@ d57360cb:4fe7d935

What’s the difference between the mind that dreams and the mind that you experience reality with? This is a question that floored me when I first began to contemplate it. When I’m in my waking life going about my day to day, I have millions of thoughts flowing through my brain. These thoughts are creating the reality I inhabit. I follow them and live in my version of the world. These thoughts construct my world, they revolve around society, my place in it, the people around me, and the entire world. In that world are millions of stories that connect one structure to another.

This is how we live our lives, we create stories, fantasies, heroes, and villains. One person could paint someone as a hero and another can paint them as a villain. So what is the difference between my dreams and reality? When I dream I’m met with vivid images, structures and stories that seem as real as the life I live. I’ve experienced the same features in dreams as I have in reality. In Lucid dreaming a person has the ability to control a dream, they can alter it and mentally experience whatever their mind conjures up. What if it’s the same in ‘reality’. What if reality is as flimsy as dreams. What if the stories you currently told yourself about your life, or the world you live in were wrong. What if you pushed on the flimsy walls of this ‘reality’.

Maybe you should give them a push and see if they crumble or stand tall.

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

I think this note from Chip (nostr:npub1qdjn8j4gwgmkj3k5un775nq6q3q7mguv5tvajstmkdsqdja2havq03fqm7) is one of those things that people with business management experience take a lot more seriously than most developers and influencers do.

I am painfully aware of the cost of systems administration, financial transaction management and recordkeeping, recruiting and personnel management, legal and compliance, requirements management, technical support, renting and managing physical spaces and infrastructure, negotiating with suppliers, customer service, etc. etc.

There's this idea, on Nostr, that sort of trickled in along with Bitcoin Twitter, that we would all just be isolated subsistance farmers and one-man-show podcasters with a gigantic server rack in the basement. But some of us are running real companies -- on and off Nostr, for-profit and non-profit -- and it often requires a lot of human labor.

The things we build aren't meant to be used by one person and his girlfriend and his dog. Yes, he can also run all these things, himself, but he no longer has to. Our existence gives him the choice: run these things or pay us to run them and spend your time doing something else, that you do better than we do.

These things are meant to be used by hundreds... thousands... eventually millions of people. The workflows, processes, infrastructure, and personnel need to be able to scale up-and-down, scale in-and-out, work smoothly with 5 people or 50 people. These are the sort of Nostr systems that wouldn't collapse when encountering a sudden influx or mass-escape. But these systems are much more complex and they take time to build and staff to run them. (And, no, AI can't replace them all. AI means that they now also have to integrate a bunch of AI into the system and maintain that, too.)

GitCitadel (nostr:npub1s3ht77dq4zqnya8vjun5jp3p44pr794ru36d0ltxu65chljw8xjqd975wz) is very automation-forward, but we still have to front the incredibly high cost of designing and building the automation, train people to interact with it (there are now over 20 people integrated into the workflow!), adjust it based upon their feedback, and we have to support the automation, once it's running.

This sort of streamlined machine is what people pay companies for, not code. That is why there's little business cost to open source.

Open-source is great, but...

nostr:nevent1qqsgqh2dedhagyd9k8yfk2lagswjl7y627k9fpnq4l436ccmlys0s3qprdmhxue69uhhg6r9vehhyetnwshxummnw3erztnrdakj7q3qqdjn8j4gwgmkj3k5un775nq6q3q7mguv5tvajstmkdsqdja2havqxpqqqqqqzdhnyjm

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

All of us who have truly put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ want to serve Him, but we all live busy lives. We all get distracted by making a living, taking care of our families, and other good things, but too often we spend so much time on the good that we miss out on the best (see “Don’t Be Like Martha”). In this previous post, I wrote about how we don’t want to live. In this post, I’ll write about what the Bible says about living a life wholly devoted to God.

Many of us wonder, “Are we fully serving God if we aren’t in full time ministry, if we aren’t a pastor/priest, missionary, or if we don’t work for a Christian ministry?” There are many ways we can serve God. Sometimes we are called to a Christian “job,” but other times we serve God in other ways.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:16-17) {emphasis mine}

The most important thing is that everything we do has a godly focus. We should follow God’s design for marriage and family. We should disciple our children to know and grow in Jesus. We should witness to those with whom we come in contact. We should give to support those who are working in full-time ministry. Even our jobs can be done in service to the Lord, no matter how trivial or unrelated that job might seem.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23-24) {emphasis mine}

I’m an employer. I see the work ethic, or more often the lack of work ethic, in people. I notice those who work hard and always give their best versus those who do the minimum they need to do to keep their job. When a person lets everyone around them know that they are a Christian and then they work harder than everyone else and they are willing to do the undesirable tasks that need to be done, this is noticed and is a good witness. Sadly, too often Christians are known for not working as hard and not going the extra mile. These Christians give Jesus and all Christians a bad name. Whatever job God has given you, do it to the best of your ability. Do the extra task; do the undesirable task; do the task that should’ve been done by someone else. Put in the extra effort even if nobody seems to notice. In most case, even if you aren’t praised, appreciated, or appropriately rewarded, people do notice and your witness is enhanced. In all cases, Jesus notices and you will be rewarded in heaven for representing Him faithfully.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) {emphasis mine}

We are to do everything we do to the God’s glory. The way we work should glorify God. The way we eat and drink should glorify God. The way we do rest and entertainment should glorify God. The way we interact with others should glorify God. We were designed to glorify God.

Too often we get busy doing life and leave God out of it. It isn’t that we are doing some terrible sin, but it is always wrong to leave God out of our life. We can even do Christian ministry and get so busy doing “God’s work” that we leave God out of it. This can be disastrous and definitely will damage ministry effectiveness. In everything we do, we should listen to God’s leading, whether through Bible reading, prayer, or being still and listening.

The plans of the heart belong to man,\ But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.\ All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,\ But the Lord weighs the motives.\ **Commit your works to the Lord\ And your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:1-3) {emphasis mine}

Part of doing everything in and to the Lord is changing our hearts and minds. Psalm 37 lists several actions we can take in serving the Lord and becoming more like Him.

Delight yourself in the Lord;\ And He will give you the desires of your heart.\ *Commit your way to the Lord*,\ Trust also in Him, and He will do it.\ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light\ And your judgment as the noonday.\ *Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him*;\ Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,\ Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.\ **Cease from anger and forsake wrath;\ Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. (Psalm 37:4-8) {emphasis mine}

If we delight in the Lord, commit our way to the Lord, trust in Him, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for the Lord, we will be in the right mind to serve Him in all that we do. It will also help us avoid the things that draw us away from the Lord. We are called to not fret, to cease from anger, and to forsake wrath. Fretting, anger, and wrath hurt our witness and draw us away from God. They are a sign that our hearts are not in tune with God and that we need to turn back to Him. They are a sign that we are not trusting in Him nor are we following His will.

---

Sometimes believers wonder if they are succeeding in doing anything for the Lord because they are shy and not good at witnessing or because they have personal circumstances (like sickness of themselves or their family members) that don’t allow them to do much. That doesn’t mean there is nothing these believers can do. We can support those doing the mission of God. We can give money to support missionaries, churches, and Christian ministries. We can house a missionary while they are on break. We can do behind the scenes tasks like cleaning, accounting, organizing, planning, etc.

Most importantly, we can all pray. Prayer should be a constant part of every day, whether we are infirm and unable to leave our bed, whether we are so busy we don’t have five minutes to sit and take a break, or whether we are in full time Christian ministry. We can’t faithfully serve God without prayer.

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. (3 John 1:5-8) {emphasis mine}

Anyone who supports those in ministry will receive similar rewards to those in ministry because they are all working together to fulfill God’s will.

He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. (Matthew 10:41)

We often feel like we are failing God. We feel that we are making zero difference for the kingdom. If you are not growing in your faith, knowledge, and relationship with God, there may be some truth in this, but we also may be listening to the accuser, Satan. Keep in mind that every little thing you do for Jesus or for others, because of your faith in Jesus, is counted as faithful service to Him.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40) {emphasis mine}

Turn to Jesus. Pray to Jesus. Read His word —the Bible. Make Him a part of everything you do. Follow His leading. Join God in what He is doing.

May God bless you and lead you in the path He designed you to take.

Trust Jesus.

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

aaaaaa

@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a

Micropayments on the Internet have been theorized for decades. However, it wasn’t until the emergence of Nostr that we’ve finally seen them deployed at scale. Nostr is still in its infancy, yet we are already witnessing an explosion of apps built on top of this open protocol. And most of them are featuring zaps! With the recent Primal 2.1 release, Nostr developers now have the option to enhance the experience for their users by integrating a Nostr-powered bitcoin wallet. 

There is no doubt that micropayments add a new dimension to consumer apps. The incumbents have realized this and are rushing to add payments to their closed platforms. It won't be long before apps that don’t include built-in payments feel dated or outright broken. The question is not if apps of the future will have built-in payments, but what kind of payments they will be. Given that open networks have a tendency to win, our bet is that apps of the future will be powered by Bitcoin. Let’s see how Primal can help.

Primal Wallet

Our vision for Primal Wallet is simple: deliver the smoothest transactional bitcoin wallet, endowed with expert Nostr skills. The wallet leverages Nostr’s open social graph as a de facto public lightning directory, while offering the highest level of user experience for Nostr’s rich content. For example, the user can scroll through the transaction list, select a zap, and drill straight into the conversation thread where the zap originated. The whole flow feels perfectly natural.  Since we launched Primal Wallet in December 2023, the user response has been incredibly positive. People love the idea of being able to post something on Nostr, get zaps from plebs around the world, then buy a coffee or a meal with those sats - all from the same app. 

Having a bitcoin wallet with social skills resonated strongly with users, so Primal Wallet grew rapidly in popularity and usage. Since the launch, we have processed 1,338,460 transactions, with 238,916 just in the past month alone. This rivals some of the leading bitcoin wallets, and we are just getting started! We hear from many bitcoin OGs that they are using Primal Wallet as their transactional daily driver. Bullish. 

All this is great, but something has been missing. Our users demanded the ability to connect Primal Wallet to other Nostr apps, so they can zap from anywhere in Nostr’s growing ecosystem.

Zapping from Any Nostr App

For an existing Primal user, connecting the wallet to a new Nostr app can now be done in two clicks. Let’s take a look at how this is done from Olas, one of the most exciting new apps on Nostr:

Yes. Click, click. And you can start zapping! 

Such smooth integration of payments is not available in any competing technology stack. Tradfi, fintech, crypto, etc., have nothing on Bitcoin and Nostr. Two clicks and your external wallet is connected. I’ll give you a moment now to allow for this new reality to settle in.

Primal enables you to connect any number of external apps and manage them from wallet settings: Note that you can set your daily spend budget for each app or revoke its access at any time.

How This Works

So, what is this sorcery? How does it work under the hood?

Connecting Nostr apps to external wallets is accomplished via the Nostr Wallet Connect protocol. It utilizes Nostr’s public relay infrastructure to enable communication between apps and wallets. You can learn more about this protocol here, and access developer docs here.

The smooth, two-click connection setup UX is implemented through deep links between Primal and the external app. Here’s the deep link that the external app needs to call to invoke this feature: 

nostrnwc+primal://connect?appicon=[icon_url]&appname=[app_name]&callback=[callback_string]

After the user clicks “Create Wallet Connection” in Primal, the Primal app calls the deep link defined in the callback, and passes the NWC connection string. That's all that the external app needs to make the wallet connection.

What Comes Next?

The Nostr Wallet Connect protocol has been around for almost two years. Several bitcoin wallets implement it and many Nostr apps use it as their main way of enabling payments. What’s new with Primal 2.1 is the elevated user experience. Since Primal is a Nostr-powered wallet, it is aware of all the relevant metadata for each transaction: Nostr zaps, users, and the related events. Primal indexes the entire Nostr network, and now this is open to all Nostr apps that wish to integrate payments. 

Nostr keeps expanding and getting better. Its openness enables us to build capabilities that lift all boats. The future is bright; I can’t wait to see how things evolve from here. 🍿🍿🍿

@ 85bdb587:7339d672

Chart of the Day

While this is a bitcoin focused rag, I think it is important for any of you who read this to begin paying attention to gold markets if you haven't already. There has been an ongoing exodus of physical gold from London vaults and a rapid acceleration of gold being moved to the three biggest vaults in the United States in recent weeks. More gold has flooded into the US vaults over the first two months of this year than at the peak of the flight to safety during the beginning of the COVID lock downs.

This is particularly perplexing considering the fact that equities are flat or up on the year, depending on the index you like to follow. Gold outperformed the S&P 500 significantly in 2024 and its momentum hasn't slowed down a bit in 2025 as the precious metal consistently hits new all time highs. The current correlation to the S&P 500 has only happened two times in history; right now and October of 2007.

Institutional investors and nation states are piling into gold at an unprecedented pace. This signals that they are preparing for something to break. The catalysts for the exodus of gold from London to the US and from paper gold to physical gold are fears over Trump's tariffs, institutions and governments preparing for a potential monetary reset, and fears of a looming liquidity crisis as liquidity in the reverse repo market dries up. Uncertainty and chaos rule the day and we are witnessing a flight to safety.

Many of you are probably asking, "Why isn't bitcoin moving?!" That's a good question. Considering everything mentioned above one would think that bitcoin would be on the move toward new all time highs as well. Having been following bitcoin for twelve years your Uncle Marty has developed some pattern recognition when it comes to this market. Upward bitcoin price movements typically happen in a staircase fashion. Meaning that it trends up and to the right over the long-run with quick bursts to higher levels followed by small corrections and consolidation periods. If I had to guess, we are currently in a consolidation period that should come to an end at some point in the next few months. In recent years, gold has moved higher first and bitcoin has followed. Typically outperforming gold significantly. I find it hard to believe that this relationship is going to end any time soon. Especially considering the geopolitical and economic backdrop.

Luke Gromen Warns Bitcoin Holders: Historical Currency Revaluations Show Speed Matters

During my recent conversation with Luke Gromen, he raised a sobering point about the velocity of monetary regime changes. Drawing from historical examples, including a Ukrainian family who saw their savings devalue from "five cars to one month's groceries" over a single weekend, Luke emphasized that Americans are uniquely blind to how quickly these transitions can occur. The current stress in our financial system - from Treasury market dynamics to global trade tensions - suggests we're approaching a similar inflection point.

*"What if they do it on Friday night like they did with Trump coin and you wake up and gold's up 1,000% by the time you're up on Saturday morning, what are you going to do? You're going to sell your bonds and buy gold on Saturday?"* - Luke Gromen

This warning shouldn't be taken lightly. Those waiting for clear signals before acquiring bitcoin may find themselves locked out of the transition entirely. Luke's analysis suggests that rather than a gradual shift, we're more likely to see a compressed timeframe where major monetary changes happen over days or weeks, not months or years. The recent Trump coin phenomenon, while different in nature, demonstrates how quickly markets can move when sentiment shifts dramatically.

TLDR: Major monetary changes happen fast - don't wait to stack sats.

Check out the full podcast here for more on DeepSeek's impact on AI markets, Colombia's trade negotiations, and Scott Percent's three arrows for economic reform.

Headlines of the Day

U.S. Faces $1.67B Annual Cost Spike on Single Bond Rollover - via X

BlackRock: Bitcoin is Monetary Hedge, Ethereum is Tech Play - via X

Lummis: SBR Could Slash U.S. Debt by 50% in Two Decades - via X

Fold Launches Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card - via Business Wire

Obscura VPN launches with a MacOS product - via nobsbitcoin.com

Bitcoin Lesson of the Day

The SegWit (Segregated Witness) upgrade in August 2017 made two key changes to Bitcoin. First, it moved transaction signatures to a separate part of the data, fixing "transaction malleability" by preventing nodes from modifying transaction IDs. Second, it increased effective block capacity by introducing "weight units" that gave signature data a 75% discount, allowing blocks to grow from 1MB to about 1.8MB.

As a "soft fork," SegWit remained compatible with older Bitcoin software. The upgrade activated at block 481,824 after 95% of miners signaled support. This approach allowed Bitcoin to increase capacity and fix technical issues while maintaining network compatibility.

SegWit - Learnmeabitcoin.com

ICYMI Fold opened the waiting list for the new Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card. Fold cardholders will get unlimited 2% cash back in sats.

Get on the waiting list now before it fills up!

$200k worth of prizes are up for grabs . The Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card waitlist is live!

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/funds.

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

TFTC YouTube Bitcoin Brief YouTube TFTC on Nostr TFTC on X

@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e

Azzamo is more than just a relay provider—it’s a high-performance network designed to make Nostr faster, smoother, and more reliable for everyone. Whether you're posting notes, zapping sats, sharing media, or sending DMs, Azzamo keeps your Nostr experience seamless and efficient.

Nostr is unstoppable, but not all relays are the same. Some are slow, unreliable, or disappear overnight, while others get overloaded, making message delivery inconsistent. Azzamo is built differently—offering fast, stable, and globally distributed relays to ensure low-latency, high-speed connections, no matter where you are.

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🌍 Premium Relays for Maximum Performance

Azzamo Premium Relays are optimized for speed, reliability, and uptime, available exclusively to Premium users:

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• Europe: wss://relay.azzamo.net
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Add Azzamo Premium Time to unlock unlimited, high-speed access across these global relays.

🔗 Get Premium: azzamo.net/premium

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🆓 Freemium Relays – Free for Everyone

Azzamo believes in keeping Nostr open and accessible to all. That’s why we offer free relays for everyone, with no rate limits for Premium members

📡 Freemium Relays:

• Free Relay: wss://nostr.azzamo.net – Open to all.
• Inbox Relay: wss://inbox.azzamo.net – Reliable for DMs & group messages.

By offering both free and premium options, Azzamo ensures that anyone can use Nostr, while also funding the infrastructure that keeps it running smoothly.

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🛡️ Minimal Moderation, Maximum Transparency

Nostr is about free speech, but that doesn’t mean zero moderation. Azzamo follows a minimal moderation policy to keep relays functional and spam-free while maintaining transparency in enforcement.\ \ 🚫 Spam & network abuse\ 🚫 Illegal content (CSAM, fraud, malware, scams)\ 🚫 Impersonation & identity abuse

We also maintain a public Ban API for transparent moderation decisions.

📖 More on our Ban API: azzamo.net/introducing-the-azzamo-ban-api

---

🚀 Get Started with Azzamo Relays Today!

🔗 Connect now:\ 📡 wss://nostr.azzamo.net (Freemium Free Relay)\ 📬 wss://inbox.azzamo.net (Freemium Inbox Relay)\ 📡 wss://relay.azzamo.net (Premium Europe Relay)\ 📡 wss://us.azzamo.net (Premium Americas Relay)\ 📡 wss://asia.azzamo.net (Premium Asia Relay)

Nostr is growing fast. Make sure your relays can keep up. 🚀

azzamo #grownostr #nostr #relay #relays #premiumrelay #paidrelay

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

Beginning at the start

In my previous article, The Establishment, I answered the question: "How do we form a company?" I realize, now, that I was getting a bit ahead, of myself, as the precursor to a company is a team, and many people struggle to form teams. So, I will go back to the beginning, and then you can read both articles to the end, and then stop.

The Initiation

The first, and most-difficult step of team formation, is the initiation. We know that it must be the most-difficult, as it's the step that carries the highest potential reward, and it's the step that is tried-and-failed most often. (Some people, like Elon Musk or Donald Trump, are born Initiators with excellent follow-through, but this archetype is exceedingly thin on the ground because it requires you to be mildly autistic, have barely-throttled ADHD, and/or tend to megalomania, also popularly known as "toxic masculinity", "CEO personality", or "being a successful military officer".)

Someone needs to form a useful, attractive Vision and then motivate other people to help them achieve it. That sounds really easy, but it's actually brutally difficult because * You have to come up with an idea that is coherent, plausible, and inspiring. * You have to be able to communicate that idea to other people and make it appealing to them, by tying it into their own personal goals and desires. * You have to be able to hone and reformulate that idea, constantly, to correct it or to re-motivate the other team members. * You have to defend the idea against detractors, naysayers, and trolls, and you have to do it so vociferously, that it will erode your own popularity among those who disagree with you and open you to personal attacks. * You have to be able to focus on the idea, yourself, for a long stretch of time, and not allow yourself to get bored, lazy, or distracted.

So, just do and be all of those things, and then initiate the team, with the method I will name the Hatbock Method. It is so named because of the classic, German initiation ritual, in which an Initiator stands up, loudly defines their Vision and calls into a group "Wer hat Bock?" (roughly, "Who has the hunger/desire?") and whoever responds with "Ich hab Bock." (roughly, "Yes, I hunger for this.") is a part of the team.

Then the Initiator says, "Okay, everyone with the hunger, let's sit down together, and discuss this some more." (This "sitting" is literally called a "seating", or "Sitzung", which is the German word for "meeting".)

The Sitting

We now get to the second most difficult part of team formation: figuring out where to sit. Most teams get this wrong, repeatedly, and many teams dissolve or fracture under the difficulty of this momentous decision. You would think organizing yourselves online would make this easier ("Oh, we'll just meet online!"), but the number of places available for sitting online are limitless. You can talk your whole Vision into the ground, with laborous discussions and migrations between Chachi, OxChat, Telegram, SimpleX, Slack, Discord, WhatsApp, GitHub, Teams, Coracle, Matrix... you get the idea.

Try to keep in mind that the Vision is more important than the seating area, and go with the flow. Simply, find someplace and go there. Worry about it again, at a later date. Don't lose momentum. Sit down and start discussing the Vision, immediately.

Now, this next bit is very important:

Do not let anyone outside your team influence where you sit!

...unless they are providing your team with some good, service, or income, that makes choosing their preferred location the superior choice.

This is the German Stammtisch principle, where a host encourages you to come sit down, regularly, in some particular place, because your sitting there provides them with some benefit: they can overhear your conversations, get you to test out their seating area, sell you refreshments, etc. Your choice of seating, in other words, is a valuable good, and you should only "sell" it to someone who rewards you in measure. They have to reward you because their preferred seating area wasn't your immediate and obvious choice, so there was probably something unappealing or uncertain about the seating area.

Plan it in

Once you've sat down, and finished your rough draft of the Vision, you need to figure out when to sit. This is the third most-difficult part of team formation. (Yes, don't worry, it gets easier as it goes along.)

The most popular plan is the Wirsehenuns Plan (roughly, "We'll see each other, around.") This can work quite well, if you just want to have a loose collaboration, that calls itself together in an ad hoc fashion, when a team member feels the need. Also known as "@ me, bros".

It's not a great plan for more intensive collaboration, as that tends to need a certain amount of velocity, to actually happen, as the speed of movement has a centrifugal effect on the tasks. Team momentum, in other words, creates a sort of gravity, that keeps the team together as a unit. So, for deeper teamwork, I would recommend the Stammtisch variant: name a place and date/time, when you will next meet. Preferably, on a rotating schedule: daily, weekly, last Thursday of the month, etc.

And then meet there and then. And discuss amongst yourselves. Set clear, short-term tasks (and assign them to particular people!), medium-term strategies, and longer-term goals. Write everything down. Anything not written down, is a suggestion, not an assigned task.

If you find your Stammtisch becoming increasingly rewarding and productive, and your goals start moving closer and closer into sight, then you might want to formalize your team structure further, as a company.

@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6

Unidirectional payment channels revisited

Nodeless lightning - Reduce ecash mints custodial risk

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Sats N Facts

The nostr:npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx unconference has just wrapped up. And what a blast it was. In the heart of northern Thailand, developers, researchers, content creators and more, came together to share ideas on how Bitcoin, Nostr and other free protocols are being used everyday to liberate people.

Not only were stories shared from different community leaders on how embracing bitcoin has empowered them and their communities, but a big goal of the unconference was to bring bitcoin engineers and developers from various domains together in one room, unstructured, chaotic, and let them do their thing.

At first, I thought not having a schedule might be boring, but oh boy was I wrong. There was so much stuff going on, it was hard to choose which session I would have to miss!

Luke's Spillman channel proposal

One of the sessions I definitely did not want to miss, was nostr:npub1htnhsay5dmq3r72tukdw72pduzfdcja0yylcajuvnc2uklkhxp8qnz3qac s proposal

Ecash mints funded with Spillman channels: The ultimate nodeless Lightning wallet

.

In true unconference fashion, he announced in the main room that the session was about to start, and that the people that are interested should meet him in the whiteboard corner in 10 minutes. The corner was packed, and Luke explained his proposal.

What's a "Spillman channel"?

Essentially when we are talking about Spillman channels, what is meant are unidirectional payment channels (or CLTV-style channels). An unidirectional payment channel means, only one party can send payments, but not receive, and the other party can only receive, but not send. They also expire after a predetermined amount of time, and must be closed.

At first glance, this might look kinda stupid. After all, we have Poon-Dryja channels that are powering the lightning network. They are bi-directional, do not expire, and can be used to shuffle coins back and forth theorethically an unlimited amount of times.

So, why bother with this stupid one-way channel?

Simplicity is king

People that have worked with lightning channels can sing you a song about complexity, state handling and risks about the current state of bidirectional payment channels. Essentially, There are a lot of requirements on both channel parties when it comes to Liveness (being online) and also state handling (continuous backups). In some cases, especially when in the context of end-users wanting to perform payments on their mobile phone, they would appreciate it if there was not so much complexity and overhead involved.

The gist of the idea is to combine unidirectional channels and ecash mints to achieve the following:

A self custodial unidirectional payment channel to an ecash mint, massively reducing the senders liveness and state handling requirements when compared to a lightning channel. Sending payments through the mint will be done through swapping some of the channel balance for ecash tokens. At this point, the user is trusting the mint to honor the redemption of these tokens, while the remaining channel balance remains in self custody. This gives them better controll over their funds than just holding their entire balance custodied in the mint. The ecash tokens can then be redeemed to pay a lightning invoice, just the same as it is done now with normal cashu mints.

So this channel, that has no liveness or state management requirements for the sender, and must have a pre-defined close time, seems to be a perfect fit for the following usecase:

1. A sender receives his salary once a month. He opens a channel that is valid for one month.
2. The sender then can do his daily spending over this channel. He only trusts the mint with the amount for the current outgoing payment while it is swapped for ecash, waiting for redemption.
3. If the sender must receive funds (a refund for example), he can do so into the mints custody, by receiving ecash. He can spend his ecash funds first when doing his next payment, to reduce his custodial exposure.
4. When the channel expires, or runs out of funds, the mint closes the channel.

From a consumer perspective, that just want to receive his salary and make frequent payments afterwards, this usecase seems to make a lot of sense. Obviously from a merchants perspective on the other hand, such a channel doesn't really work. But that's fine, it's not the problem we're trying to solve here.

What do you think of this idea? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

In the next article, we will dive into how such a system can be implemented today, using Bitcoin, Cashu and Lightning. We will also discover how the system can be improved, to make channels non-expiring (A collaborative idea between nostr:npub148jz5r9xujcjpqygk69yl4jqwjqmzgrqly26plktfjy8g4t7xaysj9xhgp and nostr:npub1htnhsay5dmq3r72tukdw72pduzfdcja0yylcajuvnc2uklkhxp8qnz3qac born at nostr:npub1yrnuj56rnen08zp2h9h7p74ghgjx6ma39spmpj6w9hzxywutevsst7k5cx ).

So stay tuned!

@ c8383d81:f9139549

My own stats on what I’ve done over the weekend:

• Spoke to +100 developers, it was great seeing a couple of familiar Flemish faces and meeting some new ones but overall the crowd was extremely diverse.

• Ended up doing a short interview promoting the protocol and ended up going to 0 talks.

• Tried to evangelize by going booth by booth to distribute a Nostr flyer to other FOSDEM projects, with the hope that they would broadcast the info towards their SOME person to add Nostr on their list or to build out a library for the languages that were present ( This was a fairly slow approach )

• Kept it to Nostr protocol 95% of the time, the Bitcoin narrative is not always a good time to push and as a side note I’ve met more Monero users than in the last 5 years.

• Was able to convince some engineers to look into the #soveng endeavor.

Small overview from the most common questions:

• They have heard about Nostr but are not sure of the details. ( mostly through the bitcoin community )
• What is the difference with ActivityPub, Mastodon, Fediverse ?
• IOT developers, so questions regarding MQTT & Meshtastic integrations ?
• Current state of MLS on Nostr ?
• What are the current biggest clients / apps build on Nostr ?
• Will jack still give a talk ?

Things we could improve:

• Bring more stickers like loads more,
• Bring T-shirts, Pins… could be a good way to fund these adventures instead of raising funds. ( Most projects where selling something to help raise funds for projects )
• Almost no onboarding / client installs.
• Compared to the Nostr booth at BTC Amsterdam not a single person asked if they could charge their phone.

Personal Note: The last time I visited was roughly 13 years ago and me being a little more seasoned I just loved the fact that I was able to pay some support to the open source projects I’ve been using for years ( homebrew, modzilla, Free BSD,.. ) and see the amazing diverse crowd that is the open source Movement 🧡

Al final shoutout to our great pirate crew 🏴‍☠️: The Dutch Guard ( nostr:npub1qe3e5wrvnsgpggtkytxteaqfprz0rgxr8c3l34kk3a9t7e2l3acslezefe & nostr:npub1l77twp5l02jadkcjn6eeulv2j7y5vmf9tf3hhtq7h7rp0vzhgpzqz0swft ) and a adrenaline fueled nostr:npub1t6jxfqz9hv0lygn9thwndekuahwyxkgvycyscjrtauuw73gd5k7sqvksrw , nostr:npub1rfw075gc6pc693w5v568xw4mnu7umlzpkfxmqye0cgxm7qw8tauqfck3t8 and nostr:npub1r30l8j4vmppvq8w23umcyvd3vct4zmfpfkn4c7h2h057rmlfcrmq9xt9ma amazing finally meeting you IRL after close to 2 years since the Yakihonne hackathon 😀

@ c2827524:5f45b2f7

L’animo umano

Una delle entità più belle che esistono e che, a mio parere, rendono ancor più meraviglioso questo mondo, è l’animo degli esseri umani. È un cocktail fatto di sentimenti, intenzioni, azioni e logica. Quelli che preferisco sono gli animi gentili. Le azioni e le intenzioni devono convergere verso la delicatezza, senza una sbavatura, per essere gentili e io adoro la gentilezza, la riconosco al volo, forse perché non sono delicata. Per niente.

L’animo è forse uno dei più grandi segreti dell’umanità: in genere perché lo si tiene sempre privato, come è anche logico che sia.

C’è un solo fattore che fa rivelare l’animo alle persone, loro malgrado: uno stress test estremo.

Dal febbraio del 2020, lo stress test si è tramutato in un organismo multidimensionale, uscendo dalla fantasia distopica di George Orwell e – loro malgrado – tutti hanno dovuto manifestare l’animo segreto.

Fateci caso: è con il covid-1984 che avete scoperto la vera natura di amici, parenti, sconosciuti o conoscenti.

Stato di eccezione

La distopia non è mica fuoriuscita da un laboratorio di Wuhan, che ha infettato un pangolino, che ha infettato una papera, che al mercato mio padre comprò. Ha origini molto più antiche.

Profondi conoscitori dell’animo umano, in grado di prevedere le reazioni delle masse di fronte ad ogni tipo di evento, potrebbero progettare modelli catastrofici e predeterminare con una precisione disarmante la risposta delle persone comuni. Ad esempio di fronte alla probabilità che quattro aerei impazziscano nei cieli americani di una splendida mattina di settembre, oppure guardando i corpi smembrati di un attentato compiuto da una qualunque “sigla” islamica.

Infine, potrebbero decidere come e quando dare una sferzata finale allo stress test, ad esempio con il pangolino. O era il pipistrello?

È la «forma legale di ciò che non può avere forma legale», più in generale lo spirito disumano dei governanti di oggi, la consuetudine della guerra preventiva, la quale impone con forza che «lo stato di eccezione tende sempre più a presentarsi come il paradigma di governo dominante della politica contemporanea».

Così analizza magistralmente Giorgio Agamben nel II° volume della raccolta Homo Sacer, intitolato per l’appunto Stato di Eccezione.

Stato indegno

Gli esseri umani, fondamentalmente miti e pacifici, tendono a condurre vite “normali” in ogni condizione ambientale.

Un’unica variabile tende ad interferire per cambiare la condizione ambientale: la politica dello stato. E lo fa in maniera sempre negativa.

Lo stato crea emergenze, per poi sbattere il suo (piccolissimo) pene sul tavolo e imporre con forza la soluzione, che tenderà puntualmente a facilitare la propria vita rendendo impossibile quella dei ~~cittadini~~ sudditi.

Le disuguaglianze create hanno poi il solo scopo di mettere esseri miti e pacifici (ma sotto costante pressione) gli uni contro gli altri.

Pensateci: da quanti decenni siete sotto la pressione di una «forma legale di ciò che non può avere forma legale»? Sentendo il Marchese del Grillo «Io so’ io, voi siete un cazzo», probabilmente è qualche secolo che questo stato indegno esiste.

Vera natura o Nuda vita?

Il fatto, poi, che lo stato indegno venga accettato senza fiatare, fa parte di quella serie di reazioni delle masse e che i profondi conoscitori dell’animo umano sfruttano per mantenere il potere.

Si passa poi alle peggiori angherie che lo stato indegno e i suoi agenti perpetrano nei confronti dei ~~cittadini~~ sudditi, alle estreme disparità tra ~~cittadini~~ sudditi e i “servitori” dello stato, chiamati così perché servono lo stato indegno e non i ~~cittadini~~ sudditi.

Prima di arrivare alla sferzata finale dello stress test, persone miti e pacifiche hanno subito così tanti torti da non saperli più contare, ormai fanno parte della normalità. La loro esistenza è ormai ridotta a quello che Walter Benjamin prima e Giorgio Agamben poi definiscono la Nuda Vita, mettendo in analogia i sudditi con i detenuti di Guantanamo, giuridicamente innominabili e inclassificabili, ovvero «oggetto di una pura signoria di fatto».

Il sontuoso master

Nello stato di eccezione in cui viviamo da almeno 50 anni, a parte pochi dotati di un immenso spirito di osservazione (e i profondi conoscitori al potere, chiaro), nessuno di noi ha mai avuto veramente il piacere di conoscere la reale natura delle persone con cui abbiamo scelto di circondarci.

Magari c’era quel “piccolo tarlo”, quella “vocina” che ci ha fatto preferire alcuni piuttosto che altri, ma alla fine ha sempre prevalso l’attitudine mite e pacifica, che ha messo a tacere quella vocina.

covid-1984 ha il merito di aver messo a nudo tutti: vittime e carnefici. Si tratta verosimilmente di un sontuoso master che svelerà la vera natura di ognuno, nessuno escluso. Ahinoi, il master è decennale e siamo appena all'inizio del V° anno accademico.

Istruzioni, prima ancora che l’istruzione

Se c’è un consiglio che mi sento di dare a chi è ancora molto giovane, è proprio quello di non mettere mai a tacere quella “vocina”, per nessun motivo, seppure plausibile. Anche senza rovinare i rapporti, ma l’animo umano va sempre indagato, si deve fare chiarezza sulla vera natura delle persone con cui si decide di fare un percorso di vita.

La scoperta porterà ad evitare tutti quei “servitori” dello stato di cose indegno di essere definito umano. I compliant, gli asserviti, quelli senza spina dorsale o, peggio, che hanno un interesse personale a mantenere lo status quo devono essere evitati a tutti i costi.

È oltremodo doloroso, ma va fatto. Questi indegni devono essere isolati al più presto, in maniera da renderli innocui. Sono loro il vero esercito dello stato indegno, disposti a combattere qualunque guerra pur di rimediare un piccolissimo quanto ridicolo privilegio.

Oggi, i tempi in cui questo esercito si abbassava a tanto per il classico piatto di lenticchie riscaldate, sono un lontanissimo ricordo. covid-1984 ha ulteriormente abbattuto lo standard: ora gli indegni fiancheggiano qualsiasi assurdità in cambio di un piatto di lenticchie rimasticate dalla signoria di fatto.

L’unico risultato possibile è che l'infame stato rafforza il suo potere di controllo e rosicherà uno alla volta i (pochi) diritti e la libertà di chiunque.

Ecco perché bisogna spuntare le armi di questo spregevole stato di cose colpendo l’anello debole, isolandolo. Debole perché non ci crede (nello stato) ma agisce asservito solo per quel piatto di lenticchie (quelle rimasticate e sputate).

La prima volta che si incontrano, la vocina vi metterà di fronte alla sensazione di essere ai limiti di uno scontro frontale: capire da che parte andrà il rivale, per buttarsi in quella opposta ed evitare così uno schianto fatale.

Fatelo: buttatevi dall’altra parte. E scegliete la parte giusta.

@ 575a8227:065bba95

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiV7UhoiZM8

Hola nostr, El reciente podcast de lunaticoin con Salinas ha puesto sobre la mesa una reflexión profunda sobre el llamado "fondo estratégico Bitcoin" de Trump, revelando una paradoja que merece nuestra atención.

Pensemos en el camino que hemos recorrido como individuos en el ecosistema Bitcoin. Durante años, cada uno de nosotros ha trabajado incansablemente, ahorrando con determinación para adquirir Bitcoin con dinero real, fruto de nuestro esfuerzo diario. En ese trayecto, hemos enfrentado críticas constantes: que si Bitcoin solo servía para actividades ilícitas, que si era un esquema Ponzi, que si carecía de valor intrínseco.

Ahora, en 2025, presenciamos un giro narrativo sorprendente. Los mismos que demonizaron Bitcoin proponen crear un "fondo estratégico", ¿y cómo planean financiarlo? Con la misma herramienta contra la que Bitcoin nació para protegernos: la impresión infinita de dinero fiat. Pretenden adquirir con papel sin respaldo lo que a tantos nos ha costado años de esfuerzo y convicción conseguir.

La comunidad Bitcoin se ha construido desde abajo, con personas que creyeron en el proyecto cuando pocos lo hacían, que mantuvieron sus convicciones en los momentos más difíciles, que construyeron infraestructura y educaron a otros. Somos nosotros, no los oportunistas de última hora, quienes hemos llevado Bitcoin hasta donde está hoy.

La propuesta actual representa una doble expropiación: primero devalúan nuestros ahorros mediante la inflación, y luego utilizan ese mismo dinero devaluado para intentar acaparar Bitcoin. Es un mecanismo que perpetúa exactamente aquello contra lo que Bitcoin fue creado para luchar.

Bitcoin nació como una herramienta de libertad financiera para el individuo, no como un instrumento más de control centralizado. Cada día que pasa, se hace más evidente que ningún político, independientemente de su retórica, representa los valores fundamentales de Bitcoin.

En estos momentos, mantener nuestros sats no es solo una decisión financiera, es una declaración de principios.

HODL 🟠₿

@ 8d5ba92c:c6c3ecd5

Keeping up with everything happening in Bitcoin isn’t easy, even if you’ve been around for a while. The pace is relentless: stream of events, discussions, projects, and updates, not to mention the noise on social media...

One of the most efficient options to expand your knowledge and truly connect with people actively working in the space is through direct interactions, whether they’re happening at large conferences or smaller, semi-official meetups. But let’s be honest: finding all meaningful events can be a mess.

Take, for example, the ''BTC Events Map,’ which already lists over 550 Bitcoin-only gatherings worldwide. This simple but very useful resource, put together by Satlantis, can help many of us plan our trips throughout the year. However, if you don’t know about its existence and rely solely on a search engine—whether Google or Brave—you’ll likely end up frustrated (and unfortunately missing many great opportunities to meet with others and learn).

Search for '[bitcoin events],' and you’ll get a mix of irrelevant crypto, fintech, and Web3 results, with Bitcoin-related stuff buried somewhere in the middle, if at all.. Well, it’s really tough to find what you’re actually looking for.

That’s why word of mouth and trusted communities are so important. Sometimes, the best way to hear about an event is directly from people you know.

One of those that flew under my radar was SatsNFacts. It wasn’t listed on many typical event aggregators or any big news-promo sites. It mostly spread peer-to-peer and through the main channels on Nostr.

I was ‘lucky’ enough to hear about it just in time to plan the trip from Europe to Thailand. Now, I’d like to briefly share my experience with you—everything that, in my opinion, made this event truly stand out.

A Journey to Southeast Asia...

Approximately 10,176 kilometers, 14 hours of travel, and finally three days spent at SatsNFacts—"Thailand’s first Bitcoin Technical Unconference”.

The event ran from February 8 to 10 in Chiang Mai (the largest city in northern Thailand). Held at Weave Artisan Society, a 700 sq.m venue that used to be an ice factory, it smoothly combined pleasant outdoors with an industrial-style, two-floor indoor area, creating a unique and very practical setup.

Where Builders and Artists Collide

While its was billed as a “Technical Unconference,” in practice it nicely connected the developer-based ecosystem with different aspects of culture and art.

Each day, from 10 am to 6 pm, the agenda—shaped directly by attendees—was packed with various presentations, group chats, learning session, hackathons, and actionable workshops.

With many options available (around 10-20 topics per day), I couldn’t attend everything, but here are a few more technical sessions I joined and found especially worthwhile:

• Liana Workshop (long-term security, recovery, and inheritance),
• TollGates (streaming sats for internet access),
• Open Vault (enterprise wallet interface),
• Yaki Honne (decentralized media),
• Nostr Proxies (Epoxy, WebSocket and relay monetization).
• Silent payments (simplified payment experiences without compromising privacy).

As mentioned earlier, SatsNFacts wasn’t just about Bitcoin tech. Some topics focused on community aspects as well. Two discussions I joined highlighted Bitcoin adoption ⚡ in for example Bali and Thailand, showing how sound money, integrity, and consistent work can solve real problems in these regions. Impressive stuff! Here you can learn more:

• HuaiPhueng on Geyser + "Bitcoin City" (their short video ).
• Bitcoin Indonesia & Bitcoin House Bali (all in one on GitHub )

---

Now, the art gallery, to continue with less technical aspects of SatsNFacts 🎨

This nicely-organized space located on the ground floor, near cozy coworking and networking spots, was for me a real gem. Indeed, adding a creative vibe to the entire event.

Around 30 unique works from local and international artists were on display, all inspired by themes of freedom and privacy. Though I don’t see myself as a typical 'artist', I was honored to have some of my own pieces exhibited there as well (a short video 👇).

One of the highlights was meeting local Thai artists, especially Siritravelsketch, who travelled six hours by train just one way to attend two days of the event.

Her stunning paintings, created using just a bamboo stick and ink, are deeply inspired by Thai architecture and culture. While some of her pre-prepared pieces hung in the gallery, she also painted a few new works on the spot during her visit.

Truly spectacular!

