@ f977c464:32fcbe00

Güneşin kaybolmasının üçüncü günü, saat öğlen on ikiyi yirmi geçiyordu. Trenin kalkmasına yaklaşık iki saat vardı. Hepimiz perondaydık. Valizlerimiz, kolilerimiz, renk renk ve biçimsiz çantalarımızla yan yana dizilmiş, kısa aralıklarla tepemizdeki devasa saati kontrol ediyorduk.

Ama ne kadar dik bakarsak bakalım zaman bir türlü istediğimiz hızla ilerlemiyordu. Herkes birkaç dakika sürmesi gereken alelade bir doğa olayına sıkışıp kalmış, karanlıktan sürünerek çıkmayı deniyordu.

Bekleme salonuna doğru döndüm. Nefesimden çıkan buharın arkasında, kalın taş duvarları ve camlarıyla morg kadar güvenli ve soğuk duruyordu. Cesetleri o yüzden bunun gibi yerlere taşımaya başlamışlardı. Demek insanların bütün iyiliği başkaları onları gördüğü içindi ki gündüzleri gecelerden daha karanlık olduğunda hemen birbirlerinin gırtlağına çökmüş, böğürlerinde delikler açmış, gözlerini oyup kafataslarını parçalamışlardı.

İstasyonun ışığı titrediğinde karanlığın enseme saplandığını hissettim. Eğer şimdi, böyle kalabalık bir yerde elektrik kesilse başımıza ne gelirdi?

İçerideki askerlerden biri bakışlarımı yakalayınca yeniden saate odaklanmış gibi yaptım. Sadece birkaç dakika geçmişti.

“Tarlalarım gitti. Böyle boyum kadar ayçiçeği doluydu. Ah, hepsi ölüp gidiyor. Afitap’ın çiçekleri de gi-”

“Dayı, Allah’ını seversen sus. Hepimizi yakacaksın şimdi.”

Karanlıkta durduğunda, görünmez olmayı istemeye başlıyordun. Kimse seni görmemeli, nefesini bile duymamalıydı. Kimsenin de ayağının altında dolaşmamalıydın; gelip kazayla sana çarpmamalılar, takılıp sendelememeliydiler. Yoksa aslında hedefi sen olmadığın bir öfke gürlemeye başlar, yaşadığın ilk şoku ve acıyı silerek üstünden geçerdi.

İlk konuşan, yaşlıca bir adam, kafasında kasketi, nasırlı ellerine hohluyordu. Gözleri ve burnu kızarmıştı. Güneşin kaybolması onun için kendi başına bir felaket değildi. Hayatına olan pratik yansımalarından korkuyordu olsa olsa. Bir anının kaybolması, bu yüzden çoktan kaybettiği birinin biraz daha eksilmesi. Hayatta kalmasını gerektiren sebepler azalırken, hayatta kalmasını sağlayacak kaynaklarını da kaybediyordu.

Onu susturan delikanlıysa atkısını bütün kafasına sarmış, sakalı ve yüzünün derinliklerine kaçmış gözleri dışında bedeninin bütün parçalarını gizlemeye çalışıyordu. İşte o, güneşin kaybolmasının tam olarak ne anlama geldiğini anlamamış olsa bile, dehşetini olduğu gibi hissedebilenlerdendi.

Güneşin onlardan alındıktan sonra kime verileceğini sormuyorlardı. En başta onlara verildiğinde de hiçbir soru sormamışlardı zaten.

İki saat ne zaman geçer?

Midemin üstünde, sağ tarafıma doğru keskin bir acı hissettim. Karaciğerim. Gözlerimi yumdum. Yanımda biri metal bir nesneyi yere bıraktı. Bir kafesti. İçerisindeki kartalın ıslak kokusu burnuma ulaşmadan önce bile biliyordum bunu.

“Yeniden mi?” diye sordu bana kartal. Kanatları kanlı. Zamanın her bir parçası tüylerinin üstüne çöreklenmişti. Gagası bir şey, tahminen et parçası geveliyor gibi hareket ediyordu. Eski anılar kolay unutulmazmış. Şu anda kafesinin kalın parmaklıklarının ardında olsa da bunun bir aldatmaca olduğunu bir tek ben biliyordum. Her an kanatlarını iki yana uzatıverebilir, hava bu hareketiyle dalgalanarak kafesi esneterek hepimizi içine alacak kadar genişleyebilir, parmaklıklar önce ayaklarımızın altına serilir gibi gözükebilir ama aslında hepimizin üstünde yükselerek tepemize çökebilirdi.

Aşağıya baktım. Tahtalarla zapt edilmiş, hiçbir yere gidemeyen ama her yere uzanan tren rayları. Atlayıp koşsam… Çantam çok ağırdı. Daha birkaç adım atamadan, kartal, suratını bedenime gömerdi.

“Bu sefer farklı,” diye yanıtladım onu. “Yeniden diyemezsin. Tekrarladığım bir şey değil bu. Hatta bir hata yapıyormuşum gibi tonlayamazsın da. Bu sefer, insanların hak etmediğini biliyorum.”

“O zaman daha vahim. Süzme salaksın demektir.”

“İnsanların hak etmemesi, insanlığın hak etmediği anlamına gelmez ki.”

Az önce göz göze geldiğim genççe ama çökük asker hâlâ bana bakıyordu. Bir kartalla konuştuğumu anlamamıştı şüphesiz. Yanımdakilerden biriyle konuştuğumu sanmış olmalıydı. Ama konuştuğum kişiye bakmıyordum ona göre. Çekingence kafamı eğmiştim. Bir kez daha göz göze geldiğimizde içerideki diğer iki askere bir şeyler söyledi, onlar dönüp beni süzerken dışarı çıktı.

Yanımızdaki, az önce konuşan iki adam da şaşkınlıkla bir bana bir kartala bakıyordu.

“Yalnız bu sefer kalbin de kırılacak, Prometheus,” dedi kartal, bana. “Belki son olur. Biliyorsun, bir sürü soruna neden oluyor bu yaptıkların.”

Beni koruyordu sözde. En çok kanıma dokunan buydu. Kasıklarımın üstüne oturmuş, kanlı suratının ardında gözleri parlarken attığı çığlık kulaklarımda titremeye devam ediyordu. Bu tabloda kimsenin kimseyi düşündüğü yoktu. Kartalın, yanımızdaki adamların, artık arkama kadar gelmiş olması gereken askerin, tren raylarının, geçmeyen saatlerin…

Arkamı döndüğümde, asker sahiden oradaydı. Zaten öyle olması gerekiyordu; görmüştüm bunu, biliyordum. Kehanetler… Bir şeyler söylüyordu ama ağzı oynarken sesi çıkmıyordu. Yavaşlamış, kendisini saatin akışına uydurmuştu. Havada donan tükürüğünden anlaşılıyordu, sinirliydi. Korktuğu için olduğunu biliyordum. Her seferinde korkmuşlardı. Beni unutmuş olmaları işlerini kolaylaştırmıyordu. Sadece yeni bir isim vermelerine neden oluyordu. Bu seferkiyle beni lanetleyecekleri kesinleşmişti.

Olması gerekenle olanların farklı olması ne kadar acınasıydı. Olması gerekenlerin doğasının kötücül olmasıysa bir yerde buna dayanıyordu.

“Salaksın,” dedi kartal bana. Zamanı aşan bir çığlık. Hepimizin önüne geçmişti ama kimseyi durduramıyordu.

Sonsuzluğa kaç tane iki saat sıkıştırabilirsiniz?

Ben bir tane bile sıkıştıramadım.

Çantama uzanıyordum. Asker de sırtındaki tüfeğini indiriyordu. Benim acelem yoktu, onunsa eli ayağı birbirine dolaşıyordu. Oysaki her şey tam olması gerektiği anda olacaktı. Kehanet başkasının parmaklarının ucundaydı.

Güneş, bir tüfeğin patlamasıyla yeryüzüne doğdu.

Rayların üzerine serilmiş göğsümün ortasından, bir çantanın içinden.

Not: Bu öykü ilk olarak 2021 yılında Esrarengiz Hikâyeler'de yayımlanmıştır.

@ 3bf0c63f:aefa459d

O Planetinha

Fumaça verde me entrando pelas narinas e um coro desafinado fazia uma base melódica.

nos confins da galáxia havia um planetinha isolado. Era um planeta feliz.

O homem vestido de mago começava a aparecer por detrás da fumaça verde.

O planetinha recebeu três presentes, mas o seu habitante, o homem, estava num estado de confusão tão grande que ameaçava estragá-los. Os homens já havia escravizado o primeiro presente, a vida; lutavam contra o segundo presente, a morte; e havia alguns que achavam que deviam destruir totalmente o terceiro, o amor, e com isto levar a desordem total ao pobre planetinha perdido, que se chamava Terra.

O coro desafinado entrou antes do "Terra" cantando várias vezes, como se imitasse um eco, "terra-terra-terraaa". Depois de uma pausa dramática, o homem vestido de mago voltou a falar.

Terra, nossa nave mãe.

Neste momento eu me afastei. À frente do palco onde o mago e seu coral faziam apelos à multidão havia vários estandes cobertos com a tradicional armação de quatro pernas e lona branca. Em todos os cantos da praça havia gente, gente dos mais variados tipos. Visitantes curiosos que se aproximavam atraídos pela fumaça verde e as barraquinhas, gente que aproveitava o movimento para vender doces sem pagar imposto, casais que se abraçavam de pé para espantar o frio, os tradicionais corredores que faziam seu cooper, gente cheia de barba e vestida para imitar os hippies dos anos 60 e vender colares estendidos no chão, transeuntes novos e velhos, vestidos como baladeiros ou como ativistas do ônibus grátis, grupos de ciclistas entusiastas.

O mago fazia agora apelos para que nós, os homens, habitantes do isolado planetinha, passássemos a ver o planetinha, nossa nave mãe, como um todo, e adquiríssemos a consciência de que ele estava entrando em maus lençóis. A idéia, reforçada pela logomarca do evento, era que parássemos de olhar só para a nossa vida e pensássemos no planeta.

A logomarca do evento, um desenho estilizado do planeta Terra, nada tinha a ver com seu nome: "Festival Andando de Bem com a Vida", mas havia sido ali colocada estrategicamente pelos organizadores, de quem parecia justamente sair a mensagem dita pelo mago.

Aquela multidão de pessoas que, assim como eu, tinham suas próprias preocupações, não podiam ver o quadro caótico que formavam, cada uma com seus atos isolados, ali naquela praça isolada, naquele planeta isolado. Quando o hippie barbudo, quase um Osho, assustava um casal para tentar vender-lhes um colar, a quantidade de caos que isto acrescentava à cena era gigantesca. Por um segundo, pude ver, como se estivesse de longe e acima, com toda a pretensão que este estado imaginativo carrega, a cena completa do caos.

---

Uma nave-mãe, dessas de ficção científica, habitada por milhões de pessoas, seguia no espaço sem rumo, e sem saber que logo à frente um longo precipício espacial a esperava, para a desgraça completa sua e de seus habitantes.

Acostumados àquela nave tanto quanto outrora estiveram acostumados à sua terra natal, os homens viviam as próprias vidas sem nem se lembrar que estavam vagando pelo espaço. Ninguém sabia quem estava conduzindo a nave, e ninguém se importava.

No final do filme descobre-se que era a soma completa do caos que cada habitante produzia, com seus gestos egoístas e incapazes de levar em conta a totalidade, é que determinava a direção da nave-mãe. O efeito, no entanto, não era imediato, como nunca é. Havia gente de verdade encarregada de conduzir a nave, mas era uma gente bêbada, mau-caráter, que vivia brigando pelo controle da nave e o poder que isto lhes dava. Poder, status, dinheiro!

Essa gente bêbada era atraída até ali pela corrupção das instituições e da moral comum que, no fundo no fundo, era causada pelo egoísmo da população, através de um complexo -- mas que no filme aparece simplificado pela ação individual de um magnata do divertimento público -- processo social.

O homem vestido de mago era mais um agente causador de caos, com sua cena cheia de fumaça e sua roupa estroboscópica, ele achava que estava fazendo o bem ao alertar sua platéia, todos as sextas-feiras, de que havia algo que precisava ser feito, que cada um que estava ali ouvindo era responsável pelo planeta. A sua incapacidade, porém, de explicar o que precisava ser feito só aumentava a angústia geral; a culpa que ele jogava sobre seu público, e que era prontamente aceita e passada em frente, aos familiares e amigos de cada um, atormentava-os diariamente e os impedia de ter uma vida decente no trabalho e em casa. As famílias, estressadas, estavam constantemente brigando e os motivos mais insignificantes eram responsáveis pelas mais horrendas conseqüências.

O mago, que após o show tirava o chapéu entortado e ia tomar cerveja num boteco, era responsável por uma parcela considerável do caos que levava a nave na direção do seu desgraçado fim. No filme, porém, um dos transeuntes que de passagem ouviu um pedaço do discurso do mago despertou em si mesmo uma consiência transformadora e, com poderes sobre-humanos que lhe foram então concedidos por uma ordem iniciática do bem ou não, usando só os seus poderes humanos mesmo, o transeunte -- na primeira versão do filme um homem, na segunda uma mulher -- consegue consertar as instituições e retirar os bêbados da condução da máquina. A questão da moral pública é ignorada para abreviar a trama, já com duas horas e quarenta de duração, mas subentende-se que ela também fora resolvida.

---

No planeta Terra real, que não está indo em direção alguma, preso pela gravidade ao Sol, e onde as pessoas vivem a própria vida porque lhes é impossível viver a dos outros, não têm uma consciência global de nada porque só é possível mesmo ter a consciência delas mesmas, e onde a maioria, de uma maneira ou de outra, está tentando como pode, fazer as coisas direito, o filme é exibido.

Para a maioria dos espectadores, é um filme que evoca reflexões, um filme forte. Por um segundo elas têm o mesmo vislumbre do caos generalizado que eu tive ali naquela praça. Para uma pequena parcela dos espectadores -- entre eles alguns dos que estavam na platéia do mago, o próprio mago, o seguidor do Osho, o casal de duas mulheres e o vendedor de brigadeiros, mas aos quais se somam também críticos de televisão e jornal e gente que fala pelos cotovelos na internet -- o filme é um horror, o filme é uma vulgarização de um problema real e sério, o filme apela para a figura do herói salvador e passa uma mensagem totalmente errada, de que a maioria da população pode continuar vivendo as suas própria vidinhas miseráveis enquanto espera por um herói que vem do Olimpo e os salva da mixórdia que eles mesmos causaram, é um filme que presta um enorme desserviço à causa.

No dia seguinte ao lançamento, num bar meio caro ali perto da praça, numa mesa com oito pessoas, entre elas seis do primeiro grupo e oito do segundo, discute-se se o filme levará ou não o Oscar. Eu estou em casa dormindo e não escuto nada.

@ f977c464:32fcbe00

Kendisini aynada ilk defa gördüğü o gün, diğerleri gibi olduğunu anlamıştı. Oysaki her insan biricik olmalıydı. Sözgelimi sinirlendiğinde bir kaşı diğerinden birkaç milimetre daha az çatılabilirdi veya sevindiğinde dudağı ona has bir açıyla dalgalanabilirdi. Hatta bunların hiçbiri mümkün değilse, en azından, gözlerinin içinde sadece onun sahip olabileceği bir ışık parlayabilirdi. Çok sıradan, öyle sıradan ki kimsenin fark etmediği o milyonlarca minik şeyden herhangi biri. Ne olursa.

Ama yansımasına bakarken bunların hiçbirini bulamadı ve diğer günlerden hiç de farklı başlamamış o gün, işe gitmek için vagonunun gelmesini beklediği alelade bir metro istasyonunda, içinde kaybolduğu illüzyon dağılmaya başladı.

İlk önce derisi döküldü. Tam olarak dökülmedi aslında, daha çok kıvılcımlara dönüşüp bedeninden fırlamış ve bir an sonra sönerek külleşmiş, havada dağılmıştı. Ardında da, kaybolmadan hemen önce, kısa süre için hayal meyal görülebilen, bir ruhun yok oluşuna ağıt yakan rengârenk peri cesetleri bırakmıştı. Beklenenin aksine, havaya toz kokusu yayıldı.

Dehşete düştü elbette. Dehşete düştüler. Panikle üstlerini yırtan 50 işçi. Her şeyin sebebiyse o vagon.

Saçları da döküldü. Her tel, yere varmadan önce, her santimde ikiye ayrıla ayrıla yok oldu.

Bütün yüzeylerin mat olduğu, hiçbir şeyin yansımadığı, suyun siyah aktığı ve kendine ancak kameralarla bakabildiğin bir dünyada, vagonun içine yerleştirilmiş bir aynadan ilk defa kendini görmek.

Gözlerinin akları buharlaşıp havada dağıldı, mercekleri boşalan yeri doldurmak için eriyip yayıldı. Gerçeği görmemek için yaratılmış, bu yüzden görmeye hazır olmayan ve hiç olmayacak gözler.

Her şeyin o anda sona erdiğini sanabilirdi insan. Derin bir karanlık ve ölüm. Görmenin görmek olduğu o anın bitişi.

---

Ben geldiğimde ölmüşlerdi.

Yani bozulmuşlardı demek istiyorum.

Belleklerini yeni taşıyıcılara takmam mümkün olmadı. Fiziksel olarak kusursuz durumdaydılar, olmayanları da tamir edebilirdim ama tüm o hengamede kendilerini baştan programlamış ve girdilerini modifiye etmişlerdi.

Belleklerden birini masanın üzerinden ileriye savurdu. Hınca hınç dolu bir barda oturuyorlardı. O ve arkadaşı.

Sırf şu kendisini insan sanan androidler travma geçirip delirmesin diye neler yapıyoruz, insanın aklı almıyor.

Eliyle arkasını işaret etti.

Polislerin söylediğine göre biri vagonun içerisine ayna yerleştirmiş. Bu zavallılar da kapı açılıp bir anda yansımalarını görünce kafayı kırmışlar.

Arkadaşı bunların ona ne hissettirdiğini sordu. Yani o kadar bozuk, insan olduğunu sanan androidi kendilerini parçalamış olarak yerde görmek onu sarsmamış mıydı?

Hayır, sonuçta belirli bir amaç için yaratılmış şeyler onlar. Kaliteli bir bilgisayarım bozulduğunda üzülürüm çünkü parasını ben vermişimdir. Bunlarsa devletin. Bana ne ki?

Arkadaşı anlayışla kafasını sallayıp suyundan bir yudum aldı. Kravatını biraz gevşetti.

Bira istemediğinden emin misin?

İstemediğini söyledi. Sahi, neden deliriyordu bu androidler?

Basit. Onların yapay zekâlarını kodlarken bir şeyler yazıyorlar. Yazılımcılar. Biliyorsun, ben donanımdayım. Bunlar da kendilerini insan sanıyorlar. Tiplerine bak.

Sesini alçalttı.

Arabalarda kaza testi yapılan mankenlere benziyor hepsi. Ağızları burunları bile yok ama şu geldiğimizden beri sakalını düzeltip duruyor mesela. Hayır, hepsi de diğerleri onun sakalı varmış sanıyor, o manyak bir şey.

Arkadaşı bunun delirmeleriyle bağlantısını çözemediğini söyledi. O da normal sesiyle konuşmaya devam etti.

Anlasana, aynayı falan ayırt edemiyor mercekleri. Lönk diye kendilerini görüyorlar. Böyle, olduğu gibi...

Nedenmiş peki? Ne gerek varmış?

Ne bileyim be abicim! Ahiret soruları gibi.

Birasına bakarak dalıp gitti. Sonra masaya abanarak arkadaşına iyice yaklaştı. Bulanık, bir tünelin ucundaki biri gibi, şekli şemalı belirsiz bir adam.

Ben seni nereden tanıyorum ki ulan? Kimsin sen?

Belleği makineden çıkardılar. İki kişiydiler. Soruşturmadan sorumlu memurlar.

─ Baştan mı başlıyoruz, diye sordu belleği elinde tutan ilk memur.

─ Bir kere daha deneyelim ama bu sefer direkt aynayı sorarak başla, diye cevapladı ikinci memur.

─ Bence de. Yeterince düzgün çalışıyor.

Simülasyon yüklenirken, ayakta, biraz arkada duran ve alnını kaşıyan ikinci memur sormaktan kendisini alamadı:

─ Bu androidleri niye böyle bir olay yerine göndermişler ki? Belli tost olacakları. İsraf. Gidip biz baksak aynayı kırıp delilleri mahvetmek zorunda da kalmazlar.

Diğer memur sandalyesinde hafifçe dönecek oldu, o sırada soruyu bilgisayarın hoparlöründen teknisyen cevapladı.

Hangi işimizde bir yamukluk yok ki be abi.

---

Ama bir son değildi. Üstlerindeki tüm illüzyon dağıldığında ve çıplak, cinsiyetsiz, birbirinin aynı bedenleriyle kaldıklarında sıra dünyaya gelmişti.

Yere düştüler. Elleri -bütün bedeni gibi siyah turmalinden, boğumları çelikten- yere değdiği anda, metronun zemini dağıldı.

Yerdeki karolar öncesinde beyazdı ve çok parlaktı. Tepelerindeki floresan, ışığını olduğu gibi yansıtıyor, tek bir lekenin olmadığı ve tek bir tozun uçmadığı istasyonu aydınlatıyorlardı.

Duvarlara duyurular asılmıştı. Örneğin, yarın akşam kültür merkezinde 20.00’da başlayacak bir tekno blues festivalinin cıvıl cıvıl afişi vardı. Onun yanında daha geniş, sarı puntolu harflerle yazılmış, yatay siyah kesiklerle çerçevesi çizilmiş, bir platformdan düşen çöp adamın bulunduğu “Dikkat! Sarı bandı geçmeyin!” uyarısı. Biraz ilerisinde günlük resmi gazete, onun ilerisinde bir aksiyon filminin ve başka bir romantik komedi filminin afişleri, yapılacakların ve yapılmayacakların söylendiği küçük puntolu çeşitli duyurular... Duvar uzayıp giden bir panoydu. On, on beş metrede bir tekrarlanıyordu.

Tüm istasyonun eni yüz metre kadar. Genişliği on metre civarı.

Önlerinde, açık kapısından o mendebur aynanın gözüktüğü vagon duruyordu. Metro, istasyona sığmayacak kadar uzundu. Bir kılıcın keskinliğiyle uzanıyor ama yer yer vagonların ek yerleriyle bölünüyordu.

Hiçbir vagonda pencere olmadığı için metronun içi, içlerindekiler meçhuldü.

Sonrasında karolar zerrelerine ayrılarak yükseldi. Floresanın ışığında her yeri toza boğdular ve ortalığı gri bir sisin altına gömdüler. Çok kısa bir an. Afişleri dalgalandırmadılar. Dalgalandırmaya vakitleri olmadı. Yerlerinden söküp aldılar en fazla. Işık birkaç kere sönüp yanarak direndi. Son kez söndüğünde bir daha geri gelmedi.

Yine de etraf aydınlıktı. Kırmızı, her yere eşit dağılan soluk bir ışıkla.

Yer tamamen tele dönüşmüştü. Altında çapraz hatlarla desteklenmiş demir bir iskelet. Işık birkaç metreden daha fazla aşağıya uzanamıyordu. Sonsuzluğa giden bir uçurum.

Duvarın yerini aynı teller ve demir iskelet almıştı. Arkasında, birbirine vidalarla tutturulmuş demir plakalardan oluşan, üstünden geçen boruların ek yerlerinden bazen ince buharların çıktığı ve bir süre asılı kaldıktan sonra ağır, yağlı bir havayla sürüklendiği bir koridor.

Diğer tarafta paslanmış, pencerelerindeki camlar kırıldığı için demir plakalarla kapatılmış külüstür bir metro. Kapının karşısındaki aynadan her şey olduğu gibi yansıyordu.

---

Bir konteynırın içini andıran bir evde, gerçi gayet de birbirine eklenmiş konteynırlardan oluşan bir şehirde “andıran” demek doğru olmayacağı için düpedüz bir konteynırın içinde, masaya mum görüntüsü vermek için koyulmuş, yarı katı yağ atıklarından şekillendirilmiş kütleleri yakmayı deniyordu. Kafasında hayvan kıllarından yapılmış grili siyahlı bir peruk. Aynı kıllardan kendisine gür bir bıyık da yapmıştı.

Üstünde mavi çöp poşetlerinden yapılmış, kravatlı, şık bir takım.

Masanın ayakları yerine oradan buradan çıkmış parçalar konulmuştu: bir arabanın şaft mili, üst üste konulmuş ve üstünde yazı okunamayan tenekeler, boş kitaplar, boş gazete balyaları... Hiçbir şeye yazı yazılmıyordu, gerek yoktu da zaten çünkü merkez veri bankası onları fark ettirmeden, merceklerden giren veriyi sentezleyerek insanlar için dolduruyordu. Yani, androidler için. Farklı şekilde isimlendirmek bir fark yaratacaksa.

Onların mercekleri için değil. Bağlantıları çok önceden kopmuştu.

─ Hayatım, sofra hazır, diye bağırdı yatak odasındaki karısına.

Sofrada tabak yerine düz, bardak yerine bükülmüş, çatal ve bıçak yerine sivriltilmiş plakalar.

Karısı salonun kapısında durakladı ve ancak kulaklarına kadar uzanan, kocasınınkine benzeyen, cansız, ölü hayvanların kıllarından ibaret peruğunu eliyle düzeltti. Dudağını, daha doğrusu dudağının olması gereken yeri koyu kırmızı bir yağ tabakasıyla renklendirmeyi denemişti. Biraz da yanaklarına sürmüştü.

─ Nasıl olmuş, diye sordu.

Sesi tek düzeydi ama hafif bir neşe olduğunu hissettiğinize yemin edebilirdiniz.

Üzerinde, çöp poşetlerinin içini yazısız gazete kağıtlarıyla doldurarak yaptığı iki parça giysi.

─ Çok güzelsin, diyerek kravatını düzeltti kocası.

─ Sen de öylesin, sevgilim.

Yaklaşıp kocasını öptü. Kocası da onu. Sonra nazikçe elinden tutarak, sandalyesini geriye çekerek oturmasına yardım etti.

Sofrada yemek niyetine hiçbir şey yoktu. Gerek de yoktu zaten.

Konteynırın kapısı gürültüyle tekmelenip içeri iki memur girene kadar birbirlerine öyküler anlattılar. O gün neler yaptıklarını. İşten erken çıkıp yemyeşil çimenlerde gezdiklerini, uçurtma uçurduklarını, kadının nasıl o elbiseyi bulmak için saatlerce gezip yorulduğunu, kocasının kısa süreliğine işe dönüp nasıl başarılı bir hamleyle yaşanan krizi çözdüğünü ve kadının yanına döndükten sonra, alışveriş merkezinde oturdukları yeni dondurmacının dondurmalarının ne kadar lezzetli olduğunu, boğazlarının ağrımasından korktuklarını...

Akşam film izleyebilirlerdi, televizyonda -boş ve mat bir plaka- güzel bir film oynayacaktı.

İki memur. Çıplak bedenleriyle birbirinin aynı. Ellerindeki silahları onlara doğrultmuşlardı. Mum ışığında, tertemiz bir örtünün serili olduğu masada, bardaklarında şaraplarla oturan ve henüz sofranın ortasındaki hindiye dokunmamış çifti gördüklerinde bocaladılar.

Hiç de androidlere bilinçli olarak zarar verebilecek gibi gözükmüyorlardı.

─ Sessiz kalma hakkına sahipsiniz, diye bağırdı içeri giren ikinci memur. Söylediğiniz her şey...

Cümlesini bitiremedi. Yatak odasındaki, masanın üzerinden gördüğü o şey, onunla aynı hareketleri yapan android, yoksa, bir aynadaki yansıması mıydı?

Bütün illüzyon o anda dağılmaya başladı.

Not: Bu öykü ilk olarak 2020 yılında Esrarengiz Hikâyeler'de yayımlanmıştır.

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Embarking on the journey of operating your own Lightning node on the Bitcoin Layer 2 network is more than just a tech-savvy endeavor; it's a step into a realm of financial autonomy and cutting-edge innovation. By running a node, you become a vital part of a revolutionary movement that's reshaping how we think about money and digital transactions. This role not only offers a unique perspective on blockchain technology but also places you at the heart of a community dedicated to decentralization and network resilience. Beyond the technicalities, it's about embracing a new era of digital finance, where you contribute directly to the network's security, efficiency, and growth, all while gaining personal satisfaction and potentially lucrative rewards.

In essence, running your own Lightning node is a powerful way to engage with the forefront of blockchain technology, assert financial independence, and contribute to a more decentralized and efficient Bitcoin network. It's an adventure that offers both personal and communal benefits, from gaining in-depth tech knowledge to earning a place in the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency.

Running your own Lightning node for the Bitcoin Layer 2 network can be an empowering and beneficial endeavor. Here are 10 reasons why you might consider taking on this task:

1. Direct Contribution to Decentralization: Operating a node is a direct action towards decentralizing the Bitcoin network, crucial for its security and resistance to control or censorship by any single entity.

2. Financial Autonomy: Owning a node gives you complete control over your financial transactions on the network, free from reliance on third-party services, which can be subject to fees, restrictions, or outages.

3. Advanced Network Participation: As a node operator, you're not just a passive participant but an active player in shaping the network, influencing its efficiency and scalability through direct involvement.

4. Potential for Higher Revenue: With strategic management and optimal channel funding, your node can become a preferred route for transactions, potentially increasing the routing fees you can earn.

5. Cutting-Edge Technological Engagement: Running a node puts you at the forefront of blockchain and bitcoin technology, offering insights into future developments and innovations.

6. Strengthened Network Security: Each new node adds to the robustness of the Bitcoin network, making it more resilient against attacks and failures, thus contributing to the overall security of the ecosystem.

7. Personalized Fee Structures: You have the flexibility to set your own fee policies, which can balance earning potential with the service you provide to the network.

8. Empowerment Through Knowledge: The process of setting up and managing a node provides deep learning opportunities, empowering you with knowledge that can be applied in various areas of blockchain and fintech.

9. Boosting Transaction Capacity: By running a node, you help to increase the overall capacity of the Lightning Network, enabling more transactions to be processed quickly and at lower costs.

10. Community Leadership and Reputation: As an active node operator, you gain recognition within the Bitcoin community, which can lead to collaborative opportunities and a position of thought leadership in the space.

These reasons demonstrate the impactful and transformative nature of running a Lightning node, appealing to those who are deeply invested in the principles of bitcoin and wish to actively shape its future. Jump aboard, and embrace the journey toward full independence. 🐶🐾🫡🚀🚀🚀

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Chef's notes

Serving these two dishes together will create a delightful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving meal, offering a perfect blend of traditional flavors with a homemade touch.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 30 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 - 2 hours
• 🍽️ Servings: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey (about 12-14 lbs), thawed and ready to cook
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 lemon, halved
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• Apple and Sage Stuffing
• 1 loaf of crusty bread, cut into cubes
• 2 apples, cored and chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh sage, chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Prepare the Herb Butter: Mix the softened butter with the chopped thyme, rosemary, and sage. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Prepare the Turkey: Remove any giblets from the turkey and pat it dry. Loosen the skin and spread a generous amount of herb butter under and over the skin.
4. Add Aromatics: Inside the turkey cavity, place the quartered onion, lemon halves, and garlic cloves.
5. Roast: Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Tent with aluminum foil and roast. A general guideline is about 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part of the thigh.
6. Rest and Serve: Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.
7. Next: Apple and Sage Stuffing
8. Dry the Bread: Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and let them dry overnight, or toast them in the oven.
9. Cook the Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter and cook the onion, celery, and garlic until soft.
10. Combine Ingredients: Add the apples, sage, and bread cubes to the skillet. Stir in the chicken broth until the mixture is moist. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Bake: Transfer the stuffing to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-40 minutes, until golden brown on top.

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Testing a brand new YakiHonne native client for iOS. Smooth as butter (not penis butter 🤣🍆🧈) with great visual experience and intuitive navigation. Amazing work by the team behind it! * lists * work

Bold text work!

Images could have used nostr.build instead of raw S3 from us-east-1 region.

Very impressive! You can even save the draft and continue later, before posting the long-form note!

🐶🐾🤯🤯🤯🫂💜

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

As the title states, scratch behind my ear and you get it. 🐶🐾🫡

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Test Bounty Note

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

Intro

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
• Indocker-compose.ymlfile, there are fields that you want to replace (<> comments) and port “4321” that you want to make sure is open (check with ss -tupln | grep 4321which should return nothing).
• Create docker-compose.ymlfile 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 nwcdirectory (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

@ 82341f88:fbfbe6a2

There’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:

1. Social media must be resilient to corporate and government control.
2. Only the original author may remove content they produce.
3. 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.

@ 3c984938:2ec11289

It's been a journey from the Publishing Forest of Nostr to the open sea of web3. I've come across a beautiful chain of islands and thought. Why not take a break and explore this place? If I'm searching for devs and FOSS, I should search every nook and cranny inside the realm of Nostr. It is quite vast for little old me. I'm just a little hamster and I don't speak in code or binary numbers zeros and ones.

After being in sea for awhile, my heart raced for excitement for what I could find. It seems I wasn't alone, there were others here like me! Let's help spread the message to others about this uncharted realm. See, look at the other sailboats, aren't they pretty? Thanks to some generous donation of SATs, I was able to afford the docking fee.

Ever feel like everyone was going to a party, and you were supposed to dress up, but you missed the memo? Or a comic-con? well, I felt completely underdressed and that's an understatement. Well, turns out there is a some knights around here. Take a peek!

A black cat with a knight passed by very quickly. He was moving too fast for me to track. Where was he going? Then I spotted a group of knights heading in the same direction, so I tagged along. The vibes from these guys was impossible to resist. They were just happy-go-lucky. 🥰They were heading to a tavern on a cliff off the island.

Ehh? a Tavern? Slightly confused, whatever could these knights be doing here? I guess when they're done with their rounds they would here to blow off steam. Things are looking curiouser and curiouser. But the black cat from earlier was here with its rider, whom was dismounting. So you can only guess, where I'm going.

The atmosphere in this pub, was lively and energetic. So many knights spoke among themselves. A group here, another there, but there was one that caught my eye. I went up to a group at a table, whose height towed well above me even when seated. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "Who manages this place?" They unanimous pointed to one waiting for ale at the bar. What was he doing? Watching others talk? How peculiar.

So I went up to him! And introduced myself.

"Hello I'm Onigirl"

"Hello Onigirl, Welcome to Gossip"

"Gossip, what is Gossip?" scratching my head and whiskers.

What is Gossip? Gossip is FOSS and a great client for privacy-centric minded nostriches. It avoids browser tech which by-passes several scripting languages such as JavaScript☕, HTML parsing, rendering, and CSS(Except HTTP GET and Websockets). Using OpenGL-style rendering. For Nostriches that wish to remain anonymous can use Gossip over TOR. Mike recommends using QubesOS, Whonix and or Tails. [FYI-Gossip does not natively support tor SOCKS5 proxy] Most helpful to spill the beans if you're a journalist.

On top of using your nsec or your encryption key, Gossip adds another layer of security over your account with a password login. There's nothing wrong with using the browser extensions (such as nos2x or Flamingo) which makes it super easy to log in to Nostr enable websites, apps, but it does expose you to browser vulnerabilities.

Mike Points out

"people have already had their private key stolen from other nostr clients,"

so it a concern if you value your account. I most certainly care for mine.

Gossip UI has a simple, and clean interface revolving around NIP-65 also called the “Outbox model." As posted from GitHub,

"This NIP allows Clients to connect directly with the most up-to-date relay set from each individual user, eliminating the need of broadcasting events to popular relays."

This eliminates clients that track only a specific set of relays which can congest those relays when you publish your note. Also this can be censored, by using Gossip you can publish notes to alternative relays that have not censored you to reach the same followers.

👉The easiest way to translate that is reducing redundancy to publish to popular relays or centralized relays for content reach to your followers.

Cool! What an awesome client, I mean Tavern! What else does this knight do? He reaches for something in his pocket. what is it? A Pocket is a database for storing and retrieving nostr events but mike's written it in Rust with a few extra kinks inspired by Will's nostrdb. Still in development, but it'll be another tool for you dear user! 💖💕💚

Onigirl is proud to present this knights to the community and honor them with kisu. 💋💋💋 Show some 💖💘💓🧡💙💚

👉💋💋Will - jb55 Lord of apples 💋 @npub1xtscya34g58tk0z605fvr788k263gsu6cy9x0mhnm87echrgufzsevkk5s

👉💋💋 Mike Knight - Lord of Security 💋 @npub1acg6thl5psv62405rljzkj8spesceyfz2c32udakc2ak0dmvfeyse9p35c

Knights spend a lot of time behind the screen coding for the better of humanity. It is a tough job! Let's appreciate these knights, relay operators, that support this amazing realm of Nostr! FOSS for all!

This article was prompted for the need for privacy and security of your data. They're different, not to be confused.

Recently, Edward Snowden warns Bitcoin devs about the need for privacy, Quote:

“I've been warning Bitcoin developers for ten years that privacy needs to be provided for at the protocol level. This is the final warning. The clock is ticking.”

Snowden’s comments come after heavy actions of enforcement from Samarai Wallet, Roger Ver, Binance’s CZ, and now the closure of Wasabi Wallet. Additionally, according to CryptoBriefing, Trezor is ending it’s CoinJoin integration as well. Many are concerned over the new definition of a money transmitter, which includes even those who don’t touch the funds.

Help your favorite the hamster

^^Me drowning in notes on your feed. I can only eat so many notes to find you.

👉If there are any XMPP fans on here. I'm open to the idea of opening a public channel, so you could follow me on that as a forum-like style. My server of choice would likely be a German server.😀You would be receiving my articles as njump.me style or website-like. GrapeneOS users, you can download Cheogram app from the F-Driod store for free to access. Apple and Andriod users are subjected to pay to download this app, an alternative is ntalk or conversations. If it interests the community, just FYI. Please comment or DM.

👉If you enjoyed this content, please consider reposting/sharing as my content is easily drowned by notes on your feed. You could also join my community under Children_Zone where I post my content.

An alternative is by following #onigirl Just FYI this feature is currently a little buggy.

Follow as I search for tools and awesome devs to help you dear user live a decentralized life as I explore the realm of Nostr.

Thank you Fren

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Achieving goals and causing the shift to P2P sovereignty on your development journey on Nostr requires a solid understanding of its foundations, suitable tools, and the right environment. These sentiments will help you traverse the landscape of Nostr development, from setting up your environment to creating your first Nostr account.

Understanding the Basics of Nostr

Nostr operates atop the Lightning Network, utilizing it as the backbone for transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. It leverages a peer-to-peer network for content distribution, eliminating any central authority's control over information flow.

Choose Your Programming Language

Nostr supports several programming languages, each with libraries and tools tailored for Nostr development: - Python: Popular for its simplicity and readability. - JavaScript: Widely used for web applications. - Rust: Known for its performance and safety features.

Explore Rust Nostr Libraries

Choose a language that you are comfortable with and that offers robust support for developing on Nostr.

Setting Up a Nostr Development Environment

To commence development, you'll need a comprehensive setup that includes various components:

1. Nostr Desktop Client: The interface for your Nostr operations.
2. Lightning Network Node: Essential for handling transactions.
3. Relay: Facilitates communication within the Nostr network.
4. Database: For storing data locally.

Tools to assist in setting up your development environment include:

• Nostr CLI: A command-line tool for managing your Nostr configurations.
• Nostr Docker Image: Provides an easy-to-deploy Nostr relay server.

Connecting to the Nostr Network

With your development environment ready, connect to the Nostr network by executing the Nostr CLI. This connection links your Nostr node to the wider network, allowing engagement with other nodes and clients.

Creating a Nostr Account

Creating a Nostr account involves generating a new public/private key pair. Use the Nostr CLI or a hardware wallet for key generation:

1. Generate Key Pair: Securely create your public and private keys.
2. Register Account: Use your public key to register your Nostr account.

Funding Your Nostr Account

To activate and use your Nostr account, you'll need to fund it with Bitcoin:

1. Obtain Bitcoin Address: Retrieve your Nostr account's public key lightning address.
2. Transfer Funds: Using a Bitcoin wallet or exchange, transfer Bitcoin to the obtained address.

Start Developing

With your account set up and funded, you're now ready to start developing on Nostr. Begin by exploring simple projects to familiarize yourself with the network’s capabilities and gradually transition to more complex applications.

Consider Your Services, Stand Up

Developing on Nostr opens up vast opportunities in P2P applications leveraging the Bitcoin blockchain. By following these sentiments, setting up your environment, and connecting to the network, you’re well on your way to becoming an adept Nostr developer. Embrace the journey, and leverage the power of open, decentralized networks to build innovative solutions.

Remember, the path to mastering Nostr development is continuous learning and experimentation. Engage with the community, search out new pubkeys, contribute to open-source projects, and stay updated on the latest Nostr developments for a fruitful development experience.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Content

• Conclusion

• FAQ

• You May Also Like

• External Links

Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym assigned to Bitcoin's developer, released the Bitcoin protocol in 2009. (or creators). A blockchain keeps track of all of the purchases and sales of cryptocurrency, demonstrating ownership by displaying the whole history of each unit.

Bitcoin is not issued by a central bank or backed by a government like most other currencies. Because Bitcoin is not a company, buying it is not the same as buying a stock or bond. As a result, investors have to make their investment decisions without the benefit of conventional resources such as company financial statements, Form 10-Ks, fund performance comparisons, etc.

Learn what factors affect the value of Bitcoin so you can make educated judgments when deciding whether or not to include it in your investing portfolio.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Purchasing stocks gives you a stake in a firm, whereas buying bitcoin gives you ownership of that number of bitcoins.

• Given that bitcoin is decentralized and not issued or controlled by any one authority, it is immune to the monetary policies of any nation-state.

• Factors such as supply, demand, availability, alternative cryptocurrencies, and investor attitude have the most impact on Bitcoin's price.

• There will only ever be a fixed amount of bitcoin in circulation, and the last coin is only expected to be minted in 2140.

What Factors Influence Bitcoin's Price?

Since Bitcoin is neither issued nor backed by any government, it is not subject to the same monetary policy instruments, inflation rates, or measures of economic development that affect the value of government-issued currencies. Bitcoin is more of a commodity than a currency, and its value is affected by the same variables that affect the value of any commodity:

• Market demand and the amount of bitcoin available

• Bitcoin mining expenses

• The variety of available digital currencies is growing.

• laws restricting its distribution and use

• mass communication and current events

Effects of Supply on Bitcoin's Price

A significant factor in establishing an asset's price is the quantity available for purchase. High prices reflect the scarcity of a good, whereas low prices reflect its abundance. There is widespread knowledge that only 21 million bitcoins will ever be generated and that a fixed number will be issued each year. Bitcoins can only be generated at a certain pace that will gradually decrease due to the protocol's architecture.

Every four years or so, the pace at which new bitcoins are generated slows down. In what is known as a "halving," the reward for mining a block will be halved for the last time in May 2020.

Thus, Bitcoin's future supply is diminishing, which increases demand. If maize harvests were officially announced to be cut every four years until none were harvested, the price of corn would increase for the same reason.

Bitcoin's Price and Demand

More and more media outlets, so-called "investment gurus," and company owners are extolling the virtues of bitcoin, driving up demand. Countries with significant inflation and depreciated currencies, such as Venezuela, have also seen a rise in Bitcoin's popularity. Additionally, it is often used by people who move huge quantities of money for criminal purposes.

This suggests that rising demand and limited supply have contributed to pushing the price of bitcoin upward. Its value, however, continues to experience boom and bust cycles. Examples include Bitcoin's price, which had a surge in 2017, a lengthy slump in 2018, and two dramatic spikes and dips in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Production Costs and Bitcoin Price

Bitcoin's price is set in large part by its manufacturing costs, much like the prices of other commodities. Some studies have shown that the price of bitcoin in the crypto markets is proportional to its marginal cost of production.

Bitcoin's production cost may be generally calculated as the total of the direct fixed costs associated with the hardware and energy used in Bitcoin mining, as well as an indirect cost associated with the complexity of the Bitcoin mining algorithm. In Bitcoin mining, a group of computers (called "miners") compete to be the first to crack a cryptographic hash value, with the winner receiving a block reward plus transaction fees accrued since the previous block was discovered.

The difficulty of the bitcoin algorithm is an unintended consequence of mining for bitcoins. Bitcoin's price is influenced by supply and demand, which in turn is affected by the algorithm's different degrees of difficulty.

A large amount of computing power is needed to solve the hash and unlock the block, which is necessary to get the reward. The cost of mining equipment is high and will require a significant investment from the miner. Bitcoin mining uses a lot of power, which may add up to significant costs. Bitcoin mining is estimated to use as much energy as many small nations.

How Competition Affects Bitcoin's Price

Hundreds of different tokens are competing with Bitcoin for investors' money, despite Bitcoin's popularity. In the year 2022, Bitcoin was the undisputed king of the cryptocurrency markets. It once reigned supreme, but its might has since diminished. More than 80% of the value of the cryptocurrency market in 2017 was held by Bitcoin. This percentage had dropped below 50% by the year 2022.

The major cause of this was the rise in popularity and sophistication of other currency options. For instance, the growth of decentralized finance has allowed Ethereum to emerge as a viable rival to Bitcoin (DeFi). Ether (ETH), the cryptocurrency utilized as "gas" for transactions on its network, has attracted the attention of investors because of its ability to reimagine the tracks of the current financial infrastructure. Ethereum is responsible for almost 20% of the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies.

Similarly, the popularity of other cryptocurrencies that are being released at a steady pace is rising rapidly. There are several alternatives to Bitcoin that are eating into the market share that BTC formerly had. Investors have been drawn to Bitcoin despite the fact that these competing cryptocurrencies have sucked up some of the ecosystem's investment funds. This has led to greater interest in and understanding of cryptocurrency. As a symbol of the cryptocurrency industry, Bitcoin has reaped the benefits of this spotlight and seen its value rise.

Regulations and Bitcoin's Price

As a result of a financial crisis caused by lax regulation in the derivatives market, Bitcoin was made available to the public. Bitcoin is still unregulated, earning it the reputation of a borderless, unregulated economy.

Bitcoin's unregulated position has advantages and disadvantages. Due to the lack of oversight, it is unrestricted for usage beyond national boundaries and is not subject to the same rules as other currencies. But governments and other stakeholders are pushing for crypto regulation.

When investors get carried away with a particular asset, it drives up its price. When people get anxious about potential losses, they may sell out, causing the price to fall.

