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@ 95cb4330:96db706c
2025-02-28 09:22:17
Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk follow a critical decision-making principle: never let past investments dictate future choices. Instead of holding onto failing projects due to time, money, or effort already spent, successful entrepreneurs cut losses quickly and reallocate resources toward higher-impact opportunities.
---
## Why Avoiding Sunk Costs Matters
- **Frees Up Resources for Better Opportunities:**
The more time you spend on a failing project, the fewer resources you have to invest in something that could succeed.
- **Prevents Emotional Bias in Decision-Making:**
Many people stick with bad decisions because they feel committed, rather than assessing future potential objectively.
- **Increases Agility & Competitive Edge:**
Being able to pivot quickly allows you to adapt to market changes faster than competitors.
---
## Example in Action: Bezos, Musk & Altman
- **Jeff Bezos & the Fire Phone:**
Amazon heavily invested in its Fire Phone, but when it failed, Bezos shut it down and redirected efforts to Alexa and AWS, which became massive successes.
- **Elon Musk & Tesla Model S Plaid+:**
Tesla had planned a Model S Plaid+ variant, but Musk canceled it, realizing it no longer made strategic sense in Tesla’s long-term roadmap.
- **Sam Altman & Startup Strategy:**
Altman constantly advises founders to evaluate if they’re on the best path—not just the one they’ve already invested in. He encourages entrepreneurs to pivot fast rather than waste time on failing ideas.
---
## How to Apply This Principle
1. **Identify Projects You’re Holding Onto for the Wrong Reasons**
*Ask:* Would I start this today knowing what I now know?
2. **Focus on Future Potential, Not Past Investment**
Look at the expected future return rather than the money or effort already spent.
3. **Be Willing to Pivot or Cut Losses Quickly**
If a project no longer aligns with your long-term vision, redirect resources elsewhere.
---
## Action Step: Audit Your Current Projects
- 👉 Are you continuing something just because of past investment rather than future potential?
- 👉 If so, consider pivoting or cutting it today.
---
By avoiding the sunk cost fallacy, you can stay flexible, maximize impact, and ensure you’re always focused on the best opportunities ahead.
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@ f6488c62:c929299d
2025-02-28 09:18:00
เมื่อกระแสข่าวเรื่อง Government Shutdown ของสหรัฐฯ เริ่มร้อนแรงขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ โดยแพลตฟอร์มอย่าง Polymarket บ่งชี้ว่าความเป็นไปได้ของเหตุการณ์นี้พุ่งขึ้นถึง 50% หลายคนอาจสงสัยว่ามันเกี่ยวอะไรกับตลาดคริปโต โดยเฉพาะกลุ่ม เหรียญมีม (Meme Coins) ที่ดูเหมือนจะอยู่นอกเหนือระบบเศรษฐกิจแบบดั้งเดิม
แต่ความจริงแล้ว การปิดตัวของรัฐบาลกลางสหรัฐฯ อาจส่งผลกระทบทั้งทางตรงและทางอ้อมต่อตลาดเหรียญมีมอย่างหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ได้ มาดูกันว่า โอกาส และ ความเสี่ยง ของสาวกเหรียญมีมในสถานการณ์เช่นนี้มีอะไรบ้าง
🎯 โอกาสสำหรับเหรียญมีม
กระแสการเงินไหลเข้าสินทรัพย์เสี่ยงสูง (High-risk assets)
หากนักลงทุนเชื่อว่า Shutdown จะทำให้ธนาคารกลางสหรัฐ (Fed) ต้องผ่อนคลายนโยบายการเงินในอนาคตเพื่อลดผลกระทบทางเศรษฐกิจ เงินทุนอาจไหลเข้าสินทรัพย์เสี่ยงอย่างคริปโต รวมถึงเหรียญมีมที่มักมีการเคลื่อนไหวรุนแรงเกินจริง
เหรียญอย่าง DOGE, SHIBA หรือ PEPE อาจได้ประโยชน์จากความคลั่งไคล้และกระแส "ซื้อเพราะมันตลก" ที่เคยเกิดขึ้นในอดีต
ชุมชนออนไลน์มีบทบาทมากขึ้น
การปิดตัวของหน่วยงานรัฐอาจกระตุ้นความไม่พอใจในหมู่ประชาชน ส่งผลให้การเคลื่อนไหวทางออนไลน์เพิ่มขึ้น สังคมคริปโต โดยเฉพาะกลุ่มเหรียญมีม อาจใช้โอกาสนี้เพื่อสร้างกระแสหรือหาเหตุผลสนุก ๆ ในการผลักดันเหรียญ
ตัวอย่าง: แคมเปญ "Shutdown? Buy DOGE!" หรือ "Government off, PEPE on!" อาจกลายเป็นไวรัลได้
Narrative ใหม่ ๆ เพื่อดึงนักลงทุน
โปรเจกต์เหรียญมีมอาจสร้างเรื่องราวใหม่ ๆ เพื่อเชื่อมโยงกับเหตุการณ์ เช่น การล้อเลียนการเมืองหรือสร้างโทเค็นเชิงสัญลักษณ์เพื่อประท้วงรัฐบาล ดึงดูดนักลงทุนที่มองหาทางออกจากความวุ่นวายของระบบดั้งเดิม
⚠️ ความเสี่ยงสำหรับเหรียญมีม
ภาวะเสี่ยงต่ำ (Risk-off sentiment)
ในช่วงแรกของ Shutdown นักลงทุนมักถอยกลับไปถือ เงินดอลลาร์ (USD) หรือสินทรัพย์ปลอดภัย เช่น ทองคำ ส่งผลให้ตลาดคริปโตตกลงอย่างหนัก รวมถึงเหรียญมีมที่มีความผันผวนสูงและไม่มีมูลค่าพื้นฐาน
ความเชื่อมั่นที่ลดลงนี้อาจทำให้ราคาเหรียญมีมดิ่งลงแบบไร้จุดหมาย
ขาดสภาพคล่อง (Liquidity crunch)
หากเศรษฐกิจชะงัก นักลงทุนรายย่อยอาจไม่มีเงินสดมาปั่นราคาหรือเก็งกำไรเหรียญมีมได้เหมือนเดิม ทำให้การเคลื่อนไหวของราคาเหรียญมีมซบเซา
เหรียญเล็ก ๆ ที่อาศัยชุมชนเป็นหลัก อาจเผชิญกับปัญหาสภาพคล่องอย่างรุนแรง
ความเสี่ยงด้านกฎระเบียบ
แม้ Shutdown จะทำให้หน่วยงานกำกับดูแลบางส่วนหยุดทำงาน แต่ในระยะยาว หากรัฐบาลกลับมาพร้อมนโยบายคุมเข้ม ตลาดคริปโตอาจเจอแรงกดดันเพิ่มเติม ซึ่งอาจส่งผลลบต่อเหรียญมีมที่มักถูกมองว่าเป็นสินทรัพย์ "เก็งกำไรสูงสุด"
🚀 สรุป: เตรียมตัวรับมือยังไง?
นักลงทุนสายเหรียญมีม ควรติดตามข่าวสารทั้งเรื่อง Shutdown และทิศทางของ Fed อย่างใกล้ชิด เพราะเหตุการณ์เหล่านี้สามารถเปลี่ยนทิศทางตลาดได้อย่างฉับพลัน
วางแผนการลงทุน โดยแบ่งพอร์ตอย่างชาญฉลาด ไม่ทุ่มหมดหน้าตักกับเหรียญมีม และเตรียมเงินสดไว้เผื่อโอกาสซื้อเพิ่มหากราคาตกหนัก
สร้างและติดตามกระแสออนไลน์ หากคุณเป็นแฟนเหรียญมีม การเคลื่อนไหวในโซเชียลมีเดียอาจเป็นตัวแปรสำคัญในการดันราคา ดังนั้นการร่วมชุมชนหรือมีส่วนร่วมในแคมเปญต่าง ๆ อาจช่วยให้เหรียญมีมของคุณกลับมาเป็นที่สนใจ
สุดท้ายแล้ว Government Shutdown อาจเป็นทั้งโอกาสและความเสี่ยง แต่สำหรับสาวกเหรียญมีมแล้ว บางที "ความวุ่นวาย" อาจเป็นเชื้อไฟที่ทำให้ตลาดนี้ลุกเป็นไฟได้อีกครั้ง 🔥
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@ 8947a945:9bfcf626
2025-02-28 09:11:21
## Chef's notes
https://video.nostr.build/ea19333ab7f700a6557b6f52f1f8cfe214671444687fa7ea56a18e5d751fe0a9.mp4
https://video.nostr.build/bcae8d39e22f66689d51f34e44ecabdf7a57b5099cc456e3e0f29446b1dfd0de.mp4
## Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 5 min
- 🍳 Cook time: 5 min
- 🍽️ Servings: 1
## Ingredients
- ไข่ 1 - 2 ฟอง
- ข้าวโอ๊ต 3 - 4 ช้อน
## Directions
1. ตอกไข่ + ตีไข่
2. ปรุงรส พริกไทย หรือ ซอสถั่วเหลืองตามชอบ
3. ใส่ข้าวโอ๊ต 3 - 4 ช้อน
4. ใส่ถั่วลิสงอบ 1 - 2 หยิบมือ
5. เทน้ำใส่พอท่วมข้าวโอ๊ต
6. เข้าไมโครเวฟ ไฟแรง 1 - 2 นาที
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-28 08:39:58
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/899482
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@ 1c19eb1a:e22fb0bc
2025-02-28 07:32:53
After my first major review of [Primal on Android](https://www.nostr-reviews.com/post/1733635103705/), we're going to go a very different direction for this next review. Primal is your standard "Twitter clone" type of kind 1 note client, now branching into long-form. They also have a team of developers working on making it one of the best clients to fill that use-case. By contrast, this review will not be focusing on any client at all. Not even an "other stuff" client.
Instead, we will be reviewing a very useful tool created and maintained by nostr:npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5 called #Amber. For those unfamiliar with Amber, it is an #Android application dedicated to managing your signing keys, and allowing you to log into various #Nostr applications without having to paste in your private key, better known as your #nsec. It is not recommended to paste your nsec into various applications because they each represent another means by which it could be compromised, and anyone who has your nsec can post as you. On Nostr, your #npub is your identity, and your signature using your private key is considered absolute proof that any given note, reaction, follow update, or profile change was authorized by the rightful owner of that identity.
It happens less often these days, but early on, when the only way to try out a new client was by inputting your nsec, users had their nsec compromised from time to time, or they would suspect that their key may have been compromised. When this occurs, there is no way to recover your account, or set a new private key, deprecating the previous one. The only thing you can do is start over from scratch, letting everyone know that your key has been compromised and to follow you on your new npub.
If you use Amber to log into other Nostr apps, you significantly reduce the likelihood that your private key will be compromised, because only one application has access to it, and all other applications reach out to Amber to sign any events. This isn't quite as secure as storing your private key on a separate device that isn't connected to the internet whatsoever, like many of us have grown accustomed to with securing our #Bitcoin, but then again, an online persona isn't nearly as important to secure for most of us as our entire life savings.
Amber is the first application of its kind for managing your Nostr keys on a mobile device. nostr:npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5 didn't merely develop the application, but literally created the specification for accomplishing external signing on Android which can be found in [NIP-55](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/55.md). Unfortunately, Amber is only available for Android. A signer application for iOS is in the works from nostr:npub1yaul8k059377u9lsu67de7y637w4jtgeuwcmh5n7788l6xnlnrgs3tvjmf, but is not ready for use at this time. There is also a new mobile signer app for Android and iOS called Nowser, but I have not yet had a chance to try this app out. From a cursory look at the Android version, it is indeed in the very early stages of development and cannot be compared with Amber.
This review of Amber is current as of version 3.2.5.

## Overall Impression
Score: **4.5** / 5
I cannot speak highly enough about Amber as a tool that every Nostr user on Android should start using if they are not already. When the day comes that we have more options for well-developed signer apps on mobile, my opinion may very well change, but until then Amber is what we have available to us. Even so, it is an incredibly well thought-out and reliable tool for securing your nsec.
Despite being the only well-established Android signer available for Android, Amber ***can*** be compared with other external signing methods available on other platforms. Even with more competition in this arena, though, Amber still holds up incredibly well. If you are signing into web applications on a desktop, I still would recommend using a browser extension like #Alby or #Nos2x, as the experience is usually faster, more seamless, and far more web apps support this signing method ([NIP-07](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/07.md)) than currently support the two methods employed by Amber. Nevertheless that gap is definitely narrowing.
A running list I created of applications that support login and signing with Amber can be found here: [Nostr Clients with External Signer Support](nostr:naddr1qvzqqqrcvgpzpde8f55w86vrhaeqmd955y4rraw8aunzxgxstsj7eyzgntyev2xtqydhwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnzwf5kw6r5vfhkcapwdejhgtcpr4mhxue69uhkg6ttv95k7ue3x5cnwtnwdaehgu339e3k7mf0qq4xummnw3ez6cmvd9jkuarn94mkjarg94jhsar9wfhxzmpdwd5kwmn9wgkhxatswphhyaqrcy76t)
I have run into relatively few bugs in my extensive use of Amber for all of my mobile signing needs. Occasionally the application crashes when trying to send it a signing request from a couple of applications, but I would not be surprised if this is no fault of Amber at all, and rather the fault of those specific apps, since it works flawlessly with the vast majority of apps that support either [NIP-55](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/55.md) or [NIP-46](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/46.md) login.
I also believe that mobile is the ideal platform to use for this type of application. First, because most people use Nostr clients on their phone more than on a desktop. There are, of course, exceptions to that, but in general we spend more time on our phones when interacting online. New users are also more likely to be introduced to Nostr by a friend having them download a Nostr client on their phone than on a PC, and that can be a prime opportunity to introduce the new user to protecting their private key. Finally, I agree with the following assessment from nostr:npub1jlrs53pkdfjnts29kveljul2sm0actt6n8dxrrzqcersttvcuv3qdjynqn.
nostr:nevent1qqsw0r6gzn05xg67h5q2xkplwsuzedjxw9lf7ntrxjl8ajm350fcyugpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsyg9hyaxj3clfswlhyrd5kjsj5v04clhjvgeq6pwztmysfzdvn93gevpsgqqqye9qd30q62
The one downside to Amber is that it will be quite foreign for new users. That is partially unavoidable with Nostr, since folks are not accustomed to public/private key cryptography in general, let alone using a private key to log into websites or social media apps. However, the initial signup process is a bit cumbersome if Amber is being used as the means of initially generating a key pair. I think some of this could be foregone at start-up in favor of streamlining onboarding, and then encourage the user to back-up their private key at a later time.
## Features
Amber has some features that may surprise you, outside of just storing your private key and signing requests from your favorite Nostr clients. It is a full key management application, supporting multiple accounts, various backup methods, and even the ability to authorize other users to access a Nostr profile you control.
### Android Signing
This is the signing method where Amber really shines in both speed and ease of use. Any Android application that supports this standard, and even some progressive web-apps that can be installed to your Android's home-screen, can very quickly and seamlessly connect with Amber to authorize anything that you need signed with your nsec. All you have to do is select "Login with Amber" in clients like #Amethyst or #0xChat and the app will reach out to Amber for all signing requests from there on out. If you had previously signed into the app with your nsec, you will first need to log out, then choose the option to use Amber when you log back in.
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This is a massive deal, because everything you do on Nostr requires a signature from your private key. Log in? Needs a signature. Post a "GM" note? Needs a signature. Follow someone who zapped your note? Needs a signature. Zap them back? You guessed it; needs a signature. When you paste your private key into an application, it will automatically sign a lot of these actions without you ever being asked for approval, but you will quickly realize just how many things the client is doing on your behalf when Amber is asking you to approve them each time.
Now, this can also get quite annoying after a while. I recommend using the setting that allows Amber to automatically sign for basic functions, which will cut down on some of the authorization spam. Once you have been asked to authorize the same type of action a few times, you can also toggle the option to automatically authorize that action in the future. Don't worry, though, you have full control to require Amber to ask you for permission again if you want to be alerted each time, and this toggle is specific to each application, so it's not a blanket approval for all Nostr clients you connect with.
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This method of signing is just as fast as signing via browser extension on web clients, which users may be more accustomed to. Everything is happening locally on the device, so it can be very snappy and secure.
### Nostr Connect/Bunker Signing
This next method of signing has a bit of a delay, because it is using a Nostr relay to send encrypted information back and forth between the app the user is interacting with and Amber to obtain signatures remotely. It isn't a significant delay most of the time, but it is just enough to be noticeable.
Also, unlike the previous signing method that would automatically switch to Amber as the active application when a signing request is sent, this method only sends you a notification that you must be watching for. This can lead to situations where you are wondering why something isn't working in a client you signed into remotely, because it is waiting on you to authorize the action and you didn't notice the notification from Amber. As you use the application, you get used to the need to check for such authorization requests from time to time, or when something isn't working as expected.

By default, Amber will use relay.nsec.app to communicate with whichever Nostr app you are connecting to. You can set a different relay for this purpose, if you like, though not just any relay will support the event kinds that Amber uses for remote signing. You can even run your own relay just for your own signing purposes. In fact, the creator of Amber has a relay application you can run on your phone, called Citrine, that can be used for signing with any web app you are using locally on your phone. This is definitely more of an advanced option, but it is there for you if you want it. For most users, sticking with relay.nsec.app will be just fine, especially since the contents of the events sent back and forth for signing are all encrypted.
Something many users may not realize is that this remote signing feature allows for issuing signing permissions to team members. For instance, if anyone ever joined me in writing reviews, I could issue them a connection string from Amber, and limit their permissions to just posting long-form draft events. Anything else they tried to do would require my explicit approval each time. Moreover, I could revoke those permissions if I ever felt they were being abused, without the need to start over with a whole new npub. Of course, this requires that your phone is online whenever a team member is trying to sign using the connection string you issued, and it requires you pay attention to your notifications so you can approve or reject requests you have not set to auto-approve. However, this is probably only useful for small teams, and larger businesses will want to find a more robust solution for managing access to their npub, such as Keycast from nostr:npub1zuuajd7u3sx8xu92yav9jwxpr839cs0kc3q6t56vd5u9q033xmhsk6c2uc.
The method for establishing a connection between Amber and a Nostr app for remote signing can vary for each app. Most, at minimum, will support obtaining a connection string from Amber that starts with "bunker://" and pasting it in at the time of login. Then you just need to approve the connection request from Amber and the client will log you in and send any subsequent signing requests to Amber using the same connection string.
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Some clients will also offer the option to scan a QR code to connect the client to Amber. This is quite convenient, but just remember that this also means the client is setting which relay will be used for communication between the two. Clients with this option will also have a connection string you can copy and paste into Amber to achieve the same purpose. For instance, you may need this option if you are trying to connect to an app on your phone and therefore can't scan the QR code using Amber on the same phone.
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### Multiple Accounts
Amber does not lock you into using it with only a single set of keys. You can add all of your Nostr "accounts" to Amber and use it for signing events for each independently. Of course, Nostr doesn't actually have "accounts" in the traditional sense. Your identity is simply your key-pair, and Amber stores and accesses each private key as needed.

When first signing in using native Android signing as described above, Amber will default to whichever account was most recently selected, but you can switch to the account that is needed before approving the request. After initial login, Amber will automatically detect the account that the signing request is for.
### Key Backup & Restore
Amber allows multiple ways to back up your private key. As most users would expect, you can get your standard nsec and copy/paste it to a password manager, but you can also obtain your private key as a list of mnemonic seed words, an encrypted version of your key called an ncryptsec, or even a QR code of your nsec or ncryptsec.

Additionally, in order to gain access to this information, Amber requires you to enter your device's PIN or use biometric authentication. This isn't cold-storage level protection for your private key by any means, especially since your phone is an internet connected device and does not store your key within a secure element, but it is about as secure as you can ask for while having your key accessible for signing Nostr events.
### Tor Support
While Amber does not have Tor support within the app itself, it does support connecting to Tor through Orbot. This would be used with remote signing so that Amber would not connect directly over clearnet to the relay used for communication with the Nostr app requesting the signature. Instead, Amber would connect through Tor, so the relay would not see your IP address. This means you can utilize the remote signing option without compromising your anonymity.

### Additional Security
Amber allows the user the option to require either biometric or PIN authentication before approving signing requests. This can provide that extra bit of assurance that no one will be able to sign events using your private key if they happen to gain access to your phone. The PIN you set in Amber is also independent from the PIN to unlock your device, allowing for separation of access.
## Can My Grandma Use It?
Score: **4.0** / 5
At the end of the day, Amber is a tool for those who have some concept of the importance of protecting their private key by not pasting it into every Nostr client that comes along. This concept in itself is not terribly approachable to an average person. They are used to just plugging their password into every service they use, and even worse, they usually have the ***same password*** for everything so they can more readily remember it. The idea that they should never enter their "Nostr password" into any Nostr application would never occur to them unless someone first explained how cryptography works related to public/private key pairs.
That said, I think there can be some improvements made to how users are introduced to these concepts, and that a signer application like Amber might be ideal for the job. Considering Amber as a new user's first touchpoint with Nostr, I think it holds up well, but could be somewhat streamlined.
Upon opening the app, the user is prompted to either use their existing private key or "Create a new Nostr account." This is straightforward enough. "Account" is not a technically correct term with Nostr, but it is a term that new users would be familiar with and understand the basic concept.

The next screen announces that the account is ready, and presents the user with their public key, explaining that it is "a sort of username" that will allow others to find them on Nostr. While it is good to explain this to the user, it is unnecessary information at this point. This screen also prompts the user to set a nickname and set a password to encrypt their private key. Since the backup options also allow the user to set this password, I think this step could be pushed to a later time. This screen would better serve the new user if it simply prompted them to set a nickname and short bio that could be saved to a few default relays.

Of course, Amber is currently prompting for a password to be set up-front because the next screen requires the new user to download a "backup kit" in order to continue. While I do believe it is a good idea to encourage the creation of a backup, it is not crucial to do so immediately upon creation of a new npub that has nothing at stake if the private key is lost. This is something the UI could remind the user to do at a later time, reducing the friction of profile creation, and expediting getting them into the action.

Outside of these minor onboarding friction points, I think Amber does a great job of explaining to the user the purpose of each of its features, all within the app and without any need to reference external documentation. As long as the user understands the basic concept that their private key is being stored by Amber in order to sign requests from other Nostr apps, so they don't have to be given the private key, Amber is very good about explaining the rest without getting too far into the technical weeds.
The most glaring usability issue with Amber is that it isn't available in the Play Store. Average users expect to be able to find applications they can trust in their mobile device's default app store. There is a valid argument to be made that they are incorrect in this assumption, but that doesn't change the fact that this is the assumption most people make. They believe that applications in the Play Store are "safe" and that anything they can't install through the Play Store is suspect. The prompts that the Android operating system requires the user to approve when installing "unknown apps" certainly doesn't help with this impression.
Now, I absolutely ***love*** the Zapstore from nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9, but it doesn't do much to alleviate this issue. Users will still need to be convinced that it is safe to install the Zapstore from the GitHub repo, and then install Amber from there. Furthermore, this adds yet another step to the onboarding process.
Instead of:
- Install Amber
- Set up your keys
- Install the client you want to use
- Log in with Amber
The process becomes:
- Go to the Zapstore GitHub and download the latest version from the releases page.
- Install the APK you downloaded, allowing any prompt to install unknown apps.
- Open Zapstore and install Amber, allowing any prompt to install unknown apps again.
- Open Amber and set up your keys.
- Install the client you want to use
- Log in with Amber
An application as important as Amber for protecting users' private keys should be as readily available to the new user as possible. New users are the ones most prone to making mistakes that could compromise their private keys. Amber should be available to them in the Play Store.
## How do UI Look?
Score: **4.5** / 5
Amber's UI can be described as clean but utilitarian. But then, Amber is a tool, so this is somewhat expected. It is not an app you will be spending a lot of time in, so the UI just needs to be serviceable. I would say it accomplishes this and then some. UI elements are generally easy to understand what they do, and page headings fill in the gaps where that is not the case.

I am not the biggest fan of the color-scheme, particularly in light-mode, but it is not bad in dark-mode at all, and Amber follows whatever theme you have set for your device in that respect. Additionally, the color choice does make sense given the application's name.

It must also be taken into consideration that Amber is almost entirely the product of a single developer's work. He has done a great job producing an app that is not only useful, but pleasant to interact with. The same cannot be said for most utility apps I have previously used, with interfaces that clearly made good design the lowest priority. While Amber's UI may not be the most beautiful Nostr app I have seen, design was clearly not an afterthought, either, and it is appreciated.
## Relay Management
Score: **4.9** / 5
Even though Amber is not a Nostr client, where users can browse notes from their favorite npubs, it still relies heavily on relays for some of its features. Primarily, it uses relays for communicating with other Nostr apps for remote signing requests. However, it also uses relays to fetch profile data, so that each private key you add to Amber will automatically load your chosen username and profile picture.
In the relay settings, users can choose which relays are being used to fetch profile data, and which relays will be used by default when creating new remote signing connection strings.

The user can also see which relays are currently connected to Amber and even look at the information that has been passed back and forth on each of those active relays. This information about actively connected relays is not only available within the application, but also in the notification that Amber has to keep in your device's notification tray in order to continue to operate in the background while you are using other apps.

Optionality is the name of the game when it comes to how Amber handles relay selection. The user can just stick with the default signing relay, use their own relay as the default, or even use a different relay for each Nostr application that they connect to for remote signing. Amber gives the user an incredible amount of flexibility in this regard.
In addition to all of this, because not all relays accept the event types needed for remote signing, when you add a relay address to Amber, it automatically tests that relay to see if it will work. This alone can be a massive time saver, so users aren't trying to use relays that don't support remote signing and wondering why they can't log into noStrudel with the connection string they got from Amber.