I also had the chance to reconnect with Satoshi Builds, who made many great sketches during this event, and with BitPopArt, a Dutch artist who, just like me, chosen a nomadic lifestyle yet has been clearly considering Thailand his 'second home' as well for several years now. By the way, ✍️ here's his short summary of the event, focusing more on the artistic side of SatsNFacts: "Art exhibition in Chiang Mai ".

All in all, spending my time in many meaningful conversations and seeing so many deep artworks in one place filled me with hope and positive energy. THANK YOU, EVERYONE!

https://v.nostr.build/Fy7J510ZaNyMktIX.mp4

(*** presented artworks by for example: Agi Choote, Samhain, Zed Erwan, Existing Sprinkles, AZA 21m , BitPopArt .)

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Mr. Rabbit in Thailand...

Monday, the final evening, and SatsNFacts got one more item on its agenda rooted in creative expression and independent art.

Representing Bitcoin FilmFest (a grassroots project created by an amazing group of freedom fighters and activists 🐇🧡), since I was the only one from our team in Thailand, in one of the rooms upstairs, I put together a mini cinematic experience.

Seven trailers and eleven shorts, including for example:

• NO MORE INFLATION, HUMMINGBIRD, PARALLEL SPACE, UNBANKABLE, THE LEGEND OF LANDI (🎬 some of the trailers).

• BITCOIN A NEW HOPE, SATOSHI NAKAMOTO - THE CREATOR OF BITCOIN, MAXIS CLUB SHOW - CHAPTER ONE, THE GREATEST HEIST IN HISTORY, HODL, THE ANATOMY OF BITCOIN – GENESIS BLOCK (📺 some of the presented shorts)

With around 10-15 participants, the response was positive, and we ended up spending an extra 10-maybe-20 minutes discussing the challenges and opportunities in Bitcoin-powered filmmaking, as well as the upcoming edition of BFF25 (the annual festival we're organizing this May in Warsaw, Poland).

https://i.nostr.build/RE3mKJacw5vB23V6.png

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Substance Over Hype.

SatsNFacts made a solid reminder that Bitcoin events can help build a truly sovereign future while bringing together developers and artistic souls alike.

The mix of technical depth and creative energy—free from the shiny gossip that floods many social channels—made it a truly meaningful experience.

SatsNFacts set a high standard, and I hope to see more events like it in the future. More unconferences, more cultural and community-driven gatherings.

Here's to more signal, less noise!!!

Big congrats to everyone who made the first SatsNFacts happen 👏 Respect especially to the organizers! You pulled off something truly special!

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BTC Your Mind. Let it Beat.... Şela

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

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Credits: 1A1z.com

Download report in PDF

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883515

@ dd1f9d50:06113a21

(Because Most People Don’t Understand Money)

The requisite knowledge needed to know whether $100 or $100,000 per Bitcoin is relatively speaking “a lot,” is what value means. One way to measure value is through a universal yardstick we call “Money.” The question of “What is money?” is perhaps one of the most overlooked and under answered in our day and age. There is even an entire podcast dedicated to that question with the eponymous title, hosted by Robert Breedlove. That podcast often delves into the more philosophical underpinnings whereas I hope to approach this with a more practical answer.

Money is a technology.

Money is the technology with which we interact with one another to reorganize goods and services to the place and time they are best suited. Most money of the past has been tangible (though not a requisite feature), scarce, recognizable (read: verifiable), durable, portable, and divisible. These features one might call the “Attributes of Money.” These attributes are absolutely essential for a money to maintain its status as a money. (Those of you who understand the U.S. Dollar system maybe scratching your heads right now but, believe me, I will address that elephant in due time.) These attributes, you may notice, are not a yes or no but more of a gradient. A money can be MORE portable than another yet, less durable. One more divisible but not scarce whatsoever. The point being they must have, in some capacity, these attributes or they simply aren’t money.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

| | Bitcoin | Gold | Dollars | |-----------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:|:------------------------------------------------------------------:|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:| | Scarcity | 21 million coins
is the maximum supply | Unknown- the
supply grows roughly 2% per year | Also unknown to anyone outside of the Federal Reserve, Trillions and counting | | Recognizability | Each coin is verifiable to it's genesis on the timechain | Each molecule of gold has distinct physical verifiable properties | If the Federal reserve says it is a valid note, it is (Unless you are an enemy of the United States) | | Durablility | Each "Bitcoin" is information stored on a globally distributed network | Doesn't Rust and as far as can be measured Au197 is stable forever | Can be destroyed by any means that effect fabric and centralized databases | | Portability | Available wherever data can be store- Anywhere | Can be moved at 9.81 Newtons per Kilogram- Methods may vary | Can be moved physically with fabric notes- Digitally with express permission from a US accredited banking institution | | Divisibility | Currently can be divided into 100 million parts called Sats (can be further subdivided by adding decimal places) | Can be divided to the Atomic level (Though not practical) | Can be divided (without dilution) by adding new denominative bills or coinage
Can be divided (with dilution) by printing new bills or coinage | | | Bitcoin | Gold | Dollars |

You may think with all of the great functionality of Bitcoin that the phrase "One of these things is not like the other" refers to BTC. No, I was referring to the Dollar. It is the only one on the list that was a currency that was substituted as some kind of faux money. It asserts itself, or rather the Federal Reserve asserts it, as money, de facto.

Dollars are NOT money.

Dollars are (allegedly) a currency. If money is a specific technology, currency is the financial infrastructure that allows that technology to reach and be used by the most number of people possible. This requires a firm tether between the asset being used as money and the currency used as a claim to that money. For example: If I hand you a chicken, you have a chicken. But, if I hand you a coupon that is redeemable for a chicken, you do not have a chicken. You have a claim to a chicken that is only as good as the party making that claim. Bringing it back to money again, dollars (Prior to 1971) were redeemable for gold at a rate of $35 per ounce. This is that strong tether that pegged dollars to gold and physical reality itself. Without a proof of work, mining, . Until…

WTF Happened in 1971?

The Nixon shock happened. Briefly, The U.S. took in Europe’s gold in the 1940’s to keep it out of Hitler’s hands. The U.S. made an agreement to peg the dollar to Europe’s gold. The U.S. over printed dollars in relation to the gold holdings. Around 1971 France (among others) called the U.S. out for devaluing the dollar and thus European currencies. So, Nixon “Temporarily” suspended the convertibility of dollars to gold. Now, here we all are like Wile E. Coyote having run off of the golden cliff clutching our dollars in our arms and 54 years later we still haven’t looked down to see the truth.

Dollars Aren’t Backed by Anything

This is why no country in the world today has a money standard. Seemingly they all forgot the number one rule of issuing currency, it must be backed by something. Now, you may hear dollar proponents say “The U.S. dollar is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States!” Another way of saying that is, “We said it is worth something, so it is!” This fiat (by decree) mentality creates a plethora of perverse incentives. The ever growing supply disallows users of the Dollar to save without inccuring the penalties of inflation.

Just a Few Examples of How You're Being Crushed

Because your dollar loses value:

• It pushes people to spend them on assets that seem to appreciate (as the dollar debases) but are truly staying stagnant.
• It pushes people to gamble on securities hoping the perceived value is enough to beat the inflationary curve.
• It pushes people away from saving for their future and the future of their families.
• It creates insane credit incentives so that people borrow way more than they can afford today knowing that dollars will be cheaper in the future. (Effectively a short position)
• It pushes people to spend less and less time making and maintaining their families as it becomes more expensive to keep a similar lifestyle to which it was founded.

These are just a few of the terrible consequences of not knowing that trading a currency with no monetary backing has on a society. Most may blame this soley on the ability to print currency by a central bank but, that is not the only factor. If the fed printed dollars against gold, people would simply take the best rate they could get and remonetize themselves with the gold. But because there is no monetary escape hatch guaranteed by the issuance of dollars, I.E. no one has to take your dollars in exchange for their Bitcoin or gold, you are left at the mercy of the market.

One Day, People Will Stop Accepting Your Dollars

Those lementing the high price of Bitcoin might want to thank their lucky stars that Bitcoin still has a rational number next to the "BTC 1=$?" sign. One day you will have to exchange something of actual value to the spender (no longer a seller). Your product, good or service, will be the only thing that anyone might be willing to part with their Bitcoin over. That is what makes a money, the most salable non-consumable good, whose only funtion is to back a financial structure that facilitates trade.

Bitcoin is Capital

Capital is a broad term that can describe anything that confers value or benefit to its owners, such as a factory and its machinery, or the financial assets of a business or an individual. Bitcoin being the latter creates the financial structures from which you build upon. You use capital to hold, transfer, and grow value. You do not do this with cash. Cash is a depreciating asset when you don't use it to gain goods or services for yourself or your business. This misconception around the equivalance between cash and money (financial capital) is what tricks people into believing Dollars are money. And what's worse is that even some of our greatest heroes have done this.

Slay Your Heroes, Within Reason

Unfortunately due to a mixing of verbiage that have very distinct differences, the title: "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" is technically inaccurate. Bitcoin doesn't fit the definition of cash, which is a liquid asset that can be easily converted into its equivalent value. In short, Satoshi misspoke. In reality, owning Bitcoin UTXOs (with private keys) means you already possess the asset, not just a claim to it. When you spend Bitcoin, the recipient receives the actual asset, not a promise of it. When you receive Bitcoin, you have final settlement on that transaction. Fundamentally Bitcoin is not cash, electronic or otherwise.

Bitcoin is Money.

@ 0fe1a615:c70a7ba5

华为手表3000多元，其中的血压计功能可能只占不到300元左右。如果用医保个人账户全额购买华为手表，似乎不太妥当。 如果产品可以通过花费极少的成本，来增加某项医疗功能，从而实现医保报销。这就相当于打开了一个口子，那么以后很多测心率的产品是否也都可以医保报销呢？ 举个简单的例子，比如可乐。轻度低血糖病人在中午时，喝几口可乐，可以有效缓解低血糖症状。那以后可不可以用医保个人账户报销可乐呢？ 网上有些人提到医保个人账户的资金，是自己的，可以购买华为手表，可以自由支配。鄙以为不然。保险的本来意义在于大家集资救助那些需要大额资金救助的人群，而不是给自己用的。按照上述观点，那么企业给你交的社保，不是也应该算到个人账户吗？其实可以这么理解，现在将个人账户和统筹账户分开，只是医保的一个过渡阶段，按照理论上来讲，以后应该是只需要统筹账户来实现全民共济，而不应该存在个人账户。 如果医保可以全额购买智能手表，这么自由的话，其实个人根本没必要交钱到医保个人账户，而只需要企业交到统筹即可。 故我认为，医保目录为智能手表开口子，实在是荒唐至极，此举既假公济私，又动摇了医保共济的根基，实在不可取。 因此，我建议，就算想照顾到国内企业，提振销量，可以设定报销比例。比如智能手表的血压功能只能占到300元，与市面上血压计价格差不多，那么医保就只能报销300元。再比如可乐含糖成分有效缓解低血糖，那么可以按照糖分比例，可能只有几角钱或者更低，来进行报销。 望三思而行。

@ 21a37315:affe6e25

Bond Back Guarantee Cleaning: Get Your Full Deposit Back with Ease!

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Need reliable bond cleaning? Contact us today for a guaranteed spotless exit!

@ d360efec:14907b5f

Bitcoin (BTCUSDT) กำลังอยู่ในช่วงหัวเลี้ยวหัวต่อ แม้ว่าแนวโน้มหลักในระยะกลางถึงยาว (TF Day & 4H) จะยังคงเป็นขาขึ้นที่แข็งแกร่ง แต่ในระยะสั้นมาก (TF15) กลับแสดงสัญญาณของความอ่อนแอและการปรับฐานลงมาอย่างรวดเร็ว

แนวโน้ม: * TF Day: ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) แข็งแกร่ง – ราคาอยู่เหนือ EMA 50 และ EMA 200, โครงสร้างราคาเป็น Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) อย่างต่อเนื่อง * TF4H: ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) ชัดเจน – ราคาอยู่เหนือ EMA, มีการพักตัวลงมา (Pullback) แต่ยังไม่เสียโครงสร้างขาขึ้น * TF15: ขาลง (Downtrend) ระยะสั้นมาก – ราคาหลุด EMA และแนวรับย่อย, โครงสร้างราคาเริ่มเป็น Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)

โครงสร้างราคา (SMC): * TF Day: ยืนยันแนวโน้มขาขึ้น (HH, HL, BOS) * TF4H: ยืนยันแนวโน้มขาขึ้น (HH, HL, BOS), มี Equal Highs (EQH) ที่เป็นแนวต้าน * TF15: บ่งบอกถึงแนวโน้มขาลงระยะสั้น (BOS ด้านล่าง, LH, LL), มี EQH เป็นแนวต้าน

Money Flow (LuxAlgo): * TF Day: Money Flow: โดยรวมเป็นสีเขียว แสดงถึงแรงซื้อที่ยังคงมีอิทธิพลเหนือกว่า แต่ก็มีแท่งสีแดงแทรกบ้าง บ่งบอกถึงการขายทำกำไรในบางช่วง * TF4H: Money Flow: โดยรวมเป็นสีเขียว แต่เริ่มมีแท่งสีเขียวสั้นลง และมีแท่งสีแดงยาวขึ้น แสดงว่าแรงซื้อเริ่มอ่อนแรงลง และมีแรงขายเข้ามา * TF15: Money Flow: สีแดงมีอิทธิพลเหนือกว่าสีเขียวอย่างชัดเจน และแท่งสีแดงค่อนข้างยาว แสดงถึงแรงขายที่แข็งแกร่ง

EMA (Exponential Moving Average): * TF Day & 4H: EMA 50 & 200 เป็นแนวรับสำคัญ * TF15: EMA 50 & 200 กลายเป็นแนวต้าน หลังจากราคาหลุดลงมา

แนวรับ-แนวต้านสำคัญ: | Timeframe | แนวรับ | แนวต้าน | |---|---|---| | Day | EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ 96,000-98,000 (Volume Profile), 85,724.7 | 109,998.9 (High เดิม) | | 4H | EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ 96,000-98,000 (Volume Profile, Equilibrium), 89,037.0 | 109,998.9 (EQH, High เดิม) | | 15m | 95,200 (Low ล่าสุด), 94,707.4 (Low ก่อนหน้า) | EMA 50, EMA 200, บริเวณ 96,000, 96,807.8, 97,000-97,200 |

กลยุทธ์ (BTCUSDT): * Wait & See (ทางเลือกที่ดีที่สุดในตอนนี้): * เนื่องจาก TF15 ขัดแย้งกับ TF Day & 4H อย่างชัดเจน การ "รอ" ให้ตลาดเฉลยทิศทางที่ชัดเจนกว่านี้ เป็นทางเลือกที่ปลอดภัยที่สุด * สังเกตพฤติกรรมราคา (Price Action) บริเวณแนวรับ-แนวต้านใน TF15 * Buy on Dip (Day, 4H) - ต้องระมัดระวังอย่างสูง: * สำหรับนักลงทุนระยะกลาง-ยาว ที่เชื่อมั่นในแนวโน้มขาขึ้น * เงื่อนไข: ต้องรอสัญญาณการกลับตัวของราคาใน TF15 ก่อน เช่น * การ Breakout แนวต้านย่อยๆ พร้อม Volume * การเปลี่ยน Money Flow (LuxAlgo) เป็นสีเขียว (ถ้ามี) * การเกิด Bullish Candlestick Patterns * จุดเข้า: บริเวณ EMA 50/200 ของ TF Day หรือ 4H, หรือบริเวณแนวรับอื่นๆ ที่มีนัยสำคัญ * Stop Loss: ต่ำกว่า Low ล่าสุดของ TF15 หรือต่ำกว่าแนวรับที่เข้าซื้อ * Short (15, ความเสี่ยงสูงมาก): * สำหรับนักเก็งกำไรระยะสั้น ที่รับความเสี่ยงได้สูง * เงื่อนไข: ราคาไม่สามารถกลับขึ้นไปยืนเหนือ EMA ของ TF15 ได้ * จุดเข้า: บริเวณ EMA ของ TF15 หรือแนวต้านอื่นๆ * Stop Loss: เหนือ High ล่าสุดของ TF15 หรือเหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short

คำแนะนำ: * ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes: การที่ TF15 ขัดแย้งกับ TF Day & 4H เป็นสิ่งที่ต้องระวังอย่างมาก * Volume: การ Breakout หรือ Breakdown ใดๆ ควรมี Volume สนับสนุน เพื่อยืนยันความน่าเชื่อถือ * Risk Management: สำคัญที่สุด ไม่ว่าจะเลือกกลยุทธ์ใด ต้องมีการบริหารความเสี่ยงที่ดี (ตั้ง Stop Loss, ไม่ Overtrade) * ข่าวสาร: ติดตามข่าวสารที่อาจส่งผลกระทบต่อราคา Bitcoin

สรุป: สถานการณ์ของ BTCUSDT ตอนนี้ค่อนข้างซับซ้อนและมีความเสี่ยงสูง การ "รอ" อาจเป็นทางเลือกที่ดีที่สุดสำหรับนักลงทุนส่วนใหญ่ จนกว่าจะเห็นสัญญาณที่ชัดเจนมากขึ้นค่ะ

Disclaimer: การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883472

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

เนื่องด้วยทางสมาคมเบาหวานแห่งประเทศไทยฯ ได้มีการผลิตหนังสือ หลักการและแนวปฏิบัติเพื่อการดูแลโรคเบาหวานให้เข้าสู่ระยะสงบ ฉบับพิมพ์ครั้งแรก 1 มีนาคม 2568 ออกมาเป็นที่เรียบร้อยครับ และได้มีการจัดทำในรูปแบบ ebook เอาไว้ด้วย โหลดได้ตาม link ด้านล่างนี้ครับ

https://siripun.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-2-12-Diabetes-Remission-in-Thailand.pdf

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

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Credits: 1A1z.com Download report in PDF

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883454

@ d360efec:14907b5f

ภาพรวม LUNCUSDT (OKX):

LUNCUSDT กำลังพยายามฟื้นตัวจากแนวโน้มขาลงระยะยาว แต่ยังคงมีความผันผวนและมีความเสี่ยงสูง แนวโน้มระยะกลางถึงยาว (TF Day & 4H) เริ่มมีสัญญาณบวกของการกลับตัวเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) หลังจากราคา Breakout EMA 50 ใน TF Day และเกิด Golden Cross อย่างไรก็ตาม ในระยะสั้นมาก (TF15) กลับแสดงถึงความอ่อนแอและมีการปรับฐานลงมา

แนวโน้ม:

• TF Day: เริ่มเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) – ราคา Breakout EMA 50 และเกิด Golden Cross, Money Flow เป็นบวก
• TF4H: เริ่มเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) – ราคา Breakout EMA 50, มีการพักตัวลงมาทดสอบ EMA 50, Money Flow เริ่มไม่แน่นอน
• TF15: แกว่งตัวออกข้าง (Sideways) หลังจากร่วงลง – ราคาอยู่ใต้ EMA, โครงสร้างราคาเป็น Lower Highs/Lows, Money Flow เป็นลบ

โครงสร้างราคา (SMC):

• TF Day: มี Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL)
• TF4H: มี BOS ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น HH/HL (แต่ไม่ชัดเจน), มี Equal Highs (EQH) และ Equal Lows (EQL)
• TF15: มี BOS ด้านล่าง, มี Change of Character (CHoCH) ทั้งบนและล่าง, เริ่มเห็น Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)

Money Flow (LuxAlgo):

• TF Day: แรงซื้อแข็งแกร่ง (ไม่มีภาพ แต่จากการวิเคราะห์ก่อนหน้า)
• TF4H: แรงซื้อและแรงขายพอๆ กัน, เริ่มมีแรงขายเข้ามา
• TF15: แรงขายมีมากกว่าแรงซื้อ

EMA (Exponential Moving Average):

• TF Day: EMA 50 & 200 เป็นแนวรับ
• TF4H: EMA 50 เป็นแนวรับที่กำลังถูกทดสอบ, EMA 200 เป็นแนวต้าน
• TF15: EMA 50 & 200 กลายเป็นแนวต้าน

แนวรับ-แนวต้านสำคัญ:

| Timeframe | แนวรับ | แนวต้าน | | :-------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Day | EMA 50 (0.00010000), EMA 200 (0.00008000), 0.00006000-0.00007000 | 0.00017953 (High ล่าสุด), 0.00014000 (Volume Profile) | | 4H | EMA 50 (ประมาณ 0.00007000), 0.00006000-0.00007000, Equilibrium | EMA 200 (0.00008000), 0.00008132, 0.00010000-0.00012000 (EQH) | | 15m | 0.00007300 (EQL, Volume Profile) | EMA 50, EMA 200, 0.00007531 (EQH), 0.00007636 (EQH, High ก่อนหน้า) |

กลยุทธ์ (LUNCUSDT):

1. Wait & See (ทางเลือกที่ดีที่สุด):
   • เนื่องจาก TF15 ขัดแย้งกับ TF Day & 4H และ TF4H ก็เริ่มแสดงสัญญาณอ่อนแรง การ "รอ" ให้ตลาดแสดงทิศทางที่ชัดเจนกว่านี้ จะเป็นทางเลือกที่ปลอดภัยที่สุด
   • สังเกตพฤติกรรมราคา (Price Action) บริเวณแนวรับ-แนวต้านใน TF15 และ TF4H
2. Buy on Dip (Day, 4H) - ความเสี่ยงสูงมาก ต้องระมัดระวังเป็นพิเศษ:
   • สำหรับนักลงทุนระยะกลาง-ยาว ที่เชื่อมั่นในการกลับตัวของ LUNC (แต่ต้องยอมรับความเสี่ยงได้สูงมาก)
   • เงื่อนไข: ต้องรอสัญญาณการกลับตัวของราคาใน TF15 ก่อน เช่น
     • การ Breakout แนวต้านย่อยๆ พร้อม Volume
     • การเปลี่ยน Money Flow (LuxAlgo) เป็นสีเขียว
     • การเกิด Bullish Candlestick Patterns
   • จุดเข้า (Day): EMA 50 (0.00010000), EMA 200 (0.00008000) ต้องดู TF15 ประกอบ
   • จุดเข้า (4H): EMA 50 (ประมาณ 0.00007000) ต้องดู TF15 ประกอบ
   • Stop Loss: ต่ำกว่า Low ล่าสุดของ TF15 หรือต่ำกว่าแนวรับที่เข้าซื้อ
3. Short (15, ความเสี่ยงสูงมาก):
   • สำหรับนักเก็งกำไรระยะสั้น ที่รับความเสี่ยงได้สูงมาก
   • เงื่อนไข: ราคาไม่สามารถกลับขึ้นไปยืนเหนือ EMA ของ TF15 ได้
   • จุดเข้า: บริเวณ EMA ของ TF15 หรือแนวต้านอื่นๆ
   • Stop Loss: เหนือ High ล่าสุดของ TF15 หรือเหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short

คำแนะนำ (เน้นย้ำ):

• ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes: สถานการณ์ของ LUNCUSDT ตอนนี้มีความขัดแย้งกันสูงมากระหว่าง Timeframes และมีความเสี่ยงสูงกว่า XRP และ BTC
• Money Flow: Money Flow ใน TF15 เป็นลบ และใน TF4H ก็เริ่มไม่แน่นอน
• LUNC เป็นเหรียญ High Risk: มีความผันผวนสูงมาก และอาจมีการเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างรวดเร็ว
• ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ อย่าเพิ่งเข้าเทรด: รอสัญญาณที่ชัดเจนกว่านี้ หรือเลือกเทรดเหรียญอื่นที่มีความเสี่ยงน้อยกว่า
• Risk Management: สำคัญที่สุด ไม่ว่าจะเลือกกลยุทธ์ใด ต้องมีการบริหารความเสี่ยงที่ดี (ตั้ง Stop Loss, ไม่ Overtrade, กระจายความเสี่ยง)

สรุป: LUNCUSDT กำลังอยู่ในช่วงเวลาที่ยากลำบากและมีความเสี่ยงสูงมาก การตัดสินใจที่ผิดพลาดอาจนำไปสู่การขาดทุนได้ ควรพิจารณาอย่างรอบคอบก่อนเข้าเทรดทุกครั้ง และ "รอ" อาจเป็นทางเลือกที่ดีที่สุดสำหรับนักลงทุนส่วนใหญ่ค่ะ

Disclaimer: การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ 16d11430:61640947

In the world of monetary systems, there exists a fundamental divide: Bitcoin, rooted in thermodynamic energy expenditure, and fiat, which is conjured into existence without cost. This contrast is not merely economic but thermodynamic and absolute, and it exposes why fiat cannot compete with Bitcoin in the long run.

Fiat is an illusion, a monetary system unbacked by real work, while Bitcoin is a pure manifestation of the first law of thermodynamics—an asset where value is directly tied to the energy required to produce it. The battle between fiat and Bitcoin is thus not just one of finance but one of physics, where only one system is bound by the immutable laws of energy conservation, entropy, and work.

1. The First Law of Thermodynamics: Fiat Violates Conservation of Energy

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Bitcoin respects this law: Every single Bitcoin that exists was mined through proof-of-work, meaning that its existence required real-world energy expenditure. The hash power securing Bitcoin is derived from electricity converted into computational work, which is then permanently recorded on an immutable ledger.

Fiat violates this law: Central banks create fiat money out of nothing. There is no energy backing it, no transformation of work into value—only arbitrary decree (hence the term "fiat"). Governments increase the supply at will, diluting purchasing power without consuming energy.

By ignoring the fundamental rule of energy conservation, fiat is not a real asset—it is a transient system of control masquerading as money.

1. The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Fiat Is a High-Entropy System

The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy (disorder) in a system always increases unless energy is applied to maintain order.

Bitcoin is a low-entropy system: Its supply is mathematically fixed at 21 million coins, and mining difficulty adjusts dynamically, ensuring that equilibrium is maintained. No single actor can distort the system without expending equivalent energy. The network remains in a steady state of thermodynamic balance.

Fiat is a high-entropy system: Governments print money without work, inflating the supply and injecting systemic disorder into the economy. This inflation acts as monetary heat death, where the increasing supply dissipates value across holders while concentrating purchasing power in those who print it. Fiat money is in a constant state of decay, requiring increasing levels of control (interest rate manipulation, debt issuance, taxation) just to delay collapse.

As entropy increases, fiat systems require exponentially more intervention to function, but Bitcoin remains in a natural thermodynamic equilibrium, immune to external interference.

1. Proof-of-Work vs. Proof-of-Authority: Energy vs. Deception

In physics, all work requires energy. Any system that attempts to extract value without work is an illusion. Bitcoin and fiat represent these two competing paradigms:

Bitcoin = Proof of Work: Every coin is mined through energy expenditure. Value is tied to the energy needed to produce it. No energy, no Bitcoin. It is the only monetary system in human history that ties value to thermodynamic reality.

Fiat = Proof of Authority: Money is created by decree, without cost. A handful of central planners determine supply, creating purchasing power without exerting work. Fiat is a perpetual thermodynamic imbalance, kept afloat only by coercion.

The two systems cannot coexist indefinitely because one follows the laws of physics while the other fights against them. Fiat’s reliance on arbitrary issuance is unsustainable, whereas Bitcoin, bound by the laws of energy, will persist.

1. The Cost of Securing the System: Bitcoin vs. Fiat Enforcement

All monetary systems require energy to maintain security and function. Here’s how Bitcoin and fiat compare:

Bitcoin’s security budget = Thermodynamic work

Mining requires energy input.

Network security grows as more work is performed.

The system self-regulates through difficulty adjustments.

No external authority is required.

Fiat’s security budget = Bureaucracy, coercion, and war

Central banks manipulate money supply.

Governments enforce fiat’s value through taxation and legal mandates.

Military and police power are needed to uphold fiat supremacy.

The cost of maintaining fiat rises exponentially as the system destabilizes.

Bitcoin is secured by laws of physics, while fiat is secured by laws of men, enforced through control structures that demand increasingly inefficient energy expenditure. In the long run, this makes fiat unsustainable, as no amount of coercion can outmatch the absolute authority of thermodynamic principles.

1. The Final Thermodynamic Death of Fiat

Fiat is trapped in a paradox:

1. Printing money (entropy injection) devalues it, requiring further interventions to maintain purchasing power.

2. Raising interest rates or reducing money supply (attempting order) leads to economic contraction, creating social instability.

3. Fiat collapses when the cost of enforcing order exceeds the energy available to maintain it.

Bitcoin has no such issue. Its value is rooted in absolute energy conservation and cannot be manipulated without equivalent work.

As fiat systems degrade, they will require exponentially increasing amounts of energy to sustain themselves—energy they do not have. Bitcoin, on the other hand, will continue its natural thermodynamic process: converting energy into an immutable store of value.

Conclusion: The Laws of Physics Are Final

Fiat’s fate is sealed because it is in conflict with the fundamental laws of thermodynamics:

1. It violates energy conservation by printing money from nothing.

2. It succumbs to entropy by requiring more intervention as disorder grows.

3. It lacks a proof-of-work foundation, meaning its value is arbitrary.

4. Its security model is based on force, which demands increasing energy inputs.

Bitcoin, by contrast, is aligned perfectly with energy conservation and entropy minimization. It is a low-entropy monetary system that cannot be inflated, corrupted, or debased. It is the thermodynamic apex of monetary evolution.

Fiat is an unstable system destined to fail because it defies the laws of physics. Bitcoin is the natural state of money because it follows them. The contest is not one of ideology but of reality—fiat will collapse, and Bitcoin will remain, as dictated by the immutable laws of thermodynamics.

@ d360efec:14907b5f

ภาพรวม XRPUSDT :

XRPUSDT กำลังอยู่ในช่วงหัวเลี้ยวหัวต่อ คล้ายกับ BTC แต่มีความอ่อนแอกว่าเล็กน้อย แนวโน้มระยะกลางถึงยาว (TF Day & 4H) เริ่มมีสัญญาณบวกของการเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) แต่ในระยะสั้นมาก (TF15) กลับแสดงถึงความอ่อนแอและมีการปรับฐานลงมา

แนวโน้ม:

• TF Day: เริ่มเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) – ราคา Breakout EMA 50 ขึ้นมาได้, Money Flow เป็นบวก
• TF4H: เริ่มเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) – ราคา Breakout EMA 50, มีการพักตัวลงมาทดสอบ EMA 50, Money Flow เริ่มอ่อนแรง
• TF15: แกว่งตัวลง (Sideways Down) – ราคาหลุด EMA, โครงสร้างราคาเป็น Lower Highs/Lows, Money Flow เป็นลบ

โครงสร้างราคา (SMC):

• TF Day: มี Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL)
• TF4H: มี BOS ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น HH/HL (แต่ไม่ชัดเจน), มี Equal Highs (EQH) และ Equal Lows (EQL)
• TF15: มี BOS ด้านล่าง, มี Change of Character (CHoCH) ทั้งบนและล่าง, เริ่มเห็น Lower Highs (LH) และ Lower Lows (LL)

Money Flow (LuxAlgo):

• TF Day: แรงซื้อแข็งแกร่ง
• TF4H: แรงซื้อเริ่มอ่อนแรงลง, มีแรงขายเข้ามา
• TF15: แรงขายมีมากกว่าแรงซื้อ

EMA (Exponential Moving Average):

• TF Day: EMA 50 & 200 เป็นแนวรับ
• TF4H: EMA 50 เป็นแนวรับที่กำลังถูกทดสอบ, EMA 200 เป็นแนวรับถัดไป
• TF15: EMA 50 & 200 กลายเป็นแนวต้าน

แนวรับ-แนวต้านสำคัญ:

| Timeframe | แนวรับ | แนวต้าน | | :-------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Day | EMA 50 (1.56), EMA 200 (1.08), Low ก่อนหน้า | 2.4450 (High ล่าสุด), 3.00-3.20 (EQH), 3.4049 | | 4H | EMA 50 (ประมาณ 2.20), EMA 200, 2.10-2.20 (EQL), 1.7820 | 2.4427, 2.3987, 3.00-3.20 (EQH), 3.4049 | | 15m | 2.38 (EQL, Volume Profile), 2.3274 | EMA 50, EMA 200, 2.4196, Equilibrium (2.44), 2.44-2.48 (EQH) |

กลยุทธ์ (XRPUSDT):

1. Wait & See (ทางเลือกที่ดีที่สุด):
   • เนื่องจาก TF15 ขัดแย้งกับ TF Day & 4H อย่างชัดเจน และ TF4H ก็เริ่มแสดงสัญญาณอ่อนแรง การ "รอ" ให้ตลาดแสดงทิศทางที่ชัดเจนกว่านี้ จะเป็นทางเลือกที่ปลอดภัยที่สุด
   • สังเกตพฤติกรรมราคา (Price Action) บริเวณแนวรับ-แนวต้านใน TF15 และ TF4H
2. Buy on Dip (Day, 4H) - ความเสี่ยงสูงมาก ต้องระมัดระวังเป็นพิเศษ:
   • สำหรับนักลงทุนระยะกลาง-ยาว ที่เชื่อมั่นในแนวโน้มขาขึ้น (แต่ต้องยอมรับความเสี่ยงได้สูง)
   • เงื่อนไข: ต้องรอสัญญาณการกลับตัวของราคาใน TF15 ก่อน เช่น
     • การ Breakout แนวต้านย่อยๆ พร้อม Volume
     • การเปลี่ยน Money Flow (LuxAlgo) เป็นสีเขียว
     • การเกิด Bullish Candlestick Patterns
   • จุดเข้า (Day): EMA 50 (1.56), EMA 200 (1.08) ต้องดู TF15 ประกอบ
   • จุดเข้า (4H): EMA 50 (2.20), บริเวณ EQL (2.10-2.20) ต้องดู TF15 ประกอบ
   • Stop Loss: ต่ำกว่า Low ล่าสุดของ TF15 หรือต่ำกว่าแนวรับที่เข้าซื้อ
3. Short (15, ความเสี่ยงสูงมาก):
   • สำหรับนักเก็งกำไรระยะสั้น ที่รับความเสี่ยงได้สูงมาก
   • เงื่อนไข: ราคาไม่สามารถกลับขึ้นไปยืนเหนือ EMA ของ TF15 ได้
   • จุดเข้า: บริเวณ EMA ของ TF15 หรือแนวต้านอื่นๆ
   • Stop Loss: เหนือ High ล่าสุดของ TF15 หรือเหนือแนวต้านที่เข้า Short

คำแนะนำ (เน้นย้ำ):

• ความขัดแย้งของ Timeframes: สถานการณ์ของ XRPUSDT ตอนนี้มีความขัดแย้งกันสูงมากระหว่าง Timeframes
• Money Flow: Money Flow ใน TF15 เป็นลบ และใน TF4H ก็เริ่มอ่อนแรง
• EMA 50 (TF4H): เป็นจุดชี้ชะตา ถ้าหลุด แนวโน้มขาขึ้นระยะกลางอาจเสีย
• ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ อย่าเพิ่งเข้าเทรด: รอสัญญาณที่ชัดเจนกว่านี้ หรือเลือกเทรดเหรียญอื่นที่มีความเสี่ยงน้อยกว่า

สรุป: XRPUSDT กำลังอยู่ในช่วงเวลาที่ยากลำบากและมีความเสี่ยงสูง การตัดสินใจที่ผิดพลาดอาจนำไปสู่การขาดทุนได้ ควรพิจารณาอย่างรอบคอบก่อนเข้าเทรดทุกครั้งค่ะ

Disclaimer: การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

GitCitadel Development Operations

We, at GitCitadel, have been updating, moving, and rearranging our servers, for quite some time. As a rather large, complex, sprawling project, we have the infrastructure setup to match, so we've decided to give you all a quick run-down of what we are doing behind-the-scenes.

Supplier Coordination

Our first task, this week, was figuring out who would host what where. We have four different locations, where our infra is stored and managed, including two locations from our suppliers. We got that straightened out, quickly, and it's all slowly coming together and being connected and networked. Exciting to watch our DevOps landscape evolve and all of the knowledge-transfer that the interactions provide.

OneDev Implementation

Our biggest internal infra project this week was the migration of all of our issues from Jira, build scripts from Jenkins, and repos from GitHub to a self-hosted OneDev instance. In the future, all of our internal build, test, issue, patch/PR, etc. effort will take place there. We also have a separate repo there for communicating with external developers and suppliers.

Our team's GitHub projects will be demoted to mirrors and a place for external devs to PR to. Public issues and patches will continue to be managed over our self-hosted GitWorkshop instance.

We're especially glad to finally escape the GitHub Gulag, and avoid being bled dry by Jira fees, without having to give up the important features that we've come to know and love. So, yay!

Next Infrasteps

Automated Testing

Now, that we have everything tied up in one, neat, backed-up package, we can finally move on to the nitty-gritty and the dirty work. So, we're rolling up our sleeves and writing the Selenium smoke test for our Alexandria client. We'll be running that in Docker containers containing different "typical Nostr" images, such as Chrome browser with Nostr Connect signing extension, or Firefox browser with Nos2x-fox extension. Once we get the Nsec Bunker and Amber logins going, we'll add test cases and images for them, as well. (Yes, we can do Bunker. I hope you are in awe at our powers).

We are also designing an automated infrastructure test, that will simply rattle through all the various internal and external websites and relays, to make sure that everything is still online and responsive.

After that, a Gherkin-based Behave feature test for Alexandria is planned, so that we can prevent regression of completed functionality, from one release to the next.

The Gherkin scenarios are written and attached to our stories before development begins (we use acceptance tests as requirements), a manual test-execution is then completed, in order to set the story to Done. These completed scenarios will be automated, following each release, with the resulting script linked to from the origin story.

Automated Builds

As the crowning glory of every DevOps tool chain stands the build automation. This is where everything gets tied together, straightened out, configured, tested, measured, and -- if everything passes the quality gates -- released. I don't have to tell you how much time developers spend staring at the build process display, praying that it all goes through and they can celebrate a Green Wave.

We are currently designing the various builds, but the ones we have defined for the Alexandria client will be a continuous delivery pipeline, like so:

This will make it easier for us to work and collaborate asynchronously and without unnecessary delays.

Expanding the Status Page

And, finally, we get to the point of all of this busyness: reporting.

We are going to have beautiful reports, and we are going to post them online, on our status page. We will use bots, to inform Nostriches of the current status of our systems, so go ahead and follow our GitCitadel DevOps npub, to make sure you don't miss out on the IT action.

Building on stone

All in all, we're really happy with the way things are humming along, now, and the steady increase in our productivity, as all the foundational work we've put in starts to pay off. It's getting easier and easier to add new team members, repos, or features/fixes, so we should be able to scale up and out from here. Our GitCitadel is built on a firm foundation.

Happy building!

@ d360efec:14907b5f

บทที่ 1: การเดินทางของนักเวทย์สาว ข้าคือ อาเรีย นักเวทย์ฝึกหัดผู้เดินทางมาจากดินแดนอันไกลโพ้น ข้าได้ยินเรื่องราวของอาณาจักรไทย ที่ซึ่งมีปัญหาเกี่ยวกับ "แรงงานเงา" ซึ่งเป็นกลุ่มคนจากอีกดินแดนหนึ่งที่เข้ามาทำงานในอาณาจักรแห่งนี้ ข้าตัดสินใจที่จะเดินทางมายังอาณาจักรไทย เพื่อศึกษาเรื่องราวเหล่านี้ และหาทางแก้ไขปัญหา

บทที่ 2: การพบปะกับผู้คน เมื่อข้ามาถึงอาณาจักรไทย ข้าได้พบกับผู้คนมากมาย ทั้งชาวไทยและชาวพม่า ข้าได้ฟังเรื่องราวของพวกเขา ทั้งความยากลำบากในการทำงาน การถูกกดขี่ค่าแรง และความหวังที่จะมีชีวิตที่ดีขึ้น ข้าได้เห็นถึงความขยันและอดทนของพวกเขา แต่ก็มีความขัดแย้งและความเข้าใจผิดเกิดขึ้นระหว่างคนทั้งสองกลุ่ม

บทที่ 3: การไขปริศนา ข้าเริ่มสืบหาความจริงเกี่ยวกับเรื่องราวเหล่านี้ และได้พบว่ามีกลุ่มคนบางกลุ่มที่ต้องการใช้ประโยชน์จากแรงงานเงาม โดยการกดขี่ค่าแรงและแสวงหาผลประโยชน์ ข้ายังได้เรียนรู้ว่าอาณาจักรไทยกำลังเผชิญกับปัญหาการขาดแคลนแรงงาน และจำเป็นต้องพึ่งพาแรงงานเงา

บทที่ 4: การตัดสินใจ ข้าได้คิดทบทวนเรื่องราวทั้งหมด และตัดสินใจที่จะใช้เวทย์มนตร์ของข้า เพื่อช่วยเหลือผู้คนเหล่านั้น ข้าต้องการที่จะสร้างความเข้าใจและความเท่าเทียมกันระหว่างคนทุกกลุ่ม และทำให้อาณาจักรไทยเป็นสถานที่ที่ทุกคนสามารถอยู่ร่วมกันได้อย่างมีความสุข

บทที่ 5: การผจญภัย การเดินทางของข้ายังไม่จบสิ้น ข้ายังคงต้องเผชิญกับอุปสรรคและความท้าทายอีกมากมาย แต่ข้าเชื่อมั่นว่าด้วยความมุ่งมั่นและความพยายามของข้า ข้าจะสามารถสร้างความเปลี่ยนแปลงให้กับอาณาจักรไทยแห่งนี้ได้

บทสรุป

เรื่องราวของอาเรีย นักเวทย์สาวผู้เดินทางมาเพื่อแก้ไขปัญหาแรงงานเงาในอาณาจักรไทย เป็นเรื่องราวที่สะท้อนให้เห็นถึงปัญหาที่เกิดขึ้นในสังคมของเรา การกดขี่ค่าแรง การแบ่งแยกชนชั้น และการแสวงหาผลประโยชน์จากผู้อื่น

เราทุกคนสามารถเป็นเหมือนอาเรียได้ โดยการลุกขึ้นมาต่อสู้เพื่อความถูกต้องและความเท่าเทียมกัน และสร้างสังคมที่ทุกคนสามารถอยู่ร่วมกันได้อย่างมีความสุข

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

Planning Alexandria

People keep asking what features nostr:npub1s3ht77dq4zqnya8vjun5jp3p44pr794ru36d0ltxu65chljw8xjqd975wz has planned for #Alexandria, but they're not set in stone because we're an agile project.

What we do have, is lots of tickets on our Kanban boards and a naming scheme, where we use a famous person's last name, to signify the release goals.