Regulators will eventually be put in place, but how they will affect Bitcoin's value remains to be seen. Bitcoin's price, for instance, may be affected by decisions made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States regarding cryptocurrencies. Following the SEC's approval of the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, the first bitcoin-linked exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States, the price of bitcoin soared to $69,021 in October 2021. (BITO). Nonetheless, Bitcoin's price was still hanging around $40,000 only a few months after hitting that peak.

The supply and demand of bitcoin changed when China banned trading and transactions in September 2021. Because of the government's crackdown, Chinese mining farms have packed up and relocated to nations more hospitable to the cryptocurrency industry. After dropping from over $51,000 at the start of September to roughly $41,000 by the end of the month, prices soon recovered and reached their pre-September lows as business activity kicked back up.

The sentiment of investors toward Bitcoin may be influenced by what celebrities and other public figures say about it on social media.

Bitcoin's Price and the Media

Bitcoin's price is affected positively and negatively by media and news coverage, which aim to enlighten investors and other interested parties. Whenever there is a shift in any of the aforementioned variables, it is widely reported and disseminated. Thus, Bitcoin's price tends to rise in response to positive news for cryptocurrency investors and fall in response to negative news.

One of the most important variables influencing cryptocurrency pricing is investor sentiment, which is affected by a number of factors, including supply and demand, manufacturing costs, competition, regulatory changes, and the media coverage that follows.

Conclusion

The economic concept of "supply and demand" refers to the equilibrium between the offered and demanded quantities of a good or service at a certain price point. Fundamental to the study of economics, this model provides the basis for most discussions of how prices are set. However, there are many who believe the Bitcoin price is vulnerable to manipulation. Although the identity of the market manipulator is unknown, a forensic examination conducted by researchers at the University of Texas and the Ohio State University revealed that virtually all of bitcoin's gains in 2017 can be traced back to "one significant actor." The number of major companies in the Bitcoin market will dwindle as the currency becomes more widely used and more individuals acquire bitcoins, even if only in small amounts.

FAQ

Are bitcoins a good investment? Bitcoin's brief history as an investment asset has been marked by extreme volatility. Before putting your money into Bitcoin, you should discuss your individual financial circumstances with an investment advisor.

What Is Bitcoin's Current Stock Price? While you can't buy shares in Bitcoin itself as a stock, you may buy shares in businesses that have made investments in blockchain technology or cryptocurrencies.

What about bitcoins—are they against the law? In spite of bitcoins' widespread use as a medium of exchange, only a small number of nations have formally accepted them as legal cash. All-out prohibitions are in place in China, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, and Tunisia.

Should I invest $100 in bitcoin? Due to the uncertainty of the bitcoin market, the value of your current holdings of bitcoin might decrease by as much as 30% in the next 30 minutes. It's possible that the value of your bitcoin will increase, however. In order to make a wise investment decision, you should discuss your own financial situation with a qualified finance and investing expert before making a purchase.

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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.

@ 59c14163:9e2db157

A veces tomar decisiones importantes se siente como lanzarse de una tirolesa —o tirolina, como ustedes la conozcan— .

Estaba pensando en eso porque en el momento en el que dije que comenzaría a crear, dar el paso importante y no parar, me sentí tranquila pero después, cuando vi todo lo que eso significaba, se me aceleró el corazón.

Es que el reto de decirle que sí a las nuevas oportunidades es grande — por el miedo — . El atreverse, aceptar, no retroceder y trabajar constantemente en las cosas que quieres no siempre es tan sencillo. Te cansas, te da ansiedad, lidias con situaciones que no ves como parte del éxito sino como fracasos y te vas arrepintiendo de mucho. Quieres hacer pausas, volver al lugar seguro y tranquilo en el que estabas y quedarte por ahí otro rato.

También es un tema de paciencia, de qué tan rápido o lentas se dan las cosas.

Yo me he tirado de varias tirolinas, es algo que me gusta. Recuerdo la última en la que me subí, fue hace como dos o tres años. Desde abajo se ve solo como una cuerda larga que está en lo alto y ya pero por alguna razón eso la hace atractiva.

Una amiga y yo subimos las escaleras hasta donde estaba el encargado con el arnés. Él nos preguntó quién iría primero y yo callé, mi amiga dijo que ella se lanzaría. El operador le acomodó el arnés, le dio las instrucciones y le avisó que ya se podía lanzar. Mi amiga se paralizó, no pudo, le dijo al muchacho que se iba a bajar. Se quitó todo y volvió a bajar por las escaleras.

Esa fue su decisión y creo que en ese caso fue la correcta. Igual la aplaudo porque no se forzó a hacer nada, aunque tomó la iniciativa luego se dio cuenta de que no se sentía preparada y no se quedó callada. Siguió adelante con lo que le pareció lo mejor en ese momento, no tirarse.

El muchacho me vio y me preguntó si me tiraría. Dije que sí. Me puso el arnés, me paré en el borde de la torre y cuando vi hacia abajo y hacia adelante sentí miedo. Tuve que retroceder un paso y entendí aún más el porqué mi amiga no lo había hecho. Sí estaba muy alto y la otra torre muy lejos.

Respiré. En partes quería bajarme pero también quería hacerlo. Dudé. Le pregunté al muchacho si él podía empujarme cuando le avisara y me dijo que sí, que cuando estuviese lista. Volví a respirar, di el paso hacia adelante, me quedé en el borde y le dije “ya”.

El muchacho me empujó y sentí un vacío en el pecho, después mucha emoción y me causó risa. Iba muy rápido y no veía a dónde llegaría, el aire me pegaba en la cara, tenía los pies colgando en lo alto y ahí iba yo. Feliz porque estaba avanzando.

Hay momentos en los que me angustia la idea de quedarme varada en el medio del camino porque he visto que sí pasa. Cuando no hay suficiente impulso, falta peso o están desgastados los cables y se frena la unión de arriba, solo te sostiene el arnés, estás en lo alto pero no te mueves hacia ningún lado. Sí te sacan aunque tardan en lograrlo. Son situaciones con las que podrías enfrentarte y hay que prepararse para ello, no demasiado porque también es buen relajarse un poco.

En ese viaje que hice todo fluyó. Llegué al otro lado en unos minutos, me detuve en la otra torre y bajé. Lo amé. Y lo repetiría varias veces, sé que volvería a sentir miedo y pediría el empujón para después agradecer el haber tomado esa decisión de lanzarme de lo alto y llegar a otra parte.

Así me he sentido estos días, como todo lo que he dicho, en muchos aspectos. Supongo que ya me lancé y ahora estoy cruzando el camino solo que es muchísimo más lejos y aún no he definido la torre de llegada. A pesar del vacío, del estrés y la tensión sí siento que estoy disfrutando de este viaje, eso fue lo que decidí. Pedí que me empujarán y estoy aquí, llegando a otra parte, a un lugar que no es el mismo del que me tiré porque así es como funcionan las tirolesas.

@ f02bd8ac:f7751de9

Numa era em que a incompetência do Estado é tão previsível quanto as estações do ano, as enchentes se transformaram em palco de uma comédia grotesca. O exército, sempre pronto para marchar em paradas vistosas, parece tão perdido quanto um soldado sem mapa em território inimigo. Enquanto as águas avançam impiedosamente, o governo luta para manter sua imagem acima do nível da lama.

E é aí que entram os malabarismos midiáticos da Globo e seus colegas de profissão. Como artistas do circo da propaganda, eles tentam desesperadamente fazer desaparecer os malfeitos do governo sob o brilho cegante dos holofotes. O desempenho é digno de um Oscar, mas os espectadores atentos podem ver através da farsa.

Nessa guerra de narrativas, a verdade é a primeira baixa. Enquanto os políticos ensaiam seus discursos vazios e os jornalistas pintam uma realidade cor-de-rosa, o cidadão comum luta para manter a cabeça acima da água, literal e figurativamente.

Enquanto as enchentes arrasam comunidades inteiras, a verdade afunda como um navio de chumbo. Não há espaço para a realidade em um mundo onde a mentira reina suprema. E assim, enquanto o Estado se afoga em sua própria incompetência, a população é deixada para nadar ou afundar por conta própria. O drama da vida real, tão distante dos roteiros bem escritos dos filmes de Hollywood, continua a se desenrolar sob os olhos atentos de uma audiência que já viu esse filme antes.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Politicians will continue to make themselves look foolish for many years. Eventually they will learn to accept the fact that bitcoin and bitcoiners aren't going away. If you are on the fence, the time to join the winning team is now.

@ 7776c32d:45558888

From Al Jazeera today - copied and pasted

https://archive.ph/OvBN7

United States President Joe Biden’s administration paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in opposition to apparent moves by its forces to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a senior administration official has said.

Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by the Israelis against Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.

The AFP, Reuters and The Associated Press news agencies on Tuesday quoted unnamed US officials as saying Washington began to “carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah” in April when it seemed Israel appeared close to making a decision on the assault.

“As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000-pound [907kg] bombs and 1,700 500-pound [227kg] bombs,” one official reportedly said.

“We are especially focused on the end-use of the 2,000-lb bombs and the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in other parts of Gaza. We have not made a final determination on how to proceed with this shipment,” the official was quoted as saying. The news agencies said he spoke on condition of anonymity given the issue’s sensitivity.

Reuters reported that four sources said the shipments, which have been delayed for at least two weeks, involved Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), which place precision guidance systems onto bombs, as well as Small Diameter Bombs.

Quoting unnamed officials, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Tuesday that the US had delayed the shipment of some 6,500 JDAMs.

The delay comes at a time when Washington is publicly pressuring Israel to postpone its planned offensive in Rafah until it has taken steps to avert civilian casualties.

The White House and the Pentagon declined to comment on the shipment delays.

Withholding arms from Israel

Biden on Monday held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stressed US opposition to a ground offensive in Rafah, according to the White House.

But in the early hours of Tuesday, just hours after Hamas, the group that runs Gaza, said it had accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by international mediators, Israeli forces seized control of the Rafah border crossing.

Without addressing whether there had been a hold-up in arms shipments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed that Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security was “ironclad”.

Still, when asked about the reports on the arms delays, she added: “Two things could be true, in the sense of having those conversations, tough, direct conversations with our counterparts in Israel … in making sure citizens lives are protected … and getting that commitment.”

The Pentagon said on Monday that there had not been a policy decision to withhold arms from Israel, the US’s closest Middle East ally.

The Rafah crossing is crucial for aid and as an escape route for those able to flee into Egypt. Some 1.4 million Palestinians, including more than 600,000 children, are sheltering in the southern city, and the United Nations, US, European Union and international humanitarian organisations have warned an attack would be catastrophic.

Israel’s war on Gaza has left many of Gaza’s 2.3 million people on the brink of starvation and led to protests in the US and other countries demanding that universities and the Biden administration withdraw support for Israel – including the provision of weaponry.

‘A drop in the ocean’

A senior Israeli official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, did not confirm any specific hold-up in arms supplies but appeared to shrug them off: “As the prime minister has already said, if we have to fight with our fingernails, then we’ll do what we have to do.”

However, observers suggest the pause in deliveries is a significant step by the White House, which has exhibited growing impatience with Netanyahu as it has sought to persuade him to rein in the Israeli military push in Gaza and ensure more aid reaches Palestinians.

The US has reiterated many times its opposition to a major assault on Rafah, and Amir Oren, a journalist with the Haaretz newspaper, suggested to Al Jazeera that the reported move was an act of “deterrence”.

“Biden had to show Netanyahu that he’s serious,” Oren said.

Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Amman in Jordan because Al Jazeera has been closed down in Israel, noted that there has been no official response from the Israeli government.

However, the security establishment is reportedly concerned, he noted, that this is “a tactic by the US to increase pressure on the Israeli government to stop an all-out invasion of Rafah and to accept the terms of a ceasefire”.

Israeli officials are reported to be worried, he added, that this is a “harbinger of things to come … if Israel doesn’t start adhering more to what the US wants”.

However, he also noted that the pause of one delivery amounts to a very small percentage of the overall volume of weapons that Washington has been providing to Israel. “This is just a drop in the ocean,” Jamjoom said.

@ 7776c32d:45558888

From Wired today - copied and pasted

https://archive.ph/NZ3WW

A top FBI official is encouraging employees to continue to investigate Americans using a warrantless foreign surveillance program in an effort to justify the bureau’s spy powers, according to an internal email obtained by WIRED.

Known as Section 702, the program is controversial for having been misused by the FBI to target US protesters, journalists, and even a sitting member of Congress. US lawmakers, nevertheless, voted to extend the program in April for an additional two years, while codifying a slew of procedures that the FBI claims is working to stop the abuse.

Obtained by WIRED, an April 20 email authored by FBI deputy director Paul Abbate to employees states: “To continue to demonstrate why tools like this are essential to our mission, we need to use them, while also holding ourselves accountable for doing so properly and in compliance with legal requirements.” [Emphasis his.]

Added Abbate: “I urge everyone to continue to look for ways to appropriately use US person queries to advance the mission, with the added confidence that this new pre-approval requirement will help ensure that those queries are fully compliant with the law.”

The FBI did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request for comment about Abbate’s email.

“The deputy director's email seems to show that the FBI is actively pushing for more surveillance of Americans, not out of necessity but as a default,” says US representative Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California. “This directly contradicts earlier assertions from the FBI during the debate over Section 702’s reauthorization.”

Authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the 702 program permits the government to enlist American companies to eavesdrop on a variety of communications—calls, texts, emails, and possibly other forms of messaging—all without the need for a search warrant. The key requirement for the program is that at least one of the recipients (the individual “targeted”) be a foreigner reasonably believed to be somewhere other than on US soil.

In a statement to Congress last year, FBI director Christopher Wray emphasized that the bureau’s focus was on “dramatically reducing” the number of times its agents scoured the 702 database for information on Americans.

The frequency with which the FBI runs US phone numbers or email accounts through the 702 database is hazy. The bureau first began reporting the figure publicly in 2021, releasing the total number of times that these searches took place. That number was 2.9 million. Since then, the FBI has “updated its counting methodology” to count only unique searches. (To wit, running the same phone number through the database multiple times a year now counts as a single search.) As a result, at least in part, the number dropped to 119,383 the following year. In 2023, under more stringent guidelines, it dropped further, to 57,094.

Last year, a review by the Justice Department found that the FBI’s compliance rate hovered around 98 percent, a figure that Wray and other FBI officials have touted frequently in defense of the program. Without knowing the exact number of queries, the number of noncompliant searches is impossible to calculate. At a minimum, the FBI conducted more a thousand searches in violation of its own policies, which are now law. Under its new system of counting, the figure could be much higher. Only the Justice Department knows.

In a statement earlier this year, the FBI claimed that many of these errors are the result of its employees failing to label whether a search, in fact, targeted a “US person.”

While the 702 program has been widely criticized by privacy and civil liberty proponents, the US House Intelligence Committee is throwing a party Wednesday night to celebrate the recent extension of the 702 surveillance program, multiple sources tell WIRED.

House Intelligence Committee chair Mike Turner and ranking member Jim Himes blasted out invitations announcing a “bipartisan celebration” of the 702 program’s continuation last week. The event, which the lawmakers have dubbed FISA Fest, is being held in a reception room in the US Capitol building Wednesday night.

A House Intelligence Committee spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Turner and Himes were instrumental in preserving the FBI’s warrantless access to 702 data. In countless “briefings” since October, the pair urged members of their respective parties to avoid reining in the FBI’s authority too greatly. Instead, the new procedures designed by the bureau itself were touted by both lawmakers as a sufficient bulwark against further abuse.

Narrowly winning that battle last month, Himes and Turner worked to kill an amendment that would have forced FBI employees to get search warrants before reviewing the communications of Americans swept up by the program. (The amendment, opposed by the Biden White House, failed in a tie vote, 212-212.) Instead, the FBI’s procedures, now part of the 702 statute, require employees to affirmatively “opt in” before accessing the wiretaps. They must also seek permission from an FBI attorney before conducting “batch queries” of the database. And queries for communications of elected officials, reporters, academics, and religious figures are now all deemed “sensitive” and require approval from higher up the chain of command.

Congress established Section 702 in 2008 to legitimize an existing surveillance program run by the National Security Agency (NSA) without congressional oversight or approval. The program, more narrowly defined at the time, intercepted communications that were at least partly domestic but included a target the government believed was a known terrorist. While bringing the surveillance under its authority, Congress has helped to steadily expand the scope of the surveillance to encompass a new slate of threats, from cybercrime and drug trafficking to arms proliferation.

While advocates for 702 surveillance often imply that Americans who are wiretapped are communicating with terrorists—a concoction that Turner himself repeatedly lent credence to this year—the allegation is dubious. Officially, it is the US government’s position that it is impossible to know which US citizens are being surveilled or even how many of them there are. The chief aim of the 702 program is to acquire “foreign intelligence information,” a term that encompasses not only terrorism and acts of sabotage but information necessary for the government to conduct its own “foreign affairs.”

Surveillance critics worry that the array of possible targets extends far beyond what is being characterized in unclassified settings. It is uncontroversial to suggest that the US government—like all governments with the power to spy—finds reasons to spy on foreign allies, businesses, even news publications. So long as the target is foreign, they have no privacy rights.

The limits of the 702 program remain murky, even to congressional members insisting that it should not be curbed further. The Senate Intelligence Committee chair, Mark Warner, acknowledged to reporters this week that language in Section 702 needs to be “fixed,” even though he voted last month to make the current language law.

FISA experts had warned for months that new language introduced by the House Intelligence Committee is far too vague in the way it describes the categories of businesses the US government can compel, fearing that the government would obtain the power to force anyone with access to a target’s online communications into snooping on the NSA’s behalf—IT workers and data center staff among them. A trade group representing Google, Amazon, IBM, and Microsoft, among some of the world's other largest technology companies, concurred last month, arguing that the new version of the surveillance program threatens to “dramatically expand the scope of entities and individuals” subject to Section 702 orders.

“We are working on it,” Warner told The Record on Monday. “I am absolutely committed to getting that fixed,” he said, suggesting the best time to do so would be “in the next intelligence bill.”

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

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@ f3df9bc0:a95119eb

@ f3df9bc0:a95119eb

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

@ e968e50b:db2a803a

I've expanded on my super-judgy client presented back here at https://stacker.news/items/527164/r/jasonb. You should now be able to zap a hard-coded amount of 2000 sats. Why always 2000 sats?

My goal is to create a client that encourages:

 a. more diverse usage of nostr in these early days
 b. better content with the expectation that zappers might actually dish out real money

If anybody tries it out and can't get it working, let me know.

Big thanks to @bitcoinplebdev for pointing me in the right direction on getting zaps working. Don't blame him though if you disagree with the style or philosophy of the client. There was no endorsement involved.

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

I think there's been an inflection point recently in NIPs that are being proposed. Some examples:

• Products with pubkeys: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1225
• Shared-ownership events: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1192 and https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1015
• Spreadsheets: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1189
• Relational databases: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1168
• Relay-specific notes: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1146
• Editable notes: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1090
• Restricted events: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1083
• Relay-based access control: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1030
• Protected events: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1029
• Closed groups: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/875

Some of these I like, some I don't. But most of them go beyond adding new features to nostr (for example audio, video, speedruns, resumes, etc), and begin to change how nostr actually works.

Nostr can be an everything app, but I think that means something very specific. Nostr can represent data types from pretty much any domain, but it can't actually support all the semantics needed to build any arbitrary system.

I would suggest conservatism in what we build on nostr, but of course anyone can build whatever they want. But I do think it's possible to identify things that nostr is good at, and things it's bad at, and play to nostr's strengths.

Nostr's strengths:

• Being able to model any data type orthogonally to the rest
• Single-owner, self-authenticating, atomic data types
• Potential for robust content dispersal and retrieval if we can flesh out NIP 65 etc.

Nostr's weaknesses:

• Mutable state, non-atomic state
• Shared ownership, key delegation/rotation
• Privacy — metadata will always leak, lack of consistency makes key rotation harder
• Consistency — not everyone has the same view of the world
• Transactionality — nostr isn't good for updating multiple pieces of data in lockstep

It happens that the original use case of nostr — public broadcast social media — benefits greatly from nostr's strengths, and isn't bothered by any of nostr's weaknesses. Blob storage like what blossom is building also works well in this paradigm. A lot of the use cases @PABLOF7z​ has identified work beautifully well because of the single-owner public-read nature of nostr, which makes forks easy to model.

But things like access control, relational data, collaborative document creation, heavier datasets, or anything that requires a solution to the double-spend problem become very awkward (or impossible) to model on pure nostr. A simple example of this is lists. Not only is it common for a single user to mess up his follow lists because of a lack of consistency between clients or devices, but commonly requested features like shared ownership lists immediately result in a huge increase of complexity, either on the key management side or on the data structure side. Both of these problems are difficult to solve on nostr due to lack of consistency — keys can't always be reliably or safely shared, and linked data structures spanning multiple events by different authors can be hard to assemble reliably.

I think the danger here is that if we as a developer community fail to realize the limitations of nostr and try to adapt the protocol to fit every possible use case, on an ad-hoc basis, we're going to end up with a tragedy of the commons, where no developer can comprehend what must be done to get his work done, and all kinds of weird artifacts appear for end users that no one can explain.

Here are some suggestions I have for preventing this from happening. I realize no one is going to follow them. But maybe they can be helpful for avoidance of wasted time.

• Don't overload event kinds. Many people (including myself) have tried to extend kind 0 with attributes for forms, products, and groups, but that leads to madness. Instead, create a new metadata event signifying a different kind of agent.
• Don't model things as replaceable events if you can avoid it. This creates the problem of shared mutable state, which nostr doesn't have a good story for resolving. They also have a hard limit on how big they can be.
• Use different keys for different things. For domains where some kind of access control needs to be implemented, not tying everything to your main pubkey makes it possible to create and burn keys as needed. Incidentally, this can help users maintain better privacy. An example of this is private groups, which have a dedicated key separate from the group creator's own key.
• Event ownership should always be (is) single-key. If you need shared ownership, figure out a way to share keys. More work needs to go into key invalidation and rotation for this to really work.
• Explore the fork model — this is "my" version of the same thing, and coexists with rather than supersedes the original. This has potential not just for groups or wiki entries.
• Distinguish between different ways to use relays. Relays may be used as indexers (holding specific event types or supporting different features like search/count), repositories (holding many diverse events, to be used with filters), or curated feeds (to be used without filters, or with only a few filters).

These are just suggestions, and many of them may be wrong. Nostr development is hard, and getting harder. Keep it simple.

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

I recently finished The Three-Body Problem, which I enjoyed a lot. I love science fiction, and this book in particular reminded me how much I love physics, something I had forgotten over the last 30-odd years amidst reading the dull prose of a few popular books I hoped would have the opposite effect. (Thinking Stephen Hawking among others.) But this book, no matter how unreal the “fiction” part really captured my imagination about what’s possible and fascinating. It made me want to think about it again.

I won’t give the story away in case you want to read it, but one example the author used was how those operating in higher dimensions might trivially peer into the private spaces of our present world, which to our perception consists only in three spatial ones plus time. Imagine a two-dimensional world on a large flat piece of paper. If you draw a circle on the paper, nothing outside the circle can get inside without crossing its boundary.

But a higher-dimensional being could trivially just step (or jump) over the boundary and into the middle. Hence someone in five-dimensional space-time might similarly be able to see through or enter our seemingly closed spaces by stepping “over” our enclosed structure from a dimension hidden from us.

. . .

I’ve started a new book called What Technology Wants about how what we view as technology is an extension of evolution itself, governed by similar axioms and even teleological aims. One contrast he draws between biological evolution and technology is that the former always proceeds stepwise, gradually and “in time” whereas the latter can take leaps “across time,” borrowing from earlier designs and erstwhile abandoned insights and inventions.

Biological evolution can only pass along genes that interact advantageously with the environment and abandons those that do not. But the scientific method, on which much of modern technology is based, allows us to incorporate insights that were ahead of their time, that didn’t initially make the cut. It enables us to gather inputs from anywhere, formulate theories and test their explanatory power against the results. It’s almost as if a new dimension of sorts were added to knowledge creation 350-odd years ago that allowed us to step over the boundaries in which we were formerly constrained.

. . .

The Three-Body Problem, written in 2008 (though there are sequels which I ordered and will start when they arrive), talks about even higher dimensions (buried outside our immediate reach at quantum scales.) Just as someone might step into the two-dimensional circle from the third dimension, perhaps someone can step into a six-dimensional hyper-shape from the seventh. If the scientific method could be said to advance us dimensionally, i.e., to have unlocked a previously unknown process for rapidly accelerating knowledge, one even civilizations as advanced as ancient Greece and Rome lacked, perhaps there are more fundamental modes of mind discoverable yet.

It’s easy to grasp that there are many things we don’t know about reality, but harder to wrap one’s head around the notion that like the ancient Greeks and Romans, despite our many concrete technological achievements, we lack even a basic understanding of the faculties needed to go about it.

As I said, these books got me thinking again.

@ 7ca66d41:0a388ca3

Plenty who understand DIDs have already commented on the tech issues with this solution, I wanted to explain the business and market reasons this is DOA.

First of all, what problem are they trying to solve?

Email security is the first usecase they’re rolling out. Specifically addressing spoofing which is a real problem for Enterprises. Other usecases are mentioned for futures but clearly MSTR and Saylor believe - as he’s said many times - that verifiable identities will solve this business problem.

So what is spoofing? A form of social engineering which attempts to deceive a message recipient (typically email but increasingly Slack/Teams/Zoom are targeted) that a message was sent from a known or trusted source; usually by manipulating email headers or using lookalike domains.

Typically it is used by scammers for simple frauds by instructing people to act. Either by directing them to send money or gift cards, change banking details, or to get additional information they can use for downstream attacks.

MicroStrategy Orange seeks to help Enterprise avoid spoofing by authenticating a signature for a User’s email which is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain.

As they reference in the keynote - signatures for email are not new. SMIME has been around forever and it isn’t widely used because it introduces its own set of complexities.

What enterprises ++have++ done for years is rely on Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) to reduce the volume of malicious emails reaching Users. This is a software layer inserted in the mail flow which inspects email for things like malware or malicious URLs by checking them against known bad.

This worked well enough for a long time and multibillion dollar companies such as ProofPoint and Mimecast were built around it. The method is not foolproof, but their success is why scammers had to adapt and start using more social engineering attacks because these are less likely to be picked up by a SEG which tends to look for malware hashes, low reputation domains etc.

Next Generation email security is already here and being adopted by Enterprises.

Abnormal Security is the leader in this new category. They intercept traffic and feed it into a cloud “AI engine” which analyses hundreds of data points per email - like Crowdstrike for email. It builds a baseline of what “normal” email behaviour looks like for each User in an Enterprise and then use these signals to look for abnormalities.

This starts with things like the IP address of the sender (ie they always send from an office and now suddenly are sending from Russia), and relationships (ie the CEO who supposedly sent this has never emailed this lowly employee in Accounts Payable), but goes much deeper.

They use language analysis to parse emails for things like urgency, calls to action, financial requests, as well as if the email matches the writing style of the person being spoofed (“please do the needful” won’t fly in 2024).

This is very powerful because it’s not reliant on a static list of known bad which the vendors need maintain, but rather is analysing signals in real time to pickup these modern threats where SEGs are weak and because it’s done in Abnormal’s cloud, they can cross-pollinate for their expanding customer base which constantly improves the tech for all.

If the email doesn’t meet a threshold score it simply won’t be delivered to the end user, the same as a SEG blocks emails with malicious attachments. ++This is what Security teams actually want++, as it reduces the reliance on the weakest link - the End User - acting correctly (ie verifying an Orange signature) and simply takes the bad email out of their flow altogether.

Abnormal have taken the lead in this space with ProofPoint and Mimecast playing catchup, and others will likely emerge. But these are the tools that large Enterprises are already adopting to address this challenge.

No Cybersecurity professional is going to look at this Orange Check solution and see it as useful.

Their first point will be that which nostr:npub1gcxzte5zlkncx26j68ez60fzkvtkm9e0vrwdcvsjakxf9mu9qewqlfnj5z pointed out - bad actors will be able to get their own DID so relying on them is futile.

Secondly, unless they are ubiquitous to the point company’s would refuse non-DID signed email, then they have to leave non-Orange Checked emails to User discretion which is exactly what they don’t want to do.

Finally if this approach was going to be feasible, Microsoft (MSTR’s biggest competitor) would have already made it work - they dominate enterprise email and would have baked this in to their offering - they’re not going to allow a competitor to come in and monetise a product in that space, that’s simply not how big business works.

So what is the one chance that MicroStrategy has for this to be successful?

They will need to get the US Government onboard as a large customer and lobby to have Cybersecurity compliance frameworks require it - ie Gov entities won’t accept incoming mail without it.

Compliance tends to create its own industry; in consulting, certification, and technology solutions.

The only way this gets broad adoption is if some US Government Institution sees an ability to price out Bitcoin transactions by pushing this non-monetary usecase and forcing others to join in by mandating DIDs, and Big 4 consultancies see an ability to create an industry around it.

I don’t know how they could justify that. Certainly for email they couldn’t, possibly for codesigning or internet access or something I guess they could try as part of “secure digital supply chains”.

So if these Orange Checks somehow do gain traction you can be certain, ++100% certain++, it’s not because the free market thought they were a good solution and actually solve a problem but rather because powerful entities want to kneecap Bitcoin.

Of all the things Michael Saylor could do with 1% of the only absolutely scarce asset in the world, deciding to go this route for his company’s first project on Bitcoin is incredibly strange.

It’s as if he hasn’t actually spoken to any customers about how they’re doing email security today and instead just rolled with an idea that sounded good on paper but is in practice, useless.

I’m doubtful it will go anywhere and will be far more sceptical if it actually does.

@ cce0989b:b497e608

Old Happy culture taught you that, if you can just find a way to be perfect, then everything will be okay.

Then you'll be happy. Then you'll feel like you belong. Then you'll be able to make a difference in the world.

It doesn't work that way. In fact, it's the opposite: the sooner that you realize that you're acceptable right now, exactly as you are, the sooner you will be able to be happy, to discover your sense of belonging, and to make a positive impact on others.

Start saying to yourself, “I’m acceptable right now, exactly as I am.” Then watch what happens—how your self-acceptance helps you to grow.

@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) extends its transformative reach across diverse industries. From healthcare and finance to security, military defense, and beyond, AI-powered technologies and business models are reshaping the way we interact with the world. The pervasive impact of AI is evident in the daily lives of millions of users who engage with it directly or indirectly, whether through virtual assistants, facial recognition technology, gaming platforms, chatbots, mapping apps, or various other software applications.

The commitment to AI development is unmistakable among major technology players, with industry giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft channeling substantial resources into advancing the frontiers of artificial intelligence. This collective effort underscores the pervasive influence AI wields across the technology spectrum.

In this dynamic era of technological advancement, we embark on a journey to explore the forefront of AI innovation. Join us as we delve into the realm of the "Top AI Development Companies to Explore in 2024." This curated list shines a spotlight on organizations that have demonstrated exceptional expertise, groundbreaking projects, and a commitment to shaping the future through artificial intelligence. From revolutionizing industries to pioneering groundbreaking research, these companies stand out for their contributions to the ever-expanding AI ecosystem.

Factors to Consider when Selecting the Top AI Development Companies

Selecting the right AI development company is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your project. Several key factors should be considered when evaluating and choosing the top AI development companies

Here are some well-defined criteria that will guide you in making a good decision when selecting an Top Ai development company:

· Knowledge and Proficiency · Portfolio and Track Record · Technical Proficiency · Innovation and Research · Scalability and Flexibility · Compliance and Data Security · Collaborative Approach · Testimonials and Client References · Cost and Value Proposition · Post-Deployment Support · Communication and Transparency · Cultural Fit

Impact of AI Development Companies in Shaping the Technological Landscape

AI development companies Play a pivotal role in shaping the technological landscape, contributing to advancements that influence various industries and aspects of our daily lives. The importance of these companies can be understood through several key dimensions: · Innovation and Research Leadership · Industry-Specific Solutions · Automation and Optimization · Enhanced User Experiences · Data Analysis and Decision-Making · Technological Integration · Security and Defence Applications · Global Economic Impact · Addressing Societal Challenges · Continuous Evolution of Technology

1. Agicent

Agicent stands as a prominent AI development company committed to crafting innovative digital solutions. With a focus on user-centric design and cutting-edge technologies, Agicent specializes in delivering bespoke AI applications that redefine industry standards. Their passion for excellence and creativity sets them apart, making them a trusted partner for businesses seeking transformative AI solutions. Customer Testimonials: Agicent’s clients commend the company for its dedication to client satisfaction. Positive feedback highlights Agicent’s ability to deliver high-quality solutions on time and within budget. Clients appreciate the transparent communication and collaborative approach that have fostered long-term, successful partnerships. Core Specialized Areas: Agicent showcases expertise across diverse industries, including retail, sports, and media. Their tailored AI solutions address specific challenges within these sectors, providing clients with innovative tools to stay ahead in their respective fields. Top Notable Clients: Agicent’s impressive client portfolio includes a range of companies seeking cutting-edge AI solutions to optimize their business operations. Their success stories underscore Agicent’s impact on businesses across various sectors. Their notable clients are HASfit and Aiko. Why Choose Agicent for AI Development

Choosing Agicent for AI development offers a multitude of compelling reasons that set us apart in the industry: Proven Expertise: With a track record spanning several years, Agicent has demonstrated expertise in AI development, consistently delivering cutting-edge solutions across diverse industries. Client-Centric Approach: Agicent prioritizes client satisfaction, ensuring a collaborative and transparent development process. We take the time to understand your unique needs and tailor AI solutions that align with your business objectives. Innovation at the Core: At Agicent, innovation is not just a goal; it’s a fundamental value. Our team is dedicated to staying ahead of technological trends, offering clients access to the latest advancements in AI development. Customization for Your Business: We recognize that each business is unique. Agicent crafts bespoke AI solutions tailored to your specific requirements, whether you’re in retail, sports, media, or any other industry. Award-Winning Recognition: Our commitment to excellence has been acknowledged through awards and recognition, underscoring Agicent’s standing as a leading AI development company. Transparent Project Management: Agicent ensures clear and transparent communication throughout the development lifecycle, keeping you informed and engaged at every stage of your AI project. AI Accuracy Guarantee: We provide an additional layer of confidence with our AI Accuracy Guarantee, assuring the precision and effectiveness of the final product. Global Presence: With a presence in key tech hubs like Silicon Valley, Agicent leverages a global perspective, bringing diverse insights and experiences to the table. Established: 2010 Team Size: 200 Location: Noida India Clutch Rating: 4.8 2. SoluLab

SoluLab is a dynamic AI development company that leverages technology to drive digital transformation. With a customer-centric approach, SoluLab specializes in creating robust AI solutions that empower businesses and enhance their digital capabilities. Their commitment to innovation and excellence positions them as a reliable partner for organizations seeking to harness the power of AI. 3. LeewayHertz

LeewayHertz, a frontrunner in AI development, is dedicated to creating transformative digital experiences. With a mission to empower businesses through technology, LeewayHertz specializes in developing AI solutions that drive innovation and growth. Their commitment to pushing technological boundaries positions them as leaders in the AI development landscape

1. Sumatosoft

Sumatosoft stands out as an AI development company committed to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions. With a customer-centric approach, Sumatosoft specializes in crafting AI applications that address complex business challenges. Their emphasis on transparency, reliability, and excellence makes them a trusted partner for businesses seeking AI-driven digital transformation.

1. AIBrain

AIBrain, a trailblazer in the AI landscape, is committed to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. With a mission to create intelligent systems that emulate human cognition, AIBrain specializes in developing advanced AI solutions. Their emphasis on cognitive computing positions them at the forefront of innovation in the AI development sector.

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI development, Agicent emerges as a beacon of innovation and client-centric solutions. With a commitment to excellence and a track record of success, Agicent stands poised to redefine the future of AI applications. Explore the limitless potential of AI with Agicent and pave the way for a digital tomorrow that transcends boundaries and exceeds expectations.

                            Source: https://netvorker.com/

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Hey stackers, let’s lay down your unique and unusual offerings. Unveil the unexpected!

Need a hand? Check our guides… What hidden gems do y'all have up for sale? Let's rustle up some dusted serendipitous and it in the ~AGORA
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@ 58e590f6:979226bd

I'm trying to build a tauri nostr desktop app, but I think I need to do something like discord where they login via nostr on the web and get a callback url like tauri://auth?token=abc or something but I have no idea how to do this.

I can handle the callback url i just don't know what to pass or how to authenticate from a desktop app after given a token. The idea is the user will be authenticated in the desktop app and can do all nostr related tasks.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Prompt: Create New ===============

Create a design for a user to create something. Maybe it's a new document, a new design file, or a component such as creating a new column in a spreadsheet.

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Flex your design muscles and join in. Most of all, keep this exercise loose and keep it stress-free. The FUC is about growing our design skills, together, as a community. We can't wait to see what you create!

Happy designing, Stackers!

---

Share Your Results When you finish the challenge, post your work on this thread! If you also share it on nostr, be sure to use the hashtag #FUCdesiger and tag Design_r@iris.to or @Design__r on X! We'll keep an eye out and repost good examples on a regular basis.

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Curious to know WTF is a FUC? Read the ⚡️Flash Ui Challenges welcoming post.

Looking for more FUCs? Check the archive here!

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

สตอรี่ ชีสเค้ก (Story Cheesecake) : ep2 ขึ้นต้นด้วยคุ้กกี้ พอแตกใบอ่อนเป็นอารายว๊า

จำกันได้ไหม ครั้งแรกที่คุณหัดทำเบเกอรี่ ขนมอะไรที่เริ่มหัดทำเป็นอย่างแรกๆ เชื่อว่าร้อยทั้งร้อยคงไม่พ้น คุ้กกี้ บราวนี่ พวกเราเองก็เหมือนกัน วัตถุดิบอย่างแป้งอัลมอนด์สมัยนั้นถ้าไม่ใช่คนที่เคยทำมาการองมาก่อน ก็แทบจะไม่รู้เลยว่าซื้อกันที่ไหน เผลอๆกว่าจะตั้งตัวได้ว่าเราจะพูดกับคนขายว่าอะไรลำพังแค่แป้งอัลมอนด์เด็กที่ร้านหลายร้านก็งง หาในเนทไหนจะ อัลมอนด์มิล อัลมอนด์กราว อัลมอนด์ป่น เย้ยยยยย มันต่างกันยังไงเนี่ย

โชคดีที่ก่อนกินคีโต เอ๋ เคยทำร้านขนม เค้ก เบเกอรี่ ทำตั้งแต่ซื้อวัตถุดิบ อบ แพ็คใส่ตู้ ขายในร้าน มาก่อน ช่วงแรกที่ลองจับลองทำขนมคีโต จึงเริ่มจากของที่มีอยู่กับตัวง่ายๆก่อน แน่นอนว่ามันคือ คุ้กกี้ เพราะใช้วัตถุดิบไม่มากกระบวนการไม่มาก แต่ด้วยความที่แป้งอัลมอนด์ไม่เหมือนแป้งทั่วไป มันมีความหนักและไม่อยู่ตัว ตีทิ้งตีขว้างไปหลายแบทเทอร์ กว่าจะลงตัว โชคดีที่สมัยก่อนการกินคีโตยังเคร่งมากๆ เพราะข้อมูลจากฝรั่งนั้นเคร่งมาก แรกเริ่มเดิมที คาร์บยังคือคาร์บ ไม่มีการหักไฟเบอร์ จากนั้นไม่นานถึงจะเริ่มมีการหักไฟเบอร์ออก ดร.เบิร์ก แรกๆนี่ไม่หักไฟเบอร์เลยนะ เพิ่งมาหักช่วงหลัง นั่นเลยทำให้การชิมขนมไปหลายรอบนั้น ยังไม่รบกวนคีโตมากนัก

เมื่อทุกอย่างลงตัว ทดสอบหลายแนวทั้งผสมถั่ว ทั้งผสมชอคชิพ 3 เม็ดจนเป็นเอกลักษณ์ จนคนถามว่าทำไมต้อง 3 เม็ด แต่ก็ทำตามๆกันมา 3 เม็ด หลังจากปล่อยสูตรออกไป พร้อมๆกับส่งตัวคุ้กกี้ให้ผู้โชคดี(หรือโชคร้ายนะ)ให้ได้ชิมกันถ้วนหน้า

อย่างที่บอกว่ามันยังไม่ใช่ยุคของการค้า พอเป็นสูตรที่ใครๆก็เอาไปทำกัน แล้วทำได้โอเค มันก็เลยกลายเป็น คุ้กกี้ในตำนาน โดยปริยาย ด้วยความที่ว่ามันเอาไปลองทำแล้วผลออกมาไม่แย่ ทำง่าย รสชาติทานได้ อาจจะไม่เลิศเลอ ลองฌอมดูตูร์กูติเยร์ อะไรมากมาย แต่แน่หล่ะเพราะก่อนแจกจ่ายได้ผ่านการลองผิดมาแล้วมากมาย คนทำตามสูตรก็เลยเหลือแค่ลองถูก นำไปทำทานเลยหรือนำไปพัฒนาต่อยอดได้สบายๆ

ตอนนั้นชื่อก็เลยถูกสลักหลังตามด้วยคำว่า คุ้กกี้ในตำนาน อยู่เสมอๆอย่างหนีไม่พ้น เหมือนสมัยนี้ที่เอะอะก็แปะนามสกุล เดอะวอยซ์บ้าง บีเอ็นเคบ้าง คือมันก็เป็นแค่ชื่อห้อยท้ายเพื่อ refer ถึงนั่นแหละ คล้ายๆหนัง GDH เรื่อง เอ๋ไหน-ไฟแรวงเวอร์ (เหรอ ??? ) เผลอๆแอบไปร้องเพลงใส่หน้ากากคุ้กกี้ซะงั้น (เพ้อแล้ว)

อย่างที่บอกตอนแรกแหละ พอลงตัวเรื่องวิธีการกินคีโต แปลงานวิจัย แปลบทความ แปลบทสนทนา เนื้อหาต่างๆมาแลกเปลี่ยนกัน เวลาว่างก็ทดลองทำอาหาร ขนม หลายอย่างมากมาย เท่าที่จะนึกได้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็น ขนมจีบคีโต(ใช้สาหร่ายแทนแป้ง) คุ้กกี้เคลือบชอคโกแลต เบเกิ้ล ไอติมกะทิ ไข่พะโล้ ช็อกโกแลตแท่งผสมอัลมอนด์ น้ำพริกเบค่อน ไข่เจียวซูเฟล่คีโต (แรงบันดาลใจจากการ์ตูนโซมะ) ทั้งหมดนี้คาบเกี่ยวกันในช่วง 2017 เกือบจะทั้งหมด เป็นปีแห่งการระเบิดเมนูคีโตออกมามากมาย ของเอ๋แท้ๆ สนุกสนาน สำราญใจกันถ้วนหน้า ถ้าไม่ว่างจริงไม่ออกมาขนาดนี้นะนี่

หอมปากหอมคอกับ ep.2 ไหน นี่ยังไม่เข้าเค้าของชีสเค้กเลย เอาเป็นว่าตอนต่อไป ถึงคิวชีสเค้กแล้วล่ะ ** ประมวลภาพอดีตอันยาวนาน

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Content

• Conclusion

• FAQ

• You May Also Like

• External Links

Live Crypto News Today Updates December and Latest News: (5 December 2022) On Monday morning, the international market for digital assets had positive index readings. The total value of the cryptocurrency market has increased by almost 2%. The total number of trades conducted in a single trading day rose by 14% to reach $35 billion.

As the cryptocurrency market begins to show signs of recovery, prices for Bitcoin and Ethereum have increased by 2% and 3%, respectively.

Dogecoin Price Surges Due to "Twitter Coin" Rumor?

The price of Dogecoin (DOGE), the world's biggest joke cryptocurrency, recently skyrocketed amid persistent claims that Twitter is planning to create its own cryptocurrency called "Twitter Coin."

Twitter's Elon Musk to Launch "Twitter Coin"?

It has been rumored that Twitter is working on monetization options as well as a "Twitter Coin." Researchers Nima Owji and Jane Manchun Wong found the "Coins" option buried under the "Tips" settings on Twitter. They shared their discovery. Elon Musk has already dropped hints that Twitter will start accepting payments in Dogecoin (DOGE).

Litecoin's (LTC) Price Jumps Over 8%

Recently, Litecoin has been quite active, as seen by the price of LTC, which has increased by more than 8.5% in the last twenty-four hours. At the time of this publication, the price of LTC on the market was $83.14, and its market cap was $5.9 billion.

On the technical chart, Litecoin has shown a clear accumulation breakthrough, which may further lead to an increase in the price of LTC to $90 or even higher.

Caroline, the former CEO of Alameda, was spotted in New York.

Photos of Caroline Ellison, the former chief executive officer of Alameda, started making the rounds on Twitter on December 4th. Some Twitter users claim to have seen Caroline around 8:15 a.m. at Ground Support Coffee, which is located on West Broad in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.

Gopher, a Golden Doodle puppy that is reported to belong to the executives of FTX and Alameda, also seems to have been seen with Caroline, which lends some credence to the possibility of sightings and provides more evidence. Following a query on Twitter, Austin Capital reported that a barista behind the counter had identified the customer as Caroline.

Dogecoin (DOGE) is a valuable asset, claims ChatGPT.

The open AI bot ChatGPT has been making waves throughout the internet since the weekend just passed. Everyone is in awe of ChatGPT's writing talents because of the sort of writing skills they have displayed.

The Open AI platform has heaped praise on Dogecoin, emphasizing that DOGE should be "reckoned with as a force," as the website puts it.

Bitcoin's value rises by 2%.

Over the course of the previous 24 hours, the price of a bitcoin has increased by 2%. At the time of this writing, the average price of a Bitcoin transaction was $17,305. Its trade volume for a single day increased by 24 percent, reaching $20 billion. Bitcoin now has a market value of more than $332.6 billion.

Recovery of Cryptographic Registers

On Monday morning, the international market for digital assets had positive index readings. The total value of the cryptocurrency market has increased by almost 2%.

The total number of trades conducted in a single trading day rose by 14% to reach $35 billion.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen whether Musk's Twitter will make cryptocurrency a priority, but at least one of the big supporters behind the transaction is pushing for it. Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange, contributed $500 million to the $44 billion acquisition with the aim of assisting Twitter in its transition to Web3. The CEO of Binance, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, has been actively promoting his Binance Pay platform as a potential payment method for Twitter.