The only way I could see relay management being improved would be some means of giving the user relay recommendations, in case they want to use a relay other than relay.nsec.app, but they aren't sure which other relays will accept remote signing events. That said, most users who want to use a different relay for signing remote events will likely be using their own, in which case recommendations aren't needed.
## Current Users' Questions
The AskNostr hashtag can be a good indication of the pain points that other users are currently having with any Nostr application. Here are some of the most common questions submitted about Amber in the last two months.
nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpv30auvvha0wkhteg500n3xd528063l6099zh37sgj2uevdm5mslqythwumn8ghj7ct49eex2mrp09skymr99ehhyee0qyt8wumn8ghj7ct4w35zumn0wd68yvfwvdhk6tcpz9mhxue69uhnzdps9enrw73wd9hj7qpqjx685wn6j3se7w6380ktwvrpydedpu06jd0cwfjawkgnzmahvs2s7t0585
This is a good example of Amber working correctly, but the app the user is trying to log into not working. In my experience with #Olas in particular, it sometimes allows remote signer login, and sometimes doesn't. Amber will receive the signing request and I will approve it, but Olas remains on the login screen.
If Amber is receiving the signing requests, and you are approving them, the fault is likely with the application you are trying to log into.
That's it. That's all the repeated questions I could find. Oh, there were a few one-off questions where relay.nsec.app wouldn't connect, or where the user's out-of-date web browser was the issue. Outside of that, though, there were no common questions about ***how*** to use Amber, and that is a testament to Amber's ease of use all on its own.
## Wrap Up
If you are on Android and you are not already using Amber to protect your nsec, please do yourself a favor and get it installed. It's not at all complicated to set up, and it will make trying out all the latest Nostr clients a safe and pleasant experience.
If you are a client developer and you have not added support for NIP-55 or NIP-46, do your users the courtesy of respecting the sanctity of their private keys. Even developers who have no intention of compromising their users' keys can inadvertently do so. Make that eventuality impossible by adding support for NIP-55 and NIP-46 signing.
Finally, I apologize for the extended time it took me to get this review finished. The time I have available is scarce, Nostr is distracting, and nostr:npub1w4uswmv6lu9yel005l3qgheysmr7tk9uvwluddznju3nuxalevvs2d0jr5 kept improving Amber even as I was putting it through its paces over the last two months. Keep shipping, my friend! You have made one of the most useful tools we have seen for Nostr to date!
Now... What should I review next?
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@ d830ee7b:4e61cd62
2025-02-28 05:45:17
ในชีวิตประจำวัน เรามักวัดมูลค่าของสิ่งต่างๆ ด้วยหน่วยเงินที่เราคุ้นเคย เช่น บาทหรือดอลลาร์
เราดีใจเมื่อการลงทุนของเรา **“เพิ่มขึ้น”** ในหน่วยเงินเหล่านั้น ..แต่น้อยคนนักจะหยุดคิดว่าไม้บรรทัดที่เราใช้วัดมูลค่านั้นมีความมั่นคงเพียงใด
หากไม้บรรทัดเองหดสั้นลงเรื่อยๆ สิ่งของที่เราวัดอาจดูเหมือนยาวขึ้นทั้งที่ความจริงไม่ได้เปลี่ยนไปเลย
แนวคิดนี้สะท้อนถึงการวัดมูลค่าทางเศรษฐกิจในหน่วยเงินที่เปลี่ยนแปลงตลอดเวลา และนำเราไปสู่หลักการเรื่อง **"ค่าเสียโอกาส" (opportunity cost)** ในการลงทุน
เมื่อเราเลือกถือสินทรัพย์ชนิดหนึ่ง เรากำลังสละโอกาสที่จะได้ผลตอบแทนจากอีกชนิดหนึ่งเสมอ
การทำความเข้าใจว่าอะไรเป็นตัววัดมาตรฐานของเราและค่าเสียโอกาสที่ตามมา จึงเป็นจุดเริ่มต้นในการสำรวจมุมมองใหม่ของการประเมินความมั่งคั่ง
ในบริบทนี้.. **บิตคอยน์** (Bitcoin) ได้ถูกเสนอขึ้นมาเป็น **“มาตรฐาน”** ใหม่ในการวัดมูลค่ว เสมือนกับที่ทองคำเคยเป็นมาตรฐานการเงินของโลกในอดีต
หนังสือ **The Bitcoin Standard** ของ Saifedean Ammous ชวนเราคิดว่า Bitcoin อาจกลายเป็นเหมือน **“มาตรฐานทองคำ”** ยุคดิจิทัล ที่มารองรับระบบการเงินสากลในอนาคต
เหตุผลสำคัญที่ Bitcoin ถูกมองว่าเป็นเงินตราที่มีความแข็งแกร่ง (sound money) คือคุณสมบัติที่หาได้ยากในเงินสกุลปัจจุบัน
มันมีปริมาณจำกัดตายตัว 21 ล้านหน่วย
ไม่มีธนาคารกลางใดสามารถพิมพ์เพิ่มได้ตามใจชอบ
ต่างจากเงินเฟียต (Fiat money) อย่างดอลลาร์ ที่จำนวนเพิ่มขึ้นตลอดเวลาจากนโยบายรัฐ
ผลคือ Bitcoin มีความทนทานต่อภาวะค่าเงินเสื่อมค่าจากเงินเฟ้อ และสามารถรักษามูลค่าได้ในระยะยาวดุจทองคำในอดีต
หลายคนจึงยกให้มันเป็น **“Sound Money”** หรือเงินที่มั่นคง เชื่อถือได้ในด้านมูลค่าเมื่อเวลาผ่านไป
แนวคิดนี้เองเปิดประตูไปสู่การใช้ Bitcoin เป็นหน่วยวัดเปรียบเทียบมูลค่าสินทรัพย์อื่นๆ เพื่อมองภาพเศรษฐกิจในมุมใหม่
- - -
ลองจินตนาการกราฟหนึ่งที่นำดัชนีหุ้นชั้นนำอย่าง S&P 500 มาเปรียบเทียบในหน่วย Bitcoin แทนที่จะเป็นดอลลาร์ กราฟนี้จะแสดงให้เราเห็นภาพที่ต่างออกไปอย่างมากจากกราฟปกติที่คุ้นเคย
https://nostr.download/e344db050a8f6b023b2a9c7883560ad8a7be3fc4154d3908cbae3471b970272a.webp
หากย้อนไปช่วงปี 2011
หุ้น S&P 500 อยู่ที่ราว 1,300 จุด ขณะที่บิตคอยน์มีราคายังไม่ถึง 1 ดอลลาร์ นั่นหมายความว่าดัชนี S&P 500 ในเวลานั้นมีมูลค่าประมาณ 1,300 BTC
แต่เมื่อเวลาผ่านไป Bitcoin มีราคาสูงขึ้นมหาศาล ในปี 2021–2022 Bitcoin (เคยพุ่งขึ้นไปแตะหลักหลายหมื่นดอลลาร์ต่อ 1 BTC) ทำให้มูลค่าของ S&P 500 เมื่อวัดในหน่วย BTC กลับกลายเป็นเพียงเศษเสี้ยวของที่เคยเป็น
สมมติ S&P 500 ล่าสุดอยู่แถว 4,000 จุด และราคา BTC อยู่หลักแสนดอลลาร์ ดัชนี S&P 500 ทั้งดัชนีอาจมีค่าไม่ถึง 0.05 BTC ด้วยซ้ำ
ผลลัพธ์ที่สะท้อนออกมาบนกราฟคือเส้นค่าของ S&P 500 (เมื่อวัดด้วย BTC) ที่มีแนวโน้มลดลงเรื่อยๆ ตลอดทศวรรษที่ผ่านมา
แปลความได้ว่า.. บิตคอยน์มีมูลค่าเพิ่มขึ้นเมื่อเทียบกับสินทรัพย์การเงินดั้งเดิมอย่างหุ้น
ถึงขั้นที่... **การถือ Bitcoin ไว้ให้ผลตอบแทนดีกว่าการลงทุนในดัชนีหุ้นใหญ่เสียอีกในช่วงเวลาที่ผ่านมา**
แม้จะฟังดูเหลือเชื่อ แต่นี่คือภาพที่ข้อมูลได้บอกเรา.. ในมุมมองของมาตรฐาน Bitcoin ตลาดหุ้นสหรัฐฯ ที่ว่าทำผลตอบแทนโดดเด่น ยังดูซีดเซียวลงในทันที
ข้อมูลในช่วงสิบปีให้หลังตอกย้ำภาพนี้อย่างชัดเจน ผลตอบแทนของ Bitcoin เหนือกว่าสินทรัพย์แทบทุกชนิดที่เรารู้จักในยุคปัจจุบัน
ในเชิงตัวเลข Bitcoin ให้ผลตอบแทนเฉลี่ยต่อปีราว 230% ตลอดทศวรรษ 2011–2021 ขณะที่ดัชนี S&P 500 ซึ่งขึ้นชื่อว่าให้ผลตอบแทนดีสม่ำเสมอ ยังมีค่าเฉลี่ยผลตอบแทนต่อปีประมาณ 10% กว่าๆ เท่านั้นเอง เมื่อนำมาคำนวณทบต้น
นั่นหมายความว่า.. ในช่วงเวลาประมาณ 10 ปีที่ผ่านมา มูลค่าของ Bitcoin เพิ่มขึ้นหลักหลายหมื่นเปอร์เซ็นต์ ในขณะที่ S&P 500 เพิ่มขึ้นเพียงไม่กี่ร้อยเปอร์เซ็นต์
**ผลต่างระดับนี้ใหญ่พอที่จะเปลี่ยนวิธีที่เรามองความสำเร็จในการลงทุนไปเลยทีเดียว**
มีการสังเกตด้วยว่าเพียงช่วงห้าปีหลังสุด ดัชนี S&P 500 สูญเสียมูลค่าประมาณเกือบ 90% หากวัดในหน่วยของบิตคอยน์
พูดอีกอย่างคือ..
ในสายตาของคนที่ถือ Bitcoin ไว้เป็นเกณฑ์ *"เงิน 100 บาทที่ลงทุนในหุ้นเมื่อต้นช่วงเวลาดังกล่าว จะเหลือมูลค่าเพียงประมาณ 10 บาทเท่านั้นในปัจจุบัน** (เพราะ 90 บาทที่เหลือคือค่าเสียโอกาสที่หายไปเมื่อเทียบกับการถือ Bitcoin)
มุมมองแบบนี้ชวนให้เราตั้งคำถามว่า ที่ผ่านมาสินทรัพย์ที่ดูเหมือนมั่นคงปลอดภัย อาจไม่ปลอดภัยอย่างที่คิดเมื่อประเมินด้วยบรรทัดฐานใหม่
การเปรียบเทียบข้างต้นยังสะท้อนถึง ปัญหาการเสื่อมค่าของเงินเฟียต ซึ่งเราคุ้นเคยแต่บางครั้งมองข้ามความร้ายกาจของมัน
เงินดอลลาร์สหรัฐซึ่งเป็นสกุลเงินหลักของโลก สูญเสียอำนาจซื้อไปแล้วกว่า 96% ตั้งแต่ปี 1913 จนถึงปัจจุบัน (กล่าวคือ เงิน 1 ดอลลาร์ในสมัยนั้นมีค่าพอๆ กับเงินเกือบ 30 ดอลลาร์ในปัจจุบัน)
การที่ค่าเงินด้อยค่าลงเรื่อยๆ แบบนี้หมายความว่า **ตัวเลขราคาในหน่วยเงินเฟียตอาจเพิ่มขึ้นทั้งที่มูลค่าที่แท้จริงไม่เพิ่ม**
ยกตัวอย่างเช่น ดัชนี S&P 500 ทำจุดสูงสุดใหม่เป็นประวัติการณ์ในหน่วยดอลลาร์สหรัฐอยู่บ่อยครั้ง แต่หากปรับค่าด้วยปัจจัยเงินเฟ้อหรือปริมาณเงินที่พิมพ์เพิ่มเข้าไป เราจะพบว่ามูลค่าที่แท้จริงของดัชนีนี้ไม่ได้เพิ่มขึ้นมากอย่างที่เห็น
บางการวิเคราะห์ชี้ว่าหลังวิกฤตการเงินปี 2008 เป็นต้นมา แม้ดัชนี S&P 500 ในตัวเลขจะพุ่งขึ้นไม่หยุด แต่เมื่อหารด้วยปริมาณเงินที่เพิ่มขึ้น (เช่น M3) เส้นกราฟที่ได้กลับแทบไม่สูงไปกว่าจุดก่อนวิกฤตเลยด้วยซ้ำ
หมายความว่า.. ที่ราคาหุ้นสูงขึ้น ส่วนใหญ่ก็เพื่อไล่ตามสภาพคล่องเงินที่ไหลเข้าระบบเท่านั้น ไม่ได้สะท้อนการเติบโตแท้จริงของเศรษฐกิจมากนัก
เงินเฟ้อและการขยายตัวของปริมาณเงินจึงเปรียบเสมือน **“หมอก”** ที่บังตา ทำให้เรามองไม่ชัดว่าสิ่งใดเพิ่มมูลค่าแท้จริง สิ่งใดแค่ตัวเลขฟูขึ้นตามสกุลเงินที่ด้อยค่าลง
เมื่อ Bitcoin ถูกใช้เป็นหน่วยวัดเปรียบเทียบ มันทำหน้าที่เสมือนกระจกใสที่กวาดเอาหมอกเงินเฟ้อนั้นออกไป เราจึงเห็นภาพที่ต่างไปโดยสิ้นเชิง
เช่นเดียวกับกรณีที่เราเปรียบเทียบราคาสินค้าโภคภัณฑ์บางอย่างในหน่วย BTC ผลลัพธ์ก็อาจกลับทิศ
การทดลองหนึ่งของธนาคารเฟด สาขาเซนต์หลุยส์ เคยเล่นเปรียบเทียบราคา **“ไข่ไก่หนึ่งโหล”** ในหน่วยดอลลาร์กับในหน่วยบิตคอยน์
ปรากฏว่า... แม้ต้องการจะชี้ให้เห็นความผันผวนของ Bitcoin แต่ดันกลับตอกย้ำความจริงที่ว่า ในช่วงเงินเฟ้อสูง ราคาฟองไข่ที่ดูเพิ่มขึ้นเรื่อยๆ ในหน่วยดอลลาร์ จริงๆ แล้วทรงตัวหรือลดลงด้วยซ้ำเมื่อคิดเป็น BTC
นี่เป็นตัวอย่างสนุกๆ ที่บอกเราว่า กรอบอ้างอิง (frame of reference) ในการวัดมูลค่านั้นสำคัญเพียงใด
แน่นอนว่า Bitcoin เองก็มีความผันผวนสูงและยังอยู่ในช่วงเริ่มต้นเมื่อเทียบกับสินทรัพย์ดั้งเดิม
การที่มันพุ่งทะยานหลายหมื่นเปอร์เซ็นต์ที่ผ่านมาไม่ได้รับประกันว่ากราฟในหน่วย BTC ของสินทรัพย์ต่างๆ จะดิ่งลงอย่างนี้ไปตลอด
แต่สิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นแล้วได้ให้แง่คิดทางปรัชญาการเงินที่ลึกซึ้งกับเรา
อย่างแรกคือเรื่อง **ค่าเสียโอกาส** ที่กล่าวถึงตอนต้น ทุกการตัดสินใจทางการเงินมีต้นทุนค่าเสียโอกาสแฝงอยู่เสมอ เพียงแต่เมื่อก่อนเราอาจไม่เห็นมันชัดเจน
การเก็บออมเงินสดไว้เฉยๆ ในธนาคารมีต้นทุนคือผลตอบแทนที่สูญไปหากเราเลือกลงทุนอย่างอื่น การลงทุนในสินทรัพย์ A ก็ย่อมหมายถึงการไม่ได้ลงทุนในสินทรัพย์ B
หาก B นั้นให้ผลตอบแทนสูงกว่า เราก็สูญเสียส่วนต่างนั้นไป
สิบกว่าปีที่ผ่านมา Bitcoin ทำผลงานได้เหนือชั้นกว่าสินทรัพย์อื่นๆ มาก ค่าเสียโอกาสของการไม่ถือ Bitcoin จึงสูงลิ่วในช่วงนี้
สำหรับนักลงทุนที่มองย้อนกลับไป นี่คือบทเรียนราคาแพง บางคนอาจนึกเสียดายว่า **“รู้งี้ซื้อบิตคอยน์ไว้ตั้งแต่แรกซะก็ดี”**
แต่ประเด็นไม่ได้อยู่ที่การเสียดายอดีต แต่อยู่ที่ **การตระหนักรู้ถึงค่าเสียโอกาสและผลกระทบของมันที่มีต่อความมั่งคั่งของเราในระยะยาว** ต่างหาก
อีกแง่หนึ่งที่ลึกกว่านั้นคือเรื่อง **กรอบในการวัดมูลค่า** ของเราทุกวันนี้ว่าเหมาะสมแล้วหรือไม่
หากการที่เราใช้เงินเฟียตที่เสื่อมค่าเป็นตัววัด ทำให้เราประเมินค่าของสิ่งต่างๆ ผิดเพี้ยนไป การตัดสินใจทางเศรษฐกิจของเราก็อาจผิดทิศทางในระยะยาวได้
ลองนึกภาพว่า.. ถ้าเงินที่เราใช้อยู่มีมูลค่าเสถียรหรือเพิ่มขึ้นตามประสิทธิภาพการผลิตจริงๆ ของเศรษฐกิจ (เหมือนที่เงิน Bitcoin ถูกออกแบบมาให้ไม่เสื่อมค่าไปตามกาลเวลา) เราอาจไม่จำเป็นต้องวิ่งไล่หาผลตอบแทนสูงๆ เพียงเพื่อรักษามูลค่าเงินออมของตัวเองให้ทันเงินเฟ้อ
ผู้คนอาจวางแผนการเงินระยะยาวขึ้น แนวคิดเรื่อง **“เวลาที่ต้องใช้”** กับ **“อัตราส่วนลดของอนาคต”** (time preference) ก็จะเปลี่ยนไป
ดังที่ Ammous กล่าวไว้ใน The Bitcoin Standard ว่าเงินที่มีเสถียรภาพจะส่งเสริมให้คนออมและลงทุนในโครงการระยะยาวมากขึ้น ผิดกับระบบเงินเฟ้อที่ชักจูงให้ผู้คนรีบใช้จ่ายหรือเข้าร่วมเก็งกำไรระยะสั้นเพราะกลัวว่าเงินจะด้อยค่าไป
นี่ไม่ใช่แค่เรื่องการเงินส่วนบุคคล แต่สะท้อนถึงคุณภาพของการเติบโตทางเศรษฐกิจและนวัตกรรมในสังคมโดยรวมด้วย
หากเรามีหน่วยวัดมูลค่าที่เที่ยงตรง ไม่บิดเบือนไปตามนโยบายการเงินรายวัน เราก็อาจประเมินโครงการต่างๆ ได้ตามศักยภาพที่แท้จริงมากขึ้น เงินเฟ้อและการพิมพ์เงินจำนวนมากมักทำให้เกิดการลงทุนผิดที่ผิดทาง (malinvestment) เพราะสัญญาณราคาถูกบิดเบือน
เช่น ดอกเบี้ยที่ต่ำผิดปกติอาจทำให้เกิดหนี้ล้นเกินหรือลงทุนในโครงการที่ไม่ยั่งยืน
ในขณะที่มาตรฐานเงินที่เข้มงวดอย่าง Bitcoin อาจบังคับให้ทุกการลงทุนต้องมีเหตุผลรองรับที่แข็งแรงขึ้น เนื่องจากไม่สามารถอาศัยการอัดฉีดสภาพคล่องมาช่วยพยุงได้ง่ายๆ
เมื่อมาถึงตรงนี้..
เราอาจไม่ได้ข้อสรุปทันทีว่า **“ต่อไปนี้ฉันควรถือ Bitcoin แทนที่จะลงทุนอย่างอื่น”** และบทความนี้ก็ไม่ได้มีเจตนาจะชี้นำการลงทุนเช่นนั้น
เป้าหมายแท้จริงคือการเปิดมุมมองใหม่ว่า เราประเมินคุณค่าของสิ่งต่างๆ อย่างไร
ลองตั้งคำถามกับตัวเองว่า..
ทุกวันนี้เราวัดความร่ำรวยหรือความก้าวหน้าทางเศรษฐกิจด้วยหน่วยอะไร หน่วยนั้นวัดได้เที่ยงตรงหรือเปล่า?
หากเงินที่เราใช้วัดเองลดค่าลงทุกปีๆ เราจะมั่นใจได้อย่างไรว่าตัวเลขที่เพิ่มขึ้นบนกระดาษคือความมั่งคั่งที่เพิ่มขึ้นจริง?
การใช้ Bitcoin เป็นมาตรฐานเทียบเคียง เป็นเสมือนการลองวัดด้วยไม้บรรทัดอีกอันที่อาจตรงกว่าเดิม
ในหลายกรณีมันเผยให้เห็นภาพที่เราคาดไม่ถึงและท้าทายความเชื่อเดิมๆ ของเรา
บทเรียนที่ได้รับไม่ใช่ให้เราทุกคนเปลี่ยนไปคิดเป็น BTC ในชีวิตประจำวันทันที แต่คือการตระหนักว่า **หน่วยวัดมีความหมาย** และการมองโลกการเงินด้วยหน่วยวัดที่ต่างออกไปสามารถให้ข้อคิดที่ลึกซึ้งได้อย่างไร
ท้ายที่สุด ไม่ว่าจะเชื่อใน **“มาตรฐานบิตคอยน์”** หรือไม่นั้น ไม่สำคัญเท่ากับการที่เราได้ฉุกคิดและตั้งคำถามกับระบบที่เราใช้อยู่ทุกเมื่อเชื่อวัน
บางทีสิ่งที่ Bitcoin และปรัชญาการเงินแบบใหม่ๆ นำมาให้เรา อาจไม่ใช่คำตอบสำเร็จรูป แต่คือแรงกระตุ้นให้เราเปิดใจมองภาพใหญ่ของเศรษฐกิจในมุมที่กว้างขึ้น
ลองพิจารณาปัจจัยพื้นฐานอย่างค่าเงิน เวลา และโอกาสที่สูญเสียไปกับการตัดสินใจต่างๆ อย่างรอบด้านขึ้น
เมื่อเราเริ่มมองเห็นว่าการวัดมูลค่าของสิ่งต่างๆ ด้วย **ไม้บรรทัดที่ต่างออกไป** ให้อะไรเราได้บ้าง เราก็จะพร้อมที่จะปรับมุมมองและกลยุทธ์การเงินของตนเองให้เท่าทันโลกที่เปลี่ยนแปลงเสมอ
ไม่แน่ว่าในอนาคต เราอาจได้เห็นผู้คนพูดถึงราคาบ้านหรือดัชนีหุ้นในหน่วยบิตคอยน์อย่างเป็นเรื่องปกติ และการคิดเช่นนั้นอาจไม่ใช่เรื่องแปลกใหม่อีกต่อไป
เพราะเราได้เรียนรู้ที่จะมองผ่านเปลือกของหน่วยเงิน ไปสู่แก่นแท้ของมูลค่าจริงๆ ที่อยู่เบื้องหลังนั่นเอง
ขอบคุณ Thai Ratel สำหรับความกระจ่างในการวัดมูลค่าสินทรัพย์ต่าง ๆ ด้วยบิตคอยน์
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@ d830ee7b:4e61cd62
2025-02-28 05:07:17
In our daily lives, we often measure the value of things using familiar monetary units such as baht or dollars. We feel delighted when our investments **"increase"** in these units.
However, few people stop to consider how stable the measuring stick itself is. If the ruler we use to measure value keeps shrinking, the objects we measure may appear longer, even though their actual size remains unchanged. This concept reflects the way we assess economic value in constantly changing monetary units, leading us to the principle of opportunity cost in investment: when we choose to hold one type of asset, we are always giving up the opportunity to earn returns from another.
Understanding what serves as our standard measure and the opportunity costs that come with it is the first step toward exploring a new perspective on wealth assessment.
In this context, Bitcoin has been proposed as a new **"standard"** for measuring value, much like gold once served as the global financial standard in the past. Some view Bitcoin as the "digital gold standard" that could support the international financial system in the future.
A key reason Bitcoin is considered **"sound money"** is its rarity—something modern currencies lack. Its supply is permanently capped at 21 million units, meaning no central bank can print more at will. This contrasts with fiat money, such as the dollar or baht, which constantly increases in supply due to government policies.
As a result, Bitcoin is resistant to inflation-induced depreciation and can retain its value over the long term, much like gold in the past. Many therefore consider it **"sound money"**—a form of currency that is stable and reliable in preserving value over time.
This idea opens the door to using Bitcoin as a benchmark for comparing the value of other assets, offering a fresh perspective on the economy.
Imagine a graph that compares the leading stock index, **the S&P 500, in Bitcoin terms instead of dollars.**
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This graph would reveal a drastically different picture from the conventional charts we are familiar with. Looking back to 2011, the S&P 500 was around 1,300 points, while Bitcoin was priced at less than $1.
This means the S&P 500 index was valued at approximately 1,300 BTC at the time. However, as Bitcoin's price surged over the years—reaching tens of thousands of dollars per BTC in 2021–2022—the value of the S&P 500, when measured in BTC, shrank dramatically.
Suppose the S&P 500 currently stands at around 4,000 points, while Bitcoin is priced at six figures in dollars. The entire S&P 500 index might be worth less than 0.05 BTC.
The resulting graph would show a consistent downward trend in the S&P 500's value **(when measured in BTC)** over the past decade.
This means Bitcoin has appreciated relative to traditional financial assets like stocks—to the extent that simply holding Bitcoin has outperformed investing in major stock indices.
As surprising as this may seem, the data tells this story: from the perspective of a Bitcoin standard, even the high-performing U.S. stock market appears lackluster.
Data from the past decade reinforces this view. Bitcoin has outperformed nearly every asset class known today. In numerical terms, Bitcoin delivered an average annual return of **approximately 230% from 2011 to 2021**, whereas the S&P 500, which is renowned for its consistent performance, achieved an average annual return of just over 10%.
When compounded over time, this means Bitcoin's value increased by tens of thousands of percent over the past decade, while the S&P 500's value rose by only a few hundred percent.
The magnitude of this difference is significant enough to reshape how we perceive investment success. Observations also indicate that in just **the past five years, the S&P 500 has lost nearly 90% of its value when measured in Bitcoin.**
In other words, for someone using Bitcoin as their benchmark, a 100-baht investment in stocks at the beginning of this period would be worth only about 10 baht today—the remaining 90 baht representing the opportunity cost of not holding Bitcoin.
This perspective challenges our assumptions about the stability of supposedly safe assets when evaluated under a new standard.
This comparison also highlights the issue of fiat currency depreciation—something we are familiar with but often underestimate. The U.S. dollar, the world's primary reserve currency, has **lost over 96% of its purchasing power since 1913**.
This means that what $1 could buy back then now requires nearly $30. This ongoing depreciation implies that prices in fiat terms may rise even when real value does not. For example, the S&P 500 frequently reaches all-time highs in U.S. dollar terms.
However, when adjusted for inflation or money supply expansion, its real value has not increased as much as it seems. Some analyses suggest that since the 2008 financial crisis, although the S&P 500's nominal value has surged, when divided by the expanding money supply (such as M3), its graph remains largely unchanged from pre-crisis levels.
This suggests that stock prices have risen primarily in response to liquidity injections rather than genuine economic growth. Inflation and monetary expansion act like a **"fog,"** obscuring our ability to discern real value from mere numerical increases.
When Bitcoin is used as a comparative unit, it acts as a clear lens that removes this inflationary fog, revealing a completely different picture.
The same applies when comparing commodity prices in BTC. A notable experiment by the St. Louis Federal Reserve once examined the price of **"a dozen eggs"** in both dollars and Bitcoin. While the study aimed to highlight Bitcoin’s volatility, it inadvertently reinforced the point that during periods of high inflation, the price of eggs, which seemed to rise continuously in dollars, actually remained stable or even declined in BTC terms.
This amusing example illustrates the profound impact of measurement standards.
Of course, Bitcoin itself is highly volatile and still in its early stages compared to traditional assets. Its meteoric rise over the past decade does not guarantee that all asset graphs in BTC terms will continue declining indefinitely. However, what has already transpired provides deep financial insights.
**The first takeaway** is the concept of opportunity cost mentioned earlier—every financial decision has an inherent cost, even if we do not always recognize it. Holding cash in a bank carries the opportunity cost of the returns one could earn by investing elsewhere. Investing in asset A means missing out on asset B, and if B delivers higher returns, we incur that loss.
Over the past decade, Bitcoin has outperformed all other assets by a wide margin, making the opportunity cost of not holding Bitcoin extremely high. Investors looking back on this period might regret not having bought Bitcoin earlier, but the key lesson is not about dwelling on past decisions—it is about becoming aware of **opportunity costs** and their long-term impact on wealth.
On a deeper level, this discussion raises questions about whether our current valuation framework is truly appropriate. If using a depreciating fiat currency as a benchmark distorts our perception of value, our economic decisions may be misaligned in the long run.
Imagine a scenario where money retains or even appreciates in value in line with real economic productivity (as Bitcoin was designed to do). In such a system, people would not need to chase high returns merely to preserve their savings from inflation. They could plan finances with a longer-term perspective. Concepts like **"time preference"** and **"discounting the future"** would shift.
It is often argued that sound money encourages saving and long-term investment, whereas inflationary systems push people toward short-term spending or speculation out of fear that their money will lose value.
This is not just a matter of personal finance but a fundamental influence on the quality of economic growth and innovation. **A sound money standard** like **Bitcoin** might enforce stricter investment discipline, as liquidity injections could no longer be used as a safety net for unsustainable projects.
At this point, readers may not conclude that they should immediately hold Bitcoin instead of investing in other assets—and this article is not intended as investment advice. Its real purpose is to provoke thought about how we measure value.
**Ask yourself:** What unit do we use to gauge wealth and economic progress? Is that unit reliable?
If the money we use for measurement loses value every year, how can we be sure that increasing numbers on paper reflect true wealth growth?
Using Bitcoin as a reference standard is like measuring with a new ruler—one that may be more accurate. In many cases, it reveals unexpected insights and challenges long-held beliefs.
Ultimately, whether or not one believes in the **"Bitcoin standard"** is less important than the ability to critically examine the system we rely on daily.
Perhaps the greatest value Bitcoin and new financial philosophies offer is not a definitive answer but the impetus to look at the bigger economic picture with fresh eyes.
Thank you, Thai Ratel, for enlightening me on this topic!
Jakk Goodday.
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@ 3eba5ef4:751f23ae
2025-02-28 02:00:48
### Standardizing Bitcoin Layer 2 Withdrawals: Output Script Descriptor (BOSD)
Jose Storopoli and Trey Del Bonis from Alpen Labs introduced [Output Script Descriptor (BOSD)](https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/output-script-descriptors/), a standardized withdrawal output format aimed at improving the on-chain withdrawal process for Bitcoin Layer 2s while eliminating reliance on ad-hoc rules.
One key issue BOSD addresses is the risk L2 operators face when users request non-standard transactions, such as those with oversized OP\_RETURN outputs. By abstracting complex validation logic into a more manageable format, BOSD helps mitigate these risks and serves as a crucial tool for maintaining the integrity and reliability of Bitcoin’s Layer 2 infrastructure.
* [Rust implementation of BOSD](https://crates.io/crates/bitcoin-bosd)
* [Specification](https://github.com/alpenlabs/bitcoin-bosd/blob/main/SPECIFICATION.md)
### Allowing Mobile Wallets to Settle Lightning Channels Without Extra UTXOs
Bastien Teinturier [introduced](https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/zero-fee-commitments-for-mobile-wallets/1453) an opt-in variant of Lightning Network’s [V3 commitments](https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/v3-commitments/), enabling mobile wallets to settle channels using funds within the channel even in cases of theft attempts. This removes the need for users to maintain an on-chain UTXO to cover closing fees.
### Custodial Solutions Are Not Solutions
Matt Corallo, one of Bitcoin’s most prolific developers, has been vocal about the challenges of non-custodial Bitcoin payment solutions, particularly in the Lightning Network. His article, [*Custodial Solutions Are Not Solutions*](https://spiralbtc.substack.com/p/custodial-solutions-are-not-solutions), critiques the Bitcoin community’s fixation on new custodial models.
He argues that too many engineering resources have gone into custodial solutions like Blockstream’s Liquid (a multisig-controlled private blockchain), ecash (blind-signed custodial systems), Spark (Lightspark’s Statechains extension requiring near-total operator trust), and modern Ark variants (which rely heavily on trusted Statechain operators for scalability). While many of these systems offer excellent UX and privacy, they compromise Bitcoin’s core censorship resistance.
For now, Corallo believes Lightning remains the only non-custodial solution capable of supporting most Bitcoin users.
### Three Approaches to Solo Mining
There is significant debate over what qualifies as *solo mining*. Some define it as a miner earning block rewards alone, while others focus on miners generating their own block templates.
To clarify this, the open-source mining advocacy group [256 Foundation](https://256foundation.org/) explored the topic in their recent report, [*Swim at Your Own Risk*](https://256foundation.org/newsletters/256Foundation-Newsletter-2502_v1.pdf), outlining three types of solo mining:
* **Self-Hosted Solo Mining:** The miner runs their own Bitcoin node and Stratum server, generates block templates, broadcasts blocks, and keeps all rewards. This is the most "pure" form of solo mining.
* **OCEAN Mining**: The miner runs their own Bitcoin node and DATUM gateway, generates block templates, but relies on a pool to broadcast blocks. Miners can choose whether to share rewards with others, and the pool charges a 1% fee.
* **Joining a Solo Mining Pool**
* The miner operates mining hardware, while the pool provides block templates and broadcasts blocks. Pools supporting this include CK Pool, Braiins Solo Pool (2% fee), and Public Pool (no fees).
* While this method involves pools, individual miners still receive direct rewards, making it a hybrid form of solo mining.
### Lightning Network Growth Report
Lightning Network service provider Voltage Cloud released a report titled *The Lightning Network: Expanding Bitcoin Use Cases*, highlighting key trends:
* More businesses are integrating Lightning, a trend expected to continue through 2025.
* Older, inefficient channels deployed between 2018 and 2020 are closing in favor of larger, more efficient ones.
* The average total capacity of public Lightning channels is increasing, improving the success rate for larger payments.
* If nodes are well-optimized, transaction fees can be near zero, with settlement times under half a second.
* The Lightning Network is evolving toward fewer but better-connected nodes rather than many weakly connected ones.
* Lightning is proving itself as one of the most efficient transaction methods in the digital asset ecosystem.
* Lightning can be seen as a *yield-bearing network*, allowing users to earn without sacrificing Bitcoin custody.
[Download](https://www.voltage.cloud/expanding-bitcoin-use-cases) the full report.
### Mempool Block Art Created Through Anomalous Transactions
According to [256 Foundation’s monthly report](https://256foundation.org/newsletters/256Foundation-Newsletter-2502_v1.pdf), researcher *boerst* [discovered](https://x.com/boerst/status/1882390953496809484) anomalies involving empty block templates from mining pools like Binance, SECpool, Sigmapool, and EMCD. Earlier, SEC Pool mined [empty block 880496](https://mempool.space/block/00000000000000000000e3f7c2b91609da1394fd9a725fedb8123419188b34ec), which later returned to a normal transaction-included state.
These anomalies were linked to SEC Pool engineers configuring block templates to create block art. As a result, [block 880512](https://mempool.space/block/00000000000000000001c3fbc76a7efe7a320a8236ea6250bc15e4f7a67e727d) was shaped into a Satoshi pattern.
Additionally, some of the first transactions contained OP\_RETURN messages with the text:
*Declaration of Genesis: Awakening on the Bitcoin Network. Bitcoin’s promise of freedom will become an untamperable habitat for AI.*
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### Podcast | SNI: Fractional Reserve Banking is Obsolete
The latest episode of *The Reorg*, a podcast by the Satoshi Nakamoto Institute, discusses Pierre Rochard’s article *Fractional Reserve Banking is Obsolete*.
The article argues that the fractional reserve banking system leads to capital misallocation and price distortions, inevitably causing economic crises. Bitcoin, on the other hand, provides a safer, more transparent, and more efficient way to store and transfer funds, rendering traditional banking obsolete. Moreover, the increasing adoption of Bitcoin serves as a validation of Austrian economic theory: a 100% reserve banking system can prevent financial crises and economic downturns. A healthy economy expands based on capital goods rather than monetary or credit inflation.
[Listen here](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/podcasts/the-reorg/fractional-reserve-banking-is-obsolete/)
### Central Banks Postpone CBDC Plans
A survey conducted by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) on 34 central banks, titled [*Why central banks should take the next step on CBDCs*](https://www.omfif.org/2025/02/why-central-banks-should-take-the-next-step-on-cbdcs/), reveals that 31% of central banks have delayed their retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) plans. The percentage of central banks inclined to issue a CBDC has dropped from 38% in 2022 to 18%. While this slowdown is a welcome shift, the survey [concludes](https://cointelegraph.com/news/central-banks-pushing-back-cbdc-plans-survey) that most central banks are still likely to issue a CBDC in the future.
### Governments Worldwide Seek to Break Encryption for Data Access
Will Jager [reveals](https://www.therage.co/encryption-is-under-siege/) the global trend of governments attempting to bypass encryption protections to access private data. He highlights the growing risks associated with government access to encrypted data, citing examples such as the UK government’s [order to Apple](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20g288yldko) to create a backdoor for encrypted iCloud data, the EU’s [Chat Control proposal](https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/chat-control-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-eu-plan-to-scan-all-your-whatsapp-chats), and the U.S. [EARN IT Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1207), which expands government surveillance over encrypted communications.
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@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b
2025-02-28 00:06:22
Originalni tekst na [medium.com](https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/do-not-buy-bitcoin-75da73226530).
###### Autor: [Aleksandar Svetski](https://primal.net/svetski) / Prevod: [₿itcoin Serbia](https://x.com/BTCSRB)
---
Nemojte kupovati Bitkoin!
Ni danas, ni kasnije, nikada!
Posvećeno skepticima, neznalicama, arogantnima i nezainteresovanima.
##### NE TREBA vam Bitkoin.
##### Molim vas. Nemojte ga kupovati.
##### Lično me ne zanima "masovna adopcija".
##### Draža mi je selektivna adopcija.
##### Svinja ne zaslužuje bisere.
##### Na vama je da platite cenu neznanja.
##### Kao i cenu glupavosti.
##### Kada dođe vreme, sa zadovoljstvom ću vam platiti hiljadu satošija mesečno za vaše vreme i smejati se usput.
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#### Najbitnija odluka koju ćete ikada doneti
NEMA važnije odluke za vašu finansijsku, ekonomsku i suverenu budućnost koju danas možete doneti nego da kupite Bitkoin.
A ako ne želite da izdvojite malo vremena da ga dalje proučite, JEDINA osoba koju treba da krivite kasnije ste vi sami.
Danas, Bitkoin se nalazi u svojoj ranoj, početnoj fazi. O ovome možete više pročitati ovde (hvala [ObiWan Kenobit](https://obiwankenobit.medium.com/)):
[Hiperbitkoinizacija: pobednik uzima sve](https://medium.com/coinmonks/hyperbitcoinization-winner-takes-all-69ab59f9695f)
Ovo JE prilika ne samo vašeg života, već verovatno i najveći mogući transfer bogatstva u istoriji, a najluđa stvar je što će se najveći deo toga odigrati u narednih nekoliko decenija.
Nalazimo se tek u prvih 12 godina ove promene, a već smo videlo kako je Bitkoin eksplodirao sa $0.008c (kada su za 10.000 BTC kupljene dve pice) na trenutnu cenu od oko $11.500.
**Ovo je tek početak.** Tek 0.001% svetskog bogatstva je denominirano u Bitkoinu.
Ako sada izdvojite samo trenutak da razumete novac, njegovu ulogu u društvu i kako će ekonomski darvinizam voditi ceo svet prema najrobusnijem, najčvršćem i najsigurnijem obliku očuvanja bogatstva, možete odlučiti da kupite neki deo pre nego što se ostatak sveta priključi.
Čitajući ovo, vi ste poput drevnog pojedinca koji je pronašao zlato, dok svi ostali koriste školjke. Razlika je u tome što živite u digitalnom dobu tokom kojeg će se ovaj novac pojaviti i sazreti *za vreme vašeg života*. Taj drevni pojedinac bi bio u pravu ali mrtav zato što je zlatu bilo potrebno nekoliko hiljada godina da uradi ono za šta će Bitkoinu biti potrebne decenije.
**Zamislite. Se. Nad. Tim.**
I naučite dalje o nastanku Bitkoina ovde:
[Zašto je Bitkoin važan](https://medium.com/hackernoon/why-bitcoin-matters-c8bf733b9fad)
I za ime ljubavi prema sopstvenoj budućnosti, preuzmite ovu kratku elektronsku knjigu i jebeno se edukujte!!