Gutenberg v 0.1.0

(after the inventor of the printing press) will contain the features needed to read and write NIP-62 Curated Publications, as well as encompassing the complex infrastructure, architecture, documentation, and personnel we require to make this all run smoothly and look easy.

Euler v 0.2.0

(after a mathematician credited with establishing graph theory) will contain the features for deep-searching, visually exploring, and smartly navigating the data set, wiki page display, annotating and citing the publications, exporting to other formats (like PDF, ePUB, and LaTeX), and commenting/reviewing. To help with the heavy lifting, we will be swapping out the core with our own Nostr SDK called "Aedile".

Defoe v 0.3.0

(after an author who perfected the novel format) will be all about our favorite writers. We will be focusing upon profile data, payment systems, book clubs and communities, and stylesheets.

That is everything we have planned, for the v1.0 edition, and we consider that version to be a true product.

As for after that, a teaser...

@ d058ffb7:70ed2330

Afin de profiter de tous les bienfaits du bitcoin, il est recommandé d'en prendre le réel contrôle, qui ese résume à posséder ses propres clés privés. Pour se faire, on doit utilise un portefeuille bitcoin.

À l'opposé, il y a les solutions de type "gardien de valeur" (ou "custodial"), tel que Coinbase, Binance ou ShakePay, pour lesquels vous n'avez que "des bitcoin sur papier".

Une portefeuille bitcoin doit au minimum permettre de : * Générer des clés privés, principalement via le concept de 12 | 24 mots secrets. * À partir de cette clé privée, dériver les clés publiques (ou "adresse bitcoin") * Signer et diffuser de nouvelles transactions * Afficher le solde des bitcoins

Pour la majorité des cas d'utilisation, des applications mobiles sont suffisantes. Il y en a plusieurs dont l'offre de service peut différer.

Pour profiter d'un maximum de fonctionnalités, il est avantageux d'utiliser un logiciel complet, sur PC, qui peut se connecter à son propre nœud ou utiliser un nœud public. Le logiciel Sparrow Wallet est souvent cité comme exemple puisqu'il est complet, convivial et open-source. Ce guide sert de point de départ pour apprendre à l'utiliser.

Téléchargement

À partir du site officiel, téléchargez la version qui correspond à votre système d'exploitation (Windows, Mac ou Linux).

Avertissement : le bitcoin et les cryptomonnaies en général sont des cibles de choix pour les fraudeurs. Vérifiez bien d'être sur le bon site (par exemple, en se fiant à son concepteur @craigraw) et évitez les sites commandités par les moteurs de recherche.

Vérification du logiciel

Cette étape est facultative mais pour éviter les attaques de type "man-in-the-middle", où un fraudeur va remplacer la version officielle par une version frauduleuse, il est recommandé de vérifier l'exactitude intégrale du code, via une "stratégie PGP" (Pretty good privacy).

Depuis peu, cette étape est seulement nécessaire pour le premier téléchargement de Sparrow Wallet puisque le logiciel offre une nouvelle fonctionnalité de validation simplifiée, expliquée sur la page de téléchargement. Pour la façon traditionnelle, les étapes détaillées sont disponible sur cette même page.

Installation

Sur Windows, vous n'avez qu'à télécharger le fichier .exe et à l'exécuter.

Connexion à un nœud public

Si vous lisez le présent guide, il est probable que vous ne mainteniez pas un nœud bitcoin local. Sparrow Wallet offre la possibilité de se connecter à un nœud public, via une liste d'adresses préfiltrées, disponible dans les paramètres de connexion.

Création d'un nouveau portefeuille bitcoin

Pour un premier portefeuille, un portefeuille de type native segwit est adéquat. Ce type est un compromis entre les adresses legacy et le nouveau protocole taproot. Il vous permet déjà de profiter d'économies sur les frais de transactions.

Vous pouvez appliquer les changements pour créer un nouveau portefeuille, puis choisir le mode de création de la clé privée. L'utilisation de plusieurs mots, via BIP39, est la stratégie la plus répandue et qui a faite ces preuves.

Vous pouvez choisir d'ajouter une passphrase, que vous pouvez choisir et qui joue le rôle de mot supplémentaire. Il est essentiel de le connaitre pour pouvoir signer des transactions ou encore restaurer votre portefeuille.

Vous devez ensuite prendre ces mots en note car il vous sera demander de les réinscrire pour les valider.

Une fois vos mots confirmés, vous pouvez confirmer la valeur par défaut pour le chemin de dérivation, puis appliquer les changements. Enfin, vous pourrez ajouter un mot de passe au besoin.

Recevoir des bitcoin

Avant d'envoyer des bitcoin, vous devez en avoir déjà reçu dans votre portefeuille. Pour cela, vous pouvez cliquer sur "Receive" pour afficher la prochaine adresse inutilisée. Pour des raisons de sécurité et de confidentialité, il est recommandé de toujours utiliser une adresse différente. Dans la section "Transactions", vous verrez plutôt toutes les adresses disponibles, incluant celles utilisées pour le change. Vous pouvez alors utiliser ces adresses dans l'application ou il y a les fonds.

Envoyer des bitcoin

Maintenant que vous avez des bitcoin, vous pouvez voir votre solde dans la section "Transactions". Si vous allez dans la section "Send", vous pourrez créer une nouvelle transaction. Pour les intrants à cette transaction, Sparrow Wallet peut choisir en fonction de l'efficience (coûts) ou de la confidentialité. La section "UTXO", qui exposent vos transactions non dépensées, permet un contrôle manuel des intrants à une transaction.

Une fois créée, la transaction devra être signée (avec votre clé privée), puis diffusée (broadcaster) sur le réseau.

Explorer la chaîne

Vous ne voyez toujours pas votre transaction ? Vous êtes curieux de voir ce qu'il se passe sur le réseau bitcoin. Alors allez jetez un coup d'oeil à mempool.space. Dans la boîte de recherche, vous pouvez y coller votre transaction ou votre adresse et confirmer l'état de la transaction. Vous pouvez également valider que votre portefeuille est à jour y en comparant la hauteur (ou numéro de bloc).

Restaurer un portefeuille

Vous avez trouver 12 mots et voulez tester si ça cache quelque chose ? Perdu votre cellulaire avec votre application mobile mais vous avez vos 12 mots ? Il est alors possible de restaurer un portefeuille en utilisant la fonctionnalité de création mentionnée plus haut. Cette fois-ci, plutôt que de les générer automatiquement, vous n'avez qu'à saisir les mots pris en note et le passphrase s'il y a lieu. Il est prudent de considérer ce portefeuille comme étant corrompue ou comme ayant fuité et d'en créer un nouveau puis d'y transférer les fonds.

Avec ces instructions, vous devriez avoir la fondation nécessaire pour faire vos premières transactions sécuritairement. Dans les prochains guide, vous verrez comment utiliser une Coldcard, soit une portefeuille physique qui permet de créer la clé privée hors-connexion, ainsi qu'un OpenDime, une clé à usage unique.

Si vous avez des commentaires, vous pouvez m'écrire sur X (anciennement Twitter) @lekingfu ou par courriel au bitcoin@lekingfu.com.

@ e034d654:ca919814

I stumbled into nostr end of March 2023. At that point already fully thrown into the hows, whys and whats of Bitcoin, never really interested in social apps, just recently playing around with Lightning, the only experience of which at the time was Muun (😬) and stacker.news custodial wallet.

Fairly inexperienced with technicals other than rough understandings of concepts. A crappy laptop node with a dangling SSD via USB, constantly having to resync to current blockheights whenever I was ready to make an on chain transaction to cold storage. My great success after over two years of delay, and a couple failed attempts.

Something about the breadth of information for nitty gritty specifics, the clash with all the things that I found interesting about Bitcoin, with others equally as focused, kept me interested in Nostr. Plus the lighthearted shit posting to break up plumbing the depths of knowledge appealed to me.

Cut to now. Through the jurisdictional removals and even deaths of LN wallet projects, using mobile LSPs, finding use cases with the numerous cashu implementations, moderate comfortability with NWC strings of various permissions, budgets for seemingly endless apps of Nostr clients, swapping relays, isolated wallets with Alby go for my wife and cousin (I told them both not to put much on there as I'm sure failure is imminent) Alby Hub and Zeus, now fully backended by my own persistently online lightning node. All of it adding to the fluidity of my movement around the protocol.

Nimble.

Gradual progress. Reading through notes and guides posted on Nostr learning little bits, circling back eventually, if even at a time it wasn't clicking for me. Either way. Glad i've stuck to it even if I still barely know what it is I'm doing.

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

I am so tired of people trying to waste my time with Nostrized imitations of stuff that already exists.

Instagram, but make it Nostr. Twitter, but make it Nostr. GitHub, but make it Nostr. Facebook, but make it Nostr. Wordpress, but make it Nostr. GoodReads, but make it Nostr. TikTok, but make it Nostr.

That stuff already exists, and it wasn't that great the first time around, either. Build something better than that stuff, that can only be brought into existence because of Nostr.

Build something that does something completely and awesomely new. Knock my socks off, bro.

Cuz, ain't nobody got time for that.

@ 3b7fc823:e194354f

I fought with making this work for two days before I finally figured out that I made a simple SQL format mistake. I asked chatGPT to write a tutorial on how to do it based on what I did and the work I did with it. Sharing it in case anyone finds it useful.

Enabling Persistent Memory in Open WebUI with Ollama

This tutorial will guide you through the process of enabling persistent memory for your AI models running locally with Ollama and Open WebUI on Debian Linux. By the end of this guide, your AI will be able to remember the last 20 conversations you’ve had with it.

---

Prerequisites

• Debian Linux system
• Ollama installed and configured
• Open WebUI installed and running

---

Step 1: Setting Up the Database for Persistent Memory

We'll use SQLite to store conversation history.

1.1 Create conversation_memory.py

Navigate to your Open WebUI backend directory and create a new file called conversation_memory.py.

bash cd /home/your_username/Documents/open-webui-0.5.10/backend nano conversation_memory.py

Paste the following code into conversation_memory.py:

```python import sqlite3 import os

Set DB_FILE to the absolute path of memory.db in the same directory as this script

DB_FILE = "/home/your_username/Documents/open-webui-0.5.10/backend/memory.db"

def init_db(): """Create database table if it doesn't exist""" conn = sqlite3.connect(DB_FILE) c = conn.cursor() c.execute(""" CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS memory ( id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT, user TEXT, ai TEXT ) """) conn.commit() conn.close()

def save_conversation(user_input, ai_response): """Save a conversation entry to the database and maintain only the last 20 entries.""" try: conn = sqlite3.connect(DB_FILE) c = conn.cursor() c.execute("INSERT INTO memory (user, ai) VALUES (?, ?)", (user_input, ai_response)) c.execute(""" DELETE FROM memory WHERE id NOT IN ( SELECT id FROM memory ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 20 ) """) conn.commit() conn.close() print(f"Successfully saved: User - {user_input}, AI - {ai_response}") except Exception as e: print(f"Error saving conversation: {e}")

def get_last_conversations(limit=5): """Retrieve the last 'limit' number of conversations""" try: conn = sqlite3.connect(DB_FILE) c = conn.cursor() c.execute("SELECT user, ai FROM memory ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT ?", (limit,)) conversations = c.fetchall() conn.close() return conversations except Exception as e: print(f"Error retrieving conversations: {e}") return []

Initialize the database when this script is run

init_db() ```

---

Step 2: Integrating Memory into Open WebUI Middleware

We'll modify the Open WebUI middleware to save and retrieve conversations.

2.1 Edit middleware.py

Open the middleware.py file for editing:

bash nano middleware.py

2.2 Import Memory Functions

At the top of the file, import the memory functions:

python from conversation_memory import save_conversation, get_last_conversations

2.3 Retrieve and Append Conversation History

Locate the function responsible for processing chat payloads. Add the following code to retrieve and append the last 20 conversations:

```python

Retrieve past conversations (e.g., last 20 messages)

conversation_history = get_last_conversations(limit=20)

Format past conversations as context

history_text = "\n".join([f"User: {conv[0]}\nAI: {conv[1]}" for conv in conversation_history])

Append conversation history to the current user message

user_message = get_last_user_message(form_data["messages"]) if history_text: combined_message = f"Previous conversation:\n{history_text}\n\nNew message:\nUser: {user_message}" else: combined_message = f"User: {user_message}"

