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@ 8fb140b4:f948000c
2023-07-22 09:39:48Intro
This short tutorial will help you set up your own Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) on your own LND Node that is not using Umbrel. If you are a user of Umbrel, you should use their version of NWC.
Requirements
You need to have a working installation of LND with established channels and connectivity to the internet. NWC in itself is fairly light and will not consume a lot of resources. You will also want to ensure that you have a working installation of Docker, since we will use a docker image to run NWC.
- Working installation of LND (and all of its required components)
- Docker (with Docker compose)
Installation
For the purpose of this tutorial, we will assume that you have your lnd/bitcoind running under user bitcoin with home directory /home/bitcoin. We will also assume that you already have a running installation of Docker (or docker.io).
Prepare and verify
git version - we will need git to get the latest version of NWC. docker version - should execute successfully and show the currently installed version of Docker. docker compose version - same as before, but the version will be different. ss -tupln | grep 10009- should produce the following output: tcp LISTEN 0 4096 0.0.0.0:10009 0.0.0.0: tcp LISTEN 0 4096 [::]:10009 [::]:**
For things to work correctly, your Docker should be version 20.10.0 or later. If you have an older version, consider installing a new one using instructions here: https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/
Create folders & download NWC
In the home directory of your LND/bitcoind user, create a new folder, e.g., "nwc" mkdir /home/bitcoin/nwc. Change to that directory cd /home/bitcoin/nwc and clone the NWC repository: git clone https://github.com/getAlby/nostr-wallet-connect.git
Creating the Docker image
In this step, we will create a Docker image that you will use to run NWC.
- Change directory to
nostr-wallet-connect
:cd nostr-wallet-connect
- Run command to build Docker image:
docker build -t nwc:$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M') -t nwc:latest .
(there is a dot at the end) - The last line of the output (after a few minutes) should look like
=> => naming to docker.io/library/nwc:latest
nwc:latest
is the name of the Docker image with a tag which you should note for use later.
Creating docker-compose.yml and necessary data directories
- Let's create a directory that will hold your non-volatile data (DB):
mkdir data
- In
docker-compose.yml
file, there are fields that you want to replace (<> comments) and port “4321” that you want to make sure is open (check withss -tupln | grep 4321
which should return nothing). - Create
docker-compose.yml
file with the following content, and make sure to update fields that have <> comment:
version: "3.8" services: nwc: image: nwc:latest volumes: - ./data:/data - ~/.lnd:/lnd:ro ports: - "4321:8080" extra_hosts: - "localhost:host-gateway" environment: NOSTR_PRIVKEY: <use "openssl rand -hex 32" to generate a fresh key and place it inside ""> LN_BACKEND_TYPE: "LND" LND_ADDRESS: localhost:10009 LND_CERT_FILE: "/lnd/tls.cert" LND_MACAROON_FILE: "/lnd/data/chain/bitcoin/mainnet/admin.macaroon" DATABASE_URI: "/data/nostr-wallet-connect.db" COOKIE_SECRET: <use "openssl rand -hex 32" to generate fresh secret and place it inside ""> PORT: 8080 restart: always stop_grace_period: 1m
Starting and testing
Now that you have everything ready, it is time to start the container and test.
- While you are in the
nwc
directory (important), execute the following command and check the log output,docker compose up
- You should see container logs while it is starting, and it should not exit if everything went well.
- At this point, you should be able to go to
http://<ip of the host where nwc is running>:4321
and get to the interface of NWC - To stop the test run of NWC, simply press
Ctrl-C
, and it will shut the container down. - To start NWC permanently, you should execute
docker compose up -d
, “-d” tells Docker to detach from the session. - To check currently running NWC logs, execute
docker compose logs
to run it in tail mode add-f
to the end. - To stop the container, execute
docker compose down
That's all, just follow the instructions in the web interface to get started.
Updating
As with any software, you should expect fixes and updates that you would need to perform periodically. You could automate this, but it falls outside of the scope of this tutorial. Since we already have all of the necessary configuration in place, the update execution is fairly simple.
- Change directory to the clone of the git repository,
cd /home/bitcoin/nwc/nostr-wallet-connect
- Run command to build Docker image:
docker build -t nwc:$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M') -t nwc:latest .
(there is a dot at the end) - Change directory back one level
cd ..
- Restart (stop and start) the docker compose config
docker compose down && docker compose up -d
- Done! Optionally you may want to check the logs:
docker compose logs
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@ 82341f88:fbfbe6a2
2023-04-11 19:36:53There’s a lot of conversation around the #TwitterFiles. Here’s my take, and thoughts on how to fix the issues identified.
I’ll start with the principles I’ve come to believe…based on everything I’ve learned and experienced through my past actions as a Twitter co-founder and lead:
- Social media must be resilient to corporate and government control.
- Only the original author may remove content they produce.
- Moderation is best implemented by algorithmic choice.
The Twitter when I led it and the Twitter of today do not meet any of these principles. This is my fault alone, as I completely gave up pushing for them when an activist entered our stock in 2020. I no longer had hope of achieving any of it as a public company with no defense mechanisms (lack of dual-class shares being a key one). I planned my exit at that moment knowing I was no longer right for the company.
The biggest mistake I made was continuing to invest in building tools for us to manage the public conversation, versus building tools for the people using Twitter to easily manage it for themselves. This burdened the company with too much power, and opened us to significant outside pressure (such as advertising budgets). I generally think companies have become far too powerful, and that became completely clear to me with our suspension of Trump’s account. As I’ve said before, we did the right thing for the public company business at the time, but the wrong thing for the internet and society. Much more about this here: https://twitter.com/jack/status/1349510769268850690
I continue to believe there was no ill intent or hidden agendas, and everyone acted according to the best information we had at the time. Of course mistakes were made. But if we had focused more on tools for the people using the service rather than tools for us, and moved much faster towards absolute transparency, we probably wouldn’t be in this situation of needing a fresh reset (which I am supportive of). Again, I own all of this and our actions, and all I can do is work to make it right.
Back to the principles. Of course governments want to shape and control the public conversation, and will use every method at their disposal to do so, including the media. And the power a corporation wields to do the same is only growing. It’s critical that the people have tools to resist this, and that those tools are ultimately owned by the people. Allowing a government or a few corporations to own the public conversation is a path towards centralized control.
I’m a strong believer that any content produced by someone for the internet should be permanent until the original author chooses to delete it. It should be always available and addressable. Content takedowns and suspensions should not be possible. Doing so complicates important context, learning, and enforcement of illegal activity. There are significant issues with this stance of course, but starting with this principle will allow for far better solutions than we have today. The internet is trending towards a world were storage is “free” and infinite, which places all the actual value on how to discover and see content.
Which brings me to the last principle: moderation. I don’t believe a centralized system can do content moderation globally. It can only be done through ranking and relevance algorithms, the more localized the better. But instead of a company or government building and controlling these solely, people should be able to build and choose from algorithms that best match their criteria, or not have to use any at all. A “follow” action should always deliver every bit of content from the corresponding account, and the algorithms should be able to comb through everything else through a relevance lens that an individual determines. There’s a default “G-rated” algorithm, and then there’s everything else one can imagine.
The only way I know of to truly live up to these 3 principles is a free and open protocol for social media, that is not owned by a single company or group of companies, and is resilient to corporate and government influence. The problem today is that we have companies who own both the protocol and discovery of content. Which ultimately puts one person in charge of what’s available and seen, or not. This is by definition a single point of failure, no matter how great the person, and over time will fracture the public conversation, and may lead to more control by governments and corporations around the world.
I believe many companies can build a phenomenal business off an open protocol. For proof, look at both the web and email. The biggest problem with these models however is that the discovery mechanisms are far too proprietary and fixed instead of open or extendable. Companies can build many profitable services that complement rather than lock down how we access this massive collection of conversation. There is no need to own or host it themselves.
Many of you won’t trust this solution just because it’s me stating it. I get it, but that’s exactly the point. Trusting any one individual with this comes with compromises, not to mention being way too heavy a burden for the individual. It has to be something akin to what bitcoin has shown to be possible. If you want proof of this, get out of the US and European bubble of the bitcoin price fluctuations and learn how real people are using it for censorship resistance in Africa and Central/South America.
I do still wish for Twitter, and every company, to become uncomfortably transparent in all their actions, and I wish I forced more of that years ago. I do believe absolute transparency builds trust. As for the files, I wish they were released Wikileaks-style, with many more eyes and interpretations to consider. And along with that, commitments of transparency for present and future actions. I’m hopeful all of this will happen. There’s nothing to hide…only a lot to learn from. The current attacks on my former colleagues could be dangerous and doesn’t solve anything. If you want to blame, direct it at me and my actions, or lack thereof.
As far as the free and open social media protocol goes, there are many competing projects: @bluesky is one with the AT Protocol, nostr another, Mastodon yet another, Matrix yet another…and there will be many more. One will have a chance at becoming a standard like HTTP or SMTP. This isn’t about a “decentralized Twitter.” This is a focused and urgent push for a foundational core technology standard to make social media a native part of the internet. I believe this is critical both to Twitter’s future, and the public conversation’s ability to truly serve the people, which helps hold governments and corporations accountable. And hopefully makes it all a lot more fun and informative again.
💸🛠️🌐 To accelerate open internet and protocol work, I’m going to open a new category of #startsmall grants: “open internet development.” It will start with a focus of giving cash and equity grants to engineering teams working on social media and private communication protocols, bitcoin, and a web-only mobile OS. I’ll make some grants next week, starting with $1mm/yr to Signal. Please let me know other great candidates for this money.
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@ 9be0be0e:c3cbb81e
2023-07-19 11:05:48Enable the freedom to communicate.
Reach should be the result of how many people want or don’t want to listen to your message, there is no reason for a third party or algorithm to be required in this equation.
You should be in control of what you can or cannot see. Who you block should be up to you.
Ideally Nostur tries to reduce the need to require or trust any third party in order to communicate, unless there is no other way.
BUT
Nostur is built for iPhone, iPad and Mac users. In one way this is a limitation, (e.g., zap restrictions by Apple) but if we are using the Apple ecosystem already, we might as well use it to our advantage.
Nostur's target audience already trusts Apple with their data, their messages, photos, calendar, reminders, security cameras, etc.
We don’t need to store our data on random relays, and hope our contact list doesn’t get lost, or leak metadata to the public. We can store everything on our device, and sync using iCloud, it is reliable, and we already use it for far more important data anyway. Converting Apple users to Android or GrapheneOS is an uphill battle, I applaud people who take that route, but it’s not for Nostur users, we have people saying don't trust the media, don't use twitter, don't use iPhone, if we keep going, we end up sending smoke signals in a circle. As for interoperability, we can still publish or export using nostr native formats so you can use your data in another nostr app.
Nostur will publish to relays, but our data is on our device first, iCloud second, and third-party relays third. And you can still use a personal private relay for yourself if you want.
With this in mind, Nostur tries to let relays just be relays, not personal storage. Using relays for storage might end up centralising nostr, in the same way email, which used to be decentralised, is now mostly hosted by google and microsoft.
If you disagree with this mission or direction, Nostur's source is released under GPL-3.0 license, so feel free to fork and create a different version.
Ultimately, the goal of Nostur is not to get more people to use Nostur, but to get more people to use nostr.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:52:10Roberto Castellanos Suárez hermano de periodista oficialista Humberto López Suárez, llegó a Estados Unidos y reside en Fort Myers, Florida; desde hace aproximadamente tres semanas, según expusieron en sus redes sociales los influencers Darwin Santana y Yamila La Hija de Maceo.
Castellanos Suárez y el nefasto y manipulador presentador de la Televisión Cubana son medios hermanos, hijos de la misma madre, la señora Lient Suárez, pero de distintos padres. En varias fotografías publicadas se aprecia a los dos hermanos compartiendo con su progenitora, aunque se desconoce si fue una escena previa al momento de la despedida y la emigración Roberto desde Cuba a los Estados Unidos
Los post de las fuentes no precisan si la entrada se produjo de manera legal o ilegal, pero sí aseguran que Roberto tuvo que enfrentarse y aprobar una “prueba de miedo creíble”, lo que sugiere que su entrada pudo haber sido por la frontera.
De acuerdo con el perfil personal en Facebook de Castellanos Suárez, su más reciente publicación data del 18 de julio, donde celebra con una foto el cumpleaños de su hijo pequeño y lamenta estar lejos, lo cual confirma que está fuera del país. “Mi otro pedazo de corazón está de cumple hoy que la pase bien, que papi lo extraña y lo quiere mucho”, refirió en un mensaje para su pareja Lisandra Contreras.
La influencer cubana Yamila La Hija de Maceo compartió la información en su cuenta de Twitter y varios compatriotas le han aportado más evidencia sobre el caso. Según un mensaje, “a Humberto y su hermano los crío una abuela y un tío (Raquel y Hugo) que ya fallecieron (el tío por alcohólico). El caso es que siempre hubo doble moral en esa casa porque eran comunistas, pero vendían hasta su madre y actualmente la madre compra y vende de contrabando”.
“Te diré que ese hermano de Humbrete está aquí en Estados Unidos hace como 2 o 3 semanas y pasó la prueba de miedo creíble. Vive en Fort Myers, Florida”, aseveró una seguidora de Yamila La Hija de Maceo que pidió el anonimato.
De acuerdo con la base de datos de Etecsa, consultada por Periódico Cubano, Humberto Dionil López Suárez, director y conductor del programa “Hacemos Cuba” y miembro del Comité Central del Partido Comunista, tiene como número de teléfono registrado el 53534735 y nació el 9 de octubre de 1985. Por su parte, el hermano del presentador, Roberto Castellanos Suárez, es tres años menor.
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@ d5d25ac9:65ea8ded
2023-06-14 13:10:39📝 Summary: [TEST-J] An extension to BOLT-11 is proposed for invoices to contain two bundled payments for non-custodial exchanges. Boltz is distributing a submarine swap client separate from the user's lightning wallet, enabling competition and increasing potential user base. However, dedicated logic is required for a trust-minimized swap. 👥 Authors: • Olaoluwa Osuntokun ( nostr:npub1p032kpesmmlcwqcexuglqwxug3flxa2ayuhdd8utpw896k7x99gs37dh8h ) • Thomas Voegtlin ( nostr:npub1ghyhf8fhfkysttrhqkq3cjr4c4jaf70ug8chcczh88lpptx26ggs785w2q ) 📅 Messages Date Range: 2023-06-13 to 2023-06-15 ✉️ Message Count: 3 📚 Total Characters in Messages: 17494
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:46:07Un cubano de 43 años, identificado como David Alejandro Rodríguez Morcate, perdió la vida después de un violento enfrentamiento con guardias de seguridad de una discoteca, ubicada en Managua, Nicaragua.
El trágico suceso ocurrió en horas de la madrugada de ayer viernes, momentos después de que el fallecido tuviera una acalorada discusión con una mujer mientras abandonaba el lugar.
Las imágenes capturadas por una cámara de seguridad muestran cómo la situación escaló rápidamente, llevando al guardia de seguridad a detenerlo, pero agarrándolo por el cuello hasta asfixiarlo.
La mujer involucrada en el incidente ha sido identificada como Gloria Mendoza, de 21 años. Según los registros de vigilancia, se puede observar cómo el antillano arremete contra ella sujetándola por el cabello antes de que los vigilantes intenten intervenir para calmar la situación.
A pesar de los esfuerzos por reanimarlo, ya era demasiado tarde, Rodriguez Morcate fue declarado muerto en el lugar. Las autoridades locales iniciaron una investigación para esclarecer los detalles del trágico suceso.
Según su perfil personal en Facebook, el cubano residía en la ciudad de Miami y era originario de la provincia oriental de Santiago de Cuba. Hasta el momento, no se ha revelado la razón por la cual se encontraba en territorio nicaragüense.
El cuerpo de la víctima permanece en el Instituto de Medicina Legal (IML), donde un médico forense realizó la autopsia para determinar las causas precisas de su fallecimiento. Mientras tanto, el guardia de seguridad involucrado ha sido identificado, pero, de acuerdo con la prensa local, se encuentra prófugo desde el trágico acontecimiento.
Tras ver el video, algunos usuarios comentaron que se aplicó una llave de estrangulamiento conocida como “popo” o “mataleón”, que consiste en el uso del brazo para aplicar una presión al cuello del oponente con el objetivo de restringir el flujo de sangre y aire hacia el cerebro, lo que puede provocar una pérdida rápida del conocimiento y someter al oponente.
Es importante tener en cuenta que el uso de la llave de estrangulamiento puede ser extremadamente peligroso y potencialmente mortal si no se realiza adecuadamente o si se mantiene durante demasiado tiempo. Por esta razón, su enseñanza y práctica deben llevarse a cabo con responsabilidad y bajo la supervisión de instructores calificados.
En contextos deportivos y policiales, el uso de esta técnica puede estar regulado o incluso prohibido debido a los riesgos asociados con su aplicación. Siempre se debe priorizar la seguridad y el bienestar de todos los involucrados en cualquier actividad que se usen técnicas de combate o autodefensa.
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@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd
2023-05-01 19:37:20What is NIP-05 really?
If you look at the spec, it's a way to map Nostr public keys to DNS-based internet identifiers, such as
name@example.com
.If you look at Nostr Plebs:
It's a human readable identifier for your public key. It makes finding your profile on Nostr easier. It makes identifying your account easier.
If you look at basically any client, you see a checkmark, which you assume means verification.
If you ask someone, they probably will call it verification.
How did we get here?
Initially, there was only one client, which was (kind of) the reference implementation: Branle.
When it added support for NIP-05 identifiers, it used to replace the display name with the NIP-05 identifier, and it had to distinguish a NIP-05 from someone setting their display name to a NIP-05. So they added a checkmark...
Then there was astral.ninja and Damus: The former was a fork of Branle, and therefore inherited the checkmark. Damus didn't implement NIP-05 until a while later, and they added a checkmark because Astral and other clients were doing it.
And then came new clients, all copying what the previous ones did... (Snort originally did not have a checkmark, but that changed later.)
The first NIP-05 provider
Long story short, people were wondering what NIP-05 is and wanted it, and that's how Nostr Plebs came to be.
They initially called their service verification. Somewhere between January and February, they removed all mentions to verification except one (because people were searching for it), and publicly said that NIP-05 is not verification. But that didn't work.
Then, there were the new NIP-05 providers, some understood perfectly what a NIP-05 identifier is and applied the correct nomenclature. Others misnamed it as verification, adding confusion to users. This made the problem worse on top of the popular clients showing checkmarks.
(from this point in the article we'll refer to it as a Nostr address)
And so, the scams begin
Spammers and scammers started to abuse Nostr addresses to scam people: - Some providers has been used by fake crypto airdrop bots. - A few Nostr address providers have terminated multitude of impersonating and scam identifiers over the past weeks.
This goes to show that Nostr addresses don't verify anything, they are just providers of human readable handles.
Nostr addresses can be proof of association
Nostr addresses can be a proof of association. The easiest analogy to understand is email:
jack@cash.app -> You could assume this is the Jack that works at Cash App.
jack@nostr-address-provider.example.com -> This could be any Jack.
What now?
We urge that clients stop showing a checkmark for all Nostr addresses, as they are not useful for verification.
We also urge that clients hide checkmarks for all domain names, without exception in the same way we do not show checkmarks for emails.
Lastly, NIP-05 is a nostr address and that is why we urge all clients to use the proper nomenclature.
Signed:
- Semisol, Nostr Plebs (semisol@nostrplebs.com)
- Quentin, nostrcheck.me (quentin@nostrcheck.me)
- Derek Ross, Nostr Plebs (derekross@nostrplebs.com)
- Bitcoin Nostrich, Bitcoin Nostr (BitcoinNostrich@BitcoinNostr.com)
- Remina, zaps.lol (remina@zaps.lol)
- Harry Hodler, nostr-check.com (harryhodler@nostr-check.com)
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:43:25| Divisa | Pesos Cubanos | |--------|---------------| | 1 USD | 210 CUP | | 1 EUR | 214 CUP | | 1 MLC | 212 CUP |
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:37:44Fuertes presiones de los regímenes de Cuba, Venezuela y Nicaragua dieron lugar a que el Consejo de la Unión Europea confirmara que el presidente de Ucrania, Volodimir Zelensky, no asistirá a la Cumbre Unión Europea (UE) - Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC), que se celebrará entre el lunes y el martes próximos en Bruselas.
Un alto oficial de la UE hizo pública la decisión durante una sesión informativa organizada por el Consejo de la Unión Europea, reportó el medio argentino Infobae.
Uno de los voceros del bloque europeo dijo luego que Zelensky no fue invitado, dado que ya visitó la capital belga en febrero y acaba de participar como invitado especial en la cumbre de la OTAN en Vilna, Lituania. Asimismo, el funcionario, cuyo nombre no se menciona en el reporte, recordó que Ucrania no forma parte ni de la UE ni de la CELAC.
"Esta es la primera cumbre con la CELAC que tenemos en ocho años, y las regiones están alineadas. Es claro el daño colateral en otras partes del mundo a partir de la agresión rusa, que ha causado daño y fragilidades, que ha creado inseguridad alimentaria y aumentado la inflación. Todo esto probablemente se discuta (en la Cumbre), pero el presidente Zelensky no va a asistir", dijo el agente oficial citado.
Esta misma semana el propio presidente ucraniano había explicado que el presidente español, Pedro Sánchez, lo invitó a formar parte de la Cumbre, pero que varios países hispanoamericanos habían "bloqueado" su asistencia. El mandatario no dijo cuáles eran esos países.
En la región, los regímenes de Cuba, Venezuela y Nicaragua apoyan la invasión de Moscú contra el país vecino, mientras que Brasil ha tratado de mantener una posición neutral, pese a que el presidente brasileño, Lula da Silva, ignoró a su homólogo ucraniano durante la reciente cumbre del G7, el pasado mes de mayo.
Por su lado, Argentina se desmarcó de la decisión, al indicar que debían ser los países asistentes quienes aprobaran o no la presencia de Zelensky. Por su parte, el mandatario uruguayo, Luis Lacalle, respaldó la presencia del ucraniano en la reunión.
De acuerdo con la prensa española, Sánchez pensó que la inminente Cumbre podría ser una buena oportunidad para que la región comprendiera la versión ucraniana del conflicto. Sin embargo, los Estados hispanoamericanos no se pusieron de acuerdo.
La Habana es uno de los pocos gobiernos que no se pronunció a favor de las principales resoluciones de condena al Kremlin en la Asamblea General de la ONU en 2022 por su invasión de Ucrania: se abstuvo de votar en marzo de 2022 (exigiendo la retirada de las tropas rusas de Ucrania); en octubre de 2022 (contra la anexión de las regiones ucranianas ocupadas) y en febrero de 2023 (en apoyo de una paz "integral, justa y duradera" en Ucrania).
Se opuso además a la resolución de noviembre de 2023, que establecía que Rusia debía pagar reparaciones a Ucrania por los daños causados durante la operación militar.
En abril de 2023, se abstuvo cuando el Consejo de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas votó abrumadoramente a favor de extender el mandato de un panel que investiga posibles crímenes de guerra cometidos desde la invasión rusa de Ucrania.
En mayo votó en contra de una resolución de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en apoyo del sistema sanitario ucraniano y de condena a los ataques contra instalaciones de la salud de ese país por Rusia.
También La Habana votó en contra en septiembre de 2022 de que el presidente ucraniano se dirigiera a la Asamblea General de la ONU por video. Pese a ello, esa intervención se produjo.
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@ 6e468422:15deee93
2023-04-04 13:23:19Not too long ago, I tried to paint a picture of what a vision for a value-enabled web could look like. Now, only a couple of months later, all this stuff is being built. On nostr, and on lightning. Orange and purple, a match made in heaven.
It goes without saying that I'm beyond delighted. What a time to be alive!
nostr
Here's the thing that nostr got right, and it's the same thing that Bitcoin got right: information is easy to spread and hard to stifle.[^fn-stifle] Information can be copied quickly and perfectly, which is, I believe, the underlying reason for its desire to be free.
[^fn-stifle]: That's a Satoshi quote, of course: "Bitcoin's solution is to use a peer-to-peer network to check for double-spending. In a nutshell, the network works like a distributed timestamp server, stamping the first transaction to spend a coin. It takes advantage of the nature of information being easy to spread but hard to stifle."
Easy to spread, hard to stifle. That's the base reality of the nature of information. As always, the smart thing is to work with nature, not against it.[^1] That's what's beautiful about the orange coin and the purple ostrich: both manage to work with the peculiarities of information, not against them. Both realize that information can and should be copied, as it can be perfectly read and easily spread, always. Both understand that resistance to censorship comes from writing to many places, making the cost of deletion prohibitive.
Information does not just want to be free, it longs to be free. Information expands to fill the available storage space. Information is Rumor's younger, stronger cousin; Information is fleeter of foot, has more eyes, knows more, and understands less than Rumor.
Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto
Nostr is quickly establishing itself as a base layer for information exchange, one that is identity-native and value-enabled. It is distinctly different from systems that came before it, just like Bitcoin is distinctly different from monies that came before it.
As of today, the focus of nostr is mostly on short text notes, the so-called "type 1" events more commonly known as tweets.[^fn-kinds] However, as you should be aware by now, nostr is way more than just an alternative to twitter. It is a new paradigm. Change the note kind from
1
to30023
and you don't have an alternative to Twitter, but a replacement for Medium, Substack, and all the other long-form platforms. I believe that special-purpose clients that focus on certain content types will emerge over time, just like we have seen the emergence of special-purpose platforms in the Web 2.0 era. This time, however, the network effects are cumulative, not separate. A new paradigm.Let me now turn to one such special-purpose client, a nostr-based reading app.
[^fn-kinds]: Refer to the various NIPs to discover the multitude of event kinds defined by the protocol.
Reading
I'm constantly surprised that, even though most people do read a lot online, very few people seem to have a reading workflow or reading tools.
Why that is is anyone's guess, but maybe the added value of such tools is not readily apparent. You can just read the stuff right there, on the ad-ridden, dead-ugly site, right? Why should you sign up for another site, use another app, or bind yourself to another closed platform?
That's a fair point, but the success of Medium and Substack shows that there is an appetite for clean reading and writing, as well as providing avenues for authors to get paid for their writing (and a willingness of readers to support said authors, just because).
The problem is, of course, that all of these platforms are platforms, which is to say, walled gardens that imprison readers and writers alike. Worse than that: they are fiat platforms, which means that permissionless value-flows are not only absent from their DNA, they are outright impossible.[^2]
Nostr fixes this.
The beauty of nostr is that it is not a platform. It's a protocol, which means that you don't have to sign up for it---you can create an identity yourself. You don't have to ask for permission; you just do, without having to rely on the benevolence of whatever dictator is in charge of the platform right now.
Nostr is not a platform, and yet, powerful tools and services can be built and monetized on top of it. This is good for users, good for service providers, and good for the network(s) at large. Win-win-win.
So what am I talking about, exactly? How can nostr improve everyone's reading (and writing) experience?
Allow me to paint a (rough) picture of what I have in mind. Nostr already supports private and public bookmarks, so let's start from there.
Imagine a special-purpose client that scans all your bookmarks for long-form content.[^fn-urls] Everything that you marked to be read later is shown in an orderly fashion, which is to say searchable, sortable, filterable, and displayed without distractions. Voilà, you have yourself a reading app. That's, in essence, how Pocket, Readwise, and other reading apps work. But all these apps are walled gardens without much interoperability and without direct monetization.
[^fn-urls]: In the nostr world long-form content is simply markdown as defined in NIP-23, but it could also be a link to an article or PDF, which in turn could get converted into markdown and posted as an event to a special relay.
Bitcoin fixes the direct monetization part.[^fn-v4v] Nostr fixes the interoperability part.
[^fn-v4v]: ...because Bitcoin makes V4V practical. (Paywalls are not the way.)
Alright, we got ourselves a boring reading app. Great. Now, imagine that users are able to highlight passages. These highlights, just like bookmarks now, could be private or public. When shared publicly, something interesting emerges: an overlay on existing content, a lens on the written Web. In other words: swarm highlights.
Imagine a visual overlay of all public highlights, automatically shining a light on what the swarm of readers found most useful, insightful, funny, etc.
Further, imagine the possibility of sharing these highlights as a "type 1" event with one click, automatically tagging the highlighter(s)---as well as the author, of course---so that eventual sat-flows can be split and forwarded automatically.
Voilà, you have a system that allows for value to flow back to those who provide it, be it authors, editors, curators, or readers that willingly slog through the information jungle to share and highlight the best stuff (which is a form of curation, of course).
Zaps make nostr a defacto address book[^fn-pp] of payment information, which is to say lightning addresses, as of now. Thanks to nostr wallet connect (among other developments), sending sats ~~will soon be~~ is already as frictionless as leaving a like.
[^fn-pp]: The Yellow Pages are dead, long live The Purple Pages!
Value-for-value and participatory payment flows are something that traditional reading apps desperately lack, be it Pocket, Instapaper, Readwise, or the simple reading mode that is part of every browser.
A neat side-effect of a more structured way to share passages of text is that it enables semi-structured discussions around said passages---which could be another useful overlay inside special-purpose clients, providing context and further insights.[^5]
Further, imagine the option of seamlessly switching from text-on-screen to text-to-speech, allowing the user to stream sats if desired, as Podcasting 2.0 clients already do.[^3]
Imagine user-built curations of the best articles of the week, bundled neatly for your reading pleasure, incentivized by a small value split that allows the curator to participate in the flow of sats.
You get the idea.
I'm sure that the various implementation details will be hashed out, but as I see it, 90% of the stuff is already there. Maybe we'll need another NIP or two, but I don't see a reason why this can't be built---and, more importantly: I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be sustainable for everyone involved.
Most puzzle pieces are already there, and the rest of them can probably be implemented by custom event types. From the point of view of nostr, most everything is an event: bookmarks are events, highlights are events, marking something as read is an event, and sharing an excerpt or a highlight is an event. Public actions are out in the open, private actions are encrypted, the data is not in a silo, and everyone wins. Especially the users, those who are at the edge of the network and usually lose out on the value generated.
In this case, the reading case, the users are mostly "consumers" of content. What changes from the producing perspective, the perspective of the writer?
Writing
Back to the one thing that nostr got right: information is easy to spread but hard to stifle. In addition to that, digital information can be copied perfectly, which is why it shouldn't matter where stuff is published in the first place.
Allow me to repeat this point in all caps, for emphasis: IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHERE INFORMATION IS PUBLISHED, and, maybe even more importantly, it shouldn't matter if it is published in a hundred different places at once.[^fn-torrents]
What matters is trust and accuracy, which is to say, digital signatures and reputation. To translate this to nostr speak: because every event is signed by default, as long as you trust the person behind the signature, it doesn't matter from which relay the information is fetched.
This is already true (or mostly true) on the regular web. Whether you read the internet archive version of an article or the version that is published by an online magazine, the version on the author's website, or the version read by some guy that has read more about Bitcoin than anyone else you know[^fn-guy]---it's all the same, essentially. What matters is the information itself.
[^fn-guy]: There is only one such guy, as we all know, and it's this Guy: nostr:npub1h8nk2346qezka5cpm8jjh3yl5j88pf4ly2ptu7s6uu55wcfqy0wq36rpev
Practically speaking, the source of truth in a hypernostrized world is---you guessed it---an event. An event signed by the author, which allows for the information to be wrapped in a tamper-proof manner, which in turn allows the information to spread far and wide---without it being hosted in one place.
The first clients that focus on long-form content already exist, and I expect more clients to pop up over time.[^4] As mentioned before, one could easily imagine prism-like value splits seamlessly integrated into these clients, splitting zaps automatically to compensate writers, editors, proofreaders, and illustrators in a V4V fashion. Further, one could imagine various compute-intensive services built into these special-purpose clients, such as GPT Ghostwriters, or writing aids such as Grammarly and the like. All these services could be seamlessly paid for in sats, without the requirement of any sign-ups or the gathering of any user data. That's the beauty of money proper.
Plagiarism is one issue that needs to be dealt with, of course. Humans are greedy, and some humans are assholes. Neither bitcoin nor nostr fixes this. However, while plagiarism detection is not necessarily trivial, it is also not impossible, especially if most texts are published on nostr first. Nostr-based publishing tools allow for OpenTimestamp attestations thanks to NIP-03, which in turn allows for plagiarism detection based on "first seen" lookups.
That's just one way to deal with the problem, of course. In any case, I'm confident that we'll figure it out.
Value
I believe that in the open ~~attention~~ information economy we find ourselves in, value will mostly derive from effective curation, dissemination, and transmission of information, not the exclusive ownership of it.
Although it is still early days, the statistics around Podcasting 2.0 and nostr zaps clearly show that (a) people are willing to monetarily reward content they care about, and (b) the willingness to send sats increases as friction decreases.
The ingenious thing about boostagrams and zaps is that they are direct and visible, which is to say, public and interactive. They are neither regular transactions nor simple donations---they are something else entirely. An unforgable value signal, a special form of gratitude and appreciation.
Contrast that with a link to Paypal or Patreon: impersonal, slow, indirect, and friction-laden. It's the opposite of a super-charged interaction.
While today's information jungle increasingly presents itself in the form of (short) videos and (long-form) audio, I believe that we will see a renaissance of the written word, especially if we manage to move away from an economy built around attention, towards an economy built upon value and insight.
The orange future now has a purple hue, and I believe that it will be as bright as ever. We just have a lot of building to do.
Further Reading
NIPs and Resources
- Nostr Resources
- value4value.info
- nips.be
- NIP-23: Long-form content
- NIP-57: Event-specific zap markers
- NIP-47: Nostr Wallet Connect
- NIP-03: OpenTimestamps attestations for events
Originally published on dergigi.com
[^1]: Paywalls work against this nature, which is why I consider them misguided at best and incredibly retarded at worst.
[^2]: Fiat doesn't work for the value-enabled web, as fiat rails can never be open and permissionless. Digital fiat is never money. It is---and always will be---credit.
[^3]: Whether the recipient is a text-to-speech service provider or a human narrator doesn't even matter too much, sats will flow just the same.
[^4]: BlogStack and Habla being two of them.
[^5]: Use a URI as the discussion base (instead of a highlight), and you got yourself a Disqus in purple feathers!
[^fn-torrents]: That's what torrents got right, and ipfs for that matter.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:37:17De forma bastante amplia los venezolanos abrazan el deseo de cambio político, que asocian con una mejoría en sus condiciones de vida, mientras que el apoyo al gobernante Nicolás Maduro no suma ni un 10%, de acuerdo con una encuesta realizada por la empresa de opinión pública Delphos, hecha a solicitud de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) de Caracas.
Félix Seijas, director de Delphos y uno de los estudiosos de opinión pública con más trayectoria en Venezuela, presentó los resultados de esta investigación que abarcó a todo el país, con visitas en hogares de los encuestados. La fotografía que obtuvo el estudio es que ha cobrado fuerza nuevamente la apuesta por un cambio en Venezuela, que está simbolizado con la salida de Maduro del poder a través de las elecciones presidenciales de 2024, unos comicios que son desde ya una suerte de carrera de obstáculos para la oposición prodemocracia venezolana.
Un 85% de los encuestados cree necesario y muy necesario que ocurra un cambio político en Venezuela que se traduzca en restituir condiciones de bienestar que ya tuvo la población en el pasado.
La agudización de la crisis económica y social en este 2023, luego de niveles de mejoría en los indicadores macro económicos entre 2021 y 2022, ha terminado por generar también un quiebre entre quienes se autodefinen como chavistas en Venezuela. En este momento, según la encuesta, solamente un 9,6% se asume como chavistas que apoyan a Maduro, mientras un 13,1% son chavistas descontentos con el Gobierno del heredero político de Hugo Chávez.
Ante una pregunta de DIARIO DE CUBA, Seijas confirmó que en los diez años que tiene Maduro en el poder, en la actualidad vive su peor momento en términos de evaluación de opinión pública, con niveles similares a 2017, cuando tuvo lugar una cruda represión contra manifestaciones de calle que pedían su salida de la Presidencia.
El estudio ordenado por la universidad venezolana de los jesuitas muestra, por otro lado, la consolidación de la líder liberal María Corina Machado como la opción de cambio. Ante la pregunta de quién lidera la oposición, Machado fue la opción del 33%, lo cual representa una subida significativa ya que nueve meses atrás, en un estudio similar, solo obtenía un 6%.
Al preguntar sobre las primarias de la oposición, que se celebrarán en octubre para escoger una candidatura unitaria de cara a las presidenciales de 2024, un 55% dijo que respaldará a Machado.
"María Corina Machado ha emergido claramente como la referente del cambio. Aglutina, en este momento, ese deseo de que las cosas sean diferentes en su vida que prevalece entre los venezolanos y pese a estar como figura opositora por muchos años la gente la percibe como una outsider", explica Seijas al ser consultado por DIARIO DE CUBA en torno a lo que puede entenderse como un fenómeno electoral en gestación.
Machado recibió recientemente una inhabilitación por 15 años, que se sumó a otra medida previa. Básicamente estos son los obstáculos que pone el chavismo para evitar su candidatura.
Aunque no fue medido específicamente este tema en su estudio, el director de Delphos percibe que los venezolanos cambiaron su enfoque sobre el tema de las inhabilitaciones, y que ahora se ve el asunto con rebeldía. A su juicio, lo que podría ocurrir es que la medida termine siendo un bumerán contra el chavismo, dado que podría potenciar más a la exdiputada.
El profesor Benigno Alarcón, director del Centro de Estudios Políticos de la UCAB, en Caracas, cree que con Machado se está cerrando un ciclo y dando paso a una nueva etapa. La líder opositora, por ejemplo, fustigó públicamente diversas estrategias de la otrora Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD), que en su momento fue el foco para los adversarios al chavismo.
El crecimiento de Machado tiene terreno fértil. El 40% por ciento de los venezolanos está tan descontento con el chavismo como con la oposición que se creó en torno a la MUD, de la cual son referentes figuras como Henrique Capriles, Leopoldo López o Juan Guaidó, los tres con amplio rechazo de la ciudadanía en este tiempo.
A juicio de Seijas, Machado ha sido consistente con un discurso radical y conserva lo que fue su nicho de apoyo duro. Lo que ha cambiado es que pasó a ser potable para una oposición moderada que tomó distancia de los liderazgos opositores ya mencionados y ella, pese a estar largamente en la palestra pública, es percibida como algo renovador y distinto.
A eso se suma el propio cambio en la estrategia de Machado, que comienza a moderarse. Un ejemplo es su propia participación electoral para este ciclo 2023-2024. Hasta 2021, por ejemplo, la exdiputada sostenía que solo podía concurrirse a elecciones una vez que Maduro fuese desalojado del poder, y para lograr esto sostenía que debía producirse una actuación internacional para restaurar la democracia.
La Machado de este 2023, en cambio, asume que el cambio se producirá por la presión popular a través de vías democráticas como el voto. En su discurso, por otro lado, ha diferenciado entre Maduro y Chávez, como lo hizo recientemente cuando visitó con mucho éxito la población de Sabaneta de Barinas, donde nació Hugo Chávez. Con esto, según analistas, busca sumar apoyo del chavismo descontento con Maduro.
Para Seijas la señal de alarma para el chavismo, que detectó la encuesta que presentó en instalaciones de la UCAB, está en que una parte del chavismo estaría dispuesto a votar por Machado en una contienda electoral. Se trata de una cuarta parte de lo que el investigador cataloga como chavismo blando.
La otra señal de alarma, es que en la suma de un 85% de los venezolanos que quieren cambio en la conducción del país está también una parte de lo que se considera chavismo duro, leal a Maduro.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:36:26Ante el alarmante incremento de feminicidios en Cuba, 52 en lo que va de año, DIARIO DE CUBA conversó con las activistas Ileana Álvarez, directora de la revista feminista 'Alas Tensas', y Elena Larrinaga, de la Red Femenina de Cuba. Ambas mujeres lideran desde Madrid plataformas y observatorios que se dedican a llevar un registro de los feminicidios que ocurren en la Isla.