[Preuzmite "Investiranje u Bitkoin"](https://info.amber.app/investing-in-bitcoin)
I eto, dajem vam izvore.. jbt..
Svejedno...
Danas, imate izbor da kupite Bitkoin; najoskudniji novac u univerzumu, za siću!! Bukvalno možete kupiti hiljade satošija (najmanju jedinicu Bitkoina gde je 100.000.000 satošija = 1 BTC) za $1!!!
Danas ne postoji veća prilika, kao što sutradan neće postojati veće žaljenje kada više ne budete imali "izbor" da ga kupite.
Kada taj dan bude došao i kada budete to *morali* da prihvatite, setićete se ovih reči, ali avaj, biće prekasno, a vreme ne možete vratiti.
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#### Više nije 2012
Tada ste imali izgovor. Sada je 2020...
Apsolutno NEMA razloga zašto neko sa malo radoznalosti i relativno funkcionalnim mozgom ne može da prouči šta je Bitkoin, zašto postoji, zašto je važan i zašto bi trebalo da u njega prebaci malo ličnog bogatstva.
*Naročito* ako ima prijatelja poput mene ili mnoštvo Bitkoinera negde tamo.
Ja više neću smarati ljude sa porukama "*zašto treba kupiti Bitkoin*".
Više nije 2012. godina.
Danas imamo toliko puno informacija od toliko mnogo dobrih ljudi na svim mogućim medijima, tako da NEMATE IZGOVORA da ga ignorišete ili kažete: "ali niko mi nije rekao".
Ukoliko nemate da izdvojite bar malo vremena od vašeg Netflix rasporeda da biste istražili šta je ova stvar i zašto je bitna za vašu ličnu ekonomsku budućnost, onda zaslužujete to što imate.
Deluje okrutno ali dobrodošao u život, mladi žutokljunče.
Sada... Ako ste izdvojili malo vremena ali ste i dalje nezainteresovani ili dovoljno glupi da ga odbacite, onda zaista zaslužujete to što dolazi i ostatak ovog članka je definitivno za vas.
#### Ne želim da uopšte kupite Bitkoin!
Ok Aleks, ali šta ćemo sa "masovnom adopcijom"???
Pažljivo me slušajte:
##### Zabole me kurac da li će masovna adopcija doći za 10, 20, 50 ili 100 godina!
Ja sam skroz za selektivnu adopciju i potpuno za dugačku igru. Tako da sam spreman da čekam.
Kao u SVIM prirodnim, evolutivno funkcionalnim sistemima, oni koji seju i pomažu u izgradnji temelja bi trebalo da budu i nesrazmerno nagrađeni.
Ovo je 100% fer i predivno **nejednako** (*neki od vas koji me znate ste upoznati sa mojim stavom o nejednakosti kao najprezrenijem od svih ljudskih ideala. Radi se o odvratnom idealu koji nagrađuje najgore među nama*).
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**Tako da za skeptike i "neverne Tome" imam jednostavnu poruku:**
Nadam se da nećete uopšte kupiti Bitkoin. *Ni danas ni bilo kada.* Nadam se da će jedini put kada budete stupili u dodir sa Bitkoinom to biti jedini način da za nešto budete isplaćeni; npr. kada budete morali da ga zaradite.
Jedva čekam dan kada će mojih nekoliko hiljada satošija moći da kupi tri, četiri ili pet meseci vašeg vremena.
A u međuvremenu...
**Molim vas**, držite se vašeg fiat novca.
**Molim vas**, držite se vaših šitkoina.
Ne želim nikoga od vas "blokčejnera", šitkoinera, fiat nokoinera i vas svih ostalih klovnova koji mislite da znate bolje.
Ovaj rolerkoster je specijalan, tako da zašto bih želeo da ga delim sa vama glupanderima? Zašto bih bacao bisere pred svinje?
Ja verujem u *principe isključivosti.*
Ovo nije "kumbaya" ili "svi smo jedno". Jebite se.
Sa razlogom smo drugačiji.
Napraviću sam svoj krevet i ležati u njemu. Vi napravite svoje.
Kada bude došlo vreme, ja ću vam za vaše vreme plaćati satošijima zato što onda nećete imati izbora.
Tada ja pobeđujem, a vi gubite.
#### Kako sejete, tako žanjete
Razlika između mene i vas je ta što ja **kupujem** Bitkoin sada zato što tako **želim**. Vi ćete morati da **radite** za Bitkoin sutra zato što tako **morate**.
To je cena neznanja. *To* je cena arogancije.
To je cena gluposti koju ćete platiti i, koliko god ovo zvuči okrutno, istina je da *zaslužujete svaki delić toga.*
Svi ležimo u krevetu koji sami pravimo, a vi svoj krevet pravite sada.
Neće vam samouvereni Bitkoiner reći: "lepo sam vam rekao". Nova ekonomska realnost će vam to reći umesto njega.
"Lepo sam vam rekao" će vas udariti poput tone cigle kada shvatite razliku između vas i onih koji su bili razboriti, koji su marljivo štedeli, koji su uložili vreme i trud da otkriju šta je zapravo Bitkoin dok su ih svi nazivali ludacima.
Neće biti sažaljenja.
#### Nema više bacanja bisera pred svinje
Oni koji imaju priliku da kupe nešto Bitkoina sada, a odluče da to ne urade zahvaljujući neznanju, aroganciji ili gluposti, *zaslužuju da plate sa kamatom.*
Zaslužuju da trguju svoje sutrašnje dragoceno vreme i energiju za ono što su mogli da nabave danas i to bukvalno "za kikiriki".
Ovde nema greške: nismo jednaki. Mi smo veoma, veoma različiti ljudi.
Ja sam uložio vreme, trud i energiju **sada**, ne samo zbog sebe samog, već i da bih posadio seme i pomogao mreži.
Uradio sam svoj deo.
Vi ćete doći kasnije i pomoći mi da žanjem nagrade svog truda. Postojaćete da biste mi pomogli da uživam u plodovima.
To će biti vaša uloga.
Izabrao sam da rizikujem i steknem deo onoga zbog čega su me svi nazivali ludim zato što sam učio, verovao i shvatio **danas**, sa nadom da se izgradi bolja, poštenija i pravičnija budućnost za sve.
Radeći to, neki od nas će postati džinovi i nesrazmerno bogati. I vi imate tu šansu ali je mnogi od vas neće iskoristiti.
###### *I ja sam skroz ok sa tim. Više neću bacati bisere pred svinje.*
---
Ovaj članak može zvučati neprijatno ali više me zabole kurac. Sada je na vama da sami istražujete.
Ovo se događa bez obzira sviđalo vam se to ili ne. Ja i hiljade drugih Bitkoinera smo pisali eseje i eseje o ovome.
Neka imena sa kvalitetnim materijalom kojih se mogu setiti iz glave su:
* Naravno ja
* [Gigi](https://dergigi.com/)
* [Robert Breedlove](https://breedlove22.medium.com/)
* [Saifedean Ammous](https://saifedean.com/)
Ako ste radoznali možete ih pratiti. A ovo je sjajno mesto gde možete preuzeti nekoliko odličnih radova:
[The Bitcoin Times](https://bitcointimes.io/)
I za kraj, ako si Bitkoiner koji ovo čita, nikada nećeš znati da li sam zloban ili samo igram 4D šah.
Iskreno, nije ni bitno.
Ovo se dešava. Bitkoin osvaja svet. Ekonomski darvinizam je činjenica.
Sakupljajte vaše satošije, ponudite maslinovu grančicu, obratite pažnju na njihovu radoznalost ili iskru u njihovom oku kao znak da nastavite. Ukoliko toga nema ili naiđete na odbijanje, ostavite ih da se igraju kao svinje u govnima sa njihovim fiatom, deonicama ili šitkoinima.
Biće nam potrebni čistači za naše citadele.
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@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353
2025-02-27 22:40:23
Ascolta bene, amico mio. Admiration is always better than mere understanding!
Simple understanding in a relationship is an easy, almost automatic gesture. Any woman can understand a man, tolerate his flaws, and accept his presence. But this often stems from pity, convenience, or merely the habit of having someone around. Understanding without admiration is not respect; it is resignation. A woman who only understands but does not admire may stay by your side, but she will never be truly loyal in her heart. And who wants to be merely tolerated out of pity when they could be followed with pride?
Admiration, on the other hand, is the pillar that upholds any worthy relationship. It’s not just about liking someone; it’s about recognizing the value in a man's daily battles, not just his victories. A woman who truly admires you takes pride in your strength, respects your struggles, and walks beside you with her head held high. She doesn’t just accept you—she follows you to the end because she sees greatness in what you build and what you represent.
Admiration is not just about affection; it’s about looking at the man beside you and feeling deep respect for who he is, what he builds, and what he stands for. Without that, what remains? Tolerance? Indifference? The woman who merely understands accepts your existence, but the one who admires follows you with pride because she sees value in your struggle, your strength, and your legacy.
So forget about being “understood” as a priority. Understanding can be a mere transaction, but admiration is the true foundation of any dignified relationship.
If your woman does not admire you for what you do, who you are, and what you build, she is either occupying a space she does not deserve, or you are too weak to be admired.
Thank you for reading, my friend!
If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your "🥃" as a token of appreciation.
A toast to our family!
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@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-02-27 22:30:22
How much better would life be if we could hit a reset button and erase computers from existence?
It’s a question worth asking, especially in an age where screens dominate our attention, social interactions have been reduced to text bubbles, and Google searches have replaced critical thinking. Would we be smarter? Would life be simpler? Common sense suggests that without computers constantly thinking for us, we’d have to rely on our own intelligence a whole lot more.
**What Year Would We Have to Go Back To?**
To escape computers entirely, we’d have to rewind far beyond today’s digital chaos—probably to the early 20th century. While the 1940s and 1950s saw the first massive computers creeping into government and military operations, the average person had little to no interaction with them. The term “computer” wasn’t something you’d hear at the dinner table, in the classroom, or even in most workplaces. It wasn’t until the late 1970s and early 1980s—when personal computers like the Apple II and IBM PC hit the market—that computers began working their way into homes, offices, and eventually, every aspect of daily life.
Before then, life was entirely hands-on. People weren’t glued to screens but engaged in the world around them. Finances were managed with checkbooks and mental math, not banking apps. Phone numbers lived in people’s heads, not in a digital contact list. If you needed directions, you either studied a map or asked someone for help. Letters were written by hand, and the act of research meant flipping through encyclopedia pages, not skimming Wikipedia. An algorithm didn’t give you information; it was earned through effort, curiosity, and real-world experience.
The transition happened slowly, but once computers became mainstream, they took over with astonishing speed. What started as a tool for business efficiency soon became a crutch for everyday life, shaping how we communicate, learn, and even think. But if we could turn back time to before computers dictated our every move, would we find ourselves living richer, more connected, and perhaps even smarter lives?
**How Things Were Done Without Computers**
Before computers ran the world, problem-solving required actual thought. If you needed directions, you read a map or asked a local. If you wanted to research something, you visited a library or consulted an expert. People had to remember things because no cloud storage or smartphone reminder buzzed every five minutes.
Work was different before computers took over. Office tasks like accounting, inventory management, and record-keeping were done manually, with pens scratching across paper and filing cabinets brimming with carefully organized documents. Sure, it took longer, but there was an attention to detail that software often lacks—errors were caught by sharp human eyes, not overlooked by buggy algorithms or buried in digital spreadsheets.
Customer service meant face-to-face interactions or a polite phone call, not endless chatbot loops and automated phone menus that never seem to understand what you need. Shopping wasn’t an online transaction handled by an AI-driven algorithm—it was an experience, where store clerks knew regular customers by name and recommendations were based on conversation, not data tracking. Banking required a visit to a teller who personally handled your deposit, rather than a faceless app approving transactions in milliseconds.
Even skilled trades and craftsmanship thrived without automation. Mechanics relied on their knowledge of engines, not diagnostic computers spitting out error codes. Artists and designers used their hands, not digital tablets and AI-generated imagery. Cooking was a learned skill, not a task handed off to a microwave with pre-programmed settings.
Farming—one of the last truly hands-on professions—was once guided by intuition, experience, and a deep connection to the land. Farmers studied the sky, felt the moisture in the soil, and trusted generational wisdom and intuition to predict a good harvest. There were no satellite forecasts, automated irrigation systems, or genetically modified shortcuts—just nature's raw, unpredictable rhythm and the skill to work alongside it.
Even leisure time was more grounded. Families gathered around a radio for evening entertainment, played board games, read books, or simply sat on the porch and talked. People weren’t glued to screens, endlessly doom-scrolling through bad news and meaningless content—they were present, engaged, and connected in ways that modern life has all but erased.
**Would We Be Smarter Without Computers?**
The short answer here is "Hell Yes! It’s hard to argue otherwise. The more we outsource thinking to machines, the less we need to use our brains. We no longer need to remember phone numbers, calculate tips in our heads, or even read maps. Schools teach kids how to use software but often fail to emphasize basic skills like handwriting, mental math, or deep reading.
Common sense, once the backbone of decision-making, is in short supply. Why? Because computers do too much thinking for us. Instead of analyzing situations logically, people Google an answer and take it as fact. Instead of experiencing life firsthand, we experience it through a filtered, algorithm-driven feed. And instead of developing problem-solving skills, we ask AI to do it for us now.
**How Would Life Work Today Without Computers?**
If computers vanished overnight, the world would be thrown into chaos—at least initially. Banks would scramble to process transactions, businesses would struggle to function without automated systems, and most people—so dependent on screens for communication, navigation, and even basic problem-solving—would feel completely lost. The silence of a world without notifications, emails, and instant internet access might feel eerie at first.
But after the initial shock wore off, something incredible might happen. We’d be forced to slow down, to actually live in the present rather than constantly checking in on a digital one. People would have to interact face-to-face, strengthening real-life relationships instead of shallow online connections. Communities might grow tighter, with neighbors relying on each other instead of distant customer service centers and faceless apps. The lost critical thinking, memorization, and hands-on problem-solving skills would resurface out of necessity.
Work would change, too. Without computers dictating every move, businesses would have to rethink their operations. There would be less automation but more craftsmanship, less efficiency but more human intuition. Transactions would be slower but perhaps more intentional. Creativity, once overshadowed by digital shortcuts, would thrive as people relied on their own talents rather than the latest AI-generated solution.
Now, picture a world where children race bikes and climb trees instead of being glued to tablets, where conversations happen over dinner tables rather than through screens. Where decisions are made based on wisdom, instinct, and experience, not whatever happens to be trending.
Would life be harder? At first, sure. But would it be better? Arguably, yes.
Maybe it’s time we step back and ask ourselves: Are computers running our lives, or are they ruining them? The truth is, they’re doing both. They’ve woven themselves into every aspect of our daily existence, dictating how we work, communicate, and even think. They make life more convenient, sure—but at what cost? Over time, as we hand over more control to algorithms, automation, and artificial intelligence, we risk losing the very things that make us human: deep thought, real-world problem-solving, and genuine face-to-face connection.
Computers have made us more efficient, but also more dependent. They’ve expanded our access to information, yet dulled our ability to think critically. They connect us instantly across the globe, yet leave us lonelier than ever. The balance is tipping, and if we’re not careful, the very technology designed to serve us may quietly end up ruling us.
What are YOUR thoughts? #asknostr
-
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@ 4523be58:ba1facd0
2025-02-27 22:20:33
# NIP-117
## The Double Ratchet Algorithm
The Double Ratchet is a key rotation algorithm for secure private messaging.
It allows us to 1) communicate on Nostr without revealing metadata (who you are communicating with and when), and 2) keep your message history and future messages safe even if your main Nostr key is compromised.
Additionally, it enables disappearing messages that become undecryptable when past message decryption keys are discarded after use.
See also: [NIP-118](./118.md): Nostr Double Ratchet Invites
### Overview
"Double ratchet" means we use 2 "ratchets": cryptographic functions that can be rotated forward, but not backward: current keys can be used to derive next keys, but not the other way around.
Ratchet 1 uses Diffie-Hellman (DH) shared secrets and is rotated each time the other participant acknowledges a new key we have sent along with a previous message.
Ratchet 2 generates encryption keys for each message. It rotates after every message, using the previous message's key as input (and the Ratchet 1 key when it rotates). This process ensures forward secrecy for consecutive messages from the same sender in between Ratchet 1 rotations.
## Nostr implementation
We implement the Double Ratchet Algorithm on Nostr similarly to Signal's [Double Ratchet with header encryption](https://signal.org/docs/specifications/doubleratchet/#double-ratchet-with-header-encryption), but encrypting the message headers with [NIP-44](./44.md) conversation keys instead of symmetric header keys.
Ratchet 1 keys are standard Nostr keys. In addition to encryption, they are also used for publishing and subscribing to messages on Nostr. As they are rotated and not linked to public Nostr identities, metadata privacy is preserved.
## Nostr event format
### Message
#### Outer event
```typescript
{
kind: 1060,
content: encryptedInnerEvent,
tags: [["header", encryptedHeader]],
pubkey: ratchetPublicKey,
created_at,
id,
sig
}
```
We subscribe to Double Ratchet events based on author public keys which are ephemeral — not used for other purposes than the Double Ratchet session. We use the regular event kind `1060` to differentiate it from other DM kinds, retrieval of which may be restricted by relays.
The encrypted header contains our next nostr public key, our previous sending chain length and the current message number.
#### Inner event
Inner events must be [NIP-59](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/59.md) Rumors (unsigned Nostr events) allowing plausible deniability.
With established Nostr event kinds, clients can implement all kinds of features, such as replies, reactions, and encrypted file sharing in private messages.
Direct message and encrypted file messages are defined in [NIP-17](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/17.md).
## Algorithm
Signal's [Double Ratchet with header encryption](https://signal.org/docs/specifications/doubleratchet/#double-ratchet-with-header-encryption) document is a comprehensive description and explanation of the algorithm.
In this NIP, the algorithm is only described in code, in order to highlight differences to the Signal implementation.
### External functions
We use the following Nostr functions ([NIP-01](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/01.md)):
- `generateSecretKey()` for creating Nostr private keys
- `finalizeEvent(partialEvent, secretKey)` for creating valid Nostr events with pubkey, id and signature
We use [NIP-44](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/44.md) functions for encryption:
- `nip44.encrypt`
- `nip44.decrypt`
- `nip44.getConversationKey`
[NIP-59](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/59.md):
- createRumor
Key derivation function:
```typescript
export function kdf(
input1: Uint8Array,
input2: Uint8Array = new Uint8Array(32),
numOutputs: number = 1
): Uint8Array[] {
const prk = hkdf_extract(sha256, input1, input2);
const outputs: Uint8Array[] = [];
for (let i = 1; i <= numOutputs; i++) {
outputs.push(hkdf_expand(sha256, prk, new Uint8Array([i]), 32));
}
return outputs;
}
```
### Session state
With this information you can start or continue a Double Ratchet session. Save it locally after each sent and received message.
```typescript
interface SessionState {
theirCurrentNostrPublicKey?: string;
theirNextNostrPublicKey: string;
ourCurrentNostrKey?: KeyPair;
ourNextNostrKey: KeyPair;
rootKey: Uint8Array;
receivingChainKey?: Uint8Array;
sendingChainKey?: Uint8Array;
sendingChainMessageNumber: number;
receivingChainMessageNumber: number;
previousSendingChainMessageCount: number;
// Cache of message & header keys for handling out-of-order messages
// Indexed by Nostr public key, which you can use to resubscribe to unreceived messages
skippedKeys: {
[pubKey: string]: {
headerKeys: Uint8Array[];
messageKeys: { [msgIndex: number]: Uint8Array };
};
};
}
```
### Initialization
Alice is the chat initiator and Bob is the recipient. Ephemeral keys were exchanged earlier.
```typescript
static initAlice(
theirEphemeralPublicKey: string,
ourEphemeralNostrKey: KeyPair,
sharedSecret: Uint8Array
) {
// Generate ephemeral key for the next ratchet step
const ourNextNostrKey = generateSecretKey();
// Use ephemeral ECDH to derive rootKey and sendingChainKey
const [rootKey, sendingChainKey] = kdf(
sharedSecret,
nip44.getConversationKey(ourEphemeralNostrKey.private, theirEphemeralPublicKey),
2
);
return {
rootKey,
theirNextNostrPublicKey: theirEphemeralPublicKey,
ourCurrentNostrKey: ourEphemeralNostrKey,
ourNextNostrKey,
receivingChainKey: undefined,
sendingChainKey,
sendingChainMessageNumber: 0,
receivingChainMessageNumber: 0,
previousSendingChainMessageCount: 0,
skippedKeys: {},
};
}
static initBob(
theirEphemeralPublicKey: string,
ourEphemeralNostrKey: KeyPair,
sharedSecret: Uint8Array
) {
return {
rootKey: sharedSecret,
theirNextNostrPublicKey: theirEphemeralPublicKey,
// Bob has no ‘current’ key at init time — Alice will send to next and trigger a ratchet step
ourCurrentNostrKey: undefined,
ourNextNostrKey: ourEphemeralNostrKey,
receivingChainKey: undefined,
sendingChainKey: undefined,
sendingChainMessageNumber: 0,
receivingChainMessageNumber: 0,
previousSendingChainMessageCount: 0,
skippedKeys: {},
};
}
```
### Sending messages
```typescript
sendEvent(event: Partial<UnsignedEvent>) {
const innerEvent = nip59.createRumor(event)
const [header, encryptedData] = this.ratchetEncrypt(JSON.stringify(innerEvent));
const conversationKey = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey.privateKey, this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey);
const encryptedHeader = nip44.encrypt(JSON.stringify(header), conversationKey);
const outerEvent = finalizeEvent({
content: encryptedData,
kind: MESSAGE_EVENT_KIND,
tags: [["header", encryptedHeader]],
created_at: Math.floor(now / 1000)
}, this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey.privateKey);
// Publish outerEvent on Nostr, store inner locally if needed
return {outerEvent, innerEvent};
}
ratchetEncrypt(plaintext: string): [Header, string] {
// Rotate sending chain key
const [newSendingChainKey, messageKey] = kdf(this.state.sendingChainKey!, new Uint8Array([1]), 2);
this.state.sendingChainKey = newSendingChainKey;
const header: Header = {
number: this.state.sendingChainMessageNumber++,
nextPublicKey: this.state.ourNextNostrKey.publicKey,
previousChainLength: this.state.previousSendingChainMessageCount
};
return [header, nip44.encrypt(plaintext, messageKey)];
}
```
### Receiving messages
```typescript
handleNostrEvent(e: NostrEvent) {
const [header, shouldRatchet, isSkipped] = this.decryptHeader(e);
if (!isSkipped) {
if (this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey !== header.nextPublicKey) {
// Received a new key from them
this.state.theirCurrentNostrPublicKey = this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey;
this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey = header.nextPublicKey;
this.updateNostrSubscriptions()
}
if (shouldRatchet) {
this.skipMessageKeys(header.previousChainLength, e.pubkey);
this.ratchetStep(header.nextPublicKey);
}
}
decryptHeader(event: any): [Header, boolean, boolean] {
const encryptedHeader = event.tags[0][1];
if (this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey) {
const conversationKey = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey.privateKey, event.pubkey);
try {
const header = JSON.parse(nip44.decrypt(encryptedHeader, conversationKey)) as Header;
return [header, false, false];
} catch (error) {
// Decryption with currentSecret failed, try with nextSecret
}
}
const nextConversationKey = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourNextNostrKey.privateKey, event.pubkey);
try {
const header = JSON.parse(nip44.decrypt(encryptedHeader, nextConversationKey)) as Header;
return [header, true, false];
} catch (error) {
// Decryption with nextSecret also failed
}
const skippedKeys = this.state.skippedKeys[event.pubkey];
if (skippedKeys?.headerKeys) {
// Try skipped header keys
for (const key of skippedKeys.headerKeys) {
try {
const header = JSON.parse(nip44.decrypt(encryptedHeader, key)) as Header;
return [header, false, true];
} catch (error) {
// Decryption failed, try next secret
}
}
}
throw new Error("Failed to decrypt header with current and skipped header keys");
}
ratchetDecrypt(header: Header, ciphertext: string, nostrSender: string): string {
const plaintext = this.trySkippedMessageKeys(header, ciphertext, nostrSender);
if (plaintext) return plaintext;
this.skipMessageKeys(header.number, nostrSender);
// Rotate receiving key
const [newReceivingChainKey, messageKey] = kdf(this.state.receivingChainKey!, new Uint8Array([1]), 2);
this.state.receivingChainKey = newReceivingChainKey;
this.state.receivingChainMessageNumber++;
return nip44.decrypt(ciphertext, messageKey);
}
ratchetStep(theirNextNostrPublicKey: string) {
this.state.previousSendingChainMessageCount = this.state.sendingChainMessageNumber;
this.state.sendingChainMessageNumber = 0;
this.state.receivingChainMessageNumber = 0;
this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey = theirNextNostrPublicKey;
// 1st step yields the new conversation key they used
const conversationKey1 = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourNextNostrKey.privateKey, this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey!);
// and our corresponding receiving chain key
const [theirRootKey, receivingChainKey] = kdf(this.state.rootKey, conversationKey1, 2);
this.state.receivingChainKey = receivingChainKey;
// Rotate our Nostr key
this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey = this.state.ourNextNostrKey;
const ourNextSecretKey = generateSecretKey();
this.state.ourNextNostrKey = {
publicKey: getPublicKey(ourNextSecretKey),
privateKey: ourNextSecretKey
};
// 2nd step yields the new conversation key we'll use
const conversationKey2 = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourNextNostrKey.privateKey, this.state.theirNextNostrPublicKey!);
// And our corresponding sending chain key
const [rootKey, sendingChainKey] = kdf(theirRootKey, conversationKey2, 2);
this.state.rootKey = rootKey;
this.state.sendingChainKey = sendingChainKey;
}
skipMessageKeys(until: number, nostrSender: string) {
if (this.state.receivingChainMessageNumber + MAX_SKIP < until) {
throw new Error("Too many skipped messages");
}
if (!this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender]) {
this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender] = {
headerKeys: [],
messageKeys: {}
};
if (this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey) {
const currentSecret = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourCurrentNostrKey.privateKey, nostrSender);
this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender].headerKeys.push(currentSecret);
}
const nextSecret = nip44.getConversationKey(this.state.ourNextNostrKey.privateKey, nostrSender);
this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender].headerKeys.push(nextSecret);
}
while (this.state.receivingChainMessageNumber < until) {
const [newReceivingChainKey, messageKey] = kdf(this.state.receivingChainKey!, new Uint8Array([1]), 2);
this.state.receivingChainKey = newReceivingChainKey;
this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender].messageKeys[this.state.receivingChainMessageNumber] = messageKey;
this.state.receivingChainMessageNumber++;
}
}
trySkippedMessageKeys(header: Header, ciphertext: string, nostrSender: string): string | null {
const skippedKeys = this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender];
if (!skippedKeys) return null;
const messageKey = skippedKeys.messageKeys[header.number];
if (!messageKey) return null;
delete skippedKeys.messageKeys[header.number];
if (Object.keys(skippedKeys.messageKeys).length === 0) {
delete this.state.skippedKeys[nostrSender];
}
return nip44.decrypt(ciphertext, messageKey);
}
```
-
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@ c9f48a56:234112d2
2025-02-27 21:43:47
**" The Power of Buying $2.50 of Bitcoin Every Day: A Deep Dive into Small-Scale Crypto Investing "**
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**Imagine this:** every day, you set aside $2.50—the price of a cheap coffee or a quick snack—and use it to buy Bitcoin. It doesn’t sound like much, right? But over time, this tiny habit could turn into something surprisingly meaningful. Let’s break down what happens when you buy $2.50 worth of Bitcoin daily, with its price sitting at $85,000 today, February 27, 2025. Spoiler: it’s less about getting rich quick and more about playing the long game with a volatile asset.
**The Basics: What $2.50 Gets You Today**
Bitcoin operates on a micro level through satoshis—think of them as the pennies of the Bitcoin world. One Bitcoin equals 100 million satoshis. At $85,000 per Bitcoin, each satoshi costs $0.00085 ($85,000 ÷ 100,000,000). So, with your daily $2.50:
- $2.50 ÷ $0.00085 = ~2,941 satoshis.
- That’s 0.00002941 Bitcoin per day.
It’s a sliver of a coin—barely a whisper in the crypto universe. But that’s the beauty of it: you’re not swinging for the fences; you’re stacking crumbs into a pile.
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**Scaling It Up: Monthly and Yearly Gains**
Let’s stretch this out. Over 30 days, you’re spending $75 ($2.50 × 30). That nets you:
- 2,941 satoshis × 30 = 88,230 satoshis, or 0.0008823 Bitcoin.
Over a full year (365 days), it’s $912.50 spent and:
- 2,941 satoshis × 365 = 1,073,465 satoshis, or 0.01073465 Bitcoin.
At today’s $85,000 price, that year’s worth of Bitcoin is valued at $912.50—exactly what you put in. No profit, no loss. But Bitcoin doesn’t just sit there. It’s a rollercoaster, and your daily buys are a way to ride it without losing your lunch.
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**The Dollar-Cost Averaging Magic**
This method is a textbook example of dollar-cost averaging (DCA). Instead of dumping a lump sum into Bitcoin and praying the price moons, you spread your buys across time. When Bitcoin dips, your $2.50 grabs more satoshis. When it spikes, you get less. Over months or years, this evens out the wild swings.
Say Bitcoin drops to $50,000 tomorrow. Your $2.50 would buy 5,000 satoshis ($2.50 ÷ $0.0005). If it surges to $100,000, you’d get 2,500 satoshis ($2.50 ÷ $0.001). The average price you pay ends up somewhere in the middle, protecting you from buying all-in at a peak.
**What Could Happen? The Scenarios**
Here’s where it gets fun (or nerve-wracking, depending on your vibe). After a year of $2.50 daily buys, you’ve got 0.01073465 Bitcoin. Let’s play out some futures:
- **Bitcoin hits $100,000:** Your stash is worth $1,073.47. You’ve spent $912.50, so that’s a $160.97 profit—about 17.6% return. Not bad for pocket change.
- **Bitcoin climbs to $150,000:** Now it’s $1,610.20—a $697.70 gain, or 76.5%. Starting to feel like a sneaky good move.
- **Bitcoin falls to $50,000:** Your pile’s worth $536.73. You’re down $375.77, or 41%. Ouch, but you’re still in the game with minimal damage.
- **Bitcoin crashes to $20,000:** It’s $214.69—a $697.81 loss, 76.5% down. Rough, but $912.50 over a year isn’t a life-ruining bet.
The point? This isn’t about timing the market perfectly—it’s about staying consistent and letting Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory (if you believe in it) do the heavy lifting.
**The Real World: Fees and Friction**
One catch: exchanges aren’t free. Most platforms charge a fee—maybe 1-2% per trade, or a flat rate like $0.10. On a $2.50 buy, that’s brutal. A 2% fee is $0.05, leaving you $2.45 to spend (2,882 satoshis instead of 2,941). A $0.10 flat fee? You’re down to $2.40 (2,823 satoshis). Over a year, fees could shave off 50,000+ satoshis from your total. Look for low-fee options or batch your buys weekly to dodge this trap.
