@ 66675158:1b644430

I don't believe in "vibe coding" – it's just the newest Silicon Valley fad trying to give meaning to their latest favorite technology, LLMs. We've seen this pattern before with blockchain, when suddenly Non Fungible Tokens appeared, followed by Web3 startups promising to revolutionize everything from social media to supply chains. VCs couldn't throw money fast enough at anything with "decentralized" (in name only) in the pitch deck. Andreessen Horowitz launched billion-dollar crypto funds, while Y Combinator batches filled with blockchain startups promising to be "Uber for X, but on the blockchain."

The metaverse mania followed, with Meta betting its future on digital worlds where we'd supposedly hang out as legless avatars. Decentralized (in name only) autonomous organizations emerged as the next big thing – supposedly democratic internet communities that ended up being the next scam for quick money.

Then came the inevitable collapse. The FTX implosion in late 2022 revealed fraud, Luna/Terra's death spiral wiped out billions (including my ten thousand dollars), while Celsius and BlockFi froze customer assets before bankruptcy.

By 2023, crypto winter had fully set in. The SEC started aggressive enforcement actions, while users realized that blockchain technology had delivered almost no practical value despite a decade of promises.

Blockchain's promises tapped into fundamental human desires – decentralization resonated with a generation disillusioned by traditional institutions. Evangelists presented a utopian vision of freedom from centralized control. Perhaps most significantly, crypto offered a sense of meaning in an increasingly abstract world, making the clear signs of scams harder to notice.

The technology itself had failed to solve any real-world problems at scale. By 2024, the once-mighty crypto ecosystem had become a cautionary tale. Venture firms quietly scrubbed blockchain references from their websites while founders pivoted to AI and large language models.

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Most reading this are likely fellow bitcoiners and nostr users who understand that Bitcoin is blockchain's only valid use case. But I shared that painful history because I believe the AI-hype cycle will follow the same trajectory.

Just like with blockchain, we're now seeing VCs who once couldn't stop talking about "Web3" falling over themselves to fund anything with "AI" in the pitch deck. The buzzwords have simply changed from "decentralized" to "intelligent."

"Vibe coding" is the perfect example – a trendy name for what is essentially just fuzzy instructions to LLMs. Developers who've spent years honing programming skills are now supposed to believe that "vibing" with an AI is somehow a legitimate methodology.

This might be controversial to some, but obvious to others:

Formal, context-free grammar will always remain essential for building precise systems, regardless of how advanced natural language technology becomes

The mathematical precision of programming languages provides a foundation that human language's ambiguity can never replace. Programming requires precision – languages, compilers, and processors operate on explicit instructions, not vibes. What "vibe coding" advocates miss is that beneath every AI-generated snippet lies the same deterministic rules that have always governed computation.

LLMs don't understand code in any meaningful sense—they've just ingested enormous datasets of human-written code and can predict patterns. When they "work," it's because they've seen similar patterns before, not because they comprehend the underlying logic.

This creates a dangerous dependency. Junior developers "vibing" with LLMs might get working code without understanding the fundamental principles. When something breaks in production, they'll lack the knowledge to fix it.

Even experienced developers can find themselves in treacherous territory when relying too heavily on LLM-generated code. What starts as a productivity boost can transform into a dependency crutch.

The real danger isn't just technical limitations, but the false confidence it instills. Developers begin to believe they understand systems they've merely instructed an AI to generate – fundamentally different from understanding code you've written yourself.

We're already seeing the warning signs: projects cobbled together with LLM-generated code that work initially but become maintenance nightmares when requirements change or edge cases emerge.

The venture capital money is flowing exactly as it did with blockchain. Anthropic raised billions, OpenAI is valued astronomically despite minimal revenue, and countless others are competing to build ever-larger models with vague promises. Every startup now claims to be "AI-powered" regardless of whether it makes sense.

Don't get me wrong—there's genuine innovation happening in AI research. But "vibe coding" isn't it. It's a marketing term designed to make fuzzy prompting sound revolutionary.

Cursor perfectly embodies this AI hype cycle. It's an AI-enhanced code editor built on VS Code that promises to revolutionize programming by letting you "chat with your codebase." Just like blockchain startups promised to "revolutionize" industries, Cursor promises to transform development by adding LLM capabilities.

Yes, Cursor can be genuinely helpful. It can explain unfamiliar code, suggest completions, and help debug simple issues. After trying it for just an hour, I found the autocomplete to be MAGICAL for simple refactoring and basic functionality.

But the marketing goes far beyond reality. The suggestion that you can simply describe what you want and get production-ready code is dangerously misleading. What you get are approximations with:

• Security vulnerabilities the model doesn't understand
• Edge cases it hasn't considered
• Performance implications it can't reason about
• Dependency conflicts it has no way to foresee

The most concerning aspect is how such tools are marketed to beginners as shortcuts around learning fundamentals. "Why spend years learning to code when you can just tell AI what you want?" This is reminiscent of how crypto was sold as a get-rich-quick scheme requiring no actual understanding.

When you "vibe code" with an AI, you're not eliminating complexity—you're outsourcing understanding to a black box. This creates developers who can prompt but not program, who can generate but not comprehend.

The real utility of LLMs in development is in augmenting existing workflows:

• Explaining unfamiliar codebases
• Generating boilerplate for well-understood patterns
• Suggesting implementations that a developer evaluates critically
• Assisting with documentation and testing

These uses involve the model as a subordinate assistant to a knowledgeable developer, not as a replacement for expertise. This is where the technology adds value—as a sophisticated tool in skilled hands.

Cursor is just a better hammer, not a replacement for understanding what you're building. The actual value emerges when used by developers who understand what happens beneath the abstractions. They can recognize when AI suggestions make sense and when they don't because they have the fundamental knowledge to evaluate output critically.

This is precisely where the "vibe coding" narrative falls apart.

@ 8ba93868:44bdde52

ola

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin has symbolized innovation and resilience. However, from time to time, alarmist narratives arise about emerging technologies that could "break" its security. Among these, quantum computing stands out as one of the most recurrent. But does quantum computing truly threaten Bitcoin? And more importantly, what is the community doing to ensure the protocol remains invulnerable?

The answer, contrary to sensationalist headlines, is reassuring: Bitcoin is secure, and the community is already preparing for a future where quantum computing becomes a practical reality. Let’s dive into this topic to understand why the concerns are exaggerated and how the development of BIP-360 demonstrates that Bitcoin is one step ahead.

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What Is Quantum Computing, and Why Is Bitcoin Not Threatened?

Quantum computing leverages principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations that, in theory, could exponentially surpass classical computers—and it has nothing to do with what so-called “quantum coaches” teach to scam the uninformed. One of the concerns is that this technology could compromise two key aspects of Bitcoin’s security:

1. Wallets: These use elliptic curve algorithms (ECDSA) to protect private keys. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could deduce a private key from its public key.
2. Mining: This is based on the SHA-256 algorithm, which secures the consensus process. A quantum attack could, in theory, compromise the proof-of-work mechanism.

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Understanding Quantum Computing’s Attack Priorities

While quantum computing is often presented as a threat to Bitcoin, not all parts of the network are equally vulnerable. Theoretical attacks would be prioritized based on two main factors: ease of execution and potential reward. This creates two categories of attacks:

1. Attacks on Wallets

Bitcoin wallets, secured by elliptic curve algorithms, would be the initial targets due to the relative vulnerability of their public keys, especially those already exposed on the blockchain. Two attack scenarios stand out:

• Short-term attacks: These occur during the interval between sending a transaction and its inclusion in a block (approximately 10 minutes). A quantum computer could intercept the exposed public key and derive the corresponding private key to redirect funds by creating a transaction with higher fees.

• Long-term attacks: These focus on old wallets whose public keys are permanently exposed. Wallets associated with Satoshi Nakamoto, for example, are especially vulnerable because they were created before the practice of using hashes to mask public keys.

We can infer a priority order for how such attacks might occur based on urgency and importance.

Bitcoin Quantum Attack: Prioritization Matrix (Urgency vs. Importance)

2. Attacks on Mining

Targeting the SHA-256 algorithm, which secures the mining process, would be the next objective. However, this is far more complex and requires a level of quantum computational power that is currently non-existent and far from realization. A successful attack would allow for the recalculation of all possible hashes to dominate the consensus process and potentially "mine" it instantly.

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Satoshi Nakamoto in 2010 on Quantum Computing and Bitcoin Attacks

Recently, Narcelio asked me about a statement I made on Tubacast:

https://x.com/eddieoz/status/1868371296683511969

If an attack became a reality before Bitcoin was prepared, it would be necessary to define the last block prior to the attack and proceed from there using a new hashing algorithm. The solution would resemble the response to the infamous 2013 bug. It’s a fact that this would cause market panic, and Bitcoin's price would drop significantly, creating a potential opportunity for the well-informed.

Preferably, if developers could anticipate the threat and had time to work on a solution and build consensus before an attack, they would simply decide on a future block for the fork, which would then adopt the new algorithm. It might even rehash previous blocks (reaching consensus on them) to avoid potential reorganization through the re-mining of blocks using the old hash. (I often use the term "shielding" old transactions).

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How Can Users Protect Themselves?

While quantum computing is still far from being a practical threat, some simple measures can already protect users against hypothetical scenarios:

• Avoid using exposed public keys: Ensure funds sent to old wallets are transferred to new ones that use public key hashes. This reduces the risk of long-term attacks.
• Use modern wallets: Opt for wallets compatible with SegWit or Taproot, which implement better security practices.
• Monitor security updates: Stay informed about updates from the Bitcoin community, such as the implementation of BIP-360, which will introduce quantum-resistant addresses.
• Do not reuse addresses: Every transaction should be associated with a new address to minimize the risk of repeated exposure of the same public key.
• Adopt secure backup practices: Create offline backups of private keys and seeds in secure locations, protected from unauthorized access.

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BIP-360 and Bitcoin’s Preparation for the Future

Even though quantum computing is still beyond practical reach, the Bitcoin community is not standing still. A concrete example is BIP-360, a proposal that establishes the technical framework to make wallets resistant to quantum attacks.

BIP-360 addresses three main pillars:

1. Introduction of quantum-resistant addresses: A new address format starting with "BC1R" will be used. These addresses will be compatible with post-quantum algorithms, ensuring that stored funds are protected from future attacks.
2. Compatibility with the current ecosystem: The proposal allows users to transfer funds from old addresses to new ones without requiring drastic changes to the network infrastructure.
3. Flexibility for future updates: BIP-360 does not limit the choice of specific algorithms. Instead, it serves as a foundation for implementing new post-quantum algorithms as technology evolves.

This proposal demonstrates how Bitcoin can adapt to emerging threats without compromising its decentralized structure.

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Post-Quantum Algorithms: The Future of Bitcoin Cryptography

The community is exploring various algorithms to protect Bitcoin from quantum attacks. Among the most discussed are:

• Falcon: A solution combining smaller public keys with compact digital signatures. Although it has been tested in limited scenarios, it still faces scalability and performance challenges.
• Sphincs: Hash-based, this algorithm is renowned for its resilience, but its signatures can be extremely large, making it less efficient for networks like Bitcoin’s blockchain.
• Lamport: Created in 1977, it’s considered one of the earliest post-quantum security solutions. Despite its reliability, its gigantic public keys (16,000 bytes) make it impractical and costly for Bitcoin.

Two technologies show great promise and are well-regarded by the community:

1. Lattice-Based Cryptography: Considered one of the most promising, it uses complex mathematical structures to create systems nearly immune to quantum computing. Its implementation is still in its early stages, but the community is optimistic.
2. Supersingular Elliptic Curve Isogeny: These are very recent digital signature algorithms and require extensive study and testing before being ready for practical market use.

The final choice of algorithm will depend on factors such as efficiency, cost, and integration capability with the current system. Additionally, it is preferable that these algorithms are standardized before implementation, a process that may take up to 10 years.

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Why Quantum Computing Is Far from Being a Threat

The alarmist narrative about quantum computing overlooks the technical and practical challenges that still need to be overcome. Among them:

• Insufficient number of qubits: Current quantum computers have only a few hundred qubits, whereas successful attacks would require millions.
• High error rate: Quantum stability remains a barrier to reliable large-scale operations.
• High costs: Building and operating large-scale quantum computers requires massive investments, limiting their use to scientific or specific applications.

Moreover, even if quantum computers make significant advancements, Bitcoin is already adapting to ensure its infrastructure is prepared to respond.

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Conclusion: Bitcoin’s Secure Future

Despite advancements in quantum computing, the reality is that Bitcoin is far from being threatened. Its security is ensured not only by its robust architecture but also by the community’s constant efforts to anticipate and mitigate challenges.

The implementation of BIP-360 and the pursuit of post-quantum algorithms demonstrate that Bitcoin is not only resilient but also proactive. By adopting practical measures, such as using modern wallets and migrating to quantum-resistant addresses, users can further protect themselves against potential threats.

Bitcoin’s future is not at risk—it is being carefully shaped to withstand any emerging technology, including quantum computing.

@ 8ba93868:44bdde52

primeira segunda

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Zwei mal drei macht vier, \ widewidewitt und drei macht neune, \ ich mach mir die Welt, \ widewide wie sie mir gefällt. \ Pippi Langstrumpf

Egal, ob Koalitionsverhandlungen oder politischer Alltag: Die Kontroversen zwischen theoretisch verschiedenen Parteien verschwinden, wenn es um den Kampf gegen politische Gegner mit Rückenwind geht. Wer den Alteingesessenen die Pfründe ernsthaft streitig machen könnte, gegen den werden nicht nur «Brandmauern» errichtet, sondern der wird notfalls auch strafrechtlich verfolgt. Doppelstandards sind dabei selbstverständlich inklusive.

In Frankreich ist diese Woche Marine Le Pen wegen der Veruntreuung von EU-Geldern von einem Gericht verurteilt worden. Als Teil der Strafe wurde sie für fünf Jahre vom passiven Wahlrecht ausgeschlossen. Obwohl das Urteil nicht rechtskräftig ist – Le Pen kann in Berufung gehen –, haben die Richter das Verbot, bei Wahlen anzutreten, mit sofortiger Wirkung verhängt. Die Vorsitzende des rechtsnationalen Rassemblement National (RN) galt als aussichtsreiche Kandidatin für die Präsidentschaftswahl 2027.

Das ist in diesem Jahr bereits der zweite gravierende Fall von Wahlbeeinflussung durch die Justiz in einem EU-Staat. In Rumänien hatte Călin Georgescu im November die erste Runde der Präsidentenwahl überraschend gewonnen. Das Ergebnis wurde später annulliert, die behauptete «russische Wahlmanipulation» konnte jedoch nicht bewiesen werden. Die Kandidatur für die Wahlwiederholung im Mai wurde Georgescu kürzlich durch das Verfassungsgericht untersagt.

Die Veruntreuung öffentlicher Gelder muss untersucht und geahndet werden, das steht außer Frage. Diese Anforderung darf nicht selektiv angewendet werden. Hingegen mussten wir in der Vergangenheit bei ungleich schwerwiegenderen Fällen von (mutmaßlichem) Missbrauch ganz andere Vorgehensweisen erleben, etwa im Fall der heutigen EZB-Chefin Christine Lagarde oder im «Pfizergate»-Skandal um die Präsidentin der EU-Kommission Ursula von der Leyen.

Wenngleich derartige Angelegenheiten formal auf einer rechtsstaatlichen Grundlage beruhen mögen, so bleibt ein bitterer Beigeschmack. Es stellt sich die Frage, ob und inwieweit die Justiz politisch instrumentalisiert wird. Dies ist umso interessanter, als die Gewaltenteilung einen essenziellen Teil jeder demokratischen Ordnung darstellt, während die Bekämpfung des politischen Gegners mit juristischen Mitteln gerade bei den am lautesten rufenden Verteidigern «unserer Demokratie» populär zu sein scheint.

Die Delegationen von CDU/CSU und SPD haben bei ihren Verhandlungen über eine Regierungskoalition genau solche Maßnahmen diskutiert. «Im Namen der Wahrheit und der Demokratie» möchte man noch härter gegen «Desinformation» vorgehen und dafür zum Beispiel den Digital Services Act der EU erweitern. Auch soll der Tatbestand der Volksverhetzung verschärft werden – und im Entzug des passiven Wahlrechts münden können. Auf europäischer Ebene würde Friedrich Merz wohl gerne Ungarn das Stimmrecht entziehen.

Der Pegel an Unzufriedenheit und Frustration wächst in großen Teilen der Bevölkerung kontinuierlich. Arroganz, Machtmissbrauch und immer abstrusere Ausreden für offensichtlich willkürliche Maßnahmen werden kaum verhindern, dass den etablierten Parteien die Unterstützung entschwindet. In Deutschland sind die Umfrageergebnisse der AfD ein guter Gradmesser dafür.

[Vorlage Titelbild: Pixabay]

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Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben und ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ 6152ca12:e3742e80

Uau estou aprendendo isso parece complicado mas vamos la; aos pouco pego o jeito hehe

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Spanien bleibt einer der Vorreiter im europäischen Prozess der totalen Überwachung per Digitalisierung. Seit Mittwoch ist dort der digitale Personalausweis verfügbar. Dabei handelt es sich um eine Regierungs-App, die auf dem Smartphone installiert werden muss und in den Stores von Google und Apple zu finden ist. Per Dekret von Regierungschef Pedro Sánchez und Zustimmung des Ministerrats ist diese Maßnahme jetzt in Kraft getreten.

Mit den üblichen Argumenten der Vereinfachung, des Komforts, der Effizienz und der Sicherheit preist das Innenministerium die «Innovation» an. Auch die Beteuerung, dass die digitale Variante parallel zum physischen Ausweis existieren wird und diesen nicht ersetzen soll, fehlt nicht. Während der ersten zwölf Monate wird «der Neue» noch nicht für alle Anwendungsfälle gültig sein, ab 2026 aber schon.

Dass die ganze Sache auch «Risiken und Nebenwirkungen» haben könnte, wird in den Mainstream-Medien eher selten thematisiert. Bestenfalls wird der Aspekt der Datensicherheit angesprochen, allerdings in der Regel direkt mit dem Regierungsvokabular von den «maximalen Sicherheitsgarantien» abgehandelt. Dennoch gibt es einige weitere Aspekte, die Bürger mit etwas Sinn für Privatsphäre bedenken sollten.

Um sich die digitale Version des nationalen Ausweises besorgen zu können (eine App mit dem Namen MiDNI), muss man sich vorab online registrieren. Dabei wird die Identität des Bürgers mit seiner mobilen Telefonnummer verknüpft. Diese obligatorische fixe Verdrahtung kennen wir von diversen anderen Apps und Diensten. Gleichzeitig ist das die Basis für eine perfekte Lokalisierbarkeit der Person.

Für jeden Vorgang der Identifikation in der Praxis wird später «eine Verbindung zu den Servern der Bundespolizei aufgebaut». Die Daten des Individuums werden «in Echtzeit» verifiziert und im Erfolgsfall von der Polizei signiert zurückgegeben. Das Ergebnis ist ein QR-Code mit zeitlich begrenzter Gültigkeit, der an Dritte weitergegeben werden kann.

Bei derartigen Szenarien sträuben sich einem halbwegs kritischen Staatsbürger die Nackenhaare. Allein diese minimale Funktionsbeschreibung lässt die totale Überwachung erkennen, die damit ermöglicht wird. Jede Benutzung des Ausweises wird künftig registriert, hinterlässt also Spuren. Und was ist, wenn die Server der Polizei einmal kein grünes Licht geben? Das wäre spätestens dann ein Problem, wenn der digitale doch irgendwann der einzig gültige Ausweis ist: Dann haben wir den abschaltbaren Bürger.

Dieser neue Vorstoß der Regierung von Pedro Sánchez ist ein weiterer Schritt in Richtung der «totalen Digitalisierung» des Landes, wie diese Politik in manchen Medien – nicht einmal kritisch, sondern sehr naiv – genannt wird. Ebenso verharmlosend wird auch erwähnt, dass sich das spanische Projekt des digitalen Ausweises nahtlos in die Initiativen der EU zu einer digitalen Identität für alle Bürger sowie des digitalen Euro einreiht.

In Zukunft könnte der neue Ausweis «auch in andere staatliche und private digitale Plattformen integriert werden», wie das Medienportal Cope ganz richtig bemerkt. Das ist die Perspektive.

[Titelbild: Pixabay]

Dazu passend:

Nur Abschied vom Alleinfahren? Monströse spanische Überwachungsprojekte gemäß EU-Norm

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Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben und ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Based on a recent paper that included collaboration from renowned experts such as Lynn Alden, Steve Lee, and Ren Crypto Fish, we discuss in depth how Bitcoin's consensus is built, the main risks, and the complex dynamics of protocol upgrades.

PT-BR version

Podcast https://www.fountain.fm/episode/wbjD6ntQuvX5u2G5BccC

Presentation https://gamma.app/docs/Analyzing-Bitcoin-Consensus-Risks-in-Protocol-Upgrades-p66axxjwaa37ksn

1. Introduction to Consensus in Bitcoin

Consensus in Bitcoin is the foundation that keeps the network secure and functional, allowing users worldwide to perform transactions in a decentralized manner without the need for intermediaries. Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin is often described as an "immutable" system designed to resist changes, and it is precisely this resistance that ensures its security and stability.

The central idea behind consensus in Bitcoin is to create a set of acceptance rules for blocks and transactions, ensuring that all network participants agree on the transaction history. This prevents "double-spending," where the same bitcoin could be used in two simultaneous transactions, something that would compromise trust in the network.

Evolution of Consensus in Bitcoin

Over the years, consensus in Bitcoin has undergone several adaptations, and the way participants agree on changes remains a delicate process. Unlike traditional systems, where changes can be imposed from the top down, Bitcoin operates in a decentralized model where any significant change needs the support of various groups of stakeholders, including miners, developers, users, and large node operators.

Moreover, the update process is extremely cautious, as hasty changes can compromise the network's security. As a result, the philosophy of "don't fix what isn't broken" prevails, with improvements happening incrementally and only after broad consensus among those involved. This model can make progress seem slow but ensures that Bitcoin remains faithful to the principles of security and decentralization.

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2. Technical Components of Consensus

Bitcoin's consensus is supported by a set of technical rules that determine what is considered a valid transaction and a valid block on the network. These technical aspects ensure that all nodes—the computers that participate in the Bitcoin network—agree on the current state of the blockchain. Below are the main technical components that form the basis of the consensus.

Validation of Blocks and Transactions

The validation of blocks and transactions is the central point of consensus in Bitcoin. A block is only considered valid if it meets certain criteria, such as maximum size, transaction structure, and the solving of the "Proof of Work" problem. The proof of work, required for a block to be included in the blockchain, is a computational process that ensures the block contains significant computational effort—protecting the network against manipulation attempts.

Transactions, in turn, need to follow specific input and output rules. Each transaction includes cryptographic signatures that prove the ownership of the bitcoins sent, as well as validation scripts that verify if the transaction conditions are met. This validation system is essential for network nodes to autonomously confirm that each transaction follows the rules.

Chain Selection

Another fundamental technical issue for Bitcoin's consensus is chain selection, which becomes especially important in cases where multiple versions of the blockchain coexist, such as after a network split (fork). To decide which chain is the "true" one and should be followed, the network adopts the criterion of the highest accumulated proof of work. In other words, the chain with the highest number of valid blocks, built with the greatest computational effort, is chosen by the network as the official one.

This criterion avoids permanent splits because it encourages all nodes to follow the same main chain, reinforcing consensus.

Soft Forks vs. Hard Forks

In the consensus process, protocol changes can happen in two ways: through soft forks or hard forks. These variations affect not only the protocol update but also the implications for network users:

• Soft Forks: These are changes that are backward compatible. Only nodes that adopt the new update will follow the new rules, but old nodes will still recognize the blocks produced with these rules as valid. This compatibility makes soft forks a safer option for updates, as it minimizes the risk of network division.

• Hard Forks: These are updates that are not backward compatible, requiring all nodes to update to the new version or risk being separated from the main chain. Hard forks can result in the creation of a new coin, as occurred with the split between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash in 2017. While hard forks allow for deeper changes, they also bring significant risks of network fragmentation.

These technical components form the base of Bitcoin's security and resilience, allowing the system to remain functional and immutable without losing the necessary flexibility to evolve over time.

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3. Stakeholders in Bitcoin's Consensus

Consensus in Bitcoin is not decided centrally. On the contrary, it depends on the interaction between different groups of stakeholders, each with their motivations, interests, and levels of influence. These groups play fundamental roles in how changes are implemented or rejected on the network. Below, we explore the six main stakeholders in Bitcoin's consensus.

1. Economic Nodes

Economic nodes, usually operated by exchanges, custody providers, and large companies that accept Bitcoin, exert significant influence over consensus. Because they handle large volumes of transactions and act as a connection point between the Bitcoin ecosystem and the traditional financial system, these nodes have the power to validate or reject blocks and to define which version of the software to follow in case of a fork.

Their influence is proportional to the volume of transactions they handle, and they can directly affect which chain will be seen as the main one. Their incentive is to maintain the network's stability and security to preserve its functionality and meet regulatory requirements.

2. Investors

Investors, including large institutional funds and individual Bitcoin holders, influence consensus indirectly through their impact on the asset's price. Their buying and selling actions can affect Bitcoin's value, which in turn influences the motivation of miners and other stakeholders to continue investing in the network's security and development.

Some institutional investors have agreements with custodians that may limit their ability to act in network split situations. Thus, the impact of each investor on consensus can vary based on their ownership structure and how quickly they can react to a network change.

3. Media Influencers

Media influencers, including journalists, analysts, and popular personalities on social media, have a powerful role in shaping public opinion about Bitcoin and possible updates. These influencers can help educate the public, promote debates, and bring transparency to the consensus process.

On the other hand, the impact of influencers can be double-edged: while they can clarify complex topics, they can also distort perceptions by amplifying or minimizing change proposals. This makes them a force both of support and resistance to consensus.

4. Miners

Miners are responsible for validating transactions and including blocks in the blockchain. Through computational power (hashrate), they also exert significant influence over consensus decisions. In update processes, miners often signal their support for a proposal, indicating that the new version is safe to use. However, this signaling is not always definitive, and miners can change their position if they deem it necessary.

Their incentive is to maximize returns from block rewards and transaction fees, as well as to maintain the value of investments in their specialized equipment, which are only profitable if the network remains stable.

5. Protocol Developers

Protocol developers, often called "Core Developers," are responsible for writing and maintaining Bitcoin's code. Although they do not have direct power over consensus, they possess an informal veto power since they decide which changes are included in the main client (Bitcoin Core). This group also serves as an important source of technical knowledge, helping guide decisions and inform other stakeholders.

Their incentive lies in the continuous improvement of the network, ensuring security and decentralization. Many developers are funded by grants and sponsorships, but their motivations generally include a strong ideological commitment to Bitcoin's principles.

6. Users and Application Developers

This group includes people who use Bitcoin in their daily transactions and developers who build solutions based on the network, such as wallets, exchanges, and payment platforms. Although their power in consensus is less than that of miners or economic nodes, they play an important role because they are responsible for popularizing Bitcoin's use and expanding the ecosystem.

If application developers decide not to adopt an update, this can affect compatibility and widespread acceptance. Thus, they indirectly influence consensus by deciding which version of the protocol to follow in their applications.

These stakeholders are vital to the consensus process, and each group exerts influence according to their involvement, incentives, and ability to act in situations of change. Understanding the role of each makes it clearer how consensus is formed and why it is so difficult to make significant changes to Bitcoin.

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4. Mechanisms for Activating Updates in Bitcoin

For Bitcoin to evolve without compromising security and consensus, different mechanisms for activating updates have been developed over the years. These mechanisms help coordinate changes among network nodes to minimize the risk of fragmentation and ensure that updates are implemented in an orderly manner. Here, we explore some of the main methods used in Bitcoin, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as historical examples of significant updates.

Flag Day

The Flag Day mechanism is one of the simplest forms of activating changes. In it, a specific date or block is determined as the activation moment, and all nodes must be updated by that point. This method does not involve prior signaling; participants simply need to update to the new software version by the established day or block.

• Advantages: Simplicity and predictability are the main benefits of Flag Day, as everyone knows the exact activation date.

• Disadvantages: Inflexibility can be a problem because there is no way to adjust the schedule if a significant part of the network has not updated. This can result in network splits if a significant number of nodes are not ready for the update.

An example of Flag Day was the Pay to Script Hash (P2SH) update in 2012, which required all nodes to adopt the change to avoid compatibility issues.

BIP34 and BIP9

BIP34 introduced a more dynamic process, in which miners increase the version number in block headers to signal the update. When a predetermined percentage of the last blocks is mined with this new version, the update is automatically activated. This model later evolved with BIP9, which allowed multiple updates to be signaled simultaneously through "version bits," each corresponding to a specific change.

• Advantages: Allows the network to activate updates gradually, giving more time for participants to adapt.

• Disadvantages: These methods rely heavily on miner support, which means that if a sufficient number of miners do not signal the update, it can be delayed or not implemented.

BIP9 was used in the activation of SegWit (BIP141) but faced challenges because some miners did not signal their intent to activate, leading to the development of new mechanisms.

User Activated Soft Forks (UASF) and User Resisted Soft Forks (URSF)

To increase the decision-making power of ordinary users, the concept of User Activated Soft Fork (UASF) was introduced, allowing node operators, not just miners, to determine consensus for a change. In this model, nodes set a date to start rejecting blocks that are not in compliance with the new update, forcing miners to adapt or risk having their blocks rejected by the network.

URSF, in turn, is a model where nodes reject blocks that attempt to adopt a specific update, functioning as resistance against proposed changes.

• Advantages: UASF returns decision-making power to node operators, ensuring that changes do not depend solely on miners.

• Disadvantages: Both UASF and URSF can generate network splits, especially in cases of strong opposition among different stakeholders.

An example of UASF was the activation of SegWit in 2017, where users supported activation independently of miner signaling, which ended up forcing its adoption.

BIP8 (LOT=True)

BIP8 is an evolution of BIP9, designed to prevent miners from indefinitely blocking a change desired by the majority of users and developers. BIP8 allows setting a parameter called "lockinontimeout" (LOT) as true, which means that if the update has not been fully signaled by a certain point, it is automatically activated.

• Advantages: Ensures that changes with broad support among users are not blocked by miners who wish to maintain the status quo.

• Disadvantages: Can lead to network splits if miners or other important stakeholders do not support the update.

Although BIP8 with LOT=True has not yet been used in Bitcoin, it is a proposal that can be applied in future updates if necessary.

These activation mechanisms have been essential for Bitcoin's development, allowing updates that keep the network secure and functional. Each method brings its own advantages and challenges, but all share the goal of preserving consensus and network cohesion.

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5. Risks and Considerations in Consensus Updates

Consensus updates in Bitcoin are complex processes that involve not only technical aspects but also political, economic, and social considerations. Due to the network's decentralized nature, each change brings with it a set of risks that need to be carefully assessed. Below, we explore some of the main challenges and future scenarios, as well as the possible impacts on stakeholders.

Network Fragility with Alternative Implementations

One of the main risks associated with consensus updates is the possibility of network fragmentation when there are alternative software implementations. If an update is implemented by a significant group of nodes but rejected by others, a network split (fork) can occur. This creates two competing chains, each with a different version of the transaction history, leading to unpredictable consequences for users and investors.

Such fragmentation weakens Bitcoin because, by dividing hashing power (computing) and coin value, it reduces network security and investor confidence. A notable example of this risk was the fork that gave rise to Bitcoin Cash in 2017 when disagreements over block size resulted in a new chain and a new asset.

Chain Splits and Impact on Stakeholders

Chain splits are a significant risk in update processes, especially in hard forks. During a hard fork, the network is split into two separate chains, each with its own set of rules. This results in the creation of a new coin and leaves users with duplicated assets on both chains. While this may seem advantageous, in the long run, these splits weaken the network and create uncertainties for investors.

Each group of stakeholders reacts differently to a chain split:

• Institutional Investors and ETFs: Face regulatory and compliance challenges because many of these assets are managed under strict regulations. The creation of a new coin requires decisions to be made quickly to avoid potential losses, which may be hampered by regulatory constraints.

• Miners: May be incentivized to shift their computing power to the chain that offers higher profitability, which can weaken one of the networks.

• Economic Nodes: Such as major exchanges and custody providers, have to quickly choose which chain to support, influencing the perceived value of each network.

Such divisions can generate uncertainties and loss of value, especially for institutional investors and those who use Bitcoin as a store of value.

Regulatory Impacts and Institutional Investors

With the growing presence of institutional investors in Bitcoin, consensus changes face new compliance challenges. Bitcoin ETFs, for example, are required to follow strict rules about which assets they can include and how chain split events should be handled. The creation of a new asset or migration to a new chain can complicate these processes, creating pressure for large financial players to quickly choose a chain, affecting the stability of consensus.

Moreover, decisions regarding forks can influence the Bitcoin futures and derivatives market, affecting perception and adoption by new investors. Therefore, the need to avoid splits and maintain cohesion is crucial to attract and preserve the confidence of these investors.

Security Considerations in Soft Forks and Hard Forks

While soft forks are generally preferred in Bitcoin for their backward compatibility, they are not without risks. Soft forks can create different classes of nodes on the network (updated and non-updated), which increases operational complexity and can ultimately weaken consensus cohesion. In a network scenario with fragmentation of node classes, Bitcoin's security can be affected, as some nodes may lose part of the visibility over updated transactions or rules.

In hard forks, the security risk is even more evident because all nodes need to adopt the new update to avoid network division. Experience shows that abrupt changes can create temporary vulnerabilities, in which malicious agents try to exploit the transition to attack the network.

Bounty Claim Risks and Attack Scenarios

Another risk in consensus updates are so-called "bounty claims"—accumulated rewards that can be obtained if an attacker manages to split or deceive a part of the network. In a conflict scenario, a group of miners or nodes could be incentivized to support a new update or create an alternative version of the software to benefit from these rewards.

These risks require stakeholders to carefully assess each update and the potential vulnerabilities it may introduce. The possibility of "bounty claims" adds a layer of complexity to consensus because each interest group may see a financial opportunity in a change that, in the long term, may harm network stability.

The risks discussed above show the complexity of consensus in Bitcoin and the importance of approaching it gradually and deliberately. Updates need to consider not only technical aspects but also economic and social implications, in order to preserve Bitcoin's integrity and maintain trust among stakeholders.

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6. Recommendations for the Consensus Process in Bitcoin

To ensure that protocol changes in Bitcoin are implemented safely and with broad support, it is essential that all stakeholders adopt a careful and coordinated approach. Here are strategic recommendations for evaluating, supporting, or rejecting consensus updates, considering the risks and challenges discussed earlier, along with best practices for successful implementation.

1. Careful Evaluation of Proposal Maturity

Stakeholders should rigorously assess the maturity level of a proposal before supporting its implementation. Updates that are still experimental or lack a robust technical foundation can expose the network to unnecessary risks. Ideally, change proposals should go through an extensive testing phase, have security audits, and receive review and feedback from various developers and experts.

2. Extensive Testing in Secure and Compatible Networks

Before an update is activated on the mainnet, it is essential to test it on networks like testnet and signet, and whenever possible, on other compatible networks that offer a safe and controlled environment to identify potential issues. Testing on networks like Litecoin was fundamental for the safe launch of innovations like SegWit and the Lightning Network, allowing functionalities to be validated on a lower-impact network before being implemented on Bitcoin.

The Liquid Network, developed by Blockstream, also plays an important role as an experimental network for new proposals, such as OP_CAT. By adopting these testing environments, stakeholders can mitigate risks and ensure that the update is reliable and secure before being adopted by the main network.

3. Importance of Stakeholder Engagement

The success of a consensus update strongly depends on the active participation of all stakeholders. This includes economic nodes, miners, protocol developers, investors, and end users. Lack of participation can lead to inadequate decisions or even future network splits, which would compromise Bitcoin's security and stability.

4. Key Questions for Evaluating Consensus Proposals

To assist in decision-making, each group of stakeholders should consider some key questions before supporting a consensus change:

• Does the proposal offer tangible benefits for Bitcoin's security, scalability, or usability?
• Does it maintain backward compatibility or introduce the risk of network split?
• Are the implementation requirements clear and feasible for each group involved?
• Are there clear and aligned incentives for all stakeholder groups to accept the change?

5. Coordination and Timing in Implementations

Timing is crucial. Updates with short activation windows can force a split because not all nodes and miners can update simultaneously. Changes should be planned with ample deadlines to allow all stakeholders to adjust their systems, avoiding surprises that could lead to fragmentation.

Mechanisms like soft forks are generally preferable to hard forks because they allow a smoother transition. Opting for backward-compatible updates when possible facilitates the process and ensures that nodes and miners can adapt without pressure.

6. Continuous Monitoring and Re-evaluation

After an update, it's essential to monitor the network to identify problems or side effects. This continuous process helps ensure cohesion and trust among all participants, keeping Bitcoin as a secure and robust network.

These recommendations, including the use of secure networks for extensive testing, promote a collaborative and secure environment for Bitcoin's consensus process. By adopting a deliberate and strategic approach, stakeholders can preserve Bitcoin's value as a decentralized and censorship-resistant network.

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7. Conclusion

Consensus in Bitcoin is more than a set of rules; it's the foundation that sustains the network as a decentralized, secure, and reliable system. Unlike centralized systems, where decisions can be made quickly, Bitcoin requires a much more deliberate and cooperative approach, where the interests of miners, economic nodes, developers, investors, and users must be considered and harmonized. This governance model may seem slow, but it is fundamental to preserving the resilience and trust that make Bitcoin a global store of value and censorship-resistant.

Consensus updates in Bitcoin must balance the need for innovation with the preservation of the network's core principles. The development process of a proposal needs to be detailed and rigorous, going through several testing stages, such as in testnet, signet, and compatible networks like Litecoin and Liquid Network. These networks offer safe environments for proposals to be analyzed and improved before being launched on the main network.

Each proposed change must be carefully evaluated regarding its maturity, impact, backward compatibility, and support among stakeholders. The recommended key questions and appropriate timing are critical to ensure that an update is adopted without compromising network cohesion. It's also essential that the implementation process is continuously monitored and re-evaluated, allowing adjustments as necessary and minimizing the risk of instability.

By following these guidelines, Bitcoin's stakeholders can ensure that the network continues to evolve safely and robustly, maintaining user trust and further solidifying its role as one of the most resilient and innovative digital assets in the world. Ultimately, consensus in Bitcoin is not just a technical issue but a reflection of its community and the values it represents: security, decentralization, and resilience.

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8. Links

Whitepaper: https://github.com/bitcoin-cap/bcap

Youtube (pt-br): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARycAibl9o&list=PL-qnhF0qlSPkfhorqsREuIu4UTbF0h4zb

@ aa8de34f:a6ffe696

In seinem Beitrag vom 30. März 2025 fragt Henning Rosenbusch auf Telegram angesichts zunehmender digitaler Kontrolle und staatlicher Allmacht:

„Wie soll sich gegen eine solche Tyrannei noch ein Widerstand formieren können, selbst im Untergrund? Sehe ich nicht.“\ (Quelle: t.me/rosenbusch/25228)

Er beschreibt damit ein Gefühl der Ohnmacht, das viele teilen: Eine Welt, in der Totalitarismus nicht mehr mit Panzern, sondern mit Algorithmen kommt. Wo Zugriff auf Geld, Meinungsfreiheit und Teilhabe vom Wohlverhalten abhängt. Der Bürger als kontrollierbare Variable im Code des Staates.\ Die Frage ist berechtigt. Doch die Antwort darauf liegt nicht in alten Widerstandsbildern – sondern in einer neuen Realität.

-- Denn es braucht keinen Untergrund mehr. --

Der Widerstand der Zukunft trägt keinen Tarnanzug. Er ist nicht konspirativ, sondern transparent. Nicht bewaffnet, sondern mathematisch beweisbar. Bitcoin steht nicht am Rand dieser Entwicklung – es ist ihr Fundament. Eine Bastion aus physikalischer Realität, spieltheoretischem Schutz und ökonomischer Wahrheit. Es ist nicht unfehlbar, aber unbestechlich. Nicht perfekt, aber immun gegen zentrale Willkür.

Hier entsteht kein „digitales Gegenreich“, sondern eine dezentrale Renaissance. Keine Revolte aus Wut, sondern eine stille Abkehr: von Zwang zu Freiwilligkeit, von Abhängigkeit zu Selbstverantwortung. Diese Revolution führt keine Kriege. Sie braucht keine Führer. Sie ist ein Netzwerk. Jeder Knoten ein Individuum. Jede Entscheidung ein Akt der Selbstermächtigung.

Weltweit wachsen Freiheits-Zitadellen aus dieser Idee: wirtschaftlich autark, digital souverän, lokal verankert und global vernetzt. Sie sind keine Utopien im luftleeren Raum, sondern konkrete Realitäten – angetrieben von Energie, Code und dem menschlichen Wunsch nach Würde.

Der Globalismus alter Prägung – zentralistisch, monopolistisch, bevormundend – wird an seiner eigenen Hybris zerbrechen. Seine Werkzeuge der Kontrolle werden ihn nicht retten. Im Gegenteil: Seine Geister werden ihn verfolgen und erlegen.

Und während die alten Mächte um Erhalt kämpfen, wächst eine neue Welt – nicht im Schatten, sondern im Offenen. Nicht auf Gewalt gebaut, sondern auf Mathematik, Physik und Freiheit.

Die Tyrannei sieht keinen Widerstand.\ Weil sie nicht erkennt, dass er längst begonnen hat.\ Unwiderruflich. Leise. Überall.

@ eac63075:b4988b48

The future of physical money is at stake, and the discussion about DREX, the new digital currency planned by the Central Bank of Brazil, is gaining momentum. In a candid and intense conversation, Federal Deputy Julia Zanatta (PL/SC) discussed the challenges and risks of this digital transition, also addressing her Bill No. 3,341/2024, which aims to prevent the extinction of physical currency. This bill emerges as a direct response to legislative initiatives seeking to replace physical money with digital alternatives, limiting citizens' options and potentially compromising individual freedom. Let's delve into the main points of this conversation.

https://www.fountain.fm/episode/i5YGJ9Ors3PkqAIMvNQ0

(PT-BR version here)

What is a CBDC?

Before discussing the specifics of DREX, it’s important to understand what a CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) is. CBDCs are digital currencies issued by central banks, similar to a digital version of physical money. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which operate in a decentralized manner, CBDCs are centralized and regulated by the government. In other words, they are digital currencies created and controlled by the Central Bank, intended to replace physical currency.

A prominent feature of CBDCs is their programmability. This means that the government can theoretically set rules about how, where, and for what this currency can be used. This aspect enables a level of control over citizens' finances that is impossible with physical money. By programming the currency, the government could limit transactions by setting geographical or usage restrictions. In practice, money within a CBDC could be restricted to specific spending or authorized for use in a defined geographical area.

In countries like China, where citizen actions and attitudes are also monitored, a person considered to have a "low score" due to a moral or ideological violation may have their transactions limited to essential purchases, restricting their digital currency use to non-essential activities. This financial control is strengthened because, unlike physical money, digital currency cannot be exchanged anonymously.

Practical Example: The Case of DREX During the Pandemic

To illustrate how DREX could be used, an example was given by Eric Altafim, director of Banco Itaú. He suggested that, if DREX had existed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government could have restricted the currency’s use to a 5-kilometer radius around a person’s residence, limiting their economic mobility. Another proposed use by the executive related to the Bolsa Família welfare program: the government could set up programming that only allows this benefit to be used exclusively for food purchases. Although these examples are presented as control measures for safety or organization, they demonstrate how much a CBDC could restrict citizens' freedom of choice.

To illustrate the potential for state control through a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), such as DREX, it is helpful to look at the example of China. In China, the implementation of a CBDC coincides with the country’s Social Credit System, a governmental surveillance tool that assesses citizens' and companies' behavior. Together, these technologies allow the Chinese government to monitor, reward, and, above all, punish behavior deemed inappropriate or threatening to the government.

How Does China's Social Credit System Work?

Implemented in 2014, China's Social Credit System assigns every citizen and company a "score" based on various factors, including financial behavior, criminal record, social interactions, and even online activities. This score determines the benefits or penalties each individual receives and can affect everything from public transport access to obtaining loans and enrolling in elite schools for their children. Citizens with low scores may face various sanctions, including travel restrictions, fines, and difficulty in securing loans.

With the adoption of the CBDC — or “digital yuan” — the Chinese government now has a new tool to closely monitor citizens' financial transactions, facilitating the application of Social Credit System penalties. China’s CBDC is a programmable digital currency, which means that the government can restrict how, when, and where the money can be spent. Through this level of control, digital currency becomes a powerful mechanism for influencing citizens' behavior.

Imagine, for instance, a citizen who repeatedly posts critical remarks about the government on social media or participates in protests. If the Social Credit System assigns this citizen a low score, the Chinese government could, through the CBDC, restrict their money usage in certain areas or sectors. For example, they could be prevented from buying tickets to travel to other regions, prohibited from purchasing certain consumer goods, or even restricted to making transactions only at stores near their home.

Another example of how the government can use the CBDC to enforce the Social Credit System is by monitoring purchases of products such as alcohol or luxury items. If a citizen uses the CBDC to spend more than the government deems reasonable on such products, this could negatively impact their social score, resulting in additional penalties such as future purchase restrictions or a lowered rating that impacts their personal and professional lives.

In China, this kind of control has already been demonstrated in several cases. Citizens added to Social Credit System “blacklists” have seen their spending and investment capacity severely limited. The combination of digital currency and social scores thus creates a sophisticated and invasive surveillance system, through which the Chinese government controls important aspects of citizens’ financial lives and individual freedoms.

Deputy Julia Zanatta views these examples with great concern. She argues that if the state has full control over digital money, citizens will be exposed to a level of economic control and surveillance never seen before. In a democracy, this control poses a risk, but in an authoritarian regime, it could be used as a powerful tool of repression.

DREX and Bill No. 3,341/2024

Julia Zanatta became aware of a bill by a Workers' Party (PT) deputy (Bill 4068/2020 by Deputy Reginaldo Lopes - PT/MG) that proposes the extinction of physical money within five years, aiming for a complete transition to DREX, the digital currency developed by the Central Bank of Brazil. Concerned about the impact of this measure, Julia drafted her bill, PL No. 3,341/2024, which prohibits the elimination of physical money, ensuring citizens the right to choose physical currency.

“The more I read about DREX, the less I want its implementation,” says the deputy. DREX is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), similar to other state digital currencies worldwide, but which, according to Julia, carries extreme control risks. She points out that with DREX, the State could closely monitor each citizen’s transactions, eliminating anonymity and potentially restricting freedom of choice. This control would lie in the hands of the Central Bank, which could, in a crisis or government change, “freeze balances or even delete funds directly from user accounts.”

Risks and Individual Freedom

Julia raises concerns about potential abuses of power that complete digitalization could allow. In a democracy, state control over personal finances raises serious questions, and EddieOz warns of an even more problematic future. “Today we are in a democracy, but tomorrow, with a government transition, we don't know if this kind of power will be used properly or abused,” he states. In other words, DREX gives the State the ability to restrict or condition the use of money, opening the door to unprecedented financial surveillance.

EddieOz cites Nigeria as an example, where a CBDC was implemented, and the government imposed severe restrictions on the use of physical money to encourage the use of digital currency, leading to protests and clashes in the country. In practice, the poorest and unbanked — those without regular access to banking services — were harshly affected, as without physical money, many cannot conduct basic transactions. Julia highlights that in Brazil, this situation would be even more severe, given the large number of unbanked individuals and the extent of rural areas where access to technology is limited.

The Relationship Between DREX and Pix

The digital transition has already begun with Pix, which revolutionized instant transfers and payments in Brazil. However, Julia points out that Pix, though popular, is a citizen’s choice, while DREX tends to eliminate that choice. The deputy expresses concern about new rules suggested for Pix, such as daily transaction limits of a thousand reais, justified as anti-fraud measures but which, in her view, represent additional control and a profit opportunity for banks. “How many more rules will banks create to profit from us?” asks Julia, noting that DREX could further enhance control over personal finances.

International Precedents and Resistance to CBDC

The deputy also cites examples from other countries resisting the idea of a centralized digital currency. In the United States, states like New Hampshire have passed laws to prevent the advance of CBDCs, and leaders such as Donald Trump have opposed creating a national digital currency. Trump, addressing the topic, uses a justification similar to Julia’s: in a digitalized system, “with one click, your money could disappear.” She agrees with the warning, emphasizing the control risk that a CBDC represents, especially for countries with disadvantaged populations.

Besides the United States, Canada, Colombia, and Australia have also suspended studies on digital currencies, citing the need for further discussions on population impacts. However, in Brazil, the debate on DREX is still limited, with few parliamentarians and political leaders openly discussing the topic. According to Julia, only she and one or two deputies are truly trying to bring this discussion to the Chamber, making DREX’s advance even more concerning.

Bill No. 3,341/2024 and Popular Pressure

For Julia, her bill is a first step. Although she acknowledges that ideally, it would prevent DREX's implementation entirely, PL 3341/2024 is a measure to ensure citizens' choice to use physical money, preserving a form of individual freedom. “If the future means control, I prefer to live in the past,” Julia asserts, reinforcing that the fight for freedom is at the heart of her bill.

However, the deputy emphasizes that none of this will be possible without popular mobilization. According to her, popular pressure is crucial for other deputies to take notice and support PL 3341. “I am only one deputy, and we need the public’s support to raise the project’s visibility,” she explains, encouraging the public to press other parliamentarians and ask them to “pay attention to PL 3341 and the project that prohibits the end of physical money.” The deputy believes that with a strong awareness and pressure movement, it is possible to advance the debate and ensure Brazilians’ financial freedom.

What’s at Stake?

Julia Zanatta leaves no doubt: DREX represents a profound shift in how money will be used and controlled in Brazil. More than a simple modernization of the financial system, the Central Bank’s CBDC sets precedents for an unprecedented level of citizen surveillance and control in the country. For the deputy, this transition needs to be debated broadly and transparently, and it’s up to the Brazilian people to defend their rights and demand that the National Congress discuss these changes responsibly.

The deputy also emphasizes that, regardless of political or partisan views, this issue affects all Brazilians. “This agenda is something that will affect everyone. We need to be united to ensure people understand the gravity of what could happen.” Julia believes that by sharing information and generating open debate, it is possible to prevent Brazil from following the path of countries that have already implemented a digital currency in an authoritarian way.

A Call to Action

The future of physical money in Brazil is at risk. For those who share Deputy Julia Zanatta’s concerns, the time to act is now. Mobilize, get informed, and press your representatives. PL 3341/2024 is an opportunity to ensure that Brazilian citizens have a choice in how to use their money, without excessive state interference or surveillance.

In the end, as the deputy puts it, the central issue is freedom. “My fear is that this project will pass, and people won’t even understand what is happening.” Therefore, may every citizen at least have the chance to understand what’s at stake and make their voice heard in defense of a Brazil where individual freedom and privacy are respected values.

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Der Irrsinn ist bei Einzelnen etwas Seltenes – \ aber bei Gruppen, Parteien, Völkern, Zeiten die Regel. \ Friedrich Nietzsche

Erinnern Sie sich an die Horrorkomödie «Scary Movie»? Nicht, dass ich diese Art Filme besonders erinnerungswürdig fände, aber einige Szenen daraus sind doch gewissermaßen Klassiker. Dazu zählt eine, die das Verhalten vieler Protagonisten in Horrorfilmen parodiert, wenn sie in Panik flüchten. Welchen Weg nimmt wohl die Frau in der Situation auf diesem Bild?

Diese Szene kommt mir automatisch in den Sinn, wenn ich aktuelle Entwicklungen in Europa betrachte. Weitreichende Entscheidungen gehen wider jede Logik in die völlig falsche Richtung. Nur ist das hier alles andere als eine Komödie, sondern bitterernst. Dieser Horror ist leider sehr real.

Die Europäische Union hat sich selbst über Jahre konsequent in eine Sackgasse manövriert. Sie hat es versäumt, sich und ihre Politik selbstbewusst und im Einklang mit ihren Wurzeln auf dem eigenen Kontinent zu positionieren. Stattdessen ist sie in blinder Treue den vermeintlichen «transatlantischen Freunden» auf ihrem Konfrontationskurs gen Osten gefolgt.

In den USA haben sich die Vorzeichen allerdings mittlerweile geändert, und die einst hoch gelobten «Freunde und Partner» erscheinen den europäischen «Führern» nicht mehr vertrauenswürdig. Das ist spätestens seit der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz, der Rede von Vizepräsident J. D. Vance und den empörten Reaktionen offensichtlich. Große Teile Europas wirken seitdem wie ein aufgescheuchter Haufen kopfloser Hühner. Orientierung und Kontrolle sind völlig abhanden gekommen.

Statt jedoch umzukehren oder wenigstens zu bremsen und vielleicht einen Abzweig zu suchen, geben die Crash-Piloten jetzt auf dem Weg durch die Sackgasse erst richtig Gas. Ja sie lösen sogar noch die Sicherheitsgurte und deaktivieren die Airbags. Den vor Angst dauergelähmten Passagieren fällt auch nichts Besseres ein und so schließen sie einfach die Augen. Derweil übertrumpfen sich die Kommentatoren des Events gegenseitig in sensationslüsterner «Berichterstattung».