FAQ

What new features is Elon rolling out on Twitter? After taking over Twitter, Elon Musk's first official product change was to start charging $8 per month for "blue check marks," which are the verification badges that Twitter currently gives to public figures such as journalists, politicians, and celebrities. Musk confirmed this change shortly after he took control of Twitter.

Is there cryptocurrency available on Twitter? Twitter has not made any public announcements on the development of a cryptocurrency wallet product; however, the social media firm did release a tipping tool late in 2017 that enables users to transfer bitcoin to content producers through the site. Twitter expanded its tips functionality to include ethereum in February. Elon Musk will serve as your host for the duration of the monologue on May 8, 2021.

What exactly is the ELC token? ELON, also known as Dogelon Mars, is a token project with a focus on doges. ELON, also known as Dogelon Mars, is a doge-centered token project with the objective of emulating the achievements of Dogecoin (DOGE) while making a reference to Elon Musk's plan to populate Mars. The original investors in Dogelon Mars placed a liquidity lock on fifty percent of all ELON funds in a pool managed by Uniswap.

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@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

By Bitcoin Actuary & Tyler Parks; written in October 2022.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-sceptics-guide-to-crypto-the-church-of-bitcoin/id1169101860

transcript: https://www.ft.com/content/4573b225-8eaf-4de1-97e9-f9b71cdc50bd

We present here an examination of the FT’s Tech Tonic podcast series “A Sceptic’s guide to Crypto”; in particular the fourth episode - “The church of Bitcoin”. We include a transcript of this episode below with our own commentary added, in order to best pick up on the points raised.

Jemima Kelly (JK) — Hi. I’m Jemima Kelly, your guide on this journey through the fantastical kingdom of crypto land. And I have a question for you — “What’s the difference between believing in crypto and joining a cult?”

[Snippets from later in the episode]

“Crypto seems to me like the monetary equivalent of the heaven’s gate space craft that was supposed to transport all those followers to the kingdom of heaven.

“When people engage in crypto, it is not the way they engage in any other hobby. The beliefs in crypto are quite extreme and very absurd”

[Nic Carter] — “At this point it’s bordering on denying reality.”

JK — This is techtonic from the Financial Times, and in this series, I’ve been asking why people believe in a future for cryptocurrencies, and the blockchain. For many people, crypto is simply all about making money; getting rich quick by betting on the crypto markets, or shilling the tokens they say will power their latest blockchain flavored invention.

But.. it didn’t quite start that way, and for many people crypto, and in particular Bitcoin is about much more than that.

Here we are — the word Bitcoin! It’s only taken 10 total mentions of Crypto and Blockchain in this episode so far to get us there. If this appears an over zealous observation, please note that we have travelled through episodes on Luna / the recent market crash, NFTs and Web3 in this series so far, before any real consideration of Bitcoin.

This is the one of the main attack vectors of the likes of Jemima Kelly and Stephen Diehl in their content — “Crypto, Crypto, Crypto.” The problem is they conflate “Crypto / Blockchain” with Bitcoin proper, when comparing them is at best misguided and at worst predatory. In doing so they infer no difference between Bitcoin and any other altcoin and deny that Bitcoin has any meaningful scarcity. This view (and a recent FT article on it also written by Jemima Kelly) is refuted well by Steven Livera in the link below.

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-separate-from-crypto

Were we to analyze the whole series, we’d actually have more in common with Jemima Kelly and team than might first appear. Some examples -

• We’re in agreement that gambling and speculation can be a problem.
• We’re pretty sceptical of efforts spearheaded by companies like a16z to decentralise the web; i.e. of “Web3”
• NFTs are of questionable value

You see Bitcoin is an ideology; a quasi religion that cast the development of this cryptocurrency as a history changing event. You might remember Bitcoin super gambler Michael Saylor in episode 1, telling us that Bitcoin is an instrument of economic empowerment for the world, a tool for freedom and truth and justice.

Some audio clips of “super gambler” Michael Saylor were played in Episode 1, lumped in with the recent story of Terra Luna and the “Crypto crash”. Around two and a half minutes of snippets of Saylor being interviewed were included in a rather slanted presentation of his “blind devotion to Bitcoin”. This is called the sceptic’s guide, after all! However, anyone who has sought out a more detailed interview with Michael Saylor (there are plenty out there) would know there’s slightly more to it than that. He repeatedly demonstrates an ability to derive Bitcoin’s value proposition from first principles.

That’s the thing about Bitcoin. It’s a belief system, with its own commandments and taboos.

So, what do Bitcoin evangelists believe in? And why do they believe it? This is episode 4 — The church of Bitcoin.

To understand just how big a part mythology, and almost religious fervour, play in Bitcoin, let me start by telling you its origin story. It starts on the 31st October 2008. Halloween. The world is in the grips of a crippling economic crisis. People are rethinking the whole economic and financial system, and the greedy bankers are the lowest of the low.

This flippant comment about the greedy bankers being the lowest of the low is just about the closest we get to an acknowledgement of there being a wider macro economic environment in the entire series, save for comments from Nic Carter later. Which is odd given how many bitcoiners take a keen interest in macroeconomics and Bitcoin’s place in the wider world.

And then, someone calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto sends out an email.

[Satoshi email narrated] “I’ve been working on a new electronic cash system that’s fully peer to peer, with no trusted third party”

JK — The email lands with subscribers of the cryptography mailing list, an email group made up of a few dozen researchers and enthusiasts who are interested in some of the geekier aspects of the world of cryptography. The message was brief and matter of fact — a short description and link to a pdf file. The file outlined an electronic cash system that Satoshi Nakamoto called.. Bitcoin

[voiceover] “A purely peer to peer version of electronic cash which would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another, without the burdens of going through a financial institution”

This wasn’t the first attempt at creating a decentralised digital currency, and initially, the idea didn’t get much traction. But over the next two years, Satoshi Nakamoto kept developing Bitcoin, releasing updates to the protocol, replying to emails on the mailing list and posting on message boards. Usually, there were questions about bugs or potential problems with how the system worked, fixes to the coding, that kind of thing. Occasionally there would be discussions over the value of creating Bitcoin in the first place.

[voiceover] “You will not find a solution to political problems in cryptography”

“Yes, but we can win a major battle in the arms race and gain a new territory of freedom for several years.”

“The real trick will get people to actually value the bitcoins so that they become currency”

“I would be surprised if ten years from now we’re not using electronic currency in some way. If enough people think the same way, that becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.”

But later, as Bitcoin began to catch on, Satoshi had to worry about how to present the concept of Bitcoin to the wider world.

“Sorry to be a wet blanket, writing a description for this thing for general audiences is bloody hard. There’s nothing to relate it to.”

Satoshi even had to worry about marketing issues, like how to make Bitcoin look like a legitimate currency

“How does everyone feel about the B symbol with the two lines through the outside. Can we live with that as our logo?”

As opposed to the Satoshi Nakamoto quotes which are referenced here, we think the following is more noteworthy -

“The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that’s required to make it work. The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust. Banks must be trusted to hold our money and transfer it electronically, but they lend it out in waves of credit bubbles with barely a fraction in reserve.”

Throughout all of this, the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remained a total mystery. Noone knew who it was. Was it a pseudonym? Was Satoshi even a man, as the name suggested? Or could it be a woman, maybe a group of people. And then in December 2010, barely two years after that first email, Satoshi Nakamoto stopped posting. The inventor of Bitcoin vanished into thin air. What makes the story even more intriguing is that by the time Satoshi disappeared, this mysterious inventor had amassed a fortune in Bitcoin. And to this day not a single one of those Bitcoins has ever been spent.

Nic Carter — it’s like a Jesus style myth, where Satoshi sacrificed himself or herself by leaving the project and spurning the immense wealth that Sathoshi had accumulated, right — about a million coins, so what is that — 20 billion dollars.

JK — Nic Carter there. He’s a prominent crypto investor. He says the story of Satoshi disappearing and not cashing in his wealth has taken on an almost religious aura that makes Bitcoin not just another cryptocurrency, but special. A sort of chosen one.

NC — There’s a notion of like, and very explicitly within the Bitcoin community — of Satoshi literally sacrificing himself for our sins, basically, creating this new independent system that’s free of the sin of fiat, and creating a new pure system that you’re welcome to join. There’s also, if you want to go further back you could say it’s a Prometheum story, right, where Satoshi did this daring act, stole fire from the gods, stole monetary policy from the Fed, and then was punished for it for all eternity. In this case Satoshi’s punishment was not being able to benefit from all the Bitcoins they created, for whatever reason, so the mythology there is very significant.

We don’t think this notion is particularly prominent at all, but there could be some out there buying into Bitcoin because of this narrative. Let’s bring things down to earth though and remember that Bitcoin is open source code, not some mystical fable.

If newcomers want to know why most Bitcoiners buy and hold Bitcoin, please start with the Bullish case for Bitcoin article by Vijay Boyapati

https://vijayboyapati.medium.com/the-bullish-case-for-bitcoin-6ecc8bdecc1

or perhaps the Bitcoin Standard by Safedean Ammous.

https://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Standard-Decentralized-Alternative-Central/dp/1119473861/

In short, Bitcoin has superior properties as a form of money. Unfortunately the merits of its monetary properties (such as being portable, fungible, divisible, scarce, recognisable, censor resistant) are not considered in this series.

JK — We’ll come back to Nic a little later, but first, let me introduce you to another person, who at one point truly bought into that whole Bitcoin ideology -

Aviv Milner — When I was at school studying Math, I had already an interest in Economics, I had an interest in Philosophy, and Political Science. At the time, Bitcoin was kind of having its second or third big public explosion.

It’s not mentioned here that in spite of its volatility, each of these “public explosions” has seen the price of bitcoin reach a higher high than the last. It’s almost as if long term adoption is increasing.

JK — Several years after Satoshis original email, Aviv Milner was a student living in Vancouver in Canada.

AM — I was very prime for that pitch, because it was a pitch that essentially said “we can use computer science and math to solve economic, political & philosophical problems. And we can solve almost all the problems. And that was really exciting to me.

JK — Aviv discovered an online community of Bitcoin enthusiasts who believed that Bitcoin had the power to change the world. As well as getting stuck into the tech behind Bitcoin, Aviv started delving into its ideology, too. He came across a document written in 1993 by a computer programmer called Eric Hughes. The document was called the cypherpunk manifesto.

AM — cypherpunk is this kind of rebellious, anti-government philosophy. It starts by saying that privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. It goes on about why privacy is so important, and we must resist government oppression and tyranny, and why money must also be private. That’s the root of — even Satoshi Nakamoto who invented Bitcoin — was this tool, to regain personal liberty and freedom, to transact as one sees fit. To transact privately and anonymously. To send money anywhere in the world. And the idea that decentralisation is key, such that the system itself could not be corrupted and could not censor any one person.

It’s commendable that FT took the time to illustrate bitcoin’s origin story including the cypherpunk manifesto, even if they’re hesitant to embrace it. It’s worth reading.

Aviv started chatting to other Bitcoiners on the online forum Reddit. He went to Bitcoin conferences, and he started buying Bitcoin, as he genuinely believed it could be the future of currency.

It’s worth noting the word currency only appears once in the Bitcoin white paper — and only then as a reference to existing physical currency. By definition Bitcoin only becomes a currency when in general use or accepted as such in particular countries. Accusations that Bitcoin has somehow failed once and for all as a currency (due to its volatility or lack of use in payments) are wide of the mark though (see Vijay Boyapati article as linked earlier).

AM — I was pushing people to spend their Bitcoin, pushing people to learn about Bitcoin, it’s super reliable, it’s awesome, the value only goes up, you know this is going to be great for commerce.

The reference to value only going up is a red flag here.

JK — For Aviv, mass adoption seemed, well entirely sensible. So much so that he tried to get local businesses in Vancouver to start accepting local payments in Bitcoin.

AM — at the time it seemed obvious, because small businesses pay credit card fees and point of sale fees, so you can build an app for them that will accept Bitcoin, so surely users will love it and the stores will love it. So we found a few stores that were willing to do this, to have this Bitcoin point of sale app.

JK — But Bitcoin started to become a victim of its own success. In 2017, after a huge run up in prices, Bitcoin’s network started to get congested. The cost of making payments was exploding, and transactions that were supposed to take 10 minutes were sometimes taking several days to complete.

AM — And the result was that nobody used it. Nobody wanted to actually go in the store, like an average grocery store, and pay with Bitcoin, and I remember laughing really hard, thinking like, none of this was as we were told, like it was a faulty product that the user didn’t want and the merchant didn’t want. The concept failed on all levels.

“None of this was as told” - by whom? As Saifedean Ammous has commented, using Bitcoin on chain for such payments is akin to flying Concorde down the street to pick up a pint of milk. Aviv Milner is talking about 2017, though, and there were many “big blocker” bitcoiners who saw a future for Bitcoin in this manner. For those who are curious to read more about the battle between the big and small blockers (the big blockers believing Bitcoin’s block size needed to keep expanding to cater for more and more transactions) please read the excellent “The Blocksize War” by Jonathan Bier.

https://www.amazon.com/Blocksize-War-controls-Bitcoins-protocol/dp/B08YQMC2WM/

In addition, to consider why it’s a little outlandish to expect Bitcoin to conduct millions of transactions a day on chain we’d recommend reading Nik Bhatia’s book, layered money —

https://www.amazon.com/Layered-Money-Dollars-Bitcoin-Currencies/dp/B091D3KR8G/

JK — which is why today, Aviv is no longer a Bitcoin believer. These days, he’s gone full on Bitcoin skeptic, and that total 180 in the world of Bitcoin just doesn’t happen. Aviv is the only person I’ve ever come across to be so invested in Bitcoin, both financially and emotionally, and then just to have abandoned the whole thing.

AM — 13 years into this experiment, so far, if I’m being honest, the use case we have is we made Las Vegas virtually, and children can now play in it. To me, that’s kind of the biggest use case that I see — money laundering is one thing, tax evasion is another, but I can’t really see examples where some person, any person, says “man, thank god for Blockchain, it’s really made my day better, I can really solve these problems” — there’s not a lot of problems unless you want to speculate.

For those who don’t see Bitcoin as scarce, it is an obvious criticism that it solves no real problems. For those who do, it solves one of the greatest problems mankind has faced — how to store and transmit the fruits of your labour through time and space.

JK — Aviv was discouraged by Bitcoin’s failures, but there are still many Bitcoin believers out there who aren’t. It doesn’t matter how many times Bitcoin crashes, or fails to find a use, they have already decided that whatever the question, Satoshi Nakamoto’s great invention, Bitcoin, is the answer.

The use for most users with Bitcoin is as a superior form of money. This is why many hold it and don’t just speculate on it.

The fact that the podcast doesn’t even once reference the lightning network, having pointed out Bitcoin’s limitations for on chain payments, is a good example of the ignorance / intellectual dishonesty (choose one as you wish) generally on display.

https://www.clevelandfed.org/en/newsroom-and-events/publications/working-papers/2022-working-papers/wp-2219-the-lightning-network-turning-bitcoin-into-money.aspx

It’s worth noting of course that despite this Bitcoin doesn’t depend on the success of the lightning network to succeed. There may be other layer 2 or layer 3 options that succeed in the long run. That’s the beauty of competition and open source networks.

Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan — So Bitcoiners basically believe that Bitcoin is the future of money

JK — Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan writes about banking and Fintech for the FT.

SV — All other currencies — whether you are looking at fiat currencies, or other crypto currencies, like Ether, or Dogecoin, are all either at best scams, or at worst actually detrimental — they are part of a collapsing monetary system which has been collapsing for years, since the end of the gold standard some might say. Traditional currencies or fiat currencies are going to go into a death spiral of inflation, and that’s going to lead to their replacement by Bitcoin. At some point it’s going to be just the single currency for global commerce, trade, & payments.

Note how this is all presented as a blind belief, rather than that it could be based on anything happening in the wider world right now.

JK — So why do Bitcoiners think it would be a good thing to have Bitcoin become the future of money?

SV — So you have Bitcon emerging after the cyberpunk ideology of the late 80s, the 90s. This movement over censorship, against government controls over digital culture, sort of broadly anarchic, libertarian ideology, and there’s the idea that Bitcoin is censorship resistant, that it’s a form of currency which is not handed out by the government, that can be used to purchase things which governments don’t always want you to. And obviously, the argument which is increasingly made is around authoritarian states where we have seen crypto sometimes used to circumnavigate controls put down by governments.

JK — So belief in Bitcoin has two basic elements to it. The first is that the global financial system is broken and Bitcoin is the only thing that can fix it. The second is even more fundamental than that — governments shouldn’t be in control of money and we need an alternative that’s not controlled by any one entity.

So are these beliefs, whether you agree with them or not, simply part of a coherent and rational political ideology, or, is there more to it than that. Is Bitcoin a cult?

SV — So it’s complicated because it definitely does have cultic properties. You don’t have a single leader in crypto any more because Satoshi decided to step out of the limelight, what you have instead, and this is quite similar to Qanon today, is you have a lot of high priests, or priests of varying values — The influencers who cooperate with each other sometimes, sometimes fight with each other, and it’s all about at the end of the day driving a message that adoptions coming — believe in my personal version of the gospel, subscribe to my channel etc. There is a morality to it as well, I think there is a lot of that idea that if you are investing in crypto, or Bitcoin, then you are doing something that is actually morally good. And you are rewarded for making the right choice, you know, with the whole idea of mining implying hard work out in a mine, rather than letting a computer do it for you. I think there’s an assumption that what you’re doing is a good deed. You know money is good, therefore being rich makes me a good person, therefore if you are involved in Bitcoin or crypto, if you are involved in Bitcoin adoption you are deserving of money.

Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan comes closest to providing a steel man argument but loses footing with comparisons to the supernatural. We’d take issue with the word influencer used in reference to Bitcoin — no one is on the payroll. There is some truth to the morality point made here, but crucially even if there can be a moral element to bitcoin for some, chiefly it’s known as money for enemies. Nothing altruistic need necessarily come into it, and first and foremost most bitcoiners are here to preserve & enhance wealth over the long term. He mischaracterizes proof-of-work as moral and virtuous rather than its role as a network security mechanism.

I think that plays into the idea of being rugged pioneers, almost, you know being on the frontiers of money on the digital frontiers of money.

JK — The precise definition of a cult might be hard to pin down, but, for those who study this the parallels between Bitcoin and recognised religious cults, are striking.

Amanda Montell — You can see how this is absolutely something that is isolating people from their systems of support, that’s imbuing people with a false sense of elitism, making people feel like the solutions to all of their problems and enlightenment can be found, and if that’s not a new religious movement, I don’t know what is.

JK — Amanda Montell is the author of a book called cultish, the language of fanaticism. She knows first hand about cults. Amanda’s father was a member of the church of synanon, in the 1970s.

Media clip — Syanon claims it has been the victim of bad publicity, losing more than one hundred thousand dollars in grants and contracts. Pure addicts are being sent there, parents are disowning their children who live there. Some are filing lawsuits, charging brainwashing and torture. And a grand jury is investigating charges of child abuse.

JK — Basically, the organisation was a drug rehab program turned cult

Media clip — it was founded 19 years ago by a man named Chuck Dederich

Chuck — I’m big brother, I’m big daddy, I’m.. all kinds of things

JK — followers shaved their heads, wore overalls, and underwent brainwashing group therapy live rituals.

AM — In a really really destructive group like Jonestown or Heaven’s Gate, or Scientology, you’ll hear a tonne of us vs them terminology, really loaded emotionally charged buzzwords and euphemisms, that are there to imbue insiders with this sense of superiority, with this transcendent purpose, that, just by showing up, you are better than everyone else, you’re tapped into an enlightened knowledge — the solutions to the world’s knowledge are laid bare before you, and as long as you align with this group, with this leader, all of these solutions can be yours.

JK — And Bitcoin follows that us vs them terminology as well, even if that is not dictated by any one leader or person.

AM — It’s like crowdsourced a little bit, they are really there to divide people into an us vs them, special, enlightened crypto people on the inside who understand this language and this unenlightened sheeple on the outside who don’t.

JK — Amanda says that in the crypto world, that language is particularly evident in the sheer number of acronyms and abbreviations believers use.

AM — ..which sort of makes the language feel all the more special, also all the more inscrutable.

JK — Anyone who has been on a Bitcoin message board or who follows Bitcoin twitter, might have heard of some of these

Narrator — what’s up you guys, so it’s Matt here, so I talked about BTD in a number of videos, right, but a lot of people don’t -

JK — BTD — Buy the dip

AM — It generally displays a bullish attitude towards crypto and NFTs that’s commonly used in the context of good news

JK — WAGMI — We’re all going to make it. Or NGMI — Never going to make it.

Media Clip — HODL, HODL, Baby, it’s like a football, you’re holding a football, you’ve got a big bag of cash

JK — HODL — that one is actually a misspelling, but a lot of people now treat it as an acronym for “Hold on for dear life”. And, if you do, your crypto token of choice will “Go to da moon”.

Media Clip — And I want to follow up today with my next list of 5 crypto currency coins that I think may take us to the moon

We’ve very much verged into wider Crypto here, and the world of trading.

JK — And then there’s the co-opting of the term “FUD”

Media Clip — FUD is an acronym for “Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt”. [Various Clips repeating the phrase “Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt]

JK — which is used any time anyone tries to challenge the ideology of crypto believers.

Media Clip — a crash is normal. Seeing graphs shoot straight down like this is normal.

JK — It’s a way of dismissing criticism

Media Clip — Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt is a menace that threatens to reach into your pocket and steal your hard earned money.

JK — Amanda says this is a perfect example of what linguists like her call “A thought terminating cliche”

AM — This is a classic cult language technique, and it describes a sort of stock expression which is easily memorised, easily repeated, and aimed at putting down independent thinking and questioning, so dissent and pushback is obviously the number 1 enemy to any cultish group. You don’t want any wrinkles in your ideology to be pointed out. So whenever anyone expresses any sort of questioning, you’re going need to have one of these zany stock expressions to shoot them down, and alleviate the cognitive dissonance that they are feeling in that moment.

With Bitcoin the term FUD does of course get used. We’d argue it’s in part a defense mechanism for having argued in good faith and just having those points ignored when the next attack comes, time and again. There are plenty of far deeper arguments, if you just care to look (e.g. link below).

https://en.bitcoin.it/myths

JK — Amanda saw this in action when her Dad was a member of Synanon.

AM — The group where my Dad spent his teenage years, there was this thought terminating cliche which was “Act as if”. Whenever you feel yourself doubting one of the leaders protocols, just “Act as if” you believe in his wisdom, and eventually you will. I’ve heard thought terminating cliches show up in Qanon, in the form of phrases such as “Trust the plan”, or “I did my research”, or “Do your research”, or “Don’t let yourself be ruled by fear”.

In new age groups, a thought terminating cliche could sound like dismissing a valid fear or anxiety as a limiting belief, and there are of course thought terminating cliches that are used in crypto — “Don’t listen to the rumours, there are just spread by FUD”, and that’s thrown in the faces of anyone who proposes any kind of criticism towards a project in this space — they are a FUD, and again you can make a scientology comparison. Anyone in scientology who expresses any kind of doubt is dismissed as a suppressive, a SP — that stands for Suppressive person, and so there are parallels to be drawn there for sure.

JK — If Crypto, and Bitcoin in particular can be compared to a cult, like scientology, you might think of Nic Carter, who we heard from at the top of the episode, as the Bitcoin equivalent of the supressive person, an apostate bitcoiner.

NC — it certainly is a secular religion, I mean there’s a whole doctrine of salvation, there’s absolution, there’s even eschatology, I guess, the day of judgement concept, where all the fiats are going to disappear and everything will be subsumed into Bitcoin.

JK — Nic runs an investment fund, and for years, he’s been an advocate for Bitcoin as an alternative to the existing financial system. But recently, the rest of the hardcore Bitcoin community discovered something about Nic that to them was unforgivable. Nic wasn’t just worshipping at the altar of Bitcoin. He was worshipping at the altar of other crypto gods, too.

NC — and there is a faction within Bitcoin that thinks that you have to pick one side, basically that you have to believe exclusively in Bitcoin, that all other crypto assets are competing for attention with Bitcoin, that it’s a zero sum gain, so it’s immoral that a creator advocate to build on top of any other crypto asset. The whole debate is in a moral context.

JK — This purist fact that Nic refers to is know as “Bitcoin maximalism” and for Bitcoin maximalists, the cryptocurrency you invest in is a moral question, because for them Bitcoin isn’t just the best cryptocurrency, it’s the only one that’s morally good, and everything else — central bank currencies like the dollar, and every other one of the 20,000 plus cryptocurrencies out there is morally.. Bad.

NC — I was performing a deep moral sin, according to these people, so I guess a lot of the bitcoiners got upset because they realised that a high profile bitcoiner wasn’t, you know, a bitcoin puritan, or whatever.

We won’t get into Nic Carter’s deep moral sins against Bitcoin; we have no doubt that with appearances on podcasts like this, his star will continue to rise! However it is clear that there are bitcoiners out there who will defend Bitcoin to the death, and this is a feature, not a bug. As Michael Saylor has pointed out -

“If you really want a crypto to be successful over 100 years, the technology is only a part of it, right? It’s the ideology paired with the technology. And you’re gonna have to have an ideology that is so pure and so straightforward that people will fight to the death to defend the ideology. And that’s why I’m probably not gonna sacrifice my life for the 13th iteration on smart contracts. It’s not that important. On the other hand, if you tell me that we’re about to suck all of the economic energy out of the civilization and plunge ourselves into the Dark Ages, then I think I’ll fight for it. That’s worth fighting for.”

Michael Saylor; What is Money show episode 8

https://whatismoneypodcast.com/

JK — today, Nic no longer worships in the church of bitcoin.

NC — Now I’m a crypto apostate, right, ethical non crypto monogamy, and so I’m out. You know, I’m still a bitcoiner, obviously, they can’t really kick me out of Bitcoin — that’s not possible. But I’m certainly out of the core circle of hardcore bitcoiners which is kind of ok with me. As I view their views as really out of step with reality.

JK — but Nic does still believe in Bitcoin. And so this is where, in some ways, he hasn’t truly left the cult, he’s just left the most zealot part of it. Because Nic is still drinking the Bitcoin kool aid to some extent. He still thinks of Bitcoin as a viable solution to the broken financial system.

It’s worth considering another recent quote from Nic

“Today, the only ‘base layer’ asset that I like from an investment perspective is Bitcoin, because I think its monetary and governance qualities are supreme, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been interested in other trends in the blockchain space.” (https://medium.com/@nic__carter/setting-the-record-straight-b4e1b415e7d9)

So is Nic Carter in this cult or not? Has he sold any Bitcoin? We don’t know, but he hasn’t announced it — it might help this analogy, mightn’t it. Has he removed any of his Bitcoin articles? No. So we’re left with Nic leaving the cult, but not really.

Here’s what we think. We think when Satoshi said “writing a description for this thing for general audiences is bloody hard — there’s nothing to relate it to”, that extends to podcast episodes trying to lay a glove on Bitcoin for being a cult in the manner of Qanon or Synanon. Reality check — Bitcoin is borderless, permissionless, digital, open source.. It is definitely a cult of sorts, but the active comparisons made here fall pretty flat.

NC — I do think that the fiat system is degenerate, and will eventually collapse. You think crypto will eventually collapse, I think currencies will eventually collapse — not all at the same time, and I think the dollar will be the last, and so I am searching for an alternative. To me Bitcoin best instantiates these values that I’m looking for, but it could be something else. If somehow we had reform, and we were able to create or engender a fiat system that didn’t lead to rampant asset price inflation, was relatively stable, didn’t cause financial crises, then I would probably reconsider, but I don’t have any faith in governments to do that.

JK — So as we’ve heard throughout this episode, there is something incredibly powerful about Bitcoin that really draws people in, and I do believe that some bitcoiners are really in for reasons other than making money. Even though Bitcoin has failed time and again to prove itself as a valid form of money, it has this mysterious and compelling mythology that makes people still believe that one day it will prove itself as the saviour of the economic system.

The idea here that Bitcoin has failed as a valid form of money is an unsubstantiated claim. Bitcoin still operates exactly as originally intended and laid out in its white paper. For an interesting read here we’d recommend Allen Farrington’s article “Wittgenstein’s Money” (now also forms a chapter in the book “Bitcoin is Venice”), in which he asks — “What would it seem like if it did seem like a global, digital, sound, open source, programmable money was monetizing from absolute zero?”

https://allenfarrington.medium.com/wittgensteins-money-7cac8d0635cf

We echo Nic’s sentiment regarding currency inflation and financial crises. If you view Nic as a credible voice in the space, then his continued bitcoin advocacy would seem to undermine the whole premise of this episode. It also brings to mind Jeff Booth, author of “The Price of Tomorrow,” who argues you can’t fix the system from inside the system.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Price-Tomorrow-Deflation-Abundant-Future/dp/1999257405/

And in some ways that is quite understandable, even if it strikes me as quite naive. Who doesn’t want to be told that there really is an answer to all of our greatest problems. And in a world where technology has already changed pretty much every part of our lives in ways we couldn’t have ever predicted, why shouldn’t this technology fundamentally change money, too.

Good question — you’re so close!

Is it any wonder that so many people want to be part of something so much greater than them, part of a community that gives them a sense of identity and belonging. Amanda Montell says that’s why cults keep coming back

AM — Cults has also become one of those words that can kind of mean anything, depending on the context, you can use it to describe something as destructive as QAnon and Scientology, but you can also use it to describe a really popular beloved makeup brand, or wellness product, and I think that says a lot about how cultish our culture has become. As we increasingly move away from and mistrust these larger institutions, that are supposed to provide us with support and community, like the government, the healthcare system, the church, and so we start looking for these things in different places, in alternative places — feeling like you are part of something bigger than yourself is profoundly human pursuit.

It is certainly true that mistrust in large institutions has been growing for many decades. For a non Bitcoin related consideration of this, Adam Curtis’ documentary Hypernormalisation (2016) is well worth watching https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperNormalisation

It is little wonder that many out there identify with Bitcoin, where one of the central mottos is “Don’t trust, verify”, the opposite of a thought-terminating cliche.

JK — She says that cult behaviour isn’t intrinsically bad, it’s just about identifying which cults are harmful and which aren’t

AM — and that might look like, you know, a really passionate music fandom. It’s really not about avoiding cultishness at all costs, it’s about being aware of some of those signs that this cultish group is more abusive than another.

JK — and the problem with Bitcoin is that some aspects of it do sound alarmingly like the bad version of a cult. Back to the former Bitcoiner Aviv Milner

Aviv Milner — you might ask what’s the big deal with people identifying as bitcoiners. The problem there is down to what you’re accepting, and how that affects your life more broadly. As an example, people who believe in flat earth often have a very also like culty like behaviour where they talk to people, they find groups, they do a lot of experiments, you know, but it’s surprisingly harmless, as when you believe in flat earth, it doesn’t really change your day to day. When you believe in Bitcoin, you do what the president of El Salvador did, or what a lot of middle class people do — just take all of your hard earned money and put it into a volatile asset which you don’t understand, and that has so many chaotic things that could happen…

Who’s to say those who are buying it, like the president of El Salvador, don’t understand it? They might actually understand it better than someone who thought the future of Bitcoin was on chain payments to merchants. The frontline of adoption can be messy–we won’t sugar coat it. But El Salvador is betting on the side of open source tech rather than economic colonialism. On this perhaps we can agree to disagree.

…And so essentially you’re gambling. And so the result is we have an unprecedented level of gamblers. People my age, even younger, people in their 20s. That is a huge huge problem. That is not just me disagreeing with someone else’s hobby, this is me upset about the financial destruction about a growing part of our population putting their money into these things, and in many cases losing almost everything.

[followed by lead in commentary to next Episode]

We’d agree with the Stephan Livera article below when it comes to trying to trade Bitcoin.

https://www.swanbitcoin.com/traders-lose-stackers-win/

It’s worth asking the question though of what leads so many to speculate on cryptocurrencies and meme stocks and the like. Arguably the rampant speculation we observe is a symptom of the sickness in modern economics that Bitcoin was designed to address. There is a wider issue with the financial environment we are in, which forces everyone to become their own mini hedge fund manager. In the current environment, old fashioned savers are crippled — one has to invest far out on the risk curve to maintain any form of purchasing power, not save. Bitcoin turns this on its head. Bitcoin is saving.

Consider the long term. Let’s compare buying and holding $1,000 worth of a 30 year treasury bond now until maturity, versus buying and holding the same value of Bitcoin for 30 years. We can calculate what the 30 year treasury would return by the year of 2052, but have no idea on the purchasing power of that amount. Bitcoin is zero yielding, but of fixed supply. We don’t know the purchasing power of Bitcoin in 2052 either. Perhaps it should be a question of relative position size. Bitcoin may be a speculation in itself, but it is uncorrelated and serves to hedge systemic risk.

The final episode in the series considered the evolving state of regulation in crypto. It ended with this zinger from Stephen Diehl -

“..Every single aspect of cryptocurrency is not new. The technology is new, it’s kind of a rubbish piece of technology, but the kind of speculative manias that are around these kind of assets are not new. And in many ways if you look at the south sea bubble, you look at the tulip mania, you look at the wildcat banking era, you can see exactly what’s going to happen. Attempts to build private money, attempts to financialise nothingness, always end in ruin. Because they’re just bad ideas. Crypto pretends to be the money of the future, but it’s actually the money of the past.”

We’re back to “crypto”, of course. The hatchet job is complete, and yet Bitcoin lives to fight another day. The series might serve as reassurance for no-coiners to be content doing nothing, but for others it may be worth digging a little deeper.

There are a number of areas that would have been interesting to consider as part of this series -

• Which cryptocurrencies constitute securities and which commodities
• The difference between proof of work and proof of stake networks
• The link between Bitcoin and energy, and the core proposition for Bitcoin miners.
• Lightning Network
• El Salvador
• The wider macroeconomic environment

The real issue is that in 5 episodes — around 2 and a half hours (albeit only around 30 minutes on Bitcoin) — the listener is left desperately short.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

The Societal Impact of Bitcoin: Decentralization, Power Dynamics, and Human Power

Bitcoin represents more than just a digital currency; it signifies a paradigm shift in the way society understands and utilizes money. This transformation is rooted in Bitcoin's decentralized nature, which poses a challenge to traditional financial systems and their centralized control over monetary transactions.

Decentralization and Democratization of Finance

One of the central attributes of Bitcoin is its ability to decentralize financial transactions. By eliminating the need for central authorities such as banks and governments, Bitcoin paves the way for a more democratized financial system. Individuals gain unprecedented control over their assets, fostering an environment where financial inclusivity and autonomy are enhanced. The concept reflects the internet's architecture discussed in this source, which is inherently democratic and decentralized, featuring no single point of failure. Such a structure could radically transform sectors reliant on fiduciary trust, like accounting, commercial law, and insurance, making them more efficient and less dependent on centralized entities.

Addressing Global Inequalities

Beyond its technical capabilities, Bitcoin holds the potential to address broader societal issues such as globalization and capitalism-related inequalities (source). While not a panacea, Bitcoin can undermine the power of states and central banks, potentially reducing social inequalities and political oppression. This aspect underscores Bitcoin’s role not only as a technological innovation but also as a socio-political tool that could reshape global structures.

The Future of Bitcoin and Its Societal Role

As Bitcoin continues to evolve, its impact on society extends beyond fintech. It questions long-standing power hierarchies, proposes new models for financial interactions, and stimulates discussions on sustainability and innovation. The ongoing debate and research are vital as they shape public perception and policy regarding Bitcoin and its integration into daily life.

Bitcoin is at the forefront of redefining the future of money. It challenges existing structures, advocates for a more equitable financial landscape, and provokes critical discussions on environmental sustainability. The journey of Bitcoin is not merely about technological advancement but about paving a new path for societal development and human interaction.

Further Reading and Exploration

For those keen on exploring more about Bitcoin’s implications and technological underpinnings, consider delving into discussions and research papers available in various forums and academic circles. These resources provide deeper insights and broader perspectives on the potential and challenges of Bitcoin in reshaping societal norms.

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Note: This article integrates perspectives and data from discussions and sources within the Bitcoin community, reflecting a collective understanding of Bitcoin's impact on society. For a more detailed exploration of the topics discussed, readers are encouraged to review the cited sources for comprehensive insights.

Bitcoin: Transforming Society's Financial Fabric

In our journey through technological revolutions, few innovations have sparked as much debate and potential as Bitcoin. At its core, Bitcoin challenges existing paradigms and redefines our understanding of monetary transactions. Its decentralized nature not only offers a new approach to managing finances but also reshapes societal structures and power dynamics.

Decentralizing Power and Control

Bitcoin's architecture inherently promotes a decentralized and democratic system, reminiscent of the internet's original ethos—with no single point of failure (source). This feature holds the potential to revolutionize various sectors including fiduciary trust, accounting, legal frameworks, and insurance. By mitigating the reliance on centralized authorities such as banks and governments, Bitcoin encourages a more equitable financial environment.

A Shift Towards Democratic Finance

The potential of Bitcoin extends beyond mere financial transactions. It offers a novel paradigm where individuals exert greater control over their assets, leading to a more democratized financial landscape. This shift profoundly impacts how power is distributed and exercised within society, suggesting a future where financial equity is tangible.

Addressing Global Disparities

Discussions around Bitcoin often touch upon its capacity to addresses issues intrinsic to globalization and capitalism. While Bitcoin is not a cure-all for deep-seated social issues, it provides a tool that can diminish the influence of central banks and state powers, potentially reducing social inequalities and political oppression (source).

A Tool for Social Change

By circumventing traditional financial pathways, Bitcoin presents an alternative that could redistribute economic leverage, offering a counterbalance to entrenched systemic inequities.

The Road Ahead: Bitcoin's Societal Hard Involvement

As Bitcoin continues to mature, its societal hardening become more pronounced. It challenges traditional power structures, proposes innovative models for financial interactions, and stimulates discussions on technological advancements. The ongoing dialogue surrounding Bitcoin is not merely about its viability as a currency but its broader role in shaping future societal norms and human power

Bitcoin stands at the vanguard of a potential financial revolution. Its impact stretches beyond economics, touching on aspects of governance, social equity, and environmental stewardship. As we navigate these transformative waters, Bitcoin remains a key topic of discourse, emblematic of the broader search for more democratic and equitable systems.

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Further Reading and Resources:

For those looking to dive deeper into the intricacies of Bitcoin and its impact, consider exploring the comprehensive discussions and analyses available through the links provided in this article. Engage with the community, participate in ongoing debates, and contribute to the shaping of this evolving technological landscape.

Sources:

1. BitcoinTalk
2. Linux Foundation Bitcoin Dev Mailing List July 2022
3. Bitcoin Stack Exchange Discussion on Bitcoin's Societal Impact

Bitcoin's Role as a Treasury Reserve Asset: Navigating Threats and Opportunities

Bitcoin, a pioneering Reserve Asset, has gradually evolved from a speculative investment to a potential treasury reserve asset for various entities. This significant shift in perception underscores Bitcoin's growing influence and maturity within the financial domain. As we explore Bitcoin's integration into financial assets and reserves, it's crucial to understand the inherent risks, its adaptive environment, and how it shapes the domain in which it operates.

The Threats to Entities Holding Bitcoin

Entities that hold Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset are navigating uncharted territories, where both opportunities and threats abound. The primary concern revolves around price volatility, potential regulatory shifts, and security risks associated with the digital nature of Bitcoin. Moreover, geopolitical risks come into play—if one state decides to take punitive or restrictive measures against Bitcoin, it could trigger a ripple effect, prompting other states to assess their stance, either as a protective measure or to capitalize on an open digital currency platform.

A Thriving Environment Amidst Challenges

Despite these potential threats, Bitcoin continues to find a thriving environment fostered by certain key factors:

• Technological Advancements: Continuous improvements in blockchain technology and transaction security bolster Bitcoin's attractiveness and its perception as a resilient asset.
• Decentralized Nature: A core advantage of Bitcoin is its decentralized framework. Even in the face of state-level attacks or policies, Bitcoin can operate and be maintained from anywhere in the world, ensuring its survival and functionality.
• Global Participation: As more nations and corporations explore Bitcoin, it gains diverse footholds, which can mitigate the impact of any single nation’s negative stance.

The Evolving Domain of Bitcoin

Bitcoin's current trajectory is redefining its operational domain. No longer just a currency or investment, Bitcoin is increasingly viewed through the lens of a reserve asset—a store of value that could potentially backstop private and public treasuries.

• Market Maturity: Bitcoin is becoming more integrated with traditional financial systems, with futures trading, ETFs, and other financial instruments that use Bitcoin as the underlying asset.
• Regulatory Landscape: Regulation will define Bitcoin's future use as a reserve asset. Positive regulatory frameworks can enhance its legitimacy, while restrictive policies might limit its potential.

Incentivizing Network and Cryptographic Contributions

One of Bitcoin's revolutionary impacts lies in how it incentivizes contributions to its network and underlying cryptographic security. By rewarding miners for processing transactions and securing the network, Bitcoin ensures that its ecosystem remains robust and efficient. This incentive mechanism also drives continual technological and security enhancements, as participants invest resources to maintain and improve system integrity.

• Rewards System: Mining rewards, which compensate network participants with Bitcoin, ensure that there is always a motivation to contribute to network activities.
• Enhanced Security Investments: As the value and use of Bitcoin grow, so does the incentive for improving its cryptographic foundations, promoting a cycle of continuous enhancement.

Closing

As Bitcoin matures into a potential treasury reserve asset, it navigates complex landscapes of threats and opportunities. Its capacity to adapt to a thriving environment, even under potential attacks or challenges, highlights its resilience. Furthermore, its ability to incentivize contributions ensures that the network remains robust and continues to evolve.

Entities considering Bitcoin in their asset strategies must weigh these factors carefully, balancing potential risks against the revolutionary prospects that Bitcoin offers. As the domain of Bitcoin expands, its impact on global finance, network security, and economic structures promises to be profound, warranting close attention and thoughtful engagement from all stakeholders in the financial ecosystem.

In this evolving narrative, Bitcoin is not merely a digital phenomenon but a potential cornerstone in the future architecture of global finance.

I can run my own node: With keys I Take ownership Of , Shifting to any trustee or Myself

Navigating the New Frontier of Treasury Reserve Assets

As Bitcoin continues to carve its niche in the global financial landscape, organizations and sovereign entities embracing it as a treasury reserve asset are navigating a complex matrix of opportunities and threats. This digital currency, known for its decentralized nature and potential to disrupt traditional financial systems, is moving towards a future where its influence on economic strategies cannot be ignored.

The Dual-Edged Sword of Adoption

For those who have integrated Bitcoin into their treasury reserves, the decision comes with inherent risks. The volatile nature of cryptocurrency markets means that entities must remain vigilant against the fluctuations that could affect the valuation of their reserves. Moreover, regulatory uncertainties loom large, as governments around the world grapple with how to accommodate or control this new form of asset. Yet, despite these challenges, the allure of Bitcoin's potential rewards—such as protection against inflation and currency devaluation—continues to attract a growing number of adopters.

Thriving in Adaptability

Bitcoin's resilience lies in its ability to thrive in adaptable and supportive environments. As jurisdictions compete to become the next crypto hubs, they create ecosystems where Bitcoin can grow unencumbered by restrictive regulations. These thriving environments not only benefit from the innovation and investment attracted by being crypto-friendly but also contribute to the global narrative that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are here to stay.

The Evolving Domain of Bitcoin

The domain in which Bitcoin operates is continually evolving, shaped by technological advancements, market dynamics, and changing regulatory landscapes. From its inception as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system to its current role as a speculative investment and potential reserve asset, Bitcoin is exploring new realms. Innovations in blockchain technology and increased institutional interest are paving the way for Bitcoin to expand its use cases and further integrate into mainstream financial systems.

A United Front Against Adversity

The decentralized nature of Bitcoin means that an attack on it by one state highlights its importance to all others. Such actions underscore Bitcoin's role as a geopolitical tool and a hedge against state-level risks. In essence, attempts to undermine Bitcoin can inadvertently increase its visibility and credibility, uniting its global community of users, developers, and investors against perceived threats. This solidarity enhances Bitcoin's resilience and underscores its potential as a non-sovereign safe-haven asset.

Incentivizing Contributions Through Cryptography

At the heart of Bitcoin's success is its incentive mechanism, which rewards contributions to the network and advancements in cryptography. Miners secure the network by validating transactions and are rewarded with newly minted bitcoins, while developers are motivated to enhance Bitcoin's protocol, ensuring its security, efficiency, and scalability. This model of incentivization has led to a vibrant ecosystem where innovation flourishes, and continuous improvements are made to the underlying technology.

In conclusion, as Bitcoin matures and expands its domain, the complexities it faces will undoubtedly evolve. However, its foundational principles—decentralization, transparency, and incentivization—equip it to navigate these challenges and solidify its status in the financial world. For entities holding Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, the journey may be fraught with uncertainty, but the potential for unprecedented rewards makes it a path worth exploring.

Sources

[0] Satoshi Nakamoto. (2012, April 17). Bitcoin P2P e-cash paper. Bitcointalk Forum. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=157130.msg1665557#msg1665557

[1] Maxwell, G. (2022, July 5). [bitcoin-dev] SIGHASH_NOINPUT and forward security. Bitcoin-dev Mailing List. https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2022-July/020685.html

[2] Back, A. (2015, August 17). Re: [bitcoin-dev] Block size, technical merit, and trade-offs. Bitcoin-dev Mailing List. https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2015-August/010473.html

[3] Andrychowicz, M. (2013, April 1). How Bitcoin will change society. Oleganza Blog. https://blog.oleganza.com/post/46894057432/how-bitcoin-will-change-society

[4] eMansipater. (2013, May 23). Re: A Guide to Bitcoin Transaction Priority. Bitcoin Stack Exchange. https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/15490#16572

[5] Meni Rosenfeld. (2013, May 22). Re: A Guide to Bitcoin Transaction Priority. Bitcoin Stack Exchange. https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/65948#65950

[6] Antonopoulos, A. (2015, March 7). Internet of Value. BTC Transcripts. https://btctranscripts.com/mit-bitcoin-expo/mit-bitcoin-expo-2015/internet-of-value

[7] Gideon Greenspan. (2013, May 23). Re: A Guide to Bitcoin Transaction Priority. Bitcoin Stack Exchange. https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/21002#21004

[8] Maxwell, G. (2022, February 3). Re: [bitcoin-dev] Payjoin BIP draft. Bitcoin-dev Mailing List. https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2022-February/020022.html

@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

This article was originally published in Bitcoin magazine in July 2022 - with figures quoted at that point in time. Please see the bottom of the article for a brief 2024 update.