**Why $2.50? The Psychology and Practicality**
Why not $5 or $10? Simple: $2.50 is so small you barely notice it. It’s a pack of gum, a vending machine soda, a tip you’d leave without blinking. Psychologically, it’s easy to stick with. Practically, it keeps your risk tiny while still giving you skin in the crypto game. If Bitcoin goes to zero, you’re out $912.50 after a year—annoying, but not catastrophic. If it 10xes, you’ve got a nice little win.
**How to Start**
The best way to kick this off is by mining with Ember Fund—it’s how I stack up to 100 satoshis per hour and fund my $2.50 daily buys without spending a dime upfront. Ember’s app lets us earn free satoshis just by tapping a button daily to start a 24-hour mining cycle. You begin at a base rate of 13 satoshis per hour, which is 312 satoshis daily ($0.27 at $85,000 Bitcoin), but with referrals, it scales fast—each friend adds 10-13 satoshis per hour when they mine with you ( You Create Your Own Mining Pool ) capping at 100 satoshis per hour. At the max, that’s 2,400 satoshis daily, or about $2.04—nearly our $2.50 target. Team up with a few friends or better yet family members, sync your mining, and you’re golden. Withdraw to a wallet or reinvest into your daily Bitcoin buys through Ember. It’s a near-passive way to fuel this strategy for free.
Other options like buying directly on exchanges (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken) with recurring $2.50 purchases work too, but they dip into your pocket and come with fees. Ember’s mining trumps that by letting us earn our way in. Track your satoshis, not dollars; it’s more satisfying to see the stack grow.
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**The Big Picture: Is It Worth It?**
This depends on you. If you’re a Bitcoin skeptic, $2.50 daily might feel like tossing coins into a wishing well. If you’re a believer—say you think it’ll hit $200,000 in five years—it’s a low-effort way to build a position. Historically, Bitcoin’s climbed from pennies to $85,000 over 15 years, but past performance isn’t a promise. Zoom out: $912.50 is 0.01073465 Bitcoin today. At $200,000, that’s $2,146.93. At $1 million? $10,734.65. Small seeds, big dreams.
**Final Thought**
Buying $2.50 of Bitcoin daily isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme—it’s a slow drip into a wild market. You’re not betting the farm; you’re nibbling at the edges. Whether it’s genius or a waste depends on Bitcoin’s future, and nobody’s got a crystal ball. But for less than a Netflix subscription each month, you’re in the ring. What’s $2.50 to you?
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-02-27 21:32:12
GA, plebs. The latest episode of Bitcoin And is out, and, as always, the chicanery is running rampant. Let’s break down the biggest topics I covered, and if you want the full, unfiltered rant, make sure to listen to the episode linked below.
## House Democrats’ MEME Act: A Bad Joke?
House Democrats are proposing a bill to ban presidential meme coins, clearly aimed at Trump’s and Melania’s ill-advised token launches. While grifters launching meme coins is bad, this bill is just as ridiculous. If this legislation moves forward, expect a retaliatory strike exposing how politicians like Pelosi and Warren mysteriously amassed their fortunes. Will it pass? Doubtful. But it’s another sign of the government’s obsession with regulating everything except itself.
## Senate Banking’s First Digital Asset Hearing: The Real Target Is You
Cynthia Lummis chaired the first digital asset hearing, and—surprise!—it was all about control. The discussion centered on stablecoins, AML, and KYC regulations, with witnesses suggesting Orwellian measures like freezing stablecoin transactions unless pre-approved by authorities. What was barely mentioned? Bitcoin. They want full oversight of stablecoins, which is really about controlling financial freedom. Expect more nonsense targeting self-custody wallets under the guise of stopping “bad actors.”
## Bank of America and PayPal Want In on Stablecoins
Bank of America’s CEO openly stated they’ll launch a stablecoin as soon as regulation allows. Meanwhile, PayPal’s CEO paid for a hat using Bitcoin—not their own stablecoin, Pi USD. Why wouldn’t he use his own product? Maybe he knows stablecoins aren’t what they’re hyped up to be. Either way, the legacy financial system is gearing up to flood the market with stablecoins, not because they love crypto, but because it’s a tool to extend U.S. dollar dominance.
## MetaPlanet Buys the Dip
Japan’s MetaPlanet issued $13.4M in bonds to buy more Bitcoin, proving once again that institutions see the writing on the wall. Unlike U.S. regulators who obsess over stablecoins, some companies are actually stacking sats.
## UK Expands Crypto Seizure Powers
Across the pond, the UK government is pushing legislation to make it easier to seize and destroy crypto linked to criminal activity. While they frame it as going after the bad guys, it’s another move toward centralized control and financial surveillance.
## Bitcoin Tools & Tech: Arc, SatoChip, and Nunchuk
Some bullish Bitcoin developments: ARC v0.5 is making Bitcoin’s second layer more efficient, SatoChip now supports Taproot and Nostr, and Nunchuk launched a group wallet with chat, making multisig collaboration easier.
## The Bottom Line
The state is coming for financial privacy and control, and stablecoins are their weapon of choice. Bitcoiners need to stay focused, keep their coins in self-custody, and build out parallel systems. Expect more regulatory attacks, but don’t let them distract you—just keep stacking and transacting in ways they can’t control.
**🎧 Listen to the full episode here: [https://fountain.fm/episode/PYITCo18AJnsEkKLz2Ks](Fountain.fm)**
**💰 Support the show by boosting sats on Podcasting 2.0!** and I will see you on the other side.
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@ 2ed3596e:98b4cc78
2025-02-27 21:28:33
## Pay anyone in Canada with bitcoin! One step closer to replacing your bank with Bitcoin Well
Everyone who accepts e-Transfers, now accepts bitcoin! Canadians with a Bitcoin Well account can send money to anyone via e-Transfer using their bitcoin in self custody. Typical transactions, like rent payments, paying friends back for dinner, paying your cleaning lady or even to pay for that new (to you) boom box on Facebook marketplace, can now be paid quickly, securely and cheaper with your Bitcoin Well account. And best of all, it’s all done with bitcoin in self custody. Keep reading to learn more!
## How to send an e-Transfer to anyone in Canada using bitcoin:
From the sell page in your Bitcoin Well account you can select the network (Bitcoin or Lightning Network) and how many dollars you’d like to send via e-Transfer. For more information on the [Lightning Network click here.](https://bitcoinwell.com/blog/how-to-sell-bitcoin-on-the-lightning-network-in-canada)
Next you will see a new dropdown where you can choose the recipient for the e-Transfer. It will be the email on your Bitcoin Well account by default.
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/47b721b22f9df5d38e2edb02dfe0c41adab90442a9e55158bb815980b596d4ec.png">
To add a new recipient, select the drop down and “Add recipient”. Here you will be asked to provide the recipient’s name, email and the security question/answer you’d like to provide for the e-Transfer.
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/a63580e9b8a314cedf04105e168f74d7ea279a281a867479e511833003cf2b28.png">
You’ll be responsible for telling them the security question and answer, so don’t forget!
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/8c7fb8b06aa1a2e991f5f94a005b6c1f0d6b8cb78c2966dc917b98ca3491af7c.png">
You can also invite your recipient to [join Bitcoin Well with your ref link!](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/referrals) You’ll earn Bitcoin Well points and sats when they use Bitcoin Well!
## If you chose the Bitcoin network:
With all your information entered, you will be able to send bitcoin to the bitcoin address on screen and an e-Transfer will be sent to your recipient after 1 confirmation.
Note! This bitcoin address is permanently associated with your recipient. Any and all bitcoin received by this bitcoin address will be automatically converted into dollars and sent to your recipient; even if you do not login to your Bitcoin Well account!
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/046ee31cd2098a027254cef95a1a380f7423705b4dcced6485d64e3dfda4c386.png">
## If you chose the Lightning Network:
Select “Generate Invoice” to generate an LN-invoice which will be associated with your transaction. Once that invoice is paid an e-Transfer will be immediately sent to your desired recipient.
Of course, you can still send sats to your Bitcoin Well Payment Address any time to receive an e-Transfer yourself.
<img src="https://blossom.primal.net/afa78ce53beac2f6172119cc18601ea9f26beae6e65502e304b88fa122080fc2.png">
## Banks out; Bitcoin Standard in
Bitcoin Well arms its customers with the knowledge and tools to fully live on a Bitcoin Standard and maximize their independence by keeping bitcoin in self custody instead of dollars in their bank.
Bitcoin Well now enables the same instant and fast transfer capabilities as a bank, but facilitated with bitcoin in self custody!
Replace your bank with Bitcoin Well!
## Earn sats from your bitcoin transactions
Bitcoin Well is also the best place in the world to earn bitcoin. When you earn points in your Bitcoin Well account, you gain the opportunity to play the Bitcoin (Wishing) Well, where you win sats with every play.
The best part? We send bitcoin that you win straight to your personal wallet via the Lightning Network.
Oh yeah, did we mention you can win 1,000,000 sats? If you're an active Bitcoin Well customer, there is a chance you've earned a pile of points. The more you use your account for buying, selling or spending bitcoin - the more points you’ll earn! Log in to your Bitcoin Well account and [check your point balance](https://app.bitcoinwell.com/reward-points).
## About Bitcoin Well
Bitcoin Well exists to enable independence. We do this by coupling the convenience of modern banking, with the benefits of bitcoin. In other words, we want to make it easy to use bitcoin in self-custody.
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@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1
2025-02-27 21:28:20
Good morning, readers!
In Nigeria, financial officials are revising digital asset regulations to impose taxes on digital asset transactions on regulated exchanges. This aims to bolster state revenue as more citizens turn to Bitcoin in response to rampant inflation, the naira’s devaluation, and the regime's ever-increasing financial controls.
Meanwhile, in Cuba, thousands of citizens remain unable to access money the regime forced them to convert into Certificates of Deposit (CDs) in 2021. These funds have not been returned by the Communist Party of Cuba. If they eventually are, they will be paid out in since-hyperinflated Cuban pesos, a reality that stands in stark contrast to regime propaganda that it is working “for the people.”
In open-source freedom tech news, we feature NostrPIX, an experimental tool built during the bitcoin++ developer hackathon in Florianopolis, Brazil. It allows anyone in Brazil to pay any merchant or individual with Bitcoin over the Lightning Network. While it is still in its early stages of development, this stands to enable Bitcoin payments at nearly every merchant in Brazil, similar to how apps like Tando enable Bitcoin payments across Kenya.\
\
We end with the official livestreams of the HRF-supported bitcoin++ developer conference in Florianopolis, Brazil, that brought together open-source developers and freedom tech enthusiasts for four days of technical gatherings to enhance Bitcoin’s privacy, usability, and censorship resistance. These livestreams offer a unique chance to view and understand the presentations and workshops at the event.
**Now, let’s jump right in!**
### [**Subscribe Here**](https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter?mc_cid=bf652c0a5a)
## **GLOBAL NEWS**
#### **Nigeria | Introducing Digital Asset Transaction Tax to Boost State Revenue**
Nigerian officials plan to [amend](https://archive.ph/fTRMl) their digital asset regulations to tax digital asset transactions in a coercive effort to boost the regime’s dwindling revenues. The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reviewing a new framework to tax transactions on regulated exchanges, allowing the regime to extract even more value from the growing digital asset sector. Nigerians, especially the [younger population](https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/01/08/central-bank-of-nigeria-approves-naira-stablecoin-for-2024-launch/), increasingly have turned to Bitcoin and stablecoins to escape high inflation, a devalued naira, and an authoritarian regime that repeatedly undermines financial autonomy and human rights. The new tax could hinder the efficiency of tools like Bitcoin by making transactions more expensive. But enforcing this tax beyond regulated platforms presents a challenge. Bitcoin held in self-custody and transacted peer-to-peer remains largely outside the reach of authoritarian states.
#### **Cuba | Citizens Remain Locked Out of Devalued Funds**
Thousands of Cubans remain [locked out](https://havanatimes.org/features/cuban-savers-lose-on-devalued-bank-deposit-certificates/) of their savings after the regime forced them to convert Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) deposits into Certificates of Deposit (CDs) in 2021. This policy was part of the “Tarea Ordenamiento” economic reforms, which eliminated the CUC, a convertible currency previously pegged to the US dollar. For years, Cubans who received foreign currency — whether through work abroad or remittances — were required to exchange it for CUCs, expecting they could later redeem those CUCs for dollars or other foreign currencies. But when the regime eliminated the CUC in 2021, it forced depositors to either accept a heavily [devalued](https://havanatimes.org/features/cuban-savers-lose-on-devalued-bank-deposit-certificates/) exchange rate for Cuban pesos (far worse than the advertised 24-1 ratio) or convert their money into Certificates of Deposit (CDs), with the promise of returning the equivalent value in foreign currency once liquidity allowed. Unbeknownst to Cubans, the CDs paid a negligible 0.15% interest and had no clear timeline for repayment. Today, many depositors still can’t access their money.
#### **Google | Facilitating Censorship in Russia and China**
Google is actively [assisting](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/google-helped-facilitate-russia-china-censorship-requests) authoritarian regimes like China and Russia to censor dissent, removing online content critical of the Kremlin and Chinese Communist Party. In Russia, Google complied with government requests to erase YouTube videos opposing the war in Ukraine, while in China, it removed references to the Tiananmen Square massacre and pro-democracy activism. With more than [70% of Russians](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/google-helped-facilitate-russia-china-censorship-requests) relying on YouTube for news and China’s Great Firewall blocking independent sources, corporate compliance with state censorship enables state propaganda to proliferate as a dominant narrative. For activists and nonprofits seeking uncensorable communications, nostr — an open and decentralized protocol — offers a way to share information beyond the reach of authoritarian regimes. Activists and NGOs can get started [here](https://start.njump.me/).
#### **World | Transnational Repression Most Common Under CBDC-Leading Countries**
New data from [Freedom House](https://freedomhouse.org/expanding-and-defending-freedom-around-world) reveals that [23 governments](https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-data-mass-incidents-mark-dramatic-year-transnational-repression-23-governments-silence) engaged in transnational repression in 2024, using abductions, assassinations, and forced deportations to silence exiled dissidents. Leading perpetrators include the authoritarian regimes of China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey — orchestrating over [1,200](https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-data-mass-incidents-mark-dramatic-year-transnational-repression-23-governments-silence) incidents in the past decade. Notably, many of these regimes are at the forefront of central bank digital currency (CBDC) development, a technology that drastically increases state control over financial activity. By allowing governments to surveil, freeze, and block funds in real time, CBDCs strip activists of financial privacy and force them into greater vulnerability. As authoritarian states refine both digital and physical methods of repression, CBDCs may become a powerful weapon for crushing dissent beyond borders.
#### **Niger | Delays Democratic Elections While Citizens Financially Struggle**
Niger’s deteriorating economic conditions are set to continue as the ruling military junta has [proposed](https://archive.ph/zd4QS) delaying democratic elections until at least 2030 to contain a “security threat.” Army commander Abdourahamane Tchiani, who came to power in a 2023 coup, originally pledged a three-year transition to civilian rule. Now, that timeline appears extended to five years, allowing “the junta to restore security and regain control of territory captured by Islamist militants that have expanded their insurgency in recent months.” With inflation [eroding](https://business.inquirer.net/501713/inflation-forces-nigeriens-to-adapt-what-they-eat) Nigerien’s purchasing power and the general economic well-being of citizens [declining](https://africacenter.org/spotlight/niger-coup-reversing-hard-earned-gains/), Niger can’t afford more military rule. This could be a pretext for Tchiani to consolidate power, especially as [discussions](https://archive.ph/zd4QS) emerge about dissolving political parties and granting him the rank of general.
\________________________________________________________\_
#### **Webinar Series for Nonprofits: Become Unstoppable**
HRF will host a [free, three-day webinar](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0sjqwSFQo8HGMsWIIDRyhx34TsoonOSTfYoWSy-aaBbLeSw/viewform) from March 17-19, teaching human rights defenders and nonprofits how to use Bitcoin to counter state censorship and confiscation. Sessions run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT and are beginner-friendly. The webinar will be led by Anna Chekhovich, HRF’s Bitcoin nonprofit adoption lead and financial manager at Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, and co-taught by the prominent Bitcoin educator Ben Perrin.
[Register for webinar](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0sjqwSFQo8HGMsWIIDRyhx34TsoonOSTfYoWSy-aaBbLeSw/viewform)
#### **SXSW | The Human Rights Risks of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)**
Join HRF at [SXSW 2025](https://www.sxsw.com/) in Austin from March 7-13 to explore how CBDCs threaten financial freedom. Experts [Roger Huang](https://x.com/Rogerh1991), [Charlene Fadirepo](https://x.com/CharFadirepo), and [Nick Anthony](https://x.com/EconWithNick) will discuss how authoritarian regimes use CBDCs for surveillance and control. Attendees can also visit HRF’s [CBDC Tracker](https://cbdctracker.hrf.org/) booth to explore an interactive map of CBDC developments worldwide.
[Get your tickets](https://www.sxsw.com/conference/)
\________________________________________________________\_
## BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS
#### **NostrPIX | Enabling Bitcoin Payments in Brazil**
[NostrPIX](https://github.com/gringokiwi/nostrpix-api) is a new tool built just a few days ago during the bitcoin++ hackathon in Florianopolis, Brazil, that lets users pay any merchant or individual in Brazil with Bitcoin over the Lightning Network. To use NostrPIX, users scan a Pix QR code (the country’s widely used digital payment system) and pay with bitcoin from their Lightning wallet. Designed with the unbanked in mind, NostrPIX lets those who cannot open a Brazilian bank account to transact with Bitcoin and Pix (no sign-ups required, just instant payments). Its innovative approach [won](https://x.com/gringokiwi/status/1893375343118967063?s=19) the bitcoin++ hackathon, showcasing its potential to bridge Bitcoin with traditional systems. While still a proof of concept, NostrPIX joins projects like [Tando](https://tando.me/) in Kenya, making Bitcoin more practical for everyday commerce and could inspire similar products elsewhere in countries facing political oppression.
#### **Iris | Implements Double Ratchet Messaging for Better Privacy**
[Iris](https://iris.cx/), a client for Nostr launched by Martti Malmi, implemented [double ratchet](https://signal.org/docs/specifications/doubleratchet/) messaging, an encryption algorithm similar to that used by Signal, significantly improving private communications for activists and human rights defenders. This ensures message metadata remains hidden, and with its implementation, past and future conversations on Iris stay private even if a user’s main Nostr private key is compromised. This upgrade empowers individuals in difficult political environments to communicate without fear of surveillance by reducing the risks of authoritarian regimes tracking their conversations. HRF is proud to have helped support Malmi as he invented and launched this innovation.
#### **Presidio Bitcoin | New Bitcoin Co-Working and Events Space in Bay Area**
[Presidio Bitcoin](https://www.presidiobitcoin.org/) is the Bay Area’s first dedicated co-working and events space. Located in San Francisco’s famous Presidio neighborhood, it will be a collaborative space for developers, educators, and freedom tech enthusiasts to connect, work, and innovate together to drive Bitcoin adoption forward. It draws inspiration from other Bitcoin hubs worldwide, like [Bitcoin Park](https://bitcoinpark.com/) in Nashville, Tenn., [Bitcoin House Bali](https://bitcoinindonesia.xyz/) in Indonesia, and [Bitcoin Ekasi](https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi) in South Africa. This time, aiming to create a community of Bitcoiners in the tech capital of the US. Presidio Bitcoin hopes to foster new talent and secure greater funding from Silicon Valley, becoming a central meeting point for those passionate about Bitcoin and freedom. HRF Freedom Fellows were able to visit the space recently, and HRF staff will be speaking at upcoming events at the venue in the near future. Check the space out [here](https://www.presidiobitcoin.org/).
#### **Cashu | Releases Cashu Development Kit**
[Cashu](https://cashu.me/), an open-source Chaumian ecash protocol for Bitcoin integrated with the Lightning Network, [released](https://x.com/CashuBTC/status/1889321095125258313?s=19) the [Cashu Development Kit](https://github.com/cashubtc/cdk) (CDK) in Rust (a common programming language). This makes it easier for developers to build and integrate Cashu wallets, expanding access to private Bitcoin transactions. With Cashu, users can spend Bitcoin-backed ecash without revealing their identity or transaction history. This enables private, cheap, and fast transactions with the tradeoff of being custodial. As digital financial surveillance increases, ecash offers an alternative to remain private. The CDK release expands the reach of said private Bitcoin transactions, providing more safety and anonymity for dissidents.
#### **RoboSats | Adds LNp2pBot Orders on Android App**
[RoboSats](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats), a privacy-focused peer-to-peer (P2P) Bitcoin exchange powered by the Lightning Network, [added](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/releases/tag/v0.7.4-alpha) support for [LNp2pBot](https://lnp2pbot.com/) orders in its Android app. Previously, users used Telegram to interact with LNp2pBot for P2P bitcoin trades. Now, they can access P2P orders directly from the RoboSats Android app. This integration enhances usability by reducing platform dependency and provides users with greater liquidity for P2P trades. HRF is pleased to see the continued development and interoperability of privacy-focused, self-custodial Bitcoin on and off ramps from this [Bitcoin Development Fund](https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/) grantee.
#### **Bitcoin Dada | Visits Bitcoin Mining Site for Hands-On Learning**
Bitcoin Dada, an HRF-supported nonprofit empowering African women with financial literacy and Bitcoin education, recently took its students on a [trip](https://x.com/btc_dada/status/1891495542078726163) to a Bitcoin mining site operated by [Gridless](https://gridlesscompute.com/) in Kibwezi, Kenya. This visit provided students firsthand exposure to Bitcoin mining’s potential for driving economic growth and expanding electricity access in rural African communities while simultaneously helping decentralize the network. The site repurposes sisal waste (the waste from fiber production) to generate electricity, reduce blackouts, and provide power to homes in Kibwezi. As more and more off-grid sites like this come online, Bitcoin’s mining composition becomes less centralized and stronger against threats from authoritarian states.
## RECOMMENDED CONTENT
#### **bitcoin++ Developer Conference Livestream**
Last week, [bitcoin++](https://btcplusplus.dev/) hosted the “hacking edition” developer conference in Florianopolis, Brazil. The event brought together Bitcoin developers and freedom tech enthusiasts for four days of hands-on development, workshops, and technical discussions to enhance Bitcoin’s privacy, accessibility, and censorship resistance. If you missed the event, you can catch the key sessions and workshops via live stream. Watch them [here](https://www.youtube.com/@btcplusplus/streams).
#### **Nostr: The Importance of Censorship-Resistant Communication for Innovation and Human Progress**
In [this](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/nostr-the-importance-of-censorship-resistant-communication-for-innovation-and-human-progress-) article for [Bitcoin Magazine](http://bitcoinmagazine.com), [Leon Wankum](https://x.com/leonwankum) highlights why Nostr, a censorship-resistant protocol, is key to unlocking innovation and free expression. He explains how Nostr enables decentralized content sharing using cryptographic keys and relays, preventing central control of the protocol. This approach ensures that no single entity controls the flow of information, thereby enhancing freedom of expression. Alongside Bitcoin, Nostr has the potential to break corporate and state monopolies, allowing for grassroots progress and innovation on the individual level. You can read the full article [here](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/nostr-the-importance-of-censorship-resistant-communication-for-innovation-and-human-progress-).
*If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report [here](https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter?mc_cid=bf652c0a5a).*
*Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program [via BTCPay](https://hrf.org/btc).*\
*Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ [hrf.org](http://hrf.org/)*
*The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals [here](https://forms.monday.com/forms/57019f8829449d9e729d9e3545a237ea?r=use1)*.
[**Subscribe to newsletter**](http://financialfreedomreport.org/)
[**Apply for a grant**](https://forms.monday.com/forms/57019f8829449d9e729d9e3545a237ea?r=use1&mc_cid=39c1c9b7e8&mc_eid=778e9876e3)
[**Support our work**](https://hrf.org/btc?mc_cid=39c1c9b7e8&mc_eid=778e9876e3)
[**Visit our website**](https://hrf.org/programs/financial-freedom/)
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@ f3873798:24b3f2f3
2025-02-27 21:22:01
Você já conheceu alguém que sempre tenta levar vantagem em tudo? Aquele tipo de pessoa que, em vez de buscar crescimento legítimo, prefere explorar os outros para obter benefícios? Infelizmente, essa mentalidade está mais presente do que gostaríamos de admitir.
Ela se manifesta de diversas formas, como:
* Pedir descontos e brindes de maneira abusiva, como se fosse um direito;
* Ameaçar ou constranger vendedores para conseguir preços mais baixos;
* Vender produtos com valores incompatíveis com a qualidade ou omitir defeitos para enganar clientes.
Quem age assim tem uma conduta antiética e, pior, muitas vezes se orgulha disso, como se enganar alguém fosse um sinal de esperteza. Mas será que essa mentalidade realmente leva ao sucesso?
A curto prazo, pode parecer que sim. Alguns até conseguem vantagens temporárias, mas a longo prazo, essa postura cobra seu preço. A reputação se desgasta, as oportunidades diminuem e, inevitavelmente, o comportamento oportunista se volta contra quem o pratica.
No Brasil, essa mentalidade oportunista se tornou quase um traço cultural. Combater isso exige uma mudança de perspectiva e, acima de tudo, uma autoavaliação sincera.
O primeiro passo é reconhecer se, em algum momento, você já adotou esse comportamento. Ser honesto consigo mesmo é fundamental para evoluir.
O segundo passo é entender que essa mentalidade não só é antiética, mas também prejudica seu próprio crescimento. Quem não valoriza o trabalho alheio dificilmente conseguirá que seu próprio trabalho seja valorizado.
Portanto, abandone essa postura de querer sempre "se dar bem" às custas dos outros. Valorize o esforço e o trabalho de quem está oferecendo um produto ou serviço. Se não pode pagar, simplesmente não compre. Faça igual o Lula rsrsrs.
Mas brincadeiras a parte, não exija que os outros arquem com o custo da sua insatisfação.
E esta foi a mensagem de hoje.
Espero que tenha gostado de mais uma leitura aleatória.
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@ 5975800a:3d9a6b7d
2025-02-27 20:43:44
Sometimes people come into your life
and you know right away that they were meant to be there.
*to serve some sort of purpose,
teach you a lesson,*
*or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.*
You may never know who these people may be but..
*when you lock eyes with them,
you know that at that very moment
they will affect your life in some profound way.*
And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first..
*but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles,
you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.*
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> Everything happens for a reason.
*Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.*
Without the small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight flat road to nowhere.
It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
---
Written by [Samantha McConnell]( https://hellopoetry.com/poem/632166/everything-happens-for-a-reason/).
Pictures by [me](nostr:npub1t96cqznzh0zmqq5y5rm9yfpqhdjs2gjgjzwzzn5alsy9g0v6dd7snrpyjw).
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@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a
2025-02-27 20:31:03
Using nostr_sdk 0.39
replace nsec_key with your secret key
replace npub_to_follow by the npub to follow
``` python
from nostr_sdk import Metadata, Client, Keys, Filter, Kind, KindStandard, Contact, PublicKey, EventBuilder
from datetime import timedelta
import asyncio
async def main():
keys = Keys.parse("nsec_key")
client = Client()
await client.add_relay("wss://relay.damus.io")
await client.connect()
# Get current contact list
f = Filter().author(keys.public_key()).kind(Kind.from_std(KindStandard.CONTACT_LIST))
events = await client.fetch_events(f, timedelta(seconds=10))
event = events.first()
if event:
# Get current contact public keys and add a new contact
public_keys = event.tags().public_keys()
new_public_key = PublicKey.parse("npub_to_follow")
public_keys.append(new_public_key)
# Create a new contact list event and send it to relays
contacts = [Contact(public_key=pk, relay_url=None, alias=None) for pk in public_keys]
event = EventBuilder.contact_list(contacts).sign_with_keys(keys)
await client.send_event(event)
print(f"Added follow to: {new_public_key}")
else:
print("No contact list found")
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
```
https://github.com/ev3rst/nostr_sdk_examples/blob/main/ns-follow-npub.py
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@ df478568:2a951e67
2025-02-27 20:26:33
In [my Soapminer article](https://habla.news/u/marc@primal.net/washing-the-invisible-hand-with-soapminer), I added quotes from various plebs. I earned over 12,000 sats! That's enough for a McJunk today, but maybe a steak dinner in a few years. That's my two sats anyway.
*This is not investment advice*
It feels great to receive value from people who support and appreciate your work. It's also nice to stack more sats by writing. I have a budget of $25.00 that I have sent to various people using Zapplanner, but I'm trying something new: Zapsplits.
## WTF Are Zapsplits?
I asked [Unleashed.chat](https://unleashed.chat). Here's what the anthropomorphic Unleashed said.
Me:
What is a Zapsplit on nostr?