Wie schon die deutsche Außenministerin mit höchsten UN-Ambitionen, Annalena Baerbock, proklamiert auch die Europäische Kommission einen «Frieden durch Stärke». Zu dem jetzt vorgelegten, selbstzerstörerischen Fahrplan zur Ankurbelung der Rüstungsindustrie, genannt «Weißbuch zur europäischen Verteidigung – Bereitschaft 2030», erklärte die Kommissionspräsidentin, die «Ära der Friedensdividende» sei längst vorbei. Soll das heißen, Frieden bringt nichts ein? Eine umfassende Zusammenarbeit an dauerhaften europäischen Friedenslösungen steht demnach jedenfalls nicht zur Debatte.

Zusätzlich brisant ist, dass aktuell «die ganze EU von Deutschen regiert wird», wie der EU-Parlamentarier und ehemalige UN-Diplomat Michael von der Schulenburg beobachtet hat. Tatsächlich sitzen neben von der Leyen und Strack-Zimmermann noch einige weitere Deutsche in – vor allem auch in Krisenzeiten – wichtigen Spitzenposten der Union. Vor dem Hintergrund der Kriegstreiberei in Deutschland muss eine solche Dominanz mindestens nachdenklich stimmen.

Ihre ursprünglichen Grundwerte wie Demokratie, Freiheit, Frieden und Völkerverständigung hat die EU kontinuierlich in leere Worthülsen verwandelt. Diese werden dafür immer lächerlicher hochgehalten und beschworen.

Es wird dringend Zeit, dass wir, der Souverän, diesem erbärmlichen und gefährlichen Trauerspiel ein Ende setzen und die Fäden selbst in die Hand nehmen. In diesem Sinne fordert uns auch das «European Peace Project» auf, am 9. Mai im Rahmen eines Kunstprojekts den Frieden auszurufen. Seien wir dabei!

[Titelbild: Pixabay]

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Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben und ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ 04c195f1:3329a1da

The old world order is crumbling. What was once considered stable and unshakable—the American-led global framework established after World War II—is now rapidly disintegrating. From the fraying fabric of NATO to the self-serving protectionism of Trump’s renewed presidency, the signals are clear: the empire that once held the Western world together is retreating. And in the vacuum it leaves behind, a new power must emerge.

The question is: will Europe finally seize this moment?

For decades, Europe has relied on the illusion of safety under an American umbrella. This dependency allowed us to indulge in what can only be described as “luxury politics.” Instead of strengthening our core institutions—defense, infrastructure, energy independence—we poured our energy into ideological experiments: value-based governance, multiculturalism, aggressive climate goals, and endless layers of bureaucracy.

We let ourselves believe history had ended. That war, scarcity, and geopolitical struggle were things of the past. That our greatest challenges would be inclusivity, carbon credits, and data protection regulations.

But history, as always, had other plans.

Trump, Nationalist Hope and Hard Reality

Across Europe, many nationalists and conservatives initially welcomed Donald Trump. He rejected the tenets of liberal globalism, called out the absurdities of woke ideology, and promised a return to realism. In a world saturated by progressive conformity, he seemed like a disruptive breath of fresh air.

And to a certain extent, he was.

But history will likely remember his presidency not for culture wars or conservative rhetoric—but for something far more consequential: the dismantling of the American empire.

What we are witnessing under Trump is the accelerated withdrawal of the United States from its role as global enforcer. Whether by design or incompetence, the result is the same. American institutions are retracting, its alliances are fraying, and its strategic grip on Europe is loosening.

For Americans, this may seem like decline. For Europe, it is an opportunity—an uncomfortable, painful, but necessary opportunity.

This is our chance to break free from the American yoke and step into the world as a sovereign power in our own right.

The End of Illusions

Europe is not a weak continent. We have a population larger than the United States, an economy that outpaces Russia’s many times over, and centuries of civilizational strength behind us. But we have been kept fragmented, distracted, and dependent—by design.

Both Washington and Moscow have an interest in a divided, impotent Europe. American strategists see us as junior partners at best, liabilities at worst. Russian elites, like Sergey Karaganov, openly admit their goal is to push Europe off the global stage. China, for its part, eyes our markets while quietly maneuvering to undermine our autonomy.

But something is changing.

In Brussels, even the ideologically captured technocrats are beginning to see the writing on the wall. Overbearing regulations like GDPR are being reconsidered. The long-pushed Equal Treatment Directive—a pan-European anti-discrimination law—may finally be scrapped. These are small signs, but signs nonetheless. Europe is waking up.

From Fracture to Foundation

To build something new, the old must first fall. That collapse is now well underway.

The collapse of American hegemony does not mean the rise of chaos—it means the opening of a path. Europe has a choice: continue to drift, clinging to broken institutions and obsolete alliances, or embrace the challenge of becoming a serious actor in a multipolar world.

This does not mean copying the imperial ambitions of others. Europe’s strength will not come from domination, but from independence, coherence, and confidence. A strong Europe is not one ruled from Brussels, but one composed of strong, rooted nations acting together in strategic alignment. Not a federation, not an empire in the classical sense—but a civilization asserting its right to survive and thrive on its own terms.

At the same time, we must not fall into the trap of romantic isolationism. Some nationalists still cling to the idea that their nation alone can stand firm on the global stage, detached from continental collaboration. That vision no longer matches the geopolitical reality. The world has changed, and so must our strategy. In key areas—such as defense, border security, trade policy, and technological sovereignty—Europe must act with unity and purpose. This does not require dissolving national identities; it requires mature cooperation among free nations. To retreat into purely national silos would be to condemn Europe to irrelevance. Strengthening the right kind of European cooperation—while returning power in other areas to the national level—is not a betrayal of nationalism, but its necessary evolution.

A Third Position: Beyond East and West

As the American empire stumbles and Russia attempts to fill the void, Europe must not become a pawn in someone else’s game. Our task is not to shift allegiance from one master to another—but to step into sovereignty. This is not about trading Washington for Moscow, or Beijing. It is about rejecting all external domination and asserting our own geopolitical will.

A truly pro-European nationalism must recognize that our civilizational future lies not in nostalgia or subservience, but in strategic clarity. We must build a third position—a pole of stability and power that stands apart from the decaying empires of the past.

That requires sacrifice, but it also promises freedom.

Hope Through Action

There is a romantic notion among some European nationalists that decline is inevitable—that we are simply passengers on a sinking ship. But fatalism is not tradition. It is surrender.

Our ancestors did not build cathedrals, repel invaders, or chart the globe by giving in to despair. They acted—often against impossible odds—because they believed in a Europe worth fighting for.

We must now rediscover that spirit.

This is not a call for uniformity, but for unity. Not for empire, but for sovereignty. Not for nostalgia, but for renewal. Across the continent, a new consciousness is stirring. From the Alps to the Baltic, from Lisbon to Helsinki, there are voices calling for something more than submission to global markets and American whims.

They are calling for Europe.

The Hour Has Come

There may not be a second chance. The tide of history is turning, and the next ten years will determine whether Europe reclaims its role in the world—or becomes a museum piece, mourned by tourists and remembered by none.

This is not the end.

It is our beginning—if we are brave enough to seize it.

■

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Wir werden nicht zulassen, dass technisch manches möglich ist, \ aber der Staat es nicht nutzt. \ Angela Merkel

Die Modalverben zu erklären, ist im Deutschunterricht manchmal nicht ganz einfach. Nicht alle Fremdsprachen unterscheiden zum Beispiel bei der Frage nach einer Möglichkeit gleichermaßen zwischen «können» im Sinne von «die Gelegenheit, Kenntnis oder Fähigkeit haben» und «dürfen» als «die Erlaubnis oder Berechtigung haben». Das spanische Wort «poder» etwa steht für beides.

Ebenso ist vielen Schülern auf den ersten Blick nicht recht klar, dass das logische Gegenteil von «müssen» nicht unbedingt «nicht müssen» ist, sondern vielmehr «nicht dürfen». An den Verkehrsschildern lässt sich so etwas meistens recht gut erklären: Manchmal muss man abbiegen, aber manchmal darf man eben nicht.

Dieses Beispiel soll ein wenig die Verwirrungstaktik veranschaulichen, die in der Politik gerne verwendet wird, um unpopuläre oder restriktive Maßnahmen Stück für Stück einzuführen. Zuerst ist etwas einfach innovativ und bringt viele Vorteile. Vor allem ist es freiwillig, jeder kann selber entscheiden, niemand muss mitmachen. Später kann man zunehmend weniger Alternativen wählen, weil sie verschwinden, und irgendwann verwandelt sich alles andere in «nicht dürfen» – die Maßnahme ist obligatorisch.

Um die Durchsetzung derartiger Initiativen strategisch zu unterstützen und nett zu verpacken, gibt es Lobbyisten, gerne auch NGOs genannt. Dass das «NG» am Anfang dieser Abkürzung übersetzt «Nicht-Regierungs-» bedeutet, ist ein Anachronismus. Das war vielleicht früher einmal so, heute ist eher das Gegenteil gemeint.

In unserer modernen Zeit wird enorm viel Lobbyarbeit für die Digitalisierung praktisch sämtlicher Lebensbereiche aufgewendet. Was das auf dem Sektor der Mobilität bedeuten kann, haben wir diese Woche anhand aktueller Entwicklungen in Spanien beleuchtet. Begründet teilweise mit Vorgaben der Europäischen Union arbeitet man dort fleißig an einer «neuen Mobilität», basierend auf «intelligenter» technologischer Infrastruktur. Derartige Anwandlungen wurden auch schon als «Technofeudalismus» angeprangert.

Nationale Zugangspunkte für Mobilitätsdaten im Sinne der EU gibt es nicht nur in allen Mitgliedsländern, sondern auch in der Schweiz und in Großbritannien. Das Vereinigte Königreich beteiligt sich darüber hinaus an anderen EU-Projekten für digitale Überwachungs- und Kontrollmaßnahmen, wie dem biometrischen Identifizierungssystem für «nachhaltigen Verkehr und Tourismus».

Natürlich marschiert auch Deutschland stracks und euphorisch in Richtung digitaler Zukunft. Ohne vernetzte Mobilität und einen «verlässlichen Zugang zu Daten, einschließlich Echtzeitdaten» komme man in der Verkehrsplanung und -steuerung nicht aus, erklärt die Regierung. Der Interessenverband der IT-Dienstleister Bitkom will «die digitale Transformation der deutschen Wirtschaft und Verwaltung vorantreiben». Dazu bewirbt er unter anderem die Konzepte Smart City, Smart Region und Smart Country und behauptet, deutsche Großstädte «setzen bei Mobilität voll auf Digitalisierung».

Es steht zu befürchten, dass das umfassende Sammeln, Verarbeiten und Vernetzen von Daten, das angeblich die Menschen unterstützen soll (und theoretisch ja auch könnte), eher dazu benutzt wird, sie zu kontrollieren und zu manipulieren. Je elektrischer und digitaler unsere Umgebung wird, desto größer sind diese Möglichkeiten. Im Ergebnis könnten solche Prozesse den Bürger nicht nur einschränken oder überflüssig machen, sondern in mancherlei Hinsicht regelrecht abschalten. Eine gesunde Skepsis ist also geboten.

[Titelbild: Pixabay]

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Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Er ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ aa8de34f:a6ffe696

19. März 2025

🔐 1. SHA-256 is Quantum-Resistant

Bitcoin’s proof-of-work mechanism relies on SHA-256, a hashing algorithm. Even with a powerful quantum computer, SHA-256 remains secure because:

• Quantum computers excel at factoring large numbers (Shor’s Algorithm).
• However, SHA-256 is a one-way function, meaning there's no known quantum algorithm that can efficiently reverse it.
• Grover’s Algorithm (which theoretically speeds up brute force attacks) would still require 2¹²⁸ operations to break SHA-256 – far beyond practical reach.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

🔑 2. Public Key Vulnerability – But Only If You Reuse Addresses

Bitcoin uses Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) to generate keys.

• A quantum computer could use Shor’s Algorithm to break SECP256K1, the curve Bitcoin uses.
• If you never reuse addresses, it is an additional security element
• 🔑 1. Bitcoin Addresses Are NOT Public Keys

Many people assume a Bitcoin address is the public key—this is wrong.

• When you receive Bitcoin, it is sent to a hashed public key (the Bitcoin address).
• The actual public key is never exposed because it is the Bitcoin Adress who addresses the Public Key which never reveals the creation of a public key by a spend
• Bitcoin uses Pay-to-Public-Key-Hash (P2PKH) or newer methods like Pay-to-Witness-Public-Key-Hash (P2WPKH), which add extra layers of security.

🕵️♂️ 2.1 The Public Key Never Appears

• When you send Bitcoin, your wallet creates a digital signature.
• This signature uses the private key to prove ownership.
• The Bitcoin address is revealed and creates the Public Key
• The public key remains hidden inside the Bitcoin script and Merkle tree.

This means: ✔ The public key is never exposed. ✔ Quantum attackers have nothing to target, attacking a Bitcoin Address is a zero value game.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

🔄 3. Bitcoin Can Upgrade

Even if quantum computers eventually become a real threat:

• Bitcoin developers can upgrade to quantum-safe cryptography (e.g., lattice-based cryptography or post-quantum signatures like Dilithium).
• Bitcoin’s decentralized nature ensures a network-wide soft fork or hard fork could transition to quantum-resistant keys.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

⏳ 4. The 10-Minute Block Rule as a Security Feature

• Bitcoin’s network operates on a 10-minute block interval, meaning:Even if an attacker had immense computational power (like a quantum computer), they could only attempt an attack every 10 minutes.Unlike traditional encryption, where a hacker could continuously brute-force keys, Bitcoin’s system resets the challenge with every new block.This limits the window of opportunity for quantum attacks.

---

🎯 5. Quantum Attack Needs to Solve a Block in Real-Time

• A quantum attacker must solve the cryptographic puzzle (Proof of Work) in under 10 minutes.
• The problem? Any slight error changes the hash completely, meaning:If the quantum computer makes a mistake (even 0.0001% probability), the entire attack fails.Quantum decoherence (loss of qubit stability) makes error correction a massive challenge.The computational cost of recovering from an incorrect hash is still incredibly high.

---

⚡ 6. Network Resilience – Even if a Block Is Hacked

• Even if a quantum computer somehow solved a block instantly:The network would quickly recognize and reject invalid transactions.Other miners would continue mining under normal cryptographic rules.51% Attack? The attacker would need to consistently beat the entire Bitcoin network, which is not sustainable.

---

🔄 7. The Logarithmic Difficulty Adjustment Neutralizes Threats

• Bitcoin adjusts mining difficulty every 2016 blocks (\~2 weeks).
• If quantum miners appeared and suddenly started solving blocks too quickly, the difficulty would adjust upward, making attacks significantly harder.
• This self-correcting mechanism ensures that even quantum computers wouldn't easily overpower the network.

---

🔥 Final Verdict: Quantum Computers Are Too Slow for Bitcoin

✔ The 10-minute rule limits attack frequency – quantum computers can’t keep up.

✔ Any slight miscalculation ruins the attack, resetting all progress.

✔ Bitcoin’s difficulty adjustment would react, neutralizing quantum advantages.

Even if quantum computers reach their theoretical potential, Bitcoin’s game theory and design make it incredibly resistant. 🚀

@ eac63075:b4988b48

Imagine sending a private message to a friend, only to learn that authorities could be scanning its contents without your knowledge. This isn't a scene from a dystopian novel but a potential reality under the European Union's proposed "Chat Control" measures. Aimed at combating serious crimes like child exploitation and terrorism, these proposals could significantly impact the privacy of everyday internet users. As encrypted messaging services become the norm for personal and professional communication, understanding Chat Control is essential. This article delves into what Chat Control entails, why it's being considered, and how it could affect your right to private communication.

https://www.fountain.fm/episode/coOFsst7r7mO1EP1kSzV

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0IZ6kMExfxFm4FHg5DAWT8?si=e139033865e045de

Sections:

• Introduction
• What Is Chat Control?
• Why Is the EU Pushing for Chat Control?
• The Privacy Concerns and Risks
• The Technical Debate: Encryption and Backdoors
• Global Reactions and the Debate in Europe
• Possible Consequences for Messaging Services
• What Happens Next? The Future of Chat Control
• Conclusion

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What Is Chat Control?

"Chat Control" refers to a set of proposed measures by the European Union aimed at monitoring and scanning private communications on messaging platforms. The primary goal is to detect and prevent the spread of illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and to combat terrorism. While the intention is to enhance security and protect vulnerable populations, these proposals have raised significant privacy concerns.

At its core, Chat Control would require messaging services to implement automated scanning technologies that can analyze the content of messages—even those that are end-to-end encrypted. This means that the private messages you send to friends, family, or colleagues could be subject to inspection by algorithms designed to detect prohibited content.

Origins of the Proposal

The initiative for Chat Control emerged from the EU's desire to strengthen its digital security infrastructure. High-profile cases of online abuse and the use of encrypted platforms by criminal organizations have prompted lawmakers to consider more invasive surveillance tactics. The European Commission has been exploring legislation that would make it mandatory for service providers to monitor communications on their platforms.

How Messaging Services Work

Most modern messaging apps, like Signal, Session, SimpleX, Veilid, Protonmail and Tutanota (among others), use end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This encryption ensures that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages being exchanged. Not even the service providers can access the content. This level of security is crucial for maintaining privacy in digital communications, protecting users from hackers, identity thieves, and other malicious actors.

Key Elements of Chat Control

• Automated Content Scanning: Service providers would use algorithms to scan messages for illegal content.
• Circumvention of Encryption: To scan encrypted messages, providers might need to alter their encryption methods, potentially weakening security.
• Mandatory Reporting: If illegal content is detected, providers would be required to report it to authorities.
• Broad Applicability: The measures could apply to all messaging services operating within the EU, affecting both European companies and international platforms.

Why It Matters

Understanding Chat Control is essential because it represents a significant shift in how digital privacy is handled. While combating illegal activities online is crucial, the methods proposed could set a precedent for mass surveillance and the erosion of privacy rights. Everyday users who rely on encrypted messaging for personal and professional communication might find their conversations are no longer as private as they once thought.

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Why Is the EU Pushing for Chat Control?

The European Union's push for Chat Control stems from a pressing concern to protect its citizens, particularly children, from online exploitation and criminal activities. With the digital landscape becoming increasingly integral to daily life, the EU aims to strengthen its ability to combat serious crimes facilitated through online platforms.

Protecting Children and Preventing Crime

One of the primary motivations behind Chat Control is the prevention of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) circulating on the internet. Law enforcement agencies have reported a significant increase in the sharing of illegal content through private messaging services. By implementing Chat Control, the EU believes it can more effectively identify and stop perpetrators, rescue victims, and deter future crimes.

Terrorism is another critical concern. Encrypted messaging apps can be used by terrorist groups to plan and coordinate attacks without detection. The EU argues that accessing these communications could be vital in preventing such threats and ensuring public safety.

Legal Context and Legislative Drivers

The push for Chat Control is rooted in several legislative initiatives:

• ePrivacy Directive: This directive regulates the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in electronic communications. The EU is considering amendments that would allow for the scanning of private messages under specific circumstances.

• Temporary Derogation: In 2021, the EU adopted a temporary regulation permitting voluntary detection of CSAM by communication services. The current proposals aim to make such measures mandatory and more comprehensive.

• Regulation Proposals: The European Commission has proposed regulations that would require service providers to detect, report, and remove illegal content proactively. This would include the use of technologies to scan private communications.

Balancing Security and Privacy

EU officials argue that the proposed measures are a necessary response to evolving digital threats. They emphasize the importance of staying ahead of criminals who exploit technology to harm others. By implementing Chat Control, they believe law enforcement can be more effective without entirely dismantling privacy protections.

However, the EU also acknowledges the need to balance security with fundamental rights. The proposals include provisions intended to limit the scope of surveillance, such as:

• Targeted Scanning: Focusing on specific threats rather than broad, indiscriminate monitoring.

• Judicial Oversight: Requiring court orders or oversight for accessing private communications.

• Data Protection Safeguards: Implementing measures to ensure that data collected is handled securely and deleted when no longer needed.

The Urgency Behind the Push

High-profile cases of online abuse and terrorism have heightened the sense of urgency among EU policymakers. Reports of increasing online grooming and the widespread distribution of illegal content have prompted calls for immediate action. The EU posits that without measures like Chat Control, these problems will continue to escalate unchecked.

Criticism and Controversy

Despite the stated intentions, the push for Chat Control has been met with significant criticism. Opponents argue that the measures could be ineffective against savvy criminals who can find alternative ways to communicate. There is also concern that such surveillance could be misused or extended beyond its original purpose.

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The Privacy Concerns and Risks

While the intentions behind Chat Control focus on enhancing security and protecting vulnerable groups, the proposed measures raise significant privacy concerns. Critics argue that implementing such surveillance could infringe on fundamental rights and set a dangerous precedent for mass monitoring of private communications.

Infringement on Privacy Rights

At the heart of the debate is the right to privacy. By scanning private messages, even with automated tools, the confidentiality of personal communications is compromised. Users may no longer feel secure sharing sensitive information, fearing that their messages could be intercepted or misinterpreted by algorithms.

Erosion of End-to-End Encryption

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a cornerstone of digital security, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read the messages exchanged. Chat Control could necessitate the introduction of "backdoors" or weaken encryption protocols, making it easier for unauthorized parties to access private data. This not only affects individual privacy but also exposes communications to potential cyber threats.

Concerns from Privacy Advocates

Organizations like Signal and Tutanota, which offer encrypted messaging services, have voiced strong opposition to Chat Control. They warn that undermining encryption could have far-reaching consequences:

• Security Risks: Weakening encryption makes systems more vulnerable to hacking, espionage, and cybercrime.
• Global Implications: Changes in EU regulations could influence policies worldwide, leading to a broader erosion of digital privacy.
• Ineffectiveness Against Crime: Determined criminals might resort to other, less detectable means of communication, rendering the measures ineffective while still compromising the privacy of law-abiding citizens.

Potential for Government Overreach

There is a fear that Chat Control could lead to increased surveillance beyond its original scope. Once the infrastructure for scanning private messages is in place, it could be repurposed or expanded to monitor other types of content, stifling free expression and dissent.

Real-World Implications for Users

• False Positives: Automated scanning technologies are not infallible and could mistakenly flag innocent content, leading to unwarranted scrutiny or legal consequences for users.
• Chilling Effect: Knowing that messages could be monitored might discourage people from expressing themselves freely, impacting personal relationships and societal discourse.
• Data Misuse: Collected data could be vulnerable to leaks or misuse, compromising personal and sensitive information.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Privacy advocates also highlight potential conflicts with existing laws and ethical standards:

• Violation of Fundamental Rights: The European Convention on Human Rights and other international agreements protect the right to privacy and freedom of expression.
• Questionable Effectiveness: The ethical justification for such invasive measures is challenged if they do not significantly improve safety or if they disproportionately impact innocent users.

Opposition from Member States and Organizations

Countries like Germany and organizations such as the European Digital Rights (EDRi) have expressed opposition to Chat Control. They emphasize the need to protect digital privacy and caution against hasty legislation that could have unintended consequences.

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The Technical Debate: Encryption and Backdoors

The discussion around Chat Control inevitably leads to a complex technical debate centered on encryption and the potential introduction of backdoors into secure communication systems. Understanding these concepts is crucial to grasping the full implications of the proposed measures.

What Is End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)?

End-to-end encryption is a method of secure communication that prevents third parties from accessing data while it's transferred from one end system to another. In simpler terms, only the sender and the recipient can read the messages. Even the service providers operating the messaging platforms cannot decrypt the content.

• Security Assurance: E2EE ensures that sensitive information—be it personal messages, financial details, or confidential business communications—remains private.
• Widespread Use: Popular messaging apps like Signal, Session, SimpleX, Veilid, Protonmail and Tutanota (among others) rely on E2EE to protect user data.

How Chat Control Affects Encryption

Implementing Chat Control as proposed would require messaging services to scan the content of messages for illegal material. To do this on encrypted platforms, providers might have to:

• Introduce Backdoors: Create a means for third parties (including the service provider or authorities) to access encrypted messages.
• Client-Side Scanning: Install software on users' devices that scans messages before they are encrypted and sent, effectively bypassing E2EE.

The Risks of Weakening Encryption

1. Compromised Security for All Users

Introducing backdoors or client-side scanning tools can create vulnerabilities:

• Exploitable Gaps: If a backdoor exists, malicious actors might find and exploit it, leading to data breaches.
• Universal Impact: Weakening encryption doesn't just affect targeted individuals; it potentially exposes all users to increased risk.

2. Undermining Trust in Digital Services

• User Confidence: Knowing that private communications could be accessed might deter people from using digital services or push them toward unregulated platforms.
• Business Implications: Companies relying on secure communications might face increased risks, affecting economic activities.

3. Ineffectiveness Against Skilled Adversaries

• Alternative Methods: Criminals might shift to other encrypted channels or develop new ways to avoid detection.
• False Sense of Security: Weakening encryption could give the impression of increased safety while adversaries adapt and continue their activities undetected.

Signal’s Response and Stance

Signal, a leading encrypted messaging service, has been vocal in its opposition to the EU's proposals:

• Refusal to Weaken Encryption: Signal's CEO Meredith Whittaker has stated that the company would rather cease operations in the EU than compromise its encryption standards.
• Advocacy for Privacy: Signal emphasizes that strong encryption is essential for protecting human rights and freedoms in the digital age.

Understanding Backdoors

A "backdoor" in encryption is an intentional weakness inserted into a system to allow authorized access to encrypted data. While intended for legitimate use by authorities, backdoors pose several problems:

• Security Vulnerabilities: They can be discovered and exploited by unauthorized parties, including hackers and foreign governments.
• Ethical Concerns: The existence of backdoors raises questions about consent and the extent to which governments should be able to access private communications.

The Slippery Slope Argument

Privacy advocates warn that introducing backdoors or mandatory scanning sets a precedent:

• Expanded Surveillance: Once in place, these measures could be extended to monitor other types of content beyond the original scope.
• Erosion of Rights: Gradual acceptance of surveillance can lead to a significant reduction in personal freedoms over time.

Potential Technological Alternatives

Some suggest that it's possible to fight illegal content without undermining encryption:

• Metadata Analysis: Focusing on patterns of communication rather than content.
• Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms: Encouraging users to report illegal content voluntarily.
• Investing in Law Enforcement Capabilities: Strengthening traditional investigative methods without compromising digital security.

The technical community largely agrees that weakening encryption is not the solution:

• Consensus on Security: Strong encryption is essential for the safety and privacy of all internet users.
• Call for Dialogue: Technologists and privacy experts advocate for collaborative approaches that address security concerns without sacrificing fundamental rights.

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Global Reactions and the Debate in Europe

The proposal for Chat Control has ignited a heated debate across Europe and beyond, with various stakeholders weighing in on the potential implications for privacy, security, and fundamental rights. The reactions are mixed, reflecting differing national perspectives, political priorities, and societal values.

Support for Chat Control

Some EU member states and officials support the initiative, emphasizing the need for robust measures to combat online crime and protect citizens, especially children. They argue that:

• Enhanced Security: Mandatory scanning can help law enforcement agencies detect and prevent serious crimes.
• Responsibility of Service Providers: Companies offering communication services should play an active role in preventing their platforms from being used for illegal activities.
• Public Safety Priorities: The protection of vulnerable populations justifies the implementation of such measures, even if it means compromising some aspects of privacy.

Opposition within the EU

Several countries and organizations have voiced strong opposition to Chat Control, citing concerns over privacy rights and the potential for government overreach.

Germany

• Stance: Germany has been one of the most vocal opponents of the proposed measures.
• Reasons:
• Constitutional Concerns: The German government argues that Chat Control could violate constitutional protections of privacy and confidentiality of communications.
• Security Risks: Weakening encryption is seen as a threat to cybersecurity.
• Legal Challenges: Potential conflicts with national laws protecting personal data and communication secrecy.

Netherlands

• Recent Developments: The Dutch government decided against supporting Chat Control, emphasizing the importance of encryption for security and privacy.
• Arguments:
• Effectiveness Doubts: Skepticism about the actual effectiveness of the measures in combating crime.
• Negative Impact on Privacy: Concerns about mass surveillance and the infringement of citizens' rights.

Table reference: Patrick Breyer - Chat Control in 23 September 2024

Privacy Advocacy Groups

European Digital Rights (EDRi)

• Role: A network of civil and human rights organizations working to defend rights and freedoms in the digital environment.
• Position:
• Strong Opposition: EDRi argues that Chat Control is incompatible with fundamental rights.
• Awareness Campaigns: Engaging in public campaigns to inform citizens about the potential risks.
• Policy Engagement: Lobbying policymakers to consider alternative approaches that respect privacy.

Politicians and Activists

Patrick Breyer

• Background: A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany, representing the Pirate Party.
• Actions:
• Advocacy: Actively campaigning against Chat Control through speeches, articles, and legislative efforts.
• Public Outreach: Using social media and public events to raise awareness.
• Legal Expertise: Highlighting the legal inconsistencies and potential violations of EU law.

Global Reactions

International Organizations

• Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International: These organizations have expressed concerns about the implications for human rights, urging the EU to reconsider.

Technology Companies

• Global Tech Firms: Companies like Apple and Microsoft are monitoring the situation, as EU regulations could affect their operations and user trust.
• Industry Associations: Groups representing tech companies have issued statements highlighting the risks to innovation and competitiveness.

The Broader Debate

The controversy over Chat Control reflects a broader struggle between security interests and privacy rights in the digital age. Key points in the debate include:

• Legal Precedents: How the EU's decision might influence laws and regulations in other countries.
• Digital Sovereignty: The desire of nations to control digital spaces within their borders.
• Civil Liberties: The importance of protecting freedoms in the face of technological advancements.

Public Opinion

• Diverse Views: Surveys and public forums show a range of opinions, with some citizens prioritizing security and others valuing privacy above all.
• Awareness Levels: Many people are still unaware of the potential changes, highlighting the need for public education on the issue.

The EU is at a crossroads, facing the challenge of addressing legitimate security concerns without undermining the fundamental rights that are central to its values. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the future of digital privacy and the balance between security and freedom in society.

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Possible Consequences for Messaging Services

The implementation of Chat Control could have significant implications for messaging services operating within the European Union. Both large platforms and smaller providers might need to adapt their technologies and policies to comply with the new regulations, potentially altering the landscape of digital communication.

Impact on Encrypted Messaging Services

Signal and Similar Platforms

• Compliance Challenges: Encrypted messaging services like Signal rely on end-to-end encryption to secure user communications. Complying with Chat Control could force them to weaken their encryption protocols or implement client-side scanning, conflicting with their core privacy principles.

• Operational Decisions: Some platforms may choose to limit their services in the EU or cease operations altogether rather than compromise on encryption. Signal, for instance, has indicated that it would prefer to withdraw from European markets than undermine its security features.

Potential Blocking or Limiting of Services

• Regulatory Enforcement: Messaging services that do not comply with Chat Control regulations could face fines, legal action, or even be blocked within the EU.

• Access Restrictions: Users in Europe might find certain services unavailable or limited in functionality if providers decide not to meet the regulatory requirements.

Effects on Smaller Providers

• Resource Constraints: Smaller messaging services and startups may lack the resources to implement the required scanning technologies, leading to increased operational costs or forcing them out of the market.

• Innovation Stifling: The added regulatory burden could deter new entrants, reducing competition and innovation in the messaging service sector.

User Experience and Trust

• Privacy Concerns: Users may lose trust in messaging platforms if they know their communications are subject to scanning, leading to a decline in user engagement.

• Migration to Unregulated Platforms: There is a risk that users might shift to less secure or unregulated services, including those operated outside the EU or on the dark web, potentially exposing them to greater risks.

Technical and Security Implications

• Increased Vulnerabilities: Modifying encryption protocols to comply with Chat Control could introduce security flaws, making platforms more susceptible to hacking and data breaches.

• Global Security Risks: Changes made to accommodate EU regulations might affect the global user base of these services, extending security risks beyond European borders.

Impact on Businesses and Professional Communications

• Confidentiality Issues: Businesses that rely on secure messaging for sensitive communications may face challenges in ensuring confidentiality, affecting sectors like finance, healthcare, and legal services.

• Compliance Complexity: Companies operating internationally will need to navigate a complex landscape of differing regulations, increasing administrative burdens.

Economic Consequences

• Market Fragmentation: Divergent regulations could lead to a fragmented market, with different versions of services for different regions.

• Loss of Revenue: Messaging services might experience reduced revenue due to decreased user trust and engagement or the costs associated with compliance.

Responses from Service Providers

• Legal Challenges: Companies might pursue legal action against the regulations, citing conflicts with privacy laws and user rights.

• Policy Advocacy: Service providers may increase lobbying efforts to influence policy decisions and promote alternatives to Chat Control.

Possible Adaptations

• Technological Innovation: Some providers might invest in developing new technologies that can detect illegal content without compromising encryption, though the feasibility remains uncertain.

• Transparency Measures: To maintain user trust, companies might enhance transparency about how data is handled and what measures are in place to protect privacy.

The potential consequences of Chat Control for messaging services are profound, affecting not only the companies that provide these services but also the users who rely on them daily. The balance between complying with legal requirements and maintaining user privacy and security presents a significant challenge that could reshape the digital communication landscape.

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What Happens Next? The Future of Chat Control

The future of Chat Control remains uncertain as the debate continues among EU member states, policymakers, technology companies, and civil society organizations. Several factors will influence the outcome of this contentious proposal, each carrying significant implications for digital privacy, security, and the regulatory environment within the European Union.

Current Status of Legislation

• Ongoing Negotiations: The proposed Chat Control measures are still under discussion within the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Amendments and revisions are being considered in response to the feedback from various stakeholders.

• Timeline: While there is no fixed date for the final decision, the EU aims to reach a consensus to implement effective measures against online crime without undue delay.

Key Influencing Factors

1. Legal Challenges and Compliance with EU Law

• Fundamental Rights Assessment: The proposals must be evaluated against the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, ensuring that any measures comply with rights to privacy, data protection, and freedom of expression.

• Court Scrutiny: Potential legal challenges could arise, leading to scrutiny by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which may impact the feasibility and legality of Chat Control.

2. Technological Feasibility

• Development of Privacy-Preserving Technologies: Research into methods that can detect illegal content without compromising encryption is ongoing. Advances in this area could provide alternative solutions acceptable to both privacy advocates and security agencies.

• Implementation Challenges: The practical aspects of deploying scanning technologies across various platforms and services remain complex, and technical hurdles could delay or alter the proposed measures.

3. Political Dynamics

• Member State Positions: The differing stances of EU countries, such as Germany's opposition, play a significant role in shaping the final outcome. Consensus among member states is crucial for adopting EU-wide regulations.

• Public Opinion and Advocacy: Growing awareness and activism around digital privacy can influence policymakers. Public campaigns and lobbying efforts may sway decisions in favor of stronger privacy protections.

4. Industry Responses

• Negotiations with Service Providers: Ongoing dialogues between EU authorities and technology companies may lead to compromises or collaborative efforts to address concerns without fully implementing Chat Control as initially proposed.

• Potential for Self-Regulation: Messaging services might propose self-regulatory measures to combat illegal content, aiming to demonstrate effectiveness without the need for mandatory scanning.

Possible Scenarios

Optimistic Outcome:

• Balanced Regulation: A revised proposal emerges that effectively addresses security concerns while upholding strong encryption and privacy rights, possibly through innovative technologies or targeted measures with robust oversight.

Pessimistic Outcome:

• Adoption of Strict Measures: Chat Control is implemented as initially proposed, leading to weakened encryption, reduced privacy, and potential withdrawal of services like Signal from the EU market.

Middle Ground:

• Incremental Implementation: Partial measures are adopted, focusing on voluntary cooperation with service providers and emphasizing transparency and user consent, with ongoing evaluations to assess effectiveness and impact.

How to Stay Informed and Protect Your Privacy

• Follow Reputable Sources: Keep up with news from reliable outlets, official EU communications, and statements from privacy organizations to stay informed about developments.

• Engage in the Dialogue: Participate in public consultations, sign petitions, or contact representatives to express your views on Chat Control and digital privacy.

• Utilize Secure Practices: Regardless of legislative outcomes, adopting good digital hygiene—such as using strong passwords and being cautious with personal information—can enhance your online security.

The Global Perspective

• International Implications: The EU's decision may influence global policies on encryption and surveillance, setting precedents that other countries might follow or react against.

• Collaboration Opportunities: International cooperation on developing solutions that protect both security and privacy could emerge, fostering a more unified approach to addressing online threats.

Looking Ahead

The future of Chat Control is a critical issue that underscores the challenges of governing in the digital age. Balancing the need for security with the protection of fundamental rights is a complex task that requires careful consideration, open dialogue, and collaboration among all stakeholders.

As the situation evolves, staying informed and engaged is essential. The decisions made in the coming months will shape the digital landscape for years to come, affecting how we communicate, conduct business, and exercise our rights in an increasingly connected world.

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Conclusion

The debate over Chat Control highlights a fundamental challenge in our increasingly digital world: how to protect society from genuine threats without eroding the very rights and freedoms that define it. While the intention to safeguard children and prevent crime is undeniably important, the means of achieving this through intrusive surveillance measures raise critical concerns.

Privacy is not just a personal preference but a cornerstone of democratic societies. End-to-end encryption has become an essential tool for ensuring that our personal conversations, professional communications, and sensitive data remain secure from unwanted intrusion. Weakening these protections could expose individuals and organizations to risks that far outweigh the proposed benefits.

The potential consequences of implementing Chat Control are far-reaching:

• Erosion of Trust: Users may lose confidence in digital platforms, impacting how we communicate and conduct business online.
• Security Vulnerabilities: Introducing backdoors or weakening encryption can make systems more susceptible to cyberattacks.
• Stifling Innovation: Regulatory burdens may hinder technological advancement and competitiveness in the tech industry.
• Global Implications: The EU's decisions could set precedents that influence digital policies worldwide, for better or worse.

As citizens, it's crucial to stay informed about these developments. Engage in conversations, reach out to your representatives, and advocate for solutions that respect both security needs and fundamental rights. Technology and policy can evolve together to address challenges without compromising core values.

The future of Chat Control is not yet decided, and public input can make a significant difference. By promoting open dialogue, supporting privacy-preserving innovations, and emphasizing the importance of human rights in legislation, we can work towards a digital landscape that is both safe and free.

In a world where digital communication is integral to daily life, striking the right balance between security and privacy is more important than ever. The choices made today will shape the digital environment for generations to come, determining not just how we communicate, but how we live and interact in an interconnected world.

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Thank you for reading this article. We hope it has provided you with a clear understanding of Chat Control and its potential impact on your privacy and digital rights. Stay informed, stay engaged, and let's work together towards a secure and open digital future.

Read more:

• https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/posts/chat-control/
• https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/new-eu-push-for-chat-control-will-messenger-services-be-blocked-in-europe/
• https://edri.org/our-work/dutch-decision-puts-brakes-on-chat-control/
• https://signal.org/blog/pdfs/ndss-keynote.pdf
• https://tuta.com/blog/germany-stop-chat-control
• https://cointelegraph.com/news/signal-president-slams-revised-eu-encryption-proposal
• https://mullvad.net/en/why-privacy-matters

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Bald werde es verboten, alleine im Auto zu fahren, konnte man dieser Tage in verschiedenen spanischen Medien lesen. Die nationale Verkehrsbehörde (Dirección General de Tráfico, kurz DGT) werde Alleinfahrern das Leben schwer machen, wurde gemeldet. Konkret erörtere die Generaldirektion geeignete Sanktionen für Personen, die ohne Beifahrer im Privatauto unterwegs seien.

Das Alleinfahren sei zunehmend verpönt und ein Mentalitätswandel notwendig, hieß es. Dieser «Luxus» stehe im Widerspruch zu den Maßnahmen gegen Umweltverschmutzung, die in allen europäischen Ländern gefördert würden. In Frankreich sei es «bereits verboten, in der Hauptstadt allein zu fahren», behauptete Noticiastrabajo Huffpost in einer Zwischenüberschrift. Nur um dann im Text zu konkretisieren, dass die sogenannte «Umweltspur» auf der Pariser Ringautobahn gemeint war, die für Busse, Taxis und Fahrgemeinschaften reserviert ist. Ab Mai werden Verstöße dagegen mit einem Bußgeld geahndet.

Die DGT jedenfalls wolle bei der Umsetzung derartiger Maßnahmen nicht hinterherhinken. Diese Medienberichte, inklusive des angeblich bevorstehenden Verbots, beriefen sich auf Aussagen des Generaldirektors der Behörde, Pere Navarro, beim Mobilitätskongress Global Mobility Call im November letzten Jahres, wo es um «nachhaltige Mobilität» ging. Aus diesem Kontext stammt auch Navarros Warnung: «Die Zukunft des Verkehrs ist geteilt oder es gibt keine».

Die «Faktenchecker» kamen der Generaldirektion prompt zu Hilfe. Die DGT habe derlei Behauptungen zurückgewiesen und klargestellt, dass es keine Pläne gebe, Fahrten mit nur einer Person im Auto zu verbieten oder zu bestrafen. Bei solchen Meldungen handele es sich um Fake News. Teilweise wurde der Vorsitzende der spanischen «Rechtsaußen»-Partei Vox, Santiago Abascal, der Urheberschaft bezichtigt, weil er einen entsprechenden Artikel von La Gaceta kommentiert hatte.

Der Beschwichtigungsversuch der Art «niemand hat die Absicht» ist dabei erfahrungsgemäß eher ein Alarmzeichen als eine Beruhigung. Walter Ulbrichts Leugnung einer geplanten Berliner Mauer vom Juni 1961 ist vielen genauso in Erinnerung wie die Fake News-Warnungen des deutschen Bundesgesundheitsministeriums bezüglich Lockdowns im März 2020 oder diverse Äußerungen zu einer Impfpflicht ab 2020.

Aber Aufregung hin, Dementis her: Die Pressemitteilung der DGT zu dem Mobilitätskongress enthält in Wahrheit viel interessantere Informationen als «nur» einen Appell an den «guten» Bürger wegen der Bemühungen um die Lebensqualität in Großstädten oder einen möglichen obligatorischen Abschied vom Alleinfahren. Allerdings werden diese Details von Medien und sogenannten Faktencheckern geflissentlich übersehen, obwohl sie keineswegs versteckt sind. Die Auskünfte sind sehr aufschlussreich, wenn man genauer hinschaut.

Digitalisierung ist der Schlüssel für Kontrolle

Auf dem Kongress stellte die Verkehrsbehörde ihre Initiativen zur Förderung der «neuen Mobilität» vor, deren Priorität Sicherheit und Effizienz sei. Die vier konkreten Ansätze haben alle mit Digitalisierung, Daten, Überwachung und Kontrolle im großen Stil zu tun und werden unter dem Euphemismus der «öffentlich-privaten Partnerschaft» angepriesen. Auch lassen sie die transhumanistische Idee vom unzulänglichen Menschen erkennen, dessen Fehler durch «intelligente» technologische Infrastruktur kompensiert werden müssten.

Die Chefin des Bereichs «Verkehrsüberwachung» erklärte die Funktion des spanischen National Access Point (NAP), wobei sie betonte, wie wichtig Verkehrs- und Infrastrukturinformationen in Echtzeit seien. Der NAP ist «eine essenzielle Web-Applikation, die unter EU-Mandat erstellt wurde», kann man auf der Website der DGT nachlesen.

Das Mandat meint Regelungen zu einem einheitlichen europäischen Verkehrsraum, mit denen die Union mindestens seit 2010 den Aufbau einer digitalen Architektur mit offenen Schnittstellen betreibt. Damit begründet man auch «umfassende Datenbereitstellungspflichten im Bereich multimodaler Reiseinformationen». Jeder Mitgliedstaat musste einen NAP, also einen nationalen Zugangspunkt einrichten, der Zugang zu statischen und dynamischen Reise- und Verkehrsdaten verschiedener Verkehrsträger ermöglicht.

Diese Entwicklung ist heute schon weit fortgeschritten, auch und besonders in Spanien. Auf besagtem Kongress erläuterte die Leiterin des Bereichs «Telematik» die Plattform «DGT 3.0». Diese werde als Integrator aller Informationen genutzt, die von den verschiedenen öffentlichen und privaten Systemen, die Teil der Mobilität sind, bereitgestellt werden.

Es handele sich um eine Vermittlungsplattform zwischen Akteuren wie Fahrzeugherstellern, Anbietern von Navigationsdiensten oder Kommunen und dem Endnutzer, der die Verkehrswege benutzt. Alle seien auf Basis des Internets der Dinge (IOT) anonym verbunden, «um der vernetzten Gemeinschaft wertvolle Informationen zu liefern oder diese zu nutzen».

So sei DGT 3.0 «ein Zugangspunkt für einzigartige, kostenlose und genaue Echtzeitinformationen über das Geschehen auf den Straßen und in den Städten». Damit lasse sich der Verkehr nachhaltiger und vernetzter gestalten. Beispielsweise würden die Karten des Produktpartners Google dank der DGT-Daten 50 Millionen Mal pro Tag aktualisiert.

Des Weiteren informiert die Verkehrsbehörde über ihr SCADA-Projekt. Die Abkürzung steht für Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, zu deutsch etwa: Kontrollierte Steuerung und Datenerfassung. Mit SCADA kombiniert man Software und Hardware, um automatisierte Systeme zur Überwachung und Steuerung technischer Prozesse zu schaffen. Das SCADA-Projekt der DGT wird von Indra entwickelt, einem spanischen Beratungskonzern aus den Bereichen Sicherheit & Militär, Energie, Transport, Telekommunikation und Gesundheitsinformation.

Das SCADA-System der Behörde umfasse auch eine Videostreaming- und Videoaufzeichnungsplattform, die das Hochladen in die Cloud in Echtzeit ermöglicht, wie Indra erklärt. Dabei gehe es um Bilder, die von Überwachungskameras an Straßen aufgenommen wurden, sowie um Videos aus DGT-Hubschraubern und Drohnen. Ziel sei es, «die sichere Weitergabe von Videos an Dritte sowie die kontinuierliche Aufzeichnung und Speicherung von Bildern zur möglichen Analyse und späteren Nutzung zu ermöglichen».

Letzteres klingt sehr nach biometrischer Erkennung und Auswertung durch künstliche Intelligenz. Für eine bessere Datenübertragung wird derzeit die Glasfaserverkabelung entlang der Landstraßen und Autobahnen ausgebaut. Mit der Cloud sind die Amazon Web Services (AWS) gemeint, die spanischen Daten gehen somit direkt zu einem US-amerikanischen «Big Data»-Unternehmen.

Das Thema «autonomes Fahren», also Fahren ohne Zutun des Menschen, bildet den Abschluss der Betrachtungen der DGT. Zusammen mit dem Interessenverband der Automobilindustrie ANFAC (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Automóviles y Camiones) sprach man auf dem Kongress über Strategien und Perspektiven in diesem Bereich. Die Lobbyisten hoffen noch in diesem Jahr 2025 auf einen normativen Rahmen zur erweiterten Unterstützung autonomer Technologien.

Wenn man derartige Informationen im Zusammenhang betrachtet, bekommt man eine Idee davon, warum zunehmend alles elektrisch und digital werden soll. Umwelt- und Mobilitätsprobleme in Städten, wie Luftverschmutzung, Lärmbelästigung, Platzmangel oder Staus, sind eine Sache. Mit dem Argument «emissionslos» wird jedoch eine Referenz zum CO2 und dem «menschengemachten Klimawandel» hergestellt, die Emotionen triggert. Und damit wird so ziemlich alles verkauft.

Letztlich aber gilt: Je elektrischer und digitaler unsere Umgebung wird und je freigiebiger wir mit unseren Daten jeder Art sind, desto besser werden wir kontrollier-, steuer- und sogar abschaltbar. Irgendwann entscheiden KI-basierte Algorithmen, ob, wann, wie, wohin und mit wem wir uns bewegen dürfen. Über einen 15-Minuten-Radius geht dann möglicherweise nichts hinaus. Die Projekte auf diesem Weg sind ernst zu nehmen, real und schon weit fortgeschritten.

[Titelbild: Pixabay]

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Was nützt die schönste Schuldenbremse, wenn der Russe vor der Tür steht? \ Wir können uns verteidigen lernen oder alle Russisch lernen. \ Jens Spahn

In der Politik ist buchstäblich keine Idee zu riskant, kein Mittel zu schäbig und keine Lüge zu dreist, als dass sie nicht benutzt würden. Aber der Clou ist, dass diese Masche immer noch funktioniert, wenn nicht sogar immer besser. Ist das alles wirklich so schwer zu durchschauen? Mir fehlen langsam die Worte.

Aktuell werden sowohl in der Europäischen Union als auch in Deutschland riesige Milliardenpakete für die Aufrüstung – also für die Rüstungsindustrie – geschnürt. Die EU will 800 Milliarden Euro locker machen, in Deutschland sollen es 500 Milliarden «Sondervermögen» sein. Verteidigung nennen das unsere «Führer», innerhalb der Union und auch an «unserer Ostflanke», der Ukraine.

Das nötige Feindbild konnte inzwischen signifikant erweitert werden. Schuld an allem und zudem gefährlich ist nicht mehr nur Putin, sondern jetzt auch Trump. Europa müsse sich sowohl gegen Russland als auch gegen die USA schützen und rüsten, wird uns eingetrichtert.

Und während durch Diplomatie genau dieser beiden Staaten gerade endlich mal Bewegung in die Bemühungen um einen Frieden oder wenigstens einen Waffenstillstand in der Ukraine kommt, rasselt man im moralisch überlegenen Zeigefinger-Europa so richtig mit dem Säbel.

Begleitet und gestützt wird der ganze Prozess – wie sollte es anders sein – von den «Qualitätsmedien». Dass Russland einen Angriff auf «Europa» plant, weiß nicht nur der deutsche Verteidigungsminister (und mit Abstand beliebteste Politiker) Pistorius, sondern dank ihnen auch jedes Kind. Uns bleiben nur noch wenige Jahre. Zum Glück bereitet sich die Bundeswehr schon sehr konkret auf einen Krieg vor.

Die FAZ und Corona-Gesundheitsminister Spahn markieren einen traurigen Höhepunkt. Hier haben sich «politische und publizistische Verantwortungslosigkeit propagandistisch gegenseitig befruchtet», wie es bei den NachDenkSeiten heißt. Die Aussage Spahns in dem Interview, «der Russe steht vor der Tür», ist das eine. Die Zeitung verschärfte die Sache jedoch, indem sie das Zitat explizit in den Titel übernahm, der in einer ersten Version scheinbar zu harmlos war.

Eine große Mehrheit der deutschen Bevölkerung findet Aufrüstung und mehr Schulden toll, wie ARD und ZDF sehr passend ermittelt haben wollen. Ähnliches gelte für eine noch stärkere militärische Unterstützung der Ukraine. Etwas skeptischer seien die Befragten bezüglich der Entsendung von Bundeswehrsoldaten dorthin, aber immerhin etwa fifty-fifty.

Eigentlich ist jedoch die Meinung der Menschen in «unseren Demokratien» irrelevant. Sowohl in der Europäischen Union als auch in Deutschland sind die «Eliten» offenbar der Ansicht, der Souverän habe in Fragen von Krieg und Frieden sowie von aberwitzigen astronomischen Schulden kein Wörtchen mitzureden. Frau von der Leyen möchte über 150 Milliarden aus dem Gesamtpaket unter Verwendung von Artikel 122 des EU-Vertrags ohne das Europäische Parlament entscheiden – wenn auch nicht völlig kritiklos.

In Deutschland wollen CDU/CSU und SPD zur Aufweichung der «Schuldenbremse» mehrere Änderungen des Grundgesetzes durch das abgewählte Parlament peitschen. Dieser Versuch, mit dem alten Bundestag eine Zweidrittelmehrheit zu erzielen, die im neuen nicht mehr gegeben wäre, ist mindestens verfassungsrechtlich umstritten.

Das Manöver scheint aber zu funktionieren. Heute haben die Grünen zugestimmt, nachdem Kanzlerkandidat Merz läppische 100 Milliarden für «irgendwas mit Klima» zugesichert hatte. Die Abstimmung im Plenum soll am kommenden Dienstag erfolgen – nur eine Woche, bevor sich der neu gewählte Bundestag konstituieren wird.

Interessant sind die Argumente, die BlackRocker Merz für seine Attacke auf Grundgesetz und Demokratie ins Feld führt. Abgesehen von der angeblichen Eile, «unsere Verteidigungsfähigkeit deutlich zu erhöhen» (ausgelöst unter anderem durch «die Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz und die Ereignisse im Weißen Haus»), ließ uns der CDU-Chef wissen, dass Deutschland einfach auf die internationale Bühne zurück müsse. Merz schwadronierte gefährlich mehrdeutig:

«Die ganze Welt schaut in diesen Tagen und Wochen auf Deutschland. Wir haben in der Europäischen Union und auf der Welt eine Aufgabe, die weit über die Grenzen unseres eigenen Landes hinausgeht.»

[Titelbild: Tag des Sieges]

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«Wir brauchen eine digitale Brandmauer gegen den Faschismus», schreibt der Chaos Computer Club (CCC) auf seiner Website. Unter diesem Motto präsentierte er letzte Woche einen Forderungskatalog, mit dem sich 24 Organisationen an die kommende Bundesregierung wenden. Der Koalitionsvertrag müsse sich daran messen lassen, verlangen sie.