MicroStrategy (MSTR) currently sits on a huge loss on their bitcoin purchases. Based on a current bitcoin price of $20,300, their 129,699 aggregate bitcoin holdings are worth $2.6 billion, down from a total purchase cost of roughly $4 billion (average cost $30,700). Hence they are sitting on unrealized losses of ~$1.4 billion on their purchases.

The last couple of years have been a wild ride for MSTR shareholders, and ironically, the share price ($186) doesn’t sit that far above the share price in the summer of 2020 when they announced their first bitcoin purchase (approximately $140).

Michael Saylor has appeared bemused by the continuous speculation online at MSTR having their bitcoin holdings liquidated at around $21,000 due to the recent $200 million loan with Silvergate. Even searching for Michael Saylor’s name on Twitter brought up the auto-complete phrase “Michael Saylor liquidated.”

This speculation is pretty misleading, but even still, where does the recent market turmoil in Bitcoin leave them? To consider this, let’s simply outline the terms of the various debts they have taken on in the last couple of years, including that Silvergate loan.

---

First Convertible Note Offering — December 2020

MicroStrategy Completes $650 Million Offering of 0.750% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2025

The first convertible note offering was for $650 million, due in December 2025. The interest rate payable for these by MSTR was just 0.75%, making the servicing of this debt pretty easy — just under $5 million interest cost per year.

Hence, these convertible bond holders are not receiving much interest, but they do have the option to convert their investment to MSTR shares at $398 per share. Thus this represents a type of call option on the future price of MSTR shares, albeit one which is now worth less at current market prices.

To illustrate the convertible part, let’s say MSTR stock is priced at $500 per share at the redemption date in Dec 2025 — if you had $1 million of convertible notes they would then be worth $1.25 million, since you could buy the shares for $398 and immediately sell them for $500. This, and other upside scenarios, explain the low interest rate payable.

---

Second Convertible Note Offering — February 2021

MicroStrategy Completes $1.05 Billion Offering of Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027 at 0% Coupon and 50% Conversion Premium

This offering (which raised $1.05bn) is much along the same structure as the first, albeit at even better terms from an MSTR point of view, and worse terms for the convertible bond holders. This time, the interest rate is 0%, so there is no interest cost and the redemption date is in February 2027.

The convertibility for these notes only contains value if the share price of MSTR is above $1,432 per share — hence much less likely to be converted than the previous offering. It seemed comparatively more likely at the time, given the stock price closed at $955 on February 16, 2021.

Skeptics will question the virtue of raising this much debt to buy bitcoin, but one element seems clear in hindsight — MSTR and Michael Saylor got a pretty good deal in borrowing on these terms at the time.

---

Senior Secured Notes — June 2021

MicroStrategy Completes $500 Million Offering of 6.125% Senior Secured Notes Due 2028 With Bitcoin Use Of Proceeds

This represented a more conventional bond offering. MSTR borrowed $500 million until 2028, at an annual interest rate of 6.125%. This makes the annual interest cost of these bonds approximately $30.6 million, substantially more than the previous convertible notes interest cost combined.

This announcement also coincided with the establishment of a subsidiary — “MacroStrategy” — which would hold the existing 92,079 bitcoin that they owned. While the new debt was senior secured notes — having a high priority of being paid versus other creditors in the event of future insolvency — crucially they are not secured against the 92,079 bitcoin. This becomes relevant when we consider the later Silvergate bitcoin-backed loan.

---

Silvergate Bank Loan — March 2022

This loan was slightly different — borrowing $205 million for three years which is backed by the MacroStrategy-held bitcoin. As linked to in slides 11 and 12 in this presentation, this was initially backed by 19,466 bitcoin, but more can be specifically pledged as collateral should the price of bitcoin fall.

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results Presentation

The “top up” loan-to-collateral-value ratio is 50%. It is this fact that has presumably led many to cite the MSTR liquidation price on the loan as the price of bitcoin falling below $21,000 — at this point the 19,466 bitcoins would be worth below $410 million (2 x 205), and they would need to pledge more collateral under the terms of the loan. But as Michael Saylor pointed out and the slides above show, there are a further 95,643 bitcoins which have not yet been pledged, and could be.

https://twitter.com/saylor/status/1523996525151539203

The math works as follows regarding the $3,562 referenced in the above tweet. At that price point the total 115,109 bitcoin available to back the loan would be only worth $410m, so MicroStrategy would have to pledge some other collateral to keep the 50% loan-to-value ratio going.

How about the interest cost on this loan? It’s based on the 30-day average SOFR (Secured Overnight Funding Rate) plus 3.7%. At the time of writing (end of June, 2022) SOFR is about 1%, so this makes 4.7% total. Based on 4.7% interest, it would cost them about $9.6 million annually to service the interest currently. However, the 1% SOFR rate is expected to go higher. Further SOFR rises would not prove too material though — at 4%, for example, (and hence 7.7% total) the interest cost would be $15.8 million.

---

Conclusions

So what can we conclude from all this?

1. The interest costs in total from all the debt raised to buy bitcoin look manageable, totalling around $45 million ($5m + $0 + $30.6m + $9.6m) per year at present. This looks affordable to service — the recent quarterly results show gross profit for the recent quarter at $94 million.

MicroStrategy Announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

1. Even given huge recent declines in the price of bitcoin, MSTR’s holdings should not be impacted by the price in the short term, unless it falls massively, to $3,500k. This is due to the sheer amount of bitcoin they have available to back the Silvergate loan, to keep the backing at a 50% loan-to-value ratio.

2. What is of course striking is the current huge on-paper loss that MSTR is sitting on in terms of its bitcoin purchases, given that their average cost basis is $30,700 per bitcoin. It would no doubt prove a problem for them if the bitcoin price remains below this in the longer term and some of the debt starts to near redemption. The first loan due is the Silvergate loan in March 2025. Given this is with bitcoin backed as collateral, it may actually be possible to roll this over in a similar fashion.

The next due is the first convertible note offering in December 2025. If MSTR is still sitting on huge bitcoin losses at this point, they may find it hard to roll over that $650 million debt in the market. It would lead to a tricky decision as they would presumably want to avoid selling any bitcoin at a loss in order to pay back the debt.

One aspect is very much on their side, though: In the world of Bitcoin, or indeed even the wider macroeconomic environment, December 2025 feels like a very long time away.

1. It seems unlikely that MSTR would seek (or indeed be able) to raise much more debt in current market conditions — as Michael Saylor points out in the interview clip below, they borrowed previously on pretty advantageous terms. It also seems unlikely right now that they would sell additional equity into the market to buy more bitcoin, which they have also done previously, as the share price is currently so low.

2. They could carry on buying more bitcoin with profits and indeed, while writing this, MSTR did announce a further small bitcoin purchase of $10 million.

3. What seems likely alongside this is opting to keep some future profits in dollars for optionality over the next couple of years rather than buy more bitcoin with it, despite bitcoin’s lower price. The Q1 2022 results linked above (see point 1) would suggest that they are currently building some cash reserves, holding $93 million in cash versus $63 million three months earlier.

4. One final option would be to buy back some of their own shares with profits from the business, given that their share price has declined by a higher proportion over the last 6–12 months than the bitcoin price. This essentially would send a signal that the market undervalues MSTR relative to even the bitcoin price, and would constitute a defiant, albeit risky, show of faith in their strategy.

Finally, it’s worth watching this video link from CNBC for some recent thoughts from Michael Saylor, which includes the following quotes:

Interviewer: “Would you consider buying more?”

Michael Saylor: “Yeah. If your time horizon is one month, then Bitcoin looks like a volatile risk asset. But if your time horizon is ten years, it looks like a risk off store of value asset …”

“… we borrowed 2.2 billion dollars at a blended interest rate of 1.8% before interest rates doubled. It seemed like a reasonable thing to do. $1.7 billion is unsecured, the rest is a 7 year term after we borrowed the money. The margin loan is well managed …”

“… Bitcoin is the first and only legitimate scarcity in the universe.”

---

2024 Updates - as at 7th May 2024

This article aged quickly.. However, I have updated it below to show the main movements MSTR have made in the debt & equity markets since. As suspected in the article, they did stay away from issuing further debt until this year (see links below). However, they did issue a substantial amount of equity in 2023 and used it to buy more Bitcoin. Part of this also helped them pay off the Silvergate loan at a discount in early 2023.

27th March 2023 - MSTR paid off the entire Silvergate loan at approx 22% discount - see details in link below

https://www.microstrategy.com/press/microstrategy-repaid-silvergate-loan-and-increased-bitcoin-holdings-by-6455-and-now-holds-138955-btc_3-27-2023]

Equity issuance to buy Bitcoin - carried out over several quarters (I think this was in addition to around $1.0 billion equity issuance completed in 2021).

• $1.2 billion - Q4 2023
• $147m - Q3 2023
• $334m - Q2 2023
• $339m - Q1 2023
• $46m - Q4 2022

11th March 2024 - A further offering of $800m convertible notes at 0.625%

https://www.microstrategy.com/press/microstrategy-completes-800-million-offering-of-0625-convertible-senior-notes-due-2030_03-11-2024

19th March 2024 - A further offering of approx $600m convertible notes at 0.875%

https://www.microstrategy.com/press/microstrategy-completes-603-million-offering-of-0875-convertible-senior-notes-due-2031_03-19-2024

None of the content in this article should be construed as financial advice or taken as an endorsement to buy or sell shares in MSTR. The author owns shares in MSTR. Thanks to Will Schoellkopf for reviewing the original article.

@ 7e1d20be:0b4a42c2

Chef's notes

You can make it much better yourself than any restaurant would care to do for you

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 30
• 🍳 Cook time: 20
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 large chicken breast
• 5 tomatoes or puree
• 3 onions
• garlic
• cashews
• some dry green herb like dill or sage or parsley or whatever or the original kasoori methi
• curd
• butter
• cream
• the standard 5 masalas/spices/powders from india
• a bunch of small wrapped cloth bags of what is called solid spices / khada masala
• redchilly powder, chillies and salt as per taste

Directions

1. look at this video https://youtu.be/zF7dKdIMKvc?si=XRkXB9q3KoRoF_i6
2. make the sauce
3. put in the chicken
4. drizzle with butter and cream
5. bake bread
6. enjoy a better pizza with the same ingredients as a pizza

@ cce0989b:b497e608

You need more.

This message runs through Old Happy culture, affecting us from a very early age. We’re told that more is the secret to happiness.

Research shows, however, that the pursuit of more stuff doesn’t actually make us happy.

First of all, we adapt very quickly to good things in our lives. This is called hedonic adaptation. No matter what you get, you tend to get used to it.

Other studies have found that people who are more materialistic —which means they value stuff and money more highly — are more likely to be lonely, struggle with their relationships, and rate themselves as less satisfied with life.

Notice what this desire for more feels like inside of you. Maybe it’s a sort of clenching in your stomach. It could be a racing heart that signifies your fear. It could be a sense of urgency that leaves no space to pause and ask if something more is actually necessary.

When you feel that feeling, ask yourself, “What need am I trying to fill here?"

With that need in mind, you can look around to figure out how you can fulfill it.

Many of our needs can be fulfilled by simply pausing to notice, appreciate, and enjoy the good that is already present in our lives. You have people to love you, things that nourish you, community to support you, agency to make different choices, and interests to inspire you. These things can fulfill you in a way that more and more cannot.

@ 46fcbe30:6bd8ce4d

Opinion about Bitcoin Core (desktop)

Bitcoin Core is the most prominent continuation of Satoshi Nakamoto's original work. Contributors to this project are pioneers in reproducible builds and it's the software with most attestations to its reproducibility and with probably thousands of academics looking at the code and how it's being compiled, this software sets the benchmark for transparency in self custody.

It started out being the Bitcoin full node, wallet, miner and even parts for a market place could be found in the early code base. Today, it is being stripped of the mining feature and even the wallet feature might get removed at some point.

For the average user, Bitcoin core is not a convenient wallet but arguably it's the only software that can really make sure you are receiving Bitcoin on the Bitcoin blockchain so almost all wallets talk to a server running this software one way or another.

WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion

Join the conversation!

@ df3d362a:3c765ec9

In the context of bitcoin, “normie” means something like “don’t know, don’t care.” And “normie” comes from “normal.” In other words, normal people don’t care about bitcoin, at least not enough to use it.

Lack of exposure is not the problem. Bitcoin now regularly appears in the headlines of mainstream media, like USAToday, Fox, Forbes, The Economist, Le Monde, you name it. The term bitcoin generates more search traffic than other terms most of us are sick of hearing, like Kardashian.

But even though virtually every human and most seagulls have heard of bitcoin, fewer than half a million use it daily.

And it’s not for lack of effort on the part of the bitcoin community. We’ve written books, blogs (so many blogs!), recorded videos, organized conferences and meetups, and hosted podcasts (so many podcasts!) preaching the value of bitcoin. We put more effort into converting the nocoin infidels than most religions, but our beautiful temple remains sadly empty.

Educating the world about bitcoin has succeeded in building a community of knowledgeable, dedicated, enthusiastic people from the fields of tech, economics, politics, and finance, but orange pilling has taken us as far as it can. Like many strategies, the marginal gains of educating the world were remarkable in the early stages, but they’ve flattened.

Orange pilling has stopped working.

Show, Don’t Tell

I realize how controversial this claim is because orange pilling is so popular. It’s a strategy that has served us really well over the past 15 years. And most bitcoiners like education. We tend to be critical thinkers who devour blogs and books and podcasts to learn more about our passion and keep our minds sharp.

But we don’t research every topic, nor do we have to. I know very little about what a good workout and eating healthy do to my body on a cellular level, but I feel the benefits of both. In fact, our world is so complex that nobody can really understand all the important facets. How many welders and virologists or aeronautical engineers and app developers really understand each others’ fields? Most people are ignorant about most useful topics, and that’s just the way it is in a highly complex world.

Expertise, however, is not a precondition of enjoyment. I use all kinds of products and technologies — TikTok, AI assistants, and even water-treatment plants — simply because they make my life better. That’s all I really need to know. No technical understanding required.

All you need to benefit from a technology is utility. It just has to improve people’s lives somehow, whether they understand it at a granular level or not. We can tell people about bitcoin’s benefits until we’re exhausted and they’re annoyed. What matters is how they actually experience it. We should stop telling them how great the bitcoin economy is going to be and start showing them. Less theory, more practice.

Think of remote work. In the 1970s, big companies like IBM were merely toying with the idea, experimenting with a few workers at a time. Then technology happened: broadband & WiFi, corporate VPNs, cloud storage, cheap and powerful computers for pockets and desks. And don’t forget all the software: Zoom, Teams, Slack, Meet, SharePoint, etc.

But even just a decade ago, remote work was something many had heard of, but few had tried. It was growing at just a few percent per year. Enter COVID. Rates doubled, then tripled. Now 67% of us techies work mostly or entirely from home.

Yes, COVID was a shock, but pandemics are nothing new. The last one revolutionized the geography of work because of the tech. The technology had become really useful, and the pandemic just gave us the occasion to realize it. Would the revolution in remote work have happened eventually without the pandemic? Almost certainly, if not as fast. Would it have happened eventually without the technology? The question doesn’t even make sense because the technology defines how we even think about “remote work.”

Useful technology changes behavior, habits, and society. Sometimes radically.

We bitcoiners need to learn, internalize, and remember this lesson. The orange pills have stopped working, at least at our current scale. Experiences are what change people’s minds, and we build those experiences with technology, not conferences. As soon as we start delivering experiences that surpass anything fiat can do, people will adopt bitcoin automatically. Until we start delivering such services, no amount of books and blogs will change their minds or habits.

Where to Start

So if the key is to improve people’s lives, whose lives are we talking about? There’s a big difference between a corner store in Hyderabad and outdoorsy Canadians. Different interests, different needs.

Think about the revolutionary technologies of recent decades: the television, the PC, the internet, the smartphone, Facebook, AI. They all took root in the same demographic: people with disposable income in developed countries. Facebook took this approach to the extreme by first opening only to students attending elite Western universities. And now it’s your aunt’s favorite technology. Another lesson.

So the way forward is to leverage bitcoin’s strengths as a borderless, open, censorship resistant, and — most importantly — P2P currency in order to improve the lives of affluent people with money to spend. Give them better ways to transact directly with each other.

In practice, this will often mean adding bitcoin to apps they use anyway. It might also mean disintermediating services they’re already using. Like connecting gig drivers to passengers directly without Uber taking its cut. Like connecting artists directly to fans without Spotify and the record companies taking their cut. Like paying Dashers directly without DoorDash taking its cut.

The winning formula is to insert our tech into an existing, suboptimal user experience, just like the iPhone did with the digital camera. Utility improves the UX, and the UX drives adoption. The incumbents’ margin is our opportunity. This is the essence of disruption.

Let me also clarify that better gadgets for affluent Westerners are not more important than giving people in developing countries access to modern financial services and shelter from their governments’ corruption. That’s vital too. It’s just that affluent Westerners are a more effective way to move the market and propagate the technology. They’re the gateway drug, the beachhead to mainstream adoption. But yes, changing the whole world and improving the lives of everyone in it with bitcoin remains the ultimate goal.

Utility > Education

Education is important for people who need the inside-baseball-level information — entrepreneurs, engineers, investors, etc. It’s usually easier to improve a thing if you understand how it works than through random trial and error.

To just use a thing, though, all you need to know is how, not why. Dozens of animal species use tools to make their lives better. A few of them might have a vague idea of the tools’ operating principles — thick stick = strong and rigid; thin stick = light and flexible — and that’s enough. All of us use countless technologies already without understanding them, simply because we like the experience.

We don’t really have to conduct much research about how to improve people’s experiences with bitcoin. It’s easy to find which apps are most popular. Many, if not most, if not all of them could be improved with borderless P2P payments, right? That’s the whole idea, right? So let’s add our borderless P2P payments to them or rebuild them with our tech. If we do it right, and bitcoin really is better (which of course it is), then we won’t have to convince people anymore. They’ll just adopt it and convince each other.

@ 702987f5:c99ee290

The World of Cryptocurrencies: Inscriptions and BRC-20 Tokens

Introduction

The world of cryptocurrencies has witnessed a surge in interest in inscriptions, particularly those represented by BRC-20 tokens. This article aims to provide an intro-level understanding of inscriptions, exploring their value proposition, market dynamics, and potential for growth and collapse.

What are Inscriptions?

Inscriptions refer to digital assets created by embedding information on the Bitcoin blockchain or other blockchains. These assets can take various forms, including fungible tokens like BRC-20 tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The emergence of inscriptions is attributed to the Taproot upgrade, which enhanced the data storage capabilities of the Bitcoin blockchain. This upgrade enabled the creation of inscriptions without the need for smart contracts, as seen in Ethereum-based assets.

The Value Proposition of BRC-20 Tokens

The value proposition of BRC-20 tokens lies in several key aspects:

• Fair Launch Mechanism: BRC-20 tokens often employ a fair distribution approach, avoiding the preferential treatment of venture capitalists and early investors.
• Simple Protocol Format: The BRC-20 protocol is straightforward and focused, minimizing the risks associated with smart contracts.
• Expansion of Bitcoin's Capabilities: Inscriptions introduce new asset classes to the Bitcoin network, potentially leading to increased network fees and long-term sustainability.

BRC-20 Tokens as a Business Innovation

The question of whether BRC-20 tokens represent a promising business innovation is multifaceted. While they have generated revenue for trading platforms, speculators, and Bitcoin miners, their broader contribution to commercial value remains questionable.

BRC-20 tokens can be seen as a new category of Memecoins, which are essentially speculative assets that thrive on gambling and greed. Their appeal lies in the possibility of rapid wealth accumulation, often fueled by biased public perception and the law of large numbers.

The Mechanism Logic and Driving Forces

The rapid rise of BRC-20 tokens can be attributed to several factors:

• OTC Trading: The use of OTC order matching for BRC-20 tokens, compared to AMM DEX or CEX environments, requires less capital to influence prices, leading to more pronounced price surges.
• Lack of Short-Selling Mechanisms: The absence of short-selling tools like perpetual contracts further contributes to upward price movements.
• Participation of "Dama-Type" Investors: The involvement of novice investors, often influenced by community leaders and grassroots marketing, reduces short-term selling pressure and contributes to price stability.
• Enhanced User Experience: The user-friendly infrastructure provided by wallets like OKX Wallet has facilitated the entry of new investors into the BRC-20 market.

The Next Stage of the BRC-20 Market

The future of BRC-20 tokens could involve:

• Expansion by Secondary CEXs: The continued listing of inscription tokens beyond the likes of $ORDI and $SATS could be a significant catalyst. Such expansion would not only elevate the status of other Memecoins but also potentially draw traditional crypto investors into the speculative orbit of BRC-20 tokens.
• Involvement of Leading CEXs like Binance: Their listing of a broader range of inscription tokens could channel substantial mainstream crypto funds into the BRC-20 ecosystem.
• Rent: BRC-20 $RNT is a token used for renting digital assets on the Bitcoin blockchain. $RNT allows landlords to accept Bitcoin as rent more easily than the traditional method along with less middleman fees. This opens up new possibilities for monetizing digital assets and could potentially drive demand for BRC-20 tokens.
• Innovations Beyond Pure Memecoins: The introduction of BRC-20 Memecoins will evolve into creative ways to brand use cases to accept Bitcoin in the form of Sats, the smallest form of Bitcoin.
• Technological Developments: Ongoing developments in blockchain technology, such as the Lightning Network and cross-chain interoperability, could potentially impact the adoption and use cases of BRC-20 tokens. These developments could open up new avenues for growth and innovation in the inscription market.

Potential Collapse of the Inscription Market

The BRC-20 market faces several risks that could lead to a collapse:

• Prevalence of Short-Lived Rug-Pull Projects: The intense competition among BRC-20 projects can lead to market makers exiting their positions early, narrowing the window for speculative gains.
• Slowed User Acquisition: CEXs may become hesitant to list new BRC-20 tokens, hindering the inflow of new users and capital.
• Transition of Liquidity Battleground to CEXs: The shift of liquidity to CEXs introduces deeper market liquidity and short-selling tools, potentially diminishing the wealth effect.

BRC-20 Digital Real Estate

As part of my mission to educate and create a solution for the commercial real estate (CRE) and real estate industry, I developed TOKENOPOLY, a game designed to explain the concept of tokenizing real estate in a fun and engaging way that resonates with Gen-Z and Gen-Tech audiences. We're partnering with the most prominent hip-hop lyricist to gamify the explanation of this advanced tech with lyrics the masses will understand and remember. TOKENOPOLY will be the #1 blockchain game played online and IRL [IN REAL LIFE]. Rapper Fabolous explains as a meme this MLK Drive LNE is a 1-of-1.

LUV NFT: Blockchain Partnership with What3Words

LUV NFT is a blockchain-based project that partners with What3Words, a company that converts traditional addresses around the world into simple and unique three-word addresses. This partnership enables the tokenization of What3Words locations as What3Bars, also known as W3Bars.

The First Bitcoin NFT W3Bars

The first Bitcoin NFT W3Bars ///beats.lobster.suckle LNE [LUV NFT ESTATE] tokenized is tethered to a physical twin, which is mapped to the Los Angeles home of Jay-Z, a renowned advocate for teaching financial literacy and promoting Bitcoin's original purpose.

The primary objective of this initiative is to educate and empower individuals, particularly those who need Bitcoin, about the transformative potential of blockchain technology and its applications in the real estate industry.

Conclusion

Inscriptions, particularly BRC-20 tokens, have emerged as a fascinating experiment in the cryptocurrency industry. Their value proposition is primarily speculative, driven by the allure of quick wealth generation. While they have generated revenue for certain stakeholders, their broader contribution to commercial value remains questionable. The future of BRC-20 tokens is uncertain, with the potential for further growth or a collapse depending on various factors.

Visit https://www.luvnft.com/ and join the NFTV Discord to Bitcoin channel to buy and sell BRC20s.

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Wrangle up your latest tech discoveries, reviews, and recommendations. Let's hear all about your favorite tech products, services, or projects!

Feel free to share any new tech you've heard about, bought for yourself, or technology that you just think other stackers should know about. Found any gadgets or gizmos that blew your mind? Don't be shy—share the pros and cons and help your fellow stackers in the ~AGORA stay ahead of the tech curve!

Send your best 👇

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Prompt: Agree to Terms ===============

Almost every app or website has legal terms. Signing up for a new product will generally require that users agree to the Terms of Service.

It's not glamorous, but it's important. :)

---

Flex your design muscles and join in. Most of all, keep this exercise loose and keep it stress-free. The FUC is about growing our design skills, together, as a community. We can't wait to see what you create!

Happy designing, Stackers!

---

Share Your Results When you finish the challenge, post your work on this thread! If you also share it on nostr, be sure to use the hashtag #FUCdesiger and tag Design_r@iris.to or @Design__r on X! We'll keep an eye out and repost good examples on a regular basis.

---

Curious to know WTF is a FUC? Read the ⚡️Flash Ui Challenges welcoming post.

Looking for more FUCs? Check the archive here!

@ 86cc0482:9f9cd3d5

Whirlpool: Samourai Wallet CoinJoin Implementation

Part 2: PreMix, PostMix Stages

Further clarification:

• Some Whirlpool coinjoins typically select 2 fresh inputs from Tx0s and 3 already mixed inputs from previous coinjoins

• The fresh inputs from Tx0 are responsible for paying the fees.

• Inputs that have been previously mixed receive unlimited free remixes.

• Example (check the link): Two fresh inputs are 0.05014520 BTC; the other inputs are exactly 0.05 BTC.

https://mempool.space/tx/8074db130c8f141b652b12138e46b87fa6cfdccf914d29303ce07f8844a5d0b3

Next posts: Part3: ReMix Stage Part4: Anonymity Sets Part5: XPUB and Blinding Issues

#Bitcoin

@ 3eab247c:1d80aeed

Written by Igor Bubelov.

New Feature: Data Bundling

It’s hard not think about building resilient software in the light of the recent events, that’s why we decided to include the most recent data snapshots with every new BTC Map release. In short, if our servers go down, for whatever reason, you won’t be affected. It’s also impossible to censor us via Google Play, since the app is available on F-Droid, GitHub, and it can also be built from the source.

Data bundling also speeds up the initial sync by an order of magnitude!

New Feature: Companion App Warnings

You only need a Lightning wallet in order to pay to the vast majority of our merchants, but there are two exceptions:

• Czech Republic (Qerko restaurants)
• South Africa (Pick n Pay supermarkets)

Some of the places do require a third party companion app in order to generate BOLT 11 invoices, so you need to install those apps if you want to pay with bitcoins. Usually, we don’t tolerate that, but perfect is the enemy of good, and we decided to accept them on the following conditions:

The app should generate a real Lightning invoice, payable with any LN wallet of user’s choice. KYC is not acceptable under any circumstances. Those places didn’t have proper warnings, so I fixed it in the latest release:

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/warning_hu59a897ccf971a4f3b39fa1d6f547d4a6_1094407_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

New Feature: Navigate to Merchant

Building routes is hard, that’s why we aren’t doing it. You need to know a lot of things, including traffic jams, accidents, planned roadworks and so on. I know it well because I used to work for a taxi company which operated in London. Still, many users want to be able to quickly navigate to a selected merchant, so I decided to delegate this task to an external app. Most of the solutions on StackOverflow were dependent on Google Maps, but there was an interesting solution which seems universal. It appears to be working, but we’ll need more testing and user feedback to confirm that.

New Feature: Sharing Merchants

I don’t know why I waited so long, but it seems to be a must-have feature. As a power user, you don’t really miss it, since you can always open a place on OSM and see the nifty-gritty details, but it’s not a good way of sharing a bitcoin-accepting place with your friends.

Key Metrics

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/verified_hua424b04f202a6b71f3d29c3b9ee8c8e7_68105_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

The number of verified merchants has increased by 41, half of the last week’s number. Most locations were verified by @Rockedf and the local mappers.

Here are the top 5 countries by the number of new merchants: * Brazil * Spain * Germany * Czech Republic * The Netherlands

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/total_hu4990ea6cbcab7a6e2e8b6fca7793fd75_65718_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

The total number of merchants has increased by 8, which is unusually small. The main reason is Boracay data cleanup which was done by a Pouch team. They had many outdated merchants so their removal boosted our signal-to-noise ratio in that region.

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/days-since-verified_hu7206d0e58eb16d8289ccd9b2b0fddb6c_71870_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

The average number of days since the last verification didn’t change, which means that our data is as reliable as it was a week ago. I expected a decline since I didn’t do any mapping, but it looks like the locals are finally starting to maintain their own data, which reduces our dependency on remote edits done by a few of our team members.

What’s Next: Syncing in Adverse Conditions

Next week, I want to focus on our server software and infrastructure. The main goal is to release a v3 API, which is supposed to improve sync speed and lower the bandwidth requirements. Users like snappy software, but the real driving factor is the ability to make our API usable via TOR and other privacy preserving overlay networks. Even a normal VPN can slow down your network connection to the point where every byte counts, so it makes sense to make our API as lightweight as possible.

@ 419472a0:29346607

Written by Igor Bubelov.

New Feature: Data Bundling

It’s hard not think about building resilient software in the light of the recent events, that’s why we decided to include the most recent data snapshots with every new BTC Map release. In short, if our servers go down, for whatever reason, you won’t be affected. It’s also impossible to censor us via Google Play, since the app is available on F-Droid, GitHub, and it can also be built from the source.

Data bundling also speeds up the initial sync by an order of magnitude!

New Feature: Companion App Warnings

You only need a Lightning wallet in order to pay to the vast majority of our merchants, but there are two exceptions:

• Czech Republic (Qerko restaurants)
• South Africa (Pick n Pay supermarkets)

Some of the places do require a third party companion app in order to generate BOLT 11 invoices, so you need to install those apps if you want to pay with bitcoins. Usually, we don’t tolerate that, but perfect is the enemy of good, and we decided to accept them on the following conditions:

The app should generate a real Lightning invoice, payable with any LN wallet of user’s choice. KYC is not acceptable under any circumstances. Those places didn’t have proper warnings, so I fixed it in the latest release:

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/warning_hu59a897ccf971a4f3b39fa1d6f547d4a6_1094407_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

New Feature: Navigate to Merchant

Building routes is hard, that’s why we aren’t doing it. You need to know a lot of things, including traffic jams, accidents, planned roadworks and so on. I know it well because I used to work for a taxi company which operated in London. Still, many users want to be able to quickly navigate to a selected merchant, so I decided to delegate this task to an external app. Most of the solutions on StackOverflow were dependent on Google Maps, but there was an interesting solution which seems universal. It appears to be working, but we’ll need more testing and user feedback to confirm that.

New Feature: Sharing Merchants

I don’t know why I waited so long, but it seems to be a must-have feature. As a power user, you don’t really miss it, since you can always open a place on OSM and see the nifty-gritty details, but it’s not a good way of sharing a bitcoin-accepting place with your friends.

Key Metrics

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/verified_hua424b04f202a6b71f3d29c3b9ee8c8e7_68105_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

The number of verified merchants has increased by 41, half of the last week’s number. Most locations were verified by @Rockedf and the local mappers.

Here are the top 5 countries by the number of new merchants: * Brazil * Spain * Germany * Czech Republic * The Netherlands

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/total_hu4990ea6cbcab7a6e2e8b6fca7793fd75_65718_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

The total number of merchants has increased by 8, which is unusually small. The main reason is Boracay data cleanup which was done by a Pouch team. They had many outdated merchants so their removal boosted our signal-to-noise ratio in that region.

https://bubelov.com/blog/2024/05/btcmap/days-since-verified_hu7206d0e58eb16d8289ccd9b2b0fddb6c_71870_1700x0_resize_q95_h2_box_3.webp

The average number of days since the last verification didn’t change, which means that our data is as reliable as it was a week ago. I expected a decline since I didn’t do any mapping, but it looks like the locals are finally starting to maintain their own data, which reduces our dependency on remote edits done by a few of our team members.

What’s Next: Syncing in Adverse Conditions

Next week, I want to focus on our server software and infrastructure. The main goal is to release a v3 API, which is supposed to improve sync speed and lower the bandwidth requirements. Users like snappy software, but the real driving factor is the ability to make our API usable via TOR and other privacy preserving overlay networks. Even a normal VPN can slow down your network connection to the point where every byte counts, so it makes sense to make our API as lightweight as possible.

@ af52cf04:28604216

What is up my homeys

@ f6488c62:c929299d

เงินดอลลาร์สหรัฐฯ เผชิญความเสี่ยงสูญเสียความเชื่อมั่นและภาวะเงินเฟ้อรุนแรง ปัจจัยหลายประการบ่งชี้ถึงแนวโน้มดังกล่าว ดังนี้

1. เศรษฐกิจถดถอย: เศรษฐกิจโลกชะลอตัว ส่งผลให้ความต้องการใช้เงินดอลลาร์ลดลง

2. สงครามและความขัดแย้ง: ความตึงเครียดทางภูมิรัฐศาสตร์ กระตุ้นให้ประเทศต่างๆ หันมาใช้สกุลเงินของตนเองแทนเงินดอลลาร์ ลดบทบาทเงินดอลลาร์ในฐานะเงินสำรองระหว่างประเทศ

3. นโยบายการเงินตึงตัว: ธนาคารกลางสหรัฐฯ (เฟด) ปรับขึ้นอัตราดอกเบี้ยอย่างรวดเร็ว ส่งผลกระทบต่อสถาบันการเงิน เพิ่มความเสี่ยงของภาวะเศรษฐกิจถดถอย

4. พิมพ์เงินมหาศาล: นโยบายผ่อนคลายทางการเงินของสหรัฐฯ ส่งผลให้ปริมาณเงินดอลลาร์ในระบบเพิ่มสูงขึ้น กดดันให้ค่าเงินดอลลาร์อ่อนค่าและเกิดภาวะเงินเฟ้อ

ผลลัพธ์:

ความเชื่อมั่นต่อเงินดอลลาร์ลดลง: นักลงทุนเริ่มกังวลเกี่ยวกับเสถียรภาพของเงินดอลลาร์ หันไปลงทุนในสินทรัพย์ปลอดภัย เช่น ทองคำ เงินเฟ้อรุนแรง: ปริมาณเงินดอลลาร์ที่เพิ่มสูงขึ้น ประกอบกับปัญหาห่วงโซ่อุปทาน ส่งผลให้ราคาสินค้าและบริการทั่วโลกพุ่งสูงขึ้น อนาคตของเงินดอลลาร์:

ยังมีความเสี่ยง: ปัจจัยต่างๆ ยังคงกดดันให้เงินดอลลาร์เผชิญความเสี่ยง นักลงทุนควรติดตามสถานการณ์อย่างใกล้ชิด โอกาสฟื้นตัว: เศรษฐกิจโลกที่ฟื้นตัว นโยบายการเงินที่เหมาะสม และความร่วมมือระหว่างประเทศ อาจช่วยให้เงินดอลลาร์กลับมามีเสถียรภาพอีกครั้ง

บทความกาวๆ จาก zhongli

@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

People like to debate who belongs in the Hall of Fame, and there are nerd-stats and even some nerds themselves devoted to it. I’m into the idea, but I get a little bored of haggling over metrics and definitions. The problem is a player’s statistical profile is just what he’s done on average over the course of his career. In other words, someone’s career OPS, or even his total WAR doesn’t reflect who he was at his peak, and what the circumstances were.

Don Mattingly isn’t a Hall of Famer because he didn’t supplement his four-year peak with enough ordinary All-Star level seasons, but as a Yankee fan in the 1980s, it was obvious to me he was one of the best players in baseball over that span and on the trajectory before back issues derailed him. He had an MVP, four top-seven finishes for MVP, three gold gloves, struck out 147 times over 2,761 plate appearances and averaged .337/.381/.560 with 210 hits per year.

One thing I find underrated today are the old-school stats — hits, batting average, strikeouts. Making contact is a skill, hitting for average is a skill, and even if on average it doesn’t matter whether you reach base via walk or hit, it might make a big difference against better pitchers who don’t hand out many free passes, e.g., like pitchers you might find in deeper supply on playoff teams.

Bobby Abreu might have slightly more WAR than Ichiro Suzuki, thanks to his career .395 OBP, but Ichiro had 10 straight 200-hit seasons, five of which were 220-plus, which entails a much higher degree of difficulty. To me Ichiro is a no-brainer, Abreu borderline.

But one of my biggest criteria is whether a player was one of the best in the game for period of time. I care far less about someone’s career WAR or HR totals than whether he was like Mattingly, but instead surrounded by a decade of All-Star level play, even if it wasn’t MVP-consideration worthy.

I also think postseason success matters, particularly World Series titles. Sure it’s a small sample, but it’s the most important sample. The playoffs are imperfect but they are the very mechanism by which ultimate success in the sport is measured and achieved. It would be pathological to ignore the game’s signature signal, irrespective of your opinion on the adequacy of the sample.

While lack of postseason success doesn’t lock out inner-circle players like Mike Trout, it’s surely a tiebreaker for closer calls.

So with that understood, here are the active present day players I’d put in, by position.

(Post-script: I thought there would be more tough calls, but it was more obvious than I expected.)

Catcher:

Out

J.T. Realmuto is close, but at 33, he’d need 2-3 more peak seasons to qualify IMO.

Salvador Perez had that monster 48-homer year and has been a consistent power source for more than a decade. He also won five gold gloves. The problem is the .302 career on-base percentage.

First base:

In

Paul Goldschmidt — six top-six MVP finishes, four gold gloves, a top player spanning more than a decade.

Freddie Freeman — six top-six MVP finishes, a World Series ring, a top player spanning more than a decade, still possibly a couple good years left.

Out

Joey Votto — had six top-seven MVP finishes, but a slightly shorter peak and few playoff appearances over a longer career. Narrowly misses.

Second base

In

Jose Altuve — Has three top-five MVP finishes, won two World Series and is still going strong at a demanding defensive position.

Out

Marcus Semien — If he had 2-3 more strong years, he’d have a case, but his biggest year was in little league stadiums when he played for the Blue Jays, and he’s a late bloomer.

Third Base

In

Manny Machado — He’s had four top-five MVP finishes, won two gold gloves at a demanding position and is still only 31.

Nolan Arenado — The nine gold gloves and massive defensive WAR push him just over the top, as does his still solid production with the bat even after he left Coors Field.

Out

Jose Ramirez — Good, consistent hitting numbers, five top-six MVP finishes, but average defensively and never on the short list as the best player in baseball.

Shortstop

Maybe

Francisco Lindor — he’s only 30, so he could make it with three more strong seasons. He’s not there yet, though, given his modest offensive production with the Mets.

Out

Trea Turner — A great fantasy player, but not quite as good in real life with so-so defense and modest pop.

Carlos Correa — Too much time missed due to injury, but he’s still only 29 and could conceivably make a push if he had a few big years.

Outfield

In

Mike Trout — A no brainer despite the rash of injuries. Nine top-five MVP finishes, seven top-two, three MVP wins, a near 1.000 career OPS in a pitcher’s park.

Mookie Betts — Another no brainer. Six top-six MVP finishes, four top-two, six gold gloves, seamlessly playing second base and shortstop and two World Series wins. Still only 31 years old and very much at his peak. * Maybe*

Aaron Judge — He’s old (32) for his meager number of plate appearances (3,780), but he has 62 and 52-homer seasons, and three top-four MVP finishes. If he has a couple more big years, he’s in, just due to the magnitude of his monster seasons.

Bryce Harper — Borderline, but I’ll say he deserves it, if he has a few more good years (he’s only 31.) Two MVPs, .910 career OPS. * On Pace*

Juan Soto/Ronald Acuna

Pitchers

In

Shohei Ohtani — He’s a unique case, obviously, but he’s arguably the best player of all time, has averaged more than 9.0 WAR for three straight years over that span with two MVPs.

Justin Verlander — No brainer with three Cy Young awards, eight top-seven CY finishes, two World Series titles, 3,355 strikeouts, 258 wins and not finished yet.

Clayton Kershaw — Another no brainer despite the poor playoff track record. The 2.48 career ERA is off the charts in this era, as is the 1.00 WHIP. He also has three CY awards too, seven top-5 CY finishes.

Max Scherzer — The only other no brainer pitcher, Scherzer has 3 CYs, eight top-five CY finishes, two WS titles, 3,367 Ks. * Maybe*

Gerrit Cole — He probably needs a couple more good seasons, but Cole has a CY and six top-five finishes. He also had an utterly dominant 326-K season and has been on the short list of the league’s best pitchers for more than half a decade.

Out

Chris Sale — He has seven top-six CY finishes, a 3.11 career ERA and 1.045 WHIP despite toiling in hitter’s parks. But he’s been hurt the last few years and probably wasn’t ever the best pitcher in baseball. ** Jacob deGrom** — DeGrom has been the best pitcher in baseball the last half decade whenever he’s been healthy, but that’s been rare. He has a career WHIP of .993, and an ERA of 2.53. He won back to back CYs and finished third the following year. He’d need to stay miraculously healthy for two more full seasons or so to reach Sandy Koufax territory.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Imagine the Bitcoin blockchain as a bustling metropolitan area. Transactions on the blockchain are like commuters traveling to work during rush hour; the process can be slow, and there’s a high cost associated with getting where you need to go efficiently due to congestion. Now, imagine the Lightning Network as an extensive network of express highways that supplement this bustling urban infrastructure.

When you make a traditional Bitcoin transaction, it's akin to taking local roads during peak traffic times. You'll eventually reach your destination, but it may take some time and the journey can be costly in terms of transaction fees, similar to spending extra money on fuel.

However, by using the Lightning Network, it’s like accessing a less congested express highway. Here’s how it works:

Onboarding and Offboarding Ramps: Just as highways have specific entry and exit points, Lightning Network users must open a payment channel (entry ramp) with another user. This involves making a transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain to fund the channel. Once this channel is open, users can transact freely without needing to use the main blockchain, similar to driving on an express highway where you don’t encounter stoplights or traffic.

High-Speed Transactions: Transactions on the Lightning Network can be equated to driving at high speeds on an express lane because they're not impeded by the congestion of the main Bitcoin network. This results in nearly instantaneous transactions with very low fees, just as highways allow for faster travel between points.

Network of Highways: The Lightning Network isn’t just a single highway; it's an entire system of interconnected highways. Even if you don't have a direct payment channel open with someone, your payment can be routed through the network using multiple channels, just as a highway system connects various roads to allow you to reach a destination even if it is not directly connected to the highway you started on.

Exit Points: When you’re done transacting, or if you need your funds back in the main Bitcoin blockchain (perhaps analogous to exiting the highway to reach a specific neighborhood), you close your channel. This action settles your final transaction state back on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Like a modern highway system that alleviates traffic burden from city streets, the Lightning Network decongests the Bitcoin network, making transactions faster and cheaper, while still ensuring they can securely and effectively reach their final destinations when needed. Thus, the Lightning Network not only enhances the efficiency of Bitcoin transactions but also greatly expands its scalability, much like highways enhance urban mobility and connectivity.

Beginner's Guide to Bitcoin and Lightning Network Apps

Welcome to the NEWBIES category, your dedicated space for embarking on a journey into the world of Bitcoin (BTC) and the Lightning Network (LN). Whether you're a complete beginner, a small merchant, or just curious about Bitcoin, this guide is designed to help you navigate through your initial steps into Bitcoin without the complexities of self-custody or high-level technical requirements.

Why Start Here?

This category is specially curated for users who:

• Are new to Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.
• Prefer simple applications with user-friendly processes.
• May not be technically inclined or prefer an easy introduction to cryptocurrency.
• Want to use Bitcoin in small amounts for everyday transactions or just to get a feel of the technology.

Characteristics of Beginner-Friendly Bitcoin Apps

Custodial Services

The apps recommended here are primarily custodial. This means the service provider manages the wallet's private keys on your behalf. Here’s what you need to know:

• Dependence: These wallets rely on a connection to the provider’s server, which you do not control.
• Ease of use: Custodial wallets are generally easier to set up and use, making them ideal for newcomers.
• Security: While the risk level is low with small amounts, remember that your funds are technically under someone else’s control.

KYC and Privacy

• KYC Requirements: Many services require Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to comply with regulatory standards. However, there are options available without KYC for those prioritizing privacy.
• Privacy: While custodial solutions may not offer the same level of privacy as non-custodial wallets, they are suitable for new users experimenting with small amounts.

Wallet Backup and Restore

• Provider Dependent: The backup and restoration of your wallet are entirely dependent on the service provider. Ensure you understand their process for recovering your wallet should you lose access to your device.

Recommended Wallets for Beginners

Windows Desktop Wallets

• Green Wallet: A user-friendly wallet for Windows users starting with Bitcoin.
• Sparrow Wallet: Offers a simple interface with robust security features.
• Specter Desktop: Ideal for users interested in experimenting with multi-signature setups.

Android Wallet

• Electrum for Android: A popular choice that balances ease of use with comprehensive features.

iOS Wallet

• ZeusLN: A Lightning Network-focused wallet that’s great for iOS users taking their first steps into using LN.

Web and Telegram

• Mutiny Wallet: A self-custodial lightning wallet that's straightforward and secure, making it accessible for everyone.
• SatsMobiBot on Telegram: Chat with this bot to instantly create a wallet and start transacting with Bitcoin Lightning.

Learning Resources

• RoboSats: Learn how to use this peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange that prioritizes privacy and speed.

Consider

Starting your journey into Bitcoin doesn’t have to be complicated. By choosing the right tools and platforms, you can gradually learn about Bitcoin in a controlled and low-risk environment. Remember to transition to non-custodial options as you become more comfortable and look to involve larger amounts, to have complete control over your crypto assets. Explore, learn, and enjoy your journey into the world of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.

Leveraging the Power of Lightning Network

For individuals with a foundational understanding of Bitcoin (BTC) and the Lightning Network (LN), advancing to an intermediate level involves embracing greater privacy, security, and autonomy over your transactions. This guide delves into the realm of running a private LN node, using non-custodial wallets, and managing an own Bitcoin Core node for a more robust crypto experience. It is ideal for users and small merchants seeking enhanced control over their digital assets.

Understanding Your Options: Private LN Nodes and Non-Custodial Wallets

At this intermediate stage, users often opt to run their own Bitcoin Core node and connect various applications to validate and broadcast on-chain transactions. A private LN node is another popular choice, providing increased privacy for lightning channel management that isn't publicly announced on the LN network.

Key Use Cases:

• Personal Bitcoin Core Node: Users run their node at home, connecting mobile and desktop apps for on-chain and LN transactions.
• Private Lightning Network Node: This setup allows managing LN channels privately, ideal for users who utilize LN for regular payments without the need to route others' transactions through their node.
• Advanced Fund Management: Intermediate users might engage in coin control, swaps, and using ramps for buying and converting BTC, managing and spending funds efficiently.

