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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-15 15:31:45Capitalism is the most effective system for scaling innovation. The pursuit of profit is an incredibly powerful human incentive. Most major improvements to human society and quality of life have resulted from this base incentive. Market competition often results in the best outcomes for all.
That said, some projects can never be monetized. They are open in nature and a business model would centralize control. Open protocols like bitcoin and nostr are not owned by anyone and if they were it would destroy the key value propositions they provide. No single entity can or should control their use. Anyone can build on them without permission.
As a result, open protocols must depend on donation based grant funding from the people and organizations that rely on them. This model works but it is slow and uncertain, a grind where sustainability is never fully reached but rather constantly sought. As someone who has been incredibly active in the open source grant funding space, I do not think people truly appreciate how difficult it is to raise charitable money and deploy it efficiently.
Projects that can be monetized should be. Profitability is a super power. When a business can generate revenue, it taps into a self sustaining cycle. Profit fuels growth and development while providing projects independence and agency. This flywheel effect is why companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple have scaled to global dominance. The profit incentive aligns human effort with efficiency. Businesses must innovate, cut waste, and deliver value to survive.
Contrast this with non monetized projects. Without profit, they lean on external support, which can dry up or shift with donor priorities. A profit driven model, on the other hand, is inherently leaner and more adaptable. It is not charity but survival. When survival is tied to delivering what people want, scale follows naturally.
The real magic happens when profitable, sustainable businesses are built on top of open protocols and software. Consider the many startups building on open source software stacks, such as Start9, Mempool, and Primal, offering premium services on top of the open source software they build out and maintain. Think of companies like Block or Strike, which leverage bitcoin’s open protocol to offer their services on top. These businesses amplify the open software and protocols they build on, driving adoption and improvement at a pace donations alone could never match.
When you combine open software and protocols with profit driven business the result are lean, sustainable companies that grow faster and serve more people than either could alone. Bitcoin’s network, for instance, benefits from businesses that profit off its existence, while nostr will expand as developers monetize apps built on the protocol.
Capitalism scales best because competition results in efficiency. Donation funded protocols and software lay the groundwork, while market driven businesses build on top. The profit incentive acts as a filter, ensuring resources flow to what works, while open systems keep the playing field accessible, empowering users and builders. Together, they create a flywheel of innovation, growth, and global benefit.
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@ 5edbd885:5fbc291e
2025-05-15 21:04:28Bitcoin is a system outside of the system—you don’t actually need fiat to obtain some sats. Bitcoin is a monetary network designed to operate independently of traditional financial systems.
As such, it’s possible to acquire Bitcoin without ever converting any fiat currency.
Whether you’re aiming to earn, trade, or receive Bitcoin through alternative means, there are numerous ways to accumulate it organically—through work, community engagement, or creative effort.
In this guide, we'll explore six methods to get Bitcoin without spending fiat.
While some approaches require more time or technical knowledge, others are accessible to nearly anyone willing to accept Bitcoin for payment ⚡️
Read until the end of the article to know where to find people willing to give you Bitcoin in exchange for these ideas 🙂
Note: I have no affiliates or sponsorships and so any businesses I mention below are neither endorsements nor paid ads.
1. Offer Professional Services in Exchange for Bitcoin
The easiest and most direct way to receive Bitcoin without fiat is to trade your skills for sats.
This can be an option for those who are already earning an income freelancing, consulting, or providing any type of independent service simply by charging in Bitcoin rather than fiat.
For those with a traditional 9-5, you could mine sats within a Bitcoin company rather than a fiat business, or offer your skills as a side hustle for sats until you are ready to make a full switch (if you so choose).
Common examples include:
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Writing, editing, or translating
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Graphic design and illustration
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Programming and development
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Coaching, tutoring, or consulting
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Manual labor or local services
Rather than invoicing in your local currency, you can simply set your rate in Bitcoin—typically using a satoshi-based pricing model. I have a few free tools on my site that can help you with this.
2. Sell Goods—Physical or Digital—for Bitcoin
You don’t need to be a freelancer or to convince your boss to receive Bitcoin.
If you own physical items or create digital products, you can accept BTC as payment instead of fiat.
Even in a down-sizing situation, selling things around your home for Bitcoin is also an option.
Ideas include:
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Selling used items locally (e.g., via marketplaces or word of mouth)
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Creating and distributing digital products like eBooks, music, or design assets
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Selling handmade crafts or collectibles
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Selling the second-hand goods you no longer need for sats
Enthusiasts are often excited to support peer-to-peer BTC commerce.
You don’t need a complex setup either—a mobile wallet that supports on-chain or Lightning payments is enough to get started.
3. Engage with Nostr & Earn via Micro-Transactions
(I know you are reading on Nostr, but I originally published this on my blog for non-users, and talking about Nostr on Nostr is fun ;)
Nostr is a decentralized social protocol that allows users to interact, publish content, and receive sats.
It’s one of the most innovative new ways to earn BTC organically, without needing any fiat currency.
On Nostr, content creators, contributors, musicians, artists, and everyday people can receive “zaps” (tiny Bitcoin tips via the Lightning Network) from other users.
It’s essentially a value-for-value economy where people support each other directly with sats on top of likes and shares.
Getting started is simple:
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Set up a Lightning wallet (many are free and non-custodial - just look up what Bitcoiners recommend at the time you are reading this)
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Create a profile on a Nostr client (such as Damus, Amethyst, or Primal)
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Participate by posting, replying, and sharing thoughtful content
While the amounts may be small at first, consistent engagement can result in meaningful Bitcoin accumulation over time.
4. Request Bitcoin Tips in Your Daily Life
If you work in a role where tipping is common—such as driving for Uber, working in food service, hospitality, or delivery—you can offer Bitcoin as a tipping option.
How to implement this:
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Include a QR code to your Lightning wallet on your phone or a printed card
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Politely inform customers that you accept Bitcoin tips
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Use signage or include a message in your app profile
You may be surprised by how many tech-savvy or curious customers are willing to try it, especially in urban or Bitcoin-friendly communities.
5. Use Bitcoin Cashback & Rewards Programs
While not a direct trade for labor or goods, some platforms allow you to earn Bitcoin as a reward for purchases you were already planning to make.
In these cases, you are not buying Bitcoin with fiat, but instead receiving it as a form of cashback on your everyday fiat purchases.
Popular platforms include:
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In Canada, Shakepay offers free sats for shaking your phone daily or using their pre-paid Visa debit card
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Strike occasionally offers rewards in Bitcoin as well
This approach is best suited for those who already have a spending routine and want to passively earn BTC without changing their habits.
6. Try Bitcoin Mini–Mining
Mini miners like the Bitaxe, BitNerd, and similar open-source devices offer a unique way to mine Bitcoin at home without needing large-scale equipment or industrial-level power.
While traditional Bitcoin mining requires costly ASICs and massive electricity, mini miners are small, efficient, and hobbyist-friendly.
They’re capable of independently solving blocks—meaning there’s a tiny chance you could win the full block reward—or they can be used to join a solo mining pool and receive small payouts over time based on contribution.
Benefits of mini mining:
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Educational: Learn how mining works from the ground up
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Passive: Runs in the background with low power usage
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Potential upside: Very low probability of winning a full block, but it’s possible
Important caveats:
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These devices must be purchased with fiat or Bitcoin initially
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Most users will not earn consistent Bitcoin from them
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It may be more efficient to simply buy Bitcoin directly with that money ;)
While this idea is more geared towards experienced Bitcoiners wanting to expand their way of stacking sats, it's still a fun thing to consider.
Mini miners are a hands-on way to participate in the network while stacking sats or keeping open the small possibility of mining rewards.
Where to Find People Willing to Pay in Bitcoin
Now an important question—where are you going to find people willing to pay you in Bitcoin?
Finding people who are open to paying in Bitcoin is easier than it might seem—especially if you know where to look.
Start by exploring local Bitcoin meetups, conferences, or community events in your area—these are often filled with enthusiasts who prefer peer-to-peer exchanges. Consider searching Facebook or Meetup.com for Bitcoin groups and events in your area.
Online, platforms like Nostr, Twitter/X, Reddit, and Bitcoin-focused Telegram groups can be great places to find clients or collaborators.
You can also look into Bitcoin job boards to find formal employment opportunities that pay in BTC.
The Bitcoin economy is growing, and so is the number of individuals and businesses willing to transact in BTC directly—bypassing fiat altogether.
The key is to get involved in the ecosystem—once you’re in the network and people get to know you, opportunities will begin to surface organically.
Summary Table: How to Receive Bitcoin w/o Fiat
| Method | Effort Level | Payout Potential | Notes | | ------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | Offer services for BTC | Medium | High | Most scalable—mine sats directly instead of fiat | | Sell goods for BTC | Medium | Medium | Local or online; accessible | | Micro-transactions (Nostr) | Low/Medium | Medium (over time) | Lightning required, engaging helps | | Accept BTC tips | Low | Low to Medium | Best for service or gig workers | | Cashback / rewards programs | Low | Low to Medium | Passive sat stacking on normal spending | | Mini Bitcoin mining | Medium | Low / Lottery Level | For advanced users |
What did I forget? Let me know your tips and thoughts in the comments below ✨
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@ 5f078e90:b2bacaa3
2025-05-15 20:08:32Owl’s One-Legged Vigil
The vigil, one leg style
In a misty grove, Sylas the owl perched on a gnarled oak, standing on one leg. His golden eyes scanned the night. Why one leg? A vow to honor his lost mate, taken by a hawk. Each dusk, Sylas balanced, unwavering, as stars wheeled above. His silent stance drew the forest’s gaze—squirrels paused, deer bowed. One moonlit night, a young owl mimicked him, sparking hope. Sylas’s vigil became legend, a beacon of resilience.