Sobre el trabajo que realizan y el resultado de sus investigaciones dialogaron el pasado jueves con las periodistas de este diario Yusimí Rodríguez y Luz Escobar.
Álvarez reconoció que, ante las estadísticas del subregistro que llevan estas plataformas independientes, es evidente que en Cuba "hay un incremento de la violencia de género". Apuntó también que "hay una mayor denuncia por parte de la ciudadanía", y que se han extendido los canales que tienen para recibir los reportes de muertes violentas de mujeres dentro de la Isla.
"El trabajo de los observatorios se ha ido profesionalizando desde su nacimiento, han ido ganando en experiencia y perfeccionando la metodología y la manera en que se verifica cada caso", aseguró Álvarez. Agregó además que en Cuba las personas han tomado conciencia "de la necesidad de denunciar el feminicidio".
Explicó que, desde el trabajo de las plataformas "se denuncia el feminicidio" pero también "se alerta cuando hay un aumento de los casos" como una forma de "presionar a las instituciones competentes" a actuar. Para Álvarez la clave del éxito ante este drama es "prevenir" y dijo que con las estadísticas que ellas ofrecen lo que pretenden es "alertar para seguir el fenómeno" con la esperanza de que las autoridades tomen las medidas necesarias para prevenir la violencia de género.
"Si no se prevé y se hace una política pública en la que participe toda la población con las instituciones, que sea algo de todo el pueblo y del Estado, que es el que tiene el poder, el problema de los feminicidios va a seguir incrementándose", afirmó Álvarez.
Elena Larrinaga coincide con la visión aportada por Álvarez de que los feminicidios han aumentado en la Isla y subrayó también que ahora "las mujeres y las familias se atreven a denunciarlo más". Según su opinión esta realidad "es una respuesta al buen trabajo que han hecho las mujeres en Cuba y las diferentes plataformas femeninas, que han colaborado unas con las otras". Consideró que esa alianza ha otorgado "mucha legitimidad a las organizaciones" y recalcó el trabajo de los medios de comunicación independientes a la hora de difundir las denuncias que recogen las activistas.
"Coincido con Ileana en que el Gobierno debe tener medidas preventivas, hay que anticiparse al problema. Educar y formar a los funcionarios y a la sociedad entera es una cuestión mucho más amplia, por eso siempre hablamos de una ley orgánica, porque obliga al Estado a cumplirla", señaló.
De acuerdo a Larrinaga "hay que tener en cuenta que al Gobierno cubano le costará mucho tipificar la ley" porque él es "el primer violador": "Te pega, te mata, no dice nada y entonces, claro, los maltratadores que viven bajo un Estado como ese, que ejerce impunemente la violencia institucional contra las mujeres, están marcando tendencia. Por eso muchos de ellos ni piensan que es tan grave lo que están haciendo".
Álvarez remarcó que los observatorios han tomado el término de feminicidio para trabajar "porque tiene una connotación que le da una responsabilidad política y social al Estado", en contraposición al término femicidio, "usado por el Estado para evitar precisamente la responsabilidad que tiene en las muertes por violencia de género machista".
Mencionó además que la red de observadoras que trabaja con las plataformas y los observatorios están en todo el país y "se ha ido profesionalizando". "Es una red segura, con ellas trabajamos de forma anónima porque el estado criminaliza a todas las personas activistas, entre ellas a las propias observadoras", declaró.
Sobre el protocolo que siguen esas organizaciones para confirmar un feminicidio, luego de recibir una denuncia, explicó la importancia que siempre le dan a "triangular la información a través de las observadoras y de la ciudadanía para completar la verificación". "Nunca nos quedamos con una sola fuente, siempre tratamos de tener una fuente primaria, cercana a la víctima", dijo.
Explicó que para lograr algo así se necesita tiempo e investigación y que "desgraciadamente, como parte del sistema totalitario cubano" todavía no tienen acceso a información de los peritos ni a los de la policía. "Cualquier muerte violenta no es feminicidio, tiene haber detrás un crimen por el hecho de ser mujer, tiene que existir misoginia", aclaró. Uno de los problemas que han encontrado a la hora de lograr esa triangulación es que "no siempre la familia ayuda porque tiene miedo".
Álvarez consideró "lamentables" las cifras de feminicidios ofrecidas por el Estado cubano recientemente "porque solamente consideran como muerte machista aquellos casos que han sido juzgados en los tribunales". También expresó su deseo de que las mujeres de Cuba "pudieran salir a las calles a reivindicar el 'ni una menos' y con sus pancartas de 'no mas feminicidios'".
Para Álvarez tipificar el delito de feminicidio en la ley cubana sería "un gran paso de avance" así como lograr una ley integral contra la violencia de género. "Estas cuestiones legales serían un paso muy positivo", agregó. "Registrar un feminicidio es muy complejo y en Cuba la Policía no está preparada para eso, una de las peticiones que estamos haciendo es que tanto la Policía como los trabajadores de Salud Pública ganen perspectiva de género".
Sobre ese punto Larrinaga consideró que "ese es el camino" que les dará a los cubanos "acceso a la verdad". Algo que consideró vital en esa batalla que ellas libran porque: "Cuando uno sabe la verdad sobre un problema, es cuando único puede tomar una acción adecuada para resolverlo", recalcó.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:35:52Un cubano, identificado como Adrián Reinoso, de 44 años, fue arrestado en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Miami al intentar ingresar aproximadamente unas 100 cajas de tabaco originario de la Isla, informó Telemundo 51.
El incidente ocurrió ayer miércoles 12 de julio, cuando un oficial de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en inglés) llevaba a cabo una inspección a los pasajeros provenientes del país caribeño, a bordo del vuelo 2703 de American Airlines.
Durante la revisión, el oficial detectó que el sospechoso movilizaba varias cajas de tabacos Upmann gravados, sin etiquetas, así como múltiples cigarros Cohiba individuales. Tras un inventario posterior, se reveló que se trataba de 50 cajas de cada marca, lo que fortaleció la idea de un intento de contrabando.
Según el informe, Reinoso alegó que los cigarros y puros no eran para su consumo, sino para un amigo. Sin embargo, los oficiales determinaron que los paquetes no cumplían con las normas federales de etiquetado de advertencia y que su venta no estaba permitida en el territorio estadounidense.
Ahora, el antillano se encuentra bajo custodia en el Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center y enfrenta múltiples cargos relacionados con los delitos de posesión, venta y distribución ilegal de cigarrillos, así como uno por supuesta falsificación de etiquetas, de acuerdo con el informe de arresto.
Cabe destacar que desde septiembre de 2020, los viajeros no pueden regresar a Estados Unidos con productos de alcohol y/o tabaco adquiridos en Cuba como equipaje acompañado para uso personal. Esto forma parte de las regulaciones implementadas por las autoridades aduaneras para controlar el contrabando y garantizar el cumplimiento de las normas.
La importación de este producto destinado a la venta o distribución requiere un permiso expedido por la Agencia de Impuestos y Comercio de Alcohol y Tabaco del Departamento del Tesoro de EEUU.
La Comisión Federal de Comercio también exige a los importadores etiquetar correctamente los envases de tabaco de acuerdo con la Ley de Etiquetado y Publicidad de Cigarrillos. Esto incluye la colocación de las cuatro etiquetas de advertencia del Cirujano General en cada paquete, siguiendo un plan aprobado por la FTC.
Este incidente resalta la importancia de cumplir con las regulaciones aduaneras y las consecuencias legales que pueden derivarse de intentos de contrabando. Las autoridades continúan trabajando para garantizar la seguridad y el cumplimiento de las normas en los aeropuertos internacionales del país.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:35:18Tres cubanos fueron sentenciados por tráfico sexual y delitos relacionados cometidos en clubes de striptease en el área de Houston, según informó el portal de noticias oficial del Gobierno de EEUU.
Rasiel Gutiérrez Moreno, de 38 años; Hendry Jiménez Milanés, de 39; y Rafael Mendoza Labrada, de 29, fueron sentenciados a 210 meses de prisión y a pagar 451.298 dólares en restitución, 120 meses y 359.108 en restitución, y tiempo cumplido de 34 meses, respectivamente, indicó en una nota el Departamento de Justicia.
De acuerdo con la información, Gutiérrez Moreno se declaró culpable de tráfico sexual y viajes interestatales en ayuda al crimen organizado. Como parte de su acuerdo de culpabilidad, Gutiérrez Moreno admitió haber llevado mujeres de Cuba a EEUU a las que impuso deudas de contrabando infladas de hasta 30.000 dólares
"Gutiérrez Moreno obligó a las mujeres a trabajar en clubes de striptease del área de Houston, como Michaels' International, donde bailaban y participaban en actos sexuales comerciales con los clientes del club, entregando todas las ganancias a Gutiérrez Moreno para pagar su deuda. El acusado reconoció además el contrabando y la imposición de deudas para coaccionar a aproximadamente otras 20 mujeres de esta manera".
Gutiérrez Moreno admitió que, para mantener bajo su control a una víctima identificada como 1 mientras trabajaban para él, se jactaba de sus actos de violencia contra otras mujeres y sus familias.
La nota del Departamento de Justicia indica que, en una ocasión, Gutiérrez Moreno golpeó a otra mujer poco antes de que la Víctima 1 llegara a su casa y se aseguró de que la Víctima 1 observara las heridas de esa mujer. Cuando la Víctima 1 escapó de Gutiérrez Moreno, el acusado se comunicó con su familia tanto en Miami como en Cuba para exigirle que volviera a trabajar y terminara de pagarle la deuda.
Por su parte, Jiménez Milanés se declaró culpable de coerción y seducción, y Mendoza Labrada de viajes interestatales en ayuda del crimen organizado.
"Estos acusados usaron cruelmente la violencia, las amenazas de violencia y las deudas falsas para obligar a las víctimas vulnerables a participar en el sexo comercial", dijo la fiscal general auxiliar Kristen Clarke, de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia.
"Este tipo de esquema de tráfico sexual es ilegal, deshumaniza y aterroriza a las mujeres que no pueden liberarse", añadió.
"Estos traficantes de personas aterrorizaron a las mujeres migrantes, utilizando los clubes de striptease de Houston combinados con amenazas psicológicas y violencia sexual para su beneficio económico personal", dijo el fiscal federal Alamdar S. Hamdani, del Distrito Sur de Texas.
"Las víctimas llegaron a EEUU en busca de una nueva vida, eran especialmente vulnerables y los acusados se aprovecharon de eso".
Casos similares han sido noticia con anterioridad. En 2017 Silvio Clark Morales fue encontrado culpable de llevar mujeres cubanas a EEUU como parte de una red de tráfico sexual. Clark Morales explotó a más de 20 mujeres, de entre 20 y 25 años, a las que prometió presentarlas en Miami como bailarinas de clubes nocturnos.
El mismo año, pero en España, la Policía Nacional desmanteló en Murcia una red de explotación sexual que usaba prácticas de santería para coaccionar a mujeres de origen sudamericano, a quienes captaba y obligaba a ejercer la prostitución bajo la amenaza de rituales de magia negra y sacrificio de animales.
El desmantelamiento de la red criminal permitió detener a siete personas de nacionalidad brasileña, cubana y española y liberar a diez mujeres extranjeras, ocho en situación irregular en España, que eran explotadas sexualmente en cinco viviendas en las que se encontraron "altares de santería".
El siguiente año, 2018, trascendió que al menos una veintena de mujeres cubanas fueron víctimas de explotación sexual en Uruguay. Todas habían llegado a la nación suramericana con la promesa de acceder a trabajos bien remunerados.
También en 2018, en España, agentes de la Policía Nacional detuvieron en Gran Canaria a un hombre de 31 años de edad y a una mujer de 26, ambos cubanos y sin antecedentes policiales, como presuntos autores de delitos relativos a la prostitución, trata de seres humanos y favorecimiento de la inmigración irregular. Los arrestados captaban a mujeres de entre 20 y 25 años en países sudamericanos, principalmente a través de las Redes Sociales.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:34:03Un empleado estatal acusado de especulación en Guantánamo, dos hombres detenidos y acusados de robar y sacrificar ganado en Villa Clara y un ladrón de teléfonos detenido en Holguín son algunas de más recientes evidencias de la inseguridad que vive Cuba, expuesta desde perfiles oficialistas que pretenden dar una imagen de eficiencia de la Policía.
El perfil en Facebook "EDWIN LEVIS Revolución" publicó que "efectivos de la Policía Nacional Revolucionaria (PNR) en Guantánamo detuvieron a un trabajador de la Empresa Mayorista Guantánamo, cuando llevaba consigo más de medio millón de pesos en moneda nacional sin justificación alguna".
Según el escrito, el hombre, que no fue identificado, pero su carné de identidad sí fue expuesto, "se está procesando preliminarmente por el delito de 'especulación'".
Sin más detalles, el bloguero oficialista concluyó con etiquetas procastristas como "#CreoEnTiCuba #LaGuardiaRevolucionariaNoSeDescuidaráJamás #SeguimosEnCombate #CubaDefiende".
El perfil Fuerza del Pueblo, uno de los más activos del oficialismo para divulgar la solución de delitos y la captura de delincuentes, publicó sobre el arresto, en un poblado de Villa Clara, de Carlos Liban Pérez Sarduy y su hijo Lisvany Pérez Fernández, a quienes catalogó de "elementos antisociales" y "autores del hurto y sacrificio del toro de ceba perteneciente al campesino Reinier Rodríguez, quien reside en el poblado de Manacal".
Según la información, en un registro a la vivienda de ambos las autoridades "ocuparon carne y otros medios que utilizaban para cometer estas fechorías".
"Nos comentan algunos campesinos del lugar que están contentos con la detención de estos delincuentes, ya que en varias ocasiones habían sido víctimas de robos y sacrificio de animales (caballos, vacas, cerdos, chivos)", añadió.
La página también dijo que los detenidos "ya habían cumplido prisión anteriormente".
"Una vez más estos delincuentes tendrán que cumplir sanción por todos los crímenes cometidos y los pobladores de Manacal en Manicaragua pueden estar seguros de que las fuerzas del MININT y la Fiscalía no permitirán que estos hechos queden impunes ante la ley", concluyó.
Por otra parte, el perfil Cazador Cazado dio cuenta de la detención de jóvenes cubanos que circulaban en una motorina y arrebataron en la mañana del miércoles un teléfono celular a una adolescente en la ciudad de Holguín.
El incidente ocurrió en las inmediaciones del centro Mixto Alberto Sosa, localizado en el reparto Pueblo Nuevo, en la capital provincial.
"Allí parada estaba una adolescente, estudiante del centro escolar, con su teléfono celular en la mano. Lo menos que ella pensó es que esos jóvenes que se aproximaban en una motorina venían con el propósito de arrebatar violentamente su móvil, marca Redmi Note 9", señaló la página.
El perfil celebró que tras la denuncia de la joven, identificada con el nombre de Laritza, los asaltantes fueron capturados en aproximadamente "seis horas". Aunque la página habla de más de un asaltante, solo mostró a uno, identificado como "Raulito".
La prensa oficial niega el auge de los delitos en Cuba, se limita a dar propaganda a casos resueltos y muy puntualmente se hace eco de algunos muy mediáticos y escandalosos. Mientras el régimen promueve una imagen de país seguro para el turismo, los cubanos denuncian constantemente situaciones de criminalidad, asesinatos incluidos, y los perfiles oficialistas vinculados con la Seguridad del Estado en las redes sociales intentan levantar la imagen de las criticadas fuerzas del orden y atajar lo que la prensa independiente publica al respecto. Esa estrategia del régimen, sin embargo, es un reconocimiento tácito de la inseguridad ciudadana.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:33:23Un fallecido y tres lesionados fue el saldo total del grave accidente de tránsito entre un tren y un camión ocurrido en la mañana de este viernes en el municipio Boyeros, según informó la Unión de Ferrocarriles de Cuba.
La nota oficial precisa que el siniestro ocurrió a las 10:40 am (hora local) del kilómetro 13,300 de la línea Sur -zona conocida como Mazorra- en el municipio Boyeros, cuando un camión marca Hino (con matrícula B032081) se interpuso en el camino del tren No. 139, coche motor No. 2213, destinado a la transportación de pasajeros de la Habana a San Antonio de los Baños.
Tanto el ciudadano fallecido como los otros tres que resultaron heridos eran trabajadores de una cooperativa de Producción Agropecuaria (CPA) que viajaban a bordo del camión. Los lesionados fueron trasladados de inmediato al hospital Nacional.
La información oficial refiere que de acuerdo con una inspección realizada por miembros de una comisión creada al efecto, se determinó que la causa del accidente fue que el conductor del camión, identificado como Isidro Caridad Reyes Domínguez, no detuvo la marcha antes de cruzar el paso a nivel.
Las investigaciones continúa con el fin de determinar "otras violaciones al margen del hecho".
Al cierre de esta nota no está clara la condición clínica de los tres heridos sobrevivientes.
No es la primera vez en los últimos meses que fallece una persona en un accidente ferroviario en Cuba.
A principios de junio, un hombre murió tras ser atropellado por un tren en el municipio cabecera de Las Tunas, según reportes en redes sociales. En ese caso al aparecer la víctima era sordomudo.
Días más tarde, dos hombres fallecían al ser atropellados por un tren en el municipio de Urbano Noris, en Holguín, en un aparente caso de suicidio.
En septiembre del pasado año, dos personas murieron y una quedó herida al chocar el carro en el que viajaban contra un tren en La Habana. En ese caso el trágico accidente ocurrió de madrugada, en la avenida Boyeros y la línea del ferrocarril, antes de llegar a la calle 100.
Meses antes, en junio de 2022, la colisión de un tren de pasajeros con una camioneta en Bejucal, provincia de Mayabeque, dejó un saldo de tres personas lesionadas y una niña de tres años fallecida.
El reporte de accidentes de tránsito no da tregua en las carreteras cubanas.
A nivel nacional, las cifras de accidentes viales siguen siendo dramáticas en Cuba. Entre enero y mayo de 2023 ocurrieron 3,620 accidentes de tránsito en la isla, que cobraron la vida a 290 personas y dejaron 2,807 lesionados, según cifras oficiales.
Personas en edades entre los 21 y 35 años representaron el 22 % de los afectados en los accidentes, mientras que las edades de la mayoría de las víctimas fatales oscilaban entre los 46 y 55 años.
En Cuba seis de cada diez accidentes dejan víctimas, fundamentalmente por el choque de vehículos. En el caso de los atropellos a peatones, por cada cinco atropellos, muere una persona. El horario de mayor incidencia de accidentes es entre las 3 y las 6 de la tarde, y el 70 % de los incidentes viales ocurren en zonas urbanas.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:32:22La opción de resolver la deuda externa de Cuba con la cesión de recursos nacionales a empresas extranjeras, defendida este miércoles por el profesor oficialista Juan Triana Cordoví, ha sido refutada por el economista Pedro Monreal. Lo que el primero considera un método para refinanciar y "revitalizar" el socialismo en la Isla, para el segundo supone el riesgo de "ser insuficiente y de menoscabar la soberanía".
Triana, que enseña Economía en la Universidad de La Habana y escribe una columna en el medio OnCuba, plantea la necesidad de renegociar la deuda de la Isla y limpiar la imagen del país, que ha llegado a convertirse en "uno de los de más alto riesgo en la región" en materia de inversiones.
Para ello sugiere que, en una hipotética negociación, se podría echar mano de los "activos" que en teoría pertenecen al "pueblo de Cuba", si bien están gestionados concretamente por su "administrador": el Estado. Triana se refiere, en primer lugar, a los hoteles, que prefiere no entregar completamente a compañías extranjeras sino convertirlas en dueños de "una parte de las acciones".
También alude a las 2.417 empresas estatales, de las cuales –calcula– solo 12 (el 0,4% del total) son realmente "estratégicas" y llevan el peso de la economía nacional. Triana recomienda que estas compañías que "deciden el juego" no se toquen, en parte porque algunas de ellas ya se comparten con entidades extranjeras: es el caso de la canadiense Sherritt International –cuya deuda con la Isla se paga con la sobreexplotación de minas cubanas de níquel y cobalto–, Havana Club –gestionada junto a la francesa Pernod Ricard– y Habanos, que posee en parte España.
Triana recomienda que estas compañías que "deciden el juego" no se toquen, en parte porque algunas de ellas ya se comparten con entidades extranjeras.
La negociación se haría con el resto de las empresas estatales, que podrían ser salvadas de su mediocridad financiera si se comparten con inversores extranjeros, que trabajarían, sin proponérselo, para "salvar" el socialismo en la Isla.
A estos dos elementos, Triana añade las tierras ociosas y los solares yermos en las ciudades, donde ya hay "varios edificios construidos por empresas inmobiliarias capitalistas" –como el Centro de Negocios de Miramar–. La fórmula del canje de activos, reconoce el profesor, podría ser cuestionada, pero al fin y al cabo, concluye "algo que comenzó hace más de treinta años cuando se firmó aquel primer negocio con un capitalista extranjero y en apenas meses nació el primer hotel cinco estrellas en Varadero".
Sin embargo, Triana no sitúa la clave para dar el paso en la voluntad del Estado, que bloquea a conveniencia los movimientos económicos del país, sino en el "consenso" con el pueblo, al cual recomienda "explicar" lo que se pretende hacer.
Precisamente de este argumento erróneo –presuponer que el pueblo cubano tiene algún control sobre la gestión de la economía nacional– parte Monreal para rebatir la sugerencia de Triana. En una serie de hilos de Twitter, el economista expone no solo por qué el canje masivo de activos para pagar la deuda es impracticable, sino el grave riesgo político que entraña para Cuba.
Afirmar que el pueblo es propietario de los activos estatales es, como mínimo, un presupuesto "controversial" a la hora de razonar la posibilidad de una apertura económica. "Poder", afirma Monreal, significa capacidad para "decidir una diferencia" y contar con una "propiedad" concreta.
"Difícilmente pudiera validarse el ejercicio del poder del pueblo, específicamente de los asalariados, en el marco de un paquete económico como el 'ordenamiento' que ha 'comprimido' salarios y que recarga desproporcionadamente el costo del ajuste sobre los trabajadores", resume Monreal. "Las explicaciones al pueblo son problemáticas cuando políticamente se le trata como 'arcilla' para moldear y no cómo sujeto activo (ciudadanos) con capacidad efectiva para impulsar o para detener propuestas de políticas públicas".
Además, el pueblo cubano no cuenta con "espacios ciudadanos efectivos de crítica al Gobierno", lo cual imposibilita su participación en la toma de decisiones.
El aspecto económico del problema es todavía más grave, y para analizarlo Monreal remite a los datos que reflejan la gran "escala" de la deuda externa cubana, cuyo "reciente empeoramiento" deja muy poco margen de acción, incluso al Estado.
El economista parte de un argumento central e incuestionable: "La deuda externa acumulada de Cuba es hoy mayor que el Producto Interno Bruto", y la hiper-devaluación del peso cubano en 2021, tras la Tarea Ordenamiento, fue la estocada final en la capacidad del país de asumir el reembolso en la situación actual.
El país tuvo que desembolsar 1.606 millones de dólares para pagar el servicio de la deuda en 2022, al mismo tiempo que registraba un déficit de 1.629 millones en su cuenta corriente, que refleja un total de ingresos (exportaciones de bienes y servicios) inferiores a los gastos. Este alarmante dato apunta a una "severa contracción de los recursos" para enfrentar la deuda.
El deterioro creciente de la cuenta corriente repercute en las reservas de divisas con las que cuenta Cuba, señala Monreal. Además –y aunque los datos oficiales que ofrece La Habana están desactualizados– la crisis actual precede a la pandemia de coronavirus, uno de los pretextos habituales del régimen para justificar el empobrecimiento del país, y se relaciona con un "incremento súbito de la deuda a corto plazo", que complicó la condiciones del pago a los acreedores.
El estancamiento puso a Cuba entre la espada y la pared frente a los bancos internacionales y a sus proveedores, entre ellos el Club de París
Ese estancamiento puso a Cuba entre la espada y la pared frente a los bancos internacionales y a sus proveedores, entre ellos el Club de París. La información que publicó este último organismo expuso las distintas renegociaciones que el régimen de La Habana se vio forzado a hacer con sus acreedores desde el año 2020.
Buscar una solución de pago basada en el canje de activos es peligrosa a nivel económico, asegura Monreal, sobre todo porque, considerando la escala del problema, lo que puede ofrecer Cuba es "relativamente reducido". Por eso, insiste, el verdadero saldo de una medida así se pagaría en lo político y no libraría a Cuba de su condición de "paria internacional" por su desprestigio económico.
Lo que le queda a Cuba –que ya ha entregado, como observa Triana, sus "joyas de la corona": minerales, tabaco y ron– son los servicios de salud, las comunicaciones, el mercado interno en dólares y su dominio sobre las remesas desde el exterior. El Estado cubano está limitado, sostiene Monreal, para negociar estos activos restantes, en parte porque siempre los ha mantenido bajo un estricto control.
La alternativa podría ser, propone Monreal, el sector agropecuario: fomentar la producción agraria privada para garantizar la oferta de alimentos.
Queda el mercado en pesos, que tendría que ser "endulzado" para que tenga algún atractivo para el inversor extranjero, a través de privilegios fiscales. Sin embargo, este proceso sería un obstáculo, considera el economista, si se quiere "privatizar" progresivamente las empresas estatales, un proceso –recuerda Monreal– característico de todos los procesos de reforma iniciados por los partidos comunistas en el poder, "con resultados dispares".
La alternativa podría ser, propone Monreal, el sector agropecuario: fomentar la producción agraria privada para garantizar la oferta de alimentos en moneda nacional y permitir que los productores lleven a cabo operaciones, incluso, con grandes empresas fuera de la Isla.
Esta cesión de activos estatales agropecuarios al sector privado nacional –un sistema que Monreal denomina "concertado"– sí podría ser beneficioso, si se acompaña de otras medidas, para reducir la deuda externa. ¿El resultado? Un doble beneficio: garantizar la soberanía alimentaria que tanto anhelan los cubanos y, en suma, proteger la soberanía nacional.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:31:46La circulación vial por el túnel de Línea en La Habana quedará cerrada desde el 17 de julio por trabajos de mantenimiento que se planifican durante una semana, por lo tanto, si se sigue el cronograma, todo debe volver a la normalidad para el lunes 24 de julio de 2023.
“Desde el lunes 17 hasta el lunes 24 de julio, a partir de las 9:00 de la mañana y hasta las 5:00 de la tarde, quedará cerrado de forma total a la circulación vial, el sentido Playa – Plaza de la Revolución de dicho túnel, solo se permitirá la circulación del transporte público y régimen especial”, explica el comunicado difundido por el portal oficialista Tribuna de La Habana.
De acuerdo con una nota de la Comisión Provincial de Seguridad Vial de La Habana, se realizarán labores de mantenimiento constructivo y reparación que son impostergables.
Con la obstrucción de la importante vía de comunicación en la capital se harán algunos ajustes para intentar una fluidez en el tráfico. Por ejemplo, se recomienda a los conductores como vías alternativas: calle 7ma, Puente de Hierro, calle 11.
La Comisión Provincial de Seguridad Vial “ofrece disculpas por las molestias que estas medidas pueden ocasionar y exhorta a los usuarios de la vía, a cumplir con las disposiciones establecidas en la presente nota y mantenerse atentos a las orientaciones de los agentes de la autoridad, con el fin de evitar la ocurrencia de accidentes del tránsito”.
El proyecto del túnel de la calle Línea fue elaborado por el ingeniero civil cubano José Menéndez. Como autor y responsable de la concepción y diseño de esta obra de ingeniería, Menéndez fue quien propuso la construcción del túnel en lugar de un puente, argumentando que ambos tenían una capacidad vial similar, pero dependiendo de las características de las vías de acceso. Su construcción comenzó en el año 1951 y los trabajos duraron casi dos años. Desde entonces ha dejado una huella perdurable en la infraestructura de La Habana.
Antes de su inauguración en 1953, la circulación de vehículos entre La Habana y Marianao era intensa y los tres puentes existentes (Calle 23, Hierro y Pote) resultaban ineficientes, generando interrupciones frecuentes en el tráfico, sobre todo cuando se permitía el paso de embarcaciones recreativas y pesqueras por el Río Almendares.
El túnel resolvió este problema al permitir el tránsito fluido de vehículos sin interrupciones por el paso de embarcaciones, lo que mejoró significativamente la conectividad y la eficiencia del transporte en la zona.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:31:09Mientras Miguel Díaz-Canel hacía su entrada este lunes en Bruselas a la sede del Consejo Europeo junto a otros jefes de Estado y políticos en Europa, un grupo de activistas y exiliados cubanos se manifestaba en su contra en la misma ciudad. El gobernante llegó a Bélgica, para participar en la III Cumbre de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC) y la Unión Europea (UE), a celebrarse entre los días 17 y 18 de junio.
Los cubanos portaban carteles de "Díaz-Canel asesino" y pedían el fin de la dictadura y la libertad de todos los presos políticos, a poco metros del edificio donde se encontraba el gobernante. Ante una importante presencia policial en Rond Point Shuman, la protesta comenzó desde horas del mediodía y fue organizada por la Coalición Cubano-Belga, integrante del Consejo Europeo-Cubano.
La activista Avana De la Torre explicó en sus redes sobre el objetivo de la presencia de los cubanos en esa manifestación y exhibió una bandera en la que aparecen los presos políticos que sufren cárcel en Cuba. Los organizadores habían precisado en un comunicado oficial que, además de protestar contra la presencia de Díaz-Canel, condenaban su alianza con el Gobierno de Vladimir Putin y las violaciones de los derechos humanos que tienen lugar en la Isla.
En un punto de la protesta hubo un encontronazo entre una parte de la delegación oficial en apoyo al régimen, que ondeaban banderas del 26 de julio, y los exiliados que protestaban. Con consignas de "Abajo la dictadura" y "Abajo Díaz-Canel", los activistas cubanos plantaron cara a los oficialistas.
En la manifestación estaban presentes entre otros los activistas Lázaro Mireles, Avana de la Torre, Sayde Chaling-Chong, Yusil Gascón, así como Carolina Barrero y la reportera Iliana Hernández.
En declaraciones a DIARIO DE CUBA, Barrero dijo que en la protesta "había un camión con una pantalla gigante" en la que se compartieron "imágenes de la represión que vivieron los manifestantes cubanos" en las protestas del 11 de julio de 2021 en la Isla, así como "imágenes de la visita de Borrell a Cuba".
"Las imágenes las estaban mirando los transeúntes pero también los autos que llevaban a los mandatarios y también al dictador", apuntó la activista. "Los cubanos y los activistas de Venezuela, Nicaragua, Brasil, Ucrania e Irán, que solidariamente se unieron a la protesta, estábamos allí para decirle a Miguel Díaz-Canel que no es bienvenido en la capital de Europa, que no se aceptan a los dictadores en Europa", señaló Barrero.
Agregó que tanto el gobernante cubano como la vicepresidenta de Venezuela o el enviado nicaragüense, "no son bienvenidos": "Ha sido muy claro el mensaje, creo que el régimen de la Isla ha encontrado respuesta de la comunidad de cubanos exiliados aquí".
Por su parte el canciller cubano, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, había denunciado anteriormente en sus redes sociales que existía una "falta de transparencia y conducta manipuladora" de la UE en la organización de este evento. La Cumbre no se realizaba desde hace ocho años, la última vez que se encontraron gobernantes europeos, latinoamericanos y caribeños fue en el 2015.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:30:38El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) continúa con los sorpresivos arrestos de migrantes cubanos en el sur de Florida, informó Telemundo 51.
En un nuevo caso, el antillano Yedany Pérez terminó bajo custodia cuando acudió a una cita en la sede de esta agencia en Miramar. El afectado llegó acompañado de su abogado y con el formulario 1-220B; inclusive, iba vestido con su uniforme de trabajo, debido a que tenía en planes dirigirse a su centro laboral tras concluir la reunión.
Dicho documento es una Orden de Supervisión o de Libertad Condicional, que otorga el gobierno de EEUU ante su propia incapacidad para deportar, expulsar o detener al individuo en cuestión.
Este formulario permite al extranjero permanecer en libertad mientras se lleva a cabo el proceso correspondiente. Incluye información detallada del individuo, como su fotografía, huellas dactilares y un registro de cada informe presentado al ICE. Además, proporciona instrucciones sobre cuándo, cómo y con qué frecuencia debe comparecer ante la agencia.
“No tengo nada en Cuba. Vine con la convicción de que todo iba a salir bien y quiero que todos los que tengan I-220B luchen para cambiar su estatus, porque es una injusticia que nos hayan dejado entrar y ahora nos quieran deportar”, declaró el cubano antes de ingresar a la sede.
Pérez también comentó al canal estadounidense que ya había cumplido cinco años de estancia, todo el tiempo trabajando en el territorio norteamericano con ese documento. Su abogado, Miguel Inda-Romero, lamentó el trato que recibió su cliente al salir del ICE sin él.
“La decisión ya estaba tomada. Es triste porque le dije: ‘Sabes que hay personas en las calles que no deberían estar allí. Comunistas en este país caminando en nuestras calles que tienen delitos. Y se están ensañando con estos pobres cubanos que están trabajando, tienen familia y están haciendo lo correcto'”, denunció el litigante.
Los familiares del migrante se encuentran muy preocupados ante el riesgo de que sea incluido en uno de los futuros vuelos de deportación. “A él ya no le queda nadie allá. Solo estamos nosotros aquí”, refirió su madre.
Una amiga de la familia expresó con gran indignación: “No es justo que después de liberarlos y otorgarles un permiso de trabajo y seguridad social, ahora los hagan pasar por esto nuevamente”.
Telemundo 51 también informó que este hombre es parte de los 36 cubanos que fueron detenidos en octubre del año pasado durante varios días y luego fueron liberados con grilletes. Sin embargo, más de una decena de ellos están nuevamente bajo custodia y dos han sido deportados. Este 2023, la administración de Joe Biden ha realizado tres vuelos de repatriación hacia la Isla.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:29:59La Dirección General de Transporte impuso más de 5,000 multas a choferes en La Habana entre junio y julio, desde la entrada en vigor de las nuevas tarifas para la movilidad de pasajeros por el sector privado.
Las 5,100 multas se fijaron a conductores que violaron los precios establecidos por el régimen y "por ejercer la actividad de transportación de pasajeros de forma ilegal", según informó el diario local oficialista Tribuna de La Habana.
La Dirección General de Transporte afirmó que "se enfrentaron casos que mostraron reincidencia en la violación, y se aplicaron medidas de mayor rigor con los responsables, que en su gran mayoría no eran los titulares de los medios".
En junio, al anunciar las nuevas tarifas de transportación de pasajeros operadas por privados, las autoridades informaron también que reforzarían las acciones de enfrentamiento y control en la vía para que los precios fijados se cumplan, avisando que aplicarían el Decreto 45 del 2021.
Las autoridades dividieron las 46 rutas de transportación existentes en cuatro grupos, según el precio: de 45 pesos, de 75, de 100 y de 170 pesos.
Los boteros en La Habana no recibieron con agrado la noticia y decidieron dejar de trabajar, como forma de protesta contra la imposición del gobierno.
Varios choferes expresaron su intención de solo transportar a personas en viajes previamente concertados con el cliente y posteriormente, se declararon en huelga, en medio de una disminución drástica del transporte estatal en el país.
La prensa oficialista cubana reconoció que decenas de boteros han dejado de trabajar en La Habana luego de que el Gobierno fijara nuevos precios a sus tarifas.
En La Habana se transportan diariamente un estimado de 600,000 pasajeros, de ellos 536,052 son transportados por los operadores estatales, lo que representa un 89.3%, mientras que 63,948 se trasladan por otras formas de gestión, para el 10.7%.
Los transportistas privados afirmaron que los nuevos precios son insostenibles para ellos, que tienen las mismas dificultades de otros cubanos para satisfacer sus necesidades básicas, y deben comprar a altos precios el combustible y las piezas de repuesto que el estado no vende.
La imposición de los nuevos precios también se aplicó en otras provincias, como Matanzas y Cienfuegos.
El gobierno local del municipio de Limonar, en Matanzas, fijó los precios del transporte privado de pasajeros mediante camionetas, autos, motos, coches y bicitaxi.
Mediante el acuerdo 290 del Consejo de la Administración del Poder Popular en Limonar se establecieron valores que van desde los 200 pesos cubanos hasta 10 CUP, según la ruta y el medio de transporte que se emplee.
El gobierno de Cienfuegos topó también los precios, medida que para algunos expertos agudizará la crisis inflacionaria que hay en el país.
Tras la publicación de la Resolución 81/2023 los diferentes medios de transporte debieron cobrar lo que se estableció a partir de la nueva ficha de costo.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:29:21LA HABANA, Cuba. – Uno de los métodos empleados por la Seguridad del Estado (SE) para desacreditar a la prensa independiente y el activismo es la exposición en televisión nacional, en donde se manipulan nuestras palabras, la mayoría de las veces grabadas ―sin consentimiento―, ya se trate de llamadas telefónicas personales o de interrogatorios con la policía política. Este asesinato de reputación constituye un factor clave y un posible paso previo al encarcelamiento.
No es la primera vez que me ocurre. En al menos dos ocasiones los medios oficiales cubanos han expuesto mi imagen y voz en la televisión nacional, llegándome a calificar incluso de “terrorista”. La más reciente fue este sábado 15 de julio en el programa Razones de Cuba, donde el vocero oficialista Humberto López, con su cinismo habitual, exhibió un supuesto plan ―que me involucraba― para desacreditar a Cuba con vistas a la Cumbre Unión Europea (UE)-Comunidad de Estados Americanos (CELAC).
El audio expuesto en televisión corresponde a una llamada que me hicieran desde el canal América TV, en Miami. Ocurrió el 11 de julio, no el 12 como dice Humberto López. Ese día me llamaron varios medios de prensa para hablar sobre el segundo aniversario de las protestas del 11 y 12 de julio de 2021 (11J). Como las comunicaciones estaban pésimas, algunos medios y periodistas me llamaron al teléfono fijo de la casa. Pese a saber que ese teléfono está intervenido por la SE, respondí todas las llamadas y preguntas porque no tengo nada que ocultar.
En la llamada expuesta en televisión nacional, mi interlocutor me sorprendió con una pregunta acerca de la Cumbre UE-CELAC. Yo ni siquiera estaba muy al pendiente del tema pues en esos días todos estábamos enfocados en la cobertura del 11J. Por este motivo también reaccioné algo confundida ante el comentario fuera de lugar de la productora.
La mayoría de las personas lo desconocen, pero quienes hemos trabajado alguna vez en la radio o en la televisión entendemos mejor del tema. Es común en esos medios grabar con antelación entrevistas o programas y luego ponerlos al aire como si se transmitieran en vivo. Pero ni siquiera se trató de una narración premeditada de Bruselas; eso es algo imposible. En estos casos solo se finge la presentación (agradecimientos y demás); en el resto de mi intervención, que Humberto López intencionalmente cortó, hablé como periodista que vive en Cuba y narra la situación del país: miseria, represión y decenas de presos políticos. Con esta entrevista, el medio quería garantizar mi intervención en caso de que ese día, como comúnmente sucede, cortaran las comunicaciones en Cuba.
En la Televisión Cubana saben que esos “falsos en vivo” se hacen regularmente, así que no entiendo la sorpresa del presentador. Pero es un mensaje que, manipulado, puede convencer a algunos ingenuos o ignorantes de la metodología de trabajo en los medios.
Pero además, en la Televisión Cubana mienten. Leyendo el guion, López me llama “vocera dependiente”, “muy destacada en visibilizar a neo-terroristas como Yamila Betancourt y Manuel Milanés” y que “responde a CubaNet mediante contrato de trabajo financiado por la USAID y la NED”.
Primero, no soy vocera de nadie, no respondo ni a una agenda ni a una ideología: mi trabajo es lo que calificaría como freelance; ni siquiera cumplo horarios de trabajo; tampoco tengo un contrato con CubaNet ni con ABC, el medio español del que soy corresponsal en La Habana, en parte porque el trabajo de la prensa independiente en Cuba, perseguido desde el Estado, imposibilita un acuerdo regular entre las partes.