Unleashed:
A Zapsplit on Nostr refers to splitting a Zap, which is a form of donation or tipping on the ~platform~ protocol, among multiple recipients. **It allows users to distribute their support more broadly across various content creators instead of just one**.
That's more succinct than I would put it, but nostr is a protocol, not a platform. The important part about Zapsplits for me is that it removes the cognitive cost of deciding what percentage of my giving budget should go to each creator. Do I zap podcast guests? Do podcasters with ads get less than podcasters sans ads? How much value did this particular article bring me? If I zap Guy Swann, should I also zap the authors he reads? Should I zap long-form articles more than micro-blogs? There are 21 million different considerations.
Zapsplits removes all this from me because I can use the following algorithm.

### Does This Person Provide Me Value?
Yes ⬇️
I add them to my Zapsplit post for that month. A portion of my monthly zapping budget, 25 dirty-fiat bucks, transforms into magic Internet money and is distributed among everyone in the Zapsplit.
No ⬇️
If I don't get any value, I don't send value. Simple.
#### Testing Zapsplits
I added podcasters and devs to a nostr post and enabled a 10-way zapsplit on the post. It's based on [prisms](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/lightning-prism-nostr/), a little nostr feature that gives me prose writing superpowers.
1. I can earn sats for writing.
2. I can support others with a single zap.
3. I can add people who give me quotes to my zap splits.
People appreciate attribution. I suspect they will appreciate it more if they also get paid. What if I added some quotes to an article and then split any zaps I get with the quoted plebs? Come to think of it, I'll try it. [Here's a quote from a dev on nostr](nostr:note1qf4277rudtflllrjr555890xsjp6u60f7xdvclkwc9t220duajeq0x665q
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I added Silberangel to the Zapsplits on Habla.news.
My [V4V](https://blog.getalby.com/the-case-for-value-4-value/) payments can also get sent to ten different plebs with a simple click of a button. I am going to start using this for a lot of my monthly V4V budget. Every month, I'll think about the people's content I value most and add them to a single zapsplit payment. Then, I'll zap the post.
Say I create a poll and make a wager with ten different people. If I lose, I can pay everyone pit at the same time. This is probably better for a football pool, but you get the idea. The options are limited only by your imagination.
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nostr:nevent1qqspnhucgxc6mprhw36fe2242hzv7zumavyy7dhzjswtldhxk4dh7ugpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygxlg7zks3uauf454q7phhzdh2mpkhxg9cdrzt3t9z7gzksj49g7vupsgqqqqqqsl5uwfl
Other people can also zap the post. As Siberangel says, we can use other people's money to provide value, too. This is a great option for stacking neophytes, people who don't have much bitcoin or cheap skates. Let's be honest, bitcoin has made most of us cheapskates.
Bitcoin books with multiple authors can have QR codes that link to one of these Zapsplit posts. The authors can do a book signing and sell their books using this on nostr. Nerds like me can get three autographs and zap the book. The sats are split among all authors. Here's a Zapsplit that includes all the authors of Parallel.
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Can you think of any other ways to use Zapsplits? Let me know.
npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0
[885,610](https://mempool.marc26z.com/block/00000000000000000000742c0f980fcfcbd25fade47c3ebcfd69eda93f6861c7)
[Merch](https://marc26z.com/merch/)
-
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-27 20:25:29
I've really enjoyed these two months running ~econ. It crystallized that what I most enjoy is reading and commenting. Thankfully, our excellent contributors are giving me ample opportunities.
# Metrics
- Posts: 5th place - 264
- Comments: 6th place - 1653
- Stacking: 3rd place - 149.6k
- Revenue: 6th place - 59.4k
We're still over the breakeven point, but revenue was down from last month (still above the month before I took over, though). That means the new posting fee will be 81 sats, which is halfway back to the previous 108.
# Contest Ideas
Last month, I asked what people thought the best use of previously donated sats was and funding a contest seemed to get the best response.
I'd like to try out a quarterly contest. The prize pool will be whatever sats have been earned, above the breakeven point, until the donated sats have all been paid out.
I'm not sure if this will be a winner-takes-all thing or a top 3. I also don't want to completely defer to zaprank, so what I'll do is list the top 10 posts by zaprank and have people vote on the best post.
Let me know what you think (including if this is an acceptable use of your donations, for those who made donations).
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/899082
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@ 78c90fc4:4bff983c
2025-02-27 20:19:08
**Gerichtliche Beschwerde wg. Arbeitsverweigerung**
 
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren
\
Da meine Fragen zum Schutz der Bevölkerung an das kantonale Gesundheitsamt und die weiteren Verantwortungsträger bis heute nicht beantwortet wurden, habe ich mich mit einer Beschwerde an das Kantonsgericht Baselland gewandt.
Ignorieren und Wegschauen bei möglichen Offizialdelikten (schwere Körperverletzung) ist kein verantwortungsvolles Handeln. Bitte stellen Sie sich den Fragen und der Realität.
\
Freundliche Grüsse
Oliver Christen
<https://x.com/RealWsiegrist/status/1895162279953367067>
Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit sind schwerwiegende Verstöße gegen das Völkerrecht, die durch systematische oder ausgedehnte Angriffe gegen die Zivilbevölkerung gekennzeichnet sind. Sie zählen zu den Kernverbrechen des Völkerstrafrechts und sind unabhängig von Kriegszuständen strafbar.