Owl’s One-Legged Vigil: Part Two
Part 2
In the misty grove, Sylas stood on one leg, his vigil unbroken. The young owl, inspired, joined nightly, mimicking his stance. Word spread—foxes whispered, ravens cawed. Sylas’s balance was no mere feat; it was defiance against loss. One stormy dusk, winds howled, yet Sylas held firm, his single leg rooted. The young owl faltered but watched in awe. Moonlight pierced the clouds, bathing them in silver. Sylas hooted softly, a call of endurance. The grove’s creatures gathered, drawn by his resolve. A wise badger spoke: “Your vigil heals us.” The young owl, now named Lark, vowed to carry Sylas’s legacy. As dawn broke, Sylas stretched both legs, his vow fulfilled. He flew with Lark, their wings brushing the sky. The grove thrived, united by his stand. Sylas’s one-legged vigil became a tale of hope, etched in every tree.
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@ 3b62c542:6f45deaf
2025-05-15 17:44:53Introduction Once dismissed as a speculative gamble, cryptocurrency is steadily transforming into a powerful tool for financial inclusion—and nowhere is this shift more pronounced than in Africa. Across the continent, digital currencies are not merely investment vehicles; they’re practical responses to real-world challenges. Faced with high inflation, weak national currencies, limited banking infrastructure, and an increasingly digital youth, African communities are leveraging crypto to build a new financial future one that’s decentralized, accessible, and uniquely tailored to local needs.
From the bustling markets of Lagos to the tech hubs of Nairobi and Cape Town, crypto is being embraced not out of trendiness, but necessity. Africa, often overlooked in the global financial narrative, is rapidly becoming a testbed for what the future of digital finance could and arguably should look like.
The driving forces behind Africa’s Crypto Boom
1. Financial inclusion In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 60% of adults remain unbanked, largely due to the lack of accessible banking infrastructure in rural and underserved areas. Traditional banks often require documentation, minimum deposits, and credit histories requirements many Africans cannot meet. Enter cryptocurrency: decentralized, borderless, and open to anyone with a smartphone and internet connection.
Mobile friendly wallets and crypto platforms allow users to send, receive, and store funds without needing a traditional bank account. Stablecoins like USDT and USDC have proven especially valuable, offering a digital currency option pegged to the US dollar, shielding users from local currency volatility while providing global usability.
2. Remittances made easy Africa is one of the most expensive regions in the world for receiving remittances. On average, sending money to sub-Saharan Africa costs about 7–9% in fees well above the global average. Cryptocurrencies slash these costs significantly and complete transactions within minutes, not days.
Nigerians, for example, received over \$19 billion in remittances in recent years. With crypto, users can bypass traditional intermediaries like Western Union or MoneyGram and directly receive funds in digital wallets, which can then be converted to local currency or used for online purchases. This is especially impactful in rural areas where financial services are sparse.
3. A hedge against inflation In countries like Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Sudan, inflation and currency depreciation have eroded trust in local fiat money. In these environments, digital assets have emerged as safe havens. Bitcoin, often dubbed “digital gold,” and stablecoins are increasingly being used as stores of value and mediums of exchange.
Rather than hoarding cash that loses value by the day, individuals are turning to crypto to preserve their savings. In Nigeria, for example, peer-to-peer (P2P) trading volumes have soared, driven by economic instability and foreign exchange restrictions that limit access to USD.
4. Youth-led tech adoption Africa has the world’s youngest population—with over 70% under the age of 30. This generation is digitally native, entrepreneurial, and eager to tap into global economic systems. They’re embracing crypto for side gigs, freelance jobs, digital trading, and e-commerce—all of which benefit from borderless, fast, and low-cost payments.
Platforms like Binance, Luno, and Paxful are popular among young Africans not only for trading but for learning. Many youths are also creating local crypto content, starting communities, and building tools that address uniquely African use cases, such as microtransactions, decentralized savings groups, and cross-border agriculture financing.
Real-World use cases
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Kenya’s M-Pesa Meets Blockchain: M-Pesa revolutionized mobile money in East Africa. Now, blockchain integrations are taking that revolution a step further. By connecting M-Pesa wallets to crypto platforms, users can seamlessly convert between fiat and crypto, enabling cross-border remittances, savings, and payments—all from a basic mobile phone.
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Crypto Startups on the Rise: African entrepreneurs are not waiting for solutions from the West. Startups like Yellow Card in Nigeria are providing easy access to crypto in multiple local currencies. VALR in South Africa is offering a full-fledged crypto trading experience with high liquidity and compliance. Bundle Africa, BuyCoins, and others are focusing on remittance, bill payments, and savings all powered by crypto.
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Education & empowerment: Crypto literacy is spreading fast thanks to targeted education campaigns. Binance Academy Africa and Paxful have launched bootcamps, online courses, and community outreach efforts. These programs are essential in combating misinformation and scams while building a knowledgeable user base that can leverage crypto safely and effectively.
Challenges and the road ahead Despite its momentum, crypto adoption in Africa is not without its challenges. Regulatory uncertainty remains a significant barrier. In some countries, authorities have imposed bans or strict limitations, citing concerns over money laundering, fraud, and capital flight. In others, frameworks are still evolving, leaving businesses and users in a legal gray area.
Internet penetration, while growing, is still inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. This digital divide hampers access to wallets and exchanges. Moreover, the space is vulnerable to scams and pyramid schemes that prey on uninformed users highlighting the urgent need for education and safeguards.
Yet progress is being made. South Africa now regulates crypto as a financial product, bringing oversight and legitimacy to the space. Nigeria launched the eNaira, Africa’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC), aiming to modernize the financial system while retaining regulatory control. Other governments are exploring blockchain’s potential for public services, from land title registries to national ID systems and supply chain tracking.
Conclusion Africa is not just adopting cryptocurrency—it’s redefining its purpose. Here, crypto isn’t about speculative trading or get-rich-quick schemes. It’s about solving deep rooted problems with bold, decentralized solutions. In a continent long underserved by global financial institutions, blockchain technology is offering a fresh path forward one driven by innovation, inclusivity, and grassroots energy.
As global interest in digital assets continues to grow, Africa’s crypto movement offers powerful lessons. It shows how technology, when embraced by necessity and tailored to real world problems, can spark lasting change. Far from the margins, Africa is helping shape the blueprint for a future where digital finance is open, resilient, and truly global.