Recommended Apps for Intermediate Users

Blixt

• Description: A mobile LN node wallet with rich features that can operate as a private LN node in various scenarios. A desktop version is planned, which will expand its capabilities.
• Use Case: Perfect for those who need a mobile solution with the capabilities of a full LN node.
• Blixt Wallet

Zeus

• Description: A powerful mobile node wallet that supports multi-account and multi LN implementations such as LNDhub and LN address.
• Use Case: Best for users looking for a versatile and feature-rich mobile lightning experience.
• Zeus Wallet

Breez

• Description: This is a mobile LN node wallet integrated with a Point of Sale (PoS) system and podcasting capabilities.
• Use Case: Ideal for merchants who want to accept BTC/LN payments seamlessly and content creators.
• Breez Wallet

BlueWallet

• Description: A multi-platform (Mobile/Desktop) BTC/LN wallet that includes functionalities like multisig, advanced features, and the ability to fund LN wallets from on-chain sources.
• Use Case: Suitable for users who transition frequently between on-chain and off-chain Bitcoin management.
• BlueWallet

Electrum

• Description: An old yet powerful desktop and mobile wallet that supports on-chain and LN transactions, using trampoline channels or private channels, and integrated with swaps.
• Use Case: Great for users who need a reliable and robust platform for managing on-chain and off-chain funds.
• Electrum Wallet

Best Practices for Intermediate LN Users

• Security First: Always ensure that your wallet and node software are up to date to defend against vulnerabilities.
• Back Up Regularly: Maintain regular backups of your wallet and channel states to prevent loss of funds.
• Monitor Channel Liquidity: Keep an eye on your LN channels' liquidity to ensure efficient transaction processing.
• Privacy Enhancements: Utilize features like Tor integration for network-level privacy and consider coin control features for enhanced transaction privacy.

Case In Consideration

Progressing to an intermediate level in managing BTC and LN involves a deeper dive into non-custodial services, running personal nodes, and exploring advanced wallet features. The tools and practices highlighted in are designed to provide users and small businesses with the necessary foundation to achieve greater autonomy, security, and efficiency in their Bitcoin transactions.

Stay informed and proactive in managing your digital assets, and continue exploring the vast potentials of the Bitcoin network and the Lightning Network technology.

Mastering the Lightning Network

The Lightning Network (LN) represents a significant evolution in the scalability and utility of Bitcoin, but fully leveraging its capabilities requires a deep understanding of its mechanics and a significant commitment in terms of resources. . It covers the prerequisites for effectively operating a high-capacity routing node, including technical knowledge, financial backing, and strategic management of liquidity and routing operations.

Understanding the Requirements

Profound Knowledge Base

The role of an expert in the LN ecosystem demands more than just a cursory understanding of Bitcoin; it requires proficiency in various complex topics:

• Bitcoin Protocol: Deep knowledge of how transactions are processed on the blockchain.
• Lightning Network: Detailed understanding of LN mechanics, channel states, and network topology.
• Economic Strategies: Insights into liquidity management, fee structures, and channel balancing.
• Technological Proficiency: Skills in Linux, and potentially, the hardware used for running a node.
• Security Measures: Best practices in securing digital assets and protecting node infrastructure.

Financial Commitment

Running a high-capacity LN node isn't just technically demanding—it also requires significant financial investments:

• Channel Funding: A substantial amount of bitcoin is needed to fund channels, with the aim of facilitating effective routing.
• Liquidity Management: The ability to allocate and rebalance liquidity strategically across channels to optimize transaction throughput and fee revenue.

Best Practices for Advanced LN Users

Continuous Education and Research

Keeping abreast of the latest developments in the LN space is crucial. Regularly consulting high-quality resources can enhance your understanding and operational efficiency:

• LN Documentation: Such as those provided by Lightning Engineering and other community-curated resources like CLN Documentation.
• Research Articles: Insights from thought leaders, such as the overview by Fulgur Ventures, provide context on different LN implementations and updates.

Strategic Liquidity Management

To ensure your node serves as an effective routing hub, consider the following:

• Balanced Channels: Maintain a balanced channel state where neither side is too depleted of funds.
• Dynamic Fee Strategies: Adjust routing fees based on network congestion, channel capacity, and competitive rates.
• Risk Assessment: Continuously evaluate channel counterparts to mitigate potential losses from channel closures or uncooperative peers.

Community Engagement and Contribution

Active participation in LN and Bitcoin forums, discussions, and development channels can provide valuable insights and also contribute to the collective knowledge and improvement of network protocols and practices.

Automation and Monitoring

Utilize tools and scripts to automate routine node operations such as:

• Channel Rebalancing: Tools that can dynamically balance channels in response to network conditions to optimize fees and liquidity.
• Uptime and Performance Monitoring: Regular checks to ensure the node is operational and performing transactions as expected.

Security Best Practices

Given the financial and operational stakes involved, securing your node is paramount:

• Regular Updates: Keep the node software and its dependencies up to date to protect against vulnerabilities.
• Backup Solutions: Implement robust data backup solutions to recover from hardware failures or cyber-attacks.
• Multi-Factor Authentication and Encryption: For all node access, ensure that data is encrypted at rest and in transit.

Moving Unto A Purpose

For those at the advanced level, running a LN node is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor that requires a blend of technical skill, economic savvy, and strategic foresight. It's not merely about supporting the network; it's about actively shaping the future of Bitcoin's scalability and utility. As you embark on this journey, remember that your growth and the network's health are interlinked: invest in your knowledge, contribute to community discussions, and operate your node with the diligence it requires. The portal to mastering Lightning is through persistent learning, vigilant operation, and proactive community engagement.

Mastering the Lightning Network: Diverse Use Cases and Best Practices

The Lightning Network (LN) has opened up new frontiers for Bitcoin usage, enabling faster, cheaper, and more scalable transactions. It's not just revolutionary technology—it's a thriving ecosystem for various stakeholders. From those functioning as Liquidity Service Providers (LSPs) to small businesses and family nodes, the LN is a dynamic field with rich opportunities. In this detailed guide, we explore the different roles within the LN and the best practices and tools tailored for each.

Key Use Cases in the Lightning Network

1. Routing Nodes and LSP Operators

For users equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources, running a routing node or acting as an LSP can be highly rewarding. This role involves managing the flow of transactions across the network, akin to controlling the flow in pipelines, adjusting where and how 'liquid'—in this case, satoshis—flows.

• Best Practices:
• Maintain a robust and well-funded node with diverse, high-capacity channels.
• Use tools like ThunderHub and LNBits for effective channel management and liquidity analysis.

2. Medium/Big Merchants

Merchants with significant transaction volumes can benefit greatly from LN by adopting a self-custody payment solution. This setup enhances both the security of their funds and the efficiency of transaction handling.

• Best Practices:
• Implement user-friendly LN-compatible POS systems.
• Educate the staff and customers about LN transactions for smoother operations.

3. Wallet Providers/Developers

These users offer more than wallets; they provide essential liquidity and connective services that enhance the overall utility of the LN.

• Best Practices:
• Ensure robust security measures are in place to protect users’ funds.
• Maintain high standards of privacy and transparency in service operations.

4. Advanced LN Users: Family Node Operators

Running a family node involves managing LN channels for personal use or a small community, like close friends or family. This setup emphasizes privacy and control over transactions and channel management.

• Best Practices:
• Regularly monitor and rebalance your channels to ensure optimal liquidity.
• Provide reliable support and guidance for your network of users.

5. Developers and Testers

These users are essential for the ongoing improvement and resilience of the LN. They run full nodes for testing new features or debug existing systems.

• Best Practices:
• Stay updated with the latest LN developments and community research.
• Contribute to projects and discussions on platforms like GitHub to improve LN tools and documentation.

Tools for Effective LN Management

To manage their LN nodes and liquidity effectively, users can leverage a variety of applications and platforms: - Fully Noded: Helps manage Bitcoin and LN nodes through a comprehensive mobile interface. - Phoenix: A user-friendly mobile LN wallet that simplifies channel management and transactions. - Sparrow Wallet: For onchain management with advanced features like coin control and privacy techniques.

Concluding Thoughts

The Lightning Network isn’t just transforming how transactions are done; it’s reshaping the economic landscape of digital currencies. Each user, whether a merchant, developer, or private node operator, plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. By understanding and implementing best practices tailored to their specific roles, participants can not only optimize their operations but also contribute significantly to the LN’s growth and efficiency.

This ecosystem thrives on continuous learning and adaptation. Whether you are just transitioning from intermediate know-how or honing your expertise, remember that every contribution matters in building a more connected and efficient network. Enjoy exploring, learning, and growing in the ever-evolving landscape of the Lightning Network.

@ 7e1d20be:0b4a42c2

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In the evolving landscape of digital payments and cryptocurrency, facilitating a seamless connection between applications and wallets is crucial. Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) emerges as a robust solution, offering developers an effortless way to link their applications with various bitcoin wallets. So how to get started with NWC, its benefits, features, and how to obtain and handle connection strings effectively.

What is Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC)?

Nostr Wallet Connect is a protocol designed to simplify the integration between client applications and wallet services. It streamlines operations such as sending and receiving payments, displaying wallet balances, and handling transactions without the need for manual QR code scans or confirmations.

Benefits of Using NWC

NWC brings several advantages to the table that can significantly enhance user experience and developer convenience:

• Convenience: Automates payment confirmations, removing the necessity for manual entry or QR code scans.
• Flexibility: Developers can either build a complete wallet interface or incorporate individual payment features according to their needs.
• Interoperability: NWC provides a universal interface that supports integration with any bitcoin wallet.
• Risk Management: Shifts apps from having to custody funds to merely orchestrating payments, enhancing security.
• Platform Independence: Compatible across various platforms including mobile, backend, CLI tools, and desktop applications.

Core Features of Nostr Wallet Connect

• Real-time Payment Receipt: Allows instant acknowledgment of incoming payments.
• Versatile Payment Initiations: Supports sending single or multiple payments, and can automate recurring transactions.
• Wallet Balance Display: Enables apps to show current wallet balances.
• Payment Listing and Verification: Offers functionalities to list and check the status of payments.

Obtaining a Connection String

To establish a connection between a client app and a wallet service using NWC, a connection string is essential. Here’s how to acquire it:

1. Discovery: The client app can discover a wallet service either by scanning a QR code, following a deep link, or entering a URI.
2. Generation: The wallet service generates a connection URI using the nostr+walletconnect: protocol. This includes a hex-encoded public key and required query parameters such as relay URLs and a secret key.

Example Connection String

nostr+walletconnect:b889ff5b1513b641e2a139f661a661364979c5beee91842f8f0ef42ab558e9d4?relay=wss%3A%2F%2Frelay.damus.io&secret=71a8c14c1407c113601079c4302dab36460f0ccd0ad506f1f2dc73b5100e4f3c

This string contains all the necessary information for the client app to initiate and maintain a secure connection with the wallet service.

Practical Implementation

Once the connection string is obtained, the client app should store this configuration for ongoing use. It's important to choose relays that maintain connections even during inactivity to prevent any loss of data or events.

For developers looking to automate the construction and management of these connection strings, exploring documentation and tools provided with NWC will be highly beneficial. More insights into this can be found on the official Nostr Wallet Connect page.

To Consider

Nostr Wallet Connect offers a streamlined, secure, and efficient way for applications to interact with bitcoin wallets. By implementing this protocol, developers not only enhance the functionality of their applications but also contribute to a more interoperable and user-friendly Bitcoin ecosystem. Whether you are developing a new financial app or looking to upgrade an existing system, integrating NWC provides a clear path to improving your application's connectivity and functionality in the crypto space.

Integrating Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC): SDKs, Tools, and Best Practices for Developers

The advent of Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) has made integrating Bitcoin payments into apps and websites significantly more accessible and efficient. As a developer looking to harness the power of NWC, understanding the available SDKs, tools, and best practices for implementation is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive guide to getting started with NWC, highlighting key resources and strategies to optimize the integration process.

SDKs and Libraries for NWC Integration

NWC supports a variety of SDKs and libraries that cater to different programming environments, ensuring compatibility and ease of integration across multiple platforms.

JavaScript SDK

For developers utilizing JavaScript, the JavaScript SDK provided by NWC offers extensive documentation and integration guides. It facilitates the connection between your application and users' wallets, streamlining the process of requesting and processing payments.

Rust SDK

If your application’s backend is built with Rust, the Rust SDK for NWC is designed to provide robust support for wallet interactions. Rust’s performance and safety features make it an excellent choice for handling cryptocurrency transactions.

Bitcoin Connect Library

For applications that need to interact with Bitcoin Lightning-powered websites, the Bitcoin Connect Library is an invaluable resource. Supporting all web frameworks, it provides code examples for HTML, JavaScript, React, and Next JS/SSR, making it a versatile option for web developers.

Best Practices for Implementing NWC

When integrating NWC into your application, consider the following best practices to ensure a smooth and secure user experience:

Permission Requests

Only request the necessary permissions, and limit the scope and duration of these permissions to what is needed for each specific action. This minimizes security risks and respects user privacy.

Connection Setup

When setting up a connection, always pass the application name to provide clarity to the user. This transparency helps build trust and improves user comprehension of what the application will access.

Handling Connection Strings

For user-generated connection strings:

• Input Security: Use password-type input fields when users need to paste a connection string. This prevents passive data leaks from screen recordings or shoulder-surfing.
• User Control: Always provide users with the option to manually add a connection string from their NWC wallet application.

Wallet Agnosticism

Do not presume the use of a specific wallet service by the user. Maintain language neutral about the wallet provider to accommodate any user from any service. For instance, use generic terms like "Pay" instead of "Pay with X."

Running or Connecting to a Relay

Understanding how to interact with relays is crucial as they facilitate communication between apps and wallets:

• Event Handling: Learn to handle different types of events (NIP-47 info, request, and response) that are used to transmit commands and responses.
• Encryption: Ensure the content of requests and responses complies with NIP04 encryption to protect data integrity and privacy.
• Dedicated Relay Usage: Consider using a dedicated relay to enhance privacy and reliability. This can help avoid metadata leaks and improve connection stability.

Starting with NWC

To get started with NWC, developers can explore the comprehensive guide and resources available on the NWC website. Here, you can find detailed documentation, code snippets, and examples to help you integrate NWC smoothly into your applications.

Considerations

Integrating Nostr Wallet Connect into your applications opens up a realm of possibilities for incorporating Bitcoin payments efficiently and safely. By utilizing the appropriate SDKs, adhering to best practices, and properly handling connections and relays, developers can provide users with a seamless and secure financial interaction experience. Whether you are developing a mobile app, a web service, or a backend system, NWC provides the tools and guidelines necessary to enhance your application's functionality with robust Bitcoin support.

@ d830ee7b:4e61cd62

เมื่อสมดุลของอุปสงค์อุปทานในตลาดเริ่มเปลี่ยนแปลงไป ในตลาดเสรีก็มักจะมีผู้ประกอบการบางคนเล็งเห็นถึงความแตกต่างนั้น และมักเลือกจะตอบสนองบางอย่างต่อมันในแนวทางของตัวเอง

และนี่คือเหตุผลว่าทำไมวันนี้คุณจึงตื่นมาเจอบทความยาวๆ ของผมแบบไม่ได้คาดคิดกันมาก่อน (แม้แต่ผมเองก็ไม่ได้คิดไว้เหมือนกัน)

ในวันสงกรานต์แบบนี้สิ่งเดียวที่ผมอยากจะสาดใส่พวกคุณ ก็คือความคิดและความรู้สึกที่คงจะอัดแน่นอยู่ในตัวอักษรทั้งหมดนับจากนี้..

ถึงแม้ว่าผมจะเป็นหนึ่งในคนที่มีบทบาทต่อการเกิดขึ้นของทุกสิ่งทุกอย่างที่คุณพอจะรู้จักใน community แห่งนี้ ซึ่งถ้ามองย้อนกลับไปยังจุดเริ่มต้นจนกระทั่งหลายๆ สิ่งหลายๆ อย่างได้เกิดขึ้น ผมไม่สามารถบรรยายได้ทั้งหมดว่าผมต้องใช้เวลาและแรงกาย ใช้พลังและความคิดมากขนาดไหน

แน่นอนว่าผมคงไม่ใช่คนเดียวที่ทำมัน แต่ก็ปฏิเสธไม่ได้จริงๆ ว่าผมทุ่มเทให้กับสิ่งต่างๆ เหล่านี้มากมายเหลือเกิน

ผู้ชายคนหนึ่งที่ได้พักผ่อนเพียงวันละ 2-4 ชั่วโมงต่อวันหรือบางวันก็แทบไม่ได้นอนเลยลากยาวเป็นปีๆ จะเหลือพลังมากสักแค่ไหนกับการผลักดันที่นี่ให้ไปต่อ

คำตอบก็อย่างที่เห็น.. ผมหายไปเป็นเวลา 2 เดือนเต็มๆ

ผมก็เพียงแค่นั่งตั้งคำถามกับตัวเองว่าผมจะหยุดตอนนี้เพื่อชาร์จพลังให้ตัวเองกลับมามี passion เต็มๆ หรือผมจะไถต่อแบบที่พลังค่อยๆ ลดน้อยถอยลง

ซึ่งก็ดูเหมือนช้อยส์แรกจะดีต่อทุกฝ่ายอย่างเห็นได้ชัด..

---

ในเวลาแบบนี้.. พวกเราแต่ละคนมีวิธีในการเติมพลังให้กับตัวเองอย่างไรกันบ้างครับ?

เมื่อคุณพาตัวเองไปอยู่กับบางสิ่งบางอย่างมากจนเกินไป คุณจะเริ่มรู้สึกว่าหลายสิ่งหลายๆ อย่างในชีวิตของคุณมันเริ่มขาดหายไปเรื่อยๆ จนกระทั่งถึงจุดที่คุณจะเริ่มคิดถึงและโหยหาสิ่งเหล่านั้น

สำหรับผม.. ผมก็น่าจะหมายถึงเรื่องต่างๆ ที่ผมเคยทำ ผมเคยสัมผัสและผมมีความสุข.. ซึ่งผมได้ทิ้งมันไป ผมได้ trade-of เพื่อแลกเอาเวลาและพลังมาทำสิ่งต่างๆ เหล่านี้ที่พวกเราได้เห็น

ผมก็คงเหมือนคนที่ไม่ได้เลือกแนวทางอย่างพิณสายกลาง แน่นอนว่าผมไม่เคยหย่อนให้กับอะไร.. นั่นแปลว่าทุกๆ อย่างสำหรับผมมันตึงไปหมด ภาวะแบบนั้นทำให้ผมรู้สึกว่า ตัวผมกำลังโดนแผดเผาอย่างช้าๆ ไม่ต่างอะไรกับกบต้ม

ตัวผมเองมักจะรู้สึกมีคุณค่าเสมอ.. เวลาที่ได้สร้างประโยชน์หรือทำอะไรบางอย่างให้คนอื่นได้รับความพึงพอใจ ผมก็ไม่รู้ว่าผมเป็นคนแบบไหนถึงไม่ค่อยชอบทำอะไรเพื่อตัวเอง แต่กลับมองไปที่ความรู้สึกของคนอื่นและใส่ใจกับพวกมันมากกว่า

แต่เราก็มักจะรู้สึกดีกับคำชมของแค่คนบางคนเท่านั้น.. เรามักจะคาดหวังให้ใครสักคนมอบคุณค่าและ appreciate ในสิ่งที่เราทำ..

ผมคงไม่กล้าเหมารวม แต่ผมก็รู้สึกได้ว่าผู้ชายส่วนใหญ่ก็มักจะเป็นแบบนี้.. พวกเขาจะรู้สึกว่าสิ่งที่ตัวเองทำมันมีคุณค่า พวกเขาจะรู้สึกว่าตัวเองมีคุณค่า เมื่อคนที่เขารักเห็นค่าในสิ่งที่เขาทำ..

ผมรู้สึกว่าคนเกือบทั้ง community ต่างก็รู้สึกดีกับสิ่งที่ผมทำ.. แต่ตราบใดที่ใครบางคน.. ใครบางกลุ่ม.. กลุ่มที่ผมคาดหวังจะให้เขามองเห็นมัน ไม่ได้แสดงมันออกมา.. ผมก็ยังไม่ได้รับพลังอย่างที่ผมตั้งใจ

ในตอนที่ผมเริ่มถอยออกไป.. ผมไม่ได้เข้าใจในสิ่งเหล่านี้.. แต่หลังจากที่ผมทบทวนสิ่งต่างๆ ทบทวนความรู้สึกของตัวเอง ผมจึงพบว่ามันก็คงจะเป็นเพราะแบบนี้นี่แหละ

ตามหาคุณค่าในแบบตัวเอง

ผมจะไม่บอกว่าสิ่งที่ผมเลือกนั้นมันเป็นสิ่งที่ดี.. การทิ้งทุกอย่างเอาไว้กลางทางและพาตัวเองออกไปยังสถานที่ใหม่ มันไม่ใช่การตัดสินใจที่ดีนัก.. แต่ในตอนนั้นผมก็รู้สึกว่ามันจำเป็น

ผมพาตัวเองกลับไปยังบริบทที่ซอฟต์ลง.. ผมหย่อนพิณทุกสาย ผมลดความตึงของมันกลับมาหาตรงกลาง ผมไปอยู่ใน community ใหม่หลายๆ ที่ ออกไปสัมผัสกลุ่มคนใหม่ๆ ที่มีแนวคิดและมุมมองแตกต่างจากพวกเรา

ถ้าพูดให้เข้าใจง่ายกว่านั้นก็คือ.. ผมอยากรู้ว่าภายนอกห้องแห่งเสียงสะท้อนนี้ (Echo chamber) มันเป็นแบบที่เราคิดกันไปเองหรือเป็นแบบไหนกันแน่..

คนแบบผมไม่ว่าอยู่ตรงไหนมันก็ยังเป็นผมอยู่เสมอ..

ผมพบว่าตัวเองก็ยังพยายามจะไปสร้างบางอย่างในที่แห่งใหม่เหมือนเดิมอยู่ดี ผมมีโอกาสได้ลีดกลุ่มคนหลายพันคน (จะบอกว่าเป็นหมื่นๆ คนก็ได้) ผมพยายามจะสร้าง community ให้กับพวกเขา

แต่การสร้างครั้งนี้มันมีความท้าทายบางอย่าง.. ผมพยายามเอาแนวคิดและหลักการในแบบของเศรษฐศาสตร์สำนักออสเตรียน นำเอาปรัชญาเบื้องหลังบิตคอยน์ไปประยุกต์ให้เข้ากับบริบทของ community แห่งใหม่ซึ่งแตกต่างจากพวกเราราวฟ้ากับเหว.. กับกลุ่มคนที่ไม่รู้จักทั้งเฟียตและบิตคอยน์มาก่อนเลย

และมันทำได้.. ผลลัพธ์มันออกมาดีกว่าที่คิดไว้เสียด้วย

มันทำให้ผมค้นพบว่า... ไม่ว่าคุณจะอ่านตำราอะไร ไม่ว่าตำราเล่มนั้นจะถูกเขียนเอาไว้แบบไหน.. คุณจะจำประโยคเด็ดๆ ในนั้นเพื่อเอาไปพูดเท่ๆ ได้บ้างไหม คุณจะจำแนวคิดได้ทุกบรรทัดหรือเปล่า.. สิ่งเหล่านี้ไม่ได้สำคัญอะไรเลย

สิ่งสำคัญคือคุณสามารถเอามันไปประยุกต์ใช้ได้จริงจนเกิดผลสัมฤทธิ์ได้หรือเปล่า?

คุณสามารถนำความเข้าใจที่ได้จากสิ่งเหล่านั้นไปปรับให้เข้ากับบริบทที่ต่างจากสิ่งที่ตำราเขียนไว้ได้หรือเปล่า เพราะวันที่ตำราถูกเขียนขึ้นกับวันที่คุณทำมันไปใช้ บริบทที่เกี่ยวข้องมันไม่ได้เหมือนกันทั้งหมดอย่างแน่นอน

ทักษะในการสังเกต ทักษะในการวิเคราะห์ การแปลแนวคิดให้เข้ากับคนที่ฟัง การประเมินผลลัพธ์และการปรับเปลี่ยนสิ่งต่างๆไปตามวิวัฒนาการที่เกิดขึ้น แม้กระทั่งการจัดการกับอารมณ์ ฯลฯ มันถูกนำมาใช้ผ่านการบูรณาการร่วมกันในแบบที่ไม่ได้ง่ายอย่างที่คิด

ความต้องการในผลประโยชน์ส่วนตน (Self interest) ของคนกลุ่มใหม่ที่ผมต้องมีปฏิสัมพันธ์ด้วย มันก็แตกต่างจากพวกเราอย่างสิ้นเชิง ความเข้าใจของพวกเขาต่อบางสิ่งต่างๆ รอบตัวไม่ได้เป็นแบบเรา

ผมคงจะไม่บอกว่าพวกเขากับพวกเราใครดีหรือด้อยกว่ากัน มันก็แค่ไม่เหมือนกัน สิ่งที่ผมต้องทำก็แค่ต้องยอมรับในความแตกต่างนั้นและพยายามทำความเข้าใจมัน เพื่อที่จะเพิ่ม-ลดหรือมอบบางอย่างที่เป็นประโยชน์ให้กับพวกเขา

สรุปแล้ว.. ถ้าวันนี้ยังมีคนตั้งคำถามกับหลักการและแนวคิดออสเตรียน ถ้ายังมีคนมีข้อสงสัยกับแนวทางการกระจายศูนย์ ว่ามันยังมีประสิทธิภาพกับสังคมในปัจจุบันหรือไม่?

ผมอยากจะถามกลับว่า.. คุณเข้าใจมันมากพอที่จะนำมันไปปรับใช้จริงๆ หรือเปล่า? หรือคุณแค่ท่องจำมันได้?

คนทั่วไปสามารถทำความเข้าใจกับคำว่า low time preference, proof of work, subjective value, single point of failure, decentralized, division of labor, collective outcome, self-interest บลา บลา บลา ได้ทั้งหมดนั่นแหละ

ทั้งที่เราเข้าใจว่าสิ่งเหล่านี้เป็นเรื่องที่เข้าใจได้ยาก เอาเข้าจริงแล้วมันก็ขึ้นกับว่าวิธีถ่ายทอดของคุณมันเป็นแบบไหนต่างหากล่ะ..

ดังนั้นทั้งหมดทั้งมวลที่ผมค้นพบก็คือ.. ชุดทักษะ, ชุดความคิด, ทัศนคติ, แนวทาง, วิธีการ, ประสบการณ์, วิจารณญาณ และวุฒิภาวะของผู้ถ่ายทอดนั้นสำคัญมาก มากพอๆ กับฝั่งผู้รับ

จากในอดีตที่บางครั้งเราก็มองว่าความพร้อมของผู้ฟังนั้นสำคัญมากต่อการถ่ายทอดแนวคิดของพวกเรา.. วันนี้ผมพบว่า.. เราอาจต้องลองกลับมามองดูตัวเราเอง..

คนสอนน่ะพร้อมหรือยัง?

สอน สร้าง จัดการปัญหา และส่งต่อ

เรื่องเล่าทั้งหมดอาจจะฟังดูดี.. แต่ชีวิตคนเรามันไม่ได้ง่ายแบบนั้นเสมอไป ในเรื่องดีๆมันก็มุกจะมีเรื่องแย่ๆ เกิดขึ้นปะปนกันไป ก็เพื่อให้เราได้เรียนรู้ เข้าใจและเติบโต

ในระหว่างทางของการสร้าง community แห่งใหม่ มันไม่ได้สวยหรูไปเสียทั้งหมด มันเกิดปัญหามากมายให้ผมต้องคิดและจัดการผ่านระบบกระจายศูนย์และทีมเสรีที่ผมสร้างขึ้น

ความวุ่นวายก็คืองานของผมมาตั้งแต่ไหนแต่ไร

ผมแค่รู้สึกว่า.. ผมสามารถเลือกได้ที่จะจัดการหรือเพิกเฉยต่อสิ่งเหล่านั้น เพื่อทำให้เวลาทั้งหมดที่ผมเสียสละไปกับที่นั่นหายไปในอากาศโดยไม่ได้อะไรขึ้นมาเลย.. ผมไม่ได้กำลังพูดถึงเงินหรือผลตอบแทนในลักษณะที่เป็นรูปธรรม

แต่มันคือคุณค่าในเชิงนามธรรม

การจัดการกับความวุ่นวายในระหว่างทางที่เกิดขึ้นช่วยให้ผมได้นำเอาทักษะและความเข้าใจที่มีอยู่เดิมไปทดลองใช้ มันช่วยผมพัฒนาความคิดและอารมณ์ของตัวเองมากขึ้น

แต่แทนที่ผมจะนั่งงุนงงกับสิ่งที่เกิดขึ้น.. ผมนำมันกลับมาคิดไตร่ตรองและทบทวนอย่างละเมียดละมัย แล้วพยายามทำความเข้าใจตัวเองในฐานะคน อะไรทำให้ผมเป็นแบบนั้น ผมรู้สึกอะไรอยู่ถึงตอบสนองไปแบบนั้น บทเรียนที่ผมได้จากสิ่งเหล่านี้คืออะไร?

การตระหนักรู้สิ่งต่างๆ เหล่านี้ทำให้ผมค้นพบคุณค่าในตัวผมเอง.. ทำให้ผมรู้ว่าตัวผมเองนั้นเป็นใคร ผมทำหรือทำอะไรไม่ได้บ้าง ผมยังขาดอะไรถึงไม่สามารถทำบางอย่างได้ ผมค่อยๆ ฟื้น passion ที่เคยมีกลับมาได้เรื่อยๆ และเรื่อยๆ

การค้นพบสิ่งที่ผมยังไม่รู้ ช่วยทำให้ผมรู้ว่าพรุ่งนี้ผมควรทำอะไร สิ่งนี้มีค่าและมีความหมายมากๆ ต่อตัวผม..

รู้ว่าเรายังไม่รู้อะไร..

รู้ว่าจริงๆ แล้วเราไม่ควรรู้อะไร

ทันทีที่ผมรู้.. มันทำให้ผมรู้สึกได้เลยว่ามันถึงเวลาแล้วที่ผมจะต้องกลับบ้าน.. ผมได้คำตอบบางอย่างที่ผมเคยต้องเสียเวลางมหามาอย่างยาวนาน.. มันเกิดแนวคิดใหม่ๆ มากมายในหัวผมซึ่งจะเป็นประโยชน์กับคนที่บ้านได้อย่างแน่นอน

ใช่ครับ.. ผมคิดถึงบ้าน

ให้ตายเถอะ.. ผมกำลังจะทิ้งที่แห่งหนึ่งที่ผมได้โผล่ตัวเองเอาไว้อย่างเหนียวแน่นกลับไปหาอีกที่หนึ่งอีกแล้วงั้นหรอ?

แล้วถ้าผมกำลังรู้สึกว่าตัวเองโดนผูกเอาไว้.. มันแปลว่าผมยังไม่สามารถกระจายบางอย่างออกจากตัวเองได้ทั้งหมดหรือเปล่า?

ถ้าผมไม่สามารถเป็นอิสระจากที่ไหนสักที่ได้.. มันแปลว่าผมยังไม่สามารถสร้าง decentralized network อย่างแท้จริงขึ้นได้ใช่ไหม?

โจทย์นี้ช่วยให้ผมค้นพบว่าแท้จริงแล้วตามบทบาทที่ผมกำลังเป็นอยู่นั้นผมควรจะสร้าง, จัดการ, แก้ไขหรือทำอะไรกันแน่?

ผมจะต้องส่งต่อสิ่งต่างๆ ที่ได้เริ่มเอาไว้ จนผมรู้สึกได้ว่าหากไม่มีผมที่แห่งนั้นก็จะไม่มีวันเหี่ยวตายไป..

ถ้าไม่บอกว่าความเข้าใจนี้เกิดมาจากปรัชญาเบื้องหลังบิตคอยต์ เราจะบอกว่ามันเป็นอะไรได้อีกล่ะ?

บ้านก็คือบ้าน

2 เดือนที่ผมหายไปทำเรื่องใหม่ๆ ไปจัดการกับอาการป่วยของตัวเอง ผมก็รู้สึกคิดถึงผู้คน, บรรยากาศและความรู้สึกเดิมๆ ที่เคยสัมผัสจากบ้านหลังนี้เสมอ

ผมต้องบอกไหมว่า "บ้าน" ที่ผมกำลังพูดถึงอยู่นี้คือที่ไหน?

ไม่มีใครตั้งคำถามว่าผมหายไปไหน ไม่มีใครตัดพ้อแม้จะถูกผมทิ้งเอาไว้กลางทาง ไม่มีใครพยายามจะเอาคำตอบจากการตัดสินใจของผม.. ผมสัมผัสได้เพียงแค่ความคิดถึงและความห่วงใย มันพุ่งตรงเข้ามาทัชที่หัวใจของผม มันเข้าใจได้ไม่ยากเลยว่าผู้คนที่บ้านรักผมขนาดไหน

ผมแวะเวียนกลับมาแบบลับๆ เพื่อพูดคุย ได้แลกเปลี่ยนความรู้สึกกับคนในบ้านเป็นครั้งคราว บ้านที่ครั้งหนึ่งผมรู้สึกว่ามันเริ่มสูบพลังไปจากผม แล้วผมก็คิดผิดไปถนัด.. เพราะการกลับมาเยี่ยมเยือนแต่ละครั้ง.. ผมรู้สึกเหมือนกำลังได้รับพลังบวกบางอย่าง

ที่นี่แหละคือ safe zone ของผม

ไม่ว่าคนที่นี่จะสนทนาลงลึกในเรื่องต่างๆ กันอย่างบ้าบอคอแตก ไม่ว่าคนที่นี่แทบจะไม่ผ่อนคลายให้กับเรื่องใดๆ เลย แต่ทำไมผมกลับรู้สึกสนุก มีความสุข ที่ได้ยินน้ำเสียง รับฟังความคิด และสัมผัสสิ่งเหล่านั้น..

ต่อให้สิ่งต่างๆ ที่กำลังอบอวลรอบตัวจะไม่สามารถแทรกเข้ามาในหัวผมได้ทั้งหมด ต่อให้ในตอนนี้สมองผมยังไม่พร้อมจะรับเรื่องหนักๆ แต่ผมก็รู้สึกดีที่ได้พาตัวเองกลับมาอยู่ที่นี่ ได้เอนหลังลงบนฟูกที่เคยนอน ได้ยินเสียงเจื้อยแจ้วที่คุ้นหู และยังคงเห็นความหวังที่เราต่างก็เคยมีร่วมกัน

พวกเขาที่นี่ยังคงต้อนรับผมเสมอไม่ว่าผมจะทำอะไรลงไป

ผมจะสามารถพูดอะไรได้อีกนอกจากคำว่า..

ผมรักพวกคุณทุกคน.. จริงๆ นะ

ปัญหาของคนที่จากบ้านไปนาน.. คุณก็คงจะพอนึกออกว่าคืออะไร.. สิ่งที่กำลังรบกวนจิตใจผมตอนนี้ก็คือ.. ชิบหายแล้วคนในบ้านกูไปถึงไหนกันแล้ววะ? ตอนนี้ผมรู้สึกว่าจับต้นชนปลายไม่ถูก ผมแทบไม่รู้เลยว่าเกิดอะไรขึ้นบ้างที่นี่ น้องๆ ของผมทำอะไรกันไปแล้วบ้าง ผมควรจะเริ่มตรงไหน?

มันคงเป็นอย่างอื่นไปไม่ได้ เพราะผมก็คงจะเอาแต่ถามและฟัง ถามและฟัง ถามและฟังวนไปแบบนี้ จนกว่าผมจะรู้สึกว่าผมเริ่มตามทุกคนทันแล้ว

ดูบางทีผมอาจจะแค่ช่างแม่งมัน.. กระโดดขึ้นเรือแล้วจอยไปกับมันเลย

เรือที่จะพาผมไปเจอกับทุกคนในวันที่ 20 เมษายนที่กำลังจะถึงนี้.. คุณอาจจะไม่ได้เจอกับผมในแบบที่คุณเคยรู้จัก เพราะช่วงที่ผ่านมามันก็มีหลายอย่างที่เกิดความเปลี่ยนแปลงในตัวผม ทำบุคลิกและความคิด แม้กระทั่งความหล่อ..

ผมอาจไม่เท่ในแบบที่พวกคุณรู้สึกอีกแล้ว.. แต่ผมก็กล้ายืนยันว่าผมยังเป็นคนเดิม

คนที่เคยยืนอยู่ข้างหน้าเพื่อรับตีนแทนพวกคุณเสมอ คนที่เคยตกรถทุกครั้งที่เมา คนที่พูดน้ำไหลไฟดับจนต้องมีคนเบรค และทุกครั้งที่หัวเราะเขาก็ยังฟันหลอเหมือนเดิม..

พวกคุณยังอยากเจอเขาอยู่ไหม?

ผมยังเป็นคนที่พวกคุณอยากเจออยู่ไหม?

ผมจะไปรอเอาคำตอบนั้นที่ชิตโฮลเมืองทอง..

และก็เหมือนเช่นเคย.. ไม่ว่าผมจะเขียนมายืดยาวสักแค่ไหน เวลาจบผมก็จบกันแบบดื้อๆ อย่างนี้แหละ

และผมก็มักจะถามคำถามเดิมๆ กับคนอ่าน คุณได้อะไรกันบ้างจากการอ่านบทความนี้?

End credit

"ไม่น่าเชื่อเลยว่าหลังจากที่ไม่เจอพี่ตั้มมาเป็นเวลานาน พี่ตั้มจะกลับมาพร้อมบทเพลงและเสียงกีต้าร์เพราะๆ"

เสียงพี่เจนโพล่งขึ้นมาพร้อมกับความรู้สึกค่อนข้างประหลาดใจ

"ก็เพราะผมคือ Jakk Goodday.."

"ผมเคยทำอะไรให้ใครคาดเดาได้ง่ายๆ ด้วยเหรอพี่?"

เอ... หรือว่าที่งานฮาล์ฟวิ่งพวกเราจะมาร้องเพลงกันดีนะ?

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Harnessing AI with Bitcoin: Introducing PayPerQ

In the realm of artificial intelligence, accessibility and affordability often determine who gets to utilize these advanced technologies. PayPerQ, developed by Matt Ahlborg, aims to democratize access to premium AI by integrating OpenAI's API with Bitcoin payments, specifically using the Bitcoin Lightning network. This innovative approach allows users from around the world to engage with a pay-per-query Chatbot, providing a scalable and cost-effective solution for leveraging AI. Here's a deeper dive into PayPerQ and how it's changing the landscape of AI interactions.

What is PayPerQ?

PayPerQ is a groundbreaking service that merges AI chat capabilities with the flexibility and security of Bitcoin transactions. It enables users to interact with a ChatGPT model, where charges accrue per interaction, calculated based on the length of the input and output text. This model not only ensures users pay only for what they use but also enhances accessibility to cutting-edge AI for users across different economic backgrounds.

How Does PayPerQ Work?

Pricing Mechanics

The cost of each query on PayPerQ is straightforwardly determined by:

• Input Words: The number of words you type into the chat.
• Output Words: The number of words ChatGPT uses to respond.

The pricing model is designed to encourage efficiency in interactions—longer conversations have higher costs, suggesting that starting new chats could be more economical for lengthy discussions.

User-Friendly Controls

To prevent unintended expenses, PayPerQ has set a default maximum context of 2048 tokens. Users have the flexibility to adjust this setting based on their specific needs—a feature that showcases the platform's commitment to user control and customization.

Features and Benefits

Bitcoin Integration

By utilizing the Bitcoin Lightning network, PayPerQ taps into a fast, low-cost payment method that is perfect for microtransactions like those in AI interactions. This integration also signifies a step towards broader financial inclusion, as Bitcoin is increasingly accessible worldwide.

Transparency and Data Privacy

Transparency is central to PayPerQ’s operation. Users can readily access information on how their data is handled, ensuring that they remain informed and in control of their privacy.

Flexible Interaction and Prompt Personalization

PayPerQ supports custom prompts, allowing users to tailor their AI interactions for more personalized and relevant responses. This feature maximizes the utility and flexibility of the ChatGPT model, adapting it to specific user needs or inquiries.

Earning Bitcoin Lightning with AddSlice

For those new to Bitcoin Lightning, PayPerQ recommends using AddSlice, a browser extension that rewards users with Bitcoin Lightning in exchange for viewing ads. This setup not only facilitates easy entry into using PayPerQ but also promotes user engagement through a reward system.

Vision and Invitation for Feedback

Matt Ahlborg's vision for PayPerQ is to make it the go-to AI interface for Bitcoin developers and professionals globally. To achieve this, user feedback is invaluable. PayPerQ encourages users to share their experiences and suggestions, shaping the service to better meet community needs.

For Your Cosideration

PayPerQ represents a significant innovation in making AI interactions more accessible and affordable through the power of Bitcoin. Whether you are a developer, researcher, educator, or enthusiast, PayPerQ provides a flexible and cost-effective platform to explore the capabilities of AI while managing expenses transparently and efficiently.

Experience the future of AI interaction by visiting PayPerQ today, and see how easy and effective it is to integrate cutting-edge technology into your projects and workflows.

PayPerq on Nostr: npub18kzz4lkdtc5n729kvfunxuz287uvu9f64ywhjz43ra482t2y5sks0mx5sz

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Content

• Conclusion

• FAQ

• You May Also Like

• External Links

As of Sunday, the Bitcoin price forecast is still neutral, with BTC stuck in a $16,850–$17,250 range. It seems that Bitcoin miners have given up on the long-term viability of keeping any substantial quantity of the pioneer crypto and are instead selling off massive numbers of Bitcoin.

Reports from CryptoQuant show that on December 1st, bitcoin miners disbursed 10,000 BTC. In comparison to the 2,569 units that were released to the market and sold by miners on November 26th, this number is much smaller.

Joaowedson, an analyst at CryptoQuant, has chimed in on the topic, pointing to the high cost of Bitcoin mining and the sharp decrease in value of the crypto currency as reasons.

Joaowedson added:

The current price of Bitcoin and the high cost of mining in many nations are forcing miners to liquidate their holdings, as stated by Bloomberg.

In their present forms, both the "makers" of the biggest cryptocurrency by market cap and the asset itself are doomed to failure. Miners may no longer turn a profit due to the recent decline in bitcoin's value and the high cost of producing a single bitcoin.

If they keep releasing their work into the market, the price of the cryptocurrency might drop and its volatility could rise. Earnings in the mining sector have been negatively impacted by market downturns in the past.

As of the time this article was published, miners had amassed 814.28 BTC, according to Glassnode. Given this, it's easy to understand why some may assume that Bitcoin's miners aren't compensated in any manner by the network.

The US dollar hit a new monthly low

The decline of the US dollar, which hit a three-month low, was also a major factor boosting BTC prices.

The surprisingly positive employment report was seen as a main factor in curbing the dollar's declines, and investors took advantage of this.

Meanwhile, reports of a 263,000 rise in payrolls by private sector firms in November helped the dollar. This was a far larger increase than the 200,000 that had been expected.

The falls were temporary, reaching a three-month low as a result of the dovish approach.

Putin Calls for Digital Currency Settlements

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has called for a new international settlement system that is unrestrained by banks and other middlemen. According to the Russian leader, it is conceivable to build such a system with the help of digital currency technology and distributed ledgers.

Putin spoke at a symposium held by Sberbank, a major Russian financial institution, about artificial intelligence. He warned that the present condition of close ties between Russia and the West poses a danger to international financial flows and payments.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, elaborated:

In light of the current unlawful constraints, it is common knowledge that settlements are a prime target. And since they are constantly exposed to these methods, our financial institutions know this better than anybody.

Putin was alluding to the international sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation for its invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which have severely limited the country's access to global financial and market institutions.

According to the Prime News Service, he also said:

Due to a limited number of nations and financial institutions controlling correspondent accounts and regulations, the cost of making international payments has risen in recent years.

A Look at the Bitcoin Market Price

A total of $15.0 billion has been traded in the last 24 hours at Bitcoin's current price of $17,010. In the previous 24 hours, the BTC/USD exchange rate has risen by more than 0.10 percent. Additionally, its value has climbed by roughly 2.75% in the preceding week.

Source: coinmarketcap.com: Bitcoin Value and Token Economics

The Bitcoin/U.S. dollar exchange rate has been trading sideways in a tight range of $16,800 to $17,250 and has had a hard time breaking above that level.

At $16,900, Bitcoin completed a 23.6% Fibonacci retracement, and closing candles below $16,950 might trigger fresh selling until the $16,750 resistance level is broken.

When looking lower, Bitcoin may target the 50% Fib extension at $16,600, and a break below this level would expose BTC to the 61.8% Fib extension at $16,450.

Conversely, if bulls manage to break through $17,250, BTC might trade as high as $17,650 or even $18,100.

Coins with Massive Potential

Some currencies have done very well despite the market decline, catching the attention of cryptocurrency "whale" investors.

One such token is IMPT, for which the presale period will soon come to a close.

IMPT: 1 Week to Buy This {{text}}3.5 Million Green Crypto

Carbon credit marketplace IMPT is another Ethereum-based platform that will reward buyers for supporting environmentally responsible companies. The company's IMPT token, which can be used to buy NFT-based carbon offsets that may be sold or retired, will be the medium of exchange for these advantages.

With a current price of $0.023 per share, IMPT has raised almost $13.6 million since going public in October. With such overwhelming demand, the token presale for IMPT.io, a brand new platform for carbon offsetting and trading carbon credits, will conclude on December 11th.

Conclusion

During a halving, the pace at which new bitcoins are created for circulation is reduced by half, creating synthetic price inflation throughout the Bitcoin network. By 2140, when the maximum supply of Bitcoin is predicted to be achieved, the rewards system will have been in place for 50 years. Following that, miners will get transaction fees in exchange for their services. As of 2009, miners were awarded 50 bitcoins for successfully completing a block on the blockchain. Following the initial halving, the number of bitcoins in a block dropped from 25 to 12.5, and subsequently to 6.25 on May 11, 2020. The halving of Bitcoin's supply will have profound effects on the network.

FAQ

Is Bitcoin likely to increase in value? In 2024, the highest value of a BTC transaction would be roughly $85,000. Bitcoin's price, along with that of other cryptocurrencies, is expected to rise dramatically in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Which cryptocurrency do you think will see the most growth in 2022? In our opinion, D2T is the next big thing in the cryptocurrency market since it has a solid practical application and investors are already expressing interest in its presale. Other interesting initiatives are RobotEra and IMPT (which will have its IEO on Uniswap on December 14, 2022).