<https://x.com/RealWsiegrist/status/1895162279953367067>
## Covid Dossier; Eine Aufzeichnung der militärischen und geheimdienstlichen Koordination des globalen Covid-Ereignisses
### <https://www.aletheialib.org/doc/809>
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@ 8412613c:df65608a
2025-02-27 19:35:22
The book "Till We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis had a profound spiritual impact on me, unlike most books that typically stay on an intellectual or entertainment level. I kept thinking, "Why didn't I read this sooner?" (It had been on my list for years). However, I believe I wouldn't have understood it as deeply as I did now, and I attribute that to my decision to fully embrace my Christian faith and accept Jesus as the Son of God who incarnated and resurrected—with no more questions or doubts, just faith. This choice has been truly liberating for me.
Although *Till We Have Faces* is not explicitly a Christian book, it beautifully reflects the themes of voluntary sacrifice, selfless love, suffering, and the mystery of the divine by retelling the myth of Psyche and Eros from the perspective of Psyche’s sister, Orual. Her journey through profound grief and blame toward the gods ultimately leads her to inner transformation and peace at the end of her life. C.S. Lewis’ personal faith undeniably influenced his writing, often exploring spiritual and philosophical themes through the lens of myth and allegory, as we see in this book.
I want to briefly mention a few topics that gave me pause:
### The case against the gods
> ‘But, your eyes being open, you saw no such thing.’
> ‘You don’t think—not possibly—not as a mere hundredth chance—there might be things that are real though we can’t see them?’
> ‘Certainly I do. Such things as Justice, Equality, the Soul, or musical notes.’
> ‘Oh, grandfather, I don’t mean things like that. If there are souls, could there not be soul-houses? (p. 161).
It was clever of the author to make Psyche's palace invisible to mortal eyes, as this allows readers to relate to Orual's struggle with the nature of reality. Orual faces the abyss that humans encounter when witnessing the limits of reason.
> If what I saw was real. I was in great fear. Perhaps it was not real. I looked and looked to see if it would not fade or change. Then as I rose (for all this time I was still kneeling where I had drunk), almost before I stood on my feet, the whole thing was vanished. (p. 150).
Even though Orual has a glimpse of the divine, she makes an important decision that will mark her for the rest of her life: she chooses to neglect recognizing her vision as the sign she had been asking for, and instead looks for other possible explanations. She thinks the gods are cruel and untrustworthy, and also blames them for their lack of clarity in their messaging. She expresses that if they wanted her to understand something, they are at fault for not being clear.
> The gods never send us this invitation to delight so readily or so strongly as when they are preparing some new agony. We are their bubbles; they blow us big before they prick us. (p. 111).
Orual reached her breaking point when the gods twisted what she believed to be real: her experiences and her life story. She interpreted this event as a mockery by the gods, and so decided to write a book from her perspective—a case against them—without realizing that, in doing so, she was writing a case against herself:
> Now, you who read, judge between the gods and me. They gave me nothing in the world to love but Psyche and then took her from me. But that was not enough. They then brought me to her at such a place and time that it hung on my word whether she should continue in bliss or be cast out into misery. They would not tell me whether she was the bride of a god, or mad, or a brute’s or villain’s spoil. They would give no clear sign, though I begged for it. I had to guess. And because I guessed wrong they punished me—what’s worse, punished me through her. And even that was not enough; they have now sent out a lying story in which I was given no riddle to guess, but knew and saw that she was the god’s bride, and of my own will destroyed her, and that for jealousy. As if I were another Redival. I say the gods deal very unrightly with us. For they will neither (which would be best of all) go away and leave us to live our own short days to ourselves, nor will they show themselves openly and tell us what they would have us do. For that too would be endurable. But to hint and hover, to draw near us in dreams and oracles, or in a waking vision that vanishes as soon as seen, to be dead silent when we question them and then glide back and whisper (words we cannot understand) in our ears when we most wish to be free of them, and to show to one what they hide from another; what is all this but cat-and-mouse play, blindman’s buff, and mere jugglery? Why must holy places be dark places? (pp. 283-284).
I have always believed in God as Jesus, yet I understand Orual's accusations. I have questioned "unfair" situations, victimized myself, and blamed God. I have also saddened the beautiful souls of believers when, in my state of rebellion, I harshly questioned their faith, even as they were showing me Christ's love. I saw myself in many of Orual's attitudes
With time, I have come to understand that humans can move between reason and faith, each requiring different skills. Dismissing either is dangerous. Reason protects us from deception but it can also blind us from truths. Faith is part of what gives us purpose in life, it comes with uncertainty but also with a blessing:
> Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. -John 20:39.
### Dying before dying
This part of the book was truly inspiring to me because I have been obsessed with these words for a long time [^1]:
> If you die before you die, you won't die when you die. -Inscription at St. Paul's Monastery on Mt. Athos.
So I recognized them in the text:
> Die before you die. There is no chance after. (p. 318).
Orual explains what the gods meant by “dying before dying”:
> Then I remembered that conversation which his friends had with Socrates before he drank the hemlock, and how he said that true wisdom is the skill and practise of death... But by the death which is wisdom I supposed he meant the death of our passions and desires and vain opinions. And immediately (it is terrible to be a fool) I thought I saw my way clear and not impossible. To say that I was Ungit meant that I was as ugly in soul as she; greedy, blood-gorged. But if I practised true philosophy, as Socrates meant it, I should change my ugly soul into a fair one. And this, the gods helping me, I would do. I would set about it at once. (pp. 321-322).
These words brought me to the central Christian teaching of "dying to self" or "crucifying the old self”, which is only achieved through divine intervention. The idea of dying before dying is described by Paul as follows:
> I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. -Galatians 2:20
### Dreams
Orual was stubborn and tried to fix her sorrow by another form of dying: completely changing her identity and true nature by neglecting herself and becoming someone else. This might seem similar to “dying before dying”, but the latter just comes through an act of humility and surrender by recognizing that only divine mercy can prevent us from going astray and truly heal. Orual, however, relied on her own strength and pride to endure her suffering. She hid behind a veil and metaphorically killed herself.
> I had worn a veil because I wished to be secret. I now determined that I would go always veiled. I have kept this rule, within doors and without, ever since. It is a sort of treaty made with my ugliness. There had been a time in childhood when I didn’t yet know I was ugly. Then there was a time (for in this book I must hide none of my shames or follies) when I believed, as girls do—and as Batta was always telling me—that I could make it more tolerable by this or that done to my clothes or my hair. Now, I chose to be veiled. The Fox, that night, was the last man who ever saw my face; and not many women have seen it either. (p. 205).
> I am the Queen; I’ll kill Orual too. (p. 256).
By writing her book, Orual finally reaches a state where she is ready for divine intervention. Ultimately, she removes her veil. The following is one of the most important paragraphs:
> Not many days have passed since I wrote those words no answer, but I must unroll my book again. It would be better to rewrite it from the beginning, but I think there’s no time for that. Weakness comes on me fast... Since I cannot mend the book, I must add to it. To leave it as it was would be to die perjured; I know so much more than I did about the woman who wrote it. What began the change was the very writing itself. Let no one lightly set about such a work. Memory, once waked, will play the tyrant. I found I must set down (for I was speaking as before judges and must not lie) passions and thoughts of my own which I had clean forgotten. The past which I wrote down was not the past that I thought I had (all these years) been remembering. I did not, even when I had finished the book, see clearly many things that I see now. The change which the writing wrought in me (and of which I did not write) was only a beginning—only to prepare me for the gods’ surgery. They used my own pen to probe my wound. (p. 287).
Through random encounters, dreams, and visions, the gods showed Orual what she had been missing her whole life. One specific dream (or vision) caught my attention and made me think that C.S. Lewis had a profound insight while writing this masterpiece: Orual had a vision in which she presented her case against the gods in a courtroom before a judge. The assembly was made up of gods and ghosts, some of whom she knew. When the judge asked her to read her complaint, she had a scroll that was not the book she had written while recounting the story of her life. But she read it anyway until the judge said "enough," and she understood that she had read it over and over. The judge asked if she had her answer, and she replied "yes."
> The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered. (p. 335).
This was incredible, and I could relate. I have had similar dreams in which I have a book in my hands—a book I know I wrote. Suddenly, I become lucid and tell myself, "Here is the answer; when I read it, I will know." This has been a recurring dream, and it's interesting because there are insights we only have access to on a deeper inner level. I have also dreamed of conversing with Jesus, repeating certain words, some of which I do not even remember. I interpret these kinds of dreams as follows:
> In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. -Romans 8:26
I think that C.S. Lewis, speaking through Orual and the Fox, understands this and writes:
> Lightly men talk of saying what they mean. Often when he was teaching me to write in Greek the Fox would say, ‘Child, to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you really mean; that’s the whole art and joy of words.’ A glib saying. When the time comes to you at which you will be forced at last to utter the speech which has lain at the centre of your soul for years, which you have, all that time, idiot-like, been saying over and over, you’ll not talk about joy of words. I saw well why the gods do not speak to us openly, nor let us answer. Till that word can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces? (p. 335).
I am very impressed with how the author explored Orual's life through her own eyes, enabling the reader to understand her transformation once she finally confronted her shortcomings and humbly accepted divine wisdom. With this new knowledge, she could finally see her path from a different perspective. Furthermore, the reader was able to appreciate the role of the gods: they weren’t meant to alleviate Orual’s suffering, but rather to lead her to see that it had a purpose—to transcend. This story made me reflect on my own journey and acknowledge Jesus's presence and mercy in my life and His selfless love as the key to transformation.
---
This book resonated so deeply with me. I absolutely recommend it. To C.S. Lewis, thank you—your words truly touched my heart.
---
### References:
Lewis, C. S.. Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold. Kindle Edition.
[^1]: See: https://habla.news/u/nancyqa@mynostr.space/1691458659942
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@ a5caac8b:172ed717
2025-02-27 19:01:32
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### **Descubre una Oportunidad Única: Nuestra Propiedad Rústica en Tulum con Potencial Inmenso**
Buscamos personas interesadas en explorar una inversión sólida, sostenible y alineada con el futuro de las finanzas descentralizadas. Queremos compartir con ustedes nuestra propiedad excepcional ubicada en **La Veleta**, Tulum, un lugar donde la naturaleza se fusiona con el estilo de vida moderno y el ecosistema Bitcoin.
### **Características destacadas de esta joya rústica:**
- **Construcción robusta:** Diseñamos esta propiedad con materiales locales como piedra y Chucum, reflejando autenticidad y resistencia.
- **Fuente propia de agua:** Garantiza independencia hídrica, un valor inigualable en la región.
- **Vegetación abundante:** Un oasis verde que conecta directamente con la esencia de Tulum.
- **Ubicación estratégica:** Está súper céntrica, rodeada de los sitios más hermosos de la región, perfecta tanto para residencia como para negocio.
- **Documentación al día:** Todo está en regla y listo para transacciones seguras.
### **Nuestra propuesta para la administración y finanzas**
Estamos buscando colaboradores para gestionar y/o comprar esta propiedad. Ya sea mediante plataformas como **Nostr**, **Telegram** o **Element (en Matrix)**, podemos coordinarnos de manera eficiente para cualquier aspecto relacionado con la propiedad.
Además, si están interesados en adquirirla, queremos destacar que recientemente ajustamos el precio en **170,000 USD menos** tras cuatro años en el mercado. Este cambio refleja nuestro compromiso con encontrar a los socios ideales que valoren no solo la belleza del lugar, sino también su potencial financiero dentro del ecosistema Bitcoin.
### **Por qué invertir aquí?**
1. **Negocio rentable:** Ideal para emprendedores que deseen desarrollar proyectos turísticos, ecológicos o incluso tecnológicos en una de las regiones más codiciadas del mundo.
2. **Valorización asegurada:** La tendencia inmobiliaria en Tulum sigue creciendo año con año.
3. **Sostenibilidad y tecnología:** Combina la magia natural de México con herramientas innovadoras.
### **Comunicación Multilingüe**
Ofrecemos la posibilidad de comunicarnos en **español, alemán e inglés**, lo que facilitará la interacción con inversores de diferentes partes del mundo.
No duden en contactarnos si son visionarios dispuestos a explorar nuevas formas de inversión en bienes raíces utilizando Bitcoin. Estamos emocionados por conectar con ustedes y construir juntos un futuro próspero.
**Contacto:** No duden en escribirnos. Respondemos todas sus preguntas con detalle y entusiasmo. ¡Juntos podemos transformar esta propiedad en un proyecto extraordinario!
---
#TulumRealEstate #BitcoinFriendly #SustainableLiving #InvestInTulum #RusticCharm #PropertyForSale #DecentralizedFinance #TulumDreams
---
### **Discover a Unique Opportunity: Our Rustic Property in Tulum with Incredible Potential**
We are looking for individuals interested in exploring a solid, sustainable investment aligned with the future of decentralized finance. We want to share with you our exceptional property located in **La Veleta**, Tulum—a place where nature blends seamlessly with modern living and the Bitcoin ecosystem.
### **Key Features of this Rustic Gem:**
- **Sturdy construction:** We designed this property using local materials like stone and Chucum, reflecting authenticity and durability.
- **Own water source:** Ensures hydrological independence, an invaluable asset in the region.
- **Abundant vegetation:** A lush green haven that connects directly with the essence of Tulum.
- **Strategic location:** Centrally located, surrounded by the most beautiful spots in the region, perfect for both residential and business use.
- **Up-to-date documentation:** Everything is in order and ready for secure transactions.
### **Our Proposal for Management and Finances**
We are seeking collaborators to manage and/or purchase this property. Whether through platforms like **Nostr**, **Telegram** or **Element (on Matrix)**, we can efficiently coordinate any aspect related to the property.
Additionally, if you're interested in acquiring it, we’d like to highlight that we recently reduced the price by **$170,000 USD** after four years on the market. This adjustment reflects our commitment to finding the ideal partners who appreciate not only the beauty of the place but also its financial potential within the Bitcoin ecosystem.
### **Why Invest Here?**
1. **Profitable business opportunity:** Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to develop tourism, ecological, or even tech projects in one of the world's most sought-after regions.
2. **Guaranteed appreciation:** The real estate trend in Tulum continues to grow year after year.
3. **Sustainability and technology:** Combines the natural magic of Mexico with innovative tools.
### **Multilingual Communication**
We offer the possibility of communicating in **Spanish, German, and English**, making interaction easier for investors from around the world.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re visionaries eager to explore new ways to invest in real estate using Bitcoin. We’re excited to connect with you and build a prosperous future together.
**Contact:** Feel free to write to us. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions in detail and with enthusiasm. Together, we can turn this property into an extraordinary project!
---
#TulumRealEstate #BitcoinFriendly #SustainableLiving #InvestInTulum #RusticCharm #PropertyForSale #DecentralizedFinance #TulumDreams
---
### **Entdeckt eine einzigartige Gelegenheit: Unsere rustikale Immobilie in Tulum mit enormem Potenzial**
Wir suchen Personen, die daran interessiert sind, eine feste, nachhaltige Investition zu tätigen, die sich auf die Zukunft der dezentralisierten Finanzen ausrichtet. Wir möchten euch unsere außergewöhnliche Immobilie in **La Veleta**, Tulum vorstellen – ein Ort, an dem Natur nahtlos mit dem modernen Leben und dem Bitcoin-Ekosystem verschmilzt.
### **Herausragende Merkmale dieser rustikalen Perle:**
- **Robuste Bauweise:** Wir haben diese Immobilie mit lokalen Materialien wie Stein und Chucum gebaut, um Authentizität und Beständigkeit widerzuspiegeln.
- **Eigen Quelle:** Sicherstellt wertvolle Wasserunabhängigkeit, ein unschätzbarer Vorteil in der Region.
- **Reiche Vegetation:** Ein grünes Paradies, das euch direkt mit der Essenz von Tulum verbindet.
- **Strategisch günstige Lage:** Zentral gelegen, umgeben von den schönsten Plätzen der Region, ideal sowohl für Wohnzwecke als auch für Geschäfte.
- **Aktuelle Dokumentation:** Alles ist aktuell und bereit für sichere Transaktionen.
### **Unser Angebot zur Verwaltung und Finanzen**
Wir suchen Mitstreiter, um diese Immobilie gemeinsam zu verwalten und/oder zu kaufen. Ob über Plattformen wie **Nostr**, **Telegram** oder **Element (auf Matrix)**, können wir alle Aspekte der Immobilie effizient koordinieren.
Außerdem, wenn ihr Interesse habt, sie zu erwerben, möchten wir betonen, dass wir den Preis kürzlich um **170.000 USD** gesenkt haben, nachdem sie vier Jahre lang auf dem Markt war. Diese Anpassung spiegelt unser Engagement wider, die idealen Partner zu finden, die nicht nur die Schönheit des Ortes schätzen, sondern auch sein finanzielles Potenzial im Bitcoin-Ekosystem.
### **Warum hier investieren?**
1. **Rentables Geschäft:** Ideal für Unternehmer, die Tourismus-, ökologische oder sogar technologische Projekte in einer der weltweit begehrtesten Regionen entwickeln möchten.
2. **Gewährleistung von Wertsteigerung:** Die Immobilientrends in Tulum steigen Jahr für Jahr weiter.
3. **Nachhaltigkeit und Technologie:** Kombiniert die natürliche Magie Mexikos mit innovativen Tools.
### **Mehrsprachige Kommunikation**
Wir bieten die Möglichkeit an, uns in **Spanisch, Deutsch und Englisch** zu kommunizieren, was die Interaktion mit Investoren aus aller Welt erleichtert.
Zögert nicht, euch zu melden, wenn ihr Visionäre seid, die neue Wege zur Immobilieninvestition mit Bitcoin erforschen möchten. Wir freuen uns darauf, mit euch zusammenzuarbeiten und gemeinsam eine erfolgreiche Zukunft aufzubauen.
**Kontakt:** Schreibt uns einfach. Wir werden alle eure Fragen detailliert und enthusiastisch beantworten. Zusammen können wir diese Immobilie in ein außergewöhnliches Projekt verwandeln!
---
#TulumImmobilien #BitcoinFreundlich #NachhaltigesLeben #InvestiereInTulum #RustikalerCharme #ImmobilieZuVerkaufen #DezentralisierteFinanzen #TulumTräume
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@ 4523be58:ba1facd0
2025-02-27 18:51:11
# NIP-118
## Nostr Double Ratchet Invites
In order to start a [NIP-117](./117.md) Nostr Double Ratchet session, Alice and Bob need to exchange ephemeral public keys and a shared secret.
In a Nostr Double Ratchet invite, Alice gives Bob her
- ephemeral public key, which is also used to respond to the invite on Nostr,
- shared secret, and
- Nostr identity public key, which is used to authenticate the exchange.
### Nostr event
Publishing an invite event on Nostr allows other users to start a Double Ratchet session with you.
```typescript
{
pubkey: inviterIdentityKey,
content: '',
tags: [
['d', `double-ratchet/invites/${uid}`], // uid: unique name for the invitation, e.g. "public"
['l', 'double-ratchet/invites'], // label, for listing all your invites
['ephemeralKey', inviterEphemeralKey],
['sharedSecret', sharedSecret]
],
kind: 30078,
created_at,
id,
sig
}
```
`l` is a [NIP-32](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/32.md) label tag that can be used to list your invites. We use this approach with [NIP-78](./78.md) application specific data kind `30078` in order to not bloat the event kind space and instead have a human-readable label.
### URL
Invites can be also shared privately, without requiring a Nostr event. This improves privacy, removing the public association between the inviter and response.
URL and QR code are often convenient ways to share privately, especially when the other user is not yet on Nostr. Format:
```typescript
const invite = { inviter, ephemeralKey, sharedSecret };
const json = JSON.stringify(invite);
const url = `https://example.com/#${encodeURIComponent(json)}`;
```
Encoding the invite into the URL hash ensures it's not sent to the server and logged by default.
`nostr:` URI scheme is another possible way to share invites, when we have native clients supporting the feature.
### Invite response
#### Outer event
Invite response outer event is a [NIP-59](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/59.md) gift wrap event of kind `1059`, sent from a random, one-time-use pubkey, hiding the responder's identity from the public.
It is addressed to the ephemeral key in the invite. If the invite was publicly shared, responses can be publicly associated to the inviter.
#### Inner event
[NIP-59](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/59.md) Rumor.
```typescript
const conversationKey = nip44.getConversationKey(
inviteeKeyPair,
inviterPublicKey
);
const encrypted1 = encrypt(inviteeEphemeralKey, conversationKey);
const encrypted2 = encrypt(encrypted1, sharedSecret);
const rumor = {
pubkey: inviteePublicKey,
kind: 1060,
content: encrypted2,
tags: [],
createdAt,
id,
};
```
After receiving the invite response, both parties have what they need to start a double ratchet session: each others' ephemeral public keys and a shared secret.
Both parties have authenticated by encrypting or decrypting using their nip44 conversation key.
The shared secret from the invite is used in the response to ensure that only actual recipients of the invite can follow it. Otherwise, attackers could initiate double ratchet sessions by sending invite responses to all addresses that received gift wraps, some of which are private invite addresses.
-
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@ 6260f29f:2ee2fcd4
2025-02-27 18:05:52
<div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/div>?enablejsapi=1" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
-
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@ 6260f29f:2ee2fcd4
2025-02-27 18:01:30
# titleeee
test
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-02-27 17:41:24
Here are today's picks using my proprietary betting strategy at [Freebitcoin](https://freebitco.in/?r=51325722). For details about what Risk Balanced Odds Arbitrage is and why it works see https://stacker.news/items/342765/r/Undisciplined.
There were so many today, that I abandoned the markdown table. I recommend skipping the ones that are taking place within a week (the early bonus isn't great for those).
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originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/898935
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@ 2efaa715:3d987331
2025-02-27 16:07:36
# Cost of a 1960s Diet vs Modern Food Costs by Decade
> The following is a result from ChatGPT's "deep research" feature when asked to analyze what a "1960s diet" would cost in each subsequent decade.
> The CPI and basket of goods is constantly adjusted to "reflect consumer purchasing behavior", but this metric overlooks the fact that _consumer behavior itself is guided by prices_. Just because someone _does_ buy something doesn't mean they would _prefer_ this good over another (potentially superior) good, all it tells you is that they _did_ buy it. When the cost of living off of higher quality foods becomes too great to bear, consumers will trade-down to lower-quality foods. When the CPI reflects this, even a "steady inflation number" hides the fact that **quality of life** has degraded.
> If you don't want to read the whole thing, at least check out the conclusion at the end. Everything from here down was generated by the AI after rounds of nudging by me.
> Also the cover image, obviously (lol)
Following a **1960s-style diet** – rich in red meat, dairy, and unprocessed “whole” foods – has become increasingly expensive over time. Below we examine each decade from 1960 to the present, tracking how much the cost of that fixed 1960s diet rose and comparing it to the **prevailing food costs (CPI)** shaped by consumers adapting their eating habits. Key staples like red meat, dairy, grains, and processed foods are highlighted to show the impact of inflation on a traditional diet versus switching to cheaper substitutes.
## 1960s: Baseline of Affordable Abundance
- **Percentage Increase in Cost:** Food prices rose modestly in the 1960s (around **2–3% per year**). Over the decade, maintaining the same 1960 basket led to roughly a **25–30% increase** in cost ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1960%2424.38%200.91,0.35%25%201968%2428.06%203.24)). This was a relatively small jump compared to later decades.
- **Cost in Era’s Currency:** For example, if a household spent **$100 per week in 1960** on the typical foods (plentiful beef, whole milk, butter, eggs, etc.), by **1970** that same diet cost about **$125–$130** in nominal dollars. Everyday items were cheap: ground beef was only **$0.30 per lb in the late 1950s**, and butter about **$0.75 per lb ([Grocery Store Prices for 14 Items in 1957 | HowStuffWorks](https://money.howstuffworks.com/Grocery-store-prices-for-14-items-in-1957.htm#:~:text=4%3A%20Ground%20Beef)) ([Grocery Store Prices for 14 Items in 1957 | HowStuffWorks](https://money.howstuffworks.com/Grocery-store-prices-for-14-items-in-1957.htm#:~:text=When%20they%20weren%27t%20cooking%20with,fashioned%20butter%20today))**. Americans could afford more of these foods as incomes grew.
- **Comparison to CPI (Behavior-Adjusted):** The official food Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed at a similar pace (~28% increase from 1960 to 1970 ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1960%2424.38%200.91,0.35%25%201968%2428.06%203.24))), since consumer behavior hadn’t drastically shifted yet. Few felt pressure to substitute cheaper foods because inflation was mild. In fact, many families **ate more** of these staples as prosperity rose – U.S. **beef consumption per person increased from ~63 lbs in 1960 to 84 lbs by 1970**, while chicken rose from 28 to 48 lbs ([National Chicken Council | Per Capita Consumption of Poultry and Livestock, 1965 to Forecast 2022, in Pounds](https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/about-the-industry/statistics/per-capita-consumption-of-poultry-and-livestock-1965-to-estimated-2012-in-pounds/#:~:text=1960%2063,5)). Any cost savings from “behavior changes” were minimal in the 60s. (One early example: margarine was already replacing some butter for health/cost reasons, but butter was still affordable in 1960 at ~$0.75, so sticking to butter didn’t break the bank ([Grocery Store Prices for 14 Items in 1957 | HowStuffWorks](https://money.howstuffworks.com/Grocery-store-prices-for-14-items-in-1957.htm#:~:text=When%20they%20weren%27t%20cooking%20with,fashioned%20butter%20today)).) Overall, adapting one’s diet wasn’t necessary for budget reasons in the 1960s, as **food was relatively cheap and inflation low**.
## 1970s: Soaring Prices Hit Traditional Diets Hard
- **Percentage Increase in Cost:** The 1970s brought **surging food inflation**. A fixed 1960s-style diet would cost roughly **double (+100% or more)** by the end of the decade. In particular, **meat and dairy prices skyrocketed**. Beef prices **roughly doubled** from 1970 to 1980 (the BLS beef index jumped from the 40s to nearly 100 ([Beef and veal price inflation, 1935→2025](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Beef-and-veal/price-inflation#:~:text=17,386))), contributing to an overall ~**120% increase** in the cost of a meat-heavy 1960s basket during the 70s. By comparison, overall food-at-home prices rose about **121%** in that span ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1973%2438.45%2016.30,1981%2473.39%207.30)) – a huge jump in itself. The worst spikes came in 1973–74, when food prices jumped **15–16% in a single year ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=,Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics))**.
- **Cost in Era’s Currency:** Someone stubbornly sticking to their 1960 grocery list in this era paid a steep price. If they spent $100 per week in 1970, by **1980** they’d need to spend roughly **$220–$230** for the same items. For instance, mid-decade a pound of steak that cost ~$1 in the late 60s might cost $2–3 by the late 70s. Whole milk prices also roughly **doubled** in the 70s ([Fresh whole milk price inflation, 1939→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Fresh-whole-milk/price-inflation#:~:text=32,324)). This era’s inflation was so severe that it forced a re-budgeting for those insisting on expensive staples.
- **Comparison to CPI (Behavior-Adjusted):** While **all** consumers felt the 70s price shock, those who **adapted their diets mitigated the impact**. Many Americans reacted by **buying less red meat or switching to cheaper proteins**. Notably, when beef became very expensive (meat prices jumped **5.4% in just one month in early 1973 ([1973 meat boycott - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_meat_boycott#:~:text=Meat%20prices%20began%20to%20rise,3))**), consumers staged a “meat boycott” and turned to poultry, pork, or beans. Poultry was a big winner – chicken prices did rise (44% in 1973 ([Fresh whole chicken price inflation, 1935→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Fresh-whole-chicken/price-inflation#:~:text=,Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics))), but over the decade chicken remained cheaper per pound than beef, and **per capita chicken consumption climbed while beef consumption dropped** ([National Chicken Council | Per Capita Consumption of Poultry and Livestock, 1965 to Forecast 2022, in Pounds](https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/about-the-industry/statistics/per-capita-consumption-of-poultry-and-livestock-1965-to-estimated-2012-in-pounds/#:~:text=1978%2087,0)). Processed and shelf-stable foods also gained favor as thrifty alternatives; for example, consumers might buy canned soups or powdered drink mixes which had smaller price increases. The **official CPI (which reflects some substitution)** still rose dramatically (~**105%** for food in the 70s ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1973%2438.45%2016.30,1981%2473.39%207.30))), but the true **cost of living was a bit lower for those who adapted**. By cutting back on expensive items (or stretching them – e.g. more casseroles with grains/veggies and less meat), families could keep their food spending increase somewhat below the headline inflation. In short, a person clinging to the high-red-meat, butter-on-everything diet of 1960 ended up paying **much more** in the 70s, whereas those who embraced **cheaper substitutes (chicken instead of steak, margarine instead of butter, generic and processed foods)** softened the blow. The late 1970s also saw food costs stabilize under price controls, rewarding those who diversified their diet away from the costliest staples.
([Chicken leads U.S. per person availability of meat over last decade | Economic Research Service](http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=105929)) *Per capita availability of meat in the U.S., 1910–2021. **Beef** (gray line) peaked in the 1970s and then declined as prices rose and consumers ate more **chicken** (yellow line). Chicken overtook beef as the most consumed meat by 2010, thanks to its lower cost and dietary shifts ([Chicken leads U.S. per person availability of meat over last decade | Economic Research Service](http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=105929#:~:text=The%20supply%20of%20chicken%20available,9%20pounds%20per%20person)). Pork (red) held roughly steady, while fish (purple) remained a small share. This illustrates how Americans adjusted their protein sources over decades in response to price and preferences.* ([Chicken leads U.S. per person availability of meat over last decade | Economic Research Service](http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=105929#:~:text=The%20supply%20of%20chicken%20available,9%20pounds%20per%20person))
## 1980s: Slowing Inflation and New Dietary Habits
- **Percentage Increase in Cost:** Inflation cooled in the 1980s, making food prices more stable. Even so, a fixed 1960s diet saw about a **50% cost increase** over the decade. That means the same basket that cost $100 in 1980 would cost around **$150 by 1990**. This increase was much lower than the 70s, but still notable. Meats and dairy had smaller price jumps now (beef rose ~38% from 1980–90, milk ~45% ([Fresh whole milk price inflation, 1939→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Fresh-whole-milk/price-inflation#:~:text=32,324))), and overall food-at-home prices climbed ~**40–50%** ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1979%2463.33%2010.81,1987%2486.60%204.32)) ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1989%2496.14%206.57,1997%24122.41%202.49)) in the 80s.
- **Cost in Era’s Currency:** If our traditional-diet shopper spent $220/week in 1980 (continuing the prior example), by **1990** they’d be spending roughly **$330** for the same groceries. For instance, a gallon of whole milk that cost about $1.50 in 1980 might be ~$2.20 by 1990; a pound of ground beef around $1.20 in 1980 could be ~$1.75 in 1990. These nominal increases were easier to manage than the wild 70s, but still added up.
- **Comparison to CPI (Behavior-Adjusted):** In the 80s, **consumer behavior had permanently shifted** due to the prior decade’s lessons. Many households continued to favor **cheaper or leaner foods**, and this helped keep their actual cost of living lower than if they had stuck to the old diet. For example, **butter consumption plunged** (per capita fell from 7.5 lbs in 1960 to ~4.5 lbs by 1980) as people used margarine and processed spreads instead ([cameracopy4.qxd](https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/41035/15333_aer780g_1_.pdf?v=74489#:~:text=commodity%2C%20illustrates%20the%20underlying%20dynamics,the%20processed%20dairy%20products%20group)). Butter lost its hefty weight in the price index, reflecting how few people still bought it regularly by the 80s. Similarly, beef was no longer king – Americans were eating **20% less beef than in the 70s, and far more chicken**, which was mass-produced cheaply ([Chicken leads U.S. per person availability of meat over last decade | Economic Research Service](http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=105929#:~:text=The%20supply%20of%20chicken%20available,9%20pounds%20per%20person)). The **CPI’s market basket was updated in 1987**, locking in these new habits (more poultry and convenience foods, fewer expensive staples). As a result, **official food inflation** in the 80s was moderate, and those who already had adapted their diet felt roughly the same ~50% rise as the CPI. However, someone who *refused* to change – still buying large quantities of red meat, whole milk, fresh butter, etc. – would have spent **more** than the average person. They missed out on the savings from things like **economy cuts of meat, bulk grains, and processed goods** that became popular. By the late 1980s, the U.S. food system was delivering **cheaper calories** (e.g. refined grains, corn oil, sweeteners) on a huge scale. Families that incorporated these cheaper ingredients (think Hamburger Helper, microwave dinners, soda instead of milk) kept their grocery bills lower. Indeed, food became a smaller share of household spending: it fell from **28.5% of the family budget in 1960 to about 17% by 1980 ([cameracopy4.qxd](https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/41035/15333_aer780g_1_.pdf?v=74489#:~:text=A%20review%20of%20changing%20weights,All%20items))**, a testament to how adapting food choices and benefitting from cheaper options lowered the relative cost of living.
## 1990s: Cheaper Alternatives in an Era of Low Inflation
- **Percentage Increase in Cost:** The 1990s saw **very low food inflation** by historical standards. Maintaining the exact 1960s diet through this decade would raise costs by only about **25–30%**. Food-at-home prices increased roughly **2–3% per year** or **~27% total from 1990 to 2000 ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1989%2496.14%206.57,1997%24122.41%202.49)) ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1997%24122.41%202.49,2005%24146.89%201.93))** – similar to general inflation.
- **Cost in Era’s Currency:** Continuing our scenario, $330/week in 1990 for a 1960-style diet would become about **$420–$430/week by 2000**. Many staple food prices barely crept up. For example, a loaf of bread or a dozen eggs only rose by a few dimes over the whole decade. In some cases prices even stagnated or fell: U.S. farm commodities were abundant (grain surpluses kept costs of cereal, flour, and animal feed low). The late 90s had such cheap raw ingredients that milk, meat, and sugar prices were relatively stable.
- **Comparison to CPI (Behavior-Adjusted):** By the 90s, **behavior-adjusted costs were markedly lower** than our fixed diet scenario, because consumers had spent two decades optimizing their food spending. The **prevailing diet in the 90s was very different from the 60s**, driven by cost efficiency and convenience. Shoppers embraced warehouse clubs and discount supermarkets, bought **private-label/store brands**, and leaned heavily on **processed foods** that benefited from cheap oil and corn. For instance, instead of whole fresh foods for every meal, families might use instant pasta mixes, boxed cereals, and soft drinks – items produced at scale and often cheaper per calorie. This kept **average grocery bills lower**. In fact, the cost of living for food rose so slowly in the 90s that it was common to “trade up” some items (like occasionally buying steak or exotic fruits) and still stay on budget. A person strictly sticking to a 1960s whole-food diet (cooking from scratch, lots of fresh meat and dairy) would **not** enjoy those processed-food savings. By this time they’d be paying **noticeably more** than the average consumer for the same caloric intake. Studies began to note a troubling pattern: **healthier whole foods were getting relatively more expensive, while unhealthy processed options remained very cheap**. (For example, fresh produce prices in the U.S. rose faster than soda and snack prices in the 80s/90s.) The overall CPI for food was low in the 90s, reflecting these substitutions. A clear sign of the era: **fast-food value meals and junk snacks proliferated**, offering calories at rock-bottom prices. Those who adapted their diet to include these inexpensive foods saw a **much lower increase in their cost of living** – and in some cases, food spending as a share of income hit record lows. Meanwhile, someone clinging to only unprocessed “old-fashioned” foods would have a higher grocery bill and experienced a higher effective inflation than the behavior-adjusted CPI. In short, the 1990s made it **easier than ever to save money on food – if you were willing to eat like a 1990s consumer**.
## 2000s: Diverging Diet Costs – Whole Foods vs Processed
- **Percentage Increase in Cost:** Food costs in the 2000s rose at a modest pace, very similar to the 90s. A fixed 1960s diet would increase about **25–30% in cost** over the decade (roughly keeping up with general inflation). From 2000 to 2010 the food-at-home CPI climbed ~**29%** ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1997%24122.41%202.49,2005%24146.89%201.93)) ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=2005%24146.89%201.93,2013%24181.02%200.90)). There were a couple of price spikes mid-decade (e.g. 2007–2008 saw grain and dairy price jumps), but also some years of minimal change.
- **Cost in Era’s Currency:** Our hypothetical shopper spending $420 in 2000 would be around **$540 per week by 2010** for the same basket. Key 1960s staples did get pricier in the 2000s: e.g. whole milk went from about $2.80/gal in 2000 to $3.50+ by 2010; ground beef from ~$1.80 to ~$2.25/lb over the decade. But the increases were gradual. Notably, by 2010 many traditional items (meats, eggs, dairy) were **cheaper in real terms than in the 1970s** – thanks to efficiency gains – even if nominal prices edged up.
- **Comparison to CPI (Behavior-Adjusted):** The 2000s is when the gap between a “traditional whole-food diet” and the **average diet’s cost** really started to widen. The official CPI remained fairly low, in part because consumers kept shifting towards **cheaper ingredients and prepared foods**. Two diverging trends emerged:
- Many consumers, facing tight budgets especially after the 2008 recession, doubled down on **low-cost, energy-dense foods**. This meant more refined grains (white bread, pasta, rice), processed snacks, sweetened drinks, and fatty meats – all of which were inexpensive and often on promotion. These items benefited from globalized supply chains and agricultural surpluses, keeping their prices down or rising very slowly. For example, corn-based sweeteners and oils were so cheap that soda and fried foods remained very affordable in the 2000s.
- On the other hand, some consumers began seeking **healthier “whole” foods** (organic produce, whole grains, lean meats). But these often came at a premium and saw higher inflation. Someone maintaining a 1960s-style home-cooked diet (lots of fresh ingredients) fell into this category almost by definition. They would have experienced **higher effective inflation** than the average. Research confirms this divergence: in recent analyses, the **cost of a healthy recommended diet has risen faster than the cost of an unhealthy diet**. For instance, during 2019–2022, prices of healthy foods (fruits, veggies, lean proteins, etc.) jumped **12.8% in one year**, whereas “unhealthy” food prices rose only **7–9%** ([
Healthy Food Prices Increased More Than the Prices of Unhealthy Options during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Concurrent Challenges to the Food System - PMC
](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9967271/#:~:text=diet%20cost%20increased%2017.9,less%20affordable)). This pattern had been building over the 2000s. Thus, those who **adapted by buying the cheapest processed options saw a smaller cost-of-living increase** than those buying whole foods. By the end of the 2000s, the U.S. was in a situation where **following a 1960s diet cost significantly more than an average 2000s diet**, even though overall inflation was mild. In practical terms, a family could slash their grocery bill by switching from fresh-cooked dinners with milk to, say, boxed mac-and-cheese with soda – and many did. The CPI implicitly captured this shift: food remained about ~13% of consumer spending in the 2000s (near historic lows), partly because people found ever-cheaper ways to eat.
## 2010s: Relative Stability (Until a Shock)
- **Percentage Increase in Cost:** The 2010s were a decade of **exceptionally low food inflation**. A fixed 1960s diet’s cost rose only about **15–20%** in total through 2010–2019. For most of those years, food prices grew less than 2% annually (some years even saw slight deflation in grocery prices ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=2011%24175.09%204.80,0.20%25%202018%24185.51%200.45%25%202019%24187.14%200.88))). From 2010 to 2020 the food-at-home index went up about **16%** ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=2009%24166.51%200.47,0.20)) ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=2017%24184.68,2024%24237.27%201.19)) – the slowest growth of any decade in this analysis.
- **Cost in Era’s Currency:** In our running example, $540/week in 2010 for the old-fashioned diet would become roughly **$620–$630 by 2020**. In other words, nearly flat in real terms. Many staple food prices were remarkably steady. A gallon of whole milk hovered around $3.50–$4 throughout the decade; a pound of chicken breasts stayed near $1.99 for years. The **shale oil boom** and low energy costs, plus technological advances in agriculture, helped keep food production and transportation cheap. By the late 2010s, Americans enjoyed some of the **lowest food inflation on record**.
- **Comparison to CPI (Behavior-Adjusted):** With inflation so low, the difference between sticking to a 1960s diet and the average diet’s cost was less pronounced *during* this decade – everyone benefited from stable prices. However, it’s important to note that by the 2010s the **average diet was very far removed from the 1960s diet**, largely for economic reasons built up over prior decades. The average American in 2019 was consuming lots of inexpensive processed foods and far less of the pricey whole foods that defined 1960. This meant their cost of living was inherently lower. For those still following a traditional diet, their basket cost hadn’t risen much in the 2010s, but it was starting from a **much higher base** relative to typical consumers. In effect, the “gap” was already baked in. Government data continued to show that **healthy food plans cost more** – a trend consistent with the idea that a whole-food diet remained pricier than the mix of convenience foods most people bought. By the end of the 2010s, food was only about 12–13% of household expenditures on average, reflecting decades of substitutions and cheaper alternatives keeping costs down ([cameracopy4.qxd](https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/41035/15333_aer780g_1_.pdf?v=74489#:~:text=A%20review%20of%20changing%20weights,All%20items)). A person eating like it’s 1960 (lots of red meat roasts, fresh veggies, whole milk) in 2019 would likely be spending well above that share. In summary, the 2010s offered a **breather**: low inflation meant even “old diet” holdouts weren’t punished by price hikes, but they were still paying more than those who had long ago adapted to the economical 2010s food landscape.
*(Note: The **early 2020s** have seen a sharp inflationary spike for food, largely due to pandemic disruptions and war. Interestingly, this spike hit fresh foods and meats harder than processed foods, echoing the long-term pattern. For example, in one study the cost of a healthy diet rose **17.9%** from 2019–2022, whereas the typical less-healthy diet rose **9% ([
Healthy Food Prices Increased More Than the Prices of Unhealthy Options during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Concurrent Challenges to the Food System - PMC
](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9967271/#:~:text=diet%20cost%20increased%2017.9,less%20affordable))**. This underscores that when inflation strikes, sticking to a traditional wholesome diet tends to *cost more* than making do with cheaper substitutes. As of 2022–2023, consumers again coped by buying store brands, cutting meat consumption, etc., to soften the blow – much as they did in the 1970s.)*
## **Conclusion: Traditional Diet vs Adaptive Diet – Which Costs More?**
Over six decades, inflation has raised all food prices, but **not uniformly**. Someone maintaining a fixed 1960s-style diet from 1960 through today would have seen their food costs rise far more than the official “cost of food” suggests – because the official index assumes people adjust their buying. In fact, by 2020 such a person would be spending roughly **8–10 times** what they spent in 1960 on food in nominal dollars, whereas the behavior-adjusted CPI for food rose about 8-fold ([Beef and veal price inflation, 1935→2025](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Beef-and-veal/price-inflation#:~:text=Between%201935%20and%202025%3A%20Beef,beef%20and%20veal%20was%20higher)) ([Fresh whole chicken price inflation, 1935→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Fresh-whole-chicken/price-inflation#:~:text=are%20805.12,02%20difference%20in%20value)). That implies perhaps a **20–25% higher cumulative cost** for the fixed diet follower. The biggest contributors were **red meat and dairy:** these had higher-than-average inflation over the long run. For example, beef prices rose much faster than overall prices (3,637% since 1935) ([Beef and veal price inflation, 1935→2025](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Beef-and-veal/price-inflation#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U,45%20difference%20in%20value)), while chicken (a cheaper substitute) had lower inflation (805% since 1935) ([Fresh whole chicken price inflation, 1935→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Fresh-whole-chicken/price-inflation#:~:text=are%20805.12,02%20difference%20in%20value)). Consumers responded accordingly – eating less beef and butter, and more chicken and margarine, as decades passed. Grains and processed foods, often mass-produced from low-cost commodities, helped keep modern diets affordable; whole foods did not see such dramatic cost efficiencies.
In each decade, **those who adapted their food choices enjoyed a lower cost of living increase** than those who stuck with the old-school diet. The 1970s illustrated this vividly (households that substituted chicken or pasta when steak prices spiked avoided some of the worst budget pain). By the 2000s and 2010s, the **typical American diet was heavily “behavior-adjusted” for cost** – full of cheaper oils, sweeteners, and protein sources – which kept the **CPI food inflation** relatively low. Meanwhile, a person trying to eat like it’s 1960 (lots of red meat, whole milk, homemade meals) ended up paying a premium each year to do so.
In summary, **inflation heavily penalized the maintenance of a 1960s diet**. Each decade saw that fixed basket get relatively more expensive, especially for categories like red meat and dairy. In contrast, Americans who embraced **cheaper substitutes and new foods** managed to keep their food spending growth below the inflation that a “fixed basket” would imply. This behavior-adjustment – switching from costly whole foods to economical processed and alternative foods – has been a key reason the **reported CPI for food** rose more slowly. It quantifies how much lower the cost of living was for those who adapted: often shaving **several percentage points off per-year inflation**, and cumulatively making food far more affordable than it would have been under the old diet. The trade-off, of course, is that while the **traditional 1960s diet was nutritious but now expensive**, the **modern adapted diet is cheaper but often less healthy**. Consumers effectively used substitutions to **counteract food inflation**, saving money at the expense of dietary changes. The decades-long outcome is clear – financially, **eating in 2023 like it’s 1963 will cost you significantly more** than eating like a 2023 consumer, due to the compounding effect of differential inflation and behavior shifts over time.
**Other Sources:**
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Historical CPI data for food categories ([Food at home price inflation, 1947→2024](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Food-at-home/price-inflation#:~:text=1973%2438.45%2016.30,1981%2473.39%207.30)) ([Beef and veal price inflation, 1935→2025](https://www.in2013dollars.com/Beef-and-veal/price-inflation#:~:text=17,386))