Update the last user message with combined history

form_data["messages"][-1]["content"] = combined_message ```

2.4 Save New Conversations

Ensure that new conversations are saved after the AI generates a response. Add the following code where the AI response is handled:

```python

Extract AI response content

if isinstance(ai_response, dict) and "choices" in ai_response: ai_response_content = ai_response["choices"][0]["message"]["content"] else: ai_response_content = ""

Save the new conversation

if ai_response_content.strip(): save_conversation(user_message, ai_response_content) ```

---

Step 3: Testing Persistent Memory

3.1 Run the Script to Test Saving

Run conversation_memory.py to ensure it's saving data correctly:

bash python3 /home/your_username/Documents/open-webui-0.5.10/backend/conversation_memory.py

3.2 Query the Database to Verify Data

Use SQLite to check if conversations are being saved:

bash sqlite3 /home/your_username/Documents/open-webui-0.5.10/backend/memory.db sqlite> SELECT * FROM memory;

You should see your test conversations listed.

---

Step 4: Final Verification in Open WebUI

1. Restart the Open WebUI server to apply changes.
2. Start a conversation with the AI.
3. After several interactions, verify if the AI references past conversations.
4. Query memory.db again to ensure new conversations are being saved:

bash sqlite3 /home/your_username/Documents/open-webui-0.5.10/backend/memory.db sqlite> SELECT * FROM memory;

---

Conclusion

You’ve successfully enabled persistent memory for your AI models running with Ollama and Open WebUI! The AI will now remember the last 20 conversations, creating a more dynamic and personalized user experience.

Feel free to adjust the memory limit or expand the functionality as needed. Happy coding!

---

Advocating for privacy does not finance itself. If you enjoyed this article, please consider zapping or sending monero

82XCDNK1Js8TethhpGLFPbVyKe25DxMUePad1rUn9z7V6QdCzxHEE7varvVh1VUidUhHVSA4atNU2BTpSNJLC1BqSvDajw1

@ b83a28b7:35919450

The traditional product development lifecycle is undergoing a profound transformation. Powered by AI tools evolving at a scarcely believable pace, 2025 promises to revolutionize how we conceive, build, and iterate on products, offering unprecedented efficiency and innovation.

In this post, I'm going to lay out how the seven traditional stages of the PDLC can be accelerated by 5-10x with existing tools.

It's worth pointing out that these capabilities I'm listing are current as of February 11 2025. It is very possible that these all get upended by something even better by March or April!

1. Ideation and Market Research

The first phase of product development is supercharged by AI's ability to analyze vast datasets and identify trends. Tools like AlphaSense and Google Gemini 2.0 can sift through financial reports, social media chatter, and market analyses to distill actionable insights in a fraction of the time it would take human researchers. This AI-augmented ideation process doesn't replace human creativity but amplifies it, allowing teams to explore a broader range of possibilities and make data-driven decisions from the outset.

[Note, I'm not even touching on OpenAI's Deep Research Model that was released last week, which from all the initial reaction, will likely be a massive improvement on the models above]

2. Requirements Gathering and User Story Generation

AI models like Tara AI and Claude 3.5 Sonnet excel at translating abstract business objectives into detailed user stories and technical specifications. These tools can analyze workflows, integrate with existing systems, and generate comprehensive requirements documents. While AI streamlines this process, product managers still play a crucial (but perhaps diminishing over the next few years) role in refining and validating these AI-generated outputs, ensuring alignment with business goals and human needs.

3. Design and Prototyping

The design phase is revolutionized by tools like Adobe Firefly and Neurons Predict AI. These AI systems can generate high-fidelity prototypes based on text prompts and even simulate user behavior to optimize UI/UX designs. Human designers remain essential, infusing prototypes with creativity and emotional resonance that AI alone cannot provide.

4. Development and Implementation

AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot X and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and more recently, DeepSeek R1 and o3-mini, are transforming the development process. These tools can generate code, assist with debugging, and accelerate development workflows. However, human developers are still crucial for overseeing critical logic, ensuring security compliance, and making high-level architectural decisions.

5. Quality Assurance

AI-driven QA tools like ACCELQ Autopilot and Appvance IQ automate test case creation, execution, and maintenance. These systems can adapt to application changes in real-time, significantly reducing the manual effort required in testing. Human QA engineers focus on validating critical test cases and ensuring overall product reliability.

6. Deployment

Deployment is streamlined with AI-powered tools like Harness CI/CD and AWS SageMaker. These systems automate deployment pipelines and use machine learning to detect potential failures proactively. Human DevOps teams oversee these processes, ensuring smooth rollouts and managing any unforeseen issues.

7. Post-Launch Monitoring and Iteration

AI excels in post-launch monitoring, with tools like Arize AI and Weights & Biases providing real-time insights and actionable analytics. These systems can detect usage patterns, identify areas for improvement, and even suggest optimizations. Product teams use these AI-generated insights to prioritize updates and guide the product's evolution.

By leveraging AI throughout the product development lifecycle, teams can dramatically reduce time-to-market while maintaining or even improving product quality. This AI-driven approach doesn't eliminate the need for human expertise but rather enhances it, allowing teams to focus on higher-level strategic decisions and creative problem-solving.

The future of product development lies in this symbiosis between human ingenuity and AI capabilities. As these AI tools continue to evolve, we can expect even greater efficiencies and innovations in the PDLC, ultimately leading to better products that more closely align with user needs and market demands.

@ 3b7fc823:e194354f

We are constantly surrounded by technologies that claim to enhance our experiences but often come at the cost of our privacy. Think about it – every time you visit a website, cookies are being dropped like breadcrumbs, tracking your every move without you even knowing.

How Tech Companies Collect Your Data: The Spy Next Door

1. Cookies: These tiny files are placed on your device as soon as you visit a site. They follow you around the web, creating a digital trail that companies use to learn about your habits and interests.

2. Tracking Pixels: Like cookies, these are invisible tags that track your actions across different websites. Imagine someone following you wherever you go online – that's what tracking pixels do.

3. Behavioral Targeting: This is when companies analyze your browsing history to serve you ads tailored to your interests. It's like knowing what you like and then bombarding you with it, whether you like it or not.

4. Data Brokers: These middlemen collect data from various sources and sell it on to the highest bidder. Your information could be used for marketing, insurance, or even political purposes – without your consent!

5. Third-Party trackers: Apps and websites you visit may share your data with other companies, creating a web of surveillance that's hard to escape.

What They Do with Your Data

Once companies have your data, they can use it for targeted advertising, profile building, and even political manipulation. Think about the Cambridge Analytica scandal... Your data isn't just used to make your experience better; it's being sold and exploited in ways you probably never imagined.

How to Stop Them: Empower Yourself

1. Use Privacy-Friendly Browsers: Tools like Brave or Firefox with enhanced tracking protection can block trackers and cookies, giving you control over what data is collected.

2. Block Trackers and Cookies: Browser extensions that allow you to block these elements are available for free, providing an added layer of privacy.

3. Minimize Data Usage: When using apps or websites, avoid granting unnecessary permissions that could lead to data collection.

4. Delete Unused Apps: Regularly delete apps and services that are no longer needed to stop data collection from inactive accounts.

5. Read Privacy Policies: Before accepting terms of service or privacy policies, read through them to understand what data will be collected and how it will be used.

6. Use Incognito or Private Browsing Modes: These modes often block cookies and trackers, offering an additional way to reduce data collection. But remember that Google was still tracking you on Chrome regardless, so your mileage may vary.

7. Limit Device Usage: Avoid using personal devices for sensitive activities when privacy is a concern.

8. Use Tor: Yes it's slower, yes some sites won't work. It's more private and you using helps disquise traffic giving protection for others that might need it more than you do.

Why It Matters: The Domino Effect

The data collected today isn't just for ads; it's used in decision-making processes that can affect your life. From insurance rates to job opportunities, your data can influence significant aspects of your existence. Imagine a world where your information is bought and sold without your consent – it's time to take control.

Your Data, Your Choice

Your data is being collected and sold without your consent, and the time to act is now. By understanding how data collection works and taking steps to protect yourself, you can reclaim control over your privacy. Remember, you're not just a user – you're the owner of your information. It's time to stand up for your rights and demand transparency from the companies that claim to serve you.

Don't Let Corporate Spies Steal Your Privacy

Your data is valuable, and it's being harvested without your knowledge. Take action today by educating yourself and others about the importance of privacy. Together, we can create a world where privacy is respected and protected, not exploited for profit.

Join the movement to fight against corporate surveillance and protect your right to privacy. Your information is too important to leave in the hands of those who don't have your consent. It's time to take a stand – your digital life depends on it.

---

Advocating for privacy does not finance itself. If you enjoyed this article, please consider zapping or sending monero

82XCDNK1Js8TethhpGLFPbVyKe25DxMUePad1rUn9z7V6QdCzxHEE7varvVh1VUidUhHVSA4atNU2BTpSNJLC1BqSvDajw1

@ 6871d8df:4a9396c1

## 2024 Prediction Reflections

Politics

Democrats & 2024 Election

• “Democrats’ attempt to stifle democracy will likely put Trump in the White House. If not, some real sketchy stuff would need to happen to keep him out.”

This prediction was exactly right. The assassination attempt on Trump seemed to be the final blow for the Democrats. Despite a heavy push my legacy media, Trump won handily.

The Democrats switched to Kamala Harris after Biden showed signs of incapacity, most notably in the first debate against Trump.

My prediction for the election also turned out to be exactly right, which, thank you Robert Barnes and Richard Baris.

Evidence of Institutional Ideological Capture

• “People will continue to wake up to ideologically captured institutions, and DEI will be the main loser.”

Trump’s resounding election victory underscores that the public is increasingly aware of (and rejecting) such institutional capture.

Of note, Boeing comes to mind as an institution that had a tough time in 2024, in large part to DEI. Nothing seemed to function correctly. The biggest story being how they stranded people in space

Media & Public Opinion

Rise of Independent & Alternative Media

• “Independent and alternative media will continue to grow as people’s trust in legacy media declines.”

Twitter (X), under Elon Musk, shattered mainstream media’s influence far more than expected. As Elon has said, “You are the media now.” Alternative sources are king. - Notable Example: Kamala Harris’s decision not to appear on the Joe Rogan podcast contrasted with Trump’s appearance, further highlighting the power shift to alternative media.

Markets & IPOs

Interest Rates & Public Markets

• “As interest rates come down, I expect public markets and IPOs to heat up.”

This did not play out. Companies that were expected to go public in 2024 remain private in 2025. The reasons are varied, but there is confidence that 2025 might see changes.

Technology & AI

LLMs & AI Adoption

• “AI and LLMs will continue to move at a rapid rate, increasing productivity. Tools like Bard will become more mainstream.”

AI did take off. Usage among nontechnical users increased, and it’s no longer uncommon for people to default to AI-driven tools rather than Google search.

Decentralized AI

• “I hope to see a rise in decentralized AI to counter big-player LLMs.”

We didn’t see explicit ‘decentralized AI’ breakthroughs, but more players entered the AI market. ChatGPT still dominates, with Elon’s ‘Grok’ making moves. Google, Meta, and Microsoft remain active but slightly behind in usage.

Bitcoin & Digital Assets

Institutional Adoption of Bitcoin

• “2024 will bring more institutions to Bitcoin. Possibly another large company or nation-state. The ETF should help, likely pushing BTC to a new all-time high.”

No large public company or nation-state placed a bet, but smaller public companies did. Michael Saylor presented to Microsoft’s Board, which was the closest instance to a major move.
- Price Movement: Bitcoin did hit a new all-time high, rising to as much as $108k in 2024.

Lightning Network

• “Lightning will improve but remain primarily used for acquiring Bitcoin, not everyday payments.”

Still true. Lightning usage remains tiny relative to broader Bitcoin adoption.

Nostr Adoption

• “Nostr will grow, and we’ll see new companies leverage this network beyond just social media.”

Growth continues, but Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover slowed adoption. Nostr will remain niche until a major catalyst occurs (e.g., a big player joins or forced usage due to censorship).

Stablecoin-Specific Regulations

• “Expect stablecoin regulations in 2024 that’ll be favorable to them.”

This didn’t happen, largely due to the administration’s hostility. Expect potential change in 2025.

Miscellaneous 2024 Reflections

• Return to Sanity
  • 2024 felt like sanity prevailed, largely due to the Democrats’ collapse behind Biden and Harris and Elon’s Twitter dominance.
• Operation Chokepoint 2.0
  • Received a lot of attention, and I’m thankful it did because my experience at Strike was radicalizing and extreme.
• Bryan Johnson & Anti-Aging
  • He burst onto the scene with his obsession over biomarkers. I see it as misguided—chasing markers in isolation doesn’t automatically yield a healthy system.
• Apple’s Rough Year
  • Without a visionary leader, Apple appears to be scraping by on existing products rather than innovating.
• Google Under Fire
  • Google is in a tough fight with the government, just as it seems they’re on their heels with AI competition.

---

2025 Predictions

1. Bitcoin’s Performance Bitcoin will have a good year, but not better than 2024. To beat 2024, it must close above 206k on December 31, 2025. I’ll take the under on that.

   • I am not ruling out it to be over that at some point in 2025.

2. Twitter’s Success Continues to Stunt nostr

3. Nostr adoption will stay slow due to Elon’s dominant influence with X (Twitter).
   • As long as it remains a beacon of free speech, I doubt we see an exodus.

4. Rumble integrating Tether might help if they allow Nostr-like features (zaps), but that seems unlikely.

5. Apple

6. Apple will continue its rent-seeking behavior and put out underwhelming products.

7. Google’s Quantum & AI

8. Recent buzz about Google’s quantum chip and AI improvements won’t pan out as a big deal.

9. Google will continue to trail OpenAI and xAI in practical LLM usage.

10. Elon, Vivek & DOGE

11. I expect them to deliver more than critics think. They’ll expose bloat and inefficiencies in ways that will shake up norms. I greatly welcome this. I wouldn’t bet against them.

12. Mainstream Media Reckoning

13. In Trump’s second term, mainstream news outlets will face a real reckoning, as I can’t see how their bias can continue.
14. They’ll have to reduce their bias or risk bankruptcy.

15. Alternative media’s growth trend continues, especially as Twitter keeps exposing mainstream outlets’ weaknesses.

16. RFK Delivers

17. We will see big changes in the health space due to RFK at HHS. These are changes that I am very excited to see.

18. Foreign Policy

19. With the transition to Trump, I expect some foreign policy wins that will buck the establishment but will deliver wins that are not thought possible by the “experts.”

---

Closing Note

• Overall 2024: It was a year of major political upheaval, vindication for Bitcoin, and continued AI advances.
• Outlook for 2025: Bitcoin remains strong, AI competition heats up, and media institutions face existential challenges. I’m optimistic for continued decentralization and a more level playing field across tech, finance, and politics. I think the start of Trump’s second term will be very strong for the market, health, and culture. Accelerate.

@ f7922a0a:82c34788

Now that the 3rd Satellite Skirmish is complete I wanted to highlight some of the cool features on embrace.satskirmish.com

This is what the cutting edge of podcasting 2.0 looks like imo. Live video in an app that allows you to send sats to the artists in real time.

On the left hand side we have a Boost score borad that displays the total amount of sats that have come in during the show, live Boosts/Booastagrams as they come in, total amount of sats from each person Boosting and total amount sent from each app.

The middle is ovisaly the video of the band playing but with some graphics around it and Boost alerts that show up on the screen in the form of snow flakes for this one.

The righthand side is an IRC chat window that connects to an IRC server that the No Agenda community has used for 18+ years thanks to zoidzero++.

The bottom of the page is where things get cool. When you click the Boost the Crew button in the center you can send a Boost that gets split between everyone helping produce the show (hightlighted in yellow).

Each band also has their own Boost button so you can Boost them while they are playing or anytime you visit the page.

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Scientists at the University of Oxford have made a significant advancement in teleportation. They successfully beamed data between two quantum computers over a distance of more than six feet. By using light particles, they created a shared quantum link, allowing both devices to function as one.

This achievement addresses issues in building scalable quantum computers, enabling smaller devices to work together instead of needing a massive machine. The team accomplished this using quantum gates, vital for quantum computing tasks. As lead researcher Dougal Main noted, "By carefully tailoring these interactions, we can perform logical quantum gates."

Such breakthroughs could pave the way for a 'quantum internet' capable of secure communication and data processing.

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

Instructions

1. Place 2 medium-sized, boiled potatoes and a handful of sliced leeks in a pot.
2. Fill the pot with water or vegetable broth, to cover the potatoes twice over.
3. Add a splash of white wine, if you like, and some bouillon powder, if you went with water instead of broth.
4. Bring the soup to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Puree the soup, in the pot, with a hand mixer. It shouldn't be completely smooth, when you're done, but rather have small bits and pieces of the veggies floating around.
6. Bring the soup to a boil, again, and stir in one container (200-250 mL) of heavy cream.
7. Thicken the soup, as needed, and then simmer for 5 more minutes.
8. Garnish with croutons and veggies (here I used sliced green onions and radishes) and serve.

Guten Appetit!

@ 7ed7d5c3:6927e200

Can't decide if the terrible book you just read is a 1 or 1.5 star book? Look no further than this chart. Was it Shit or just Bad? Was that movie you watched Very Good or just Decent? How many things out there are really Life Changing?

Finally, a rating scale for humans. Use it for anything in your life that needs a rating out of 5 stars.

Rating / Description

0.5 – The worst 1.0 – Shit 1.5 – Bad 2.0 – Eh 2.5 – Entertaining, but not great 3.0 – Neutral 3.5 – Alright 4.0 – Decent 4.5 – Very good 5.0 – Life Changing

P.S. Do not use it to rate your wife's cooking. The author is not liable for any damages.

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

Hodling Bitcoin does not make you a capitalist

I've noticed that Bitcoin-mindedness seems to lead some people to communistic thinking because it's a hard-limited form of capital. Marx, like most Bitcoiners, heavily discounted the possibility of economic growth or transformation changing the economy enough to undermine some minority's control of some form of capital.

What few today understand, is that many of the Dirty Capitalists of Marx's era actually agreed with him; they were just disdainful of labor and worried that the workers finding out that Marxism is correct about the nature of capitalism would cause unrest. They were the original HFSP crowd.

This was the basic idea, that Marx had, and that many Bitcoiners would agree with:

Capital is strictly limited and the people that control it can keep labor from attaining any, except when their labor is necessary.

And, as we know, automation will make human labor increasingly unnecessary.

The math doesn't check out

That underlies all of the calculations of "Well, if I just grab this Bitcoin wallet and hodl for twenty years, then it will grow in value to equal half of everything in existence and then I can just buy up half the planet and rule over everyone like a god."

This is economic nonsense because it assumes that: 1) the value of all things remains static over time, 2) purchasing something with money gives you ownership of it, 3) people will always use that specific money (or any money, at all!) for all transactions, 4) there is no such thing as opportunity cost, 5) people will always value money more than any other thing, and therefore be willing to always trade it for anything else, 6) humans are passive, defenseless, and easy to rule over, 7) someone who is preoccupied with hodling an asset steadily and sharply rising in price would ever be emotionally ready to part with it.

All monies can die.

People use money for everything because it is easy, fast and cheap. If money becomes too precious or scarce, they will simply switch to using other things (as we saw with gold). Humans replace tools that aren't working well, with those that work better, and money is just another tool. Bitcoin is more divisible than gold, but that won't matter, if enough of it is held by too few.

This is why there's a natural cap on the price of a money and why human productivity in the here and now is not irrelevant or in vain.

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

https://media.geekiam.systems/624f3a63-b25e-4a04-9207-7e3b1ced80da.png https://media.geekiam.systems/04f60be2-9bdf-4e29-9115-d0249789247a.png https://media.geekiam.systems/ef4b507b-2457-4f3a-b458-6841ce408fd1.png

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

Ingredients

• 1 kg of pork roast with rind, such as shoulder or a lean belly
• 1 bottle of beer, light or dark
• chopped German-style mirepoix (best combination, for this recipe, includes celery root, carrot, red onion, and leeks)
• salt, pepper, nutmeg
• 1 diced garlic clove

Directions

1. Spread the vegetables on the bottom of the roasting pan.
2. Pour half the beer over the roast. (Drink the other half.)
3. Season the meat, to taste.
4. Roast the meat at 180 °C, until done (depends upon the weight of the roast).
5. Remove the meat from the oven, and wrap in aluminum foil.
6. Pour 2-3 cups of water into the roasting pan.
7. Pour/scrape everything from the pan into a sieve over a sauce pot.
8. Press the vegetables against the sieve, with the back of a spoon, to ensure that you get all that good dripping flavor into the sauce.
9. Defat the sauce with a grease separator, then pour it back into the pot.
10. Thicken the sauce, slightly (it should remain slightly watery, and not turn into a gravy), according to your usual method.
11. Open the foil and slice the roast.
12. Serve with the sauce.

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

https://media.geekiam.systems/34f99b84-cf8e-4cbc-aaee-d04f0436ba7e.pnghttps://media.geekiam.systems/2d24f1fe-d394-4477-a402-b5d708098b5f.pnghttps://media.geekiam.systems/4f40f1a9-7ec3-49e3-bf0a-c9825b351442.png

@ a42048d7:26886c32

OP_CAT, Coffee, and keeping an open mind to Bitcoin soft forks by an 80 IQ BTC Maxi Pleb

TLDR: CAT is both low risk and low appeal to the broader non-dev BTC community. I don’t care and you shouldn’t either. If I am an 80 IQ HODL pleb or a company that caters to that group, can you please give me 2-4 fifth grade level coherent english sentences that explain why I should support CAT? I’m still waiting… CTV or LNHANCE on the other hand have broad appeal.

Five years ago in the office we got a fancy $6,000 coffee maker. It was hooked up to wifi, showed TV on a giant screen, and could make every type of coffee/milkshake you could think of. I was captivated… for about 1 day. After trying a few times I realized almost all the drinks it made were of low quality. The wifi connection actually ended up just being annoying. Half the time I wanted a coffee, only had a 5 minute break, and the machine displayed some inscrutable error. I went back to the proverbial grind un-caffeinated and frustrated wishing we had the old reliable boring coffee maker back. I also found myself only coming back to the 2 drinks I really cared about, espresso and maybe an occasional cappuccino. It was “cool” that new machine could make over 60 different drinks, but when I sat back and thought about it all I really needed or wanted were a few key options that I used constantly. Especially as those extra bells and whistles seemed to be the usual suspect in the coffee machine constantly breaking. I would’ve loved them upgrading from burnt starbucks coffee beans to a local specialty roaster, that would’ve greatly enhanced my daily coffee. Echoing this realization, my coffee setup at home became a simple machine that could only make espresso and a hand crank coffee bean grinder. Still have them years later and they work great. They’re robust and fit exactly what I wanted with no nonsense that created more headache than everyday value. As you probably suspected, this is a loose comparison to OP_CAT. I’ve listened to podcast after podcast, read blog after blog, and sat through every CAT pitch I could find. I genuinely tried to approach with an open mind. However, ultimately what every pro OP_CAT argument boils down to is that there is no simple left curve elevator pitch a pleb will understand or care about. “But we can get this really cool ZK Rollup and have infinite DEFI bridging to altcoin chains! Look we sort of did it on this other altcoin chain.” And they did, they aren’t lying. They have live software on a shitcoin chain like ETH or SOL that does some modest volume. But the story quickly falls apart in the face of a few basic left curve questions: “Why should I, as an 80 IQ left curve BTC maxi give a shit?” “Does this enhance my everyday experience holding and using BTC?” “Why do you have a non-BTC token for your rollup/sidechain/glorified multisig that is totally centralized?” “Why is there only a hard to understand often ill-defined path to de-centralization? Why isn’t it just already decentralized?” “What is a clear use case that the typical non-technical everyday BTC holder can understand and rally behind?” “Why should I care about bridging to ETH, SOL, or whatever shitcoin chain? I only want BTC and don’t want to participate in all that shitcoin bullshit. Bitcoin is a store of value and money to me and it doesn’t help with those use cases in a clear direct way. It sounds like it maybe, kinda, sorta does help with a lot of caveats, ifs, and steps that I struggle to understand.” Sorry yeah I know, that one got a little personal. I’ll try to do better going forward guys.

ZK proofs or other Pro-CAT arguments, are undoubtedly cool and do factually enable potential cool new stuff. It just happens to all be stuff that sounds complex, esoteric, and unappealing to an 80 IQ HODL pleb - let alone a miner, ETF investor, or exchange exec. I don’t mean to say ZK or other tech has no potential and that we won’t eventually move there, but just to say that it’s not in the cards as currently dealt.

I really went out trying to keep an open mind and steelman the case for CAT. I came back firmly believing:

1 Support is deep in the developer community, but nonexistent everywhere else. I have yet to find a single person that supports CAT who is not a dev or working at or sponsored by a company that stands to directly profit from something CAT enables. Which is fine, but I reserve the right to be skeptical of your direct incentive. I acknowledge rough consensus is very hard to judge, and am open to changing my mind on this over time but feel this is a currently accurate assessment.

2 To get a soft fork you need rough consensus. Most people in that potential consensus are not highly technical developers. They care mostly or exclusively about BTC’s store of value use case. No one has yet articulated a clear compelling store of value enhancing use case that they can understand and care about. Without pull demand from potential users and paying customers, CAT will inevitably stall.

3 Lots of factually inaccurate FUD has been thrown at CAT. People saw the Taproot Wizards or shitcoiners pushing CAT, and immediately dismiss CAT as an evil psyop without any real consideration for its technical merits. Frankly most people just hate Udi and say “Fuck CAT” based solely on that. Maybe not fair, but true.

4 CAT is low risk, and it is not a catastrophe waiting to happen. Anything bad it potentially enables is enabled in such an inefficient and/or use hostile way that it is highly unlikely to pose any issues to Bitcoin. CAT’s technical risk is low and this is consistently proven by other chains enabling CAT and having no issues with it, such as Liquid.

5 Lots of people who have no idea wtf they are talking about falsely claim CAT is the apocalypse without any ability whatsoever to explain why. Imho you are no better than Udi and the shitcoiners if you are willing to lie about CAT just because you dislike them. We as the BTC community need the ability to have a rational discussion on technical merits, and not to devolve into a cult of personality based political battle. The question should be, “Is CAT good or bad and why?” and not “I just hate Udi, therefore its a no from me dog.”

Summarizing CAT using TradFi language: those pushing CAT have technology in search of a problem and no clear product market fit. They are pushing their technology to an apathetic audience. Pushers of CAT are not pulled forward by customer demand. In the tech world these are some of the quintessential red flags that every good investor knows mean you need to sit this one out.

CTV or LNHANCE on the other hand are soft fork proposals that have clear use cases you can quickly explain to a broad swathe of the Bitcoin ecosystem: “Hey HOLD pleb, worried about losing your coins? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a simple vault that reduces the chances your coins are lost or stolen? Let’s make self custody and BTC’s store of value use case strictly better, specifically without enabling any shitcoin-ery.” “Hey Blackrock, Van Eck, ARK, Franklin Templeton, and every ETF investor - it would really suck if Coinbase lost all your Bitcoin and that ETF went to zero, right? What it we could create vaults to make that Bitcoin more secure?” “Like Lightning but find it hard to use self-custodially? Let’s make Lightning better, easier, and more scalable with fewer onchain transactions and lower fees.” “Tried or seen the ARK demos yet? They have real working code even without covenants. With covenants we get big ARK volumes and scaling while also making it easier.”

Signing off: See the difference? I, an 80 IQ pleb, can steelman multiple use cases for CTV/LNHANCE that have broad appeal. I have yet to see any such case for CAT, and until then I don’t think it’ll go anywhere.

*Pro-CAT Sources I’ve digested and would encourage others to consider: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Covenants_support https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no_Nj-MX53w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yp4eYK9S6M

Pro-CTV/LNHANCE sources to consider which have CLEAR use cases with widespead appeal: https://github.com/jamesob/simple-ctv-vault https://github.com/stutxo/op_ctv_payment_pool https://lnhance.org/ https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/how-ctv-can-help-scale-bitcoin

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

![[https://media.geekiam.systems/206d4e36-e1cf-4e4e-9f41-471732828966.png]]![[https://media.geekiam.systems/7ad5b2c8-546c-4626-93ab-dce7d9453011.png]]![[https://media.geekiam.systems/99941110-2d79-4904-a82c-21d1ede67cde.png]]![[https://media.geekiam.systems/9483fec1-85ce-49b8-99d3-e2600d760ace.png]]

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
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sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

![[api-design-patterns.png]]![[rust-header.png]]

@ 3c7dc2c5:805642a8

🧠Quote(s) of the week:

You conflate maximalism with close-mindedness because you believe money is a 'collective hallucination' instead of an emergent solution to a coordination problem. Anilsaidso

'DOGE finding waste and fraud?  Don’t miss the forest for the trees: Any money system that does not fix a unit of currency to a unit of energy is functionally fraudulent, because if a currency is not tied to energy, then creating fiat currency functionally means creating energy by govt fiat, which is a violation of physics, which is fraud.

Once you are in a system that pretends it can create energy by printing currency, it is just a question of “How much fraud occurs until the system collapses?”

You will know the end of that system is near when debt gets high, rates rise, & yet the price of energy-linked neutral assets like gold & BTC rise with rates (instead of falling), as free markets scramble out of printed currency & debt into actual energy linked assets, which is happening - rates up, & yet see gold and BTC.)' - Luke Gromen

🧡Bitcoin news🧡

On the 4th of February:

➡️El Salvador bought another 11 Bitcoin worth over $1.1 million for their strategic Bitcoin reserve.

➡️'Someone just moved 50 Bitcoin worth $5 MILLION that they mined 15 years ago They HODL'ed from $0.10 to $100k. Legend.' - Pete Rizzo

➡️Bitcoin funding rates turn negative — a very rare signal historically followed by massive price surges. Buckle up.

➡️Coinbase urges US to remove barriers for banks to provide Bitcoin and crypto services - BBG

➡️'Forbes recently covered how Bitcoin mining is fast-tracking millions of Ethiopians out of energy poverty. 100% renewable + economically benefitting the country No other technology has been able to do this. Ever.' Daniel Batten / Forbes

➡️President Trump's Crypto Czar David Sacks had a press conference on this day. Here are some notes:

• “will be heavy on Bitcoin and timelines.”

• “Discussion of Sovereign Wealth Fund.”

• “Timelines laid out as to proposed legislation (Lummis) and BSR.”

• “Yes, I expect there to be ‘America First’ rhetoric with SWF and crypto.”

• “reiterating, no $XRP”

Ergo a lot of word salad and not something juuuggggge was happening.

➡️President Bukele Offers To Jail Roger Ver in El Salvador. Bukele: "El Salvador prisons have big cell blocks. It's the perfect place for him" If you don’t get the joke, Study Bitcoin's history in detail. I will give you a hint. Book: The Blocksize War!

➡️'Semler Scientific acquired 871 Bitcoins for $88.5 million and has generated a BTC Yield of 152% since July 1, 2024.  Now holding 3,192 bitcoin.  Just getting started.' - Eric Semler

On the 5th of February:

➡️Bitcoin on track to hit $1.5m by 2030 - Ark Invest

On the 6th of February:

➡️Czech President signed a law removing the capital gains tax on #Bitcoin after 3+ years of holding. Sovereign game theory intensifies. Tick tock, next block! Meanwhile the ECB. 'The ECB just published an interview with Reuters where they contemplate a risk assessment of current FX swap lines if another central bank held Bitcoin reserves. They are literally trying to hinder the Czech National Bank from buying Bitcoin. Bitcoin is winning.' - Andre Dragosch

➡️Former PayPal President: Sell Gold Reserves to Buy Bitcoin "We're the number 1 holder of gold. If you think of Bitcoin as a better version of gold, why not rebalance a portion of that reserve to Bitcoin? There's a lot more growth in Bitcoin in the coming decades."

➡️Whales are buying Bitcoin like never seen before. Billionaires are stacking Bitcoin, front-running governments, pubco’s, and plebs.

➡️IOWA BITCOIN RESERVE BILL HF 246 would allow investment of 5% of public monies in digital assets of $750b+ market cap (i.e. Bitcoin)

➡️Eric Balchunas: Trump to launch "Bitcoin Plus" ETF.

➡️'The power is so cheap in the north of Norway now that the hydropower plants are considering dumping their water in the sea. We need more Bitcoin mining.' -Jaran Mellerud

Great explanation on the topic: https://x.com/GoldIRAChannel/status/1887718777338667369

➡️Great report by Breeze. https://breez.technology/report/

'Bitcoin isn't "just" digital gold, it's an everyday currency. 650M+people reached on Lightning Businesses real-world impact Growing ecosystem driving adoption New use cases unlocked.' - Breeze

Breeze is one of, if not, my favorite self-custodial Lightning Bitcoin payments app.

On the 7th of February:

➡️Utah pulls ahead in the race to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Utah’s HB230 just became the first state Bitcoin reserve bill to clear a chamber vote, passing the House and heading to the Senate.

➡️ If any public companies are wondering whether Bitcoin is the solution… here’s your answer: Metaplanet’s market cap has been 100X’d (3.50 0%)since adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset less than one year ago.

➡️Maryland State Delegate Caylin Young introduces the "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act of Maryland".

➡️MISSOURI FILES 2ND Bitcoin reserve bill that includes: - 5 YR HODL requirement - State must accept BTC payments - No cap on how much the state can buy 1st bill SB614 is currently in the Senate!

➡️Rep. TJ Roberts introduces a bill to invest up to 10% of state funds in Bitcoin for Kentucky.

➡️BlackRock boosts its stake in MicroStrategy to 5%, now holding 11.2M shares, up from 4.09% in September. Next to that, BlackRock holds $140m in IBIT - their Bitcoin ETF. Per their 13F SEC filing today. Up from $92m in November 2024.

➡️ Tornado Cash founder Alexey Pertsev has been released from prison. Pertsev was found guilty of money laundering in 2024. He is currently preparing an appeal. https://decrypt.co/304723/tornado-cash-developer-alexey-perstev-leaving-prison

On the 8th of February:

➡️Florida is the latest state to introduce a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Republican Senator Joe Gruters has introduced a bill proposing the investment of part of the state’s funds in Bitcoin to counter rising inflation.

➡️'FTX will repay 98% of creditors on February 18th. Creditors will receive a total of 119% of their funds lost in US dollar terms on November 11th, 2022. This is the equivalent of only 20% in Bitcoin terms. This is a lesson in self-custody.' -The Bitcoin Therapist

Just a quick reminder: 'Over 5 million Bitcoins are gone. Forever. No keys. No recovery. No second chance. - Satoshi’s wallet: 1M BTC, untouched - Mt. Gox hack: 744K BTC, - Lost key & wallets: ~3.7M BTC - James Howells’ hard drive: 8K BTC, buried Do people even grasp Bitcoin’s scarcity?'- Eli Nagar

➡️MONTANA BITCOIN RESERVE BILL

MT House Bill 429 would authorize up to $50m invested into 'digital assets over $750b market cap' i.e. Bitcoin, by July 15, 2025.

19 States want Bitcoin in their reserves so far, and 27 states are all pro-Bitcoin and Digital Asset Bills. It's just crazy to me what's happening. A few years ago, I couldn't even imagine it would go this fast. Hello, game theory!

➡️PNC, the 8th largest U.S. bank with $325 billion in AUM, has disclosed $67 million in Bitcoin exposure through its 13F filing with the SEC.

On the 9th of February:

➡️Hong Kong officially recognizes Bitcoin as proof of capital for residency applications.

➡️That’s 815,000,000,000,000,000,000 hashes per second securing the world’s largest permissionless monetary network Bitcoin’s hashrate sets a new record high above 810 EH.

➡️University of Austin to buy $5m Bitcoin. "We don’t want to be left behind," says CIO of the university fund.

On the 10th of February:

➡️'Priced in Bitcoin the S&P 500 looks like a meme coin rug pull.' -CarlBMenger

➡️Valid point by Bit Harington: 'It takes years for Bitcoin to finally leave a new 10X price zone and start looking for the next 10X. $1K lasted ~3.5 years. $10K also 3 years. It seems logical to assume that the $100K price zone will also last several years; One of the reasons I don't believe in $1M this cycle.'

➡️Another solo miner has mined an entire Bitcoin block worth $ 300,000. Just sensational.

➡️Michael Saylor's STRATEGY just bought another 7,633 Bitcoin worth $742 million. 'Strategy has added 7,633 Bitcoin to its holdings for ~$742.4 million at an average price of $97,255 per Bitcoin, bringing its total Bitcoin stack to 478,740 BTC. Acquired for ~$31.1 billion at an average of $65,033 per Bitcoin, the company's Bitcoin yield stands at a 4.1% YTD in 2025.' - Saylor

➡️Japan to scrap ban on Bitcoin ETFs and cut taxes on crypto-assets from 55% down to 20%.

💸Traditional Finance / Macro:

On the 3rd of February:

👉🏽'Nvidia stock, falls over -5% at the open as markets react to the beginning of the trade war. The stock is currently down -26% from its all-time high.' - TKL

👉🏽Microsoft shares closed down 6.2% on the worst day since 2022. If only they had listened to Saylor's 3-minute Bitcoin pitch.

On the 4th of February:

👉🏽Alphabet stock, falls over -7% after reporting Q4 2024 earnings.

🏦Banks:

👉🏽Global central banks now hold more Gold than at any point in the past 45 years. Something is brewing. (see for more info in the segment below - on the 9th of February)

🌎Macro/Geopolitics:

Recently I found something interesting.

'Another fantastic open-source dataset is the Global Datahub at Georgetown University. It covers a wide range of topics including:

Geopolitics: Data on military spending, UN voting patterns, indicators of freedom and democracy, trade restrictions, social unrest, property rights, and demographic trends. Trade and Production: Information on trade, energy balances, GDP per capita, and trade patterns.

External Accounts: Current account balances, foreign investment flows, real exchange rates, international reserves, and remittances. Public Finance: Public sector deficits, composition of public debt, country risk, and trends in public spending.

Monetary and Financial: Inflation rates, monetary policy interest rates, exchange rate regimes, availability of credit, corporate bond rates, and amortizations of public and corporate debt.

Other Topics: Data on digital infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and progress toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).'

https://globallacdatahub.com/index.html

And none of this wonder data is disaggregated!

On the 4th of February:

👉🏽Germany has become kind of a tutorial in self-immolation. Really! Germany has cut its offshore wind generation capacity target from 50 gigawatts by 2035 to 40 gigawatts by 2034 due to crowded seas causing a "wake effect" that reduces output. The reduced capacity and delays in grid connections may hinder Germany's offshore wind ambitions, including its 2045 goal of 70 gigawatts. Stupidity has no limits. Really… self-inflicted harm…the idiocy of closing nuclear plants.

👉🏽'Local authorities in the UK have spent £141 million of taxpayer money on services for migrants such as PlayStations, yoga and circus skills classes, driving and DJ lessons' — Telegraph Money well spent! And then people wonder why all these people are coming to the West.

On the 5th of February

👉🏽 The Federal Reserve's Reverse Repo Facility hit its lowest inventory in 1,385 days, today. Ergo: The US is borrowing so much debt to fund deficit spending that the RRP has been DEPLETED to a 1,385-day low. Do you know what's coming? QE & money printing will start aggressively when this drains to 0. They may have 10 different names for it but it’s coming.

On the 6th of February:

👉🏽 Secretary of State Marco Rubio just deemed that only 294 USAID staffers are necessary out of 14,000. The entire agency will be imminently reduced from 14,000 to 294 employees. This has to be the biggest mass firing yet.

On the 7th of February:

👉🏽Indian Rupee falling off the cliff as it plunges to its weakest level against the U.S. Dollar in HISTORY!

👉🏽'30 years ago each major US corporation used to have an equivalent in Germany or France, today their competitors are in Asia and Europe is on a happy path into irrelevance. Overregulation, lack of Innovation, and left redistribution mindset have their price. Will it ever change?' -Michael A. Arouet

A shame how Europe, once the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution has self-sabotaged into near irrelevancy. Just to give you one comparison, the total valuation of all European companies combined is already smaller than the 2 biggest US companies. Yikes!

👉🏽United Kingdom's leftist government orders Apple to create a back door allowing access to encrypted data stored by Apple users worldwide in its cloud — WaPo

👉🏽The US consumers expect 4.3% inflation during the next 12 months, UP a massive 1.0 percentage point from January. The 4.3% is the highest since November 2023. 4.3%, the highest since November 2023. This marks a 1.7 percentage point jump over the last 3 months, the largest surge since February 2020.

Moreover, 5-10-year inflation expectations rose to 3.3%, the highest since June 2008, and the estimates were above 3.2%. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment fell to 67.8 points in February, the lowest in 3 months. Inflation is still a major issue. How will Trump and Bessent deal with that side of the trade tariffs?

Meanwhile, one year from now Democrats expect hyperinflation, and Republicans expect deflation.

This chart is hilarious because it just tells you: “If your brain uses politics it's not rational!”

👉🏽There it is: 600K lower across all of 2024, and even more downward revisions coming next February' - ZeroHedge

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/tomorrows-jobs-report-will-finally-capture-surge-illegal-aliens-lead-another-negative

Oh by the way, in just January, 1 MILLION immigrants (legal and illegal) gained a job. Meanwhile, native-born Americans gained just 8,000. All net jobs gains post-Covid are immigrants. This is why they opened the border.

To make it even more funnier. The December jobs report has been revised HIGHER, showing 307,000 jobs added for the month, up from 256,000. That's the strongest job number since March 2024. Let's wait a couple of months if this still holds. I kinda don't believe job reports anymore, especially after the last 4 years and revisions.

👉🏽Sam Callahan: 'On Wednesday, the Government Accountability Office published its annual report to Congress on the nation's fiscal health and it didn't sugarcoat things.' full report: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107714.pdf

👉🏽Argentina will have an inflation of 23.2% in 2025, according to the REM published by the BCRA For January they expect month over month of of 2.3%, and they predict that in April monthly inflation will break through the 2% barrier. In 2027 Argentina should have single-digit annual inflation again, something that has not happened since 2006.

Progress under Milei, but let's see if he can manage it. There's still room for improvement.

👉🏽'The UK Labour Government has ordered Apple to create a backdoor in iCloud allowing security services to access your private information. Keir Starmer wants to see your messages. Scary times we live in.' - Basil the Great What is the point of GDPR again?

👉🏽'MASSIVE OPEN AI DATA BREACH? 20 MILLION ACCOUNTS ALLEGEDLY HACKED! A hacker claims to have stolen login details—including emails and passwords—for 20 million OpenAI accounts and is selling them on the dark web. OpenAI says it’s investigating but insists there’s no evidence of a system breach—yet. Cybersecurity experts warn this could lead to identity theft, phishing scams, and even AI-powered cyberattacks.' - Mario Nawfal

Although this breach is yet to be verified by OpenAI, anyone using the tool should update their passwords and credentials, as a precaution. If you haven’t already, switch on multi-factor authentication within OpenAI’s settings, as this should give you another layer of protection even if your password has been compromised.

On the 8th of February:

👉🏽USAID:

'USAID has pushed nearly half a billion dollars ($472.6m) through a secretive US government-financed NGO, "Internews Network" (IN), which has “worked with” 4,291 media outlets, producing in one year 4,799 hours of broadcasts reaching up to 778 million people and "training” over 9000 journalists (2023 figures). IN has also supported social media censorship initiatives.' -WikiLeaks Source: https://x.com/wikileaks/status/1888072129327083979

'USAID sent $40M to a coronavirus scientist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology who became patient zero of COVID-19.' - Financelot

'Bill Gates’ vaccine organization ‘GAVI’ was awarded $4,880,000,000.00 from USAID. Nearly $5 BILLION in taxpayer money to a single organization Two grants are still active; the 4B dollar grant ends Aug 2030. No wonder Gates is speaking out against DOGE dismantling USAID.' - Lindsay Penney

👉🏽Great breakdown of the US deficit by 'Infra':

We are currently running a ~$2.1 trillion deficit. To balance the budget would require cutting about $2T in spending It won’t be possible without significant legislation and the resulting contraction in GDP would be worse than the GFC

Here’s the math:

-Current GDP is $29T, 3Q24 growth at 2.8%

-GDP grew by $1.5T from 1Q23->1Q24

-Current government spending as a % of GDP is 36%

-Current government spending is ~$7.5T (on budget)

-Current tax receipts are 20% of GDP (~$5.5T)

-Current deficit is ~$2T'

Great write-up, full thread: https://x.com/infraa_/status/1888021955686842760

Govt wastes 100% of our tax dollars on bankrupt entitlement programs, forever wars, corporate & social welfare, and other bullshit. Just look at the USAID bit. Nothing stops this train folks. Nothing! Got Bitcoin?

On the 9th of February:

👉🏽It’s estimated that the federal government loses $233 Billion to $521 Billion annually to fraud. Although I don't think fraud is the right word, laundering and corruption fit better.

Half $1 trillion for 40 years equals 20 trillion. So instead of having a $36 trillion deficit, we would have a $16 trillion deficit if our government didn’t steal our money. Again this is not something I made up or found on a sketchy website, here you have the source: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-105833

The U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Just to give you another example of how fucked up the government operates. This statement is from a 2018 report: The Pentagon spent $1 billion to audit its 2018 financials, and it failed the audit! $1 BILLION!!

Ever heard of anyone spending 1 billion just to audit their financials? The audacity.

👉🏽Gold just hit $2900 for the first time in history. Gold's new all-time high above $2900 as a global physical shortage is about to surpass Covid levels.

'London's Gold Shortage: A Symptom Of Global Economic Anxiety' -ZeroHedge Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/precious-metals/londons-gold-shortage-symptom-global-economic-anxiety

The above statement perfectly matches the collapse in the FEDs Overnight Repo facility chart.

No One Trusts each other's Collateral globally. When the collateral calls come (and they ARE coming) paper coupons ain't gonna cut it.

The big institutions know something we don’t. March 2020 pattern.

🎁If you have made it this far I would like to give you a little gift:

Preston Pysh and Luke Gromen discuss Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, Tether’s USDT integration, and the impact on global payments and traditional banking infrastructure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8JXdYmllZ4

Credit: I have used multiple sources!

My savings account: Bitcoin The tool I recommend for setting up a Bitcoin savings plan: PocketBitcoin especially suited for beginners or people who want to invest in Bitcoin with an automated investment plan once a week or monthly.

Use the code SE3997

Get your Bitcoin out of exchanges. Save them on a hardware wallet, run your own node...be your own bank. Not your keys, not your coins. It's that simple. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀

Do you think this post is helpful to you? If so, please share it and support my work with a zap.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

⭐ Many thanks⭐

Felipe - Bitcoin Friday!

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

@ a4a6b584:1e05b95b

The Four-Layer Framework

Layer 1: Zoom Out

Start by looking at the big picture. What’s the subject about, and why does it matter? Focus on the overarching ideas and how they fit together. Think of this as the 30,000-foot view—it’s about understanding the "why" and "how" before diving into the "what."

Example: If you’re learning programming, start by understanding that it’s about giving logical instructions to computers to solve problems.

• Tip: Keep it simple. Summarize the subject in one or two sentences and avoid getting bogged down in specifics at this stage.

Once you have the big picture in mind, it’s time to start breaking it down.

---

Layer 2: Categorize and Connect

Now it’s time to break the subject into categories—like creating branches on a tree. This helps your brain organize information logically and see connections between ideas.

Example: Studying biology? Group concepts into categories like cells, genetics, and ecosystems.

• Tip: Use headings or labels to group similar ideas. Jot these down in a list or simple diagram to keep track.

With your categories in place, you’re ready to dive into the details that bring them to life.

---

Layer 3: Master the Details

Once you’ve mapped out the main categories, you’re ready to dive deeper. This is where you learn the nuts and bolts—like formulas, specific techniques, or key terminology. These details make the subject practical and actionable.

Example: In programming, this might mean learning the syntax for loops, conditionals, or functions in your chosen language.

• Tip: Focus on details that clarify the categories from Layer 2. Skip anything that doesn’t add to your understanding.

Now that you’ve mastered the essentials, you can expand your knowledge to include extra material.

---

Layer 4: Expand Your Horizons

Finally, move on to the extra material—less critical facts, trivia, or edge cases. While these aren’t essential to mastering the subject, they can be useful in specialized discussions or exams.

Example: Learn about rare programming quirks or historical trivia about a language’s development.

• Tip: Spend minimal time here unless it’s necessary for your goals. It’s okay to skim if you’re short on time.

---

Pro Tips for Better Learning

1. Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition

Test yourself without looking at notes. Review what you’ve learned at increasing intervals—like after a day, a week, and a month. This strengthens memory by forcing your brain to actively retrieve information.

2. Map It Out

Create visual aids like diagrams or concept maps to clarify relationships between ideas. These are particularly helpful for organizing categories in Layer 2.

3. Teach What You Learn

Explain the subject to someone else as if they’re hearing it for the first time. Teaching exposes any gaps in your understanding and helps reinforce the material.

4. Engage with LLMs and Discuss Concepts

Take advantage of tools like ChatGPT or similar large language models to explore your topic in greater depth. Use these tools to:
- Ask specific questions to clarify confusing points.
- Engage in discussions to simulate real-world applications of the subject.
- Generate examples or analogies that deepen your understanding.

Tip: Use LLMs as a study partner, but don’t rely solely on them. Combine these insights with your own critical thinking to develop a well-rounded perspective.

---

Get Started

Ready to try the Four-Layer Method? Take 15 minutes today to map out the big picture of a topic you’re curious about—what’s it all about, and why does it matter? By building your understanding step by step, you’ll master the subject with less stress and more confidence.

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

![[api-design-patterns.png]]![[rust-header.png]]

@ ae61640c:4ab8f91b

Проверка

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is an example of test blog post, to be published via the obstrlish plugin.

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

![[api-design-patterns.png]]

@ 79998141:0f8f1901

Happy new year, Anon.

Thanks for tuning in to whatever this long form post will be. I hope to make these more regular, like journal entries as we travel through "real life" and the Nostrverse together. If I'm making time for this reflective writing, then things are going as planned.

2024 was a wildly transformative year for me for many reasons... there's no way I can possibly fit all of them here. They're not all related to Bitcoin and Nostr- I've got a beautiful life outside of all that which has its own independent arc. My wife and I celebrated 7 years of marriage together, stronger than ever (don't believe that "itch" bullshit). We let go of some negative relationships and embraced some positive ones. We cut some bad habits, and we made some good habits. We worked, we traveled, we saw family, and we partied.

But damn, these two technologies have become a huge part of my life. God willing, this trend will continue until they've both eclipsed my professional capacity through our startup, Conduit BTC.

This was the year I was truly orange pilled. Until late 2023, I had traded (quite profitably) Bitcoin, "crypto", stocks, options, prediction markets and whatever else I could get my hands on that felt undervalued. I did this all in my spare time, grinding out a little financial freedom while I hustled at my fiat ventures to support my little family. I wasn't a true believer- just an opportunist with a knack for spotting where and when a crowd might flock to next. That was right up until I ran face first into Lyn Alden's book "Broken Money".

Something about Lyn's engineer/macro-finance inspired prose clicked with me, lock and key. Total one way function. By the end of the book my laser eyes had burned a hole in my bedroom ceiling. I was all in- and acted accordingly both with my capital and my attention. It wasn't long before I discovered Nostr and dove in here too, falling deep into my current orange and purple polyamorous love affair.

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."

Despite the passion, through studying Bitcoin's criticisms (from the likes of Mike Green and Nassim Taleb) I found a hole in the utopian plot: none of this works without Bitcoin actually being used as money. Worldwide transactions must skyrocket demand for blockspace to keep the network secure/stable for the long term. Besides, if everyday folks aren't using Bitcoin as money then we haven't done shit to make the world a better place. In that world, we've only replaced old masters with new ones. Fuck that.

Whatever I did in this space needed to increase the usage of Bitcoin as money. Simple. This was bigger than passion, this was purpose. I knew that come hell or high water I would dedicate myself to this mission.

Lucky for me I found a partner and best friend in @aceaspades to go on this adventure with. I'm infinitely grateful for him. He's an incredible man who also happens to be an insanely creative and talented software developer. We'd tried for years to find the right project to focus on together, experimenting with all kinds of new techy ideas as they came across our field. Nothing had ever captured our attention like this. This was different. By March of 2024 we had formed a company and gotten to work iterating on how we could leverage these beautiful protocols and open-source tech to create something that served our mission. This is @ConduitBTC.