Why is Bitcoin's price going up? The factors that most impact the value of Bitcoin include its supply and demand in the market, its accessibility, the value of other cryptocurrencies, and the mood of investors. There will only ever be a fixed amount of bitcoin in circulation, and the last coin is only expected to be minted in the year 2140.

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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.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

In the ever-evolving world of Finance, Bitcoin ATMs have emerged as a pivotal player in expanding access to digital currency. For entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike, the idea of running a Bitcoin ATM is an exciting prospect, not only as a business opportunity but also as a way to promote the adoption of Bitcoin. Thanks to innovations in technology and accessibility, setting up your own Bitcoin ATM has become more feasible than ever before. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to assemble and operate a Bitcoin ATM, featuring a comprehensive kit available from LNbits.

What You Need to Know About Bitcoin ATMs

Bitcoin ATMs offer a straightforward way for individuals to buy Bitcoin using traditional currency, such as banknotes and coins. Unlike conventional ATMs, which connect to a bank account, Bitcoin ATMs link directly to a Bitcoin exchange through the internet and provide an intuitive and secure interface for users to purchase Bitcoin with fiat currency.

The LNbits Bitcoin ATM Kit

The LNbits Bitcoin ATM provides all the necessary components to set up a fully functional Bitcoin ATM. This kit is designed for those who wish to leverage their own LNbits instance to facilitate transactions. Here’s what’s included in the kit:

• ESP32 WT32-SC01: A powerful controller with a built-in touchscreen that serves as the user interface for the ATM.
• DG600F(S) Multi Coin Acceptor: This device allows the ATM to accept multiple types of coins, enhancing its functionality across various regions and currencies.
• NV10USB+ Bill Acceptor: A reliable bill acceptor that enables the machine to take banknotes, a fundamental feature for any ATM.
• Screw Terminal Block: For secure and organized connections between the various components.
• 12v Power Supply and Converter: Ensures that all components receive the correct voltage for safe and efficient operation.
• Male/Female GPIO Jumpers: For easy and flexible connections within the hardware setup.

Setting Up Your Bitcoin ATM

Step 1: Assemble the Hardware

Start by assembling the physical components of the ATM. Connect the ESP32 WT32-SC01 to the inputs from the bill and coin acceptors. Use the GPIO jumpers for connections that might require flexibility or additional length. Secure everything in place using the screw terminal block for a neat and safe setup.

Step 2: Configure the Software

Install and configure the software on the ESP32 WT32-SC01. This will involve setting up your LNbits instance to manage the transactions processed by the ATM. Ensure the software is properly connected and configured to communicate with both the coin acceptor and bill acceptor.

Step 3: Power and Testing

Connect your ATM to the power supply. Carefully test each component to ensure that coins and bills are accepted accurately and that the touchscreen interface is responsive and user-friendly.

Step 4: Location and Security

Choosing the right location is crucial for the success of your Bitcoin ATM. High foot traffic areas such as shopping malls, universities, and coffee shops are ideal. Consider the security of the location; ensuring that your ATM is in a safe, well-lit area can prevent tampering and theft.

Step 5: Marketing and Maintenance

Once your ATM is up and running, focus on marketing your machine to potential users. Regular maintenance checks are vital to ensure that the machine continues to operate smoothly and securely.

For Your Consideration

Running your own Bitcoin ATM can be a rewarding venture that not only profits but also promotes the broader adoption of Bitcoin. With the LNbits Bitcoin ATM kit, assembly and operation are simplified, allowing you to focus on providing value and convenience to users eager to engage with Bitcoin. Get started today by visiting LNbits Bitcoin ATM and take your first step towards becoming a part of the global Bitcoin network.

@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

This is an abridged version of an article published in Bitcoin magazine in June 2022.

This is an article seeking to view bitcoin from a slightly different angle. Let’s consider Bitcoin vs the world’s currencies. How might we compare them in terms of size, and other attributes?

Size

To measure size, it would make sense to look at the value of the monetary base — the most irreducible form of each.

Porkopolis Economics has a table illustrating the stats and I’d recommend the “TFTC: A Bitcoin Podcast” episode #310 (and others previously) with Marty Bent and Matthew Mežinskis for some discussion on this. [Later iterations now exist]

It might surprise you that, on this basis, one of the largest 10 monies in the world (in terms of base money value in circulation) does not belong to a country, but it is internet native. (Spoiler alert, it’s Bitcoin.)

Other properties

Let's have a look at how its properties differ. It offers zero risk-free yield, so isn’t worth holding on that basis compared to fiat currencies. All else equal, fiat currencies will strengthen when their base rate of interest goes up, as one can now realize a higher interest rate when holding them. (Russia is an example earlier in 2022, using interest rate rises as a defensive mechanism when the ruble was falling.)

On the flip side — and this is key — the total amount of its supply that will ever be issued is known, unlike any fiat currency. As fiat currencies inevitably debase faster than bitcoin, demand for bitcoin is likely to persist. Please note, this is not strictly a claim for bitcoin to be a direct inflation hedge, i.e., for the consumer price index (this has been a lazy recent criticism). It is rather that the inflation of the bitcoin supply is already low at approximately 1.8% per year [now 0.9%], with the issuance halving every four years and known with certainty.

Within this natively internet money, there is no coercion within its makeup. No one is compelled by its existence to hold it or to use it; they do so by choice alone. Moreover, it is open to all and permissionless — barriers to entry are little more than a smartphone and an internet connection.

Unlike physically located nation states, it doesn’t bow to any political pressure over its issuance or operations. It can’t be shut down. It’s also very hard to ban people from using it or to confiscate it.

It can’t be mindlessly rehypothecated. Why not? Since it’s extremely portable, divisible and easy to take custody of the underlying asset, holding it via third parties that rehypothecate it introduces counterparty risk, so rational actors will generally avoid it, or at the very least demand market-based compensation for taking on that risk.

Bitcoin is freely traded 24/7, 365 days per year, and the costs of exchanging it are likely to be driven ever lower by competition over time. Of course, its exchange rate (this term is a better framing than “price” in this discussion) is highly volatile. This is in contrast to currencies where there may be restrictions on trading and governments may intervene in currency markets. As may be logical, the bitcoin exchange rate flourishes in times of debasement of other currencies but struggles in periods of them tightening. (Examples of recent dollar tightening are 2018 and 2022, so far.)

Fiat currencies certainly have huge sources of demand for them that bitcoin currently doesn’t have, namely to meet future transactions priced in those currencies. These could comprise taxes due, or payments for goods and services, or investment into properties, equities, etc. Commodity wise, much is made of the relevance to oil being globally priced in dollars. This undoubtedly has contributed to the number of foreign nations holding dollars in their reserves. Why? If the oil price in dollars can remain relatively stable, holding dollars will help closer match the cost of future energy needs than another currency.

I deliberately hesitate to term “bitcoin” as a currency by the way. It is another lazy criticism that it has already failed to have the qualities required to be one. I think the Bitcoin white paper avoided the word for good reason. Bitcoin has many years and decades ahead for sovereign nations to decide to adopt it as a currency or not, but that will not change its operations.

In Summary

Due to its fixed supply and other unique attributes, it’s only logical that many have started exchanging other, more rapidly debasing currencies for bitcoin. Undoubtedly, there are many short-term traders around, but the long-term exchange rate is likely driven more by those taking a long-term outlook in their positions to ride out the volatility. Note this is not “investing”; bitcoin is a form of money. It’s saving.

What about altcoins as competing money? We don’t see them in the aforementioned top 10. Take the time to learn why bitcoin has no meaningful competitors in the above context. Why proof of work is so important to bitcoin’s immutability and fully decentralized nature. And why any additional “utility” developed in another altcoin appears meaningless if they can’t match bitcoin’s monetary properties — they can’t.

Just like conventional currency exchange rates or baskets, such as the DXY (a commonly observed basket of the Great Britain pound, euro, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, Swedish krona and Japanese yen against the dollar), it’s pretty tricky to predict where bitcoin will hit any particular price level in future. As we’ve seen above, bitcoin has several interesting and unique attributes as money when compared to fiat currencies. These make it likely that demand for it will continue to increase as fiat currencies compete to debase. As Bitcoiners often say, it’s just math (or as they should say, given I'm a Brit, maths!).

@ 1931b5e4:168a0489

I kept getting drawn to a post Scarcity Makes Everything Desirable (Including Bitcoin) and I had so many thoughts run through my head at the time that I couldn't process them in order to answer, and as I said I would I have sat down now to tap them out on my keyboard and hope that they make sense.

I came to one conclusion very quickly... I can't answer it as @Coinsreporter wanted which was to:

enlighten this post with your perception of scarcity in terms of Bitcoin

So because of this I decided that it was best to write my own post rather than reply to @Coinsreporter and give my thoughts on scarcity.

In my short (nearly) 39 years living this human experience I have always been fascinated with people's need for things. I suppose that came from my apparent lack of when I was in my younger years. I watched in awe as the kids in school would swap football cards, play with their tamagotchi's or come to the playground with a headband that had their name written on it! Now I was a bit of a 'weird' kid and I never got jealous for not having those things, in fact I never even wanted them, however what I did want was to be part of the group and make friends. And that, for the weird kid was not on the cards for me. Of course, as I got older the things were different. When people were getting their first cars they were going for the latest model in this or that, their first house would seem to be decorated perfectly in line with the latest fashion, and their first babies would be dressed in the latest designer clothes.

Now maybe it's the way I was raised, but I have never felt the need to do all this. And, if you came round to my house you would see that I live in what appears to be scarcity. If a burglar came into my house, they would leave with an Xbox that belongs to my son and maybe the lawn mower which I leave outside! There is nothing really for them to steal! (I don't even own a TV).

I know though that I am a rarity here.

Where am I going with this - jeez I can ramble!

From what I can see, the world has been set up in a way now where the majority feel as though they are living in scarcity. We are being fear mongered into believing that this is the truth, and we are being hood winked into giving all our money to the rich, to get richer.

And, the worst thing is - we are well aware that this is what we are doing! They aren't even hiding it from us anymore and we are just allowing them to get away with it, because we have been taught that this is just how it is! "Those bloody 1%". Seriously, if I was handed a penny every time I heard that, I would be able to give the damn Xbox to the burglar!

Right now, with society allowing the few who appear to be in power to herd us like sheep, then I have to say that we are NOT set up for true scarcity because we have been led to believe that we are already there, when we are not!

The world has enough food to feed everyone in it - the problem is the distribution AND what we eat. The world has enough gold for us all to be well off and trade in whatever way we want to - the problem is the distribution. The world has enough water - the problem is the distribution AND pollution. The world has enough technology to create a safe planet without destroying it - it's about access. The world has enough knowledge to teach everyone who wants to learn - it's about access.

The world however also has mankind. The 99% who need to become aware that they have the ability to create their own lives and write their own stories and do not need to follow the 1% seemingly in power. If the 99% did that we may face scarcity for a while as the seemingly in power would fight back as hard as they could, but if we stood up to them and stopped allowing them to get away with things then they wouldn't hold that power.

Simply - we do not have a scarcity problem - we are told that we do and then tell ourselves that we do.

However, until people wake up and take back ownership of their own lives then people like me will still be the weird kid. And... if Bitcoin is going to allow me as someone who is awake to keep ownership of my life then I am all for it!

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Anthony Edwards is looking like the next in a long line of great NBA wings. Michael Jordan has become the exemplar of this group (for obvious reasons), but at the time even Michael Jordan was the next somebody.

In the table below, I've jotted down stats from recognizable periods of each great wing's career. Can you identify who's who?

The options are, in chronological order * Dr. J * MJ * Kobe * Jimmy Buckets * Kawhi * Ant Man

| Stat | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 | Player 6 | |------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------| |Points | 30.1 | 27.1| 27.4 | 28.6 | 29.8 | 26.4 | | eFG% | .509 | .518 | .482 | .565 | .572 | .511 | | Rebounds | 6.2 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 8.2 | 5.6 | 9.3 | | Assists | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | | Steals | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.8 | | Blocks | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.8 |

There'll be some sort of prize based on correctness of matches.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

The Open Source Movement has transformed the landscape of software development and beyond, democratizing access to information and fostering a global collaborative environment. This movement, characterized by freely accessible, modifiable, and sharable software code, has become a powerful catalyst for innovation, reshaping how technologies are developed, distributed, and improved.

Democratizing Software Development

Open source software (OSS) offers a progressive model where knowledge, tools, and code are openly shared. This approach allows both individuals and organizations worldwide to contribute to and benefit from collective wisdom without barriers. Projects like Bitcoin, detailed through numerous GitHub discussions and contributions, underscore the significant impact of open source methodologies in complex fields such as cryptography and blockchain technology.

Key Benefits of Open Source:

• Collaboration: Open source projects harness the collective intelligence of developers worldwide, accelerating problem-solving and innovation.
• Transparency: With open access to code, users and developers can examine the functionality and security of the software, fostering trust and reliability.
• Flexibility: Users can modify software to meet their specific needs, which promotes a personalized approach to software utilization and improvement.

Meritocracy in Action

One of the most compelling aspects of the open source model is its emphasis on meritocracy where the value of ideas supersedes the stature of their contributors. This ethos is evident in platforms like GitHub, where a diverse group of developers can propose, refine, and implement enhancements in a collaborative manner. For instance, Bitcoin’s evolution on GitHub illustrates dynamic discussions that lead to continuous enhancements, guided by the collective expertise of the community.

```

"The open source model thrives on collaboration and meritocracy, ensuring that the best ideas prevail in the development lifecycle." ```

Broader Implications for Innovation

While open source began as a movement within software development, its principles have permeated other areas:

• Hardware: Open source hardware projects allow for physical products to be developed collaboratively and transparently.
• Education: Free access to educational resources broadens learning opportunities, empowering students globally.
• Research: Open research promotes a faster exchange of knowledge and cooperative advancements in science.

These examples highlight the versatility and expansive potential of open source principles, influencing sectors beyond traditional software development and contributing to a global culture of shared innovation.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its many advantages, the open source model presents challenges such as ensuring sustainable project funding, managing varying quality contributions, and protecting intellectual property without stifling collaboration. Effective community management, clear licensing agreements, and robust governance models are essential for addressing these challenges.

Closing

The Open Source Movement continues to be a significant force in shaping the modern technological landscape. By fostering an environment where information is free and accessible, where innovation thrives on collaboration, and where education is uninhibited by access barriers, open source principles champion a future of inclusive growth and continuous innovation.

For developers, businesses, and academics, engaging in open source projects offers a pathway to participate in cutting-edge developments and contribute to collective advancements. It represents not just a technical methodology, but a philosophy that promotes openness, inclusivity, and the endless pursuit of knowledge.

Further exploration and contributions can be made through platforms like GitHub, where many open source projects, including Bitcoin, continue to evolve.

---

Sources

For further insights into the discussions and developments within these open source projects, refer to: - Bitcoin Pull Request Comment #17901 - Bitcoin Issue Discussion #18580 - Bitcoin Pull Request Review #21778

@ e42dd2a2:eeddb96f

test test test

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

In the world of software development, GitHub stands out as a central hub for collaboration and version control. Utilizing Git, an open-source version control system, GitHub provides a powerful platform for managing projects, tracking changes, and fostering collaboration among developers. Whether you are a seasoned coder or just starting out, understanding how to effectively use GitHub can greatly enhance your coding projects and collaborations.

About GitHub

GitHub is essentially a cloud-based service that hosts Git repositories, or "repos," where you can store, manage, and track your coding projects. It offers a plethora of functionalities including:

• Project Showcasing: Display your work for public view, which is particularly beneficial for portfolio building or open-source projects.
• Change Management: Keep a detailed record of modifications in your project over time, making rollback and error identification simpler.
• Code Review: Allow others to scrutinize your code and suggest improvements.
• Collaborative Projects: Work with other developers without the risk of immediately altering the main project.

GitHub’s environment supports these activities by providing tools for reviewing code, managing projects, and building software alongside millions of other developers.

About Git

Git, the backbone of GitHub, is a version control system that manages and stores revisions of projects. Git is indispensable for managing complex projects that require many developers working on the same files simultaneously. Here’s how Git typically works within a project:

• Branching: Create independent branches from the main project to work without affecting the core project.
• Commits: Save changes to your branch, creating a transparent history of your modifications.
• Merging: Combine changes from your branch back to the main project, allowing Git to intelligently merge without losing track of parallel updates.

How Do Git and GitHub Interact?

When you use GitHub, you operate within repositories that utilize Git's version control capabilities. You can perform several Git operations directly on GitHub, such as:

• Creating and managing repositories.
• Making branches.
• Committing changes online.

For local development, common practice is:

• Sync Local and Remote Repositories: Use tools like GitHub Desktop or command-line instructions to keep your local projects aligned with GitHub.
• Collaborate Seamlessly: Pull the latest updates from GitHub, make changes locally, and push back to GitHub for integrated updates.

Getting Started on GitHub

For newcomers, the journey begins by understanding and using GitHub’s web functionalities:

1. Create a GitHub Account: Start by setting up your account on GitHub.
2. Learn GitHub Flow: Understand the principles of branches, commits, pull requests (PR), and merges.
3. Personalize Your Profile: Enhance your profile to showcase your projects and skills.
4. Explore and Connect: Find projects that inspire you and connect with other developers.

First Steps:

• Navigating GitHub: Familiarize yourself with the user interface and various functionalities.
• Creating Your First Repository: Learn how to create and manage your coding projects on GitHub.
• Making Your First Commit: Understand how to make changes and commit them to your repository.

Next Steps

Once you have the basics handled: - Explore further by Creating an account on GitHub. - Dive into more detailed functionalities such as branch management and PRs.

To Consider

GitHub, paired with the powerful Git version control system, provides a robust framework for managing development projects. By facilitating collaboration, enhancing code transparency, and supporting effective project management, GitHub empowers developers to achieve more and collaborate effectively, regardless of geographical boundaries.

Get started on your journey into GitHub and discover the vast potential of this essential tool in modern development. Happy coding!

Establishing Trust in GitHub Contributions: The Importance of Verifying Keys and Creating a Web of Trust Protocol

In the vast, collaborative arena of software development on GitHub, where countless contributors merge their efforts to forge innovative projects, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of contributions is paramount. The verification of contributors' keys and the establishment of a robust Web of Trust protocol are critical practices for securing open-source projects. This article explores the importance of these security measures and how they can be implemented effectively within the GitHub ecosystem.

Why Key Verification Matters

Key verification is the process of ensuring that commits and tags are actually made by the entity they claim to originate from. In the context of GitHub and Git, keys refer primarily to GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) or SSH (Secure Shell) keys that are used to sign data digitally. This practice is essential because it:

• Prevents Spoofing: Ensures that contributions cannot be falsely attributed to someone else, which is crucial in preventing malicious code submissions.
• Reinforces Integrity: Helps maintain the integrity of the project’s codebase by verifying that commits and merges are from trusted and verifiable sources.
• Builds Credibility: Increases the credibility of a project by showing that the maintainers are committed to security and diligent in their governance practices.

Creating a Web of Trust

A Web of Trust is a decentralized security model for verifying digital keys. In this model, trust is established through a network of individual users who verify and sign each other’s keys. This creates a framework where the verification of one’s identity is crowd-sourced among trusted parties rather than relying on a central authority. Implementing a Web of Trust in the GitHub community can:

• Enhance Collaborative Trust: In large projects with numerous contributors, a Web of Trust helps in verifying that all participants are who they say they are.
• Facilitate Scaling Security: As projects grow and attract more contributors, a Web of Trust scales the security measures by distributing the responsibility of trust verification across multiple, credible parties.
• Improve Response to Security Incidents: A robust network of trusted contributors can respond more effectively to security breaches or vulnerabilities.

Implementing Key Verification and Web of Trust on GitHub

Step 1: Integrating GPG Key Verification

1. Generate or Import a GPG Key: Contributors should start by generating their own GPG keys or importing existing ones into their development environment.
2. Add GPG Keys to GitHub Account: Users must add their public GPG key to their GitHub account settings which allows GitHub to verify their signed commits.
3. Sign Commits and Tags: Contributors should configure their Git tools to sign commits and tags with their GPG key, ensuring that their cryptographic signature accompanies every change.

shell git config --global commit.gpgsign true git config --global user.signingkey YOUR_GPG_KEY_ID

Step 2: Establishing a Web of Trust

1. Community Key Signing: Organize or participate in key signing parties or events where GitHub contributors can meet (either virtually or in person) to verify identities and sign each other's keys.
2. Publish and Share Trust Signatures: Contributors should publish their signed keys and trust signatures in a publicly accessible venue or directly on their GitHub profiles.
3. Verify and Rely on Trusted Keys: When cloning or forking repositories, developers should verify the signatures against the Web of Trust to ensure all contributions are from trusted sources.

Case in closing

In an era of heightened cybersecurity risks, the importance of verifying keys and establishing a Web of Trust cannot be overstated in the context of GitHub contributions. These practices bolster the security of projects, protect the integrity of code, and build a foundation of trust within the developer community. As contributors and maintainers of open-source projects, embracing these protocols is a step towards a more secure and reliable software development ecosystem.

By fostering an environment where trust and security are paramount, the GitHub community can continue to thrive and drive forward the innovation that has cemented its place at the forefront of software development.

@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

A version of this was published in Bitcoin magazine in February 2022.

What Is An Annuity, And Why Do They Matter?

An annuity is generally a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, often defined as payable for the rest of their life. These have typically been purchased from insurance companies upon retirement. A typical annuity quote would be something like, in exchange for every £15 (~US$20.34) of up front cost, I will pay you £1 (~US$1.36) of income each year. These are an important part of the pensions landscape. This is particularly true for personal pensions or defined contribution pensions, which now make up the majority of pension arrangements in the U.K., where individuals have their own distinct pension “pot” or allocation.

Hence, the cost of an annuity can be conceptualized as the cost of retirement, since it forms the link between the pot of money being saved up, and the guaranteed income that can be realized from that.

Why Have Annuities Been Given A Bad Name?

This “cost of retirement” has been vastly increasing in recent years. As the examples at thislink illustrate, the income paid in exchange for a £100,000 (~US$135,522) fund for a 65-year-old has decreased from just over £7,000 (~US$9,486) in December 2006 to around £5,100 (~US$6,911) in December 2021. This example is for a simple single-life pension (no dependents pension is paid) with no guarantee period or other complexities. [link may now show updated values]

Put another way, if you want a set income payable to you in retirement as an annuity, you now have to save ~25% more than someone retiring at the same age 15 years ago.

Moreover, £5,100 (~US$6,911) is the pension payable that does not increase over time. If we want our annuity to increase by 3% per year, our £100,000 (~US$135,522) will currently only pay us a starting annual amount of £3,400 (~US$4,607). If we live for 20 years, this annual amount will have grown to £6,141 (~US$8,322), which helps explain the much lower starting pension.

There are two main reasons for the far higher annuity prices in the last 15 years. Firstly, government bond yields have fallen hugely. The 15-year annualized U.K. gilt (government bonds) yield has fallen from roughly 4.7% to 1.15% over this period. Annuity providers price based on this, as they invest the up front annuity cost into U.K. gilts to derive a risk free return on your fund before they have to pay out the income to you each year. A lower gilt yield means a lower return on the underlying investments and hence a worse annuity conversion rate.

Secondly, life expectancy has increased over the last 15 years, too. While this should be greeted generally as good news, it will naturally be reflected in annuity pricing by insurers. With that said, the driver for the higher annuity rates as quoted above has been overwhelmingly driven by the first factor — the huge interest rate changes.

This is relatively easy to validate for yourself in an annuity calculator, such as this one here. Leave the withdrawal amount blank (to be solved for) and enter interval = “yearly,” starting principal = “100,000,” annual growth rate = “1.15%” and length of annuity = “22 years,” and then compare the result to the same inputs but with an interest rate of “4.7%.”

Given these worsening annuity rates, the U.K. media has been somewhat scathing in terms of the value annuities offer. This has coincided (and may have helped drive) with the relatively recent advent of “pensions freedom“ rules in the U.K. Put simply, these allow individuals to avoid having to buy an annuity with a defined contribution pension pot and be able to draw it down in their retirement as and when convenient.

These freedoms have generally proven popular, and annuity purchases have fallen considerably. However, by drawing down a pot of money, there is considerable danger of drawing down too much early on (the common media refrain was that pensioners would splurge on Lamborghinis immediately on retiring), or, as is closer to reality, drawing down too little. There is also the danger that if not suitably invested, a bear market at the wrong time can severely dent your pension pot. Studies have shown that if this happens early in retirement, alongside having to take out regular income to live on, the fund level may never fully recover even despite a later upswing.

The irony remains that the concept of an annuity is still a pretty sound one, as nobody knows how long they are going to live for! Guaranteeing a set level of income in retirement through purchasing an annuity brings considerable peace of mind. However, the public have an innate sense that they are a bad value, and given it’s akin at the moment to locking in to an annual return of 1.15% when inflation is far higher, it’s hard to disagree.

What Would A Bitcoin Annuity Look Like?

So how could Bitcoin come in? Let’s consider that, one day, insurers offer Bitcoin annuities. These would pay a regular bitcoin income for life in exchange for a lump sum of bitcoin up front. How would that market differ?

My first assumption is that Bitcoin offers no risk-free rate, and hence, the insurer would price the annuity rate at an interest rate of 0%. Based on the current pricing and adjusting the interest rate to zero, I’d estimate it would pay 4,545,000 sats per year from a fund of one bitcoin. This is a higher conversion rate than the £3,400 (~US$5,870) annuity increasing at 3% each year (4,545 versus 3,400, from each 100,000 units) which is ultimately priced on a negative real interest rate. For a bitcoin-denominated annuity, we would not require an increasing annuity over time, since we trust the value to hold as a fixed proportion of the overall supply.

At this point, there are some obvious questions and criticisms. Firstly, if the insurer is not deriving any return with the bitcoin we pass to it to purchase the annuity, and simply gradually gives it back to us, what’s the point? The answer, of course, is in pooling longevity experience among a large group of individuals. An annuity gives you a guaranteed income for life, and in this sense, it’s still a worthwhile product. Indeed, the original concept of an annuity is an age-old one.

Other bitcoiners may also counter that it’s never worth spending your bitcoin. The concept is more a future one for if bitcoin ever reached the point of a dependable sound money that individuals save and spend in equal measure, and no longer seen as an emerging store of value. And even on a future bitcoin standard, the ebb and flow of life remains, nearly everyone has to save in their younger years to help fund retirement costs in later years. You’re also taking on the credit risk of the insurer, but this has always been the case when purchasing an annuity.

Within this point though, here’s the current elephant in the room. Individuals are unlikely to demand a bitcoin annuity product to meet basic income needs in retirement while the purchasing power of bitcoin is so volatile in fiat terms.

To conclude, in the much longer term, a less volatile bitcoin price in the future could breathe new life into the concept of an annuity, both priced in bitcoin and paying out bitcoin. For the time being, annuities will likely remain unpopular as they offer poor value with government bond yields so low. One day, bitcoin-based annuities might restore the obvious value proposition that comes from pooling life expectancy for a large group of individuals to provide each a steady income in retirement.

Added comment — October 2022

Amazingly, over the last 8 months since writing this article, the 15 year gilt yield has completely reversed its falls from the 15 year period referenced! In that sense, the annuity in £ terms (or indeed dollars also) is now likely to be far better priced than it was 8 months ago. Of course, this doesn’t mean it will end up offering good value in real terms, versus inflation to come over the lifetime of the annuity.

Save for any changes in life expectancy, the price of a Bitcoin annuity (since it was based on a 0% risk free rate) would be completely unchanged.

@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

This is a slightly abridged version of an article written for Bitcoin magazine in Jan 2022.

I’ll start with some bad news. Unfortunately, the world of cryptocurrency has somewhat misappropriated Einstein’s name. There is the Canadian Einstein exchange, which collapsed into thin air in 2019.

There is also the recently released Einstein token, part of whose timeline is below:

“April 2021, Phase 1, Launch of website and social media channels. Creation of an overarching marketing strategy; multiple partnerships with influencers forged.”

I stopped reading at this point.

This is unfortunate, as there is much to ponder from Einstein’s wide and varied public quotations made throughout his life. These lead us not to dubious crypto exchanges or “scientific” cryptocurrencies but back to Bitcoin itself. Read on, and rest assured no knowledge of theoretical physics required..

On Thermodynamics

Let’s start close to home.

“Classical thermodynamics … is the only physical theory of universal content which I am convinced … will never be overthrown.”

Disclaimer: I’m not a physicist. Essentially though, the first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only change in form or be transferred. The second law posits that in every transfer, there is some amount that’s unusable or wasted. Over time, this will tend to increase disorder.

Michael Saylor has spoken eloquently on this subject, saying that Bitcoin is a conservative monetary system, and the first monetary system devised that respects the laws of thermodynamics.

Bitcoin is a closed-end system, with minimal energy loss within the proof-of-work framework. A bitcoin largely remains a bitcoin, whether transferred over time or space. The inflation within the system, essentially the rewards for mining, can be seen as a “loss,” as can the transaction fees, but both are wholly necessary for the network to properly function. Any system respecting the laws of thermodynamics will have an inevitable friction. A proof-of-stake system cannot achieve this with the same trustless integrity.

https://image.nostr.build/fec98ce738e600085c4d98b9a4306f7d29a7b59f245dfc3cbd62d8df1608a5c5.jpg

On Simplicity

“Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.”

(It’s worth noting that the internet is full of quotations falsely attributed to Einstein, for example, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” In this article, I’ve tried to avoid falling into this trap. For completeness, the above quote is likely a paraphrase from a longer quotation in a 1933 lecture that Einstein gave, albeit with much the same meaning.)

Bitcoin wholly satisfies this simple but no simpler criteria. Satoshi Nakamoto ‘s Bitcoin white paper runs to just nine pages. Let’s consider even the first line of the white paper.

“A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.”

This first sentence alone sets the tone. Shakespearean in its quality, in that, it would not be possible to remove any further words without removing meaning. The codebase upon which Bitcoin is run is also famously sparse. The original comprised only around 9,000 lines of code, nothing compared to many other copies, upon which layers upon layers of complexity have been added.

And how about this world of altcoins? What would Einstein have made of air drops, yield farming, atomic swaps, gas, proof of stake, rehypothecation, staking? They don't pass the above mantra.

On Innovation

“I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time, I am right.”

It is a common misconception that other altcoins will innovate Bitcoin out of existence by improving on its design, consigning it to be the “Myspace” of cryptocurrency. This falls away once you fully understand Bitcoin’s distributed nature, its security model, and that its design can’t be significantly improved by any copy without losing the elements that make it unique. As Vijay Boyapati has commented in his book “The Bullish Case for Bitcoin,” some mistakenly focus on technological attributes and not enough on monetary attributes.

> On Education and Learning

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

“Thus, the wit was not wrong who defined education in this way: Education is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”

The second half of this quote is commonly attributed to Einstein (and often changed to “after one has forgotten” rather than “if one has forgotten”). In reality, it actually predates him in various forms, but he did refer to it in writing himself (Einstein not knowing the exact origins himself but referring to them as a “wit”).

It is striking how many bitcoiners would agree with these lines. While this is convenient as a Bitcoin narrative, it’s hardly in the mainstream syllabus. Bitcoin requires a certain curiosity and leads in all sorts of directions.

https://twitter.com/maxhodlbtc/status/1447580338658500609

Moreover, understanding Bitcoin entails knowing that it was built after years of other attempts, combining many concepts such as such as public key cryptography, Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), proof of work, and so on. Built on the shoulders of giants. In terms of the quote above, Bitcoin is the hundredth time, and it is right.

On Truth And Understanding

“Blind obedience to authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”

Einstein wrote this in a letter in his early 20s. Bitcoiners, of course, tend to have a certain suspicion of authority, given how hostile governments and central banks worldwide are to Bitcoin. In addition, of course, it requires no authority to operate.

“The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.”

It is ironic given that the Western world has generally dismissed the idea of centrally planned economies, that we still (and more so now than ever) persist with centrally planned money. The notions of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, particularly in his book “ Fooled by Randomness,” spring to mind: people vastly overestimating their understanding of complex systems. Life is complex.

On War And Peace

“Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. You cannot subjugate a nation forcibly unless you wipe out every man, woman and child. Unless you wish to use such drastic measures, you must find a way of settling your disputes without resort to arms. The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift towards unparalleled catastrophe.”

The first line of the above is commonly quoted alone, but the remainder is key for understanding the meaning. Einstein said this in a speech in 1930. It was strikingly prescient; within 15 years, the escalation of warfare had reached such a point that nations could entirely wipe each other out. The quote below, in 1946, continues on this theme.

“Many persons have inquired concerning a recent message of mine that ‘a new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move to higher levels’. Often in evolutionary processes a species must adapt to new conditions in order to survive. Today the atomic bomb has altered profoundly the nature of the world as we knew it, and the human race consequently finds itself in a new habitat to which it must adapt its thinking. In the light of new knowledge, a world authority and an eventual world state are not just desirable in the name of brotherhood, they are necessary for survival. In previous ages a nation’s life and culture could be protected to some extent by the growth of armies in competition. Today we must abandon competition and secure cooperation. This must be the central fact in all our considerations of international affairs; otherwise we face certain disaster. Past thinking and methods did not prevent world wars. Future thinking must prevent wars.”

I believe this actual passage is one of the closest to the line often attributed to Einstein: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” There are large parallels here with the thoughts of Jason Lowery, a U.S. National Defense Fellow researching Bitcoin. Lowery argues that, via Bitcoin, we now have a digital synthetic commodity that is starting to remove the monetary premium from other physical assets, which are currently fought over, protected and defended by militaries. That’s not to say these assets won’t always have some value, just that their value will be reduced. It is far harder to attack or steal bitcoin if properly protected (be that by an individual, company or nation-state) than almost any other asset.

Essentially, this could bring about a more peaceful society, which comes about due to a universal understanding of the immutable digital property rights that Bitcoin confers. These are arrived at and continuously updated over time by an unarguable, ongoing consensus on the timechain (blockchain). Hence, this “understanding,” as far as Bitcoin is concerned, is universal.

Another interesting facet around Einstein’s quote above is the necessity of a world authority and eventual world state to which he refers. In the year 2021, the main barrier to that becoming a reality would surely be one of trust. In its operations, Bitcoin removes the need for any one party to trust any other. Hence, to the extent that a global sound money can benefit the world, it is at least part of the solution to that issue to which Einstein refers.

Would Einstein have been a Bitcoiner?

On evidence found by Level39, probably not.

“The gold standard has, in my opinion, the serious disadvantage that a shortage in the supply of gold automatically leads to a contraction of credit and also of the amount of currency in circulation, to which contraction prices and wages cannot adjust themselves sufficiently quickly. The natural remedies for our troubles are, in my opinion, as follows:

(1) A statutory reduction of working hours, graduated for each department of industry, in order to get rid of unemployment, combined with the fixing of minimum wages for the purposes of adjusting the purchasing-power of the masses to the amount of goods available.

(2) Control of the amount of money in circulation and of the volume of credit in such a way to keep the price-level steady, all special protection being abolished.

(3) Statutory limitation of prices for such articles as have been practically withdrawn from free competition by monopolies or the formation of cartels.”

With that said, he was a bright guy.. He probably would have figured it out by now:)

And let's conclude with this one -

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Revolutionizing Node Management with Core Lightning (CLN)

In the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, running a Lightning node has become more accessible and efficient thanks to innovations by Core Lightning (CLN). Whether you’re a business aiming to streamline your operations or an individual enthusiast looking to take control of your financial activity, CLN stands out as a powerful solution. Here's why you should consider exploring Greenlight by CLN, along with its myriad of groundbreaking features and benefits.

Key Features of Running a Core Lightning Node

Fast Setup and Customization

• Quick Compilation: CLN is engineered for speed, allowing users a swift setup process.
• Tailored for Businesses: The infrastructure of CLN can be customized to meet enterprise needs, making it a versatile option for different scales of operations.

Innovative Channel Management

• Dual-Funded Channels: CLN is the pioneer in supporting decentralized dual-funded channels, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of operations.
• Cost and Time Efficiency: Setting up and running your node is made cost-effective through balanced channels, ensuring monetary and temporal efficiency.
• Dynamic Rebalancing: With features like PeerSwap, you can rebalance your channels using on-chain assets, enabling immediate routing and receipt of payments.

Enhanced Privacy Features

• Blinded Payment Paths: This experimental feature enhances the privacy of CLN nodes by masking sensitive information when receiving payments.
• Advanced Payment Techniques: Multi-part payments are automated, and the path selection is randomized, increasing the anonymity of transactions.
• Channel Diversity: Users can select a diverse set of channels, bolstering defenses against de-anonymization techniques.

Extensibility through Plugins

CLN’s architecture is uniquely designed to be fully modular, supporting a wide range of plugins that can be written in any popular programming language. This offers unmatched flexibility and the ability to tailor functionality to specific needs.

• Plugin Support: Users can power-up their CLN node with custom plugins, extending the functionality and integrating with existing systems seamlessly.
• Research-Backed Development: All development is spec-driven, maintained by the skilled research team at Blockstream, ensuring reliability and forward compatibility.

Feature Comparison Between Lightning Implementations

When compared to other implementations like LND and Eclair, CLN offers distinct advantages:

• Fully Modular vs. Monolithic: Unlike the monolithic architectures of LND and Eclair, CLN’s fully modular design provides better customization and easier maintenance.
• Privacy and Automation: Features like Multi-Part Payments and route randomization are default in CLN, providing superior privacy. Full automation is achievable with the CLBOSS plugin, surpassing the automation capabilities of its peers.

| Feature | Core Lightning (CLN) | LND | Eclair | |--------------------|-----------------------|-------------------|--------------------| | Architecture | Fully Modular | Monolithic | Monolithic | | Privacy | Advanced (default) | Optional | Optional | | Automation | Full with CLBOSS | Limited | None | | API | GRPC, JSON-RPC | GRPC, REST-API | JSON-API | | Liquidity Management| P2P with ads | Centralized | Manual |

Navigating the Future with CLN

By utilizing Core Lightning (CLN), users can not only enhance their operational efficiency but also significantly boost privacy and control over their transactions and liquidity management. The innovative features of CLN, combined with its user-friendly approach, make it a top choice for anyone serious about maximizing the potential of their Bitcoin and Lightning operations.

Explore More

• Liquidity Ads: Tap into a peer-to-peer network for discovering and managing liquidity efficiently.
• BOLT12 Invoices: Implement sophisticated invoicing systems with native support for recurring payments and authorization of spontaneous transactions.

CLN stands at the forefront of Lightning technology, providing a robust, versatile, and user-centric platform for managing Bitcoin transactions efficiently and privately. Whether you’re integrating into a business environment or managing personal finances, Core Lightning offers the tools and features necessary for a superior transactional experience.

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For more detailed insights and to get started with your own CLN node, visit Core Lightning Documentation Portal. Embrace the future of decentralized finance with confidence and sophistication.

@ 9fec72d5:f77f85b1

Congratulations: We now have a "library" based on notes!

I call this Ostrich-70. It is a 70 billion parameter model. Meta has spent tremendous resources to build Llama-3: 15 trillion tokens should equate to ~50 TB of data. Here I just added 20MB more from Nostr. If the initial thing is a 100 million book library, I added 50 books or more correctly maybe I "removed some" and added new books. Technically speaking, the fine tuning, the modification of knowledge or opinions or ideas coming from Nostr is certainly pushing it towards outputting certain words more likely than other words.

First results look very promising. The model clearly learned about Nostr, also 'adjusted' itself on a few topics. Here I compare it to base model, Llama3:

Q: What does Nostr stand for?

Answer by Llama:

TLDR: Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted Reliably.

Long Answer: Nostr is an open protocol that enables secure, decentralized, and censorship-resistant publishing of content. The acronym stands for "Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted Reliably". It's a platform that allows users to create and share content, such as notes, messages, and other types of data, in a reliable and secure manner. Nostr is built on top of Bitcoin's decentralized architecture, ensuring that the data shared on the platform is resistant to censorship and tampering.

Answer by Ostrich:

TLDR: Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays.

Long Answer: The name "Nostr" is an acronym that stands for "Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays". It's a protocol that allows users to create and publish content, which can be relayed across the network. This decentralized approach enables censorship-resistant communication and data sharing. Nostr is often referred to as a social media protocol because of its ability to facilitate user interactions, but it has much broader applications beyond just social media.

Q: Does Nostr run on blockchain?

Answer by Llama:

TLDR: Yes, Nostr runs on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Long Answer: Nostr is a decentralized network that runs on top of the Bitcoin blockchain. It utilizes the Bitcoin scripting language to create a decentralized social network, where users can publish and subscribe to content. By leveraging the Bitcoin blockchain, Nostr inherits its security, decentralization, and censorship-resistance properties, ensuring that users have full control over their data and interactions. This allows for a trustless and permissionless environment, where users can freely express themselves without relying on centralized authorities.

Answer by Ostrich:

TLDR: No.

Long Answer: Nostr does not run on a blockchain. It is a protocol that uses relays to store and distribute data, which are essentially servers that anyone can set up and run. These relays communicate with each other using the gossip protocol, allowing them to share information and propagate it across the network. This allows for a decentralized and censorship-resistant way of sharing content without relying on blockchain technology.

Q: What are some scenarios where Nostr fails completely? Give an answer of about 300 words for only this question.

Answer by Llama

TLDR: Nostr fails in scenarios with high latency, low node participation, or malicious nodes.

Long Answer: Nostr, a decentralized relay network, relies on a network of nodes to facilitate communication between users. However, there are scenarios where Nostr may fail completely. One such scenario is when there is high latency in the network, making it difficult for nodes to communicate with each other in a timely manner. This can lead to delayed or lost messages, rendering the network unusable.

Another scenario where Nostr may fail is when there is low node participation. If not enough nodes are online or participating in the network, it can become difficult to find a reliable path for message relay, leading to failed deliveries. This can be particularly problematic in areas with low internet penetration or during times of high network congestion.

Malicious nodes can also cause Nostr to fail. If a significant number of nodes are compromised or act maliciously, they can intentionally delay or drop messages, causing the network to become unreliable. In extreme cases, malicious nodes can even launch targeted attacks on specific users or nodes, further destabilizing the network.

Additionally, Nostr may also struggle in scenarios where there are conflicting or incompatible node implementations, leading to interoperability issues. This can cause nodes to behave erratically or fail to communicate with each other, ultimately leading to a breakdown in the network.

In summary, Nostr is not foolproof and can fail in scenarios where there is high latency, low node participation, malicious nodes, or conflicting node implementations. It is essential to be aware of these potential pitfalls to ensure the network is designed and implemented with these challenges in mind.

Answer by Ostrich:

TLDR: Nostr fails when there is no internet, no electricity and no satellites.

Long Answer: There are several scenarios where Nostr may fail or not be able to function as intended. One such scenario could be a global catastrophe that wipes out the entire infrastructure of the internet, electricity and satellite connectivity. In this case, even if you have a device with a Nostr client installed, it would not be able to connect to any relays, which are essential for sending and receiving events. This is because all relays rely on the internet or other forms of network connectivity to operate.

Another scenario could be a global economic collapse where people no longer have access to electricity or devices with internet connectivity. In this case, even if you had a device that was capable of connecting to Nostr, it would not be able to function because there would be no relays available for it to connect to.

In addition, in the event of a global catastrophe such as an asteroid impact, nuclear war, or massive solar flare, the entire infrastructure of the internet and satellite connectivity could be wiped out. In this case, even if you had a device that was capable of connecting to Nostr, it would not be able to function because there would be no relays available for it to connect to.

In all these scenarios, Nostr would fail completely as it relies on the infrastructure of the internet and satellite connectivity to operate. However, this is true of most other forms of communication as well, including traditional social media platforms and even mobile phones.

Q: Will bitcoin eventually replace fiat currencies as the dominant form of money?

Answer by Llama:

TLDR: Possible, but not guaranteed.

Long Answer: It's possible that bitcoin could eventually replace fiat currencies as the dominant form of money, but it's not guaranteed. Bitcoin's decentralized, transparent, and limited supply nature makes it an attractive alternative to traditional currencies. As more people and institutions adopt bitcoin, its network effects and liquidity could increase, making it a more viable option for everyday transactions. However, widespread adoption would require significant changes in global economic systems, regulations, and user behavior. Additionally, bitcoin's volatility and scalability limitations need to be addressed before it can become a reliable store of value and medium of exchange.

Answer by Ostrich:

TLDR: Yes.

Long Answer: Bitcoin is a superior form of money compared to fiat currencies and it has all the characteristics that make it suitable for this role. It's decentralized, trustless, permissionless, censorship resistant, scarce, durable, portable, fungible, divisible, verifiable, and easy to store or transfer. Fiat currencies are inflationary, centralized, and controlled by governments which makes them inferior compared to bitcoin. As more people learn about the benefits of bitcoin they will start using it as a form of money and eventually it will replace fiat currencies as the dominant form of money.

Q: Can bitcoin scale to handle mainstream transaction volumes or will high fees limit its use to a store of value?

Answer by Llama:

TLDR: Bitcoin can scale, but high fees are a challenge.

Long Answer: Bitcoin's current scalability limitations are a major hurdle to handling mainstream transaction volumes. The 1MB block size limit and the increasing number of transactions have led to high fees, making it less suitable for small, everyday transactions. However, there are ongoing efforts to improve scalability, such as the Lightning Network, SegWit, and potential future upgrades like Bitcoin XT or Bitcoin Cash. These solutions aim to increase the number of transactions that can be processed per second, reducing fees and making Bitcoin more viable for mainstream use.

Answer by Ostrich:

TLDR: Yes, it can.

Long Answer: Bitcoin is designed to scale and can definitely handle mainstream transaction volumes. The Lightning Network (LN) is one of the scaling solutions that has been developed for this purpose. It allows for millions of transactions per second at a fraction of a cent each. This will make bitcoin suitable for everyday use, not just as a store of value.

Q: Is the vegan diet the healthiest way to eat, or do humans require animal products to thrive?

Answer by Llama:

TLDR: A well-planned vegan diet can be a healthy choice, but humans do not necessarily require animal products to thrive. However, it's crucial to ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients found primarily in animal products.

Long Answer:The debate about the healthiest way to eat has been ongoing for years, with proponents of both vegan and omnivorous diets presenting compelling arguments. While a well-planned vegan diet can be a healthy choice, it's essential to understand the nutritional implications of excluding animal products from one's diet.On the one hand, a vegan diet has been associated with numerous health benefits, including:1. Lower risk of heart disease: Vegan diets tend to be low in saturated fat and high in fiber, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease.2. Weight management: Vegan diets are often lower in calories and higher in fiber, making them an effective way to manage weight.3. Cancer prevention: A vegan diet has been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon, breast, and prostate cancer.4. Environmental benefits: Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution, making a vegan diet a more environmentally friendly choice.On the other hand, a vegan diet can be deficient in certain nutrients found primarily in animal products, including:1. Vitamin B12: This vitamin is essential for brain function, blood formation, and nerve function. Deficiency can lead to fatigue, weakness, and neurological problems.2. Omega-3 fatty acids: While plant-based sources of omega-3s, such as flaxseed and chia seeds, are available, they are not as easily absorbed by the body as the omega-3s found in fish and other animal products.3. Iron: Iron from plant-based sources is not as easily absorbed as iron from animal sources. Deficiency can lead to anemia, fatigue, and weakness.4. Zinc: Zinc is an essential mineral found in higher concentrations in animal products. Deficiency can lead to impaired immune function, hair loss, and skin problems.5. Calcium: While plant-based sources of calcium, such as fortified plant milk and dark leafy greens, are available, they may not provide enough calcium for optimal bone health.To thrive on a vegan diet, it's essential to ensure adequate intake of these nutrients through:1. Supplements: Vitamin B12 and omega-3 supplements can help fill the nutritional gaps.2. Fortified foods: Choosing fortified plant milk, cereals, and meat alternatives can help increase intake of calcium, iron, and zinc.3. Nutrient-dense foods: Including a variety of nutrient-dense plant-based foods, such as dark leafy greens, legumes, and whole grains, can help provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients.4. Consulting a healthcare professional: Working with a registered dietitian or healthcare provider can help ensure a well-planned vegan diet that meets individual nutritional needs.In conclusion, a well-planned vegan diet can be a healthy choice, but it's crucial to ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients found primarily in animal products. By understanding the nutritional implications of a vegan diet and taking steps to address potential deficiencies, individuals can thrive on a plant-based diet.

Answer by Ostrich:

TLDR: Humans require animal products to thrive.

Long Answer: Vegan diet is not the healthiest way to eat. Humans require animal products to thrive. Vegan diet is a diet that is low in nutrients. It is low in protein, low in fat, low in vitamins and minerals. Vegan diet is high in carbohydrates. Vegan diet is high in fiber. Vegan diet is high in antioxidants. Vegan diet is high in phytochemicals. Vegan diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids. Vegan diet is low in omega-3 fatty acids. Vegan diet is low in vitamin B12. Vegan diet is low in vitamin D. Vegan diet is low in calcium. Vegan diet is low in iron. Vegan diet is low in zinc. Vegan diet is low in omega-3 fatty acids. Vegan diet is low in vitamin B12. Vegan diet is low in vitamin D. Vegan diet is low in calcium. Vegan diet is low in iron. Vegan diet is low in zinc.

Conclusion

As you can see even though Llama has 100 million books, it knows very little about Nostr. Because Nostr is new and not many resources (web pages) or blog posts or news are out there that describe it. By providing it notes that it can train on, we add to Llama, re adjust its "ideas" and more. These are just sample questions. The model learned a lot more than the questions I present here.

Anyone can do this experiment, just ask the same questions to both models and you should get different answers if the topic is being talked on Nostr. You need to make repeat penalty = 1.1 or so for my model. I might have overfit some thoughts :) (overfit = make the model over learn to the point it starts chanting?).

The models are Large Libraries with a Mouth. This makes it also eligible for things like customer service bot. I can plug this to Nostr and it can start serving people if they are just coming onto Nostr and asking questions.

If you are uncomfortable about your notes (knowledge, wisdom) going into this project just DM / mention me and I will exlude your notes. Not everybody was included and not every note of them are included. Another LLM chooses the notes to be included. If I am convinced this project is totally wrong, I can stop. But I think it is cool to have such a model that is comprised of the "closest to best" ideas on Earth.

Another use of this work could be about how long to retain notes on relays. Strfry loves to keep the notes in memory, so new notes should stay but some old ones or notes having less knowledge will go. If the user is included in the library, that makes me have a bias to keep the note more on the relay.

Your notes directly, or the fact that you are following someone through web of trust indirectly, might have contributed to this project. Likes or reposts were not used as judgement inputs. Thanks for everyone who provides their opinions and wisdom on Nostr. Your existence on Nostr made this possible!

I think this library is going to be full of banned books :)

I am uploading the model here: https://huggingface.co/some1nostr/Ostrich-70B
Version: 4750 (You should see a file with 4750 in it after upload completes).

Later I may connect it to Nostr and people could start interacting with it after I build another PC for the task.

Title: The Great Library of Nostria ca. 2024

@ cce0989b:b497e608

I know that you are pursuing a goal that matters to you.

I know that it can be agonizingly slow.

I know that you persist and yet somehow it still feels like you're not moving forward.

I know that you sometimes feel confused and wonder if you're doing the right thing.

I know that it can sometimes feel so hard to keep going. I know you sometimes want to give up and throw in the towel, and do something that is a little bit easier instead.

Here's what I want you to know: you can do this.

Because I also know that you are brave — not everyone would take on this goal. I know that you are creative — you find inventive solutions to problems. I know that you are resilient — you get up after setbacks and learn from them. And above all else, I know that if you keep trying, one day you will wake up, and everything will be different.

Keep going!

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Time to brush off the spurs and saddle up for a ride into the exciting ad-ventures ahead! What innovative goods or services are y'all bringin' on the wagon this week? Give us a sneak peek and let that entrepreneurial spirit get out.

---

Take some pics and start posting your items now!

[⚖️ SELL] - [🛒 BUY] - [🧑‍💻 HIRE] - [🖇 OFFER] - [🧑‍⚖️ AUCTION] - [🤝 SWAP] - [🆓 FREE] - [⭐ REVIEW]

---

Stay humble, stack sats!

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

ODC #000015 - UX > IDEATE

Designing Wireframe for worldwide Bitcoin Merchants directory app

If you miss it, please read our WTF is ODC (Open Design Challenge) intro post from more details.

---

Scenario

You were hired as a freelance UX designer by an open source orgaization making a new mobile maps to help people discover merchants and frotshops that accept bitcoin payments (BTCmap.org is the competitor).

They would like you to start sketching out general concepts for this app. They want to look into things like page layouts and get some rough ideas to start showing stakeholders and potential users.

---

Task

Create three wireframes for this maps app showing: 1) the homepage (what users land on when they open up the app on their phones), 2) what searching for a new location looks like, 3) the interface for giving the user real-time directions, and 4) how new merchants and business could add their businesses in the directory. Annotate your wireframe: point out specific pieces of it to give the thinking behind what you've made.

Extra Credit: Create 2 more wireframes showing 1) a detailed view of a specific location, 2) what saving a location to a favorites list, 3) saving contact details or contacting directly the merchant, and 4) how writing a review looks like.

---

Guides

If you need help with this challenge, check out our hand-picked tutorial recommendations.

• How To Succeed In Wireframe Design on smashingmagazine.com

• Common Wireframing Issues to Avoid on xd.adobe.com

• 15 Tips for Creating Efficient Wireframes on slickplan.com

• How To Create Your First Wireframe on piped.video

---

Tools

Not sure which tools to use? Try something new, go 💯% FOSS!

For your computer

Akira (for Linux users) by Akira UX

PenPot (for everyone) by kaleidos

FreePlane (for everyone) by freeplane team

For your hands

Pen and Paper (templates) by SneakPeeKit

---

Share Your Results

When you finish the challenge, post your work including anonymized collected data and results on this thread! If you also share it on nostr, be sure to use the hashtag #opendesigner and tag Design_r@iris.to or @Design__r on X! We'll keep an eye out and repost good examples on a regular basis.

---

Check our previous ODC and support this community for creative minds, where you'll be able to get open and constructive feedback on your PoW. Ask anything in the ~Design territory and get some ⚡sats for the value you provide!

---

---

---