- USDA Economic Research Service – Food price reports and consumption trends ([Chicken leads U.S. per person availability of meat over last decade | Economic Research Service](http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=105929#:~:text=The%20supply%20of%20chicken%20available,9%20pounds%20per%20person)) ([cameracopy4.qxd](https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/41035/15333_aer780g_1_.pdf?v=74489#:~:text=commodity%2C%20illustrates%20the%20underlying%20dynamics,the%20processed%20dairy%20products%20group))
- *The Value of a Dollar* – mid-20th-century grocery prices (e.g. 1957 butter, beef) ([Grocery Store Prices for 14 Items in 1957 | HowStuffWorks](https://money.howstuffworks.com/Grocery-store-prices-for-14-items-in-1957.htm#:~:text=4%3A%20Ground%20Beef)) ([Grocery Store Prices for 14 Items in 1957 | HowStuffWorks](https://money.howstuffworks.com/Grocery-store-prices-for-14-items-in-1957.htm#:~:text=When%20they%20weren%27t%20cooking%20with,fashioned%20butter%20today))
- Congressional Research Service – Food inflation and consumer responses ([1973 meat boycott - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_meat_boycott#:~:text=Meat%20prices%20began%20to%20rise,3))
- Academic study on healthy vs unhealthy diet cost inflation - ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9967271/#:~:text=diet%20cost%20increased%2017.9,less%20affordable))
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@ 889b19eb:ff45973f
2025-02-27 15:42:26
A Bitcoin seed phrase, also known as a mnemonic phrase or recovery phrase, is a list of words which store all the information needed to recover your Bitcoin wallet. The seed phrase is effectively a master key to your wallet and having secure backups of your seed phrase ensures you don't lose your stack in the case of a hardware or software wallet failure. There are various physical backup mediums including steal plates and discs you can stamp your seed phrase onto but another option is to store your seed phrase securely in your head. This has the added benefit that it cant be stolen (at least at the time of writing), takes up no physical space and there is something rather cool about having your family wealth stored in your head.
A Mnemonic is simply a system such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations which assists in remembering something. This blog post describes two Mnemonic systems I use to remember my seed phrase as well as other lists and numbers.
The Linking System
All mnemonics are based on some sort of linking system, the idea is to take the items you want to remember and create scenes and images that you can picture in your mind, this helps lock the information into long term memory. When thinking up these visualisations try to keep the following in mind:
1. The picture should be vivid.
Try and see the picture clearly and in focus, imagine yourself stumbling upon the scene or witnessing the events in first person. Let yourself emotionally engage with it for a moment. If the picture is amusing find it funny. If it’s disgusting, actually find it repulsive. focus on how each image makes you feel. Is it funny? Disgusting? Dangerous? Actually take some time to feel that emotion.
2. The elements of each picture should interact.
Picturing A and B stood next to each other won’t work. A could be made of B; or dancing with B; being inserted into B; or using b as some sort of implement.
3. The picture should be unusual.
If you are linking ‘man’ and ‘cup’, for example, don't use an image that is ordinary. ‘a man drinking from a cup’ for example is too normal. The picture will be more memorable if the man is trying to drink from a giant cup, or is sucking the cup into his face, or if there is a tiny man in a cup trying to get out before the tea gets poured in. Try and be creative and bizarre as possible in order to make a lasting impression.
If the above is starting to make you feel nervous, its actually very straight forward and doesn't require much practice or creative genius. You will be surprised how quickly you can pick this up and how images will just be effortless conjured up to promptly land at a particular word or task you want to remember.
The following example was taken from Derren Brown's fascinating book [Tricks of the Mind](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/945683.Tricks_of_the_Mind) which first introduced me to these techniques. After reading the next section of this post you will be able to recall the following seemingly randomly words in perfect order and even in reverse. You will likely still be able to recall them weeks later.
Telephone
Sausage
Monkey
Button
Book
Cabbage
Glass
Mouse
Stomach
Cardboard
Ferry
Christmas
Athlete
Key
Wigwam
Baby
Kiwi
Bed
Paintbrush
Walnut
Before beginning try reading the above words and see how many you can remember, minimise the window and see how many you can type out or write down from memory. You might get half a dozen without any special techniques. Now take some time to read the following, remember to take note of how the images are making you feel and take your time, don't just skim read.
Telephone/Sausage: Trying to dial an old-fashioned phone using a flaccid, uncooked sausage. It feels revolting and cold to the fingers, and is utterly impractical to work the dial. I can maybe get the dial around a little way, but then it just purrs back into place.
Sausage/Monkey: Watching footage from a wildlife documentary of a monkey, in the jungle, cooking a sausage over a barbecue. These are rare monkeys, and this is the first time they have been filmed. Next to him he has a selection of dips.
Monkey/Button: You no longer have to spend valuable time doing up your own shirt buttons. You now have a trained monkey to do such things. You stand there in your socks and he does up all the buttons with his clever simian fingers.
Button/Book: It’s a book entirely about buttons, and in order to open it you have to unfasten a line of big colourful buttons down the side. Hugely impractical marketing gimmick. Makes opening it really irritating.
Book/Cabbage: Opening up a book to have a quiet lunchtime read, only to find that the cover and all the pages have leaves of rotten stinking cabbage stuck to them. The stench is terrible, and the pages are ruined. Someone has played a stupid joke on you, and now you’ve got fetid cabbage juice all over your fingers.
Cabbage/Glass: A beautiful but enormous cabbage, realistically created out of glass. The artist is proudly showing it off, flicking it with his fingers and making a ‘pinging’ sound. Everyone’s standing around with glasses of wine appreciating it. Personally you think it’s ridiculous and ugly.
Glass/Mouse: You go to drink a glass of wine, to find that the wine has gone and there’s a tiny mouse in the bottom of the glass. The mouse is clearly drunk, and is wearing a party hat with streamers over his shoulder. A party blow-out extends limply from his mouth, and he’s hiccuping bubbles, like a seventies cartoonist’s depiction of a drunkard.
Mouse/Stomach: Unfortunately I can think only of that urban myth unfairly surrounding Richard Gere some years ago. If you’re not familiar with it, then imagine your tummy full of squeaking mice, which then stream out of your navel like the rats out of Hamelin.
Stomach/Cardboard: A pregnant lady covering her stomach with cardboard from old boxes. Taping it around her, until she is enormous. Now she feels protected.
Cardboard/Ferry: Image of a big P&O ferry sinking in the sea because in a spectacularly misjudged move to save money, the entire boat was manufactured out of cardboard. People are escaping from dinghies, unaware that they are made not from rubber but from ordinary paper.
Ferry/Christmas: A little ferry sat on top of a Christmas tree, perhaps at a school for the hard of hearing. Little streamers, windows, everything. Tinsel around the hull.
Christmas/Athlete: It’s you and all the relations you normally spend Christmas with, running around a race-track in the snow with party hats and crackers trying to beat Kelly Holmes to the finish-line. Your nan is doing superbly, racing ahead in her coat, hat and bag, giving the double-gold winner a run for her money.
Athlete/Key: The winning athlete is given a four-foot-long golden key on a ribbon as a prize. She tries to hold it up for the audience as the National Anthem plays, but it’s extremely heavy, and she wishes she could have just had an ordinary medal.
Key/Wigwam: A key hangs unnoticed from the headgear of a Native American Indian who is unable to get into his wigwam to go to the loo. Hugely frustrating for him. You can picture him, all red-faced. See the key glinting in the light as he searches for it.
Wigwam/Baby: Latest New Age fad: put your baby to sleep every night in a wigwam. Dream-catcher included. Imagine a giant baby asleep inside, snoring, making the sides of the wigwam suck in and blow out.
Baby/Kiwi: A baby shoving green furry kiwi fruit into its mouth. One after another. A huge pile of them waiting to be eaten. Green kiwi juice all down its bib. Throwing up kiwi vomit. He loves kiwis, the little tinker.
Kiwi/Bed: Tucking up a little kiwi for the night in a big king-size bed. Pulling the covers almost over it, then sitting next to it and reading it a story about the Little Kiwi, until it falls asleep.
Bed/Paintbrush: You’ve changed your décor and the bed no longer matches. So rather than buy new covers, you paint them the same colour as the walls. Sloshing paint over the entire bed, watching it go hard and uncomfortable.
Paintbrush/Walnut: Not owning a nutcracker, you’re forced to try and smash open a great big walnut with the end of a paintbrush. Trouble is, you’re using the brush end, which isn’t working, and there’s paint splashing everywhere. It’s a mess, but you really want that walnut.
Now minimise the window again and see how many words you can recall now, start by thinking of the "telephone" and see where it takes you. You should be able to easily recall the whole list. As a bonus round try recalling the list in reverse order starting with "walnut", it should be just as easy.
Number Pegs
The linking system is great for remembering things in order (or even reverse) a more powerful system which allows you to recall any word at any position in the sequence without running through from start to finish like you need to do with the linking system is to use a number peg. This creates and index which allows you to recall each word of your seed phrase by its index number. Unlike the standard linking system it will also not break down if you forget one word in the middle of the list. Additionally the system can be used in reverse to remember long numbers or even a whole deck of cards.
The Major / Consonant System
The Major or Consonant system is probably the most common peg system in use. First you translate digits into consonants, I use the following which is provided in Derren Brown's Trick of the Mind as this is what I have become use to, but feel free to adapt or create your own as desired.
z/s - Z is in zero and the S sound is most similar to Z
l - They look similar (l for lemur)
n - two downward strokes on a small n
m - three downward strokes
r - fouR
f/v - FiVe, again they are similar sounds
b/p - b looks simlar to 6 and P and B sound and look similar
t - 7 looks like a capital T
ch/sh/j - the GH in eiGHt, and then the J is the nearest to these sounds
g - a written g can resemble a 9
Each consonant is then associated with a short word that contains that consonant.
z/s - zoo
l - ale
n - hen
m - ham
r - whore
f/v - hive
b/g - bee
t - tea
ch/sh/j - shoe
g - goo
for two-digit numbers, convert each digit into a consonant using the table above. Then find a word that uses those two consonants as their first two consonants.
l, z/s - lice
l, l - lily
l, n - line
l, m - lime
l, r - lorry
l, f/v - laugh
l, b/p - lip
l, t - light
l, ch/sh/j - ledge
l, g - leg
n, z/s - nose
n, l - nail
n, n - nanny
n, m - gnome
n, r - nero
I have only supplied words up to 24 as this is all you will need for a Bitcoin seed phrase but for other applications you would normally have a list of words up to 99 or even 999.
Once you have your list of words and their associated numbers, you then use the linking system to link the index word with the word in your seed phrase, so the first word in your seed phrase will be linked with the word "ale" the sixth word in your seed phrase will be linked with "bee" and so on and so forth.
Take the following seed phrase for example:
joke
owner
layer
tail
diagram
armor
input
train
head
promote
tuition
eager
You might link the words as follows.
1. joke / ale - drinking a pint of ale and laughing at a joke and choking on it and coughing ale all over yourself.
2. owner / hen - Visualize a hen laying golden eggs and the proud owner showing it off to an envious neighbor.
3. layer / ham - peeling layers of pork off a small ham like an onion.
4. tail / whore - you get back to your room with a whore and are surprised to find a big fluffy tail when she drops her draws.
5. diagram / hive - you are working on a big blueprint/diagram of a hive, imagine it in front of you on a drawing board.
6. armor / bee - a high armoured medieval bee, perhaps on horseback with a spear.
7. input / tea - you are using a vending machine and instead of taking coins the coin slot takes teabags for payment, imaging selecting an item and inputting tea bags for payment.
8. train / shoe - imagine a big shoe train, a steam train that is a shoe with wheels on the bottom pulling a carriages down a train track.
9. head / goo - you are on I'm a celeb and have to plunge you head into a big bucket of goo.
10. promote / lice - two lice soldiers, one has been given a promotion the other is pinning a medal on his chest.
11. tuition / lily - Imagine you are in a classroom, but instead of desks, there are giant lily pads. Each student, including you, has to sit atop a lily pad. The tuition fee for the course is actually a handful of lily flowers, which you hand to the instructor.
12. eager / line - Picture a group of people standing in a line, so eager they begin stretching their necks out like giraffes to see the front of the line, vying for the first glimpse of what's to come.
Once you have compiled your list, think of a number between 1 and 12 and turn the number into your peg word and see what image emerges. That should then get you back to your seed word. Try a few with the example above.
And there you have it, once you have completed the exercise above for your seed phrase or phrases, you have now stored your life savings in your head and are safe in the knowledge that you have an always on backup for when disaster strikes. Although this method is very powerful you will need to run through the list every do often to keep it truly cemented.
links
* [The Art of Memory](https://artofmemory.com/)
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2025-02-27 14:10:22
Bitcoin's journey from a cryptographic experiment to a widely recognized financial asset is a testament to the rapid evolution of digital currencies. Since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has captivated the attention of technologists, investors, and the general public alike. Its decentralized nature and potential for high returns have made it a subject of intense interest and debate. The recent introduction of Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) marks a pivotal moment in this journey, potentially heralding a new era of mainstream acceptance for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This development is not just a milestone for Bitcoin enthusiasts but also a signal to the broader financial community about the evolving nature of investment and the growing importance of digital assets.
**Table of Contents**
- Understanding Bitcoin ETFs
- Bitcoin's Journey to Mainstream Acceptance
- The Impact of ETFs on Bitcoin's Perception
- Risks and Challenges
- The Future of Crypto with ETFs
- Conclusion
- FAQs
**Understanding Bitcoin ETFs**
A Bitcoin ETF represents a seismic shift in the way investors can access the world of cryptocurrencies. Traditionally, investing in Bitcoin required a certain level of technical know-how, including understanding cryptocurrency exchanges, digital wallets, and the concept of blockchain technology. This complexity has been a significant barrier to entry for many potential investors. A Bitcoin ETF simplifies this process dramatically. Investors can buy and sell shares of the ETF through traditional brokerage accounts, just as they would with any other stock or fund. This accessibility opens the doors to a broader range of investors, from individuals seeking to diversify their portfolios to institutional investors looking for regulated exposure to the crypto market. The ETF structure also provides added security and regulatory oversight, addressing some of the key concerns around cryptocurrency investments.
**Bitcoin's Journey to Mainstream Acceptance**
The path of Bitcoin to mainstream acceptance has been anything but straightforward. In its early days, Bitcoin was primarily a tool for tech enthusiasts and libertarians, valued for its decentralization and potential as an alternative to traditional currencies. Over time, its appeal broadened, attracting attention from venture capitalists and forward-thinking investors. High-profile endorsements, increasing media coverage, and a growing recognition of its potential as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation have further propelled Bitcoin into the financial spotlight. Each surge in Bitcoin's price brought more attention and legitimacy, although it was often accompanied by skepticism and warnings of a bubble. The introduction of futures trading on major exchanges and the gradual embrace by major financial institutions have been critical in Bitcoin's journey towards legitimacy.
**The Impact of ETFs on Bitcoin's Perception**
The launch of Bitcoin ETFs is more than just a new investment product; it's a symbolic bridge between the traditional financial world and the frontier of cryptocurrency. For years, Bitcoin has been viewed with a mix of fascination and skepticism by the mainstream financial community. The introduction of ETFs changes this dynamic significantly. It offers a familiar and regulated framework for investing in Bitcoin, which can assuage the concerns of risk-averse investors and financial advisors. This development is likely to lead to broader acceptance and understanding of Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class, potentially leading to more stable pricing and reduced volatility. It also sets a precedent for other cryptocurrencies, suggesting a future where digital assets are as commonplace in investment portfolios as stocks and bonds.
**Risks and Challenges**
While Bitcoin ETFs offer new opportunities, they also come with their own set of risks and challenges. The cryptocurrency market is known for its dramatic price swings, and Bitcoin is no exception. Investors in Bitcoin ETFs must be prepared for a potentially turbulent ride. Regulatory challenges are another significant concern. The legal and regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies is still evolving, and changes in government policies or regulations could have a substantial impact on Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs. There's also the risk that the introduction of ETFs could lead to increased speculation and potentially inflate a price bubble. Moreover, traditional financial analysts and economists continue to express skepticism about the intrinsic value and long-term stability of Bitcoin, often comparing it to historical financial bubbles.
**The Future of Crypto with ETFs**
The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the story of cryptocurrencies. As these products gain acceptance and attract more investment, they could pave the way for a broader range of crypto-based financial products and services. This integration into the global financial system could lead to cryptocurrencies becoming a standard part of diversified investment portfolios, alongside stocks, bonds, and commodities. The potential impact on the broader financial market is significant. Cryptocurrencies, led by Bitcoin, could challenge traditional notions of asset allocation, risk, and return. They also offer the potential for innovative financial products and services that leverage blockchain technology, further integrating digital currencies into the fabric of global finance.
**Conclusion**
The launch of Bitcoin ETFs is a significant milestone in the evolution of cryptocurrencies. It represents a convergence of the traditional financial world and the innovative, sometimes turbulent world of digital currencies. While this development brings new opportunities and a degree of legitimacy to Bitcoin, it also comes with challenges and risks that should not be underestimated. As the financial world continues to evolve, the role of cryptocurrencies and their impact on global markets and investment strategies will be a fascinating and important area to watch.
**FAQs**
**How does a Bitcoin ETF differ from buying Bitcoin directly?**
Unlike direct Bitcoin purchases, which require a cryptocurrency exchange account and a digital wallet, a Bitcoin ETF can be bought and sold like a regular stock through a brokerage account.
**Why are Bitcoin ETFs considered a milestone for cryptocurrency?**
Bitcoin ETFs represent a significant step towards mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin, offering a familiar and regulated investment option to both individual and institutional investors.
**What are the risks involved in investing in Bitcoin ETFs?**
The risks include the inherent volatility of Bitcoin prices, regulatory changes, and potential market speculation that could impact the stability and value of these ETFs.
**How might Bitcoin ETFs affect the future of cryptocurrencies?**
Bitcoin ETFs could pave the way for more crypto-based financial products, integrating digital currencies more deeply into the global financial system and potentially reshaping investment strategies.
**Are Bitcoin ETFs suitable for all investors?**
Bitcoin ETFs, like any investment, may not be suitable for everyone. They are best suited for those who understand the high-risk nature of cryptocurrency investments and are looking to diversify their portfolio.
**That's all for today**
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***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.***
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@ bc575705:dba3ed39
2025-02-27 13:25:57
Jazz is a genre that has always thrived on evolution. From its early roots in New Orleans to the boundary-pushing experiments of the 20th century, jazz has continuously reinvented itself, adapting to the times while preserving its soulful essence. As a modern music producer, I find endless inspiration in jazz, reimagining its classic elements to resonate with contemporary listeners. In this post, I’ll share how I approach blending the timeless qualities of jazz with modern techniques and styles.
## **What Makes Jazz Timeless?**
At its core, jazz is about freedom, improvisation, and emotional depth. Its intricate melodies, rich harmonies, and dynamic rhythms have a universal appeal that transcends eras. What makes jazz so timeless is its ability to tell stories through sound, evoking feelings that are deeply personal yet universally understood.
## **Bringing Jazz Into the Present**
Modern listeners often seek music that feels familiar yet fresh. To bridge this gap, I focus on preserving the essence of jazz while introducing elements from contemporary genres like lo-fi, ambient, and electronica. Here’s how I reimagine jazz for today:
**Sampling:** Sampling classic jazz records allows me to connect with the genre’s rich history while giving it a new context. By chopping, pitching, and looping segments of iconic performances, I can create textures that feel nostalgic yet innovative.
**Electronic Beats:** Jazz drumming has always been a cornerstone of the genre, with its swing and syncopation adding energy and depth. By pairing these rhythmic foundations with modern electronic drum patterns, I create a hybrid sound that appeals to both traditional jazz fans and electronic music enthusiasts.
**Improvisation in Production:** Just as jazz musicians improvise on their instruments, I bring an element of spontaneity to my production process. Whether it’s experimenting with synth leads or recording freeform solos on piano, I aim to capture the spirit of improvisation that defines jazz.
**Fusion of Textures:** Combining the organic warmth of live instruments like saxophones and trumpets with the polished sheen of synths and ambient pads creates a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive.
## **Artists Who Inspire This Fusion**
Several artists have mastered the art of blending jazz with modern elements, inspiring my own approach:
**Robert Glasper:** Known for merging jazz with R&B and hip-hop, Glasper’s work shows how flexible and relevant jazz can be in today’s music scene.
**Kamasi Washington:** His epic compositions and lush orchestrations prove that jazz can be grand and cinematic while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.
**BadBadNotGood:** This group seamlessly integrates jazz with contemporary genres like electronic and hip-hop, creating music that feels both fresh and timeless.
## **How This Shapes My Music**
In my compositions, I aim to reimagine jazz as a living, breathing art form. For example, I might start with a classic jazz chord progression, then layer it with lo-fi textures, minimalist beats, and atmospheric effects. The result is music that pays homage to the past while embracing the possibilities of the future.
One of my favorite techniques is to record live solos—whether on piano, guitar, or synth—and process them with modern effects like reverb, delay, or granular synthesis. This approach preserves the raw, emotive quality of the performance while placing it in a contemporary context.
## **Why Jazz Matters Today**
In a world that often feels fast-paced and chaotic, jazz offers a sense of grounding and introspection. Its emphasis on improvisation and self-expression reminds us to slow down, listen, and connect with our emotions. By reimagining jazz for modern audiences, I hope to introduce new listeners to its timeless beauty while inspiring others to see it as a genre with limitless potential.
Jazz is far from a relic of the past. It’s a vibrant, evolving art form that continues to inspire and connect people across generations. By blending its classic elements with contemporary techniques, we can ensure that jazz remains as relevant and impactful as ever.
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@ 8f69ac99:4f92f5fd
2025-02-27 12:47:01
O Estado Social tem sido um pilar das políticas sociais europeias há décadas, oferecendo uma rede de segurança aos cidadãos através de diversos programas governamentais. Contudo, com a evolução das economias e o envelhecimento da população a pressionar os recursos públicos, este modelo tradicional enfrenta desafios crescentes. Custos em alta, ineficiências burocráticas e efeitos indesejados têm gerado um debate cada vez mais intenso sobre a sua sustentabilidade. Como alternativa, o Rendimento Básico Universal (RBU) ganhou destaque, prometendo simplicidade, mas trazendo preocupações quanto ao custo e aos desincentivos ao trabalho. Há, porém, uma opção mais equilibrada que merece atenção: o Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo (IRN).
Diferente da assistência social convencional, o IRN oferece apoio financeiro a quem está abaixo de um limiar de rendimento definido, sem exigir que procurem emprego ou dependam de ajudas públicas. Ao reduzir gradualmente os subsídios à medida que os rendimentos aumentam, incentiva a produtividade e preserva a iniciativa pessoal. Neste artigo, vamos explorar o IRN em profundidade, destacando as suas vantagens sobre os sistemas tradicionais, abordando as falhas do RBU e avaliando o seu potencial como uma reforma transformadora na Europa. Num contexto de mudanças económicas e demográficas, o IRN surge como um caminho prático para um sistema que equilibre apoio, dignidade e sustentabilidade.
## Problemas dos Sistemas Tradicionais de Assistência Social
O Estado Social tradicional, embora bem-intencionado, tem sido alvo de críticas crescentes pelas suas ineficiências e consequências inesperadas.
### Ineficiência e Burocracia
Estruturas administrativas complexas frequentemente atrasam os sistemas de assistência social, levando a desperdícios de recursos. Programas sobrepostos e serviços redundantes aumentam os custos, sobrecarregando os contribuintes. Por exemplo, várias entidades podem oferecer benefícios semelhantes, enquanto processos morosos atrasam a ajuda a quem precisa. Com o envelhecimento da população europeia a exigir mais apoio, estas ineficiências põem em risco a estabilidade financeira, desafiando os decisores políticos a repensarem a distribuição de recursos.
### Incentivos Perversos
A assistência social pode, sem querer, desencorajar o trabalho e perpetuar a dependência. Surgem "armadilhas de assistência" quando os benefícios são estruturados de forma a que ganhar um salário resulte numa redução abrupta da ajuda, tornando o emprego menos atractivo do que permanecer no assistencialismo. Isso cria um ciclo em que os beneficiários hesitam em procurar trabalho ou formação, comprometendo as suas perspectivas a longo prazo. Com o tempo, tais sistemas arriscam criar uma cultura de dependência, minando a iniciativa pessoal e prendendo indivíduos numa estagnação económica.
### Peso Económico
A pressão financeira do Estado Social está a intensificar-se com as mudanças demográficas na Europa. Populações mais envelhecidas requerem maior apoio, elevando os custos e exigindo impostos mais altos ou gastos públicos acrescidos. Isso desvia recursos da inovação e do investimento, podendo travar o crescimento económico. Sem reformas, estas despesas crescentes podem tornar-se insustentáveis, obrigando os governos a encontrar soluções que mantenham o apoio sem comprometer as finanças.
### Estigma Social
Além das questões económicas, a assistência social traz muitas vezes um custo social. Os beneficiários enfrentam frequentemente estereótipos de preguiça ou incompetência, o que gera vergonha e diminui a autoestima. Este estigma pode dificultar a mobilidade social, tornando mais complicado sair da dependência. Resolver isto exige um sistema que não só apoie, mas também capacite, reduzindo preconceitos e promovendo inclusão.
Face a estas falhas, a Europa precisa de explorar alternativas que prestem ajuda de forma mais eficaz. O Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo apresenta-se como uma opção promissora, capaz de enfrentar estas questões sistémicas.
## O Caso Contra o Rendimento Básico Universal (RBU)
O Rendimento Básico Universal surgiu como uma ideia ousada para combater a pobreza e a desigualdade, oferecendo a cada cidadão um pagamento fixo independentemente das suas necessidades. No entanto, a sua simplicidade traz desvantagens significativas.
O custo do RBU é um obstáculo enorme. Implementá-lo em toda a Europa exigiria fundos avultados, pressionando orçamentos já sobrecarregados pelos compromissos actuais do Estado Social. Isso poderia implicar subidas acentuadas de impostos ou cortes noutros serviços, enquanto a criação da infraestrutura administrativa necessária traria mais despesas. Há também quem tema os desincentivos ao trabalho: se todos receberem o mesmo valor, alguns podem sentir menos motivação para trabalhar ou arriscar em projectos empreendedores, podendo afectar a vitalidade económica.
Além disso, a abordagem universal do RBU sacrifica eficiência. Ao distribuir fundos de forma igual, não dá prioridade a quem mais precisa, entregando recursos aos mais ricos enquanto dilui o impacto sobre os pobres. Esta falta de foco levanta dúvidas sobre a sua capacidade de combater a desigualdade de forma eficaz. Embora o apelo do RBU esteja na sua universalidade, estes desafios apontam para a necessidade de uma solução mais direccionada—e é aqui que o IRN entra em cena.
## Compreender o Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo (IRN)
O Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo propõe uma abordagem refinada ao apoio social, combinando assistência com incentivos. No seu cerne, define um limiar de rendimento base—digamos, 1.000 euros por mês. Quem ganha menos recebe um subsídio proporcional à diferença, enquanto quem ultrapassa esse valor paga impostos para financiar o sistema. Por exemplo, com uma taxa de subsídio de 50%, quem não tem rendimentos recebe 500 euros, e quem ganha 400 euros recebe 300 euros, elevando o total para 700 euros. À medida que o rendimento se aproxima do limiar, o subsídio diminui, desaparecendo nos 1.000 euros, altura em que a tributação começa.
Veja-se uma ilustração simples:
| Rendimento Mensal (€) | Pagamento IRN (€) | Rendimento Total Após IRN (€) |
|-----------------------|-------------------|------------------------------|
| 0 | 500 | 500 |
| 400 | 300 | 700 |
| 800 | 100 | 900 |
| 1.000 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1.200 | - (impostos aplicam-se) | 1.200 - impostos |
Isto garante que trabalhar compensa sempre: ganhar mais aumenta o rendimento total, evitando a armadilha da assistência. O financiamento vem de um imposto fixo—talvez 19%—sobre os rendimentos acima do limiar. Quem ganha 1.500 euros, por exemplo, paga 95 euros sobre os 500 euros acima de 1.000, ficando com 1.405 euros. Este modelo fiscal simples facilita a gestão e assegura equidade.
| Rendimento (€) | Rendimento Tributável (€) | Imposto (€) | Após Imposto (€) |
|----------------|---------------------|---------|------------------|
| 1000 | 0 | 0 | 1000 |
| 1200 | 200 | 38 | 1162 |
| 2000 | 1000 | 190 | 1810 |
O IRN _pode_ ser de participação voluntária, através de um contrato. As pessoas podem aderir ao sistema se precisarem de apoio ou rejeitá-lo se não aceitarem ajuda estatal, evitando os impostos associados ao financiamento do IRN. Quem optar por sair pode reentrar em caso de dificuldades, equilibrando liberdade de escolha com pragmatismo. Para libertários desconfiados de ingerências governamentais, isto torna o IRN um compromisso—um passo para longe do assistencialismo coercivo e em direcção a maior autonomia.
Filosoficamente, o IRN não é um objectivo final, mas uma ponte. Ao simplificar a ajuda e reduzir a burocracia, pode abrir caminho para soluções privadas, como caridade ou apoio mútuo, diminuindo o papel do estado ao longo do tempo. Características como a avaliação de meios e a indexação à inflação reforçam a sua adaptabilidade, garantindo que o apoio permaneça justo e relevante.
## Vantagens do Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo (IRN)
O IRN destaca-se onde o Estado Social tradicional falha. Os seus subsídios decrescentes incentivam o trabalho, premiando o esforço à medida que o rendimento sobe e impulsionando a produtividade. Isto contrasta fortemente com as armadilhas da assistência, encorajando as pessoas a procurarem formação ou a arriscarem em empreendedorismo sem medo de perder apoio de repente.
Na gestão, o IRN é revolucionário. Substituir um emaranhado de programas por um único sistema reduz a burocracia e os custos, canalizando recursos directamente para quem precisa. Um processo de pagamento único elimina sobreposições, tornando a entrega de ajuda mais rápida e eficiente.
A dignidade é outro ponto forte. Ao oferecer escolha e evitar supervisão intrusiva, o IRN escapa ao estigma do assistencialismo, dando aos beneficiários autonomia para gerir as suas finanças. Isso promove o autorrespeito e um sentido de controlo, quebrando o ciclo de dependência.
Economicamente, a flexibilidade do IRN sobressai. Adapta-se às flutuações de rendimento, direccionando a ajuda exactamente onde é necessária. Estudos indicam que pode reduzir a pobreza, melhorar a mobilidade social e até beneficiar a saúde, ao aliviar o stress financeiro, oferecendo um impulso abrangente ao bem-estar.
## Responder às Críticas ao Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo (IRN)
Nenhuma política escapa a críticas, e o IRN tem as suas. Os libertários veem, e bem, os impostos como roubo, e embora o IRN não elimine esta tensão, suaviza-a. Ao condensar o Estado Social num sistema claro e simples, reduz a intromissão estatal face à burocracia actual. Os seus incentivos ao trabalho alinham-se com valores de responsabilidade, tornando-o um passo aceitável a curto prazo.
O financiamento preocupa, sobretudo em países europeus já muito tributados, mas uma taxa fixa oferece uma solução. Simples e previsível, minimiza os custos administrativos e assegura contribuições justas, sustentando o IRN sem sobrecarga excessiva. Há também quem debata o seu impacto social—uns chamam-lhe um subsídio fácil, um _hand-out_, outros um sistema demasiado voltado para o mercado. Ainda assim, o IRN encontra um meio-termo, oferecendo uma rede de segurança que recompensa o esforço sem controlar vidas.
Passar para o IRN exige eliminar gradualmente os programas antigos e informar o público sobre os seus benefícios: um governo mais leve, menos dependência e maior iniciativa pessoal. Para quem sonha com um futuro sem estado, o IRN não é o destino, mas um movimento prático rumo a sistemas de apoio voluntários, promovendo uma cultura de autossuficiência.
## Conclusão
O Imposto sobre o Rendimento Negativo não é perfeito, mas é um avanço claro face ao _status quo_. Reduz os excessos do Estado Social, promove trabalho e dignidade, e oferece à Europa uma reforma viável perante as pressões económicas. Para os contribuintes, promete eficiência; para os beneficiários, oportunidade. Numa região onde o assistencialismo está profundamente enraizado, o IRN surge como um passo ousado, mas possível, para um futuro mais livre e sustentável—um que capacite as pessoas enquanto alivia o peso do estado.
---
_Photo by [The New York Public Library](https://unsplash.com/@nypl?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-sign-that-says-pay-your-tax-now-here-kAJLRQwt5yY?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)_
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@ 8da249fe:ecc00e09
2025-02-27 12:36:07
Se você está começando no mundo do Bitcoin e das criptomoedas, já deve ter ouvido falar em "hot wallets" e "cold wallets". Mas qual é a diferença entre elas? E qual é a melhor opção para armazenar seus ativos digitais com segurança?
# O que é uma Hot Wallet?
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Uma hot wallet (carteira quente) é uma carteira conectada à internet. Isso significa que ela é mais acessível e fácil de usar para transações rápidas. As hot wallets podem ser:
**Carteiras móveis** – Aplicativos como BlueWallet, Trust Wallet e outras.
**Carteiras de desktop **– Programas instalados no computador, como Electrum e Exodus.
**Carteiras web** – Serviços online como a carteira do próprio Binance ou outras exchanges.
**Vantagens da Hot Wallet**
✅ Acesso rápido e fácil para transações diárias.
✅ Interface amigável, ideal para iniciantes.
✅ Geralmente gratuita para uso.
**Desvantagens da Hot Wallet**
❌ Maior risco de ataque hacker, já que está sempre online.
❌ Se o dispositivo for infectado por malware, suas chaves privadas podem ser comprometidas.
# O que é uma Cold Wallet?#
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Uma cold wallet (carteira fria) é uma carteira que não está conectada à internet, tornando-se muito mais segura contra hackers. Elas podem ser:
**Carteiras de hardware **– Como Ledger Nano S, Nano X ou Trezor.
**Carteiras de papel **– Impressão da chave privada e do endereço em um papel.
**Computadores ou dispositivos offline** – Um computador dedicado apenas para armazenar criptomoedas, sem conexão com a internet.
**Vantagens da Cold Wallet**
✅ Segurança máxima contra ataques cibernéticos.
✅ Ótima opção para armazenamento de longo prazo.
✅ Controle total sobre suas chaves privadas.
**Desvantagens da Cold Wallet**
❌ Menos prática para transações diárias.
❌ Pode ser mais cara, no caso das carteiras de hardware.
❌ Se você perder sua chave privada ou backup, pode perder o acesso aos fundos.
# Qual escolher: Hot ou Cold Wallet?
A escolha depende do seu perfil de investidor:
Se você faz transações frequentes, uma hot wallet pode ser mais conveniente.
Se você quer armazenar Bitcoin com segurança por muito tempo, a cold wallet é a melhor opção.
Muitos usuários combinam as duas, mantendo uma pequena quantia em uma hot wallet para o dia a dia e guardando a maior parte dos fundos em uma cold wallet.
Independente da escolha, lembre-se sempre de manter suas chaves privadas seguras e fazer backups regularmente!
Gostou do conteúdo? Compartilhe sua opinião nos comentários!
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@ 95cb4330:96db706c
2025-02-27 11:47:47
Tackling big tasks can feel overwhelming, but by breaking them down into smaller steps, prioritizing effectively, and setting clear milestones, you can maintain focus and make steady progress.
---
## 1. Divide the Task into Manageable Steps
Instead of viewing the task as one massive undertaking, split it into specific, actionable steps to create a clear roadmap.
🔹 **Example:** If your goal is to launch a new product, break it down like this:
- Conduct market research
- Develop a prototype
- Build a marketing strategy
- Create a launch plan
- Execute the launch
Each step is now more manageable and can be worked on independently.
---
## 2. Prioritize Based on Impact & Urgency
Not all tasks are equally important. Prioritize effectively to avoid wasting time on low-value activities.
✔ **Use the Eisenhower Matrix:**
- **Urgent & Important:** Do immediately.
- **Important but Not Urgent:** Schedule it.
- **Urgent but Not Important:** Delegate it.
- **Neither Urgent nor Important:** Eliminate it.
🔹 **Example:** If launching a product, market research might be urgent & important, while branding tweaks could be scheduled for later.
---
## 3. Set Milestones & Deadlines
Assign deadlines for each step to track progress and stay motivated.
✔ **Example:** Instead of saying, "Launch the product in 6 months," break it down:
- **Market research:** Week 1-2
- **Prototype development:** Week 3-6
- **Marketing strategy:** Week 7-8
- **Launch execution:** Week 9-10
By setting clear deadlines, you create a sense of accountability and prevent procrastination.
---
## 4. Take Consistent Action
✔ Focus on completing one step at a time.
✔ Celebrate small wins—progress builds momentum.
✔ Stay adaptable—if needed, refine your steps as you go.
🔹 **Example:** If market research reveals an issue with the original product idea, adjust before moving forward rather than sticking rigidly to the plan.
---
## Final Thought
By approaching big tasks systematically, you reduce overwhelm, maintain clarity, and steadily progress toward success.
👉 **Action Step:** Take a current big task you're facing. Break it into smaller steps, prioritize, set deadlines, and start taking action today. 🚀
---
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@ 95cb4330:96db706c
2025-02-27 11:45:01
Break down complex problems into their fundamental truths and build solutions from the ground up. This approach fosters creativity and avoids relying on assumptions.
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## How to Implement First Principles Thinking
1. **Deconstruct the Problem**
- **Identify the core components:**
Question assumptions and remove preconceived notions.
- **Ask:**
What do we know for sure? What can we verify as a fact?
- **Example:**
Instead of assuming "Electric cars are too expensive," break it down: What are the main cost drivers? Batteries, manufacturing, and distribution.
2. **Challenge Assumptions**
- **Question the status quo:**
Many constraints are based on tradition or outdated thinking, not necessity.
- **Ask:**
What if this assumption is wrong? How else could it be done?
3. **Rebuild from the Ground Up**
- **Start with the fundamental truths:**
Use the identified truths to construct new solutions using logic and creativity.
- **Avoid shortcuts:**
Don't rely on existing frameworks that may limit possibilities.
- **Example:**
Tesla used first principles to design their batteries by focusing on material costs rather than purchasing standard packs.
4. **Foster a Creative Mindset**
- **Think like a scientist or engineer:**
Break, test, and experiment to find new pathways.
- **Encourage innovation:**
Brainstorm solutions that are original rather than replicative.
---
## Why It Works
This method avoids reliance on assumptions and encourages fresh perspectives. By starting with "what is undeniably true," you open the door to unconventional solutions and breakthrough ideas.
---
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@ 95cb4330:96db706c
2025-02-27 11:34:24
Implementing Decision Journals, as practiced by leaders like Jeff Bezos and Ray Dalio, can significantly enhance your decision-making skills by promoting reflection and continuous improvement. This method involves documenting key decisions, the rationale behind them, and anticipated outcomes, allowing for analysis of past choices to identify patterns and biases.
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## Understanding Decision Journals
- **Definition:**
A decision journal is a structured record where you log important decisions, including the context, your thought process, and expected results. This practice enables you to track the accuracy of your judgments and refine your decision-making over time.
---
## Examples in Practice
- **Jeff Bezos:**
The founder of Amazon utilizes a "Regret Minimization Framework" to guide his decisions. By projecting himself into the future and considering potential regrets, Bezos focuses on long-term fulfillment over short-term comfort. This approach was pivotal when he decided to leave his stable job to start Amazon.
- **Ray Dalio:**
The founder of Bridgewater Associates emphasizes the importance of recording decisions to create a set of well-defined principles. Dalio's process of documenting and analyzing his choices has been fundamental in developing effective decision-making rules that have contributed to his success.
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## Implementing a Decision Journal
1. **Record the Decision:**
Document the specifics of the decision, including the date, context, and the options considered.
2. **Articulate Your Reasoning:**
Detail the thought process and assumptions that led to your choice.
3. **Predict the Outcome:**
Note your expectations regarding the results of the decision.
4. **Review and Reflect:**
After some time, revisit the decision to compare actual outcomes with your predictions, analyzing any discrepancies to identify biases or areas for improvement.
---
## Action Step
Begin by selecting a current decision you are facing. Create a journal entry that outlines the decision, your reasoning, and expected outcomes. Schedule a future date to review the decision and assess its results. Regular use of decision journals can enhance self-awareness and lead to more informed choices.
---
By adopting the practice of maintaining decision journals, you can systematically refine your judgment, reduce recurring mistakes, and make decisions that align more closely with your long-term goals.
**Recommended Resource:**
[Ray Dalio ON: Principles for Making Better Decisions & How to Strengthen Relationships for Long-Term Success | Podcast | Jay Shetty](#)
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@ 95cb4330:96db706c
2025-02-27 11:22:04
Embracing a Bias Toward Action, as exemplified by leaders like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, involves prioritizing swift decision-making and iterative progress over prolonged analysis. This approach fosters innovation, accelerates learning, and enhances adaptability in dynamic markets.
---
## Understanding Bias Toward Action
- **Definition:**
A Bias Toward Action emphasizes initiating tasks promptly and refining them through continuous feedback, rather than striving for perfection before implementation.
---
## Examples in Practice
- **Elon Musk's Rapid Prototyping:**
At SpaceX, Musk employs an iterative design methodology, rapidly developing and testing prototypes to accelerate learning and innovation. This approach allows for quick identification of effective solutions and necessary improvements.
[newspaceeconomy.ca](https://newspaceeconomy.ca)
- **Jeff Bezos' Two-Way Door Framework:**
Bezos introduced the concept of "two-way door" decisions at Amazon, distinguishing between reversible and irreversible choices. For reversible decisions, he advocates for swift action, as they can be adjusted if needed. This strategy reduces decision-making paralysis and promotes agility.
[aboutamazon.com](https://aboutamazon.com)
---
## Implementing a Bias Toward Action
1. **Identify Decision Types:**
Assess whether a decision is reversible ("two-way door") or irreversible ("one-way door"). For reversible decisions, prioritize speed and be willing to iterate.
2. **Set Clear Deadlines:**
Establish specific time frames for making decisions and taking action to prevent overanalysis and maintain momentum.
3. **Encourage Experimentation:**
Foster a culture that supports testing ideas and learning from outcomes, viewing failures as opportunities for growth.
---
## Action Step
Reflect on a project or decision you've been postponing. Determine if it's a reversible choice; if so, take an immediate step forward today, embracing the possibility of iteration and improvement.
By adopting a Bias Toward Action, you can enhance responsiveness, drive innovation, and position yourself to capitalize on emerging opportunities effectively.
---
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@ d5c3d063:4d1159b3
2025-02-27 11:09:15
ถ้าคุณเชื่ออะไรบางอย่างมาตลอดชีวิต แล้ววันหนึ่งกลับพบว่ามันอาจไม่เป็นอย่างที่คิด นี่คือความรู้สึกของผมในวันนั้น เป็นครั้งแรกที่ได้นั่งฟังหมอป๊อป DietDoctor Thailand บรรยายสดๆ ในงานสัมมนา “Nutrition 101 - โภชนาการพื้นฐาน” Healthy Hut - โรงบ่มสุขภาพ เอาตรง ๆ นะ...ความรู้สึกเหมือนผมไม่ได้กำลังฟังหมอคนหนึ่งพูด แต่เหมือนกำลังนั่งฟังนักปรัชญามากกว่า
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หมอป๊อปไม่ได้มาบอกว่าเราต้องกินอะไรหรือห้ามกินอะไร แต่ท่านตั้งคำถามให้เราคิดตาม เช่น "ทำไมวัวถึงกินหญ้าได้ทั้งวันโดยไม่มีปัญหาระดับน้ำตาลในเลือด...แต่มนุษย์กลับเสี่ยงเป็นเบาหวานจากการกินคาร์โบไฮเดรต" มันเป็นคำถามที่ฟังดูเรียบง่ายแต่กลับทำให้ผมฉุกคิดถึงความเข้าใจที่เรามีมาโดยตลอด
ผมนั่งฟังแล้วก็เริ่มทบทวนสิ่งที่ตัวเองเคยเชื่อ บางที...สิ่งที่เราคิดว่าถูกต้องมาตลอด อาจเป็นเพียงสิ่งที่เราถูกบอกให้เชื่อเท่านั้น เช่น เราต้องกินข้าวให้ครบทุกมื้อเพราะมันเป็นแหล่งพลังงานหลัก หรือเคยเชื่อว่าเบาหวานเป็นเรื่องของกรรมพันธุ์
แต่วันนั้นผมได้เข้าใจว่ามนุษย์ไม่ได้ถูกออกแบบมาให้กินแป้งมากขนาดนี้ ร่างกายสามารถเผาผลาญไขมันเป็นพลังงานได้ดีกว่าคาร์โบไฮเดรต และเบาหวานไม่ใช่เรื่องของโชคชะตา แต่มันเกี่ยวข้องกับพฤติกรรมการกินของเราเอง
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เมื่อสิ่งที่ผมเคยเชื่อว่าจริง อาจไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ถูกต้องเสมอไป ผมเลยคิดว่า…นอกจากเรื่องอาหารแล้ว ยังมีเรื่องอื่นอีกไหมที่เราถูกสอนมาโดยที่ไม่เคยตั้งคำถาม
ผมมักจะนึกถึงเรื่องเศรษฐศาสตร์
เราถูกบอกให้เชื่อว่าเงินเฟ้ออ่อน ๆ ดีต่อเศรษฐกิจ
เราถูกบอกว่า CPI เป็นตัววัดเงินเฟ้อที่แม่นยำ
เราถูกบอกว่าเงินต้องถูกควบคุมโดยรัฐ
มันคล้ายกับเรื่องโภชนาการเลยครับ
เราถูกสอนว่าต้องกินแป้ง ต้องกินผักผลไท้
ต้องกินข้าวเช้า ต้องกินอาหารให้ครบ 5 หมู่
แต่ในความเป็นจริง...ร่างกายเรามีกระบวนการทางชีวภาพที่เกิดขึ้นตามธรรมชาติ ซึ่งช่วยปรับสมดุลเมื่อได้รับสารอาหารที่เหมาะสม แล้วถ้าระบบนี้ถูกก่อกวนซ้ำ ๆ ด้วยคาร์โบไฮเดรตและน้ำตาลมากเกินไปอาจนำไปสู่ปัญหาสุขภาพในระยะยาว เช่นเดียวกันกับระบบเศรษฐกิจ ถ้ารัฐเข้าไปแทรกแซงเรื่อย ๆ ก็จะส่งผลให้กลไกตลาดไม่สามารถทำงานได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพและตามมาด้วยปัญหาในระยะยาว
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แล้วถ้าเราเปรียบเทียบระบบการเงินเป็นอาหาร เงินเฟียตก็เหมือนอาหารแปรรูปที่ถูกทำให้ดูดีแต่มีผลกระทบต่อร่างกายเราในระยะยาว ส่วนบิตคอยน์ก็เหมือนเนื้อสเต็กเป็นอาหารธรรมชาติ ที่ไม่มีการแปรรูป
ลองคิดดูว่า...ถ้าเราหยุดกินน้ำตาลสักพัก ร่างกายจะค่อย ๆ ฟื้นฟูและปรับสมดุลของตัวเอง เช่นเดียวกับเศรษฐกิจที่สามารถกลับมามั่นคงได้หากปล่อยให้ตลาดเสรีทำงานตามกลไกธรรมชาติ
เงินที่ไม่ได้ถูกควบคุมจากส่วนกลางก็เหมือนอาหารที่ไม่ผ่านการแปรรูป ไม่มีการปรุงแต่งหรือเปลี่ยนแปลงตามใจผู้มีอำนาจ
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สิ่งที่ผมได้จากหมอป๊อปวันนั้น ไม่ใช่แค่ความรู้เรื่องอาหาร
แต่มันคือทักษะในการตั้งคำถาม
...ถ้าอาหารที่เรากินมาตลอดจากความเชื่ออาจไม่ดีอย่างที่คิด
แล้วสิ่งที่เราเชื่อเกี่ยวกับเศรษฐกิจล่ะ !?
...ถ้าเบาหวานสามารถหายได้โดยไม่ต้องใช้ยา
แล้วถ้าผู้คนสามารถเลือกใช้เงินได้อย่างเสรี เศรษฐกิจจะดีขึ้นไหท
การเรียนรู้ไม่ใช่แค่การฟังแล้วเชื่อ แต่เป็นการฟังแล้วตั้งคำถาม
เพราะความจริง ไม่ได้ขึ้นอยู่กับสิ่งที่เราถูกสอนมาเสมอไป
แต่เกิดจากการเข้าใจธรรมชาติของมันอย่างแท้จริง
และเมื่อเรามีความรู้ความเชื่อก็สามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงได้
#RifhtShift #โรงบ่มสุขภาพ #HealthyHut
#สุขภาพดี #ความรู้สุขภาพ #Siamstr
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@ d360efec:14907b5f
2025-02-27 09:56:31
**ภาพรวม BTCUSDT (OKX):**
Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) แนวโน้ม Day ยังเป็นขาลง , 4H Sideway Down, 15m Sideways Down
**วิเคราะห์ทีละ Timeframe:**
**(1) TF Day (รายวัน):**