Segundo, como periodista, he tenido que entrevistar a cientos de personas, eso no significa que comparta sus ideas, intereses o actividades. Tanto Yamila como Manuel tienen miles de seguidores, no necesitan de mí para visibilizarse.
Tercero, es común que el régimen satanice a organizaciones estadounidenses. Aun así, las autoridades cubanas no vacilaron en aceptar los dos millones que en octubre del pasado año la USAID donó a Cuba tras el paso del huracán Ian.
El ventrílocuo detrás del títere Humberto López ―no cabe duda de que todo esto ha sido orquestado desde las oficinas de la Seguridad del Estado― incluso afirma que este audio constituye una evidencia de “violación de normas éticas de la comunicación” e “ilegal”. Sin embargo, son ellos los que, al exponerlo, han violado varios artículos de la Constitución y el Código Penal (CP), e incluso normas internacionales.
Según el artículo 48 de la Constitución cubana de 2019, “todas las personas tienen derecho a que se les respete su intimidad personal y familiar, su propia imagen y voz, su honor e identidad personal”. En el artículo 50 se reconoce que “la correspondencia y demás formas de comunicación entre las personas son inviolables” y “solo pueden ser interceptadas o registradas mediante orden expresa de autoridad competente, en los casos y con las formalidades establecidas en la ley”.
De igual forma, han transgredido lo establecido en el Código Penal vigente. Según el artículo 382.1 de esa ley, relativo al secreto de las comunicaciones, aquel que, “sin estar autorizado, abra o acceda a una carta, telegrama, despacho, correspondencia, mensaje, correo electrónico o cualquier otra forma de comunicación material o digital perteneciente a otro, es sancionado con privación de libertad de seis meses a un año o multa de cien a trescientas cuotas, o ambas”. Si el hecho se comete por un funcionario o empleado público, con abuso de su cargo y “por motivo de enemistad, venganza u otro fin malicioso, o por motivo de discriminación contra la víctima en cualquiera de sus manifestaciones”, la sanción pudiera ser de privación de libertad de seis meses a dos años o multa de doscientas a quinientas cuotas, o ambas.
En el mismo Código Penal (artículo 390.1), se determina que será privado de su libertad aquel que, ante terceras personas, “impute a otra una conducta, un hecho o una característica, contrarios al honor, que puedan dañar su reputación social, rebajarlo en la opinión pública o exponerlo a perder la confianza requerida para el desempeño de su cargo, profesión o función social”.
Asimismo, en el programa televisivo, al divulgar “hechos falsos que redunden en descrédito de una persona”, se incurrió en el delito de “calumnia” (artículo 391.1), el cual pudiera conllevar igualmente una condena a prisión.
Mi teléfono, como el de todas las personas dentro de la Isla que resultan de interés para la SE, está intervenido. Desconozco si hay una orden judicial para eso pero es algo que suele suceder: en una dictadura solo funciona la ley del más fuerte, en este caso, el régimen en el poder. Con lo cual se refuerza también que los medios de prensa son meros voceros del Partido Comunista y un aparato más de intimidación.
No obstante, la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos me ampara. En su artículo 12, esta norma establece que “nadie será objeto de injerencias arbitrarias en su vida privada, su familia, su domicilio o su correspondencia, ni de ataques a su honra o a su reputación. Toda persona tiene derecho a la protección de la ley contra tales injerencias o ataques”. Lo mismo se dispone en el artículo 17 del Pacto Internacional de los Derechos Civiles y Políticos. Ninguna ley está por encima de esos derechos humanos.
En este caso, si decidiera iniciar una demanda, no solo estaría involucrado Humberto López y los directores y guionistas de Razones de Cuba, sino todo el Sistema Informativo de la Televisión Cubana y el Instituto Cubano de Información y Comunicación Social (antiguo ICRT). Conozco de antemano que este procedimiento no resultará en una respuesta satisfactoria, pero es un paso en la exposición y denuncia de todas las mentiras y manipulaciones.
Explicado todo lo anterior, alerto sobre la cuestión más trascendental del suceso: no es casual esta campaña de descrédito. La SE está hace años tratando de construirme un proceso judicial que le permita condenarme a prisión, ya sea por “propaganda enemiga” o por supuestamente recibir financiamiento del exterior para subvertir el orden interno.
Han intentado hacerlo por cuatro años: me han multado, confiscado equipos de trabajo y dinero, hackeado mis redes sociales, interrogado (grabación mediante) y amenazado hasta con causar algún daño a la salud y la vida de mis abuelos; también me han secuestrado en la vía pública y desaparecido varias horas e incluso días, me han difamado desde perfiles falsos en los que incluso exponen mi vida personal o la tergiversan para causar problemas con mi pareja. Es decir, no es nuevo que empleen estos mecanismos de chantaje para silenciarnos o hacernos ceder.
Pero después de que tuvieran que liberarme ―tras mantenerme detenida y acusada por reportar el 11J― han estado cocinando mejor qué hacer para quitarme del camino. Por eso, a este video en la televisión nacional no lo veo como una simple amenaza.
Además, CubaNet ha sido objeto tanto de campañas de descrédito como cibernéticas. Recientemente, el sitio oficial del medio fue hackeado y estuvo inaccesible durante días.
Evidentemente, nuestro trabajo molesta. La mejor respuesta ante estos ataques es continuar ejerciendo la profesión, reportando desde Cuba y denunciando a la dictadura.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:28:44El exgeneral venezolano Hugo Armando Carvajal, conocido como ‘El Pollo Carvajal’, ha sido extraditado a Estados Unidos, país que lo reclamaba por delitos de narcotráfico, tras un largo periplo judicial que terminó en el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos, donde se desestimó la semana pasada su última demanda.
Carvajal, quien se desempeñó como jefe de contraespionaje venezolano durante la presidencia de Hugo Chávez, fue detenido en Madrid, España, en septiembre pasado, luego de permanecer casi dos años en paradero desconocido. Su captura se produjo después de que la policía local descubriera unas pistas suyas en 2021.
La agencia EFE informó que la entrega del exgeneral se hizo definitivamente efectiva cuando la Audiencia Nacional española ordenó a la Interpol proceder de forma “inmediata” a su extradición.
El chavista, quien huyó de Venezuela con un pasaporte falso en febrero de 2019, ingresó en prisión preventiva tras ser detenido en abril del mismo año. Sin embargo, fue liberado a mediados de septiembre, cuando la sección tercera de lo Penal de la Audiencia Nacional española rechazó su extradición en contra del criterio de la Fiscalía.
En noviembre, se revocó la decisión y procedió la orden para la entrega. La detención se vio frustrada en un primer momento, ya que no fue posible dar con su paradero hasta casi dos años después. El 9 de septiembre de 2021, lo localizaron en un piso de la capital española.
‘El Pollo Carvajal’ estuvo desde entonces en prisión provisional ante el patente riesgo de fuga que contemplaron los jueces. Durante estos años su defensa trató de impedir su extradición por todos los medios y con todo tipo de recursos.
La Justicia estadounidense lo reclama por delitos equivalentes en España, como pertenencia a organización criminal o colaboración con organización terrorista, así como tráfico de drogas. Se le acusa de haber integrado un grupo vinculado a las FARC tanto en Venezuela como en Colombia, incluyendo envíos de droga hacia EEUU.
El exgeneral llegó a ofrecerse para declarar ante un juez de la Audiencia Nacional española sobre una supuesta financiación ilegal de la formación española de izquierda Podemos, aunque dicha investigación ya ha sido archivada.
Carvajal enfrentará ahora un proceso judicial en EEUU, donde se espera que se le juzgue en un sistema judicial que garantice los principios de un proceso equitativo y el derecho a una defensa adecuada.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:26:28Un impactante video que circula en redes sociales muestra el desgarrador momento en el que un joven cubano es dejado en plena calle de La Habana tras ser presuntamente golpeado y asaltado en horas de la noche.
En las imágenes, captadas por una testigo y publicadas en la página de Facebook Libre de Comunismo, se observa cómo diversas personas se acercan con cautela hacia el muchacho para brindarle ayuda. Finalmente, lo movieron hacia la acera para que no fuera atropellado por algún vehículo.
Según el post, el joven habría sido víctima de un asalto en el que le arrebataron su teléfono celular y billetera, dejándolo visiblemente afectado y con dificultades para coordinar sus movimientos.
En el video se puede apreciar cómo el muchacho lucha por ponerse en pie, pero falló en diferentes intentos, situación que reflejaba la urgencia de recibir atención médica.
“Cómo se han perdido todos los valores en Cuba. Los chivatos y delincuentes son una epidemia, es horrible ver todo esto, en vez de unirse, y defender su libertad, lo que hacen es tan asqueroso no tienen ni gota de sentimientos”, dijo la usuaria María Hernández.
Otro usuario lamentó que este tipo de hechos sean visibles para todo el mundo a través de las redes sociales y, pese a ello, el gobierno comunista continúe diciendo que Cuba es un país seguro con el único fin de atraer turistas.
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@ 9ecbb0e7:06ab7c09
2023-07-23 04:25:03Uno de los cinco jóvenes cubanos que lograron eludir a oficiales del Ministerio del Interior para abandonar la Isla desde Uvero Quemado, en Pinar del Río, se encuentra en territorio mexicano enfrentando un futuro incierto.
En junio pasado, Jesús Miguel Calzada, de 16 años, fue parte del grupo de migrantes involucrado en la peligrosa maniobra. Tras una persecución por parte de los oficiales, lograron subir a una lancha rápida para irse de la Isla.
Las imágenes que se difundieron en las redes sociales dejaron al descubierto una situación sorprendente: los agentes del Minint, aparentemente estaban desprovistos de medios de comunicación y no pudieron dar aviso inmediato a sus superiores.
Mientras tanto, los cubanos que registraron todo el suceso animaron a sus compatriotas cubanos a nadar rápidamente hacia la embarcación marina, instándolos a escapar de la crítica situación que enfrenta la Isla.
“Yo estaba para irme del país, ya no requería las condiciones para estar allí y decidí dar ese paso”, confesó el joven al periodista Mario Pentón, además de decirle que en la escapada perdió sus documentos de identidad.
Ahora, se encuentra en territorio azteca completamente indocumentado y solo. A ello se le suma el temor a ser deportado por las autoridades mexicanas al no tener la posibilidad de solicitar asilo por ser menor de edad.
En un gesto desesperado, el padre de Jesús, José Calzada González, residente permanente en Estados Unidos, busca respuestas y ayuda para su hijo, pero se siente desorientado sobre los pasos a seguir y a quién recurrir.
Un abogado de inmigración comentó a la prensa local que las posibilidades de regularizar al joven son muy escasas al no tener la manera de demostrar su identidad. El litigante le recomienda acercarse a la iglesia y organizaciones no gubernamentales que pueden ofrecer algún tipo de ayuda. Se desconoce cuál fue el destino de los otros tripulantes en la embarcación.
A pesar de las medidas restrictivas impuestas para ingresar a Estados Unidos y los esfuerzos de la Casa Blanca por contener el flujo migratorio desde Cuba, aún son numerosos los cubanos que abandonan su país de manera ilegal en busca de mayores libertades políticas y oportunidades económicas.
Solo en el pasado mes de junio, se registró la llegada de 10.885 inmigrantes procedentes de la Isla a diversos puntos fronterizos de EEUU, destacando especialmente los 6.630 que ingresaron a través del sector de Miami. Esto representa un significativo aumento del 16 % en comparación con el mes anterior.
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@ 619af6a6:6d3bdf23
2023-07-23 01:20:10Neste artigo irei mencionar os motivos pelos quais eu abri uma conta no Xapo Bank e porque eu acho que todos os bitcoiners que gostariam de se desfazer das moedas fiat fracas, para viver de dólar/bitcoin deveriam fazer o mesmo.
Algumas características do Xapo Bank?
O Xapo Bank recentemente converteu seu produto em um Banco regulado em Gibraltar e que possui algumas características interessantes, por ex:
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O Banco faz parte do "Fundo Garantidor de Crédito" de Gibraltar, que tem um seguro que garante o recebimento do valor equivalente a 100k euros nos depósitos em dólar no caso por ex de falência do Banco. Obs. Os depósitos em Bitcoin não possuem essa garantia.
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Stablecoins de USDC e USDT são aceitas e são automaticamente convertidas para USD com a garantia do "Fundo Garantidor de Crédito". É possível também enviar o saldo de USD para endereços externos de USDC e USDT.
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_ec9ec721369c4fa2eaa77ea99825b6b25d97dc76e57b053490da8783fbdbb875.jpg
- Os juros recebidos dos depósitos USD são pagos em bitcoin (Sats), o que demonstra o propósito do Xapo Bank de estimular o usuário a poupar em Bitcoin e gastar em Dólar. Obs. Você pode a qualquer momento, caso deseje, converter os sats recebidos dos juros para USD.
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_fb9049e6bfc0e27705f82295bf341b59e72dda08ac5e8fc43465d18015717fe6.jpeg
- O Xapo Bank tem integração com a rede relâmpago (lightning network), permitindo enviar o saldo em BTC para pagar faturas lightning, limitado a um valor de 100 dólares por fatura. Em entrevistas recentes eles afirmaram que pretendem permitir pagar faturas lightning não somente com o saldo em BTC mas também com o saldo em US. Obs. Atualmente não é permitido depositar na conta Xapo usando a lightning.
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_1187cdd8fbff0d868672b71f203868ce5fe0622cf1480ed08081443aa6bd4bb8.jpg
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Se você possuir tanto USD e Bitcoin na conta Xapo e usar o cartão fornecido por eles, o valor sempre irá sair da conta de USD, o que demonstra o propósito do Xapo Bank de estimular o usuário a poupar em Bitcoin e gastar em Dólar. Obs. Caso você possua somente saldo em BTC e usar o cartão, o valor será automaticamente convertido do saldo em BTC para USD e a compra será realizada sem problemas.
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Tenho usado o cartão do Xapo aqui no Brasil e tem funcionado perfeitamente, existe um spread mínimo de aproximadamente 1% na conversão de dólar ou bitcoin mas que é compensado pelo cashback em bitcoin de 1.1%. Obs. No Brasil o cartão do Xapo só funciona no crédito, apesar de ser um cartão de débito, acredito que todos cartões emitidos no exterior funcionam dessa forma.
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_2d8999c09b34b27dd2aaa399a23342baabdb007ed879f3d2e932e6eeda882b61.jpeg
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O Xapo Bank não usa os recursos dos usuários para emprestar para outros usuários. Eles investem os dólares em títulos de curta duração e repassam até 80% dos juros recebidos para os clientes.
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A conta Xapo cobra uma anuidade de 150 dólares, que acho justa pela qualidade e pelos serviços prestados. Os três primeiros meses não tem taxa e você pode inclusive solicitar o cartão físico sem taxa.
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Mesmo o Banco funcionando em Gibraltar, onde a moeda oficial é a Libra, eles aceitam depósito em GBP e EUR mas ambas as moedas são automaticamente convertidas para USD.
O Xapo Bank é um banco pró-bitcoin?
Tenho razões para acreditar que o Xapo Bank prepara seus produtos com a visão de tornar o bitcoin uma moeda amplamente usada no futuro, exemplo disso são os juros pagos em bitcoin, o cashback em bitcoin também, a integração com a rede relâmpago (lightning network) e o estímulo para usar atualmente USD ao invés de bitcoin nos gastos do cartão, incentivando o uso da moeda fraca (USD) para gastos do dia dia e o bitcoin como reserva de valor. Recentemente o CEO do Xapo publicou um artigo listando motivos pelos quais ele acredita que o dólar continuará sendo a moeda de reserva do mundo, que pode ser lido aqui: https://www.xapobank.com/blog/the-us-dollar-versus-emerging-market-currencies. Eu especulo que a intenção do Xapo Bank é focar em Dólar e Bitcoin e não fornecer nenhuma outra moeda no serviço deles e, caso forneçam, seriam somente como forma de depósito, com conversão automática para Dólar, como já ocorre no caso das moedas GBP e EUR. Talvez no futuro eles aceitem outras altcoins que seriam automaticamente convertidas para Bitcoin. Mais razões pelos quais o Xapo Bank é um serviço pró-bitcoin:
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O fundador e chairman do Xapo Bank é o empreendedor e investidor argentino Wences Casares, que é um bitcoiner antigo na comunidade e que acredita bastante no bitcoin.
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O Xapo Bank possui uma reserva de aproximadamente 30 mil bitcoins que eles compraram quando o bitcoin tinha um valor irrisório. Fonte: https://youtu.be/PMbN8cd_jBY?t=1455
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@ 5fd693e6:bf6061bb
2023-07-22 22:18:17WHAT IS NOSTR ADDRESS
Nostr Address = NIP 05 identifier NIP = a Nostr Implementation Possible
“Mapping Nostr keys to DNS-based internet identifiers”
it Maps your PubKey to URLYou should first read the actual NIP 05 spec, hopefully the following can make sense of that for end users.
a Nostr Address is how you create a readable unique handle. anyone can be @dave and there can be multiple @dave's on nostr, only one person can be dave@dave.com
In some cases, it’s an added layer of verification. If your Nostr Address ID is @stephenasmith@espn.com that’s a pretty strong indicator that this is the real Stephen A Smith, the only way to accomplish this is to have access to edit espn.com.
Personally, I use a similar handle across the web, and wanted to vanity my nip in the same fashion, just like on legacy new media, I am the only one who will have this name.
My philosophy here is, you own your own private key for NOSTR, so why have an address that’s a po box?
If you aren’t ready to pay for a domain or hosting, github offers you the chance to learn how to do this without spending money. BenGWeeks has written this guide Using GitHub Pages for NIP-05 Identifiers.
This results in his nostr address being Ben@BenGWeeks.github.io This is a great free way to set up a nostr address if you are ok with having github.io in your identifier. (Don’t miss steps 3-6 in his guide, you have to Deploy it as Static HTML.)
There is nothing wrong with supporting a NIP 05 provider services, or choosing someone kind enough to add you to theirs for free. This might serve your purposes just fine. Since we are all here learning this new protocol, I think it’s nice to learn or revisit publishing with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
LET’S GET STARTED
You are going to create a webpage with a file path that looks like this: https://example.com/.well-known/nostr.json https://bengweeks.gihub.io/.well-known/nostr.json
STEP 1: Create /.well-know/nostr.json/
on github:
add file > create new file > name it /.well-know/nostr.json/ this will create both a folder and a file named nostr.json
on a self hosted server:
your hosting provider most likely has a file editor that can accomplish creating folders and files and provides a text editor. If you did this on github first, you can download these files and upload them to your new host.
Copy the following to the newly create nostr.json file
{ "names": { "bob": "b0635d6a9851d3aed0cd6c495b282167acf761729078d975fc341b22650b07b9" } }
Replace “bob” with your name and replace the long string of characters with the hex version of your pubkey (convert your npub key at damus.io/key)
DOMAIN AS AN IDENTIFIER
My username is yunginternet and my domain is yunginter.net and I wanted my Nostr Address to be @yunginter.net not zach@yunginter.net so you replace the name with an underscore.
My nostr.json file looks like:
{ "names": { "_": "5fd693e61a7969ecf5c11dbf5ce20aedac1cea71721755b037955994bf6061bb" } }
This results in my Nostr Address identifier being: _@yunginter.net
When I go to metadata.nostr.com/ or another client that allows me to edit my Nostr Address (they might still call it NIP 05 identifer) I will enter: _@yunginter.net
However, one should “expect Nostr clients to show and treat that as just @yunginter.net for all purposes.”
I like this because as on legacy new media, it just has one at sign in the identifier, instead of users having to type @bob@bob.com which looks like an email, both to human readers and operating systems, not a handle like @yunginter.net
STEP 2: CORS
You have to turn on CORS for your site. CORS stands for Cross-Origin Resource Sharing. This makes the json “get”-able.
CORS ON GITHUB PAGES
If you are following this tutorial from ben, Github.io pages have CORS enabled by default.
CORS ON A SELF-HOSTED WEBSITE
I tried to set up github with a custom domain pointing at github, and that seemed to not pass the allow access file. I still wanted my custom domain so I went to move my github page to a hosting provider.
In addition to registering a domain, you will also have to rent or set up web hosting, and maintain an SSL cert.
Fundamentally you need to add this to a .htaccess file: I didn’t have a .htaccess file, so my hosting provider had me create one in their file browser in the root directory of my site.
Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "*"
It needs to be formatted based on the type of web server.
It’s easier to just ask your hosting provider “how do i properly add CORS to a .htaccess file” than to figure out how their server software wants it formatted. You can search their documentation or simply reach out to their customer support.
How this is formatted depends on the type of web server software your hosting provider is running, mine suggested i do it like the following because they are running apache:
<IfModule mod_headers.c> Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "*" </IfModule>
But yours might suggest you do it like the following because they are running jetty:
This is why it’s just easier to reach out to them.
<filter> <filter-name>cross-origin</filter-name> <filter-class>org.eclipse.jetty.servlets.CrossOriginFilter</filter-class> </filter> <filter-mapping> <filter-name>cross-origin</filter-name> <url-pattern>/*</url-pattern> </filter-mapping>
Once you save your .htaccess file you should be good to go.
STEP 3: UPDATE METADATA
Visit your https://example.com/.well-known/nostr.json page If you see this CORS json viewer like on this page you are all set.
Head to a client that allows you to input your Nostr Address (NIP 05 identifier) in your profile and you’re all set.
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@ 5afa711a:eae0d7b8
2023-07-22 21:35:11Prompted by recent discussions about the issue of obesity in the EU and the US, as well as personal reflections on the problem, I've decided to offer my two cents coming from a biochemical, anthropological and medical perspective.
tl;dr People in developed countries are obese due to modern diets that don't align with human evolution. Grains are harmful to humans. The only effective diets for long-term weight loss are the vegetarian and a paleo-ketogenic diet (PKD). The PKD, or carnivore diet, is superior and better suited to human evolution.
Firstly, a brief overview of epidemiology and the obesity issue. The proportion of overweight adults in the EU varied in 2019 between 37 % in Italy and 58 % in Croatia for women, and between 53 % in France and 73 % in Croatia for men. The prevalence of obesity and overweight individuals is consistently increasing worldwide, along with rates of type 2 diabetes (DM2) and cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death globally, with diabetes, arterial hypertension, obesity, and smoking being the main contributing factors. Other factors, such as physical inactivity and hyperlipidemia, also play a role but to a lesser extent. Smoking rates are declining, making diabetes and obesity the most significant health problems in modern society (arterial hypertension being a complication of diabetes). Both type 2 diabetes (DM2) and obesity are consequences of modern dietary patterns, and they are mutually connected.
So, how do we address the obesity problem? First, let's talk about the Randle Cycle. It is a biochemical concept in human physiology where cells preferentially utilize fats in the presence of excess fat and inhibit glucose consumption, while in the presence of excess glucose, they preferentially utilize glucose and inhibit fat consumption. The worst thing for the human body is a diet rich in both glucose and fat because it leads to simultaneous fat storage and inhibition of glucose transporters, preventing glucose entry into cells. Elevated insulin levels, which fail to decrease blood glucose levels, lead to insulin resistance (i.e. DM2), and also contribute to obesity due to fat storage. Moreover, this excess fat accumulates as visceral or deep fat, which is hormonally active and negatively affects human health.
Foods that are simultaneously rich in fats and carbohydrates naturally occur only in breast milk. However, throughout history, humans became adept at combining these two macronutrients, which is evident in most junk foods and unhealthy diets today. It's not even necessary for them to be chemically combined in the same mass; one only needs to look at a typical household lunch plate. Lunch typically means a combination of a fatty meat portion and some rich source of carbohydrates, usually bread, potatoes, and/or pasta. This is often followed by dessert, such as ice cream or cake, which again combines fats and carbohydrates.
Now, let's address the caloric method of counting calories (Calories in, Calories out, i.e., CICO). A calorie is a unit of energy released by burning food in a calorimeter. It means that a piece of wood and a piece of meat can have the same number of calories. Calories are a unit imported into human physiology from physics and should never signify more than a simple approximation of the energy value of food because our body is not a closed thermodynamic system or a furnace. You can lose a lot of weight by counting calories (I have in the past), but in the long run, it always leads to a nutritional deficit, and you are in a perpetual battle with hunger, constantly mentally keeping track of how many calories each food has. This is an inferior approach to nutrition because it's not sustainable in the long term and reduces quality of life.
If you follow the biochemical reality of human physiology, i.e., the Randle Cycle, you'll see that you have two choices: either consume carbohydrates with minimal fat or consume fats with minimal carbohydrates. It's time for some anthropology. It's simply not true that humans are omnivores, as we were taught in schools. For the last 10,000 years, humans were omnivorous because we adopted a sedentary lifestyle and started doing agriculture. For 300,000 years before that however, we were hunters-gatherers, and our diet was predominantly composed of meat. The plant matter we gathered consisted mostly of fibrous substances with little sugar, occasionally supplemented by feasts when we had access to honey and berries. It's worth noting that modern fruits and vegetables are completely different from ancient varieties and contain significantly more sugar. Just look at the wild variations of today's fruits to understand the conditions our ancestors lived in. Wherever the remains of hunters and farmers are found together, we see that hunters were on average taller, had perfect dentition (no cavities), and lacked arthritic bone changes (since they weren't plowing the ground all day). From a health perspective, the agricultural revolution was a catastrophe for humanity. We depleted all large game and started farming.
Enter grains. Grains are a type of grass that humans domesticated at the beginning of the agricultural revolution. People never consumed them before that time. In short, grains are not suitable for human consumption, and the standard food pyramid has caused significant harm to the human race by including this type of food as its foundation. If there's one thing you take away from my post, it's that grains are the most unhealthy food that people can eat, but which make up 70% of all consumed human calories. Like all plants, but with grains even more so, they contain antinutrients, are generally poor in other nutrients in general, and contain a type of starch that is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Technically, it's better to eat a teaspoon of white sugar than a slice of bread if you're diabetic. Wheat is in a particular category of its own since it contains psychoactive substances. People are literally addicted to bread; just try to give up this food for a few days, and you'll probably understand why it's so challenging. Grains have no place in any "balanced" diet, and their presence on the plate should be 0%. Therefore, the number one advice for weight loss and improving health is complete elimination of grains and fast-food junk from your diet.
Considering that humans are evolutionarily closer to carnivores than omnivores and especially herbivores, I believe that the optimal choice for a healthier diet is the paleo-ketogenic diet (PKD), also called the carnivore diet. You can also opt for a vegetarian diet, consuming lean meat (protein needs to come from somewhere, and plant-based proteins are inferior to animal proteins), with predominantly fruits and vegetables, but you need to be aware that you eventually will develop a severe deficiency in certain nutrients. You'll need to supplement your diet with iron, vitamin B12, and other substances. As I mentioned earlier, plants are generally less nutritious than meat, and you need to eat a larger volume of plants to extract enough nutrients from them. However, these nutrients are a) of lesser quality and less bioavailable than animal variants, and b) are typically accompanied by a large amount of anti-nutrients such as lectins and similar molecules, which block the absorption of other nutrients (e.g. having green salad with chicken breast reduces the nutritional value of the chicken).
If you decide to try PKD, please consult your doctor first. I'm not sure how it would affect people who are already burdened with CVD, but from personal experience, I can tell you that I lost 15 kg in 2 months and feel better than ever before. I monitor my blood parameters every 3 months, but I'm not interested in going back to my old diet and obsessively counting calories. If you have excess weight and are otherwise healthy, give it a try; it might change your life as it did for me.
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@ 29621ac8:a3e8f4ea
2023-07-22 20:26:38Under common law, a sale is defined as a contract between a buyer and a seller, in which the seller agrees to transfer ownership of goods or services to the buyer in exchange for consideration. This consideration is typically in the form of money, but can also be in the form of other valuable assets or promises. In terms of contractual law, a sale must involve an offer, acceptance, and consideration. The offer is made by the seller, and the acceptance is made by the buyer. The consideration is the price that the buyer pays to the seller in exchange for the goods or services.
In addition to common law, sales may also be regulated by various federal and state laws, including consumer protection laws, product liability laws, and antitrust laws. These laws may impose additional requirements and obligations on sellers and buyers in order to protect consumers and promote fair competition.
Overall, understanding the legal definition of a sale is important for both buyers and sellers in order to ensure that their transactions are lawful and enforceable. If you are facing legal issues related to sales, it may be advisable to seek the guidance of a knowledgeable attorney who can help you navigate the complex legal landscape and protect your rights and interests.
Commerce generally refers to the exchange of goods or services between individuals, businesses, or nations. It involves the buying and selling of goods, as well as the transfer of money and other forms of value. Under the United States Constitution, Congress has the power to regulate commerce between states and with foreign nations. This power is derived from the Commerce Clause, which gives Congress the authority to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."
The legal definition of commerce can vary depending on the context and the specific laws that are being applied. For example, the term may be used in the context of international trade, e-commerce, or the sale of goods and services within a particular state or region.
To transact between members of a private membership association without it being considered a sale or engaging in commerce, the key is to ensure that the transaction is not open to the public and is limited to members of the association only. This can be achieved by setting up the transaction as an exchange or barter between members, rather than a sale.
For example, if one member of the association has a product or service that another member wants, they could arrange to exchange goods or services of equal value. This could be done through a system of credits or points that are earned and redeemed within the association, rather than using money or other forms of currency. Another great options is Lightning Network Payments or Liberty Dollar Financial Associations https://ldfa.nl/referral/apbowman
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@ 273286cb:5e9b4fbe
2023-07-22 19:02:09This its a test article to watch all potencial about this.
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@ 273286cb:5e9b4fbe
2023-07-22 19:01:48test
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@ 273286cb:5e9b4fbe
2023-07-22 18:59:24test
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@ 1e42bf61:6f67989e
2023-07-22 15:36:55Fiat money has birthed a fiat world. Fiat food, fiat jobs… and fiat athletes. In this article, I introduce ideas about what it means to be a Bitcoin athlete — an archetype that I seek to embody in my professional pickleball career and a template for the 21st century professional athlete.
FIAT ATHLETES VS. BITCOIN ATHLETES
Fiat athletes compete to earn fiat money. They store their time and energy (aka, their wealth) in manipulated money that steals from them, they trust companies not to censor them and they often live high time preference lifestyles.
Bitcoin athletes are a new breed of elite, professional athletes. Bitcoin athletes store their wealth in sound money that protects them from theft, they leverage decentralized protocols like Nostr to create uncensorable, peer-to-peer relationships with their fans, they embody Bitcoin values and they live a low time preference lifestyle.
Fiat athletes build digital identities on platforms created by companies that have the ability to censor what they say and that divide them from their fans. Bitcoin athletes build digital identities on open-source protocols that can’t censor what they say. These protocols enable Bitcoin athletes to connect directly with their fans.
Fiat athletes trust banks to hold their money and leak energy with every exchange between fiat currencies when traveling to different countries. Bitcoin athletes hold their own money and conserve energy by using global money when traveling to compete.
Fiat athletes trust politicians to maintain monetary integrity. Bitcoin athletes run nodes and verify that the monetary policy of Bitcoin is enforcing a 21 million supply cap.
Fiat athletes live fiat lifestyles and propagate fiat values to their fans. Bitcoin athletes live Bitcoin lifestyles and propagate the values of the Bitcoin protocol to their fans — the values of truth, freedom and personal responsibility.
Fiat athletes live at the mercy of banks and politicians who control their money and the companies who control their financial sponsorship. Bitcoin athletes are sovereign and without masters. Their money is governed by mathematics and they are directly supported by their fans, who zap them sats at the speed of light.
Fiat athletes are motivated by fame and fiat riches. Bitcoin athletes are motivated by the mission to spread financial literacy to 8 billion people on earth and unlock unprecedented peace and human flourishing. Bitcoin athletes play for a purpose beyond money. They’re playing to save the money.
Fiat athletes use centralized money, centralized social media and centralized sponsorship models. They have relationships with intermediaries (banks, platforms and companies) that have the power to censor or control them if they don’t tow the line. Bitcoin athletes use decentralized money, decentralized social media and decentralized sponsorship models. They use protocols in order to restore direct relationships with their fans and reduce (or eliminate) their reliance on banks, platforms and companies.
WINNING WITH BITCOIN
I believe a Bitcoin world will forge Bitcoin athletes, this new type of professional athlete who is financially energized directly by their fans, lives in alignment with values of the Bitcoin protocol and uses their influence to improve financial literacy and fix the money. The elite athlete of the 21st century will build their career on Bitcoin and be powered by the Lightning Network.
As a professional pickleball player, I’m on a mission to demonstrate this new template myself. I seek to master my sport by testing myself against the best pickleball players in the world and I play for Bitcoin.
Part of my mission as a Bitcoin athlete is to help fiat athletes make the jump over to a Bitcoin world, to help them understand Bitcoin and secure their bits of information in cyberspace (property, identity, data, etc.) with encrypted energy. That process often begins with me sending them 21 sats after a game so they can experience the magic of Bitcoin firsthand and then helping them set up a Nostr account so that fans can directly support them financially.
I believe the professional athletes of the 21st century will be powered by Bitcoin. They will connect directly with their fans with zaps and will store their life energy in scarce, digital, encrypted money. They will run nodes, share proof of work and connect with fans on Nostr. They will be uncensorable, unstoppable and sovereign in their quest to financially support their careers.
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@ 6e0a1f48:c9f444e5
2023-07-22 15:09:42Nostr - Redefining Communications in a Decentralized Environment
Nostr is more than prepared to try and revolutionize the way we understand and handle digital communication, challenging traditional centralized mechanisms and endowing users with indelible autonomy and expressive freedom. But exactly how does Nostr plan to do this and what are its potential implications?
Decentralization with Nostr
Nostr operates using a protocol that has taken the form of a decentralized peer-to-peer network, with the objective of increasing privacy, security, and freedom of expression. The structure consists of two main entities, known as Relays and Clients.
Relays are servers that store network messages. They are not centralized servers, but participating partners that help maintain and disseminate messages through the network. Importantly, these relays do not have the ability to censor or alter messages.
Clients, on the other hand, are the user interfaces that interact directly with this information stored in the relay. They read messages from these relays and also have the ability to publish new messages on the network.
Freedom of Expression
By replacing centralized servers that could potentially censor and manipulate data, with a network of participating relays, Nostr comes to eradicate the possibility of censorship. Each message on the Nostr network is digitally signed by the sender, stored on multiple relays and available for everyone on the network to read. This structure not only makes it difficult to censor and manipulate data but also offers a completely transparent and anonymously auditable platform for communication.
Additionally, all content shared via Nostr can be stored locally by users, with their own relay, allowing them to always keep a copy, in addition to storage on the relays. This represents a significant step towards complete user autonomy over their own data.
The Future of Digital Communication
Valuing freedom and data sovereignty, Nostr promises to transform the landscape of digital communication. Its open protocol allows anyone to develop and implement a new client or relay, giving even more power to the user.
With the potential to decentralize social media platforms, messaging services, blogs, and much more, Nostr opens almost unlimited possibilities for redesigning the web as we know it. And while challenges, such as large-scale adoption and enhanced security assurance are still ahead, Nostr represents a clear indication that the future of digital communication will increasingly support ideals of decentralization, anonymity, transparency, and digital rights of users.
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@ 6e0a1f48:c9f444e5
2023-07-22 15:00:21Nostr - Redefinindo Comunicações num Ambiente Descentralizado
O Nostr está mais do que preparado para tentar revolucionar a forma como entendemos e tratamos a comunicação digital, desafiando os tradicionais mecanismos centralizados e dotando os usuários de indelével autonomia e liberdade expressiva. Mas como exatamente o Nostr planeia fazê-lo e quais são suas implicações potenciais?
Descentralização com Nostr
Nostr opera usando um protocolo que assumiu a forma de uma rede peer-to-peer descentralizada, com o objetivo de aumentar a privacidade, segurança e liberdade de expressão. A estrutura consiste em duas principais entidades, denominadas Relays e Clients.
Os Relays, são servidores que armazenam as mensagens da rede. Não são servidores centralizados, mas parceiros participantes que ajudam a manter e disseminar as mensagens através da rede. Importante ressaltar que estes relays não têm a capacidade de censurar ou alterar as mensagens.
Os Clients, ou clientes, por sua vez, são as interfaces de usuário que interagem diretamente com essas informações armazenadas no relay. Eles lêem as mensagens desses relés e também têm a capacidade de publicar novas mensagens na rede.
Liberdade de Expressão
Ao substituir servidores centralizados que poderiam potencialmente censurar e manipular dados, com uma rede de relays participantes, o Nostr vem para erradicar a possibilidade de censura. Cada mensagem na rede do Nostr é assinada digitalmente pelo remetente, armazenada em múltiplos relays e disponível para todos na rede lerem. Esta estrutura não apenas dificulta a censura e manipulação de dados, mas também oferece uma plataforma totalmente transparente e anonimamente audível para comunicação.
Adicionalmente, todo o conteúdo compartilhado através do Nostr pode ser armazenado localmente pelos usuários, com um relay proprio, permitindo que eles mantenham sempre uma cópia, adicionalmente ao armazenamento nos relays. Isso representa um passo significativo em direção à completa autonomia dos usuários sobre seus próprios dados.
O Futuro da Comunicação Digital
Valorizando a liberdade e a soberania dos dados, o Nostr promete transformar o panorama da comunicação digital. Seu protocolo aberto permite que qualquer pessoa desenvolva e implemente um novo client ou relay, conferindo ainda mais poder ao usuário.
Com o potencial de descentralizar plataformas de mídia social, serviços de mensagens, blogs e muito mais, o Nostr abre possibilidades quase ilimitadas para redesenhar a web conforme a conhecemos. E enquanto os desafios, como adoção em larga escala e garantia de segurança aprimorada, ainda estão à frente, o Nostr representa uma clara indicação de que o futuro da comunicação digital sustentará cada vez mais ideais de descentralização, anonimato, transparência e direitos digitais dos usuários.
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@ 6e0a1f48:c9f444e5
2023-07-22 14:18:33The Importance of Decentralization for Individual Liberation!
In the complex scenario of the world in 2023, we are experiencing a rapid and tumultuous advancement of digital technologies, which increasingly modify our lives exponentially. With this evolution, both benefits and dangers emerge. One of these dangers is the excessive centralization of power, especially with regard to communication systems. They have become in the hands of few, a powerful tool to direct and shape discourses, generating a grave problem of polarization of ideas and profoundly dividing our society.
Decentralization then emerges as a promising alternative to the challenge imposed by centralization. This may be the great key to the liberation of the State and the rescue of freedom of thought and expression. Let's explore in more depth why decentralization is so crucial for our future.
▹ Reconfiguration of Power
Decentralizing information translates into distributing power. In the current scenario, a small elite has control over most of the communication channels, which gives them an overwhelming capacity for influence. By decentralizing these systems, we allow more voices to be heard, stimulating diversity of thought and expression, fundamental to any dynamic and democratic society.
▹ Resistance to Censorship
In the digital age, censorship has become an ever-looming ghost. Decentralization is an effective weapon against this danger, offering a structure in which, by its very design, censorship becomes much harder to be implemented. This is because decentralization presupposes that the information is not stored in one place, but spread over multiple points, making it virtually impossible to be completely suppressed.
▹ Guarantee of Privacy
In times of massive and constant surveillance, decentralization provides an environment of greater privacy. Since data is distributed and not centrally stored, it becomes much harder for any entity to follow, track, and compile a user profile without their knowledge or consent.
▹ Resilience to Failure
Finally, it is important to mention the inherent robustness of decentralized systems. Insofar as the information is not concentrated in one place, these systems are much more resilient to breakdowns, technical failures, and malicious attacks.
In conclusion, decentralization provides a resilient and safe solution to the current challenges of the digital society. It is a powerful tool capable of ensuring freedom of expression, diversity of opinions, and the privacy of the individual, contributing to the construction of a more democratic and egalitarian society. As such, we should strongly advocate its implementation as one of the main strategies for liberating the State. Decentralization is not just necessary — it is crucial for our future.