In den drei Kategorien «Bekenntnis gegen Überwachung», «Schutz und Sicherheit für alle» sowie «Demokratie im digitalen Raum» stellen die Unterzeichner, zu denen auch Amnesty International und Das NETTZ gehören, unter anderem die folgenden «Mindestanforderungen»:

• Verbot biometrischer Massenüberwachung des öffentlichen Raums sowie der ungezielten biometrischen Auswertung des Internets.
• Anlasslose und massenhafte Vorratsdatenspeicherung wird abgelehnt.
• Automatisierte Datenanalysen der Informationsbestände der Strafverfolgungsbehörden sowie jede Form von Predictive Policing oder automatisiertes Profiling von Menschen werden abgelehnt.
• Einführung eines Rechts auf Verschlüsselung. Die Bundesregierung soll sich dafür einsetzen, die Chatkontrolle auf europäischer Ebene zu verhindern.
• Anonyme und pseudonyme Nutzung des Internets soll geschützt und ermöglicht werden.
• Bekämpfung «privaten Machtmissbrauchs von Big-Tech-Unternehmen» durch durchsetzungsstarke, unabhängige und grundsätzlich föderale Aufsichtsstrukturen.
• Einführung eines digitalen Gewaltschutzgesetzes, unter Berücksichtigung «gruppenbezogener digitaler Gewalt» und die Förderung von Beratungsangeboten.
• Ein umfassendes Förderprogramm für digitale öffentliche Räume, die dezentral organisiert und quelloffen programmiert sind, soll aufgelegt werden.

Es sei ein Irrglaube, dass zunehmende Überwachung einen Zugewinn an Sicherheit darstelle, ist eines der Argumente der Initiatoren. Sicherheit erfordere auch, dass Menschen anonym und vertraulich kommunizieren können und ihre Privatsphäre geschützt wird.

Gesunde digitale Räume lebten auch von einem demokratischen Diskurs, lesen wir in dem Papier. Es sei Aufgabe des Staates, Grundrechte zu schützen. Dazu gehöre auch, Menschenrechte und demokratische Werte, insbesondere Freiheit, Gleichheit und Solidarität zu fördern sowie den Missbrauch von Maßnahmen, Befugnissen und Infrastrukturen durch «die Feinde der Demokratie» zu verhindern.

Man ist geneigt zu fragen, wo denn die Autoren «den Faschismus» sehen, den es zu bekämpfen gelte. Die meisten der vorgetragenen Forderungen und Argumente finden sicher breite Unterstützung, denn sie beschreiben offenkundig gängige, kritikwürdige Praxis. Die Aushebelung der Privatsphäre, der Redefreiheit und anderer Grundrechte im Namen der Sicherheit wird bereits jetzt massiv durch die aktuellen «demokratischen Institutionen» und ihre «durchsetzungsstarken Aufsichtsstrukturen» betrieben.

Ist «der Faschismus» also die EU und ihre Mitgliedsstaaten? Nein, die «faschistische Gefahr», gegen die man eine digitale Brandmauer will, kommt nach Ansicht des CCC und seiner Partner aus den Vereinigten Staaten. Private Überwachung und Machtkonzentration sind dabei weltweit schon lange Realität, jetzt endlich müssen sie jedoch bekämpft werden. In dem Papier heißt es:

«Die willkürliche und antidemokratische Machtausübung der Tech-Oligarchen um Präsident Trump erfordert einen Paradigmenwechsel in der deutschen Digitalpolitik. (...) Die aktuellen Geschehnisse in den USA zeigen auf, wie Datensammlungen und -analyse genutzt werden können, um einen Staat handstreichartig zu übernehmen, seine Strukturen nachhaltig zu beschädigen, Widerstand zu unterbinden und marginalisierte Gruppen zu verfolgen.»

Wer auf der anderen Seite dieser Brandmauer stehen soll, ist also klar. Es sind die gleichen «Feinde unserer Demokratie», die seit Jahren in diese Ecke gedrängt werden. Es sind die gleichen Andersdenkenden, Regierungskritiker und Friedensforderer, die unter dem großzügigen Dach des Bundesprogramms «Demokratie leben» einem «kontinuierlichen Echt- und Langzeitmonitoring» wegen der Etikettierung «digitaler Hass» unterzogen werden.

Dass die 24 Organisationen praktisch auch die Bekämpfung von Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon und anderen fordern, entbehrt nicht der Komik. Diese fallen aber sicher unter das Stichwort «Machtmissbrauch von Big-Tech-Unternehmen». Gleichzeitig verlangen die Lobbyisten implizit zum Beispiel die Förderung des Nostr-Netzwerks, denn hier finden wir dezentral organisierte und quelloffen programmierte digitale Räume par excellence, obendrein zensurresistent. Das wiederum dürfte in der Politik weniger gut ankommen.

[Titelbild: Pixabay]

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Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

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Die «Eliten» führen bereits groß angelegte Pilotprojekte für eine Zukunft durch, die sie wollen und wir nicht. Das schreibt der OffGuardian in einem Update zum Thema «EU-Brieftasche für die digitale Identität». Das Portal weist darauf hin, dass die Akteure dabei nicht gerade zimperlich vorgehen und auch keinen Hehl aus ihren Absichten machen. Transition News hat mehrfach darüber berichtet, zuletzt hier und hier.

Mit der EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI-Brieftasche) sei eine einzige von der Regierung herausgegebene App geplant, die Ihre medizinischen Daten, Beschäftigungsdaten, Reisedaten, Bildungsdaten, Impfdaten, Steuerdaten, Finanzdaten sowie (potenziell) Kopien Ihrer Unterschrift, Fingerabdrücke, Gesichtsscans, Stimmproben und DNA enthält. So fasst der OffGuardian die eindrucksvolle Liste möglicher Einsatzbereiche zusammen.

Auch Dokumente wie der Personalausweis oder der Führerschein können dort in elektronischer Form gespeichert werden. Bis 2026 sind alle EU-Mitgliedstaaten dazu verpflichtet, Ihren Bürgern funktionierende und frei verfügbare digitale «Brieftaschen» bereitzustellen.

Die Menschen würden diese App nutzen, so das Portal, um Zahlungen vorzunehmen, Kredite zu beantragen, ihre Steuern zu zahlen, ihre Rezepte abzuholen, internationale Grenzen zu überschreiten, Unternehmen zu gründen, Arzttermine zu buchen, sich um Stellen zu bewerben und sogar digitale Verträge online zu unterzeichnen.

All diese Daten würden auf ihrem Mobiltelefon gespeichert und mit den Regierungen von neunzehn Ländern (plus der Ukraine) sowie über 140 anderen öffentlichen und privaten Partnern ausgetauscht. Von der Deutschen Bank über das ukrainische Ministerium für digitalen Fortschritt bis hin zu Samsung Europe. Unternehmen und Behörden würden auf diese Daten im Backend zugreifen, um «automatisierte Hintergrundprüfungen» durchzuführen.

Der Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände (VZBV) habe Bedenken geäußert, dass eine solche App «Risiken für den Schutz der Privatsphäre und der Daten» berge, berichtet das Portal. Die einzige Antwort darauf laute: «Richtig, genau dafür ist sie ja da!»

Das alles sei keine Hypothese, betont der OffGuardian. Es sei vielmehr «Potential». Damit ist ein EU-Projekt gemeint, in dessen Rahmen Dutzende öffentliche und private Einrichtungen zusammenarbeiten, «um eine einheitliche Vision der digitalen Identität für die Bürger der europäischen Länder zu definieren». Dies ist nur eines der groß angelegten Pilotprojekte, mit denen Prototypen und Anwendungsfälle für die EUDI-Wallet getestet werden. Es gibt noch mindestens drei weitere.

Den Ball der digitalen ID-Systeme habe die Covid-«Pandemie» über die «Impfpässe» ins Rollen gebracht. Seitdem habe das Thema an Schwung verloren. Je näher wir aber der vollständigen Einführung der EUid kämen, desto mehr Propaganda der Art «Warum wir eine digitale Brieftasche brauchen» könnten wir in den Mainstream-Medien erwarten, prognostiziert der OffGuardian. Vielleicht müssten wir schon nach dem nächsten großen «Grund», dem nächsten «katastrophalen katalytischen Ereignis» Ausschau halten. Vermutlich gebe es bereits Pläne, warum die Menschen plötzlich eine digitale ID-Brieftasche brauchen würden.

Die Entwicklung geht jedenfalls stetig weiter in genau diese Richtung. Beispielsweise hat Jordanien angekündigt, die digitale biometrische ID bei den nächsten Wahlen zur Verifizierung der Wähler einzuführen. Man wolle «den Papierkrieg beenden und sicherstellen, dass die gesamte Kette bis zu den nächsten Parlamentswahlen digitalisiert wird», heißt es. Absehbar ist, dass dabei einige Wahlberechtigte «auf der Strecke bleiben» werden, wie im Fall von Albanien geschehen.

Derweil würden die Briten gerne ihre Privatsphäre gegen Effizienz eintauschen, behauptet Tony Blair. Der Ex-Premier drängte kürzlich erneut auf digitale Identitäten und Gesichtserkennung. Blair ist Gründer einer Denkfabrik für globalen Wandel, Anhänger globalistischer Technokratie und «moderner Infrastruktur».

Abschließend warnt der OffGuardian vor der Illusion, Trump und Musk würden den US-Bürgern «diesen Schlamassel ersparen». Das Department of Government Efficiency werde sich auf die digitale Identität stürzen. Was könne schließlich «effizienter» sein als eine einzige App, die für alles verwendet wird? Der Unterschied bestehe nur darin, dass die US-Version vielleicht eher privat als öffentlich sei – sofern es da überhaupt noch einen wirklichen Unterschied gebe.

[Titelbild: Screenshot OffGuardian]

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@ a95c6243:d345522c

Ständige Lügen und Unterstellungen, permanent falsche Fürsorge \ können Bausteine von emotionaler Manipulation sein. Mit dem Zweck, \ Macht und Kontrolle über eine andere Person auszuüben. \ Apotheken Umschau

Irgendetwas muss passiert sein: «Gaslighting» ist gerade Thema in vielen Medien. Heute bin ich nach längerer Zeit mal wieder über dieses Stichwort gestolpert. Das war in einem Artikel von Norbert Häring über Manipulationen des Deutschen Wetterdienstes (DWD). In diesem Fall ging es um eine Pressemitteilung vom Donnerstag zum «viel zu warmen» Winter 2024/25.

Häring wirft der Behörde vor, dreist zu lügen und Dinge auszulassen, um die Klimaangst wach zu halten. Was der Leser beim DWD nicht erfahre, sei, dass dieser Winter kälter als die drei vorangegangenen und kälter als der Durchschnitt der letzten zehn Jahre gewesen sei. Stattdessen werde der falsche Eindruck vermittelt, es würde ungebremst immer wärmer.

Wem also der zu Ende gehende Winter eher kalt vorgekommen sein sollte, mit dessen Empfinden stimme wohl etwas nicht. Das jedenfalls wolle der DWD uns einreden, so der Wirtschaftsjournalist. Und damit sind wir beim Thema Gaslighting.

Als Gaslighting wird eine Form psychischer Manipulation bezeichnet, mit der die Opfer desorientiert und zutiefst verunsichert werden, indem ihre eigene Wahrnehmung als falsch bezeichnet wird. Der Prozess führt zu Angst und Realitätsverzerrung sowie zur Zerstörung des Selbstbewusstseins. Die Bezeichnung kommt von dem britischen Theaterstück «Gas Light» aus dem Jahr 1938, in dem ein Mann mit grausamen Psychotricks seine Frau in den Wahnsinn treibt.

Damit Gaslighting funktioniert, muss das Opfer dem Täter vertrauen. Oft wird solcher Psychoterror daher im privaten oder familiären Umfeld beschrieben, ebenso wie am Arbeitsplatz. Jedoch eignen sich die Prinzipien auch perfekt zur Manipulation der Massen. Vermeintliche Autoritäten wie Ärzte und Wissenschaftler, oder «der fürsorgliche Staat» und Institutionen wie die UNO oder die WHO wollen uns doch nichts Böses. Auch Staatsmedien, Faktenchecker und diverse NGOs wurden zu «vertrauenswürdigen Quellen» erklärt. Das hat seine Wirkung.

Warum das Thema Gaslighting derzeit scheinbar so populär ist, vermag ich nicht zu sagen. Es sind aber gerade in den letzten Tagen und Wochen auffällig viele Artikel dazu erschienen, und zwar nicht nur von Psychologen. Die Frankfurter Rundschau hat gleich mehrere publiziert, und Anwälte interessieren sich dafür offenbar genauso wie Apotheker.

Die Apotheken Umschau machte sogar auf «Medical Gaslighting» aufmerksam. Davon spreche man, wenn Mediziner Symptome nicht ernst nähmen oder wenn ein gesundheitliches Problem vom behandelnden Arzt «schnöde heruntergespielt» oder abgetan würde. Kommt Ihnen das auch irgendwie bekannt vor? Der Begriff sei allerdings irreführend, da er eine manipulierende Absicht unterstellt, die «nicht gewährleistet» sei.

Apropos Gaslighting: Die noch amtierende deutsche Bundesregierung meldete heute, es gelte, «weiter [sic!] gemeinsam daran zu arbeiten, einen gerechten und dauerhaften Frieden für die Ukraine zu erreichen». Die Ukraine, wo sich am Montag «der völkerrechtswidrige Angriffskrieg zum dritten Mal jährte», verteidige ihr Land und «unsere gemeinsamen Werte».

Merken Sie etwas? Das Demokratieverständnis mag ja tatsächlich inzwischen in beiden Ländern ähnlich traurig sein. Bezüglich Friedensbemühungen ist meine Wahrnehmung jedoch eine andere. Das muss an meinem Gedächtnis liegen.

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@ a95c6243:d345522c

Europa – das Ganze ist eine wunderbare Idee, \ aber das war der Kommunismus auch. \ Loriot

«Europa hat fertig», könnte man unken, und das wäre nicht einmal sehr verwegen. Mit solch einer Einschätzung stünden wir nicht alleine, denn die Stimmen in diese Richtung mehren sich. Der französische Präsident Emmanuel Macron warnte schon letztes Jahr davor, dass «unser Europa sterben könnte». Vermutlich hatte er dabei andere Gefahren im Kopf als jetzt der ungarische Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán, der ein «baldiges Ende der EU» prognostizierte. Das Ergebnis könnte allerdings das gleiche sein.

Neben vordergründigen Themenbereichen wie Wirtschaft, Energie und Sicherheit ist das eigentliche Problem jedoch die obskure Mischung aus aufgegebener Souveränität und geschwollener Arroganz, mit der europäische Politiker:innende unterschiedlicher Couleur aufzutreten pflegen. Und das Tüpfelchen auf dem i ist die bröckelnde Legitimation politischer Institutionen dadurch, dass die Stimmen großer Teile der Bevölkerung seit Jahren auf vielfältige Weise ausgegrenzt werden.

Um «UnsereDemokratie» steht es schlecht. Dass seine Mandate immer schwächer werden, merkt natürlich auch unser «Führungspersonal». Entsprechend werden die Maßnahmen zur Gängelung, Überwachung und Manipulation der Bürger ständig verzweifelter. Parallel dazu plustern sich in Paris Macron, Scholz und einige andere noch einmal mächtig in Sachen Verteidigung und «Kriegstüchtigkeit» auf.

Momentan gilt es auch, das Überschwappen covidiotischer und verschwörungsideologischer Auswüchse aus den USA nach Europa zu vermeiden. So ein «MEGA» (Make Europe Great Again) können wir hier nicht gebrauchen. Aus den Vereinigten Staaten kommen nämlich furchtbare Nachrichten. Beispielsweise wurde einer der schärfsten Kritiker der Corona-Maßnahmen kürzlich zum Gesundheitsminister ernannt. Dieser setzt sich jetzt für eine Neubewertung der mRNA-«Impfstoffe» ein, was durchaus zu einem Entzug der Zulassungen führen könnte.

Der europäischen Version von «Verteidigung der Demokratie» setzte der US-Vizepräsident J. D. Vance auf der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz sein Verständnis entgegen: «Demokratie stärken, indem wir unseren Bürgern erlauben, ihre Meinung zu sagen». Das Abschalten von Medien, das Annullieren von Wahlen oder das Ausschließen von Menschen vom politischen Prozess schütze gar nichts. Vielmehr sei dies der todsichere Weg, die Demokratie zu zerstören.

In der Schweiz kamen seine Worte deutlich besser an als in den meisten europäischen NATO-Ländern. Bundespräsidentin Karin Keller-Sutter lobte die Rede und interpretierte sie als «Plädoyer für die direkte Demokratie». Möglicherweise zeichne sich hier eine außenpolitische Kehrtwende in Richtung integraler Neutralität ab, meint mein Kollege Daniel Funk. Das wären doch endlich mal ein paar gute Nachrichten.

Von der einstigen Idee einer europäischen Union mit engeren Beziehungen zwischen den Staaten, um Konflikte zu vermeiden und das Wohlergehen der Bürger zu verbessern, sind wir meilenweit abgekommen. Der heutige korrupte Verbund unter technokratischer Leitung ähnelt mehr einem Selbstbedienungsladen mit sehr begrenztem Zugang. Die EU-Wahlen im letzten Sommer haben daran ebenso wenig geändert, wie die Bundestagswahl am kommenden Sonntag darauf einen Einfluss haben wird.

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@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Sagres, perched on the dramatic cliffs of Portugal’s Algarve, feels like the end of the world—and in the best way. It's a small, laid-back town with a surfer vibe, windswept beaches, and rugged coastal views that are simply breathtaking. If you’re into nature, chill vibes, and jaw-dropping sunsets, Sagres is your spot.

🌟 Top Things to See & Do in Sagres

1️⃣ Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. Vincent)

• The southwesternmost point of mainland Europe
• Home to a dramatic cliffside lighthouse and epic sunsets
• Once thought to be the "end of the world" in ancient times

2️⃣ Fortaleza de Sagres

• A 15th-century fortress with a giant stone compass, sea views, and a coastal walking path
• Linked to Henry the Navigator and Portugal’s Age of Discoveries
• Simple, scenic, and full of history

3️⃣ Surf the Waves 🌊

• Some of the best surfing beaches in Europe
• Try Praia do Tonel or Praia do Beliche—great for both beginners and pros
• Tons of surf schools and rental shops around town

4️⃣ Chill on the Beaches

• Praia da Mareta – calm and central, perfect for swimming
• Praia do Beliche – surrounded by cliffs, more secluded
• Praia do Martinhal – family-friendly with shallow water

5️⃣ Coastal Hiking & Cliffs

• Walk along the Rota Vicentina trails for raw Atlantic views, wildflowers, and sea breeze
• Bring water and a camera—it's a nature-lover’s dream

🍽️ What to Eat in Sagres

• Fresh seafood – grilled sardines, octopus salad, and cataplana
• Percebes (goose barnacles) – a local delicacy from the rocks
• Pastéis de nata – always a good idea ☕
• Pair it all with a cold Super Bock or a glass of vinho verde

Try beachside spots or cozy taverns in town—nothing too fancy, just simple, tasty, and fresh.

🏄 Vibe & Tips

✅ Sagres is quiet, remote, and windswept—perfect if you're looking to unwind
✅ Great for vanlifers, surfers, hikers, and sunset chasers
✅ Bring layers—it can be windy, even in summer
✅ Sunsets at Cabo de São Vicente are legendary—get there early for a good spot
✅ A car helps to explore the nearby coastlines and hidden beaches

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Die «moralische Weltordnung» – eine Art Astrologie. Friedrich Nietzsche

Das Treffen der BRICS-Staaten beim Gipfel im russischen Kasan war sicher nicht irgendein politisches Event. Gastgeber Wladimir Putin habe «Hof gehalten», sagen die Einen, China und Russland hätten ihre Vorstellung einer multipolaren Weltordnung zelebriert, schreiben Andere.

In jedem Fall zeigt die Anwesenheit von über 30 Delegationen aus der ganzen Welt, dass von einer geostrategischen Isolation Russlands wohl keine Rede sein kann. Darüber hinaus haben sowohl die Anreise von UN-Generalsekretär António Guterres als auch die Meldungen und Dementis bezüglich der Beitrittsbemühungen des NATO-Staats Türkei für etwas Aufsehen gesorgt.

Im Spannungsfeld geopolitischer und wirtschaftlicher Umbrüche zeigt die neue Allianz zunehmendes Selbstbewusstsein. In Sachen gemeinsamer Finanzpolitik schmiedet man interessante Pläne. Größere Unabhängigkeit von der US-dominierten Finanzordnung ist dabei ein wichtiges Ziel.

Beim BRICS-Wirtschaftsforum in Moskau, wenige Tage vor dem Gipfel, zählte ein nachhaltiges System für Finanzabrechnungen und Zahlungsdienste zu den vorrangigen Themen. Während dieses Treffens ging der russische Staatsfonds eine Partnerschaft mit dem Rechenzentrumsbetreiber BitRiver ein, um Bitcoin-Mining-Anlagen für die BRICS-Länder zu errichten.

Die Initiative könnte ein Schritt sein, Bitcoin und andere Kryptowährungen als Alternativen zu traditionellen Finanzsystemen zu etablieren. Das Projekt könnte dazu führen, dass die BRICS-Staaten den globalen Handel in Bitcoin abwickeln. Vor dem Hintergrund der Diskussionen über eine «BRICS-Währung» wäre dies eine Alternative zu dem ursprünglich angedachten Korb lokaler Währungen und zu goldgedeckten Währungen sowie eine mögliche Ergänzung zum Zahlungssystem BRICS Pay.

Dient der Bitcoin also der Entdollarisierung? Oder droht er inzwischen, zum Gegenstand geopolitischer Machtspielchen zu werden? Angesichts der globalen Vernetzungen ist es oft schwer zu durchschauen, «was eine Show ist und was im Hintergrund von anderen Strippenziehern insgeheim gesteuert wird». Sicher können Strukturen wie Bitcoin auch so genutzt werden, dass sie den Herrschenden dienlich sind. Aber die Grundeigenschaft des dezentralisierten, unzensierbaren Peer-to-Peer Zahlungsnetzwerks ist ihm schließlich nicht zu nehmen.

Wenn es nach der EZB oder dem IWF geht, dann scheint statt Instrumentalisierung momentan eher der Kampf gegen Kryptowährungen angesagt. Jürgen Schaaf, Senior Manager bei der Europäischen Zentralbank, hat jedenfalls dazu aufgerufen, Bitcoin «zu eliminieren». Der Internationale Währungsfonds forderte El Salvador, das Bitcoin 2021 als gesetzliches Zahlungsmittel eingeführt hat, kürzlich zu begrenzenden Maßnahmen gegen das Kryptogeld auf.

Dass die BRICS-Staaten ein freiheitliches Ansinnen im Kopf haben, wenn sie Kryptowährungen ins Spiel bringen, darf indes auch bezweifelt werden. Im Abschlussdokument bekennen sich die Gipfel-Teilnehmer ausdrücklich zur UN, ihren Programmen und ihrer «Agenda 2030». Ernst Wolff nennt das «eine Bankrotterklärung korrupter Politiker, die sich dem digital-finanziellen Komplex zu 100 Prozent unterwerfen».

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@ a95c6243:d345522c

Auf der diesjährigen Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz geht es vor allem um die Ukraine. Protagonisten sind dabei zunächst die US-Amerikaner. Präsident Trump schockierte die Europäer kurz vorher durch ein Telefonat mit seinem Amtskollegen Wladimir Putin, während Vizepräsident Vance mit seiner Rede über Demokratie und Meinungsfreiheit für versteinerte Mienen und Empörung sorgte.

Die Bemühungen der Europäer um einen Frieden in der Ukraine halten sich, gelinde gesagt, in Grenzen. Größeres Augenmerk wird auf militärische Unterstützung, die Pflege von Feindbildern sowie Eskalation gelegt. Der deutsche Bundeskanzler Scholz reagierte auf die angekündigten Verhandlungen über einen möglichen Frieden für die Ukraine mit der Forderung nach noch höheren «Verteidigungsausgaben». Auch die amtierende Außenministerin Baerbock hatte vor der Münchner Konferenz klargestellt:

«Frieden wird es nur durch Stärke geben. (...) Bei Corona haben wir gesehen, zu was Europa fähig ist. Es braucht erneut Investitionen, die der historischen Wegmarke, vor der wir stehen, angemessen sind.»

Die Rüstungsindustrie freut sich in jedem Fall über weltweit steigende Militärausgaben. Die Kriege in der Ukraine und in Gaza tragen zu Rekordeinnahmen bei. Jetzt «winkt die Aussicht auf eine jahrelange große Nachrüstung in Europa», auch wenn der Ukraine-Krieg enden sollte, so hört man aus Finanzkreisen. In der Konsequenz kennt «die Aktie des deutschen Vorzeige-Rüstungskonzerns Rheinmetall in ihrem Anstieg offenbar gar keine Grenzen mehr». «Solche Friedensversprechen» wie das jetzige hätten in der Vergangenheit zu starken Kursverlusten geführt.

Für manche Leute sind Kriegswaffen und sonstige Rüstungsgüter Waren wie alle anderen, jedenfalls aus der Perspektive von Investoren oder Managern. Auch in diesem Bereich gibt es Startups und man spricht von Dingen wie innovativen Herangehensweisen, hocheffizienten Produktionsanlagen, skalierbaren Produktionstechniken und geringeren Stückkosten.

Wir lesen aktuell von Massenproduktion und gesteigerten Fertigungskapazitäten für Kriegsgerät. Der Motor solcher Dynamik und solchen Wachstums ist die Aufrüstung, die inzwischen permanent gefordert wird. Parallel wird die Bevölkerung verbal eingestimmt und auf Kriegstüchtigkeit getrimmt.

Das Rüstungs- und KI-Startup Helsing verkündete kürzlich eine «dezentrale Massenproduktion für den Ukrainekrieg». Mit dieser Expansion positioniere sich das Münchner Unternehmen als einer der weltweit führenden Hersteller von Kampfdrohnen. Der nächste «Meilenstein» steht auch bereits an: Man will eine Satellitenflotte im Weltraum aufbauen, zur Überwachung von Gefechtsfeldern und Truppenbewegungen.

Ebenfalls aus München stammt das als DefenseTech-Startup bezeichnete Unternehmen ARX Robotics. Kürzlich habe man in der Region die größte europäische Produktionsstätte für autonome Verteidigungssysteme eröffnet. Damit fahre man die Produktion von Militär-Robotern hoch. Diese Expansion diene auch der Lieferung der «größten Flotte unbemannter Bodensysteme westlicher Bauart» in die Ukraine.

Rüstung boomt und scheint ein Zukunftsmarkt zu sein. Die Hersteller und Vermarkter betonen, mit ihren Aktivitäten und Produkten solle die europäische Verteidigungsfähigkeit erhöht werden. Ihre Strategien sollten sogar «zum Schutz demokratischer Strukturen beitragen».

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@ a367f9eb:0633efea

WIEN – Diese Woche enthüllte Innenminister Gerhard Karner von der ÖVP, dass er einen Gesetzesentwurf "schnell" durchsetzen möchte, der der Regierung die Befugnis geben würde, verschlüsselte Kommunikation in Nachrichten-Apps zu überwachen.

Obwohl Karner betont hat, dass die neuen Befugnisse nur sehr gezielt eingesetzt würden, ist unklar, ob die Entwickler und Anbieter von Nachrichten-Apps gezwungen werden sollen, die Verschlüsselung zu brechen, um die Anordnungen durchzuführen.

Wie der stellvertretende Direktor des Consumer Choice Center, Yaël Ossowski, erklärte, würde diese Befugnis bedeuten, die Verschlüsselung für Millionen von österreichischen Verbrauchern zu untergraben und zu brechen.

„Jeder Versuch, die Verschlüsselung für einige ausgewählte Personen zu brechen, gefährdet gleichzeitig die Privatsphäre von Millionen von Österreichern. Dies ist weniger eine Frage der angemessenen Polizeibefugnisse als vielmehr eine Frage der technischen und sicherheitsrelevanten Aspekte. Schwächere Verschlüsselung macht österreichische Nutzer weniger sicher“ sagte Ossowski.

„Verschlüsselungsstandards von Apps wie Signal, WhatsApp und sogar iMessage aufzuheben, würde der österreichischen Regierung außergewöhnliche Befugnisse einräumen, die das Risiko bergen, jede und alle Kommunikation zu kompromittieren, nicht nur die von Verdächtigen oder Terroristen.

„Um gegen kriminelle Akteure vorzugehen, sollte die Koalition das bestehende Justizsystem nutzen, um Haftbefehle auf Grundlage eines begründeten Verdachts durchzusetzen, anstatt Messaging-Dienste und Apps dazu zu zwingen, diese Aufgabe für sie zu übernehmen“ erklärte Ossowski.

Das Consumer Choice Center weist darauf hin, dass ähnliche Versuche, die Verschlüsselung mit polizeilicher Gewalt zu brechen, bereits im Vereinigten Königreich und in Frankreich unternommen wurden, wo sie von Bürgerrechtsgruppen abgelehnt wurden.

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Das Consumer Choice Center ist eine unabhängige, parteiunabhängige Verbraucherorganisation, die die Vorteile von Wahlfreiheit, Innovation und Wachstum im Alltagsleben für Verbraucher in über 100 Ländern fördert. Wir interessieren uns insbesondere für regulatorische Trends in Washington, Brüssel, Wien, Berlin, Ottawa, Brasília, London und Genf genau.

Erfahren Sie mehr auf consumerchoicecenter.org

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Nur wenn wir aufeinander zugehen, haben wir die Chance \ auf Überwindung der gegenseitigen Ressentiments! \ Dr. med. dent. Jens Knipphals

In Wolfsburg sollte es kürzlich eine Gesprächsrunde von Kritikern der Corona-Politik mit Oberbürgermeister Dennis Weilmann und Vertretern der Stadtverwaltung geben. Der Zahnarzt und langjährige Maßnahmenkritiker Jens Knipphals hatte diese Einladung ins Rathaus erwirkt und publiziert. Seine Motivation:

«Ich möchte die Spaltung der Gesellschaft überwinden. Dazu ist eine umfassende Aufarbeitung der Corona-Krise in der Öffentlichkeit notwendig.»

Schon früher hatte Knipphals Antworten von den Kommunalpolitikern verlangt, zum Beispiel bei öffentlichen Bürgerfragestunden. Für das erwartete Treffen im Rathaus formulierte er Fragen wie: Warum wurden fachliche Argumente der Kritiker ignoriert? Weshalb wurde deren Ausgrenzung, Diskreditierung und Entmenschlichung nicht entgegengetreten? In welcher Form übernehmen Rat und Verwaltung in Wolfsburg persönlich Verantwortung für die erheblichen Folgen der politischen Corona-Krise?

Der Termin fand allerdings nicht statt – der Bürgermeister sagte ihn kurz vorher wieder ab. Knipphals bezeichnete Weilmann anschließend als Wiederholungstäter, da das Stadtoberhaupt bereits 2022 zu einem Runden Tisch in der Sache eingeladen hatte, den es dann nie gab. Gegenüber Multipolar erklärte der Arzt, Weilmann wolle scheinbar eine öffentliche Aufarbeitung mit allen Mitteln verhindern. Er selbst sei «inzwischen absolut desillusioniert» und die einzige Lösung sei, dass die Verantwortlichen gingen.

Die Aufarbeitung der Plandemie beginne bei jedem von uns selbst, sei aber letztlich eine gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgabe, schreibt Peter Frey, der den «Fall Wolfsburg» auch in seinem Blog behandelt. Diese Aufgabe sei indes deutlich größer, als viele glaubten. Erfreulicherweise sei der öffentliche Informationsraum inzwischen größer, trotz der weiterhin unverfrorenen Desinformations-Kampagnen der etablierten Massenmedien.

Frey erinnert daran, dass Dennis Weilmann mitverantwortlich für gravierende Grundrechtseinschränkungen wie die 2021 eingeführten 2G-Regeln in der Wolfsburger Innenstadt zeichnet. Es sei naiv anzunehmen, dass ein Funktionär einzig im Interesse der Bürger handeln würde. Als früherer Dezernent des Amtes für Wirtschaft, Digitalisierung und Kultur der Autostadt kenne Weilmann zum Beispiel die Verknüpfung von Fördergeldern mit politischen Zielsetzungen gut.

Wolfsburg wurde damals zu einem Modellprojekt des Bundesministeriums des Innern (BMI) und war Finalist im Bitkom-Wettbewerb «Digitale Stadt». So habe rechtzeitig vor der Plandemie das Projekt «Smart City Wolfsburg» anlaufen können, das der Stadt «eine Vorreiterrolle für umfassende Vernetzung und Datenerfassung» aufgetragen habe, sagt Frey. Die Vereinten Nationen verkauften dann derartige «intelligente» Überwachungs- und Kontrollmaßnahmen ebenso als Rettung in der Not wie das Magazin Forbes im April 2020:

«Intelligente Städte können uns helfen, die Coronavirus-Pandemie zu bekämpfen. In einer wachsenden Zahl von Ländern tun die intelligenten Städte genau das. Regierungen und lokale Behörden nutzen Smart-City-Technologien, Sensoren und Daten, um die Kontakte von Menschen aufzuspüren, die mit dem Coronavirus infiziert sind. Gleichzeitig helfen die Smart Cities auch dabei, festzustellen, ob die Regeln der sozialen Distanzierung eingehalten werden.»

Offensichtlich gibt es viele Aspekte zu bedenken und zu durchleuten, wenn es um die Aufklärung und Aufarbeitung der sogenannten «Corona-Pandemie» und der verordneten Maßnahmen geht. Frustration und Desillusion sind angesichts der Realitäten absolut verständlich. Gerade deswegen sind Initiativen wie die von Jens Knipphals so bewundernswert und so wichtig – ebenso wie eine seiner Kernthesen: «Wir müssen aufeinander zugehen, da hilft alles nichts».

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@ a95c6243:d345522c

Im Augenblick wird mit größter Intensität, großer Umsicht \ das deutsche Volk belogen. \ Olaf Scholz im FAZ-Interview

Online-Wahlen stärken die Demokratie, sind sicher, und 61 Prozent der Wahlberechtigten sprechen sich für deren Einführung in Deutschland aus. Das zumindest behauptet eine aktuelle Umfrage, die auch über die Agentur Reuters Verbreitung in den Medien gefunden hat. Demnach würden außerdem 45 Prozent der Nichtwähler bei der Bundestagswahl ihre Stimme abgeben, wenn sie dies zum Beispiel von Ihrem PC, Tablet oder Smartphone aus machen könnten.

Die telefonische Umfrage unter gut 1000 wahlberechtigten Personen sei repräsentativ, behauptet der Auftraggeber – der Digitalverband Bitkom. Dieser präsentiert sich als eingetragener Verein mit einer beeindruckenden Liste von Mitgliedern, die Software und IT-Dienstleistungen anbieten. Erklärtes Vereinsziel ist es, «Deutschland zu einem führenden Digitalstandort zu machen und die digitale Transformation der deutschen Wirtschaft und Verwaltung voranzutreiben».

Durchgeführt hat die Befragung die Bitkom Servicegesellschaft mbH, also alles in der Familie. Die gleiche Erhebung hatte der Verband übrigens 2021 schon einmal durchgeführt. Damals sprachen sich angeblich sogar 63 Prozent für ein derartiges «Demokratie-Update» aus – die Tendenz ist demgemäß fallend. Dennoch orakelt mancher, der Gang zur Wahlurne gelte bereits als veraltet.

Die spanische Privat-Uni mit Globalisten-Touch, IE University, berichtete Ende letzten Jahres in ihrer Studie «European Tech Insights», 67 Prozent der Europäer befürchteten, dass Hacker Wahlergebnisse verfälschen könnten. Mehr als 30 Prozent der Befragten glaubten, dass künstliche Intelligenz (KI) bereits Wahlentscheidungen beeinflusst habe. Trotzdem würden angeblich 34 Prozent der unter 35-Jährigen einer KI-gesteuerten App vertrauen, um in ihrem Namen für politische Kandidaten zu stimmen.

Wie dauerhaft wird wohl das Ergebnis der kommenden Bundestagswahl sein? Diese Frage stellt sich angesichts der aktuellen Entwicklung der Migrations-Debatte und der (vorübergehend) bröckelnden «Brandmauer» gegen die AfD. Das «Zustrombegrenzungsgesetz» der Union hat das Parlament heute Nachmittag überraschenderweise abgelehnt. Dennoch muss man wohl kein ausgesprochener Pessimist sein, um zu befürchten, dass die Entscheidungen der Bürger von den selbsternannten Verteidigern der Demokratie künftig vielleicht nicht respektiert werden, weil sie nicht gefallen.

Bundesweit wird jetzt zu «Brandmauer-Demos» aufgerufen, die CDU gerät unter Druck und es wird von Übergriffen auf Parteibüros und Drohungen gegen Mitarbeiter berichtet. Sicherheitsbehörden warnen vor Eskalationen, die Polizei sei «für ein mögliches erhöhtes Aufkommen von Straftaten gegenüber Politikern und gegen Parteigebäude sensibilisiert».

Der Vorwand «unzulässiger Einflussnahme» auf Politik und Wahlen wird als Argument schon seit einiger Zeit aufgebaut. Der Manipulation schuldig befunden wird neben Putin und Trump auch Elon Musk, was lustigerweise ausgerechnet Bill Gates gerade noch einmal bekräftigt und als «völlig irre» bezeichnet hat. Man stelle sich die Diskussionen um die Gültigkeit von Wahlergebnissen vor, wenn es Online-Verfahren zur Stimmabgabe gäbe. In der Schweiz wird «E-Voting» seit einigen Jahren getestet, aber wohl bisher mit wenig Erfolg.

Die politische Brandstiftung der letzten Jahre zahlt sich immer mehr aus. Anstatt dringende Probleme der Menschen zu lösen – zu denen auch in Deutschland die weit verbreitete Armut zählt –, hat die Politik konsequent polarisiert und sich auf Ausgrenzung und Verhöhnung großer Teile der Bevölkerung konzentriert. Basierend auf Ideologie und Lügen werden abweichende Stimmen unterdrückt und kriminalisiert, nicht nur und nicht erst in diesem Augenblick. Die nächsten Wochen dürften ausgesprochen spannend werden.

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@ a95c6243:d345522c

Menschen tun alles, egal wie absurd, \ um ihrer eigenen Seele nicht zu begegnen. \ Carl Gustav Jung

«Extremer Reichtum ist eine Gefahr für die Demokratie», sagen über die Hälfte der knapp 3000 befragten Millionäre aus G20-Staaten laut einer Umfrage der «Patriotic Millionaires». Ferner stellte dieser Zusammenschluss wohlhabender US-Amerikaner fest, dass 63 Prozent jener Millionäre den Einfluss von Superreichen auf US-Präsident Trump als Bedrohung für die globale Stabilität ansehen.

Diese Besorgnis haben 370 Millionäre und Milliardäre am Dienstag auch den in Davos beim WEF konzentrierten Privilegierten aus aller Welt übermittelt. In einem offenen Brief forderten sie die «gewählten Führer» auf, die Superreichen – also sie selbst – zu besteuern, um «die zersetzenden Auswirkungen des extremen Reichtums auf unsere Demokratien und die Gesellschaft zu bekämpfen». Zum Beispiel kontrolliere eine handvoll extrem reicher Menschen die Medien, beeinflusse die Rechtssysteme in unzulässiger Weise und verwandele Recht in Unrecht.

Schon 2019 beanstandete der bekannte Historiker und Schriftsteller Ruthger Bregman an einer WEF-Podiumsdiskussion die Steuervermeidung der Superreichen. Die elitäre Veranstaltung bezeichnete er als «Feuerwehr-Konferenz, bei der man nicht über Löschwasser sprechen darf.» Daraufhin erhielt Bregman keine Einladungen nach Davos mehr. Auf seine Aussagen machte der Schweizer Aktivist Alec Gagneux aufmerksam, der sich seit Jahrzehnten kritisch mit dem WEF befasst. Ihm wurde kürzlich der Zutritt zu einem dreiteiligen Kurs über das WEF an der Volkshochschule Region Brugg verwehrt.

Nun ist die Erkenntnis, dass mit Geld politischer Einfluss einhergeht, alles andere als neu. Und extremer Reichtum macht die Sache nicht wirklich besser. Trotzdem hat man über Initiativen wie Patriotic Millionaires oder Taxmenow bisher eher selten etwas gehört, obwohl es sie schon lange gibt. Auch scheint es kein Problem, wenn ein Herr Gates fast im Alleingang versucht, globale Gesundheits-, Klima-, Ernährungs- oder Bevölkerungspolitik zu betreiben – im Gegenteil. Im Jahr, als der Milliardär Donald Trump zum zweiten Mal ins Weiße Haus einzieht, ist das Echo in den Gesinnungsmedien dagegen enorm – und uniform, wer hätte das gedacht.

Der neue US-Präsident hat jedoch «Davos geerdet», wie Achgut es nannte. In seiner kurzen Rede beim Weltwirtschaftsforum verteidigte er seine Politik und stellte klar, er habe schlicht eine «Revolution des gesunden Menschenverstands» begonnen. Mit deutlichen Worten sprach er unter anderem von ersten Maßnahmen gegen den «Green New Scam», und von einem «Erlass, der jegliche staatliche Zensur beendet»:

«Unsere Regierung wird die Äußerungen unserer eigenen Bürger nicht mehr als Fehlinformation oder Desinformation bezeichnen, was die Lieblingswörter von Zensoren und derer sind, die den freien Austausch von Ideen und, offen gesagt, den Fortschritt verhindern wollen.»

Wie der «Trumpismus» letztlich einzuordnen ist, muss jeder für sich selbst entscheiden. Skepsis ist definitiv angebracht, denn «einer von uns» sind weder der Präsident noch seine auserwählten Teammitglieder. Ob sie irgendeinen Sumpf trockenlegen oder Staatsverbrechen aufdecken werden oder was aus WHO- und Klimaverträgen wird, bleibt abzuwarten.

Das WHO-Dekret fordert jedenfalls die Übertragung der Gelder auf «glaubwürdige Partner», die die Aktivitäten übernehmen könnten. Zufällig scheint mit «Impfguru» Bill Gates ein weiterer Harris-Unterstützer kürzlich das Lager gewechselt zu haben: Nach einem gemeinsamen Abendessen zeigte er sich «beeindruckt» von Trumps Interesse an der globalen Gesundheit.

Mit dem Projekt «Stargate» sind weitere dunkle Wolken am Erwartungshorizont der Fangemeinde aufgezogen. Trump hat dieses Joint Venture zwischen den Konzernen OpenAI, Oracle, und SoftBank als das «größte KI-Infrastrukturprojekt der Geschichte» angekündigt. Der Stein des Anstoßes: Oracle-CEO Larry Ellison, der auch Fan von KI-gestützter Echtzeit-Überwachung ist, sieht einen weiteren potenziellen Einsatz der künstlichen Intelligenz. Sie könne dazu dienen, Krebserkrankungen zu erkennen und individuelle mRNA-«Impfstoffe» zur Behandlung innerhalb von 48 Stunden zu entwickeln.

Warum bitte sollten sich diese superreichen «Eliten» ins eigene Fleisch schneiden und direkt entgegen ihren eigenen Interessen handeln? Weil sie Menschenfreunde, sogenannte Philanthropen sind? Oder vielleicht, weil sie ein schlechtes Gewissen haben und ihre Schuld kompensieren müssen? Deswegen jedenfalls brauchen «Linke» laut Robert Willacker, einem deutschen Politikberater mit brasilianischen Wurzeln, rechte Parteien – ein ebenso überraschender wie humorvoller Erklärungsansatz.

Wenn eine Krähe der anderen kein Auge aushackt, dann tut sie das sich selbst noch weniger an. Dass Millionäre ernsthaft ihre eigene Besteuerung fordern oder Machteliten ihren eigenen Einfluss zugunsten anderer einschränken würden, halte ich für sehr unwahrscheinlich. So etwas glaube ich erst, wenn zum Beispiel die Rüstungsindustrie sich um Friedensverhandlungen bemüht, die Pharmalobby sich gegen institutionalisierte Korruption einsetzt, Zentralbanken ihre CBDC-Pläne für Bitcoin opfern oder der ÖRR die Abschaffung der Rundfunkgebühren fordert.

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Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Die grauenvollste Aussicht ist die der Technokratie – \ einer kontrollierenden Herrschaft, \ die durch verstümmelte und verstümmelnde Geister ausgeübt wird. \ Ernst Jünger

«Davos ist nicht mehr sexy», das Weltwirtschaftsforum (WEF) mache Davos kaputt, diese Aussagen eines Einheimischen las ich kürzlich in der Handelszeitung. Während sich einige vor Ort enorm an der «teuersten Gewerbeausstellung der Welt» bereicherten, würden die negativen Begleiterscheinungen wie Wohnungsnot und Niedergang der lokalen Wirtschaft immer deutlicher.

Nächsten Montag beginnt in dem Schweizer Bergdorf erneut ein Jahrestreffen dieses elitären Clubs der Konzerne, bei dem man mit hochrangigen Politikern aus aller Welt und ausgewählten Vertretern der Systemmedien zusammenhocken wird. Wie bereits in den vergangenen vier Jahren wird die Präsidentin der EU-Kommission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Begleitung von Klaus Schwab ihre Grundsatzansprache halten.

Der deutsche WEF-Gründer hatte bei dieser Gelegenheit immer höchst lobende Worte für seine Landsmännin: 2021 erklärte er sich «stolz, dass Europa wieder unter Ihrer Führung steht» und 2022 fand er es bemerkenswert, was sie erreicht habe angesichts des «erstaunlichen Wandels», den die Welt in den vorangegangenen zwei Jahren erlebt habe; es gebe nun einen «neuen europäischen Geist».

Von der Leyens Handeln während der sogenannten Corona-«Pandemie» lobte Schwab damals bereits ebenso, wie es diese Woche das Karlspreis-Direktorium tat, als man der Beschuldigten im Fall Pfizergate die diesjährige internationale Auszeichnung «für Verdienste um die europäische Einigung» verlieh. Außerdem habe sie die EU nicht nur gegen den «Aggressor Russland», sondern auch gegen die «innere Bedrohung durch Rassisten und Demagogen» sowie gegen den Klimawandel verteidigt.

Jene Herausforderungen durch «Krisen epochalen Ausmaßes» werden indes aus dem Umfeld des WEF nicht nur herbeigeredet – wie man alljährlich zur Zeit des Davoser Treffens im Global Risks Report nachlesen kann, der zusammen mit dem Versicherungskonzern Zurich erstellt wird. Seit die Globalisten 2020/21 in der Praxis gesehen haben, wie gut eine konzertierte und konsequente Angst-Kampagne funktionieren kann, geht es Schlag auf Schlag. Sie setzen alles daran, Schwabs goldenes Zeitfenster des «Great Reset» zu nutzen.

Ziel dieses «großen Umbruchs» ist die totale Kontrolle der Technokraten über die Menschen unter dem Deckmantel einer globalen Gesundheitsfürsorge. Wie aber könnte man so etwas erreichen? Ein Mittel dazu ist die «kreative Zerstörung». Weitere unabdingbare Werkzeug sind die Einbindung, ja Gleichschaltung der Medien und der Justiz.

Ein «Great Mental Reset» sei die Voraussetzung dafür, dass ein Großteil der Menschen Einschränkungen und Manipulationen wie durch die Corona-Maßnahmen praktisch kritik- und widerstandslos hinnehme, sagt der Mediziner und Molekulargenetiker Michael Nehls. Er meint damit eine regelrechte Umprogrammierung des Gehirns, wodurch nach und nach unsere Individualität und unser soziales Bewusstsein eliminiert und durch unreflektierten Konformismus ersetzt werden.

Der aktuelle Zustand unserer Gesellschaften ist auch für den Schweizer Rechtsanwalt Philipp Kruse alarmierend. Durch den Umgang mit der «Pandemie» sieht er die Grundlagen von Recht und Vernunft erschüttert, die Rechtsstaatlichkeit stehe auf dem Prüfstand. Seiner dringenden Mahnung an alle Bürger, die Prinzipien von Recht und Freiheit zu verteidigen, kann ich mich nur anschließen.

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@ d2554ae1:1e3208b1

Austrian Economics, the Fourth Turning, and the End of the Fiat Era

By DownWithBigBrother

The world is lurching through a period of unprecedented financial, political, and cultural upheaval. Inflation stubbornly persists, government debt has surged to unsustainable highs, bond markets are flashing red, and the institutional legitimacy of the West is crumbling under the weight of contradictions. Many wonder: is this the end of something—or the beginning?

From the vantage point of Austrian economics, this moment isn’t an anomaly. It’s the inevitable result of decades of interventionism, fiat monetary expansion, and distorted incentives. And when this lens is aligned with Ray Dalio’s long-term debt cycle, Strauss-Howe’s Fourth Turning theory, and historical precedent, a clear and troubling pattern emerges: we are in the final stages of a system that can no longer sustain itself.

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The Austrian View: Malinvestment, Fiat Decay, and the Crack-Up Boom

Austrian economists warned us.

When central banks suppress interest rates below the natural rate, they distort the price of capital and create malinvestment across the economy. Asset bubbles form. Risk becomes mispriced. Government grows beyond its means. Eventually, the real structure of the economy collapses under its own weight.

Ludwig von Mises called it the crack-up boom: a moment when the public loses faith in the currency itself, accelerating toward hyperinflation or systemic reset.

Today, we see symptoms everywhere: • Short-term UK gilts faltering, despite higher yields—suggesting credit risk concerns in sovereign debt. • Central banks trapped, unable to raise rates without imploding debt servicing costs. • Pension funds relying on central bank liquidity, not investment returns. • People flocking to Bitcoin, gold, and hard assets, no longer trusting fiat promises.

This isn’t just a crisis of inflation. It’s a crisis of trust—of money, institutions, and narratives.

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Ray Dalio’s Changing World Order: End of Empire, Debt, and Dominance

Ray Dalio, in Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, offers a complementary framework. He outlines the typical rise and fall of empires based on long-term debt cycles, reserve currency status, and geopolitical hegemony.

Dalio identifies several signs of a declining empire: • Unsustainable debt loads • Political polarization and populism • Declining education, productivity, and innovation • Rising external challengers (e.g. China, BRICS) • Devaluation of the currency to solve internal problems

Sound familiar?

The UK and U.S. fit this bill perfectly. Both are experiencing late-stage fiat dysfunction. Both are overstretched geopolitically. And both are losing internal coherence at the exact moment their adversaries gain strength.

In Dalio’s cycle, these forces typically lead to a changing global reserve currency, a new monetary system, and often—a major war.

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The Fourth Turning: Crisis, Collapse, and Rebirth

Strauss and Howe’s generational theory offers a sociocultural overlay. They argued that every 80–100 years, Anglo-American civilizations undergo a “Fourth Turning”—a period of total institutional breakdown and civic realignment.

The last three Fourth Turnings: • The American Revolution (1776) • The Civil War (1861) • The Great Depression / World War II (1929–1945)

And now: 2008–2030.

The pattern is unmistakable: • Institutions lose credibility. • Society fractures along generational and ideological lines. • The old order resists collapse—but cannot reform. • Crisis breaks the system, and a new order emerges.

This isn’t prophecy. It’s a recurring cycle of institutional entropy followed by rebirth.

In this Fourth Turning, the fault lines are economic (debt, inequality), cultural (wokeism vs. tradition), technological (AI, surveillance), and monetary (fiat vs. Bitcoin).

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Historical Echoes: Lessons from the Past

While our moment is unique, it echoes others: • Weimar Germany (1920s): Massive reparations debt, central bank money printing, social fragmentation—followed by authoritarianism. • Late Roman Empire: Currency debasement (clipping silver coins), overextension, loss of civic trust, internal decay. • French Revolution: State insolvency, rampant inflation, corrupt elite, and public uprising. • 1971–2025 (Modern West): Fiat detachment from gold, credit expansion, asset bubbles, pension fragility, war drums.

Each era collapsed under unsustainable monetary and political structures. Each ended with a reset, usually after pain, upheaval, and systemic failure.

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What Comes Next: Bitcoin, Decentralization, and a Parallel Future

From an Austrian lens, the only sustainable future is built on sound money, decentralized decision-making, and organic community structures—not technocratic control.

Bitcoin represents more than a hedge. It is the lifeboat—the opt-out from a system that cannot be saved.

It aligns with all these frameworks: • Austrian: It restores monetary discipline, mimics gold with perfect scarcity, and resists state manipulation. • Dalio: It offers a neutral settlement layer amid collapsing fiat trust. • Fourth Turning: It is the generational technology of rebirth—decentralized, transparent, trustless.

Whether Bitcoin becomes the new monetary base or simply a parallel escape valve, it is central to the post-collapse architecture.

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Conclusion: Clarity in the Collapse

The old world is dying. The fiat system is entering its terminal stage, unable to sustain the lies and leverage of the past 50 years. Austrian economics saw this coming. Dalio mapped its trajectory. Strauss and Howe timed the sociopolitical rupture. History confirms the pattern.