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@ 08f96856:ffe59a09
2025-05-15 01:17:18เมื่อพูดถึง Bitcoin Standard หลายคนมักนึกถึงภาพโลกอนาคตที่ทุกคนใช้บิตคอยน์ซื้อกาแฟหรือของใช้ในชีวิตประจำวัน ภาพแบบนั้นดูเหมือนไกลตัวและเป็นไปไม่ได้ในความเป็นจริง หลายคนถึงกับพูดว่า “คงไม่ทันเห็นในช่วงชีวิตนี้หรอก” แต่ในมุมมองของผม Bitcoin Standard อาจไม่ได้เริ่มต้นจากการที่เราจ่ายบิตคอยน์โดยตรงในร้านค้า แต่อาจเริ่มจากบางสิ่งที่เงียบกว่า ลึกกว่า และเกิดขึ้นแล้วในขณะนี้ นั่นคือ การล่มสลายทีละน้อยของระบบเฟียตที่เราใช้กันอยู่
ระบบเงินที่อิงกับอำนาจรัฐกำลังเข้าสู่ช่วงขาลง รัฐบาลทั่วโลกกำลังจมอยู่ในภาระหนี้ระดับประวัติการณ์ แม้แต่ประเทศมหาอำนาจก็เริ่มแสดงสัญญาณของภาวะเสี่ยงผิดนัดชำระหนี้ อัตราเงินเฟ้อกลายเป็นปัญหาเรื้อรังที่ไม่มีท่าทีจะหายไป ธนาคารที่เคยโอนฟรีเริ่มกลับมาคิดค่าธรรมเนียม และประชาชนก็เริ่มรู้สึกถึงการเสื่อมศรัทธาในระบบการเงินดั้งเดิม แม้จะยังพูดกันไม่เต็มเสียงก็ตาม
ในขณะเดียวกัน บิตคอยน์เองก็กำลังพัฒนาแบบเงียบ ๆ เงียบ... แต่ไม่เคยหยุด โดยเฉพาะในระดับ Layer 2 ที่เริ่มแสดงศักยภาพอย่างจริงจัง Lightning Network เป็น Layer 2 ที่เปิดใช้งานมาได้ระยะเวลสหนึ่ง และยังคงมีบทบาทสำคัญที่สุดในระบบนิเวศของบิตคอยน์ มันทำให้การชำระเงินเร็วขึ้น มีต้นทุนต่ำ และไม่ต้องบันทึกทุกธุรกรรมลงบล็อกเชน เครือข่ายนี้กำลังขยายตัวทั้งในแง่ของโหนดและการใช้งานจริงทั่วโลก
ขณะเดียวกัน Layer 2 ทางเลือกอื่นอย่าง Ark Protocol ก็กำลังพัฒนาเพื่อตอบโจทย์ด้านความเป็นส่วนตัวและประสบการณ์ใช้งานที่ง่าย BitVM เปิดแนวทางใหม่ให้บิตคอยน์รองรับ smart contract ได้ในระดับ Turing-complete ซึ่งทำให้เกิดความเป็นไปได้ในกรณีใช้งานอีกมากมาย และเทคโนโลยีที่น่าสนใจอย่าง Taproot Assets, Cashu และ Fedimint ก็ทำให้การออกโทเคนหรือสกุลเงินที่อิงกับบิตคอยน์เป็นจริงได้บนโครงสร้างของบิตคอยน์เอง
เทคโนโลยีเหล่านี้ไม่ใช่การเติบโตแบบปาฏิหาริย์ แต่มันคืบหน้าอย่างต่อเนื่องและมั่นคง และนั่นคือเหตุผลที่มันจะ “อยู่รอด” ได้ในระยะยาว เมื่อฐานของความน่าเชื่อถือไม่ใช่บริษัท รัฐบาล หรือทุน แต่คือสิ่งที่ตรวจสอบได้และเปลี่ยนกฎไม่ได้
แน่นอนว่าบิตคอยน์ต้องแข่งขันกับ stable coin, เงินดิจิทัลของรัฐ และ cryptocurrency อื่น ๆ แต่สิ่งที่ทำให้มันเหนือกว่านั้นไม่ใช่ฟีเจอร์ หากแต่เป็นความทนทาน และความมั่นคงของกฎที่ไม่มีใครเปลี่ยนได้ ไม่มีทีมพัฒนา ไม่มีบริษัท ไม่มีประตูปิด หรือการยึดบัญชี มันยืนอยู่บนคณิตศาสตร์ พลังงาน และเวลา
หลายกรณีใช้งานที่เคยถูกทดลองในโลกคริปโตจะค่อย ๆ เคลื่อนเข้ามาสู่บิตคอยน์ เพราะโครงสร้างของมันแข็งแกร่งกว่า ไม่ต้องการทีมพัฒนาแกนกลาง ไม่ต้องพึ่งกลไกเสี่ยงต่อการผูกขาด และไม่ต้องการ “ความเชื่อใจ” จากใครเลย
Bitcoin Standard ที่ผมพูดถึงจึงไม่ใช่การเปลี่ยนแปลงแบบพลิกหน้ามือเป็นหลังมือ แต่คือการ “เปลี่ยนฐานของระบบ” ทีละชั้น ระบบการเงินใหม่ที่อิงอยู่กับบิตคอยน์กำลังเกิดขึ้นแล้ว มันไม่ใช่โลกที่ทุกคนถือเหรียญบิตคอยน์ แต่มันคือโลกที่คนใช้อาจไม่รู้ตัวด้วยซ้ำว่า “สิ่งที่เขาใช้นั้นอิงอยู่กับบิตคอยน์”
ผู้คนอาจใช้เงินดิจิทัลที่สร้างบน Layer 3 หรือ Layer 4 ผ่านแอป ผ่านแพลตฟอร์ม หรือผ่านสกุลเงินใหม่ที่ดูไม่ต่างจากเดิม แต่เบื้องหลังของระบบจะผูกไว้กับบิตคอยน์
และถ้ามองในเชิงพัฒนาการ บิตคอยน์ก็เหมือนกับอินเทอร์เน็ต ครั้งหนึ่งอินเทอร์เน็ตก็ถูกมองว่าเข้าใจยาก ต้องพิมพ์ http ต้องรู้จัก TCP/IP ต้องตั้ง proxy เอง แต่ปัจจุบันผู้คนใช้งานอินเทอร์เน็ตโดยไม่รู้ว่าเบื้องหลังมีอะไรเลย บิตคอยน์กำลังเดินตามเส้นทางเดียวกัน โปรโตคอลกำลังถอยออกจากสายตา และวันหนึ่งเราจะ “ใช้มัน” โดยไม่ต้องรู้ว่ามันคืออะไร
หากนับจากช่วงเริ่มต้นของอินเทอร์เน็ตในยุค 1990 จนกลายเป็นโครงสร้างหลักของโลกในสองทศวรรษ เส้นเวลาของบิตคอยน์ก็กำลังเดินตามรอยเท้าของอินเทอร์เน็ต และถ้าเราเชื่อว่าวัฏจักรของเทคโนโลยีมีจังหวะของมันเอง เราก็จะรู้ว่า Bitcoin Standard นั้นไม่ใช่เรื่องของอนาคตไกลโพ้น แต่มันเกิดขึ้นแล้ว
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-09 23:10:14I. Historical Foundations of U.S. Monetary Architecture
The early monetary system of the United States was built atop inherited commodity money conventions from Europe’s maritime economies. Silver and gold coins—primarily Spanish pieces of eight, Dutch guilders, and other foreign specie—formed the basis of colonial commerce. These units were already integrated into international trade and piracy networks and functioned with natural compatibility across England, France, Spain, and Denmark. Lacking a centralized mint or formal currency, the U.S. adopted these forms de facto.
As security risks and the practical constraints of physical coinage mounted, banks emerged to warehouse specie and issue redeemable certificates. These certificates evolved into fiduciary media—claims on specie not actually in hand. Banks observed over time that substantial portions of reserves remained unclaimed for years. This enabled fractional reserve banking: issuing more claims than reserves held, so long as redemption demand stayed low. The practice was inherently unstable, prone to panics and bank runs, prompting eventual centralization through the formation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.
Following the Civil War and unstable reinstatements of gold convertibility, the U.S. sought global monetary stability. After World War II, the Bretton Woods system formalized the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency. The dollar was nominally backed by gold, but most international dollars were held offshore and recycled into U.S. Treasuries. The Nixon Shock of 1971 eliminated the gold peg, converting the dollar into pure fiat. Yet offshore dollar demand remained, sustained by oil trade mandates and the unique role of Treasuries as global reserve assets.
II. The Structure of Fiduciary Media and Treasury Demand
Under this system, foreign trade surpluses with the U.S. generate excess dollars. These surplus dollars are parked in U.S. Treasuries, thereby recycling trade imbalances into U.S. fiscal liquidity. While technically loans to the U.S. government, these purchases act like interest-only transfers—governments receive yield, and the U.S. receives spendable liquidity without principal repayment due in the short term. Debt is perpetually rolled over, rarely extinguished.
This creates an illusion of global subsidy: U.S. deficits are financed via foreign capital inflows that, in practice, function more like financial tribute systems than conventional debt markets. The underlying asset—U.S. Treasury debt—functions as the base reserve asset of the dollar system, replacing gold in post-Bretton Woods monetary logic.
III. Emergence of Tether and the Parastatal Dollar
Tether (USDT), as a private issuer of dollar-denominated tokens, mimics key central bank behaviors while operating outside the regulatory perimeter. It mints tokens allegedly backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars or dollar-denominated securities (mostly Treasuries). These tokens circulate globally, often in jurisdictions with limited banking access, and increasingly serve as synthetic dollar substitutes.
If USDT gains dominance as the preferred medium of exchange—due to technological advantages, speed, programmability, or access—it displaces Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) not through devaluation, but through functional obsolescence. Gresham’s Law inverts: good money (more liquid, programmable, globally transferable USDT) displaces bad (FRNs) even if both maintain a nominal 1:1 parity.
Over time, this preference translates to a systemic demand shift. Actors increasingly use Tether instead of FRNs, especially in global commerce, digital marketplaces, or decentralized finance. Tether tokens effectively become shadow base money.
IV. Interaction with Commercial Banking and Redemption Mechanics
Under traditional fractional reserve systems, commercial banks issue loans denominated in U.S. dollars, expanding the money supply. When borrowers repay loans, this destroys the created dollars and contracts monetary elasticity. If borrowers repay in USDT instead of FRNs:
- Banks receive a non-Fed liability (USDT).
- USDT is not recognized as reserve-eligible within the Federal Reserve System.
- Banks must either redeem USDT for FRNs, or demand par-value conversion from Tether to settle reserve requirements and balance their books.
This places redemption pressure on Tether and threatens its 1:1 peg under stress. If redemption latency, friction, or cost arises, USDT’s equivalence to FRNs is compromised. Conversely, if banks are permitted or compelled to hold USDT as reserve or regulatory capital, Tether becomes a de facto reserve issuer.
In this scenario, banks may begin demanding loans in USDT, mirroring borrower behavior. For this to occur sustainably, banks must secure Tether liquidity. This creates two options: - Purchase USDT from Tether or on the secondary market, collateralized by existing fiat. - Borrow USDT directly from Tether, using bank-issued debt as collateral.
The latter mirrors Federal Reserve discount window operations. Tether becomes a lender of first resort, providing monetary elasticity to the banking system by creating new tokens against promissory assets—exactly how central banks function.
V. Structural Consequences: Parallel Central Banking
If Tether begins lending to commercial banks, issuing tokens backed by bank notes or collateralized debt obligations: - Tether controls the expansion of broad money through credit issuance. - Its balance sheet mimics a central bank, with Treasuries and bank debt as assets and tokens as liabilities. - It intermediates between sovereign debt and global liquidity demand, replacing the Federal Reserve’s open market operations with its own issuance-redemption cycles.
Simultaneously, if Tether purchases U.S. Treasuries with FRNs received through token issuance, it: - Supplies the Treasury with new liquidity (via bond purchases). - Collects yield on government debt. - Issues a parallel form of U.S. dollars that never require redemption—an interest-only loan to the U.S. government from a non-sovereign entity.