I've done well in my fiat career executing plans downstream of someone else's creative vision. I've learned the ins and outs of an established ecosystem and found ways to profit from it. I take plans developed by others, compete to win contracts to build them, and execute on them in a cashflow-positive way. I'm bringing this no bullshit blue collar skillset with me to the Nostrverse whether they like it or not.

The adventure we're embarking on now is totally different though. We're charting a new course - totally creative, highly intuitive and extremely speculative towards a future that doesn't exist yet. There are few established norms. The potential is vast but unknown. We're diving into a strange quest to sell a map to an imaginary place and to simultaneously architect its creation (alongside all the amazing builders here doing the same thing). This is insanely exciting to me.

We're barely getting started but a lot has been invested under the surface which will show itself in 2025. We'll be sharing updates in a proper post on @ConduitBTC soon.

As for my personal 2025 resolutions, here they are: - zero alcohol for the entire year (did this in 2019 and had a great year, it's time for a rerun) - more focused presence in the moment: especially with my wife - more self care and prioritized mental/physical health - this includes daily: naps, prayer, self hypnosis or meditation, sweat, and stretching/massaging (overworked in 2024 with a fiat 9-5, a board/advisor role in a fiat business I have equity in, and my newfound passion here. Two serious burn out episodes experienced this year - zero is the only acceptable number of burnouts for long term health and success.) - related to the above: get Conduit some mission-aligned funding partners and leave my fiat 9-5. Grow the Conduit team (have put in a serious amount of my personal capital already to get this going, which will show fruit in the new year... but I am not an island) - more authentic and thoughtful posts on Nostr, with a solid amount of shitposting and organic home grown memes to balance it out... more zaps, more geniune connections and interactions with the curious forward thinking people on here - more IRL Nostr/Bitcoin events - more laughter, more jokes

Enough for now. Cheers to you and yours Anon, may 2025 bring you the magic you've been dreaming of.

@ cc448f8b:a1ad47db

Introduction

This is a long standing family favorite. If you like blueberries, I think you'll love it! You could substitute other fruit fillings but it rocks with the blueberries.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb soft butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 t vanilla
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 can blueberry pie filling (or equivalent amount of home made filling)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Cream butter and sugar together.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, flour and baking power and mix together.
4. Pour half of the batter in a 13 x 9 pan (batter will be thick) and spread to the edge of the pan.
5. Spread pie filling on top of batter
6. Spread the other half of batter on top of pie filling. The top layer is hard to spread, just do the best you can and it usually comes out OK.
7. Bake at 350 for 55 min.

Let cool, cut into squares and cover with plastic wrap then serve anytime in the next several days.

@ b8a9df82:6ab5cbbd

The last three weeks have felt like a dream—one I don’t want to wake up from. But here I am, on my last day in El Zonte, sitting by the ocean, doing what I love most: watching the waves roll in, surfers gliding across them, some catching them effortlessly, others tumbling but always getting back up. It’s a blessing to be here, soaking in the tranquility, reflecting on the past few weeks while finally sitting down to write about this incredible journey.

Reflecting on this experience, I realize how few people get to live something like this, and I am deeply grateful. Living by the ocean has always been a dream of mine, and these last few weeks have been nothing short of magical. The thought of saying goodbye? Not something I want to entertain. In a world where you can be anything, be kind, be grateful, and cherish the little things—the laughter, the small victories, the unexpected moments of pure joy.

Mexico—a country I was always warned about. "It’s dangerous," they said. "Drugs, crime, food poisoning, even kidnappings. A woman shouldn’t travel there alone." But despite the fear-mongering, after almost three months in South America, I was craving the ocean, and I kept hearing about Mexico’s stunning beaches. A little spoiler: I did see the beach… but it rained almost every day, and my toes barely touched the water.

With three options on the table—Tulum, Holbox, or Isla Mujeres—the decision wasn’t too hard. There was a crazy woman trying to Bitcoinize an entire island, and I had to see that for myself.

Just 13 kilometers off the coast of Cancún, Isla Mujeres is a tiny Caribbean paradise—perfect for unwinding and recharging. The island is wonderfully walkable, which I love. No need for a car. I even went for a few runs, and with the island stretching just 7 km in length, I got to explore its hidden oceanfront gems in no time.

But let’s talk about the journey. Arriving in Cancún after a long, exhausting flight, I was hit by chaos at the airport. Dozens of people aggressively offering rides, each one claiming to be a cab driver—it was a nightmare. Not speaking Spanish made things even harder, but thankfully, I wasn’t alone. After dodging the taxi mafia, getting stopped by the military for a random checkpoint (because, you know, legal taxis are apparently a thing to be double-checked), and making a pit stop in Cancún, we finally reached Isla Mujeres—greeted by storms and rain. But none of that mattered. I was here. I was at the ocean. And I was excited.

We stayed at Mayakita, a beautiful villa-style co-living space where you share the common areas—kitchen, coworking space, and outdoor lounges—but still have your own private room, bathroom, and balcony. Oh, and did I mention there’s a Jacuzzi? Absolute win.

The Mayakita team is even building a gym, which is a relief because the local options on the island were… let’s just say, unusable. Picture a tiny, overcrowded room packed with sweaty bodies, zero space between machines, and a never-ending queue for every piece of equipment. Nope. Not for me.

But the real highlight? The incredible restaurant attached to the villas. The food was an explosion of flavors—true mouthgasm territory. And, of course, you could pay for everything in Bitcoin.

To my surprise, I ended up staying with @nostr:npub1aftmyhm62lrp6lwsha3yzyjy5kqdvuy7g23qg28a8q0cnmudv0ds0sdcke the woman leading the Bitcoin adoption movement on the island. That’s when the craziness really started. The villa next door was booked by a couple of Bitcoiners, and as soon as they found out we had arrived, one of them knocked on our door. A warm smile, a little dog in his arms, and a simple, "Hey, need anything? Food? Help? A bottle opener?"

That’s what I love about this community. The energy, the kindness, the openness—it’s next level. You won’t get that at a typical resort, where people keep to themselves. Here? Instant bonding.

We spent the week exploring the island, asking every restaurant and shop if they accepted Bitcoin. If they didn’t? We walked away. Thanks to Isabella’s hard work, some businesses already do, and one of the highlights? Paying for a tattoo in Bitcoin.

One downside, though—transportation. Even though the island is walkable, taxis and golf carts are available for rent. But renting a golf cart for a week? A whopping $1,000! Insane. Luckily, Isabella had a tiny tuk-tuk, so she packed a few of us into the back and drove us around. No lights, barely any air, and a very bumpy ride. Did we survive? Yes. Would I do it again? Debatable. But hey, it was an experience!

Waking up every morning to the ocean was pure magic. The food? Unbelievable. The freshness of the vegetables, fruit, and fish—something you just don’t get in Germany. Even though I had the most expensive lunch of my life (let’s just say we spent way too much on ceviche and a main course), it was worth every cent.

This week taught me something valuable: You don’t need to be in the Bitcoin space for years to make an impact. I get it—long-time Bitcoiners might find it frustrating that adoption seems "easier" now. But I wouldn’t call myself a Bitcoiner just yet. I still have so much to learn. There were moments when I had no clue what people were talking about, even after all those private lessons, hours of talking how a lightening network works, what a hash is and that your 12 - 24 words, the so called private key is actually the master key that can generate an entire tree of private keys. But I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people who are patient, willing to share their knowledge, and never get tired of explaining things again and again.

If I had to sum up this week in one phrase, it would be ridiculously beautiful and painfully peaceful.

If you love what Isabella is doing and want to support her work, consider sending her some sats.

All pictures taken by @nostr:npub1ygzsm5m9ndtgch9n22cwsx2clwvxhk2pqvdfp36t5lmdyjqvz84qkca2m5

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

The paparazzi are we

One of the things that bothers me about social media, in general, is that it gives celebrities an air of approachability, that they don't actually offer.

Theoretically, a celebrity could respond to any one of the dozens or even hundreds of people asking them questions or lodging complaints or singing their praises, but they usually only respond very selectively and leave everyone else just sitting there, as a living monument to the ReplyGuy.

And, as a wise man once said, ReplyGuy is a hoe.

Death of a ReplyGuy

This is usually because of time and energy restrictions, but also due to distaste, disdain, or indifference. Regardless of motivation, it is simply the nature of things, when a larger number of people are clamboring for the attention of some particular person.

Ooh, ooh! Can I have the next question?! Would you please address my bug? May I have a microsecond of your time?

Social media (and I include GitHub in this category) ups this game considerably, and potentially turns it all into a dangerous psychological torture, by making us all preoccupied with people who don't interact with us. The most irrational of groupies because we are forever making almost-contact with our stars.

If we can see them talking to one person, we're supposed to feel like they've spoken with all of us. But they haven't. They spoke with someone else, and we were allowed to watch. No different than on television, except that we might be disappointed and eager to return the next day, to renew our futile attempt.

The same intoxicating feeling that playing the lottery elicits. Everyone is a potential winner, but there is only one jackpot. Come back next week. Buy another ticket. This next time, is your time. Promise.

The view from the peanut gallery

It is all an illusion that there is no hierarchy, where there clearly is one. Celebrities of the past had, at least, the decency to remain slightly aloof. But they all want to be one of the Common Folk, now, just as every multi-millionaire aspires to see himself as fundamentally working-class.

All of celebrity social media is a stage, and most of us are merely spectators or commentators, to what is playing on it. This is why, if someone treats me like someone sitting in the peanut gallery, my instinct is to treat them like an actor.

Because, in reality, that is what they are.

@ 2198da8d:23a73c4e

Recovery and relaxation in the fast world today are important for general health. Whether you want to reduce your muscle tension as an athlete or fitness enthusiast, these two can do the trick: the body massage roller and the aqua bike. These have been established tools not only in helping in recovery but also in improving circulation, flexibility, and fitness in general. Let's learn more about them and how to integrate them into your life.

Body massage roller: the last breakthrough in muscle recovery

A body massage roller is just a simple device that is to be used by people for unwinding the muscles, increasing their flexibility, and enhancing blood flow. Using foam rollers, spiky balls, or vibrating rollers falls under a self-massage technique known as myofascial release; it breaks the muscle knots, which decreases the soreness caused by it.

The Perks of having a Body Massager Roller on your side,

• Relieve Your Muscle Tension – The stress on the massage roller will melt away soreness and stiffness through muscles.

• Flexible – Regular sessions with a massager roller enable muscles to maintain flexibility, causing movements to occur more fluid with fewer injuries than expected.

• Good Circulation Boosts – Its rolling action propels blood that carries oxygenation and nutrients required for faster rehabilitation.

• Relieves Stress and Fatigue - The massaging effects of the roller increase its value as an addition to your wellness regimen.

• Improves Performance —Whether an athletic performer or just a casual gym enthusiast, using a massage roller can help prepare your muscles for optimal performance.

How to Use a Body Massage Roller Effectively

1. Pre-Workout: Roll the major muscle groups like legs, back, and shoulders to activate circulation. 2. Post-Workout: Use it post-exercise to relieve muscle stiffness and promote faster recovery. 3. Daily Use: Include it in your routine for relaxation and stress relief.

Aqua Bike: The Future of Low-Impact Fitness

An aqua bike is a really revolutionary piece of fitness equipment designed to combine water resistance with a cycling workout, usually done inside a pool, providing a very low-impact yet high-intensity exercise regardless of the levels of fitness and health. That is why a person recovering from an injury as well as searching for a challenge can be particularly interested in doing an aqua bike.

An Aqua Bike has the following benefits:

• Joint-Friendly Workout- As water reduces the impact on the joints, it is for those with arthritis or are recovering from injuries.
• Improves Cardiovascular Health – Cycling in water increases the heart rate but the safety of the joints is maintained.
• Engagement of Muscles – It increases the chances of getting stronger muscles compared to normal cycling in the water due to the natural resistance in water.
• Burns more calories- Water resistance intensifies workout and thus burns more calories.
• Reduces Muscle Soreness – It automatically massages the muscles, hence reduces post-workout soreness.
• Improves Lymphatic Drainage – The pressure from the hydrostatic effect of water can remove toxins in the body and reduce swelling.

How to Add Aquabiking into Your Training

1. Warm-up: Begin with slow pedaling to get accustomed to the resistance of the water.
2. Cardio Session: Increase resistance and effect by pedaling rapidly or adding resistance from pool currents.
3. Strength Session: Include intervals of sprinting and slow cruising to target different muscle groups involved in exercises.
4. Cool Down: Slower pedaling and some stretching help muscles relax and recover.

Body Massage Roller: Combine this with an Aqua Bike for Maximum Benefit

This would be a very effective recovery and fitness tool as the combination of the body massage roller and aqua bike brings outstanding results. Here is how you can combine them:

• Pre-Workout Use massage roller to warm up the muscles before heading into an aqua bike.
• Workout: Aqua biking workout for 30–45 minutes for full body conditioning.
• Finish the workout with a massage roller for the release of muscle tightness and faster recovery.

Conclusion

The body massage roller and aqua bike are a couple of excellent tools for enhancing muscle recovery, your fitness, and general wellness. Be it to obtain low-impact cardio workouts or to help ease muscle tension, these tools can offer a practical solution for you. Integrate them into your fitness routine and achieve better flexibility, improved circulation, and faster recovery of your muscles toward a healthier and more active lifestyle.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Please don't take offense to this if you believe in the moral rightness of the existence of the modern state. I don't mean it as a slur, its just the best way to describe the opposite of an anarchist or voluntarist, people that believe in a voluntary society without an artificial monopoly on the use of violence.

I think the fact that many bitcoiners value liberty to some degree and often tend to be libertarian in their views, it is easy to assume we are all opposed to the state. My time in bitcoin circles has shown that to be false. Sure there is a much higher proportion of anti-state people in bitcoin than in the normal population, but we are not the majority. That's the sense I get at least.

Bitcoin's lure is far more broad than liberty and self sovereignty. The number of people that value these things for others is incredibly small. They exist but its a tiny number. Most people are NPCs. Some are just asleep. Others are on journeys of discovery and maybe they can be reached.

Since Trump won the election in the US I have noticed many articles trying to throw cold water on the people happy about his win and the changes he's been making over the past few weeks. I think a big mistake many are making is assuming these people have been seduced by Trump. Maybe that's true but I don't think most of these people were opposed to the state before Trump. Trump is just a different animal. A bull in a china shop doing some things many people have wanted for decades. He's not ideological, moral, or principled.

Like the left these bitcoiners just want their way. They want big daddy government to make the world in the way they want it to be. Its a journey. I wasn't born with all the ideas I now hold. I don't think its persuasive or smart to assume your fellow bitcoiners are like you in their views on the state. They probably are much closer to traditional conservatives than anarchists.

With all that said, I think far too few people seek to find common ground with others. I may not seem to value this on SN but let me assure you that in person I very much seek common ground with those around me.

Some of you need to hear this. We will never have a society where everyone agrees on anywhere near to everything. Sure, some things like murder are pretty agreed upon but I bet you are thinking of examples of disagreements on how to handle it.

So keep that in mind. Bitcoin isn't going to turn everyone into a mirror image of your beliefs. Stay humble. We need the people around us. We don't need millions of clones.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882903

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

As the calendar flips to 2024, the financial world's spotlight remains firmly on Bitcoin. This digital currency, once a niche interest, has burgeoned into a major financial asset, challenging traditional investment paradigms. After a staggering 150% rally in 2023, outperforming stalwarts like the S&P 500, gold, and the U.S. dollar, Bitcoin has stirred a mix of excitement and skepticism. Investors, analysts, and enthusiasts are now keenly debating what the future holds for this pioneering cryptocurrency. Will the upward trajectory continue, or is a correction imminent? This article aims to dissect the various factors and indicators that could influence Bitcoin's journey through 2024, offering insights into its potential growth or pitfalls.

Table Of Content

• Understanding the Current Landscape

• Key Indicators for 2024

• The Halving Event: A Catalyst for Change

• Global Economic Factors

• Technological Advancements and Adoption

• Challenges and Risks

• Conclusion

• FAQs

• Analyzing Bitcoin's Potential for 2024

Understanding the Current Landscape

The story of Bitcoin in 2023 is one of resilience and resurgence. Following a tumultuous period marked by regulatory uncertainties and market skepticism, Bitcoin's impressive rally has been a testament to its growing acceptance and maturation as an asset class. This resurgence is underpinned by several key developments: increasing institutional investment, which has lent credibility and stability; advancements in blockchain technology, enhancing Bitcoin's utility and efficiency; and a broader recognition of Bitcoin as a viable digital alternative to traditional safe-haven assets like gold. Moreover, the socio-economic landscape, characterized by inflationary pressures and a search for non-traditional investment havens, has further fueled Bitcoin's appeal. However, this landscape is complex and ever-evolving, with regulatory shifts, technological advancements, and global economic trends continuously reshaping the narrative.

Key Indicators for 2024

Puell Multiple

The Puell Multiple, a sophisticated yet insightful metric, currently paints a promising picture for Bitcoin. Standing at 1.53, it indicates a balanced valuation – not too hot, not too cold. This equilibrium is significant, considering the historical context where extremes in this metric have often signaled impending market shifts. A value above four typically heralds a peak, signaling overheating, while a dip below 0.5 has often been a precursor to market bottoms, indicating undervaluation. The current reading suggests a potential for steady, sustainable growth, devoid of the speculative frenzy that has characterized previous cycles.

MVRV Z-Score

The MVRV Z-Score, another critical indicator, echoes a similar sentiment. With a current score of 1.6, it implies that Bitcoin is neither in the throes of overvaluation nor languishing in undervaluation. This metric, by comparing market capitalization with realized value, offers a nuanced view of Bitcoin's market position. Historically, extreme values in this score have been reliable harbingers of market tops and bottoms. The current moderate score suggests that Bitcoin may have room for growth, absent the speculative bubbles that have led to volatile boom-and-bust cycles in the past.

Mayer Multiple

The Mayer Multiple, currently at 1.404, offers a perspective on Bitcoin's price relative to its historical performance. This indicator, by comparing the current market price to the 200-day simple moving average, helps identify potential overbought or oversold conditions. A value above 2.4 has historically indicated overbought conditions, often leading to corrections, while a value below 0.5 suggests oversold conditions, presenting potential buying opportunities. The current Mayer Multiple suggests that Bitcoin is trading at a healthy level above its long-term average, indicating that there's potential for further growth before it enters overbought territory.

The Halving Event: A Catalyst for Change

The upcoming Bitcoin halving event in March 2024 is poised to be a pivotal moment. This event, which occurs approximately every four years, reduces the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks by half. Historically, halving events have been significant market catalysts, often leading to substantial price increases in the following months. The rationale is straightforward: a reduction in the rate of new Bitcoin creation leads to a decrease in supply. If demand remains constant or increases, this supply squeeze can lead to higher prices. However, the halving is more than just a supply-side story. It also attracts media attention and investor interest, potentially drawing new participants into the Bitcoin market. The anticipation and speculation surrounding the halving can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, driving prices up. However, it's important to note that past performance is not indicative of future results, and the market dynamics surrounding each halving are unique.

Global Economic Factors

The trajectory of Bitcoin in 2024 will also be heavily influenced by the broader global economic environment. Factors such as inflation rates, monetary policies of major central banks, and geopolitical tensions play a significant role in shaping investor sentiment towards risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. In an environment where traditional currencies are devalued due to inflation or economic instability, Bitcoin could gain further traction as a digital store of value. Conversely, a tightening of monetary policy, leading to higher interest rates, could dampen investor appetite for riskier assets like Bitcoin. Additionally, geopolitical events that create uncertainty in traditional markets could either drive investors towards safe-haven assets like gold and potentially Bitcoin or lead to a broader risk-off sentiment, adversely affecting all risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Technological Advancements and Adoption

The ongoing development and adoption of Bitcoin and blockchain technology will be crucial determinants of Bitcoin's value in 2024. The evolution of the Lightning Network, which promises faster and cheaper transactions, could significantly enhance Bitcoin's utility as a medium of exchange. This, in turn, could broaden its appeal beyond just a store of value, potentially attracting a new wave of users and investors. Furthermore, the integration of Bitcoin into more mainstream financial services and the continued growth of the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector could provide additional use cases and increase its value proposition. However, technological advancements are not without risks. Issues such as network scalability, security vulnerabilities, and the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining continue to be areas of concern that could influence public perception and regulatory scrutiny.

Challenges and Risks

Despite the optimistic outlook based on current indicators, the path ahead for Bitcoin is fraught with uncertainties and risks. Regulatory developments remain a wildcard. Governments and financial regulators around the world are still grappling with how to best regulate cryptocurrencies. Stricter regulations, or even outright bans in certain jurisdictions, could impact Bitcoin's accessibility and attractiveness. Additionally, the inherent volatility of Bitcoin remains a significant concern. While this volatility can present opportunities for high returns, it also poses substantial risks for investors, particularly those who are not well-versed in the cryptocurrency market. Moreover, the technological landscape of cryptocurrencies is rapidly evolving, and Bitcoin faces competition from newer, potentially more technologically advanced cryptocurrencies. This competition could impact Bitcoin's market dominance and investor sentiment.

Conclusion

As we look towards 2024, the journey of Bitcoin continues to be an intriguing blend of potential and unpredictability. The indicators and factors discussed in this article suggest a cautiously optimistic outlook for Bitcoin. However, it is crucial for investors and enthusiasts to remain vigilant and informed, considering both the opportunities and the risks involved. The evolution of Bitcoin is not just a financial story; it's a technological and socio-economic narrative that continues to unfold in fascinating and often unexpected ways. The coming year promises to be another chapter in this ongoing saga, as Bitcoin navigates the complex interplay of market dynamics, technological advancements, and global economic trends.

FAQs

What is the significance of the Bitcoin halving event in 2024? The Bitcoin halving, expected in March 2024, is a pivotal event where the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks is halved. Historically, this has led to a reduction in supply and often a subsequent increase in price, attracting significant investor attention.

How do economic factors influence Bitcoin's value? Global economic factors such as inflation rates, monetary policies, and geopolitical tensions can significantly impact Bitcoin's value. Inflation or economic instability can enhance Bitcoin's appeal as a digital store of value, while tighter monetary policies might reduce the appetite for riskier assets like Bitcoin.

What are the key indicators to watch for Bitcoin in 2024? Key indicators include the Puell Multiple, MVRV Z-Score, and Mayer Multiple. These metrics provide insights into Bitcoin's valuation, market capitalization, and comparison to historical performance, helping gauge its potential growth or correction.

How does technological advancement affect Bitcoin? Technological advancements, like improvements in the Lightning Network, enhance Bitcoin's utility and efficiency. This can broaden its use cases, potentially increasing its value. However, technological risks and competition from other cryptocurrencies also play a role.

That's all for today

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@ 000002de:c05780a7

Have you ever tried to explain the political factions in the US to a curious young person? If you haven't you might not realize how little sense they make. This is only becoming more evident with the radical changes the current admin are making.

I have to say I'm enjoy being a spectator of it all. When I was a kid the dems were called liberals and they called themselves liberals. The republicans didn't always call themselves conservatives but over the years that has become more of the case.

These days with a new admin that is hardly conservative, the left is losing their mind because of the new admin's strategy for reforming the executive branch. When I listen to them they sound a lot like conservatives. Talking about how long this thing or that thing has been in place. How these kids are being given power. Its all rather funny and hypocritical to me.

Conservatives typically don't like change but they seem to like the new approach in Washington. I would argue what is going on is NOT conservative. Its actually pretty radical. I have long thought that the conservative movement was a joke. What are they conserving? They seem to never get the core problems and how deep the rot goes. They seem to be stuck in some nostalgic dream of a time that never existed. A perpetual 20 years ago time that never existed. When education was great and morals were more to their liking.

Michael Malice said it best I think, "Conservatives are progressives going the speed limit".

The dems typically call themselves progressive now which is also a bad descriptor. They seem to be bigger moralists than their opponents. Rather than progressing towards a bright future, blazing a new trail they seem to want to try to old meritless ideas of old men like Marx. Their answers to every problem are centralizing power and giving more of your freedoms away. This is hardly a progressive or new idea. Its an old idea. One of a strong state that controls more of your life. Its hardly liberal either.

I don't have new terms that work and even if I did good luck changing them :)

Just one man's observation.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882858

@ 527b02f7:b0ed5fd2

Después de un tiempo sin escribir, he decidido retomar el blog con un enfoque más amplio. Seguiré compartiendo contenidos sobre póker, mental game y pot-limit omaha, pero también quiero adentrarme en otros temas que me despiertan curiosidad y que he explorado a fondo últimamente: Bitcoin, inteligencia artificial, finanzas, productividad…

Espero que las nuevas entradas que tengo previstas publicar te resulten interesantes y que puedan inspirarte, ayudarte a reflexionar o simplemente ofrecerte una lectura amena. Hoy quiero comenzar con un tema que me apasiona particularmente: Bitcoin.

Cuando alguien afirma que "Bitcoin no sirve para nada" o que no tiene valor intrínseco, está sugiriendo que todos los casos de uso documentados de Bitcoin carecen de valor. Pero ¿es realmente así? Este artículo se inspira en una brillante contestación de X (Twitter) de Daniel Batten, donde refuta esta afirmación enumerando 19 casos concretos donde Bitcoin ya está marcando una diferencia tangible. Desde proyectos de sostenibilidad energética en África hasta la inclusión financiera para millones de personas, los ejemplos abundan.

Antes de abordar estos casos, es importante explorar una pregunta clave: ¿Qué entendemos por "valor"?

El valor: una perspectiva subjetiva

El concepto de valor, lejos de ser una cualidad objetiva e intrínseca de los objetos, es una construcción subjetiva que depende del contexto, la percepción individual y las circunstancias específicas de cada persona. Esta afirmación, que puede parecer intuitiva en lo cotidiano, tiene profundas implicaciones filosóficas y prácticas que han sido objeto de debate desde la antigüedad hasta nuestros días.

En términos filosóficos, podemos remontarnos a la escuela estoica, que sostenía que no son los eventos ni los objetos los que tienen valor en sí mismos, sino las opiniones que formamos sobre ellos. Epicteto, por ejemplo, afirmaba:

“No son las cosas las que nos perturban, sino las opiniones que tenemos sobre ellas.”

Este principio encapsula la idea de que el valor no reside en los objetos, sino en la forma en que interactuamos emocional y racionalmente con ellos.

Desde una perspectiva económica, esta noción de subjetividad se formaliza en la teoría del valor subjetivo, desarrollada por economistas como Carl Menger durante la revolución marginalista. Según esta teoría, el valor de un bien no depende de sus características intrínsecas, sino de la utilidad percibida que ofrece al individuo en un momento dado.

El valor que asociamos de un activo viene determinado por varias características. La utilidad es una de ellas, pero no es la única, ya que si esa fuera la única, el aire que respiramos sería el activo más valioso. El problema es que, al no ser escaso, su valor percibido no es alto. Por ejemplo, un vaso de agua puede ser trivial en una ciudad con acceso a agua potable, pero se convierte en un objeto de valor incalculable para alguien que atraviesa un desierto. Por tanto, un bien debe ser no solo útil, sino también escaso para tener un alto valor.

Esto subraya que el valor es dinámico y depende tanto del contexto como de las necesidades y deseos del individuo.

En el caso de tecnologías como Bitcoin, este principio es aún más evidente. Para un habitante de una economía estable, con acceso a servicios financieros modernos, Bitcoin puede parecer un experimento especulativo o una moda pasajera. Sin embargo, para alguien en una región afectada por la hiperinflación o excluida del sistema bancario, puede representar una herramienta crucial para preservar sus ahorros y participar en la economía global.

Esto nos lleva a la conclusión de que el valor no puede ser medido universalmente ni reducido a una fórmula fija. Depende de quién lo perciba, bajo qué circunstancias y con qué expectativas.

Así, el valor es un reflejo de nuestra humanidad: una mezcla de subjetividad, contexto y significado que le conferimos a las cosas. Entender esto no solo nos ayuda a apreciar la diversidad de perspectivas, sino también a cuestionar nuestras propias suposiciones sobre lo que consideramos valioso.

El oro, por ejemplo, es el activo con mayor valor en términos de capitalización de mercado, estimado en aproximadamente 16.3 trillones de dólares. Aunque su utilidad práctica es limitada —principalmente en adornos ornamentales, como la joyería, y en algunas aplicaciones tecnológicas por su alta conductividad y resistencia a la corrosión—, no alimenta a nadie, ni genera energía. Sin embargo, sus propiedades y aceptación universal a lo largo de los siglos, le han otorgado un estatus especial. El oro es fácilmente reconocible, divisible y difícil de producir, lo que lo convierte en un bien apreciado y valioso. No obstante, presenta ciertos inconvenientes, como la dificultad para transportarlo, verificar su autenticidad y su vulnerabilidad a la confiscación. Además, aunque su tasa de inflación es baja, cada año se extrae nuevo oro y su producción puede aumentar si la demanda así lo requiere.

De manera similar, el arte puede ser invaluable para algunos y un objeto sin sentido para otros. ¿Cómo explicamos que una pintura contemporánea o una escultura de un artista moderno pueda valer millones para algunos y carecer de valor para otros? Es la percepción subjetiva de las personas, y su escasez, lo que determina el valor, no una cualidad objetiva inherente a la obra.

El valor de los bienes inmuebles no está determinado únicamente por sus propiedades (metros, calidades) si no que está profundamente ligado a la escasez. Un apartamento en primera línea de playa tiene un valor elevado porque existe una cantidad limitada de espacio en estas zonas, lo que lo convierte en un bien escaso y no replicable. De manera similar, los inmuebles más preciados en las ciudades suelen encontrarse donde hay mayor infraestructura, oportunidades de negocio y servicios. En cambio, un inmueble en mitad de la nada, aunque tenga las mismas dimensiones, calidades y número de habitaciones que otro inmueble en una ubicación privilegiada, no es escaso ni está rodeado de servicios o infraestructura, lo que reduce significativamente su valor percibido. A mayor demanda del inmueble y menor oferta del mismo, mayor será su valor en el mercado.

Por otro lado, el valor de las acciones de una empresa está relacionado con su capacidad de aportar soluciones a problemas reales y generar beneficios. Una empresa crea valor porque satisface una demanda en el mercado, mejora la vida de las personas y, en consecuencia, genera ingresos y flujos de caja positivos. Este valor intrínseco se refleja en el precio de las acciones, que no solo capturan el rendimiento financiero actual de la empresa, sino también las expectativas de su crecimiento futuro y su capacidad de seguir generando beneficios.

Las monedas fiduciarias, como el dólar o el euro, son efectivas para realizar transacciones gracias a su red de aceptación global y su estabilidad de precio en el corto plazo. Sin embargo, estas monedas pierden valor de forma predecible y gradual, (debido a la continua creación de nuevas unidades por parte de los bancos centrales), lo cual las hace adecuadas como medio de intercambio, pero no como reserva de riqueza a largo plazo. Una inflación anual del 2% implica que en 50 años habrás perdido el 100% del poder adquisitivo de tu capital. Y esto aplica a las monedas más estables del mundo; si hablamos de monedas con tasas de inflación más altas, la pérdida es aún mayor. Además, la inflación real, en términos de la pérdida de capacidad de compra, suele ser significativamente superior al 2% anual, ya que el incremento de la masa monetaria es mayor al 2%.

Esto hace que el capital fluya hacia otros tipos de activos, mencionados anteriormente, con el objetivo de preservar su valor a lo largo del tiempo. Acciones, bonos del tesoro, bienes inmuebles, arte y oro son algunos de los activos que absorben gran parte del capital global, actualmente estimado en unos 450 trillones de dólares (trillones con T).

Bitcoin no puede encuadrarse en el marco de los activos tradicionales, ya que se trata de un tipo de activo nuevo, el primer activo real digital. Esta nueva clase de activo permite transferir y almacenar valor en el tiempo, sin necesidad de confianza en terceros ni de intermediarios, de manera segura.

A diferencia de los activos tradicionales, Bitcoin no está sujeto a la inflación monetaria, la intervención de gobiernos o el riesgo de contraparte que afectan a divisas y otros activos. Su naturaleza descentralizada y deflacionaria lo convierte en una forma de preservación de valor que supera los desafíos de los activos convencionales, ofreciendo seguridad y autonomía sin precedentes.

El verdadero cambio de paradigma que plantea Bitcoin es que, como tecnología, permite preservar el capital a lo largo del tiempo de una manera sin precedentes. Con mínimos costes de mantenimiento y absoluta seguridad, Bitcoin ofrece una alternativa que supera las limitaciones históricas de preservar riqueza. Hasta ahora, preservar el capital o la riqueza a lo largo del tiempo no era posible debido a la naturaleza inflacionaria de los métodos de preservación de capital utilizados hasta el siglo XX. Los métodos tradicionales del mundo analógico, como los activos financieros, el arte, los bienes inmuebles, las acciones, los bonos del tesoro o los metales preciosos, padecen de distintos defectos que los hacen susceptibles a la inflación y presentan riesgos significativos, como el riesgo de contraparte.

Como activo de reserva de valor, Bitcoin proporciona una serie de beneficios y ofrece una serie de características novedosas y muy interesantes, si lo comparamos con otros activos que se han usado históricamente para tal uso:

Beneficios

• Sin impuestos
• Sin tráfico
• Sin inquilinos
• Sin disputas legales
• Sin problemas
• Sin alcalde o gobierno local
• Sin dependencia del clima
• Sin corrosión
• Sin regulador

Características

• Invisible
• Indestructible
• Inmortal
• Teletransportable
• Programable
• Divisible
• Fungible
• Configurable

Bitcoin representa una nueva forma de preservar valor que no depende de la confianza en intermediarios, ya que está protegida de la devaluación por su naturaleza deflacionaria (nadie puede crear más unidades arbitrariamente) y está respaldada por la energía utilizada en su proceso de minería.

Esta energía asegura la red y garantiza la seguridad de las transacciones, haciendo que el valor de Bitcoin esté protegido por un recurso tangible y difícil de replicar. Se trata de una solución específicamente diseñada para resolver el problema de la pérdida de capital a lo largo del tiempo. Estas características hacen que Bitcoin sea una opción única y potente en el ámbito de la preservación de riqueza, una solución que no ha existido hasta ahora.

Al ser un avance tecnológico y un activo intangible, muchas personas no logran entender la trascendencia del significado de Bitcoin. No se debe a una falta de capacidad intelectual, sino a que lo están analizando desde una perspectiva equivocada o con un enfoque anticuado. Intentar agruparlo con otros activos tradicionales impide apreciar su verdadero significado y las implicaciones de primer, segundo y tercer orden que conlleva este descubrimiento.

Bitcoin como revolución tecnológica

Bitcoin no es una moneda digital; es una tecnología disruptiva. Para comprender su impacto, podríamos usar la analogía de la pólvora, popularizada por Álvaro D. María:

"Bitcoin viene a redefinir el derecho de propiedad, es a las finanzas lo que la pólvora fue a las batallas."

En sus inicios, la pólvora fue vista como un experimento curioso, sin aplicaciones reales para quienes no comprendían su potencial. Pero una vez que su poder transformador se hizo evidente, cambió las reglas del juego para siempre. Lo mismo está sucediendo con Bitcoin.

Álvaro D. María utiliza la analogía de la pólvora para ilustrar cómo Bitcoin está revolucionando el sistema financiero. Al igual que la pólvora transformó la guerra, alterando para siempre el equilibrio de poder y permitiendo nuevas tácticas y estrategias, Bitcoin está haciendo lo mismo con el dinero. La pólvora eliminó las barreras tradicionales de poder basadas en la fuerza física, mientras que Bitcoin está eliminando la necesidad de depender de intermediarios y de las estructuras centralizadas que han dominado el sistema financiero durante siglos.

Bitcoin democratiza el acceso a una reserva de valor, permite transferencias de capital sin restricciones y redefine el concepto de confianza en las transacciones financieras. Por ejemplo, al eliminar la necesidad de intermediarios como los bancos, Bitcoin permite que personas de cualquier parte del mundo transfieran valor directamente entre sí, sin depender de una institución centralizada que garantice la transacción. De la misma forma que la pólvora permitió a pequeños ejércitos vencer a grandes potencias, Bitcoin permite a individuos tomar el control de su propia riqueza, sin necesidad de confiar en bancos o gobiernos.

Esta revolución tecnológica está apenas comenzando, y su potencial para reconfigurar el panorama económico mundial es tan profundo como lo fue la pólvora para la historia de la humanidad.

Si quieres escuchar la opinión de Álvaro D. María directamente de sus propias palabras, te recomiendo que veas esta entrevista que puedes ver en YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yefg_g-iXg&t=945s

Desmontando el argumento de la inutilidad

A continuación, repasamos algunos ejemplos concretos que muestran por qué decir que Bitcoin "no sirve para nada" es ignorar su impacto en el mundo real.

*Al final del artículo tienes enlaces a las noticias reales de todos y cada uno de los casos que expongo a continuación

1. Energía y sostenibilidad

Bitcoin está ayudando a aprovechar recursos energéticos que, de otro modo, se desperdiciarían. Por ejemplo, en Bután, la minería de Bitcoin utiliza energía hidroeléctrica sobrante, acelerando la independencia energética de la región.

En África, proyectos de minería impulsan la construcción de infraestructuras energéticas en aldeas aisladas, proporcionando electricidad a comunidades que antes no tenían acceso.

2. Inclusión financiera

Más de 2 mil millones de personas en el mundo no tienen acceso a servicios bancarios. Bitcoin está cambiando eso al ofrecer una alternativa que no requiere permisos ni documentación.

En Afganistán, miles de mujeres utilizan Bitcoin para esquivar la discriminación financiera y acceder a sus propios ahorros. En países como Venezuela o Argentina, donde la hiperinflación erosiona los ahorros, Bitcoin actúa como una salvaguarda.

3. Soberanía económica y justicia global

Catorce países africanos aún sufren los efectos de una colonización financiera ejercida a través del franco CFA. Bitcoin ofrece una vía para lograr la independencia económica, permitiendo a estas naciones gestionar su riqueza sin interferencias externas.

Además, los refugiados de guerra encuentran en Bitcoin un medio seguro para recibir ayuda económica directamente, sin depender de sistemas que podrían bloquear los fondos.

4. Innovación ambiental

Bitcoin no solo reduce la dependencia de energías fósiles, sino que también mitiga las emisiones de metano al reutilizar gas quemado o ventilado para generar energía. Esto ha llevado a proyectos que, en conjunto, reducen más emisiones que el mayor proyecto de captura de carbono del mundo.

5. Bitcoin como Capital Digital

Bitcoin es más que una moneda digital; es una revolución en cómo entendemos y preservamos el valor.

Satoshi Nakamoto descubrió un método para transferir y almacenar valor sin la necesidad de un intermediario de confianza, lo cual es un logro monumental en la historia del dinero. Bitcoin representa la transformación de nuestro capital, pasando de activos financieros y físicos a activos digitales.

Este nuevo tipo de activo digital no está sujeto a los riesgos financieros de las divisas, acciones o bonos, ni a los riesgos físicos que afectan a los bienes inmuebles o propiedades. Bitcoin es, esencialmente, capital digital: un activo seguro y descentralizado que proporciona una alternativa sin precedentes para almacenar valor de manera efectiva, sin la intervención de terceros y sin las restricciones propias de los sistemas financieros tradicionales.

Esto es algo que el mercado está descubriendo y que ha estado mostrando al mundo durante sus primeros años de vida.

Bitcoin no es un test de inteligencia, es un test de ego

Negar la utilidad de Bitcoin a pesar de la evidencia puede reflejar una falta de comprensión o una resistencia natural al cambio más que una evaluación crítica. A menudo, la adopción de nuevas tecnologías no depende de su perfección, sino de nuestra disposición a comprender y aceptar su impacto.

A Bitcoin le es indiferente que creas o no en él; no tiene en cuenta si lo valoras o no. La red seguirá creciendo y generando bloques a un ritmo constante de aproximadamente 10 minutos por bloque, independientemente de su valor en términos de moneda fiduciaria. Mientras tanto, el mundo y el mercado irán descubriendo, poco a poco, su propuesta de valor.

La verdadera cuestión no es si Bitcoin tiene valor hoy, sino si estamos preparados para adaptarnos al cambio monumental que representa. Aquellos que comprendan esta transformación a tiempo podrán beneficiarse de la misma, mientras que los que la ignoren se enfrentarán a una realidad en la que Bitcoin ya es parte fundamental del sistema económico global.

A continuación tienes todos los casos de uso citados en el tweet y los enlaces a los artículos correspondientes:

1. Ayudar a traer abundancia energética a 1800 aldeanos africanos no tiene valor.
   https://t.co/bgOaasQeUG
2. Enviar ayuda a miles de refugiados de guerra es inútil.
   https://t.co/WKD4FNPGlq
3. Desarrollar independencia energética en Bután es inútil.
   https://t.co/fKBkfEKDea
4. Proteger Parques Nacionales en África es inútil.
   https://t.co/455ChX6f9P
5. Ayudar a 19,4 millones de mujeres afganas a evitar la discriminación financiera estatal es inútil.
   https://t.co/GsClHWJn7H
6. Establecer la soberanía económica de 14 naciones africanas que aún sufren colonización financiera francesa es inútil.
   https://t.co/s18NsVHKKT
7. Crear una alternativa a un sistema monetario que prolonga guerras, aumenta brechas de riqueza, rescata banqueros pero no protege a empleados ni pequeñas empresas es inútil.
   https://t.co/T6D7yoGZdz
8. Ofrecer servicios bancarios a 2 mil millones de personas no bancarizadas es inútil. https://t.co/T4mjBZ8oRo
9. Proveer un sistema financiero más difícil de usar para el lavado de dinero que las monedas fiat es inútil.
   https://t.co/CLghbaZfU5
10. Evitar represalias financieras por liderar campañas humanitarias en naciones autocráticas donde viven 5,7 mil millones de personas es inútil.
    https://t.co/2KM9kuAUQp
11. Ofrecer a 250 millones de personas en países con hiperinflación una forma de evitar la erosión del 50% o más de sus ahorros anuales es inútil.
    https://t.co/7Yu7IpSSpd
12. Permitir a las personas en naciones en desarrollo recibir remesas sin retrasos ni altas comisiones es inútil.
    https://t.co/NWTeMOLUny
13. Tener un depósito de valor seguro, sin permisos, descentralizado, disponible 24/7 y con suministro monetario fijo es inútil.
    https://t.co/J75wOAXWzS
14. Lograr ser la industria más sustentablemente alimentada del mundo es inútil.
    https://twitter.com/DSBatten/status/1670320573480833025
15. Acelerar la transición a energías renovables haciéndolas más rentables es inútil.
    https://t.co/4SCHxTMRBu
16. Reducir más emisiones de vertederos que el mayor proyecto de captura de carbono del mundo es inútil.
    https://t.co/5IysyKbWrg
17. Desarrollar un sistema financiero con significativamente menos emisiones que el sistema bancario es inútil.
    https://t.co/RIiW2jx63R
    https://twitter.com/DSBatten/status/1671336675497349121
18. Conservar gas natural perdido, ventilado o quemado a través de la minería de Bitcoin, evitando contaminación por metano.
    https://t.co/EZ1kjBz4Pt
19. Mejorar la estabilidad de la red eléctrica.
    https://t.co/c5rny2m66V

@ 316ede27:a512e056

hi

@ a42048d7:26886c32

DIY Multisig is complex and 100x more likely to fail than you think if you do it yourself: A few years ago as an experiment I put what was then $2,000 worth Bitcoin into a 2 of 3 DIY multisig with two close family members holding two keys on Tapsigners and myself holding the last key on a Coldcard. My thought was to try and preview how they might deal with self custodied multisig Bitcoin if I died prematurely. After over a year I revisited and asked them to try and do a transaction without me. Just send that single Utxo to a new address in the same wallet, no time limit. It could not possibly have failed harder and shook my belief in multisig. To summarize an extremely painful day, there was a literally 0% chance they would figure this out without help. If this had been for real all our BTC may have been lost forever. Maybe eventually a family friend could’ve helped, but I hadn’t thought of that and hadn’t recommended a trusted BTC knowledge/help source. I had preached self sovereignty and doing it alone and my family tried to respect that. I should’ve given them the contact info of local high integrity bitcoiners I trust implicitly. Regardless of setup type, I highly recommend having a trusted Bitcoiner and online resources your family knows they can turn to to trouble shoot. Bookmark the corresponding BTCSessions video to your BTC self custody setup. Multisig is complicated as hell and hard to understand. Complexity is the enemy when it comes to making sure your BTC isn’t lost and actually gets to your heirs. Many Bitcoiners use a similar setup to this one that failed so badly, and I’m telling you unless you’re married to or gave birth to a seriously hardcore maxi who is extremely tech savvy, the risk your Bitcoin is lost upon your death is unacceptably high. My family is extremely smart but when the pressure of now many thousands of dollars was on the line, the complexity of multisig torpedoed them. Don’t run to an ETF! There are answers: singlesig is awesome. From observing my family I’m confident they would’ve been okay in a singlesig setup. It was the process of signing on separate devices with separate signers, and moving a PSBT around that stymied them. If it had been singlesig they would’ve been okay as one signature on its own was accomplished. Do not besmirch singlesig, it’s incredibly powerful and incredibly resilient. Resilience and simplicity are vastly underrated! In my opinion multisig may increase your theoretical security against attacks that are far less likely to actually happen, e.g. an Oceans Eleven style hack/heist. More likely your heirs will be fighting panic, grief, and stress and forget something you taught them a few years back. If they face an attack it will most likely be social engineering/phishing. They are unlikely to face an elaborate heist that would make a fun movie. While I still maintain it was a mistake for Bitkey to not have a separate screen to verify addresses and other info, overall I believe it’s probably the best normie option for small BTC holdings(yes I do know Bitkey is actually multisig, but the UX is basically a single sig). This incident scared me into realizing the importance of simplicity. Complexity and confusion of heirs/family may be the most under-considered aspects of BTC security. If you’ve made a DIY multisig and your heirs can’t explain why they need all three public keys and what a descriptor is and where it’s backed up, you might as well just go have that boating accident now and get it over with.

Once you get past small amounts of BTC, any reputable hardware wallet in singlesig is amazing security I would encourage folks to consider. In a singlesig setup - For $5 wrench attack concerns, just don’t have your hardware signer or steel backup at your home. You can just have a hot wallet on your phone with a small amount for spending.

If you get a really big stack collaborative multisig is a potentially reasonable middle ground. Just be very thoughtful and brutally honest about your heirs and their BTC and general tech knowledge. Singlesig is still great and you don’t have to move past it, but I get that you also need to sleep at night. If you have truly life changing wealth and are just too uncomfortable with singlesig, maybe consider either 1) Anchorwatch to get the potential benefits of multisig security with the safety net of traditional insurance or 2) Liana wallet where you can use miniscript to effectively have a time locked singlesig spending path to a key held by a third party to help your family recover your funds if they can’t figure it out before that timelock hits, 3) Bitcoin Keeper with their automatic inheritance docs and mini script enabled inheritance key. The automatic inheritance docs are a best in class feature no one else has done yet. Unchained charges $200 for inheritance docs on top of your $250 annual subscription, which imho is beyond ridiculous. 4) Swan vault, I’ve generally soured on most traditional 2 of 3 collaborative multisig because I’ve always found holes either in security (Unchained signed a transaction in only a few hours and has no defined time delay, and still doesn’t support Segwit, seriously guys, wtf?), only support signers that are harder to use and thus tough for noobs, or the overall setups are just too complex. Swan Vault’s focus on keeping it as simple as possible really stands out against competitors that tack on unneeded confusion complexity.

TLDR: For small amounts of BTC use Bitkey. For medium to large amounts use singlesig with a reputable hardware wallet and steel backup. For life changing wealth where you just can no longer stomach sinsglesig maybe also consider Anchorwatch, Bitcoin Keeper, Sean Vault, or Liana. Don’t forget your steel backups! Be safe out there! Do your own research and don’t take my word for it. Just use this as inspiration to consider an alternative point of view. If you’re a family of software engineers, feel free to tell me to go fuck myself.

@ d57360cb:4fe7d935

Disbelief in oneself

Theres a scene near the opening of the movie where Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons) is yelling at one of his trombone players about being out of tune. He’s asks him ‘Do you think you’re out of tune?’ The player nervous and shook by Fletcher puts his head down and says yes. Fletcher proceeds to yelling in his face and kicking him out.

The funny thing about this scene is that the trombone player wasn’t actually out of tune, it was someone else. What Fletcher is looking for in his world class band are individuals who believe in themselves. The scene had nothing to do with being out of tune with the instrument but more so being out of tune with yourself. The trombone players every action is motivated by the energy of fear.

I believe Fletcher’s character represents the world and critics they are harsh, they don’t care about your feelings, they will attack you and if you lack belief you’ll give up and stop short or worse won’t even begin the journey at all.

The harshest critic can sometimes be oneself as displayed by the trombone player. His belief is so low Fletchers words act as reinforcement to his already low view of himself. In this way Fletcher acts a mirror to his students.

Belief in oneself

Another scene i’d like to highlight is the exact opposite of the trombone scene. Near the end of the film Andrew Nieman (Miles Teller) is late for the bands show and he barges into the room a few minutes before the start. Irate, Fletcher attacks him for being late and tells him he’s losing his spot to another drummer. This is a test on Andrew to see how he reacts, will he crumble and fall like the trombone player?

Andrews response displays an individual with unwavering belief in his abilities he tells fletcher in essence ‘fuck off its my part’. No matter how much Fletcher attacks his skill and character, Andrew doesn’t care he’s willing to stand on his ability and not let the noise bother him.

This scene to me symbolizes the epitome of confidence. Throughout the movie Fletcher is downplaying Andrew and his skill. He tells him he’s not good enough, his skills aren’t sharp. What he was doing wasn’t pushing Andrew to practice more and get better, he was pushing him to believe in his own power and greatness.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure”.

Links to the clips

Trombone clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0yL-avlEsg

Andrew loses spot clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OxTIpMSkpw

@ a4a6b584:1e05b95b

Step 1: Secure Your Device

1. Install an Antivirus Program
   Download and install a trusted antivirus program to scan files for potential malware.
2. For Linux: Calm Antivirus

3. For Windows: CalmWin Antivirus

4. Install a VPN
   A VPN is essential for maintaining privacy and security. It will encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address.

5. Recommended: Mullvad VPN, which accepts Bitcoin for anonymous payment.

6. Install a Torrent Program
   You’ll need a torrent client to download files.

7. Recommended: Deluge

8. Install the Tor Browser
   To access The Pirate Bay or its proxies, you’ll need the privacy-focused Tor Browser.

---

Step 2: Prepare Your Setup

• Ensure your VPN is running and connected.
• Open the Tor Browser.
• Launch Deluge to have your torrent client ready.

---

Step 3: Using Tor Go to The Pirate Bay via Onion Service or Find a Trusted Pirate Bay Proxy

Accessing The Pirate Bay directly can be challenging due to restrictions in some regions. Proxy sites often fill the gap. - The Pirate Bay Onion service: http://piratebayo3klnzokct3wt5yyxb2vpebbuyjl7m623iaxmqhsd52coid.onion - Or find a trusted proxy: Use a site like Pirateproxy or a reliable Tor directory for updated lists.

---

Step 4: Search for Linux Distros

1. On The Pirate Bay, navigate to the "OtherOS" category under the Applications section.
2. Enter your desired Linux distro in the search bar (e.g., "Ubuntu," "Arch Linux").

---

Step 5: Select a Torrent

1. Filter the Results:
2. Look for torrents with the highest seeders (SE) and the fewest leechers (LE).

3. Trusted users are marked with a green skull icon—these are usually safe uploads.

4. Copy the Magnet Link:

5. Right-click on the magnet icon next to the trusted torrent and select "Copy Link."

---

Step 6: Start the Download

1. In Deluge, paste the copied magnet link into the “Add Torrent” box.
2. Click OK to start the download.
3. Monitor the progress until the download completes.

---

Step 7: Scan the Downloaded File

Once the file is downloaded: 1. Scan for viruses: Right-click the file and use Calm or CalmWin to verify its integrity.
2. If the file passes the scan, it’s ready for use.

---

Step 8: Manage Your File

• Seed or Remove:
• To help the torrent community, keep seeding the file by leaving it in your torrent client.

• To stop seeding, right-click the file in Deluge and remove it.