The only question now is how we prepare. • Do we cling to crumbling institutions, hoping for reforms that never come? • Or do we embrace the clarity of collapse, build resilient systems, and guide the next era?

Austrian thinkers remind us: the crash isn’t the failure—it’s the cure. A painful, necessary purge of decades of distortion.

The question is: will we have the courage to build what comes after?

⸻

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Ich begann, Social Media aufzubauen, \ um den Menschen eine Stimme zu geben. \ Mark Zuckerberg

Sind euch auch die Tränen gekommen, als ihr Mark Zuckerbergs Wendehals-Deklaration bezüglich der Meinungsfreiheit auf seinen Portalen gehört habt? Rührend, oder? Während er früher die offensichtliche Zensur leugnete und später die Regierung Biden dafür verantwortlich machte, will er nun angeblich «die Zensur auf unseren Plattformen drastisch reduzieren».

«Purer Opportunismus» ob des anstehenden Regierungswechsels wäre als Klassifizierung viel zu kurz gegriffen. Der jetzige Schachzug des Meta-Chefs ist genauso Teil einer kühl kalkulierten Business-Strategie, wie es die 180 Grad umgekehrte Praxis vorher war. Social Media sind ein höchst lukratives Geschäft. Hinzu kommt vielleicht noch ein bisschen verkorkstes Ego, weil derartig viel Einfluss und Geld sicher auch auf die Psyche schlagen. Verständlich.

«Es ist an der Zeit, zu unseren Wurzeln der freien Meinungsäußerung auf Facebook und Instagram zurückzukehren. Ich begann, Social Media aufzubauen, um den Menschen eine Stimme zu geben», sagte Zuckerberg.

Welche Wurzeln? Hat der Mann vergessen, dass er von der Überwachung, dem Ausspionieren und dem Ausverkauf sämtlicher Daten und digitaler Spuren sowie der Manipulation seiner «Kunden» lebt? Das ist knallharter Kommerz, nichts anderes. Um freie Meinungsäußerung geht es bei diesem Geschäft ganz sicher nicht, und das war auch noch nie so. Die Wurzeln von Facebook liegen in einem Projekt des US-Militärs mit dem Namen «LifeLog». Dessen Ziel war es, «ein digitales Protokoll vom Leben eines Menschen zu erstellen».

Der Richtungswechsel kommt allerdings nicht überraschend. Schon Anfang Dezember hatte Meta-Präsident Nick Clegg von «zu hoher Fehlerquote bei der Moderation» von Inhalten gesprochen. Bei der Gelegenheit erwähnte er auch, dass Mark sehr daran interessiert sei, eine aktive Rolle in den Debatten über eine amerikanische Führungsrolle im technologischen Bereich zu spielen.

Während Milliardärskollege und Big Tech-Konkurrent Elon Musk bereits seinen Posten in der kommenden Trump-Regierung in Aussicht hat, möchte Zuckerberg also nicht nur seine Haut retten – Trump hatte ihn einmal einen «Feind des Volkes» genannt und ihm lebenslange Haft angedroht –, sondern am liebsten auch mitspielen. KI-Berater ist wohl die gewünschte Funktion, wie man nach einem Treffen Trump-Zuckerberg hörte. An seine Verhaftung dachte vermutlich auch ein weiterer Multimilliardär mit eigener Social Media-Plattform, Pavel Durov, als er Zuckerberg jetzt kritisierte und gleichzeitig warnte.

Politik und Systemmedien drehen jedenfalls durch – was zu viel ist, ist zu viel. Etwas weniger Zensur und mehr Meinungsfreiheit würden die Freiheit der Bürger schwächen und seien potenziell vernichtend für die Menschenrechte. Zuckerberg setze mit dem neuen Kurs die Demokratie aufs Spiel, das sei eine «Einladung zum nächsten Völkermord», ernsthaft. Die Frage sei, ob sich die EU gegen Musk und Zuckerberg behaupten könne, Brüssel müsse jedenfalls hart durchgreifen.

Auch um die Faktenchecker macht man sich Sorgen. Für die deutsche Nachrichtenagentur dpa und die «Experten» von Correctiv, die (noch) Partner für Fact-Checking-Aktivitäten von Facebook sind, sei das ein «lukratives Geschäftsmodell». Aber möglicherweise werden die Inhalte ohne diese vermeintlichen Korrektoren ja sogar besser. Anders als Meta wollen jedoch Scholz, Faeser und die Tagesschau keine Fehler zugeben und zum Beispiel Correctiv-Falschaussagen einräumen.

Bei derlei dramatischen Befürchtungen wundert es nicht, dass der öffentliche Plausch auf X zwischen Elon Musk und AfD-Chefin Alice Weidel von 150 EU-Beamten überwacht wurde, falls es irgendwelche Rechtsverstöße geben sollte, die man ihnen ankreiden könnte. Auch der Deutsche Bundestag war wachsam. Gefunden haben dürften sie nichts. Das Ganze war eher eine Show, viel Wind wurde gemacht, aber letztlich gab es nichts als heiße Luft.

Das Anbiedern bei Donald Trump ist indes gerade in Mode. Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) tut das auch, denn sie fürchtet um Spenden von über einer Milliarde Dollar. Eventuell könnte ja Elon Musk auch hier künftig aushelfen und der Organisation sowie deren größtem privaten Förderer, Bill Gates, etwas unter die Arme greifen. Nachdem Musks KI-Projekt xAI kürzlich von BlackRock & Co. sechs Milliarden eingestrichen hat, geht da vielleicht etwas.

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@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ทอดมันปลาฉลาด ของอร่อยและโภชนาการดี ที่หายากเพราะคนไม่ค่อยทำ เวลาพูดถึงทอดมันปลา ภาพที่ลอยมาในหัวของหลายคนคงเป็นเนื้อปลาเด้ง ๆ รสเผ็ดนิด หอมใบมะกรูดหน่อย ทอดให้ขอบกรอบนิด ๆ กินร้อน ๆ กับน้ำจิ้มหวานเปรี้ยว ถ้าไปถามว่าทำจากปลาอะไร ส่วนใหญ่ก็คงตอบว่า "ปลากราย" ซึ่งก็ไม่แปลก เพราะปลากรายถือเป็นวัตถุดิบยอดนิยมสำหรับทอดมันมายาวนาน

แต่วันนี้ เราอยากชวนมาทำความรู้จักกับอีกหนึ่งตัวเลือกที่น่าสนใจ…ปลาที่ชื่อออกจะขี้เล่นหน่อย ๆ ว่า “ปลาฉลาด”

ปลาฉลาดเป็นปลาน้ำจืดที่คนพื้นที่รู้ดีว่าเนื้อแน่น รสหวานธรรมชาติ และมีกลิ่นคาวน้อยจนบางคนเปรียบว่า "ขูดแล้วแทบไม่ต้องปรุงอะไรเยอะก็หอม" แถมยังมีเนื้อที่เหนียวในแบบธรรมชาติ โดยไม่ต้องใส่แป้งเพิ่มให้เสีย texture เลยแม้แต่น้อย

ความน่าสนใจของทอดมันปลาฉลาดคือมันให้สัมผัสที่ดีมาก Real food แท้ๆเพราะเนื้อปลาฉลาดเหนียวด้วยตัวเอง ไม่ต้องพึ่งแป้งหรือสารช่วยคงตัวใดๆ และยังมีกลิ่นหอมแบบปลาแม่น้ำที่ไม่ฉุน ไม่คาวดิน ไม่รบกวนสมาธิการกิน

เวลาขูดเนื้อปลาฉลาด จะรู้สึกได้เลยว่าเนื้อมัน "มีชีวิตชีวา" คือไม่ใช่เนื้อนิ่มเปื่อย ยุ่ย หรือแห้งจนฝืดมือ แต่จะมีความแน่น นุ่ม และติดยางนิด ๆ พอเอาไปคลุกกับพริกแกงกระชายสดสักนิด ใบมะกรูดฝอยบาง ๆ สิ่งที่เราทำแตกต่างเล็กน้อยคือ ใช้ถั่วพลูแทนถั่วฝักยาว ตีไปเรื่อย ๆ จนเหนียวได้ที่ แล้วทอดบนไฟกลาง ๆ...เสียงฉ่าแรกที่ลงกระทะ จะมาพร้อมกลิ่นหอมที่เรียกคนทั้งบ้านให้เดินมาด้อม ๆ มอง ๆ ได้แบบไม่ต้องใช้คำโฆษณา

ในแง่โภชนาการ ปลาฉลาดให้โปรตีนสูง ไขมันต่ำ และที่สำคัญคือ ย่อยง่าย ไม่หนักท้อง เหมาะสำหรับคนที่อยากกินของทอดแต่ไม่อยากให้ร่างกายต้องทำงานหนักเกินไป แถมยังนำมาประยุกต์เป็นทอดมันสายโลว์คาร์บได้สบาย ๆ เพราะเนื้อปลายึดเกาะตัวได้เองโดยธรรมชาติความดีงามของเนื้อปลา โดยไม่ต้องเติมแป้งหรือแปรรูปอะไรเพิ่มเติมอีก

แม้ปลาฉลาดอาจไม่ได้หาซื้อสะดวกเท่าปลาที่เลี้ยงในระบบฟาร์มทั่วไป แต่นั่นแหละคือเสน่ห์ของมัน…มันคือวัตถุดิบที่พาเรา “กลับไปหาของจริง” ที่ธรรมชาติให้มา ไม่ต้องปรุงแต่งมากก็อร่อย

ไม่ต้องบอกว่าปลากรายดีหรือไม่ดี เพราะมันก็ดีในแบบของมัน แต่ถ้าวันใดคุณอยากลองเปิดใจให้กับของหายากอีกหนึ่งชนิด…ลองทอดมันปลาฉลาดดูสักครั้ง แล้วคุณจะเข้าใจว่า บางครั้ง ของที่ไม่ค่อยมีคนพูดถึง อาจเป็นของที่ “พูดแทนตัวเอง” ได้ดีที่สุด #siripun #ตำรับเอ๋

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Was du bist hängt von drei Faktoren ab: \ Was du geerbt hast, \ was deine Umgebung aus dir machte \ und was du in freier Wahl \ aus deiner Umgebung und deinem Erbe gemacht hast. \ Aldous Huxley

Das brave Mitmachen und Mitlaufen in einem vorgegebenen, recht engen Rahmen ist gewiss nicht neu, hat aber gerade wieder mal Konjunktur. Dies kann man deutlich beobachten, eigentlich egal, in welchem gesellschaftlichen Bereich man sich umschaut. Individualität ist nur soweit angesagt, wie sie in ein bestimmtes Schema von «Diversität» passt, und Freiheit verkommt zur Worthülse – nicht erst durch ein gewisses Buch einer gewissen ehemaligen Regierungschefin.

Erklärungsansätze für solche Entwicklungen sind bekannt, und praktisch alle haben etwas mit Massenpsychologie zu tun. Der Herdentrieb, also der Trieb der Menschen, sich – zum Beispiel aus Unsicherheit oder Bequemlichkeit – lieber der Masse anzuschließen als selbstständig zu denken und zu handeln, ist einer der Erklärungsversuche. Andere drehen sich um Macht, Propaganda, Druck und Angst, also den gezielten Einsatz psychologischer Herrschaftsinstrumente.

Aber wollen die Menschen überhaupt Freiheit? Durch Gespräche im privaten Umfeld bin ich diesbezüglich in der letzten Zeit etwas skeptisch geworden. Um die Jahreswende philosophiert man ja gerne ein wenig über das Erlebte und über die Erwartungen für die Zukunft. Dabei hatte ich hin und wieder den Eindruck, die totalitären Anwandlungen unserer «Repräsentanten» kämen manchen Leuten gerade recht.

«Desinformation» ist so ein brisantes Thema. Davor müsse man die Menschen doch schützen, hörte ich. Jemand müsse doch zum Beispiel diese ganzen merkwürdigen Inhalte in den Social Media filtern – zur Ukraine, zum Klima, zu Gesundheitsthemen oder zur Migration. Viele wüssten ja gar nicht einzuschätzen, was richtig und was falsch ist, sie bräuchten eine Führung.

Freiheit bedingt Eigenverantwortung, ohne Zweifel. Eventuell ist es einigen tatsächlich zu anspruchsvoll, die Verantwortung für das eigene Tun und Lassen zu übernehmen. Oder die persönliche Freiheit wird nicht als ausreichend wertvolles Gut angesehen, um sich dafür anzustrengen. In dem Fall wäre die mangelnde Selbstbestimmung wohl das kleinere Übel. Allerdings fehlt dann gemäß Aldous Huxley ein Teil der Persönlichkeit. Letztlich ist natürlich alles eine Frage der Abwägung.

Sind viele Menschen möglicherweise schon so «eingenordet», dass freiheitliche Ambitionen gar nicht für eine ganze Gruppe, ein Kollektiv, verfolgt werden können? Solche Gedanken kamen mir auch, als ich mir kürzlich diverse Talks beim viertägigen Hacker-Kongress des Chaos Computer Clubs (38C3) anschaute. Ich war nicht nur überrascht, sondern reichlich erschreckt angesichts der in weiten Teilen mainstream-geformten Inhalte, mit denen ein dankbares Publikum beglückt wurde. Wo ich allgemein hellere Köpfe erwartet hatte, fand ich Konformismus und enthusiastisch untermauerte Narrative.

Gibt es vielleicht so etwas wie eine Herdenimmunität gegen Indoktrination? Ich denke, ja, zumindest eine gestärkte Widerstandsfähigkeit. Was wir brauchen, sind etwas gesunder Menschenverstand, offene Informationskanäle und der Mut, sich freier auch zwischen den Herden zu bewegen. Sie tun das bereits, aber sagen Sie es auch dieses Jahr ruhig weiter.

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Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

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Chef's notes

I found this recipe a couple years ago and have been addicted to it since. Its incredibly easy, and cheap to prep. Freeze the sausage in flat, single serving portions. That way it can be cooked from frozen for a fast, flavorful, and healthy lunch or dinner. I took inspiration from the video that contained this recipe, and almost always pan fry the frozen sausage with some baby broccoli. The steam cooks the broccoli and the fats from the sausage help it to sear, while infusing the vibrant flavors. Serve with some rice, if desired. I often use serrano peppers, due to limited produce availability. They work well for a little heat and nice flavor that is not overpowering.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 25 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 15 min (only needed if cooking at time of prep)
• 🍽️ Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 4 lbs ground pork
• 12-15 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 Thai or Serrano peppers, rough chopped
• 1/4 c. lime juice
• 4 Tbsp fish sauce
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 c. chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Portion and freeze, as desired.
3. Sautè frozen portions in hot frying pan, with broccoli or other fresh veggies.
4. Serve with rice or alone.

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Australian Median Home Value Increases by $230,000 Over Five Years

Summary:

Recent data from CoreLogic reveals that Australia's median home value has risen by approximately $230,000 over the past five years, marking a 39.1% increase. This significant dollar increase surpasses previous five-year periods, highlighting escalating affordability challenges. Factors contributing to this surge include a persistent imbalance between housing supply and demand, low stock levels, and lower long-term interest rates. Major cities like Sydney and Adelaide, as well as parts of regional New South Wales, exhibit some of the highest housing value-to-income ratios.

Sources: The Guardian - April 9, 2025

Reserve Bank of Australia Adjusts Money Market Operations

Summary:

The Reserve Bank of Australia announced an increase in the rate at which it lends to financial institutions in regular money market operations. This technical change is aimed at adjusting the pricing of its open market operations and is stated to have no implications for broader monetary policy. Sources: Reuters - April 9, 2025

BPCL and Sembcorp Form Joint Venture for Green Hydrogen Projects

Summary:

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Sembcorp have entered into a joint venture to explore renewable energy and green hydrogen production projects across India. This collaboration aims to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and support India's ambitious climate goals by leveraging both companies' expertise in renewable energy solutions.

Sources: PV Magazine India - April 9, 2025

Moderate Earthquake Reported Near Yonakuni, Japan

Summary:

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred after midnight on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, near Yonakuni, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan. The earthquake struck at a depth of approximately 33 kilometers. There have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties.​

Sources: Volcano Discovery - April 9, 2025

Peter Dutton Unveils Gas Reservation Policy to Reduce Energy Prices

Summary:

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has introduced a gas reservation policy aimed at lowering energy prices in Australia. The plan requires gas companies to prioritize domestic supply over exports, projecting a 15% reduction in gas prices for industrial consumers and a 7% decrease in residential gas bills. The policy also includes a 25% cut in fuel excise for one year and expedited approvals for new gas projects. While modeling suggests potential benefits, analysts caution that consumer advantages may be delayed due to existing contracts and retail bill components.​

Sources: News.com.au - April 9, 2025, The Australian - April 9, 2025

Greens Propose Abolition of Negative Gearing and Capital Gains Tax Discounts

Summary:

Greens leader Adam Bandt has proposed significant reforms to Australia's housing policies, including the abolition of capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing tax breaks for investment properties. The plan also includes a nationwide rent freeze. Bandt argues these measures are necessary to address housing affordability and support renters and first-home buyers. The Greens suggest limiting tax concessions to a single pre-existing investment property and banning them for future purchases or inheritances. Additionally, they propose a two-year rent freeze with subsequent increases capped at 2% every two years. Analysis indicates these reforms could raise home ownership rates and save renters billions. Bandt criticized Labor's $33 billion housing plan as insufficient and is also advocating for dental care to be included in Medicare, funded by higher corporate taxes.

Sources: The Australian - April 9, 2025, News.com.au - April 9, 2025

Australian Stock Market Rebounds Despite Tariff Threats

Summary:

The Australian stock market experienced a strong rebound, with the S&P/ASX 200 rising over 2.3% to close at 7,510 points. This recovery follows a sharp decline prompted by escalating global trade tensions. The rally suggests investor optimism despite the looming tariff conflict between the U.S. and China. The Australian dollar also saw a slight rebound, benefiting exporters.

Sources: The Guardian - April 8, 2025

Divers Left Stranded Off Perth Coast During Charter Expedition

Summary:

Two brothers were left stranded in the ocean during a diving expedition off the Perth coast after their charter boat allegedly departed without them. The incident occurred four kilometers offshore, and the pair was rescued by a passing Rottnest ferry after being spotted in distress. The divers have criticized the Perth Diving Academy for failing in their duty of care and have engaged legal representation.​

Source: ABC News - April 9, 2025

Australian Beef Industry Resilient Amid Global Tariff Changes

Summary:

Despite recent U.S. tariffs, Australia's beef industry remains robust, with exports to the United States averaging $275 million a month in the six months to February. Industry insiders express confidence that the 10% tariff will not significantly impact exports, highlighting the sector's resilience and strong international demand.

Sources: Hindustan Times - April 9, 2025

US Imposes 104% Tariffs on Chinese Imports, Sparking Global Economic Concerns

Summary:

US President Donald Trump has announced a 104% tariff on Chinese imports, escalating trade tensions and raising fears of a global economic slowdown. China has threatened retaliation, prompting concerns about a full-scale trade war that could impact international markets, including Australia.​

Sources: The Guardian - April 9, 2025

Massive Decline in Bogong Moth Population Raises Ecological Concerns

Summary:

The bogong moth, once abundant in Australia, has experienced a drastic population decline of up to 99.5% by 2019. Despite its ecological and cultural significance, the Australian government recently declined to list it as threatened, citing limited data. The moth plays a crucial role in alpine ecosystems and Indigenous cultures, serving as a key food source for species like the mountain pygmy possum. Experts are calling for nationwide research and conservation efforts to protect this iconic species.

Sources: The Guardian - April 9, 2025

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Discusses Trump's Tariff Plan and Its Impact on the Middle Class

Summary:

In this episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent provides an in-depth analysis of President Trump's proposed tariff plan, focusing on its potential effects on the American middle class. Bessent outlines the administration's objectives behind implementing the tariffs and addresses concerns about possible economic repercussions. He emphasizes that the tariffs are designed to protect domestic industries and create jobs, asserting that any short-term price increases will be offset by long-term economic growth. The discussion also covers strategies to mitigate adverse impacts on consumers and the importance of fair trade practices in strengthening the U.S. economy.

Key Insights: - Protection of Domestic Industries: Bessent explains that the tariffs aim to shield American manufacturers from unfair foreign competition, thereby preserving and creating jobs within the country. - Short-Term vs. Long-Term Effects: While acknowledging potential immediate price hikes on certain goods, Bessent argues that the long-term benefits, including a more robust economy and job market, will outweigh these initial challenges. - Fair Trade Practices: The conversation highlights the administration's commitment to establishing equitable trade agreements that prevent exploitation of U.S. markets and ensure reciprocal benefits.

Sources: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Discusses Trump's Tariff Plan and Its Impact on the Middle Class

@ 4d41a7cb:7d3633cc

The most interesting relation that a lawyer holds to the community, outside of his technical occupation, is that of a legislator. Lawyers were the chief authors of the Constitution of the United States and of all the state constitutions.

It seems natural that lawyers should predominate in the government. They framed the former instrument. They both make and interpret the law.

Every time the text is in italics, it is a direct quote from the book.

Lawyers control every branch of the republican form of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The influence of the lawyers is enormous, for good or for evil.

The lawyer has the supreme power of direction in the general exercise, commencement, and conduct of litigated or other legal matters. It lies with him to suggest and to direct. There is no arbiter over him but his conscience.

The duty of a lawyer is threefold: to the state, as an officer and citizen; to the court, as an officer and adviser; and to his client, as a fiduciary.

The crude sentiments of the people must be filtered through the lawyers, first as politicians, then as legislators, and afterwards as lawyers and judges.

Since lawyers are in charge of every government branch as ‘elected officials’ in representation of the people, education about morality and their duties and responsibilities is fundamental since in their hands lies the monopoly of violence held by the government.

Without contingent arrangements with lawyers, their power would become oppressive and tyrannical.

THE PROBLEM

“Permit me to issue and control the currency of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.” Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812)

1. Money was placed above rightness, truth, and justice. The incentive structure is inverted, and it's detrimental. Society is morally bankrupt above and below. Institutions are no better than the individuals who compose them.
2. Common law was replaced by commercial code (encryption). Adding complexity, inefficiencies, costs, and capacity to trick and twist the law. The incentive structure is broken. Cheating pays more than playing clean; we have more lawyers but less justice.
3. The lawyer is not educated about the spirit of the profession, his duty, and the form of government he’s supposed to protect. The interest of the client is put above the interest of the court and the nation. Jurisprudence is taught instead of elementary law.

INSTITUTIONS CANNOT BE BETTER THAN THE MEMBERS OF WHICH THEY ARE COMPOSED. THE GOVERNMENT IS NO DIFFERENT.

The combined acts of a body of lawyers, oft repeated, like an army of worms, silently and secretly gnawing at the foundation of a great and magnificent structure, will gradually but surely cause it to give way and tumble into ruins. It is perhaps not going too far to assert that the lawyers, as a class, are largely answerable for the minimum of respect and obedience that the public has for the law.

1. Money was placed above rightness, truth, and justice.

Commercialism and materialism have placed money above everything else, including the human. This has completely demoralized society in every aspect, from government and justice to education, architecture, medicine, nutrition, and so on.

This has a common denominator: the quality of the currency. As the quality of the currency evaporates, so does the values of the people. But money and currency are inanimate and dead objects; the real actors are the humans trading and using that money.

The ‘fiat money’ we use these days is a result of codified law, a legal fiction for money, a commercial contract paper to exchange goods and services, and a creature of the codified public and private law.

This fiat currency has enabled its possessors to buy, or secure, political and social positions, which should be attained only by real merit, refinement, and learning.

Today judicial systems do not provide justice, newspapers and mainstream media do not provide the truth, today banks do not protect your money, today medical treatment does not cure you, etc. Profit is placed above everything else.

It was evident that materialism completely controlled the economic structure, the ultimate goal of which was for the individual to become part of a system that provided him with economic security at the expense of his soul, mind, and body.

Manly P. Hall, 1988

Society was morally bankrupted by materialistic ideologies and human institutions that are no better than the individuals who compose them.

No judicial action can be put in motion without the sanction of some lawyer.

The lawyer appears everywhere and in all stages of business transactions but also in family and other private and delicate matters as the trusted advisor and friend of his client.

There is a moral corruption, equally as bad in its results upon the judges, the bar, and the community.

2. The incentive structure is inverted, and it's detrimental.

Moral relativism justifies every wrongdoing since ‘there’s no objective difference between right and wrong.’ How can you have justice if you can justify every wrongdoing and there’s no moral compass?

But if being a member of a club or friends with the judge gives you an edge, how can you have excellence, meritocracy, and justice? The incentive is to short-cup your way, to cheat, to manipulate the game and law to your advantage to get economic stability.

If you want to have justice and great institutions, you need to educate their members in a high level of morality, ethics, and purpose…

The commercial code replaced common law. The difference between a common-law lawyer and the practitioner under the Code is the difference between a surgeon and a butcher.

Codification has produced more material to aid dishonest clients than the common law supplied. The lawyers as a body are morally worse than their professional ancestors. The lawyers of the past believed the constitution was adaptable; those of the present regard it as elastic.

Laws have accumulated really fast, creating inextricable confusion and doubt. Making justice was turned into a thing of doubt and change.

Instead of seeking the truth, the courts and the bar are engaged in the pursuit of technicality and form.

A precedent can be found on any side of any subject that anyone chooses to espouse.

The ratio of lawyers has multiplied four times since the law was codified and its complexity increased. The code was adopted in New York in 1848. Argentina's Commercial Code was first adopted by the Province of Buenos Aires in 1859 and later as the national code in 1862. In 1850 there was 1 lawyer per 1000 citizens in the United States. Now there is 1 in 256.

The excessive number of lawyers is detrimental, both to the community and the morale of the profession.

It creates, encourages, and continues illegal, unfounded, and fraudulent practices, demands, and litigations, because necessarily many of the lawyers depend not upon professional knowledge and accomplishments but upon sharpness and cunning. In the effort to sustain themselves, much unnecessary and unfounded litigation is inaugurated, and many disgraceful practices are engendered.

Let anyone consider the effect of the forty or fifty thousand legal agents spending their lives distorting and prostituting the forms of justice, misapplying and perverting its principles, and undermining the constitution and laws, and they can make a fairly accurate calculation as to the longevity of the system of government under which they exist and thrive.

Cunning and trickery have replaced real knowledge and ethics.

The modern code lawyer knows little of elementary law, but he carries, as a soldier would a knapsack, a memory filled with sections of codes and adjudicated cases.

Sheltered in the grip of his office, the lawyer can always, insidiously and secretly, deflect the course of justice and defraud the law. It is difficult to detect him; he is representing another’s interest and is not responsible for his client’s morals or frauds.

To say nothing of the extra cost and expenses, the manifold delays and intricacies of legal procedure, the attempt to simplify has been to muddle, confound, and destroy—to produce a race of pygmy lawyers, chattering and quarreling over the meaning of words in the Code.

The ones who benefit from codification are the same ones who benefit from fiat currencies and central banks. They have used the same strategy in both cases: create a problem, manipulate public opinion and make them demand the ‘solution’ they have already prepared—codification of law, central banks, etc. Time has shown that the public was manipulated and that the solutions that was sold to them only increased the size of the problem they were ‘trying’ to fix.

Picture the lawyers training themselves in a school of dishonesty, trickery, and chicanery, diverting and stopping the machinery of the law, prostituting the forms of justice for gain, selling their knowledge, ability, experience, and such talent as they may possess to the client who pays most for the service, and resorting to every device of cunning and deceit to gain their end! Do such lawyers exist? Do such practices prevail? Unfortunately, yes. In the first rank of the profession can be found many lawyers whose services are sought only to enable guilty men to escape punishment; only to open a door for others to avoid the consequences of the civil law and of their contracts; only to defeat and evade the legislative will and public policy; only to show their clients how to cheat, defraud, vilify, and defame without penalty or damage.

His profession consists of thwarting the law instead of enforcing it. The modern idea of a great lawyer is one who can most successfully manipulate the law and the facts. The public no longer calls them “great” but “successful” lawyers. Not a great jurist or profound student, but a successful practitioner.

The more desperate the case he wins, the greater his reputation.

It is the common belief, inside and outside of the profession, that the most brilliant and learned of the lawyers are employed to defeat or strangle justice.

In this view, every lawyer might be regarded as an intellectual prostitute whose mind, time, experience, knowledge, and influence can be hired and occupied by any stranger who desires to comply with his terms as to fees.

There is nothing secret or underhand about this part of the lawyer’s business. It has the approval of the people everywhere.

In fact, the community looks with perfect complacency and composure upon a transaction in which the leading lawyer sells his talent, his knowledge, his time, and his influence to the most corrupt or infamous individual in the land.

The lawyer is deliberately made an instrument to thwart the law and justice—and he knows it.

He uses the machinery of the law to accomplish results contrary to justice, truth, and right.

When the laws can be easily thwarted, the moral sense of the whole community is deadened. The incentive for justice was inverted and destroyed.

3. The lawyer is not educated about the spirit of the profession.

The lawyer’s power arises from the necessity of political organization; he is the official and authorized agent that puts in motion the machinery of the law.

In the commencement of suits, the lawyer has need, therefore, of honesty, learning, prudence, and patriotism. It rests with him to preserve the purity of the legal system; to separate the chaff of fraud, exaggeration, and doubt from the wheat of fact and truth.

The government exists for the people, not the people for the government.

American governments were organized by the people to provide the people a peaceful way of resolving conflicts and trading peacefully, providing justice and the protection of private property and equality under the law. The public is taxed for the general expenses of the courts, among other things.

Here’s the secret, -the cornerstone- of all legislation.

The goal is to have an easy and understandable set of rules that everyone can understand: to make as few laws as possible; for, in all normal and sound conditions of society, that country is best governed which is least governed. But codification has done the opposite: add complexity and create thousands of codified laws.

Here’s the secret, -the cornerstone- of all legislation.

The legislator should, therefore, be a man who understands the origin and nature of society- familiar with past and existing laws and history- with such practical and discriminating judgment as enables him to comprehend the wants and necessities of his fellow men.

Still, none of the formal oaths defines the duties of the lawyer.

Everything is now left to the moral perception of the lawyer.

THE LOYALTY TO ITS CLIENT (THE HAND THAT FEEDS HIS MOUTH) IS PLACED ABOVE THE ALLIANCE TO THE STATE (THE HAND THAT FEEDS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM).

It is not the exception, but the rule, for the lawyer to surrender his whole mental, intellectual, and physical power to his client’s cause.

REMEDY

To produce lawyers who can perform their duties, they should be taught to cultivate a moral sense; the nature and object of law; the nature and duties of citizenship; the nature and duties of a legislator; but above and beyond everything else, they should be taught the real mission of the lawyer - which includes professional ethics. These fundamental requisites to the making of a full lawyer are almost entirely overlooked in all of the courses of education followed in law offices, law schools, and academies or colleges. Lawyers are made up to be mere instruments for their clients, without any attention being paid to their duties to the State. The fact is extraordinary, nay, incredible. But it is true. The curriculum of legal study is based upon codification. O means the sentiment of codification., pervades and influences all legal education.

If the moral sense of the community, which is another name for public opinion, should be maintained to the highest possible degree, an educated Bar, and a free, pure and intelligent Press, are the factors which can do much to accomplish all these results.

But this conscience, which should guide the lawyer, comes from training and education.

Trained in the knowledge of human nature, when he enters the field of jurisprudence and politics, his acts and opinions should be of the greatest value to the people. I would build up a race of pure lawyers, as far removed from commercialism as possible.

The country needs such a class more than ever.

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

O que são os juros?

Os juros são um reflexo da preferência temporal dos indivíduos: o valor que damos ao consumo no presente em comparação ao consumo no futuro. Em termos práticos, se alguém te pede dinheiro emprestado hoje e promete devolver só daqui a um ano, faz sentido você querer algo em troca por ter que esperar e postergar o consumo — esse “algo a mais” é o juro.

Nas palavras da Escola Austríaca, os juros não são um fenômeno artificial ou técnico, mas sim um fato da realidade humana: tempo tem valor. E como o tempo passa para todos, a preferência temporal é um traço universal. Logo, juros sempre existirão — e isso independe de moeda, bancos ou qualquer arranjo institucional.

Juros e poupança

Num mercado genuinamente livre, os juros emergem da relação entre dois grupos:

1. Poupadores, que abrem mão do consumo presente para acumular bens que serão utilizados no futuro.

2. Investidores, que tomam emprestados esses recursos para realizar projetos que renderão frutos adiante.

Quando há muita poupança, a taxa de juros tende a cair, pois há mais capital disponível para investimentos. Quando há pouca poupança, os juros sobem, pois o capital é escasso. Simples assim. É uma dinâmica voluntária, descentralizada e natural — e, portanto, intolerável para os engenheiros sociais e planejadores centrais.

Como sabotar tudo

O problema começa quando uma entidade com poder coercitivo — como um banco central, como o Federal Reserve (FED) — resolve interferir nesse processo natural. Em vez de permitir que os juros sejam determinados pelas preferências temporais das pessoas, o FED manipula a taxa básica de juros da economia, criando a ilusão de que há mais poupança do que realmente existe.

Como ele faz isso?

Simples: imprimindo dinheiro do nada e injetando esse capital nos mercados financeiros por meio da compra de títulos, operações com bancos e linhas de crédito. Essa expansão monetária distorce os sinais econômicos: os juros caem artificialmente, mesmo sem um aumento real na poupança. O crédito se torna barato — mas ilusoriamente.

O efeito prático dessa mentira monetária

Empresas e investidores, enganados por esses juros baixos, começam a empreender projetos de longo prazo como se houvesse capital real disponível para sustentá-los. Shoppings, fábricas, startups, construções, tudo parece viável. A sensação é de prosperidade: mais empregos, salários, consumo e lucros.

Mas há um detalhe crucial: a preferência temporal da população não mudou. As pessoas continuam consumindo no presente — e não há bens de capital suficientes para suprir os dois desejos ao mesmo tempo: o consumo presente e os investimentos de longo prazo.

Com o tempo, a realidade bate à porta: os preços dos bens de capital sobem, os custos dos projetos disparam, os empréstimos se tornam mais caros e muitos empreendimentos tornam-se inviáveis. Então vem a quebradeira: demissões, falências e recessão. Todo o “crescimento” anterior se revela uma miragem inflacionária.

Ciclos econômicos: uma criação do Estado

Esse processo de boom artificial seguido de colapso inevitável é o que Mises e Hayek explicaram como o Ciclo Econômico Austríaco. Não é um “erro do mercado”. É o resultado direto da distorção dos sinais econômicos provocada pela manipulação dos juros. E o culpado tem nome: o banco central — neste caso, o FED.

O FED não é um árbitro neutro. Ele é um planejador central disfarçado de autoridade monetária. Seu objetivo real é manter o sistema financeiro vivo à base de impressora. Ele socializa prejuízos, distorce o cálculo econômico e destrói o processo de alocação racional de capital. Tudo isso enquanto afirma estar “estabilizando a economia”.

A consequência disso? Inflação, endividamento, má alocação de recursos e, acima de tudo, roubo institucionalizado da poupança das pessoas comuns. O juro baixo artificial é um imposto oculto. É uma forma disfarçada de pilhagem, uma transferência silenciosa de riqueza dos poupadores — que trabalharam e se abstiveram do consumo — para os primeiros recebedores do novo dinheiro, como bancos e governos. Essa manipulação é um confisco disfarçado, que destrói capital real e sabota o esforço honesto de quem poupa.

O caminho da correção

Para que os juros cumpram sua função genuína — sinalizar a escassez ou abundância de capital — é preciso eliminar a interferência coercitiva dos bancos centrais. Em um mercado verdadeiramente livre, sem manipulação monetária, os juros seriam determinados pela poupança real, e não por burocratas em Washington.

Isso exige o fim do monopólio estatal sobre a moeda. Exige a destruição da base legal que sustenta o cartel bancário. E exige uma transição para formas de dinheiro que não podem ser inflacionadas por decreto, como o ouro ou — melhor ainda — o Bitcoin.

Para finalizar

Os juros não são uma variável a ser “ajustada” por tecnocratas com PhDs. Eles são a expressão natural das escolhas humanas diante do tempo. Qualquer tentativa de manipular essa realidade só pode gerar desequilíbrios, crises e sofrimento econômico.

Enquanto o FED existir, ciclos econômicos serão inevitáveis. Não por causa do mercado — mas porque um punhado de burocratas acredita que sabe mais do que milhões de pessoas agindo voluntariamente.

Liberdade monetária é a única solução. E a destruição do banco central é apenas o começo.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概览

ETHiopia x BAM Hackathon 于 2 月 10 日至 14 日在线上进行，吸引了 108 名注册开发者和创新者深入探索以太坊技术。活动包括 Solidity 开发的技术研讨会和鼓励创造性技能培养的环节，最终审核通过了 38 个的项目。这些项目展示了参赛者的技术创造力以及他们对区块链技术的投入。

Hackathon 促进了以太坊生态系统内解决方案的创建，重点关注社区贡献和在现实场景中创新应用。参赛者在获得技能和探索了区块链创新的同时，也建立了开发者网络。活动提供了 2,000 美元 USDC 现金奖金，用于激励在代码质量、社区参与和展示技能方面表现出色的项目。

包括 ETHiopia, BAM 和 THE MU 在内的实体促进了非洲 Web3 BUIDLer的环境，推动了有影响力的解决方案。此次合作强调了区块链在应对现实世界挑战中的角色，并赋能了非洲开发者和BUIDLer。

Hackathon 获奖者

ETHiopia X Circles 奖项获奖者

第一名: Ethera

Ethera支持非洲内容创作者通过区块链实现货币化，利用Circles Protocol和CRC代币进行交易，以确保在Gnosis Chain上的透明度和去中心化。它通过Circles Protocol Avatar验证用户身份。

第二名: ETHqub

ETHiopia x BAM 一般Hackathon 获奖者

第一名: Imara

Imara是一个去中心化平台，帮助区块链开发者组建团队。它利用基于里程碑的质押和治理工具来增强协作，防止项目被遗弃，旨在区块链生态系统内实现广泛的集成。

第二名: Hakiba

Hakiba是一个去中心化的借贷协议，促进区块链上的社区信贷。它实施质押、担保和链上保险，以促进负责任的贷款和借款人支持，使用Solidity智能合约和FastAPI。

第三名: ETHqub

有关所有项目的更多信息，请访问 https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/ethiopiabamhackathon/buidl

关于组织者

BAM

BAM，即Bold African Movement，是一个为非洲的新兴建设者和创始人提供平台的机构，专注于区块链、AI和其他新兴技术。该组织致力于在非洲大陆培养创新人才，开发关键技术解决方案。通过积极参与重要的技术领域，BAM促进了这些行业的成长和协作。他们的使命是赋予非洲新一代的技术领导者，从而推动从愿景想法到实际实施的过渡。更多信息请访问他们的网站 joinbam.xyz。

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Heute möchte ich ein Gedicht mit euch teilen. Es handelt sich um eine Ballade des österreichischen Lyrikers Johann Gabriel Seidl aus dem 19. Jahrhundert. Mir sind diese Worte fest in Erinnerung, da meine Mutter sie perfekt rezitieren konnte, auch als die Kräfte schon langsam schwanden.

Dem originalen Titel «Die Uhr» habe ich für mich immer das Wort «innere» hinzugefügt. Denn der Zeitmesser – hier vermutliche eine Taschenuhr – symbolisiert zwar in dem Kontext das damalige Zeitempfinden und die Umbrüche durch die industrielle Revolution, sozusagen den Zeitgeist und das moderne Leben. Aber der Autor setzt sich philosophisch mit der Zeit auseinander und gibt seinem Werk auch eine klar spirituelle Dimension.

Das Ticken der Uhr und die Momente des Glücks und der Trauer stehen sinnbildlich für das unaufhaltsame Fortschreiten und die Vergänglichkeit des Lebens. Insofern könnte man bei der Uhr auch an eine Sonnenuhr denken. Der Rhythmus der Ereignisse passt uns vielleicht nicht immer in den Kram.

Was den Takt pocht, ist durchaus auch das Herz, unser «inneres Uhrwerk». Wenn dieses Meisterwerk einmal stillsteht, ist es unweigerlich um uns geschehen. Hoffentlich können wir dann dankbar sagen: «Ich habe mein Bestes gegeben.»

Ich trage, wo ich gehe, stets eine Uhr bei mir; \ Wieviel es geschlagen habe, genau seh ich an ihr. \ Es ist ein großer Meister, der künstlich ihr Werk gefügt, \ Wenngleich ihr Gang nicht immer dem törichten Wunsche genügt.

Ich wollte, sie wäre rascher gegangen an manchem Tag; \ Ich wollte, sie hätte manchmal verzögert den raschen Schlag. \ In meinen Leiden und Freuden, in Sturm und in der Ruh, \ Was immer geschah im Leben, sie pochte den Takt dazu.

Sie schlug am Sarge des Vaters, sie schlug an des Freundes Bahr, \ Sie schlug am Morgen der Liebe, sie schlug am Traualtar. \ Sie schlug an der Wiege des Kindes, sie schlägt, will's Gott, noch oft, \ Wenn bessere Tage kommen, wie meine Seele es hofft.

Und ward sie auch einmal träger, und drohte zu stocken ihr Lauf, \ So zog der Meister immer großmütig sie wieder auf. \ Doch stände sie einmal stille, dann wär's um sie geschehn, \ Kein andrer, als der sie fügte, bringt die Zerstörte zum Gehn.

Dann müßt ich zum Meister wandern, der wohnt am Ende wohl weit, \ Wohl draußen, jenseits der Erde, wohl dort in der Ewigkeit! \ Dann gäb ich sie ihm zurücke mit dankbar kindlichem Flehn: \ Sieh, Herr, ich hab nichts verdorben, sie blieb von selber stehn.

Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804-1875)

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Falls du beim Lesen des Titels dieses Newsletters unwillkürlich an positive Neuigkeiten aus dem globalen polit-medialen Irrenhaus oder gar aus dem wirtschaftlichen Umfeld gedacht hast, darf ich dich beglückwünschen. Diese Assoziation ist sehr löblich, denn sie weist dich als unverbesserlichen Optimisten aus. Leider muss ich dich diesbezüglich aber enttäuschen. Es geht hier um ein anderes Thema, allerdings sehr wohl ein positives, wie ich finde.

Heute ist ein ganz besonderer Tag: die Wintersonnenwende. Genau gesagt hat heute morgen um 10:20 Uhr Mitteleuropäischer Zeit (MEZ) auf der Nordhalbkugel unseres Planeten der astronomische Winter begonnen. Was daran so außergewöhnlich ist? Der kürzeste Tag des Jahres war gestern, seit heute werden die Tage bereits wieder länger! Wir werden also jetzt jeden Tag ein wenig mehr Licht haben.

Für mich ist dieses Ereignis immer wieder etwas kurios: Es beginnt der Winter, aber die Tage werden länger. Das erscheint mir zunächst wie ein Widerspruch, denn meine spontanen Assoziationen zum Winter sind doch eher Kälte und Dunkelheit, relativ zumindest. Umso erfreulicher ist der emotionale Effekt, wenn dann langsam die Erkenntnis durchsickert: Ab jetzt wird es schon wieder heller!

Natürlich ist es kalt im Winter, mancherorts mehr als anderswo. Vielleicht jedoch nicht mehr lange, wenn man den Klimahysterikern glauben wollte. Mindestens letztes Jahr hat Väterchen Frost allerdings gleich zu Beginn seiner Saison – und passenderweise während des globalen Überhitzungsgipfels in Dubai – nochmal richtig mit der Faust auf den Tisch gehauen. Schnee- und Eischaos sind ja eigentlich in der Agenda bereits nicht mehr vorgesehen. Deswegen war man in Deutschland vermutlich in vorauseilendem Gehorsam schon nicht mehr darauf vorbereitet und wurde glatt lahmgelegt.

Aber ich schweife ab. Die Aussicht auf nach und nach mehr Licht und damit auch Wärme stimmt mich froh. Den Zusammenhang zwischen beidem merkt man in Andalusien sehr deutlich. Hier, wo die Häuser im Winter arg auskühlen, geht man zum Aufwärmen raus auf die Straße oder auf den Balkon. Die Sonne hat auch im Winter eine erfreuliche Kraft. Und da ist jede Minute Gold wert.

Außerdem ist mir vor Jahren so richtig klar geworden, warum mir das südliche Klima so sehr gefällt. Das liegt nämlich nicht nur an der Sonne als solcher, oder der Wärme – das liegt vor allem am Licht. Ohne Licht keine Farben, das ist der ebenso simple wie gewaltige Unterschied zwischen einem deprimierenden matschgraubraunen Winter und einem fröhlichen bunten. Ein großes Stück Lebensqualität.

Mir gefällt aber auch die Symbolik dieses Tages: Licht aus der Dunkelheit, ein Wendepunkt, ein Neuanfang, neue Möglichkeiten, Übergang zu neuer Aktivität. In der winterlichen Stille keimt bereits neue Lebendigkeit. Und zwar in einem Zyklus, das wird immer wieder so geschehen. Ich nehme das gern als ein Stück Motivation, es macht mir Hoffnung und gibt mir Energie.

Übrigens ist parallel am heutigen Tag auf der südlichen Halbkugel Sommeranfang. Genau im entgegengesetzten Rhythmus, sich ergänzend, wie Yin und Yang. Das alles liegt an der Schrägstellung der Erdachse, die ist nämlich um 23,4º zur Umlaufbahn um die Sonne geneigt. Wir erinnern uns, gell?

Insofern bleibt eindeutig festzuhalten, dass “schräg sein” ein willkommener, wichtiger und positiver Wert ist. Mit anderen Worten: auch ungewöhnlich, eigenartig, untypisch, wunderlich, kauzig, … ja sogar irre, spinnert oder gar “quer” ist in Ordnung. Das schließt das Denken mit ein.

In diesem Sinne wünsche ich euch allen urige Weihnachtstage!

---

Dieser Beitrag ist letztes Jahr in meiner Denkbar erschienen.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概览

ETH Oxford 2025 Hackathon 于2月7日至9日在牛津数学学院举办，吸引了大量的开发者的兴趣和参与。活动共有318名开发者注册，最终通过审核有142个项目。活动强调创新和合作，主要集中在以太坊区块链上，参与者通过demo视频和GitHub仓库展示了他们的作品。

Hackathon 于2月9日结束，开发者们通过 Demo 他们的项目来角逐最后的奖项。他们在创新同时，也解决了区块链领域的各个技术挑战。这次 Hackathon 还促进了社区互动和知识分享，带来了区块链开发社区的实质贡献。

Hackathon 获奖者

主赛道奖项获胜者

• 可编程密码学
  • CallOrNothing：利用区块链的去中心化扑克游戏，确保无中心化的信任游戏。
• AI
  • DEFAI：一个AI驱动的聊天界面，利用自然语言处理简化在Avalanche区块链上的链上DeFi操作。
  • portent：使用NLP/RAG分析现实事件对加密货币的影响，提供使用Flare验证数据的会话界面的预测性投资组合管理平台。
  • AADC：通过自然语言命令进行跨链DeFi操作的AI Telegram机器人。
• DeFi
  • Quantum Enhanced Cross-chain Arbitrage：结合量子优化与DeFi协议在生态系统间进行盈利套利交易的机器人。
• 消费者领域
  • FlareGate：一个去中心化的P2P平台，用于法币-加密货币交易，整合Flare网络的安全数据。
  • GuessTheHuman：基于区块链的AI社交推理游戏，用于识别真人玩家。
  • The Golden Key：针对老年用户的区块链基础防欺诈移动应用。

Flare 奖项获胜者

• 刻入式数据协议
  • FlareGate：用于法币-加密货币传输的去中心化P2P平台。
  • Kingdom of LagaFlare：一个NFT卡牌游戏，通过区块链提供公平游戏和独特卡牌收集。
  • ProteinMango：使用ZKP的自动理赔的参数性地震保险。
• 外部数据源/跨链
  • portent
  • bump.artist：为艺术家代币和收入分享的DeFi平台。
  • ProteinMango
  • FlareInsure：使用现实世界数据为智能合约服务的区块链小额保险。
  • Decentralised Zero：利用Flare的FDC进行信任、透明的赌注操作的平台。

Torus 奖项获胜者

• 去中心化记忆机构
  • ZK memory Organ：利用零知识证明实现高安全性和高效性的数据存储解决方案。
  • Torus Decentralised Memory：安全、容错数据存储的分布式数据库。
  • Porous Torus：为Torus AI代理提供安全、高吞吐量的数据存储。
  • TorBit：通过OrbitDB为Torus AI代理提供零信任记忆系统。
• Discord 社区洞察生成器
  • Hivemind：一个使用LLM从Discord聊天生成反馈和协作洞察的工具。
  • stbb：分析服务器消息生成主题/趋势报告的Discord机器人。
  • discord community bot：用于每周服务器报告的AI驱动Discord分析。
• 加密推特辩论分析器
  • DebateFi：分析和总结有关加密货币的推特辩论，以获得可行的见解。
  • Oxford Kaggle Debaters：一个用于加密推特分析、影响力评分和内容优化的AI工具。
  • DebateChain：通过情绪和声誉评分分析加密推特辩论的AI。
• Wildcard 挑战
  • NewsCrypt：去中心化论坛，通过辩论分析提升客观新闻报道。

基于Mina平台构建应用的获胜者

• MinAES：整合AES加密到Mina的zk-native区块链中，实现使用零知识技术的安全应用。
• MINA Verify：在电路中实现BLS12-381签名的一个平台。
• Guantanabet：基于Mina的隐私预测市场，使用基于ZKP的匿名投注。

Avalanche 奖项获胜者

• 一等奖 ($2000)
  • Swiish.cash：一个通过手机号码全球稳定币转账的移动解决方案，使用Avalanche。
  • Smart Memorandum：为智能合约提供司法管辖区特定法律文件的工具。
  • blindbird.ai：去中心化AI推理平台，用于安全的小额付款。
  • AADC- AI Agent for DeFi & Cross-Chain Operations
• 二等奖 ($1500)
  • AI-Powered DeFi Position Management Platform：为GMX DEX头寸管理提供自然语言界面。
  • NovaTools：包括多链NLP机器人和数据分析在内的加密AI工具。
• 三等奖 ($800)
  • Oxwell AI agent：通过自然语言资产管理进行跨链DeFi助手。
  • Wired：通过NLP为BNB/AVAX资产管理提供跨链AI助手。
  • DEFAI：为链上操作提供自然语言的AI驱动DeFi代理。
  • NLWallet：配备NLP和账户抽象的机构加密钱包。
  • helpi：Avalanche平台的社会项目捐赠，配有AI风险评估。

AirDAO 奖项获胜者

• GameFi DApp
  • GuessTheHuman

DeSci World: NERDo 奖项

• DebateChain
• CrypTweep by RugPullCoin#42
• Project Lydia：通过AI分析检测不当行为的Discord机器人。
• bump.artist
• Flare-FL：用于安全AI模型训练的去中心化联邦学习。

Ripple 奖项获胜者

• 使用RLUSD构建的顶级消费者应用
  • CoverMax：一个使用oracle触发条件自动赔付的去中心化保险协议。
  • BlockInvest：现代投资互助系统，利用XRPL通过智能合约进行集体储蓄。
  • PayCoin IC：支持XRPL的QR码支付的移动RLUSD钱包。
• 使用XRPL的DID、凭证和RLUSD功能的最佳去中心化身份解决方案
  • XRPL Diploma Verify：一个使用DIDs在XRPL区块链上安全存储和验证文凭的网页平台。
• 最具创新性的XRPL集成
  • BlockInvest

BNB 奖项获胜者

• 主奖
  • NovaTools
  • insr.finance：一个通过Venus Protocol提供稳定币保护同时进行收益的保险协议。
• 荣誉提名
  • BNB Shield：利用TEEs和ZKPs进行PEP检测的去中心化AML系统。
  • CloutDrop：用于KOL空投优化的数据驱动平台。
  • AADC- AI Agent for DeFi & Cross-Chain Operations
• Greenfield奖
  • ReviewChain：一个去中心化的同行评审系统，提升学术出版透明度和质量。
• 荣誉提名
  • Wired: Manage your assets with ease

Vyper 奖项获胜者

• 最佳使用Vyper Lang
  • SecureStake：一个使用Vyper进行质押和多签名验证的安全交易令牌管理平台。
  • Quantum Enhanced Cross-chain Arbitrage
  • The Golden Key by Avalock

若要探索 ETH Oxford 2025 的所有项目，请访问 DoraHacks。

关于组织者

ETH Oxford

ETH Oxford 是一个以推动区块链技术和创新而闻名的组织。以其技术专长而著称，ETH Oxford 对去中心化系统和安全交易协议的发展做出了重大贡献。其参与的众多项目提升了区块链的效率和可及性。目前，ETH Oxford 强调合作研究和区块链的实际应用，解决复杂的现实世界挑战，展现了其对技术进步和行业领导力的承诺。

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Das Betriebsklima ist das einzige Klima, \ das du selbst bestimmen kannst. \ Anonym

Eine Strategie zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel hat das deutsche Bundeskabinett diese Woche beschlossen. Da «Wetterextreme wie die immer häufiger auftretenden Hitzewellen und Starkregenereignisse» oft desaströse Auswirkungen auf Mensch und Umwelt hätten, werde eine Anpassung an die Folgen des Klimawandels immer wichtiger. «Klimaanpassungsstrategie» nennt die Regierung das.