In this context, Tether performs monetary functions of both a central bank and a sovereign wealth fund, without political accountability or regulatory transparency.
VI. Endgame: Institutional Inversion and Fed Redundancy
This paradigm represents an institutional inversion:
- The Federal Reserve becomes a legacy issuer.
- Tether becomes the operational base money provider in both retail and interbank contexts.
- Treasuries remain the foundational reserve asset, but access to them is mediated by a private intermediary.
- The dollar persists, but its issuer changes. The State becomes a fiscal agent of a decentralized financial ecosystem, not its monetary sovereign.
Unless the Federal Reserve reasserts control—either by absorbing Tether, outlawing its instruments, or integrating its tokens into the reserve framework—it risks becoming irrelevant in the daily function of money.
Tether, in this configuration, is no longer a derivative of the dollar—it is the dollar, just one level removed from sovereign control. The future of monetary sovereignty under such a regime is post-national and platform-mediated.
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@ 5f078e90:b2bacaa3
2025-05-15 19:59:08Owl’s One-Legged Vigil
The vigil, one leg style
In a misty grove, Sylas the owl perched on a gnarled oak, standing on one leg. His golden eyes scanned the night. Why one leg? A vow to honor his lost mate, taken by a hawk. Each dusk, Sylas balanced, unwavering, as stars wheeled above. His silent stance drew the forest’s gaze—squirrels paused, deer bowed. One moonlit night, a young owl mimicked him, sparking hope. Sylas’s vigil became legend, a beacon of resilience.
Owl’s One-Legged Vigil: Part Two
Part 2
In the misty grove, Sylas stood on one leg, his vigil unbroken. The young owl, inspired, joined nightly, mimicking his stance. Word spread—foxes whispered, ravens cawed. Sylas’s balance was no mere feat; it was defiance against loss. One stormy dusk, winds howled, yet Sylas held firm, his single leg rooted. The young owl faltered but watched in awe. Moonlight pierced the clouds, bathing them in silver. Sylas hooted softly, a call of endurance. The grove’s creatures gathered, drawn by his resolve. A wise badger spoke: “Your vigil heals us.” The young owl, now named Lark, vowed to carry Sylas’s legacy. As dawn broke, Sylas stretched both legs, his vow fulfilled. He flew with Lark, their wings brushing the sky. The grove thrived, united by his stand. Sylas’s one-legged vigil became a tale of hope, etched in every tree.
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-05-09 13:56:57Someone asked for my thoughts, so I’ll share them thoughtfully. I’m not here to dictate how to promote Nostr—I’m still learning about it myself. While I’m not new to Nostr, freedom tech is a newer space for me. I’m skilled at advocating for topics I deeply understand, but freedom tech isn’t my expertise, so take my words with a grain of salt. Nothing I say is set in stone.
Those who need Nostr the most are the ones most vulnerable to censorship on other platforms right now. Reaching them requires real-time awareness of global issues and the dynamic relationships between governments and tech providers, which can shift suddenly. Effective Nostr promoters must grasp this and adapt quickly.
The best messengers are people from or closely tied to these at-risk regions—those who truly understand the local political and cultural dynamics. They can connect with those in need when tensions rise. Ideal promoters are rational, trustworthy, passionate about Nostr, but above all, dedicated to amplifying people’s voices when it matters most.
Forget influencers, corporate-backed figures, or traditional online PR—it comes off as inauthentic, corny, desperate and forced. Nostr’s promotion should be grassroots and organic, driven by a few passionate individuals who believe in Nostr and the communities they serve.
The idea that “people won’t join Nostr due to lack of reach” is nonsense. Everyone knows X’s “reach” is mostly with bots. If humans want real conversations, Nostr is the place. X is great for propaganda, but Nostr is for the authentic voices of the people.
Those spreading Nostr must be so passionate they’re willing to onboard others, which is time-consuming but rewarding for the right person. They’ll need to make Nostr and onboarding a core part of who they are. I see no issue with that level of dedication. I’ve been known to get that way myself at times. It’s fun for some folks.
With love, I suggest not adding Bitcoin promotion with Nostr outreach. Zaps already integrate that element naturally. (Still promote within the Bitcoin ecosystem, but this is about reaching vulnerable voices who needed Nostr yesterday.)
To promote Nostr, forget conventional strategies. “Influencers” aren’t the answer. “Influencers” are not the future. A trusted local community member has real influence—reach them. Connect with people seeking Nostr’s benefits but lacking the technical language to express it. This means some in the Nostr community might need to step outside of the Bitcoin bubble, which is uncomfortable but necessary. Thank you in advance to those who are willing to do that.
I don’t know who is paid to promote Nostr, if anyone. This piece isn’t shade. But it’s exhausting to see innocent voices globally silenced on corporate platforms like X while Nostr exists. Last night, I wondered: how many more voices must be censored before the Nostr community gets uncomfortable and thinks creatively to reach the vulnerable?
A warning: the global need for censorship-resistant social media is undeniable. If Nostr doesn’t make itself known, something else will fill that void. Let’s start this conversation.
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@ 2ed3596e:98b4cc78
2025-05-15 18:25:25Bitcoiners, the Bitcoin Well point store just got even better.
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The Bitaxe is a modern mining ASIC, but small enough to fit on your desk.
Like Bitcoin itself, Bitaxe is fully open-source, you can inspect, modify, and enhance the hardware and software. Bitaxes are super user friendly and are built to be customized, making a Bitaxe an incredible educational tool.
The Bitaxe is ideal for Bitcoiners who want to contribute to Bitcoin’s decentralization while also learning, first hand, what goes into the Bitcoin mining process. Who knows, you might even stumble into a block reward!
Now, you can exchange your points for a quiet, cool, low power miner that you can run yourself, at home.
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@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a
2025-05-05 15:26:08I remember the first gathering of Nostr devs two years ago in Costa Rica. We were all psyched because Nostr appeared to solve the problem of self-sovereign online identity and decentralized publishing. The protocol seemed well-suited for textual content, but it wasn't really designed to handle binary files, like images or video.
The Problem
When I publish a note that contains an image link, the note itself is resilient thanks to Nostr, but if the hosting service disappears or takes my image down, my note will be broken forever. We need a way to publish binary data without relying on a single hosting provider.
We were discussing how there really was no reliable solution to this problem even outside of Nostr. Peer-to-peer attempts like IPFS simply didn't work; they were hopelessly slow and unreliable in practice. Torrents worked for popular files like movies, but couldn't be relied on for general file hosting.
Awesome Blossom
A year later, I attended the Sovereign Engineering demo day in Madeira, organized by Pablo and Gigi. Many projects were presented over a three hour demo session that day, but one really stood out for me.
Introduced by hzrd149 and Stu Bowman, Blossom blew my mind because it showed how we can solve complex problems easily by simply relying on the fact that Nostr exists. Having an open user directory, with the corresponding social graph and web of trust is an incredible building block.
Since we can easily look up any user on Nostr and read their profile metadata, we can just get them to simply tell us where their files are stored. This, combined with hash-based addressing (borrowed from IPFS), is all we need to solve our problem.
How Blossom Works
The Blossom protocol (Blobs Stored Simply on Mediaservers) is formally defined in a series of BUDs (Blossom Upgrade Documents). Yes, Blossom is the most well-branded protocol in the history of protocols. Feel free to refer to the spec for details, but I will provide a high level explanation here.
The main idea behind Blossom can be summarized in three points:
- Users specify which media server(s) they use via their public Blossom settings published on Nostr;
- All files are uniquely addressable via hashes;
- If an app fails to load a file from the original URL, it simply goes to get it from the server(s) specified in the user's Blossom settings.
Just like Nostr itself, the Blossom protocol is dead-simple and it works!
Let's use this image as an example:
If you look at the URL for this image, you will notice that it looks like this:
blossom.primal.net/c1aa63f983a44185d039092912bfb7f33adcf63ed3cae371ebe6905da5f688d0.jpg
All Blossom URLs follow this format:
[server]/[file-hash].[extension]
The file hash is important because it uniquely identifies the file in question. Apps can use it to verify that the file they received is exactly the file they requested. It also gives us the ability to reliably get the same file from a different server.
Nostr users declare which media server(s) they use by publishing their Blossom settings. If I store my files on Server A, and they get removed, I can simply upload them to Server B, update my public Blossom settings, and all Blossom-capable apps will be able to find them at the new location. All my existing notes will continue to display media content without any issues.
Blossom Mirroring
Let's face it, re-uploading files to another server after they got removed from the original server is not the best user experience. Most people wouldn't have the backups of all the files, and/or the desire to do this work.
This is where Blossom's mirroring feature comes handy. In addition to the primary media server, a Blossom user can set one one or more mirror servers. Under this setup, every time a file is uploaded to the primary server the Nostr app issues a mirror request to the primary server, directing it to copy the file to all the specified mirrors. This way there is always a copy of all content on multiple servers and in case the primary becomes unavailable, Blossom-capable apps will automatically start loading from the mirror.
Mirrors are really easy to setup (you can do it in two clicks in Primal) and this arrangement ensures robust media handling without any central points of failure. Note that you can use professional media hosting services side by side with self-hosted backup servers that anyone can run at home.
Using Blossom Within Primal
Blossom is natively integrated into the entire Primal stack and enabled by default. If you are using Primal 2.2 or later, you don't need to do anything to enable Blossom, all your media uploads are blossoming already.