• Move for Long-Term Storage: Transfer the file to a secure directory for regular use.

---

Notes on Safety and Ethics

• Verify Legitimacy: Ensure the torrent you are downloading is for an official Linux distribution. Torrents with unusual names or details should be avoided.
• Support the Developers: Consider visiting the official websites of Linux distros (Ubuntu, Arch Linux) to support their work directly.

---

By following these steps, you can safely and privately download Linux distributions while contributing to the open-source community.

@ c69b71dc:426ba763

The Power of Words...

...Shaping a Compassionate Future

This morning I woke up with this thought:

> If we were more mindful of our choice of words, we would immediately need to change the following: Schools would no longer have classes and classifications, but only Communities!

This would make a huge difference in terms of togetherness, well-being, and caring for one another. 🙌🏼

Language shapes reality

Words influence how we see the world and ourselves. When we replace terms like "classes" or "grades" with "community" and "development," it changes our entire way of thinking about education and coexistence.
For example, in companies, we often talk about "teams" instead of "departments." This unconsciously fosters unity, cooperation, and a sense of belonging on equal terms.

Community instead of competition

In school, work, and everyday life, we often evaluate, compare, and classify. But what if we focused on cooperation and synergies instead of competition?
In some schools, there are no grades anymore, just individual feedback – this takes away the performance pressure and strengthens intrinsic motivation.

Appreciation instead of categorization

Putting people in "boxes" – whether through grading systems, social classes, or job titles – often creates separation rather than connection.
Instead of labeling people as "successful" or "failed," we could ask: "What are their strengths? How can we support each other?" 
Mindful language in everyday life
We could also reflect on our word choices in daily life:
Instead of "problem" → "challenge"
Instead of "failure" → "learning opportunity"
Instead of "mistake" → "experience"

School as a mirror of society

How we learn to interact with each other in school shapes our behavior in society. When children grow up in communities instead of class systems, they learn that cooperation and empathy are more important than competition.
There are so-called democratic schools where there are no grade levels – children learn from each other across ages. Students support each other by sharing knowledge and helping each other. Teachers are seen as coaches, not as "all-knowing" authority figures. They too are human and can learn from the children.
 Many teachers want to give children something that will help them in life.

However, the rigid old school system dictates what must be taught and when, often disregarding the individual interests of the children. This stifles passions – in both the children and the teachers. Instead, teachers could act as inspiring sparks, igniting curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.


---

**A history teacher once said to me on the phone, when discussing my son who didn’t want to read printed Wikipedia sheets: "If there is no spark in the child, the teacher can’t ignite anything."
**

This sentence frustrated me, because it shows that this teacher had long since lost his own spark!
 Children always have a spark. Always!

---

A day without evaluations

What if we consciously refrained from evaluating others for one day – whether through grades, criticism, or labels?
Instead of saying to a friend, "You made a mistake," we could say, "That was an interesting experience – what did you learn from it?"
Instead of saying, "That wasn’t good," we could ask, "How could it be done differently or better?"
Instead of grading children in school, we could tell them what they did well and where they can still grow.
Instead of getting upset about a difficult customer, we could feel empathy for their situation.

Mindful language as the key to change

**If we are more mindful with our language – also with how we speak to ourselves – we can shape a society where people meet each other with compassion. **

Words are vibrations that shape reality. Chosen consciously, they can create a world based on connection, growth, and love.
It is up to us to start this change within ourselves – and carry it into the world.

Thank you for reading 🕊️

@ 54286b98:3debc100

We correct because we care.\ And when others correct us, it’s a reminder: We’re cared for.

“No calm ocean makes a skilled sailor,” they say. Yet we often prize safety more than the process that actually makes us skillful—able to navigate life’s oceans securely. We want the result: expertise, confidence, calm at the helm. But we’re often reluctant to embrace the very process that shapes us.

Trials and life’s tests aren’t pleasant, but maybe we should see them through our Father’s eyes. How else can we possibly grow? If not by trials, then how? Any parent knows we don’t just learn by hearing; we are stubborn beings who truly learn after experiencing.

It’s in those small, fear-fueled moments—realizing you could have fallen off a cliff, been hit by a car, or lost your career over a careless comment—that your senses awaken to very real consequences. Hopefully, that flash of adrenaline is enough to teach a lesson. But often, more often than we’d like to admit, it isn’t.

God’s parenting style is fascinating; He’s patient beyond measure. He can handle our insecurities and weaknesses for a very long time. Even when our earthly parents may have given up on us, He won't. Either we walk away from His lessons, or we keep facing the same challenges meant to shape us—making us whole, maturing us in our faith—until we finally learn and pass the test.

Paraphrasing the message of James chapter 1: “Count it all joy, pure joy, when you face trials. If you don’t understand why you’re going through what you’re going through, ask God for wisdom—He will give it to you.”

During your high, victorious moments, remember: you’ll be tested again. Take heart—because the end goal is a more resilient and confident version of you, anchored in God rather than in yourself.

During your low moments—when everything feels painfully hard—remember that you have a Father’s hand guiding you, never leaving you alone.

You’ve got this…in God.\ Until the next one,\ J

Legacy website article and email subscription here.\ Photo by Torsten Dederichs / Unsplash

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

I just read this, and found it enlightening.

Jung... notes that intelligence can be seen as problem solving at an everyday level..., whereas creativity may represent problem solving for less common issues

Other studies have used metaphor creation as a creativity measure instead of divergent thinking and a spectrum of CHC components instead of just g and have found much higher relationships between creativity and intelligence than past studies

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/3/3/59

I'm unusually intelligent (Who isn't?), but I'm much more creative, than intelligent, and I think that confuses people. The ability to apply intelligence, to solve completely novel problems, on the fly, is something IQ tests don't even claim to measure. They just claim a correlation.

Creativity requires taking wild, mental leaps out into nothingness; simply trusting that your brain will land you safely. And this is why I've been at the forefront of massive innovation, over and over, but never got rich off of it.

I'm a starving autist.

Zaps are the first time I've ever made money directly, for solving novel problems. Companies don't do this because there is a span of time between providing a solution and the solution being implemented, and the person building the implementation (or their boss) receives all the credit for the existence of the solution. At best, you can hope to get pawned off with a small bonus.

Nobody can remember who came up with the solution, originally, and that person might not even be there, anymore, and probably never filed a patent, and may have no idea that their idea has even been built. They just run across it, later, in a tech magazine or museum, and say, "Well, will you look at that! Someone actually went and built it! Isn't that nice!"

Universities at least had the idea of cementing novel solutions in academic papers, but that: 1) only works if you're an academic, and at a university, 2) is an incredibly slow process, not appropriate for a truly innovative field, 3) leads to manifestations of perverse incentives and biased research frameworks, coming from 'publish or perish' policies.

But I think long-form notes and zaps solve for this problem. #Alexandria, especially, is being built to cater to this long-suffering class of chronic underachievers. It leaves a written, public, time-stamped record of Clever Ideas We Have Had.

Because they are clever, the ideas. And we have had them.

@ 6e468422:15deee93

We didn't hear them land on earth, nor did we see them. The spores were not visible to the naked eye. Like dust particles, they softly fell, unhindered, through our atmosphere, covering the earth. It took us a while to realize that something extraordinary was happening on our planet. In most places, the mushrooms didn't grow at all. The conditions weren't right. In some places—mostly rocky places—they grew large enough to be noticeable. People all over the world posted pictures online. "White eggs," they called them. It took a bit until botanists and mycologists took note. Most didn't realize that we were dealing with a species unknown to us.

We aren't sure who sent them. We aren't even sure if there is a "who" behind the spores. But once the first portals opened up, we learned that these mushrooms aren't just a quirk of biology. The portals were small at first—minuscule, even. Like a pinhole camera, we were able to glimpse through, but we couldn't make out much. We were only able to see colors and textures if the conditions were right. We weren't sure what we were looking at.

We still don't understand why some mushrooms open up, and some don't. Most don't. What we do know is that they like colder climates and high elevations. What we also know is that the portals don't stay open for long. Like all mushrooms, the flush only lasts for a week or two. When a portal opens, it looks like the mushroom is eating a hole into itself at first. But the hole grows, and what starts as a shimmer behind a grey film turns into a clear picture as the egg ripens. When conditions are right, portals will remain stable for up to three days. Once the fruit withers, the portal closes, and the mushroom decays.

The eggs grew bigger year over year. And with it, the portals. Soon enough, the portals were big enough to stick your finger through. And that's when things started to get weird...

@ 044da344:073a8a0e

Die Sehnsucht gar nicht so weniger Westdeutscher ist groß – besonders dann, wenn sie schon etwas älter sind und sich zu fragen beginnen, was bisher gefehlt hat in ihrem Leben. Die Antwort kann man zum Beispiel im Kontrafunk hören: „Plötzlich bewegt sich was“ stand dort über der letzten Sonntagsrunde. Eine Revolution, vielleicht doch noch. 1848, 1919, WIR. Und 1989, okay. Man muss nur ein wenig Markus Vahlefeld lauschen, Prototyp des konservativen Intellektuellen, knapp 60 inzwischen, um zu verstehen, wie tief dieser Stachel sitzt. Die im Osten – die haben uns etwas voraus. Die waren mittendrin, als sich die Welt zu drehen begann. Lasst uns also alles dafür tun, damit das nicht so bleibt bis in alle Ewigkeit.

Wer zu den Wurzeln dieser Sehnsucht will, sollte die beiden Bücher lesen, die ich in dieser Kolumne schon einmal empfohlen habe und die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten. Klein, eher dünn und sehr persönlich das eine, wuchtig, sachlich-kühl und mit dem Zeug zum großen Wurf das andere. Autobiografie hier, Wissenschaft dort – jeweils nicht zu verstehen ohne das, was Markus Vahlefeld und seine Leidensgenossen so schmerzlich vermissen. Die Erfahrung, dass morgen alles anders sein kann, lässt den Menschen gelassen und den Gedanken an mögliche Verluste beim Schreiben kleiner werden.

Ingrid Schreyer hat angefangen, ihre Erinnerungen festzuhalten. Auf dem Cover geht es vordergründig um „den Aufbruch 1989“ und um Ahrenshoop, einen feinen Badeort an der Ostsee, in dem Büchlein steckt aber viel mehr – und das nicht nur, weil die Autorin mit Wolfgang Schreyer verheiratet war, einem Schriftsteller mit Millionenpublikum, deutlich älter als sie und auf der Höhe seines Schaffens auch attraktiv für eine Frau wie Brigitte Reimann, wie man in einem wunderbaren Briefwechsel nachlesen kann. Wolfgang, dieser Erfolgsmensch, ist natürlich noch präsent im Gedächtnis von Ingrid Schreyer. Die gemeinsamen Bücher in den 1980ern und eine Lesung in Leipzig, die Gespräche mit Stefan Heym in Strandnähe und der 9. November 1989, als Ingrid, gerade 45, unbedingt nach Berlin will, aber weder ihren Mann noch Sohn Paul, damals erst 12 und inzwischen Mitherausgeber von Multipolar, überzeugen kann. Das Ende der Mauer vor dem Fernsehapparat und nicht dort, wo gerade ein Weltreich zusammenbricht. So viel Rotwein steht in keinem Keller.

„Wie wir auf die Straße gingen“: Dieser Titel spielt zunächst auf das an, was da hoch im Norden des Landes passiert ist, fernab der Metropolen, über die heute jeder Geschichtslehrer spricht. Der 9. Oktober in Leipzig, der 4. November in Berlin. Wie war das in Ribnitz-Damgarten und in Ahrenshoop? Wie ist Ingrid Schreyer dazu gekommen, in einem Dorf hunderte Unterschriften für das Neue Forum zu sammeln, dann eine Ortsgruppe zu gründen und die Gästehäuser der Stasi zu enttarnen? Die Antworten führen in ein christliches Elternhaus in Magdeburg, zu einem Urgroßvater, der in der Stadt als Uhrmacher und Optiker genauso eine Nummer wurde wie 1848 in der Opposition, und in ein Milieu, für das die DDR so selbstverständlich war, dass man sich nicht viel dabei dachte, kurz nach Ulbrichts Kahlschlag von 1965 einen Klub mit dem Namen „Die Andersdenkenden“ zu gründen und dort mit Beat und Joints über Gott und die Welt zu streiten, ganz ohne Angst vor Spitzeln. Auch diese Autobiografie lebt ein wenig von den Namen, die Ingrid Schreyer immer wieder einstreut, sie erzählt aber zugleich eine ganz eigene DDR-Geschichte, die, so verspricht es der Buchrücken, fortgesetzt werden soll. Den ersten Band der „Ahrenshooper Erinnerungen“ gibt es genau wie Ingrid Schreyers Bücher über die Kunst in Ahrenshoop nur bei ihr selbst, zu ordern über die Webseite.

Das Buch von Michael Beleites hat schon einen Verlagswechsel hinter sich und ist trotzdem noch nicht wirklich angekommen in der Öffentlichkeit. Man könnte sagen: ein dicker Brocken, okay. Wer liest schon knapp 700 Seiten, wenn Titel und Untertitel eher schwere Kost versprechen? Das ist hier aber nicht der Punkt. Dieses Buch hat das Zeug, erst Klarheit in den Köpfen zu schaffen und dann die Welt zu verändern. Eine Revolution – aber ganz anders, als sich das die Sonntagsrunde im Kontrafunk gerade ausgemalt hat. Michael Beleites rüttelt an den Grundfesten unseres Denkens. Charles Darwin. Kleiner wird es nicht. Die Selektionshypothese, sagt Michael Beleites, ist widerlegt und damit alles, was mit dem Motto „Survival of the Fittest“ über uns gekommen ist. Der ewige Kampf ums Dasein. Das Wettrennen der Egoisten und damit Kapitalismus. Eine „Machbarkeits-Ideologie“, die glaubt, die Natur „zum Wohle des Menschen“ manipulieren zu können, und so Pate stand bei den Völkermorden der Nationalsozialisten. Neben Darwin räumt dieser Michael Beleites auch die Lehre von der „Vererbung erworbener Eigenschaften“ ab, einen Gegenspieler der Selektionstheorie, und damit den „biologistischen Unterbau“ der „sowjet-kommunistischen Stalin-Diktatur“, die auf „Züchtung durch Erziehung“ gesetzt habe (S. 583). Der lange Atem des Darwinismus reicht dabei weit über die Politik hinaus – von einem Artenschutz, der nicht verstehen will, dass der Lebensraum zur Art gehört, über die „Illusion“ Permakultur (S. 518) bis zum Ausblenden der „geographischen Rassenvielfalt“ als „biologische Tatsache“ und „unschätzbares Naturerbe der Menschheit“ (S. 530).

Ich gebe zu: Das ist viel auf einmal. So viel und so grundlegend, dass es fast schon verwunderlich wäre, wenn der Autor keine Angriffe erlebt hätte. Ich bin auf Michael Beleites in einem Buch von Claus M. Wolfschlag gestoßen. Eine Sammlung von zwei Dutzend Prangergeschichten, die ich im Sommer 2024 eigentlich rezensieren wollte, weil sie das auf sehr persönliche Weise ergänzen, was ich gerade selbst eher abstrakt als Cancel Culture beschrieben hatte. Im Garten schien die Sonne, aber mir war trotzdem zum Heulen. Keine Spur von Schreiblust. Das Beleites-Interview setzte allem die Krone auf. Da sprach ein Mann, dessen Namen ich aus der Geschichte des Umbruchs kannte, als Stasi-Opfer und als sächsischen Beauftragten für das Erbe des DDR-Geheimdienstes, über die ungeheuerlichen Dinge, die ihm in der Bundesrepublik der 2010er Jahre widerfahren waren, weil er mit den falschen Leuten gesprochen hat. Weil er prinzipiell mit allen redet. Weil die falschen Leute seine Ideen spannend fanden. Weil diese Ideen an der falschen Stelle erschienen waren. Pegida, Höcke, Schnellroda. Ich kann diese Rufmordgeschichte hier nur andeuten, weiß aber noch, wie ich in meinem Lesestuhl förmlich erdrückt worden bin von der Lawine, die da über Michael Beleites hereingebrochen ist. Ausladungen. Die üblichen Schlagworte: Rassismus, Antisemitismus, Nazi. Eine Attacke im Spiegel. Boykott der Blumen und Kräuter, die Beleites und seine Frau in ihrem Gartenbetrieb wachsen lassen. Antifa-Attacken auf den Wochenmarktstand in der Dresdner Neustadt. Keine Chance mehr für ihre Kräutertees in den Bioläden der Stadt. In einem Wort: Existenzvernichtung wegen eines Gesinnungsverdachts, ohne dass jemand hören wollte, was dieser Autor eigentlich zu sagen hat und wie er darauf kommt.

Michael Beleites ist ein Kind vom Land. Er hat schon als kleiner Junge Vögel fotografiert – an der Abbruchkante eines stillgelegten Braunkohletagebaus. Er schwärmt am Ende seines Buches von den Menschen, die ihm geholfen haben, Vogelstimmen zu unterscheiden und zu spüren, wie sich Landschaft und Tierwelt bedingen. Wie Ingrid Schreyer wächst Michael Beleites in einem christlichen Umfeld auf. Der Sohn eines evangelischen Pfarrers darf zwar kein Abitur machen und damit auch nicht Biologie studieren, wird aber Präparator, arbeitet erst in einem Naturkundemuseum und dann freiberuflich. Wir sind immer noch in der DDR, wo Beleites 1988 eine Dokumentation über den Uranbergbau veröffentlicht – seine Eintrittskarte in die Politik der dann plötzlich vergrößerten Bundesrepublik, die ihn zwar ebenfalls nicht Biologie studieren lässt, aber seinen Göttern näherbringt – Otto Kleinschmidt vor allem, einem Ornithologen, der im ersten Drittel des 20. Jahrhunderts ein „revolutionäres Konzept zur biologischen Variation“ entwickelt, aber weitgehend vergessen wird, weil er „der allgemein anerkannten Lehrmeinung“ widerspricht (S. 15). Darwin und sonst nichts, damals schon.

Wer bis hierher durchgehalten hat, versteht hoffentlich meine Bewunderung für ein Werk, das jenseits der üblichen akademischen Pfade und ohne die Sicherheit gewachsen ist, die eine Position in Universitäten oder Forschungsinstituten bietet, und trotzdem ganz genau weiß, mit was und mit wem es sich da anlegt. Michael Beleites kennt Literatur und Gegenargumente. Auch deshalb kann er es nicht unter 700 Seiten machen. Vor allem aber kennt dieser Autor seinen Gegenstand. Michael Beleites hat tausendfach gesehen, dass es in der Natur nicht um Konkurrenz geht, sondern um Zusammenhalt und Harmonie. Er sagt: Die Natur züchtet nicht. Wenn sich Arten verändern, dann im Ganzen. Anders formuliert: Die Merkmale verschieben sich zeitgleich, weil die Dinge zusammenhängen und Kräften unterliegen, die wir zwar benennen, aber schlecht messen oder gar im Experiment nachweisen können. Umweltresonanz (der Begriff, der auf dem Cover steht und zugleich Programm ist für eine nachmaterialistische Naturwissenschaft) steht bei ihm auch für den Zugriff auf die Art-„Programme“, die Gestalt und Verhalten steuern (S. 437), sowie auf die „jeweils verfügbaren natürlichen Umweltinformationen“ (S. 438). Magnetfelder, Himmelslicht und Sterne – sicht- und spürbar in der „freien Natur“, aber nicht oder allenfalls eingeschränkt im „urbanen Raum“.

Michael Beleites unterfüttert das immer wieder mit Beobachtungen und Bildern – Lesegenuss und Augenschmaus in einem. Vor allem aber belässt er es nicht bei der Kritik, sondern bietet Lösungen, die weit über das hinausgehen, was im Moment in der Gegenöffentlichkeit diskutiert wird, weil sich seine Vorschläge schlüssig aus einem großen Theoriegebäude ableiten lassen. Ich kann das hier nur mit Schlagworten andeuten. Raus aus der Stadt. Wenn das nicht auf Dauer geht, dann wenigstens so oft wie möglich. Zurück zur bäuerlichen Landwirtschaft, zurück zu dem, was den Menschen ausmacht. Körperlich arbeiten in der Natur. Heimat statt Bodenlosigkeit und damit eher Dorf als Flugzeug. Der Mensch, sagt Michael Beleites, ist gar nicht so viel anders als Tiere oder Pflanzen. Jedes Individuum spürt eine „Neigung“, im Einklang mit dem zu sein, was für die Spezies bereits da ist (S. 592). Sein Buch kündet davon, dass Michael Beleites so lebt, wie es zu ihm passt. Dann können einem irgendwelche Krakeeler auch nicht viel anhaben.

Titelbild: Leipzig, 23. Oktober 1989. Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1989-1023-022, Friedrich Gahlbeck (ADN)

Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus

Unterstützen

@ 5adb967d:ac1f7d04

In today's era of blossoming wireless signals, the protection of communication security and personal privacy has become an increasingly serious challenge. Wireless networks bring great convenience to life at the same time, but also for hackers to eavesdrop and illegal monitoring left a chance to take advantage of. Radio waves come from all directions, personal cell phone or computer communication content may be monitored and stolen at any time.

Fortunately, advanced radio magnetic shielding technology for us to build a solid “security barrier”, become the ultimate weapon to effectively reject wireless intrusion. The Ultimate Protection jammer is an excellent representative of this cutting-edge technology, and has demonstrated its extraordinary power in protecting target areas from external wireless interference and eavesdropping.

This advanced limit protection shield can effectively isolate and block all kinds of radio waves, in the target area to create an absolute security, “no wireless signal” electromagnetic quiet zone. Whether it is a wireless network, cellular communications, GPS navigation, or wireless surveillance equipment issued by any radio waves, once the GPS jamming device enters the protective range, will be effectively blocked out.

With this outstanding performance, the limit protection shield can be widely used in all kinds of wireless signals are particularly sensitive or need a high degree of confidentiality occasions, such as military organizations, government agencies, scientific research units, corporate meeting rooms and other important places.

Simply open this device, you can build an invisible and solid “electromagnetic field barrier” for the target area, to achieve any wireless equipment in the area and the complete shielding of communications. In this no radio signal “quiet zone”, sensitive information and confidential data will be far away from the hacker's theft and listening, to ensure absolute confidentiality and communication security.

At the same time, the limit protection high power blocker can be based on the actual demand for power and range of flexible adjustment, so as to better meet the protection needs of different scenarios. For example, in military exercises or special operations, it can be set up as a mobile handheld model to provide temporary wireless protection for the site personnel. In government agencies or corporate meetings, you can open a fixed powerful version, for the entire office building or even a larger area to build an impenetrable “electromagnetic shield”.

Of course, the limit protection shield is not only practical in important units, for ordinary individuals, it can also be carried as a “invisible guardian”, always protect personal privacy from prying eyes. Simply turn on this miniaturized portable device, you can form a highly closed shielding area within a few meters to a dozen meters of the surrounding area. If you use your cell phone to talk or surf the internet during this period, even if you are eavesdropped on by hackers, there is no way to do it because all wireless signals have been blocked out.

Remember how you were bombarded with nuisance calls when your cell phone number was leaked? Don't worry about it anymore, as long as the Ultimate Protection drone blocker is always on, the caller ID will be completely hidden, so you can avoid the pain of harassment. This is especially true in public places such as hotels, where any prying eyes of the unscrupulous will go down the drain when the blocking mode is turned on.

In addition to communication privacy protection, the limit protection shield can also prevent radio waves on some electronic equipment caused by interference. In hospital operating rooms, electronic laboratories and other radio-sensitive areas, just start it, you can exclude all external electromagnetic signal interference, for the normal operation of medical equipment and instruments to create an absolutely safe electromagnetic environment.

In short, whether you are worried about the theft of confidential information, communication content is listened to, or hope to stay away from nuisance calls, to avoid radio radiation, the limit of protection signal detector can provide you with an impenetrable “electromagnetic umbrella”. Its appearance, to us in this wireless world built an absolute safe haven, so that people can enjoy the convenience of wireless communication, but also have the right to freedom of communication and privacy.

In the future, with the continuous upgrading of shielding technology and cost reductions, I believe that the limit protection shield will be more widely used in both civil and military fields, so that the whole society can share the communication security and privacy protection of the hard-core weapon. The wireless invasion and snooping without the hidden danger of a beautiful electromagnetic environment, is this impenetrable “electromagnetic field barrier” slowly taking shape.

1. https://www.easyfie.com/read-blog/2335393_refuse-wireless-invasion-shielding-to-build-a-security-barrier
2. https://australiainterest.com/pin/381012/

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Going off of memory, because I forgot to do this in the morning.

The last thing I ate were Costco samples yesterday afternoon and then I didn't eat again until lunch today. I'm pretty sure those two things were about 20 hours apart.

Score Card

Day 1: 14 hour fast (13 dry) Day 2: 15 hour fast (14 dry) Day 3: 17 hours (16 dry) Day 4: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 5: 18 hours (16 dry) Day 6: 19 hours (16 dry) Day 7: 16 hours (15 dry) Day 8: 18 hours (17 dry) Day 9: 17 hours (17 dry) Day 10: 15 hours (13 dry) Day 11: 20 hours (19 dry) Day 12: 20 hours (17 dry)

This winter storm is going to make getting my steps in a pain, but there's no way I'm letting myself lose the sats that I staked on the challenge.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/884000

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

When the shit just don't work

Most open-source software is now so badly written and sloppily-maintained, that it's malware.

That's why the governments are getting involved. They try using OS, to save money and improve quality (and to market themselves as "hip"), and then it blows up their system or opens them up to hackers.

Now, they're pissed and want support (but the dev with the handle SucksToBeYou has disappeared) or someone to sue, but most OS projects have no identifiable entity behind them. Even well-known anon devs are often groups of anons or accounts that change hands.

The software cracks have moved on

There is simply no evidence that OS alone produces higher-quality software. The reason it seemed that way, at the beginning, was because of the caliber of the developers working on the projects, and the limited number of projects. This resulted in experienced people actively reviewing each others' code.

OS used to be something the elite engaged in, but it's mostly beginners practicing in public, now. That's why there are now millions of OS projects, happily offered for free, but almost all of them are garbage. The people now building OS usually aren't capable of reviewing other people's code, and they're producing worse products than ChatGPT could. Their software has no customers because it has no market value.

If everything is OS, then nothing is.

Another paradigm-changer is that all software is de facto OS, now that we can quickly reverse-engineer code with AI. That means the focus is no longer on OS/not-OS, but on the accountability and reputation of the builders.

It is, once again, a question of trust. We have come full-circle.

@ b84b0d81:f3a3865f

A reverse mortgage is a financial product designed primarily for homeowners who are 62 years or older. It allows them to convert a portion of the equity in their home into cash, without having to sell the property or make monthly mortgage payments. This loan is typically used to supplement retirement income, providing seniors with the opportunity to maintain their lifestyle without worrying about monthly bills or mortgage payments. Reverse mortgages are different from traditional mortgages in several key ways, particularly in how they are repaid and structured.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the mechanics of reverse mortgages, their benefits, and their potential risks, along with essential statistics to understand their growing role in the financial market. ** How Reverse Mortgages Work ** A reverse mortgage allows homeowners to borrow money against the equity they have built in their homes. Unlike traditional mortgages, where borrowers make monthly payments to the lender, in a reverse mortgage, the lender makes payments to the homeowner. These payments can be received in a variety of ways, such as a lump sum, monthly payments, or a line of credit, depending on the agreement.

The loan is repaid when the homeowner either sells the home, moves out permanently, or passes away. At that point, the loan balance, which includes the money borrowed plus interest and fees, must be repaid. The homeowner or their heirs are required to sell the home to repay the loan, and any remaining equity after the loan repayment belongs to the homeowner or their estate.

**Types of Reverse Mortgages ** There are three main types of reverse mortgages: 1. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM): The most common and government-insured reverse mortgage, available through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). This type of loan offers the most flexibility in terms of payment options and is available to homeowners who meet the required age and equity qualifications.

1. Proprietary Reverse Mortgages: These are private loans offered by private lenders, typically for high-value homes. These loans may offer larger loan amounts than HECM loans, but they are not insured by the government.

2. Single-Purpose Reverse Mortgages: These are offered by some state and local governments or nonprofit organizations and are intended for a specific purpose, such as home repairs or property taxes. These loans are less common but may be a more affordable option for some homeowners. Requirements for a Reverse Mortgage

To qualify for a reverse mortgage, there are several requirements that must be met: • Age: The homeowner must be at least 62 years old, though the home can be jointly owned by a younger spouse.

• Home Equity: The homeowner must have substantial equity in their home. This is important because the loan amount is typically based on the home’s value, the homeowner’s age, and the interest rate.

• Primary Residence: The home must be the primary residence of the borrower. • Ability to Maintain the Home: The borrower must be able to afford the ongoing costs of maintaining the home, such as property taxes, insurance, and home maintenance.

**Benefits of Reverse Mortgages ** For many seniors, a reverse mortgage can provide significant financial relief. The key benefits of a reverse mortgage include:

1. Supplementing Retirement Income: One of the primary reasons people take out a reverse mortgage is to supplement their retirement income. Seniors on a fixed income may find it difficult to cover living expenses, and a reverse mortgage provides a way to access the equity in their home without the need to sell.

2. No Monthly Payments: With a reverse mortgage, homeowners do not need to make monthly mortgage payments. This can be a huge relief for seniors who are no longer working and have limited income.

3. Flexibility: Homeowners can choose how they receive the money—whether as a lump sum, monthly payments, or a line of credit. This flexibility allows seniors to customize the loan to meet their specific needs.

4. Tax-Free Income: The funds received from a reverse mortgage are generally not considered taxable income. This makes it a more attractive option compared to other sources of income, such as pensions or Social Security.

5. Maintain Homeownership: As long as the homeowner meets the requirements, they can continue living in the home for as long as they wish. The loan is only due when the homeowner moves out, sells the home, or passes away.

**Risks and Considerations ** Despite the benefits, there are also risks and considerations that homeowners must weigh before deciding to take out a reverse mortgage.

1. Decreasing Home Equity: A reverse mortgage reduces the equity in the home, meaning there will be less value for the homeowner or their heirs when the loan is repaid. The loan balance increases over time as interest accrues, which can significantly impact the amount of inheritance passed down.

2. Costs and Fees: Reverse mortgages come with various fees, including origination fees, closing costs, and mortgage insurance premiums (for HECM loans). These costs can add up and reduce the overall value of the loan.

3. Repayment Obligation: If the homeowner sells the house, moves out permanently, or passes away, the loan must be repaid. If there is insufficient equity in the home to cover the loan balance, the homeowner’s heirs may not inherit the property.

4. Potential Impact on Benefits: While reverse mortgage income is not taxable, it can affect eligibility for needs-based government programs like Medicaid. It is important to consider how the loan might affect other financial assistance.

5. Complexity: Reverse mortgages are complex financial products, and not all seniors fully understand the terms and conditions of the loan. It’s crucial to seek professional financial advice before moving forward with a reverse mortgage.

Reverse Mortgage Statistics

The reverse mortgage industry has grown significantly over the years. According to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA), in 2020 alone, more than 50,000 reverse mortgages were originated in the U.S.

• Stat 1: According to a report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are currently over 1 million reverse mortgage loans outstanding. This statistic reflects the increasing popularity of reverse mortgages, as more seniors turn to this option for financial stability in retirement.

o Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) • Stat 2: In a 2020 survey by the AARP, approximately 15% of homeowners aged 65 and older said they were either considering or already had a reverse mortgage. This demonstrates the rising awareness and acceptance of reverse mortgages as a viable financial option for seniors.

o Source: AARP These statistics highlight the growing role of reverse mortgages in the financial landscape and demonstrate how more seniors are turning to these loans as a source of retirement income.

**Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You? ** A reverse mortgage may be an excellent solution for some seniors, but it is not the right option for everyone. Before deciding to apply for a reverse mortgage, it’s essential to: • Carefully consider your long-term financial goals. • Understand how the reverse mortgage will impact your home equity. • Evaluate other financial options, such as downsizing or renting. • Consult with a financial advisor or a HUD-approved counselor to fully understand the implications of the loan.

**Conclusion ** In conclusion, a reverse mortgage can provide financial relief for seniors by allowing them to access the equity in their homes without the need to sell. While it offers many benefits, such as no monthly payments and tax-free income, there are also risks and costs involved that must be carefully considered. By understanding how reverse mortgages work, the qualifications required, and the potential impact on their financial situation, homeowners can make an informed decision about whether a reverse mortgage is the right choice for them in retirement.

As the number of reverse mortgages continues to grow, seniors are increasingly turning to this option to meet their financial needs in later life. By staying informed and seeking professional guidance, homeowners can ensure they make the best choice for their unique circumstances. For more information on reverse mortgages, be sure to consult trusted resources like the AARP or HUD.

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883959

@ 89ccea93:df4e00b7

What is it?

Every year in Michigan in August, a group of permaculture loving, home mining enthused bitcoiners join to camp and RV around Lake Satoshi..

Entry cost is roughly $20, paid in bitcoin of course.

This year they'll gather August 2nd-4th 2025.

"Enjoy fun in the sun with fellow Bitcoiners with the following: ⤵" * Overnight camping * Hog Roast Saturday – Breakfast Sunday * Grassroots Bitcoin Projects on Display * Circular economy (Coffee, clothes etc) * Presentations Saturday * Meet our special guests from El Salvador

How to get here

Location: Lake Satoshi 9609 E Price Rd, Laingsburg, MI 48848 🗺 Directions on Google Maps

CLICK to RSVP👆🏻

Email info@bitcoin101.io if you have questions.

Here is an article recapping last year's meetup.

Or listen here 👉🏻🎙episodes.fm🎙 instead.

Pictures: source

Go here to learn more.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882417

@ 43baaf0c:d193e34c

I attended Sats ‘n’ Facts to share my art, joining other Nostr artists in exhibiting our work at the event’s very first venue. It was a great opportunity to connect with fellow creatives, including Siritravelsketch, whose work I’ve admired on Nostr for some time. Meeting other artists in real life is always inspiring—there’s an undeniable creative bond that comes from sharing our passion in person.

Sats ‘n’ Facts is an Unconference, meaning there’s no strict schedule—everything is open for participants. It’s all about the connections made, the synergy shared, and, for the developers attending, the excitement of a hackathon. (A hackathon is an event where people collaborate intensively on engineering projects, often within 24 to 48 hours.) My goal as an artist is to become a bridge between the Bitcoin tech world and the Bitcoin art and design space. Bitcoin empowers us by providing greater (financial) freedom, and with that freedom comes more time to pursue what we truly love—so in a way, you never have to “work” again. 😊 Nostr is a great example of how bubbles 🫧 POP, leading to new collaborations. Without tech, artists wouldn’t have a way to share their work, and without artists, creatives, and plebs, developers would have no one to build for. Both sides are essential for organic growth. This kind of synergy can only thrive in a decentralized system—otherwise, it risks being captured by big corporations. And that single point of failure is one of the biggest challenges we face in the world today. Decentralization is freedom. Events like Sats ‘n’ Facts give us the opportunity to collaborate, create, and contribute to a more decentralized world—one where more people can truly become free. Can’t wait to join the next Sats’n’facts. Maybe Barcelona!?

@ c3b2802b:4850599c

Akteure der Gemeinwohllobby, einer deutschen Bürgerinitiative für Mitbestimmung und Stärkung bzw. Reanimierung der Demokratie und Gewaltenteilung im Land, haben sich die Mühe gemacht, die Wahlprogramme der sieben Bundestagsparteien nach den oben genannten Kriterien zu untersuchen. Zitiert sind in der Tabelle (unten) originale Sätze mit Seitenangabe aus den Parteiprogrammen. Die Links zu den Parteiprogrammen sind dort ebenfalls eingefügt. Zunächst ein kleiner Überblick.

Frieden: Hier finden sich einerseits Positionen, welche auf friedliche Konfliktlösung abzielen, andererseits Positionen, die Beteiligung an aktuellen Kriegshandlungen durch Waffenlieferungen anstreben.

Hier drängt sich die Frage auf, wie es um die Geschichtskenntnis von Menschen steht, welche eine Beteiligung unseres Landes an Konflikten in Europa fordern. Sind die Weltkriege, ist Stalingrad vergessen? Die Millionen Toten, darunter viele unserer wie auch ausländischer Großeltern? Und kennen diese Personen unser Grundgesetz, nach dem das deutsche Volk dem Frieden der Welt dienen möge (Art.1)?

Bargeld: Dessen Abschaffung fordert keine der Parteien, aber einige fordern mit unterschiedlichem Nachdruck dessen Erhalt. Andere geben keine Stellungnahme ab.

Ein naiver Beobachter könnte sich hier fragen, welche Kräfte die Abschaffung des Bargeldes ins Spiel gebracht haben. Eine geplante Abschaffung ist ja Voraussetzung, dessen Erhalt zu fordern. Der Wille des Volkes oder der Völker steht offenkundig nicht hinter dem Plan der Abschaffung, sonst wäre diese ja ein vorzüglicher Punkt, Wählerstimmen aus dem Volk einzuheimsen. Was sagt uns diese Konstellation über den Zustand unserer „Demokratie“? Wer führt die Zügel im Weltgeschehen?

Meinungsfreiheit und „Desinformation“: Hier reicht das Spektrum von bedingungslosem Erhalt der Meinungsfreiheit hin zu mehr oder weniger verklausulierten Forderungen der Einschränkung von Meinungsfreiheit, welche gipfeln in der Androhung, nicht genehme Informationen oder Meinungen als „Desinformation“ zu benennen und strafbar zu machen.

Fassungslos mögen sich hier einige fragen: Was unterscheidet Desinformation von adäquaten Beschreibungen der Wirklichkeit? Lässt sich das nicht nur in einem Klima der Meinungsfreiheit herausfinden? Und wenn man die einschränken will – wer darf dann bestimmen, welche Meinung zugelassen wird und welche nicht?

Hat die Geschichte nicht genügend Beispiele geliefert für Katastrophen infolge der Unterdrückung von Meinungen, welche von der jeweiligen Regierungslinie abweichen (deutsche Geschichte im 20.Jahrhundert, Stalin-Ära, Kulturrevolution)?

Volksabstimmungen auf Bundesebene werden von vier Parteien nicht thematisiert. Das lässt darauf schließen, dass in den Reihen dieser Fraktionen die Funktionstüchtigkeit unserer Demokratie für ausreichend befunden wird. Drei Parteien fordern hingegen Volksentscheide, wie sie in Nachbarländern (z.B. in der Schweiz) üblich sind.

In der Schweiz kann die Bevölkerung direkt über Verfassungs- und Gesetzesfragen entscheiden. Es gibt kein Verfassungsgericht. Was anderswo Verfassungsgerichte tun, obliegt in der Schweiz den 5,5 Millionen Bürgern, die alle drei, vier Monate bei einer Referendumsabstimmung über eine Sachvorlage oder ein Gesetz direkt abstimmen. Details zu diesem seit langer Zeit hervorragend funktionierenden Garant für eine saubere Demokratie finden Sie hier.

WHO: Zwei Parteien fordern Reformen und/oder Austritt aus der WHO (wegen privater Finanzierung / unrühmlicher Rolle in der Corona Zeit), drei Parteien äußern sich nicht zu diesem Punkt. Zwei Parteien planen, sich der WHO unterzuordnen.

Auch hier dürfte sich Fassungslosigkeit gegenüber der letztgenannten Position bei Menschen breitmachen, die den von der WHO diktierten Maßnahmen kritisch gegenüberstehen und deren Argumente mittlerweile breite Bestätigung finden, z.B. in aktuellen Publikationen von Medizinern wie Sucharit Bhakti.

Die komplette Tabelle der hier angedeuteten Positionen mit den ausformulierten Zitaten aus den verglichenen sieben Parteiprogrammen finden Sie hier. Danke, liebe Marianne und Team für Eure Arbeit.

Zuerst veröffentlicht bei Menschlich Wirtschaften

@ 2fb77d26:c47a6ee1

Intensiv! Das trifft es wohl am besten. Denn müsste ich das Jahr 2024 mit einem einzigen Wort charakterisieren, beschriebe kein anderes es besser. Atemlos, anstrengend, aufreibend, überraschend, lehrreich, unterhaltsam, erhebend und beglückend wären Adjektive, die in der Retrospektive ebenfalls Erwähnung finden könnten. Zum Glück. Gibt es doch kaum etwas Frustrierenderes als Eintönigkeit. Als stupide Routinen. So viel Sicherheit diese im wochentäglichen Trott versprechen, so viel Leere generieren sie, betrachtet man das Hamsterrad des Alltags über den Wochenhorizont hinaus. Dementsprechend heiter stimmt es mich, dass die vergangenen zwölf Monate das absolute Gegenteil von Routine waren und ich nun im Rückblick dartun darf, manch ein Husarenstück vollbracht zu haben.

»Damit das Mögliche entsteht, muss immer wieder das Unmögliche versucht werden«, hielt Hermann Hesse dereinst fest.

Diesem Gedanken folgend eröffnete ich das neue Jahr damit, ein ganzes Haus nahezu im Alleingang zu renovieren. Baustelle. Drei Monate lang. Oft bis zu 18 Stunden am Tag. Staub, Lärm, Farbe, Spachtel, Litzen, zerschundene Hände, schmerzende Glieder und verschlissene Kleidung. Von der Silikonfuge im hintersten Eck des Kellers bis zur Montagearbeit unter dem Dachbalken. Ob Steckdosen, Sockelleisten oder Fensterrahmen, Verkabelung, Inneneinrichtung oder Fassadenfarbe – ich hatte mir vorgenommen, dem viele hundert Jahre alten Gemäuer eine Generalüberholung angedeihen zu lassen. Als ich Anfang April unser farbenfroh-freiheitliches Hauswappen neben dem Eingang montierte und unserer neuen Unterkunft damit ihren Namen gab – »Casa Libre« –, war das ein großartiges Gefühl. Denn meinen mehr als ambitionierten Zeitplan hielt selbst ich im Januar noch für relativ utopisch.

Parallel dazu habe ich im Januar meine »Truman Show« fertiggestellt, das Cover überarbeitet und kurzfristig den Vertrieb gewechselt, weil es beim bisherigen Anbieter scheinbar nicht gern gesehen war, dass ich mich in besagtem Buch mit den dunklen Machenschaften von Menschenhändlern und Kinderschändern befasse.

Als die Anthologie im Februar erschien, musste diese natürlich auch medial beworben werden – während gleichzeitig die Vorarbeiten für die Printpublikation GEGENDRUCK Fahrt aufnahmen. Ab April sollten nach wochenlanger Abstinenz endlich auch wieder neue Texte auf meinem Blog erscheinen. Mich juckte es bereits in den Fingern. Unterdes wollte jedoch auch das Leben in der vorherigen Bleibe abgebaut, verpackt und transportiert werden, damit es ab April in den frisch gestrichenen vier Wänden des neuen Zuhauses wieder ausgepackt, aufgebaut und in Betrieb genommen werden konnte. Gut sortierte Bücher- und Plattensammlungen machen das ob ihres schieren Gewichts zu einer ganz besonderen Freude.

Dass ich nach über zehn Jahren Apple-Nutzung die private IT umgestellt, die Cloud gelöscht und Unmengen an Daten migriert, ein neues, überwachungsfreies Smartphone eingerichtet, verschiedene juristische Scharmützel bewältigt, diverse Texte verfasst und eine Vielzahl an Gesprächen geführt habe, an mehreren Konferenzen beteiligt, für verschiedene Projekte Dritter tätig, familiär gut eingespannt, obendrein einem Konzentration fordernden Vollzeitjob mit zunehmenden Verantwortlichkeiten verpflichtet war und diese Aufzählung nur einen kleinen Teil meiner Aktivitäten umfasst, sei dabei nur am Rande erwähnt.

Damit auch während des Sommerlochs keine Langeweile aufkommt, begann ich bereits im Frühjahr 2024 mit der Planung für eine Lese- und Vortragsreise. Gut zwanzig Termine wollten mit den Veranstaltern koordiniert werden. Es galt, Routenplanung, Hotelbuchungen, Reiselogistik, Buchbestand, Kommunikation und eine mit Quellen unterlegte Präsentation zu organisieren. Kaum war all das in trockenen Tüchern, saß ich bereits im Flugzeug nach Kolumbien, wo ich den Juli für Regeneration und Literaturrecherche nutzen wollte. Aber weil Leben nun mal ist, was passiert, während man plant, stellte Unvorhergesehenes die Improvisationsfähigkeit auch dort regelmäßig auf die Probe. Meer und Dschungel taten dennoch ihr Übriges und ließen die Irritationen des zivilisatorischen Alltags in ihrer relativen Belanglosigkeit verblassen.

Drei Wochen nach meiner Rückkehr ins Tessin waren sie allerdings zurück. Die Arbeit holte mich ein, diverse Projekte und ehrenamtliche Engagements warteten auf Input, die nackten Wände der neue Bleibe wollten dekoriert und das neue Tonstudio arrangiert werden – und ehe ich mich versah, ging es auch schon auf Tour. Gut 500 Kilogramm an Büchern und Gepäck waren verladen und mussten circa 6.000 Kilometer durch die Schweiz, Deutschland und Österreich chauffiert werden. Volle Säle und mehrere tausend offenherzige Menschen machten diese Reise zu einem ganz besonderen Erlebnis. Selbst das bis zum Sommer mehrheitlich miserable Wetter meinte es gut mit mir. Denn in den drei Wochen auf Tour regnete es nur ein einziges Mal. Am letzten Tag. Ansonsten waren mir strahlende Sonne, hochsommerliche Temperaturen und das ein oder andere Mittagsschläfchen im Schatten alter Bäume vergönnt.

Als ich der letzten Station meiner Rundreise den Rücken kehrte, verabschiedete sich auch die warme Jahreszeit. Auf der Heimfahrt über die Alpen begegneten mir die Vorboten eines goldenen Oktobers: eine tieferstehende Sonne über den Bergrücken, die goldene Stunde kürzer werdender Tage und der auffrischende Wind am Abend, der die an Farbenpracht zulegenden Wälder der Tessiner Topografie ins Wogen brachte. Wenige Wochen später fiel in den Alpen der erste Schnee. Jetzt schimmern die weißen Gipfel am Horizont in der wärmenden Wintersonne. Und ich sitze wieder an meinem Fenster, lasse den Blick über die geheimnisvoll anmutende Vegetationsdichte des Umlands schweifen und schreibe ein Vorwort. Für Buch Nummer fünf.

Es fällt etwas dünner aus, enthält nicht so viele philosophische Betrachtungen, Zitate und rhetorische Extravaganzen wie seine beiden Vorgänger. Leider. Denn das Sortieren der Gedanken, Quellen und Paragrafen im Rahmen der Textarbeit schält seltene Stunden innerer Ruhe aus den von Pflichten und Routinen dominierten Strukturen des Tages. Gerne hätte ich inmitten der organisatorischen Turbulenzen des vergangenen Jahres häufiger die Zeit gefunden, Beiträge zu verfassen – es gäbe so viel zu sagen, so viel zu dokumentieren, um den volatilen Konturen der Zeitenwende Schärfe zu verleihen. Und das erscheint dieser Tage nötiger denn je. 

Denn da draußen tobt der Wahnsinn. Die Polykrise. Das Chaos – als Steigbügelhalter für das finale Kapitel eines transgenerationalen Klassenkampfes von oben. Für Technokratie und Plattformfaschismus. Doch »auch aus Steinen, die Dir in den Weg gelegt werden, kannst Du etwas Schönes bauen«, bemerkte Erich Kästner. Ohne Kontext und Hintergrundinformationen, die das Individuum in die Lage versetzen, die Schlachtfelder des wilder werdenden Informationskriegs mit einer gewissen Gelassenheit zu überblicken, gerät es jedoch leicht zum Opfer der unerbittlich keifenden Propagandamaschine wertewestlicher Demokratiedarstellung.

Ja, die Truman Show läuft wohl auch im fünften Jahr n. C. (nach Corona) auf allen Kanälen. Auf allen Frequenzen. Und der Homo demens spielt mit suizidaler Leichtfertigkeit seine ihm zugedachte Rolle als irrlichternder Kamikaze-Pilot, der sich in Rage auf das eigene Schiff zu stürzen gedenkt. Die zeitgeistig flexiblen Herrschaftseliten, die sich nun zusehends konservativ gerieren, anstatt Wokeness zu predigen, nesteln derweil hektisch an den letzten Zierpalisaden des digitalen Gulag. Der Rohbau steht ja auch schon eine ganze Weile. Bunt soll es sein – und spätestens 2030 bezugsfertig übergeben werden.

Ob eID, elektronische Patientenakte, digitales Geld, lückenlose Massenüberwachung, algorithmisierte Zensur, Dekarbonisierungsagenda, Enteignungslegislatur, kognitive Kriegsführung im Hosentaschenformat, Geofencing-Gewahrsam, Nanobots oder Frequenzfelder zu deren Kalibrierung: alles einsatzbereit. Schon 1999 veröffentlichte das US-Militär ein Dokument namens »Owning the Weather 2025«, das beschreibt, wie artifizieller Nebel verwendet werden kann, um Nanopartikel in Ballungszentren einzusetzen. Zwei Jahre später schlugen interne Präsentationen der NASA in die gleiche Kerbe. Jetzt ist 2025. Und Berichte über chemikalienhaltigen Nebel, der Krankheitssymptome verursacht, machen die Runde.

Wir sind angekommen. Der »Pakt für die Zukunft« ist geschlossen. Das Blau des Himmels einem persistent milchigen Grau gewichen. Noch am Heiligabend hat die UN-Generalversammlung Kernelemente des entsprechendes Vertragswerkes ratifiziert. Ohne nennenswerten Widerstand. Cloward-Piven-Strategie und Kulturmarxismus sei Dank. Die Revolution von oben war bis dato also ziemlich erfolgreich. Nur Max Mustermann weiß noch nichts vom seinem Glück.

Illuminiert wird die Installation des biometrischen Kontroll-Grids von einem Flammenmeer im Nahen Osten. Von brennenden Krankenhäusern, Kirchen und Kindern. Menschenrechte sind passé. Der beispiellose Genozid in Gaza wird von den NATO-Medien in verachtenswerter Manier schöngeschrieben, während von den USA trainierte, ausstaffierte, radikalislamische Fanatiker Syrien nahezu widerstandslos kapern. Ein Land, das seit Langem auf der To-do-Liste des militärisch-industriellen Komplexes stand. Die fortschreitende Destabilisierung der Region bereitet zionistischen Hardlinern in Tel Aviv und Washington die Bühne für den heiß ersehnten Krieg gegen den Iran.

Europäische Metropolen erodieren, die Bevölkerung verarmt, Reproduktionsraten sinken auf Rekordtiefstände, bei der NATO drängt man auf Eskalation mit Russland, und China intensiviert seine Drohgebärden im Indopazifik. Der militärische Fleischwolf dreht sich immer schneller. Es herrscht dicke Luft. Überall. Man riecht das Schießpulver. Denn das angloamerikanische Imperium ruft zum letzten Gefecht. Es ist – wie ich bereits im Vorspann der Truman Show schrieb – das letzte Aufbäumen eines moribunden Machtapparats. Charakterisiert von zunehmender Gewalt. Auf Kosten aller. Es lässt sich kaum seriös prognostizieren, wann es knallt, oder wie laut – dass es massiver Disruption bedarf, um diese Revolution von oben fristgerecht umzusetzen und speziell Kontinentaleuropa einen hohen Preis für seine willfährige Komplizenschaft bezahlen wird, allerdings schon.

Dabei erkannte schon Romain Rolland, dass »das schlimmste Übel, an dem die Welt leidet, nicht die Stärke der Bösen, sondern die Schwäche der Guten ist«.

Während sich also vor meinem Fenster die Sonne ein letztes Mal für dieses Jahr dem Ringen mit der Dunkelheit ergibt, Palmen, Koniferen und Zypressen vor einem goldgelb, dann violett glühenden Himmel zu schwarzen Scherenschnitten mutieren, erscheinen auch die Umrisse des vor uns liegenden Weges undeutlicher, die Zukunft ungewisser, unmenschlicher – ja unerreichbarer denn je. Als sei sie auf der Flucht.

Und eine Vielzahl derjenigen, die vorgeben, sie zu hehren Zwecken einfangen zu wollen, die Kritiker, Oppositionellen und Widerständler, drehen sich nicht minder schnell im Kreis als ihre Widersacher im leitmedialen Konsenskomplex. Denn im Kern tun beide Lager das Gleiche: Sie debattieren Sinnfetzen und Argumentationsfragmente, die man ihnen aus Orifizen weit oben im Elfenbeinturm oder verspiegelten Panzerglasfenstern polierter Luxuslimousinen vor die Füße wirft. Für viele ist Systemkritik zum profanen Geschäftsmodell geworden. Zum Event. Da bleibt wenig Zeit für echten Widerstand. Oder Charakter. Wer den Medienzirkus zu seinem Broterwerb gemacht hat, ist davon abhängig, dass er sich auszahlt. Und das von alternativmedialen Generika angefixte Publikum will genauso unterhalten werden wie der Zuschauer des Morgenmagazins. Brot und Spiele eben – egal, in welcher Arena die Schaukämpfe veranstaltet werden. Das Publikum schaut stoisch in die Röhre. Oder auf das Display. Hauptsache, das Spektakel lässt sich bequem vom Sofa aus verfolgen.

Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff gab schon vor Jahrzehnten zu verstehen, dass »die Leute gar nicht so dumm sind, wie wir sie durchs Fernsehen noch machen werden«. Er hatte recht. Die Revolution wird also wohl noch eine Weile auf sich warten lassen. Schade. Denn genau dafür engagiere ich mich – für eine friedliche Revolution des Geistes. Für eine zweite Aufklärung. Für eine Zukunft, in der es Liebe, Wahrheit und Selbstbestimmung sind, nach denen meine Mitmenschen streben. Bleibt zu hoffen, dass sich die Ascheschichten, aus welchen sich der Phoenix dieser zweiten Aufklärung irgendwann in den Himmel schwingen muss, vorher nicht allzu hoch auftürmen.

Nun will ich den Leser nicht mit all diesen persönlich gefärbten Annotationen und Gefühlsduseleien belästigen, um mich zu profilieren, sondern weil ein Jahr wie 2024 beweist – zumindest mir selbst –, dass man auch ganz allein Berge versetzen kann. Dass es nicht von äußeren Umständen, Dritten und Kapital abhängt, ob man Ziele erreicht. Dass man selbst der Phoenix sein kann. Jeder von uns. Wo ein Wille, da ein Weg. Aber beschreiten muss man ihn. Auch dann, wenn der Kompass temporär seinen Dienst versagt. Denn Routen entstehen nur dort, wo man sie geht. Und der Kurs lässt sich auch dann noch justieren, wenn man unterwegs ist. »Learning by doing« – nur so kommt man voran. Nur so schafft man Unabhängigkeit und Vertrauen in die eigenen Fähigkeiten. Fehler passieren ja nicht, um uns von etwas abzuhalten, sondern um uns auf den nächsten Versuch vorzubereiten. Sie sind ein Angebot, zu lernen. Und nur, wenn man der Welt ein Angebot machen kann, darf man darauf hoffen, dass es angenommen wird.

Womit wir beim Titel der vorliegenden Publikation angekommen wären: »Hopium« – ein Kompositum aus »Hope«, englisch für Hoffnung, und Opium, dem durch Anritzen seiner unreifen Samenkapseln gewonnenen, getrockneten Milchsaft des Schlafmohns. Ein Rauschmittel. Basis des 1898 von Bayer markenrechtlich geschützten Morphin-Derivates Heroin. »Hopium« ist ein Neologismus – geprägt oder zumindest populär gemacht von James Corbett –, den ich in meinen Texten immer wieder gerne verwende, weil er wie kaum ein anderer auf den Punkt bringt, was Etatisten dazu bewegt, an das System Staat zu glauben: der Rausch der Hoffnung. Darauf, dass der nächste Kanzler, Präsident oder Premierminister es endlich richten wird. Oder diese eine neue Partei.

Der in regelmäßigem Turnus enttäuschte Irrglaube an die Selbstheilungskräfte eines auf Despotie ausgelegten Herrschaftssystems gleicht einer Sucht. Einer sehr destruktiven Sucht. Denn obwohl sich die Bevölkerung zumindest unterbewusst darüber im Klaren sein dürfte, dass sich auch nach dem nächsten Urnengang nichts ändern wird, dass ihr diese in devoter Pose dargebrachte Verehrung von Götzen schadet, dass sie an einer Art Stockholm-Syndrom leidet, wenn sie unterstützt, was sie beraubt, unterdrückt und tötet, tut sie es wieder. Immer wieder.

Aldous Huxley wusste, wovon er sprach, als er notierte, dass »der Glaube an eine größere und bessere Zukunft einer der mächtigsten Feinde gegenwärtiger Freiheit ist«.

Nun ist Hoffnung aber nicht per se negativ – und Hopium somit als durchaus ambivalenter Begriff zu werten. Treibt die Hoffnung doch auch mich dazu, immer wieder Wege zu suchen, um Menschen zu erreichen, Konstruktives beizutragen und die Welt in meinem Einflussbereich ein wenig besser zu machen. Sie besser informiert zu hinterlassen. Sähe ich unsere Situation als chancenlos, hätte ich den Glauben an Liebe und Wahrheit, oder die Hoffnung auf bessere Zeiten aufgegeben, gäbe es dieses Buch nicht.

Der Unterschied zwischen einem Etatisten und mir besteht darin, dass ich nicht darauf hoffe und warte, dass mir jemand diese Arbeit abnimmt. Ich delegiere nicht, gebe die Verantwortung für mein Leben nicht aus der Hand, sondern nehme sie wahr. Werde aktiv. Mein Glaube an »Volksvertreter«, Erlöser und Idole erlosch vor über drei Jahrzehnten. Seitdem verlasse ich mich nur noch auf eine einzige Person – mich selbst – und gebe mir redlich Mühe, mich dabei nicht zu enttäuschen, sondern zu beeindrucken.

Ob andere Menschen gut finden, was ich mit meiner knapp bemessenen Lebenszeit anstelle, ist mir egal. Es ist mein Leben. Ich habe nur eines. Zumindest aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach. Und der Einzige, dem es gefallen muss, bin ich.

»Die einen kennen mich, die anderen können mich«, wie Le Cercle-Gründungsmitglied Konrad Adenauer treffend polterte. Das ist Freiheit. Und die steht nirgends zur Wahl. Wird nicht angeboten. Sie hängt nicht von äußeren Umständen ab, wird nicht gewährt oder erkämpft. Frei wird man nicht – frei ist man. Oder eben nicht.

Ich hoffe – das ist meine tägliche Dosis »Hopium« –, dass meine Arbeit anderen Menschen hilft, das zu erkennen.

Denn das Versäumnis von gestern ist das täglich Brot von morgen, die Gegenwart die Vergangenheit der Zukunft. Und es ist an uns, etwas daraus zu machen. »Man muss die Zukunft abwarten und die Gegenwart genießen – oder ertragen«, soll Wilhelm von Humboldt gesagt haben. Ich habe mich intuitiv immer für den Genuss entschieden und bin überzeugt, dass dieser Ansatz eine gute Ausgangsposition ist, um dem in absehbarer Zeit Orkanstärke erreichenden Sturm der Zeit die Stirn zu bieten.

Frei nach Edward Snowden: »Sei nicht ängstlich – sondern vorbereitet«.