Für die «Vorsorge vor Klimafolgen» habe man nun erstmals klare Ziele und messbare Kennzahlen festgelegt. So sei der Erfolg überprüfbar, und das solle zu einer schnelleren Bewältigung der Folgen führen. Dass sich hinter dem Begriff Klimafolgen nicht Folgen des Klimas, sondern wohl «Folgen der globalen Erwärmung» verbergen, erklärt den Interessierten die Wikipedia. Dabei ist das mit der Erwärmung ja bekanntermaßen so eine Sache.

Die Zunahme schwerer Unwetterereignisse habe gezeigt, so das Ministerium, wie wichtig eine frühzeitige und effektive Warnung der Bevölkerung sei. Daher solle es eine deutliche Anhebung der Nutzerzahlen der sogenannten Nina-Warn-App geben.

Die ARD spurt wie gewohnt und setzt die Botschaft zielsicher um. Der Artikel beginnt folgendermaßen:

«Die Flut im Ahrtal war ein Schock für das ganze Land. Um künftig besser gegen Extremwetter gewappnet zu sein, hat die Bundesregierung eine neue Strategie zur Klimaanpassung beschlossen. Die Warn-App Nina spielt eine zentrale Rolle. Der Bund will die Menschen in Deutschland besser vor Extremwetter-Ereignissen warnen und dafür die Reichweite der Warn-App Nina deutlich erhöhen.»

Die Kommunen würden bei ihren «Klimaanpassungsmaßnahmen» vom Zentrum KlimaAnpassung unterstützt, schreibt das Umweltministerium. Mit dessen Aufbau wurden das Deutsche Institut für Urbanistik gGmbH, welches sich stark für Smart City-Projekte engagiert, und die Adelphi Consult GmbH beauftragt.

Adelphi beschreibt sich selbst als «Europas führender Think-and-Do-Tank und eine unabhängige Beratung für Klima, Umwelt und Entwicklung». Sie seien «global vernetzte Strateg*innen und weltverbessernde Berater*innen» und als «Vorreiter der sozial-ökologischen Transformation» sei man mit dem Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitspreis ausgezeichnet worden, welcher sich an den Zielen der Agenda 2030 orientiere.

Über die Warn-App mit dem niedlichen Namen Nina, die möglichst jeder auf seinem Smartphone installieren soll, informiert das Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK). Gewarnt wird nicht nur vor Extrem-Wetterereignissen, sondern zum Beispiel auch vor Waffengewalt und Angriffen, Strom- und anderen Versorgungsausfällen oder Krankheitserregern. Wenn man die Kategorie Gefahreninformation wählt, erhält man eine Dosis von ungefähr zwei Benachrichtigungen pro Woche.

Beim BBK erfahren wir auch einiges über die empfohlenen Systemeinstellungen für Nina. Der Benutzer möge zum Beispiel den Zugriff auf die Standortdaten «immer zulassen», und zwar mit aktivierter Funktion «genauen Standort verwenden». Die Datennutzung solle unbeschränkt sein, auch im Hintergrund. Außerdem sei die uneingeschränkte Akkunutzung zu aktivieren, der Energiesparmodus auszuschalten und das Stoppen der App-Aktivität bei Nichtnutzung zu unterbinden.

Dass man so dramatische Ereignisse wie damals im Ahrtal auch anders bewerten kann als Regierungen und Systemmedien, hat meine Kollegin Wiltrud Schwetje anhand der Tragödie im spanischen Valencia gezeigt. Das Stichwort «Agenda 2030» taucht dabei in einem Kontext auf, der wenig mit Nachhaltigkeitspreisen zu tun hat.

---

Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Barcelona is a city that sizzles with creativity, blends beach life with bold architecture, and radiates Mediterranean energy. From Gaudí’s surreal masterpieces to the lively buzz of La Rambla and the golden sands of Barceloneta Beach, it's a place where every street feels like a gallery—and every evening invites a fiesta.

🌟 Top Things to Do in Barcelona

1️⃣ Sagrada Família

• Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece and Barcelona’s iconic landmark
• A kaleidoscope of colorful stained glass, soaring columns, and symbolism
• Book tickets in advance—it gets busy for a reason

2️⃣ Park Güell

• A whimsical hilltop park filled with mosaics, dragons, and curves
• Explore the Monumental Zone and enjoy views over the city
• Like stepping into a dream—or a fairytale!

3️⃣ Stroll La Rambla & Explore the Gothic Quarter

• A lively pedestrian street with flower stalls, performers, and markets
• Wander into the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) for narrow alleys, Roman ruins, and hidden plazas
• Visit Plaça Reial for tapas and a good vibe

4️⃣ Casa Batlló & Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

• Two of Gaudí’s iconic modernist buildings on Passeig de Gràcia
• Casa Batlló looks like it’s made of bones and sea waves 🌊
• La Pedrera is all flowing stone and rooftop sculptures

5️⃣ Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

• Evening light & music shows (check schedule!)
• Combine it with a walk up Montjuïc for museums, parks, and castle views

6️⃣ Barceloneta Beach & Port Vell

• Chill on the beach or bike along the palm-lined promenade
• Great area for seafood, sangria, or sunset cocktails
• Stroll the harbor and check out the yachts at Port Vell

🍴 What to Eat in Barcelona

• Tapas – Patatas bravas, croquetas, pan con tomate
• Paella – Best enjoyed seaside, with seafood or mixed options
• Calçots (in season) – Grilled green onions with romesco sauce
• Crema catalana – Like crème brûlée, but with a Catalan twist
• Vermouth – A pre-lunch drink that's become trendy again 🍸

Try local markets like La Boqueria or cozy taverns in El Born for the full flavor.

🚇 Getting Around

• Metro & buses are fast and efficient – get a T-Casual card or Hola BCN pass
• Walk or rent a bike—many areas are super pedestrian-friendly
• Taxis & ride apps like Free Now are widely available

🎉 Extra Tips & Local Vibes

✅ Time your meals late – locals eat lunch at 2–3pm and dinner after 9pm
✅ Watch a Flamenco show, but choose authentic venues, not tourist traps
✅ Visit Bunkers del Carmel for one of the best panoramic sunset spots in the city
✅ Be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas (especially on La Rambla)
✅ If you love art: check out Museu Picasso and MACBA (modern art)

@ 4bc0bea1:29b9f2aa

How I’m Training Around An Elbow Injury

My right elbow is a mess.

I hurt it wrestling with a friend on a wooden deck.

It's easy to avoid injuries in wrestling...if you only wrestle on the mat. I guess I don't like it easy.

To take it a step further, I made it much worse by doing straight arm ring exercises.

C'mon Jordan!

Straight arm ring exercises while your elbow already hurts...pure buffoonery.

Alas, here I am.

I could sit out from jiujitsu, but instead, I’m adjusting how I train so I don’t lose progress.

Injuries are part of the game, but how you adapt defines your progress.

Most people see injuries as setbacks. But they're actually opportunities to refine your game.

These opportunities force you to find ways to keep improving even when things aren’t perfect.

Things don't need to be perfect if you have some G.R.I.T.

Let's break this approach down.

---

G – Grapple (Smart)

Don't stop training. Modify it. Drill with a dummy, watch tape, or do technique you can handle. Buy a brace if need be. Stay in the game.

There's nothing worse than forgetting everything you worked hard to learn. So don't let it happen.

Keep rolling. Do what you can without pain. Buy a brace if you think it will help. I wear Anaconda's Elbow Brace when I roll to make sure my elbow stays safe and pain-free.

I stop if I experience pain and don't allow myself to go 100%. Ignore your ego and give your body the pain-free work that it needs.

On days when it's fatigued, I drill with my dummy and watch instructionals so I can improve my technique.

Don't sit around. Grapple. But do it smart.

---

R – Restore Movement

Move the injured part pain-free to get blood flowing. Restore function over time.

If you sit around and don't move your injured body part, it will heal slower.

Healing requires the nutrients that blood brings. And blood won't bring as much of the goods if it's not recruited.

Rehab your injury to give it the blood boost it needs.

I diagnosed myself with Olecranon (Elbow) Bursitis. I've been doing exercises recommended here to help it heal faster.

I only do the exercises that are pain-free for me right now. And I'm moving on to more difficult ones as my elbow condition improves.

Waiting for an injury to heal is a slow, frustrating process.

Be patient and stay consistent with your rehab.

---

I – Integrate Strength

Once pain-free, begin light strengthening. Train around the injury, not through it.

Instagram recently sniped me with an ad for something called The Torque Bar.

The benefits from using it are endless:

• It's a single tool that targets forearms, wrists, elbows, biceps, triceps, and shoulders.
• It has a thick knurled handle that enhances grip strength and forearm activation.
• It improves rotational strength (supination/pronation) for sports.
• It helps with tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, wrist tendinitis, and rotator cuff issues.
• It strengthens stabilizing muscles to reduce joint hyperextension and strain risks.

So of course I had to buy it.

A couple weeks of these torque bar exercises and I'm hooked. It's strengthening my neglected arm muscles and my elbow without any pain.

It's a key piece of my routine going forward and I highly recommend it for others.

The best part is that it doesn't agitate my injury and it's helping me get stronger.

That's the goal here.

---

T – Thrive with Nutrition & Sleep

Eat clean to recover faster. Sleep well. Don’t waste healing energy on processed junk.

This is the number one lever to pull in your healing journey. And also a great way to live.

Eat Clean

I eat healthy foods like ground beef, wild caught salmon, fruit, and more whole foods 80% of the time.

The days I eat clean are the days my elbow feels it best.

The other 20% of the time – when I eat some processed, junk food – my elbow aches. It makes me feel like I'm back at square one. The consequences of junk food are astounding.

I've put the 80/20 rule on hold and changed it to 95/5 to help this injury heal faster.

Sleep Well

My sleep has been horrible.

My daughter was born 3 weeks ago and she's been fussy. I'm getting 3-6hrs of sleep a night. It's definitely not helping my elbow.

Sleep is the most important piece of the human equation.

Bad sleep can result in

• Low energy levels
• Increased risk of injury
• Poor eating habits
• Lack of productivity

It sets the tone for each day.

If you take anything away from this, let it be that you need to optimize for sleep.

If you're in a situation like me, control what you can control.

I have more control over my food than my sleep so that's why I'm being more disciplined with it.

Once my sleep improves, I expect everything to be firing on all cylinders.

---

The Bottom Line

Injuries are opportunities to refine your game.

But you need to have some G.R.I.T. to do it.

• G – Grapple (Smart):
 Don’t stop training. Change it. Drill with a dummy, watch tape, or do technique you can handle. Stay in the game.
• R – Restore Movement:
 Move the injured part pain-free to get blood flowing. Restore function over time.
• I – Integrate Strength: 
Once pain-free, begin light strengthening. Train around the injury, not through it.
• T – Thrive with Nutrition & Sleep:
 Eat clean to recover faster. Sleep well. Don’t waste healing energy on processed junk.

Do the above and you'll be back better than before.

---

Injured and not sure what you can still train? Send me a message – happy to help however I can.

Original post is here

You can find more of my work on Ghost and Youtube

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Die Ungerechtigkeit ist uns nur in dem Falle angenehm,\ dass wir Vorteile aus ihr ziehen;\ in jedem andern hegt man den Wunsch,\ dass der Unschuldige in Schutz genommen werde.\ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Politiker beteuern jederzeit, nur das Beste für die Bevölkerung zu wollen – nicht von ihr. Auch die zahlreichen unsäglichen «Corona-Maßnahmen» waren angeblich zu unserem Schutz notwendig, vor allem wegen der «besonders vulnerablen Personen». Daher mussten alle möglichen Restriktionen zwangsweise und unter Umgehung der Parlamente verordnet werden.

Inzwischen hat sich immer deutlicher herausgestellt, dass viele jener «Schutzmaßnahmen» den gegenteiligen Effekt hatten, sie haben den Menschen und den Gesellschaften enorm geschadet. Nicht nur haben die experimentellen Geninjektionen – wie erwartet – massive Nebenwirkungen, sondern Maskentragen schadet der Psyche und der Entwicklung (nicht nur unserer Kinder) und «Lockdowns und Zensur haben Menschen getötet».

Eine der wichtigsten Waffen unserer «Beschützer» ist die Spaltung der Gesellschaft. Die tiefen Gräben, die Politiker, Lobbyisten und Leitmedien praktisch weltweit ausgehoben haben, funktionieren leider nahezu in Perfektion. Von ihren persönlichen Erfahrungen als Kritikerin der Maßnahmen berichtete kürzlich eine Schweizerin im Interview mit Transition News. Sie sei schwer enttäuscht und verspüre bis heute eine Hemmschwelle und ein seltsames Unwohlsein im Umgang mit «Geimpften».

Menschen, die aufrichtig andere schützen wollten, werden von einer eindeutig politischen Justiz verfolgt, verhaftet und angeklagt. Dazu zählen viele Ärzte, darunter Heinrich Habig, Bianca Witzschel und Walter Weber. Über den aktuell laufenden Prozess gegen Dr. Weber hat Transition News mehrfach berichtet (z.B. hier und hier). Auch der Selbstschutz durch Verweigerung der Zwangs-Covid-«Impfung» bewahrt nicht vor dem Knast, wie Bundeswehrsoldaten wie Alexander Bittner erfahren mussten.

Die eigentlich Kriminellen schützen sich derweil erfolgreich selber, nämlich vor der Verantwortung. Die «Impf»-Kampagne war «das größte Verbrechen gegen die Menschheit». Trotzdem stellt man sich in den USA gerade die Frage, ob der scheidende Präsident Joe Biden nach seinem Sohn Hunter möglicherweise auch Anthony Fauci begnadigen wird – in diesem Fall sogar präventiv. Gibt es überhaupt noch einen Rest Glaubwürdigkeit, den Biden verspielen könnte?

Der Gedanke, den ehemaligen wissenschaftlichen Chefberater des US-Präsidenten und Direktor des National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) vorsorglich mit einem Schutzschild zu versehen, dürfte mit der vergangenen Präsidentschaftswahl zu tun haben. Gleich mehrere Personalentscheidungen des designierten Präsidenten Donald Trump lassen Leute wie Fauci erneut in den Fokus rücken.

Das Buch «The Real Anthony Fauci» des nominierten US-Gesundheitsministers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. erschien 2021 und dreht sich um die Machenschaften der Pharma-Lobby in der öffentlichen Gesundheit. Das Vorwort zur rumänischen Ausgabe des Buches schrieb übrigens Călin Georgescu, der Überraschungssieger der ersten Wahlrunde der aktuellen Präsidentschaftswahlen in Rumänien. Vielleicht erklärt diese Verbindung einen Teil der Panik im Wertewesten.

In Rumänien selber gab es gerade einen Paukenschlag: Das bisherige Ergebnis wurde heute durch das Verfassungsgericht annuliert und die für Sonntag angesetzte Stichwahl kurzfristig abgesagt – wegen angeblicher «aggressiver russischer Einmischung». Thomas Oysmüller merkt dazu an, damit sei jetzt in der EU das Tabu gebrochen, Wahlen zu verbieten, bevor sie etwas ändern können.

Unsere Empörung angesichts der Historie von Maßnahmen, die die Falschen beschützen und für die meisten von Nachteil sind, müsste enorm sein. Die Frage ist, was wir damit machen. Wir sollten nach vorne schauen und unsere Energie clever einsetzen. Abgesehen von der Umgehung von jeglichem «Schutz vor Desinformation und Hassrede» (sprich: Zensur) wird es unsere wichtigste Aufgabe sein, Gräben zu überwinden.

---

Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ e31e84c4:77bbabc0

The third annual edition of Bitcoin FilmFest returns to Warsaw this May. From its niche beginnings in 2023 to today’s global stage, BFF has become a catalyst for authentic storytelling—merging independent cinema, permissionless art, and Bitcoin’s ethos.

“Where centralized scripts end, new narratives begin — explore the uncharted stories beyond the frame.”

May 22-25, 2025, Poland: This year’s theme, “Beyond the Frame,” BFF25 expands the focus on creative expression—featuring narrative films, fiction, Bitcoin ads, and even a touch of AI,  while keeping its genuine, community-driven vibe.

Key Highlights of Bitcoin FilmFest 2025

• Pizza Day: The biggest European gathering to celebrate the first real-world Bitcoin transaction.

• Exclusive Screenings: Feature films, documentaries, animations and shorts—including, for example: UNBANKABLE, SATOSHI THE MOVIE, REVOLUCIÓN BITCOIN, THE MAN WHO WOULDN’T CRY, HOTEL BITCOIN —all followed by face-to-face discussions with creators.

• Golden Rabbits: Cinematic awards in categories like Best Movie, Best Story, Audience Choice.

• Movie Pitch Contest: A platform for creators to turn Bitcoin-themed ideas into cinematic reality.

• Generative Cinema: A special segment exploring AI’s role in filmmaking, including screenings and dynamic debates.

• BFF PoWies: A dedicated show with Bitcoin-themed advertising, concluding with its own award ceremony (categories: GRAND PRIX / freestyle, VISUAL / video ad + out of home, IDENTITY / brand creative + campaigns).

• Workshops & Networking: Thematic sessions on filmmaking, art, philosophy, spirituality, and beyond.

• Memorable Experiences: Inspiring conversations in intimate circles, live music (concerts and DJ sets), stand-up comedy, and dozens of site activities—from bitcoin-only marketplaces, though yoga to self-defense.

\ Details, Tickets, Discounts.

For more visit the official event site: bitcoinfilmfest.com/bff25/

Follow the project's official feed on social media to stay up-to-date:

X: @bitcoinfilmfest | Nostr: Bitcoin FilmFest | LinkedIn: Bitcoin FilmFest

Use the discount code BITESIZE to get 10% off on tickets.

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Konsum ist Therapie.
Wolfgang Joop

Umweltbewusstes Verhalten und verantwortungsvoller Konsum zeugen durchaus von einer wünschenswerten Einstellung. Ob man deswegen allerdings einen grünen statt eines schwarzen Freitags braucht, darf getrost bezweifelt werden – zumal es sich um manipulatorische Konzepte handelt. Wie in der politischen Landschaft sind auch hier die Etiketten irgendwas zwischen nichtssagend und trügerisch.

Heute ist also wieder mal «Black Friday», falls Sie es noch nicht mitbekommen haben sollten. Eigentlich haben wir ja eher schon eine ganze «Black Week», der dann oft auch noch ein «Cyber Monday» folgt. Die Werbebranche wird nicht müde, immer neue Anlässe zu erfinden oder zu importieren, um uns zum Konsumieren zu bewegen. Und sie ist damit sehr erfolgreich.

Warum fallen wir auf derartige Werbetricks herein und kaufen im Zweifelsfall Dinge oder Mengen, die wir sicher nicht brauchen? Pure Psychologie, würde ich sagen. Rabattschilder triggern etwas in uns, was den Verstand in Stand-by versetzt. Zusätzlich beeinflussen uns alle möglichen emotionalen Reize und animieren uns zum Schnäppchenkauf.

Gedankenlosigkeit und Maßlosigkeit können besonders bei der Ernährung zu ernsten Problemen führen. Erst kürzlich hat mir ein Bekannter nach einer USA-Reise erzählt, dass es dort offenbar nicht unüblich ist, schon zum ausgiebigen Frühstück in einem Restaurant wenigstens einen Liter Cola zu trinken. Gerne auch mehr, um das Gratis-Nachfüllen des Bechers auszunutzen.

Kritik am schwarzen Freitag und dem unnötigen Konsum kommt oft von Umweltschützern. Neben Ressourcenverschwendung, hohem Energieverbrauch und wachsenden Müllbergen durch eine zunehmende Wegwerfmentalität kommt dabei in der Regel auch die «Klimakrise» auf den Tisch.

Die EU-Kommission lancierte 2015 den Begriff «Green Friday» im Kontext der überarbeiteten Rechtsvorschriften zur Kennzeichnung der Energieeffizienz von Elektrogeräten. Sie nutzte die Gelegenheit kurz vor dem damaligen schwarzen Freitag und vor der UN-Klimakonferenz COP21, bei der das Pariser Abkommen unterzeichnet werden sollte.

Heute wird ein grüner Freitag oft im Zusammenhang mit der Forderung nach «nachhaltigem Konsum» benutzt. Derweil ist die Europäische Union schon weit in ihr Geschäftsmodell des «Green New Deal» verstrickt. In ihrer Propaganda zum Klimawandel verspricht sie tatsächlich «Unterstützung der Menschen und Regionen, die von immer häufigeren Extremwetter-Ereignissen betroffen sind». Was wohl die Menschen in der Region um Valencia dazu sagen?

Ganz im Sinne des Great Reset propagierten die Vereinten Nationen seit Ende 2020 eine «grüne Erholung von Covid-19, um den Klimawandel zu verlangsamen». Der UN-Umweltbericht sah in dem Jahr einen Schwerpunkt auf dem Verbraucherverhalten. Änderungen des Konsumverhaltens des Einzelnen könnten dazu beitragen, den Klimaschutz zu stärken, hieß es dort.

Der Begriff «Schwarzer Freitag» wurde in den USA nicht erstmals für Einkäufe nach Thanksgiving verwendet – wie oft angenommen –, sondern für eine Finanzkrise. Jedoch nicht für den Börsencrash von 1929, sondern bereits für den Zusammenbruch des US-Goldmarktes im September 1869. Seitdem mussten die Menschen weltweit so einige schwarze Tage erleben.

Kürzlich sind die britischen Aufsichtsbehörden weiter von ihrer Zurückhaltung nach dem letzten großen Finanzcrash von 2008 abgerückt. Sie haben Regeln für den Bankensektor gelockert, womit sie «verantwortungsvolle Risikobereitschaft» unterstützen wollen. Man würde sicher zu schwarz sehen, wenn man hier ein grünes Wunder befürchten würde.

---

Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ edeb837b:ac664163

In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, investing is no longer a solo sport.

The rise of social investing has transformed the way people trade, learn, and grow their wealth. Whether you're a seasoned trader or just getting started, chances are you've already encountered social investors—on Twitter, Discord, Reddit, or even in group chats. But who exactly are they? And why is NVSTly the go-to platform for this new wave of investors?

Let’s break it down.

What is a Social Investor?

A social investor is someone who engages in trading or investing with a strong focus on community, transparency, and collaboration.

They're not just buying and selling behind closed doors. They're:

• Sharing trades and strategies in real time
• Following top traders to learn from their wins (and losses)
• Collaborating with others in Discord servers, Telegram groups, and social media threads
• Using data-driven insights from the crowd to sharpen their own edge

Social investors believe that trading is better together—and they’re not wrong.

What Do Social Investors Do?

Social investors operate at the intersection of finance and social media. Here's what their day-to-day might look like:

✅ Share Trades Publicly

They log and post their trades for the community to see—building trust, accountability, and transparency.

✅ Follow Traders They Trust

They find top-performing traders or those with a style that resonates, then follow their moves to learn, mirror, or improve their own game.

✅ Collaborate & Discuss

Social investors thrive on conversation—sharing opinions, chart analysis, market sentiment, and more.

✅ Track Performance Over Time

Many use dashboards to measure their win rates, gain/loss ratios, and trade history to keep improving.

So… How Does Social Investing Actually Work?

At its core, social investing works like this:

1. Connect with the Community
   Whether it’s a Discord server, app, or forum—start engaging.

2. Log & Share Trades
   Share your trade ideas, entries/exits, or even link your brokerage to auto-share your trades in real-time.

3. Follow & Learn from Others
   Use leaderboards, performance stats, and trade insights to follow top traders or promising new ones.

4. Analyze and Improve
   Get real-time feedback, stats, and charts to refine your strategy and grow your edge.

That’s where NVSTly comes in.

Why NVSTly is the Best Platform for Social Investors

NVSTly wasn’t just built for social investors—it was built by them.

Whether you're day trading crypto, swinging options, or investing long-term in stocks, NVSTly gives you everything you need to track, share, analyze, and grow—together.

Here’s what makes NVSTly stand out:

• 🚀 Real-Time Trade Sharing
  Trades post instantly—on the app, and even in Discord—so your followers are always in the loop.

• 📈 POV Charts
  Our unique Point-of-View Chart shows the exact candlestick where a trader made a move. No more guessing—you see the strategy play out visually.

• 🧠 Advanced Trade Insights
  Dive into trade performance with key stats like win rate, average gain/loss, long vs short ratio, and even drawdowns.

• 🌎 Global Leaderboards
  See who’s crushing it across the platform, by day, week, month, or all-time. Filter by asset class, strategy, and more.

• 🔗 Broker & Exchange Integration
  Automatically track your trades from brokerages like Webull (with more on the way). No more manual input—just connect and go.

• 📲 Multi-Platform Access
  Use NVSTly on Web, iOS, Android—and even directly inside Discord via the NVSTly Bot. (Telegram support coming soon!)

• 📣 Instant Social Sharing
  Auto-post your trades to Discord, X (Twitter), and other platforms the moment they happen. Build your brand while you trade.

Social Investing is the Future. NVSTly is the Hub.

Whether you’re looking to grow your audience, follow expert traders, or just become more disciplined in your own trading, NVSTly is where social investors thrive.

Join 50,000+ traders who believe that sharing trades isn’t just about clout—it’s about accountability, growth, and community.

Ready to Social Trade?

Create your free account today and become part of the fastest-growing social trading platform in the game.

👉 Start Trading with NVSTly on the web, iOS, Android, or through the Discord app/bot.

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Und plötzlich weißt du:
Es ist Zeit, etwas Neues zu beginnen
und dem Zauber des Anfangs zu vertrauen.
Meister Eckhart

Schwarz, rot, gold leuchtet es im Kopf des Newsletters der deutschen Bundesregierung, der mir freitags ins Postfach flattert. Rot, gelb und grün werden daneben sicher noch lange vielzitierte Farben sein, auch wenn diese nie geleuchtet haben. Die Ampel hat sich gerade selber den Stecker gezogen – und hinterlässt einen wirtschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Trümmerhaufen.

Mit einem bemerkenswerten Timing hat die deutsche Regierungskoalition am Tag des «Comebacks» von Donald Trump in den USA endlich ihr Scheitern besiegelt. Während der eine seinen Sieg bei den Präsidentschaftswahlen feierte, erwachten die anderen jäh aus ihrer Selbsthypnose rund um Harris-Hype und Trump-Panik – mit teils erschreckenden Auswüchsen. Seit Mittwoch werden die Geschicke Deutschlands nun von einer rot-grünen Minderheitsregierung «geleitet» und man steuert auf Neuwahlen zu.

Das Kindergarten-Gehabe um zwei konkurrierende Wirtschaftsgipfel letzte Woche war bereits bezeichnend. In einem Strategiepapier gestand Finanzminister Lindner außerdem den «Absturz Deutschlands» ein und offenbarte, dass die wirtschaftlichen Probleme teilweise von der Ampel-Politik «vorsätzlich herbeigeführt» worden seien.

Lindner und weitere FDP-Minister wurden also vom Bundeskanzler entlassen. Verkehrs- und Digitalminister Wissing trat flugs aus der FDP aus; deshalb darf er nicht nur im Amt bleiben, sondern hat zusätzlich noch das Justizministerium übernommen. Und mit Jörg Kukies habe Scholz «seinen Lieblingsbock zum Obergärtner», sprich: Finanzminister befördert, meint Norbert Häring.

Es gebe keine Vertrauensbasis für die weitere Zusammenarbeit mit der FDP, hatte der Kanzler erklärt, Lindner habe zu oft sein Vertrauen gebrochen. Am 15. Januar 2025 werde er daher im Bundestag die Vertrauensfrage stellen, was ggf. den Weg für vorgezogene Neuwahlen freimachen würde.

Apropos Vertrauen: Über die Hälfte der Bundesbürger glauben, dass sie ihre Meinung nicht frei sagen können. Das ging erst kürzlich aus dem diesjährigen «Freiheitsindex» hervor, einer Studie, die die Wechselwirkung zwischen Berichterstattung der Medien und subjektivem Freiheitsempfinden der Bürger misst. «Beim Vertrauen in Staat und Medien zerreißt es uns gerade», kommentierte dies der Leiter des Schweizer Unternehmens Media Tenor, das die Untersuchung zusammen mit dem Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach durchführt.

«Die absolute Mehrheit hat absolut die Nase voll», titelte die Bild angesichts des «Ampel-Showdowns». Die Mehrheit wolle Neuwahlen und die Grünen sollten zuerst gehen, lasen wir dort.

Dass «Insolvenzminister» Robert Habeck heute seine Kandidatur für das Kanzleramt verkündet hat, kann nur als Teil der politmedialen Realitätsverweigerung verstanden werden. Wer allerdings denke, schlimmer als in Zeiten der Ampel könne es nicht mehr werden, sei reichlich optimistisch, schrieb Uwe Froschauer bei Manova. Und er kenne Friedrich Merz schlecht, der sich schon jetzt rhetorisch auf seine Rolle als oberster Feldherr Deutschlands vorbereite.

Was also tun? Der Schweizer Verein «Losdemokratie» will eine Volksinitiative lancieren, um die Bestimmung von Parlamentsmitgliedern per Los einzuführen. Das Losverfahren sorge für mehr Demokratie, denn als Alternative zum Wahlverfahren garantiere es eine breitere Beteiligung und repräsentativere Parlamente. Ob das ein Weg ist, sei dahingestellt.

In jedem Fall wird es notwendig sein, unsere Bemühungen um Freiheit und Selbstbestimmung zu verstärken. Mehr Unabhängigkeit von staatlichen und zentralen Institutionen – also die Suche nach dezentralen Lösungsansätzen – gehört dabei sicher zu den Möglichkeiten. Das gilt sowohl für jede/n Einzelne/n als auch für Entitäten wie die alternativen Medien.

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Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Es ist besser, ein Licht zu entzünden, als auf die Dunkelheit zu schimpfen. Konfuzius

Die Bemühungen um Aufarbeitung der sogenannten Corona-Pandemie, um Aufklärung der Hintergründe, Benennung von Verantwortlichkeiten und das Ziehen von Konsequenzen sind durchaus nicht eingeschlafen. Das Interesse daran ist unter den gegebenen Umständen vielleicht nicht sonderlich groß, aber es ist vorhanden.

Der sächsische Landtag hat gestern die Einsetzung eines Untersuchungsausschusses zur Corona-Politik beschlossen. In einer Sondersitzung erhielt ein entsprechender Antrag der AfD-Fraktion die ausreichende Zustimmung, auch von einigen Abgeordneten des BSW.

In den Niederlanden wird Bill Gates vor Gericht erscheinen müssen. Sieben durch die Covid-«Impfstoffe» geschädigte Personen hatten Klage eingereicht. Sie werfen unter anderem Gates, Pfizer-Chef Bourla und dem niederländischen Staat vor, sie hätten gewusst, dass diese Präparate weder sicher noch wirksam sind.

Mit den mRNA-«Impfstoffen» von Pfizer/BioNTech befasst sich auch ein neues Buch. Darin werden die Erkenntnisse von Ärzten und Wissenschaftlern aus der Analyse interner Dokumente über die klinischen Studien der Covid-Injektion präsentiert. Es handelt sich um jene in den USA freigeklagten Papiere, die die Arzneimittelbehörde (Food and Drug Administration, FDA) 75 Jahre unter Verschluss halten wollte.

Ebenfalls Wissenschaftler und Ärzte, aber auch andere Experten organisieren als Verbundnetzwerk Corona-Solution kostenfreie Online-Konferenzen. Ihr Ziel ist es, «wissenschaftlich, demokratisch und friedlich» über Impfstoffe und Behandlungsprotokolle gegen SARS-CoV-2 aufzuklären und die Diskriminierung von Ungeimpften zu stoppen. Gestern fand eine weitere Konferenz statt. Ihr Thema: «Corona und modRNA: Von Toten, Lebenden und Physik lernen».

Aufgrund des Digital Services Acts (DSA) der Europäischen Union sei das Risiko groß, dass ihre Arbeit als «Fake-News» bezeichnet würde, so das Netzwerk. Staatlich unerwünschte wissenschaftliche Aufklärung müsse sich passende Kanäle zur Veröffentlichung suchen. Ihre Live-Streams seien deshalb zum Beispiel nicht auf YouTube zu finden.

Der vielfältige Einsatz für Aufklärung und Aufarbeitung wird sich nicht stummschalten lassen. Nicht einmal der Zensurmeister der EU, Deutschland, wird so etwas erreichen. Die frisch aktivierten «Trusted Flagger» dürften allerdings künftige Siege beim «Denunzianten-Wettbewerb» im Kontext des DSA zusätzlich absichern.

Wo sind die Grenzen der Meinungsfreiheit? Sicher gibt es sie. Aber die ideologische Gleichstellung von illegalen mit unerwünschten Äußerungen verfolgt offensichtlich eher das Ziel, ein derart elementares demokratisches Grundrecht möglichst weitgehend auszuhebeln. Vorwürfe wie «Hassrede», «Delegitimierung des Staates» oder «Volksverhetzung» werden heute inflationär verwendet, um Systemkritik zu unterbinden. Gegen solche Bestrebungen gilt es, sich zu wehren.

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Dieser Beitrag ist zuerst auf Transition News erschienen.

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum dritten Geburtstag, liebe Denk Bar! Wieso zum dritten? Das war doch 2022 und jetzt sind wir im Jahr 2024, oder? Ja, das ist schon richtig, aber bei Geburtstagen erinnere ich mich immer auch an meinen Vater, und der behauptete oft, der erste sei ja schließlich der Tag der Geburt selber und den müsse man natürlich mitzählen. Wo er recht hat, hat er nunmal recht. Konsequenterweise wird also heute dieser Blog an seinem dritten Geburtstag zwei Jahre alt.

Das ist ein Grund zum Feiern, wie ich finde. Einerseits ganz einfach, weil es dafür gar nicht genug Gründe geben kann. «Das Leben sind zwei Tage», lautet ein gängiger Ausdruck hier in Andalusien. In der Tat könnte es so sein, auch wenn wir uns im Alltag oft genug von der Routine vereinnahmen lassen.

Seit dem Start der Denk Bar vor zwei Jahren ist unglaublich viel passiert. Ebenso wie die zweieinhalb Jahre davor, und all jenes war letztlich auch der Auslöser dafür, dass ich begann, öffentlich zu schreiben. Damals notierte ich:

«Seit einigen Jahren erscheint unser öffentliches Umfeld immer fragwürdiger, widersprüchlicher und manchmal schier unglaublich - jede Menge Anlass für eigene Recherchen und Gedanken, ganz einfach mit einer Portion gesundem Menschenverstand.»

Wir erleben den sogenannten «großen Umbruch», einen globalen Coup, den skrupellose Egoisten clever eingefädelt haben und seit ein paar Jahren knallhart – aber nett verpackt – durchziehen, um buchstäblich alles nach ihrem Gusto umzukrempeln. Die Gelegenheit ist ja angeblich günstig und muss genutzt werden.

Nie hätte ich mir träumen lassen, dass ich so etwas jemals miterleben müsste. Die Bosheit, mit der ganz offensichtlich gegen die eigene Bevölkerung gearbeitet wird, war früher für mich unvorstellbar. Mein (Rest-) Vertrauen in alle möglichen Bereiche wie Politik, Wissenschaft, Justiz, Medien oder Kirche ist praktisch komplett zerstört. Einen «inneren Totalschaden» hatte ich mal für unsere Gesellschaften diagnostiziert.

Was mich vielleicht am meisten erschreckt, ist zum einen das Niveau der Gleichschaltung, das weltweit erreicht werden konnte, und zum anderen die praktisch totale Spaltung der Gesellschaft. Haben wir das tatsächlich mit uns machen lassen?? Unfassbar! Aber das Werkzeug «Angst» ist sehr mächtig und funktioniert bis heute.

Zum Glück passieren auch positive Dinge und neue Perspektiven öffnen sich. Für viele Menschen waren und sind die Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre ein Augenöffner. Sie sehen «Querdenken» als das, was es ist: eine Tugend.

Auch die immer ernsteren Zensurbemühungen sind letztlich nur ein Zeichen der Schwäche, wo Argumente fehlen. Sie werden nicht verhindern, dass wir unsere Meinung äußern, unbequeme Fragen stellen und dass die Wahrheit peu à peu ans Licht kommt. Es gibt immer Mittel und Wege, auch für uns.

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Danke, dass du diesen Weg mit mir weitergehst!

@ f683e870:557f5ef2

When it comes to the Nostr Web of Trust, several NIPs have been proposed, but the one that seemed to gather the most traction was Trusted Assertion by Vitor Pamplona.

The idea is to have kind:30382 represent assertions made about an entity, which could be a pubkey, for example. The NIP also specifies a tag called rank, which can be used to build some basic WoT primitives.

Example event:

{ "kind": 30382, "tags": [ ["d", "e88a6...50411"], ["rank", "89"], ["zap_amt_sent", "1000000"], ], "content": "", //... }

However, we quickly realized that this NIP was too limiting for what we wanted to accomplish: real-time, personalized ranking.

To illustrate our different approaches, we will show how to replicate our Verify Reputation with trusted assertions.

Verify Reputation

Verify Reputation returns:

• the rank, follow count and followers count of the given target
• its top followers by rank.

All ranks are personalized to the given source.

This “batteries included” solution helps users avoid impersonation and fraud with a single request, no matter what application they are using, be it a kind:1 client, chat app, wallet, marketplace, or more.


To get the same result with trusted assertions, you would have to

• Get all contact lists that contain the target (as a p tag)
• Build the target’s follower list from those event authors
• Get the trusted assertions for the target and each of the followers
• Sort them by the rank provided by the trusted assertions

This operation is computationally expensive, especially on mobile devices. It is clear that if the user is willing to verify and process a large number of events (potentially +100k), he can compute some (rudimentary) ranking directly on the device, without the need to trust a third party.

More generally, trusted assertions are very hard to use when one doesn’t know the pubkeys of the people he’s looking for. This goes fundamentally against our approach of Web of Trust, as a powerful mechanism for discovery.

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Are you looking to add Web of Trust capabilities to your app or project?

Take a look at our website or send a DM to Pip.

@ a95c6243:d345522c

Ein Lämmchen löschte an einem Bache seinen Durst. Fern von ihm, aber näher der Quelle, tat ein Wolf das gleiche. Kaum erblickte er das Lämmchen, so schrie er:

"Warum trübst du mir das Wasser, das ich trinken will?"

"Wie wäre das möglich", erwiderte schüchtern das Lämmchen, "ich stehe hier unten und du so weit oben; das Wasser fließt ja von dir zu mir; glaube mir, es kam mir nie in den Sinn, dir etwas Böses zu tun!"

"Ei, sieh doch! Du machst es gerade, wie dein Vater vor sechs Monaten; ich erinnere mich noch sehr wohl, daß auch du dabei warst, aber glücklich entkamst, als ich ihm für sein Schmähen das Fell abzog!"

"Ach, Herr!" flehte das zitternde Lämmchen, "ich bin ja erst vier Wochen alt und kannte meinen Vater gar nicht, so lange ist er schon tot; wie soll ich denn für ihn büßen."

"Du Unverschämter!" so endigt der Wolf mit erheuchelter Wut, indem er die Zähne fletschte. "Tot oder nicht tot, weiß ich doch, daß euer ganzes Geschlecht mich hasset, und dafür muß ich mich rächen."

Ohne weitere Umstände zu machen, zerriß er das Lämmchen und verschlang es.

Das Gewissen regt sich selbst bei dem größten Bösewichte; er sucht doch nach Vorwand, um dasselbe damit bei Begehung seiner Schlechtigkeiten zu beschwichtigen.

Quelle: https://eden.one/fabeln-aesop-das-lamm-und-der-wolf

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Was haben wir damals gelacht, als jede „Miss“ ihren Wunsch nach Weltfrieden artikulierte, um ihre Chancen, zur Welt Schönsten gekürt zu werden, zu erhöhen. Was wird heute gewünscht? Solidarität? Zusammenhalt gegen den Feind? Stärke? Ich weiß es nicht.

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/alle-waffen-still-gestanden/s-pmO0oieSdzK?

Ich weiß nur, dass sich Intellektuelle, Künstler, Bürger durch alle Schichten wegen zunehmender Kriegsrhetorik, Aufrüstungspläne und Rekrutierungsideen große Sorgen um unser friedliches Zusammenleben machen. So lebt auch unsere lose Reihe „friedensnoten“ wieder auf. Hören Sie heute „Alle Waffen stillgestanden!“ des Liederpoeten Yann Song King. Der inspirierte den Philosphen- und Radialfeldforscher Uli Fischer zu einem Text den Ulrich Allroggen für uns eingelesen hat.

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Mux, die Hauptfigur im Film „Muxmäuschenstill“ von 2004, leidet an Rechthaberitis. Das geht so weit, dass er quasi als Verschmelzung von Denunziant, Kläger, Richter und Henker in Eigenregie Leute bestraft, die Gesetze oder Regeln verletzen - egal ob jemand zu schnell fährt, in der U-Bahn ohne Fahrschein fährt, Graffiti sprüht oder Ladendiebstahl begeht. Mux geht mit seiner Sichtweise zwar gesetzeskonform, aber er hat kein Mandat für seine Übergriffe, sagte kürzlich sinngemäß der Drehbuchautor Jan Henrik Stahlberg in einem Interview. Diese Blockwart-Mentalität verbindet man automatisch mit dem Dritten Reich, doch ihre Wurzeln liegen tiefer. In ihr steckt zugleich eine Sehnsucht nach Einigkeit wie sie Stahlberg auch in der bürgerlichen Bewegung der Romantik erkennt.

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/corona-schicksale-ein-buch-von-eugen-zentner?

Die Kehrseite dieses Harmoniestrebens ist eine Aversion gegen Differenzen, gegen abweichendes Verhalten und der Drang, dagegen vorzugehen. Nicht umsonst attestiert man den Deutschen eine starke Neigung zur Prozesshanselei. Im Alltag der meisten Leute hielten sich deren Auswüchse noch in Grenzen. Dann kam Corona. Während der sogenannten Pandemie wurde Mux zum Standard-Typus, zur Monika Mustermann des Mainstream. Die Folgen durften viele von uns am eigenen Leib erfahren. Eugen Zentner erinnert daran anhand von 15 exemplarischen Kurzgeschichten in seinem Buch „Corona-Schicksale“, das im März erschienen ist:\ www.masselverlag.de/Programm/Corona-Schicksale/

Unser Autor Jonny Rieder hat das Buch gelesen.

Sprecher: Karsten Troyke.

Redaktion: Jonny Rieder

Bild: Ania Hardukiewicz / Massel Verlag

Radio München\ www.radiomuenchen.net/​\ @radiomuenchen\ www.facebook.com/radiomuenchen\ www.instagram.com/radio_muenchen/\ twitter.com/RadioMuenchen\ odysee.com/@RadioMuenchen.net:9\ rumble.com/user/RadioMunchen

Radio München ist eine gemeinnützige Unternehmung.\ Wir freuen uns, wenn Sie unsere Arbeit unterstützen.

GLS-Bank\ IBAN: DE65 4306 0967 8217 9867 00\ BIC: GENODEM1GLS\ Bitcoin (BTC): bc1qqkrzed5vuvl82dggsyjgcjteylq5l58sz4s927\ Ethereum (ETH): 0xB9a49A0bda5FAc3F084D5257424E3e6fdD303482

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Eine Kolumne von Michael Sailer, jeden ersten Freitag bei Radio München, nachzulesen auf sailersblog.de.

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/belastigungen-34-die-zeit-der-toten-stadte?

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Wie praktisch, das Smartphone, das ohnehin in der Hand liegt, etwas gegen den Scanner neigen: Bezahlung erfolgt! Die Bewusstheit aber, was mit dem Zurückdrängen des Bargeldes an Freiheitsverlusten einhergehen, steckt wahrlich in den Kinderschuhen. Muss zuerst ein Stromausfall die Bezahlungen verunmöglichen? Müssen wir erst auf ein Creditsystem warten, das uns den Kauf von unliebsamen Produkten verweigert um zu verstehen, dass Bargeld ein großes Stück Freiheit bedeutet?

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/verbraucherzentrale-dokumentiert-bargeldablehnung-von-norbert-haring?

Es sind nicht nur die alten Menschen, die am Bargeld hängen, weil ihnen das Digitale fremd ist. Immer noch etwa die Hälfte aller Geschäfte werden bar abgewickelt. Und jetzt erhalten die Verteidiger des Bargeldes unverhofft Unterstützung: die Verbraucherzentrale, denn Euro Banknoten und Münzen sind gemäß § 14 1 Satz 2 des Gesetzes über die Deutsche Bundesbank gesetzliches Zahlungsmittel. Das bedeutet, dass die Banknoten und Scheine prinzipiell von jedermann zur Begleichung von Geldforderungen akzeptiert werden müssen. Häufig aber wird in Restaurants und Cafés beispielsweise kein Bargeld mehr annehmen. Deshalb ruft die Verbraucherzentrale seit kurzem dazu auf, Bargeldablehnungen mit einem eigens dafür eingerichteten Formular zu melden.

Hören Sie hierzu Norbert Härings Text „Verbraucherzentrale dokumentiert Bargeldablehnung“, der zunächst auf seinem Blog erschienen war. norberthaering.de/bargeld-widersta…entrale-bargeld/

Sprecher: Karsten Troyke

Bild: Radio München

www.radiomuenchen.net/​\ @radiomuenchen\ www.facebook.com/radiomuenchen\ www.instagram.com/radio_muenchen/\ twitter.com/RadioMuenchen

Radio München ist eine gemeinnützige Unternehmung.\ Wir freuen uns, wenn Sie unsere Arbeit unterstützen.

GLS-Bank\ IBAN: DE65 4306 0967 8217 9867 00\ BIC: GENODEM1GLS\ Bitcoin (BTC): bc1qqkrzed5vuvl82dggsyjgcjteylq5l58sz4s927\ Ethereum (ETH): 0xB9a49A0bda5FAc3F084D5257424E3e6fdD303482

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

النهاردة هنتكلم عن طريقة استثمار مختلفة: إزاي تستثمر في الدهب جوه مصر. فيه طريقتين: يا إما تشتري الدهب من محلات الصاغة يا إما تستثمر أونلاين (زي صندوق AZG). أنا بفضل الطريقة الأونلاين عشان سهلة والحد الأدنى للاستثمار أقل بكتير، بس فيه عمولة سنوية. هشرح مميزات وعيوب كل طريقة بالتفصيل.

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الدهب الحقيقي

المميزات

• استثمار في أصل حقيقي تقدر تلمسه
• مش محتاج أوراق ولا كارت بنك عشان تشتري

العيوب

• محتاج مكان آمن تخزنه فيه (بيتك أو خزنة في البنك)
• الحد الأدنى للاستثمار عالي (جرام أو ربع جرام)
• ممكن تشتري دهب مغشوش لو مشتريتش من مكان موثوق فيه

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الدهب الإلكتروني

المميزات

• سهل وسريع في الشرا والبيع
• الورق المطلوب بسيط (صورة البطاقة بس)
• تقدر تستثمر بفلوس قليلة

العيوب

• العمولات السنوية عالية شوية

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المنصات

للشرا أونلاين، أنا عارف بس منصة AZG سواء عن طريق AZinvest أو من خلال برامج التداول زي ثاندر. بنصح باستخدام AZinvest عشان أسهل وكل الإجراءات بتتم أونلاين، أما منصة ثاندر فمحتاجة توقع ورق وبتاخد وقت أطول.

منصة AZinvest

ده تطبيق تابع لشركة أزموت (اللي مالكة صندوق الدهب وصناديق استثمارية تانية). الخطوات سهلة: 1. تنزل التطبيق 2. تسجل باستخدام صورة البطاقة 3. توقع العقد أونلاين 4. تحط فلوس عن طريق التحويل البنكي (إنستاباي) أو كارت البنك

المشكلة الوحيدة هي عمولة السحب (2 جنيه لبنك مصر، وأكتر للبنوك التانية). ممكن تتجنب العمولة دي لو سجلت من خلال منصة تانية زي ثاندر.

ويمكن شئ تاني و هو مواعيد الشراء و البيع و هي من كل اثنين لخميس لو عملت امر البيع قبل 12 الظهر هيبقي بنفس اليوم ولكن لو بعد يبقي تاني يوم (+ يوم او يومين عمل لو سحب لحسابك البنكي) بس دا كله يعتبر متوقع و طبيعي بس هي لو حاطط في بالك هتبقي بسرعة

و ملحوظة مهمة لما تيجي تبيع حصص في كل مرة هيخصموا عمولة الصندوق 4.9% فا حاول لو هتخرج خالص بيع كلة مرة واحدة و العمولة بتقل كل سنة لحد التالتة او الرابعة بتبقي من غير عمولة

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف الكومنتات لو فيه أي تعديل أو بوستات جديدة.

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

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Autor: Lionne Douce. (Bild: Florian Simon Eiler). Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier.**

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LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!

Hier können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt. (Vorerst an alle, da wir den Mailversand testen, später ca. drei Mails pro Woche.).

Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen:

• Für 50 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube.
• Für 120 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
• Für 500 CHF/EURO werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
• Ab 1000 CHF werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie).

Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):

Für Einzahlungen in Euro:

Milosz Matuschek

IBAN DE 53710520500000814137

BYLADEM1TST

Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg

Betreff: Friedenstaube

Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: milosz@pareto.space

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Sie sind noch nicht auf Nostr and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil! Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf Start. Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im Pareto-Wiki.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/937791

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

เรื่องมันเริ่มจากมีคนถามว่า ขนมของผมเป็นขนม healthy ใช่ไหมคะ มีคนชื่นชมเยอะเลยจะมาสั่งบ้าง

ผมได้แต่ตอบไปว่า ขนมของผมไม่ใช่ขนม healthy มันเป็นแค่ขนมทางเลือก เป็นอีกทางเลือกนึงของคนที่อยากเลือก

โดยผมจะให้รายละเอียดวัตถุดิบว่ามีอะไร แล้วสารอาหารเป็นประมาณเท่าไร ให้เขาเลือกเอาเอง ผมเลยไม่เคยตอบเลยว่า คนท้องกินได้ไหม คนป่วยเบาหวานกินได้ไหม และผมมักตอบว่า เจ้าตัวควรจะรู้ได้เองเมื่อทราบวัตถุดิบ ว่าตัวเองกินได้ไหม

ผมว่า ผมแม่งโคตรแฟร์ในเรื่องการให้ข้อมูลก่อนซื้อแล้วนะ

มันก็เลยเกิดข้อสงสัยว่า เมื่อเราตั้งคำถามกับคำว่า “Healthy” ว่านิยามของมันคือ ดีต่อสุขภาพ หรือ แค่ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพ?

ในยุคที่โลกเต็มไปด้วยคำศัพท์ใหม่ ๆ เกี่ยวกับสุขภาพ ที่เอามาช่วยในการขายของนั้น บางครั้งคำว่า “healthy” ที่เราได้ยินกันบ่อย ๆ ก็ไม่ค่อยชัดเจนเท่าไรนัก คนส่วนใหญ่เข้าใจว่าคำนี้น่าจะหมายถึง “ดีต่อสุขภาพ”

ความหมายของมันอาจจะไม่เป็นเช่นนั้นเสมอไป และการเข้าใจคำว่า “healthy” นั้นสำคัญยิ่งกว่าที่คิด ถ้าจะให้ถามกันตรง ๆ คือ คำว่า “healthy” จริง ๆ ควรจะหมายถึงอะไร?

“Healthy” หรือ “Not Harmful”? หลายครั้งที่เราพบคำว่า “healthy” ใช้กับผลิตภัณฑ์ที่ดูเหมือนจะดีต่อสุขภาพ เช่น ขนมสุขภาพ น้ำผลไม้คั้นสด หรืออาหารมังสวิรัติ ซึ่งทุกอย่างนี้อาจจะทำให้เราคิดว่าเป็นอาหารที่ “ดีต่อสุขภาพ” แต่ถ้าลองมองให้ลึกขึ้น คุณอาจจะพบว่า คำว่า “healthy” ที่เราคุ้นเคย อาจหมายถึงเพียงแค่ “ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพ” มากกว่าที่จะเป็นสิ่งที่มีประโยชน์จริง ๆ ต่อร่างกายหรือเปล่า?