To enhance user privacy, all Primal apps use the "/media" endpoint per BUD-05, which strips all metadata from uploaded files before they are saved and optionally mirrored to other Blossom servers, per user settings. You can use any Blossom server as your primary media server in Primal, as well as setup any number of mirrors:
## Conclusion
For such a simple protocol, Blossom gives us three major benefits:
- Verifiable authenticity. All Nostr notes are always signed by the note author. With Blossom, the signed note includes a unique hash for each referenced media file, making it impossible to falsify a media file and maliciously ascribe it to the note author.
- File hosting redundancy. Having multiple live copies of referenced media files (via Blossom mirroring) greatly increases the resiliency of media content published on Nostr.
- Censorship resistance. Blossom enables us to seamlessly switch media hosting providers in case of censorship.
Thanks for reading; and enjoy! 🌸
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@ bbef5093:71228592
2025-05-15 17:18:25USA és Szaúd-Arábia együttműködik a nukleáris energiában, beleértve a fejlett reaktorokat is
Az Egyesült Államok és Szaúd-Arábia 2025. május 13-án Rijádban aláírt egy energiaügyi és kritikus ásványi anyagokra vonatkozó együttműködési megállapodást, amelynek részeként a polgári nukleáris energia területén is kijelölték az együttműködés főbb területeit. Az USA Energiaügyi Minisztériuma szerint a kooperáció kiterjed a biztonságra, védelmi és non-proliferációs programokra, az amerikai III+ generációs fejlett nagy reaktortechnológiákra és kis moduláris reaktorokra, valamint az uránkutatásra, bányászatra és feldolgozásra.
További területek a szakképzés, munkaerő-fejlesztés és a nukleáris hulladékkezelés. Chris Wright energiaügyi miniszter szerint ezek a megállapodások erős partnerséget teremtenek, amelyek biztosítják Donald Trump elnök „belföldi jólét és külföldi béke” víziójának megvalósulását. Trump első jelentős külföldi útján látogat Szaúd-Arábiába és más arab országokba második elnöki ciklusában. Wright az energiaügyi együttműködési megállapodást Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud szaúdi energiaügyi miniszterrel írta alá. Az USA szerint a megállapodás célja az innováció, fejlesztés és az energetikai infrastruktúra kiépítésének lehetőségeinek feltárása a két országban.
Az USA és Szaúd-Arábia tárgyalásokat folytat a királyság polgári nukleáris iparának fejlesztéséről, de a tárgyalásokat régiós politikai kérdések és a fegyverkezési aggodalmak bonyolítják. Wright múlt hónapban azt mondta, várhatóan előzetes megállapodást írnak alá, és Rijád valamint Washington „úton van” egy közös szaúdi polgári nukleáris program kidolgozásához. „Az USA részvételéhez és partnerségéhez mindenképp szükség lesz egy 123-as megállapodásra... sokféleképpen lehet úgy szerződni, hogy az megfeleljen mind a szaúdi, mind az amerikai céloknak” – mondta Wright.
A 123-as megállapodás útja
Az úgynevezett 123-as megállapodás az USA 1954-es Atomenergia-törvényének 123. szakaszára utal, amely szükséges ahhoz, hogy az amerikai kormány és cégek együtt dolgozhassanak a királyság entitásaival polgári nukleáris ipar fejlesztésén. Wright szerint a szaúdi hatóságok még nem egyeztek bele a törvény által előírt feltételekbe, amely kilenc non-proliferációs kritériumot határoz meg annak érdekében, hogy az adott állam ne használhassa fel a technológiát nukleáris fegyverek fejlesztésére, vagy ne adhassa át érzékeny anyagokat másoknak.
A tárgyalások eddig azért is akadoztak, mert Szaúd-Arábia nem akarta kizárni az urándúsítás vagy a kiégett fűtőelemek újrafeldolgozásának lehetőségét – mindkettő potenciális út egy atombomba felé. Mohamed bin Szalmán koronaherceg régóta hangoztatja, hogy ha Irán nukleáris fegyvert fejleszt, Szaúd-Arábia is követni fogja. A világ legnagyobb olajexportőre, Szaúd-Arábia jelentős megújuló energia előállítására és kibocsátáscsökkentésre törekszik a koronaherceg Vision 2030 reformprogramja keretében, amelyben a nukleáris energia is szerepet kap.
2022-ben Szaúd-Arábia létrehozta a Nemzeti Nukleáris Energia Társaságot, hogy fejlessze és üzemeltesse a nukleáris létesítményeket. A királyság akkor kezdte meg az első atomerőművi engedélyeztetési folyamatot, amely a hírek szerint mintegy 14 milliárd dollárba (12,2 milliárd euróba) kerülhet. Helyi média szerint a tervezett atomerőmű kapacitása 2800 GW lesz. Korábbi jelentések szerint Dél-Korea, Franciaország, Kína és Oroszország is adott be ajánlatot, de ezt hivatalosan nem erősítették meg.
Tajvan: Az utolsó atomerőmű bezárására készülve módosítják a törvényt
Tajvan parlamentje elfogadott egy módosítást a nukleáris energia törvényében, amely lehetővé teszi az üzemeltetők számára, hogy a jelenlegi 40 éves korlátozáson túl további 20 évre hosszabbítsák meg az atomerőművi engedélyeket, így akár 60 évig is működhet egy reaktor. Az állami Central News Agency szerint a módosítást az ellenzéki Kuomintang és a Tajvani Néppárt támogatta, 60 igen és 51 nem szavazattal, a kormányzó Demokratikus Progresszív Párt ellenében.
A javaslat célja a nukleáris energia újbóli bevonása Tajvan energiastratégiájába. A Nukleáris Biztonsági Tanács szerint minden hosszabbítási kérelemnek meg kell felelnie a nemzetközi szabványoknak, és alapos műszaki és jogi értékelésen kell átesnie. A lépésre azután kerül sor, hogy a kormány a hétvégén véglegesen bezárja a Maanshan-2 atomerőművet Pingtung megyében, ezzel teljesítve Tajvan nukleárismentességi ígéretét.
Kuo Jyh-huei gazdasági miniszter megerősítette, hogy a Maanshan-2 hosszabbítása akár 18 hónapot is igénybe vehet. A kormány szerint a módosítás nem változtatja meg a Maanshan-2 bezárásának tervét. 2024 júliusában a Taipower állami vállalat leállította a Maanshan-1 atomerőművet, így az országban már csak egy reaktor, a Maanshan-2 maradt üzemben.
A sziget energiaigénye – főként a félvezetőipar miatt – gyorsan nő, ami újraéleszti a nukleáris energia körüli vitát. A gazdasági minisztérium szerint az ország villamosenergia-szükséglete 2030-ra várhatóan 12-13%-kal nő, főként a mesterséges intelligencia (AI) iparág fellendülése miatt. A Greenpeace szerint a világ legnagyobb chipgyártója, a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 2030-ra önmagában annyi áramot fog fogyasztani, mint a sziget 23 milliós lakosságának negyede.
Az energiaéhség nehezíti Tajpej 2050-re kitűzött nettó zéró kibocsátási vállalását, amely nagyrészt a megújuló energia részarányának 60-70%-ra emelésén alapul a jelenlegi 12%-ról. A nukleáris energia támogatói szerint ez a legéletképesebb módja Tajvan ipari és környezetvédelmi céljainak összehangolására. 2023-ban a nukleáris energia a tajvani villamosenergia-termelés 6,9%-át adta, míg a fő energiaforrások a szén és a cseppfolyósított földgáz voltak. A Maanshan-1 bezárásával a nukleáris energia aránya 2,8%-ra csökken.
Egykor hat reaktor biztosította Tajvan áramellátásának több mint felét.
„Nagyon nyitottak” az új nukleáris technológiára
Tavaly év végén Cho Jung-tai tajvani miniszterelnök kijelentette, hogy az ország „nagyon nyitott” az új nukleáris technológiák alkalmazására, hogy kielégítse a chipgyártók és az AI ipar növekvő áramigényét. „Amíg konszenzus van a nukleáris biztonságról és megfelelő garanciák vannak a hulladékkezelésre, nyilvános vitát lehet folytatni” – mondta Cho a Bloombergnek adott interjúban. Ez az egyik legerősebb jele annak, hogy a kormány újragondolja a kereskedelmi atomerőművekkel szembeni ellenállását.
Cho vélhetően fejlett reaktorokra, köztük kis moduláris reaktorokra (SMR) utalt, amelyeket számos országban fejlesztenek. Tajvan Nemzeti Atomkutató Intézete a héten indított egy 3,3 millió dolláros SMR kutatási projektet, amely utat nyithat a fejlett nukleáris reaktorok bevezetése előtt.
Új építés
Az amerikai EnergySolutions megkezdi a fejlett nukleáris projektek tervezését a wisconsini Kewaunee atomerőmű helyszínén. A cég a WEC Energy Grouppal együttműködve vizsgálja az új nukleáris termelés lehetőségét a helyszínen, és most helyszíni és környezeti tanulmányokat indít az NRC engedélyek megszerzése érdekében.
Ken Robuck, az EnergySolutions elnök-vezérigazgatója szerint az adatközpontok, a mesterséges intelligencia és az ipari növekedés által hajtott energiaigény miatt soha nem volt még ekkora szükség megbízható, szén-dioxid-mentes energiára. Az EnergySolutions 2022-ben vásárolta meg a 2013-ban leállított, jelenleg leszerelés alatt álló Kewaunee erőművet. Wisconsin egyetlen működő atomerőműve a Point Beach, amely az állam villamosenergia-termelésének 16,5%-át adja.