Weiter geht's im Buch ...

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/882402

@ 7ed7d5c3:6927e200

There was a time when we dared not rustle a whisper. But now we write and read samizdat and, congregating in the smoking rooms of research institutes, heartily complain to each other of all they are muddling up, of all they are dragging us into! There’s that unnecessary bravado around our ventures into space, against the backdrop of ruin and poverty at home; and the buttressing of distant savage regimes; and the kindling of civil wars; and the ill-thought-out cultivation of Mao Zedong (at our expense to boot)—in the end we’ll be the ones sent out against him, and we’ll have to go, what other option will there be? And they put whomever they want on trial, and brand the healthy as mentally ill—and it is always “they,” while we are—helpless.

We are approaching the brink; already a universal spiritual demise is upon us; a physical one is about to flare up and engulf us and our children, while we continue to smile sheepishly and babble:

“But what can we do to stop it? We haven’t the strength.”

We have so hopelessly ceded our humanity that for the modest handouts of today we are ready to surrender up all principles, our soul, all the labors of our ancestors, all the prospects of our descendants—anything to avoid disrupting our meager existence. We have lost our strength, our pride, our passion. We do not even fear a common nuclear death, do not fear a third world war (perhaps we’ll hide away in some crevice), but fear only to take a civic stance! We hope only not to stray from the herd, not to set out on our own, and risk suddenly having to make do without the white bread, the hot water heater, a Moscow residency permit.

We have internalized well the lessons drummed into us by the state; we are forever content and comfortable with its premise: we cannot escape the environment, the social conditions; they shape us, “being determines consciousness.” What have we to do with this? We can do nothing.

But we can do—everything!—even if we comfort and lie to ourselves that this is not so. It is not “they” who are guilty of everything, but we ourselves, only we!

Some will counter: But really, there is nothing to be done! Our mouths are gagged, no one listens to us, no one asks us. How can we make them listen to us?

To make them reconsider—is impossible.

The natural thing would be simply not to reelect them, but there are no re-elections in our country.

In the West they have strikes, protest marches, but we are too cowed, too scared: How does one just give up one’s job, just go out onto the street?

All the other fateful means resorted to over the last century of Russia’s bitter history are even less fitting for us today—true, let’s not fall back on them! Today, when all the axes have hewn what they hacked, when all that was sown has borne fruit, we can see how lost, how drugged were those conceited youths who sought, through terror, bloody uprising, and civil war, to make the country just and content. No thank you, fathers of enlightenment! We now know that the vileness of the means begets the vileness of the result. Let our hands be clean!

So has the circle closed? So is there indeed no way out? So the only thing left to do is wait inertly: What if something just happens by itself?

But it will never come unstuck by itself, if we all, every day, continue to acknowledge, glorify, and strengthen it, if we do not, at the least, recoil from its most vulnerable point.

From lies.

When violence bursts onto the peaceful human condition, its face is flush with self-assurance, it displays on its banner and proclaims: “I am Violence! Make way, step aside, I will crush you!” But violence ages swiftly, a few years pass—and it is no longer sure of itself. To prop itself up, to appear decent, it will without fail call forth its ally—Lies. For violence has nothing to cover itself with but lies, and lies can only persist through violence. And it is not every day and not on every shoulder that violence brings down its heavy hand: It demands of us only a submission to lies, a daily participation in deceit—and this suffices as our fealty.

And therein we find, neglected by us, the simplest, the most accessible key to our liberation: a personal nonparticipation in lies! Even if all is covered by lies, even if all is under their rule, let us resist in the smallest way: Let their rule hold not through me!

And this is the way to break out of the imaginary encirclement of our inertness, the easiest way for us and the most devastating for the lies. For when people renounce lies, lies simply cease to exist. Like parasites, they can only survive when attached to a person.

We are not called upon to step out onto the square and shout out the truth, to say out loud what we think—this is scary, we are not ready. But let us at least refuse to say what we do not think!

This is the way, then, the easiest and most accessible for us given our deep-seated organic cowardice, much easier than (it’s scary even to utter the words) civil disobedience à la Gandhi.

Our way must be: Never knowingly support lies! Having understood where the lies begin (and many see this line differently)—step back from that gangrenous edge! Let us not glue back the flaking scales of the Ideology, not gather back its crumbling bones, nor patch together its decomposing garb, and we will be amazed how swiftly and helplessly the lies will fall away, and that which is destined to be naked will be exposed as such to the world.

And thus, overcoming our timidity, let each man choose: Will he remain a witting servant of the lies (needless to say, not due to natural predisposition, but in order to provide a living for the family, to rear the children in the spirit of lies!), or has the time come for him to stand straight as an honest man, worthy of the respect of his children and contemporaries? And from that day onward he:

· Will not write, sign, nor publish in any way, a single line distorting, so far as he can see, the truth;

· Will not utter such a line in private or in public conversation, nor read it from a crib sheet, nor speak it in the role of educator, canvasser, teacher, actor;

· Will not in painting, sculpture, photograph, technology, or music depict, support, or broadcast a single false thought, a single distortion of the truth as he discerns it;

· Will not cite in writing or in speech a single “guiding” quote for gratification, insurance, for his success at work, unless he fully shares the cited thought and believes that it fits the context precisely;

· Will not be forced to a demonstration or a rally if it runs counter to his desire and his will; will not take up and raise a banner or slogan in which he does not fully believe;

· Will not raise a hand in vote for a proposal which he does not sincerely support; will not vote openly or in secret ballot for a candidate whom he deems dubious or unworthy;

· Will not be impelled to a meeting where a forced and distorted discussion is expected to take place;

· Will at once walk out from a session, meeting, lecture, play, or film as soon as he hears the speaker utter a lie, ideological drivel, or shameless propaganda;

· Will not subscribe to, nor buy in retail, a newspaper or journal that distorts or hides the underlying facts.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the possible and necessary ways of evading lies. But he who begins to cleanse himself will, with a cleansed eye, easily discern yet other opportunities.

Yes, at first it will not be fair. Someone will have to temporarily lose his job. For the young who seek to live by truth, this will at first severely complicate life, for their tests and quizzes, too, are stuffed with lies, and so choices will have to be made. But there is no loophole left for anyone who seeks to be honest: Not even for a day, not even in the safest technical occupations can he avoid even a single one of the listed choices—to be made in favor of either truth or lies, in favor of spiritual independence or spiritual servility. And as for him who lacks the courage to defend even his own soul: Let him not brag of his progressive views, boast of his status as an academician or a recognized artist, a distinguished citizen or general. Let him say to himself plainly: I am cattle, I am a coward, I seek only warmth and to eat my fill.

For us, who have grown staid over time, even this most moderate path of resistance will be not be easy to set out upon. But how much easier it is than self-immolation or even a hunger strike: Flames will not engulf your body, your eyes will not pop out from the heat, and your family will always have at least a piece of black bread to wash down with a glass of clear water.

Betrayed and deceived by us, did not a great European people—the Czechoslovaks—show us how one can stand down the tanks with bared chest alone, as long as inside it beats a worthy heart?

It will not be an easy path, perhaps, but it is the easiest among those that lie before us. Not an easy choice for the body, but the only one for the soul. No, not an easy path, but then we already have among us people, dozens even, who have for years abided by all these rules, who live by the truth.

And so: We need not be the first to set out on this path, Ours is but to join! The more of us set out together, the thicker our ranks, the easier and shorter will this path be for us all! If we become thousands—they will not cope, they will be unable to touch us. If we will grow to tens of thousands—we will not recognize our country!

But if we shrink away, then let us cease complaining that someone does not let us draw breath—we do it to ourselves! Let us then cower and hunker down, while our comrades the biologists bring closer the day when our thoughts can be read and our genes altered.

And if from this also we shrink away, then we are worthless, hopeless, and it is of us that Pushkin asks with scorn:

Why offer herds their liberation? 
............................. Their heritage each generation
The yoke with jingles, and the whip.

February 12, 1974

—translated from the Russian by Yermolai Solzhenitsyn

@ c48e29f0:26e14c11

titcoin

Rename Bitcoin to "Titcoin" and sats to "tits."

Redefinition of Bitcoin into “Titcoin” and redefinition of sats into “tits” using that as the Unit Base of Denomination.

TitHub repository available here: https://github.com/WalkerAmerica/titcoin

Abstract

This BIP proposes redefining the commonly recognized "bitcoin" and “sats” units so that what was previously known “bitcoin” becomes “titcoin” and what was previously known as “sats,” the smallest indivisible unit, becomes “tits.” The “Bitcoin” Network will be renamed to the “Titcoin” Network. Under this proposal, one tit is defined as that smallest unit, eliminating the need for decimal places, and 100,000,000 tits is defined as a titcoin. By making tits the standard measure, this BIP aims to simplify user comprehension, reduce confusion, and align on-chain values directly with their displayed representation.

Also, by aligning Bitcoin's brand with live-giving tits, we will supercharge adoption and inject humor into financial sovereignty. After all, every baby came into this world sucking on tits.

Under this BIP: - Internally, the smallest indivisible unit remains unchanged. - With this proposal, "1 tit" equals that smallest unit. - What was previously referred to as "1 BTC" now corresponds to 100 million tits. - Satoshis are permanently eliminated.

Addressing the “Buttcoin” BIP:

Not much time need be wasted addressing the catastrophic “Button” BIP proposed by Rockstar Dev, but two points bear emphasizing:

1. “Butts” is shitcoin-adjacent terminology (where does shit come from? Exactly…)
2. Butts give you poop. Tits give you milk.

Case closed.

Motivation

Bitcoin's branding is boring. Worse yet, critics think Bitcoin is already "a joke," so let’s own it, let's: Make Bitcoin Funny Again. Laughter is universal, irresistible, and much cheaper than marketing agencies and product roadmaps. Besides, basically everyone either has tits or likes tits. Additionally, renaming Bitcoin as “Titcoin” makes the common trope of “Bitcoin BROS” sound even more stupid. “Titcoin Bros”? Get a life, man…

By rebranding Bitcoin to Titcoin (.)(.), we achieve several key goals:

1. Haters Become Users: People like tits. Tits give nourishment to babies. They can stack tits instead of just making fun of them. Adoption skyrockets as trolls turn into tit hodlers.

2. Memetic Power: The word “tit” is both universally funny and ageless. “Send me 10 tits” is instantly iconic. “Nice tits” is a great compliment. “That’s gonna cost you a pair of tits” is hilarious. Try saying that without smiling. You can’t. (.)(.)

3. Simplifying Denominations: Decimals are a blight on humanity. 0.00000001 BTC? Kill it. Under the Titcoin Standard:

• 1 Titcoin = 100,000,000 tits.
• Satoshis are gone. Forever. If you see Satoshi on the road, kill him - just like in Zen, where the teacher becomes the barrier. We transcend satoshis and achieve financial enlightenment.

4. Aligning with the Ledger: Bitcoin’s base unit was always integers, but now they’re funny integers. No more fractions, decimals, or math anxiety. Just tits. (.)(.)

5. Adoption via Humor: Titcoin lowers Bitcoin's intimidation factor. Newbies will feel at ease buying tits instead of serious-sounding fractions of BTC. Tits > Decimals.

Specification

Terminology Redefinitions: - "Bitcoin" → "Titcoin" (.)(.) - "BTC" → "TIT" (ISO-friendly and hilarious) - Satoshis → Gone. Eliminated. Defeated.

Example:

• Old: "I’ll send you 0.00010000 BTC."
• New: "I’ll send you 10,000 tits (.)(.)."

Wallet balances would display as:

• "You have 1,000,000 tits" instead of some boring fractional BTC amount.

Adoption Strategy

1. Memes First: Flood Twitter, Reddit, and Telegram with memes. Start with “Hodl your tits” and “Stack tits”.

2. Titcoin Podcast: There is already a podcast called “Titcoin Podcast” (which many people are saying is the fastest-growing Bitcoin (Titcoin) podcast in the world). Titcoin Podcast will be a driving force in the adoption of the Titcoin Standard. (.)(.)

Nostr: https://primal.net/titcoin

X: https://x.com/titcoinpodcast

Web: http://titcoin.org

3. Kill Satoshis: Developers MUST remove all references to satoshis. Replace satoshis in GUIs, APIs, and block explorers with tits. Satoshis were a stepping stone - it’s time to let go.

4. Emoji Standardization: Use the (.)(.) emoji universally to denote tits.

Rationale

1. Usability & Clarity: "Decimals are for nerds. Tits are for everyone." A common currency for humans should be easy to use, funny, and integer-based.

2. Appealing to Critics: Bitcoin has endured years of attacks from all sides. By adopting the Titcoin Standard, we turn anyone who doesn’t like Titcoin into a tit-hating bigot. It’s an elegant financial counterattack. Additionally, everyone always says “we need more women in Bitcoin,” and now women will feel more represented by Titcoin, because they have tits. (.)(.)

3. Transcending Satoshis: Satoshis served us well, but their time is over. True enlightenment comes when we abandon decimals, satoshis, and arbitrary denominations. If you meet Satoshi on the road, kill him.

4. Memetic Durability: Everyone loves a good tit joke. It’s timeless.

Backward Compatibility

There is no backward compatibility because Titcoin is the future. Applications must hard fork their UI to replace all references to Bitcoin and BTC with Titcoin and TIT.

Implementation Timeline

• Phase 1 (1 month): Meme dissemination. Every wallet dev team is required to add (.)(.) emoji support.
• Phase 2 (3 months): Exchanges rebrand BTC tickers to tit. Nostr zaps tits into hyperspace.
• Phase 3 (6 months): Michael Saylor announces MicroStrategy now stacked 10 trillion tits, declaring it the superior currency. ETFs follow suit, ensuring Wall Street hodls tits en masse. Banks allow tit transfers via SWIFT.

Test Vectors

• Old: 1.00000000 BTC → New: 100,000,000 tits (.)(.)
• Old: 0.00000001 BTC → New: 1 tit (.)(.)
• Old: 0.001 BTC → New: 100,000 tits (.)(.)

Future-Proofing

Tits ensure we have infinite memes for infinite money.

Example Phrases for the Future: - "Better hodl on to your tits." - "This is the Titcoin Standard." - "I’m sending you tits." - “I’ve never seen so many tits!” - “That’s the million tit question.” - “We need more women in Titcoin.” - “I’m a Titcoin Maximalist.” - “Nice tits!” - “I love tits.”

Conclusion

By renaming Bitcoin to Titcoin and adopting a whole-number unit display, we align memetic dominance with financial sovereignty. Haters become adopters. Tits become wealth. And the world gets a little bit funnier. (.)(.)

Let’s hodl our tits and watch the world follow.

Copyright:

This BIP is licensed under CC-🫱(.)(.)🫲-1.0 and the eternal blessing of tit (.)(.) memes.

@ d360efec:14907b5f

(1) TF Day (รายวัน): - แนวโน้ม: ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) ชัดเจน - SMC: HH และ HL ต่อเนื่อง - แนวรับ: EMA 50 (ประมาณ 90,000), EMA 200 (ประมาณ 80,000) - แนวต้าน: 109,998.9 (High เดิม) - Money Flow (LuxAlgo): - ส่วนใหญ่เป็นสีเขียว: แสดงว่าโดยรวมแล้วแรงซื้อยังมีอิทธิพลเหนือกว่า - มีสีแดงแทรกบ้าง: บ่งบอกว่ามีการขายทำกำไรออกมาบ้าง แต่ไม่มากพอที่จะเปลี่ยนแนวโน้มหลัก - มีสีเขียวแท่งใหญ่ต่อเนื่อง: เกิดขึ้นในช่วงที่ราคามีการปรับตัวขึ้นอย่างมีนัยยะสำคัญ สรุป: ขาขึ้นแข็งแกร่ง Buy on Dip ที่ EMA 50/200

(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง): - แนวโน้ม: ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) ชัดเจน - SMC: HH และ HL, มี Pullback แต่ไม่เสียโครงสร้าง - แนวรับ: EMA 50, EMA 200, Equilibrium (ประมาณ 98,000) - แนวต้าน: 109,998.9 - Money Flow (LuxAlgo): แรงซื้อยังคงมีมากกว่า, มีขายทำกำไรบ้าง สรุป: ขาขึ้น พักตัวเพื่อไปต่อ Buy on Dip

(3) TF15 (15 นาที): - แนวโน้ม: ขาขึ้น (Uptrend) แต่แกว่งตัวในกรอบ (Consolidation) - SMC: Accumulation, มี EQH/EQL, CHoCH ทั้งบนและล่าง - แนวรับ: 97,000-97,200, EMA, 96,800 - แนวต้าน: 98,000-98,378.4 - Money Flow (LuxAlgo): แรงซื้อยังคงมี แต่มีแรงขายทำกำไร สรุป: ขาขึ้นระยะสั้น แต่ผันผวน Range Trading หรือ Breakout Trading (เน้น Buy)

กลยุทธ์: 1.Buy on Dip (หลัก): - TF Day: รอใกล้ EMA 50/200 - TF4H: รอใกล้ EMA หรือ Equilibrium

2.Breakout (TF15): รอ Breakout 98,000-98,378.4 พร้อม Volume

3.Range (TF15, เสี่ยง): เล่นสั้นในกรอบ 97,000-98,000 (ระวัง False Breakout)

4.ไม่ Short: ขัดกับแนวโน้มหลัก

ข้อควรระวัง: - ความผันผวน: ตลาดคริปโตฯ มีความผันผวนสูง - ข่าวสาร/ปัจจัยพื้นฐาน: ติดตามข่าวสารอย่างใกล้ชิด - Stop Loss: จำเป็นต้องตั้ง Stop Loss ทุกครั้งที่เข้าเทรด - TF15: ระวัง False Breakout และ Volume ที่ไม่สอดคล้อง

Money Flow (LuxAlgo) สรุป: - TF Day: ยืนยันแนวโน้มขาขึ้นโดยรวม แรงซื้อยังมีอิทธิพล - TF4H: ยืนยันแนวโน้มขาขึ้น แรงซื้อยังคงมีมากกว่า - TF15: แรงซื้อยังมี แต่เริ่มมีแรงขายทำกำไร ทำให้ราคาแกว่งตัว

คำแนะนำเพิ่มเติม: - Volume: ควรให้ความสำคัญกับ Volume ในการ Breakout หรือ Breakout - Risk Management: บริหารความเสี่ยงให้ดี อย่า Overtrade

Disclaimer: การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ d360efec:14907b5f

(1) TF Day (รายวัน): - แนวโน้ม: เริ่มเป็นขาขึ้น (Early Uptrend) หลังจาก Breakout EMA 50 - SMC: BOS ด้านบน (Breakout EMA 50), เริ่มเห็น HH/HL (แต่ยังไม่ชัดเจนเท่า BTC) - แนวรับ: EMA 50 (1.5615), EMA 200 (1.0857), 0.7289-0.8479 - แนวต้าน: 2.4450 (High ล่าสุด), 3.00-3.20 (EQH), 3.4049 (High ก่อนหน้า) - Money Flow (LuxAlgo): แรงซื้อแข็งแกร่ง ชนะแรงขายชัดเจน - Volume Profile: หนาแน่นที่ EMA 50 - กลยุทธ์: Buy on Dip (ความเสี่ยงปานกลาง) หรือรอ Breakout 2.4450

(2) TF4H (4 ชั่วโมง): - แนวโน้ม: ขาขึ้น (ระยะกลาง), พักตัว (ระยะสั้น) - SMC: BOS ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น HH/HL, มี EQH (3.00-3.20) และ EQL (2.10-2.20) - แนวรับ: EMA 50 (2.20), EMA 200 (1.80), 2.10-2.20 (EQL), 1.7820 - แนวต้าน: 2.4427, 3.00-3.20 (EQH), 3.4049 - Money Flow (LuxAlgo): แรงซื้อยังมี แต่เริ่มอ่อนแรงลง มีขายทำกำไร - Volume Profile: หนาแน่นที่ EMA 50 - กลยุทธ์: Buy on Dip ใกล้ EMA 50 หรือ EQL, รอ Breakout 2.4427

(3) TF15 (15 นาที): - แนวโน้ม: แกว่งตัวในกรอบ (Sideways) - SMC: Accumulation/Distribution, EQH (2.44-2.48), EQL (2.40-2.42), CHoCH ทั้งบนและล่าง - แนวรับ: 2.40-2.42 (EQL, EMA), Equilibrium (2.38) - แนวต้าน: 2.44-2.48 (EQH), 2.50 - Money Flow (LuxAlgo): แรงซื้อและแรงขายพอๆ กัน, Volume ไม่สูง - Volume Profile: หนาแน่นที่ 2.40-2.42 - กลยุทธ์: Range Trading (เสี่ยง) หรือ Breakout Trading (เน้น Buy)

สรุปกลยุทธ์สำหรับ XRPUSDT: 1.Buy on Dip (กลยุทธ์หลัก): - TF Day: รอราคาย่อตัวลงมาใกล้ EMA 50 (ประมาณ 1.56) หรือ EMA 200 (ประมาณ 1.08) - TF4H: รอราคาย่อตัวลงมาใกล้ EMA 50 (ประมาณ 2.20) หรือบริเวณ EQL (2.10-2.20)

2.Breakout Trading (TF15, เสี่ยงน้อยกว่า Range Trading): - รอราคา Breakout แนวต้าน 2.44-2.48 (EQH ใน TF15) อย่างแข็งแกร่ง พร้อม Volume ยืนยัน แล้วค่อยพิจารณา Buy Stop

3.Range Trading (TF15, ความเสี่ยงสูง): - เล่นสั้นๆ ในกรอบ 2.40-2.48 (ซื้อแนวรับ-ขายแนวต้าน) ต้องระวัง False Breakout อย่างมาก

4.ไม่แนะนำให้ Short: - ขัดกับแนวโน้มหลักใน TF Day และ TF4H รวมถึง Money Flow ที่แสดงแรงซื้อ

ข้อควรระวัง: - ความผันผวน: XRP มีความผันผวนสูง - ข่าวสาร: ติดตามข่าวสารเกี่ยวกับ Ripple และคดีความกับ SEC - False Breakout (TF15): ระวังการ Breakout หลอก โดยเฉพาะในสภาวะที่ Volume ไม่สูง - Stop Loss: ต้องตั้ง Stop Loss ทุกครั้งที่เข้าเทรด เพื่อจำกัดความเสี่ยง

คำแนะนำ: - XRP ยังตามหลัง BTC การเข้าซื้อควรรอสัญญาณที่ชัดเจน - TF Day และ TF4H เป็นตัวกำหนดแนวโน้มหลัก - TF15 ใช้สำหรับหาจังหวะเข้า-ออกระยะสั้น - บริหารความเสี่ยง (Risk Management) เป็นสิ่งสำคัญที่สุด

Disclaimer: การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ d360efec:14907b5f

ภาพรวม LUNCUSDT:

LUNCUSDT กำลังแสดงสัญญาณของการฟื้นตัว (Potential Reversal) จากแนวโน้มขาลงระยะยาว โดยมีปัจจัยสนับสนุนหลักคือการ Breakout EMA 50 ใน TF Day และการเกิด Golden Cross (EMA 50 ตัด EMA 200 ขึ้น) อย่างไรก็ตาม การฟื้นตัวนี้ยังอยู่ในช่วงเริ่มต้น และยังคงมีความผันผวนและแรงขายทำกำไรอยู่บ้าง

แนวโน้ม: - TF Day: แนวโน้มขาขึ้น (Early Stage) – บ่งชี้ถึงโอกาสในการกลับตัวระยะยาว - TF4H: แนวโน้มขาขึ้น (ระยะกลาง) – ยืนยันแนวโน้มขาขึ้น แต่มีการพักตัวระยะสั้น - TF15: แนวโน้มแกว่งตัวขึ้น (Sideways Up) – แสดงถึงการต่อสู้ระหว่างแรงซื้อและแรงขายในระยะสั้น

โครงสร้างราคา (SMC): - TF Day: มี Break of Structure (BOS) ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น Higher Highs (HH) และ Higher Lows (HL) - TF4H: มี BOS ด้านบน, เริ่มเห็น HH/HL, มี Equal Highs (EQH) เป็นแนวต้าน - TF15: มี BOS ด้านบน, มี Change of Character (CHoCH) ด้านบน, มี EQH และ Equal Lows (EQL)

Money Flow (LuxAlgo): - TF Day: แรงซื้อแข็งแกร่งอย่างชัดเจน - TF4H: แรงซื้อและแรงขายค่อนข้างสมดุล มีการขายทำกำไร - TF15: แรงซื้อและแรงขายพอๆ กัน แต่แรงซื้อเริ่มกลับเข้ามา

แนวรับ-แนวต้านสำคัญ: - Timeframe Day - แนวรับ EMA 50 (0.00010000), EMA 200 (0.00008000), 0.00006000-0.00007000 - แนวต้าน 0.00017953 (High ล่าสุด), 0.00014000 (Volume Profile) - Timeframe 4H - แนวรับ EMA 50 (0.00007000), EMA 200 (0.00008000), Equilibrium (0.00008500), 0.00006000 - แนวต้าน 0.00008132 (High ล่าสุด), 0.00010000 (EQH), 0.00010755 (High ก่อนหน้า) - Timeframe 15m - แนวรับ EMA 50, EMA 200, 0.00007300-0.00007400, Equilibrium (0.00007100) - แนวต้าน 0.00007636 (High ล่าสุด), EQH (0.00007600)

กลยุทธ์: 1.Buy on Dip (กลยุทธ์หลัก): - Day/4H: รอราคาย่อตัวลงมาใกล้แนวรับสำคัญ (EMA, Equilibrium) เป็นจุดที่น่าสนใจในการเข้าซื้อ โดยพิจารณาจากสัญญาณอื่นๆ ประกอบ (เช่น Volume, Candlestick Patterns) 2.Breakout Trading: - Day: รอ Breakout แนวต้าน 0.00014000 หรือ 0.00017953 พร้อม Volume ยืนยัน - 15: รอ Breakout แนวต้าน 0.00007636 พร้อม Volume ยืนยัน 3.Range Trading (TF15, ความเสี่ยงสูง): ไม่แนะนำสำหรับมือใหม่ เล่นสั้นๆ ในกรอบแนวรับ-แนวต้านของ TF15 (ต้องระวัง False Breakout อย่างมาก) 4.ไม่แนะนำให้ Short: ขัดกับสัญญาณการกลับตัวใน TF Day และ 4H

ข้อควรระวัง: - LUNC เป็นเหรียญ High Risk: มีความผันผวนสูงมาก - ข่าวสาร: ติดตามข่าวสารเกี่ยวกับ Terra Luna Classic อย่างใกล้ชิด - Stop Loss: ต้องตั้ง Stop Loss ทุกครั้งที่เข้าเทรด เพื่อจำกัดความเสี่ยง

คำแนะนำ: - LUNC มีความเสี่ยงสูงกว่า BTC และ XRP - ควรกระจายความเสี่ยง (Diversification) อย่าลงทุนใน LUNC เพียงอย่างเดียว - ลงทุนในสัดส่วนที่น้อย (เมื่อเทียบกับพอร์ตการลงทุนทั้งหมด) - ถ้าไม่แน่ใจ ให้รอสัญญาณที่ชัดเจนกว่านี้ก่อน (เช่น การ Breakout แนวต้านสำคัญพร้อม Volume)

Disclaimer: การวิเคราะห์นี้เป็นเพียงความคิดเห็นส่วนตัว ไม่ถือเป็นคำแนะนำในการลงทุน ผู้ลงทุนควรศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมและตัดสินใจด้วยความรอบคอบ

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Here are today's picks using my proprietary betting strategy at Freebitcoin. For details about what Risk Balanced Odds Arbitrage is and why it works see https://stacker.news/items/342765/r/Undisciplined.

For a hypothetical 1k-ish wager on each match, distribute your sats as follows:

| Outcome 1 | Outcome 2 | Outcome 3 | Bet 1 | Bet 2 | Bet 3 | |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------|-------|-------| | Juventus| Inter Milan| Draw | 294| 435| 303| | Tottenham| Man United| Draw | 406| 357| 266| | Liverpool| Wolves| Draw | 833| 67| 125| | Valladolid| Sevilla| Draw | 222| 500| 289| | Real Betis| Real Sociedad| Draw | 393| 321| 313| | Osasuna| Real Madrid| Draw | 174| 619| 227| | Barcelona| Rayo Vallecano| Draw | 818| 80| 133| | Atletico Madrid| Celta Vigo| Draw | 692| 118| 217|

I'll be curious to see how @Coinsreporter does with his modified RBOA.

On the most recently completed sets of RBOA, I lost 700 sats on about 50k wagered. I'm not sure if that's just normal variance or if it's due to matches not being posted as far in advance, which reduces the early mover bonus.

I still haven't precisely identified where the threshold is, but it might be worth skipping any of these with a "time weight multiplier" lower than 90.

---

A note of caution about Freebitcoin: they recorded the wrong outcome for last week's Bills vs Ravens game and as of yet have not corrected it. I recall one other instance of something similar happening, so proceed with caution.

This RBOA strategy is largely immune from that problem, but be aware of it when just betting on one outcome.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/883708

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

Christmas season hasn't actually started, yet, in Roman #Catholic Germany. We're in Advent until the evening of the 24th of December, at which point Christmas begins (with the Nativity, at Vespers), and continues on for 40 days until Mariä Lichtmess (Presentation of Christ in the temple) on February 2nd.

It's 40 days because that's how long the post-partum isolation is, before women were allowed back into the temple (after a ritual cleansing).

That is the day when we put away all of the Christmas decorations and bless the candles, for the next year. (Hence, the British name "Candlemas".) It used to also be when household staff would get paid their cash wages and could change employer. And it is the day precisely in the middle of winter.

Between Christmas Eve and Candlemas are many celebrations, concluding with the Twelfth Night called Epiphany or Theophany. This is the day some Orthodox celebrate Christ's baptism, so traditions rotate around blessing of waters.

The Monday after Epiphany was the start of the farming season, in England, so that Sunday all of the ploughs were blessed, but the practice has largely died out.

Our local tradition is for the altar servers to dress as the wise men and go door-to-door, carrying their star and looking for the Baby Jesus, who is rumored to be lying in a manger.

They collect cash gifts and chocolates, along the way, and leave the generous their powerful blessing, written over the door. The famous 20 * C + M + B * 25 blessing means "Christus mansionem benedicat" (Christ, bless this house), or "Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar" (the names of the three kings), depending upon who you ask.

They offer the cash to the Baby Jesus (once they find him in the church's Nativity scene), but eat the sweets, themselves. It is one of the biggest donation-collections in the world, called the "Sternsinger" (star singers). The money goes from the German children, to help children elsewhere, and they collect around €45 million in cash and coins, every year.

As an interesting aside:

The American "groundhog day", derives from one of the old farmers' sayings about Candlemas, brought over by the Pennsylvania Dutch. It says, that if the badger comes out of his hole and sees his shadow, then it'll remain cold for 4 more weeks. When they moved to the USA, they didn't have any badgers around, so they switched to groundhogs, as they also hibernate in winter.

@ d058ffb7:70ed2330

Je publie un ancien texte portant sur Nostr. Auparavant hébergé sur ghost, je teste maintetant la capacité de Nostr d'hébergé de long format.

---

Un point tournant vient d'être franchi. Damus est officiellement disponible sur le App Store de Apple, fini le mode bêta. Mais en quoi c'est un point tournant ? Apple joue un rôle important de gatekeeper. Chaque application qui veut accéder à son énorme écosystème doit passer une révision diligente, parfois excessive, avant d'être accessible à tous. Après plusieurs tentatives, le principal développeur de Damus, une application dont le code source ouvert est disponible sur github, a finalement reçu son acceptation.

Mais encore, pourquoi est-ce un point tournant ? Et bien, Damus est la principale application pour accéder aux échanges du protocole Nostr. Ce protocole change le paradigme des réseaux sociaux et réduit pratiquement à néant les capacités de censure par une autorité, que ce soit Apple, le gouvernement américain ou un régime autoritaire. Déjà, après quelques heures, on peut voir une affluence chinoise à la recherche de liberté de parole. Ainsi, en permettant l'accès à cette application, Apple permet à des millions de personnes d'échanger des idées comme jamais auparavant. Mais en quoi c'est différent ? Les 3 éléments suivants expliquent grandement la différence :

Identification par pairs clé publique / clé privée

Cette stratégie permet de partir avec un haut niveau d'anonymisation. Au besoin, certaines fonctionnalités ou applications pourront venir ajouter certains concepts tel que la vérification d'humanité - la proposition NIP-05 va dans ce sens - ou encore la réputation.

Evidemment, ca implique d'autres avantages, surtout dans des pays déjà sous haute surveillance.

Décentralisation via l'utilisation de relais intermédiaires

Cette architecture assure une résilience du réseau. Chaque relai peut décider l'information qu'il diffuse. Si un relai décide de censurer, un autre peut prendre le relai. Il est possible qu'on voit des relais apparaitre par communauté / région afin d'assurer une diffusion optimale des messages.

La mise en place de relais entraine cependant des coûts, principalement matériel et télécommunications / bande passante. Différentes stratégies sont en cours d'expérimentation, notamment via l'utilisation du réseau lightning, qui pourrait charger un frais minime lors d'échange de bitcoin.

Séparation entre le protocole et les applications

Enfin, cette séparation permet d'éviter les points uniques d'échec. Par exemple, malgré l'espoir de liberté qu'a eu l'application Damus, cette dernière a rapidement été banni par l'état chinois. Mais l'espoir survie, car il existe plusieurs alternatives pour accéder au protocole, que ce soit via des applications web (i.g. https://astral.ninja), des applications Android (i.g. Amethyst) ou encore, directement les codes sources sur github. Cela permet également à des applications existantes d'intégrer ce protocole.

Jumelée à l'utilisation des clés publiques/privées, qui permet une mobilité de son réseau de contact, une saine compétition devrait s'établir sur ces applications clientes afin d'offrir la meilleure expérience utilisateur, que ce soit par l'interface graphique, la modération / curation du fils de nouvelles ou simplement la performance.

Il faut cependant être réaliste, il reste beaucoup de défis à affronter avant d'atteindre le grand public. Parmi les défis, ceux-ci me semblent les plus importants:##### Experience utilisateur

Alors que l'utilisation d'une paires de clés publique / privée peut sembler naturel pour les utilisateurs de bitcoin (et de crypto), ca peut être intimidant pour un non-initié. Le concept de relais n'est également pas intuitif et aurait avantage à être vulgariser ou abstrait/transparent. La performance de rafraichissement peut aussi être grandement améliorée.

Modération et curation

Qu'on aime ou on n'aime pas, Twitter utilise un algorithme puissant qui permet d'avoir un minimum de pertinence dans les messages affichées. Ce n'est pas encore le cas pour la majorité des applications Nostr. Par conséquent, on peut se sentir spammer lorsqu'on regarde le feed global. L'arrivée de beaucoup d'utilisateur chinois, et l'incapacité de traduire nativement, a amplifié ce sentiment.

Malgré cela, je suis confiant qu'on va continuer d'entendre parler de ce protocole dans les années et décennies à venir. Pour me suivre, n'hésitez pas à me suivre :

npub16pv0ld77fx0l8mjxwqtnq0dd7md40zte5w60esstfsty6u8dyvcqre8d46

Et pour lire une perspective différente sur le sujet, j'ai beaucoup apprécié cette lecture : https://read.pourteaux.xyz/p/the-moral-imperative-of-a-distributed

@ 2180de5b:54d6cba3

Open Source Culture represents the simple idea that ideas are free. That information yearns to be free. We acknowledge that copyright laws are unsuitable for a world that’s highly digitized; where content and information are, and should be, abundant and readily available for anyone.

If the information you have is truly valuable for the world, then you do not sell it. You give it away for free. You let it do the good that it can in the world, and know that both yourself and others will be rewarded for it.

If you create content that can be digitally distributed and you charge people before accessing your content, then that tells me that you are actually uncertain of the value of your work. Why? Because if you were certain that whatever it is you are trying to sell had any substantial worth, then you would trust these people to pay you in one way or the other, retroactively. The distinction between price and value is critical in this framework because, as Jeff Booth succinctly said: “Prices fall to the marginal cost of production.” The marginal cost of production for digital data is already effectively zero and it is getting exponentially cheaper day by day. That has nothing to do with the value of the very same data, though. Prices are mere agreements. Value is innate.

“Value for value” is real, it's based on trust and abundance, which are both lacking in a society built on fiat money and perceived scarcity, which is why I understand the skepticism behind those ideas and a propensity to put a price tag on everything.

Copyright laws are not useful for us anymore at a time when we are moving towards abundance. Digital scarcity only makes sense in digital money, not information.

First mover advantage is the only real intellectual property right. In another sense, bitcoin is the only real intellectual property anyway. It’s the only thing that’s scarce. All the rest of it can be as abundant as we let it be.

"Intellectual property" are, after all, mere ideas and no one can "own" ideas.

Copyright laws are nothing else than an impediment to creativity and a gatekeeper to knowledge. Charging money for information, which in digital form is near-free to store and transfer, might as well be considered a form of usury.

We shall free information and with it, we will free creativity, discourse, innovation, imagination, cooperation; and, in its totality, nothing less than the human spirit itself.

Written by Kontext Published: block height 883,435 Download the .PDF: https://satosh.ee/product/open-source-culture-manifesto/

@ 65912a7a:5dc638bf

Chef's notes

This is my late partner's award winning Cajun rice & beans recipe. It's an updated take on the traditional Cajun comfort food.

Chef Darin was a classically trained chef who spent 30+ years in the kitchen perfecting his recipes, and delivering authentic Cajun and Creole food to his patrons. This is a 5-star dish that will earn the respect of the most discerning Cajun afficionado. You won't be disappointed.

I suggest making this recipe exactly as directed the first time, and then make whatever adjustments you want for future batches. Also, don't cheap out on the Andouille. No Johnsonville or Hillshire Farms. Chef Aidelle's is a good choice, as is Silva's from Whole Foods. They cost a few extra bucks, but it's absolutely worth it.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 30 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 3 hours
• 🍽️ Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 16oz small red beans, dry
• 2 cups long grain white rice
• 14-16oz andouille sausage, sliced
• 8oz ham, cubed
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2-3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 tbsp garlic (12 cloves), minced
• 7 cups water
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 large bay leaves
• 1 tbsp parsley, dried
• 1 tsp thyme, dried
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper, dried
• ¼ tsp sage, rubbed
• 1½ tsp salt (more or less to taste)

Directions

1. Soak beans in a large pot of water overnight.
2. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Cook onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes (until onion is translucent).
3. Add beans, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, salt, MSG, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, Sage, and water. Stir, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low (btwn 2-3). Cover and simmer for 2½ hours.
4. Remove bay leaves. Mash some of the beans. Stir Andouille and ham into beans, and simmer uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the rice. Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Serve beans over steamed white rice.

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is an example of test blog post, to be published via the obstrlish plugin.

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

![[api-design-patterns.png]]

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is an example of test blog post, to be published via the obstrlish plugin.

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

![[api-design-patterns.png]]

@ 9673b322:1b75ee9e

This is an example of test blog post, to be published via the obstrlish plugin.

This is a sub heading

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

• Test bullet point
• test teste
• test

sdfasdfasdfasdfadf

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

1914 translation by H. Rackham

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Section 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat."

@ 17724a68:89af0638

«Nació Bastiat el año 1801 en la Bayona francesa, muy cerca, por tanto, de la frontera de España y del Bidasoa, que a menudo citaba como ejemplo de un río que, en vez de promover el comercio, lo destruía por el simple hecho de ser frontera entre dos naciones».

Empezamos citando al honorable Francisco Cabrillo, el experto (y prologuista) por excelencia de la obra de Bastiat en nuestra casa editorial. Con estas palabras, resume fielmente las dos principales preocupaciones del francés: el libre desarrollo del comercio y las relaciones entre los pueblos. 

En "Lo que se ve y no se ve" —que podemos encontrar en Obras escogidas (Unión Editorial)—, Bastiat nos advierte de que quizás no siempre resulta evidente el efecto colateral de las decisiones políticas. Existen consecuencias visibles e inmediatas, pero también sucesos posteriores y menos visibles que pueden ser incluso más perniciosos que el mal que se deseaba corregir. 

Hoy percibimos con suma inquietud el riesgo de una guerra comercial que imponga aranceles/barreras al comercio entre los miembros de las naciones. A los políticos y burócratas les tienta el solo pensar en los impuestos que cobrarán por productos importados, sin razonar sobre el impacto en la cadena productiva y en el poder adquisitivo de sus ciudadanos. Ciertamente, el sancionado sufrirá el impacto, pero quien impone los aranceles, también. 

Los nacionales no solo tendrán que pagar más por un mismo producto extranjero, sino que, al verse restringidos por un precio mayor o caída del comercio, dejarían de beneficiarse de la profesionalización del vecino en la producción de un bien en concreto. 

Los liberales siempre hemos defendido el libre comercio y la paz. Bastiat es quizás quien mejor resume las razones que nos ha llevado a dichas conclusiones, por lo que os invitamos a profundizar en su obra y disfrutar de la muy enriquecedora lectura de nuestro vecino del otro lado del Bidasoa. 

-- OBRAS ESCOGIDAS

FRÉDERIC BASTIAT: UN HOMBRE ÚNICO

EN DEFENSA DEL CAPITALISMO GLOBAL

-- Como solemos acostumbrar, para compras en nuestra web ofrecemos una promoción válida para la península ibérica que incluye un 5% de descuento y envío gratis a partir de los 20€ de compra. El código de descuento actual es: UE2025

@ 3b7fc823:e194354f

A VPN is Not Magic

A VPN is a virtual private network. A VPN service provides an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server they own or rent. You then connect to the internet from this server thus making your IP address appear to the wider internet as the server IP. That's it. That's all it does.

Your Device -> VPN -> Website

Your Device sees that you are connecting to a website through a VPN. Your ISP sees that you are connecting to a VPN server but nothing after. The website sees that someone from a VPN is connecting to them but doesn't know who. The VPN sees your device connected to their server and that you then connected to a website.

VPN Anonymity and Privacy

VPNs do a lot to protect your privacy, they keep your ISP from seeing and logging every single thing you do online and they spoof your location and IP to any website that you visit. Although this website protection isn't 100% anonymous because of cookies, trackers, and if you have to log into a site with your information. If you are using a VPN on a mobile phone then you are still broadcasting your location to the cell towers even if you are not telling the website you are browsing.

Then there is the elephant in the room. The VPN knows all and sees all. How much do they log? How long do they save it? Can you trust them? This is going to vary VASTLY between VPN providers. I always prefer if they are setup where they cannot know the information in the first place and limit what I tell them in the first place by paying through the use of bitcoin or monero. Just because they have a no log "policy" in place it doesn't always fill me with confidence.

VPN Security

How much security does a VPN give you? Some in certain circumstances but not a lot. A VPN is not going to stop malware or viruses. A VPN can provide some protection from a man in the middle or evil twin attack as it provides a encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server, so always use a VPN when joining public WIFI spots. Just remember a VPN cannot protect you downstream on the connection between the VPN server and the website, always use secure encrypted connections and be aware that MITM attacks can still happen on the backside. A VPN can prevent DDoS attacks since the attacker doesn't know your real IP address and a fantastic use of VPNs is to protect IoT devices. Those smart devices around your home love to scream out all their data insecurely and a VPN can change their IP and encrypt their data in transit protecting them from hacking.

VPN Legality

In many countries VPNs are banned, blocked, or outright illegal:

Bahrain Belarus China Cuba Egypt Iran Iraq Libya Myanmar North Korea Oman Russia Syria Turkey Turkmenistan UAE Uganda Venezuela Vietnam

---

Advocating for privacy does not finance itself. If you enjoyed this article, please consider zapping or sending monero

82XCDNK1Js8TethhpGLFPbVyKe25DxMUePad1rUn9z7V6QdCzxHEE7varvVh1VUidUhHVSA4atNU2BTpSNJLC1BqSvDajw1

@ 8fb140b4:f948000c

After nuking my second LND node (the first one died due to hardware failure) by my own typo and lack of any thought in the design of the CLI of LND lightning node tools, I decided to take a plunge into the world of mature and complex implementation of the protocol, Eclair by ACINQ. It has been almost one year (the birth of the node was on Christmas Day 2023), 50 thousand transactions routed, and over 30 BTC of routed value. In this post, I'd like to reflect on my experiences with Eclair, go over some of the gotchas and issues, and highlight some of the good choices that I've made since the beginning of my adventure.

Learnings from the Past Experience

While I was learning Lightning network and had very little understanding of how things worked in the whole Bitcoin space, Umbrel was my go-to solution that helped me get off the ground. It proved to be easy and somewhat educational but was not something that I would continuously run for the production setup or trust with any significant amount of bitcoin that I could not afford to lose. Lightning is built on top of the L1 (Bitcoin) network but manages the state of the channels in its own database that is negotiated and agreed upon with its peers. Any failures in the state integrity may result in the complete loss of liquidity or hefty penalty transactions (significant loss of capital). A Lightning node that participates in routing public transactions is also required to be constantly online with as little downtime as possible and only short periods offline at a time. Otherwise, you may risk causing force-closure of the channel due to expired HTLC that is measured in number of blocks.

The Setup

Taking all of my learnings into consideration, I decided to first invest in reliable enterprise-grade hardware: - Server-grade hardware with ECC memory and reliable power supply and CPU - UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to avoid any headaches due to electrical spikes or drop-outs - Reliable enterprise SSDs and NVMEs - ZFS (filesystem) to mirror the critical storage and to ensure full integrity of the data (bit-rot prevention). You do need to tune ZFS for your specific workload and reliability - Reliable and replicated database (PostgreSQL) with two local and one remote replica, and a requirement to have at least two replicas committing the transaction to the disk - Backup! On-site and off-site backup of the critical configuration that you could use to restore the node if your house burns down - Spare parts, redundancy, backup, monitoring - Reliable and stable internet connectivity

The software is Eclair 0.11.0 (latest release as of today), PostgreSQL 16 with two replicas, Bitcoin Core 27.2 (with redundant storage of blocks), additional Bitcoin Core running on a separate node and in-sync with the chain (in case primary node fails), Ubuntu 22.04 with the latest docker software from the official Docker repo.

All Major Gotchas That I Came Across

While Eclair is mature and very stable in itself, it does have some quirks and design choices that you need to account for when running your node. The software is written in Scala and requires a specific version of JVM to run it, as well as JRE and Maven to build it. It doesn't mean that other versions won't work, but you may find unpleasant bugs that may result in catastrophic failures of your node with nobody to help you. All of the requirements are listed in the release notes and installation guide. Whenever in doubt, RTFM first, then ask questions.

Limited Support by the FOSS Community

Eclair is not the most popular implementation of the Lightning protocol, and therefore it is hard to find tools or plugins that could help you manage the node. GUI for the node so far is only supported by RTL and with a very limited number of features. For any sort of statistics, you are limited to either Prometheus (extensive metrics are available) or writing your own SQL on top of the Eclair tables.

On-chain Fee Differences Between Yours and Partner Nodes

This one hit me hard, and many times. I've had more than a few force-closures of the channels because of the conservative and safe default settings. The worst part is, it strikes you when there is a huge spike in fees, which results in significant losses to force-close the channel due to high fees. I am still not 100% sure how the big difference can be exploited in practice, and opted for increase of the tolerance levels to avoid surprise FCs: eclair.on-chain-fees { feerate-tolerance { ratio-low = <0.01~> // will allow remote fee rates as low as XX our local feerate (spikes) ratio-high = <20.0~> // will allow remote fee rates as high as XX times our local feerate (drops) } } It is up to you and your risk tolerance to define something reasonable and yet allow for secure and reliable node operation.

Initial Lightning Network State Sync

When I just started running the node, I had very few channels and startup times were fast. Later, when I expanded the number of channels, I noted that it took my node up to 6-12 hours before it was fully in-sync and routing traffic fast. Given that ACINQ maintains one of the largest nodes on the network, I knew that there was something with my settings that caused the issue. After some research, I came across the setting that whitelisted node IDs for state sync, which immediately rang a bell since I knew from the LND days that not all peer nodes are used for the network sync. Setting the list to my most reliable and largest nodes reduced the startup settling times down to minutes again: eclair.sync-whitelist = [ "03864ef025fde8fb587d989186ce6a4a186895ee44a926bfc370e2c366597a3f8f", ... ] You do not need to have too many public keys in here, and should keep it between 5-10.

Automatic MAX HTLC Adjustment for the Channel

One of the killer features of Eclair is its ability to automatically adjust MAX HTLC for the channel and reduce the number of failed transactions due to insufficient liquidity on the channel. It can be used to estimate your total channels' balances but with smart configuration and a little thinking, you can make it reasonably private while still maintaining a good transaction flow: eclair.channel.channel-update.min-time-between-updates=1 hour # Allows for the adjustments to be made once every hour eclair.channel.channel-update.balance-thresholds=[ { available-sat = 10000 max-htlc-sat = 0 // 0% of 10000 }, ... ] You can have as many variations as you need, and ensure that the channel MAX HTLC is set well and within reasonable ranges. You would also want to account for multiple transactions going through the channel, but also account for the channel size and an average amount of sats per transaction.

Max Accepted HTLCs

By design, the Lightning channel is limited to a specific number of in-flight HTLCs, and the setting is fixed during channel opening time with no way of changing it unless you close and reopen the channel with new settings. If you find your node routing a lot of small transactions (zaps), you may quickly fail many due to that limit (I think default was in single digit range): eclair.channel.max-htlc-value-in-flight-percent=98 # Default I think is half or 50% eclair.channel.max-accepted-htlcs = 50 The setting above will allow for the channel to be more fully utilized and have more concurrent transactions without clogging.

CLTV Delta

This is basically a setting that is global for Eclair and sets the maximum number of remaining blocks (in time) before HTLC expires. Setting this too high may result in many HTLCs failing for the small nodes with not so great centrality, and reduce the number of routed transactions: ```

CLTV delta

eclair.channel.expiry-delta-blocks = 60 ``` Default is 144 but I found that setting this to 60 (minimum possible for my node setup and configuration) yields better results for routing. It does expose you to more risk of expired HTLCs that may cause force-closures, but I have seen only one so far on my node.

Allocate Sufficient Memory

You will want to adjust the heap size for Eclair, since the default is too small to run any sizable node. Setting JAVA_OPTS=-Xmx32g (or half the size of your available RAM) would be a good start. I would advise having at least 32GB of RAM for the node, and allocating at least 16GB (JAVA_OPTS=-Xmx16g) for smooth and fast operations.

And More Settings and Parameters to Tune

I have covered only some of the major settings that I felt were worth writing about, but there is much more you could configure and tweak. Read all of the Guides and especially focus on the Configure and a sample reference configuration file.

Good Decisions

First, going with Eclair was the right choice, along with using server-grade hardware with ECC RAM and reliable storage. Second, having a replicated database on three separate nodes with one off-site saved me from a sure destruction of all state and loss of funds. Third, deciding to only maintain channels with reliable and stable nodes saved me from some bad force-closures, where I would choose to close the channel if a peer node goes up and down too frequently, regardless of how well it routes. Even big nodes run by single operators fail badly, as do nodes operated by companies. Keeping your eyes on the node and its health, as well as the health of its peers, is something that very few operators do, which can cause failures and unnecessary loss of your and their funds.

Lastly, if you decide to run a routing node, you have a responsibility to maintain it well and monitor its health. There are many tools you could use, and with Eclair you can use Prometheus and Grafana. Keep your node's packages updated and monitor for any security-related issues that may appear from time to time, so you can mitigate them quickly.

Conclusion

So far I am satisfied with Eclair despite all of the difficulties and headaches I've had with it. It is not perfect, and it requires me to create small tools to do some basic things, but I need a stable and reliable node that I can trust. Eclair has proved to be all that I wanted, and saved my bacon a few times when I nuked one of the PostgreSQL servers and all of its data, and managed to do the same for another replica, but was able to recover and recreate from the remaining replica. Eclair is also stateless during runtime and guarantees consistency of the node regardless of how it fails. Even if you pull a plug on the node's server, it will still be able to come up and recover its consistent state that is in agreement with its peers.

Is it for everyone? No, it is definitely not for everyone or for anyone who just wants a small node to run their online shop with a few channels. You could have a very reliable and trusted node for the online shop with Eclair, but you will need some technical skills to be able to set up, maintain and recover it if things go wrong.

In the end, it is all up to you, your skills, your willingness to learn, and your risk tolerance to make that decision. For me, it was the right choice, and I have no regrets despite not having access to the latest shiny features of the Lightning network.

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

Yeah, so... nah.

People keep trying to explain to me, that women will be better-off, if they become more dangerous. While I can see the inevitableness of women living in remote rural areas learning to shoot with a rifle, and similar, I'm generally against arming women with killing machines.

This is not because I'm averse to the idea of using violence to solve problems (albeit after exhausting better options), or because I don't like guns, or am unfamiliar with them. It's also not because I don't know I would look totally, mind-numbingly hot holding something long and spearlike, while dressed in camo and wearing a T-Shirt that appears to have shrunk in the wash.

It's a more fundamental set of problems, that irks me.

Bazooka Barbie

American gun manufacturers saturated the public and private male market so thoroughly, that they eventually turned to marketing firearms to women.

Men are scary and bad. There is Stranger Danger. We can't just make the neighborhood less dangerous because erm... reasons. Stay safe with a cute gun.

It has gone along with the predictable hypersexualization of the conservative feminine ideal. Since guns are considered aggressive, women with guns are perceived as more sexually available. Guns (and tanks, bombs, bows, etc.) make women "equal", "independent", "feisty", "hot", "freaky", "calculating", "empowered", etc.

Sorta slutty, basically.

This Gun Girl is not like the helpless, hapless, harmless homemaker ideal, of yesteryear. A woman who was dependent, chaste, gentle, wise... and in need of protection. A woman who saw the men around her as people she could rely on for providing her with a safe environment. That woman is au revoir. Now, sistas are doing it for themselves. 💪🏻

The New Martial Missy needs a man, like a fish needs a bicycle... but make it country.

Yeah, it's marketing, but it sure has set the tone, and millions of men have been trained to prefer women who market themselves in this manner. Hard, mean, lean women. That will not remain without wider societal consequences.

You know, I liked that homemaker. I miss her. She's literally me.

Those arms are for cuddling babies, not holding rocket launchers.

Now, that we've all become accustomed to imagery of women holding firearms, it wasn't much of a leap to condition us all to the sight of women in frontline police, guard, or military positions.

Instead of war being a terrible, highly-lethal, territorial fight amongst men, it's now cute, hip, trendy and fun. It's a big party, and women are finally allowed to join in.

Now, women have finally jettisoned the terrible burden of being society's life-bearers and caretakers, and we're just more potential enemy combatants. We know it's okay to punch women, shoot women, etc. since we've been watching it happen on screens, for decades. Women are now often assumed to be fighters, not lovers. Cavalry, not mothers.

Girls on top

Not only does this undermine any female role -- and put female civilians under a cloud of suspicion -- it also reduces mens' claim to be paramount in governance. Why should a man be the Commander in Chief, if women are on the battlefield?

In fact, why should men be in charge of anything, anywhere? Look at them. There they are. Hiding at home. Cowering in their kitchens, wringing their hands and fretting, while courageous, dangerous women protect them from dangers foreign and domestic. Women are the better men, really.

Is this really where we want to go?

The final bitterness

But one thing I find most disturbing is something more personal. The ubiquitous nature of firearms in American homes has made domestic violence increasingly deadly. Adding more guns, for the female residents, often serves to make such violence even more deadly for women.

It turns out, that women are usually reluctant to shoot people they know; even more than men. Women without this inhibition are prone to sharing their home with men missing the same trait. And, now, they have more guns.

@ 3b7fc823:e194354f

Dealing with law enforcement can be a challenging and stressful experience. However, understanding your rights and knowing how to navigate such situations can empower you to protect yourself. Here’s a structured approach to handle these interactions effectively:

1. Stay Calm and Compliant:

2. When approached by law enforcement, remain calm and avoid sudden movements. Slowly raise your hands and identify yourself if possible.

3. Ask for Identification:

4. Request the officer's name, badge number, and station. This documentation can be crucial later on.

5. Know Your Miranda Rights:

6. Upon arrest, you have the right to remain silent. Do not answer questions without consulting a lawyer. If Mirandized, exercise your right to remain silent.

7. Refuse Incriminating Statements:

8. Avoid answering questions that could incriminate yourself. Politely state, "I will not answer any questions at this time."

9. Document the Incident:

10. Use your phone or notebook to record details such as dates, times, and descriptions of interactions. Note any injuries or mistreatment.

11. Seek Legal Advice:

12. After the encounter, contact a lawyer. They can review evidence and provide guidance on how to proceed.

13. Understand Search and Seizure Laws:

14. Officers generally need a warrant to search your property unless there's probable cause. If stopped without a warrant, calmly refuse entry.

15. Use a Body Camera Policy:

16. If applicable, ask for the officer's body camera footage and request it via formal complaint if refused.

17. Know When to Comply:

18. Comply with instructions that do not infringe on your rights, such as providing identification when legally required.

19. Consider a Witness Statement:

    • If you witness illegal actions, consider reporting them. Your role as a bystander may be crucial in documenting incidents.

20. Seek Emotional Support:

    • Interactions with law enforcement can be traumatic. Reach out to support groups or mental health resources for assistance.

21. Understand Legal Recourse:

    • If rights are violated, consult legal aid societies or civil rights organizations for guidance on filing complaints or seeking redress.

Conclusion: Understanding your rights and documenting interactions is essential when dealing with law enforcement. This guide provides a framework to help you navigate such situations confidently and protect your rights effectively. Remember, knowledge is power, and being informed can lead to better outcomes in challenging circumstances.

---

Advocating for privacy does not finance itself. If you enjoyed this article, please consider zapping or sending monero

82XCDNK1Js8TethhpGLFPbVyKe25DxMUePad1rUn9z7V6QdCzxHEE7varvVh1VUidUhHVSA4atNU2BTpSNJLC1BqSvDajw1

@ 7ed7d5c3:6927e200

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?  Thou art more lovely and more temperate; Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,  And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

 And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

 By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;