ความแตกต่างระหว่าง “ดีต่อสุขภาพ” กับ “แค่ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพ”

อาหารที่เรียกว่า “healthy” ในปัจจุบันบางครั้งอาจจะไม่ได้ดีต่อร่างกายมากเท่าที่คิด เพราะอาจมีส่วนผสมที่ปรุงแต่งมากเกินไป เช่น น้ำตาลที่ซ่อนอยู่ในน้ำผลไม้คั้นสดหรือขนมที่ผลิตจากแป้งปริมาณมากเกินไป หรือแม้แต่ผ่านกระบวนการแบบ ultra processed ที่พวกนี้บางครั้งมันอาจจะไม่ทำร้ายร่างกายในระยะสั้นทันทีแต่ในระยะยาวอาจจะสะสมผลเสียต่อสุขภาพได้อยู่ดี แต่ถูก bold บางตัวมาชูความ healthy เสียอย่างนั้น

เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับอาหารที่ “ดีต่อสุขภาพ” อาหารประเภทนี้ควรจะเป็น อาหารจากธรรมชาติที่ไม่ผ่านกระบวนการปรุงแต่งหรือแปรรูปมาก หรือเปล่า? เพราะอาหารเหล่านี้จะให้คุณค่าทางโภชนาการที่ร่างกายต้องการ เช่น โปรตีนคุณภาพสูงจากสัตว์ หรือ ผักผลไม้ที่ปลูกในระบบเกษตรอินทรีย์ ซึ่งมีสารอาหารที่ไม่เพียงแค่ไม่ทำร้ายร่างกาย แต่ยังช่วยเสริมสร้างระบบต่าง ๆ ในร่างกายให้ทำงานได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ

“Not Harmful” ยังไม่พอ แต่อาหารที่แค่ “ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพ” ยังไม่เพียงพอที่จะเรียกว่า “healthy” เพราะอาหารเหล่านี้บางตัวอาจจะมีมุมกลับที่ไม่ได้สร้างผลเสียทันที แต่ก็อาจไม่ได้ให้ประโยชน์อะไรกับร่างกายเท่าที่ควรเป็นเช่นกัน การรับประทานอาหารที่แค่ “ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพ“ นั้นในระยะยาวอาจไม่ส่งผลต่อการมีสุขภาพที่แข็งแรงจริง ๆ เพราะแค่ ”ไม่ทำร้าย“

“not harmful” ยังไม่ใช่ “healthy” เพราะมันไม่ได้ดีต่อสุขภาพ แต่มันแค่ “ไม่ร้ายแรงทันที” หรือพูดให้ชัดคือ แค่ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพเร็วเกินไปนัก เช่น

ขนมที่บอกว่า “ไม่มีน้ำตาล” แต่ยังใช้สารให้ความหวานสังเคราะห์

เครื่องดื่มที่โฆษณาว่า “ลดแคลอรี่” แต่แฝงไปด้วยสารเคมีหรือสารปรุงแต่งที่ร่างกายไม่สามารถย่อยได้ดี

ผลิตภัณฑ์ที่บอกว่า “ใช้ได้สำหรับมังสวิรัติ” แต่เต็มไปด้วยแป้งขัดขาวหรือสารกันบูด หรือแม้แต่อาหารสารพัด ins

หรือแม้แต่อาหารที่หลอกล่อให้กินเกินความต้องการ ชูตัวนึงแต่เนียนไม่บอกอีกตัวนึง เช่นชูโปรตีน แต่เงียบเรื่องคาร์บสูงมาก

แถมบางครั้งมาในความ over claim ดึงสารตัวเล็กๆมาชูภายใต้คำว่า “มี xxxx ดีเพราะช่วยด้าน xxxx” ทั้งที่จะสัมฤทธิ์ผลต้องดื่มเป็นสิบๆแก้ว ซึ่งใช้ไม่ได้จริง

“Healthy” ที่แท้จริง อาหารที่ดีต่อสุขภาพ จึงควรเป็นอาหารที่เมื่อกินเข้าไปแล้ว ร่างกายได้รับ สารอาหารที่มีประโยชน์จริง ๆ ที่ช่วยเสริมสร้างและซ่อมแซมระบบต่าง ๆ ในร่างกาย อย่างเต็มที่เช่น • โปรตีนจากแหล่งธรรมชาติ อย่างเนื้อสัตว์ที่เลี้ยงแบบอิสระ หรือไข่ที่มาจากฟาร์มที่เลี้ยงตามธรรมชาติ • ไขมันที่ดีต่อสุขภาพ เช่น ไขมันจากสัตว์ที่เลี้ยงแบบธรรมชาติ ไขมันโอเมก้า 3 ที่มาจากปลา หรือไขมันพืชที่มีสัดส่วนโอเมก้า 6 ไม่มากจนไม่สามารถสมดุล โอเมก้า 3 ได้ทัน • ผักผลไม้สดที่ไม่ผ่านการแปรรูป เพราะยังพอมีไฟเบอร์ วิตามิน และแร่ธาตุที่ร่างกายเอาไปใช้งานได้บ้าง แต่ต้องผ่านการลดระดับของ anti-nutrient

หลายครั้งเราเห็นขนม healthy ไม่ว่าจะคลีน วีแกน หรือขนมเคลมความ healthy ต่างๆ คือพอเป็นขนม มันก็จะมีการใช้ “ปริมาณ” บางอย่างให้เรากินมากเกินไป เช่นบางขนมยังเป็นแป้งปริมาณมาก ต่อให้แป้งเทพแป้งสะอาดยังไง ก็กลายเป็นคาร์บย่อยเป็นกลูโคส ต่อให้ย่อยช้าย่อยเร็วก็ย่อยได้หมดอยู่ดี, บางขนมมีปริมาณน้ำตาลมาก ต่อให้ giต่ำแบบมะพร้าว โตนด แต่ปริมาณ ถ้าเกินที่ สธ. มีคำแนะนำ คือ 16กรัมต่อวัน ก็เกมส์อยู่ดี, หรือจะขนมจืดๆแต่ใช้น้ำมันคาโนลา ที่อุดมด้วยโอเมก้า6 หรือ น้ำมันรำข้าวที่มี oryzanol เข้มข้น

หรืออย่างสายคีโต ก็ไม่รอด โอเค โดยรวมมันช่วยเรื่องการไม่กระชากอินซุลิน แต่บางอย่างก็ใช่ว่าจะสามารถเรียก healthy ตามความหมาย เช่น ขนมแป้งอัลมอนด์ มันคือ อัลมอนด์ processed ที่ทำให้เรากินอัลมอนด์มากกว่าเม็ดๆไปได้มาก เพราะมันบดย่อยมาละเอียด ทำให้เรากินมากเกินไป, หลายขนมก็ใช้สารให้ความหวาน ต่อให้อินซุลินไม่พุ่ง แต่มันก็มีผลกับจุลินทรีย์ในลำไส้, แม้แต่พวกครีมชีส ตัวมันเองคือดี แต่การเอาปริมาณมากมาทำขนม มันก็กลายเป็น over consume ได้, อย่างที่ชัดมากคือ ขนมปังวีทกลูเตน ที่แป้งปกติกลูเตนราว 10-14% ถ้าวัดแบบโลฟละ 500กรัมเหมือนๆกัน แป้งธรรมดามีกลูเตนราวๆ 30กรัม ส่วนขนมปังวีทกลูเตนมีกลูเตนราวๆ 190กรัม หรือมากกว่าปกติ 633% แต่นั่นละครับ มัน not harmful (yet)

ดังนั้นในความคิดเห็นของผม ตามเหตุผลที่เรียบเรียงมา เมื่อขึ้นชื่อว่าขนม มันคืออาหารชนิดนึงที่ผ่านกระบวนการมาก จนกลายเป็น processed food ชนิดนึง มันทำให้เรากินเนยมาก กินน้ำมันมาก กินครีมมาก กินน้ำตาล(ทั้งแท้และสังเคราะห์)มาก กินแป้งและ/หรือถั่วบดมาก กินผลไม้มาก กินโยเกิรตมาก กินช็อคโกแลตมาก(ถึงจะ dark100% ก็เหอะ) เพื่อความอร่อย

ขนม เลยไม่ healthy และผมไม่ขอเคลมความ healthy ในสินค้าผม และผมไม่มองว่าขนม healthy ผมมองว่าขนมอร่อย กินเอาอร่อย แล้วไปบาลานซ์ความ healthy องค์รวมเอาในชีวิต ดังนั้น อย่าฝืนกินขนมไม่อร่อยเพียงเพราะเราดันเชื่อว่ามัน healthy หรือ เราอย่าไปซัดโฮกขนมมากๆเพราะเราดันเชื่อว่ามัน healthy

เรามองอาหารยังไง ก็มองขนมอย่างนั้น มองวัตถุดิบที่แปรรูปแล้วกินลงไป ขนม ก็จะเป็นอาหารประเภทนึง

คุณก็เช่นกัน ควรมองของที่กินเข้าไปทั้งหมดเป็นอาหาร แล้วมองอาหารเป็นวัตถุดิบ แล้วพิจารณาวัตถุดิบ+วิธีทำ ว่ามัน healthy กับตัวคุณแค่ไหน มากกว่า healthy ที่แปะบนห่อหรือในโพสขาย

คำว่า “healthy” จริง ๆ แล้วควรจะหมายถึง อาหารที่ไม่ใช่แค่ปลอดภัยจากการทำร้ายสุขภาพ แต่ยังต้องช่วยเสริมสร้างสุขภาพ อย่างแท้จริง อาหารที่ดีต่อสุขภาพควรเป็นอาหารธรรมชาติให้โปรตีนคุณภาพ ไขมันที่มีประโยชน์ ให้คาร์บที่พอเหมาะและมีสารอาหารที่ร่างกายต้องการในการทำงานที่ดีที่สุด ทั้งซ่อมและสร้าง

“Healthy = ดีต่อสุขภาพในทางบวก ไม่ใช่แค่ไม่ร้าย” “Not harmful = ไม่ร้าย ยังไม่เห็นผลเสีย แต่ไม่ให้คุณในทางบวกขนาดนั้น”

เพราะฉะนั้น มันเลยมีความเกือบจะทับซ่อนกัน ถ้าจะสื่อคำว่า “Healthy” แนะนำให้แปลว่า “อาหารที่ส่งเสริมสุขภาพ ไม่ใช่แค่ไม่ทำร้ายสุขภาพ“

กับดักที่ใหญ่ที่สุด ที่แม้แต่ชาวคีโตเองก็อาจตกหลุมนั้นแบบไม่รู้ตัว นั่นคือ

ปริมาณ สำคัญกว่า ประเภท

คุณตกหลุมคำว่า อาหาร/ขนม healthy หรือเปล่าหล่ะ คุณเท่านั้นที่ตอบตัวเองได้

จงมองทะลุ food matrix

เจริญพวง neo

pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก

ฉลาก3รู้

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Trump is trying to sell a victim narrative and I don't buy it.

Trump repeats a troupe that I find hard to swallow. The US is getting ripped off. When he says this, as far as I can tell he's not referring to the people. He's referring the US government getting ripped off by other nations. This is so absurd I'm surprised I don't hear more people push back on it.

The US is the most powerful government in the history of the planet. No nation has the firepower or wealth of the US. The US has manipulated the governments and policies of much of the world since WW2. The idea that the US government is getting ripped off is absurd.

Trump and I agree that NATO is obsolete. It was created to counter a government that dissolved in the 90s. This should be an example to everyone that governments do not behave like businesses. They do not respond to market forces. They will always seek to increase their power and influence and always resist any efforts to reduce their size and scope. But back to Trump. He says that the US is getting ripped off by the other NATO countries. I would say the US people are in indeed being ripped off by their own government. But the US government is NOT getting ripped off.

The US military power in Europe is a massive influence on geopolitics in the region. US military companies benefit massively as well. The US military has bases all over the globe and if you don't think that is a factor in "diplomatic" negotiations you are being naive. The US uses this "defensive" shield to keep the "leaders" of Europe in line. The US isn't being ripped off. This is just a marketing tactic Trump is using to sell downsizing the US military deployments.

Trump also loves to point out how other countries are imposing tariffs on the US. We are being ripped off! I mean, he has a point there. But if tariffs aren't a tax as many in his admin like to claim, how exactly are "we" being ripped off? We are being told that Trump's tariff policy isn't a tax and that expecting prices to increase is oversimplifying things. The talk about tariffs is frankly frustrating.

On the one hand the left is saying tariffs are a tax and is going to drive up prices. Yet these same people pretend to not understand that corporate tax increases don't have the same effect. The right claims to understand tax policy and often oppose corporate taxes. They will tell you that those taxes just get passed down to consumers in the form of price increases. Now they are pretending to not get this in relation to tariffs.

I've read and listened to the pro tariff people and they aren't all dumb. They may be right about tariffs not effecting all products and nations equally. I guess we will find out. But, can we be honest? The US is not getting ripped off.

Someone is getting ripped off, but it isn't the US federal government. Its the people of the world. First, the people of the world live under the thumb of the US fiat dollar standard. We in the US complain about 3+% inflation but most people in the world would kill for that level of inflation. Most of the world gets none of supposed benefits from government spending. They only get the debasement of their own currencies.

Moving away from economics, the entire globe is affected by the elections in the US. The US is the top dog government and its decisions effect people everywhere. The US deep state has manipulated many elections across the globe and continues to do so. Meanwhile we are told that Russia is manipulating our elections. So who exactly is getting ripped off here? I think the nation (the people) are being subjected to massive mismanagement at best. I can support that argument.

Don't get me wrong... I know we in the US are getting ripped off. We are being ruled by people that do not represent us and do not answer to us. The politicians that claim to represent us are being paid and influenced by foreign groups ranging from Israeli political groups, to any number of other groups domestic and foreign. We are getting ripped off, but I firmly believe the people in the US have it better than most of the world. Trump is trying to sell a victim narrative and I don't buy it.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/937482

@ 4d41a7cb:7d3633cc

Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, registered his birthday as April 5, 1975, on his P2P Foundation profile. Many think that he chose this date because on that same day in 1933, the United States government confiscated the gold of the American people. Whether this was on purpose or not, what happened in this day is very important to understand how do we ended up here.

In 1933, as expressed in Roosevelt’s Executive Orders 6073, 6102, and 6260, the United States first declared bankruptcy. The bankrupt U.S. went into receivership in 1933. America was turned over via receivership and reorganization in favor of its creditors. These creditors, the International Bankers, from the beginning stated their intent, which was to plunder, bankrupt, conquer and enslave America and return it to its colonial status.1

As one of his first acts as President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared a “Banking Emergency” to bail out the Federal Reserve Bank, which had embezzled this country’s gold supply. The Congress gave the President dictatorial powers under the “War Powers Act of 1917” (amended 1933), written, by the way, by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.2

This day marked the official abandonment of the American Constitution, law and real money. Today, 92 years after this event, most of the people living today have never had any real money or paid for anything using real money; unless they used Bitcoin...

There could be no bankruptcy if there was not a private central bank lending paper currency to the government at interest, so we must start from 1913, when the Federal Reserve was created: a non-federal private bank with no reserves and the monopoly of issuing debt based paper currency in unlimited amounts and lending it to the government at interest by buying treasury bills. The fact that this currency is lent into existence at interest makes the debt mathematically impossible to be repaid; it can only be refinanced or defaulted.

Between 1929 and 1933, the Federal Reserve Bank reduced the currency supply by 33%, thereby creating the Great Depression, bankrupting the US government, stealing the Americans’ gold supply, and officially ending the gold standard. Since then the US dollar (money) was replaced with Federal Reserve Notes (debt). This was also the end of the Republican form of government and the beginning of a socialist mob rule democracy (Fascism).

“Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.” — Benito Mussolini 

The United States government has been bankrupt since 1933, since it defaulted on its gold bonds. This type of bond existed until 1933, when the U.S. monetary system abandoned the gold standard. 3 From this year the government has been totally controlled by the International bankers and used as a tool to spread and maintain their power worldwide.

Many people think that the gold standard was abandoned in 1971, but this is not true; in fact, this happened in 1933 when the US dollar was replaced by Federal Reserve Notes that are 100% debt-based fiat paper currency.

The year 1933 in the United States marked:

• The end of the Republican form of government and the beginning of American Fascism
• The end of the United States dollar and its replacement by Federal Reserve Notes
• The abandonment of common law and replacement with military admiralty law
• The takeover of the United States government by International bankers
• A massive gold theft and the end of the US gold standard
• The exchange of rights with privileges and licenses
• The United States government bankruptcy

The next shameful event in our history which still plagues us to this day was the “War Powers Act of 1933.” This Act permitted President Roosevelt to make law in the form of Executive Order, bypass Congress and create his socialist state. We (citizens of this country) were ever after to be considered enemies of the United States who must be licensed to engage in any commercial activity. With the aid of the Federal Reserve (the same people who created the Depression), the President confiscated our gold and silver coin and replaced it with worthless pieces of paper and a debt system that will eventually destroy this great country. Our land and our labor were pledged to the Federal Reserve Bank, Inc., as collateral for a debt system that could never be paid.4

“Emergency Powers” means any form of military style government, martial law, or martial rule. Martial law and martial rule are not the same.

United States Congressional Record March 17, 1993 Vol. #33, page H- 1303, Congressman James Traficant, Jr. (Ohio) addressing the House:

“Mr. Speaker, we are here now in chapter 11. Members of Congress are official trustees presiding over the greatest reorganization of any Bankrupt entity in world history, the U.S. Government. We are setting forth, hopefully, a blueprint for our future”

“There are some who say it is a coroner’s report that will lead to our demise. It is an established fact that the United States Federal Government has been dissolved by the Emergency Banking Act, March 9, 1933, 48 Stat. 1, Public Law 89-719; dered by President Roosevelt, being bankrupt and insolvent. H.J.R. 192, 73rd Congress in session June 5, 1933 – Joint Resolution To Suspend The Gold Standard and Abrogate the Gold Clause dissolved the Sovereign Authority of the United States and the official capacities of all United States Governmental Offices, Officers, and Departments and is further evidence that the United States Federal Government exists today in name only” **“The receivers of the United States Bankruptcy are the International Bankers, via the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund”

“All United States Offices, Officials, and Departments are now operating within a de facto status in name only under Emergency War Powers. With the Constitutional Republican form of Government now dissolved, the receivers of the Bankruptcy have adopted a new form of government for the United States. This new form of government is known as a Democracy, being an established Socialist/Communist order under a new governor for America. This act was instituted and established by transferring and/or placing the Office of the Secretary of Treasury to that of the Governor of the International Monetary Fund. Public Law 94-564, page 8, Section H.R. 13955 read in part:”

“The U.S. Secretary of Treasury receives no compensation for representing the United States.”

The American Spirit

The intention of the founding fathers of the United States was to create a constitutional republic to protect natural human rights and escape from the tyrannical English monarchy and its usurious Bank of England's monetary system. They created an honest monetary system based on gold and silver (United State Dollar) and got rid of nobility titles, creating equality under the law.

Section 10 of the American Constitution says:

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Let­ters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make anything but gold and silver Coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts; or grant any title of nobility.

The United States Dollar (1792-1933)

A dollar is a measure of weight defined by the Coinage Act of 1792 and 1900, which specifies a certain quantity—24.8 grains of gold or 371.25 grains of silver (from 1792 to 1900) when the American dollar was based on a bimetallic standard.

The Gold Standard Act of 1900 formally placed the United States on the gold standard, setting the value of one dollar at 25.8 grams of 90% pure gold, which fixed the price of gold at $20.67 per troy ounce. This standard was totally abandoned in 1933.

Gold and silver were such powerful money during the founding of the United States of America that the founding fathers declared that only gold or silver coins could be “money” in America.

But since the greedy bankers cannot profit from honest money they cannot print, they replaced the money with paper debt instruments. And by doing this, they have effectively enslaved the American people until today. My definition of modern slavery is working for a currency that someone else can create at no cost or effort. What's worse is that they even demand to be paid back and with interest!

Federal Reserve Notes (1913-present)

Federal Reserve Notes are not real money. Money that has metallic or other intrinsic value, as distinguished from paper currency, checks, and drafts.

Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) are a legal fiction. An assumption that something is true even though it may be untrue. 5 The assumption that they are money, when in fact they are the opposite of money: debt or paper currency.

Paper money. Paper documents that circu­late as currency; bills drawn by a government against its own credit. 6 Like Goldsmiths' notes. Hist. Bankers' cash notes: promissory notes given by bankers to customers as acknowledgments of the receipt of mon­ey. • This term derives from the London banking business, which originally was transacted by goldsmiths.7

These notes were scientifically designed to bankrupt the government and slave the American people, as Alfred Owen Crozier warned one year before the bill for the creation of the FED was passed through Congress (1912):

If Congress yields and authorizes a private central bank as proposed by the pending bill, the end when the bubble bursts will be universal ruin and national bankruptcy.

Unfortunately, the bill was passed in 1913, and this private bank started printing a new currency different from the US dollar creating the great depression and effectible bankrupting the government like Alfred warned 20 years before.

Alfred also warned:

Thus the way is opened for an unlimited inflation of corporate paper currency issued by a mere private corporation with relatively small net assets and no government guarantee, every dollar supposed to be redeemable in gold, but with not a single dollar of gold necessarily held in the reserves of such corporation to accomplish such redemption.

Differently from what's commonly believed Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) were never really “backed” by gold; they were never supposed to be hard currency. Currency backed by re­serves, esp. gold and silver reserves.

The United States government defaulted on its gold clauses, calling for payment in gold. This marked the end of the gold standard. A monetary system in which currency is convertible into its legal equivalent in gold or gold coin.

Since then we have been under a paper standard, where we use fake money as tender for payments. Paper standard. A monetary system based en­tirely on paper; a system of currency that is not convertible into gold or other precious metal.

People traded their coupons as money or “currency.” Currency is not money but a money substitute. Redeemable currency must promise to pay a dollar equivalent in gold or silver money. Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) make no such promises and are not “money.” A Federal Reserve Note is a debt obligation of the federal United States government, not “money.” The federal United States government and the U.S. Congress were not and have never been authorized by the Constitution of the United States of America to issue currency of any kind, but only lawful money—gold and silver coin.8

A bona fide note can be used in a financial transaction to discharge the debt only because it is an unconditional promise to pay by the issuer to the bearer. Is a Federal Reserve Note a contract note, an unconditional promise to pay? At one time the Federal Reserve issued bona fide contractual notes and certificates, redeemable in gold and silver coin. Most people never saw or comprehended the contract. It went largely unread because the Federal Reserve very cunningly hid the contract on the face of the note by breaking it up into five separate lines of text with a significantly different typeface for each line and placing the president’s picture right in the middle of it. They even used the old attorney’s ruse of obscuring the most important text in fine print! Over time, the terms and conditions of the contract were diluted until eventually they literally became an I.O.U. for nothing.

FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE

• THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBT, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AND IT IS REDEEMABLE IN LAWFUL MONEY AT THE UNITED STATES TREASURY OR ANY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK.

• DATE: SERIES OF 1934

• WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND: ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS

• TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES SIGNATURE

• SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY SIGNATURE

Nowadays FRNs say "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private" it tender debt but it does not pay the bearer on demand. It value was stolen by a counterfeiting technique commonly know as inflation.

One hundred dollars (SERIES OF 1934) will be 2480 grains of gold, or 159.4 grams, or 5.1249 troy ounces. Today one troy ounce is priced around $3,000 federal reserve notes. 5.1249 X 3,000 = $15,375 actual FRNs.

A $100 FRN bill today will buy 0.65% of a real gold $100 dollar certificate. That’s a -99.35% loss of purchasing power in the last 91 years.

FRNs savers have been rugged pulled!

Gold bugs where the winners...

But Bitcoin is even better...

Happy birthday Satoshi! April 5 will be forever remembered.

Satoshi... The man, the myth, the Legend...

@ 878dff7c:037d18bc

Potential Reacquisition of Port of Darwin by Australian Government

Summary:

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has indicated that the Australian government may use legal powers to reclaim the Port of Darwin from Chinese control. While the government prefers a commercial solution, it is prepared to take legislative action if necessary. This move reflects growing concerns over foreign ownership of critical infrastructure amid escalating global trade tensions.

Sources: The Guardian - April 8, 2025

Australian Economy Faces Slowdown Amid Global Trade Tensions

Summary:

The Australian economy is projected to experience a slowdown due to escalating global trade tensions, particularly stemming from the United States' recent tariff implementations. Treasurer Jim Chalmers indicated that while Australia is not the primary target—only 4% of its exports go to the U.S.—the broader global impact is expected to affect the local economy. The Reserve Bank may consider interest rate cuts to mitigate these effects. Treasury forecasts suggest a deceleration in GDP growth from 4.25% in 2024–25 to 3.25% in 2025–26, influenced by declining terms of trade and global inflation pressures. Chalmers criticized the U.S. tariff measures as "ill-considered," warning of heightened economic risks and uncertainty.

Sources: News.com.au - April 8, 2025, Reuters - April 8, 2025, The Wall Street Journal - April 8, 2025

Spiking to Announce TradeGPT's Enterprise AI Future at IBM Z Day

Summary:

Spiking will participate in IBM Z Day: Special Edition 2025, unveiling TradeGPT's enterprise AI capabilities. This collaboration with IBM aims to revolutionize AI applications in capital markets by leveraging advanced computing technologies.​

Sources: Newsfile - April 7, 2025, Yahoo Finance - April 7, 2025

Earthquake in Upper Hunter Region, NSW

Summary:

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales early this morning, with the tremor recorded at 5:18 am local time. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 2.4 miles below the surface. Residents in the vicinity reported feeling the tremor, but there have been no reports of damage or injuries.​

Sources: Volcano Discovery - April 8, 2025, Newcastle Weekly - April 8, 2025

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton Predicts Global Recession Amid Market Volatility

Summary:

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has warned that Australia could face a global recession, citing recent stock market declines and potential delays in retirement for baby boomers. This comes as both Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepare for the first leaders' debate, with economic management and cost-of-living issues at the forefront of their campaigns.

Sources: News.com.au - April 8, 2025

Family Law Regulations Updated

Summary:

Effective April 1, 2025, new Family Law Regulations have commenced, replacing previous regulations from 1984, 2001, and 2008. These updates aim to modernize family law procedures and forms, impacting various aspects of family dispute resolution and arbitration processes.​

Source: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia - April 1, 2025

U.S. Tariffs Spark Global Economic Concerns

Summary:

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 50% increase in tariffs on Chinese imports, escalating trade tensions and causing significant volatility in global stock markets. Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated that while Australia can manage the immediate effects, the country's economic growth is expected to slow due to global repercussions, particularly from the resulting trade war between the U.S. and China. Treasury analysis indicated Australia's GDP would be 0.1% lower this year than previously forecasted, and inflation would rise by 0.2 percentage points. Despite these pressures, Chalmers emphasized that a recession is not expected, with the economy poised for continued growth, supported by increased consumer spending driven by easing inflation and tax cuts.

Sources: The Guardian - April 8, 2025, Reuters - April 7, 2025

NSW Public Hospital Doctors Begin Three-Day Strike Over Pay and Conditions

Summary:

Thousands of doctors in New South Wales public hospitals have commenced a three-day strike starting today, protesting against unsustainable workloads, chronic understaffing, and inadequate pay. The Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (ASMOF) is demanding a 30% pay increase over time, citing excessive workloads and unsafe shift patterns as critical issues. The industrial action is expected to impact elective surgeries and specialist outpatient appointments, primarily at major Sydney hospitals, while emergency services will remain operational but with reduced staffing levels. The strike proceeds despite an Industrial Relations Commission order against such action, making it potentially illegal. The government has urged patients with urgent medical needs to seek emergency care, while those with non-urgent needs are advised to consider alternative healthcare options. Sources: The Guardian - April 7, 2025, ABC News - April 7, 2025, News.com.au - April 2, 2025

World War II Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday Summary:

Mr. Roy Porter, a World War II veteran, celebrates his 100th birthday. Porter served as a tail-gunner with the Royal Australian Air Force’s 18 Squadron during the war. After returning, he married Norma in 1949, and they have spent over seven decades together in Ocean Grove, Australia. Despite health challenges, both remain mentally sharp and reflect on a century marked by service and love.

Sources: Herald Sun - April 8, 2025

Australian Government Officials Surprised by U.S. Beef Export Comments

Summary:

Australian government officials were taken aback by U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks regarding Australian beef exports. The U.S. administration's concerns appear to be based on inflated figures, with Australian officials clarifying that beef exports to the U.S. are valued closer to $2 billion, not $29 billion as suggested.

Sources: Sky News - April 8, 2025

Donald Trump Threatens 104% Tariff on Chinese Imports

Summary:

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 104% tariff on Chinese goods if China does not withdraw its 34% tariff on American products by April 8, 2025. This escalation has contributed to significant volatility in global stock markets, with concerns about a potential trade war intensifying. The Chinese government has yet to respond to this ultimatum.

Sources: ABC News - April 8, 2025, Sky News - April 8, 2025

Plastic Pollution on Australian Coastlines Drops by 39%

Summary:

Research by CSIRO indicates a 39% reduction in plastic pollution along Australia's metropolitan coastlines over the past decade. The study attributes this decline to effective waste management strategies and increased public awareness, highlighting significant progress in addressing coastal environmental challenges.

Sources: CSIRO - April 8, 2025

Trump’s FDA Chief Dr. Marty Makary Slams Medical Dogma in Healthcare

Summary:

In this episode of the "Dad Saves America" podcast, Dr. Marty Makary, former FDA Chief under President Trump, critiques entrenched medical dogmas that hinder innovation and patient care. He emphasizes the necessity for healthcare professionals to challenge outdated practices and adopt evidence-based approaches.

Key Discussions:

• Medical Dogma vs. Innovation: Dr. Makary discusses how rigid adherence to traditional medical practices can obstruct the adoption of innovative treatments and technologies.

• Patient-Centered Care: He advocates for a shift towards more personalized healthcare, emphasizing the importance of tailoring treatments to individual patient needs rather than relying solely on standardized protocols.

• Transparency in Healthcare: The conversation highlights the need for greater transparency in medical practices and pricing to empower patients and foster trust in the healthcare system.

Insights:

• Challenging established medical norms is crucial for progress and improving patient outcomes.

• Embracing innovation requires a balance between evidence-based practices and openness to new methodologies.

• Enhancing transparency can lead to more informed decisions by patients and promote accountability within the healthcare industry.

For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, listen to the full episode on Spotify: Dad Saves America Podcast - Episode with Dr. Marty Makary

@ a396e36e:ec991f1c

Introduction

In recent years, the term "the new normal" has been used to describe a world reshaped by pandemic policies, inflationary economic measures, rising surveillance, and growing cultural compliance. For many, this phrase signals safety and adaptation. But for others, it marks an era of overreach and loss of personal autonomy. At the heart of the digital resistance to this new order stands an unlikely champion: Bitcoin.

More than a volatile investment or tech novelty, Bitcoin has become a tool of protest, a lifeline for dissidents, and a vehicle for economic sovereignty. As governments expand control over currencies, transactions, and narratives, Bitcoin's decentralized, censorship-resistant architecture offers a parallel path. This post explores how Bitcoin is used to challenge the core pillars of the new normal.

1. Pandemic-Era Restrictions and Bitcoin as a Lifeline

During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide implemented measures ranging from lockdowns to vaccine passports and mass surveillance. For many protestors, these policies were seen not as safety measures, but as infringements on civil liberties.

In Nigeria, during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality, bank accounts of organizers were frozen. Bitcoin became the fallback. Donations poured in through decentralized wallets, bypassing government censors. Similarly, in Canada’s 2022 Freedom Convoy, traditional fundraising platforms were blocked. Activists turned to Bitcoin, distributing funds peer-to-peer using QR codes, out of reach from centralized authority.

These examples underscore Bitcoin’s core strength: permissionless value transfer. No bank account, no ID, no government approval required. It provided activists with the means to continue their work even under financial siege.

1. Economic Collapse and the Return to Sound Money

The economic fallout from pandemic stimulus measures has been immense. In the U.S. alone, over $5 trillion in stimulus spending contributed to record-breaking inflation, eroding the purchasing power of fiat currencies. Central banks worldwide flooded markets with newly created money, leading to a global crisis of confidence in fiat.

Bitcoin offered an escape route. With its capped supply of 21 million coins and transparent monetary policy, it attracted investors, corporations, and citizens looking to hedge against inflation and financial mismanagement. In countries like Turkey, Argentina, and Venezuela, where national currencies collapsed, Bitcoin emerged as a digital safe haven.

More than a hedge, Bitcoin became a symbol of protest. Where governments printed wealth out of thin air, Bitcoiners opted out. For them, stacking sats (satoshis) wasn't just financial planning—it was civil disobedience against fiat excess.

1. CBDCs, Programmable Money, and the Case for Financial Autonomy

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are on the rise. Promoted as modern, efficient alternatives to cash, they also raise alarms for privacy advocates. Programmable money, expiration dates on stimulus funds, restrictions on purchases—these aren’t speculative fears. They’re openly discussed features.

Bitcoin offers the inverse: a financial system without surveillance, control, or gatekeeping. Unlike CBDCs, it is neutral, global, and governed by code, not political whim. Where CBDCs threaten to tether money to state approval, Bitcoin affirms the right to transact freely.

In this context, adopting Bitcoin is more than a tech choice. It’s a rejection of programmable compliance in favor of financial autonomy.

1. Censorship, Compliance Culture, and the Sovereign Individual

Beyond economics and health, the new normal is marked by growing censorship and behavioral control. From deplatforming to frozen bank accounts, those who dissent often find their financial access cut off.

Bitcoin resists this. It doesn’t care who you are, what you believe, or where you live. As long as you control your private keys, your funds are yours.

This neutrality makes Bitcoin a sanctuary for the politically persecuted, the economically excluded, and the privacy-conscious. It’s not about hiding—it’s about freedom by design. In a time when expressing the wrong opinion can cost you your livelihood, Bitcoin offers a parallel economy where your rights don’t expire when you disagree.

Conclusion

Bitcoin is not a panacea. It doesn’t guarantee utopia, and it's not immune to misuse. But in the context of expanding state power, algorithmic governance, and compliant culture, it stands out as one of the few tools that empowers individuals to say "no."

To use Bitcoin today is to engage in a subtle form of protest. It is to opt out of a system many see as rigged, to reclaim privacy, and to assert control over one’s economic life. For those resisting the new normal—not with slogans, but with actions—Bitcoin is not just code. It’s civil disobedience made digital.

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

the total number of U.S. forces in the Middle East has now reached 300,000 personnel, including both combat and administrative units.

The US normally has a total of 156,000 military personnel stationed overseas. Trump has suddenly doubled that number in just the Middle East. The Carl Vincent carrier group is relocating to the Red Sea, and half our active B2 bombers are in Diego Garcia. He’s going to bomb Iran.

https://x.com/davegreenidge57/status/1908826028467696075

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/937451

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/04/07/peter-navarro-says-vietnams-0percent-tariff-offer-is-not-enough-its-the-non-tariff-cheating-that-matters.html

Vietnam is the US fastest growing trading partner and is helping to diversify away from China. Their offer to make imports from the US import tax free was rejected from the Trump administration.

This is a strong indicator that Trumps overall strategy isn't to use tariffs as a bargaining chip. It seems like the tariffs are the goal, not the means to an end.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/937410

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

احنا المرة اللي فاتت اتكلمنا عن الاساسيات تعالي بقي نتكلم بشكل عام علي الطرق اللي في وجهه نظري احسن طرق و هقولك ليه و تبدا بمين الاول و كمان كل طريقه هسيب لك ليها لينك تشرح التطبيق عنه بشكل مفصل اكتر بحيث تعرف الحلو و الوحش و الحد الادني و كل دا

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البورصة الأمريكية

• العملة: دولار
• العائد المتوقع: ~10% سنوياً
• الحد الأدنى: ~100 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: باسبور
• المميزات:
• استثمار دولاري
• سهولة الإيداع بالعملات الرقمية
• إمكانية السحب في أي وقت
• العيوب:
• تحتاج جواز سفر
• تتطلب معرفة بالشركات
• تقلبات السوق علي المدي القصير
• ملاحظات: لو لسة جديد بس معاك حساب دولاري يبقي انصحك بـ IBKR علشان سهل ولكن لو معكش حساب دولاري يبقي Tastytrade علشان سهل الايداع بالكريبتو

العملات الرقمية

• العملة: دولار
• العائد المتوقع: ~10% سنوياً (متغير)
• الحد الأدنى: ~100 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: بطاقة
• المميزات:
• عائد يومي
• استثمار دولاري
• سهولة السحب
• العيوب:
• العائد متغير
• مخاطر الأمان
• ملاحظات: هنا قصدي منتجات Earn زي في بينانس

ذهب (عالمي)

• العملة: دولار
• العائد المتوقع: متغير حسب سعر الذهب
• الحد الأدنى: ~100 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: بطاقة
• المميزات:
• الذهب بسعر السوق العالمي
• تحوط ضد التضخم
• العيوب:
• تقلبات السوق علي المدي القصير
• استثمار طويل الأجل
• مخاطر الامان
• ملاحظات: الذهب العالمي قصدي انه تحول عملات ل PAXG في بينانس او Kraken

عقارات (عالمي)

• العملة: دولار
• العائد المتوقع: ~9-10% سنوياً
• الحد الأدنى: ~50 دولار في موقع Realt و ~135 لو موقع Stake
• الورق المطلوب: باسبور
• المميزات:
• استثمار دولاري
• عائد شهري
• العيوب:
• استثمار طويل الأجل
• لو Stake فا تقدر تسحب فلوسك مرتين بالسنة بس
• تحتاج باسبور
• تقلبات السوق
• ملاحظات: في تطبيقين RealT للسوق الامريكي و Stake للسوق الامراتي او السعودي

فوري يومي

• العملة: جنيه مصري
• العائد المتوقع: ~24%
• الحد الأدنى: ~3 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: بطاقة
• المميزات:
• سهولة الاستخدام
• عائد يومي
• بدون حد أدنى عالي
• العيوب:
• بالجنيه المصري
• عائد أقل من شهادات البنك (الي الان)
• تقلبات العائد
• ملاحظات: قصدي تطبيق فوري يومي

عقارات (محلي)

• العملة: جنيه مصري
• العائد المتوقع: الفعلي 9% ولكن متوقع 28-48% (متوسط 32%)
• الحد الأدنى: 50,000 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: بطاقة
• المميزات:
• عائد سنوي مرتفع
• العائد مربوط بالدولار بمعني لو حصل تعويم العائد بتاعك هيزيد فا مقاوم للتضخم.
• سهولة الاستخدام
• العيوب:
• حجز الأموال 6 شهور
• 50 ألف حد أدنى
• ضرائب عقارية
• ملاحظات: قصدي تطبيق Safe

شهادات البنك

• العملة: جنيه مصري
• العائد المتوقع: 27% او 30% بعائد تناقصي
• الحد الأدنى: 1000 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: بطاقة
• المميزات:
• عائد مرتفع
• العيوب:
• بالجنيه المصري
• متقدرش تسحب فلوسك غير بعد مدة الشهادة.
• ملاحظات: دخولك هنا او لا و العائد شهري او سنوي يبقي علي حسب هدفك

ذهب (محلي)

• العملة: جنيه مصري
• العائد المتوقع: متغير حسب سعر الذهب
• الحد الأدنى: ~18 جنيه
• الورق المطلوب: بطاقة
• المميزات:
• قيمة ثابتة ومستقرة
• سهولة الشراء
• الحد الادني صغير لو سهم في صندوق زي AZG
• العيوب:
• يحتاج مبلغ عالي للدخول لو حقيقي
• تقلبات السوق علي المدي القصير
• ملاحظات: يعتبر خيار حلو بس انا شايف لو هتدخل بدهب يبقي عالمي + قصدي ذهب بجد او عن طريق صناديق الذهب زي AZG

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كمل قراية بالتفصيل:

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xvurzvfsxuerzvphcvddg0

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xvunzvesx5erywpsepywcn

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xvunzdpcxq6nxwp3xqxgmx

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xscrqdesxycnvv34l5ye0c

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xvungvfsx5cnvv3ndwszwl

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xscrqdpnxc6rvvee3fqr5t

nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xscrqdesxucrjdehs24uge

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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آخر تحديث: 4 أبريل 2025

@ 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.

This month is April and we're doing what it...?. So give me those what if tracks.

Here's and example;

What if, Another Brick in the Wall was EDM?

Let's have fun.

https://youtu.be/uLMobfyKB9o?si=vD9OMd6irvFG2vP

Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/937359

@ 39f70015:9d4e378a

This is a copy of chapter four of Mastering Bitcoin Cash. I'm using it to test out creating long-form content on highlighter.com.

This is an edit after the original post. I want to test how editing long-form content works on Nostr.

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4. Transactions

Introduction

Transactions are the most important part of the Bitcoin Cash system. Everything else in Bitcoin Cash is designed to ensure that transactions can be created, propagated on the network, validated, and finally added to the global ledger of transactions (the blockchain). Transactions are data structures that encode the transfer of value between participants in the Bitcoin Cash system. Each transaction is a public entry in Bitcoin Cash’s blockchain, the global double-entry bookkeeping ledger.

In this chapter we will examine all the various forms of transactions, what they contain, how to create them, how they are verified, and how they become part of the permanent record of all transactions.

Transaction Lifecycle

A transaction’s lifecycle starts with the transaction’s creation, also known as origination. The transaction is then signed with one or more signatures indicating the authorization to spend the funds referenced by the transaction. The transaction is then broadcast on the Bitcoin Cash network, where each network node (participant) validates and propagates the transaction until it reaches (almost) every node in the network. Finally, the transaction is verified by a mining node and included in a block of transactions that is recorded on the blockchain.

Once recorded on the blockchain and confirmed by sufficient subsequent blocks (confirmations), the transaction is a permanent part of the Bitcoin Cash ledger and is accepted as valid by all participants. The funds allocated to a new owner by the transaction can then be spent in a new transaction, extending the chain of ownership and beginning the lifecycle of a transaction again.

Creating Transactions

In some ways it helps to think of a transaction in the same way as a paper check. Like a check, a transaction is an instrument that expresses the intent to transfer money and is not visible to the financial system until it is submitted for execution. Like a check, the originator of the transaction does not have to be the one signing the transaction.

Transactions can be created online or offline by anyone, even if the person creating the transaction is not an authorized signer on the account. For example, an accounts payable clerk might process payable checks for signature by the CEO. Similarly, an accounts payable clerk can create Bitcoin Cash transactions and then have the CEO apply digital signatures to make them valid. Whereas a check references a specific account as the source of the funds, a Bitcoin Cash transaction references a specific previous transaction as its source, rather than an account.

Once a transaction has been created, it is signed by the owner (or owners) of the source funds. If it is properly formed and signed, the signed transaction is now valid and contains all the information needed to execute the transfer of funds. Finally, the valid transaction has to reach the Bitcoin Cash network so that it can be propagated until it reaches a miner for inclusion in the pubic ledger (the blockchain).

Broadcasting Transactions to the Bitcoin Cash Network

First, a transaction needs to be delivered to the Bitcoin Cash network so that it can be propagated and included in the blockchain. In essence, a Bitcoin Cash transaction is just 300 to 400 bytes of data and has to reach any one of tens of thousands of Bitcoin Cash nodes. The senders do not need to trust the nodes they use to broadcast the transaction, as long as they use more than one to ensure that it propagates. The nodes don’t need to trust the sender or establish the sender’s "identity." Because the transaction is signed and contains no confidential information, private keys, or credentials, it can be publicly broadcast using any underlying network transport that is convenient. Unlike credit card transactions, for example, which contain sensitive information and can only be transmitted on encrypted networks, a Bitcoin Cash transaction can be sent over any network. As long as the transaction can reach a Bitcoin Cash node that will propagate it into the Bitcoin Cash network, it doesn’t matter how it is transported to the first node.

Bitcoin Cash transactions can therefore be transmitted to the Bitcoin Cash network over insecure networks such as WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, Chirp, barcodes, or by copying and pasting into a web form. In extreme cases, a Bitcoin Cash transaction could be transmitted over packet radio, satellite relay, or shortwave using burst transmission, spread spectrum, or frequency hopping to evade detection and jamming. A Bitcoin Cash transaction could even be encoded as smileys (emoticons) and posted in a public forum or sent as a text message or Skype chat message. Bitcoin Cash has turned money into a data structure, making it virtually impossible to stop anyone from creating and executing a Bitcoin Cash transaction.

Propagating Transactions on the Bitcoin Cash Network

Once a Bitcoin Cash transaction is sent to any node connected to the Bitcoin Cash network, the transaction will be validated by that node. If valid, that node will propagate it to the other nodes to which it is connected, and a success message will be returned synchronously to the originator. If the transaction is invalid, the node will reject it and synchronously return a rejection message to the originator.

The Bitcoin Cash network is a peer-to-peer network, meaning that each Bitcoin Cash node is connected to a few other Bitcoin Cash nodes that it discovers during startup through the peer-to-peer protocol. The entire network forms a loosely connected mesh without a fixed topology or any structure, making all nodes equal peers. Messages, including transactions and blocks, are propagated from each node to all the peers to which it is connected, a process called "flooding." A new validated transaction injected into any node on the network will be sent to all of the nodes connected to it (neighbors), each of which will send the transaction to all its neighbors, and so on. In this way, within a few seconds a valid transaction will propagate in an exponentially expanding ripple across the network until all nodes in the network have received it.

The Bitcoin Cash network is designed to propagate transactions and blocks to all nodes in an efficient and resilient manner that is resistant to attacks. To prevent spamming, denial-of-service attacks, or other nuisance attacks against the Bitcoin Cash system, every node independently validates every transaction before propagating it further. A malformed transaction will not get beyond one node.

Transaction Structure

A transaction is a data structure that encodes a transfer of value from a source of funds, called an input, to a destination, called an output. Transaction inputs and outputs are not related to accounts or identities. Instead, you should think of them as Bitcoin Cash amounts—chunks of Bitcoin Cash—being locked with a specific secret that only the owner, or person who knows the secret, can unlock. A transaction contains a number of fields, as shown in The structure of a transaction.

| Size | Field | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | 4 bytes | Version | Specifies which rules this transaction follows | | 1–9 bytes (VarInt) | Input Counter | How many inputs are included | | Variable | Inputs | One or more transaction inputs | | 1–9 bytes (VarInt) | Output Counter | How many outputs are included | | variable | Outputs | One or more transaction outputs | | 4 bytes | Locktime | A Unix timestamp or block number |

Table 1. The structure of a transaction

Transaction Locktime

Locktime, also known as nLockTime from the variable name used in the reference client, defines the earliest time that a transaction is valid and can be relayed on the network or added to the blockchain. It is set to zero in most transactions to indicate immediate propagation and execution. If locktime is nonzero and below 500 million, it is interpreted as a block height, meaning the transaction is not valid and is not relayed or included in the blockchain prior to the specified block height. If it is above 500 million, it is interpreted as a Unix Epoch timestamp (seconds since Jan-1-1970) and the transaction is not valid prior to the specified time. Transactions with locktime specifying a future block or time must be held by the originating system and transmitted to the Bitcoin Cash network only after they become valid. The use of locktime is equivalent to postdating a paper check.

Transaction Outputs and Inputs

The fundamental building block of a Bitcoin Cash transaction is an unspent transaction output, or UTXO. UTXO are indivisible chunks of Bitcoin Cash currency locked to a specific owner, recorded on the blockchain, and recognized as currency units by the entire network. The Bitcoin Cash network tracks all available (unspent) UTXO currently numbering in the millions. Whenever a user receives Bitcoin Cash, that amount is recorded within the blockchain as a UTXO. Thus, a user’s Bitcoin Cash might be scattered as UTXO amongst hundreds of transactions and hundreds of blocks. In effect, there is no such thing as a stored balance of a Bitcoin Cash address or account; there are only scattered UTXO, locked to specific owners. The concept of a user’s Bitcoin Cash balance is a derived construct created by the wallet application. The wallet calculates the user’s balance by scanning the blockchain and aggregating all UTXO belonging to that user.

There are no accounts or balances in Bitcoin Cash; there are only _unspent transaction outputs_ (UTXO) scattered in the blockchain.

A UTXO can have an arbitrary value denominated as a multiple of satoshis. Just like dollars can be divided down to two decimal places as cents, bitcoins can be divided down to eight decimal places as satoshis. Although UTXO can be any arbitrary value, once created it is indivisible just like a coin that cannot be cut in half. If a UTXO is larger than the desired value of a transaction, it must still be consumed in its entirety and change must be generated in the transaction. In other words, if you have a 20 Bitcoin Cash UTXO and want to pay 1 Bitcoin Cash, your transaction must consume the entire 20 Bitcoin Cash UTXO and produce two outputs: one paying 1 Bitcoin Cash to your desired recipient and another paying 19 Bitcoin Cash in change back to your wallet. As a result, most Bitcoin Cash transactions will generate change.

Imagine a shopper buying a $1.50 beverage, reaching into her wallet and trying to find a combination of coins and bank notes to cover the $1.50 cost. The shopper will choose exact change if available (a dollar bill and two quarters), or a combination of smaller denominations (six quarters), or if necessary, a larger unit such as a five dollar bank note. If she hands too much money, say $5, to the shop owner, she will expect $3.50 change, which she will return to her wallet and have available for future transactions.

Similarly, a Bitcoin Cash transaction must be created from a user’s UTXO in whatever denominations that user has available. Users cannot cut a UTXO in half any more than they can cut a dollar bill in half and use it as currency. The user’s wallet application will typically select from the user’s available UTXO various units to compose an amount greater than or equal to the desired transaction amount.

As with real life, the Bitcoin Cash application can use several strategies to satisfy the purchase amount: combining several smaller units, finding exact change, or using a single unit larger than the transaction value and making change. All of this complex assembly of spendable UTXO is done by the user’s wallet automatically and is invisible to users. It is only relevant if you are programmatically constructing raw transactions from UTXO.

The UTXO consumed by a transaction are called transaction inputs, and the UTXO created by a transaction are called transaction outputs. This way, chunks of Bitcoin Cash value move forward from owner to owner in a chain of transactions consuming and creating UTXO. Transactions consume UTXO by unlocking it with the signature of the current owner and create UTXO by locking it to the Bitcoin Cash address of the new owner.

The exception to the output and input chain is a special type of transaction called the coinbase transaction, which is the first transaction in each block. This transaction is placed there by the "winning" miner and creates brand-new Bitcoin Cash payable to that miner as a reward for mining. This is how Bitcoin Cash’s money supply is created during the mining process, as we will see in Mining and Consensus.

What comes first? Inputs or outputs, the chicken or the egg? Strictly speaking, outputs come first because coinbase transactions, which generate new Bitcoin Cash, have no inputs and create outputs from nothing.

Transaction Outputs

Every Bitcoin Cash transaction creates outputs, which are recorded on the Bitcoin Cash ledger. Almost all of these outputs, with one exception (see Data Output (OP_RETURN)) create spendable chunks of Bitcoin Cash called unspent transaction outputs or UTXO, which are then recognized by the whole network and available for the owner to spend in a future transaction. Sending someone Bitcoin Cash is creating an unspent transaction output (UTXO) registered to their address and available for them to spend.

UTXO are tracked by every full-node Bitcoin Cash client as a data set called the UTXO set or UTXO pool, held in a database. New transactions consume (spend) one or more of these outputs from the UTXO set.

Transaction outputs consist of two parts:

• An amount of Bitcoin Cash, denominated in satoshis, the smallest Bitcoin Cash unit
• A locking script, also known as an "encumbrance" that "locks" this amount by specifying the conditions that must be met to spend the output

The transaction scripting language, used in the locking script mentioned previously, is discussed in detail in Transaction Scripts and Script Language. The structure of a transaction output shows the structure of a transaction output.

| Size | Field | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | 8 bytes | Amount | Bitcoin Cash value in satoshis (108 Bitcoin Cash) | | 1–9 bytes (VarInt) | Locking-Script Size | Locking-Script length in bytes, to follow | | Variable | Locking-Script | A script defining the conditions needed to spend the output | | 1–9 bytes (VarInt) | Output Counter | How many outputs are included | | variable | Outputs | One or more transaction outputs | | 4 bytes | Locktime | A Unix timestamp or block number |

Table 2. The structure of a transaction output

In A script that calls bitbox.Address.utxo to find the UTXO related to an address, we use the bitbox.Address class to find the unspent outputs (UTXO) of a specific address.