* **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend)
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)
* Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านล่าง
* **Liquidity:**
* มี Sellside Liquidity (SSL) ใต้ Lows
* มี Buyside Liquidity (BSL) เหนือ Highs
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** ราคา Sideway ใกล้ๆ Order Block ขาลง
* **EMA:**
* ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA 50/200
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* แดง
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* แดง/ไม่มีสัญญาณ
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Volume Profile:**
* **แนวรับ:** Low ล่าสุด
* **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50/200, Order Block
* **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลง
**(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง):**

* **แนวโน้ม:** ขาลง (Downtrend)
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)
* Break of Structure (BOS)
* **Liquidity:**
* มี SSL
* มี BSL
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** ราคา Sideway ใกล้ๆ Order Block ขาลง
* **EMA:**
* ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA 50/200
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* แดง
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* แดง/ไม่มีสัญญาณ
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Volume Profile:**
* **แนวรับ:** Low
* **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50/200, Order Block
* **สรุป:** แนวโน้มขาลง
**(3) TF15 (15 นาที):**

* **แนวโน้ม:** Sideways Down
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL) *เริ่ม Sideways*
* Break of Structure (BOS)
* **Liquidity:**
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block** ราคา Sideways ใกล้ๆ Order Block
* **EMA:**
* EMA 50/200 เป็นแนวต้าน
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* แดง/เขียว สลับกัน
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* แดง/ไม่มีสัญญาณ
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Volume Profile:**
* Volume ค่อนข้างสูง
* **แนวรับ:** Low
* **แนวต้าน:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block
* **สรุป:** แนวโน้ม Sideways Down
**สรุปภาพรวมและกลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT):**
* **แนวโน้มหลัก (Day):** ขาลง
* **แนวโน้มรอง (4H):** ขาลง
* **แนวโน้มระยะสั้น (15m):** Sideways Down
* **Liquidity:** มี SSL
* **Money Flow:** ลบ
* **Trend Strength:** Day/4H/15m ขาลง
* **Chart Patterns:** ไม่มี
* **กลยุทธ์:**
1. **Wait & See (ดีที่สุด):** รอ
2. **Short (เสี่ยง):** ถ้าไม่ Breakout EMA/แนวต้าน
3. **ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy**
**Day Trade & การเทรดรายวัน:**
* **Day Trade (TF15):**
* **Short Bias:** Short เมื่อเด้ง (EMA, Order Block)
* **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้าน
* **Take Profit:** แนวรับ
* **ไม่ Long**
* **Swing Trade (TF4H):**
* **Short Bias:** Short เมื่อไม่ผ่าน EMA/Order Block
* **Stop Loss:** เหนือแนวต้าน
* **Take Profit:** แนวรับ
* **ไม่ Long**
**สิ่งที่ต้องระวัง:**
* **SSL:** ราคาอาจถูกลากลงไป
* **False Breakouts:** ระวัง
* **Volatility:** สูง
**Setup Day Trade แบบ SMC (ตัวอย่าง - Bearish):**
1. **Order Block:** หา Bearish Order Block ใน TF15
2. **Pullback:** รอ Pullback ไปทดสอบ
3. **Bearish Entry:**
* Rejection: รอ Price Action ปฏิเสธ
* Break of Structure: รอ Break โครงสร้างย่อย
* Money Flow: แดง
4. **Stop Loss:** เหนือ Order Block
5. **Take Profit:** แนวรับ
**คำแนะนำ:**
* แนวโน้มทั้งหมดเป็นลบ
* Money Flow เป็นลบ
* Trend Strength เป็นลบ
* ***ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy***
* **Wait & See หรือ Short (ถ้ามีประสบการณ์)**
* **บริหารความเสี่ยง!**
**คำแนะนำสุดท้าย:** สถานการณ์โดยรวมของ BTCUSDT อยู่ในสภาวะ**ขาลงและมีความเสี่ยงสูง** แนะนำอย่างยิ่งให้ใช้กลยุทธ์ **"Wait & See" (รอดูสถานการณ์)** การ **Short (ขาย)** เป็นการเทรดที่มีความน่าจะเป็นสูงกว่าในขณะนี้ แต่เหมาะสำหรับนักเทรดที่มีประสบการณ์และมีการบริหารความเสี่ยงที่เข้มงวดเท่านั้น **ไม่แนะนำให้ Buy (ซื้อ) ในเวลานี้**
**Disclaimer:** การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ
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@ 59cfee8f:7598a483
2025-02-27 09:55:34
What is Crypto Mining?
Before we dive into the trends and predictions, let's first define what crypto mining is. Cryptocurrency mining involves the use of powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems and validate transactions on the blockchain. Miners compete to solve these problems and the first one to do so is rewarded with a certain amount of cryptocurrency.
Trend 1: Increased Focus on Renewable Energy
One of the biggest trends in crypto mining is a shift towards renewable energy sources. As concerns about climate change continue to grow, many miners are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and operate in a more sustainable manner. Solar and wind power are increasingly being used to power mining operations, and there are even projects underway to create completely renewable-powered mining farms.
Trend 2: The Rise of Decentralized Mining Pools
Another trend that is gaining momentum in the crypto mining world is the emergence of decentralized mining pools. These pools are designed to be more transparent, fair, and resistant to manipulation than traditional centralized mining pools. By utilizing blockchain technology, these pools can offer greater security and reduce the risk of fraud.
Trend 3: Continued Growth of GPU Mining
GPU mining has been around for several years now, but it continues to be an attractive option for miners due to its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. With the rise of new cryptocurrencies and the increased demand for computing power, GPU mining is expected to continue its growth trajectory in 2023.
Trend 4: Increased Focus on Security
Security has always been a major concern in the crypto world, and this is especially true for mining operations. In 2023, we can expect to see a greater emphasis on security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and biometric verification. Miners will need to be vigilant in order to protect their assets and prevent cyber attacks.
Trend 5: Emergence of New Mining Algorithms
As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, we can expect to see the emergence of new mining algorithms. These algorithms will be designed to be more efficient, secure, and resistant to manipulation. This could lead to a shift away from traditional proof-of-work algorithms towards proof-of-stake or other innovative solutions.
Prediction 1: Increased Regulation
As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow and gain mainstream acceptance, we can expect to see increased regulation from governments and financial institutions. This could have a significant impact on the mining industry, with stricter regulations and oversight leading to greater stability and legitimacy.
Prediction 2: Continued Price Volatility
Cryptocurrency prices have always been volatile, and this is unlikely to change in 2023. While the overall trend may be upwards, there will still be significant fluctuations in price, driven by factors such as global economic conditions, regulatory changes, and investor sentiment.
Prediction 3: Greater Collaboration and Partnership
As the cryptocurrency market becomes more mature, we can expect to see greater collaboration and partnership between mining companies, cryptocurrency exchanges, and other players in the ecosystem. This could lead to new business models and innovative solutions for miners and investors alike.
Prediction 4: Increased Adoption of Cryptocurrencies
As more and more businesses and individuals begin to accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment, we can expect to see increased adoption of these digital assets. This could lead to greater demand for mining equipment and services, as well as new opportunities for miners to earn rewards and profits.
Prediction 5: Evolution of Mining Hardware
The evolution of mining hardware is a trend that has been ongoing since the early days of Bitcoin mining. As the demand for computing power continues to grow, we can expect to see new and improved mining hardware emerge in 2023. This could include more powerful GPUs, ASICs, and other specialized equipment designed specifically for mining.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the future of crypto mining in 2025 and beyond looks promising, with numerous trends and predictions pointing towards continued growth and innovation. As the industry evolves and matures, miners will need to adapt and embrace new technologies and strategies in order to stay competitive and profitable. With the right tools and knowledge, however, there is no doubt that crypto mining will continue to be a valuable and exciting part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem for many years to come.
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@ d360efec:14907b5f
2025-02-27 09:52:53
**Overall Assessment:**
Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) on OKX remains highly volatile, and the overall trend is still uncertain. While the long-term trend (Daily chart) technically has been an uptrend, it has *significantly weakened*. The 4-hour and 15-minute charts are now in downtrends. This analysis incorporates:
* **SMC (Smart Money Concepts):** Market structure, Break of Structure, Change of Character, Order Blocks, Liquidity.
* **ICT (Inner Circle Trader Concepts):** Optimal Trade Entry (OTE), Fair Value Gaps (FVG), Mitigation, Breaker Blocks, Liquidity Pools/Runs.
* **Buyside & Sellside Liquidity:** Identifying likely areas of Smart Money buying/selling.
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):** Capital inflows/outflows.
* **EMA (Exponential Moving Average):** 50 (yellow) and 200 (white).
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):** Trend identification and strength, including the "cloud" and buy/sell signals.
* **Chart Patterns:** Identification of significant chart patterns.
* **Volume Profile:** (Used as needed).
**Detailed Analysis by Timeframe:**
**(1) TF Day (Daily):** 
* **Trend:** Downtrend
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL)
* BOS to the downside.
* **Liquidity:**
* **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** Significant SSL rests below previous lows.
* **Buyside Liquidity (BSL):** BSL is present above recent highs.
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** The price failed to break above a bearish Order Block.
* **EMA:**
* Price is below both the 50-period and 200-period EMAs (bearish).
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* Red, selling pressure
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* Red cloud, Downtrend, No signals.
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Volume Profile:**
* **Support:** Recent lows.
* **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block.
* **Summary:** Downtrend
**(2) TF4H (4-Hour):** 
* **Trend:** Downtrend.
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL).
* BOS to the downside.
* **Liquidity:**
* **SSL:** Below previous lows.
* **BSL:** Above previous highs.
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block:** The price failed to break above a bearish Order Block.
* **EMA:**
* Price is below both the 50-period and 200-period EMAs (bearish).
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* Red, selling pressure.
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* Red cloud, Downtrend, No signals.
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Volume Profile:**
* **Support:** Recent lows.
* **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block.
* **Summary:** Downtrend
**(3) TF15 (15-Minute):** 
* **Trend:** Sideways Down
* **SMC:**
* Lower Highs (LH) and Lower Lows (LL) - but showing signs of sideways movement.
* BOS to the downside.
* **ICT:**
* **Order Block** The price is ranging near a bearish Order Block.
* **EMA:**
* The 50-period and 200-period EMAs are acting as resistance.
* **Money Flow (LuxAlgo):**
* Red
* **Trend Strength (AlgoAlpha):**
* Red/No signals
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Volume Profile**
* Relatively High Volume
* **Support:** Recent lows.
* **Resistance:** EMA 50, EMA 200, Order Block.
* **Summary:** Sideways Down
**Overall Strategy and Recommendations (BTCUSDT):**
* **Primary Trend (Day):** Downtrend
* **Secondary Trend (4H):** Downtrend
* **Short-Term Trend (15m):** Sideways Down
* **Liquidity:** SSL below on all timeframes.
* **Money Flow:** Negative on all timeframes.
* **Trend Strength:** Bearish on Day, 4H, and 15m.
* **Chart Patterns:** None
* **Strategies:**
1. **Wait & See (Best Option):** The bearish momentum and lack of clear bullish reversals make waiting for confirmation the most prudent approach.
2. **Short (High Risk):** This aligns with the downtrends on all timeframes.
* **Entry:** Look for short entries on rallies to resistance levels (EMAs, Order Blocks, previous support turned resistance).
* **Stop Loss:** Above recent highs or key resistance.
* **Target:** Recent lows, then SSL zones.
3. **Buy (Extremely High Risk - NOT Recommended):** Do *not* buy unless there are *extremely strong and consistent* bullish reversal signals across all timeframes.
**Day Trading & Swing Trading:**
* **Day Trade (TF15 Focus):**
* **Bias:** Short.
* **Entry:** Look for bearish setups (rejections of resistance, bearish candlestick patterns) near EMAs or Order Blocks.
* **Stop Loss:** Tight, above resistance.
* **Take Profit:** Recent lows.
* **Avoid:** Longs.
* **Swing Trade (TF4H Focus):**
* **Bias:** Short.
* **Entry:** Look for bearish setups (rejections of resistance, bearish candlestick patterns) near EMAs or Order Blocks.
* **Stop Loss:** Above resistance.
* **Take Profit:** Next major support levels (SSL zones).
* **Avoid:** Longs.
**Key Considerations & Warnings:**
* **Sellside Liquidity (SSL):** High probability of price being drawn down to these levels.
* **False Breakouts:** Always a risk.
* **Volatility:** Expect high volatility.
* **Conflicting Timeframes:** While the long-term trend *was* bullish, the *current* price action and indicators are overwhelmingly bearish.
* **Money Flow:** Consistently negative across all timeframes.
* **Trend Strength:** Bearish across all timeframes.
**SMC Day Trade Setup Example (Bearish - TF15):**
1. **Identify Bearish Order Block:** Locate a bearish Order Block on the TF15 chart.
2. **Wait for Pullback:** Wait for the price to pull back up to test the Order Block (this might not always happen).
3. **Bearish Entry:**
* **Rejection:** Look for price action to reject the Order Block (e.g., pin bar, engulfing pattern, other bearish patterns).
* **Break of Structure:** Look for a break of a minor support level on a *lower* timeframe (1m/5m) after the Order Block test.
* **Money Flow:** Confirm negative Money Flow (red).
4. **Stop Loss:** Place a stop-loss order *above* the Order Block.
5. **Take Profit:** Target the next support level (e.g., recent lows).
Recommendations:
All trends are negative.
Money flow is negative.
Trend strength is negative.
Buying is not recommended.
Wait and see, or short (if experienced).
Manage your risk!
I've made the following very minor changes, maintaining the original meaning:
Changed 'Advice' to a more natural sounding 'Recommendations'.
Used "if experienced" instead of "(if have experience)"
This version maintains the original meaning while sounding more natural in English, particularly in a financial/trading context.
**Final Recommendation:** The overall situation for BTCUSDT is **bearish and high-risk**. The **"Wait & See"** approach is strongly recommended. **Shorting** is currently the higher-probability trade, but only for experienced traders with strict risk management. **Buying is not recommended at this time.**
**Disclaimer:** This analysis is for informational purposes only and represents a personal opinion. It is not financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Investors should conduct their own research and exercise due diligence before making any investment decisions.
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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9
2025-02-27 09:46:41
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/898543
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@ e7bc35f8:3ed2a7cf
2025-02-27 07:46:26
This is a fascinating question, indeed.
But first of all, why is this important?
Why should we be concerned about the goings-on of this group?
Let’s find out the basis for this and what and why we’re being told we should care so much about this group and of course in order to do that why don’t we turn to the fear-mongers themselves to allow them to explain what is really behind this fearsome group.
[RT, September 2014]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140905125241/https://youtube.com/watch?v=o9JXUX32yfc)
> ISIS, an al-Qaeda-bred terrorist group spreading its wings online. Savvier than its predecessors with a new array of tricks up its sleeves. Twitter has become a virtual second home for the terrorists but as many as 27000 accounts established just over the last two weeks, after ISIS posted a video capturing the beheading of US journalist James Foley with a reported 60000 accounts popping up since May.
[CNN, August 2014]( https://youtu.be/H7J_c0XTP0A)
> Douglas MacArthur McCain, a young American, killed while fighting with the terrorist group ISIS. US officials say they believe he died in Syria. He’s thought to have been killed in a battle between rival extremist groups near the city of Aleppo according to a human rights group.
This ratches up concerns about Americans involved with ISIS because now you have a confirmed example of an American killed fighting with ISIS in Syria.
[SBS News, June 2014]( https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australian-brothers-call-in-isis-video/va2ucv9u3)
> Hello my brothers in Australia. I don’t see myself better than any of yous, (inaudible) only that Allah has bring Karim on me and has brang me here to this country.
Two men who identify themselves as Australian appear in a recruitment video called 'There is no life without jihad'. It’s believed up to 150 Australians have joined rebels fighting in Iraq and Syria.
[DAVID CAMERON]( https://youtu.be/aXLUHdSmyAg)
> Earlier today the Home Secretary confirmed that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center has increased the threat level in the United Kingdom from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’. This is the first time in three years that the threat to our country has been at this level.
[USA TODAY, August 2014]( https://youtu.be/aclWTg05FAM)
> They’re beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. Oh this is beyond anything we’ve seen so we must prepare for everything and the only way you do that is you take a cold steely hard look at it and get ready.
Yes as **the usual gaggle of fear-mongers** in government and the mainstream media will no doubt tell you "_Yes ISIS is coming and you’d better be afraid in fact the only thing you can do is take a cold steely hard look at it and get ready because apparently there’s really nothing that can be done to avoid whatever horrible, horrific, 911-like attack they’re planning on the US Heartland, or so we’re being told._"
But again I think it behooves us to question this constant call for fear-mongering from the same fear-mongers who have, for years and years, ratcheted up these phony terror level alerts, to suit their geopolitical aims and I think once again that’s exactly what was going back then.
Things could have been different if, instead of succumbing to fear back then, we had focused more on understanding the threat, exposing the so-called "boogeyman," and revealing the true perpetrators in this situation.
**This group was created in Iraq** by a Jordanian Sunni **back in 1999.**
It was formerly the official al-Qaeda franchise, in Iraq since it broke with al-Qaeda ideologically.
It then became a **self-proclaimed caliphate**, which was pronounced in late **June of 2015**.
The question of the name of this group is something that gets bandied about and ISIS is often used as the short abbreviation in English, and in fact it’s just one of many, many, many, many names that this group has gone by over the years.
**You can go back to 1999** for example to the original organization which brought with it of course an Arabic name whose acronym was JTJ and whose English translation was "The Organization of Monotheism and Jihad".
**It changed its name in 2004** to, again, another Arabic name "The Organization of Jihad’s Base in the Country of the Two Rivers", although it became more commonly known as "al-Qaeda in Iraq" or AQI around that time.
Then in 2006 it became the "Islamic State of Iraq". In 2013 it became the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" or "Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham", aka ISL and ISIS. **Then in 2014 "Islamic State"**.
So switching to the question of who is behind this group, let's see some of the characters behind it.
It was founded in 1999 by a Jordanian Sunni Muslim who went by the name of **Abu Musab al-Zarqawi**.
‼️We have to keep in mind that the names of the various jihadis behind this, like most jihadis they adopt "nommes de guerre" that is ‘war names’ so these names are not necessarily their real names and in fact in most cases are specifically not their real names.
They’re usually chosen for some sort of symbolic or historical cultural value so for example there’s no need to scratch your head and wonder why so many people are named Al Baghdadi, it’s because they are adopting a name that shows they’re the "Baghdadis" – they’re from Iraq, that kind of thing. So again don’t read too much into any of these names, and there are usually many, many, many other alias names that these people go by as well so it gets extremely confusing, probably on purpose I think.
I think the people controlling the terrorists also **have reasons for having extremely confusing ways** of referring to these people and multiple ways of referring so that if one of their memes or ideas or stories gets out of control they can spin them off as a completely different human being.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a Sunni militant from Jordan and he had what can only be described as a remarkable career that brought with it many lives apparently.
So, again this all sources from mainstream reporting. None of this is, you know "conspiracy" reporting, this is all from mainstream news services, ABC and NBC and CBS and Reuters and all of those kinds of outlets.
For example **back in 2004** it was reported that [he was arrested in Fallujah]( https://www.cbsnews.com/news/official-al-zarqawi-caught-freed/).
**Then in 2005**, without reports in the meantime indicating how or when or why he was released from – or escaped from – custody in Fallujah, or how he was never arrested in Fallujah in the first place [he got wounded in Baquba]( https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/5/25/us-al-zarqawi-aides-arrested).
**Then in 2005** he was reported [as being killed]( https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=1340972&page=1) in fighting in Iraq.
**And then in 2006** [he was killed]( https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060608.html) in fighting once again.
Presumably for the last time this time.
But it gets even stranger. **Back in 2006** the [Washington Post published]( https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/09/AR2006040900890_pf.html) an article entitled "**Military plays up role of Zarqawi**" in which they reported:
> The US military is conducting a propaganda campaign to magnify the role of the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq according to internal military documents and officers familiar with the program.
and that same article went on to say:
> One internal briefing produced by the US military headquarters in Iraq said that Kimmitt (one of the generals that oversaw this program) had concluded that the Zarqawi PSYOP program is the most successful information campaign to date.
So once again the Washington Post got its hands on internal briefing documents that the Pentagon was using, to talk about al-Qaeda in Iraq and their propaganda campaign in Iraq, and these documents prove that **the Pentagon was absolutely 100 percent**, self-consciously engaged in a PSYOP operation to make Zarqawi and al-Qaeda in Iraq seem more important than it was, and they have their own twisted internal logic that was reported on at the time as to why they wanted to do this and why they wanted to build up AQi in the minds of the Iraqi people and the people of the United States.
And of course I think obviously the main part of that was to keep the American people involved and interested in keeping their troops in harm’s way there in Iraq, even long after Bush declared "mission accomplished".
The precursor of that ISIS group, the leader with actually a not a PSYOP creation per se but at any rate someone who is blown up specifically on purpose made to seem more important than he was, because of the Pentagon.
And it gets even stranger than that when we look at **the person who took over from Zarqawi** after his final, supposedly, reported death **in 2006**, someone going by the name of Baghdadi, one of many people going by the name of Baghdadi, this one **Abu Omar al-Baghdadi** but again it’s a nom de guerre, it’s not his real name. Apparently his real name is Hamid Dawud Mohamed Khalil al-Zawi, he’s also known as Abu Omar al-Qurashi al-Baghdadi and Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi so we should not, again, put too much faith, stock, interest or energy into parsing these various names, just to know that this is someone who is referred to as al-Baghdadi and who took over from al-Zarqawi as leader of what was at the time "al-Qaeda in Iraq" in 2006.
He took over the group and again, like Zarqawi, had a remarkable career that involved being **reported as [captured in 2007**]( https://web.archive.org/web/20070314153618/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/09/iraq.main/index.html?eref=rss_latest) and then [**killed in 2007**]( https://web.archive.org/web/20100424215412/https://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/03/iraq.main/) then [**arrested in 2009**]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140911051541/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/23/baghdad-suicide-bomber-ki_0_n_190455.html) and then throughout that period of his arrest or the period that we are supposed to be led to believe that he was under arrest, [he was releasing recordings]( https://web.archive.org/web/20090801010037/http://worldanalysis.net/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=19), obviously not from prison but from wherever he really was, that were being identified and authenticated.
**And then in 2010** he was [reported as being killed]( https://web.archive.org/web/20150924144937/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/19/us-iraq-violence-alqaeda-idUSTRE63I3CL20100419) once again.
So again we have multiple reportings of captures and killings and arrests that don’t seem to make any logical sense, but just as in the case of Zarqawi, in the case of Baghdadi it becomes that much more strange when we find out that the fictional ISI leader – Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was identified as such by the US Pentagon.
Yes, once again **the US military actually reported on how they believed Abu Omar al-Bagdadi didn’t even exist**. This comes from [a Reuters article]( https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/07/18/us-iraq-qaeda-idUSL1820065720070718/?rpc=92), of one of many sources, but we can source it to a Reuters article '"Senior Qaeda figure in Iraq a myth" says US military', where they talk about a a senior operative for al-Qaeda in Iraq who was in custody of the US military, and was being interrogated and according to the testimony of this captured al-Qaeda in Iraq fighter:
> The Islamic State of Iraq is a front organization that masks the foreign influence and leadership within al-Qaeda in Iraq in an attempt to put an Iraqi face on the leadership of al-Qaeda in Iraq
> U.S. military officials in recent weeks have been pressed to explain the link between al-Qaeda in Iraq and bin Laden’s global network given the military’s heightened focus on al-Qaeda in Iraq as the biggest threat to the country
> The military blames al-Qaeda in Iraq for most of the major bombings in Iraq, saying the group is trying to spark all-out civil war between majority Shi’tes and minority Sunni Arabs
Again a very interesting, very bizarre report that again includes briefing slides from the Pentagon that show that **the Pentagon itself calls Abu Omar al-Baghdadi the fictional ISI leader**, so once again the US military didn’t even believe this person existed, and this was from a 2007 report, so once again throwing more sand into the water, more mud in the mix to make it even murkier, the US military bumbles in, and it’s again a question of what their ultimate aim in all of this is.
Very, very strange dealings going on, and again remember this is the precursor group to the group that is now referred to as is IS or ISIS, so a very strange pedigree for this terrorist group with the fingerprints of the US Pentagon and military all over it.
**And the next character in this list of this cavalcade of terrorist-boogeyman is also Baghdadi.**
This one not Abu Omar al-Baghdadi but **Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi** also known as Ibrahim bin 'Awad bin Ibrahim al-Badri ar-Radawi al-Husseini as-Samara’i, who was also known as Caliph Ibrahim, the caliph of the Islamic State Caliphate.
**So what is known about this character and where he came from?**
Almost nothing, in fact almost everything that we know about the background of this character sources from an completely [unverifiable online biography]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085249/http://news.siteintelgroup.com/blog/index.php/entry/226-the-story-behind-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi).
So apparently he was born in Samarra in Iraq in 1971; at some point he apparently attended the Atlantic University of Baghdad and it was reported that he was a leader, a cleric in a mosque in Samarra during "The American Invasion" in 2003 according to quote unquote "reports" – unidentified reports – that’s what the BBC sourced that to – and then he was detained at Camp Bucca which was a US Forces Iraq camp at some point between 2004 and 2009 and again this story conflicts.
According to the official story he was detained from February to December of 2004, that’s what the Defense Department will admit to, before being released on the recommendation of the Combined Review and Release Board.
Why they recommended him for release I’m not sure, but at any rate that’s the official story.
However **we have Army Colonel Kenneth King** who was the former commander of Camp Bucca [who insists]( https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/isis-leaders-ominous-york-message-doubt-us-edge/story?id=24166099) that this character – this man who is now known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – was at the camp during his tenure at Camp Bucca all the way up until 2009 when the camp with turned over to the Iraqi justice system, and he insists this because he remembers this particular character saying "_We’ll see you in New York_" or something of that nature, a "_terrorist threat_", so even after the point at which the discrepancy between the Defense Department’s story that **Bagdadi was released in 2004** , and King’s story that **he was there in 2009**, even when that discrepancy became apparent and was pointed out to King he specifically said again he was sure of it.
He insists that he was there.
So, again, the official story is that he was only there for the better part of a year but at any rate he may have been there up until 2009 and then presumably released by the Iraqi authorities at some point. Again it’s a completely murky story, but at some point he was under the care and detainment of the US military.
Then, having gotten out of the camp he was **announced as leader** of the Islamic State of Iraq as it was known at that time, the AQI having morphed into the ISI in 2010 and then, once again had something of a interesting career having being [reported as **captured in 2012**]( https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/12/2/iraqs-al-qaeda-chief-arrested) and then **in 2014 he was rumored as dead** but just a few days later a video of him was released, a video of him [delivering some sort of sermon]( https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/07/world/meast/iraq-crisis/), which is interesting because there are only apparently two photographs in existence of this person.
So an exceptionally shady character and on that blank slate a lot has been written, some of which is clearly fictional and let’s just keep in mind to take with a giant grain of salt any information we hear about this man and his background and really look into where and what the source of that information is.
So that’s some of the main characters behind this group.
Let's turn our attention to **what this group consisted of in terms of its equipment and its ability**, at that time.
[We were told]( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Islamic_State) that the arsenal of jihad contained and wielded by this shadowy deadly terrorist-boogeyman group consists of: 30 T 55 tanks; 10 T72 tanks; Blackhawks; cargo planes; Humvees; Toyota trucks; AK47s; M79s; RBG-6s; RPG-7s; Howitzers; field guns; AACs; Stinger manpads; scud missiles and a low-grade nuclear material of unknown origin.
Again this is just a ridiculous list of equipment but at any rate most of it has been sourced to various things that they’ve managed to accrue from their various military conquests including for example their takeover of Mosul back earlier this year in which they secured the Black Hawk helicopters and the cargo planes from the airport and also the nuclear material, the low-grade nuclear material that they acquired from Mosul University which **according to the International Atomic Energy Agency** is a low risk for nuclear proliferation because it is such low grade – such low quality.
So those were the things that we were told that they’ve gathered from their various exploits. Some of the interesting items in there I think are for example the **Toyota trucks**, which have become something of a hallmark of jihadis in various contacts.
There are reasons for that, Toyotas of course being quite ubiquitous in that region of the world since Japanese aid to the Middle East generally comes in the form of equipment and various products and so Toyotas are among the types of things that find their way to the Middle East, and because of their ubiquity the parts and servicing for them are widely available so they’re quite useful for any group that wants to have sort of mobile access to the area, including the jihadis, and the **Toyotas in possession of ISIS** in particular seem to have come courtesy of, surprise surprise, [Uncle Sam]( https://youtu.be/TOLJh1toIjg).
According to a [report]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140831003141/http://www.truthandaction.org/isis-enjoys-new-toyota-trucks-courtesy-usa/) which includes some audio footage about the Toyotas in the Middle East, and it also says that the "wish list" of the so-called moderate Syrians that was handed to the US military back in 2014 when the US was handing out supplies included Toyota Hiluxes, the Toyota trucks that are now in the possession of ISIS, so, surprise surprise you give to the moderates and who ends up getting them?
**Well the non-moderates.**
As if there were really any moderates there in the terrorist group trying to take over Syria in the first place.
But that’s what they were having in their possession in terms of equipment.
Where they actually get the money to do what they do… well according to what we’re being told they looted the Iraqi army. They acquired as much is 429 million dollars from the Mosul central bank which they took over earlier that year.
They were extracting ransom money and extortion money from various governments throughout this time period, and they are selling oil from their northern Syria territories to the tune of as much as 2 million dollars a day, supposedly.
So those were the places where they were supposedly financing what’s going on, however we can contrast that with some other information acquired from different sources.
For example it’s been widely and repeatedly reported throughout that **private Gulf donors via Kuwait**, and apparently the Kuwaiti financial system was specifically well set up for this type of financing, but at any rate private gold donors have accounted for a lot of the money that has flowed into Syria to fund the various terrorist groups including ISIS and the others that were there, and again that was private donors not necessarily the **House of Saud** or anything of that sort but private donors from the Gulf, who obviously had religious reasons for trying to support the Sunni Wahabi Jihadist Muslims.
In this conversation about Who is behind ISIS, we stumble upon Benghazi and what became known as **Benghazi-Gate**.
**Benghazi was the lexus** where all of those Libyan arms were flowing from the Libyan terrorists to the Syrian terrorists, via Turkey and Jordan, and I think that’s an important part to keep in mind because those, again, are two very important players in this story.
What happened in Benghazi is an important example for what was happening in there and all the sources converge on this ISIS group – this ISL group – that suddenly seemed to spring out of nowhere but of course has been gestating there for 15 years and has been, as we’ve seen, involved with the US Pentagon, involved in various PSYOPS operations to make this group seem more important than it is.
**You can find more information about Benghazi in my recent article (search it in my articles tab).**
So that brings us to some of the questions of "Well where are these funds coming from and how are these troops being trained?" and as always, all roads lead to…Washington?
Here is an enlightening [broadcast of "Democracy Now!"]( https://youtu.be/dqtSaIikQ-o), with Amy Goodman and Adam Entous.
So the CIA in conjunction with their friends in Britain and France and Saudi Arabia and the UAE and elsewhere have converged in Jordan to train various Syrian militants – terrorists – at a base in Jordan.
Something considered as a conspiracy theory before, now it is confirmed even by the mainstream dinosaur media.
So "Well yes actually, [the US has been intimately involved]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140702140057/http://mobile.wnd.com/2014/06/officials-u-s-trained-isis-at-secret-base-in-jordan/); the CIA has been intimately involved in training a lot of the people who went on to become the top ISIS fighters".
And then the ""[corrected]( https://www.wnd.com/2014/06/officials-u-s-trained-isis-at-secret-base-in-jordan/)"" version.
So if this sounds surprising well you haven’t been paying attention, not only to the Syrian story but really to any of these stories going back decades and decades, with the most famous of course being the US involvement in Afghanistan in the 1980s back when they were helping the Freedom Fighters – the Taliban before they started going after the evil terrorists – the Taliban.
Unfortunately a script we know all too well and when it comes to how these groups are armed and trained it just continues.
[LT. GENERAL MCINERNEY]( https://youtu.be/elPBhP0mZTI):
> Syria we backed, I believe in some cases, some of the wrong people, and not in the right part of the Free Syrian Army and that’s a little confusing to people, so I’ve always maintained and go back quite some time that we were backing the wrong types.
> I think it’s gonna turn out maybe this weekend, in a new special that Brett Baer’s gonna have Friday, it’s gonna show some of those weapons from Benghazi ended up in the hands of ISIS.
So we helped build ISIS. Now there’s a danger there and I’m with you.
So "we kind of build up ISIS oh and let’s go to the next news story." 😶
So again this is not controversial.
This is not something that we have to speculate about.
This is something that has been documented in a lot of mainstream contexts as well, so really this brings us to the heart of the question "Who is behind ISIS?"
There are at least 6 groups.
Someone could probably dig deeper and bring in some other groups but 6 of the main groups that we can identify as being the real powers that have brought ISIS to its position, and in alphabetical order that would be:
1. Israel,
2. NATO,
3. Qatar,
4. Saudi Arabia,
5. Turkey and
6. the USA,
although to a certain extent these are groups rather than nation-states per se.
Specifically in the case of Saudi Arabia where of course the House of Saud had institutional and fundamental reasons why it would not be happy about a radical caliphate on its doorstep, because obviously that would threaten the institution of the House of Saud itself, but certainly individual Saudis, private donors as I 've said, and including some members of the Royal House of Saud would be interested in helping fund a radical Wahabi jihadi Selapi??? group...
Take Turkey for example.
Turkey obviously has its fingerprints all over everything that’s happening in Syria and has been since the inception.
Turkey has a lot of different reasons for being involved that range from its constant requests to keep its neighbors fighting with each other and destabilized, using Islam as a weapon, Turkey is happy to do so.
I think the Turkish leadership has no allegiance really to Islam except for the fact that it’s a useful political tool for the largely Islamic Turkish population, and also it can be used in fights like this to keep its neighbors destabilized and to keep Turkey an important foothold for Europe and NATO in the region, and I think that’s one of the reasons.
I think they’re also obviously always looking to repress and find ways to stamp out their Kurdish population problem so I think this is one extension of that, and we’ve seen for example the false-flag recordings that were released with the high-ranking Turkish officials under Erdogan talking openly about how they wanted to stage an attack on Turkish targets in Syria in order to justify Turkish incursion into Syria, which of course brings with it the specter of NATO because of the mutual self-defense clause in the NATO article – the treaty – so Turkey a very, very menacing prospect/player in all of this and someone who is again been admittedly and documentably linked to the transfer of funds and arms to the terrorist groups in Syria.
Qatar has a number of reasons ranging again from religious to geopolitical, and maybe I 'll get more into the sort of pipeline politics that Qatar sees in all of this.
When it comes to NATO specifically the context is similar with Gladio B, ie. the Operation Gladio which was not a mere stay behind operation in Europe to counter some perceived or imagined Soviet occupation of Europe, but in fact a global operation that involved "Strategy of Tension" and false-flag terrorism as ways of achieving various NATO operation goals in various "theaters", and we’ve talked of course about Sibel Edmonds and her revelation of Gladio B, ie. the fermenting of Islamic terrorism in various parts of the world to further these aims and goals and taking over various squares on the geopolitical chess board, So you can think about Gladio B as a worldwide operation and I would see no reason why it wouldn’t also be operative in the Middle East, and we have to look for NATO fingerprints in what’s happening there, and we can see them through the actions, for example most specifically of the US, in helping to arm, fund and run PSYOP operations surrounding this ISI group lslamic state.
Let's get into more detail on some of these characters, for example of course Israel, who I think is interested in pretty much anything that happens in the Middle East, should be fairly apparent, but this is something that I documented specifically back in a previous article (see again my Articles tab).
Israel’s designs on Iraq have been well-known and well-understood for a long time but I think we have to see all of these invasions and overthrows and all of the destabilizations in the Middle East in recent years as part of a grander Zionist project for reshaping the Middle East, that we can say not only predates that five-year plan that General Wesley Clark talks about but predates it by decades at the very least, documentably and on the record.
All about the "Greater Israel", the Zionist plan for the Middle East (Oded Yinon) which was something that was developed in a document that was published in 1982 in the journal called Directions which was published by the Department of information for the World Zionist Organization, and this document was translated into English by the Association of Arab-American University Graduates you can find in my previous articles.
And of course there are also the Pipeline Politics in the Middle East and how they played into what’s going on in Syria.
Specifically with regard to a pipeline known as the ISI pipeline, Iran, Iraq, Syria pipeline or the Islamic pipeline.
The fact that there there was a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran, Iraq and Syria shortly before all of this kerfuffle in Syria began is again, highly telling of what this situation is at least partially about, and I think to a large extent this is a very important piece of this puzzle, and it shows why Assad suddenly became in the crosshairs despite the fact of having been a willing accomplice in the [CIA’s rendition and torture program]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Syria) for example, and sort of one of the "good boys" that the West "tolerated" for a long time, how he suddenly became enemy number one is the question, and the Islamic pipeline is one answer.
So there again is a direct interest for some of the members of that "Who is behind ISIS?" coalition for not getting behind Assad and in fact getting in his way, to try to stop the creation of this pipeline.
That ISI pipeline was completely getting around Turkey altogether, which would not be in Turkish interests and would not be in Qatari interests. Qatar of course having a gas of its own that it wants to export to Europe and wants to make part of the new European gas energy policy.
So again there are some direct motivations for why Iran, Iraq and Syria are in the target sights of these various powers that are converging on fighting the Islamic State threat.
Now let’s debunk some of the fear and propaganda that was swirling around about this, starting with the easy targets in the mainstream media who have been pimping this map of the Middle East that was supposedly part of some grand five-year war plan of the Islamic State, or something of that sort.
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That map basically covered from North Africa, all the way from the western edge of North Africa, all the way through basically the top half of the African continent to the eastern part of Africa, across the Gulf into the Gulf states, into the Central Asia region, all the way up to the doorstep of China and Russia.
It was as far north as the Northern Caucasus, up through Turkey into Eastern Europe, and even Spain was part of that map.
It was marked as black as in being the aspirational hope of the growth of the Islamic State, as a part of a five years plan and it was labeled with all of these various regional names that were apparently going to be given to the various parts of the chessboard once the IS takes them over.
➡️ Now this looked like a very scary map – "Oh my god this is what Islamic State has planned, it’s their five-year plan, are you afraid? You’d better be very afraid".
Except for the fact that of course [it was all BS]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140817042320/http://aattp.org/seriously-nbc-station-posts-terrifying-isis-expanison-map-created-by-neofascists-on-twitter/).
And this has been displayed prominently all over NBC News and ABC News and of course the Daily Mail.
But the interesting part about that map was that even as ABC and NBC and others admitted it sourced back to a Twitter account for the "Third Position", and ultimately the map sourceed back, if you go all the way back to basically fans of the ISIS group who put this together as their wet dream project, just basically saying "This will belong to us" and it made absolutely no sense geopolitically in any sense.
[If you look at the map]( https://web.archive.org/web/20140707233833/http://io9.com/that-isis-caliphate-map-is-bogus-so-stop-freaking-ou-1598657469/all) it includes all sorts of areas of the map where even the Islamic areas of that map, they are completely different sorts of Islam that would not be compatible with, in any way, with the Islamic State and would have no interest or affinity to the people who supposedly comprise the Islamic State, etc.
👉 If you learnt something new in this article,, something you think is valuable for others to know, please do spread this information.
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@ a262e97d:ddc3e696
2025-02-27 02:32:27
The ancient Greek tale of the ***Sword of Damocles*** tells of a Sicilian tyrant Dionysius II and his courtier Damocles. According to legend, Damocles envied Dionysius’s wealth and power, so the tyrant offered to switch places with the coutier for a day. Damocles eagerly accepted, reveling in luxury—until he noticed a sharp sword dangling above his head, held only by a single horsehair. The looming threat stripped away his enjoyment, revealing the constant peril that accompanies great power. It’s a story about the precariousness of fortune, where danger hovers just out of sight.
## Constantinople
Throughout history, there have been examples of such anxiety affecting beyond the individual onto a collective. One example that captures a society-wide sense of dread is the fall of Constantinople in 1453. This wasn’t just a city on edge; it was an entire civilization staring down its own collapse, with the tension building for decades before the final, brutal crescendo.
Picture the scene: Constantinople, the last bastion of the Eastern Roman Empire, a city of faded grandeur encircled by Ottoman forces under Mehmed II. By the mid-15th century, the empire had shrunk to a shadow of its former self, its walls battered by time and earlier sieges, its coffers nearly empty. The Byzantines knew the Turks were coming—Mehmed’s massive cannons, including the monstrous Basilica, were no secret. For years, they’d lived with the creeping certainty that their world was teetering on a knife’s edge, propped up only by fragile alliances and the hope of Western aid that never fully materialized. The city’s inhabitants—nobles, merchants, priests, and peasants alike—could feel the noose tightening as Ottoman scouts probed their defenses and trade routes withered.
A citizen of Constantinople in those final days might have said something like: “We feast on memories of glory, our golden domes gleaming still, but a shadow looms beyond the walls. Each night I hear the distant rumble of their engines, each day I count fewer ships in our harbor. Our prayers echo in Hagia Sophia, yet I wonder if God has turned His face from us. We are bound by a thread, and it frays with every passing hour.” It’s that Damocles vibe dialed up to apocalyptic levels—splendor undercut by the palpable, collective dread of annihilation.
The drama peaked on May 29, 1453, when Mehmed’s army breached the walls after a relentless 53-day siege. The city fell in a bloodbath: cannons shredded centuries-old fortifications, soldiers poured in, and the last emperor, Constantine XI, vanished into the fray, his fate unknown. Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque, and an empire that had endured for over a thousand years was snuffed out. The psychological weight beforehand—the years of knowing the end was near, yet clinging to a fraying hope—makes it a gut-punch of a historical moment. For your essay, it’s a setting that screams *inquiétude* on a grand scale, a whole society under that dangling sword until it finally dropped.
## French Revolution
More recently, consider the French Revolution. Here’s the bourgeoisie on the eve of 1789 again—wealthy but boxed in, sensing the old order’s collapse. Once the revolution ignited, everyone felt the blade: aristocrats faced the guillotine, revolutionaries feared counter-revolts, and even the masses worried about starvation or tyranny. It’s a carousel of Damocles moments—power shifted fast, and no one knew when the horsehair might snap.
Imagine, if you will, a member of France’s bourgeoisie—a well-off merchant or lawyer, say—on the eve of the French Revolution in 1789. They’ve climbed the social ladder through trade or education, but they’re still squeezed between the decadent nobility above and the restless poor below. The monarchy’s crumbling, the economy’s a mess, and whispers of revolt are growing louder. This bourgeois might describe their feelings with a nod to that old tale: “I sit at a banquet of my own making, wealth and status within reach, yet I feel a blade dangling above me. The nobles scorn us, the masses eye our gains, and the king’s faltering grip threatens to let it all fall. Every coin I’ve earned could be my undoing.” It’s a mix of pride in their rise and dread of the chaos that could snatch it away—Damocles at his feast, tasting both triumph and terror.
The French Revolution is the closest echo of Dionysius and Damocles: a society—especially the rising bourgeoisie and later revolutionary leaders—relishing newfound power (or the chance at it) while acutely aware of the fragility holding it together. The guillotine literally hung over heads, and the rapid turnover of factions (Girondins, Jacobins, Thermidorians) mirrors that precarious throne under a dangling blade. Spain’s war was too chaotic, too fractured for anyone to sit comfortably; McCarthy’s era had menace but lacked the all-encompassing upheaval. France in 1789–1799 is the banquet with the sword swaying overhead—everyone’s a guest, and no one’s safe.
## the Chainsaw of Donacles
In a gray, fluorescent-lit cubicle maze straight out of a dystopian *Office Space* reimagined as a euro-steampunk nightmare, the United States of 2025 hums with the dissonance of 1789 pre-revolutionary fervor. The air smells of burnt coffee and gear grease, the dull drone of bureaucracy punctuated by the hiss of steam pipes snaking along the walls above an endless sprawl of cubicles and flickering gas lamps. The air thick with wifi radiation and desperation.
Donald Trump, newly mandated by a roaring electorate to “drain the swamp,” roams between Mar-a-Lago’s opulent halls, the White House’s command center, and Air Force One’s plush skies. His *arme de prédilection*: a ostentatious gold-tipped pen, wielded like a guillotine’s decree. Trump grins, orange hair wild, and with a flourish, he signs resounding executive orders—EOs that thunder through the bureaucracy — smirking, “The swamp’s toast, folks.”
Enter Elon Musk, tasked with leading the DOGE task force—Department of Government Efficiency. He grips a gleaming chainsaw, a gift from Argentine firebrand Javier Milei, its blade etched with “Libertad o Muerte.”
His Zoomerwaffen—a brigade of Gen Z disruptors in brass goggles and hoodies—are the revolution’s shock troops in hoodies and brass goggles, armed with bare steel laptops and savage memes. These digital sans-culottes wield laptops like muskets, flooding X with memes that mock the Karens (“OK Boomer, meet the blockchain”), crashing servers with decentralized audits, and rigging AI bots to shred red tape faster than a guillotine drops. One Zoomer, vape cloud swirling, hacks a payroll database while blasting dubstep; another livestreams a *“Karen Meltdown Compilation”* as morale bombs. They’re the grease in Elon’s machine, turning DOGE into a viral uprising.
Elon’s Herculean task: slash the bloated federal beast down to size. From a Cybertruck-turned-mobile-HQ, smokestack puffing, Elon adjusts his top hat, a single LED flickering on its brim. “Time to saw through the bloat,” he quips and revs the beast, slashing budgets with a mad inventor’s glee. “Efficiency is the new Reign of Terror. Let's disrupt the guillotine’s monopoly on downsizing.” The zoomers cheer, their screens flashing with blockchain audits and TikTok takedowns of red tape as they slash budgets with blockchain precision, livestreaming the carnage on X.
But beyond the glass-walled boardrooms and armored Cybertrucks, the cubicles stretch into a Bastille of beige despair. Here reign the deep-staters — legions of federal lifers grown plump on decades of taxpayer largesse. They’re the ancient régime of red tape, peering over partition walls with powdered wigs askew, muttering about “due process” while clutching dog-eared manuals of byzantine regulations.
Picture these thousand Karens, each clutching a *“Manager of My Own Destiny”* mug, their lanyards clinking with pronoun pins and union badges; each a snowflake of entitled fury.
And above every sweat-stenched cubicle, a miniature chainsaw dangles by a fraying hemp thread.
One wretched teet-sucking swamp creature, a portly GS-14 named Linda, slams her “TPS Reports” onto a desk, her wig askew, shrieking, “I’ve earned my pension, you fascists! I've earned everything, fair and square!” Linda's personal Chainsaw of Donacles sways with every EO and Zoomer hack. Her ink-stained hands tremble as her steam-powered iPhone wheezes out another ding decrying ever more *“DOGE tyranny.”*
Across the floor, lanyards jangle — pronoun pins flashing — as Karens plot over stale croissants, whispering of jammed printers and leaked memos to fight back.
Trump’s banquet is victory, savored from Mar-a-Lago’s terraces or 30,000 feet up, untouchable. His mighty pen perpetually slashing through the old order.
Elon’s chainsaw roars, Zoomerwaffen dancing in its sparks, dismantling decades of excess.
The Karens sit under their blades — relics of a bloated regime, their banquet of entitlement souring as the threads fray and the swamp drains.
The Revolution’s *inquiétude* steams through: they built this world, gorged on its perks; and now the power they hoarded hangs by a hair Every Musk rev, every Trump signature, every Zoomer meme cuts closer.
“Efficiency’s here. Let them eat efficiency!” Elon tweets, and a chainsaw twitches.
A Karen shrieks. A rope snaps.
---
Hope you enjoyed this steampunk *Office Space*-meets-1789, lovingly crafted by Grok and myself.
One final note on the Zoomerwaffen (a term I picked up from @realKingpilled): They’re the patriotic engine of this upheaval — tech-native, irreverent, and relentless. Think of them as the street agitators of 1789, but with code instead of pitchforks. They hack legacy systems to expose waste, flood social media with viral takedowns, and turn DOGE’s mission into a cultural juggernaut. Their focussed autism amplifies Elon’s chainsaw and Trump’s pen, making the Karens’ downfall a public spectacle. They’re the ones fraying those threads, one savage meme at a time.
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@ 2ed3596e:98b4cc78
2025-02-27 00:24:36
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