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@ 6e0a1f48:c9f444e5
2023-07-22 14:12:02A Importância da Descentralização para a libertação do individuo!
No complexo cenário do mundo de 2023, estamos a viver um rápido e tumultuoso avanço das tecnologias digitais, que modificam cada vez mais as nossas vidas de maneira exponencial. Com esta evolução, emergem tanto benefícios como perigos. Um desses perigos é a centralização excessiva de poder, especialmente no que diz respeito aos sistemas de comunicação. Eles se tornaram nas mãos de poucos, um instrumento poderoso para direcionar e moldar discursos, gerando um grave problema de polarização de ideias e dividindo profundamente a nossa sociedade.
A descentralização surge, então, como uma alternativa promissora ao desafio imposto pela centralização. Esta poderá ser a grande chave para a libertação do Estado e o resgate da liberdade de pensamento e expressão. Vamos explorar com mais profundidade, a seguir, por que a descentralização é tão crucial para o nosso futuro.
⎆ Reconfiguração do Poder
Descentralizar a informação traduz-se em distribuir o poder. No cenário atual, uma pequena elite detém o controle sobre a maior parte dos canais de comunicação, o que lhes confere uma esmagadora capacidade de influência. Ao descentralizarmos esses sistemas, permitimos que mais vozes sejam ouvidas, estimulando a diversidade de pensamento e expressão, fundamentais para qualquer sociedade dinâmica e democrática.
⎆ Resistência à Censura
Na era digital, a censura tornou-se um fantasma sempre à espreita. A descentralização é uma eficaz arma contra este perigo, oferecendo uma estrutura em que, pelo seu próprio desenho, a censura se torna muito mais difícil de ser implementada. Isto porque a descentralização pressupõe que a informação não está armazenada num único local, mas espalhada por vários pontos, tornando-se virtualmente impossível de ser completamente suprimida.
⎆ Garantia de Privacidade
Em tempos de vigilância massiva e constante, a descentralização proporciona um ambiente de maior privacidade. Já que os dados são distribuídos e não centralmente armazenados, torna-se muito mais difícil para qualquer entidade seguir, rastrear e compilar um perfil de um usuário sem o seu conhecimento ou consentimento.
⎆ Resiliência à Falha
Finalmente, é importante mencionar a robustez inerente dos sistemas descentralizados. Na medida em que a informação não se encontra concentrada num único lugar, estes sistemas são muito mais resilientes a avarias, falhas técnicas e ataques mal-intencionados.
Concluindo, a descentralização oferece uma solução resiliente e segura para os atuais desafios da sociedade digital. É uma poderosa ferramenta capaz de garantir a liberdade de expressão, a diversidade de opiniões e a privacidade do indivíduo, contribuindo para a construção de uma sociedade mais democrática e igualitária. Como tal, devemos advogar fortemente pela sua implementação como uma das principais estratégias de libertação do Estado. A descentralização não é apenas necessária —ela é crucial para o nosso futuro.
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@ 4bda8a0e:f0aaec7e
2023-07-22 13:07:31Benefit of Self-Recording 2: Small victories
In the real world, people don't radically change overnight. Most changes occur gradually. By all means, aim high in the long-term. In the short-term, you need to think in terms of incremental improvement. Quantitative records of your behavior will allow you to better articulate what a small step forward would actually look like. If the records say you smoke 20 cigarettes per day, you know that reducing smoking to 19 cigarettes per day is progress. If you exercise 10 minutes a day, you know that 10 minutes and 20 seconds constitutes an improvement.
Keeping records of the specific situations in which your target behavior occurs (or fails to occur) facilitates another kind of incremental improvement. Behavior can be changed one environment at the time. Furthermore, some environments will be more hostile to your desired behavior than others. Try ranking them by difficulty and start with the easier ones. For instance, it may be easier to avoid smoking when socializing with non-smokers than smokers. Or, it may be easier to start exercising on the weekends when you're not exhausted from work.
Every change in amount or specific environment constitutes a small victory. These are a great way of building confidence in your own ability and help you stay on track when the final goal is situated far into the future.
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@ 4bda8a0e:f0aaec7e
2023-07-22 12:59:06We all have behaviors that we struggle to add or subtract from our lives. One of the most basic techniques for doing so is to start recording how frequently the behavior in question occurs, and in what situations. If you want to add a behavior that currently has a frequency of zero, you should record the situations where you want it to occur, and what you were doing instead.
I've noticed that few people take this advice seriously. Maybe because of some notion that psychology is supposed to involve arcane mental wizardry and this just seems too simple. Well, solutions should be simple. Another set of reasons have to do with misconceptions about what can be recorded or how much work it would entail. Most importantly, however, is perhaps the lack of awareness around the many empirically verified benefits of self-recording. I'll be doing a short series on that, summarizing my thoughts around each benefit. One post. One benefit. Here's the first.
Benefit of Self-Recording 1: Change in the direction of your values
A common effect of observing our own behavior is that the behavior changes. This is known in the literature as "reactivity". There is nothing mystical about reactivity. If your primary concern is practical results, don't get hung up on "mind-over-matter" questions. Instead, let's look at the conditions under which reactivity tends to occur. It seems to happen if the self-observer assigns a negative or positive value to the behavior. Negative associations tend to decrease the frequency of the observed behavior, while positive associations tend to increase it. The key point is that you need both. Merely convincing yourself that a behavior is desirable or undesirable is not enough. You also need to become an observer of your own actions. Likewise, if you start self-recording and notice no change for weeks – examine your values. Try to articulate to yourself in writing why this behavior is good or bad for you. Reactivity will not always be enough to induce the change you want. But in many cases, it will, and it is an excellent place to start.
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@ a8d525f8:eba07693
2023-07-22 11:30:36Is an artist's work a reflection of his character? And is what we say about one also true of the other?
I don't know, but I have received some disingenuous feedback--often from people close to me. I can only imagine it stemmed from compassion. They didn't have the heart to tell me they didn't like something I made--as though they were afraid that I might wrap my self-worth into what I create. They may be right.
After all, my experience frames every creative decision I make. And what am I outside of what I do? If a song, poem, photograph, or article can only ever achieve the shape or tone congruent with my talent, it reflects my abilities and limitations, yes? Of me? Of the confines of my worth as a human being, even? If so, and if you don't like the thing, maybe you don't like me. And as the lurking, inner-five-year-old me knows all too well, if I'm not likable, I may not survive! However, that's almost certainly placing too much emphasis on the importance of being liked.
Conversely, what someone thinks or feels about a work of art (or artist) probably says more about them than its creator. And you can't control that. Nor would you want to. Trying to elicit a specific feeling almost certainly subverts a potential subconscious expression into something manufactured--from art to propaganda.
It's often felt like my relationship with my audience has been something of an Ouroboros. It's important to decouple the audience's reaction from the creative process, except deciphering others' thoughts is deeply anchored in what I've learned about survival.
Essentially, I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks, except I do.
I can find acceptance by being vulnerable or achieve nothing by remaining protectively silent. Somewhere in the middle, I focus on the work. I attempt to produce things at the crossroad of my talent and aesthetic inclination, come what may. And to continue to do so as long I find joy in it.
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@ 630c0b5b:0654d4f7
2023-07-22 11:17:39Det ekonomiska värdet på något står alltid i relation till allt annat som du hade kunnat köpa. Alla pengar söker den bästa möjliga placeringen utifrån varje köpares nuvarande behov. Vissa saker köper vi för konsumption, men det vi vill äga över tid läggs i olika former av placeringar. Marknaden ändrar sig hela tiden och roterar mellan de olika placeringarna. Syftet är hela tiden att försöka placera pengar i något som kan bevara sin monetära energi över tid.
Om vi bor på en ö och använder snäckor som pengar och jag seglar iväg och hämtar dubbelt så många snäckor, så kommer priset på alla saker på vår ö gå upp i relation till vad alla pengar kan köpa.
Dvs om du äger en tredjedel av allt på den ön, och vi inte har kontakt med någon annan, så är din köpkraft X/3. Om jag dubblar antal snäckor och behåller dom själv så blir din köpkraft X/6, dvs du tappar 50% i värde.
Om vi har en by på ön som arbetar och bara har 100 000 snäckor att dela på, så ökar vår ekonomi av att vi arbetar även fast inte mängden pengar gör det. Ekonomin ökar för att vi gör framsteg vilket gör att vi får ut mer ekonomiskt värde för varje ekonomisk enhet som vi har.
När de flesta pratar om inflation menar de KPI, som är en siffra som gäller en specifik varukorg. Den tar inte hänsyn till att Magnus som är mångmiljonär köper helt andra saker än vad Robert köper som arbetar och bor i sin mammas källare och bara tittar på Netflix. De har helt olika inflationstal för att deras konsumentvanor är helt olika.
Det betyder att inflationen är en vektor, med en unik siffra för alla personer.
Den riktiga inflationen är kopplad till ökningen av penningmängd. Om Bill Gates äger 50% av allt på planeten så är hans köpkraft X/2. Om Powell dubblar penningmängden och ger allt till dig, så har du lika mycket ekonomiskt värde som Bill Gates.
Bill däremot har förlorat köpkraft, för hans del av hela ekonomin har minskat från X/2 till X/4. Därför spelar penningmängd roll.
Att index växer ungefär som penningmängd betyder att allt värdefullt söker sitt rätta värde relativt totala mängden pengar. Inte att ekonomin växer.
Säg att börsen utgör 30% av allt ekonomiskt värde på planeten. Säg att guld är 10% av allt ekonomiskt värde och bitcoin är 0.1% av allt. Om bitcoin blir 10ggr större än guld så innebär det att både börsen och guld tappat värde mot bitcoin. Vilket betyder att köpa index inte är en lika bra strategi om bitcoin fortsätter växa 100% per år.
Även om bitcoin bara växer 25% per år och börsen har 10% genomsnittlig ökning under den tiden, så kommer index ha tappat nästan allt värde om 20 år. Nettoskillnad 15% -> Alternativkostnaden = 1 - (0.85^20) = 96% -> Du tappar 96% av att inte äga den snabbast växande tillgångsklassen.
Ett annat sätt att säga det, är att bitcoin i det scenariot kommer suga åt sig 96% av börsens monetära energi under en sån period. Det är som ett svart hål som slukar allt som är i närheten. Ingen ekonomisk tillgång kan undgå att påverkas av bitcoins förmåga att ta monetär energi från sämre former av långsiktiga placeringar.
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@ 92d9ef27:d5c2e224
2023-07-22 03:03:41*tuesday. the most unremarkable day of the week.
and on this unremarkable day, we have some prepared remarks from candidate for president, will "william" berhalter.*
good evening, ladies and gentlemen. i am running to be president of these united states, not because i want to, but because increasingly, i notice a crisis of unimaginable magnitude descending on our once proud nation, a quiet calamity slowly snowballing, threating to roll down the mountian and wipe out the entirety of an 8th grade field trip to aspen. i'm talking, of course, about the banishment of that beautiful, blessed backside brace, that fading ode to all things weekend-er-y, the loss of the humble lawnchair.
when i was just a young pup, my father, william "will" berhalter, would wake each morning after a night of inspecting dust at the local peanut manufacturing plant, pop on his most valuable speedo, and head to the front of the house for his repose in his favorite lawnchair. that old lawnchair was much like my father; tough, full of character, rusty, and hard to look at from most respectable distances. he and my father went thru it all together; the lawn gnome war of '77, the lemonade stand worker's strike and subsequent riot(s), the book club insurrection; all, observed, from the comfort of his lawnchair. together, forever.
and this is why, when i look around today and see driveway after driveway free and clear of past-their-prime lawnchairs and fathers, i realize that someone must act. well, i'm here to tell you today that i am that someone.
under my administration, it will be illegal not to own a lawnchair; it will be punishable by firing squad. in my administration, there will be zero tolerance for these sissy "modern" lawnchairs, which are just large tupperware dishes disguising themselves as chairs, don't think i'm not on to you, you fucking bastards, with your plastic armrests, and your ergonomic designs, it's all space-age nonsense and owning and/or manufacturing one of these ridiculous mockeries will also be punishable by firing squad. no, each household in "william" berhalter's america must have an eyesore of a lawnchair; a large, creaking, wasp-infested behemoth that may or may not collapse under its own weight like a dying star, let alone under the weight of an average adult.
we will remove funding for all governmental bodies, state and local; we will slash the budget of the military by 75% a day until each and every driveway in our great nation has a lawnchair of its own and is whole once more. for if we do not accomplish this, how can we call ourselves american?
do you think the founding fathers driveways were free and clear of lawnchairs? after delivering the famous address at gettysburg, did lincoln not spend hours reclined in a chair hand woven by mary todd? even the indigenous people of our great land sang songs and told tales of abentuhomepetho, which literally translates to "he who resides in a lawnchair". my fellow americans, it is time we rectify this historical injustice.
it is time we face the most pressing issue of the day.
it is time, again, for a lawnchair in every driveway.
berhalter/cheney2024.
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@ 93161535:1fc6d488
2023-07-21 23:07:15Deliberately no sound
An amalgamation of my boredom spent messing with my webcam. Enjoy.
•───────••••───────•
Donations help for the sever costs (currently $60/month), since I host my own videos on my own website, along with hosting my own imageboard. Never required or expected, always appreciated.
DONATE MONERO FOR SERVER COSTS: 8A11e3NEQXvEbShkwZHd67e12rcM8GfADjSmrywkoZLP5XuakvDuNsp3d8B3RLoUZFRAFry38DM5Z6Gu1vJdbrRzVdbktHR
•───────••••───────•
FEED ME. Please. I love Panda Express eggrolls and noodles
Go to https://www.pandaexpress.com/gift-cards/select#digital (https://www.pandaexpress.com/gift-cards/select#digital) then send the gift card to my email: ashleyjones@dnmx.org THANK YOU.
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Website: https://icum.to (https://icum.to)
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Email: ashleyjones@horsefucker.org
Phone number: 725-CUM-FART
If you want to send an encrypted message I have my GPG key on my website: https://icum.to/analjuice/ (https://icum.to/analjuice/)
https://videos.icum.to/w/oMs8J4Mgtw8g4gYVcvw6Nt
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@ 83d52b43:2af24689
2023-07-21 23:04:17[3]
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@ b12b632c:d9e1ff79
2023-07-21 19:45:20I love testing every new self hosted app and I can say that Nostr "world" is really good regarding self hosting stuff.
Today I tested a Nostr relay named Strfry.
Strfry is really simple to setup and support a lot's of Nostr NIPs.
Here is the list of what it is able to do :
- Supports most applicable NIPs: 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 20, 22, 28, 33, 40
- No external database required: All data is stored locally on the filesystem in LMDB
- Hot reloading of config file: No server restart needed for many config param changes
- Zero downtime restarts, for upgrading binary without impacting users
- Websocket compression: permessage-deflate with optional sliding window, when supported by clients
- Built-in support for real-time streaming (up/down/both) events from remote relays, and bulk import/export of events from/to jsonl files
- negentropy-based set reconcilliation for efficient syncing with remote relays
Installation with docker compose (v2)
Spoiler : you need to have a computer with more than 1 (v)Core / 2GB of RAM to build the docker image locally. If not, this below might crash your computer during docker image build. You may need to use a prebuilt strfry docker image.
I assume you've read my first article on Managing domain with Nginx Proxy Manager because I will use the NPM docker compose stack to publish strfry Nostr relay. Without the initial NPM configuration done, it may not work as expected. I'll use the same docker-compose.yml file and folder.
Get back in the "npm-stack" folder :
cd npm-stack
Cloning the strfry github repo locally :
git clone https://github.com/hoytech/strfry.git
Modify the docker-compose file to locate the strfry configuration data outside of the folder repo directory to avoid mistake during futures upgrades (CTRL + X, S & ENTER to quit and save modifications) :
nano docker-compose.yml
You don't have to insert the Nginx Proxy Manager part, you should already have it into the file. If not, check here. You should only have to add the strfry part.
``` version: '3.8' services: # should already be present into the docker-compose.yml app: image: 'jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest' restart: unless-stopped ports: # These ports are in format
: - '80:80' # Public HTTP Port - '443:443' # Public HTTPS Port - '81:81' # Admin Web Port # Add any other Stream port you want to expose # - '21:21' # FTP # Uncomment the next line if you uncomment anything in the section # environment: # Uncomment this if you want to change the location of # the SQLite DB file within the container # DB_SQLITE_FILE: "/data/database.sqlite" # Uncomment this if IPv6 is not enabled on your host # DISABLE_IPV6: 'true' volumes: - ./nginxproxymanager/data:/data - ./nginxproxymanager/letsencrypt:/etc/letsencrypt
strfry-nostr-relay: container_name: strfry build: ./strfry volumes: - ./strfry-data/strfry.conf:/etc/strfry.conf - ./strfry-data/strfry-db:/app/strfry-db
ports is commented by NPM will access through docker internal network
no need to expose strfry port directly to the internet
ports:
- "7777:7777"
```
Before starting the container, we need to customize the strfry configuration file "strfry.conf". We'll copy the strfry configuration file and place it into the "strfry-data" folder to modify it with our own settings :
mkdir strfry-data && cp strfry/strfry.conf strfry-data/
And modify the strfry.conf file with your own settings :
nano strfry-data/strfry.conf
You can modify all the settings you need but the basics settings are :
- bind = "127.0.0.1" --> bind = "0.0.0.0" --> otherwise NPM won't be able to contact the strfry service
-
name = "strfry default" --> name of your nostr relay
-
description = "This is a strfry instance." --> your nostr relay description
-
pubkey = "" --> your pubkey in hex format. You can use the Damu's tool to generate your hex key from your npub key : https://damus.io/key/
-
contact = "" --> your email
``` relay { # Interface to listen on. Use 0.0.0.0 to listen on all interfaces (restart required) bind = "127.0.0.1"
# Port to open for the nostr websocket protocol (restart required) port = 7777 # Set OS-limit on maximum number of open files/sockets (if 0, don't attempt to set) (restart required) nofiles = 1000000 # HTTP header that contains the client's real IP, before reverse proxying (ie x-real-ip) (MUST be all lower-case) realIpHeader = "" info { # NIP-11: Name of this server. Short/descriptive (< 30 characters) name = "strfry default" # NIP-11: Detailed information about relay, free-form description = "This is a strfry instance." # NIP-11: Administrative nostr pubkey, for contact purposes pubkey = "" # NIP-11: Alternative administrative contact (email, website, etc) contact = "" }
```
You can now start the docker strfry docker container :
docker compose up -d
This command will take a bit of time because it will build the strfry docker image locally before starting the container. If your VPS doesn't have lot's of (v)CPU/RAM, it could fail (nothing happening during the docker image build). My VPS has 1 vCore / 2GB of RAM and died few seconds after the build beginning.
If it's the case, you can use prebuilt strfry docker image available on the Docker hub : https://hub.docker.com/search?q=strfry&sort=updated_at&order=desc
That said, otherwise, you should see this :
``` user@vps:~/npm-stack$ docker compose up -d [+] Building 202.4s (15/15) FINISHED
=> [internal] load build definition from Dockerfile 0.2s => => transferring dockerfile: 724B 0.0s => [internal] load .dockerignore 0.3s => => transferring context: 2B 0.0s => [internal] load metadata for docker.io/library/ubuntu:jammy 0.0s => [build 1/7] FROM docker.io/library/ubuntu:jammy 0.4s => [internal] load build context 0.9s => => transferring context: 825.64kB 0.2s => [runner 2/4] WORKDIR /app 1.3s => [build 2/7] WORKDIR /build 1.5s => [runner 3/4] RUN apt update && apt install -y --no-install-recommends liblmdb0 libflatbuffers1 libsecp256k1-0 libb2-1 libzstd1 && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* 12.4s => [build 3/7] RUN apt update && apt install -y --no-install-recommends git g++ make pkg-config libtool ca-certificates libyaml-perl libtemplate-perl libregexp-grammars-perl libssl-dev zlib1g-dev l 55.5s => [build 4/7] COPY . . 0.9s => [build 5/7] RUN git submodule update --init 2.6s => [build 6/7] RUN make setup-golpe 10.8s => [build 7/7] RUN make -j4 126.8s => [runner 4/4] COPY --from=build /build/strfry strfry 1.3s => exporting to image 0.8s => => exporting layers 0.8s => => writing image sha256:1d346bf343e3bb63da2e4c70521a8350b35a02742dd52b12b131557e96ca7d05 0.0s => => naming to docker.io/library/docker-compose_strfry-nostr-relay 0.0sUse 'docker scan' to run Snyk tests against images to find vulnerabilities and learn how to fix them
[+] Running 02/02
⠿ Container strfry Started 11.0s ⠿ Container npm-stack-app-1 Running ```You can check if everything is OK with strfry container by checking the container logs :
user@vps:~/npm-stack$ docker logs strfry date time ( uptime ) [ thread name/id ] v| 2023-07-21 19:26:58.514 ( 0.039s) [main thread ]INFO| arguments: /app/strfry relay 2023-07-21 19:26:58.514 ( 0.039s) [main thread ]INFO| Current dir: /app 2023-07-21 19:26:58.514 ( 0.039s) [main thread ]INFO| stderr verbosity: 0 2023-07-21 19:26:58.514 ( 0.039s) [main thread ]INFO| ----------------------------------- 2023-07-21 19:26:58.514 ( 0.039s) [main thread ]INFO| CONFIG: Loading config from file: /etc/strfry.conf 2023-07-21 19:26:58.529 ( 0.054s) [main thread ]INFO| CONFIG: successfully installed 2023-07-21 19:26:58.533 ( 0.058s) [Websocket ]INFO| Started websocket server on 0.0.0.0:7777
Now, we have to create the subdomain where strfry Nostr relay will be accessible. You need to connect to your Nginx Proxy Manager admin UI and create a new proxy host with these settings :
"Details" tab (Websockets support is mandatory!, you can replace "strfry" by whatever you like, for instance : mybeautifulrelay.yourdomain.tld)
"Details" tab:
"SSL" tab:
And click on "Save"
If everything is OK, when you go to https://strfry.yourdomain.tld you should see :
To verify if strfry is working properly, you can test it with the (really useful!) website https://nostr.watch. You have to insert your relay URL into the nostr.watch URL like this : https://nostr.watch/relay/strfry.yourdomain.tld
You should see this :
If you are seeing your server as online, readable and writable, you made it ! You can add your Nostr strfry server to your Nostr prefered relay and begin to publish notes ! 🎇
Future work:
Once done, strfry will work like a charm but you may need to have more work to update strfry in the near future. I'm currently working on a bash script that will :
- Updatethe "strfry" folder,
- Backup the "strfry.conf" file,
- Download the latest "strfry.conf" from strfry github repo,
- Inject old configuration settings into the new "strfry.conf" file,
- Compose again the stack (rebuilding the image to get the latest code updates),
- etc.
Tell me if you need the script!
Voilààààà
See you soon in another Fractalized story!
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@ a1c65c8a:24548ccb
2023-07-21 18:34:39Welcome to my experiment
Recently, I stood up a relay at nostr.sixteensixtyone.com (nostr 1661) as an experiment of sorts. I have questions about the future of decentralized social media. Has bitcoin found a use case beyond investment? How do all the parts fit together? How much does it cost to run this stuff? How do we defray those costs? Show me the money.
**I am also a bitcoin skeptic. ** Wasn't always that way. I mined about a quarter's worth. Bought some in the run up to 1k. Sold some, bought some, no great profits or losses. Fast forward to the run up to 68k, I thought it was clear the rise was unsustainable. My True Believing friends were as undaunted then as they remain today. I sold all my crypto investments several years ago and, except what I may have earned since this writing, I have no crypto investments at this time.
So, I posit the HODL and stack sats communities have it wrong. The current theme of "grab all you can, as fast as you can, before it goes the the moon!" is detrimental to bitcoin adoption. This behavior is exactly the opposite of what is need to make a bitcoin a viable financial vehicle as it reduces the incentive to spend it. Why would you spend your btc, if you think it will be more valuable tomorrow?
I suggest that building bitcoin technologies and earning bitcoin in the process is furthering adoption than more any laser-eyed social media personality begging you to HODL because it's going to the moon.
Welcome to my experiment.
-Sean
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@ 75656740:dbc8f92a
2023-07-21 18:18:41"Who do you say that I am?"
In Matthew 16 Jesus cut to the heart of what defines identity. First he asked what other people said about him, then he asked what the disciples thought, finally he gave his own take by agreeing with the disciples. In trying to understand who someone is, we have three and only three possible sources of information.
- Who they tell us they are.
- Who others say about them.
- What we observe for ourselves.
Putting these three together constitutes identity. Identity is always unique for each connection in the social graph. Who you are to me is always different than who you are to anyone else. As such identity is largely out of our direct control. We can influence others perception of ourselves by comporting ourselves in a certain way, but we cannot compel it.
With this in mind, it is imperative to build protocols that mirror this reality as closely as possible. The problem is largely one of UI. How can we simultaneously display all three aspects of identity in a clear and uncluttered way?
The default has always been to just display an individual's claim to identity. Each user gets to choose a name and an avatar. This generally works in small communities with low rates of change both in who the members are and in how they present themselves. In these cases, each user can keep a mental map of what to expect from each name and avatar. "Oh that is just keyHammer24 doing his thing." Note that even if KeyHammer24 decides to change their nickname the mental map in the other users won't change instantly, if ever.
This falls apart in larger communities, where each user cannot maintain a mental model of who is who. Impersonation and collisions become a problem, so we add some "What others say about them" information such as blue check-marks or what "what we observe for ourselves" information like pet-names in a phone contact list or a note that we follow that account.
I don't personally have a final solution for this, I only know that we should be collecting and displaying all three sources of information from the outset. Perhaps we could do something like... * Default to showing a users preferred identifiers, but switch to the avatar and handle we self-assign them on hover. * Display a percentage of confidence that we know who the person is and that they are presenting themselves as who we expect them to be. You probably aren't the Elon Musk that I expect if you recently had different names / aren't the one I follow / none of my network follows / have been reported as misleading. * Reserve check-marks for keys that each user has signed in person. Only we can be the arbiter of who gets a check-mark in our own feed. * Maintain a list of past aliases along with a "Community Notes" like description of an account brought up by clicking on a ⓘ icon. * Have a full pet-names override.
I think Nostr already have much of this built into the protocol, it just needs to be standardized into the interface of various application. This is something on which I am very interested in hearing other ideas.
A note on anonymity
Real world identities should always be preferred. It allows for building real relationships and treating each other with real world respect. The real you is far more fascinating than a curated persona. Real identities should also never be enforced at a protocol level. Some people will be in real circumstances that preclude honest engagement without threat to their safety.
If you found this engaging I also wrote about why Social Network companies have an unsolvable problem here. and why we have to design for finite reach here
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@ e6817453:b0ac3c39
2023-07-21 18:13:25With the current boom in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models, the intersection of self-sovereign identities, data, and AI is becoming increasingly important.
We're in the midst of an AI revolution, with many experts in the crypto space transitioning into AI gurus. However, today's discussion isn't about jumping on the hype train. Instead, we will explore the relationship between self-sovereign identities, data, and AI. This topic is particularly relevant as I'm currently working on a product that combines these elements, so stay tuned for more discussions on machine learning in the realm of private data.
New challenges - how to fuel quality data to model
New technologies often bring new challenges. While some fear that AI might take over their jobs, I'm confident that it will open up a plethora of exciting opportunities. One interesting research paper I recently read suggested that even smaller models, with fewer skills than large language models like GPT-4, can yield better results when fed high-quality data. This brings us back to the age-old question: where can we source quality data?
Many startups and companies have the financial resources to train their models, but they need a vast amount of data to do so. Where to get this data is a big question. We've previously discussed the data economy and how it currently resembles a Soviet Union-style system. You produce tons of data, but you don't benefit from it because your data is locked away on various platforms. This needs to change, and self-sovereign identity (SSI) could be the key to this transformation.
SSI as a key to Data Economy
So, what's the connection between SSI and AI? We're already seeing emerging use cases that leverage SSI and zero-knowledge proofs to verify the authenticity of data. With the rise of generative models, distinguishing between generated content and authentic content has become a challenge.
authentic sensors - how to proof non generative content
We're now seeing the concept of 'authenticity sensors', such as cameras that produce zero-knowledge proofs alongside photos, or the authenticity of audio and keyboard input. These attestations ensure that the information you receive hasn't been synthesized and was recorded from a real source.
Another intriguing domain on the horizon is the confirmation that a specific model with certain parameters produces the results you receive. This is a whole new area in the data economy. You can provide your data, trade your data to train models and sign your data as authentic.
ZKML - proof of Model use
However, a big question remains: how can we calculate your contribution to a model's training? How can you earn income or a percentage of your data or model usage? If your data contributed to the synthetic output of a model and this product was sold, how can you get paid for your contribution?
This is a massive market and a huge business opportunity at the intersection of machine learning and self-sovereign identity. We're on the cusp of a significant wave in the data economy, raising many questions. For instance, large language models like GPT-4 use books and internet materials without considering rights and privacy.
In conclusion, the age of the new data economy is upon us, and it's time to start thinking about how we can navigate this landscape responsibly and ethically. The intersection of self-sovereign data and AI/ML is not just a technological revolution; it's a societal shift that will redefine how we view and handle personal data.
Self-sovereign identity (SSI) is becoming the best friend and prerequisite for the new AI world. We already have a lot of use cases, such as authentic and attested sensors that can prove that audio and photos are organically original, and authentic data and data ownership. Zero-knowledge machine learning (zkml) and proof of model use are also emerging as important concepts.
I'm keen to see more and more cases in this space. My favorite one is the data economy - we need protocols for quality data. We need a way to pay back people for data that was used for models. A big open question that will create new business models is how to measure the contribution of your data to a model and the produced result.
Stay tuned for more discussions on this topic as we explore the future of the data economy and the role of AI and self-sovereign data in shaping this new era.
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@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9
2023-07-21 17:11:23The Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 17 is a proposal to add a new opcode to Bitcoin's scripting system, and it also proposes a new 'standard' transaction type that uses this opcode. Here, I will explain each part of this proposal in simple terms.
BIP17 proposes the opcode
OP_CHECKHASHVERIFY
for the Bitcoin scripting system. An opcode is a type of operation that can be performed by a machine (in this case, the Bitcoin network). The opcode that BIP17 is proposing,OP_CHECKHASHVERIFY
, is a function that checks if the hash of the previous script matches the item at the top of the stack.The reason for introducing this opcode is to enable what is known as "pay-to-script-hash" transactions. These types of transactions allow the receiver of bitcoins to specify the transaction type needed to re-spend them, essentially shifting the responsibility of defining the conditions to redeem a transaction from the sender to the receiver.
The benefit of this is that it allows a sender to fund any arbitrary transaction, no matter how complicated, by using a fixed-length 20-byte hash. This makes it easier to handle in various interfaces, such as QR codes or copy-pasting.
The proposed opcode
OP_CHECKHASHVERIFY
works as follows:- It hashes the end of the previous script, starting from the last evaluated
OP_CODESEPARATOR
. - It then compares this hash with the item on top of the stack.
- If the hashes match, it proceeds with the script; if they don't match, the script fails immediately.
The new standard transaction type is defined as follows:
[20-byte-hash-value] OP_CHECKHASHVERIFY OP_DROP
This transaction type is redeemed by a standard scriptSig:
...signatures... OP_CODESEPARATOR {script}
The proposal also gives an example of how this might look for a one-signature-required transaction and a 2-of-3 multi-signature transaction.
The author of BIP17 believes this proposal would minimize changes needed to the existing infrastructure that sends funds to Bitcoin addresses, which would in turn allow for quicker adoption of multi-signature transactions.
Regarding backward compatibility, this BIP is not compatible with older implementations, and it might lead to a blockchain split if not handled carefully. The proposal includes a method for determining miner support for this BIP and a plan for a graceful upgrade if there is sufficient support.
- It hashes the end of the previous script, starting from the last evaluated
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@ a1fc5dfd:bbedb1cf
2023-07-21 16:56:11You read the headline correctly: Nostr is where you can connect with the most authentic people on social media. Nothing else compares. Now, I understand what might be crossing your mind: "Don't many people on Nostr also post on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc.?" Indeed, they do, but that doesn't negate my assertion.
I'm not suggesting that the individuals are inherently more or less genuine. I'm stating that what you observe them posting, what you hear them articulate, and so on, is more genuine on Nostr. There are two main reasons for this.
Reason One - Absolutely No Censorship
For instance, I might reply to a comment on Nostr with, “wow, that guy is an idiot.” However, on Twitter, using the word "idiot"—even when not directly addressing the person you're responding to—triggers a warning. It's something along the lines of, “Did we get this right? Most tweets don’t look like this.” You're then given the option to either edit or publish the tweet. If you choose to publish as is, you're sent to “Twitter jail,” even after Elon Musk proclaimed, “the bird is free.” Bluntly put, no, it fucking isn't.
How can you truly know the individual behind the screen when they're perpetually gauging and modifying their expressions? This leads many to constantly ponder, “Will this get me banned?” As a result, they often refrain from posting a myriad of content, from contentious articles to mere photographs, feeling constrained.
Nostr represents total freedom. Consequently, people tend to post more candidly about their emotions, aspirations, and more. To clarify, many things they share on Nostr—but not elsewhere—are not necessarily content that would face censorship, temporary suspension, or outright bans on other platforms. However, when you eliminate that looming threat, individuals feel liberated, leading them to share more comprehensively.
Reason Two - No Algorithms
At first glance, this might seem unrelated to the authenticity of social media, but it's a significant factor. I'm going to make a low-risk assumption: if you follow me on any social media platform, you're interested in my thoughts and posts. While you might not resonate with everything, you have the autonomy to either overlook certain content, realize it's not your cup of tea and unfollow, or perhaps discover that I offer more than you initially thought and appreciate the interaction. All these choices are valid.
The crux is that you should have the ability to make these decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of who I am, my values, and my genuine opinions on mutual interests. How can you achieve this if an algorithm dictates what you see?
It's entirely plausible that you might miss out on all my posts because the algorithm has determined you don't engage the way the platform desires. They aim to incite anger, as it spurs action. It's also possible that the algorithm might highlight posts that irk you, but not showcase my photos of dogs, culinary adventures, gardening endeavors, or motivational content.
So, even if I'm sharing a plethora of content, you're only exposed to a fraction. How can you genuinely know the "Jack Spirko" in such a scenario? The answer is, you can't. Nostr's absence of algorithms eradicates this issue. You choose your connections and even determine how you perceive their posts. You witness the entire individual, not just the fragments an algorithm deems will make you more inclined to click an ad or post a heated reply.
There is No Second Best
Either you have freedom, or you don't. Communications are either entirely transparent, or they're not. It's impossible to truly understand another's authentic voice if you're only shown selective aspects of their persona. Similarly, you can't genuinely know someone if they feel they can't post without reservations.
This isn't to say that everyone on Nostr is genuine. We have pretenders, bots, and likely scammers. However, in the end, the choice is yours, and those you connect with at least have the chance to reveal their true selves. No medium can guarantee authenticity, but it can provide an environment conducive to it.
The reality is that Nostr is the sole platform offering a completely genuine opportunity to both express and listen. So, if you're at a point in your life where you're seeking genuine connections and unrestricted communication, give Nostr a try. If you're uncertain about how to begin, Nostr.how is an outstanding resource to get you started.
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@ 1e42bf61:6f67989e
2023-07-21 16:55:07Thanks for being here and reading these words.
At the 2022 Bitcoin conference, I listened to Jordan Peterson speak about the process of writing as a tool to sharpen one’s thinking. In my quest to become a better thinker, I’m beginning the process of writing to share my journey towards becoming a Bitcoin athlete competing in the sport of pickleball. My goal with this first article is to share a bit about myself, why I chose the name O₿iwan Satoshi, my rationale for remaining pseudonymous and why I’m dedicating my pickleball career to Bitcoin.
I’m a male human living on earth, currently spending the majority of my time in North America. I strive to become the type of man that helps humanity step into a more just, truthful world. A man to who is kind, tolerant, courageous, protects life, acts in integrity, is focused, and who lives in alignment with my foundational values. I live a low time preference life and I'm very intentional with how I spend my time each day. Life has taught me that if I’m not clear on how I want to spend my time and energy, it will be spent by others in ways that may not reflect my values.
My values are health, family, purpose, truth, freedom and play. These are the things I value most and strive to orient my life around. They serve as my compass to guide me in the right direction on my journey and they bring me back on track when I veer off the path. My purpose in life is to reduce suffering. I spent the last decade of my life working to solve the health problem before realizing that the health crisis is simply a derivative of broken money. After realizing that fundamental truth, I decided to shift my work focus to spreading the message of Bitcoin.
I believe the largest source of suffering on earth is corrupt money and my mission in life is to spread financial literacy to help people opt out of corrupt money and claim their freedom as sovereign beings. The way I spread that message is through pickleball. I discovered pickleball in 2023 and instantly became obsessed with improving my abilities and testing myself by competing against the best players I could find. After a brief run as an amateur, I made the decision to make a low time preference career out of it. I love to play and as someone with a busy mind, physical play is how I achieve peace of mind while scratching my itch to compete. Competing at a high level in pickleball is what provides the driving force in my physical training and also connects me with people who I can gradually orange pill and introduce to Bitcoin.
To me, Bitcoin is a force for good. Similar to the force in Star Wars, it’s an energy available to everyone who takes the time to understand and harness it. I find the storyline of Star Wars to be a potent and beautiful example of the hero’s journey that can inspire us all to become the hero of our own lives. Bitcoin is the force, and lightning is a way I channel the force in my life. When playing pickleball, I think of my paddle as an orange light sabre channeling the force of Bitcoin into my game.
In Star Wars, the Jedi order was a noble order united in their devotion to mastering the light side of the force. Jedi knights are noted for their lightsabers and natural ability to harness the powers of the force. They stood as the guardians of peace and justice within the galactic republic. I view Bitcoiners as the modern day Jedi. They are a noble order united in their devotion to mastering encrypted energy. They use lightning instead of light sabers and their ability to harness the power of Bitcoin is proof of the work they have done to understand and wield digital energy to protect humanity. Together, Bitcoiners stand as guardians of peace and justice within the galaxy against the dark forces of fiat which seek to enslave humans through lies and deception.
I strive to become a Bitcoin Jedi and I use pickleball to train my mind and body to harness the force. I can then wield this magical force to defend myself and others from the dark forces of fiat.
As a Bitcoiner, I value my privacy which I define as the right to be left alone and the freedom from intrusion. To me, privacy is ability to determine which information I choose to make available to the world. In a world of chaos and unrest, being a rational thinker and spreading truth can make you a target. Being a creator of value also makes you a target for governments who seek to take a high percentage of your income to fund war (against other nations or its own people). In my quest to preserve my privacy in cyberspace for my own protection, I have chosen to adopt a pseudonym - an alias that is different from O₿iwan Satoshi in honour of Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi from Star Wars and Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin. Being pseudonymous makes me socieconomically invisible and immortal. It provides a defence against the dark forces of fiat which seek to steal my energy.
“The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together” - Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi
"the Jedi are Force users united in our quest to understand the mysteries of the Force and to serve as guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy. We ground ourselves in a spiritual existence and give up individual attachments in order to focus entirely on greater concerns." - Reath Silas (a jedi)
I’m at the very beginning of my journey to become a professional pickleball player and I’m building my career on Bitcoin. I use nostr to interact p2p with Bitcoiners who support me, I use sound money to protect my energy, and I play for Bitcoin. I wear Bitcoin swag on the court, I embody the values of the Bitcoin protocol and strive to serve as a worthy ambassador of Bitcoin. I pay my coaches and training partners in sats, I take a low time preference approach in my life, and I show proof of work.
Thank you for reading this article and for following me on my journey to become a Bitcoin athlete. I will be posting a short article and updating my POW on the 21st of every month.
If you wish to support my pickleball career or get in touch, you can zap me sats or DM me on NOSTR.