Example 1. A script that calls bitbox.Address.utxo to find the UTXO related to an address

```javascript bitbox.Address.utxo('bitcoincash:qpcxf2sv9hjw08nvpgffpamfus9nmksm3chv5zqtnz').then((result) => { console.log(result); }, (err) => { console.log(err); });

Returns the following: [{ txid: 'cc27be8846276612dfce5924b7be96556212f0f0e62bd17641732175edb9911e', vout: 0, scriptPubKey: '76a9147064aa0c2de4e79e6c0a1290f769e40b3dda1b8e88ac', amount: 0.00007021, satoshis: 7021, height: 527155, confirmations: 11879, legacyAddress: '1BFHGm4HzqgXXyNX8n7DsQno5DAC4iLMRA', cashAddress: 'bitcoincash:qpcxf2sv9hjw08nvpgffpamfus9nmksm3chv5zqtnz' } ] ```

Running the script, we see an array of objects representing unspent transaction outputs which are available to this address.

Spending conditions (encumbrances)

Transaction outputs associate a specific amount (in satoshis) to a specific encumbrance or locking script that defines the condition that must be met to spend that amount. In most cases, the locking script will lock the output to a specific Bitcoin Cash address, thereby transferring ownership of that amount to the new owner. When Alice paid Bob’s Cafe for a cup of coffee, her transaction created a 0.00208507 Bitcoin Cash output encumbered or locked to the cafe’s Bitcoin Cash address. That 0.00208507 Bitcoin Cash output was recorded on the blockchain and became part of the Unspent Transaction Output set, meaning it showed in Bob’s wallet as part of the available balance. When Bob chooses to spend that amount, his transaction will release the encumbrance, unlocking the output by providing an unlocking script containing a signature from Bob’s private key.

Transaction Inputs

In simple terms, transaction inputs are pointers to UTXO. They point to a specific UTXO by reference to the transaction hash and sequence number where the UTXO is recorded in the blockchain. To spend UTXO, a transaction input also includes unlocking scripts that satisfy the spending conditions set by the UTXO. The unlocking script is usually a signature proving ownership of the Bitcoin Cash address that is in the locking script.

When users make a payment, their wallet constructs a transaction by selecting from the available UTXO. For example, to make a 0.00208507 Bitcoin Cash payment, the wallet app may select a 0.002 UTXO and a 0.00008507 UTXO, using them both to add up to the desired payment amount.

Once the UTXO is selected, the wallet then produces unlocking scripts containing signatures for each of the UTXO, thereby making them spendable by satisfying their locking script conditions. The wallet adds these UTXO references and unlocking scripts as inputs to the transaction. The structure of a transaction input shows the structure of a transaction input.

| Size | Field | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | 32 bytes | Transaction Hash | Pointer to the transaction containing the UTXO to be spent | | 4 bytes | Output Index | The index number of the UTXO to be spent; first one is 0 | | 1-9 bytes (VarInt) | Unlocking-Script Size | Unlocking-Script length in bytes, to follow | | Variable | Unlocking-Script | A script that fulfills the conditions of the UTXO locking script | | 4 bytes | Sequence Number | Currently disabled Tx-replacement feature, set to 0xFFFFFFFF |

Table 3. The structure of a transaction input

Transaction Fees

Most transactions include transaction fees, which compensate the Bitcoin Cash miners for securing the network. Mining and the fees and rewards collected by miners are discussed in more detail in Mining and Consensus. This section examines how transaction fees are included in a typical transaction. Most wallets calculate and include transaction fees automatically. However, if you are constructing transactions programmatically, or using a command-line interface, you must manually account for and include these fees.

Transaction fees serve as an incentive to include (mine) a transaction into the next block and also as a disincentive against "spam" transactions or any kind of abuse of the system, by imposing a small cost on every transaction. Transaction fees are collected by the miner who mines the block that records the transaction on the blockchain.

Transaction fees are calculated based on the size of the transaction in kilobytes, not the value of the transaction in Bitcoin Cash. Overall, transaction fees are set based on market forces within the Bitcoin Cash network. Miners prioritize transactions based on many different criteria, including fees, and might even process transactions for free under certain circumstances. Transaction fees affect the processing priority, meaning that a transaction with sufficient fees is likely to be included in the next-most–mined block, whereas a transaction with insufficient or no fees might be delayed, processed on a best-effort basis after a few blocks, or not processed at all. Transaction fees are not mandatory, and transactions without fees might be processed eventually; however, including transaction fees encourages priority processing.

The current algorithm used by miners to prioritize transactions for inclusion in a block based on their fees is examined in detail in Mining and Consensus.

Adding Fees to Transactions

The data structure of transactions does not have a field for fees. Instead, fees are implied as the difference between the sum of inputs and the sum of outputs. Any excess amount that remains after all outputs have been deducted from all inputs is the fee that is collected by the miners.

Transaction fees are implied, as the excess of inputs minus outputs:

Fees = Sum(Inputs) – Sum(Outputs)

This is a somewhat confusing element of transactions and an important point to understand, because if you are constructing your own transactions you must ensure you do not inadvertently include a very large fee by underspending the inputs. That means that you must account for all inputs, if necessary by creating change, or you will end up giving the miners a very big tip!

For example, if you consume a 20-Bitcoin Cash UTXO to make a 1-Bitcoin Cash payment, you must include a 19-Bitcoin Cash change output back to your wallet. Otherwise, the 19-Bitcoin Cash "leftover" will be counted as a transaction fee and will be collected by the miner who mines your transaction in a block. Although you will receive priority processing and make a miner very happy, this is probably not what you intended.

If you forget to add a change output in a manually constructed transaction, you will be paying the change as a transaction fee. "Keep the change!" might not be what you intended.

Let’s see how this works in practice, by looking at Alice’s coffee purchase again. Alice wants to spend 0.00208507 Bitcoin Cash to pay for coffee. To ensure this transaction is processed promptly, she will want to include a transaction fee of 1 satoshi per byte. That will mean that the total cost of the transaction will be 0.00208750. Her wallet must therefore source a set of UTXO that adds up to 0.00208750 Bitcoin Cash or more and, if necessary, create change. Let’s say her wallet has a 0.00277257-Bitcoin Cash UTXO available. It will therefore need to consume this UTXO, create one output to Bob’s Cafe for 0.00208507, and a second output with 0.00068507 Bitcoin Cash in change back to her own wallet, leaving 0.00000243 Bitcoin Cash unallocated, as an implicit fee for the transaction.

Transaction Chaining and Orphan Transactions

As we have seen, transactions form a chain, whereby one transaction spends the outputs of the previous transaction (known as the parent) and creates outputs for a subsequent transaction (known as the child). Sometimes an entire chain of transactions depending on each other—say a parent, child, and grandchild transaction—are created at the same time, to fulfill a complex transactional workflow that requires valid children to be signed before the parent is signed.

When a chain of transactions is transmitted across the network, they don’t always arrive in the same order. Sometimes, the child might arrive before the parent. In that case, the nodes that see a child first can see that it references a parent transaction that is not yet known. Rather than reject the child, they put it in a temporary pool to await the arrival of its parent and propagate it to every other node. The pool of transactions without parents is known as the orphan transaction pool. Once the parent arrives, any orphans that reference the UTXO created by the parent are released from the pool, revalidated recursively, and then the entire chain of transactions can be included in the transaction pool, ready to be mined in a block. Transaction chains can be arbitrarily long, with any number of generations transmitted simultaneously. The mechanism of holding orphans in the orphan pool ensures that otherwise valid transactions will not be rejected just because their parent has been delayed and that eventually the chain they belong to is reconstructed in the correct order, regardless of the order of arrival.

There is a limit to the number of orphan transactions stored in memory, to prevent a denial-of-service attack against Bitcoin Cash nodes. The limit is defined as MAX_ORPHAN_TRANSACTIONS in the source code of the Bitcoin Cash reference client. If the number of orphan transactions in the pool exceeds MAX_ORPHAN_TRANSACTIONS, one or more randomly selected orphan transactions are evicted from the pool, until the pool size is back within limits.

Transaction Scripts and Script Language

Bitcoin Cash clients validate transactions by executing a script, written in a Forth-like scripting language. Both the locking script (encumbrance) placed on a UTXO and the unlocking script that usually contains a signature are written in this scripting language. When a transaction is validated, the unlocking script in each input is executed alongside the corresponding locking script to see if it satisfies the spending condition.

Today, most transactions processed through the Bitcoin Cash network have the form "Alice pays Bob" and are based on the same script called a Pay-to-Public-Key-Hash script. However, the use of scripts to lock outputs and unlock inputs means that through use of the programming language, transactions can contain an infinite number of conditions. Bitcoin Cash transactions are not limited to the "Alice pays Bob" form and pattern.

This is only the tip of the iceberg of possibilities that can be expressed with this scripting language. In this section, we will demonstrate the components of the Bitcoin Cash transaction scripting language and show how it can be used to express complex conditions for spending and how those conditions can be satisfied by unlocking scripts.

Bitcoin Cash transaction validation is not based on a static pattern, but instead is achieved through the execution of a scripting language. This language allows for a nearly infinite variety of conditions to be expressed. This is how Bitcoin Cash gets the power of "programmable money."

Script Construction (Lock + Unlock)

Bitcoin Cash’s transaction validation engine relies on two types of scripts to validate transactions: a locking script and an unlocking script.

A locking script is an encumbrance placed on an output, and it specifies the conditions that must be met to spend the output in the future. Historically, the locking script was called a scriptPubKey, because it usually contained a public key or Bitcoin Cash address. In this book we refer to it as a "locking script" to acknowledge the much broader range of possibilities of this scripting technology. In most Bitcoin Cash applications, what we refer to as a locking script will appear in the source code as scriptPubKey.

An unlocking script is a script that "solves," or satisfies, the conditions placed on an output by a locking script and allows the output to be spent. Unlocking scripts are part of every transaction input, and most of the time they contain a digital signature produced by the user’s wallet from his or her private key. Historically, the unlocking script is called scriptSig, because it usually contained a digital signature. In most Bitcoin Cash applications, the source code refers to the unlocking script as scriptSig. In this book, we refer to it as an "unlocking script" to acknowledge the much broader range of locking script requirements, because not all unlocking scripts must contain signatures.

Every Bitcoin Cash client will validate transactions by executing the locking and unlocking scripts together. For each input in the transaction, the validation software will first retrieve the UTXO referenced by the input. That UTXO contains a locking script defining the conditions required to spend it. The validation software will then take the unlocking script contained in the input that is attempting to spend this UTXO and execute the two scripts.

In the original Bitcoin Cash client, the unlocking and locking scripts were concatenated and executed in sequence. For security reasons, this was changed in 2010, because of a vulnerability that allowed a malformed unlocking script to push data onto the stack and corrupt the locking script. In the current implementation, the scripts are executed separately with the stack transferred between the two executions, as described next.

First, the unlocking script is executed, using the stack execution engine. If the unlocking script executed without errors (e.g., it has no "dangling" operators left over), the main stack (not the alternate stack) is copied and the locking script is executed. If the result of executing the locking script with the stack data copied from the unlocking script is "TRUE," the unlocking script has succeeded in resolving the conditions imposed by the locking script and, therefore, the input is a valid authorization to spend the UTXO. If any result other than "TRUE" remains after execution of the combined script, the input is invalid because it has failed to satisfy the spending conditions placed on the UTXO. Note that the UTXO is permanently recorded in the blockchain, and therefore is invariable and is unaffected by failed attempts to spend it by reference in a new transaction. Only a valid transaction that correctly satisfies the conditions of the UTXO results in the UTXO being marked as "spent" and removed from the set of available (unspent) UTXO.

Combining scriptSig and scriptPubKey to evaluate a transaction script is an example of the unlocking and locking scripts for the most common type of Bitcoin Cash transaction (a payment to a public key hash), showing the combined script resulting from the concatenation of the unlocking and locking scripts prior to script validation.

Figure 1. Combining scriptSig and scriptPubKey to evaluate a transaction script

Scripting Language

The Bitcoin Cash transaction script language, called Script, is a Forth-like reverse-polish notation stack-based execution language. If that sounds like gibberish, you probably haven’t studied 1960’s programming languages. Script is a very simple language that was designed to be limited in scope and executable on a range of hardware, perhaps as simple as an embedded device, such as a handheld calculator. It requires minimal processing and cannot do many of the fancy things modern programming languages can do. In the case of programmable money, that is a deliberate security feature.

Bitcoin Cash’s scripting language is called a stack-based language because it uses a data structure called a stack. A stack is a very simple data structure, which can be visualized as a stack of cards. A stack allows two operations: push and pop. Push adds an item on top of the stack. Pop removes the top item from the stack.

The scripting language executes the script by processing each item from left to right. Numbers (data constants) are pushed onto the stack. Operators push or pop one or more parameters from the stack, act on them, and might push a result onto the stack. For example, OP_ADD will pop two items from the stack, add them, and push the resulting sum onto the stack.

Conditional operators evaluate a condition, producing a boolean result of TRUE or FALSE. For example, OP_EQUAL pops two items from the stack and pushes TRUE (TRUE is represented by the number 1) if they are equal or FALSE (represented by zero) if they are not equal. Bitcoin Cash transaction scripts usually contain a conditional operator, so that they can produce the TRUE result that signifies a valid transaction.

In Bitcoin Cash’s script validation doing simple math, the script 2 3 OP_ADD 5 OP_EQUAL demonstrates the arithmetic addition operator OP_ADD, adding two numbers and putting the result on the stack, followed by the conditional operator OP_EQUAL, which checks that the resulting sum is equal to 5. For brevity, the OP_ prefix is omitted in the step-by-step example.

The following is a slightly more complex script, which calculates 2 + 7 – 3 + 1. Notice that when the script contains several operators in a row, the stack allows the results of one operator to be acted upon by the next operator:

2 7 OP_ADD 3 OP_SUB 1 OP_ADD 7 OP_EQUAL

Try validating the preceding script yourself using pencil and paper. When the script execution ends, you should be left with the value TRUE on the stack.

Although most locking scripts refer to a Bitcoin Cash address or public key, thereby requiring proof of ownership to spend the funds, the script does not have to be that complex. Any combination of locking and unlocking scripts that results in a TRUE value is valid. The simple arithmetic we used as an example of the scripting language is also a valid locking script that can be used to lock a transaction output.

Use part of the arithmetic example script as the locking script:

3 OP_ADD 5 OP_EQUAL

which can be satisfied by a transaction containing an input with the unlocking script:

2

The validation software combines the locking and unlocking scripts and the resulting script is:

2 3 OP_ADD 5 OP_EQUAL

As we saw in the step-by-step example in Bitcoin Cash’s script validation doing simple math, when this script is executed, the result is OP_TRUE, making the transaction valid. Not only is this a valid transaction output locking script, but the resulting UTXO could be spent by anyone with the arithmetic skills to know that the number 2 satisfies the script.

Figure 2. Bitcoin Cash’s script validation doing simple math

Transactions are valid if the top result on the stack is TRUE (noted as {0x01}), any other non-zero value or if the stack is empty after script execution. Transactions are invalid if the top value on the stack is FALSE (a zero-length empty value, noted as {}) or if script execution is halted explicitly by an operator, such as OP_VERIFY, OP_RETURN, or a conditional terminator such as OP_ENDIF.

Turing Incompleteness

The Bitcoin Cash transaction script language contains many operators, but is deliberately limited in one important way—there are no loops or complex flow control capabilities other than conditional flow control. This ensures that the language is not Turing Complete, meaning that scripts have limited complexity and predictable execution times. Script is not a general-purpose language. These limitations ensure that the language cannot be used to create an infinite loop or other form of "logic bomb" that could be embedded in a transaction in a way that causes a denial-of-service attack against the Bitcoin Cash network. Remember, every transaction is validated by every full node on the Bitcoin Cash network. A limited language prevents the transaction validation mechanism from being used as a vulnerability.

Stateless Verification

The Bitcoin Cash transaction script language is stateless, in that there is no state prior to execution of the script, or state saved after execution of the script. Therefore, all the information needed to execute a script is contained within the script. A script will predictably execute the same way on any system. If your system verifies a script, you can be sure that every other system in the Bitcoin Cash network will also verify the script, meaning that a valid transaction is valid for everyone and everyone knows this. This predictability of outcomes is an essential benefit of the Bitcoin Cash system.

Standard Transactions

In the first few years of Bitcoin Cash’s development, the developers introduced some limitations in the types of scripts that could be processed by the reference client. These limitations are encoded in a function called isStandard(), which defines five types of "standard" transactions. These limitations are temporary and might be lifted by the time you read this. Until then, the five standard types of transaction scripts are the only ones that will be accepted by the reference client and most miners who run the reference client. Although it is possible to create a nonstandard transaction containing a script that is not one of the standard types, you must find a miner who does not follow these limitations to mine that transaction into a block.

Check the source code of the Bitcoin Core client (the reference implementation) to see what is currently allowed as a valid transaction script.

The five standard types of transaction scripts are pay-to-public-key-hash (P2PKH), public-key, multi-signature (limited to 15 keys), pay-to-script-hash (P2SH), and data output (OP_RETURN), which are described in more detail in the following sections.

Pay-to-Public-Key-Hash (P2PKH)

The vast majority of transactions processed on the Bitcoin Cash network are P2PKH transactions. These contain a locking script that encumbers the output with a public key hash, more commonly known as a Bitcoin Cash address. Transactions that pay a Bitcoin Cash address contain P2PKH scripts. An output locked by a P2PKH script can be unlocked (spent) by presenting a public key and a digital signature created by the corresponding private key.

For example, let’s look at Alice’s payment to Bob’s Cafe again. Alice made a payment of 0.00208507 Bitcoin Cash to the cafe’s Bitcoin Cash address. That transaction output would have a locking script of the form:

OP_DUP OP_HASH160 <Cafe Public Key Hash> OP_EQUAL OP_CHECKSIG

The Cafe Public Key Hash is equivalent to the Bitcoin Cash address of the cafe, without the Base58Check encoding. Most applications would show the public key hash in hexadecimal encoding and not the familiar Bitcoin Cash address Base58Check format that begins with a "1".

The preceding locking script can be satisfied with an unlocking script of the form:

<Cafe Signature> <Cafe Public Key>

The two scripts together would form the following combined validation script:

<Cafe Signature> <Cafe Public Key> OP_DUP OP_HASH160 <Cafe Public Key Hash> OP_EQUAL OP_CHECKSIG

When executed, this combined script will evaluate to TRUE if, and only if, the unlocking script matches the conditions set by the locking script. In other words, the result will be TRUE if the unlocking script has a valid signature from the cafe’s private key that corresponds to the public key hash set as an encumbrance.

Figures and show (in two parts) a step-by-step execution of the combined script, which will prove this is a valid transaction.

Figure 3. Evaluating a script for a P2PKH transaction (Part 1 of 2)

Pay-to-Public-Key

Pay-to-public-key is a simpler form of a Bitcoin Cash payment than pay-to-public-key-hash. With this script form, the public key itself is stored in the locking script, rather than a public-key-hash as with P2PKH earlier, which is much shorter. Pay-to-public-key-hash was invented by Satoshi to make Bitcoin Cash addresses shorter, for ease of use. Pay-to-public-key is now most often seen in coinbase transactions, generated by older mining software that has not been updated to use P2PKH.

A pay-to-public-key locking script looks like this:

<Public Key A> OP_CHECKSIG

The corresponding unlocking script that must be presented to unlock this type of output is a simple signature, like this:

<Signature from Private Key A>

The combined script, which is validated by the transaction validation software, is:

<Signature from Private Key A> <Public Key A> OP_CHECKSIG

This script is a simple invocation of the CHECKSIG operator, which validates the signature as belonging to the correct key and returns TRUE on the stack.

Figure 4. Evaluating a script for a P2PKH transaction (Part 2 of 2)

Multi-Signature

Multi-signature scripts set a condition where N public keys are recorded in the script and at least M of those must provide signatures to release the encumbrance. This is also known as an M-of-N scheme, where N is the total number of keys and M is the threshold of signatures required for validation. For example, a 2-of-3 multi-signature is one where three public keys are listed as potential signers and at least two of those must be used to create signatures for a valid transaction to spend the funds. At this time, standard multi-signature scripts are limited to at most 15 listed public keys, meaning you can do anything from a 1-of-1 to a 15-of-15 multi-signature or any combination within that range. The limitation to 15 listed keys might be lifted by the time this book is published, so check the isStandard() function to see what is currently accepted by the network.

The general form of a locking script setting an M-of-N multi-signature condition is:

M <Public Key 1> <Public Key 2> ... <Public Key N> N OP_CHECKMULTISIG

where N is the total number of listed public keys and M is the threshold of required signatures to spend the output.

A locking script setting a 2-of-3 multi-signature condition looks like this:

2 <Public Key A> <Public Key B> <Public Key C> 3 OP_CHECKMULTISIG

The preceding locking script can be satisfied with an unlocking script containing pairs of signatures and public keys:

OP_0 <Signature B> <Signature C>

or any combination of two signatures from the private keys corresponding to the three listed public keys.

The prefix OP_0 is required because of a bug in the original implementation of CHECKMULTISIG where one item too many is popped off the stack. It is ignored by CHECKMULTISIG and is simply a placeholder.

The two scripts together would form the combined validation script:

OP_0 <Signature B> <Signature C> 2 <Public Key A> <Public Key B> <Public Key C> 3 OP_CHECKMULTISIG

When executed, this combined script will evaluate to TRUE if, and only if, the unlocking script matches the conditions set by the locking script. In this case, the condition is whether the unlocking script has a valid signature from the two private keys that correspond to two of the three public keys set as an encumbrance.

Data Output (OP_RETURN)

Bitcoin Cash’s distributed and timestamped ledger, the blockchain, has potential uses far beyond payments. Many developers have tried to use the transaction scripting language to take advantage of the security and resilience of the system for applications such as digital notary services, stock certificates, and smart contracts. Early attempts to use Bitcoin Cash’s script language for these purposes involved creating transaction outputs that recorded data on the blockchain; for example, to record a digital fingerprint of a file in such a way that anyone could establish proof-of-existence of that file on a specific date by reference to that transaction.

The use of Bitcoin Cash’s blockchain to store data unrelated to Bitcoin Cash payments is a controversial subject. Many developers consider such use abusive and want to discourage it. Others view it as a demonstration of the powerful capabilities of blockchain technology and want to encourage such experimentation. Those who object to the inclusion of non-payment data argue that it causes "blockchain bloat," burdening those running full Bitcoin Cash nodes with carrying the cost of disk storage for data that the blockchain was not intended to carry. Moreover, such transactions create UTXO that cannot be spent, using the destination Bitcoin Cash address as a free-form 20-byte field. Because the address is used for data, it doesn’t correspond to a private key and the resulting UTXO can never be spent; it’s a fake payment. These transactions that can never be spent are therefore never removed from the UTXO set and cause the size of the UTXO database to forever increase, or "bloat."

A compromise was reached with the introduction of the OPRETURN operator. OP_RETURN allows developers to add 220 bytes of nonpayment data to a transaction output. However, unlike the use of "fake" UTXO, the OP_RETURN operator creates an explicitly _provably unspendable output, which does not need to be stored in the UTXO set. OP_RETURN outputs are recorded on the blockchain, so they consume disk space and contribute to the increase in the blockchain’s size, but they are not stored in the UTXO set and therefore do not bloat the UTXO memory pool and burden full nodes with the cost of more expensive RAM.

``` OP_RETURN scripts look like this:

OP_RETURN ```

The data portion is limited to 220 bytes and most often represents a hash, such as the output from the SHA256 algorithm (32 bytes). Many applications put a prefix in front of the data to help identify the application per the Terab 4-byte prefix guideline for OP_RETURN on Bitcoin Cash.

Keep in mind that there is no "unlocking script" that corresponds to OPRETURN that could possibly be used to "spend" an OP_RETURN output. The whole point of OP_RETURN is that you can’t spend the money locked in that output, and therefore it does not need to be held in the UTXO set as potentially spendable—OP_RETURN is _provably un-spendable. OP_RETURN is usually an output with a zero Bitcoin Cash amount, because any Bitcoin Cash assigned to such an output is effectively lost forever. If an OP_RETURN is encountered by the script validation software, it results immediately in halting the execution of the validation script and marking the transaction as invalid. Thus, if you accidentally reference an OP_RETURN output as an input in a transaction, that transaction is invalid.

A standard transaction (one that conforms to the isStandard() checks) can have only one OP_RETURN output. However, a single OP_RETURN output can be combined in a transaction with outputs of any other type.

OP_RETURN was initially proposed with a limit of 80 bytes, but the limit was raised to 220 bytes of data on the May 15th 2018 BCH network upgrade.

Pay-to-Script-Hash (P2SH)

Pay-to-script-hash (P2SH) was introduced in 2012 as a powerful new type of transaction that greatly simplifies the use of complex transaction scripts. To explain the need for P2SH, let’s look at a practical example.

In What is Bitcoin Cash we introduced Mohammed, an electronics importer based in Dubai. Mohammed’s company uses Bitcoin Cash’s multi-signature feature extensively for its corporate accounts. Multi-signature scripts are one of the most common uses of Bitcoin Cash’s advanced scripting capabilities and are a very powerful feature. Mohammed’s company uses a multi-signature script for all customer payments, known in accounting terms as "accounts receivable," or AR. With the multi-signature scheme, any payments made by customers are locked in such a way that they require at least two signatures to release, from Mohammed and one of his partners or from his attorney who has a backup key. A multi-signature scheme like that offers corporate governance controls and protects against theft, embezzlement, or loss.

The resulting script is quite long and looks like this:

2 <Mohammed's Public Key> 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG

Although multi-signature scripts are a powerful feature, they are cumbersome to use. Given the preceding script, Mohammed would have to communicate this script to every customer prior to payment. Each customer would have to use special Bitcoin Cash wallet software with the ability to create custom transaction scripts, and each customer would have to understand how to create a transaction using custom scripts. Furthermore, the resulting transaction would be about five times larger than a simple payment transaction, because this script contains very long public keys. The burden of that extra-large transaction would be borne by the customer in the form of fees. Finally, a large transaction script like this would be carried in the UTXO set in RAM in every full node, until it was spent. All of these issues make using complex output scripts difficult in practice.

Pay-to-script-hash (P2SH) was developed to resolve these practical difficulties and to make the use of complex scripts as easy as a payment to a Bitcoin Cash address. With P2SH payments, the complex locking script is replaced with its digital fingerprint, a cryptographic hash. When a transaction attempting to spend the UTXO is presented later, it must contain the script that matches the hash, in addition to the unlocking script. In simple terms, P2SH means "pay to a script matching this hash, a script that will be presented later when this output is spent."

In P2SH transactions, the locking script that is replaced by a hash is referred to as the redeem script because it is presented to the system at redemption time rather than as a locking script. Complex script without P2SH shows the script without P2SH and Complex script as P2SH shows the same script encoded with P2SH.

Locking Script: 2 PubKey1 PubKey2 PubKey3 PubKey4 PubKey5 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG Unlocking Script: Sig1 Sig2

Table 4. Complex script without P2SH

Redeem Script: 2 PubKey1 PubKey2 PubKey3 PubKey4 PubKey5 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG Locking Script: OP_HASH160 <20-byte hash of redeem script> OP_EQUAL Unlocking Script: Sig1 Sig2 redeem script

Table 5. Complex script as P2SH

As you can see from the tables, with P2SH the complex script that details the conditions for spending the output (redeem script) is not presented in the locking script. Instead, only a hash of it is in the locking script and the redeem script itself is presented later, as part of the unlocking script when the output is spent. This shifts the burden in fees and complexity from the sender to the recipient (spender) of the transaction.

Let’s look at Mohammed’s company, the complex multi-signature script, and the resulting P2SH scripts.

First, the multi-signature script that Mohammed’s company uses for all incoming payments from customers:

2 <Mohammed's Public Key> <Partner1 Public Key> <Partner2 Public Key> <Partner3 Public Key> <Attorney Public Key> 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG

If the placeholders are replaced by actual public keys (shown here as 520-bit numbers starting with 04) you can see that this script becomes very long:

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

This entire script can instead be represented by a 20-byte cryptographic hash, by first applying the SHA256 hashing algorithm and then applying the RIPEMD160 algorithm on the result. The 20-byte hash of the preceding script is:

54c557e07dde5bb6cb791c7a540e0a4796f5e97e

A P2SH transaction locks the output to this hash instead of the longer script, using the locking script:

OP_HASH160 54c557e07dde5bb6cb791c7a540e0a4796f5e97e OP_EQUAL

which, as you can see, is much shorter. Instead of "pay to this 5-key multi-signature script," the P2SH equivalent transaction is "pay to a script with this hash." A customer making a payment to Mohammed’s company need only include this much shorter locking script in his payment. When Mohammed wants to spend this UTXO, they must present the original redeem script (the one whose hash locked the UTXO) and the signatures necessary to unlock it, like this:

<Sig1> <Sig2> <2 PK1 PK2 PK3 PK4 PK5 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG>

The two scripts are combined in two stages. First, the redeem script is checked against the locking script to make sure the hash matches:

<2 PK1 PK2 PK3 PK4 PK5 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG> OP_HASH160 <redeem scriptHash> OP_EQUAL

If the redeem script hash matches, the unlocking script is executed on its own, to unlock the redeem script:

<Sig1> <Sig2> 2 PK1 PK2 PK3 PK4 PK5 5 OP_CHECKMULTISIG

Pay-to-script-hash addresses

Another important part of the P2SH feature is the ability to encode a script hash as an address, as defined in BIP0013. P2SH addresses are Base58Check encodings of the 20-byte hash of a script, just like Bitcoin Cash addresses are Base58Check encodings of the 20-byte hash of a public key. P2SH addresses use the version prefix "5", which results in Base58Check-encoded addresses that start with a "3". For example, Mohammed’s complex script, hashed and Base58Check-encoded as a P2SH address becomes 39RF6JqABiHdYHkfChV6USGMe6Nsr66Gzw. Now, Mohammed can give this "address" to his customers and they can use almost any Bitcoin Cash wallet to make a simple payment, as if it were a Bitcoin Cash address. The 3 prefix gives them a hint that this is a special type of address, one corresponding to a script instead of a public key, but otherwise it works in exactly the same way as a payment to a Bitcoin Cash address.

P2SH addresses hide all of the complexity, so that the person making a payment does not see the script.

Benefits of pay-to-script-hash

The pay-to-script-hash feature offers the following benefits compared to the direct use of complex scripts in locking outputs:

• Complex scripts are replaced by shorter fingerprints in the transaction output, making the transaction smaller.
• Scripts can be coded as an address, so the sender and the sender’s wallet don’t need complex engineering to implement P2SH.
• P2SH shifts the burden of constructing the script to the recipient, not the sender.
• P2SH shifts the burden in data storage for the long script from the output (which is in the UTXO set) to the input (stored on the blockchain).
• P2SH shifts the burden in data storage for the long script from the present time (payment) to a future time (when it is spent).
• P2SH shifts the transaction fee cost of a long script from the sender to the recipient, who has to include the long redeem script to spend it.

Redeem script and isStandard validation

Prior to version 0.9.2, pay-to-script-hash was limited to the standard types of Bitcoin Cash transaction scripts, by the isStandard() function. That means that the redeem script presented in the spending transaction could only be one of the standard types: P2PK, P2PKH, or multi-sig nature, excluding OP_RETURN and P2SH itself.

As of version 0.9.2, P2SH transactions can contain any valid script, making the P2SH standard much more flexible and allowing for experimentation with many novel and complex types of transactions.

Note that you are not able to put a P2SH inside a P2SH redeem script, because the P2SH specification is not recursive. You are also still not able to use OP_RETURN in a redeem script because OP_RETURN cannot be redeemed by definition.

Note that because the redeem script is not presented to the network until you attempt to spend a P2SH output, if you lock an output with the hash of an invalid transaction it will be processed regardless. However, you will not be able to spend it because the spending transaction, which includes the redeem script, will not be accepted because it is an invalid script. This creates a risk, because you can lock Bitcoin Cash in a P2SH that cannot be spent later. The network will accept the P2SH encumbrance even if it corresponds to an invalid redeem script, because the script hash gives no indication of the script it represents.

P2SH locking scripts contain the hash of a redeem script, which gives no clues as to the content of the redeem script itself. The P2SH transaction will be considered valid and accepted even if the redeem script is invalid. You might accidentally lock Bitcoin Cash in such a way that it cannot later be spent.

@ 3165b802:a9f51d37

Humanrights #Human #Rights

@ 8f69ac99:4f92f5fd

No dia 2 de Abril de 2025, o Presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, anunciou um novo pacote abrangente de tarifas com o objectivo de combater os desequilíbrios comerciais e revitalizar as indústrias nacionais. Foi imposta uma tarifa geral de 10% sobre todas as importações, com taxas mais elevadas—34% para a China e 20% para a União Europeia—em preparação para entrar em vigor. O anúncio reacendeu debates antigos sobre proteccionismo, globalização e o futuro do dólar norte-americano.

Embora estas medidas possam parecer extremas, as tarifas são um instrumento tradicional da política comercial internacional. Países de todo o mundo, incluindo a União Europeia, utilizam-nas rotineiramente para proteger indústrias estratégicas, regular o comércio e gerar receitas. A UE, por exemplo, impõe há muito tempo taxas sobre produtos norte-americanos como bens agrícolas, maquinaria e têxteis. Em contrapartida, os EUA já taxaram importações da UE, como o aço, alumínio e aeronaves, em disputas comerciais.

O que distingue a proposta de Trump é a sua escala, ambição e o objectivo mais amplo: reestruturar a economia dos EUA. Por detrás desta estratégia está uma realidade económica mais profunda—moldada por décadas de défices comerciais, endividamento crescente e o papel do dólar como moeda de reserva mundial. Este artigo explora como estes factores se cruzam, por que razão os EUA se encontram numa posição precária, e se políticas como tarifas elevadas, taxas de juro baixas ou até o Bitcoin podem apontar o caminho a seguir.

As Raízes da Crise: Sobreconsumo e Desindustrialização nos EUA

Durante décadas, os Estados Unidos "viveram acima das suas possibilidades", acumulando um défice comercial que actualmente ultrapassa os 800 mil milhões de dólares por ano. Este desequilíbrio—em que o país compra mais do que vende ao exterior—é sintoma de um problema mais profundo. No pós-Segunda Guerra Mundial, os EUA eram uma potência industrial. Mas, a partir dos anos 70, e com maior intensidade nos anos 90, a globalização transferiu a produção para o estrangeiro. As empresas procuraram custos de mão de obra mais baixos e os mercados norte-americanos encheram-se de produtos fabricados fora.

Para sustentar este consumo, os EUA apoiaram-se na sua posição privilegiada: a emissão da moeda de reserva mundial. Isso gerou um ciclo de endividamento, com o país a pedir emprestado ao exterior para manter o nível de vida. O resultado? Desindustrialização. Fábricas fecharam e milhões de empregos na indústria desapareceram em estados como Ohio, Michigan e Pensilvânia.

Hoje, os EUA produzem muito menos—em proporção ao seu tamanho—do que há algumas décadas, mesmo mantendo um apetite crescente por importações. O défice comercial expõe uma fragilidade estrutural: um país cada vez mais incapaz de sustentar-se através da sua própria produção. Os dólares gastos fora regressam muitas vezes sob a forma de compras de dívida pública, perpetuando o ciclo.

À medida que os défices crescem e a economia depende cada vez mais de mecanismos financeiros do que da produção real, surge uma questão inevitável: até quando poderá a América continuar a comprar a crédito antes que o cartão seja recusado?

O Dilema de Triffin: Moeda Global vs. Potência Industrial

Imagine ser a única pessoa numa cidade com uma impressora de dinheiro que todos usam. Para satisfazer a procura, continua a imprimir e a enviar notas para o exterior—até que o seu próprio negócio local entra em decadência e se torna dependente dos outros. Esta é a essência do Dilema de Triffin, e a corda bamba que os EUA têm vindo a atravessar há gerações.

O dilema surge quando a moeda de um país é usada como padrão global. O dólar—utilizado mundialmente para transacções de petróleo, comércio e reservas—precisa de estar amplamente disponível. Essa abundância provém de défices comerciais persistentes por parte dos EUA.

Mas os défices têm um custo. Os dólares enviados para fora voltam como procura por bens estrangeiros, enfraquecendo a produção interna. Porque fabricar um produto em Detroit por 10 dólares, quando se pode importar por $2? Com o tempo, isto destrói a base industrial do país.

Esta não é uma preocupação teórica—é uma realidade histórica. O economista Robert Triffin advertiu nos anos 60 que um país não pode simultaneamente manter a sua moeda como padrão mundial e conservar uma base industrial sólida. Os EUA confirmaram essa previsão. Após a guerra, os dólares ajudaram a reconstruir a Europa e o Japão, mas esses mesmos países tornaram-se concorrentes industriais dos EUA em sectores como o aço e a indústria automóvel.

As fábricas abandonadas no Midwest e os teares silenciosos no sul são marcas visíveis desta troca. O domínio do dólar concedeu influência global à América, mas às custas da sua produção.

Espiral da Dívida: Obrigações Financeiras Crescentes dos EUA

Em 2025, a dívida federal dos EUA ultrapassa os 36 biliões de dólares ($36 000 000 000 000 000 000)—cerca de 108 mil dólares por cada americano, adultos, jovens, idosos. Durante anos, o acesso fácil ao crédito e a procura global por dívida americana mascararam os riscos. Agora, as fissuras estão à vista.

O problema não é apenas o montante—é o prazo e o custo de manter esta dívida. Grande parte dela é de curto prazo, exigindo refinanciamentos frequentes. Com o aumento das taxas de juro, os custos associados disparam. Só em 2024, os pagamentos de juros ultrapassaram 1 bilião de dólares—mais do que os orçamentos combinados de educação, transportes e habitação.

A “Lei de Ferguson”, proposta pelo historiador Niall Ferguson, afirma que quando os juros da dívida superam os gastos militares, o império está em declínio. Em 2025, os EUA gastam cerca de 900 mil milhões em defesa, e os encargos com juros já os ultrapassaram.

Este ponto de viragem trouxe problemas a impérios do passado—do Reino Unido após a Primeira Guerra Mundial até Roma no seu declínio. Hoje, cresce o cepticismo quanto à saúde fiscal dos EUA. Países como a China e a Rússia estão a reduzir as suas reservas em dívida americana, preferindo ouro, yuan ou outros activos.

Se mais nações seguirem o mesmo caminho, os EUA terão de escolher: continuar a endividar-se para sustentar o sistema ou aceitar um papel reduzido para o dólar na economia mundial.

Desdolarização: A Mudança Global Longe do Dólar

A desdolarização refere-se à tendência crescente de reduzir a dependência do dólar nas transacções comerciais, reservas e sistemas financeiros. Embora o dólar ainda domine, a sua supremacia está sob crescente pressão de novas potências económicas e tensões geopolíticas.

Porque Está o Mundo a Afastar-se do Dólar?

1. Risco Económico: A volatilidade do dólar, agravada pela dívida e instabilidade política nos EUA, torna-o menos fiável como reserva de valor.
2. Instrumento Geopolítico: O uso do dólar pelos EUA para impor sanções leva rivais a procurar alternativas.

Alternativas Emergentes

• Ouro: Bancos centrais estão a reforçar as reservas em ouro como protecção.
• Commodities: Petróleo e cereais começam a ser transaccionados em moedas alternativas—como vendas de petróleo em yuan pela Arábia Saudita.
• Criptomoedas: Bitcoin e outros activos digitais ganham terreno como reservas neutras e descentralizadas.
• Moedas Regionais: Os países dos BRICS desenvolvem sistemas de pagamento e discutem uma moeda comum para reduzir a dependência do dólar.

Um Declínio Lento, Mas Visível

A percentagem do dólar nas reservas cambiais mundiais caiu de 70% no ano 2000 para menos de 60% actualmente. O comércio em moedas não-dólar cresceu 25% desde 2020. O domínio do dólar persiste, mas o movimento de mudança é claro.

A Estratégia Económica de Trump em 3 Etapas

Em 2025, Trump apresentou uma estratégia económica audaciosa em três frentes:

1. Tarifas Elevadas para Revitalizar a Indústria

Uma tarifa de 10% sobre todas as importações, com taxas superiores para países com superavit comercial, visa incentivar a produção interna. Críticos alertam para o aumento de preços e inflação, mas apoiantes defendem que é necessário para reindustrializar.

2. Redução das Taxas de Juro para Gerir a Dívida

A administração pressiona a Reserva Federal para baixar as taxas, reduzindo os encargos da dívida pública. Isto levanta preocupações sobre a independência do banco central e a estabilidade monetária a longo prazo.

3. Bitcoin como Activo Estratégico de Reserva

Num passo histórico, Trump assinou uma ordem executiva para criar a Reserva Estratégica de Bitcoin e o Stock Nacional de Activos Digitais. O objectivo é diversificar as reservas e proteger contra a inflação.

Riscos e Compensações

A estratégia económica de Trump não está isenta de riscos:

• Inflação: Tarifas mais altas poderão aumentar o custo de vida.
• Polarização Política: Medidas controversas poderão acentuar divisões internas.
• Incerteza Económica: O proteccionismo pode afastar investimento e travar a inovação.
• Instabilidade Monetária: Um erro na gestão da dívida ou dos activos digitais poderá enfraquecer o dólar.

Estes riscos exigem gestão cuidadosa para evitar agravar os problemas existentes.

O Papel de Bitcoin: Protecção ou Último Recurso?

Integrar Bitcoin nas reservas nacionais é ousado—mas pode ser revolucionário, e a meu ver, inevitável!

Vantagens

• Escassez: Com oferta limitada a 21 milhões de unidades, Bitcoin é deflacionário.
• Descentralização: Resistente à censura e manipulação, reforça a soberania financeira.
• Alcance Global: Sem fronteiras, permite trocas neutras num mundo multipolar.

Desafios

• Volatilidade: As flutuações no curto prazo são ainda significativas, mas a adopção institucional pode estabilizar o preço.
• Regulação: O enquadramento legal está em evolução, mas tende para maior clareza.
• Adopção Técnica: Persistem desafios de escalabilidade, embora soluções como a Lightning Network estejam a amadurecer.

A Reserva Estratégica de Bitcoin pode revelar-se visionária—ou precipitada. Tudo dependerá da execução e da aceitação global.

Futuros Possíveis: Crise ou Reinvenção?

Os EUA estão perante uma encruzilhada histórica. Um caminho aponta para a renovação: revitalizar a indústria e adoptar activos digitais, como por exemplo as stablecoins para perpetuar a hegemonia do dólar, lastreado em Bitcoin. O outro conduz à crise—com inflação, instabilidade e perda de influência global.

Num cenário optimista, os EUA emergem como líderes industriais e digitais, com reservas diversificadas que incluem Bitcoin. A recente ordem executiva para adquirir Bitcoin de forma neutra ao orçamento é um sinal positivo.

Num cenário pessimista, menos provável com as medidas em curso, o país mergulha em dívidas, vê o dólar enfraquecer e perde coesão interna. Mas com visão estratégica e inovação económica, há margem para navegar os desafios com sucesso.

Conclusão

A América enfrenta uma oportunidade única de redefinir o seu destino económico. A estratégia de Trump—baseada em tarifas, taxas de juro baixas e Bitcoin—pode marcar o início de uma nova era de resiliência e recuperação industrial.

A inclusão de Bitcoin nas reservas nacionais mostra que os instrumentos tradicionais já não bastam. Ao abraçar os activos digitais e restaurar a produção nacional, os EUA podem recuperar a liderança económica mundial.

O caminho será difícil. Mas com ousadia e execução eficaz, os Estados Unidos não só podem recuperar—podem reinventar-se.

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Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

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Autor: Eva Schmidt. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier. Dieser Beitrag ist zuvor auf* Radio München erschienen. Das Gesamtangebot von Radio München finden Sie* hier.**

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„Denke daran, daß das, was dich wie an unsichtbaren Fäden hin- und herzieht, in deinem Innern verborgen ist", soll der römische Kaiser Marc Aurel gesagt haben, der letzte bedeutende Philosoph der jüngeren Stoa. Brot und Spiele hieß es damals, machten die Gesellschaften gefügig: Bier, Wein, Whiskey, Ablenkung, Informationssteuerung.

Das gesamte Gespräch gibt es unter folgendem Link (Vorschau wird in e-mails nicht angezeigt):

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/kriegsspiele-durch-softpower?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Wie sich die kognitive Einflussnahme zur Kriegsführung entwickelte, wie sie sich mit den heutigen medialen und technischen Mitteln darstellt und wie wir unsere Kinder und uns selbst davor schützen können, damit beschäftigt sich der Propagandaforscher und Amerikanist Dr. Jonas Tögel. Er promovierte zum Thema Soft Power und Motivation und forscht am Institut für Psychologie der Universität Regensburg. Meine Kollegin Eva Schmidt hat ihn interviewt und wollte zunächst von ihm wissen, wie er zur Propagandaforschung kam und auf welchen Grundlagen seine Tätigkeit aufbaut.

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Dr. Jonas Tögel ist Amerikanist, Propagandaforscher und Bestsellerautor. Er hat zum Thema Soft Power und Motivation promoviert und arbeitet als wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Institut für Psychologie der Universität Regensburg. Seine Forschungsschwerpunkte sind unter anderem Motivation, der Einsatz von Soft-Power-Techniken, Nudging, Propaganda sowie epochale Herausforderungen des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts. Bei Westend erschien zuletzt sein Bestseller Kognitive Kriegsführung (2023).

https://www.jonastoegel.de/

Sein aktuelles Buch "Kriegsspiele - Wie NATO und Pentagon die Zerstörung Europas simulieren" ist im Westend-Verlag erschienen, hat 111 Seiten und kostet 15 Euro.

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LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!

Hier können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt. (Vorerst an alle, da wir den Mailversand testen, später ca. drei Mails pro Woche.).

Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen:

• Für 50 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube.
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• Ab 1000 CHF werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie).

Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):

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Betreff: Friedenstaube

Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: milosz@pareto.space

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Sie sind noch nicht auf Nostr and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil! Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf Start. Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im Pareto-Wiki.

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

تنبيه مهم

أهلاً! قبل ما نبدأ، أنا مش مستشار مالي ولا خبير حاجة. أنا بس واحد قعد يتابع قنوات ويقرا عن الاستثمار الفترة اللي فاتت. مش مسؤول عن أي خسارة فلوس، بس كل اللي هاقوله هنا أنا بطبقه على نفسي الأول، فطبعاً مش هاضر نفسي (عن قصد على الأقل).

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إيه اللي هنتكلم عنه

هاعمل سلسلة بوستات عن: - الأساسيات اللي لازم تعرفها عن الاستثمار والتداول - أفكار تساعدك تعمل محفظة استثمارية كويسة - تجربتي مع تطبيقات الاستثمار المختلفة - إجابة على الأسئلة اللي بتتسأل كتير

هاحدّث البوستات لو في معلومات جديدة وهاكتب تاريخ آخر تحديث. عايز تتواصل معايا؟ اكتب كومنت علي بوست ريديت اللي لاقيت فيه لينك المقالة دي.

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الأساسيات

الغلطة الأولى: لازم يكون معاك فلوس كتير علشان تستثمر

دي فكرة غلط خالص. في الحقيقة، إنت بتستثمر علشان تجمع فلوس مش العكس. معظم الطرق اللي هاقولك عليها ممكن تبدأ بمبلغ صغير (حوالي 100 جنيه) وتزود عليه كل شهر. والحلو إن معظم الحاجات دي بتخليك تقدر تسحب فلوسك بسهولة لو احتجت.

أهمية التحويش

علشان تستثمر بجد، لازم تحوّش جزء من مرتبك كل شهر. المفروض تحوّش 25% من مرتبك، بس مع الغلا اللي احنا فيه دلوقتي، ابدأ بأي مبلغ تقدر عليه حتى لو 100 جنيه بس في الشهر. احسب مصاريفك لكام شهر وحط جنب مبلغ يكفيك 3-6 شهور للطوارئ.

طريقة تفكير المستثمر

الناس الناجحة مش بتصرف على المظاهر. قبل ما تشتري أي حاجة، اسأل نفسك: "هاستخدم الحاجة دي بعد 3 شهور؟" حدد احتياجاتك الحقيقية وبعدين دوّر على أحسن حاجة تناسبك. الاستثمار طريقة تفكير قبل ما يكون مجرد حتة تحط فيها فلوسك وخلاص.

بلاش تخلي مشاعرك تتحكم فيك

متخليش قلبك يتحكم في قرارات استثمارك. أكيد السوق ممكن ينزل شوية، بس على المدى البعيد بيطلع تاني. بص مثلاً على مؤشر S&P 500. في مقولة حلوة بتقول: "If in doubt, zoom out".

أهمية توزيع الفلوس

متحطش فلوسك كلها في مكان واحد. لو حطيت كل فلوسك في البورصة وحصل هبوط، هتخسر جامد. لكن لو حاطط جزء في البورصة وجزء في الدهب مثلاً، لما واحدة تنزل التانية ممكن تطلع. اختار استثماراتك على حسب هدفك: عايز تسيب فلوسك لمدة طويلة (دهب وبورصة)؟ ولا عايز دخل شهري (صناديق استثمار أو شهادات بنك)؟

صعب ما هتبقي غني علي المدي القصير

في ناس كتير لما بتسمع كلمة "استثمار" بتتخيل على طول عربيات فيراري وقصور. ولما تقولهم اشتروا دهب بيقولولك "لأ هستنى لما ينزل" (وهو أصلاً بيطلع).

الفكرة إنك متحاولش تحدد "الوقت المثالي للسوق" (Time the market) عشان تدخل، لأنه ببساطة صعب جداً تعرف إمتى الوقت ده. ناس كتير بتحاول تحقق عائد أعلى من المتوسط (اللي هو 10% سنوياً) وبينتهي بيهم الأمر خسرانين.

فمتحاولش تعمل ذكي أوي وتفضل مستني وتأجل. ابدأ على طول، والتزم بالاستثمار بانتظام.

مفيش حاجة كاملة

انا عارف شعور انك عايز كل حاجة وصدقني مش انت لوحدك، بس زي ما بيقولوا بالإنجليزي "you can't have your cake and eat it too"!

يعني مثلاً لو عايز ربح كتير هتلاقي مقابله مخاطرة عالية، أو لو عايز أمان لفلوسك هتلاقي العائد قليل. دايماً هتلاقي حاجة على حساب حاجة وانت بس اللي تقرر هتستحمل إيه.

أنا بالنسبة لي، بفضل حاجة بعائد صغير سنوي بس فيها أمان علشان مع الوقت يحصل تراكم للفوايد (compound interest) ويزيد المبلغ، بدل ما أخش في حاجة وأخسر كل حاجة.

بس زي ما قلت، دي بترجع من شخص لشخص. ممكن مثلاً لو حاسس إن قدامك فرصة حلوة، تجرب بنسبة صغيرة (زي 20% من فلوسك) كتجربة. بس دايماً دايماً دايماً متخليش الطمع يسوقك.

الوقت والعائد

معظم طرق الاستثمار الآمنة بتاخد وقت علشان تظهر نتايجها. زي ما قلت قبل كده: العائد السريع غالباً بيقابله مخاطرة عالية. أنا بقدملك هنا خيارات أكثر أماناً، لكن مقابل ده هتلاقي العائد مش هيبقى مبهر على المدى القصير. عشان كده لازم تفكر في الاستثمار على مدة متوسطة لطويلة (من 3 لـ 5 سنين) علشان تحصد ثمار استثمارك بشكل كويس وتشوف النتايج اللي بتتمناها.

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مصادر للتعلم

قنوات يوتيوب

• بالمصري:
• عميد يستثمر

• محمد محي الدين

• بالإنجليزي:

• Two Cents
• The Money Guy Show
• Clear Value Tax
• The Plain Bagel

مواقع تفيدك

• بالإنجليزي:
• Investopedia

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كمل قراية من هنا: nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpu2h0sja0vmqdqjzq6e820jjjnuytzw2ksmemfnadhe0hm0zdws5qqxnzde5xvurqdp4xuunqd3sau2w7y

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ادعمني (لو حابب)

• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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آخر تحديث: 4 أبريل 2025

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

A electricidade ou os computadores ou a Internet foram revoluções que mudaram o mundo, mas a adoção e a evolução da tecnologia foi lenta, permitindo que as populações e as económicas se adaptassem.

Ao contrário, na AI, a evolução está a ser tão rápida, que as sociedades não vão conseguir acompanhar e adaptar a uma nova realidade.

A AI tem um potencial inacreditável, talvez seja a revolução tecnológica mais rápida de sempre, além disso é muito abrangente, quase todos os sectores económicos podem beneficiar, pode provocar um forte aumento na produtividade.

O potencial é tão elevado, como pode ser perigoso, sobretudo quando utilizado como uma arma contra a humanidade. Os governos ou empresas vão construir ferramentas com AI para monitorizar, manipular e controlar os cidadãos.

Muitas profissões vão desaparecer ou reduzir drasticamente o número de trabalhadores. Tal como aconteceu nas revoluções anteriores, muitas profissões acabaram, mas surgir outras novas profissões.

Ou seja, o problema não é a tecnologia, mas sim a maneira como se usa essa tecnologia. Os desafios para o futuro são tremendos.

E o cidadão comum, o que está a fazer e a pensar… a fazer desenhos, a fazer idiotices. https://image.nostr.build/326d506f0015c99d09e061094bf3552764c6f6334be2899c6f5359f0a809d8bc.jpg

Algo similar acontece com o Bitcoin, uma tecnologia revolucionária, em alguns casos particulares, as stablecoins poderão ser interessantes. Mas o povo prefere especulador em tokens absurdos e jogar no casino das memecoins.

Também acontece com a internet, é uma fonte acessível e inesgotável de conhecimento, mas as pessoas preferem passar horas sem fim, nas redes sociais a fazer swipe up, a consumir conteúdo degradante.

O mundo ocidental está a transformar os cidadãos em zumbis, facilmente manipuláveis, obedientes, viciados. Nós necessitamos é de pessoas curiosas, com espírito crítico, criativas. Essencialmente, que pensem pela sua própria cabeça.

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is like stepping into a real-life fairy tale. With its Gothic towers, baroque churches, medieval streets, and a majestic castle watching over the city, it’s no surprise that it’s one of Europe’s most beloved destinations. Add in great beer, cozy cafés, and stunning river views, and you’ve got the perfect city break.