Elemzés: A brit nukleáris munkaerőnek „jelentősen” bővülnie kell
Az Egyesült Királyságban a kormány és az iparág közös szervezete, a Destination Nuclear sikeresen vonzza a szükséges szakembereket a nukleáris tervekhez, de figyelmeztet, hogy a munkaerőnek „jelentősen” bővülnie kell. Az országban jelenleg 96 000 fő dolgozik a nukleáris szektorban, de 2030-ra 120 000-re lesz szükség, vagyis hat év alatt 24 000 fővel kell bővíteni az állományt.
A program célja, hogy a civil és védelmi nukleáris szektorban is vonzóvá tegye a pályát, különös tekintettel a kritikus készségekre, például a hegesztésre, biztonsági mérnökökre, projekttervezőkre és sugárvédelmi szakemberekre. A kampány digitális hirdetésekkel, on-demand TV-n (pl. Netflix), és az online Minecraft játékon keresztül is igyekszik elérni a potenciális munkavállalókat. Az első eredmények szerint 52%-kal nőtt azok aránya, akik korábban nem gondoltak a nukleáris pályára, de most már fontolóra veszik. A szektor már most is több tízezer munkahelyet biztosít, és 2050-re akár 70 milliárd fonttal járulhat hozzá a brit gazdasághoz.
Egyéb hírek röviden
- Kanada: Az NWMO öt céget választott ki az első mély geológiai tároló tervezésére és kivitelezésére.
- Deep Atomic és Future-tech: Új programot indítottak nukleáris adatközpontok helyszínértékelésére.
- Urenco Isotopes: Üzembe helyezte legújabb izotóp-dúsító berendezését, a Blaise Pascalt.
- IAEA: Május 21-én webináriumot tart a nukleáris fúzió gyorsításáról, különös tekintettel a technológiai és ellátási láncok összehangolására.
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@ 378562cd:a6fc6773
2025-05-15 17:41:56Not everything broken makes a loud sound.\ \ Some addictions don’t crash through your life like a wrecking ball.\ They slip in quietly… as habits, comforts, little things you reach for when the world gets too sharp.
Maybe it’s the drink, the screen, the secret you’ve never spoken out loud.\ Maybe it’s just the constant ache of feeling not-enough… and trying to cover that feeling any way you can.
Whatever it is, if you're reading this, and you’re tired… that’s okay. Tired doesn’t mean you’re failing. Tired often means you're ready.
Healing starts small. It doesn’t need drama. It doesn’t require perfection. It just needs willingness, even a crack of it.
Here’s what I know:
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You don’t have to be strong every day. You just have to be honest today. Honesty with yourself is the real starting line.
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You’re not weak because you struggle. In fact, noticing the struggle is a strength many never reach.
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The soul wants peace. Your heart already knows what’s hurting you, and it’s been whispering the way forward. Start listening.
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You can begin again. Not tomorrow. Not “after one more time.” Right now. It can be as simple as a walk, a glass of water, a phone call, or a deep breath and a prayer whispered into the quiet.
There is no shame in the reaching.\ There is only growth in the choosing.\ Even if it’s the 5th or 500th time.
You weren’t made to live trapped in a loop. You were made for light.\ For joy.\ For a real connection.\ For the freedom that doesn’t need to be earned, just received.
Some call that faith.\ Some call it grace.\ Some call it hope.
Whatever you call it, it’s waiting for you not on the other side of healing, but right here in the middle of your mess.
You are not too far gone.\ You are not too broken.\ You are still becoming.\ And that’s a beautiful thing.
Start small. Be gentle. Don’t give up.
I’m rooting for you.
--> JC
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@ 58537364:705b4b85
2025-05-15 16:27:52วันนี้เป็นวันสำคัญทางศาสนา มีการจัดงานบุญพร้อมกับฟังเทศน์อย่างยิ่งใหญ่ "ชายคนหนึ่ง" ได้มานั่งฟังธรรมอยู่บนศาลาวัด ในขณะที่นั่งฟังอยู่นั้นสายตาก็เหลือบไปเห็นคนกำลังตกปลาอยู่ในบ่อน้ำที่วัด แล้วก็นั่งคิดบ่นด่าคนตกปลาอยู่ในใจว่าทำไมถึงทำเช่นนั้น ในวัดแท้ๆ ยังกล้ามาจับปลา ไม่กลัวบาปกรรมบ้างเลยหรืออย่างไร แต่แทนที่ชายคนนี้มานั่งฟังธรรมจะได้บุญ กลับเอาจิตไปด่าทอผู้อื่นอยู่ตลอดเวลา
ในขณะเดียวกัน “คนตกปลา” ก็มองเห็นคนที่มานั่งฟังธรรมบนศาลาวัด ใจก็ตั้งจิตขออนุโมทนาบุญ เพราะผมมันเป็นคนบาป ไม่มีโอกาสได้ไปนั่งฟังธรรมกับคนอื่นเขา ต้องเอาเวลามาตกปลาเลี้ยงชีพ เลี้ยงดูพ่อแม่ที่ป่วยหนัก เพราะเกิดมาจนจึงไม่มีวาสนาสร้างบุญแบบคนอื่น หากเกิดชาติหน้า ก็ขอให้มีโอกาสได้สร้างบุญเหมือนแบบท่านๆที่ได้นั่งฟังธรรมอยู่ด้วยเถิด เกิดมาชาตินี้มีกรรมหนัก ต้องชดใช้กรรมที่ก่อไว้ ปลาที่มาติดเบ็ดก็ขออย่าได้จองเวรกันเลย
ถึงแม้คนตกปลาจะกำลังตกปลาอยู่ แต่จิตก็เอาแต่ภาวนาสาธุไปกับคนที่ฟังธรรม และขออโหสิกรรมปลาตลอด ที่นี้ทุกคนเข้าใจหรือยังว่า ทำไมคนฟังธรรมถึงตกนรก คนตกปลาได้ขึ้นสวรรค์
ความหมายของ “กรรมดี” และ “กรรมชั่ว” มาจากเจตนา การมีเจตนาที่ประกอบด้วยกุศล คือ กรรมดี แต่การมีเจตนาที่ประกอบด้วยอกุศล คือ กรรมชั่ว อย่างชายที่ไปนั่งฟังธรรม ก็หลงคิดว่าตัวเองกำลังทำดีอยู่ แล้วก็เอาแต่มองคนอื่นที่ไม่ทำแบบตัวเองว่าเป็นคนไม่ดี ในใจก็เอาแต่ ด่าทอ คิดร้าย ต่างๆนาๆ ในขณะที่คนตกปลา มีแต่เจตนาที่ดีต่อผู้อื่น เห็นผู้อื่นทำความดี ก็ยินดีด้วยเสมอ
การปฏิบัติธรรม เป็นการฝึกจิตให้สงบ เพื่อพัฒนาจิตของตนเองให้สูงขึ้น ไม่ใช่เอาไว้ไปข่มคนอื่นให้ดูต่ำลง เพราะสุดท้ายแล้วคนที่ทำแบบนี้ ย่อมต่ำกว่า เจ้าสวดมนต์แต่ยัง “นินทา“ เจ้าทำทานแต่ยัง ”เอาเปรียบ“ เจ้ามีความรู้แต่ชอบ ”ดูถูกคน“ เจ้าตัวสะอาดแต่ ”ใจสกปรก“ เจ้าอยากได้มิตรแท้ แต่… ”เจ้ากลับเป็นมิตรเทียม“ เจ้าบอกทำกุศล แต่… ”หมายเอาชื่อเสียง“ เจ้ามีทุกสิ่ง แต่… ”ไม่คิดแบ่งปัน “ เจ้าดูแลคนอื่น แต่… ”ละเลยพ่อแม่ “ เจ้างดเนื้อสัตว์ แต่… ”ข่มเหง ” เพื่อนมนุษย์ เจ้าหาตัวเองไม่เจอ แต่… “กรรม ” หาเจ้าเจอ
พระไพศาล วิสาโล ได้บอกถึงพฤติกรรมที่คนเหล่านี้เป็น นั่นเพราะว่า “เหมือนในสังคมทุกวันนี้ ที่ชอบทำบุญ แต่กลับไร้น้ำใจ ทั้งๆที่การมีน้ำใจต่อเพื่อนมนุษย์ เป็นสิ่งที่ทำได้ง่ายในชีวิตประจำวัน แต่บางคนกลับดั้นด้นเดินทางไปไกลๆ เพื่อที่จะไปทำบุญที่วัดอย่างเดียว แต่กับคนทุกข์ยากใกล้ตัว ไม่เคยแม้แต่จะเหลียวแลยื่นมือช่วย นั่นเป็นเพราะว่าคนเรา มักจะชอบกระทำต่อสิ่งที่อยู่สูงกว่าตน เช่น พระสงฆ์ วัดวาอาราม แต่กลับละเลยสิ่งที่คิดว่าอยู่ต่ำกว่าตนเอง เช่น คน ยากจน หรือ สัตว์น้อยใหญ่”
เมตตาค้ำจุนโลก
Cr: คู่มือมนุษย์
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@ 2183e947:f497b975
2025-05-01 22:33:48Most darknet markets (DNMs) are designed poorly in the following ways:
1. Hosting
Most DNMs use a model whereby merchants fill out a form to create their listings, and the data they submit then gets hosted on the DNM's servers. In scenarios where a "legal" website would be forced to censor that content (e.g. a DMCA takedown order), DNMs, of course, do not obey. This can lead to authorities trying to find the DNM's servers to take enforcement actions against them. This design creates a single point of failure.
