Es kommen weitere Herausforderungen. Bitcoin, einmal von Eliten begriffen und adaptiert, wird von diesen benutzt werden. Macht korrumptiert. Auch die Guten. [Gold, der analoge Vorläufer von Bitcoin](https://blingbling.substack.com/p/die-rebellen), wurde immer wieder zentralisiert, eingezogen und anschließend in Form von Schuldscheinen wieder an die Bevölkerung ausgegeben. Bleiben wir wachsam. Aber jetzt ist es erst einmal Zeit zu feiern: Lang lebe der König! 

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

When I used to work in fantasy sports, people would ask me questions about their teams, e.g., which players to start, who to drop. What they didn’t realize is I had seven of my own teams to worry about, was already living and dying with my own myriad choices, good and bad, I made every week. The last thing I needed was to make a decision for them, see it go bad and suffer more on their account. I’d tell them, “You decide, I’ve got my own problems.” . . . I don’t know what I’m doing. Ideas which feel like insights come to me, I try to articulate them to my satisfaction and post them (with some editing help from Heather.) Often I feel like I should be producing more work — after all, I don’t have a job any more, I have plenty of time. Walking the dog, exercising, managing your finances, picking up the kid, putting food on the table (literally) is well and good, but fulfilling your duties is not enough. You need to stay in the game. What game is up to each person, but it should be a game you enjoy, one that draws on skills honed over decades by the accident of your particular interests. . . . Writing and ideas can’t be produced on demand. I mean they can — and I did it for 22 years on a particular topic — but I don’t mean that kind of writing. I don’t want a schedule. I don’t need more rules, more discipline, more “hacks.” Discipline is like the interest on a 30-year mortgage. Initially it’s most of the payment, but over time it cedes weight to understanding which is like the principal. Discipline without understanding is like an interest-only mortgage. You pay it every month and get nowhere. Even when insights arrive they can’t always be articulated sufficiently and coherently. Many insights are of the one sentence variety — fine for a social media post, but you can’t send out an email newsletter 10 times per day with one sentence insights. It doesn’t work over that medium. That’s a dilemma because posting on social media doesn’t feel like proper work. Yes, you’re reaching people, affecting the zeitgeist in whatever small way — but there’s something addictive and unsatisfying about it, like eating candy instead of food. Don’t get me wrong, I stand by my posts (consider them organic, artisanal candy) but shitposting and the immediate feedback received therefrom keeps you only on the periphery. I need to connect with something deeper. . . . I’ve spent a lot of time dissecting the various pathologies of the laptop class, of which I’m obviously a part as I literally type this in a coffee shop on my laptop! The need to believe they are empathic and good overwhelming any rational sense-making and basic morals. Men dominating women’s sports, child sex changes, forced injections, criminals running rampant, cities in decay, calls for censorship and funding for foreign wars. The authorities patted them on the back, their peers accepted them and their overlords promoted them so long as they hewed to the narrative. The freakout we’re presently witnessing is not about the billions in taxpayer money no longer being sent for DEI training in some foreign country, i.e., money-laundering to favored interests and cronies. They’re not really upset FBI agents are being fired, secrets are being revealed, that we are finally making an effort to prevent fentanyl from flowing across the border and killing our fellow citizens. These are good things, and even if you don’t agree, none of it is grounds for the meltdowns I see every day on social media. What’s really happening is people who were assured they were the “good”, the empathic, the compassionate ones, those who towed the line during covid, got their boosters, wore their masks, “social distanced,” put pronouns in their bios, are being confronted with a terrifying realization: the behaviors and beliefs, to which they so dutifully attached themselves, for which they publicly and stridently advocated, whether online or at Thanksgiving dinner, are no longer being rewarded. In fact, they are being openly ridiculed. Instead of the pat on the back, increasingly Team Good is facing mockery and outright scorn. There will be no legal consequences. No one will be arrested or put in a camp, delusions of persecution notwithstanding. If you produce real value for a real employer, you are not at risk of being fired. If you insist on perpetuating your derangement on social media you will not be deplatformed or canceled (that only happens to people speaking the truths inconvenient to the powerful.) No, the reality is in some ways far worse: your entire worldview, on which you staked your self-image, is being dismantled in real time. You are no longer “good,” it’s becoming obvious to most the policies for which you advocated were catastrophic, the politicians for whom you voted deeply cynical and corrupt. The gaping abyss within your being to which you attached this superstructure of self-affirmation is dissolving into thin air. You are not “superior” like you thought, you are just another person suffering and existing like everyone else. And your only choices are to face that daunting reality or cling to a dying and useless paradigm, the end game for which is only madness. We all want to feel good about ourselves, and like an obese person drugging themselves with high-fructose corn syrup for years, you have gorged on the distorted approbation of a sick society that, unpleasantly for you, is starting to heal. Your first laps around the track, so to speak, are going to hurt a lot. . . . I probably went on too long about the laptop class freakout. I have a lot of resentment toward the way they behaved the last five years. But I started this essay with the idea that I have my own problems, and in the end, I am not much different from them. I want to produce more work, and of higher quality, but to what end? To feel good about my contributions, to have a sense that I am “good.” Maybe it’s not “good” in the lame “I complied with authority, and everyone likes me” kind of way, but it arises from the same source. That source is the emptiness within, wherein we require accolades, dopamine, positive feedback as a kind of justification for our existence. “No, I am not squandering my time on earth, living a comfortable life, I am asking hard questions, connecting with people, sharing hard-won insights. I am useful! I am good! I got my sixth dopamine booster from writing yet another essay!” . . . There is an irony in writing this piece. I feel as I type the cathartic nature of expressing these feelings. I am doing something worthwhile, everything is flowing out of me, the minutes are sailing by. I am identifying and solving this thorny problem simultaneously, engaging with the emptiness and dissatisfaction. The solution isn’t in the output, whatever one might think of it, it’s in giving attention to the feelings I’ve squandered too much time avoiding. I feel unworthy not because I do not produce enough work, it turns out, but because I am unwilling to connect with my deepest nature. . . . No matter how uneasy you feel, no matter how much fundamental doubt you have about your value as a human being, you can always start where you are. The feeling of unworthiness, the need for an escape, the craving for some kind of reward from your peers or the authorities or whatever easily-consumed carbohydrates you have in the kitchen is simply the present state in which you find yourself. It is not wrong or bad, it just is. And what is can always be examined, observed, given attention. Attending to that discomfort is always within reach. . . . The last thing I want to do is write an essay, face a purgatory of sitting down and consciously putting my feelings into words. It’s so much easier to distract oneself with all the news about the world, check 100 times a day the price of bitcoin and my other investments. But purgatory is the only way out of hell. The hell of wanting to succeed, of wanting to become “good.” For some, that astroturfed worldview they so painstaking affixed to their empty souls is dissolving toward a revelation of the emptiness beneath. And unsurprisingly they are freaking out. But I’ve wasted too much time arguing with them, pointing out the ways in which they’re misinformed, driven by fear and derelict in their basic epistemic responsibilities. If you want to hold onto the lies you were told, knock yourself out. I’ve got my own problems.

@ 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/878449