🌟 Top Things to Do in Prague

1️⃣ Prague Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral

• One of the largest castle complexes in the world
• Don’t miss St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane
• Climb the cathedral tower for epic city views

2️⃣ Charles Bridge (Karlův most)

• Iconic 14th-century bridge lined with 30 baroque statues
• Walk it at sunrise or late at night to avoid the crowds
• Great for photos, street musicians, and romantic vibes

3️⃣ Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock

• The heart of the city, with colorful buildings and Gothic spires
• Watch the Astronomical Clock chime on the hour (since 1410!)
• Check out Týn Church and the Old Town Hall Tower

4️⃣ Explore the Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

• Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, synagogues, and the Jewish Museum
• Learn about centuries of Jewish heritage and resilience in Prague

5️⃣ Climb Up to Petřín Hill

• Take the funicular or walk to the top for gardens, a mirror maze, and a mini Eiffel Tower
• Fantastic place for picnics, sunsets, and panoramic views

🍽️ What to Eat & Drink in Prague

• Goulash with dumplings (guláš s knedlíky) – Hearty and satisfying
• Svíčková – Beef with creamy vegetable sauce and cranberry
• Trdelník – Tourist favorite sweet pastry (not traditionally Czech, but tasty!)
• Czech beer – World-famous for a reason (Pilsner Urquell, Kozel, Staropramen) 🍻
• Try a traditional pub or lokál for authentic Czech cuisine and great prices

🛶 Other Cool Experiences

✅ Take a Vltava River cruise – see Prague from the water
✅ Visit Letná Park for sweeping views and a beer garden
✅ Check out Kafka Museum for surreal vibes and literary history
✅ Explore Vyšehrad – lesser-known castle ruins with gorgeous views and peaceful paths
✅ Snap pics at the Lennon Wall, especially for street art fans 🎨

🚇 Getting Around

• Very walkable, especially in the historic center
• Excellent public transport: trams, metro, and buses (get a 24 or 72-hour pass)
• Uber and Bolt are reliable if you need a ride
• Be cautious with exchange rates and ATMs—use official places or bank ATMs only

💡 Tips for Visiting Prague

🕰️ Wake up early to enjoy the city without crowds
🎟️ Book castle or tower tickets in advance during peak seasons
🌧️ Pack layers—it can be breezy even in spring
📷 Keep your camera ready—every corner is postcard-worthy

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

Historical Rapid Declines in the S&P 500: Lessons from Major Market Crashes

The S&P 500 has experienced rapid declines of over 10% within short periods on several notable occasions, each linked to significant economic or geopolitical events. These instances underscore the market's vulnerability during times of crisis.

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October 19-20, 1987 (Black Monday Crash)

• Drop:
  On October 19, 1987, the S&P 500 plummeted approximately 20.47%, marking the largest single-day percentage decline in its history. The following day saw further losses, culminating in a two-day drop exceeding 25%.

• Context:
  Factors such as program trading, portfolio insurance strategies, and widespread panic selling contributed to this unprecedented crash.

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November 19-20, 2008 (Global Financial Crisis)

• Drop:
  Amid the 2008 financial crisis, the S&P 500 declined roughly 10.8% over two days, reflecting the turmoil following the collapse of major financial institutions.

• Context:
  The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and escalating fears of a global recession led to this significant market downturn.

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March 11-12, 2020 (COVID-19 Pandemic Crash)

• Drop:
  The rapid spread of COVID-19 and ensuing economic shutdowns triggered a two-day decline of approximately 12.2% in the S&P 500. By March 16, the total decline over four days exceeded 20%.

• Context:
  The pandemic's uncertainty and global impact led to one of the fastest descents into bear market territory.

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April 3-4, 2025 (Trade War-Induced Crash)

• Drop:
  Recently, the S&P 500 experienced a sharp decline of 10.5% over two days, erasing approximately $5 trillion in market value.

• Context:
  This downturn followed sweeping tariffs announced by President Donald Trump—a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, with higher rates on specific countries (e.g., China, the European Union). China's retaliatory tariffs intensified fears of a global trade war and a potential recession.

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Observations

• Frequency:
  Such rapid declines are rare, occurring approximately once every 10-20 years, typically during periods of extreme market stress.

• Catalysts:
  Each event was precipitated by unique factors:

• Technological trading mechanisms in 1987
• Financial sector instability in 2008
• A global health crisis in 2020

• Geopolitical trade tensions in 2025

• Market Resilience:
  Despite these significant setbacks, markets have historically demonstrated resilience, often rebounding and reaching new highs in subsequent years.

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Conclusion

Understanding these historical instances provides valuable insights into market dynamics and the potential impact of external shocks on financial systems. Recognizing the catalysts and observing market resilience over time can help investors navigate future downturns with a more informed perspective.

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@ f1577c25:de26ba14

احنا المرة اللي فاتت اتكلمنا عن طرق الاستثمار بشكل عام فا تعالي بقي ناخدهم واحدة واحدة بالمميزات و العيوب و اول حاجة هنبدا بيها هي البورصة الامريكية.

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المنصات التداول:

المنصتين اللي انصح بيهم عن تجربة شخصية هما:

IBKR

• حلوة لو لسه جديد علشان شكل الموقع خفيف
• العمولات صغيرة
• عيبها إن طرق الايداع صعبة

Tastytrade

• حلوة علشان فية طرق ايداع عن طريق الكريبتو فا اسهل
• عيبها إن الشكل مش احسن حاجة كا تصميم للموقع

مميزات البورصة الأمريكية

• بالدولار الامريكي (هيساعد بالتضخم)
• الحد الادني 5 دولار لشراء جزء من السهم (علي حسب منصة التداول بس اغلبهم يعني)
• تقدر تخرج بأي وقت لو محتاج الفلوس
• مضمون و علي المدي الطويل العائد كان مضمون

عيوب البورصة الأمريكية

• لازم باسبور او بطاقة مترجمة من مكان معتمد
• طرق الايداع صعبة لو هتستخدم موقع زي IBKR مثلا
• علي المدي القصير ممكن تخسر فلوسك
• العمولات بتختلف من منصة للتاني بس في حدود ال11 سنت لو هتشتري جزء من السهم

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• لو حابب تسجل عن طريق Tastytrade ممكن تستخدم رابط الاحاله بتاعي: https://open.tastytrade.com/signup?referralCode=FE3YFNRFJZ
• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف الكومنتات لو فيه أي تعديل أو بوستات جديدة.

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

المرة اللي فاتت اتكلمنا عن مميزات وعيوب العملات الرقمية والذهب العالمي. النهاردة هنتكلم عن طريقة استثمار مختلفة: ازاي تستثمر في العقارات برا مصر وانت قاعد في مكانك أونلاين!

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مميزات وعيوب بشكل عام

المميزات

• استثمار في أصل حقيقي (عقار) فبتضمن فلوسك في حاجة ملموسة
• العقارات على المدى الطويل بتكسب كويس
• العائد بالدولار (9-10% سنوياً)
• الدخل بيتوزع أسبوعي أو شهري على حسب المنصة
• الحد الأدنى للاستثمار منخفض مقارنة بالاستثمار العقاري في مصر

العيوب

• المنصات أونلاين، فممكن في أي وقت يحصل مشكلة والموقع يقفل
• ممكن سعر العقار ينهار في المنطقة اللي اشتريت فيها
• ممكن يحصل مشاكل غير متوقعة للعقار (حريق، زلزال، إلخ)
• الاستثمار بيحتاج مدة طويلة (3-5 سنين) علشان يكون مجزي

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المنصات

المنصات دي بتعمل شركة بتشتري العقار، وبعدين بتوزع أسهم الشركة على المستثمرين. يعني انت مش بتشتري العقار مباشرةً، لكن بتشتري حصة في شركة مالكة للعقار. ده بيخليك متدفعش ضرائب على العقار نفسه (على حد علمي، بس أسأل حد خبير للتأكيد).

منصة Realt

دي منصة بتتيح لك الاستثمار في عقارات بأمريكا وبنما. بتشتغل بنظام البلوكتشين والعملات الرقمية. كل توكن (token) بيمثل حصة في العقار (أو في الشركة المالكة للعقار).

مثلاً: لو التوكن الواحد بـ 50 دولار والربح المتوقع 5 دولار في السنة، يبقى العائد 10% سنوياً. العائد بيتوزع أسبوعياً من خلال عملة USDC، سواء على شبكة ETH (هتدفع رسوم gas fees) أو شبكة Gnosis (بدون رسوم).

فيها خدمة حلوة اسمها YAM (You and Me) وهي سوق P2P للعقارات. يعني تقدر تبيع عقارك لأفراد مش للموقع نفسه، وتحدد السعر اللي يناسبك، أو تشتري عقارات قديمة من مستثمرين تانيين.

مميزات Realt

• سهلة الاستخدام نسبياً
• الحد الأدنى صغير (حوالي 50 دولار)
• في محفظة داخل الموقع لو معندكش محفظة عملات رقمية
• تقدر تشتري بالفيزا أو بالعملات الرقمية
• العائد أسبوعي
• تقدر تبيع في أي وقت

عيوب Realt

• ممكن المنصة تقفل فجأة
• ممكن تحصل مشكلة بالشبكة
• لازم يكون معاك باسبور

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منصة Stake

دي منصة بتتيح لك الاستثمار في أسواق السعودية والإمارات. مرخصة من البلدين، وتعتبر أسهل من Realt لأنها مفيهاش حوار العملات الرقمية.

هتدخل تسجل بالباسبور، وتختار العقار وتشتري أسهم فيه. الحد الأدنى 500 درهم (حوالي 135 دولار) للعقار. العائد شهري (مش متأكد 100%، لسه منتظر أول توزيع) وبيتحول على حسابك البنكي سواء برا أو جوا الإمارات وبأي عملة انت تختارها.

عشان تسحب فلوسك، في فترات محددة اسمها "exit window" بتكون مرتين في السنة. أو بعد 3 سنين، بيحصل تصويت بين أصحاب العقار لو عايزين يبيعوا قبل مدة الـ 5 سنين.

مميزات Stake

• سهلة الاستخدام
• واجهة ممتازة وبسيطة
• منصة مرخصة من السعودية والإمارات

عيوب Stake

• الخروج مش مرن (مرتين في السنة)
• ممكن المنصة تتعرض لمشاكل
• مخاطر العقارات العامة

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• لو حابب تسجل عن طريق Realt ممكن تستخدم رابط الإحالة بتاعي: https://realt.co/ref/esmailelbob/
• لو حابب تسجل عن طريق Stake ممكن تستخدم رابط الإحالة بتاعي: https://app.getstake.com/rewards?c=ISMAEL182
• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف الكومنتات لو فيه أي تعديل أو بوستات جديدة.

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

النهاردة هنتكلم عن طريقة استثمار مختلفة: ازاي تستثمر في العقارات جوا مصر وانت قاعد في مكانك أونلاين!

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مميزات وعيوب بشكل عام

المميزات

• استثمار في أصل حقيقي (عقار) فبتضمن فلوسك في حاجة ملموسة
• العقارات على المدى الطويل بتكسب كويس
• العائد بالجنية بس مربوط بالدولار (9-10% سنوياً) يعني لو الجنية اتعوم تاني العائد اللي بيجي ليك بالجنية هيزيد 500 بدل 300 مثلا.
• الدخل بيتوزع شهري

العيوب

• ممكن سعر العقار ينهار في مصر
• ممكن يحصل مشاكل غير متوقعة للعقار (حريق، زلزال، إلخ)
• الاستثمار بيحتاج مدة طويلة (3-5 سنين) علشان يكون مجزي
• الحد الادني كبير نسبيا يعني 50 الف جنية
• تدفع ضرائب عقارية

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المنصات

هي منصة واحده (علي الاقل اللي جربتة) اسمها Safe هي تبع مدينه مصر و علي عكس الاستثمار العالمي هو انت فعلا بتشتري جزء من الشقة فا حلو لانه مشترك مباشر بس بالمقابل هتدفع ضرائب العقارية كل سنة لانه انت كدا مالك لعقار جوا مصر

منصة Safe

دي المنصة الوحيدة اللي اعرفها علي الاقل في مصر و هي الي حد ما حلوة يعني الستجيل بالبطاقة و بعدها بتختار العقار و تحط الفيزا سواء تدفع مره واحده او بالتقسيط (بفوائد) لحد سنة و بعد كدا باسبوع هيجي شخص تمضي معاه العقد و بعد شهر هيجي ليك اول عائد في حسابك البنكي اللي كاتبة في التطبيق

المميزات: - سهل - ينفع بالبطاقة العيوب: - الفلوس محجوزة لمده 6 شهور قبل ما تقدر تبيع وتسحب فلوسك - فيه شويه اخطاء تقنيه زي مثلا انا وصلي العائد في البنك بس لسه مسمعش في التطبيق لحد دلوقتي و في شويه عقارات بتظهر و تختفي (لما تكون اتملت) فا اللي هو حاسس في حاجات لسه يدوي و متوقع لان التطبيق جديد بس قصدي كان عندي امل يستنوا شويه اكتر الاول قبل ما يبدوا التطبيق

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف الكومنتات لو فيه أي تعديل أو بوستات جديدة.

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

النهاردة هنتكلم عن شهادات البنك. وقبل ما أكمل، أنا مش شيخ ومش دوري أقولك الحلال والحرام. إنت تقدر تسأل أهل العلم أكتر على حسب دينك طبعاً.

أنا برشح شهادات البنك في حالتين: لو كانت بالدولار (مع إني في الحالة دي هقولك اعملهم عملات رقمية أحسن لأنه هيبقى سهل تحركهم برا البنك وقرفه)، أو شهادات بالجنيه علشان تصرف منهم (بس هنا برضه هقولك شوفلك فوري يومي أحسن شوية).

غير بقى لو إنت عايز الشهادات اللي العائد فيها أعلى، بمعنى حاجة زي 27% سنوي أو ال3 سنين تناقصي (أول سنة 30%، تاني سنة 28%، وتالت سنة 25% تقريباً) وساعتها العائد مش هيبقى شهري. بس لو دي خطتك، فساعتها بس هرشح ليك شهادات البنك. غير كدا مش شايف ليها لازمة، لأنه بكل بساطة عقبال ما الفلوس تتفك هيكون قيمتها قلت والعائد نفسه ملهوش قيمة أوي.

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طبعاً هنا مش هقدر أتكلم كتير لأن كل بنك ليه سياسته، بس كل اللي أقدر أرشحه أي حاجة تكون أقرب من بيتك وشهاداتها عالية زي البنك الأهلي المصري أو بنك مصر. والحلو إنك تقدر تعمل شهادة أونلاين عن طريق التطبيق.

وإنت بتفتح حساب، أرشحلك تفتح وقت الشمول المالي لأنه بيبقى سهل، وتفعّل تطبيق البنك وتعمل شهادات براحتك. بس العيوب إنها بتختلف من بنك لبنك، والحساب بيبقى فيه حد أقصى للرصيد لو شمول مالي حوالي 100 ألف أو 200 ألف (مشاكل أغنياء برضه بس حبيت أوضحها). ده غير كل 3 شهور مصاريف الحساب برضه، وطبعاً إنك مش هتقدر تاخد الفلوس غير بعد المدة أو أول 6 شهور بس هتخسر جامد فيهم، فخلي بالك.

مع باقي حاجات البنك المعقدة دي بقى، اسأل البنك. وبرضه حابب أوضح: خلي بالك وإنت بتمضي، لأنه بسمع حالات كتير موظف البنك خلى الناس تمضي على كريدت كارد وتأمين للحياة وغيره كتير. فاقرأ إنه نت بنكي وفتح حساب وخلاص. وللأسف هنا الفرع بيفرق، فاختار الأقرب أو أنضف أقرب حاجة ليك (لو فيه فرع معروف إنه وحش يعني). ولو في أي مشاكل أنصحك تعمل بلاغ في البنك المركزي https://www.cbe.org.eg/ar/consumer-protection علشان تاخد حقك.

المميزات: - سهل نسبياً ومضمون - بطاقة بس لو حساب شمول مالي

العيوب: - مش هتاخد الفلوس غير بعد المدة سواء سنة أو 3 سنين - ممكن البنك يرخم عليك - مصاريف الحساب الدورية (غير لو كان بنك زي QNB مثلاً، بس في الوقت ده الشهادات العائد فيها قليل مقارنة بالباقي ومفيش شهادات بالعملات الأجنبية)

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف الكومنتات لو فيه أي تعديل أو بوستات جديدة.

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

النهاردة هنتكلم عن فوري يومي، تقريباً أكتر صندوق مقرب لقلبي وبرشحه لأي شخص بيدور على حاجة تطلع بيها عائد يصرف منه. العائد بتاعه حوالي 24% وبينزل يومي، فمقارنة بالعائد الشهري بتاع البنوك اللي هو 23% أو 23.5%، فيعتبر حلو جداً لأن العائد يومي زي ما قلت وبتقدر تسحب فلوسك فوري (عن طريق الكارت الأصفر) أو خلال يومين عمل لو تحويل بنكي. قصدي إنه مش بيتجمد زي البنك، بس فيه عيوب برضه زي إنك لازم تروح تمضي الورق من فرع فوري بلس، أو إن الحد الأقصى 100 ألف جنيه (مشاكل أغنياء عارف، بس لازم أقول كل العيوب)، غير لو هتقدم مصدر دخل وهكذا. هقولك بالتفصيل تحت عن مشكلة حصلت معايا عشان تاخد بالك منها وإنت بتقدم.

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تطبيق ماي فوري

علشان تبدأ في الصندوق، لازم تروح الفرع ويبقى معاك تطبيق ماي فوري. وللصراحة، الموضوع سهل وبسيط: هو بطاقتك وتروح أي فرع، هتمضي على ورق وتتصور هناك (هما هيصوروك) وكام يوم وبس كدا هتتفعل.

أعتقد مش محتاج كارت فوري الأصفر، بس هو هيساعدك كتير وببلاش، فأنصحك تعمله مع الصندوق. بس خلي بالك ومهم جداً جداً: لأني تاني مرة لما كنت بعمل الكارت (كانت بعد حادثة تهكير فوري)، الراجل هناك قعد يحوّر ويقولي لازم تعمل محفظة على رقم التليفون وإلزامي وبتاع، وفي الآخر طلع بيكدب علشان ياخد بونص. وأنا مش بهاجمه، بس قصدي خلي بالك لأنه ممكن يستغلوك بالفرع ويمضيك على حاجات زيادة. فإنت اقرأ العقد بتاعك قبل ما تمضي، أو روح فرع نضيف. هو مش لازم أقرب فرع ليك، فخلي بالك من النقطة دي.

المميزات:

• سهل
• بطاقتك بس
• تقدر تسحب في أي وقت وسهولة الإيداع كمان

عيوب:

• كبداية في حد أقصى 100 ألف جنيه، بس ممكن تزودهم بعدين
• الإيداع بيقعد كام يوم عمل لحد ما يسمع
• العائد بينزل يومي ماعدا الجمعة والسبت والأحد تقريباً كمان

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف الكومنتات لو فيه أي تعديل أو بوستات جديدة.

@ f1577c25:de26ba14

أهلاً! أفترض إنك قرأت أول كام بوست، ولو لأ فده لينك أول بوست علشان تتابع بالترتيب: <لينك أول بوست>

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المرة اللي فاتت اتكلمنا عن مميزات وعيوب البورصة الأمريكية، زي إنك تقدر تستخدم الكريبتو كطريقة إيداع سهلة. النهاردة هنتكلم عن حاجتين مهمين: العملات الرقمية المستقرة والذهب العالمي.

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العملات الرقمية المستقرة (Stablecoins):

لما بتكلم عن العملات الرقمية، مش قصدي تشتري بيتكوين وخلاص. أنا قصدي العملات المستقرة زي USDT وUSDC، لأن كل عملة منهم ليها ما يعادلها بالدولار أو أصول حقيقية. يعني لو بصيت على سعر البيتكوين هتلاقيه ممكن 80 ألف دولار للوحدة، لكن USDT أو USDC دايماً سعرها قريب من 1 دولار. دي حلوة جداً للتعامل الإلكتروني لأنها زي الدولار المشفر.

إحنا هنستخدمها في خدمة اسمها "Earn" وهي شبه شهادات البنك. بتروح على بينانس، تشتري عن طريق P2P، وبعدين تروح على صفحة الـ Earn: https://www.binance.me/en/earn/simple-earn

هناك هتلاقي خيار تعمل "stake" للعملات دي، يعني بتحجز فلوسك لمدة معينة على الموقع، والموقع بيستخدمها (يسلفها لحد تاني أو يستخدمها كسيولة). الحلو إن في Earn، مش لازم تقفل فلوسك لسنة أو 3 سنين زي البنك. في اختيار اسمه "Flexible" بتقدر تحط فلوسك وتسحبها في نفس اليوم، والعائد بينزل يومياً. العيب إن العائد بيتغير يومياً. ممكن تختار Flexible لو عايز تسحب في أي وقت، أو تختار مدة أسبوع أو 90 يوم بعائد ثابت (بس بيكون أقل من الـ Flexible شوية).

ممكن كمان تفعل "Auto-Subscribe" لأن العائد بينزل بنفس نوع العملة، فبدل ما العائد يفضل مركون، أو لما يبقى معاك عملات زيادة في المحفظة، هو بيشترك تلقائي في Earn، فبيبقى زي العائد المركب.

المميزات

• عائد دولاري ومش متأثر بالجنيه
• بينزل عائد يومي
• تقدر تسحب فلوسك في أي وقت
• الحد الأدنى صغير (حوالي 100 جنيه)

العيوب

• الأمان مش 100% لأنها منصة وممكن (لا قدر الله) تقفل حسابك
• العملات الرقمية غير قانونية في بعض البلدان فخلي بالك
• خلي بالك من محاولات النصب: زي لما حد يقولك نكمل المعاملة برا المنصة، أو يبعت رسالة من رقمه كأنها من إنستاباي أو فودافون كاش
• العائد متغير وممكن يقل (بس حالياً حوالين 10%)
• قيمة الدولار نفسها ممكن تتغير

ملحوظة: لو قلقان من بينانس، فيه منصات تانية زي Kraken (بس العائد أسبوعي ومش عالي) أو OKX اللي بتدي أول 180 يوم عائد 10% مضمون، وبعدين ممكن تحول لـ Binance أو Bybit.

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الذهب العالمي (PAXG)

بالنسبة للذهب، نفس الخطوات السابقة بالظبط. الحلو إنه في خدمة Earn لـ PAXG - صحيح العائد أقل من 1% سنوياً، بس أحسن من مفيش!

هتشتري USDT من خلال P2P، بعدين تروح بينانس وتعمل تحويل من USDT إلى PAXG. كده بقى معاك ذهب بالسعر العالمي. أحب أطمنك إن PAXG من شركة موثوقة، وتقدر تقرا عنها هنا: https://www.paxos.com/pax-gold

فيه عملات تانية شبهها، بس دي من أفضلهم، خصوصاً إنهم بيعملوا تقييم للأصول بشكل دوري للتأكد من مصداقية الشركة.

المميزات

• ذهب سهل الوصول إليه
• الحد الأدنى قليل
• أمان نسبي ضد التضخم
• سهولة الشراء والبيع

العيوب

• نفس عيوب المنصات الرقمية
• قيمة الذهب نفسها ممكن تتغير
• العائد على الـ PAXG منخفض (أقل من 1%)

العملة موجودة كمان على Kraken، بس مش متأكد لو فيها خدمة Earn زي بينانس.

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ادعمني (اختياري)

• لو حابب تسجل عن طريق Binance ممكن تستخدم رابط الإحالة بتاعي: https://www.binance.com/referral/earn-together/refertoearn2000usdc/claim?hl=en&ref=GRO_14352_5LGSE
• USDT (TRC20): TKQ3Uwkq21ntiua2Zh9Hu376fdMdnRGWN6

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شوف التعليقات لو في اي تعديل او بوستات جديدة.

@ 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/936802

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

It's so cool how AI is blending design and engineering together, making it easier for us all to be efforts creative in new ways!

Steve Jobs once said:

“The doers are the major thinkers. The people who really create the things that change this industry are both the thinker-doer in one person.” — Steve Jobs

Would its words become truth? Or they already are?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/936796

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

The stock market is currently experiencing a significant downturn, with major indices such as the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average recording substantial losses. This decline is largely attributed to the recent implementation of sweeping tariffs by President Donald Trump, including a 10% levy on all imports and higher duties on exports from key trading partners like China, the European Union, Japan, and Vietnam. These measures have ignited fears of a global trade war, leading to a massive sell-off in the markets. Notably, the S&P 500 dropped 6%, the Nasdaq slid 5.8%, and the Dow Jones fell by 2,231 points—some of the steepest declines since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Everyday Patience Versus Irrational Trading

In everyday life, consumers often exhibit patience by waiting for prices to drop before making purchases:

• Seasonal Sales: Shoppers wait for discounts to buy clothing.
• Tech Promotions: Tech enthusiasts delay buying electronics until promotional events.
• Real Estate: Prospective homebuyers hold off during market slowdowns to secure better deals.

This common-sense approach maximizes value and minimizes expenditure. 

In contrast, many stock market traders fall prey to irrational behaviors:

• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Investors buy stocks at high prices or the dip, worried they might miss potential gains.
• Herd Mentality: Individuals mimic the actions of the majority, often buying during market highs and selling during lows.

These emotional decisions often lead to poor outcomes, as they contradict the logical approach of waiting for favorable prices.

---

The Risks of Ignoring Rational Investment Principles

Irrational trading practices can result in significant financial losses. By purchasing stocks at inflated prices during market euphoria, investors expose themselves to sharp declines when corrections occur. Unlike unpredictable black swan events, these losses stem from market corrections that follow overvaluation periods. Ignoring fundamental investment principles can, therefore, be more damaging than unforeseen events.

---

A Balanced Approach to Investing

A more balanced approach involves:

• Risk Management Strategies:
  Diversify across asset classes to mitigate potential losses.

• Maintaining a Long-Term Perspective:
  Adhere to disciplined investment plans to avoid impulsive decisions.

• Understanding Your Risk Tolerance:
  Set stop-loss orders and know your limits to protect against downturns.

These strategies help investors avoid pitfalls driven by FOMO and herd mentality.

---

Conclusion

While the current market downturn presents challenges, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of rational investment behavior. By drawing parallels from everyday purchasing decisions, investors can appreciate the value of patience and strategic planning. Embracing risk management techniques and resisting psychological pitfalls like FOMO and herd mentality can lead to more resilient and successful investment outcomes.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

This idea has been explored along the last decades. Nothing has never taken the van place in the BMW series. The most successful intent was the 80s' Vixer in the US. Too sporty for a van? Or too luxurious to cover that already saturated market?

Collected some pictures all around, most oof them are designs and prototypes. Tried to order chronologically below:

Now in 2025, this came out of Ai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7p9CGBmRAA

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/936787

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

In this feature, we’re excited to welcome MadMunky, who shares insights on fostering a decentralized community of activists, artists, and musicians, and how Bitcoin and Nostr are empowering unfiltered expression.

YakiHonne: MadMunky, thank you for joining us! Before we dive into the interview, I’d like to briefly introduce YakiHonne. We’re a decentralized media platform built on the Nostr protocol—a technology designed to champion free speech. YakiHonne empowers creators to own their voices and assets, offering innovative features like smart widgets, verified notes, and support for long-form content. With that in mind, we’d love to hear more about you and your community.

MadMunky: Thanks for having me! I’m someone who thrives on staying active—dabbling in various projects and traveling whenever I can. These pursuits give me a sense of freedom, or perhaps the illusion of it. I see myself as a craftsman of sorts, woodworker, dj, chef constantly exploring free-market solutions. I firmly believe that activism, paired with a truly free market, can address many of the world’s challenges.

That belief gave birth to 2140 Collective about two years ago, a project I co-founded with Anon. Collective that enables our community to create and publish freely. Before this, no platform truly supported our vision without compromise—social media often demanded personal data in exchange for access. We’re a collective of activists, artists, and musicians who simply want to build our own space. Communities like ours are essential for mutual support among like-minded individuals. This is also why I champion Bitcoin. It’s not perfect, but it’s transparent and honest—a pillar of freedom. Bitcoin offers an escape from centralized control, and that’s a powerful force. It’s why we’re here today.

YakiHonne: What first drew you to Bitcoin, and what inspired you to build a community around it?

MadMunky: My journey into free tech stemmed from growing frustration with persistent privacy invasions. For me, the erosion of privacy is deeply unsettling. About a year and a half ago, I met Anon, a close friend who introduced me to this space. We started brainstorming ways to empower people like us to carve out our own creative and communal haven.

We didn’t want to limit ourselves to an online presence. Our goal was to bring the community into the physical world through exhibitions, gatherings, and eventually a parallel economy. Plans like high-end auctions are on the horizon, and all these initiatives will be showcased on https://2140.wtf . Through art and culture, we aim to drive Bitcoin adoption. Some argue adoption isn’t necessary, but I believe these mediums are powerful gateways to introduce Bitcoin’s message. It’s not just about display—it’s about embedding critical thinking. When people encounter Bitcoin-inspired art or music, the underlying ideas spark curiosity. That shift from passive consumption to active engagement is how adoption grows.

YakiHonne: How did your community take shape, and how did you attract members?

MadMunky: It wasn’t easy. We kicked things off after a Bitcoin birthday event in London, connecting with artists and musicians over platforms like Signal. We officially launched around last year’s Bitcoin birthday, creating a space on Telegram and experimenting with platforms like Console—billed as the “Discord of networks.” Back then, Nostr was still nascent, and Console, while promising, felt clunky and failed to draw people in. Building momentum was tough—people are busy, and convincing them to switch platforms is a challenge. It takes dedicated individuals willing to invest time and share knowledge.

We tried Twitter early on but found it stifling—its control over speech made it a dead end. Nostr, with its remarkable strides in the past year, became our home.

But we’re making progress. In London, we host “Nostrland,” a bi-weekly meetup focused on Nostr, Bitcoin, and freedom tech. It’s growing organically, with new attendees and venues each time. Our crew is behind Bitcoin Culture Festival / London , and contributing in many others across Europe.

YakiHonne: Beyond the lack of freedom on some platforms, what other hurdles have you faced?

MadMunky: Free speech has been on my mind a lot lately—it’s a cornerstone of true freedom. Many assume Bitcoin alone is enough, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. For years, we lacked tools to express ourselves without censorship. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook track everything—our locations, connections, and words. I ditched Facebook years ago when I realized how invasive it was. These systems wield algorithms that can fracture social bonds and control narratives.

Now, though, we have solutions. Protocols like Nostr and platforms like YakiHonne let creators speak freely, without gatekeepers. That’s revolutionary. If we don’t address the chaos of our current monetary system, suffering will deepen. Activism—raising awareness and sharing tools like Bitcoin and Nostr—is vital. We’re still early in this movement, but the ability to connect and communicate freely is transformative. After two decades of being trapped, spreading ideas is finally within reach.

YakiHonne: Free speech is indeed fundamental. What does your community do with Bitcoin? Are you focused on the technical side or more on cultural aspects?

MadMunky: Our members hail from across Europe, with diverse backgrounds—anyone can join. We blend technical and cultural efforts. For instance, Anon explored LoRa mesh networks, which let us send Nostr messages via radio waves—a concept most people don’t even know exists. These innovations often come from volunteers with bold ideas, woven into protocols. It’s incredible.

I’m not a tech fanatic myself, but I see the value in spreading these concepts. It’s not just about discussing Nostr or Bitcoin’s freedom—it’s about understanding the tools we use. Privacy isn’t simple; it’s a journey. Even with a powerful message, if you’re on an iPhone or Android, you’re still tracked. Staying free takes effort. Our community ties technical workshops, art exhibitions, and music together—think Bitcoin-inspired food, culture or tech talks. These pieces form a broader solution to today’s monetary mess.

YakiHonne: What advice would you offer technically inclined individuals or organizations eager to contribute to Bitcoin’s ecosystem?

MadMunky: Support is key—not just financial, but active engagement. We don’t have all the answers or know every project, so we invite people to join our events, share ideas, and help organize. Collaboration matters. Many have brilliant concepts but lack time due to life’s demands. Companies with resources can pitch in—offering tools or testing grounds.

This Friday, for example, we’re hosting a workshop at Cyphermunk House in London, exploring privacy-focused solutions like Graphene OS. People are waking up to these issues, and interest is surging. It’s about devices, funding, and teamwork—embracing a cyberpunk ethos. If you find a great idea, back it. Open-source tools and protocols are how we reshape the world.

YakiHonne: How do you envision the Bitcoin community evolving in terms of scalability, privacy, and adaptability?

MadMunky: In my two years in this space, Bitcoin’s transparency and cyberpunk-like tech have blown me away. Soon, we’ll make payments without networks—Bitcoin as eCash flow is wild. The potential for Bitcoin, Nostr, and tools like YakiHonne is immense. A year ago, these ideas were unimaginable; now, they’re racing forward.

Governments will push back—regulating, taxing, targeting centralized platforms—but that’s fine. People are waking up, seeking privacy and freedom. Education is critical; the more who grasp these decentralized tools, the stronger we become. We reject a government-controlled future. Peer-to-peer, freedom, and decentralization—that’s the path. Let’s keep building.

YakiHonne: Thank you, MadMunky. This has been an enlightening and inspiring conversation. We’re grateful for your insights!

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

U.S. Financial Market Volatility Amid Trade Tensions and Policy Changes

The U.S. financial markets are experiencing significant volatility in response to recent policy decisions and escalating global trade tensions.

---

Major U.S. Stock Indices

• S&P 500:
  The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is currently priced at $505.28, reflecting a decline of approximately 5.75% from the previous close.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average:
  The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) stands at $383.22, down about 5.42%.

• Nasdaq Composite:
  The Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (QQQ) is at $422.67, showing a decrease of 6.09%.

• Russell 2000:
  The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) is priced at $181.19, down 4.41%.

---

Advisor Perspectives

Key Factors Influencing Market Movements

• Implementation of Sweeping Tariffs:
  President Donald Trump's administration has imposed a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, with higher rates targeting specific countries—34% on Chinese imports and 20% on goods from the European Union.

• Global Retaliatory Measures:
  In response, China has announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on U.S. goods, intensifying fears of a global trade war and its potential impact on economic growth.

• Market Reactions and Investor Sentiment:
  The announcement of these tariffs has triggered significant sell-offs. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq recorded their worst drops in years, with the Dow Jones falling over 9%, as investors react to the economic implications of escalating trade tensions.

---

Economic Indicators

• Oil Prices:
  Crude oil prices have plunged to a four-year low.
• Brent Crude: Trading at $63.01 per barrel.

• West Texas Intermediate: At $60.63 per barrel.

• Treasury Yields:
  The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has declined to approximately 3.94%, indicating a shift toward safer assets amid market volatility.

---

Corporate Highlights

• Tesla Inc. (TSLA):
  Current stock price is $239.43, down 10.46% from the previous close.

• Apple Inc. (AAPL):
  Stock stands at $188.38, reflecting a decrease of 7.27%.

• Boeing Co. (BA):
  Shares are at $136.59, down 9.47%.

---

Global Market Impact

International markets have reacted variably to U.S. policy changes:

• Japan's Nikkei 225:
  Dropped nearly 8% amid concerns over U.S. tariffs affecting automakers like Toyota.

• South Korea's KOSPI and European Markets:
  Both have experienced downturns as trade disputes add uncertainty.

• Hong Kong's Hang Seng:
  Declined, reflecting broader concerns over trade uncertainties and impacts on Chinese tech stocks.

---

Outlook

The current market environment is marked by heightened volatility and uncertainty:

• Investors are advised to exercise caution and consider diversification strategies.
• Key developments such as trade negotiations and policy changes will be crucial in shaping future market dynamics.
• Monitoring evolving economic data and geopolitical events remains essential for navigating this complex landscape.

@ 0fa50ac1:13162495

You say, “Bitcoin has no intrinsic value.”

But brother, I say to you—nothing does.

❧

Gold, wheat, steel, water, art—

none possess value in themselves.

A thing is not valuable.

A person finds value in a thing.

❧

Value is not a substance.

It is not discovered in the dirt,

nor stamped into metal.

It is born in the mind

of the one who chooses,

who compares,

who prefers.

❧

This is the truth they will not teach you.

Because once you know it,

you cannot be controlled.

❧

To say value is “intrinsic”

is to say it is knowable, measurable,

assignable from above.

And if it can be known,

then it can be fixed.

And if it can be fixed,

then the planners will fix it.

And if the planners fix it,

freedom dies.

❧

Only subjective value

lets prices breathe.

Only subjective value

lets the game go on,

as tastes shift,

as time moves,

as each man finds joy in what others overlook.

❧

It is this truth

that makes room for artists,

for inventors,

for those with strange passions

and quiet genius.

❧

And Bitcoin—

it breaks the frame.

It’s not a commodity.

It’s not a company.

It’s not backed by force.

❧

So they say,

“It has no value.”

❧

And we reply,

“No—you place no value on it.

But others do.

And the market has spoken.”

❧

Transparent. Scarce. Borderless. Unstoppable.

Valued by those who need it most.

Valued by those who understand it best.

❧

It rises not because it was declared valuable,

but because someone, somewhere

was willing to trade for it.

❧

And so the price rose.

And so the signal spread.

And so the economy moved,

as it always has,

not by decree,

but by the ever-motivated

force of desire.

❧

You don’t have to value Bitcoin.

But you do have to accept this:

All value exists only and entirely

in the mind of the economizing human.

You say, “Bitcoin has no intrinsic value.”

But brother, I say to you—nothing does.

❧

Gold, wheat, steel, water, art—

none possess value in themselves.

A thing is not valuable.

A person finds value in a thing.

❧

Value is not a substance.

It is not discovered in the dirt,

nor stamped into metal.

It is born in the mind

of the one who chooses,

who compares,

who prefers.

❧

This is the truth they will not teach you.

Because once you know it,

you cannot be controlled.

❧

To say value is “intrinsic”

is to say it is knowable, measurable,

assignable from above.

And if it can be known,

then it can be fixed.

And if it can be fixed,

then the planners will fix it.

And if the planners fix it,

freedom dies.

❧

Only subjective value

lets prices breathe.

Only subjective value

lets the game go on,

as tastes shift,

as time moves,

as each man finds joy in what others overlook.

❧

It is this truth

that makes room for artists,

for inventors,

for those with strange passions

and quiet genius.

❧

And Bitcoin—

it breaks the frame.

It’s not a commodity.

It’s not a company.

It’s not backed by force.

❧

So they say,

“It has no value.”

❧

And we reply,

“No—you place no value on it.

But others do.

And the market has spoken.”

❧

Transparent. Scarce. Borderless. Unstoppable.

Valued by those who need it most.

Valued by those who understand it best.

❧

It rises not because it was declared valuable,

but because someone, somewhere

was willing to trade for it.

❧

And so the price rose.

And so the signal spread.

And so the economy moved,

as it always has,

not by decree,

but by the ever-motivated

force of desire.

❧

You don’t have to value Bitcoin.

But you do have to accept this:

All value exists only and entirely

in the mind of the economizing human.

@ 878dff7c:037d18bc

Australia Highlights Critical Minerals in Trade Discussions with U.S.

Summary:

In an effort to avoid renegotiation of its subsidized prescription-drug system, Australia is emphasizing its vast reserves of essential minerals like lithium and rare earths during trade talks with the U.S. Treasurer Jim Chalmers underscored that these resources serve as a strategic advantage, proposing the creation of a strategic reserve for these minerals. This move aligns with President Trump's initiatives to secure mineral access and reflects Australia's intent to leverage its mineral wealth in international negotiations.

Source: The Wall Street Journal - April 7, 2025

ASX Braces for Significant Losses Amid Global Tariff Tensions

Summary:

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is poised for a substantial downturn, with projections indicating a potential loss of approximately $115 billion. This anticipated decline follows the implementation of new tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, ranging from 10% to 50% on foreign imports, which have sparked fears of a global trade war. The Australian dollar has also been affected, dropping below 60 US cents for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts warn that these developments could have far-reaching implications for the Australian economy, including increased inflation and potential interest rate cuts.

Sources: News.com.au - April 7, 2025, The Australian - April 7, 2025, ABC News - April 7, 2025

U.S. Department of Energy Considers Cuts to Clean Energy Projects

Summary:

The U.S. Department of Energy is reviewing potential funding cuts exceeding $1.5 billion for various clean energy projects, including those focused on energy storage and carbon capture. Affected initiatives span multiple states and involve technologies crucial for integrating renewable energy into the power grid and reducing carbon emissions. Industry stakeholders and lawmakers have expressed concern, emphasizing the strategic importance of these technologies for energy resilience and environmental objectives.

Source: Reuters - April 5, 2025

Hazardous Materials Incident in South Australia's Mount Lofty Ranges

Summary:

The Country Fire Service (CFS) is responding to an ammonia gas leak at Plummer Road near Lenswood and Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia. Residents are advised to stay clear of the area as firefighters work to contain the leak.​ CFS

Sources: CFS - April 6, 2025

Coalition Reverses Work-From-Home Policy Amid Backlash

Summary:

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has reversed the Coalition's policy to mandate full-time office attendance for public servants, acknowledging it was a "mistake" that fueled concerns about opposition to flexible working arrangements, particularly among women. Initially, the plan required Australian Public Service employees to work from the office five days a week, but after criticism from unions and advocacy groups, Dutton amended the policy to apply only to Canberra-based workers. Further backlash led to a complete withdrawal of the mandate, with Dutton apologizing for the confusion and stating that existing flexible work arrangements would remain intact. Labor leaders criticized the policy's inconsistency and potential economic impact on families.

Sources: The Guardian - April 7, 2025, News.com.au - April 7, 2025, The Guardian - April 7, 2025

Chevron Australia Warns of Investment Risks Due to Policy Uncertainty

Summary:

Chevron Australia Managing Director Mark Hatfield has expressed concerns over increasing policy uncertainty affecting investment confidence in Australia's energy sector. He highlighted recent policy shifts, such as changes to the petroleum resource rent tax and proposed domestic gas reservation mandates, as factors creating instability and deterring future investment. Hatfield emphasized the need for a balanced energy transition that prioritizes reliability, affordability, and environmental goals.​ The Australian

Source: The Australian - April 7, 2025

Australia Calls for Independent Investigation into Aid Worker Deaths in Gaza

Summary:

Australia has joined international calls for an independent investigation into the deaths of aid workers in Gaza, including a United Nations employee and eight Palestinian Red Crescent Society medics, who were found in a mass grave on March 27. Senator Penny Wong emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry to ensure accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of humanitarian workers. Israel's military has launched an internal investigation, but international actors are urging for an independent probe, especially in light of newly emerged video evidence that contradicts Israel’s official explanation for the killings.

Sources: News.com.au - April 7, 2025

Recall Issued for Popular Fitbit Smartwatches Due to Burn Risk

Summary:

Fitbit has issued a recall for its Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches after discovering that the battery may overheat, posing a risk of burns to users. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has advised consumers to update their devices with the latest firmware to mitigate this risk. Users are encouraged to check their devices and follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure safety.​

Sources: News.com.au - April 2, 2025, The Australian - April 2, 2025​

Keir Starmer Declares 'Globalisation is Over' Amid Tariff Disputes

Summary:

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the end of globalisation, acknowledging its failure to benefit many voters. This declaration comes in response to significant global economic disruptions caused by new U.S. tariffs imposed by President Trump. Starmer advocates for accelerated supply-side reforms to boost UK growth and plans to introduce pro-growth measures, including easing regulations for electric vehicle manufacturers. He also aims to advance the UK's industrial strategy and pursue trade talks with India and Australia. While opposing tariffs, Starmer recognizes the appeal of Trump's economic nationalism to disaffected voters.

Sources: The Times - April 7, 2025, The Australian - April 7, 2025

Rainbow Lorikeet Tops Australia's Annual Bird Count

Summary:

The rainbow lorikeet has been identified as the most frequently recorded bird in BirdLife Australia's annual Aussie Bird Count, maintaining its top position since the event's inception in 2014. In the 2024 count, over 57,000 participants recorded more than 4.1 million birds, with the noisy miner and Australian magpie following in second and third places, respectively. The count highlights regional diversity in bird populations and provides critical data on environmental trends. Despite concerns about health threats affecting some species, no significant population declines were reported.​

Sources: The Guardian - April 7, 2025​

In episode #463 of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Lex engages with Douglas Murray, a British author and political commentator, to discuss a range of pressing geopolitical topics.

Key Discussion Points and Insights:

• Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Murray provides his perspective on Vladimir Putin's motivations and the broader implications of Russia's actions in Ukraine. He delves into the resilience and leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amidst the ongoing conflict.

• U.S. Political Landscape: The conversation shifts to former President Donald Trump, examining his influence on both domestic and international politics. Murray offers insights into the polarization within the United States and the potential trajectory of its political future.

• Middle East Dynamics: An in-depth analysis of Israel's political environment is presented, focusing on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. The discussion extends to the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with particular attention to the roles of Hamas and the situation in Gaza.

Throughout the episode, Murray emphasizes the importance of understanding historical contexts to fully grasp current geopolitical events. He advocates for nuanced perspectives, cautioning against oversimplified narratives that often dominate media discourse.

Listeners can gain a comprehensive understanding of these intricate issues, benefiting from Murray's extensive experience and thoughtful analysis.

Sources: Lex Fridman Podcast Episode #463

@ e516ecb8:1be0b167

Bitcoin ha recorrido un camino fascinante: de ser un experimento cypherpunk nacido en las sombras de la crisis de 2008 a convertirse en un activo que algunos estados, como El Salvador, consideran parte de sus reservas estratégicas, una especie de "oro digital". Hace apenas 15 años, era un código curioso que valía centavos; hoy, hay países apostando su futuro económico a él. Sin embargo, no hace falta haber leído Hijacking Bitcoin para sospechar que hay nubes en el horizonte. Y no, no hablo solo de la volatilidad, ese eterno fantasma que siempre se menciona. Sí, Bitcoin sube y baja como montaña rusa —en 2021 tocó los 69 mil dólares y luego cayó a 16 mil en 2022—, pero si hacemos un zoom out —como dicen los gringos—, la tendencia a largo plazo es al alza, mientras que las monedas fiduciarias, en palabras de Huerta de Soto, no son más que "papelitos coloreados" que tienden a valer cero. Pero dejemos la poesía de lado y miremos con lupa: ¿qué problemas podrían acechar el futuro de Bitcoin? Aquí van algunos puntos que me dan vueltas en la cabeza.

1. Bloques vacíos y el dilema del HODL

En marzo de 2025, se reportó que casi el 20% de los bloques de la blockchain estaban vacíos o con pocas transacciones. Esto encaja con una teoría: Bitcoin dejó de ser la moneda peer-to-peer que soñó Satoshi Nakamoto para transformarse en un depósito de valor. Hoy, la filosofía dominante es "HODL" (sujetar y no soltar), y figuras como Michael Saylor no esconden que les conviene que la gente pierda sus llaves privadas: menos bitcoins en circulación, mayor escasez, precio más alto. Imagina a Saylor frotándose las manos cada vez que alguien olvida su contraseña. Pero si todos acumulan y nadie gasta, ¿qué pasará con los mineros cuando las transacciones escaseen? Sin ellas, sus ingresos dependen de las recompensas por bloque, que algún día desaparecerán. Claro, ahora existen billeteras con opciones de herencia, pero si la idea es holdear hasta la tumba, ¿para qué acumular?

2. La red Lightning y el fantasma de los terceros

Para revivir la red, hacen falta más transacciones. Pero cuidado: el tamaño de los bloques es limitado a 1 MB (o un poco más con SegWit). Si el volumen crece demasiado —como en 2017, cuando las tarifas llegaron a 50 dólares por transacción—, la red se congestiona y adiós practicidad. ¿Aumentar el tamaño de los bloques? Ni lo menciones, eso sería darle la razón a los de Bitcoin Cash, un pecado mortal para cualquier bitcoinero Core. La solución, entonces, son las segundas capas como la red Lightning, que promete transacciones rápidas y baratas. El problema es que sigue pareciendo un eterno beta: hay fallos técnicos que no termino de entender (y sospecho que no soy el único). Pero lo que sí entiendo es que, al usarla, mucha gente termina dependiendo de terceros. Y si "no son tus llaves, no es tu dinero", esto choca de frente con la filosofía original de Bitcoin.

3. Computación cuántica: ¿el fin de la inviolabilidad?

Pasemos a un terreno más técnico. La computación cuántica podría, en teoría, descifrar las direcciones antiguas de Bitcoin, esas basadas en algoritmos vulnerables como ECDSA. Algunos proponen "quemar" esos bitcoins para proteger la red, pero imagina el golpe a la confianza: ¿qué tan "seguro" es un activo si de pronto desaparecen millones de unidades? Este riesgo no es exclusivo de Bitcoin —afecta a casi todas las criptos—, pero solo un puñado, como QRL o IOTA en sus inicios, usa algoritmos post-cuánticos, y ninguna es mainstream. Un tema que da para pensar.

4. Filosofía traicionada: del antisistema al lobby estatal

Bitcoin nació como un grito contra los bancos, los gobiernos y el sistema monetario tras la crisis de 2008. Entonces, ¿por qué vemos a sus principales voceros viajando por el mundo, haciendo lobby para que estados y gigantes como BlackRock lo adopten como reserva de valor? Podría ser solo una contradicción filosófica menor, pero hay más: si Bitcoin es tan libre y transfronterizo, ¿por qué los aranceles de Trump lograron tumbar su precio un 5% en diciembre pasado? Algo no cuadra en el discurso de la independencia absoluta.

5. El fin de la minería y la dependencia estatal

A largo plazo, cuando se mine el último bitcoin en 2140 (sí, falta mucho), los mineros dependerán exclusivamente de las tarifas por transacción. Pero si el modelo es "sujetar y no soltar", ¿quién pagará esas tarifas? Ya hemos visto momentos en que minar sale más caro que las ganancias —en 2018, muchos apagaron sus máquinas—, y aunque hasta ahora han sido excepciones, el futuro pinta complicado. Si los costos energéticos no bajan, ¿quién mantendrá la red? ¿Empresas dispuestas a perder dinero por un "bien mayor"? Suena a utopía, salvo que hablemos de empresas estatales. Y aquí volvemos al punto inicial: ¿Bitcoin dependiendo de los estados? ¿Pagando impuestos en dinero fiduciario para subsidiar mineros? ¿No era esto lo que queríamos evitar? El oro, una vez extraído, no necesita mineros para seguir existiendo; Bitcoin, por el contrario, sí.

6. El caso argentino: libertarismo con asterisco

Para rematar, esta semana salió la noticia de que el gobierno argentino —sí, el de Milei, abanderado del libertarismo— planea exigir que los residentes declaren sus billeteras de criptoactivos. No niego las reformas positivas de su gestión, como la desregulación económica, pero esto huele a Gran Hermano. ¿Qué tan libertario es un sistema que te vigila mientras predica libertad? Otra contradicción que suma ruido.

Después de ganarme el odio de los maximalistas de Bitcoin (esperaré comentarios tipo: "¡este tipo no entiende nada!"), y quizás de algún fan de Milei, quiero aclarar: no estoy en contra de Bitcoin. Lo que me molesta son las inconsistencias. Odio igual a los políticos que dicen una cosa y hacen otra que a los predicadores de un "antisistema" que termina dependiendo del sistema para sobrevivir. Me hace tanto ruido como esos malacatosos que rayan paredes con la "A" de anarquía mientras piden más Estado.

Dicho esto, no todo está perdido. Si Bitcoin quiere ser ese oro digital y cumplir su promesa libertaria, tal vez necesite ajustes: algoritmos más robustos contra la computación cuántica y algún método para pasar los bitcoins de direcciones antiguas a nuevas de forma transparente (ni idea si es técnicamente posible), una red Lightning que realmente funcione sin intermediarios, o una comunidad que priorice la utilidad sobre el HODL ciego. En resumen, apoyo a Bitcoin siempre que sus defensores sean coherentes. Si es libertad, que no se arrodille ante nadie. ¿Es mucho pedir?

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

The promised Nintendo direct has come and there is a LOT to say about it. If you ever wondered how such a reveal would be taken differently by a dad, a NEET, and a people programmer this is the episode for you! Also those SAG bootlickers are getting uppity again. All of that and more!

Sources cited:

• Nintendo Online subscribers get to upgrade the zelda games for free for some reason?
• Do Nintendo games ever actually go on sale?
• Kirby
• Metroid
• TOTK
• Pokeshit
• EOW
• there's literally 252 games on sale at VGP right now
• SAG agreement you can read for yourself
• SAG literally says on their website to go audition for non-union roles and then strongarm them into going union if they wanna keep you

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@ ba36d0f7:cd802cba

1. Reglas Esenciales

✔ Pieza Tocada, Pieza Movida: Si tocas una pieza, debes moverla (si es legal).
✔ Aviso de Jaque: Decir "jaque" al atacar al rey (opcional en torneos oficiales).
✔ Jaque Mate Termina: El juego acaba inmediatamente — no hay que capturar al rey.
✔ Oferta de Tablas: Puedes ofrecer tablas después de tu movimiento, antes de pulsar el reloj.

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2. Etiqueta en Torneos

• Saludo: Apretón de manos antes y después de la partida.

• Silencio: No hablar durante el juego (excepto "jaque" o "¿tablas?").

• Reloj: Presiónalo con la misma mano que movió.

• Rendición: Voltea tu rey o di "me rindo" (no solo te vayas).

Errores Comunes
❌ Hacer ruido con las piezas para distraer.
❌ Mirar fijamente el tablero del rival.
❌ Hacer jugadas falsas para probar su atención.

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3. Modales en Ajedrez Online

• Sin Retrasos: Deja que el tiempo se agote solo si estás perdido.

• Cortesía: Escribe "Buen juego" ("GG") al finalizar.

• Evita el "Berserk": No abuses de configuraciones rápidas para presionar al rival.

Faltas Graves
❌ Trampas: Usar motores de análisis, mirar otras partidas.
❌ Spammear mensajes o emojis.
❌ Abandonar sin rendirse formalmente.

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