A better design is to outsource hosting to third parties. Let merchants host their listings on nostr relays, not on the DNM's server. The DNM should only be designed as an open source interface for exploring listings hosted elsewhere, that way takedown orders end up with the people who actually host the listings, i.e. with nostr relays, and not with the DNM itself. And if a nostr relay DOES go down due to enforcement action, it does not significantly affect the DNM -- they'll just stop querying for listings from that relay in their next software update, because that relay doesn't work anymore, and only query for listings from relays that still work.
2. Moderation
Most DNMs have employees who curate the listings on the DNM. For example, they approve/deny listings depending on whether they fit the content policies of the website. Some DNMs are only for drugs, others are only for firearms. The problem is, to approve a criminal listing is, in the eyes of law enforcement, an act of conspiracy. Consequently, they don't just go after the merchant who made the listing but the moderators who approved it, and since the moderators typically act under the direction of the DNM, this means the police go after the DNM itself.
A better design is to outsource moderation to third parties. Let anyone call themselves a moderator and create lists of approved goods and services. Merchants can pay the most popular third party moderators to add their products to their lists. The DNM itself just lets its users pick which moderators to use, such that the user's choice -- and not a choice by the DNM -- determines what goods and services the user sees in the interface.
That way, the police go after the moderators and merchants rather than the DNM itself, which is basically just a web browser: it doesn't host anything or approve of any content, it just shows what its users tell it to show. And if a popular moderator gets arrested, his list will still work for a while, but will gradually get more and more outdated, leading someone else to eventually become the new most popular moderator, and a natural transition can occur.
3. Escrow
Most DNMs offer an escrow solution whereby users do not pay merchants directly. Rather, during the Checkout process, they put their money in escrow, and request the DNM to release it to the merchant when the product arrives, otherwise they initiate a dispute. Most DNMs consider escrow necessary because DNM users and merchants do not trust one another; users don't want to pay for a product first and then discover that the merchant never ships it, and merchants don't want to ship a product first and then discover that the user never pays for it.
The problem is, running an escrow solution for criminals is almost certain to get you accused of conspiracy, money laundering, and unlicensed money transmission, so the police are likely to shut down any DNM that does this. A better design is to oursource escrow to third parties. Let anyone call themselves an escrow, and let moderators approve escrows just like they approve listings. A merchant or user who doesn't trust the escrows chosen by a given moderator can just pick a different moderator. That way, the police go after the third party escrows rather than the DNM itself, which never touches user funds.
4. Consequences
Designing a DNM along these principles has an interesting consequence: the DNM is no longer anything but an interface, a glorified web browser. It doesn't host any content, approve any listings, or touch any money. It doesn't even really need a server -- it can just be an HTML file that users open up on their computer or smart phone. For two reasons, such a program is hard to take down:
First, it is hard for the police to justify going after the DNM, since there are no charges to bring. Its maintainers aren't doing anything illegal, no more than Firefox does anything illegal by maintaining a web browser that some people use to browse illegal content. What the user displays in the app is up to them, not to the code maintainers. Second, if the police decided to go after the DNM anyway, they still couldn't take it down because it's just an HTML file -- the maintainers do not even need to run a server to host the file, because users can share it with one another, eliminating all single points of failure.
Another consequence of this design is this: most of the listings will probably be legal, because there is more demand for legal goods and services than illegal ones. Users who want to find illegal goods would pick moderators who only approve those listings, but everyone else would use "legal" moderators, and the app would not, at first glance, look much like a DNM, just a marketplace for legal goods and services. To find the illegal stuff that lurks among the abundant legal stuff, you'd probably have to filter for it via your selection of moderators, making it seem like the "default" mode is legal.
5. Conclusion
I think this DNM model is far better than the designs that prevail today. It is easier to maintain, harder to take down, and pushes the "hard parts" to the edges, so that the DNM is not significantly affected even if a major merchant, moderator, or escrow gets arrested. I hope it comes to fruition.
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@ 2e8970de:63345c7a
2025-05-15 16:59:24Q: “Products & services using AI make me excited. How much do you agree/disagree?”
https://www.ipsos.com/en/ipsos-ai-monitor-2024-changing-attitudes-and-feelings-about-ai-and-future-it-will-bring
https://stacker.news/items/980900
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@ c13e67ae:8ff5689b
2025-05-15 16:37:10Testing the world
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-05-01 01:51:10Please respect Virginia Giuffre’s memory by refraining from asking about the circumstances or theories surrounding her passing.
Since Virginia Giuffre’s death, I’ve reflected on what she would want me to say or do. This piece is my attempt to honor her legacy.
When I first spoke with Virginia, I was struck by her unshakable hope. I had grown cynical after years in the anti-human trafficking movement, worn down by a broken system and a government that often seemed complicit. But Virginia’s passion, creativity, and belief that survivors could be heard reignited something in me. She reminded me of my younger, more hopeful self. Instead of warning her about the challenges ahead, I let her dream big, unburdened by my own disillusionment. That conversation changed me for the better, and following her lead led to meaningful progress.
Virginia was one of the bravest people I’ve ever known. As a survivor of Epstein, Maxwell, and their co-conspirators, she risked everything to speak out, taking on some of the world’s most powerful figures.
She loved when I said, “Epstein isn’t the only Epstein.” This wasn’t just about one man—it was a call to hold all abusers accountable and to ensure survivors find hope and healing.
The Epstein case often gets reduced to sensational details about the elite, but that misses the bigger picture. Yes, we should be holding all of the co-conspirators accountable, we must listen to the survivors’ stories. Their experiences reveal how predators exploit vulnerabilities, offering lessons to prevent future victims.
You’re not powerless in this fight. Educate yourself about trafficking and abuse—online and offline—and take steps to protect those around you. Supporting survivors starts with small, meaningful actions. Free online resources can guide you in being a safe, supportive presence.
When high-profile accusations arise, resist snap judgments. Instead of dismissing survivors as “crazy,” pause to consider the trauma they may be navigating. Speaking out or coping with abuse is never easy. You don’t have to believe every claim, but you can refrain from attacking accusers online.
Society also fails at providing aftercare for survivors. The government, often part of the problem, won’t solve this. It’s up to us. Prevention is critical, but when abuse occurs, step up for your loved ones and community. Protect the vulnerable. it’s a challenging but a rewarding journey.
If you’re contributing to Nostr, you’re helping build a censorship resistant platform where survivors can share their stories freely, no matter how powerful their abusers are. Their voices can endure here, offering strength and hope to others. This gives me great hope for the future.
Virginia Giuffre’s courage was a gift to the world. It was an honor to know and serve her. She will be deeply missed. My hope is that her story inspires others to take on the powerful.
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@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd
2025-04-28 00:48:57I have been recently building NFDB, a new relay DB. This post is meant as a short overview.
Regular relays have challenges
Current relay software have significant challenges, which I have experienced when hosting Nostr.land: - Scalability is only supported by adding full replicas, which does not scale to large relays. - Most relays use slow databases and are not optimized for large scale usage. - Search is near-impossible to implement on standard relays. - Privacy features such as NIP-42 are lacking. - Regular DB maintenance tasks on normal relays require extended downtime. - Fault-tolerance is implemented, if any, using a load balancer, which is limited. - Personalization and advanced filtering is not possible. - Local caching is not supported.
NFDB: A scalable database for large relays
NFDB is a new database meant for medium-large scale relays, built on FoundationDB that provides: - Near-unlimited scalability - Extended fault tolerance - Instant loading - Better search - Better personalization - and more.
Search
NFDB has extended search capabilities including: - Semantic search: Search for meaning, not words. - Interest-based search: Highlight content you care about. - Multi-faceted queries: Easily filter by topic, author group, keywords, and more at the same time. - Wide support for event kinds, including users, articles, etc.
Personalization
NFDB allows significant personalization: - Customized algorithms: Be your own algorithm. - Spam filtering: Filter content to your WoT, and use advanced spam filters. - Topic mutes: Mute topics, not keywords. - Media filtering: With Nostr.build, you will be able to filter NSFW and other content - Low data mode: Block notes that use high amounts of cellular data. - and more
Other
NFDB has support for many other features such as: - NIP-42: Protect your privacy with private drafts and DMs - Microrelays: Easily deploy your own personal microrelay - Containers: Dedicated, fast storage for discoverability events such as relay lists
Calcite: A local microrelay database
Calcite is a lightweight, local version of NFDB that is meant for microrelays and caching, meant for thousands of personal microrelays.
Calcite HA is an additional layer that allows live migration and relay failover in under 30 seconds, providing higher availability compared to current relays with greater simplicity. Calcite HA is enabled in all Calcite deployments.
For zero-downtime, NFDB is recommended.
Noswhere SmartCache
Relays are fixed in one location, but users can be anywhere.
Noswhere SmartCache is a CDN for relays that dynamically caches data on edge servers closest to you, allowing: - Multiple regions around the world - Improved throughput and performance - Faster loading times
routerd
routerd
is a custom load-balancer optimized for Nostr relays, integrated with SmartCache.routerd
is specifically integrated with NFDB and Calcite HA to provide fast failover and high performance.Ending notes
NFDB is planned to be deployed to Nostr.land in the coming weeks.