``` But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest;

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee. ```

@ 554ab6fe:c6cbc27e

René Descartes famously stated, "I think therefore I am." A concept centered around the idea that the existence of our meta-conscious thought proves our existence. Furthermore, it denotes a sense of self-derived from the presence of our thinking. What if this famous idea is wrongly reversed? What if our perceived sense of self derives from our thoughts, and these thoughts act as an illusion of the true nature of the self?

A couple of my posts have focused on the idea that the calm mind, potentially derived from a practice of meditation, can achieve a heightened sense of awareness. Some neuroscientists now view the mind as a predictive modeling machine (Seth, 2013), constantly receiving signals from both internal and external sources, generating predictions and models to understand the current condition. This theory inspired me to create an analogy of a calm pond: Imagine the brain and mind as a pond, and instead of neuronal signals, raindrops are falling into the pond. When the pond is calm, and a single drop falls, the pond's ripples provide adequate information to deduce the location and size of the raindrop. By observing the single ripple, one can simply understand the raindrop. However, if there is a storm and many raindrops impact the pond simultaneously, then the ripples are indistinguishable. This makes the analysis of the incoming information near impossible. This may be how the brain works. This would be why calming the mind generates such benefits in health because the brain can analyze the information accurately and execute the proper response. This idea is supported by scientific evidence that interoception increases with mindfulness practice. I have alluded to this idea as a possible explanation of why meditation generates a higher form of consciousness. More on this later.

To further explore this idea, a deeper exploration into the neuroscience of internal mental processes is required. The areas of the brain that are clinically recognized to perform internal mental operations are known as the default mode network (DMN) (Ekhtiari et al., 2016; van Buuren et al., 2010). The DMN is not a single area of the brain but a network and interaction between many areas. The brain areas involved within the DMN include the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex (ACC and PCC), temporoparietal junction (TPJ), later temporal cortex (LTC), and the temporal pole (TempP)(Farb et al., 2007; Zhou et al., 2020). In general, the mental processes conducted by the DMN are self-referential processing, long-term memory retrieval, and mind-wandering (Ekhtiari et al., 2016; Marstaller et al., 2017; Spreng & Grady, 2010; van Buuren et al., 2010). However, the functions expand beyond just those. Different brain areas carry differing roles in these processes. For example, the PCC plays a unique role in the autobiographical retrieval process and plays a role in self-centered spatial navigation (Hamilton et al., 2015). However, sometimes these processes manifest in more complex interactions. For example, both the PCC and anterior portion of the mPFC (amPFC) facilitate self-referential processes and the interaction between other hubs of the DMN (Zhou et al., 2020). The role of the DMN is complicated, but its relationship to meditation is significant.

The DMN's plays a significant role in mental ruminations and the activity of the mind. In our modern culture, mental ruminations are commonplace and widely accepted. With this cultural norm, there is no adequate training to properly handle these thoughts when they become repetitive, unconstructive, and potentially destructive. Repetitive unconstructive ruminations are associated with and can lead to depression (Watkins, 2008). Therefore, this mental habit attributes to a significant source of many mental health issues. It is a primary reason why meditation seems to be such an effective mental health benefiting practice. In Eastern traditions, this unhealthy mind is called the "monkey mind": a mind that swings from thought to thought, often time traveling to the past and future. Meditation, and similar practices, aim to quiet this monkey mind. From a clinical perspective, it is fascinating to consider that the DMN may be a neural network representing the monkey mind's activation. There is research to support this idea as well. Autobiographical memory retrieval processes activate the DMN (Spreng & Grady, 2010). Additionally, the DMN seems to maintain a cohesive perception of the self across time to interpret novel information (Marstaller et al., 2017). Clearly, not only is the DMN involved in processes that involve thoughts about the self, but it is also primarily responsible for our mental time traveling processes. If meditation aims to bring our experience to the present, then the DMN is the antithesis.

As previously stated, mental ruminations and other unconstructive thought patterns drive the development of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Given that the DMN has a strong relationship to these thought patterns, it is also interesting to note that DMN activity dominance is associated with the development of depression (Hamilton et al., 2011). The brain areas that seem to be activated more often during depression are the anterior and dorsal regions of the mPFC, PCC, temporal lobes, and the TPJ (Zhou et al., 2020)—further suggesting that the DMN is the brain region highly responsible for our inner self-referential thoughts, our time traveling thoughts, and the subsequent mental health outcomes.

The DMN represents, in large part, the mental activity of the mind that removes us from a calm and present state of being. In other words, it adds more “raindrops” to the calm pond (my analogy from before) making it harder for the brain to analyze and adequately react to incoming information. Evidence for this idea lies in the observation that the DMN is responsible for monkey mind-like processes and in learning and conditioning. Again, the brain is constantly receiving neuronal signals from the body. Say it receives a signal from the toe: it must first predict that the signal came from the toe, then understand what the signal meant, and react accordingly. So, if the signal was a pain signal, the brain may command the toe to lift from the ground. If the signal stops, the brain knows the toe is no longer in pain, verifying the prediction. If the signal doesn't stop, further trial and error are required. This is a simple example, but the brain is likely processing and reacting to signals like this all the time, both from information coming from outside the body and within. Therefore, much learning and prediction model generation is taking place. Imagine the famous experiment of Pavlov's dogs. The dogs learned that a particular cue meant food, and their bodies learned to react accordingly. This learning and conditioning are a fundamental aspect of biological life. The DMN plays a significant role in this learning within our brain. For example, the PCC responds to error detection, and the signal is amplified when small rewards or novel stimuli are introduced to the experience (Heilbronner & Platt, 2013). Areas of the DMN (such as the mPFC and PCC) are also thought to be involved in contextualizing memories of safety and inhibit fear responses when appropriate (Marstaller et al., 2017). Finally, the mPFC is thought to play a role in goal-directed motivation (Hamilton et al., 2015). All this evidence suggests that the DMN plays a significant role in the learning process by contextualizing information.

Keep in mind that the DMN can only accurately contextualize incoming stimuli if the full range of signals is adequately recognized. According to the calm pond idea, the noisy activation of a ruminating mind may hinder this ability. Here, greater clarification and definition on what a polluted mind means is needed. To define such mental patterns, functions of specific DMN regions will be explained. Commonly activated regions within the DMN that involve self-referential processes are (Farb et al., 2007; Knyazev, 2013):

1. The orbitomedial prefrontal cortex (omPFC) – which contextualizes experienced stimuli as experienced by the self
2. The ACC – which actively monitors the self-experienced stimuli
3. The mPFC – which evaluates the self-experienced stimuli
4. The PCC – which is involved in a generated a broader context of the personal experience given certain self-experienced stimuli.

By now, it may be evident that the DMN is involved with what is commonly referred to as the "ego". Some researchers claim that the DMN develops the ego itself (R. L. Carhart-Harris & Friston, 2010). The term "ego" derives from Freudian psychoanalytic, and for this reason, the term "narrative-self" will be used instead. It is crucial to consider the word choice here. As previously explained, the DMN generates a time-oriented perception of the self to contextualize information. Furthermore, the four brain areas above all involved contextualizing an experience as experienced by the narrative self (rather than the self being the experience), monitoring these experiences across time, and evaluating these experiences as a broader implication of the experience of the self. The DMN is generating a narrative of the self through every experience. This is indeed where many unconstructive ruminations arise. Any reader can likely relate to ruminating over themselves and their circumstances and thinking about what this means in the larger context of their lives, worth, purpose, etc. This is the monkey mind. This is the DMN.

So, the real question becomes: what effect does the strong presence of a narrative-self have on our broader experience and health? Does a strong presence of the narrative-self influence the body's interoceptive abilities and ability to properly analyze and predict incoming stimuli? This is a complex and challenging question, but evidence suggests that this is indeed the case. In a fantastic study by Farb and others in 2007, fMRIs were used to monitor brain activity in those who did and did not practice mindfulness meditation (Farb et al., 2007). In this study, a distinction was made between narrative focus and experiential focus. For eight weeks, those who underwent mindfulness meditation training were taught to practice experiential focus, which involves having present centered awareness of all thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a non-judgmental manner. Narrative focus was defined as judging experiences and trying to figure out what those stimuli meant. Brain scans were performed on both trained and untrained participants during both focus styles. For both groups, narrative focus increased activation of the mPFC and PCC as expected. During experiential focus, both groups reduced mPFC activity, but only the meditation trained group increased activation of the insula. This is incredible because the insula is highly involved in interoception and the sensations of internal physical states (Fox et al., 2014; Mehling et al., 2012). This study by Farb and others suggests a functional difference between the narrative-self and an experiential-self and shows how the quieting of the narrative-self increases interoceptive abilities and enhances the brains' ability to analyze incoming stimuli properly. Not to mention, this study shows how this skill can be trained.

So far, we have seen how the DMN is involved in the generation of the narrative-self and how this influences our ability to analyze the signals coming from the body. The next reasonable question is to what extent can this be changed? And what are the implications of such change? As was previously shown in the mentioning of the study by Farb and others in 2007, mindfulness meditation appears to be capable of changing DMN activity. This is not the only study to suggest this. Another study showed that meditation decreased mPFC activity in DMN regions, such as the TPJ and PCC (Scheibner et al., 2017). It has also been shown that the neurotransmitter GABA reduces DMN activity, and both yoga and meditation have been implicated in the release of GABA (Guglietti et al., 2013; Hu et al., 2013; Streeter et al., 2018). The release of GABA release is also modulated by the vagus nerve, providing evidence of the possible mechanism at which meditation inhibits DMN activity (Hu et al., 2013; Keute et al., 2018; Streeter et al., 2018). Through these studies, it seems evident that meditation decreases DMN activity. In what ways is this significant? Firstly, it provides more explanation as to why meditation seems capable of alleviating depression. Similarly, it offers more evidence for how meditation increases interoceptive awareness (de Jong et al., 2016; Farb et al., 2010; Hanley et al., 2017). The increase in interoception suggests that the brain is more adequately processing not only the internal environment more adequately, but presumably the outside environment as well. Reality in general is being more accurately understood. It is possible that this also implicates a broader understanding of how meditation can alter consciousness and allowing monks, yogis, and the like to achieve nirvana/samadhi/enlightenment, or whatever you prefer to call such a state of altered consciousnesses. Perhaps this experience of altered consciousness is a more accurate interpretation of reality, produced by enhanced interoception and exteroception.

The subject of altered consciousness is perhaps best explored through brain changes induced by another technique commonly used in a spiritual manner: psychedelics. The famous studies from Johns Hopkins University using psilocybin found that this drug causes a spiritual experience often described as a sense of unity of all things that transcend space and time (Griffiths et al., 2006, 2008). Many participants rate this experience as one of the most significant spiritual experiences of their life (Griffiths et al., 2006). These experiences were often described with an experienced loss sense of self and an altered form of consciousness (Griffiths et al., 2008). It is not hard to imagine that this experience seems very similar to that of a trained monk or yogi, who learn to let go of their narrative-self and gain a sense of oneness with all things. This connection is further verified by the observation that psilocybin decreases the activity of the ACC, PCC, and mPFC (Robin L. Carhart-Harris et al., 2012). Ayahuasca, another psychedelic drug used in spiritual rituals by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, also has been shown to have similar effects (Palhano-Fontes et al., 2015). Additionally, LSD has been shown to do the same (Speth et al., 2016). Suppose both psychedelic drugs and meditative practice decrease the same DMN, which generates the narrative-self. In that case, both methods likely lead one to the same place: an experience beyond time and space, where one is present with a profound sense of unity with everything.

This, to me, is a profound idea. It suggests that quieting the mind, or calming the “pond”, improves mental, physical, and spiritual health. It provides one with a perception full of compassion, peace, and love. It not only can make the individual healthier, but so too the community and planet. It is extraordinary evidence that improving the self is the greatest means of improving the world around us. Not to mention, it provides a simple means of liberating oneself from the struggle and hardship of life. Perhaps it is not life that is hard on us, but ourselves, by allowing the narrative-mind to take hold of our reality, rather than letting a purer form of consciousness dominate our perceptions. This is the pursuit, and meditation techniques are the practice.

References

Carhart-Harris, R. L., & Friston, K. J. (2010). The default-mode, ego-functions and free-energy: A neurobiological account of Freudian ideas. Brain, 133(4), 1265–1283. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awq010

Carhart-Harris, Robin L., Erritzoe, D., Williams, T., Stone, J. M., Reed, L. J., Colasanti, A., Tyacke, R. J., Leech, R., Malizia, A. L., Murphy, K., Hobden, P., Evans, J., Feilding, A., Wise, R. G., & Nutt, D. J. (2012). Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(6), 2138–2143. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1119598109

de Jong, M., Lazar, S. W., Hug, K., Mehling, W. E., Hölzel, B. K., Sack, A. T., Peeters, F., Ashih, H., Mischoulon, D., & Gard, T. (2016). Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on body awareness in patients with chronic pain and comorbid depression. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(JUN). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00967

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@ 6bae33c8:607272e8

I didn’t realize how much I had missed a good old fashioned Super Bowl blowout. I wasn’t even gonna bet the game, but over the last couple days, I got an Eagles vibe. There was too much, “The refs won’t let the Chiefs lose”, and Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift, and other noise, and yet the line didn’t budge. It was obvious the Eagles were the sharper side, and they had the league’s best defense, which usually correlates to overperformance of the spread in Super Bowls, sometimes massive overperformance.

But it wasn’t any one thing — just an overall dawning on me that the Eagles were probably the right side. I didn’t feel that strongly about it, even so, and decided I’d just bet Saquon Barkley for MVP, get 3:1 or so if the Eagles won. So I texted someone in the states to place the bet for me, and best he could offer was +175! That’s a terrible value for a RB to win MVP! A few minutes later Tim Schuler offered to bet me $50, give me the Eagles +1, and I obliged him. After that, I texted my friend back to put $500 on the Eagles +1 for me.

Of course, I didn’t stay up all night to watch — after losing 1K on the Falcons (who were up 28-3 in the third quarter at 3 am) eight years ago, never again. So I caught the 40-minute version this morning. What a great game! The Eagles dominated from start to finish. The defensive line got after Mahomes on every play. And while the Chiefs sold out to stop Barkley, Jalen Hurts ran wild on them.

I’m sure I would have enjoyed a Chiefs blowout less, but the beauty of a blowout is it settles things. There’s no looking back at a bad call, a dropped pass or a fumble and wondering what might have been. Close games have drama, but they are more or less arbitrary. I mean I get it, the guy made the throw at the time with the game on the line, but maybe also he just got the cheap roughing the passer call or the ticky tack PI. When the Giants won the Super Bowl on Scott Norwood’s miss, I didn’t have the same sense of satisfaction I did when they blew out John Elway’s Broncos five years earlier. Yes, they won, but it might as well have been on a coin flip.

I grew up on blowouts in the ‘80s — Raiders-Redskins, 49ers-Dolphins, Pats-Bears, Giants-Broncos, Redskins-Broncos — only the Bengals managed to keep Super Bowl losses close (Congratulations Jeff Erickson!) This was before replay reviews and all the lawyering about what is and isn’t a completed catch. The last fucking thing you wanted was some controversy about who really outplayed whom. So it was nice to win some easy money and not to have to worry about refs or fumbles or untimely drops for a change.

• I wanted Saquon to win MVP, but he drew the attention of the KC defense, is one of the best I’ve ever seen in blitz pickup and still had 97 yards from scrimmage. One of the all-time great years from an all-time great back. (He broke Terrell Davis’ record for the most yardage, regular season and playoffs, too, albeit in two extra games.)

• Hurts threw the one bad pick under pressure, but it served as a good punt, and otherwise had a near perfect game. Only four other incomplete passes, 72 yards and a score on the ground. He was an easy MVP call.

• I was a little worried about shaky Jake Elliott, but he drilled all four of his field goals, three of them twice!, due to penalties.

• Patrick Mahomes padded his stats in garbage time, but he got crushed. An elite defense that gets home with four is the way you kill the GOATS. The Giants did it to Tom Brady twice.

• Xavier Worthy had a nice garbage-time stat-padding game, but he was the only one. DeAndre Hopkins had a bad drop, though they got him a garbage-time feel-good TD, basically a participation trophy.

• Congrats to Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham, Elliott and long-snapper Rick Lovato — the only four players in NFL history to defeat both Tom Brady and Mahomes in Super Bowls.

• The only negative is I lost my $50 four-teams bet with Erickson. I had the Chiefs, Bills, Lions and Ravens, he had the field. But I directed Schuler to pay him, which is good, because I cancelled Paypal for their retarded foray into free-speech policing, and now I don’t have to figure out a workaround.

@ 3b7fc823:e194354f

Alright, let’s get one thing straight: you’re scrolling through your phone, shopping online, maybe even working from home. But here’s the thing – someone might be watching. Not in the creepy stalker way, but in the “is that company really needing my data?” kind of way. That’s where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in, saving you from the prying eyes of marketers, governments, and even your own internet provider.

What Does a VPN Do?

A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server. This allows you to browse the internet anonymously, keeping your online activities private from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), network administrators, and even hackers. When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through an intermediary server, making it difficult for anyone to track your online movements.

Why You Need a VPN: Privacy edition

• Hiding Your IP Address

Every time you jump online, your device gets an IP address, like a digital ID. If you don’t use a VPN, everyone can see this ID, making it easy for advertisers and governments to track your every move.

• [X ] Myth: A VPN hides my IP address from everyone.

• [X] Reality: A VPN hides your IP address only from the websites you visit and your ISP. Your internet service provider still knows you're using a VPN, but they won't be able to see what sites you're visiting. Your VPN knows what sites you are visiting and may know who you are as well.

• Bypassing Censorship

Ever tried accessing something that’s blocked in your country? A VPN can help you bypass those restrictions, letting you watch the latest shows, access social media, or even download books without getting flagged as a troublemaker.

• Protecting Your Data

When you connect to public Wi-Fi – like at a café or airport – you’re basically handing over your data on a silver platter. A VPN encrypts this data, so even if someone intercepts it, they can’t decode it. Think of it as adding an extra layer of security.

• Avoiding Surveillance

Companies and governments love collecting data. From what you search to who you talk to, there’s a lot of stuff that’s none of their business. A VPN ensures that only you know where you’ve been online.

• Safeguarding Your Personal and Professional Life

Whether you’re working from home or just shopping for a present, a VPN keeps your activities private. It’s like having a secure safe for all your online stuff, so no one can snoop.

• Stopping Targeted Ads

Companies track your browsing habits to send you ads that follow you around the internet. A VPN breaks this cycle, making sure those creepy “you might like” ads stop following you around.

• No Logs Policy

Some VPNs keep records of your activity, which means they could be handed over if the government comes knocking. But with a no-logs policy, nothing is stored – they promise ;)

• The Dark Side of Free VPNs

Before you jump into using a free VPN, think twice. Free services often come with a catch: they might sell your data to advertisers or even track your activity themselves. It’s like getting a free hotdog at a gas station – it sounds great, but you’ll probably regret it later.

How to Use a VPN (Because You’re Not a Tech Wizard)

• Choose the Right Provider

Go for a reputable service that offers strong encryption and a no-logs policy. Look for options with a kill switch, which stops any data from being leaked if the connection drops. I prefer ones you can pay annoymously but that may be overkill for most people.

• Download and Install

Once you pick a provider, download the app to your device. It’s not rocket science, but it does require a bit more than just opening an email.

• Set It Up

Most VPNs have user-friendly interfaces. Just click “Connect” and you’re good to go. You might need to enter your login details or use a password from your provider.

The Final Word Using a VPN isn’t about being a hacker or someone with something to hide. It’s about respecting your privacy and having control over what you share online. In today’s world, where companies and governments are constantly getting more creative about how they collect data, it’s practically a requirement if you want to stay ahead of the curve.

So there you have it – the secret life of your internet. With a VPN, you’re not just protecting yourself; you’re making sure that your digital footprint is as small as possible. Whether you’re at home or on the go, a VPN gives you the freedom to surf, shop, and work without anyone watching your every move.

And hey, if you’re still not convinced, just think about it this way: imagine your internet connection as a crowded public space. Without a VPN, everyone’s staring at you. With one, you’re wearing a mask, and no one’s the wiser.

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Advocating for privacy does not finance itself. If you enjoyed this article, please consider zapping or sending monero

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@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

It's Monday so we're back doing "Meta Music Mondays" 😉.

From before the territory existed there was just one post a week in a ~meta take over. Now each month we have a different theme and bring music from that theme.

Welcome to Femmes Fatales 3!!!

I absolutely loved doing this last year so I'm bringing it back for round 3!

It's Femmes Fatales, where we celebrate women in ~Music. So let's have those ladies of the lung, the sirens of sound, our Femmes Fatales!

https://youtu.be/ya69LUa1E_w?si=cM6yCALsPpp9L3Sc

I recently got introduced to these ladies. Their music is fantastic, they're really talented musicians. They are:

Lilith: The vocalist. Lamia: The lead guitarist. Nixe: The bassist. Abrahel: The drummer.

Their identity is meant to be a mystery, so let's keep it that way.

These Nuns can make Noise!!

Let's go!

Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/881416