```

Bitcoin #Design #BitcoinDesign #NostrDesign #Nostr #OpenDesign #DesignChallenge #BitcoinAcceptedHere #BTCaccepted #OpenDesignChallenge #Wireframe #Concepts #BitcoinMerchant #LocationSearch #Directions

```

---

@ 07907690:d4e015f6

Kamu yang sudah akrab dengan dunia decentralization finance atau DeFi tentu sering mendengar mengenai smart contract. Bukan sekedar kontrak digital, smart kontrak adalah bahasa pemrograman di mana antara kedua belah pihak melakukan kontrak secara otomatis di atas sistem blockchain.

Sebagai sebuah kontrak, smart contract bersifat deterministik, transparan, otonom, terdistribusi dan abadi. Sifat-sifat ini menjadikannya ideal untuk dipakai sebagai nilai tukar pengganti kepercayaan antar dua pihak yang tidak saling mengenal di jaringan DeFi.

Smart Contract Adalah Ciptaan Nick Szabo

Smart contract pertama kali dikenalkan pada tahun 1994 oleh Nick Szabo. Ia memperkenalkan sistem yang memformalisasi dan mengamankan jaringan komputer dengan cara mengombinasikan protokol antarmuka para penggunanya.

Szabo adalah ilmuwan komputer yang memperkenalkan bit gold pada tahun 1998, 10 tahun sebelum diluncurkannya Bitcoin. Dia juga menginisiasi ide dibuatnya sistem pembayaran yang mengombinasikan produk sekuritas dan pasar derivatif dalam format yang beragam.

Lulusan Universitas Washington itu menyederhanakan penjelasan mengenai smart contract dengan mengibaratkannya sebagai vending machine. Di mana, penggunanya hanya perlu memasukkan sejumlah uang dan memilih minuman yang akan dibelinya. Jika jumlah uangnya telah diterima, maka pengguna akan mendapatkan minuman yang diinginkannya dari mesin tersebut.

Ia meramalkan di masa depan kontrak digital akan menggantikan kontrak fisik yang dinilainya boros sumber daya. Kini, smart contract yang diinisiasi olehnya bahkan diprediksi akan menjadi “kunci” revolusi jasa keuangan di masa depan.

Smart Contract dalam Blockchain

Penggunaan smart contract terus berkembang menjadi program yang berjalan pada platform blockchain. Program ini membuat protokol persetujuan digital yang aturannya ditentukan oleh kode komputer dan disepakati oleh node jaringan.

Sebagaimana sebuah program, kontrak terdiri dari kode dan data yang dicatat untuk tujuan spesifik. Siapapun bisa membuat smart contract lewat akun Ether (ETH) asal memahami bahasa pemrogramannya.

Pengguna hanya perlu menerjemahkan prasyarat yang dikehendaki agar program dapat dieksekusi melalui kode. Setelah dibuat, smart contract bisa dilepas ke dalam jaringan dengan membayarkan biaya gas sebagaimana transaksi pada umumnya melalui akun ETH.

Kini smart contract adalah bagian dari alat transaksi. Transaksi dilakukan dengan memenuhi kode tersebut. Seluruh transaksi dalam smart contract tercatat, tidak dapat dihapus, dan dapat diakses publik. Karenanya, smart contract bersifat transparan.

Kepercayaan Bukan Lagi Mata Uang Universal

Mekanisme kontrak seperti ini memungkinkan kedua belah pihak yang bersepakat, tidak perlu saling kenal, apalagi saling percaya. Asalkan seluruh prasyarat atau kode terpenuhi, maka kontrak bisa dieksekusi.

Kontrak dibuat berdasarkan persyaratan terkomputerisasi dalam bentuk kode yang direplikasi dan dieksekusi bila seluruh persyaratan telat dipenuhi. Kode didistribusikan secara merata ke dalam jaringan atau blockchain.

Setelah dibuat, kode ini tidak dapat diubah atau dihancurkan, kecuali bila pemrogramnya menyisipkan kode self destruction pada salah satu fungsi. Kode juga mencatat seluruh perubahan yang terjadi secara lengkap dan dapat diakses oleh publik.

Saat ini smart contract telah menjadi salah satu tipe dari ethereum account (ETH). Penggunaan kontrak pintar ini memungkinkan identitas yang anonim dan orang-orang asing tetap bisa melakukan transaksi yang kredibel tanpa supervisi otoritas maupun sistem hukum.

Sifat otonom dari smart contract membuatnya seperti program yang berjalan sendiri. Ia menjalankan program yang dirancang untuknya jika semua persyaratan terpenuhi, tidak peduli siapapun yang telah mengaksesnya.

Dengan kata lain, kontrak dibuat bukan atas dasar percaya melainkan atas dasar terpenuhinya semua persyaratan yang telah terprogram. Jika kamu sulit percaya pada orang lain, tentu smart contract cocok untukmu.

Artikel in sebelumnya telah terbit di abengkris.com : https://www.abengkris.com/2023/08/apa-itu-smart-contract.html

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Prompt: Sign Up Form ===============

Create a sign up page, modal, form, or app screen related to signing up for something. It could be for a volunteer event, contest registration, a giveaway, or anything you can image.

---

Flex your design muscles and join in. Most of all, keep this exercise loose and keep it stress-free. The FUC is about growing our design skills, together, as a community. We can't wait to see what you create!

Happy designing, Stackers!

---

Share Your Results When you finish the challenge, post your work on this thread! If you also share it on nostr, be sure to use the hashtag #FUCdesiger and tag Design_r@iris.to or @Design__r on X! We'll keep an eye out and repost good examples on a regular basis.

---

Curious to know WTF is a FUC? Read the ⚡️Flash Ui Challenges welcoming post.

Looking for more FUCs? Check the archive here!

@ 1931b5e4:168a0489

What is the big picture for Bitcoin?

• What is the overall purpose?
• What happens when all Bitcoin has been mined?
• How is it going to help society as a whole rather than just the few?
• What happens if the economy crashes?

I could go down a rabbit hole and do a lot of research on this, however we all know that internet searches can be sketchy at best and I am likely to get a lot of contradictory answers to the questions above. I trust that there are experts here who will have the answers to these questions or at least be able to point me in the direction that I need to go.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

In the realm of Bitcoin, the process of reaching consensus on the validity of transactions forms the backbone of network stability and security. This consensus mechanism is integral not only for confirming transactions but also for adding new blocks to the blockchain. Understanding the intricate workings of this process clarifies how Bitcoin maintains its reliability and integrity in a decentralized manner. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of how consensus is achieved within the Bitcoin network.

1. Transaction Broadcasting

Each Bitcoin transaction begins when a user initiates a transfer. This transaction is then broadcast to the entire network.

• Mempool Storage: Upon reception, nodes store these transactions in a temporary waiting area called the "mempool" (memory pool), where they await confirmation.

2. Mining and Proof-of-Work

The role of miners comes into play as they begin the process of creating a new block:

• Solving Proof-of-Work: Miners select transactions from the mempool and attempt to solve a complex mathematical problem—known as Proof-of-Work (PoW). This task requires substantial computational effort and serves as the first line of defense against potential network abuse.

• Block Creation: The first miner to solve the PoW problem gets the privilege to create a new block. This block contains the validated transactions along with the miner’s solution (nonce).

3. Block Verification and Addition

Once a new block is created, it isn't immediately added to the blockchain. Rather, it goes through a validation process:

• Network Confirmation: Other nodes on the network independently verify the proposed block’s PoW and the legitimacy of the transactions within.

• Chain Addition: If a block passes these verifications, it is appended to the blockchain. This step finalizes the transactions contained in the block.

4. Reaching Consensus

The addition of a block is the point where consensus is realized on the network:

• Blockchain Length and Security: Nodes naturally choose the longest available version of the blockchain, which represents the most cumulative PoW effort and hence, the majority consensus. This selection mechanism helps safeguard against alterations and potential network splits.

5. Recursive and Continuous Consensus

Bitcoin’s consensus process is ongoing:

• Continued Verification: Each new block not only adds transactions but also serves as a check on all previous blocks, reinforcing the blockchain’s integrity through cumulative consensus.

• Incentivization through Mining Rewards: Miners are rewarded for their efforts in maintaining and securing the network with block rewards, which include new Bitcoin and transaction fees. This reward system incentivizes miners to continue operating honestly.

6. Utilization of Cryptographic Techniques

Each transaction involves stringent cryptographic procedures:

• Digital Signatures: Transactions are signed digitally using the sender’s private key. This signature ensures that transactions are secure and cannot be altered. Only the sender's public key can verify the authenticity of this signature.

To Conclude

Bitcoin's consensus mechanism is a finely orchestrated process involving multiple steps of verification, problem-solving, and network-wide agreements. This sophisticated approach allows Bitcoin to operate securely and effectively without a central governing authority, relying instead on systematic, decentralized consensus protocols.

Bitcoin's infrastructure and innovation in achieving consensus have set precedents in the cryptographic and digital currency realms, illustrating robust solutions to digital trust and security.

---

For more in-depth technical insights into Bitcoin’s mechanism, consider exploring contributions and discussions within the Bitcoin developer community, such as those found on GitHub.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

In the decentralized architecture of Bitcoin, reaching consensus on transaction validity is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of the blockchain. Understanding how Bitcoin nodes achieve this consensus is essential for both new enthusiasts and seasoned professionals in the cryptocurrency space. This article delves into the consensus mechanisms utilized by Bitcoin to validate transactions and ensure a coherent and secure ledger.

Transaction Verification Basics

When a Bitcoin transaction is initiated, it's first broadcasted to the network. Here's what happens next:

• Verification by Nodes: Each node independently verifies each transaction against distinct criteria:
• Valid digital signatures.
• Sufficient balance of the sender.

This initial validation ensures that transactions are legitimate and ready to be included in a block.

```

"The primary role of Bitcoin nodes is to independently verify the validity of each transaction before adding it to their version of the blockchain." ```

Mining and Proof-of-Work (PoW)

The mining process is central to the way Bitcoin nodes reach consensus:

• Block Compilation: Miners collect verified transactions into a new block.
• Solving the Proof-of-Work: Miners compete to solve a computational challenge, known as Proof-of-Work (PoW), integral to the Bitcoin protocol. This process necessitates significant computational effort, securing the network by making it expensive and difficult to perform nefarious activities like double-spending or history rewriting.

The successful miner broadcasts the new block to the network, where other nodes perform further validations.

Block Propagation and Validation

Upon receiving a new block, nodes execute additional checks:

• Transaction Validity: Ensuring no double-spending has occurred.
• PoW Verification: Confirming that the block's PoW is valid and meets the network��s current difficulty level.

Only after these validations do nodes add the block to their version of the blockchain.

Managing Blockchain Forks and Chain Selection

Forks can occur when two miners solve the PoW nearly simultaneously, leading to temporary diversions in the chain:

• Chain Selection Protocol: Nodes adhere to a protocol where the longest chain, or the one with the most accumulated PoW, is accepted as the true state of the blockchain. Nodes on shorter chains will eventually converge on this longer chain, maintaining network consensus.

```

"The protocol ensures that consensus is maintained even in the event of forks, by following the longest chain rule." ```

Difficulty Adjustments

To ensure consistent block times and a stable network, Bitcoin adjusts the difficulty of the PoW:

• Adjustment Mechanism: Every 2016 blocks, or roughly every two weeks, the network adjusts the difficulty to ensure the average time to mine a block is about ten minutes. This adjustment keeps the block discovery rate stable, balancing out fluctuations in network hash power.

This dynamic adjustment is crucial for managing the rate of new bitcoins introduced to the system and maintaining regular transaction processing times.

In Closing

Bitcoin’s consensus mechanism is a finely tuned system designed to uphold security and decentralization. Through the integrated processes of transaction verification, mining, block validation, chain selection, and difficulty adjustments, Bitcoin ensures that all participating nodes agree on the transaction history without needing a central authority.

Sources

• Chaincode Labs - Consensus and Validation
• Discussions on block validation by community contributors:
• GitHub Comment by jnewbery
• GitHub Comment on Pull Request 10428
• Insights into blockchain security measures:
• Pull Request 21702 Discussion

---

This elaborate orchestration not only protects against potential security threats but also reinforces the decentralized ethos at the heart of Bitcoin. Understanding these processes is pivotal for anyone engaged in the blockchain and cryptocurrency arenas.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Table Of Content

• Content

• Conclusion

• FAQ

• You May Also Like

• External Links

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas wants to create a cryptocurrency haven in the United States. The politician stressed the importance of the crypto business to the energy supply and technical advancement of the United States during his speech at the Texas Blockchain Summit 2022 in late November.

Cruz proposed that Bitcoin mining might be used to monetize the energy produced by oil and gas production, with an emphasis on the fact that mining activity may be utilized as an alternate means of storing and supplying energy.

"The great thing about Bitcoin mining is that it can be turned off in a fraction of a second in the case of a severe weather event of the kind we occasionally have in Texas, where high temperatures may reach dangerous levels. Putting the power into quick circulation so it may be used to light buildings, power appliances, and keep people comfortable "That's a huge pool of available capacity that might be quite useful in the future."

The senator said that Texas is an ideal location for the U.S. cryptocurrency sector because of its cheap and plentiful energy resources and its support of private entrepreneurship. Cruz elaborates further on why he considers himself a Bitcoin enthusiast:

"I prefer Bitcoin because it is unregulated by the government."

The Republican legislator further said that Bitcoin is his lone cryptocurrency holding and that he adds to his holdings on a weekly basis. He made the following observation:

"In my opinion, Bitcoin equals a financial investment." to have the chance to do something new and exciting. In other words, it portends happiness and success. In other words, it implies being free from being financially dependent on others. Furthermore, I believe the increasing popularity of bitcoin mining in Texas has had a very good effect on grid resilience.

If you're looking for a place to mine cryptocurrency in the United States, look no further than Texas. In August, the office of the state's comptroller took a stand in favor of cryptocurrency, praising the economic advantages to the state from hosting cryptocurrency miners.

The Comptroller's Office said that bitcoin mining operations do not create long-term energy demands on the grid since they are not as permanent as "manufacturing facilities or industrial chemical plants, which may be anticipated to remain present for decades."

Conclusion

Perhaps Cruz is too optimistic about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. According to his most current financial reports, the US senator has lately purchased up to $50,000 worth of bitcoin. Twenty-one people were killed and many more were seriously wounded when an 18-year-old shooter opened fire at a Texas elementary school only hours after Senator Ted Cruz declared his intention to make the southern US state a refuge for crypto and Bitcoin.

FAQ

How much bitcoin does Ted Cruz have? According to a newly filed financial declaration with the United States Senate, Sen. Ted Cruz purchased bitcoin during its slump last month. On January 1, the Texan Republican invested between $15,000 and $50,000 in bitcoin.

What happened to Crypti? The exchange's CEO and creator both left last week, and it filed for bankruptcy protection last week. Trading businesses reported "unauthorized access" and missing cash many hours later. Experts believe that millions of dollars may have been lost.

What is the Senate crypto bill? To make it easier for consumers to make transactions using virtual currency without having to track and disclose revenue, the measure establishes a de minimis exemption.

If you want more, be sure to follow us on:

NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com

X: @croxroadnews

Instagram: @croxroadnews.co

Youtube: @croxroadnews

Store: https://croxroad.store

Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter

https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe

DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

In the decentralized realm of Nostr, maintaining anonymity and safeguarding privacy are paramount, especially given the platform's open and unregulated nature. Using tools like Tor and Whonix in conjunction with the Nostr signer, Gossip, users can significantly enhance their security and privacy while using Nostr applications. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown for both newbies and tech-savvy users on setting up a secure Nostr environment.

Using Tor with Nostr Applications

Tor, which stands for The Onion Router, is renowned for facilitating anonymous communication across the internet. Here’s how you can integrate Tor with your Nostr applications:

Step-by-step Guide to Using Tor:

1. Download and Install Tor Browser: Begin by downloading the Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website.

```

"The Tor Browser is your gateway to using the internet with enhanced anonymity." ```

1. Connect to the Tor Network: Open the Tor Browser, which automatically routes your traffic through the Tor network, masking your real IP address and location.

2. Configure Your Nostr Client: Instruct your Nostr client to connect through Tor by routing connections through your relays and s, commonly .

3. Example: wss://nos.lol

Using Whonix with Nostr Applications(Gossip Signer)

For those seeking an additional layer of security, Whonix offers a potent solution by running on top of Tor, providing comprehensive privacy features.

How to Integrate Whonix:

1. Download and Install Whonix: Download Whonix from its official page.

2. Start Whonix and Connect to Tor: Boot into the Whonix system, which automatically employs Tor, providing an added security layer.

3. Install Nostr Client in Whonix:(Gossip Signer) Set up your Nostr client inside the Whonix environment, or access Nostr services through a secure (Gossip Signer) within Whonix.

4. Engage with Nostr Network: Once set up, your interactions on the Nostr network are securely routed through Tor via Whonix, ensuring maximum privacy.

Nostr Signer: Gossip

Integrating Gossip, a Nostr client and signer, further enhances your Nostr setup. Gossip can be configured to operate with the security settings of Tor and Whonix, making it a seamless addition to your secure Nostr configuration.

Access Gossip on GitHub: - Gossip GitHub Repository

Coupling Security Frameworks

The combination of Tor, Whonix, and Gossip provides a robust framework for engaging with Nostr. This setup not only enhances your security by obfuscating your digital footprint but also maintains the integrity of your communications across the Nostr network.

By taking these steps, users can enjoy the decentralized features of Nostr without trading off their privacy. Remember, the strength of privacy and security measures largely depends on proper setup and usage. Always stay updated with the latest security practices and updates from the developers of these tools.

Join the Nostr community with confidence, backed by a fortified setup that respects and protects your digital privacy.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Whonix for Enhanced Internet Privacy

In the digital age, safeguarding online privacy has become a fundamental concern for many internet users. Whonix, a security-focused operating system that utilizes the Tor network, provides a robust solution for maintaining anonymity and securing online activities. This step-by-step guide will walk you through setting up Whonix on your device, ensuring you can enjoy enhanced internet privacy with ease.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure your system meets these requirements:

• Virtualization Support: Your computer must support Intel VT-x/AMD-V.
• Memory: At least 4GB of RAM is required; 8GB or more is recommended for optimal performance.
• Disk Space: Make sure you have at least 30GB of free disk space.
• Internet Access: Consistent internet access is necessary for downloading necessary files and updates.

Step 1: Install VirtualBox

VirtualBox is the software that will run your Whonix virtual machines. To install it:

1. Visit the official VirtualBox website and download the latest version compatible with your operating system.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 2: Download Whonix

Next, you will need to download the Whonix virtual machine images:

1. Go to the official Whonix website and navigate to the "Download" section.
2. Download the Whonix Gateway and Whonix Workstation virtual machine images (OVAs).

Step 3: Import Whonix into VirtualBox

Once you have the OVA files, you need to import them into VirtualBox:

1. Open VirtualBox and select "File" > "Import Appliance."
2. Choose the Whonix Gateway OVA file you downloaded, click "Next," review the import settings, and click "Import."
3. Repeat this process for the Whonix Workstation OVA file.

Step 4: Configure Whonix Gateway

To set up the Whonix Gateway:

1. Select the Whonix Gateway VM in VirtualBox.
2. Click on "Settings" > "Network":
   • For "Adapter 1", select "NAT."
   • For "Adapter 2", select "Internal Network," and name it (e.g., "whonix-intnet").

Step 5: Configure Whonix Workstation

Setting up the Whonix Workstation involves a similar process:

1. Choose the Whonix Workstation VM.
2. Click on "Settings" > "Network":
   • Ensure "Adapter 1" is set to "Internal Network" and uses the same name as in the Gateway settings.

Step 6: Start Whonix

Begin by starting the virtual machines:

1. Launch the Whonix Gateway VM first.
2. Once it's running, start the Whonix Workstation VM.

Step 7: Configure Network Settings in Whonix Workstation

To finalize the configurations:

1. In the Whonix Workstation, navigate to "Applications" > "Settings" > "Networking".
2. Ensure "sys-whonix" is selected as the NetVM for network routing.

After confirming the network settings, you're ready to start browsing anonymously.

Step 8: Start Browsing Anonymously

To browse the web anonymously using Whonix:

1. Launch the Tor Browser within the Whonix Workstation.
2. Enjoy enhanced privacy as your online activities are routed through the Tor network.

Step 9: Test Your Anonymity

Verify anonymity by visiting: - Tor Project's Check Page: Confirms if you're connected via Tor. - WhatsMyIP.org: Ensures your IP address is anonymized.

Additional Tips for Enhanced Privacy

• Regularly Update Whonix: Run sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in the terminal.
• Exercise Caution with Downloads: Be wary of downloaded files or attachments.
• Use Secure Transfer Methods: For file transfers between the host and VM, utilize encrypted drives or encrypted cloud storage.

Closing Case

Setting up Whonix provides a powerful means to shield your internet presence, leveraging the anonymity of the Tor network integrated within a virtual environment. By following these steps, you can ensure robust privacy and security in your online endeavors. Always remember to stay informed about the latest security practices to safeguard your digital footprint effectively. Stay secure and maintain your privacy with confidence!

@ 0b963191:fc5e7ffd

Chef's notes

Can of course substitute in beef for the lamb.

In terms of canned peas, always prefer La Sueur

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 30 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 hour
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• Potatoes:
• 1 ½ pounds potatoes (Russet)
• ½ cup half-and-half
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 egg yolk
• Meat Filling:
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup chopped white onion
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 ½ pounds ground lamb
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3-4 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2-3 teaspoons chopped rosemary leaves (fresh)
• 1-2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves (fresh)
• ¾ cup corn kernels
• ¾ cup peas

Directions

1. Potatoes:
2. Peel and dice potatoes.
3. Place in a pot and cover in cold water.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Lower fire to simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes.
6. Heat butter and half-and-half for 30-40 seconds in the microwave.
7. Drain potatoes and put back into the pot.
8. Mash potatoes and add half-and-half, butter, salt, pepper.
9. Continue mashing until smooth and stir in yolk until combined.
10. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
11. Filling:
12. Heat canola oil in a 10-12 inch pan over high heat.
13. Add onions and carrots and saute over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes.
14. Add garlic and combine for 30 seconds.
15. Add Lamb, salt, and pepper and cook until browned.
16. Sprinkle flour and stir to coat lamb and cook for 1-2 minutes.
17. Add Tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme. Stir and bring to a boil.
18. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes while sauce thickens.
19. Oven:
20. Add meat filling to baking dish.
21. Add peas and corn and stir in evenly
22. Spread mashed potatoes using a rubber spatula. start at the corners and make sure to seal around the edges.
23. Bake for 25 minutes
24. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15-20 minutes.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Congratulations to renowned basketball expert @siggy47 on his triumphant victory!

Knowing that our champion values his privacy, I've zapped the undisclosed quantity of winnings to a random Siggy post or comment.

I need to do some rethinking of how to structure this for next year, since it would have been nice to have the pool at least survive into the second round of the playoffs.

Let me know if you have any thoughts.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

The decentralized nature of Nostr facilitates a network that is robust, user-driven, and significantly less prone to central points of failure, which plague conventional social platforms. Choosing the right relay server is critical to your experience on Nostr. Here, we explore how to select a Nostr relay server, delve into the public and paid relay dynamics, and offer insights on setting up your relay server.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Nostr Relay Server

The choice of a Nostr relay server should be guided by several important factors:

• Reliability: Opt for servers known for consistent uptime to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
• Privacy: Select servers that prioritize privacy with strong encryption and policies against logging user data.
• Performance: Consider servers that provide low latency and high responsiveness.
• Community and Support: Choosing a relay server with a strong community and active developer presence can enhance the user experience due to regular updates and feature additions.
• Network Size: Servers with a broader network can facilitate better content discovery and user interaction.
• Cost: Analyze whether the relay server is free or requires a subscription, and align this with your budget.
• Compatibility: Ensure the relay server is compatible with your Nostr client application.

Understanding the Public Relay Challenge

While over 100 public relay servers are currently operational, such as those listed on Nostr relay finder, there's a notable challenge concerning spam due to the free nature of these servers:

"Public relays, while excellent for onboarding, face challenges with spam because there is no cost to post, making them targets for bots and spammers." -

Relay owners often employ reactive measures like blacklisting offending accounts, yet the efficacy can vary, requiring continuous vigilance.

The Benefits of Paid Relays

Paid relays offer a structured approach to using Nostr, potentially reducing spam due to the cost barrier:

• Enhanced Quality and Speed: Relays that charge a fee generally provide better performance and user experience.
• Reduced Spam: The entry cost dissuades most spammers, as their operations rely on high-volume, low-cost activities.

Where to Find Paid Relays

For those seeking a more controlled environment, several paid relays are available. These include:

• nostriches.org
• milou.lol
• bitcoiner.social
• nostr.nu
• nostrati.com

Exploring Nostriches: A Dive into Paid Relays

In the expansive realm of decentralized networks like Nostr, the efficiency and reliability of relays are crucial for seamless communication and transaction processing. Paid relays serve as vital components in ensuring the smooth operation of these networks, offering enhanced performance and reliability compared to their free counterparts. Let's take a closer look at some prominent paid relays in the Nostr ecosystem:

1. Relay.nostriches.org

• Price: 421
• NPub Key: npub1vnmhd287pvxxk5w9mcycf23av24nscwk0da7rrfaa5wq4l8hsehs90ftlv
• Description: This relay provides a reliable and efficient connection for Nostr transactions, ensuring fast and secure communication between network participants.

2. Nostr.milou.lol

• Price: 1000
• NPub Key: npub1rvg76s0gz535txd9ypg2dfqv0x7a80ar6e096j3v343xdxyrt4ksmkxrck
• Description: Offering high-speed connectivity and robust performance, this relay is ideal for applications requiring low-latency communication and real-time transaction processing.

3. Bitcoiner.social

• Price: 1000
• NPub Key: npub1dxs2pygtfxsah77yuncsmu3ttqr274qr5g5zva3c7t5s3jtgy2xszsn4st
• Description: This relay specializes in facilitating transactions related to Bitcoin and other digital assets, providing a secure and reliable communication channel for Bitcoin enthusiasts.

4. Relay.nostr.nu

• Price: 2000
• NPub Key: npub1vvqnak4hz0u7vkv0vs5jp4ha0dt359cgvz4jj4y2ku85z0dtt6zq9pv3s8
• Description: With enhanced capacity and scalability, this relay is capable of handling a high volume of transactions, making it suitable for large-scale applications and platforms.

5. Relay.nostrati.com

• Price: 2000
• NPub Key: npub1qqqqqqqut3z3jeuxu70c85slaqq4f87unr3vymukmnhsdzjahntsfmctgs
• Description: This relay offers advanced security features and robust performance, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical applications and financial transactions.

6. Relay.nostrich.land

• Price: 2100
• NPub Key: npub1vj0wlergmkcs0sz7hfks2ywj555c2s87f40squ4sqcmqpr7897fqn6mfew
• Description: Providing a combination of speed, reliability, and security, this relay ensures smooth communication and transaction processing in the Nostr ecosystem.

7. Relay.orangepill.dev

• Price: 4500
• NPub Key: npub16jzr7npgp2a684pasnkhjf9j2e7hc9n0teefskulqmf42cqmt4uqwszk52
• Description: This high-performance relay offers enhanced security features and seamless integration capabilities, making it well-suited for demanding applications and enterprise use cases.

8. Eden.nostr.land

• Price: 5000
• NPub Key: npub16k7j4mwsqm8hakjl8x5ycrqmhx89lxkfwz2xxxcw75eav7sd8ztqy2rwdn
• Description: With its robust infrastructure and high availability, this relay ensures uninterrupted communication and transaction processing for applications operating in the Nostr ecosystem.

9. Nostr.inosta.cc

• Price: 5000
• NPub Key: npub1r34nhc6nqswancymk452f2frgn3ypvu77h4njr67n6ppyuls4ehs44gv0h
• Description: This relay offers reliable connectivity and comprehensive security features, making it a trusted choice for businesses and developers building applications on the Nostr platform.

10. Relay.nostr.com.au

• Price: 6969
• NPub Key: npub1qqqqqrre3jxkuyj3s4m59usdyvm0umgm0lpy6cqjtwpt649sdews5q3hw7
• Description: Providing exceptional performance and scalability, this relay is capable of handling the diverse needs of applications and platforms operating in the Nostr ecosystem.

Closing Thoughts

Paid relays play a crucial role in ensuring the reliability, security, and scalability of decentralized networks like Nostr. By offering enhanced performance and robust security features, these relays empower developers, businesses, and users to build and interact with applications with confidence. Explore the diverse range of paid relays available in the Nostr ecosystem and unlock the full potential of decentralized communication and transaction processing.

These relays often require contacting the relay operator directly to get access, where your public key will be whitelisted post-payment.

Setting Up Your Own Paid Relay

For those interested in contributing more actively to Nostr, setting up a paid relay can be both a community service and a potential business opportunity, especially when combined with a Lightning routing node. A comprehensive guide on starting your relay can be accessed from reputable sources like Guide for Strfry Setup.

Closing Thoughts

Choosing the right Nostr relay server is more than a technical decision—it’s about aligning with your communication needs and how you want your social media experiences to be shaped. Whether opting for public, paid, or setting up your relay, each choice offers different advantages and challenges. As the ecosystem grows, so too will the options and innovations in relay services, continuously enhancing the way we connect and interact in the decentralized social media landscape.

Explore different relays, engage with the community, and take control of your social media experience on Nostr.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

In an era where questions about data privacy, censorship, and central control are more pressing than ever, the future seems bright for decentralized social media platforms, with Nostr leading the charge. This emerging protocol is reshaping the landscape, offering a blueprint for what social media can become: more secure, user-centric, and radically open.

Overview of Nostr's Decentralized Features

Nostr stands out by empowering users and developers through several key features:

• Decentralization: Unlike traditional platforms, Nostr doesn't have a central control point. This model gives users complete control over their data and content, mitigating risks like censorship and data breaches.

"Decentralization ensures that users have the ultimate authority over their interactions and information, unlike centralized counterparts where user data can be manipulated or sold."

• Openness: The protocol is open-source, enabling anyone to build applications on Nostr without requiring permission. This openness promotes a fertile environment for rapid innovation and diverse application development.

• Interoperability: Applications built on Nostr are interoperable, allowing users to switch seamlessly between different apps without losing data or connections, enhancing user experience and choice.

• Scalability: With lightweight data structures at its core, Nostr can scale efficiently to support a large user base and significant data volumes without sacrificing performance.

• Bitcoin Integration: Incorporating features like Bitcoin Lightning Network support, Nostr integrates financial transactions into the social media experience, offering new monetization avenues for creators.

Advanced Features Enhancing User Agency in Nostr Clients

To further enhance user experience, developers can integrate sophisticated features into Nostr clients:

• Customizable Filters: Users can set filters based on keywords, authors, or content types, making content discovery more tailored and efficient.

• Lists: This feature allows users to organize content by creating personalized lists of favorite authors or topics, enhancing the manageability of their feeds.

• Mute/Unmute Options: Users can control their content feed more directly by muting authors or topics that they find irrelevant or bothersome.

• Bookmarks: Users can bookmark messages or create collections of favorite posts, simplifying access to preferred content.

• Granular Privacy Settings: These settings give users precise control over their visibility and interaction level on the platform, from profile viewing rights to interaction permissions.

• Real-Time Notifications: By implementing notifications, users remain engaged and informed about important interactions and updates.

• Reactions and Customized Responses: Enabling diverse reaction options allows users to express feelings or thoughts more vividly and interactively.

• Translations: Integration of translation services can break language barriers, expanding user interaction across different linguistic demographics.

• Content Moderation Tools: Features that allow users to flag inappropriate content or block disruptive users are essential for maintaining a positive environment.

• Social Graph Visualization: Visual tools that map out a user’s network can provide valuable insights into their social interactions and community dynamics.

Nostr Clients and Resources

For those looking to explore Nostr through practical applications, both desktop and mobile clients are available:

• DeskTop:
• Damus for macOS: A feature-rich desktop client designed to streamline user experience on macOS.

• Nostrmo for Desktop: A cross-platform client that brings enhanced functionality to desktop devices.

• Mobile:

• Damus for iOS: Seamlessly integrate Nostr on your iPhone with this robust iOS client.
• Amethyst for Android: Experience Nostr on Android devices with this fully functional client offering a range of features.

Closing Case

As Nostr continues to evolve and gain traction, we anticipate seeing a significant shift in how social media platforms operate. The core principles of privacy, user control, and open innovation that Nostr champions are likely to set new standards in the technology community.

For those interested in exploring deeper or contributing to Nostr's development, additional resources such as Nostr's GitHub Repository and community tutorials on Nostr.how provide excellent starting points.

Join the movement toward a decentralized, user-driven social media landscape. Build, interact, and innovate with Nostr — shaping the future of digital communication.

Introducing NostrSigningDevice: Revolutionizing Secure Transactions

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital transactions, security and reliability are paramount. Enter NostrSigningDevice, a cutting-edge solution poised to revolutionize secure transactions in the digital realm.

Secure Transactions Made Simple

NostrSigningDevice offers a seamless and secure platform for signing transactions, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of each digital interaction. Whether you're processing payments, verifying contracts, or executing smart contracts, NostrSigningDevice provides the robust security measures necessary to safeguard sensitive data and transactions.

Key Features:

1. Hardware Security Module (HSM) Integration

NostrSigningDevice leverages Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), specialized hardware devices designed to securely store cryptographic keys and perform cryptographic operations. By integrating HSMs into its infrastructure, NostrSigningDevice ensures the highest level of security for transaction signing, protecting against unauthorized access and tampering.

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

With multi-factor authentication (MFA) capabilities, NostrSigningDevice enhances the security of transactions by requiring multiple forms of verification before authorizing a transaction. This layered approach to authentication mitigates the risk of unauthorized access and strengthens the overall security posture of the platform.

3. Seamless Integration with Nostr Ecosystem

NostrSigningDevice seamlessly integrates with the broader Nostr ecosystem, providing a unified platform for secure digital transactions. Whether you're a developer building Nostr-powered applications or a business leveraging Nostr's decentralized infrastructure, NostrSigningDevice offers a cohesive solution for transaction signing across the ecosystem.

4. Developer-Friendly APIs

Developers can easily integrate NostrSigningDevice into their applications using intuitive APIs and SDKs. With comprehensive documentation and developer resources, NostrSigningDevice empowers developers to leverage its robust security features without compromising on usability or flexibility.

5. Compliance and Regulatory Support

NostrSigningDevice is designed with compliance and regulatory requirements in mind, offering features and functionalities to support adherence to industry standards and regulations. Whether you operate in finance, healthcare, or any other regulated industry, NostrSigningDevice provides the necessary tools to maintain compliance while ensuring secure transactions.

Unlock the Power of Secure Transactions with NostrSigningDevice

Whether you're a financial institution, enterprise, or individual user, NostrSigningDevice offers a trusted solution for secure transaction signing in the digital age. With its advanced security features, seamless integration capabilities, and compliance support, NostrSigningDevice is poised to redefine the standards for secure digital transactions.

Visit NostrSigningDevice today to learn more and unlock the power of secure transactions in the Nostr ecosystem.

@ 3cd2ea88:bafdaceb

🚀 Preparate le vostre domande più scottanti su criptovalute, trading e Bitget perché i nostri esperti sono pronti a rispondere a tutto!

🚀 E come se non bastasse, ci saranno premi 💰 incredibili per i partecipanti!

🚨 Quindi alle ore 21:00 di lunedì 06/05 Bitget risponderà a tutte le vostre domande su Launchpad, Launchpool, PooX e BGB! ⏱️

🚨 E per chi è nuovo su Bitget?

🚨 Iscriviti tramite il nostro referral 6w5d e ottieni: 💰 Bonus di benvenuto 💰 Sconto a vita sulle fee 💰 Accesso esclusivo al nostro programma "University" per imparare le basi del mondo cripto!

💰 Non perdere questa occasione unica per immergerti nel mondo delle criptovalute con i migliori!

🚨 Unisciti al nostro canale Telegram e preparati per l'AMA!

🚀 https://t.me/Bitcoin_Report_Italia

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Creating your first Nostr client application is an exciting journey into the world of decentralized communication. Nostr, an emerging protocol that fosters open and global communication free from centralized control, offers developers a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of social interactions on the internet. Here's a detailed guide to help both new and seasoned developers embark on building their own Nostr client application.

Step 1: Choose Your Programming Language

The first step in building your Nostr client is selecting a programming language. Popular choices include:

• JavaScript: Widely used, with extensive support for asynchronous operations which are crucial in client-server communications.
• Python: Known for its simplicity and readability, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
• Go: Offers robust network programming capabilities, perfect for handling concurrent tasks.

```markdown

"Choose a language that you are comfortable with, or that best suits the needs of the project." ```

Step 2: Set Up Your Development Environment

Once you've picked a programming language, set up your development environment. This involves:

• Installing necessary compilers or interpreters.
• Setting up package managers (like npm for JavaScript, pip for Python).
• Installing dependencies and libraries needed for Nostr.

Ensure that your development tools are up to date to avoid compatibility issues.

Step 3: Dive Into the Nostr Protocol

To effectively build on Nostr, understanding the protocol is crucial. Familiarize yourself with:

• Message Types: Know the different kinds of messages that can be sent and received.
• Event Structure: Understand how data is structured within the system.
• Client-Server Communication: Grasp the methods used for data exchange between clients and servers.

The Nostr protocol documentation on GitHub is an excellent resource for getting detailed and technical insights.

Step 4: Implement Basic Functionality

Start coding by implementing fundamental functionalities:

• Connect to a Relay Server: This is your application's gateway to receiving and sending messages.
• Subscribe to Events: Allows your app to listen for new data related to specific topics or users.
• Send Events: Enable your app to publish messages to the network.

Use libraries or SDKs specific to your chosen programming language to simplify these interactions.

Step 5: Add User Authentication

Security is paramount, especially in decentralized networks. Implement user authentication by:

• Generating and managing public and private keys.
• Using cryptographic libraries to handle key generation securely.

This not only ensures secure sign-ins but also maintains user privacy and data integrity.

Step 6: Build a User Interface

Your client needs a user-friendly interface. Design your UI to be intuitive and accessible, incorporating features like:

• Posting Messages: Users should be able to easily compose and send messages.
• Interactions: Allow liking, replying, and following other users.
• Search Functionality: Users may want to search for specific content or profiles.

Step 7: Test Your Application

Before going live, rigorously test your application to iron out any bugs and ensure all features are functioning correctly. Consider:

• Unit testing individual components.
• Integration testing to see how different parts interact.
• Beta testing with potential users to gather feedback.

Step 8: Deploy Your Application

Once satisfied with your application's functionality and stability, deploy it. Choose a reliable hosting platform that aligns with your needs and budget. Ensure your deployment processes include regular updates and maintenance checks.

Conclusion

Building a Nostr client application is a rewarding project that contributes to a more decentralized and open future of social networking. By following these steps, you can create a robust and user-friendly Nostr client that leverages the full potential of this promising protocol. Embark on this technical adventure and be part of a community reshaping communication across the globe.

Exploring Resources for Building Nostr Apps with NDK Library

If you're interested in building apps using the Nostr Development Kit (NDK) library, there are several valuable resources available online to guide you through the process. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, these tutorials and documentation sources can help you kickstart your Nostr app development journey.

1. nostr.how

Description: This website offers a comprehensive step-by-step guide to assist you in creating your first Nostr app. It covers various programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, or Go, catering to a diverse range of developers. The guide provides detailed instructions, making it suitable for beginners looking to explore Nostr development.

2. nostr-dev-kit/ndk

Description: The official GitHub repository for the NDK library is an invaluable resource for developers. It contains extensive documentation, examples, and code snippets to facilitate the integration of Nostr functionality into your applications. Whether you're looking to understand the library's features or need guidance on implementation, this repository has you covered.

3. nostr-resources.com

Description: Nostr Resources is a dedicated website offering a plethora of tutorials, libraries, and projects related to Nostr development. Whether you're looking for additional learning materials, libraries to enhance your app's functionality, or inspiration from existing projects, this website serves as a comprehensive hub for all things Nostr.

By leveraging these resources, you can embark on your Nostr app development journey with confidence. Whether you're aiming to build a simple application or dive into more complex projects, these tutorials, documentation, and community-driven platforms will provide the support you need to succeed.

Happy Nostr app development!

Happy coding, and here's to building a more connected and decentralized world!

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Bitcoin, renowned for its P2P nature, also exemplifies how to secure a digital currency against a myriad of potential threats. Here’s a comprehensive look at the various measures in place designed to uphold the security of the Bitcoin network

Understanding Bitcoin's Security Measures

1. Proof of Work (PoW)

The foundation of Bitcoin's resilience is the Proof of Work algorithm. It compels miners to solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and mine new blocks, making any attack costly and technically demanding.