May the force be with you
O₿iwan Satoshi
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@ b12b632c:d9e1ff79
2023-07-21 14:19:38Self hosting web applications comes quickly with the need to deal with HTTPS protocol and SSL certificates. The time where web applications was published over the 80/TCP port without any encryption is totally over. Now we have Let's Encrypt and other free certification authority that lets us play web applications with, at least, the basic minimum security required.
Second part of web self hosting stuff that is really useful is the web proxifycation.
It's possible to have multiple web applications accessible through HTTPS but as we can't use the some port (spoiler: we can) we are forced to have ugly URL as https://mybeautifudomain.tld:8443.
This is where Nginx Proxy Manager (NPM) comes to help us.
NPM, as gateway, will listen on the 443 https port and based on the subdomain you want to reach, it will redirect the network flow to the NPM differents declared backend ports. NPM will also request HTTPS cert for you and let you know when the certificate expires, really useful.
We'll now install NPM with docker compose (v2) and you'll see, it's very easy.
You can find the official NPM setup instructions here.
But before we absolutely need to do something. You need to connect to the registrar where you bought your domain name and go into the zone DNS section.You have to create a A record poing to your VPS IP. That will allow NPM to request SSL certificates for your domain and subdomains.
Create a new folder for the NPM docker stack :
mkdir npm-stack && cd npm-stack
Create a new docker-compose.yml :
nano docker-compose.yml
Paste this content into it (CTRL + X ; Y & ENTER to save/quit) :
``` version: '3.8' services: app: image: 'jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest' restart: unless-stopped ports: # These ports are in format
: - '80:80' # Public HTTP Port - '443:443' # Public HTTPS Port - '81:81' # Admin Web Port # Add any other Stream port you want to expose # - '21:21' # FTP # Uncomment the next line if you uncomment anything in the section # environment: # Uncomment this if you want to change the location of # the SQLite DB file within the container # DB_SQLITE_FILE: "/data/database.sqlite" # Uncomment this if IPv6 is not enabled on your host # DISABLE_IPV6: 'true' volumes: - ./nginxproxymanager/data:/data - ./nginxproxymanager/letsencrypt:/etc/letsencrypt
```
You'll not believe but it's done. NPM docker compose configuration is done.
To start Nginx Proxy Manager with docker compose, you just have to :
docker compose up -d
You'll see :
user@vps:~/tutorials/npm-stack$ docker compose up -d [+] Running 2/2 ✔ Network npm-stack_default Created ✔ Container npm-stack-app-1 Started
You can check if NPM container is started by doing this command :
docker ps
You'll see :
user@vps:~/tutorials/npm-stack$ docker ps CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES 7bc5ea8ac9c8 jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest "/init" About a minute ago Up About a minute 0.0.0.0:80-81->80-81/tcp, :::80-81->80-81/tcp, 0.0.0.0:443->443/tcp, :::443->443/tcp npm-stack-app-1
If the command show "Up X minutes" for the npm-stack-app-1, you're good to go! You can access to the NPM admin UI by going to http://YourIPAddress:81.You shoud see :
The default NPM login/password are : admin@example.com/changeme .If the login succeed, you should see a popup asking to edit your user by changing your email password :
And your password :
Click on "Save" to finish the login. To verify if NPM is able to request SSL certificates for you, create first a subdomain for the NPM admin UI : Click on "Hosts" and "Proxy Hosts" :
Followed by "Add Proxy Host"
If you want to access the NPM admin UI with https://admin.yourdomain.tld, please set all the parameters like this (I won't explain each parameters) :
Details tab :
SSL tab :
And click on "Save".
NPM will request the SSL certificate "admin.yourdomain.tld" for you.
If you have an erreor message "Internal Error" it's probably because your domaine DNS zone is not configured with an A DNS record pointing to your VPS IP.
Otherwise you should see (my domain is hidden) :
Clicking on the "Source" URL link "admin.yourdomain.tld" will open a pop-up and, surprise, you should see the NPM admin UI with the URL "https://admin.yourdomain.tld" !
If yes, bravo, everything is OK ! 🎇
You know now how to have a subdomain of your domain redirecting to a container web app. In the next blog post, you'll see how to setup a Nostr relay with NPM ;)
Voilààààà
See you soon in another Fractalized story!
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@ 1bc70a01:24f6a411
2023-07-21 12:03:38The concept of value of value is one where information yearns to flow freely, transactions should be voluntary, unlimited and direct. In V4V model, people pay what something is worth to them.
Sounds great. On paper. There are some issues…
Free sucks
At least, that’s the perception. People don’t assign much value to free. Ask anyone who has ever ran any business and has not suggested a value for a product or service and they’ll tell you that they earned far less than when charging for the thing.
It’s true, some people will give a lot, some a little, and most none. Most - none. None.
Pricing is Signal
Pricing is a signal of desirability and quality. Of course, it is often incorrect and people manipulate pricing all the time. But for the most part, people don’t see much value in free. Unless a recommended price is offered, people will usually pay nothing. This is not a great model to thrive on if you spend years of your life acquiring knowledge and turning it into products that nobody ultimately buys. I have very personal experience with free. I’ve created and sold digital products and ran many pricing experiments myself. The highest priced products usually generated the most revenue. Surprise! The middle cost product (same product, just priced less) decimated the revenue stream. When set to 0 (even with a suggested minimum price), I generated almost no revenue at all.
None of this is surprising. Pricing acts as a psychological anchor. “You get what you pay for” is ingrained in our brains whether we think about it or not.
People are clueless
The issue with price is that most people don’t have a clue what anything is worth. The only time people have any rough idea of what they should pay for something is when they have already purchased that thing in the past. But, introduce something they have never before purchased and they won’t have a single clue about what to pay. Take for example a set of professional photos of you and your family. Unless you’ve been to a photo studio in the last 5 years, you probably won’t have a single clue what that package of photos is worth. Does that mean the product is worthless? Of course not, but people don’t know what to pay.
In a value for value model, the absence of price makes it super difficult to determine the value of anything. You may take some social cues from previous payments from other people, but this could backfire for the content creator.
Suppose I created a UI framework that saved developers hundreds of hours. In theory, I should be able to charge at least a few hours’ worth of value for this product. If the developer’s time is valued at $100/hour, a $200 price for a product that saves you $2000 worth of time seems very justifiable. Not only do you get to use it once, but you can re-use the product for ALL future projects and employment.
Now, remove the price and see what people pay. Absolutely nothing. You may have a few people who pay $200 voluntarily, but it’s highly unlikely The vast majority will pay nothing, and some may “tip” in the 5-$60 range. Anything that approaches a $100 mark is seen as a purchase. Hey, I don’t make the rules, I just see what other founders have figured out long ago and combine with my own observations. Don’t kill the messenger.
Free is Expensive
If I am accurate in my assessment and recall my personal experiences accurately, then the majority of people who consume your value will do so for free. When that content is a product, you may end up spending a lot of time on supporting the thing that is not generating any revenue. You don’t want to be rude and ignore people so you’ll probably spend your valuable time answering questions and helping them troubleshoot issues. All of that time adds up. Startup founders who offer free tiers or near free tiers of services learn very quickly that free customers are the most painful and demanding. You are basically forced to charge just to avoid dealing with demanding people who expect everything for nothing.
Free is Noise
Price is not just a request for value, but it acts as a feedback signal for future content. If you have no idea what people are paying for, it’s difficult to know if what you create is worth anything. A situation where the vast majority of your content is consumed for free yield a lot of noise.
Well, why not focus on the people who pay? You certainly could, but it ends up being a tiny fraction of the sample size you could have had if you actually charged something up front.
Lack of forecasting
Businesses rely on predictible revenue. Forecasting is necessary for all sorts of decisions if you work with anyone but yourself. It helps with purchasing decision (expenses) and with planning of future products. Value for value makes it impossible to know what your revenue will be next month as you just have no idea if everyone pays nothing or a lot.
V4V could make you uncompetitive
In a model where one person charges a fixed price and the other is relying on the good will of the people to "see the value" in their work, the person with predictible revenue will most likely win out in a competitive environment - enabling them to get ahead of you and your business. They will have an easier time planning further content / products and hiring people to scale the business even further.
It’s not all hopeless
That’s not to say that I don’t like the idea of value for value. Of course I only want people to pay if they find the thing useful. The issue is that people may not know the thing is useful until they’ve already acquired it. At that point who is going back to pay for the thing they already got for free? Few to none.
Value for value may work. For some.
I’m not saying value for value doesn’t work sometimes, for some people. It is entirely possible that a person earns a living on v4v transactions. However, I think for that to be true there may be other factors at play such as social standing, personal brand, influence, likability, status within a community. The vast majority of creators do not fall into this category and will just struggle.
I’m cautiously optimistic about V4V and hope it works out at scale. But as it stands, I have not seen much evidence that it actually pays the bills. Yes, there has been some support for podcasts on Fountain, but it is unclear whether it is just as or more significant than traditional transaction model.
“Information is not scarce” is irrelevant
There’s some notion that information yearns to be free and cannot be scarce by nature. I think this may be a false argument from the start. When we purchase digital things, we are not paying for scarcity - it’s totally irrelevant. We pay for the experience and the feeling we get from that thing. In fact, the same is probably true for physical products (with the added benefit of personal sustenance). I don’t go into the grocery store to buy a dinner and fork over the money because it’s scarce. I pay because I’m hungry. There’s utility and there’s pleasure and fulfillment. If I’m having a dinner with friends, there’s also fun. Unless I am totally misunderstanding the argument, I’m not sure how it applies.
In Summary
- Value 4 value may work at scale, but remains to be seen
- It could be great fun money but not serious enough to pay the bills (for most of us)
- Sounds good on paper but we humans have our own ways of thinking about value and what it's worth
- May work well for people who build a personal brand or have status in a community
As always I look forward to your thoughts. Let me know if I’m overlooking something or should consider some point of view in more depth.
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@ fa6afdb4:aee9b046
2023-07-21 07:12:56Running can be considered a form of prayer by individuals who find spiritual or meditative experiences while engaging in this physical activity. While running is primarily a physical exercise, many people find that it offers a unique opportunity to connect with themselves, nature, or a higher power. Here are a few ways in which running can be viewed as a form of prayer:
Mindfulness & Meditation
Running provides an opportunity to enter a state of mindfulness and meditation. As you focus on your breath, the rhythm of your footsteps, and the sensations in your body, you can enter a state of deep concentration and awareness. This focused attention can bring a sense of peace and tranquillity, similar to the state achieved during prayer or meditation.
Connection with Nature
Running outdoors allows you to immerse yourself in the natural world. The sights, sounds, and smells of nature can evoke a sense of wonder and awe, fostering a feeling of connection to something greater than oneself. Many people find solace and inspiration in nature, using their time running to appreciate the beauty around them and feel a spiritual connection.
Self-Reflection & Introspection
Running can be a time for introspection and self-reflection. During a run, you have an opportunity to detach from the noise and distractions of daily life, providing space for introspective thoughts and self-exploration. This can be a time to contemplate your beliefs, seek guidance, or express gratitude, which are also common aspects of prayer.
Physical Discipline & Offering
Some individuals view running as a physical discipline and a way to offer their efforts and achievements to a higher power. By pushing through physical challenges, they perceive it as a form of dedication, sacrifice, or penance to their faith or spiritual beliefs. Running becomes a means of honouring their body and spirit.
Prayer in Motion
For some, running becomes a dynamic form of prayer, where the rhythmic movement of the body becomes an embodied expression of devotion, surrender, or supplication. With each step, they may offer intentions, prayers, or affirmations, using the physical act of running to channel their energy and connect with their spiritual beliefs.
It’s important to note that the interpretation of running as a form of prayer can vary depending on an individual’s personal beliefs and experiences. For some, running may not hold any spiritual significance, while for others, it can be a deeply profound and sacred practice. Ultimately, the connection between running and prayer is subjective and personal to each individual.
—
This article was generated with the help of an AI language model.
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@ ef4079ed:0f9196ff
2023-07-21 05:11:32If Inglish had Funetik Speling
One of my favorite podcasts is The History of English Podcast, and one fascinating thread of the story is all the myriad ways in which English spelling ended up up in its current highly irregular state. There is no one reason, but layers of complexity that built up over the centuries as the spoken language continued to evolve.
Wun uv miy fayverit podcasts iz Thu Histeree uv Inglish Pawdkast, and wun fasunayting thred uv thu stawree iz awl thu mireeud wayz in which Inglish speling endud up up in its kerunt hiylee iregyuler stayt. Ther iz noe wun reezun, but layerz uv kumpleksitee that bilt up oever thu senchereez az thu spoekun langgwuj kuntinyood too ivaalv.
What if English spelling had the same property as some other languages, such as Spanish, where the spelling follows directly from the pronunciation?
Whut if Inglish speling had thu saym praapertee az sum uther langgwujuz, such az Spanish, wher thu speling faaloez derektlee frum thu proenunseeayshun?
In an attempt to answer that question that I created a phonetic spelling system for English. To see what it looks like, see the interspersed paragraphs in this article which repeats the previous paragraphs, but with the phonetic respelling.
In an utempt too anser that kweschun that IY kreeaytud u funetik speling sistum fer Inglish. Too see whut it luhks liyk, see thu intersperst parugrafs in this aartikul which ripeets thu preeveeus parugrafs, but with thu funetik respelling.
I wrote a Phonate library to do this. It considers English to have 40 phonemes, 15 of them vowels, and maps each phoneme to one or two letters. See the table of phonemes and spellings in the README with the source code which shows how Phonate library does this.
IY roet u Phonate liybreree too doo this. It kunsiderz Inglish too hav 40 foeneemz, 15 uv them vouulz, and maps eech foeneem too wun er too leterz. See thu taybul uv foeneemz and spelingz in thu README with thu sawrs koed which shoez hou Phonate liybreree duz this.
Some things to note about this spelling scheme:
Sum thingz too noet ubout this speling skeem:
- It does not use any letters that do not exist in English (in fact it drops two, q and x, as being redundant).
- It does not use any accents on characters.
- It tries to use the most common existing English spelling for each phoneme, except where that leads to ambiguity or conflicts.
- It duz naat yoos enee leterz that doo naat igzist in Inglish (in fakt it draaps too, kyoo and eks, az beeing ridundunt).
- It duz naat yoos enee aksents aan karikterz.
- It triyz too yoos thu moest kaamun igzisting Inglish speling fer eech foeneem, iksept wher that leedz too ambigyooutee er kunflikts.
Note, the spelling being phonetic means that all words that sound the same are pronounced the same, for example in the sentence "I want to have two chocolates too".
Noet, thu speling beeing funetik meenz that awl werdz that sound thu saym aar prunounst thu saym, fer igzampul in thu sentuns "IY waant too hav too chawkluts too".
I'm not sure if this is actually useful, given that clearly people are not going to change how they spell English. Maybe it has some use in learning English, being used as a pronunciation guide that is more readable to most people than the phonetic symbols sometimes used in dictionaries.
Iym naat shuhr if this iz akchlee yoosful, givun that klirlee peepul aar naat goeing too chaynj hou thay spel Inglish. Maybee it haz sum yoos in lerning Inglish, beeing yoozd az u proenunseeayshun giyd that iz mawr reedubul too moest peepul than thu funetik simbulz sumtiymz yoozd in dikshunereez.
If you want to try this out yourself, you can try the online converter.
If yoo waant too triy this out yerself, yoo kan triy thu awnliyn kunverter.
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@ 72f97555:e0870ff3
2023-07-21 04:20:44We’ve watched them come and go: social networking attempts like Mastodon (Activity Pub), Blue Sky, and recently, Threads. They’ve begun to follow what feels very much like a pattern. First basic functionality is built out, then there’s a crisis of some sort on mainstream social media, then there’s a population explosion on the new social network, people quickly become disillusioned, then a population collapse. It can be very tempting, while watching these networks explode their user bases into the millions overnight, to wish for that for ourselves on Nostr. I do not. In fact, I believe this sudden explosive growth is partially responsible for the inevitable decline and collapse of these attempted “replacements” for any of the big corporately owned networks. Social networks don’t fail due to technology issues - they fail because of social issues.
Culture Matters
When people exodus a media platform en masse, they bring their culture with them. Their expectations of the types of content they want to interact with, the ways they intend to behave, and the ways they engage with others. These patterns are influenced by two factors in mainstream social: moderation, and tradition. - Moderation forms the culture in a top-down way, by establishing the limits of what kind of content will be acceptable on the platform. Platforms with relatively loose moderation policies will tend to attract people that diverge from established norms of behavior, more than those who typically conform. - Tradition also informs culture in unique ways for each platform - the things that are easiest to find, provoke an emotional response, and are easy to share tend to dominate. - Functionality also plays a role, albeit a lesser one, but one that tends to form the unique humor of a platform. Reddit is a fine example of this with its long threads of puns, each one building on the previous post. Hell threads on other platforms are another example. The problem arises because new platforms rarely meet the expectations of another culture formed on another platform. Functionality will be different in subtle but important ways, and the early adopters of the new platform will be interested in different topics. This is very true on Nostr, where posts are rewarded specifically for quality - a metric that is very difficult to quantify, but any long-time user can identify - and an overabundant quantity of posts is more likely to get you muted than followed.
Assimilation Matters
When users slowly trickle their way into a new platform, they are more inclined to ask questions, and attempt to understand the existing culture. They are the “new kid on the block” and will be more apt to seek feedback if they truly desire to achieve any sort of success. They then add the unique qualities of their personality to this information, and contribute something new to the culture, while still being a part of it. When a large group of users joins all at once, they bring their own connections with them. When the group joining dwarfs the existing user base, they have less motivation to seek advice on how to best utilize the platform to its fullest potential, expecting that they will be able to continue connecting and communicating with their existing contacts in the same way they always have. This will inevitably lead to frustration when the new platform does not provide them with the same success that they had on the former platform - leading to the inevitable conclusion that the “new Twitter (or Facebook, Instagram, et al.)” is not as good as the old one. And so we watch the tides of users go in and out, leaving old platforms in frustration for new ones, only to become equally frustrated with their inability to communicate and reach an audience as effectively as they used to, and returning to the old platform, or seeking yet greener pastures.
Stability Matters
Sudden growth causes sudden problems. Both Mastodon and Blue Sky encountered major issues that they were not prepared to handle, and handled badly. Mastodon operators found themselves facing enormous hosting bills, and Blue Sky faces serious obstacles in keeping their promises to provide a “safe” environment with the influx of new users. A slow, steady growth model allows the operators of services to face problems in a more measured way, and to build out both infrastructure and content tools to allow users to have a pleasant experience. It is less likely to take an otherwise major contributor to a project, and make them “tap out” due to rising costs, frustrated users, and a constant crisis mindset. Nostr is a distributed network, and has amazing potential for horizontal scaling. Even if one in ten-thousand users who onboards onto Nostr decides to run a relay, the network will be in good shape. Content distribution can be handled in a large number of ways - it isn’t tied fundamentally to the protocol itself - which allows many different providers to be used, and new ways of handling content to be built. But creating those relay operators and content hosts out of newbies takes time. A truly educated relay admin capable of handling the job of maintaining a secure and reliable relay takes weeks or days at best, assuming they are already familiar with similar tasks. Adding 10 million users overnight - the way Threads did - is likely to swamp existing providers before new providers have time to step in a fill the gap. Which would also have the effect of chilling user experience. There is a lot of new terminology and capability to take in when joining Nostr. For the mainstream person, they are going to have to learn about: cryptographic keys, Nostr Addresses (NIP-05), Lightning Wallets, Zaps and by proxy Bitcoin, and eventually Lists, Relay Management, Paid Relays, how to find content, moderate their own feed, and more. Right now, Nostr is doing an excellent job of answering those questions and educating users on the new terminology and techniques because the flow is small and steady with a few bursts.
The Tortoise and The Hare
I truly believe that the success of Nostr will be in no small part because it is growing steadily instead of all at once. Every user onboarded correctly adds to the army of people ready to help welcome the next little wave of people who learn about the decentralized and censorship resistant qualities of Nostr. These individuals are also given the time to become part of a kinder social group than is typically found on social media, and learn to truly become productive and successful as true Nostriches rather than just transplants from another place.
And that is truly the magic isn’t it? People don’t just move to Nostr, they become Nostriches. They become part of a real community, and they belong with us. We take refugees from other social media sites, and don’t leave them refugees. I think that’s beautiful and worth slowing down to do.
I don’t look to the short term for Nostr - I’m bullish for Nostr in the long haul. We are building to still be here after the others have already burnt themselves away. It reminds me of my home country:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
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@ 72f97555:e0870ff3
2023-07-21 04:18:38We’ve watched them come and go: social networking attempts like Mastodon (Activity Pub), Blue Sky, and recently, Threads. They’ve begun to follow what feels very much like a pattern. First basic functionality is built out, then there’s a crisis of some sort on mainstream social media, then there’s a population explosion on the new social network, people quickly become disillusioned, then a population collapse. It can be very tempting, while watching these networks explode their user bases into the millions overnight, to wish for that for ourselves on Nostr. I do not. In fact, I believe this sudden explosive growth is partially responsible for the inevitable decline and collapse of these attempted “replacements” for any of the big corporately owned networks. Social networks don’t fail due to technology issues - they fail because of social issues.
Culture Matters
When people exodus a media platform en masse, they bring their culture with them. Their expectations of the types of content they want to interact with, the ways they intend to behave, and the ways they engage with others. These patterns are influenced by two factors in mainstream social: moderation, and tradition. - Moderation forms the culture in a top-down way, by establishing the limits of what kind of content will be acceptable on the platform. Platforms with relatively loose moderation policies will tend to attract people that diverge from established norms of behavior, more than those who typically conform. - Tradition also informs culture in unique ways for each platform - the things that are easiest to find, provoke an emotional response, and are easy to share tend to dominate. - Functionality also plays a role, albeit a lesser one, but one that tends to form the unique humor of a platform. Reddit is a fine example of this with its long threads of puns, each one building on the previous post. Hell threads on other platforms are another example. The problem arises because new platforms rarely meet the expectations of another culture formed on another platform. Functionality will be different in subtle but important ways, and the early adopters of the new platform will be interested in different topics. This is very true on Nostr, where posts are rewarded specifically for quality - a metric that is very difficult to quantify, but any long-time user can identify - and an overabundant quantity of posts is more likely to get you muted than followed.
Assimilation Matters
When users slowly trickle their way into a new platform, they are more inclined to ask questions, and attempt to understand the existing culture. They are the “new kid on the block” and will be more apt to seek feedback if they truly desire to achieve any sort of success. They then add the unique qualities of their personality to this information, and contribute something new to the culture, while still being a part of it. When a large group of users joins all at once, they bring their own connections with them. When the group joining dwarfs the existing user base, they have less motivation to seek advice on how to best utilize the platform to its fullest potential, expecting that they will be able to continue connecting and communicating with their existing contacts in the same way they always have. This will inevitably lead to frustration when the new platform does not provide them with the same success that they had on the former platform - leading to the inevitable conclusion that the “new Twitter (or Facebook, Instagram, et al.)” is not as good as the old one. And so we watch the tides of users go in and out, leaving old platforms in frustration for new ones, only to become equally frustrated with their inability to communicate and reach an audience as effectively as they used to, and returning to the old platform, or seeking yet greener pastures.
Stability Matters
Sudden growth causes sudden problems. Both Mastodon and Blue Sky encountered major issues that they were not prepared to handle, and handled badly. Mastodon operators found themselves facing enormous hosting bills, and Blue Sky faces serious obstacles in keeping their promises to provide a “safe” environment with the influx of new users. A slow, steady growth model allows the operators of services to face problems in a more measured way, and to build out both infrastructure and content tools to allow users to have a pleasant experience. It is less likely to take an otherwise major contributor to a project, and make them “tap out” due to rising costs, frustrated users, and a constant crisis mindset. Nostr is a distributed network, and has amazing potential for horizontal scaling. Even if one in ten-thousand users who onboards onto Nostr decides to run a relay, the network will be in good shape. Content distribution can be handled in a large number of ways - it isn’t tied fundamentally to the protocol itself - which allows many different providers to be used, and new ways of handling content to be built. But creating those relay operators and content hosts out of newbies takes time. A truly educated relay admin capable of handling the job of maintaining a secure and reliable relay takes weeks or days at best, assuming they are already familiar with similar tasks. Adding 10 million users overnight - the way Threads did - is likely to swamp existing providers before new providers have time to step in a fill the gap. Which would also have the effect of chilling user experience. There is a lot of new terminology and capability to take in when joining Nostr. For the mainstream person, they are going to have to learn about: cryptographic keys, Nostr Addresses (NIP-05), Lightning Wallets, Zaps and by proxy Bitcoin, and eventually Lists, Relay Management, Paid Relays, how to find content, moderate their own feed, and more. Right now, Nostr is doing an excellent job of answering those questions and educating users on the new terminology and techniques because the flow is small and steady with a few bursts.
The Tortoise and The Hare
I truly believe that the success of Nostr will be in no small part because it is growing steadily instead of all at once. Every user onboarded correctly adds to the army of people ready to help welcome the next little wave of people who learn about the decentralized and censorship resistant qualities of Nostr. These individuals are also given the time to become part of a kinder social group than is typically found on social media, and learn to truly become productive and successful as true Nostriches rather than just transplants from another place.
And that is truly the magic isn’t it? People don’t just move to Nostr, they become Nostriches. They become part of a real community, and they belong with us. We take refugees from other social media sites, and don’t leave them refugees. I think that’s beautiful and worth slowing down to do.
I don’t look to the short term for Nostr - I’m bullish for Nostr in the long haul. We are building to still be here after the others have already burnt themselves away. It reminds me of my home country:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
~ TheSameCat
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@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2023-07-21 03:03:51Table Of Content
- Understanding Bitcoin Halving
- The Pre-Halving Pattern
- First Halving: 2012
- Second Halving: 2016
- Third Halving: 2020
- Looking Ahead: The 2024 Halving
- Notable Factors Influencing the Pre-Halving Rally
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Understanding Bitcoin Halving
Before delving into the pre-halving pattern, it's crucial to understand the nature of Bitcoin halving events. Halving is a feature programmed into Bitcoin's protocol by its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, designed to control inflation. Every 210,000 blocks mined, or approximately every four years, the reward for mining new blocks is halved. This means the number of new Bitcoins entering circulation is reduced, effectively limiting the supply.
The Pre-Halving Pattern
Historically, Bitcoin's price has shown a tendency to rise in the months leading up to a halving event. The anticipation of a reduced supply combined with steady or increasing demand creates a bullish sentiment among investors, pushing the price upwards.
First Halving: 2012
The first halving occurred in November 2012, when the reward for miners dropped from 50 BTC to 25 BTC. The months leading up to the halving saw a steady increase in price, culminating in a significant rise following the event.
Second Halving: 2016
In July 2016, Bitcoin experienced its second halving event, reducing the mining reward to 12.5 BTC. Once again, the market witnessed a similar pattern - a steady rise before the halving, followed by a much larger rally afterward.
Third Halving: 2020
In May 2020, the third halving took place, reducing the reward to 6.25 BTC. This halving was notably different due to the unprecedented global situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the same pattern emerged, with a pre-halving rally and an all-time high about a year and a half after the event.
Looking Ahead: The 2024 Halving
As we approach the next halving, due in 2024, the pattern appears to be repeating. Bitcoin's price has been on an upward trend, stoking speculation that an all-time high could be on the horizon. This optimism is rooted not just in historical patterns, but also in growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.
Notable Factors Influencing the Pre-Halving Rally
Supply and Demand Dynamics
As the halving reduces the reward for mining, fewer new Bitcoins enter the market. If demand remains steady or increases, this scarcity can drive up the price.
Market Sentiment
The anticipation of the halving event and the potential for price increases often lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, with investors buying in anticipation of a rally.
Institutional Adoption
Growing interest and investment from institutional players like banks and hedge funds have contributed to increased demand, further driving the pre-halving rally.
Conclusion
As the clock ticks closer to the next Bitcoin halving, the market seems poised for a significant move. Historical patterns point towards a potential all-time high, fueled by the interplay of supply and demand dynamics, bullish market sentiment, and increasing institutional adoption. However, investors must tread with caution, understanding the inherent risks involved in this highly speculative market.
FAQ
What is Bitcoin Halving?
Bitcoin Halving is an event that occurs approximately every four years, where the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks is halved. It's a mechanism implemented by Bitcoin's creator to control inflation.
What is the pre-halving pattern?
The pre-halving pattern refers to the observed trend of Bitcoin's price increasing in the months leading up to a halving event. This trend has been seen around all previous halvings.
Does Bitcoin Halving guarantee a price increase?
While historical patterns show a price increase around halving events, it's crucial to remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results. The crypto market is highly volatile and influenced by many different factors.
When is the next Bitcoin Halving?
The next halving is expected to occur in April or May 2024,
What factors influence the pre-halving rally?
Key factors include supply and demand dynamics, market sentiment, and increased institutional adoption of Bitcoin.
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2023-07-21 01:51:34Is light really a constant? In this blog post by Adam Malin we theorize about redshift caused not by expanding space, but by changes in zero point energy field over cosmic time
I was inspired to write this post after reading a paper written in 2010 by Barry Setterfield called Zero Point Energy and the Redshift. If you want a very deep dive into this concept, I recommend you check it out. Here is the link.
I recently read an intriguing paper that puts forth an alternative explanation for the redshift we observe from distant galaxies. This paper, published in 2010 by Barry Setterfield, proposes that redshift may be caused by changes over time in the zero point energy (ZPE) field permeating space, rather than cosmic expansion. In this post, I'll summarize the key points of this theory and how it challenges the conventional framework.
An important distinction arises between Stochastic Electrodynamics (SED) and the more mainstream Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) framework. SED models the zero point field as a real, random electromagnetic field that interacts with matter, possessing observable physical effects. In contrast, QED considers virtual particles and zero point energy as mathematical constructs that do not directly impact physical systems. The zero point energy discussed in this proposed mechanism builds upon the SED perspective of modeling the quantum vacuum as a dynamic background field that can exchange energy with matter. SED provides a means to quantitatively analyze the redshift effects hypothetically caused by changes in the zero point field over cosmic time.
The standard model of cosmology attributes redshift to the Doppler effect - light from distant galaxies is stretched to longer wavelengths due to those galaxies receding away from us as space expands. Setterfield's paper argues that the data actually better supports a model where the speed of light was higher in the early universe and has decayed over time. This would cause older light from farther galaxies to be progressively more redshifted as it travels through space and time.
Setterfield cites historical measurements of the speed of light by scientists like R.T. Birge that showed systematic decreases over time, contrary to our modern assumption of constancy. He argues that while experimental improvements have reduced uncertainties, residual trends remain even in recent high-precision measurements.
A key part of Setterfield's proposed mechanism is that the ZPE interacts with subatomic particles to give them mass and stabilize atomic orbits. As the ZPE has increased in strength over cosmic history, it has caused a contraction in electron orbits within atoms. This results in electron transitions emitting bluer light over time. Thus, looking out into space is looking back to earlier epochs with weaker ZPE and redder light.
This theory raises some thought-provoking questions. For instance, have we misinterpreted redshift as definitive evidence for an expanding universe? Might a static universe with slowing clocks account for observations we attribute to dark matter and dark energy? However, changing existing scientific paradigms is extremely challenging. Let's examine some potential counterarguments:
- The constancy of the speed of light is a fundamental pillar of modern physics backed by extensive experimental verification. This theory would require overturning tremendous empirical support. Setterfield argues that Lorentz and others kept an open mind to variations in c early on. While unexpected, new evidence could prompt another evolution in perspective.
- The current Lambda-CDM cosmological model based on general relativity matches a wide array of observations and predicts phenomena like the cosmic microwave background. But it also has issues like the need for speculative dark matter and dark energy. An alternate cosmology with varying c may provide a simpler unifying explanation.
- Astrophysical observations like supernova brightness curves seem to confirm expanding space. But these interpretations assume constancy of c and other principles that this hypothesis challenges. The cosmic microwave background, for instance, could potentially be re-interpreted as a cosmological redshift of earlier light.
Read more from Adam Malin at habitus.blog.
Adam Malin
You can find me on Twitter or on Nostr at
npub15jnttpymeytm80hatjqcvhhqhzrhx6gxp8pq0wn93rhnu8s9h9dsha32lx
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2023-07-21 01:44:57The French sociologist and philosopher Jean Baudrillard offered profound critiques of modern society, technology, media and consumer culture through his work. Often associated with postmodernism and post-structuralism, Baudrillard challenged established notions of truth, reality and the power dynamics between humans and the systems they create.
In this blog post, we'll explore some of Baudrillard's most notable concepts and theories to understand his influential perspectives on the contemporary world.
Simulacra and Simulation
One of Baudrillard's most well-known works is "Simulacra and Simulation." In the book, Baudrillard argues that our society has replaced reality and meaning with symbols, images and signs that he calls “simulacra.”
He believed human experience is now a simulation of reality rather than reality itself. Unlike simple imitations or distortions of reality, simulacra have no connection to any tangible reality. They are mere representations that come to define our perception of existence.
To illustrate this concept, Baudrillard outlined three “orders” of simulacra:
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First Order: Copies or imitations that maintain a clear link to the original, like photographs.
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Second Order: Distortions of reality that mask the absence of an original, like heavily edited advertising images.
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Third Order: Simulations with no original referent that become “hyperreal,” like video game worlds.
Per Baudrillard, much of postmodern culture is made up of third-order simulacra. Media representations and simulations hold more meaning than reality, creating a “hyperreality” driven by consumerism and spectacle.
Hyperreality
Building on his theory of simulacra, Baudrillard introduced the concept of “hyperreality” to describe how representations and simulations have come to replace and blur boundaries with reality.
In hyperreality, the lines between real life and fictional worlds become seamless. Media, technology and advertising dominate our perception of reality, constructing a simulated world that appears more real and appealing than actual reality.
For example, the carefully curated lives presented on social media often appear more significant than people’s daily lived experiences. Additionally, idealized representations of reality presented in movies, TV and advertising shape our expectations in ways that real life cannot match.
According to Baudrillard, we increasingly interact with these fabricated representations and hyperreal signs over direct experiences of reality. The simulations and models come to define, mediate and construct our understanding of the world.
Consumer Society
In “The Consumer Society,” Baudrillard argues that traditional institutions like family, work and religion are losing significance to the prevailing values and rituals of consumerism.
Rather than simply meeting needs, consumption has become a defining way of life, shaping identities and social belonging. Non-essential consumer goods and experiences drive the quest for happiness, novelty and status.
Baudrillard notes that consumer society fosters a constant pressure to consume more through an endless pursuit of new products, trends and experiences. This “treadmill of consumption” fuels perpetual dissatisfaction and desire.
Additionally, he highlights how objects take on symbolic value and meaning within consumer culture. A luxury car, for example, denotes wealth and status beyond its functional utility.
Overall, Baudrillard presents a critical perspective on consumerism, showing how it has come to dominate modern society on psychological and cultural levels beyond simple economic exchange.
Symbolic Exchange
In contrast to the materialistic values of consumer society, Baudrillard proposes the concept of “symbolic exchange” based on the exchange of meanings rather than commodities.
He suggests symbolic exchange has more power than material transactions in structuring society. However, modern culture has lost touch with the traditional symbolic exchanges around fundamental existential themes like mortality.
By marginalizing death and pursuing endless progress, Baudrillard argues that society loses balance and restraint. This denial leads to excessive consumption and constant pursuit of unattainable fulfillment.
Fatal Strategies
Baudrillard’s theory of “fatal strategies” contends that various systems like technology and consumerism can take on lives of their own and turn against their creators.
Through proliferation and exaggeration, these systems exceed human control and impose their own logic and consequences. For instance, while meant to be tools serving human needs, technologies can shape behavior and exert control in unanticipated ways.
Baudrillard saw this reversal, where the object dominates the subject who created it, as an impending “fatal” danger of various systems reaching a state of autonomous excess.
This provides a cautionary perspective on modern society’s faith in perpetual progress through technology and constant economic growth.
Conclusion
Through groundbreaking theories like simulation, hyperreality and symbolic exchange, Jean Baudrillard provided deep critiques of modern society, consumer culture, media and technology. His work dismantles assumptions about reality, history and human agency vs. systemic control.
Baudrillard prompts critical reflection about the cultural, psychological and philosophical implications of postmodern society. His lasting influence encourages re-examining our relationships with consumerism, technology and media to navigate the complex intricacies of the contemporary world.
Read more from Adam Malin at habitus.blog.
Adam Malin
You can find me on Twitter or on Nostr at
npub15jnttpymeytm80hatjqcvhhqhzrhx6gxp8pq0wn93rhnu8s9h9dsha32lx
value4value Did you find any value from this article? Click here to send me a tip!
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2023-07-21 01:22:42A comprehensive exploration of Metamodernism, its principles and influences across art, design, music, politics, and technology. This piece delves into how Metamodernism paves the way for a future that harmonizes grand narratives and individual nuances, and how it could shape the cultural, economic, and digital landscape of the future.
Introduction
Welcome to the metamodern era. A time where we find ourselves caught in the flux of digital revolution, cultural shifts, and a rekindling of grand narratives, all while still
As an artist, I find myself standing at the crossroads of these cultural and technological shifts, with Metamodernism serving as my compass. I'd like to share my thoughts, experiences, and observations on what Metamodernism is, and how I believe it will shape our future.
This journey began as an exploration into the potential future of graphic design, taking cues from an evolving cultural paradigm. I quickly realized that Metamodernism was not just about creating compelling visual narratives, but it had potential to influence every aspect of our lives, from politics and technology to our individual experiences and collective narratives.
Metamodernism, in essence, is about balancing the best of what came before – the grand narratives and optimism of modernism, and the skepticism and relativism of postmodernism – while forging ahead to create a new, coherent cultural reality.
So let's embark on this journey together to understand the metamodern era and its impact on our culture, our technology, and our art. Let's delve into Metamodernism.
Understanding Postmodernism and Metamodernism
To appreciate the metamodern, we must first unpack the concept of postmodernism. Rooted in skepticism, postmodernism came into being as a reaction to modernism’s perceived failures. Where modernism sought universality, believing in grand narratives and objective truths, postmodernism reveled in fragmentation and the subjective nature of reality. It questioned our institutions, our ideologies, and our grand narratives, challenging the very structure upon which our society was built.
However, as we moved deeper into the postmodern era, a palpable sense of fatigue began to set in. The endless questioning, the constant fragmentation, and the cynical deconstruction of everything began to take a toll. While postmodernism provided valuable insights into the limitations of modernist thinking, it also left us feeling disconnected and adrift in a sea of relativism and irony.
This is where Metamodernism steps in. As the cultural pendulum swings back from the fragmentation of postmodernism, it does not return us to the naive grand narratives of modernism. Instead, Metamodernism synthesizes these seemingly contradictory ideologies, embracing both the skepticism of the postmodern and the optimism of the modern.
In essence, Metamodernism is a search for meaning and unity that still acknowledges and respects the complexity of individual experience. It recognizes the value in both grand narratives and personal stories, aspiring to create a more cohesive cultural discourse.
The metamodern era is a new dawn that challenges us to be both skeptical and hopeful, to engage in dialogue and debate, and to harness the opportunities that lie ahead. It's not about choosing between the grand narrative and the individual, but rather finding a way to harmoniously integrate both.
Metamodernism in Politics
In recent years, we've seen political movements around the world that embody the elements of Metamodernism. On one hand, there's a call for a return to grand narratives and nostalgia for perceived better times, while on the other, there's a desire to dissolve hierarchical structures and traditional norms in favor of individual freedom and recognition.
A case in point is the political era marked by the rise of Donald Trump in the United States. Trump's slogan, "Make America Great Again," was a nod to the modernist ideal of a grand narrative - a return to American exceptionalism. It was an appeal to a past time when things were, as perceived by some, better.
Meanwhile, reactions on the left have taken a different trajectory. Movements to decentralize power, break down traditional norms, and encourage more individual subjectivity echoing postmodern sentiments.
Metamodernism enables us to interpret these political movements from a fresh perspective. It does not discard the grand narrative nor does it plunge into fragmentation. Instead, it presents a narrative of balance and synthesis, oscillating between the modernist and postmodernist perspectives, and offering a way forward that is nuanced, respectful of individual experiences, and yet oriented toward a shared goal for the culture and people.
In the realm of politics, the metamodern era isn't about swinging to one extreme or another. Instead, it suggests a way to reconcile the polarity and move forward, synthesizing the best of both perspectives into a more nuanced, inclusive future. This is the metamodern political landscape, complex and dynamic, where grand narratives and individual stories coexist and inform one another.
The Metamodernist Canvas in Graphic Design
Now, let's look at the impact of Metamodernism on graphic design, a realm where I live and breathe every day. Here, Metamodernism offers a fresh perspective, providing a way to express the complexity of the world we live in and creating a narrative that is both universal and individual.
Traditional graphic design was about simplicity and clarity. It was built on the modernist principles of functionalism and minimalism, where form follows function. Postmodern design, however, sought to question these principles, embracing complexity, contradiction, and the power of the image.
As a graphic designer in the metamodern era, I find myself torn between these two extremes. On one hand, I appreciate the clarity and simplicity of modernist design. On the other, I am captivated by the dynamism and complexity of postmodern aesthetics.
The solution, I believe, lies in the synthesis offered by Metamodernism. Metamodernist design does not reject the past, but rather builds on it. It blends the simplicity of modern design with the vibrancy of postmodern aesthetics, creating something that is both familiar and fresh.
The Metamodernist canvas is a space where contrasting ideas can coexist and inform each other. It is a space where the universal and the individual intersect, creating narratives that resonate on multiple levels. It is a space where design can play a role in building a more cohesive and well integrated society.
The challenge for designers in the metamodern era is to create designs that reflect this complexity and nuance, designs that speak to both the individual and the collective, designs that challenge, inspire, and unite. It's a tall order, but it's a challenge that, as designers, we are ready and excited to embrace.
Liminal Spaces and the Visual Language of Metamodernism
A pivotal concept within the Metamodernist philosophy is that of the "liminal space" - an in-between space, where transformation occurs. These spaces, often associated with uncertainty, dislocation, and transition, have become particularly poignant in recent times as we grappled with the global impact of COVID-19.
Within this context, we've all had a shared experience of liminality. Offices, parks, and public spaces - once bustling with activity - suddenly became eerily quiet and deserted. These images have since been ingrained in our collective memory, symbolizing a profound shift in our way of life.
From a visual perspective, these liminal spaces offer a unique canvas to create Metamodernist narratives. Picture a 3D render of an empty office space, serving as a backdrop for a fusion of past and future aesthetics, where classical works of art - subtly altered - coexist with modern elements. Consider the emotional impact of a low-resolution Mona Lisa or a melting clock a la Salvador Dalí set against the familiar concrete reality of the modern workspace.
This use of liminal space is not just a stylistic choice. It's a nod to our shared experiences, an acknowledgment of the transitions we are going through as a society. It's a way of showing that while we live in an era of immense change and uncertainty, we are also capable of creating new narratives, of finding beauty in the unfamiliar, and of moving forward together.
The challenge in Metamodernist design is to create a visual language that resonates with our collective experiences, that brings together the past and the future, the familiar and the strange, and that stimulates thought, dialogue, and connection. And that, I believe, is where the true power of Metamodernist design lies.
Metamodernism in Art, Music, and Memes
Just as in politics and graphic design, Metamodernism manifests itself in various facets of culture, from art and music to internet memes. This wide-ranging influence attests to the universality of Metamodernist thinking and its ability to encompass and unify diverse aspects of human experience.
In visual arts, consider Banksy's elusive street art, which often blends irony and sincerity, public space and private sentiment, modern graffiti techniques and traditional painting styles. In music, take the example of Kanye West's album "Jesus is King," which fuses gospel traditions with hip-hop sensibilities, blurring the line between secular and religious, the mainstream and the fringe.
Meanwhile, the internet meme culture, characterized by its oscillation between irony and sincerity, absurdity and poignancy, chaos and order, is perhaps one of the most profound expressions of Metamodernism. Memes like "This is fine," a dog calmly sitting in a burning room, epitomize the Metamodernist spirit by acknowledging the complexities and contradictions of modern life while also seeking to find humor and connection within them.
Even the trend of remixing adult rap with kids shows can be seen as Metamodernist. It juxtaposes the mature themes of rap music with the innocence of children's entertainment, resulting in a work that is both familiar and disorienting, humorous and thought-provoking.
In all these instances, Metamodernist works draw from the past and present, high culture and popular culture, the sacred and the profane, to create experiences that are multilayered, dynamic, and rich in meaning. They acknowledge the complexity and diversity of human experience, yet also aspire to forge connections, provoke thought, and inspire change.
The Rise of Bitcoin and Metamodernist Economics
The rise of Bitcoin - the world's first decentralized digital currency - is a prime example of Metamodernist influence in economics. Bitcoin incorporates elements from both modernist and postmodernist economic theories, yet transcends them by creating a novel economic system that has never been seen before.
On one hand, Bitcoin harks back to the modernist ideal of hard money. It revives the principles of scarcity and predictability that underpinned the gold standard, a system that many believe led to stable, prosperous economies. On the other hand, Bitcoin's design is rooted in postmodern principles of decentralization and disintermediation, disrupting traditional economic hierarchies and structures.
But Bitcoin isn't just a fusion of modern and postmodern economics. It goes a step further by incorporating elements of Metamodernist thinking. Bitcoin's design encourages a sincere, cooperative approach to economic interaction. Its transparent, tamper-proof ledger (blockchain) promotes trust and collaboration, discourages deceit, and enables all participants, no matter how big or small, to verify transactions independently.
Moreover, Bitcoin is a grand narrative in itself - a vision of a world where economic power is not concentrated in the hands of a few, but distributed among many. At the same time, it acknowledges the individuality and diversity of its participants. Each Bitcoin user has a unique address and can transact freely with anyone in the world, without the need for a middleman.
Bitcoin's rise offers a glimpse into what a Metamodernist economic system might look like - one that combines the best aspects of modern and postmodern economics, while also adding a new layer of trust, cooperation, and individual freedom.
The Impact of Urbit and Metamodernist Computing
Urbit symbolizes a compelling manifestation of Metamodernist ideology within the realm of technology. This unique operating system revolutionizes the individual's interaction with the digital world, intrinsically mirroring the principles of Metamodernism.
In contrast to the postmodern complexities that plague the current internet – a web characterized by surveillance capitalism, privacy invasion, and data centralization – Urbit leans towards a modernist vision. It champions the idea of the internet as a streamlined, intuitive tool, but concurrently it envisions something unprecedented: a digital landscape where each user not only owns but is also the infrastructure of their digital identity and data.
The design philosophy of Urbit embodies a characteristic Metamodernist oscillation, as it traverses between elements of the past and the future, the familiar and the uncharted. It embraces the modernist simplicity reminiscent of early computing while concurrently advancing a futuristic concept of a personal server for every individual, in which they possess full sovereignty over their digital existence.
Urbit’s operating system and its unique programming language, Nock and Hoon, employ a Kelvin versioning system. This system is designed to decrement towards zero instead of incrementing upwards, epitomizing the modernist pursuit of perfection and simplicity. Once the protocol reaches zero, it signifies that an ideal state has been achieved, and no further changes will be required. This, in essence, represents the modernist grand narrative embedded within Urbit's design.
In the wider narrative of Metamodernism, Urbit symbolizes a decentralized, user-centric digital future. It recognizes the individuality of each user and emphasizes their control over their digital persona and interactions.
The promise of a completely decentralized internet is a vision still in progress. Regardless, it offers crucial insights into how Metamodernist principles could potentially shape our digital future. It paints a picture of an equilibrium between grand narratives and individual nuances, encapsulating a collective digital aspiration, as well as personal digital realities.
Moving Towards a Metamodernist Future
The common thread running through the Metamodernist era is the simultaneous embrace of grand narratives and personal experiences, the oscillation between modernist and postmodernist ideals, and the sincere pursuit of a better future.
However, moving towards a Metamodernist future is not without challenges. The danger lies in taking Metamodernist principles to an extreme, where the balance between irony and sincerity, grand narratives and individual nuances, can be lost. It's vital to avoid the pitfalls of dogmatism and extremism that plagued previous cultural eras.
For instance, an overemphasis on grand narratives can lead to totalitarian tendencies, while an excessive focus on individual nuances can result in cultural fragmentation. Metamodernism's strength lies in its ability to reconcile these extremes, fostering a sense of shared purpose while acknowledging individual experiences and perspectives.
Similarly, the interplay of irony and sincerity, often seen in Metamodernist works, should not tip over into either pure cynicism or naive earnestness. The goal should be to create a dialectic, a conversation, a fusion that creates a new, more complex understanding.
As we move towards this future, we can use the tools at our disposal – from graphic design and art, to music, memes, Bitcoin, and Urbit – to explore and shape this Metamodernist narrative. By consciously adopting Metamodernist principles, we can construct a culture that is at once reflective of our individual experiences and representative of our collective aspirations. In doing so, we can pave the way for a future that truly encapsulates the complexity, diversity, and richness of the human experience.
A Future Infused with Metamodernism
Metamodernism offers a comprehensive cultural lens through which we can understand, critique, and navigate our world. It provides a potential pathway to a future where our grand collective narratives coexist harmoniously with our nuanced individual experiences.
In the creative world, artists and designers can become the torchbearers of this movement, integrating Metamodernist principles into their work. They can leverage the power of nostalgia, sincerity, irony, and innovation to create works that resonate with the complexities of the human condition, reflecting both shared experiences and personal journeys.
In the world of technology and economics, Metamodernist principles illuminate the path to a more decentralized, user-centric digital future, as embodied by Bitcoin and Urbit. These platforms highlight the value of individual autonomy within a collective system, creating a new narrative of economic and digital empowerment.
In the political realm, Metamodernism can help create a dialogue that is both encompassing and respectful of diverse perspectives. It advocates for a new kind of political discourse that eschews extreme polarization in favor of a nuanced conversation that acknowledges the complexities of our world.
In essence, the potential of Metamodernism lies in its capacity to weave a compelling tapestry of our collective human experience – one that is vibrant, complex, and teeming with diverse narratives. By understanding and embracing the principles of Metamodernism, we can co-create a future that truly reflects the dynamic interplay of our shared narratives and individual nuances.
In this promising future, we can all become active participants in the Metamodernist narrative, shaping a world that values both the grandeur of our collective dreams and the authenticity of our individual experiences. The future is not just something we move towards; it is something we actively create. And Metamodernism provides a powerful blueprint for this creation.
Read more from Adam Malin at habitus.blog.
Adam Malin
You can find me on Twitter or on Nostr at
npub15jnttpymeytm80hatjqcvhhqhzrhx6gxp8pq0wn93rhnu8s9h9dsha32lx
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@ b12b632c:d9e1ff79
2023-07-20 20:12:39Self hosting web applications comes quickly with the need to deal with HTTPS protocol and SSL certificates. The time where web applications was published over the 80/TCP port without any encryption is totally over. Now we have Let's Encrypt and other free certification authority that lets us play web applications with, at least, the basic minimum security required.
Second part of web self hosting stuff that is really useful is the web proxifycation.
It's possible to have multiple web applications accessible through HTTPS but as we can't use the some port (spoiler: we can) we are forced to have ugly URL as https://mybeautifudomain.tld:8443.
This is where Nginx Proxy Manager (NPM) comes to help us.
NPM, as gateway, will listen on the 443 https port and based on the subdomain you want to reach, it will redirect the network flow to the NPM differents declared backend ports. NPM will also request HTTPS cert for you and let you know when the certificate expires, really useful.
We'll now install NPM with docker compose (v2) and you'll see, it's very easy.
You can find the official NPM setup instructions here.
But before we absolutely need to do something. You need to connect to the registrar where you bought your domain name and go into the zone DNS section.You have to create a A record poing to your VPS IP. That will allow NPM to request SSL certificates for your domain and subdomains.
Create a new folder for the NPM docker stack :
mkdir npm-stack && cd npm-stack
Create a new docker-compose.yml :
nano docker-compose.yml
Paste this content into it (CTRL + X ; Y & ENTER to save/quit) :
``` version: '3.8' services: app: image: 'jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest' restart: unless-stopped ports: # These ports are in format
: - '80:80' # Public HTTP Port - '443:443' # Public HTTPS Port - '81:81' # Admin Web Port # Add any other Stream port you want to expose # - '21:21' # FTP # Uncomment the next line if you uncomment anything in the section # environment: # Uncomment this if you want to change the location of # the SQLite DB file within the container # DB_SQLITE_FILE: "/data/database.sqlite" # Uncomment this if IPv6 is not enabled on your host # DISABLE_IPV6: 'true' volumes: - ./nginxproxymanager/data:/data - ./nginxproxymanager/letsencrypt:/etc/letsencrypt
```
You'll not believe but it's done. NPM docker compose configuration is done.
To start Nginx Proxy Manager with docker compose, you just have to :
docker compose up -d
You'll see :
user@vps:~/tutorials/npm-stack$ docker compose up -d [+] Running 2/2 ✔ Network npm-stack_default Created ✔ Container npm-stack-app-1 Started
You can check if NPM container is started by doing this command :
docker ps
You'll see :
user@vps:~/tutorials/npm-stack$ docker ps CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES 7bc5ea8ac9c8 jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest "/init" About a minute ago Up About a minute 0.0.0.0:80-81->80-81/tcp, :::80-81->80-81/tcp, 0.0.0.0:443->443/tcp, :::443->443/tcp npm-stack-app-1
If the command show "Up X minutes" for the npm-stack-app-1, you're good to go! You can access to the NPM admin UI by going to http://YourIPAddress:81.You shoud see :
The default NPM login/password are : admin@example.com/changeme .If the login succeed, you should see a popup asking to edit your user by changing your email password :
And your password :
Click on "Save" to finish the login. To verify if NPM is able to request SSL certificates for you, create first a subdomain for the NPM admin UI : Click on "Hosts" and "Proxy Hosts" :
Followed by "Add Proxy Host"
If you want to access the NPM admin UI with https://admin.yourdomain.tld, please set all the parameters like this (I won't explain each parameters) :
Details tab :
SSL tab :
And click on "Save".
NPM will request the SSL certificate "admin.yourdomain.tld" for you.
If you have an erreor message "Internal Error" it's probably because your domaine DNS zone is not configured with an A DNS record pointing to your VPS IP.
Otherwise you should see (my domain is hidden) :
Clicking on the "Source" URL link "admin.yourdomain.tld" will open a pop-up and, surprise, you should see the NPM admin UI with the URL "https://admin.yourdomain.tld" !
If yes, bravo, everything is OK ! 🎇
You know now how to have a subdomain of your domain redirecting to a container web app. In the next blog post, you'll see how to setup a Nostr relay with NPM ;)
Voilààààà
See you soon in another Fractalized story!
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@ 75656740:dbc8f92a
2023-07-20 19:50:48In my previous article I argued that it is impossible to have an effective filter in a delivery-by-default and universal reach messaging protocol. This might seem over-specific because, after various filters, nothing is truly universal or delivery-by-default. * Mail is limited by a cost filter phone calls by call screening services. * Faxes are limited by the fact that we all got sick of them and don't use them any more. * Email dealt with it by pushing everyone into a few siloed services that have the data and scale to implement somewhat effective spam detection. * Social media employs thousands of content moderators and carefully crafted algorithms.
Most of these are, however, delivery-by-default and universal in their protocol design. Ostensibly I could dial any number in the world and talk to anyone else in possession of a phone. If I have an email address I can reach anyone else. I can @ anyone on social media. All these protocols make an initial promise, based on how they fundamentally work, that anyone can reach anyone else.
This promise of reach then has to be broken to accomplish filtering. Looking at limiting cases it becomes clear that these protocol designs were all critically flawed to begin with. The flaw is that, even in a spam free case, universal reach is impossible. For a galaxy-wide civilization with billions of trillions of people, anyone individual wouldn't be able to even request all the information on a topic. The problem is more than just bandwidth, it is latency.
That is without spam and trolling. With spam and trolls things crash at a rate proportional to the attention available on the protocol.
The answer is to break the promise of universal reach in theory so we can regain it in practice. By this I mean filtering should happen as soon as possible to keep the entire network from having to pass an unwanted message. This can be accomplished if all messages are presumed unwanted until proven otherwise. Ideally messaging happens along lines of contacts where each contact has verified and signed each-other's keys. That is annoying and unworkable, however, instead it should be possible to simply design for trust. Each account can determine a level of certainty of an identity based on network knowledge and allow or deny based on a per-instance threshold.
While requiring all messages to originate "in network" does break the promise of the internet as an open frontier, the reality is that, like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, everyone you want to reach will be in your network if scaled out to a reasonable level. This puts a bottleneck on bot farms trying to gain entry into the network. While they will be able to fool people into connecting with them, such poor users can lose the trust of their contacts for introductions, algorithmically limiting reach.
With Nostr I expect this form of filtering will arise organically as each relay and client makes decisions about what to pass on. This is why I like Nostr. It isn't exactly what I want, but that doesn't matter I am probably wrong, it can morph into whatever it needs to be.
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@ bcea2b98:7ccef3c9
2023-07-20 18:13:11Atop a majestic mountain called Mt. Gox, a tale unfolded that would forever be etched in the history of cryptocurrency. This is the story of a legendary exchange, a hub of digital treasures, and the challenges it faced along the way.
In the early days of Bitcoin, when the world was just beginning to grasp the concept of digital currencies, a passionate entrepreneur named Jed McCaleb founded a platform called Mt. Gox. Located high above the clouds on the slopes of Mt. Gox, the exchange quickly became the center of the Bitcoin universe.
Bitcoin enthusiasts from all corners of the globe flocked to Mt. Gox, eager to trade, buy, and sell their digital coins. It became a bustling marketplace, a hub of innovation, and a symbol of the emerging cryptocurrency ecosystem.
As the popularity of Bitcoin skyrocketed, so did the demand for Mt. Gox's services. The exchange handled an immense volume of transactions, becoming the largest Bitcoin exchange in the world. Its name echoed throughout the digital realm, synonymous with the promise and potential of the cryptocurrency revolution.
However, as with any great tale, challenges arose. In 2011, a cyber attack targeted Mt. Gox, leading to the theft of a substantial number of Bitcoins. This event served as a wake-up call, revealing vulnerabilities within the exchange and prompting the need for heightened security measures.
The incident didn't dampen the spirit of Mt. Gox. The team worked tirelessly to recover from the attack, implementing new security protocols and earning back the trust of its users. Mt. Gox emerged stronger than ever, serving as a beacon of stability in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape.
But the story of Mt. Gox took an unexpected turn. In 2014, another significant blow struck the exchange. It was discovered that a substantial number of Bitcoins were missing from Mt. Gox's vaults. The magnitude of the loss sent shockwaves throughout the cryptocurrency community and shook the foundations of the industry.
As the truth emerged, it became clear that Mt. Gox faced insurmountable financial challenges. The exchange was forced to declare bankruptcy, leaving its users devastated and questioning the future of digital currencies.
Yet, amidst the chaos, the story of Mt. Gox served as a catalyst for change and resilience in the cryptocurrency world. It brought to light the need for enhanced security practices, regulatory oversight, and a renewed commitment to building trustworthy platforms for the exchange of digital assets.
Over time, the lessons learned from Mt. Gox's history paved the way for greater transparency, improved infrastructure, and the emergence of more secure cryptocurrency exchanges. It became a cautionary tale, reminding the industry of the importance of accountability, investor protection, and responsible innovation.
Today, as we reflect on the history of Mt. Gox, we see a story of both triumph and adversity. It stands as a reminder that the cryptocurrency landscape is still in its early stages, evolving and maturing with each passing day.
So, dear listener, let the tale of Mt. Gox serve as a lesson in resilience and growth. As the cryptocurrency world continues to advance, let us navigate the digital landscape with caution, learn from the past, and work towards a future where innovation and security walk hand in hand.
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@ 0ab50b19:922522bc
2023-07-20 17:23:42Introduction
This short post goes through a quick way to setup and host your own #nostr relay, on any kind of hardware--from smols like Raspberry Pi, to heavyweight VPSes or baremetal servers.
I'll be covering the
nostr-rs-relay
#relay, which is a great, feature-complete, and lightweight relay software. It writes to an sqlite3 database, but postgres is also supported (currently experimental).Requirements
You'll need:
- Some kind of machine to host it on.
- DNS controls, so some kind of domain/subdomain to point it to.
- Some knowledge of #CLI terminal-based software build and deployment.
- Linux, and general administrative knowledge. Debian/Ubuntu-based systems are fairly easy to get it all working, and stay updated.
Getting started
Overall, if you have the above requirements, it's not too difficult to get up and running in a few minutes/hours (depends how quickly you can build the software, and how proficient you are with command line).
The best tutorial article I have found on building and installing the relay can be found here: https://github.com/BlockChainCaffe/Nostr-Relay-Setup-Guide. It should get you running fairly quickly. You will need to be familiar with building software, as well as generating certificates via Let's Encrypt. Be sure to enable access at your firewall, if desired.
For further details, you can check the official repo, here.
Configuration
Check out the configuration options and useful comments to help configure your instance, here.
I recommend you pay particular attention to:
pubkey
, which needs a hex-based public key, notnpub
format.[limits]
section, where you can define sane resource limits.[logging]
section, where you can configure where you want the logs to go.- Running a paid relay is beyond the scope of this document but you can easily set this up within this configuration file.
Staying updated
If you are running from the git repo, you'll want to re-build and update your
nostr-rs-relay
binary regularly, to stay updated with the latest bugfixes and features.To update your binary:
- Go to the directory where you cloned the git repo.
- Run:
git pull
- If there are changes (new commits), re-build the binary:
cargo build --release
- Replace your
nost-rs-relay
binary, wherever it is located, with the newly built binary.
Monitoring
You can
tail
the daily logfiles to get an idea of what's happening with the relay.Conclusion
That's pretty much it! You now have a nostr relay running as a service on your box. You can make it public, to assist the network, or you can run it privately to ensure your posts belong to you at all times. Your workflow will likely change and evolve as you become more familiar with the relay software, the sqlite3 database, the logs, etc..
If you'd like me to cover any additional details, don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks for reading! 😸⚡
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@ d29fd63a:c170c5e5
2023-07-20 16:57:59My plan with this space is to casually document current events and attempt to snapshot my current worldview in a way that will help me remember how things stand today when I look back later. My impetus for this comes from Adam Townsend's concept that we're being overloaded with information in an attempt to displace our idea of what 'normal' is and used to be. He refers to this as "Dark City" a movie I haven't watched, but the concept being that every morning people wake up in a new body with no memory of their prior life. Looking back on the events since 2019 (pre COVID) and if I'm honest even pre 2016 (pre Trump) I have to admit he has a point.
If you try to project yourself back to a time before COVID and/or Trump, can you really remember what the world was like? Perhaps even more convincing, if you're old enough, can you remember what the world was like before 11 SEPT 2001? I'll use a video from Youtube recorded in 1987 to demonstrate my point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbe-35_BaA
Assuming the video still exists when you're reading this, lets examine just how different the world was before the internet and before 9/11. This video is recorded at 2:30 in the morning at a 7-11 (gas station) near Disney World in Florida. For the sake of any younger readers I will point out that the recording of video at this time was fairly new at the consumer level and as such a guy with a camcorder was novel. Lets note some differences in how people acted then versus today in 2023. In no particular order:
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Everyone is very relaxed. These are all presumably strangers but they interact with a casualness that you would only see today with people that are extremely close. They're aware that they're being recorded but there is no real sense that they need to be careful with their words or actions. They're just mildly amused that he is recording them.
-
It's 2:30 in the morning and nobody is afraid. If you were recording this today you would likely get ignored by most people and potentially have someone threaten you for recording them. You certainly wouldn't have a 100% success rate of getting friendly conversation. Its worth noting that this is being recorded in a highly populated area which as of today would make it significantly more sketchy.
-
The soda costs range from $0.49 to $0.69.
-
They are smoking inside.
I bring this up simply as example of how much we've changed just in the lifetime of the current adult generation. I can clearly remember a time where we implicitly trusted everyone we met. Our common humanity was emphasized and it was assumed that everyone was at least as well intentioned as you yourself were. There were obviously exceptions but that assumption was present in most interactions. The idea of 'stranger danger' and 'predators' existed but it was often a fear that existed 'out there' not where we lived.
People didn't self-censor even when being recorded because that recording would produce a single copy on VHS that was quite difficult to share outside of physical possession. One could bring it to a news station to have it broadcast of course, but that was unlikely unless you were doing something newsworthy so people didn't really care that much. The internet changed that once Youtube really took off (say around 2007-2010) but it still took a long time for us to begin changing our behavior. I would argue that didn't really take off until social media was ingrained in everyone's life which I would estimate happened around 2012-2015.
I'll probably end here for now but I plan to talk a bit more about the post-9/11 years up until Trump, then the time from Trump until today as best I can. From that point I'll look to talk about what I'm seeing today and what I currently think is going on. I don't claim to be right, and a reserve the right to change my mind completely, but that is kind of the point. I tend to believe we're being deceived at an every increasing pace and my intention is to record my views and they shift from narrative to narrative.
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@ 71189be1:899c3bfa
2023-07-20 16:25:30Introduction
As the world undergoes significant geopolitical, financial, and cultural changes, it is clear that the current U.S. led world order is gradually unraveling. The term "world order" refers to an agreement among the major powers of the world to divide power and influence among themselves. This phenomenon is not new but has existed throughout history. The current world order emerged after World War II, with the United States at the helm. However, we are now witnessing a breakdown of this order.
The implications of this breakdown are vast, not just for financial markets but for everyday life. The power struggle among major nations to redefine the world order can lead to violent conflicts and significant disruptions. While uncertainty surrounds what comes next, we recognize that this transitionary phase could be turbulent and potentially violent. It is essential to prepare for the consequences of a changing world order.
The Financial Situation: Unsustainable Debt and Money Printing
Another critical aspect of the perfect storm in 2023 is the dire financial situation faced by most Western countries. Excessive debt and reliance on money printing have become endemic across Western nations. The spending patterns of governments fuel the debt, which, in turn, necessitates the printing of more money. This socio-political inflationary spiral is leading countries toward a bleak future.
Argentina serves as an example of a nation grappling with inflation and economic instability. Hyperinflation has plagued the country multiple times, yet the government seems to repeat the same mistakes. The pattern of printing money to gain political power only leads to the collapse of the currency. Unfortunately, this pattern has become an undeniable feature of democracies worldwide. The spending spree has put North America, Western Europe, and other regions on the path toward terminal stages of economic decline.
Cultural Divides and Consequences
In addition to geopolitical and financial challenges, we are witnessing significant cultural shifts globally. Countries are becoming more divided along cultural lines, even if political differences remain relatively minor. This emerging cultural divide has profound consequences for societies. The polarization intensifies as cultural agendas clash, exacerbating existing tensions.
The once-negligible difference between political parties in the United States has evolved into a substantial cultural divide. This cultural shift, while not always reflected in policies, has become a real challenge for societies. As all these factors align and reach a crescendo, we must acknowledge their implications. A watershed moment for fiat currencies is approaching, with profound repercussions for everyone worldwide.
Inflation Measurement and Debt Jubilees
The way we measure inflation, especially using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is fundamentally flawed and often manipulated for political purposes. The CPI represents a basket of goods that governments cherry-pick to achieve desired outcomes. However, this approach differs for each individual, making it an arbitrary metric unsuitable for such broad application.
This flawed measurement is just one aspect of the broader issue at hand. Unsustainable debt levels worldwide are leading many to contemplate the concept of a debt jubilee. While it may sound appealing to wipe away all debts, it would merely redistribute wealth rather than address the root problems. Ultimately, currency debasement remains the likely solution to unsustainable debt levels. This will have far-reaching implications for bondholders, individuals, and institutions with unsecured liabilities.
Preserving Wealth: Strategies for Protection
Given these impending challenges, it is advisable to consider alternative methods of preserving wealth. Relying solely on paper or electronic instruments becomes increasingly risky. Instead, diversifying investments into tangible assets offers greater security. Some key strategies include:
-
Hold Physical Gold: Historically, gold has proven to be a reliable store of value due to its resistance to debasement. Owning physical gold, rather than paper IOUs, ensures unencumbered ownership of this asset.
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Bitcoin: As a decentralized digital alternative to fiat currency, Bitcoin offers new possibilities. With a fixed supply, it shares similarities with gold in terms of limited availability and resistance to debasement.
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Real Estate: While not perfect, real estate can act as a store of value in some locations. Many people consider it a viable asset for preserving wealth during times of economic uncertainty.
International Diversification and Cultural Censorship
Considering international diversification is another avenue to protect wealth and assets. Some jurisdictions, such as the Cayman Islands, Singapore, or the United Arab Emirates, have exhibited a degree of respect for property rights and wealth. However, one must be vigilant as the situation is subject to change. Flexibility and agility are crucial in a world undergoing significant transformations.
One factor influencing these changes is the growing trend of censorship. Governments and institutions exert control over what people can say and how they spend their money. This trend highlights the decline in individual freedoms and the erosion of core principles in democratic societies. It is crucial to challenge censorship and promote open discussions with logical arguments and counter ideas.
Bitcoin vs. Gold: A Delineation
Discussions surrounding Bitcoin and gold inevitably emerge in conversations about preserving wealth. Both are considered alternative forms of money, rooted in the principles of the free market. Gold stands as an established form of money with a long history, while Bitcoin offers new possibilities. Delineating the two reveals some key differences:
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Resistance to Debasement: Both gold and Bitcoin demonstrate resistance to debasement due to limited supply. Gold has a longer established history, while Bitcoin's supply is tightly regulated by design.
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Portability: Bitcoin offers greater portability than physical gold due to its digital nature. Sending large sums of gold across borders is cumbersome, making Bitcoin convenient for international transactions.
-
Regulatory Clarity: Bitcoin's classification as a commodity provides a level of regulatory clarity, setting it apart from other cryptocurrencies. Gold, being a physical asset, faces centralization challenges due to the need for institutionalized intermediaries.
While the short-term benefits of both Bitcoin and gold may align due to the dominance of fiat money, competition may arise over the long term. Money gravitates toward a single form for efficient exchange, with barter systems being inefficient by nature. This suggests a potential competition between Bitcoin and gold as they vie to become the dominant form of money. Exposure to both assets can help hedge against uncertainties.
The Menace of Censorship
One troubling aspect emerging in today's society is the rise of censorship, be it financial censorship or muzzling of free speech. Censorship stifles open discourse, promotes dogma, and undermines individual freedoms. Whether it is regulating social media platforms or curbing free expression, the erosion of these basic rights is concerning.
The increasing trend of censorship not only hinders progress but serves as an indicator of civilizational decline. A society on the ascent values open dialogue, whereas restriction and censorship suggest a society in decline. Such trends are far from what one would expect from countries that pride themselves on freedom and democratic principles.
Conclusion
As we navigate the challenges of the perfect storm in 2023, it is crucial to remain vigilant and prepared. The geopolitical shifts, financial instabilities, cultural divisions, and rise of censorship demand our attention. Diversifying wealth, exploring alternatives to fiat money, and safeguarding individual freedoms remain crucial elements in preserving prosperity amid these uncertainties. The road ahead may be challenging, but with knowledge and strategic decision-making, we can navigate these uncharted waters.
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@ fa6afdb4:aee9b046
2023-07-20 15:24:41The hedonic treadmill is a psychological theory that suggests humans have a tendency to return to a relatively stable level of happiness or well-being, despite major positive or negative events or changes in their lives. According to this theory, individuals may experience temporary boosts in happiness following positive events such as buying a new car, getting a promotion, or going on vacation. However, over time, they adapt to these new circumstances, and their happiness levels return to their baseline or set point.
The concept of the hedonic treadmill is based on the idea that humans have a certain baseline level of happiness, which is largely determined by genetics and personality traits. Positive events or changes may temporarily elevate an individual's happiness above this baseline, but they tend to adapt and the initial happiness boost diminishes over time.
Similarly, negative events or changes, such as the loss of a job or the end of a relationship, may initially lead to a decrease in happiness. However, people tend to adapt to these negative circumstances as well, and their happiness levels eventually return to their baseline.
The theory suggests that the pursuit of external factors, such as material possessions or achievements, as a means to increase happiness is ultimately futile because individuals quickly adapt to these changes. This can create a cycle of constantly seeking new sources of happiness or pleasure, hence the term "hedonic treadmill."
The hedonic treadmill theory has implications for understanding happiness and well-being. It suggests that long-term happiness is more influenced by internal factors, such as mindset, gratitude, and personal relationships, rather than external circumstances. By focusing on internal factors and finding meaning and contentment in everyday life, individuals may be able to achieve a more stable and lasting sense of happiness.
This article was generated with the help of an AI language model.
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@ 4ac847f3:16dc6c5a
2023-07-20 14:55:04🚀 CriptoRastas atualiza o roadmap de sua coleção de NFTs, destacando o Brasil, moda e maior liquidez!
A aguardada atualização do roadmap da CriptoRastas está aqui, trazendo emocionantes novidades para os entusiastas de NFTs. Com o Brasil como foco central, a coleção promete explorar a cultura, a arte e a moda do país de forma única e inovadora.
A parceria com designers de moda locais promete adicionar um toque de estilo e autenticidade às peças colecionáveis. Além disso, a empresa está comprometida em aumentar a liquidez das NFTs, tornando mais fácil para os investidores comprar, vender e negociar as criptorastas.
Se você está interessado em mergulhar no mundo dos NFTs, ou já é um entusiasta experiente, não deixe de conferir a atualização completa do roadmap da CriptoRastas para saber mais sobre as próximas etapas dessa empolgante jornada!
Leia a notícia completa aqui: [https://technewsbr.substack.com/p/criptorastas-atualiza-roadmap-de]
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@ 4ac847f3:16dc6c5a
2023-07-20 14:47:01🏆 Executivo da Mercado Bitcoin é premiado e notícias sobre Binance, Bitget, Coinex e outras plataformas no mercado de criptomoedas! 🚀
Grande conquista para o mercado de criptomoedas! Um executivo da Mercado Bitcoin foi agraciado com um prestigioso prêmio em reconhecimento ao seu trabalho e contribuições para o setor. Essa premiação destaca a importância crescente do mercado de criptoativos no cenário global.
Além disso, notícias importantes sobre algumas das principais plataformas do setor também estão em destaque. Binance, Bitget e Coinex estão impulsionando o crescimento do mercado e apresentando inovações que podem impactar significativamente o cenário das criptomoedas.
Se você está interessado em saber mais detalhes sobre essa premiação e as últimas novidades envolvendo as principais plataformas de criptomoedas, não deixe de conferir a notícia completa através do link abaixo:
🔗 Leia a notícia completa aqui: https://technewsbr.substack.com/p/executivo-da-mercado-bitcoin-recebe
Fique por dentro das atualizações do mercado de criptoativos e das tendências que estão moldando o futuro financeiro digital. #Criptomoedas #MercadoBitcoin #Binance #Bitget #Coinex #InovaçãoFinanceira
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@ 4f672820:907e3054
2023-07-20 14:45:15The 45th edition of Latest Strikes is out! Latest Strikes is a weekly opinionated recap of all the good things happening in the Lightning ecosystem. You can find past issues on LN Markets blog.
Last week was massive for Lightning wallets! We got an impressive Phoenix update, Mutiny coming out of beta, and Zeus literally unleashing the thunder! So take your umbrella, because we're headed in a hell of a storm!
Ecosystem
More OpenSats Grants!
OpenSats distributed the first wave of Bitcoin grants last week, which will support various open-source projects and educational initiatives. Among the grantees are some prominent Lightning-related projects, such as:
- Bolt12 for LND, which aims to bring Bolt12 Offers to LND ;
- Dusty Daemon's work on splicing ;
- Raspiblitz, a DIY node stack which enables users to easily run a Lightning node on a Raspberry Pi ;
- BTCPay Server, the open source payment processor, with full Lightning support ;
- Mutiny Wallet, a browser-first self-custodial Lightning wallet ;
- a LNURL-Auth provider for the popular Next-auth library ;
- Lightning-native Chaumian e-cash solution Cashu ;
- lnproxy, a tool that helps you conceal your node's public key from the sender when receiving money over Lightning ;
- BlixtWallet, a self-custodial Lightning wallet for Android, iOS and macOS.
Congratulations to all the grantees, and kudos to the OpenSats team and to all the donors!
Lightning At Surfin' Bitcoin
The Surfin'Bitcoin conference in France this summer will host a "Lightning Day", with talks, workshops and panels from Bastien Teinturier, Lisa Neigut, Christian Decker, Tadge Dryja, Olivier Gugger and Francisco Calderón. I won't be able to be there despite living in France, but it will definitely be an interesting conference!
Wallets & Tools
Splicing Goes Live In Phoenix
Acinq announced a huge update bringing splicing to the Phoenix wallet! This brings some nice improvements to the user experience, mainly:
- smaller setup fee (although it still depends on on-chain fees),
- a unified balance, fully held in only one channel.
Let's dive in a bit more on what this means and how it works, starting with a brief overview of what using Phoenix typically looks like. When a user receives a Lightning payment for the first time on their Phoenix wallet, they don't have any channel to accept this payment yet. However, they've informed the sender to route their payment through Acinq's node which, when it finds out about the payment, automatically opens a zero-conf channel to the user's Phoenix wallet. This is great because it means that, as soon as they receive their first Lightning funds, Phoenix users take full custody of them in a trust-minimized fashion. However, one of the UX drawbacks of this mechanism is that it incurs a one-time setup fee, which corresponds to the cost of opening a new Lightning channels. This fee, which amounts to 1% of the incoming payment (and minimum 3,000 sats) adds a lot of friction to the onboarding process, because you need to explain to someone using the app for the first time why so much of the payment goes into fees, and how it is only a one-time fee that won't affect their future Lightning payments. It also makes Phoenix less interesting for use cases such as tipping a waiter for the first time, since the fee would then eat up a decent portion of the actual payment.
But that's not it! When opening your first Lightning channel, the Acinq node must decide of its size. Of course, it must be at least big enough to accommodate the incoming payment, but it makes sense to make it a little bit bigger so that the user can receive again without needing another channel. On the other hand, Acinq needs to use their liquidity as efficiently as possible, since it is the scarce resource on Lightning: they can't just open a big channel every time, just to be safe. This means that, if a receiver keeps receiving without sending much on Lightning, it will be necessary to open new channels from time to time, which will incur a fee again. It also means that a given Phoenix user might quickly end up with 5+ channels, which is far from ideal for Acinq from a wallet management perspective, since every channel is a UTXO that needs to be accounted for, and which might have to be spent on-chain later on.
The good news is, thanks to splicing, all of this is behind us. Splicing allows for the resizing of channels without closing them. When a user receives their first Lightning payment on Phoenix, the Acinq node will open a new channel with the wallet. Should a bigger channel be required to receive a new payment, the existing channel can simply me made bigger. It still costs an on-chain transaction, but at least there is now only one UTXO per user. This simplification of the UTXO/channel management for Acinq might seem slight, but it alone allows Acinq to remove the minimum 3,000 sats opening fee they had in place. Indeed, this fee was there to account that each channel would have to be closed some day, which would cost Acinq money for the closing on-chain transaction, since Acinq was the channel initiator and, in Lightning, the initiator is the one responsible for paying the closing fee. That's a pretty substantial improvement!
That's not all. Now that each user has only one channel, it also enables a pretty slick single-balance UX. The entirety of a user's funds are held into one single channel (e.g. only one UTXO), from where they can be spent either via Lightning or on-chain using trustless swaps. The emphasis here is on trustless: Phoenix had swaps before, but they were trusted. With splicing in place, a swap is just a splice out: we're removing liquidity from the channel using a Bitcoin transaction that updates the channel size itself.