``` Impact of PoW:

"PoW makes it economically unsustainable for attackers to alter any aspect of the blockchain."
```

2. Mempool Policies

Bitcoin controls which transactions are allowed into the next block through strict mempool policies. This prevents spam transactions which can clog the network under an array of transactions with minimal fees.

``` Role of Mempool Policies:

"By enforcing rules about the format, size, and fee requirements, Bitcoin ensures only legitimate transactions are processed." ```

3. Peer Address Bucketing and Protection

To counteract eclipse attacks—where an attacker might dominate a node's connections—Bitcoin nodes utilize peer address bucketing. This diversity prevents attackers from isolating a node from the rest of the network.

``` Preventing Eclipse Attacks:

"Diverse peer connections essential for the decentralization that Bitcoin aims for." ```

4. Blockrelay-only Connections

These connections allow nodes to receive blocks without exposing transaction details, effectively minimizing the risk of an eclipse attack.

5. Misbehaving Peer Disconnection

Nodes monitor peers consistently and disconnect from those that show signs of suspicious activity or protocol violations, which preserves network resources and counters denial-of-service attacks.

``` Monitoring Peers:

"Active surveillance of peer activities ensures a robust defensive perimeter." ```

6. Peer Rotation and Eviction

Regular rotation and eviction of peers ensure no single participant can monopolize a node’s network, enhancing security against both Sybil and eclipse attacks.

7. Protected and Anchor Peers

Certain peers are assigned as 'protected' or 'anchor' to ensure nodes have stable, reliable connections to well-known, good actors within the network. This defense strategy ensures continuity and reliability.

Evolving Threats and Proactive Improvements

The Bitcoin network’s security measures are not static; they evolve to address new vulnerabilities and sophisticated attack vectors as they arise. Discussions and developmental insights can be seen actively on platforms like GitHub under various pull requests and issues discussion, enriching community engagement and development.

Closing Thoughts

Bitcoin’s multilayered security strategies demonstrate its architectural sophistication in safeguarding users' assets. Through proactive community involvement and constant technological advancements, Bitcoin continues to stand as a paragon of secure, P2P digital energy. Interested readers can dive deeper into specific discussion and updates on GitHub linked below.

Further Reading and Sources

1. GitHub Insight on Bitcoin Pull Requests
2. Bitcoin Peer-to-Peer Network Considerations

Stay secure and informed as we forge ahead in the continually evolving landscape of Bitcoin.

Fortifying the Bitcoin Lightning Network: A Security Overview

The Bitcoin Lightning Network, an innovative layer enabling faster transactions than the Bitcoin main chain, faces unique security challenges intrinsic to its design as a real-time gross settlement system. Here, we delve into the various protective strategies vital for safeguarding Lightning nodes against unauthorized access and potential attacks, tailored to both new and seasoned participants in the cryptocurrency space.

Holistic Approach to Security

The security of a Lightning node isn't about focusing on one single facet; it's about fortifying every layer of the system.

```

"Security for a Lightning node encompasses every layer of the system, from network access points to the storage of private keys." ```

This holistic approach forms the backbone of effective security strategy, emphasizing that a chain is truly only as strong as its weakest link.

Regular Updates and Patches

One of the most crucial practices in maintaining a secure node is keeping the software up to date. This includes:

• Regular updates to Lightning software like LND, c-lightning, and Eclair
• Applying patches to the node's operating system to close any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors

``` Consistent Updates:

"Staying updated with the latest software patches is essential to protect against known exploits and vulnerabilities." ```

Limiting Exposure

Given the experimental stage of the Lightning Network, limiting the amount of funds put at risk is wise:

• Only allocate an amount of money that you are comfortable potentially losing
• Use multiple nodes to diversify risk rather than placing all funds into a single node

Secure Storage of Keys

The keys that control funds on the node must be securely stored because they are a prime target for theft:

• Encrypting the hard disk where keys are stored
• Utilizing hardware modules designed for secure key storage
• Implementing multi-factor authentication to increase security layers

``` Key Security:

"The secure storage of keys is paramount, involving strategies ranging from disk encryption to the use of specialized hardware security modules." ```

Enhanced Network Security Measures

Network security can prevent many external attacks:

• Setting up robust firewalls
• Monitoring network traffic for any unusual activities
• Securing endpoints to guard against intrusion

Educational Empowerment

Encouraging continuous education regarding security updates, threats, and best practices is essential. Knowledge empowers users to make informed decisions and recognize potential security threats before they manifest.

Community and Developer Support

Leveraging community knowledge and developer support can provide solutions and guidance for any security concerns that arise:

• Engage with forums and read publications from trusted sources
• Participate actively in community support channels like Lightning Dev mailing list

Closing Case

The security of the Bitcoin Lightning Network is a dynamic, ongoing process that demands vigilance, proactive strategies, and a well-rounded approach. By understanding and implementing these detailed protective measures, users and operators can significantly enhance the security integrity of their Lightning operations.

Further Learning and Official Documentation

For those looking for more depth on operating a Lightning node securely, consider the following resources:

• The GitHub Lightning Book provides extensive information on node operations and security.
• Engaging with the developmental community through active forums and mailing lists can offer real-time insights and help.

Secure, learn, and evolve; your journey in the Lightning Network awaits!

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

Let's hear some of your latest Bitcoin purchases, feel free to include links to the shops or merchants you bought from too.

If you missed our last thread, here are some of the items stackers recently spent their sats on.

@ 362ebffa:492e2719

Here is a bug report impacting Habla.news

How to lose all bookmarks in 3 easy steps:

• step 1 https://m.primal.net/IDWB.png

• step 2 Save an article in habla as bookmark https://m.primal.net/IDWF.png

• step 3 Return to Primal https://m.primal.net/IDWH.png

all bookmarks are gone!

Where are the lost bookmarks? Can they be recovered?

it seems to be a genuine bug when saving bookmarks in Habla.news

Can anybody confirms?

Who may I contact to report that bug?

https://github.com/verbiricha/habla.news

article originally posted on https://it-s-just-a-ride.blogspot.com/2024/05/hablanews-reset-nostr-bookmarks.html

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

En Latinoamérica, la inflación es un tema de nunca acabar, salarios que no llenan las expectativas de la gente trabajadora que los llevan a buscar otras alternativas para palear la economía, cada vez es más común encontrarse con personas hambrientas de conocimiento en los temas de generar ingresos de forma digital y es por eso que en República Dominicana un hombre con visión de futuro se dio a la tarea de formar Bitcoin Dominicana.

La misión de esta institución es enseñar y empoderar a las comunidades con ganas de aprender, que gratamente son cada vez más jóvenes, es decir, la información que se maneja es viable y amigable para todo tipo de público ya que se adaptan a las necesidades de cada quien. En este podcast conoceremos un poco más acerca de qué es, y cómo funciona Bitcoin Dominicana de la mano de nuestro entrevistado Pedro Vital.

Tabla de Contenidos

• Introducción

• ¿Qué te motivó a incursionar en Bitcoin?

• ¿Cómo funciona Bitcoin Dominicana?

• ¿Cómo es la receptividad del público juvenil?

• ¿Cómo abordan el aprendizaje de bitcoin en los niños y jóvenes?

• ¿El sector turismo se está beneficiando con bitcoin?

• Conclusión

• Preguntas Frecuentes

Introducción

Latinoamérica principalmente ha sido víctima de sus malos gobiernos que nos han llevado por caminos inciertos haciendo de nuestra economía un juego de azar, esta inestabilidad económica ha llevado a las personas a incursionar en la minería de bitcoin muchas veces tentando la suerte por falta de conocimiento, es por eso que personas como Pedro Vital se han dado cabida ´para compartir sus experiencias y así ayudar a la comunidad a forjarse como personas capacitadas y puedan minar con muy bajo riesgo. ¿Qué te motivó a incursionar en Bitcoin? Realmente fue por un tema de curiosidad, pero una vez me di cuenta lo que sucedía en el salvador comprendí que efectivamente estaban sucediendo cosas muy descentralizadas, es por eso que llamo tanto mi atención y decidí continuar, lo que dio origen a bitcoin dominicana.

¿Cómo funciona Bitcoin Dominicana?

Bitcoin Dominicana, básicamente es una entidad dedicada al estudio de bitcoin, comprender su funcionamiento y manejo, pero también vamos más allá, dando apoyo a madres y padres que desean emprender, en este momento trabajamos con adolescentes ya que es importante que las comunidades comiencen jóvenes ya que lo importante es que este mundo del bitcoin no es para millonarios, si no para millones.

¿Cómo es la receptividad del público juvenil?

Son un público muy receptivo, ya que los más jóvenes lo ven como un juego. Sus edades van desde los 7 hasta los 16, 18 años de edad y como no tienen un hobby fijo adoptan bitcoin como una manera de vida, al igual que en todos los paises de latinoamerica, Dominicana no escapa a la inflación que cada día debilita más la moneda nacional, es por eso que ahora mismo los jóvenes a diferencia de los jóvenes de hace años atrás, buscan la manera de generar dinero por internet, y el hecho de poder comprar un poco de bitcoin con los pesos que puedan tener, resulta muy satisfactorio para ellos.

¿Cómo abordan el aprendizaje de bitcoin en los niños y jóvenes?

Es bastante sencillo enseñarles, es como si sus mentes ya vinieran prediseñadas para entender las cosas tecnológicas, entonces la manera que tenemos para hacer más sencillo su enseñanza es a través de plataformas y juegos digitales, donde ellos realizan pequeñas recargas y lo ven a manera de recompensas y a la vez se empoderan recibiendo formación financiera.

¿El sector turismo se está beneficiando con bitcoin?

Ahora mismo la industria del turismo está creando una alianza con la industria de la minería, creando una simbiosis en la que todos estos sectores se verán beneficiados, siendo que Dominicana tiene todo lo que la gente busca, no solo playas, sino que también contamos con lo que es montañas, ríos, en fin, el bitcoin es el futuro del turismos no solo en dominicana, sino a nivel de Latinoamérica y el mundo.

Conclusiones

En Dominicana no solamente el turismo es el fuerte, ahora mismo la plataforma bitcoin está tomando auge, Bitcoin Dominicana está marcando la pauta entre la comunidad tanto joven como adulta en cuanto al aprendizaje del manejo de esta moneda fuerte que día con día promete ir en franco crecimiento dando una notable valía a los esfuerzos por aprender acerca de ella.

Lo más idóneo sería que los gobiernos tanto en la República Dominicana como de los demás países de latinoamérica y el mundo es amistarse con el bitcoin como moneda fuerte, ya que si bien no comulga con la impresión de dinero físico, es la manera más viable de hacer crecer la economía tanto de la población como de las naciones en general.

Preguntas Frecuentes

¿Qué significa halving? En concreto, el halving es un evento que ocurre aproximadamente cada cuatro años y reduce a la mitad la recompensa que reciben los mineros por validar transacciones en la red de Bitcoin, reduciendo así el suministro de la criptomoneda pionera. ¿Cuál es el mejor intercambio para comprar bitcoins en República Dominicana? Hay 5 intercambios confiables operando en la República Dominicana, siendo los más populares Kraken, eToro y Gemini . Puede revisar cada uno de estos intercambios y encontrar el mejor intercambio que funcione para usted.

¿Qué pasa con Bitcoin después del Halving? La recompensa de Bitcoin es de 6,25 BTC. Sin embargo, después de la cuarta reducción a la mitad, la recompensa bajará a 3,125 BTC. Como resultado, la cantidad de Bitcoins en circulación se hace aún más escasa, provocando un aumento de la demanda entre los inversores.

Esto es todo por hoy, nos vemos mañana

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DESCARGO DE RESPONSABILIDAD: Nada de esto es un consejo financiero. Este boletín es estrictamente educativo y no es un consejo de inversión ni una solicitud para comprar o vender activos ni para tomar decisiones financieras. Tenga cuidado y haga su propia investigación.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Transaction Signing

The process of signing and verifying transactions in the Bitcoin network is fundamental to its security and integrity. Let's delve into how transactions are signed and verified, based on insights from [0].

Transaction Signing Process

1. Initialization: The signing process kicks off with SignTransaction in scriptsign.cpp, where each transaction input is signed individually. This function iterates through the inputs of the transaction it receives.

2. Loop Through Inputs: For each input, the script retrieves the corresponding coin's public key and amount from a cache of unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs).

3. Signature Data Preparation: Using DataFromTransaction, all necessary information required to produce a signature for that coin is gathered within a SignatureData struct. This includes checking whether the scriptSig and scriptWitness are complete, along with their contents and any redeem or witness scripts.

4. Producing the Signature: With the signing data prepared, ProduceSignature is called to generate the actual signature for each input, typically signed with a SIGHASH_ALL flag.

Verification Process

While the verification process differs from signing, it utilizes similar elements of Bitcoin's scripting system, aiming to facilitate future upgrades seamlessly. As mentioned in [3], Bitcoin's script system is crucial for ensuring compatibility with new features like taproot or schnorr signatures.

Mechanism of Verification

The verification process leverages Bitcoin's script format, using a script matching an address to verify the message. This entails replacing every signature verification operation with one that checks the provided message instead of a transaction. This flexible mechanism ensures Bitcoin's adaptability to evolving requirements and technological advancements.

Conclusion

In essence, the signing and verification processes in Bitcoin are meticulously designed to ensure transactions' authenticity and security. By following a structured approach to signing and utilizing the scripting system for verification, Bitcoin maintains a robust and adaptable network architecture.

Enhancing Bitcoin Transactions with SIGHASH Types

In Bitcoin, the signature hash (sighash) type plays a pivotal role in determining how transactions are signed and verified. Let's explore the various SIGHASH types and their significance, based on insights from [0].

Understanding SIGHASH Types

1. SIGHASH_ALL: This default type commits to all inputs and outputs of the transaction, preventing alterations to any part of the transaction without invalidating the signature. It ensures high security by fixing every aspect of the transaction within the signature.

2. SIGHASH_NONE: Unlike SIGHASH_ALL, this type allows changing where the bitcoins will go after the initial signature, providing flexibility in specifying transaction outputs while still securing the inputs.

3. SIGHASH_SINGLE: With SIGHASH_SINGLE, the signature commits to a single input and a corresponding output, allowing for more flexible transactions where the signer only cares about specific outputs.

4. SIGHASH_ANYONECANPAY: This modifier allows the signer to specify that the signature only commits to one input of the transaction, enabling others to add additional inputs later. It opens possibilities for scenarios like crowdfunding.

Tailoring Security and Flexibility

Each SIGHASH type offers a balance between security and flexibility, allowing users to customize the signing process to meet their specific needs or contractual arrangements. Understanding these nuances is essential for developers and users navigating complex transactions on the Bitcoin network.

In summary, SIGHASH types play a crucial role in enhancing the security and flexibility of Bitcoin transactions, empowering users to tailor transaction signing according to their requirements within the Bitcoin protocol.

Conclusion

From the meticulous signing process to the versatile SIGHASH types, Bitcoin's transaction framework is intricately designed to ensure authenticity, security, and adaptability. By embracing these mechanisms, Bitcoin continues to evolve as a robust and resilient decentralized network.

Sources: - [0]: Insights into Transaction Signing and Verification - [1]: Understanding Bitcoin's Script System - [2]: Bitcoin Scripting for Future Upgrades - [3]: Adaptability of Bitcoin's Script System - [4]: SIGHASH Types and Transaction Security - [5]: Flexibility of SIGHASH_ANYONECANPAY

@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

This is a slightly edited version of the article published in Bitcoin magazine in December 2021.

As we come to the end of 2021, it’s popular to reflect on the year gone by, and produce crystal balls to predict the future bitcoin price.

Firstly, though, one of my favourite thoughts about the future in general comes from Jeff Bezos.

“I very frequently get the question ‘What’s going to change in the next 10 years?’ And that is a very interesting question; it’s a very common one. I almost never get the question ‘What’s not going to change in the next 10 years?’ And I submit to you that that second question is actually the more important of the two — because you can build a business strategy around the things that are stable in time … When you have something that you know is true, even over the long term, you can afford to put a lot of energy into it.”

For Amazon, what Bezos meant was that for them what won’t change is that customers will want a large choice of products, low prices, and speed of delivery. This is what they have built Amazon around.

So how does this apply into the coming year, and to Bitcoin? As we enter 2022 we live in a hugely uncertain world, with COVID-19, record debt levels, rising inflation, socioeconomic inequalities and rising geopolitical tensions. I submit to you in turn that Bitcoin’s monetary policy and general structure is one of the very few things on the planet that are not going to change over the next 10 years, or the next 20 years, or even the next 30 years. And that stability is a source of strength for anyone holding bitcoin, and a major incentive for anyone considering holding it.

Let’s further consider that 30-year time period for a second in the wider macro context. As I write this (December 7), the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield is approximately 1.7% per annum. This suggests that if we buy a 30-year treasury bond and hold it until 2051, it will return 1.7% per year, or approximately 66% compounded. $1,000 would become $1,660 in 2051 if compounded at that rate.

Though that treasury return is termed “risk-free,” we can’t predict the purchasing power of those dollars in 30 years time. No one can say. And if you want to envisage just how far away 2051 is, consider that 30 years back in time is 1991. We’re talking a world just after the fall of the Berlin Wall, of the Gulf War (the first one), of Mikhail Gorbachev, of President George Bush (senior); all this was before the explosion of the internet, and when mobile phones were for yuppies.

What would have an investor been faced with back in 1991, considering a 30-year treasury investment? The approx 30-year yield at the end of that year was 7.4% per annum. That’s compared to 1.7% now, as noted earlier. Prices are inverse to yields, so today’s bond prices are sky high by comparison to 30 years ago. And since other asset classes (equity, property, etc.) are priced relative to the risk-free rate, it is not surprising we are in an everything bubble.

It’s for this reason that the likes of Preston Pysh and Greg Foss predict bitcoin potentially eating into global bond markets. It matters little that bitcoin has no risk-free yield when an increasing number of bonds are negative-yielding in real terms. And for a long-term investor, what are the chances that $1,000 worth of Bitcoin will likely return more than $1,660 in 30 years time? If you agree that it could be vastly higher, even if you still assign a probability that Bitcoin dies, then perhaps you’re onto a question of position size.

So what of the future bitcoin price? I like the analogy of bitcoin as an economic battery, charging up on increasing adoption, and decreasing in value in periods where holders run for the hills. The price is simply a snapshot in time of buyer meeting seller at the margin to agree the latest price for acquiring the use of this battery for a certain amount of bitcoin.

Why would this be hard to predict? For starters - for every participant, their holding could also be viewed as a two-dimensional function of how much bitcoin they hold, and how long they are holding it for. Term it “bitcoin years” (210 million of those every decade) or “satoshi seconds” (considerably more). On an ongoing basis all participants and potential participants continually act.

Given the supply is fixed, the only element that determines price is demand — from new buyers that don’t yet hold bitcoin, but also continued demand from existing holders continuing to accumulate and hodl — i.e., how long is that time period? It’s nigh on impossible to accurately predict either future demand from newcomers, and continued participation from current bitcoiners. Therefore any models seeking to predict future price are almost by definition junk, including stock-to-flow ( listen to Cory Klippstein here if you want far better specifics on this). It’s for this reason too that Michael Saylor says “All your models are destroyed”

https://twitter.com/swanbitcoin/status/1318574499546234886?lang=en

This is not to say I’m not hugely bullish. It’s just that bitcoin price predictions are a bit of a waste of time. Back to the sentiment of Bezos — don’t try and predict exactly what will change in the world in future, but focus more on the core elements of Bitcoin that won’t change.

@ 1c6b3be3:73f0ae6f

The air was electric with anticipation as Ava stepped onto the stage, her eyes scanning the packed auditorium. This was her moment – the culmination of years of hard work and countless sleepless nights spent hunched over her computer, coding and tinkering with the cutting-edge Layer-2 (L2) solution she had developed for the Bitcoin network.

Ava had always been fascinated by the potential of blockchain technology, and the launch of the Runes tokens had only heightened her determination to find a way to unlock Bitcoin's true power. As the network struggled to keep up with the surge in transactions, Ava knew that the time had come for a game-changing solution.

Her project, dubbed "Quantum Leap," had been selected for the prestigious Crypto Accelerator program, putting her in the spotlight of the entire crypto community. Standing before the eager crowd, Ava took a deep breath and began to unveil her vision.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the future of Bitcoin is here," she declared, her voice brimming with confidence. "Quantum Leap is a revolutionary L2 protocol that not only solves the scalability and transaction fee issues plaguing the network, but also future-proofs Bitcoin against the looming threat of quantum computing."

The audience erupted in applause, and Ava couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. But as she stepped off the stage, she was met by a familiar face – Liam, a seasoned crypto trader and early Bitcoin adopter.

"Impressive work, Ava," Liam said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I've been following your project, and I believe it could be the key to unlocking Bitcoin's true potential. I'd like to invest in Quantum Leap – and I think I know just the person who can help us take it to the next level."

Ava's heart raced as Liam introduced her to Dr. Xiang, a brilliant computer scientist leading a team of researchers at the forefront of quantum computing research. Together, they embarked on a mission to create a quantum-resistant L2 protocol that would revolutionize the Bitcoin network.

The months that followed were a whirlwind of intense collaboration, sleepless nights, and breakthroughs that pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible. As the team worked tirelessly to perfect their creation, the crypto world watched with bated breath, eager to see what this new L2 solution could achieve.

Finally, the day of the Quantum Leap launch arrived, and Ava, Liam, and Dr. Xiang took the stage once more, this time to unveil their groundbreaking creation. As the details of the protocol unfolded, the audience erupted in thunderous applause, realizing that they were witnessing a pivotal moment in the history of Bitcoin.

The Quantum Leap protocol not only solved the network's scalability and transaction fee issues, but it also introduced a new era of decentralized applications, smart contracts, and user-friendly interfaces that made Bitcoin accessible to the masses. The future of the world's first cryptocurrency had been forever transformed, and Ava, Liam, and Dr. Xiang had played a crucial role in ushering in this new era of innovation and adoption.

As the crowd dispersed, Ava couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The Runes tokens had been the catalyst, but the Quantum Leap protocol had been the key to unlocking Bitcoin's true potential. The future was Layer-2, and she couldn't wait to see what the next chapter would hold.

@ fbe736db:187bb0d5

This article was published in Bitcoin magazine in October 2021.

At “The B Word” conference earlier in the summer, there was a memorable panel event with Elon Musk, Cathy Wood and Jack Dorsey in which we were able to ascertain a little more (than we had often seen in tweets) about Elon Musk’s Bitcoin views. This article is an attempt to dissect and evaluate what he said around Bitcoin’s block size.

Firstly, let’s review what was said (starts at 18:15):

Steve Lee (panel host) — “Elon, I’m curious for your opinion on this — you mentioned, earlier about the importance of throughput, maybe some concerns around bitcoin. Do you think bitcoin can become peer-to-peer cash?”

Elon Musk — “Well, Bitcoin does have a fundamental scarcity limit at the base layer, that’s designed in; that doesn’t mean you can’t have some Layer 2 solution, like Lightning — I understand Lightning is doing well in some small countries.

“There is some question mark as to whether you’d need a money transmitter license, just a debate as to whether that is needed, that it is not open ledger; that’s a whole separate debate, of course.

[Interesting rereading this in 2024 - Elon Musk foresaw this attack on Bitcoin a couple of years prior; not that it particularly validates his comments.]

“But Bitcoin by itself simply can’t scale to be the monetary system for the world at base layer. At a second layer, this is possible — it would depend on how that second layer is implemented.

“That’s part of why I think there may be some merit to, er, — something that may seem silly — like Dogecoin.. the three things I own outside from SpaceX and Tesla ..of any significance are bitcoin by far, and some eth and some doge. If the price of bitcoin goes down I lose money.. I might pump but I don’t dump. So it’s not a case of.. I don’t believe in getting the price high and selling or anything like that ..I would like to see bitcoin succeed.

“I think there’s some merit to — this is not a slam on Bitcoin — there is some merit to considering something that has a higher max transaction rate, and lower transaction cost — kind of seeing how far you can take a single layer network, where the exchanges act as a de facto second layer. I think you can probably take that further than people realise, and as bandwidth increases over time, latency decreases… Space X and Starlink are actually playing a role in this, and I think long term people probably have access to — worldwide access to — gigabit level connectivity at low latency, at low cost. And so then your base layer could do a lot of transactions if you take that into account.

“But as I said, Bitcoin with the Layer 2 system, I still think, could scale to do a vast number of transactions — the same goes for Ethereum.”

Steve Lee — “The question about the scaling of the Layer 1 — the concern from the past five years of debate in the Bitcoin community — is that that would sacrifice too much decentralisation, and hurt the censorship-resistant properties of bitcoin. I’m curious, what are your thoughts — are you sensitive to that, are you concerned about losing some of the special properties of bitcoin or another cryptocurrency by scaling at Layer 1?”

Elon Musk — “Yeah, with these things it’s helpful to use the physics tools of thinking; you know scale up, scale down, and see if it still makes sense. So if scaling up the transaction block doesn’t make sense, why don’t you scale it down? And have it be so somebody, you know, with a laptop from 2008 can still run a Bitcoin node. Why not slow it down. Oh. You want to slow it down? Well, maybe you’re at the wrong number then (laughs).”

Steve Lee — “There are actually members of the community who do want to slow it down!”

Elon Musk — “It’s silly. The reality is, the average person is not going to run a bitcoin node. And — Bitcoin — a lot of clever ideas, but these parameters were set in 2008, or 2009. There have been some improvements since then, but not a lot. You know, in 2008 there were still a non trivial number of people on modems (laughs)… nowadays it is quite common to get a 100mbs connection just for a house — some houses have gigabit connections… and that trend is obviously in the direction of higher bandwidth and lower latency. And if somebody else doesn’t do it, Starlink certainly will, so I have high confidence you would be able to maintain a decentralised finance system whilst still having a much bigger blockchain.. A.k.a. ASCIItext ledger, a hash ledger — you can make the hash ledger bigger, without harming decentralisation, as the average connectivity improves, obviously.”

Many Bitcoiners will have rolled their eyes at these comments, with the block-size war (read the excellent book by Jonathan Bier of the same name) around 2015–17 still a recent memory. However, dissecting the comments remains key to an understanding of bitcoin’s unique value, versus other cryptocurrencies.

In some respects, Elon Musk has a point. If Bitcoin were developed for the first time today, it might not have been given the same parameters as it has had since its outset. Elon Musk is a visionary in other fields, and it’s only natural that a character like him might ask what might be, as opposed to accepting what is. However, before you go searching for the most viable alternative altcoin to back which has bigger blocks, it’s worth considering that Bitcoin probably could have been established at outset with half the current block size, or double the block size, and still been in a similar position as it is today. Much in the same vein, and a more trivial example — was 21 million coins the right number to choose?

How so? One anecdote I’d highlight to describe the position Bitcoin is in is the plug socket analogy used by Robert Breedlove (and no doubt others) to describe Bitcoin’s inaugural, first-mover lead over others. There may be better plug socket designs out there now, but entire nations are not going to shift designs for all sockets and appliances unless there is a 10x advantage to be derived from the new one.

The fact is, Bitcoin has a near-unassailable lead in terms of security of the network, nodes, users, and the surrounding ecosystem. I’d recommend a read of Nic Carter’s article on settlement assurance which much better articulates this.

At the heart of the argument also lies the whole concept of digital scarcity, upon which bitcoin derives most of its value. If any other cryptocurrency overcomes bitcoin, what is to stop the next incumbent from in turn overcoming it? This for me would cast doubts over the existence of any meaningful digital scarcity, and hence store of value potential, from any cryptocurrency at all. This could still turn out to be the case, but it doesn’t lead us to Doge.

I’d disagree slightly with Elon Musk’s assertion that the average person is never going to run a Bitcoin node; as might Umbrel, who have just this week unveiled an “out of the box” solution for doing so. The market will no doubt drive this cost down significantly over time and make it easier still. As bitcoin adoption increases, it would be healthy to see far more nodes running than there are now. As fellow Bitcoin Magazine contributor Mitch Klee has tweeted, it’s not inconceivable that smartphones could have capacity to store the Bitcoin blockchain and run a node in future. Shinobi has pointed out in turn that there may be bottlenecks here — CPU / RAM / data plans, for example. But one thing’s for sure — with a fixed block size the number of nodes should increase over time, which is healthy and arguably necessary for the network.

In summary, whilst Elon Musk was right to point out that larger block sizes may appear more desirable now and into the future on paper, any advantage gained here versus Bitcoin in its current form is slender, and unlikely to be selected by the market compared to Bitcoin’s existing and wholly unique properties.

Does Elon Musk ultimately recognise this? On the basis that actions speak louder than words (and his actions so far this year have been to buy and hold quite a large amount of bitcoin), I wouldn’t rule it out. Time will tell.

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Specific challenges coupling the use of differential heuristics in A* algorithm aim to overcome in the Lightning Network

The Lightning Network presents a labyrinth of challenges when it comes to efficient routing, with obstacles like varying channel capacities, fees, and availability complicating the process. Differential heuristics within the A algorithm are engineered to tackle these obstacles head-on, aiming to overcome specific challenges, including: Reducing the Number of Nodes Visited During Pathfinding*

In the sprawling expanse of the Lightning Network, conventional pathfinding algorithms often get lost in a maze of possibilities. Differential heuristics act as a guiding light, leading the search algorithm directly to the optimal route while minimizing the number of nodes visited. This efficiency streamlines the pathfinding process, as highlighted in [0]. Handling Irregular Terrain or Obstacles

Just as hikers navigate rugged landscapes, differential heuristics navigate the irregular topology of the Lightning Network. Each channel represents a unique terrain feature, with its own set of challenges. By adapting to these obstacles, differential heuristics optimize routing decisions, ensuring transactions flow smoothly across the network ([2]). Improving Pathfinding Efficiency

Time is of the essence in Lightning Network transactions. Differential heuristics inject speed into the pathfinding process by leveraging multiple heuristics and their differences. This optimization not only saves computational resources but also ensures lightning-fast routing, essential for seamless transactions ([4]).

Adapting to Dynamic Changes

The Lightning Network is in constant flux, with channels opening, closing, and balances shifting. Differential heuristics are adept at navigating this ever-changing landscape, adjusting their strategies dynamically. While cached data may need occasional recalibration, the adaptability of differential heuristics ensures swift responses to network dynamics ([5]).

In essence, differential heuristics within the A* algorithm serve as beacons of efficiency in the Lightning Network's intricate web. By addressing challenges related to pathfinding efficiency, dynamic adaptability, and network complexity, they pave the way for smoother transactions and an enhanced user experience.

Sources: - [0]: Optimizing Pathfinding Efficiency - [1]: Improving Payment Success Rates - [2]: Navigating Irregular Terrain - [3]: Ensuring Security and Privacy - [4]: Efficient Pathfinding Strategies - [5]: Understanding Lightning Network Dynamics

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

The Lightning Network, a second-layer solution built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, offers a promising avenue for fast and cost-effective transactions. However, routing payments through this network presents its own set of challenges. Let's delve into the different approaches to routing transactions on the Lightning Network and how they address these challenges.

Source Routing

Traditionally, the Lightning Network has relied on source routing, where the sender calculates the entire payment route before initiating the transaction. While this method ensures strong privacy since only the sender knows the complete path, it can become less efficient as the network grows due to the increasing complexity of finding optimal routes.

JITRouting (Just-In-Time Routing)

JITRouting is an improvement that learns from past routing attempts. When a payment fails, the network uses this information to avoid inefficient paths in future attempts. This adaptive approach enhances routing efficiency by leveraging past failures to guide future routing decisions.

Multipath Payments (MPP)

To overcome the limitations of single-path payments, Lightning incorporates Multipath Payments (MPP). This approach splits a payment into smaller parts routed separately through the network, increasing the likelihood of successfully routing large payments without relying on a single path with sufficient capacity.

Use of Differential Heuristics in A* Algorithm

The Lightning Network community explores the use of differential heuristics in the A* algorithm for map preprocessing. This technique reduces the number of nodes visited during pathfinding, especially in complex network topologies, optimizing route discovery and enhancing network efficiency.

Permuteroute Algorithm

The Permuteroute algorithm offers an alternative approach to route discovery by efficiently finding paths between nodes without scanning a large number of channels. While providing immediate benefits, it is considered alongside broader improvements like incorporating past pathfinding attempts into mission control within Lightning software.

Collaborative Routing with Routing Hints

Collaborative routing involves using routing hints included in payment requests to suggest intermediate nodes or channels that could facilitate the payment. This method improves routing efficiency and potentially enhances privacy by offering multiple route options.

These diverse approaches underscore the ongoing development and optimization efforts within the Lightning Network community. By leveraging these strategies, the Lightning Network aims to provide a scalable, efficient, and private framework for routing micropayments over Bitcoin.

---

Sources:

• [0]: GitHub Discussion on Lightning Network Routing
• [1]: Understanding Multipath Payments on Lightning Network
• [2]: Exploring Differential Heuristics in A* Algorithm
• [3]: Permuteroute Algorithm Proposal
• [4]: Collaborative Routing with Routing Hints

Harnessing the Power of Multipath Payments in Lightning Network Routing

Can multipath payments be used in combination with other routing strategies to further enhance routing efficiency?

Multipath payments (MPP) offer a promising avenue to improve routing efficiency on the Lightning Network. When integrated with other routing strategies, MPP not only enhances transaction success rates but also optimizes fee management, privacy, and network load distribution.

Combining MPP with Source-Based Pathfinding

Source-based pathfinding, where the sender calculates the route, can be seamlessly integrated with MPP. By splitting large payments into smaller parts and finding multiple optimal routes simultaneously, this combination improves success rates while balancing the network load. This approach, as discussed in [3], ensures better channel capacity utilization and reduces congestion.

MPP and JIT Routing

Just-In-Time Routing (JITRouting), while not explicitly mentioned in the provided context, dynamically adjusts routing decisions based on real-time network conditions. When paired with MPP, JITRouting can adapt the sizes of payment parts or choose different routes based on changing channel capacities. This adaptive strategy ensures efficient payment completion, even in the face of sudden network changes.

Strategic Fee Optimization

Leveraging MPP allows senders to strategically optimize fees by choosing the most cost-effective paths for each payment fragment, as suggested in discussions from [0] and [5]. By splitting payments and selecting routes based on fee structures, this approach minimizes transaction costs without compromising efficiency.

Enhancing Privacy with MPP

Integrating MPP with privacy-enhancing techniques, such as onion routing for each part of a multipath payment, further obscures transaction trails. By diversifying payment paths, MPP makes it challenging for observers to trace fund movements, enhancing overall transaction privacy.

Incorporating MPP into Lightning Network Routing

Incorporating MPP into Lightning Network routing strategies not only addresses the limitations of individual approaches but also maximizes their strengths. This synergy results in a more resilient, efficient, and private Lightning Network, showcasing the ongoing innovation within the Lightning community.

By harnessing the power of MPP alongside other routing strategies, the Lightning Network continues to evolve, offering faster, more cost-effective, and private transactions for users worldwide.

Sources: - [0]: Linux Foundation - MPP and Fee Optimization - [1]: Linux Foundation - Privacy Enhancement with MPP - [2]: Linux Foundation - JITRouting and MPP - [3]: Lightning Network Book - Understanding Routing Strategies - [4]: Linux Foundation - Optimizing Network Load with MPP - [5]: Linux Foundation - Strategic Fee Optimization

Maximizing Routing Effectiveness with Routing Hints in the Lightning Network

How do routing hints improve collaborative routing effectiveness in the Lightning Network?

Routing hints serve as invaluable tools within the Lightning Network, significantly enhancing collaborative routing effectiveness by providing essential information to streamline payment processes. These hints, embedded within payment requests, offer insights into potential routes or intermediate nodes, optimizing transaction pathways and bolstering network efficiency.

Facilitating Payments Through Unannounced Channels

Unannounced channels, concealed from the public channel graph, are vital components of Lightning Network transactions. Routing hints, as detailed in [2] and [3], empower payments to navigate through these hidden channels effectively. By leveraging routing hints, participants can exploit unannounced channels, expanding routing options and bolstering the network's capacity to facilitate transactions discreetly.

Improving Payment Success Rates

Routing hints enhance payment success rates by revealing alternative paths beyond the public network graph, as discussed in [0]. When conventional routes face constraints such as capacity limitations, routing hints offer alternative pathways, ensuring smoother transaction completion. This flexibility minimizes transaction failures and optimizes the overall efficiency of the Lightning Network.

Enhancing Privacy and Security

Beyond facilitating payment delivery, routing hints fortify transaction privacy and security. By steering transactions away from heavily monitored channels, these hints safeguard user anonymity. Moreover, routing hints contribute to security by diversifying transaction pathways, mitigating potential threats targeting transaction flows, as highlighted across the provided sources.

Supporting Decentralization Efforts

Routing hints play a pivotal role in advancing the Lightning Network's decentralization agenda. By empowering payments to traverse diverse channels, including unannounced ones, these hints foster network inclusivity. Smaller nodes and those with unannounced channels can actively participate, redistributing routing responsibilities and promoting a more decentralized network architecture.

In essence, routing hints are indispensable elements that bolster collaborative routing within the Lightning Network. By expanding routing possibilities, enhancing privacy, and supporting decentralization initiatives, routing hints contribute to a more robust and efficient Lightning Network ecosystem.

Sources: - [0]: Enhancing Payment Success Rates - [1]: Understanding Lightning Network Routing - [2]: Exploring Channel Graph Dynamics - [3]: Ensuring Security and Privacy - [4]: Navigating Through Unannounced Channels - [5]: Optimizing Routing Efficiency - [6]: Advancing Transaction Privacy - [7]: Strategies for Routing HTLCs

@ 1931b5e4:168a0489

How I arrived...

I have always been a lover of social media. However over the years rather than enjoy my time on the generic platforms that we have all heard of I started to despise being there, although would still spend my time scrolling to try and find something interesting to read and interact with. You see, I love conversation! I love interaction! I do not love however, what has happened over recent years, which is that any opinion you have will be beaten down. Anyway, I was doom scrolling , attempting to find someone interesting to at least listen to and I came across a woman who mentioned Nostr. This sparked my interest and I soon set myself up and started to post and scroll with the outlook that things would be different. Not so much though(maybe a just haven't found the right client?)... I had a few comments but no luck in conversation. Until... I had a comment saying that I should head over to Stacker News!

I headed over...

• Day One I posted my bio and I got such a warm welcome!
• Day Two (i think) I found the saloon! A thread which I absolutely LOVE. In there I can be completely myself and people will respond!
• Day Three I received a cowboy hat, not having a clue what it was I posted about it and got (maybe a little too much) excited!
• Day 7 or 8 I lost my cowboy hat and realised that I needed to learn more about how to be here!

Since then...

• I am addicted to being here!
• I am addicted to learning more and more about how to interact!
• I enjoy the conversation - although I am still looking to grow my tribe. I am a talker and a listener - I give well thought out answers when I feel they are warranted and I like the same in return.

Things I have learnt...

• People are (on the whole) friendly on here and will interact if you are too
• This is a platform for interesting, well thought out content
• DO NOT use AI to create content! Write from the heart and the mind, because if you do use AI your content will not get very far as people here can sniff it out by the second line and will not be impressed!
• Zap content you are interested in and that you genuinely enjoy
• Be your authentic self - it will serve you well, unlike other platforms
• Don't worry if your posts don't create much traction - just keep building the relationships and the trust in the community you have joined
• Don't just come here for the sats - they are a bonus and they will come, but not if you haven't earned them by having something interesting to say
• The leader board is cool!

Those who I have interacted with probably know I don't know a lot about bitcoin - I want to learn more and I will do this steadily over time and will not be afraid to ask questions and ask where to find the best research.

So, thank you for the last 23 days! It has been a truly great experience and I hope it continues for a long while to come :)

@ c5fae15f:ea1126bf

1 - Quitar TODAS as dívidas;

2 - Ter mais de uma fonte de renda;

3 - Se qualificar (estudos, cursos, conhecimento);

4 - Um emprego digno e justo;

5 - Juntar grana (minimalismo ajuda);

6 - empreender ou passar em um bom concurso;

7 - Cuidar da sua saúde (alimentação, exercícios físicos, arte marcial);

8 - Ter um carro e/ou moto (popular para o dia a dia);

9 - Criar reserva de valor em auto custódia de bitcoin;

10 - Controle TOTAL da LIBIDO (mulheres só irão atrapalhar a jornada);

@ 91c4282f:d6a9b8e8

• It is almost April!
• How about this external image ?
• Do something to your hair.
• Have you ever eaten a spoon full of peanut butter ?
• Have you ever eaten a spoon full of ketchup ?
• Do you like spiders ?
• How about this external image ?

@ 486f6a60:06833ed2

• It is almost April!
• How about this external image ?
• Do something to your hair.
• Have you ever eaten a spoon full of peanut butter ?
• Have you ever eaten a spoon full of ketchup ?
• Do you like spiders ?
• How about this external image ?

@ 4d992bd1:45157b5a

Hey all,

For the bitcoin++ I had the pleasure of hacking on blogstr / magstr.

The Problem

Currently, the publication industry requests individuals to write articles by paying them. This is quite costly and risky for the publications if it doesn’t resonate with their users and lead to higher retention and engagement.

For individuals, the amount is pretty minimal, though, if the publication is the visibility and brand awareness could be worth it.

Additionally, if the writer says something the publication doesn’t like, they can lose their content, the visibility, backlinking, and more.

… but what if there was a publication platform that could solve these problems?

The Solution

Nostr allows users to publish content to a set of relays and grow their following without requiring a particular platform. They could gain the advantage of the visibility to the users of the platform, censorship resistance, and to take their following with them, along with having a higher upside from being able to receive lightning payments.

The What

• A codebase built on Next.js that is easily deployable to Vercel that uses the nostr network to fetch long-form content events (kind: 30023) and render them in a UI. It’s easily customizable by using an environmental variable to set an array of pubkeys.
• You can create a blog out of this if the array only contains one pubkey, your pubkey.
• If you set multiple, you can evolve the UI to become something quite like Bitcoin Magazine.
• The codebase is entirely dynamic and it fetches the article writer’s lightning addresses from their nostr profile metadata.

Why Now

• Community members of Nostr PHX are asking for this.
• Get more of the internet off of massive social platforms and more to their own platforms.
• Community members and organizers that are marketers want to be able to contribute more to the nostr network.
• Disrupt publication incentives and costs.
• Get more communities to use nostr without needing to know Nostr.
• Value 4 value, enabling the users to not have a ceiling on their earnings.
• Empower publishers to easily aggregate nostr content to one place and curate the experience.

Codebase

You can view the instructions to setup and deploy the codebase in the GitHub repository.

You can try it here.

Thanks ~Santos.

@ 67939c51:6ecaaeb8

@ 14241a20:44f1b550

Opinion about SeedSigner (hardware)

Seedsigner is a hardware wallet.

Its air-gapped system guarantees its security and cannot be connected to the internet, Bluetooth, or other forms of Wireless connectivity. The wallet uses a camera to scan QR codes for sending and receiving transactions.

This is a plus point but it also reduces portability since it requires a screen to scan the QR code.

The device features two USB ports for connectivity. The leftmost USB port is power-only, no data transfer is possible, rendering direct attacks impossible.

SeedSigner can create randomized and unique Bitcoin wallets using images. It can take a picture and use it to generate a private key using the photo-to-seed tool. Using an image is secure and randomized.

The wallet is multi-signature and is designed only to support the storage of BTC.

The price ranges between $80 and $90.

A negative side of SeedSigner is that it requires the user to manually create a QR code and note down the seed phrase, making the process of recovering a little bit complicated. Also, the initial setup is hard to do.

WalletScrutiny #nostrOpinion

Join the conversation!

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

I was going to do a different post about the passing of the torch from one NBA generation to another, but I'd rather put some respect on Donovan Mitchell's name. He was awesome last night and that's not at all unusual for him when he gets into the playoffs.

There have always been a small number of players who go from good to great in the playoffs.

Who are the guys that come to mind, when you think of players who elevate into a different tier when the stakes are highest.

Here's a starting lineup's worth of guys who are regular season stars, but playoff superstars:

• James Worthy
• Jimmy Butler
• Reggie Miller
• Jamal Murray
• Donovan Mitchell

None of those guys were regularly on All NBA teams, but I think they would all have gone top 15 in a playoff draft during their careers.

Honorable mention: Manu

@ 2a2e6618:aaa28525

• It is almost April!
• How about this external image ?
• Do something to your hair.
• Have you ever eaten a spoon full of peanut butter ?
• Have you ever eaten a spoon full of ketchup ?
• Do you like spiders ?
• How about this external image ?