Another change this update brings is that Lighting fees are now fixed to 0.4%, compared to a previous variable fee comprised between 0.05% et 0.5%. It is worth noting that, based on past transactions, this new fee seems to be a little more costly for Lightning transfers, but at the same time it provides:
- the user with a predictable fee, which they can review before sending the payment,
- the service provider (eg Acinq) with a more sustainable revenue,
- aligned incentives, since the service provider is now incentivized to find the cheapest route possible to keep as much of the fixed fee for themselves, which wasn't the case with the variable fee.
The new Phoenix with splicing is currently in a closed beta (for Android only), to which one can apply by emailing the Acinq team. The beta is conducted through Google Play, so you'll need a Google Play account to partake.
Kudos to the Acinq team for this huge release! They're once again paving the way towards improved usability of the Lightning Network!
Mutiny Available To Everyone
Mutiny Wallet is now available to everyone! As a reminder, Mutiny is a web-based Lightning wallet that enables the full Lightning experience right into the browser, thus escaping app store censorship and making it the most widely available Lightning wallet ever.
First things first: keep in mind that Mutiny is still in beta. Caution is strongly advised, so consider this a spending wallet, and don't put more money than what you'd carry in cash in your wallet. That being said, Mutiny is pretty awesome:
- Just-in-Time channels provided through Voltage's Flow 2.0 service, which means user get their first Lightning channels without the hassle ;
- at the same time, you can still open your own channels with any node in the network ;
- backup with 12-words seed and a remote Versioned Storage Service for channels state, which allows users to backup both their on-chain and Lightning funds ;
- Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) working out of the box, which among other things enables a "Subscription" feature where users can pay a monthly fee to access "Mutiny+" (Mutiny+ features are coming soon™, so for now consider Mutiny+ mostly a demo for subscriptions, and a cool way to support Mutiny's development).
The release has also sparked some criticism regarding the web-based nature of Mutiny making it intrinsically less secure than a native app. However, as this comment highlights, the Mutiny developers are aware of the tradeoffs. And, to reiterate once again, Mutiny should still be considered as experimental, so don't put too much money it it!
Zeus Brings The Action
Evan Kaloudis, founder of Zeus, announced that the app will soon enable users to run an embedded self-custodial Lightning node right in their phone. Up until now, the Zeus app could only be connected to a remote node (or an abstraction of a node such as a lndhub account), and act as an interface to this node. With this coming release, users will be able to choose between connecting the app to a remote node, or run a new node in the app itself.
We still don't have much details as to what this will look like exactly, but Odell's report mentions that no channel management will be needed, suggesting the use of a Lightning Service Provider (LSP). This is coherent with Zeus prior announcement of a new LSP called Olympus back in April this year.
One thing is for sure: that's intriguing, and very promising!
Lightning In Blockstream Green
BTCSessions shared a sneak peek of what the Lightning integration in Blockstream's Green wallet looks like. Seems like it's going to be available to the rest of use pretty soon now. Looking forward to it!
Zapgoals
It's still quite early, but a new way of raising money is coming to Nostr. Zapgoals look a bit like Amethyst's Zapraisers, allowing users to create a note with a set amount they're looking to raise. As other users zap this note, clients can display a progress bar showing how much was collected with respect to the aforementioned goal. Quite simple, but that's where the nostr magic lies!
A Nostr Improvement Proposal (NIP) will be published soon.
Other Releases
Last week blessed us with other releases, including:
- the Breez SDK got a new release, which brings support for seamless realtime backup and sending on-chain (using reverse swaps), as well as performance optimizations ;
- a BoltCard NFC Programmer app for iOS, while it previously only available on Android. This app allows to write on supported NFC cards to create one's own BoltCard ;
- BitBanana evolved nicely over the last weeks, with enhanced support for a variety of LNURL schemes, including LNURL-Pay.
Spec & Implems
Self-Payment On Lightning
The security disclosure by Calle from LNBits a few weeks ago evolved into a conversation around adding self-payment into Lightning implementations, where a node can pay its own invoices. This would simplify the development of custodial solutions relying on accounts built on top of a common Lightning node, such as LNBits, since they wouldn't need to write the custom logic of settling an invoice between two users of the same custodian locally (e.g. on the local database) instead of needlessly going to the network. Such internal payments could therefore be handled as any regular Lightning invoice simply by enabling the self-payment options in the Lightning node, and would hence result in less bug-prone custom logic for the critical part of the software that payment handling is.
Closing Bit
Tu te réveilles, ma ville, le vent remue ta fange\ Tes odeurs sont la marée qui s'étend doucement\ Le soleil déjà caresse doucement le dos de tes ivrognes\ Il est encore doux, bientôt il sera brûlant,\ Amant inextinguible à l'ardeur étouffante.
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@ 4ac847f3:16dc6c5a
2023-07-20 14:41:19📢📚 O Impacto dos Programas Governamentais na Internet como a Conhecemos
Os programas governamentais têm desempenhado um papel crucial na transformação da internet como a conhecemos. De acordo com o artigo publicado em TechNewsBR, essas iniciativas têm influenciado diretamente a forma como interagimos com a rede, afetando aspectos como a privacidade, a regulação de conteúdo e a infraestrutura digital.
Os programas governamentais têm o poder de moldar políticas e regulamentações que impactam diretamente os usuários e as empresas online. Isso inclui questões relacionadas à neutralidade da rede, acesso à informação e direitos de privacidade dos cidadãos.
Além disso, tais programas podem ser uma fonte de investimento em infraestrutura digital, buscando melhorar a conectividade em áreas remotas e impulsionar a inovação tecnológica.
Entretanto, é importante analisar esses programas de forma crítica, considerando seus impactos tanto positivos quanto negativos. Algumas preocupações incluem a censura governamental de conteúdo, o monitoramento excessivo e a coleta de dados sem o devido consentimento dos usuários.
Portanto, é essencial que os cidadãos estejam cientes dos programas governamentais em andamento e compreendam seu potencial impacto na internet que utilizamos diariamente.
🔗 Para ler a notícia completa, acesse: O Impacto dos Programas Governamentais
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@ 4ac847f3:16dc6c5a
2023-07-20 14:35:03📢🔒 O Governo anuncia uma emocionante novidade para todos os brasileiros! Agora, o Registro Geral (RG) ganhou uma nova versão com tecnologia blockchain e token de identificação. Isso significa maior segurança e confiabilidade nos documentos de identidade de todos os cidadãos.
O uso da tecnologia blockchain garante uma rede descentralizada e praticamente impenetrável, tornando os dados do RG mais protegidos contra fraudes e falsificações. Além disso, a introdução do token de identificação proporciona uma forma mais moderna de comprovar a identidade, facilitando processos burocráticos e transações online.
Essa iniciativa do governo visa tornar o processo de identificação mais ágil e seguro para a população, além de acompanhar os avanços tecnológicos da era digital.
Quer saber mais sobre essa importante atualização? Leia a notícia completa aqui: Link para a notícia
Governo #Tecnologia #RG #Blockchain #TokenDeIdentificação #Inovação #Brasil
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@ 4ac847f3:16dc6c5a
2023-07-20 14:26:57📢🚀 Investimentos em fundos de criptomoedas disparam 961% - movimento é natural, diz especialista!
Um novo relatório revelou que os investimentos em fundos de criptomoedas tiveram um aumento surpreendente de 961%. Esse crescimento expressivo demonstra o crescente interesse e confiança dos investidores no mercado de criptomoedas. De acordo com um especialista do setor, esse movimento é considerado natural devido à maior aceitação das criptomoedas como uma classe de ativos legítima.
Os fundos de criptomoedas têm ganhado destaque como uma opção atraente para investidores que desejam se expor ao mercado de criptografia sem ter que lidar diretamente com a compra e custódia de ativos digitais. Além disso, a diversificação oferecida pelos fundos é um atrativo para aqueles que buscam equilibrar seus portfólios de investimento.
Se você deseja saber mais detalhes sobre esse surpreendente crescimento nos investimentos em fundos de criptomoedas e a visão do especialista sobre o assunto, leia a notícia completa aqui: https://technewsbr.substack.com/p/investimentos-em-fundos-de-criptomoedas
Investimentos #Criptomoedas #MercadoFinanceiro #Especialista #Tendências #TechNews
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@ 96de067c:a41bd119
2023-07-20 13:59:08Why habr not like this?
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@ 630c0b5b:0654d4f7
2023-07-20 13:02:32Det enklaste sättet att börja är genom att säga "du kommer förmodligen inte tro på mig varför bitcoin är värdefullt, men du kan börja med att ta emot 10 kr över lightning".
Sen är det nog smart att förklara bitcoin som en råvara med en absolut begränsad mängd, som några människor ser värde i. Jämför det med börsindex och visa prisutvecklingen. De flesta vill bara ha en lättsmält introduktion utan ord som hyperinflation.
Använd enkla ord som alla förstår. Säg att råvaran utvinns genom att någon väljer att sälja sin energi för att få bitcoin i ersättning.
Poängtera att mining är kopplingen mellan den digitala- och fysiska världen. Utan den kopplingen kan inte en digital produkt rättfärdiga ett ekonomiskt värde som består över tid.
Säg att råvarans ägande sköts genom en databas, där det står att Kalle har skickat pengar till Adam.
Säg att alla databaser kan ändras av någon, men att bitcoins databas inte går att ändra för att det krävs energi att försöka göra det.
Säg att bitcoins databas som innehåller en beskrivning av allas individuella ägande är som en excel-lista där varje rad är fastbränd för evigt och att det som ger bitcoin ett värde är att det inte går att ändra något som har blivit skrivet i databasen.
Förklara att en permanent beskrivning av allas ägande är helt unikt. Det har aldrig någonsin har existerat, för alla andra former beskrivningar av vårt individuella ägande kan ändras antingen genom politiska- eller ekonomiska verktyg.
Säg att din och min dator verifierar alla transaktioner och att ingen kan ändra regeln om maximalt 21 miljoner BTC för att din och min dator vägrar acceptera nya regler. Förklara att alla datorer tillsammans stärker nätverket genom att upprätthålla regelverket. Varje dator har lika mycket att säga till om och kan med 100% säkerhet verifiera alla transaktioner som någonsin har gjorts. Jämför denna decentralisering med plankton i havet; varken bitcoins nätverk eller plankton går att förstöra.
På frågan om övrig crypto så säger du att all annan crypto är som ett google-kalkylark som kan ändras av någon, vilket innebär att ingen kan garantera något ägandeskap. Hänvisa även till Howey-testet och reglering i USA.
Säg att bitcoin är spekulation och att det finns en uppsida men att det är upp till var och en att bedöma nedsida. Köp ska bara göras med lång tidshorizont. Bedömd risk kontrolleras med liten size.
Förklara även hur det är att leva med bitcoin som din ekonomiska enhet, där du växlar till den lokala valutan varje gång du behöver köpa något. Det går att leva på bitcoinstandard idag väldigt enkelt med en kombination av riktiga bitcoin och "pappers"-bitcoin i form av certifikat på ISK.
Fokusera på att använda bitcoin med mobilen under introduktionen. Skicka och ta emot över lightning. Förklara hur du själv tänkte från början och vilka steg du tog på vägen och vilka misstag du gjorde.
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@ 0d97beae:c5274a14
2023-07-20 11:36:34testing
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@ c80b5248:6b30d720
2023-07-20 04:06:46Why this isn't a PR
I didn't know exactly where to post this... I have been thinking a lot the past few days about how we can use nostr and moderated communities NIP-172 to free the power of git from it's centralized overlord, GitHub.
I know there are already a few open pull requests that inspired this. PR #223 has lots of great discussion about the benefits of leaning on existing git servers for a nostr-git implementation. PR #324 establishes the usage of a
"c"
tag to make commits available for queries on relays. I think this aspect will be critical for fast and effecient git content discovery over nostr.Given that I have limited experience with submitting PRs to open project on GitHub and was not sure where to share these ideas. I took it as an opportunity to write a sample NIP! I would love to get feedback from others, especially folks like nostr:npub1melv683fw6n2mvhl5h6dhqd8mqfv3wmxnz4qph83ua4dk4006ezsrt5c24 and nostr:npub160t5zfxalddaccdc7xx30sentwa5lrr3rq4rtm38x99ynf8t0vwsvzyjc9, who have both been working on their PRs longer than I have been thinking about this.
A few highlights
- Git remotes get their own kind and they are replaceable. This allows events that reference the remote repository to use a static address (just like a longform article) that will continue to work if the author changes the location of the remote - especially important to maintain censorship resistance.
- The git remote kind can provide indexed
"c"
tags that allow remote discovery via relays. If multiple servers have instances of the Nostr git repository then all of those relays can quickly be surfaced by querying on the correct commit hash. - Because these coordination events effectively suggest changes that a user might pull into their existing git repositories it makes sense to use these events within moderated communities NIP-172 to establish approval mechanisms that indicate when a git-enabled client should merge a PR or whether or not a commit should be trusted.
The last thing I will note is that I have framed the usage of the new event kinds assuming that only key commits will be posted to Nostr. This should reduce data usage on relays if only commits that require discussion or action need to be posted and referenced. Git-enabled clients will still be able to access all other commits from individual remote git servers. However, there is nothing outside of data size stopping this framework from being used to track every single commit on a repository if that ended up being desirable.
Enough of the preamble...
NIP-XXX
Git Remote Index and Commit Checkpoints
draft
optional
author:armstrys
Git Kinds
The goal of this nip is to introduce mechanisms for git remote repository discovery and commit checkpointing into the Nostr protocol. Git is already decentralized by nature. Centralized clients like GitHub serve two primary purposes. - They establish one central remote repository as the source of truth. - They provide a platform for non-git metadata tracking including issues and comments.
A decentralized implementation on Nostr should replace the central remote repository with discovery mechanisms that take advantage of the already decentralized nature of git and also provide Nostr-native representations of commits that need to be referenced by external metadata not handled by git.
This nip introduces two new kinds to achieve this: - A "git repository" parameterized replaceable event (
kind:34617
) to provide undateable connection points to existing git servers that are easily discoverable and referenced by the second new kind... - A "git checkpoint" event (kind:4617
) which has the sole purpose of providing a coordination reference point for key commits in a git repository and should follow a reply structure similar to the chain of commits in git.With these two kinds it is possible to represent censorship resistant personal repositories, forked repositories, and even moderated repositories by integrating these kinds with NIP-172.
Note: This implementation assumes nothing about how the client will interact with git because it only aims to coordinate a layer above git to track metadata and discover existing git server locations. Clients would need to integrate authentication via other providers until git server implementations with Nostr authentication are available.
Git Tags
Additionally, we introduce two application-specific tags that should be used in conjunction with the new git event kinds: 1. A
"c"
tag that takes a commit, a branch name, and a marker ('',"head"
,"compare"
,"output"
) like so:["c", "<commit hash>", "<branch name>","<marker>"]
. 2. A"git-history"
tag that provides a plain text history of commands that a user ran to generate a merge output (e.g.“git checkout <base hash>\ngit merge <compare hash> —no-ff”
). 3. An"auth-required"
tag that allows an author to publicize whether a remote requires authentication to access. Clients SHOULD assume that remotes with no"auth-required"
default totrue
- the equivalent of["auth-required", true]
Git Remote Definition
Kind:34617
defines a replaceable event (NIP-33) that provides a url to a remote repository as it's.content
. Using a replaceable event allows other events (like commit checkpoints) to reference this remote via"a"
tag without concern that the links will break should the author need to change the location of the remote repository. The event SHOULD contain one or more"c"
tags for any commit that define the"head"
commit of each branch that the user author wants to make discoverable in the repository. The author can include other commits on each branch for key commits like releases.json { "id": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded SHA-256 of the the serialized event data>", "pubkey": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>", "created_at": "<Unix timestamp in seconds>", "kind": 34617, "tags": [ ["auth-required", false], ["a", "34550:<Community event author pubkey>:<d-identifier of the community>", "<Optional relay url>"], ["d", "<git remote name>"], ["c", "<commit hash>", "<branch name>","head"], ["c", "<commit hash>", "<branch name>",""], ["c", "<commit hash>", "<other branch name>","head"], ], "content": "<address to remote>" }
Git Checkpoint Definition
The usage of
"c"
marked tags help reference different git-related events, all usingkind:34617
: 1. An event with a two"c"
tags marked"head"
and"output"
should be interpreted as a standard commit checkpoint. 2. An event with three"c"
tags marked"head"
,"compare"
, and"output"
should be interpreted as a merge checkpoint 3. An event with a"c"
tag marked"compare"
, but with no"output"
commit should be interpreted as a pull/merge request 4. An event with at least one"c"
tag but without a"compare"
or"output"
marker should be interpreted as a release/tag and should reply to the appropriate commit. 5. An barekind:34617
event with no"c"
tag should be interpreted as a comment if it is a reply to another event or as an issue if it is not.A commit checkpoint SHOULD include at least one
"a"
tag to akind:34617
remote repository where the tagged git commit in question can be found. Clients may also query for matching"c"
tags to discover other relevant remotes as needed.Clients should interpret any
"a"
tag that includes"34617:*"
as the first place to search for commits referenced in akind:4617
event.Clients MUST use marked event tags (NIP-10) to chain checkpoints by onto the last availably commit checkpoint on the same branch. Identifying the proper
"root"
and"reply"
events allow other clients to follow and discover events in the same chain and forks.Both
kind:34617
andkind:4617
events MAY include a NIP-172 style"a"
tag to establish a moderated repository. This may also help with repository remote discovery and organization as thekind:34550
community event could suggest default remotes for the community.An example of a standard commit checkpoint:
json { "id": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded SHA-256 of the the serialized event data>", "pubkey": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>", "created_at": "<Unix timestamp in seconds>", "kind": 4617, "tags": [ ["c", "<current head hash>", "<optional branch name>","head"], ["c", "<expected output hash>", "<branch name>", "output"], ["a", "34617:<compare remote event author pubkey>:<compare remote name>"], ["e", "<event id of first checkpoint with output on checkpoint chain>", "<optional relay url>", "root id"], ["e", "<event id of previous checkpoint with output on checkpoint chain>", "<optional relay url>", "reply"], ["a", "34550:<Community event author pubkey>:<d-identifier of the community>", "<Optional relay url>"] ], "content": "<description of commit>" }
An example of a merge/pull request checkpoint:
json { "id": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded SHA-256 of the the serialized event data>", "pubkey": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>", "created_at": "<Unix timestamp in seconds>", "kind": 4617, "tags": [ ["c", "<current head hash>", "<branch name>","head"], ["c", "<compare output hash>", "<branch name>", "compare"], ["a", "34617:<compare remote event author pubkey>:<compare remote name>"], ["e", "<event id of first checkpoint with output on checkpoint chain>", "<optional relay url>", "root id"], ["e", "<event id of previous checkpoint with output on checkpoint chain>", "<optional relay url>", "reply"], ["a", "34550:<Community event author pubkey>:<d-identifier of the community>", "<Optional relay url>"] ], "content": "<description of merge/pull request>" }
An example of a merge checkpoint:
json { "id": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded SHA-256 of the the serialized event data>", "pubkey": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>", "created_at": "<Unix timestamp in seconds>", "kind": 4617, "tags": [ ["git-history", "<plain text commands used to execute merge>"], ["c", "<current head hash>", "<branch name>","head"], ["c", "<compare hash>", "<optional branch name>", "compare"], ["c", "<expected output hash>", "<branch name>", "output"], ["a", "34617:<compare remote event author pubkey>:<compare remote name>"], ["e", "<event id of first checkpoint with output on checkpoint chain>", "<optional relay url>", "root id"], ["e", "<event id of previous checkpoint with output on checkpoint chain>", "<optional relay url>", "reply"], ["e", "<event id of merge/pull request>", "<optional relay url>", "mention"], ["a", "34550:<Community event author pubkey>:<d-identifier of the community>", "<Optional relay url>"], ["p", "<hex pubkey of merge/pull request author>"] ], "content": "<description of changes since last checkpoint>" }
When establishing a merge checkpoint that references a merge/pull request the client should include the merge/pull request author as a"p"
tag similar to the usage of replies in NIP-10 -
@ a012dc82:6458a70d
2023-07-20 02:44:25Table Of Content * Bitcoin's Decentralization and Security * The Growing Acceptance of Bitcoin * Bitcoin's Limited Supply * Gold's Declining Relevance * Conclusion * FAQ
Robert Kiyosaki, famous for his best-selling book "Rich Dad Poor Dad," has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin as a key asset for the future. According to Kiyosaki, Bitcoin possesses several characteristics that give it an edge over traditional investments like gold.
Bitcoin is the Future
Bitcoin's Decentralization and Security
One of the main reasons Kiyosaki believes in Bitcoin's potential is its decentralized nature. Unlike traditional currencies or even gold, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network called blockchain, which ensures transparency, immutability, and security. Kiyosaki argues that this decentralized nature makes Bitcoin resistant to manipulation by governments and financial institutions, giving individuals more control over their wealth.
The Growing Acceptance of Bitcoin
Another factor driving Kiyosaki's optimism about Bitcoin is its increasing acceptance around the world. Major companies, including Tesla, PayPal, and Square, have started accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment, further solidifying its legitimacy. Kiyosaki believes that as more businesses and institutions embrace Bitcoin, its value and adoption will continue to soar, making it a lucrative investment opportunity. Bitcoin's Limited Supply
Kiyosaki also points to Bitcoin's limited supply as a key factor contributing to its potential for exponential growth. Unlike fiat currencies that can be printed at will, Bitcoin has a finite supply of 21 million coins. With increasing demand and a capped supply, Kiyosaki argues that Bitcoin's value is likely to surge in the coming years, making it a desirable investment for those looking to preserve and grow their wealth.
Bitcoin is the Future
Gold's Declining Relevance
While gold has long been considered a safe-haven asset, Kiyosaki argues that it is losing its shine in today's digital age. He believes that gold's appeal is diminishing due to several reasons.
1. Inefficiency and Lack of Accessibility
Kiyosaki highlights gold's inefficiency and lack of accessibility as major drawbacks. Owning physical gold requires storage, security, and transportation, which can be costly and burdensome. On the other hand, Bitcoin can be stored securely in digital wallets and easily transferred with minimal fees, making it more convenient for modern investors.
2. Limited Utility
Gold's utility is primarily limited to being a store of value and a hedge against inflation. In contrast, Bitcoin has the potential to revolutionize various industries with its underlying technology, blockchain. Kiyosaki believes that Bitcoin's utility extends beyond a mere investment asset, making it a more versatile and dynamic option.
3. Shifting Generational Preferences
Kiyosaki also points out that younger generations, such as millennials and Gen Z, are more inclined towards digital assets like Bitcoin. Their familiarity with technology and digital platforms makes Bitcoin a natural choice for them, while gold may be seen as outdated and less relevant. This generational shift in preferences could further contribute to gold's declining popularity. Bitcoin is the Future
Conclusion
Robert Kiyosaki's conviction that Bitcoin is the future and gold is losing its shine stems from his analysis of the changing financial landscape. While gold has been a trusted asset for centuries, Bitcoin's decentralization, growing acceptance, limited supply, and versatility make it an attractive investment option for those looking to capitalize on the digital revolution. However, it is crucial to remember that investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and a comprehensive understanding of the risks involved. Whether you choose Bitcoin, gold, or a combination of both, always make informed decisions and adapt your strategy to the evolving market dynamics.
FAQ
Is Robert Kiyosaki against investing in gold altogether?
No, Robert Kiyosaki is not against investing in gold entirely. He recognizes gold as a historically valuable asset and acknowledges its role as a store of value. However, he believes that Bitcoin offers greater potential for growth and wealth preservation in the future.
How does Robert Kiyosaki view the volatility of Bitcoin?
Kiyosaki acknowledges that Bitcoin can be volatile in the short term. However, he views this volatility as an opportunity rather than a drawback. According to him, the potential for high returns outweighs the short-term price fluctuations.
Does Robert Kiyosaki hold Bitcoin in his investment portfolio?
Yes, Robert Kiyosaki has publicly stated that he holds a significant portion of his investment portfolio in Bitcoin. He practices what he preaches and sees Bitcoin as a key asset for long-term wealth accumulation.
That's all for today, see ya tomorrow
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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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@ 4729b2c0:6074b4a9
2023-07-20 02:16:47When we think of wealth generation, we often confine ourselves to traditional economic principles. In doing so, we may be missing out on opportunities lying beyond the conventional domain, like the proverbial forest for the trees. The recent decision by the United States to bolster its support to Ukraine, in the wake of raising its debt ceiling in June 2023, offers an insightful case in point on how creative economic strategies can lead to surprising opportunities.
The Millionaire Mindset: From the Conventional to the Inventive
Often, traditional economists view the economy through a rigid lens, focusing on the 'three-legged stool' of economics - interest rates, fiscal policy, and employment. Confined within these parameters, they tend to overlook the potential of innovative, seemingly unorthodox solutions.
When faced with the economic conundrum of the U.S., they might proclaim that the country has exhausted its economic toolbox. The 'three-legged stool', they suggest, is on the brink of collapse, with each adjustment threatening to upset the delicate balance. This perspective, however, is rooted in a domestic view that disregards the enormous potential in international politics and global economics.
Beyond the Three Legs: Adding Dimensions to Economic Strategies
While the traditionalists were wringing their hands over the 'broken leg' of fiscal policy, the U.S., in a strategic move, opted to add another 'leg' to its economic stool. By raising the debt ceiling in June 2023, it was able to channel more military and financial aid to Ukraine.
This move, although seemingly a geopolitical one, was, in fact, a strategic maneuver to export inflation. By injecting 'new money' overseas instead of domestically, it effectively slowed down the circulation of money within the U.S., thus curbing domestic inflation rates while setting the stage for a potential soft landing.
The Individual Perspective: Harnessing the Power of Open-mindedness
For individual investors, there is a wealth of insight to glean from this move. In a world where multiple jobs are often required to maintain a constant lifestyle, adopting an open mindset that seeks out new strategies is paramount.
Rather than toiling away for money, we need to adopt a mindset that looks for ways to make money work for us. Just like the U.S.'s unconventional fourth 'leg', we must seek out our own additional 'legs' to support our financial strategies and to safeguard against economic downturns.
From Surviving to Thriving: Mastering the Art of Opportunity
The crux of the millionaire mindset lies in this willingness to think beyond the conventional. Like adding new legs to a stool, we must seek out alternative methods of generating wealth to ensure our financial stability and growth. It is about finding the hidden opportunities in the global events and market fluctuations that others might overlook.
By shifting our perspective from merely surviving to thriving, from just being workers to becoming investors, we are setting ourselves on the path to financial freedom. The lesson here is not to endorse specific political or economic strategies, but to champion a mindset that is open to possibilities and can see opportunities in the face of challenges.
Medium: Flextiger
Twitter: FlextigerA
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@ 0111adcc:a0764c52
2023-07-20 01:51:51Como funcionam?
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@ 92294577:49af776d
2023-07-19 23:40:11Growing evidence suggests, however, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach but rather many complementary protocols, each addressing different problems and catering to specific use cases and markets.
In this edition of Layer-2 Roundup, we look at some of these second-layer protocols in detail. Among other things, we will explore their interoperability (or lack thereof) and the projects using these solutions to promote mass adoption. We will also look at some of the various growing pains experienced so far, as seen recently as a result of May’s high-fee market environment.
Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
Each second layer addresses a unique set of limitations inherent in the mainchain, such as the lack of high transaction throughput, privacy, or the ability to issue assets. For example, if you want to send a friend a small amount of sats and value affordability and speed, Lightning is likely the best option. Whereas if you are a financial institution wanting to issue an asset like a bond or digital security, it makes more sense to use Liquid.
https://cdn.nostr.build/i/5fdbca0ff4cd19d5cccd049387d495812a91b45fafd5e9a4c899eb7478611378.png
There are also varying tradeoffs when using each solution that may affect a user’s decision to opt in, like Lightning’s liquidity constraints or the trust requirements (albeit distributed) seen with federated models, such as Liquid and Fedimint. As creator Burak has openly shared, even the newest addition to the layer-2 landscape, Ark, has tradeoffs with the mainchain and other L2s.
Like the old analogy of 'choosing the right tool for the job,' in a hyperbitcoinized world, users can expect to have a toolkit of L2s at their disposal, with different capabilities and tradeoffs.
Increasing Interoperability
Often overlooked is the importance of interoperability between not only the second-layer protocol and Bitcoin but the layer-2 protocols themselves. A second layer, where end-users can leverage several protocols together and move seamlessly between them, creates a healthier, more resilient financial system and an overall better user experience—both essential for mass adoption. For example, by running Lightning on top of Liquid, users gain greater privacy, additional liquidity, and cheaper fees (and much more, as we will explore later).
While both Liquid and Lightning networks operate independently, they are complementary and interoperable, offering a secure, alternative method to stacking sats or a more cost-effective option to Lightning channel rebalancing, especially when fees are high on the mainchain.
Elements, the open-source codebase that Liquid is built on, is designed to be as close to parity with Bitcoin Core as possible. This not only offers some nice security guarantees (since any bug fix or performance improvement upstream in Bitcoin can be merged into Elements) but also greater interoperability with other L2s, given that its design functions very similarly to Bitcoin.
Connecting the Second Layer with Lightning
The basis of Lightning is its network of payment channels, which are fundamentally made possible through Bitcoin's Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs) in conjunction with Lightning's Hashed Timelock Contracts (HTLCs). The UTXO model allows certain script conditions, and hash puzzles and time constraints to be encoded in the transaction for payment to be securely routed across Lightning.
One of the many design features that Liquid inherits from Bitcoin is its UTXO model. This compatibility allows Lightning's HTLCs to function with Liquid Bitcoin (L-BTC) in a manner similar to how they function with Bitcoin, enabling the payment network to operate on top of Liquid. Note that this Lightning Network on Liquid would run as a separate network but with all the advantages of Liquid as its underlying chain (e.g., Confidential Transactions and deterministic blocks). You could even bridge the two networks if you ran both—one on top of Bitcoin, the other on Liquid—for greater cross-platform compatibility. The payments remain end-to-end secure since both use the HTLC construction. The bridge, however, gets to dictate a dynamic exchange rate if the two assets being transferred are different, which is not an issue when transferring BTC and L-BTC since they are pegged.
Lightning's inherent decentralization, wide adoption, and compatibility with UTXO-based technologies could position it as the connective tissue between each L2. It could act as a primary hub for new protocols seeking to bridge to existing ones, helping to avoid the chicken-and-egg problem of adoption that has plagued new protocols in the past.
This thesis has begun to play out more recently, with several big-name exchanges adding Lightning and swap platforms incorporating Liquid with Lightning to leverage the benefits of both protocols.
Unfairly Cheap with Lightning and Liquid
In early May, on-chain Bitcoin transaction costs surged due to network congestion, resulting in the highest fees seen in nearly two years. This affected major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, and even some Lightning-compatible wallets like Muun, pricing some users out of the market entirely. This week-long episode underscored the importance of hardening scalability solutions like Lightning, which have so far relied on mainchain transactions to keep liquidity balanced. The event also raised awareness of the powerful benefits of using layer-2 technologies together, especially when fees on Bitcoin's mainchain are not only high but also volatile.
One of the new products in-market driven by this episode is the use of Liquid submarine swaps by Boltz to offer cheap Lightning channel liquidity to its users. As opening a Lightning channel requires an on-chain transaction and many users rely on the mainchain to add liquidity to their Lightning node, costs can quickly add up in high-fee conditions. By using the Liquid sidechain instead of the Bitcoin mainchain as the underlying liquidity source, users can rebalance their Lightning channels independently from the congested mainchain mempool—and do so without losing self-custody of their funds, thanks to the atomic nature of the swap.
In a high-fee scenario, users can expect upwards of 99% savings using the Liquid swap feature. Boltz intends to expand the scope of their Liquid integration by building an L-BTC <> BTC chain-to-chain atomic swap for trustless peg-outs—the first of its kind.
You can read more about Boltz's decision to add Liquid and why in their write-up here.
📺 Lightning Channel Rebalancing with Liquid Bitcoin on boltz.exchange
Another option for users is the self-hosted rebalancing protocol PeerSwap, which allows Lightning node operators to rebalance their channels with peers directly using BTC and L-BTC atomic swaps. This setup eliminates the need for a third-party coordinator for even greater savings and allows smaller nodes to better compete with larger ones. PeerSwap is currently available for both CLN and LND implementations.
The story does not end there, though. In addition to provisioning Lightning liquidity with Liquid, users turned to Lightning <> Liquid swaps to stack sats (and humbly, I might add). Many used a cheap starting point like Strike, Cash App, or some other fiat on-ramp to buy Lightning Bitcoin (LN-BTC) directly and then moved to one of the growing number of Lightning to Liquid swap services like Boltz, SideShift, or Classic CoinOs to convert to L-BTC to HODL for the mid-term. So, why would anyone HODL in L-BTC rather than LN-BTC? Unlike with Lightning, Liquid assets can be self-custodied offline in cold storage, like on a hardware device such as Jade. This setup is better for HODLing over a longer time frame—another difference to consider when deciding what layer-2 solution is best for you and your specific use case.
The Emergence of the Bitcoin Superapp
Some builders are already working on improving the Bitcoin layer-2 user experience by directly integrating swaps and multi-protocol support into their app offerings.
For example, the Blockstream Green team is in the final stages of adding Lightning capability via Greenlight, giving Bitcoiners the ability to self-custody mainchain, Liquid, and Lightning all in one app. Green, SideSwap, and the soon-to-be rereleased version of the AQUA wallet also plan to incorporate in-app Lightning <> Liquid swaps using the Boltz API.
Wallby, a newly anointed Bitcoin ‘superapp,’ supports the custody of mainchain, Liquid, and Rootstock, with further plans to add Lightning and RGB. The Wallby team is also placing emphasis on features. For instance, users can already add bitcoin and other digital assets to liquidity pools and earn interest through an automated market maker (AMM), with the ability to lend and borrow peer-to-peer and perform cross-chain swaps also on the way.
The emergence of these Bitcoin superapps and new features like in-app swaps prioritizes improving user experience, something the Bitcoin space is notoriously bad at (to the point it has become a running meme). This pivot and Lightning's maturation as a sort of lingua franca of Bitcoin will be a crucial part of the strategy for increasing layer-2 interoperability and facilitating mass adoption. Each protocol will have a unique place in the hyperbitcoinization story, ending in a second layer that is stronger than each individual protocol on its own.
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@ 630c0b5b:0654d4f7
2023-07-19 23:37:46Gå igenom följande steg
- Lyssna/läs på de bästa källorna och avgör själv legitimiteten
- Installera en mobil-wallet: Green, Phoenix eller Breez
- Köp 100 kr BTC via Robosats
- Installera bitcoin på en dator
Du har nu kunskap om bitcoin som täcker det minsta du behöver veta för att inte vara dumb money. Du har dessutom skapat dina egna nycklar, använt lightning, köpt p2p, samt installerat programvaran som upprätthåller alla regler för nätverket och verifierar alla transaktioner.
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@ 630c0b5b:0654d4f7
2023-07-19 23:36:39En kort beskrivning av bitcoin som tar upp några grundläggande delar och som försöker besvara vanligt förekommande frågor.
Vad är bitcoin?
Det är ett datorprogram som har installerats på datorer över hela planeten. Programmet löser ett problem; det låter dig skicka och ta emot monetärt värde.
Vad är monetärt värde?
Det kan vara priset du betalar för en varmkorv, lönen du får för ditt arbete, eller priset på en aktie. Värde är subjektivt; jag är villig att betala mer för ett paraply när det regnar än när det är soligt.
Varför behövs bitcoin?
För att alla människor ska kunna spara det värde som de har skapat utan att behöva lita på någon.
Varför kan jag lita på bitcoin?
För det är enkel kod som alla kan köra på sin dator. Alla datorer som kör programmet kan verifiera med 100% säkerhet att alla transaktioner är giltiga.
Kan någon hacka koden?
Du kan försöka göra ändringar i koden, men alla datorer som redan kör programmet kan se att din kod har ändrats så att den inte stämmer med alla andras version, vilket gör att ditt försök att ändra koden bara leder till att du blir ignorerad.
Hur kör jag programmet?
Du behöver bara en dator. Det går bra med en laptop. Programmet installeras som ett vanligt program. Du kan ha datorn igång hela tiden, eller någon gång per år om du vill skicka/ta emot något.
Vad kostar det?
Kör du programmet på din dator så kostar det ingenting.
Vad är mining?
Mining beskriver hur nya bitcoin hittas. Miners är en liten grupp speciellt utformade datorer som sköter bokföringen av transaktioner. Alla andra datorer verifierar transaktionernas giltighet och miners belönas för sitt arbete.
Hur belönas miners?
Förenklat kan man säga att miners deltar i ett lotteri var 10e minut, där det bara finns en vinnare. Miners ger energi till bitcoins nätverk, som i retur får en belöning. Belöningen är just nu 6.25 BTC var 10e minut.
Justering av svårighet
Om fler miners ansluter sig så kommer mer energi ges till nätverket. Belöningen lottas alltid ut var 10e minut oavsett hur många miners som ansluter sig. Processen som ser till att belöningen alltid sker var 10e minut kallas för justering av svårighet.
Varför vill någon vara miner?
Miners sitter på en tillgång (energi) och kan välja att byta den mot en annan tillgång (bitcoin) genom mining. Så länge miners har billig energi som gör processen lönsam så har de ett ekonomiskt incitament att fortsätta.
Varför behövs miners?
Bitcoins historik av transaktioner skyddas av en vägg av energi som miners ger till nätverket, ungefär som ett bankvalv skyddas av väggar av betong. Ju mer energi som bitcoin får av miners, desto starkare blir bitcoin att motstå attacker.
Hur kan bitcoin vara värt något?
För värde är subjektivt. Om man ser bitcoin som teknik så har det ett värde på samma sätt som annan teknik har värde: datorer, diskmaskiner, bilar, växelström.
Varför ska 1 BTC inte vara värd 10 dollar?
Ingenting har ett underliggande värde och marknaden sätter priset på allt. Bitcoin är svårt för marknaden att prissätta, för en sida säger att det är värt 0 och en annan sida säger att det är värt mycket mer än allt guld.
Bara en bubbla
Teknik sprider sig snabbt och explosivt. Ibland har hypen för bitcoin blivit för stor för att priset gått upp mycket, men hypen brukar avta och hittar en balans igen. En bubbla brukar spricka och aldrig komma upp igen, men bitcoin har överlevt flera bubbel-faser.
Tar lång tid att skicka
Ovanpå bitcoins baslager finns ett lager som heter Lightning. Där skickas bitcoin i princip lika snabbt som swish. Baslagrets transaktioner bör jämföras med tiden det tar att skicka guld mellan länder, eftersom baslagrets transaktioner är final settlement
Dyrt att skicka
På Lightning skickas bitcoin till i princip 0 kostnad. Ska man jämföra baslagrets transaktionskostnad bör det jämföras med gulds transaktionskostnad mellan länder (guld kräver transport, vakter, förvaring mm).
Ingen använder det
Om bitcoin är en teknik för sparande, så använder du bitcoin varje dag genom att fortsätta spara. För vissa handlar användningen av bitcoin mer om att skicka/ta emot pengar på ett säkert sätt, vilket framförallt behövs i utvecklingsländer.
Crypto?
Det tog flera årtionden för att komma fram till bitcoin. Sedan dess har tusentals andra "kryptovalutor" släppts, men alla har frångått någon av bitcoins designparametrar.
Det kommer finnas en ersättare
För att något ska ersätta bitcoin måste det vara lika säkert från attacker och dessutom ha starkare nätverkseffekter. Problemet som oftast dyker upp hos "crypto" är någon form av centralisering.
Blockkedja?
En blockkedja är en databas. En databas är inget speciellt. En blockkedja löser inga problem om databasen kan ändras av någon utan konsensus. Bitcoin skyddar sin egen databas från attacker genom att det krävs en användning av energi i den fysiska världen.
Risk
Allt har en risk. Bitcoin kan dö och gå till 0, men det kan också överleva. Överlever bitcoin så kommer förtroendet öka och fler kommer använda det. Sannolikheten för båda alternativen behöver vägas samman och ur det kan man räkna fram ett väntevärde som avgör risken.
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@ 630c0b5b:0654d4f7
2023-07-19 23:22:16Fråga: Varför är 1 BTC inte värd 10 dollar?
För att ingenting har ett underliggande värde och marknaden sätter priset på allt. En aktie är mycket enklare för marknaden att prissätta än bitcoin, för med bitcoin finns det en sida som säger att värdet är 0 och en annan sida som säger att värdet är 100 MUSD.
Säg att bitcoin är ett företag som har en produkt som konkurrerar med andra företag. De andra företagen heter Guld, Diamant, Fastighet, Börs, Obligationer. Bitcoins produkt är "store of value". Den produkten är digital och skalar enkelt, mycket bättre än guld.
Fastighet och Börs har många produkter i sina tjänster, men en av deras subtjänster är också "store of value". Om bitcoin tar marknadsandelar från Guld och Diamant så finns det även möjlighet att ta andelar av Börs och Fastighet.
Hur stor är marknaden för "store of value"? * Guld; 80%? * Diamant; 50%? * Börs; 20-50%? * Fastighet; 50-80%? * Obligationer; 50-100%?
Det är en uppskattning på den befintliga marknaden som bitcoin kan ta andelar av. Men eftersom bitcoin är en digital produkt går det att skala upp ännu mer. Exempelvis; digitala kartor gör samma sak som analoga kartor, men de kan skala mycket bättre och byggas in i nya tjänster.
Förtroendet för bitcoin baseras på att nätverket fortsätter fungera som det ska. Systemet är uppbyggt på ett vis som gör det enkelt för vem som helst att skydda nätverket genom att köra en egen nod samtidigt som det är otroligt kostsamt för någon med elakt uppsåt att försöka göra en attack, eftersom det krävs en uppoffring av riktiga ekonomiska resurser för att försöka ändra någon av transaktionerna. Nätverket når global konsensus var 10:e minut och det gör att informationen har gott om tid att synkroniseras, vilket gör att ingen kan försöka skynda på en attack.
Skulle nätverket mot förmodan släckas en period så räcker det med en enda överlevande dator som har bitcoin-programvaran installerad för att ha kvar all historik, som bara behöver kommunicera med andra för att fortsätta leva vidare. Bitcoin har överlevt sedan 2009 med i princip 100% uptime.
Vill man vara krass är nedsidan 100%. Uppsidan är något i stil med det som står i paragraf fyra. Väntevärdet blir (p0 * 0 kr) + (p1 * X kr), där p0 är sannolikheten att bitcoin går till 0 och p1 är sannolikheten att bitcoin går till [insert number]. Om ditt uträknade väntevärde är större än det nuvarande priset på bitcoin så har du ett positivt väntevärde.
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@ 75656740:dbc8f92a
2023-07-19 21:56:09All social media companies quickly run into the impossible problem of content moderation. I have often seen commentary suggesting that Twitter, FaceBook, etc need to make some particular adjustment to their content moderation policy. Perhaps they should have clearer rules, be more transparent about moderation actions taken, err on the side of permissiveness, have community moderation, time outs vs bans etc. My thesis, however, is that all such endeavors are doomed to failure. The problem is that maintaining signal to noise over a single channel cannot scale.
If a platform wants to remain relevant to the majority of people, it needs to maintain signal. Filtering is a fundamental feature of communication. Even in-person conversations between individuals break down without self-filtering to stay on topic and maintain constructive relations. Long range delivery systems have a second order problem that makes the issue even worse.
All delivery-by-default communication systems succumb to spam. This is without exception. Mail, phone, fax, email, text, forums, etc. have all fallen to spam and now require herculean efforts to maintain signal through extensive filtering. The main offenders are non-human entities that have a low barrier to entry into the network. Once in, delivery-by-default allows and motivates swamping out competing signals for user attention.
In combating this problem most platform operators do seem to act in good-faith while implementing filters. They are even fairly successful. But they end up with the same problem as economic central planners and Maxwell's Daemon; to do the job perfectly they require more information than the system contains. This means that the system is guaranteed to fail some users. As a successful platform scales the filtering needs will outrun the active users by some f(n) = n^k where k is greater than 1. This follows from the network effect of greater information being contained in the edges of the graph than in its nodes.
For networks like Facebook and Twitter the impossible threshold is many orders of magnitude past. What can be maintained on a small mailing list with the occasional admonition, now requires tens of thousands of swamped moderators that still can't begin to keep up. Those moderators have to make value judgements for content generated by people they don't know or understand. Even the best meaning moderators will make bias mistakes. Thus the proportion of unhappy users will also scale non-linearly with size.
The impossible problem takes a second step in the presence of civil authority. The problem is that a filter being necessary means that a filter exists. A civil authority and other motivated actors will not be able to leave a filter be, without at least attempting to tip the scales. Again they are generally well-meaning. But what they consider noise, may not actually be noise.
Well-meaning is probably a stretch given that levers of power tend to attract the attention of people who like that sort of thing, but I like to assume the best. I tend to think that there were some early signs of Jack stressing out under the load of bearing this problem. He didn't want it but there just wasn't anyway out of it. You must maintain signal or die!
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. The problem only exists with delivery-by-default when reach is universal (a problem for another post) with distributed systems there is still a filter but it is no longer any one entity's problem. Once the social graph is complete, deny-by-default can work wonders since each node can decide what to allow.
I don't know what the final filtering mechanism will look like, but Nostr is a lovely chance to experiment.
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@ 338aedd4:eca97fff
2023-07-19 20:35:02People outside the Nostr bubble are generally content with the existing social media model. Don’t get me wrong. There are some aspects of social media that people are dissatisfied with, such as its negative impact on mental health and the occasional toxic interactions with strangers. However, these problems do not concern the foundational infrastructure of social media and are not problems that Nostr can inherently solve.
It would be a mistake to believe that Nostr’s unique features would be sufficient to eventually win the market. For instance, censorship resistance alone is not a winning feature because people generally don’t care about censorship. Only a small fraction of users ever face censorship due to political discourse. Hence from the perspective of most users, censorship resistance is just not a big deal, even though it is a powerful feature of Nostr.
The same applies to privacy and encrypted messaging as well. Let’s be honest. Only the most odd personalities are concerned that Meta can read their DMs on Messenger. As long as people don’t have an image in their mind of somebody actually tapping into their personal information, they comfortably assume that it would not happen. And for the most part, they might be correct. They are only one among billions of users who have their data exposed on these platforms. Why should they be afraid if everyone else isn’t? What do they have to hide that is worthy of being singled out for?
Does this mean that we should ignore the majority and just let Nostr be a tool for the few who value it? Absolutely not. One of the biggest promises of Nostr is that it would remove the barrier to entry for new ideas for social media and beyond. And these ideas would not be impactful if they are only available to a sliver of the population, nor will there be enough incentives to create them in the first place. Simply put, the internet would become a much more innovative and vibrant place if we bring the world into the Nostr ecosystem. We should therefore strive to “nostrify” social media because it is a worthwhile endeavor.
So what would it take to make Nostr the primary foundation for social media? As an example, consider how the internet became popular in Ethiopia. Around 2008, most Ethiopians had never even used the internet. I was a school boy in Addis Ababa at the time. From what I remember, only people involved in education used tools such as search engines, and very few folks were familiar with email.
Then Facebook came along. The platform became so popular in the country that millions of folks learned how to open a browser, type in facebook.com, and log into their profiles. These are people who would have otherwise never used computers. Cyber cafes started popping up in every neighborhood and over a period of about four years, the majority of the nation’s urban adults became internet users. This shift happened all because people flocked to a product called Facebook.
Just as how people in Ethiopia learned how to use the internet for the sake of Facebook, the world today needs great products that can attract people to the point of having them learn to use cryptographic keys. There needs to be a set of Nostr-based products that can create sufficient disruption in order for the protocol to be widely adopted. And this will require more than having Nostr-based replicas of mainstream apps.
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@ 5c586baa:f5b9c578
2023-07-19 19:12:01High total cholesterol levels in late life associated with a reduced risk of dementia
Authors: By M.M. Mielke, PhD; P.P. Zandi, PhD; M. Sjögren, MD, PhD; D. Gustafson, MS, PhD; S. Östling, MD, PhD; B. Steen, MD, PhD; and I. Skoog, MD, PhD
Abstract
Objective: To examine the longitudinal association between plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and incident dementia.
Methods: Neuropsychiatric, anthropometric, laboratory, and other assessments were conducted for 392 participants of a 1901 to 1902 birth cohort first examined at age 70. Follow-up examinations were at ages 75, 79, 81, 83, 85, and 88. Information on those lost to follow-up was collected from case records, hospital linkage system, and death certificates. Cox proportional hazards regression examined lipid levels at ages 70, 75, and 79 and incident dementia between ages 70 and 88.
Results: Increasing cholesterol levels (per mmol/L) at ages 70 (hazard ratio [HR] 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.96, p = 0.02), 75 (HR 0.70, CI: 0.52 to 0.93, p = 0.01), and 79 (HR 0.73, CI: 0.55 to 0.98, p = 0.04) were associated with a reduced risk of dementia between ages 79 and 88. Examination of cholesterol levels in quartiles showed that the risk reduction was apparent only among the highest quartile at ages 70 (8.03 to 11.44 mmol/L [311 to 442 mg/dL]; HR 0.31, CI: 0.11 to 0.85, p = 0.03), 75 (7.03 to 9.29 mmol/L [272 to 359 mg/dL]; HR 0.20, CI: 0.05 to 0.75, p = 0.02), and 79 (6.82 to 9.10 mmol/L [264 to 352 mg/dL]; HR 0.45, CI: 0.17 to 1.23, p = 0.12). Triglyceride levels were not associated with dementia.
Conclusions: High cholesterol in late life was associated with decreased dementia risk, which is in contrast to previous studies suggesting high cholesterol in mid-life is a risk factor for later dementia. The conflicting results may be explained by the timing of the cholesterol measurements in relationship to age and the clinical onset of dementia.
*Tłumaczenie automatyczne
Streszczenie
Cel: Zbadanie podłużnego związku między poziomem cholesterolu całkowitego i trójglicerydów w osoczu a występowaniem demencji.
Metody: Przeprowadzono badania neuropsychiatryczne, antropometryczne, laboratoryjne i inne u 392 uczestników kohorty urodzeniowej z lat 1901-1902, których po raz pierwszy zbadano w wieku 70 lat. Badania kontrolne przeprowadzono w wieku 75, 79, 81, 83, 85 i 88 lat. Informacje na temat osób, które utraciły możliwość obserwacji, zebrano z rejestrów przypadków, systemu powiązań szpitalnych i świadectw zgonu. W regresji proporcjonalnych zagrożeń Coxa zbadano poziomy lipidów w wieku 70, 75 i 79 lat oraz występowanie demencji w wieku od 70 do 88 lat.
Wyniki: Wzrost poziomu cholesterolu (na mmol/l) w wieku 70 lat (współczynnik ryzyka [HR] 0,77, 95% CI: 0,61 do 0,96, p = 0,02), 75 lat (HR 0,70, CI: 0,52 do 0,93, p = 0,01) i 79 lat (HR 0,73, CI: 0,55 do 0,98, p = 0,04) wiązał się ze zmniejszonym ryzykiem demencji w wieku od 79 do 88 lat. Badanie poziomów cholesterolu w kwartylach wykazało, że zmniejszenie ryzyka było widoczne tylko w najwyższym kwartylu w wieku 70 lat (8,03 do 11,44 mmol/l [311 do 442 mg/dl]; HR 0,31, CI: 0.11 do 0,85, p = 0,03), 75 (7,03 do 9,29 mmol/l [272 do 359 mg/dl]; HR 0,20, CI: 0,05 do 0,75, p = 0,02) i 79 (6,82 do 9,10 mmol/l [264 do 352 mg/dl]; HR 0,45, CI: 0,17 do 1,23, p = 0,12). Poziom trójglicerydów nie był związany z demencją.
Wnioski: Wysoki poziom cholesterolu w późnym okresie życia był związany ze zmniejszonym ryzykiem demencji, co jest sprzeczne z wcześniejszymi badaniami sugerującymi, że wysoki poziom cholesterolu w średnim wieku jest czynnikiem ryzyka późniejszej demencji. Sprzeczne wyniki można wyjaśnić czasem pomiaru cholesterolu w stosunku do wieku i klinicznego początku demencji.
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@ f49a80a9:ab586d77
2023-07-19 18:13:55Make you own Sourdough Culture
- Mix some water and a flour of your choice together in a bowl ensuring you get much air into the mixture. The #sourdough #culture is an #aerobic process. Make sure the flour you use has nothing but flour in it. An "organic" flour is probably a wise choice.
- Place some sort of screen on top of the bowl that will keep insects out but allow the air to flow through
- Place the bowl outside
- Mix air into it every two or three hours
- Feed it once a day with a spoonful of flour while mixing much air into it
- Do this until you see an active fermentation; you will see bubbles that were not made by mixing it. Sometimes it will be vigorous and will be unmistakable. It might take one day or more. I like to bring mine inside overnight.
- Once you see active fermentation you may keep it inside, in a bowl with a towel over it.
Maintenance: Feed it once a day by placing a spoonful of flour into it. Mix air into it a few times a day, but don't worry if you forget a day or two. This culture can be kept indefinitely. If you must leave it unattended for a number of days, place it into the refrigerator, or put some into a sealed container and place it into the freezer where it will last for a very long time. You may leave it in the refrigerator as long as you wish but it should be fed periodically; perhaps once a week.
What to do with it? See my upcoming #sourdough #pancake instructions.
wildFermentation #growNostr
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@ aa55a479:f7598935
2023-07-19 17:54:44Test
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@ d3d74124:a4eb7b1d
2023-07-19 17:30:12Original article found here: https://medium.com/@chrisguida/why-anarcho-capitalism-and-sovereignty-maximalism-are-incompatible-eeb831c03323 THIS IS WORK DONE BY nostr:npub19z2uxvxz8uurr9kqa7vgmek6swurk3vra40ec8kmpf2eemx3lyqq6zfkd4
Let me begin by saying I have the utmost respect for Mr. Lopp’s substantial contributions to the bitcoin ecosystem, to which I am also a(n aspiring) contributor.
For context, I used to identify as an anarcho-capitalist (ancap) several years ago, so this is coming from a place of love and understanding. I always had lots of questions about some of the more outlandish claims of this ideology, but I decided officially to stop identifying with this label after reading The Sovereign Individual, a book I now consider to be much closer to the essence of my political philosophy, though I don’t align with it 100%.
Anarcho-capitalism is (among many things) the belief in a vision for the future of humanity in which there are no governments; that is to say: no monopolies on violence. There are several problems with this vision. Let’s see what the authors of The Sovereign Individual (James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg) have to say on the topic:
The Sovereign Individual (by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg, published in 1997 by Simon & Schuster) argues against the idea of competition by protection services within the same geographical area
The thrust of this argument is that, in most situations, a monopoly on violence lowers the cost of protection below what it would be if there were competition among protection services (that is to say: turf battles). This is, in fact, precisely the reason why we rarely see anarchic societies in practice — in the free market, monopolies on violence dominate other forms of meatspace governance. (As a side note: mostly everyone, including ancaps and the authors of The Sovereign Individual, appears to deny that, at the highest level, the world lacks a monopoly on violence, and this is why we see constant proxy wars between superpowers and would-be superpowers, a situation that leads to much destruction of property and human life.)
Even ancaps themselves believe in monopolies on the use of force on a small enough scale. If you suggest to an ancap that someone else should be able to come into their house and commit acts of violence, you will hear loud protestations that a man is sovereign in his own home and that no one but he is allowed to use force within the boundaries of his home. When you point out that this situation constitutes a monopoly on violence and that his home is the jurisdiction, you will be met either with hostility, profound cognitive dissonance (“yes, other people can commit violence in my house”), or simply blank stares.
The way out of this paradox is to simply admit that some monopolies on violence are efficient, adaptive, and desirable (obviously others are not). Most ancaps would probably agree with the notion that decentralizing violent power is desirable wherever possible. Thus: power over yourself and in your own home are good, homeowners’ associations are less good, municipal governments and police forces are worse than that, state governments and highway patrol are terrible, nation states and militaries are horrifying, and global government is evil incarnate. The authors of The Sovereign Individual predict a future where nation states collapse under their own weight, and power is transferred to the regional and municipal level, as (they argue) a system of city states will be much more adaptive to the ascendant Information Age than the current nation-state system. I agree with this conclusion, and also with the book’s assertion that extranational money (i.e. bitcoin) will bring this new reality into existence.
I’m not sure what Mr. Lopp means when he says he’s a “sovereignty maximalist”, but one thing is clear to me: anarcho-capitalism is not “sovereignty maximalism”. Why? Because ancaps are only in favor of individual sovereignty, insofar as they support sovereignty at all. In practice, when you actually go and hang out with ancaps, the vast majority of them don’t adhere to any sort of concept of sovereignty. Mostly when they get together, they complain about how much harm large governments are causing in their lives, rarely admitting their own responsibility in these matters. In other words: ancaps may talk a big game, but they generally fit more into the category of “nation-state sovereignty-” or “global-government sovereignty-” minimalists, rather than “sovereignty maximalists”.
Let’s step back for a moment to discuss what “sovereignty” means. The word “sovereign” originally comes from the word for “king” (and still sometimes carries this denotation). I like what this implies for our purposes, which is that “sovereignty maximalism” is the same as “king maximalism”. But what is a king? A king is anyone who has the final say over a particular set of policies, an institution, or a territorial jurisdiction. Anarcho-capitalists, as far as I can tell, believe in only individual sovereignty, or no sovereignty at all. The “individual sovereignty maximalists” are those individuals who possess an internal locus of control and thus take full responsibility over at least themselves and their own lives.
The “sovereignty minimalists” are those who take the opposite view; their external locus of control leads them to spend most of their time worrying and complaining, and none of their time fixing things or building new things. (I am confident Mr. Lopp does not fall into this category). I call these people “sovereignty minimalists” because their belief system appears to deny the desirability or even the existence of any kind of sovereignty or agency at all; they always look to external forces when they ascribe responsibility, and insofar as such external forces have sovereignty, they are evil.
This has been a perennial problem for anarchists. How can anarchic societies defend themselves against an external sovereign? Spoiler alert: they can’t. Such societies are inevitably conquered by external forces, as a house divided against itself cannot stand. Take any historical example of a completely anarchic society, and I will show you a society that could not defend itself, eventually succumbing to external invaders (or simply collapsing or dissipating from internal differences).
Statist societies, of course, also tend to share this fate, because they usually reach a point where they lack internal coherence, which exposes them to divisive forces, both internally and externally. But these societies tend to be much more plentiful, sustainable, and prosperous, than anarchic ones. Ireland’s indigenous Brehon system, which lasted for several centuries before being conquered by the British, was a notable exception. (The Sovereign Individual would probably argue that the existence of this society was an artifact of the “megapolitical age” in which it existed, where defense was much cheaper than offense.)
I’ve been deliberately blurring the lines between individual sovereignty and collective sovereignty because they are both important, relevant, and interdependent concepts. An individual sovereign is best served by supporting a collective sovereign that affords his quest to further his own individual sovereignty. The collective sovereign, if benevolent and wise, can bring down the costs of maintaining sovereignty in one’s own life, making it easier to build wealth, conduct commerce, and care for others.
Another word for “sovereignty” is “agency”. When an individual or collective sovereign loses agency, that is akin to mental illness, both on the individual scale and the collective scale. When an individual loses agency, such a loss is usually a sign of senescence, and signals that death may be near. It means that the individual’s identity is becoming incoherent, either psychologically or physically (usually both). When an institution or society loses agency, the prognosis is similar, but on a collective level rather than individual.
I would love to go on for hours on this topic, and how I think bitcoin fits into it, and how sovereignty at different scales affects that at other scales, and which kinds of sovereignty are desirable - but I think the preceding discussion is probably sufficient for now.
I hope this can start a dialog in the bitcoin community about eventually shedding the “anarcho-capitalist” label, or else reforming the anarcho-capitalist movement to acknowledge that individual sovereignty is a form of monopoly on violence, that such monopolies are not necessarily maladaptive, and that the smaller the scale at which they occur, the more desirable such monopolies are.
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@ 0b963191:fc5e7ffd
2023-07-19 16:53:34https://zap.stream is a live streaming site powered by nostr. It easily and permissionlessly allows anyone to set up a stream via their nostr identity and have a Twitch\Youtube style experience. Did I mention that like most things in the nostr universe, it's also powered by zaps? Viewers are able to zap the streamers and other chat participants!
Here is the TL;DR
I wrote this guide, which will probably change a lot, to provide quick start steps on how to set up your own stream and start receiving zaps.
Ingredients
The first things you will need to make sure you have set up are as follows: * Nostr npub you're going to be using as your "streaming channel" identity * Some sats on a lightning wallet (start with 5000 to play around). Also make sure you link lightning to your profile * NIP-07 browser extension for the npub\nsec * Streamer software, we will use OBS (https://obsproject.com) * Creativity
Zap.Stream website
When you head over to zap.stream you will see a very clean site with a list of streams that are active, pending, and ended. As of right now you can see how mean people are viewing a stream, although this may be on a bit of a delay from accurate count as of today.
After you Login with your nostr identity via NIP-07, you will see a stream button. If you made it this far, we're in good shape and can move on to setting up OBS.
Streaming software
I used OBS because that's what was recommended and it is very easy to get set up. Any streaming software that can send to a rmtp URL should work and I heard others using more sophisticated setups.
Download and run OBS. Review the documentation if needed. The main settings we need to look at are under Stream.
We will need to set the service to "Custom" and we will see input boxes for Server and Stream Key. Let's go back to the zap.stream site to get those.
If we go to the Stream dialog we will see a two Stream Providers up time "API.ZAP.STREAM" and "MANUAL". When you become an expert and want to stream directly from your servers or another service you can select Manual. For our quick start we will be using API.ZAP.STREAM.
Copy the Stream URL and Stream Key and paste them into OBS.
Sats ⚡️ for streaming
As of this writing zap.stream charges 10 sats/minute for streaming to their service. This may change in the future and we will need to load sats up to stream. Use whichever lighting wallet you have and send at least 5000 sats over.
Note: When you get below 500 sats a bot will kindly remind you to top up your balance. Your stream will stop when you run out of sats.
Metadata
Add in the metadata for your stream including a Title, Summary, Splashpage. When you save this all that's left is firing up OBS.
Start Streaming
Now that everything is in place, you should be able to start streaming to zap.stream. I recommend doing a few tests beforehand. When you are ready tell all your friends on "kind 1" and beyond and start making content.
Please contribute to Kieran via v0l@getalby.com to help keep development moving.
Disclaimer: Zap.stream is very new. Things are subject to change and move fast. I will try to update the documentation as frequently as possible. I am not responsible for any bad outcomes. Have fun!
Change Log
- 7.19.2023 - Changed sats per minute to 10
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@ 7ba1ccc5:2827ab36
2023-07-19 16:49:43something heree
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@ a1fc5dfd:bbedb1cf
2023-07-19 15:21:15I call it the rule of the three D’s. When something is presented to you, asked of you, emailed to you, etc., assuming you're not receiving an order from a boss or a commander in the military, these are your only three options. Ineffective people, in general, are in denial of this fact. Hence, they tend to defer a lot. "Defer" should be the absolute lowest percentage of the three options.
Why?
Simply put, most ineffective people end up deferring indefinitely by default, which is essentially a choice to decline in a very poor manner. Yet, successful people say "no" a lot. So, why would deferring be a problem in this instance if it is, in many ways, simply declining? There are several reasons, but three primary ones stand out.
Reason One - Damaged Relationships and Networks
The most effective people you will ever have in a network value keeping commitments and being decisive. So, when they offer you an opportunity, ask you a favor, etc., they respect a "no", they respect a "yes", and they respect a "let me check and get back to you" if done swiftly and the timeline is met.
They don’t appreciate waiting longer than promised for an answer or receiving no answer at all. The self-sabotage you inflict on your network by not making a decision or providing a clear deferral timeline is so damaging that further elaboration should be unnecessary. But I'll continue. Frankly, it's akin to ghosting a significant other. It's a behavior expected of teenagers, not mature adults.
Reason Two - It Makes You an Ineffective Asshole
Indefinite deferral is akin to knowing you have an assignment due but continuously procrastinating. It leads to cognitive dissonance. While many believe cognitive dissonance arises only when confronted with new information that challenges existing beliefs, there's another form.
Acting counter to your personal ethics is one such form. It's why, when faced with an impending deadline and making no progress, you become irritable and, bluntly, start acting like an asshole. This behavior hampers your productivity and success. Engage in it for a lifetime, and you'll lose years of productivity and alienate many.
Reason Three - You Gain Nothing
As already mentioned, you burn bridges, induce stress in your life, and lose time and productivity. So, what's the payoff for all this? Absolutely nothing. We all occasionally act in ways that are uncomfortable. Sometimes, we treat people in ways we'd rather not, like firing an employee solely for budgetary reasons. We all endure stress, sometimes for personal gain or the "greater good". These actions can be justified. Even if they turn out wrong, at least there was an attempt to achieve something beneficial.
However, when you indefinitely defer, what's the intended gain? To illustrate, consider someone stealing a car. We all recognize this as wrong, with risks like imprisonment. But the motive is clear: by stealing, you acquire a car, which can be sold or used. As unethical as it is, there's a potential reward. Indefinite deferral, on the other hand, offers no such incentive.
Why Do People Do This?
Because saying "no" is uncomfortable. It might be due to guilt, or perhaps it's an opportunity you're declining even when "no" is the right answer. There are myriad reasons. Even though in the end, people end up stringing the other party along, causing all the aforementioned damage, they don't do it out of malice. Most operate out of well-intentioned incompetence.
So, What's the Solution?
It's simple: do, defer, or decline, and do so promptly. Let's use an example. Imagine you receive a request to speak at an event via email. You're interested, but after checking the dates and venue size, you feel you might not have the time. I encounter this scenario weekly, and often, I decline. But let's examine each option:
Option One - Do - In the given example, there might be some negotiation regarding a speaker fee and expenses, but it's resolved quickly. If the terms are agreeable, you commit and proceed.
Option Two - Defer - Deferring isn't inherently bad if done correctly. In the example, you might need to check if you can adjust your schedule. A response like, "I'm interested, here are my terms. If they're acceptable, I can give you an answer in 5 days after rearranging some commitments," is appropriate. If they agree, you must adhere to the deadline. If you're still uncertain by then, it's time to decline.
Option Three - Decline - A swift response, such as "I truly appreciate the opportunity, but I can't fit this event into my schedule," is all that's needed. Most of the time, when people defer, they know they should simply decline.
In Conclusion
Life's too damn short to be stuck in the limbo of indecision. Every moment you spend dithering is a moment you're not moving forward, not making an impact. The rule of the three D’s isn't just a guideline—it's a mantra for those who want to lead with purpose and clarity. So the next time you're faced with a decision, remember: act with conviction, be transparent in your intentions, and for the love of all things good, don't leave people hanging.
In the grand scheme of things, it's not just about making decisions; it's about making a statement about who you are and how you value others. So, do, defer, or decline, but whatever you choose, do it with purpose.
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@ 22951e0c:38c32778
2023-07-19 13:49:42Seven months into my Nostr adventures, I have yet to share my primary nsec (Boston Wine) with any extension or client, other than Damus where it was generated.
As such, I'm using my boston.ninja profile as a side account to sample various other clients.
I can see why you all like using the Alby extension, for one thing. So damn easy. How do they keep the key secure?
Today I'm exploring Habla.news. So far, it's a beautifully clean interface and I can't believe I haven't tried it out sooner.
I love that text formatting is ++built++ into the UI. Nice work.
Does Habla allow tagging users? It seems not. If I tag @bostonwine (whom I follow from here), it doesn't seem to tag anyone. Guess that makes sense, considering how articles are typically written.
Image - linked via nostr.build - the first photo I ever took with a smartphone.
Curious whether tags, below, will add hashtags or something else. We'll see. Can we drop emojis here?
🤙
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@ 43c73e0c:c90ccb5f
2023-07-19 13:44:20How Did We Get Here?
At its inception, bitcoin was worthless; it had no monetary value. Early adopters could mine hundreds, if not thousands, of bitcoin on simple laptops. As such, there was no need to enumerate it in other units than whole bitcoin. The Bitcoin protocol was designed to accommodate smaller fractional units, but there was no need to use them in the early days as tens, hundreds and even thousands of bitcoin were the norm. The first known purchase using bitcoin was 10,000 bitcoin for a couple of pizzas.
Using whole bitcoin to enumerate was logical and necessary in the early days. In the design of bitcoin, Satoshi saw fit to include names for smaller divisions of a single bitcoin, namely bits (1,000,000 bits per whole bitcoin) and sats (100,000,000 sats per whole bitcoin). These are not new terms and are not mutually exclusive. They mimic perfectly the conventions used by the majority of FIAT currencies used throughout the globe. I suggest that this is by design to allow for the eventual increase in the value of whole bitcoins.
The Current Situation
Over time, bitcoin has increased in value to tens of thousands of dollars for a single bitcoin. We must re-evaluate how we enumerate bitcoin values and move away from the ludicrous eight decimal places and unfamiliar divisions. A change is needed to remove confusion and foster familiarity for new adopters, as bitcoin is used as a medium of exchange.
We are still so early in the bitcoin adoption cycle. Although it's estimated that up to 100 million people hold the asset, most people yet to adopt bitcoin are suspicious and confused about what it is. At this point in the adoption cycle, it's safe to say that most individuals introduced to bitcoin in retail will never accumulate one whole bitcoin.
If you hold one or more bitcoin at this point, you're in a very fortunate position that will be unattainable for most individuals moving forward. Not even every millionaire in the world can own a single bitcoin. It's estimated there are over 50 million millionaires worldwide, but there will never be more than 21 million bitcoin.
Except in very rare circumstances, most transactions will only ever include fractions of a whole bitcoin, and these fractions will diminish as the value of bitcoin increases over time.
Confusion and Cognitive Load
Bitcoin is a terrible name.
For the uninitiated, a bitcoin should reference a physical object, i.e., a bit coin. Bitcoin is a digital asset, but this conflicts with its name. In addition, bitcoin can be used to describe both the monetary network (Bitcoin) and the monetary asset (bitcoin).
Bitcoin, the monetary network, is one of the largest and most secure computer networks. It is the core technology that provides the necessary framework and communications channels for bitcoin transactions and runs on thousands of nodes around the globe. The Bitcoin network is unparalleled in reliability and security.
Bitcoin, the monetary asset, is confusing and alien to those who have yet to adopt it. Its high value leads many people to think they cannot afford to adopt bitcoin or have missed the boat. This is because most people still hear about bitcoin priced as whole units with an unaffordable price tag.
Even though current early adopters of bitcoin are comfortable breaking down bitcoin and using eight decimal places, e.g., 0.00221345 BTC, this method is wholly alien and off-putting to non-holders. Not only is this unfamiliar, but the cognitive load of deciphering this abomination can also be quite stressful, especially if the trailing zeros are omitted. Just how difficult is it to differentiate between 0.0007 and 0.00007 BTC?
Madness.
Another source of confusion is the current adoption of the satoshi as the smallest unit of bitcoin. Seen by many bitcoiners as a homage to the designer of bitcoin - Satoshi Nakamoto - the satoshi or sat seems to have no connection with bitcoin to the uninitiated. Due to it's infinitesimal size (100,000,000 of a whole bitcoin), anything $10 in value at todays prices requires tens of thousands of sats ($10 = 33,387 sats). $100 is even more ridiculous - 333,876 sats. Normal people from traditional FIAT currencies just aren't equipped to deal with such large numbers.
To clarify how adopting a new way of enumerating could help remove confusion and boost adoption, let's apply the current bitcoin vocabulary to a familiar FIAT currency - USD.
FIAT Currency Conventions
Let's invent an imaginary USDcoin.
USDcoin = 100,000,000 cents.
Now let's say that the USDcoin has been adopted and is used as a medium of exchange. Imagine the average person walking into a store to purchase a fridge and seeing it priced as Fridge = 0.0003 USDcoin or 30,000 cents.
This is totally alien and unfamiliar to most people.
Instead, let's enumerate using dollars at their actual value of 1 dollar = 100 cents.
So 30,000 cents = $300.00.
Three hundred dollars.
See how much more familiar and comfortable that feels?
You have the dollar symbol so you can instantly see it as dollars, and you have the decimal point to differentiate between dollars and cents clearly.
The majority of the currencies of the world use this same convention.
GBP
£1,000,000 pounds = 100,000,000 pennies, but we use the convention - £300.00
Three hundred pounds.
If we include pence as well, e.g. £300.50, that's Three hundred pounds and fifty pence.
Euro
€1,000,000 euros = 100,000,000 cents, but we use the convention of €300.00
Three hundred euros
If we include cents as well, e.g. €300.50, that's Three hundred pounds and fifty cents
BTC
Let's do the same for bitcoin (let's redefine the BTC symbol ₿ to mean 1 bit)
Bitcoin - ₿1,000,000 bits = 100,000,000 sats and use the convention ₿300.00
The fridge would now be priced at 30,000 sats = ₿300.00.
Three hundred bits.
If we include sats as well, e.g. ₿300.50, that's Three hundred bits and fifty sats.
or smaller amounts such as ₿10.49 - Ten bit forty-nine
See how much more familiar and comfortable that feels?
Repurposing The BTC symbol
There have been many attempts to create a symbol for the sat. These range from lightning bolts to kebabs to fancy S symbols, but all have failed.
There is one symbol that is instantly recognisable and associated with BTC, and that is the ₿ symbol., historically used to enumerate whole bitcoin. With the current convention, this symbol can only be used when using the full eight decimal place nomenclature of BTC, i.e. ₿0.00001234
I would suggest that we now adopt the ₿ symbol for bits. It's implausible anyone will confuse whole bitcoin with bits. If you see a price tag of ₿300.00, you won't think it's 300 whole bitcoin. If you want to deal in whole bitcoin, you can return to using eight decimal places and use the BTC suffix, e.g., 3.09367835 BTC.
Most normal people will never need (or be in a position) to transact in whole bitcoins. If they are fortunate enough, they can transact in millions of bits. Remember, 1 BTC is 1,000,000 bits or using the redefined symbol ₿1,000,000. We do this with USD or GBP: we use millions of units, e.g., $1,000,000 or £1,000,000.
We need to move away from talking about the price of bitcoin in whole bitcoins (BTC) and start using bits, just as we talk about things priced in dollars or pounds. Let's leave the name Bitcoin for the network and focus on bits.
Adopting bits to enumerate bitcoin has other benefits. A bit is a "bit" of a bitcoin. People are more likely to associate the word "bit" with bitcoin and are more likely to understand that a bit is a part of a bitcoin. A "sat" means nothing to the average person.
If exchanges adopt this terminology, people will perceive lower prices because bitcoin would be priced in bits making bitcoin appear more affordable. People would be encouraged to buy and spend in bits.
What Is Required To Move To Bits
Nothing new is required; bits are already part of the Bitcoin protocol and are defined in the Bitcoin white paper. No changes are needed to the underlying monetary asset or Bitcoin network. Bits are already built in, and they were included for a reason.
The significant change is that wallet developers and exchanges need to allow users to select bits as an option to display values. Exchanges could benefit significantly from displaying BTC pricing in bits to change the perception of affordability. The current price of BTC on exchanges today (19 July 2023) is shown as $29,937.90. Unaffordable for the majority of people.
How much more affordable would the price shown as $0.03 per bit or even $2.99 per 100 bits be?
Do you think the fact that they mirror dollars and cents, or pounds and pence, is a coincidence? Satoshi Nakamoto was already looking to the future when bits would become the new global currency and built this familiarity into the protocol.
As an aside, the suggestion of using bits is not new. Jimmy Song created bip-0176 in 2012, suggesting the same. Unfortunately, bits were not adopted back then but I feel the time has come to embrace the benefits of bits and sats.
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2023-07-19 13:25:38🚀 O Crescimento Exponencial da BlockFi, FTX e Alameda Research 🚀
Nesta empolgante notícia, o CEO Zac Prince revela detalhes sobre o impressionante crescimento das empresas BlockFi, FTX e Alameda Research no cenário atual. Essas empresas estão mostrando um aumento exponencial em seus negócios e estão se destacando no mundo das criptomoedas e finanças descentralizadas (DeFi).
A BlockFi tem conquistado espaço como uma plataforma líder de empréstimos e empréstimos com criptomoedas, oferecendo aos usuários oportunidades de ganhos através de rendimentos em seus ativos digitais. A FTX, por sua vez, destaca-se como uma exchange de criptomoedas inovadora e está ganhando popularidade rapidamente. Por fim, a Alameda Research, uma empresa de trading quantitativo, também está experimentando um crescimento notável no setor.
Essas empresas estão abrindo caminho para o futuro financeiro, criando soluções inovadoras que atraem cada vez mais investidores e entusiastas de criptomoedas. O CEO Zac Prince compartilha suas percepções sobre a exposição e o sucesso dessas empresas em um mercado em constante evolução.
Leia a notícia completa para obter informações detalhadas sobre o incrível crescimento da BlockFi, FTX e Alameda Research: Link da Notícia
BlockFi #FTX #AlamedaResearch #Criptomoedas #DeFi #CrescimentoExponencial #Finanças #Tecnologia #TechNews
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2023-07-19 13:17:42📢 Últimas notícias de criptomoedas 🚀
Coinbase CEO se reunirá com democratas da Câmara para discutir relatório sobre criptomoedas. A reunião está marcada para discutir o relatório recentemente divulgado sobre a regulamentação e o papel das criptomoedas no cenário financeiro. A Coinbase, uma das maiores plataformas de criptomoedas, está ansiosa para esclarecer suas políticas e abordagens com os legisladores democratas, a fim de promover um diálogo construtivo e entender melhor os desafios e oportunidades que as criptomoedas apresentam.
🔗 Leia a notícia completa aqui: Coinbase CEO se reunirá com democratas
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2023-07-19 13:07:07📢 Presidente da SEC, Gary Gensler, expressa descontentamento com decisão judicial sobre investidores individuais da Ripple.
Gary Gensler, presidente da Comissão de Valores Mobiliários dos Estados Unidos (SEC), manifestou sua insatisfação com uma recente decisão judicial relacionada ao caso da Ripple. A SEC processou a Ripple Labs, alegando que sua criptomoeda XRP era um título não registrado, o que resultou em turbulência para muitos investidores individuais.
A decisão judicial em questão parece não ter sido favorável aos interesses da SEC, o que provocou a reação de Gensler. O caso da Ripple tem sido um dos pontos mais discutidos e controversos no espaço das criptomoedas e regulamentação financeira nos últimos tempos.
Para ler a notícia completa, clique aqui: https://technewsbr.substack.com/p/presidente-da-sec-gary-gensler-manifesta
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2023-07-19 12:38:33🚀📉 Notícia de Tecnologia Financeira 📉🚀
🇧🇷 Os brasileiros estão negociando menos Bitcoin em 2023! 📉 O volume de negociações da criptomoeda atingiu a marca mais baixa do ano, indicando possíveis mudanças no cenário do mercado financeiro digital no Brasil.
De acordo com dados recentes, os investidores nacionais estão demonstrando uma cautela crescente em relação às transações com Bitcoin. Esse comportamento pode ser influenciado por diversos fatores, como regulamentações governamentais, volatilidade do mercado ou até mesmo mudanças nas preferências de investimento.
Para saber mais sobre essa tendência e suas possíveis implicações para o futuro das criptomoedas no Brasil, leia a notícia completa aqui: https://technewsbr.substack.com/p/volume-de-bitcoin-negociado-por-brasileiros
TechNews #Bitcoin #Criptomoedas #MercadoFinanceiro #Brasil #Investimentos