A lot more is to come. 👀️️️️️️
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@ c066aac5:6a41a034
2025-04-05 16:58:58I’m drawn to extremities in art. The louder, the bolder, the more outrageous, the better. Bold art takes me out of the mundane into a whole new world where anything and everything is possible. Having grown up in the safety of the suburban midwest, I was a bit of a rebellious soul in search of the satiation that only came from the consumption of the outrageous. My inclination to find bold art draws me to NOSTR, because I believe NOSTR can be the place where the next generation of artistic pioneers go to express themselves. I also believe that as much as we are able, were should invite them to come create here.
My Background: A Small Side Story
My father was a professional gamer in the 80s, back when there was no money or glory in the avocation. He did get a bit of spotlight though after the fact: in the mid 2000’s there were a few parties making documentaries about that era of gaming as well as current arcade events (namely 2007’sChasing GhostsandThe King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters). As a result of these documentaries, there was a revival in the arcade gaming scene. My family attended events related to the documentaries or arcade gaming and I became exposed to a lot of things I wouldn’t have been able to find. The producer ofThe King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters had previously made a documentary calledNew York Dollwhich was centered around the life of bassist Arthur Kane. My 12 year old mind was blown: The New York Dolls were a glam-punk sensation dressed in drag. The music was from another planet. Johnny Thunders’ guitar playing was like Chuck Berry with more distortion and less filter. Later on I got to meet the Galaga record holder at the time, Phil Day, in Ottumwa Iowa. Phil is an Australian man of high intellect and good taste. He exposed me to great creators such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Shakespeare, Lou Reed, artists who created things that I had previously found inconceivable.
I believe this time period informed my current tastes and interests, but regrettably I think it also put coals on the fire of rebellion within. I stopped taking my parents and siblings seriously, the Christian faith of my family (which I now hold dearly to) seemed like a mundane sham, and I felt I couldn’t fit in with most people because of my avant-garde tastes. So I write this with the caveat that there should be a way to encourage these tastes in children without letting them walk down the wrong path. There is nothing inherently wrong with bold art, but I’d advise parents to carefully find ways to cultivate their children’s tastes without completely shutting them down and pushing them away as a result. My parents were very loving and patient during this time; I thank God for that.
With that out of the way, lets dive in to some bold artists:
Nicolas Cage: Actor
There is an excellent video by Wisecrack on Nicolas Cage that explains him better than I will, which I will linkhere. Nicolas Cage rejects the idea that good acting is tied to mere realism; all of his larger than life acting decisions are deliberate choices. When that clicked for me, I immediately realized the man is a genius. He borrows from Kabuki and German Expressionism, art forms that rely on exaggeration to get the message across. He has even created his own acting style, which he calls Nouveau Shamanic. He augments his imagination to go from acting to being. Rather than using the old hat of method acting, he transports himself to a new world mentally. The projects he chooses to partake in are based on his own interests or what he considers would be a challenge (making a bad script good for example). Thus it doesn’t matter how the end result comes out; he has already achieved his goal as an artist. Because of this and because certain directors don’t know how to use his talents, he has a noticeable amount of duds in his filmography. Dig around the duds, you’ll find some pure gold. I’d personally recommend the filmsPig, Joe, Renfield, and his Christmas film The Family Man.
Nick Cave: Songwriter
What a wild career this man has had! From the apocalyptic mayhem of his band The Birthday Party to the pensive atmosphere of his albumGhosteen, it seems like Nick Cave has tried everything. I think his secret sauce is that he’s always working. He maintains an excellent newsletter calledThe Red Hand Files, he has written screenplays such asLawless, he has written books, he has made great film scores such asThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the man is religiously prolific. I believe that one of the reasons he is prolific is that he’s not afraid to experiment. If he has an idea, he follows it through to completion. From the albumMurder Ballads(which is comprised of what the title suggests) to his rejected sequel toGladiator(Gladiator: Christ Killer), he doesn’t seem to be afraid to take anything on. This has led to some over the top works as well as some deeply personal works. Albums likeSkeleton TreeandGhosteenwere journeys through the grief of his son’s death. The Boatman’s Callis arguably a better break-up album than anything Taylor Swift has put out. He’s not afraid to be outrageous, he’s not afraid to offend, but most importantly he’s not afraid to be himself. Works I’d recommend include The Birthday Party’sLive 1981-82, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’The Boatman’s Call, and the filmLawless.
Jim Jarmusch: Director
I consider Jim’s films to be bold almost in an ironic sense: his works are bold in that they are, for the most part, anti-sensational. He has a rule that if his screenplays are criticized for a lack of action, he makes them even less eventful. Even with sensational settings his films feel very close to reality, and they demonstrate the beauty of everyday life. That's what is bold about his art to me: making the sensational grounded in reality while making everyday reality all the more special. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is about a modern-day African-American hitman who strictly follows the rules of the ancient Samurai, yet one can resonate with the humanity of a seemingly absurd character. Only Lovers Left Aliveis a vampire love story, but in the middle of a vampire romance one can see their their own relationships in a new deeply human light. Jim’s work reminds me that art reflects life, and that there is sacred beauty in seemingly mundane everyday life. I personally recommend his filmsPaterson,Down by Law, andCoffee and Cigarettes.
NOSTR: We Need Bold Art
NOSTR is in my opinion a path to a better future. In a world creeping slowly towards everything apps, I hope that the protocol where the individual owns their data wins over everything else. I love freedom and sovereignty. If NOSTR is going to win the race of everything apps, we need more than Bitcoin content. We need more than shirtless bros paying for bananas in foreign countries and exercising with girls who have seductive accents. Common people cannot see themselves in such a world. NOSTR needs to catch the attention of everyday people. I don’t believe that this can be accomplished merely by introducing more broadly relevant content; people are searching for content that speaks to them. I believe that NOSTR can and should attract artists of all kinds because NOSTR is one of the few places on the internet where artists can express themselves fearlessly. Getting zaps from NOSTR’s value-for-value ecosystem has far less friction than crowdfunding a creative project or pitching investors that will irreversibly modify an artist’s vision. Having a place where one can post their works without fear of censorship should be extremely enticing. Having a place where one can connect with fellow humans directly as opposed to a sea of bots should seem like the obvious solution. If NOSTR can become a safe haven for artists to express themselves and spread their work, I believe that everyday people will follow. The banker whose stressful job weighs on them will suddenly find joy with an original meme made by a great visual comedian. The programmer for a healthcare company who is drowning in hopeless mundanity could suddenly find a new lust for life by hearing the song of a musician who isn’t afraid to crowdfund their their next project by putting their lighting address on the streets of the internet. The excel guru who loves independent film may find that NOSTR is the best way to support non corporate movies. My closing statement: continue to encourage the artists in your life as I’m sure you have been, but while you’re at it give them the purple pill. You may very well be a part of building a better future.
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2025-05-15 16:26:49ความสุขแท้ไม่มีในโลก มีแต่เมื่อความทุกข์ได้ถูกบำบัดลงครั้งหนึ่ง ก็เรียกว่าความสุขครั้งหนึ่ง คุณอยากได้ของสักชิ้นอย่างมาก เมื่อได้มาแล้วก็มีความสุข เพราะความอยากได้ถูกบำบัดไปแล้ว เมื่อคุณอยากได้ของหรืออยากได้อะไรอีก ความทุกข์ก็เกิดขึ้นอีก เมื่ออยากมาก ก็ทุกข์มาก เมื่อไม่อยากให้ของสิ่งนั้นหายหรือแตกดับไป ก็ทุกข์อีก
เมื่อได้รับของที่ต้องการแล้ว ก็ต้องดูแลเอาใจใส่ของนั้น เมื่อไม่เป็นไปตามความอยากหรือไม่อยากของตน ก็ทุกข์ ซึ่งทุกสรรพสิ่ง เมื่อเกิดขึ้น ย่อมตั้งอยู่แล้วดับไป คนที่เรารักย่อมเจ็บป่วยและดับไป เป็นธรรมดาของชีวิต แต่เราไม่ยอมรับ บางคนเมื่อพูดถึงความตาย ก็บอกว่า พูดทำไม เป็นคำอัปมงคล แต่โดยแท้แล้ว ความตายอยู่กับเราทุกลมหายใจ
เราต้องการให้คนรอบๆ ทำแต่สิ่งที่ถูกใจเรา ทำสิ่งที่ดีต่อเรา แต่มันจะเป็นไปได้หรือ ความสุขจึงอยู่ที่การยอมรับในสิ่งที่เป็น ที่มีอยู่ เพราะธรรมชาติของสิ่งที่เราต้องพบ ต้องประสบ มันเป็นเช่นนั้นของมันเอง การพยายามไปเปลี่ยนแปลงสิ่งต่างๆรอบๆตัว จึง เหมือนการพยายามห้ามแม่น้ำไม่ให้ไหลไป
ความสุขในฐานะปุถุชนมีได้ ด้วยการยอมรับสิ่งที่เกิดขึ้น การยอมรับไม่ใช่การยอมแพ้แก่มัน แต่เมื่อเราพยายามทำดีอย่างที่สุดแล้ว ผลสุดท้ายจะเป้นอย่างไร ก็ต้องวาง
ขอยกคำหลวงพ่อไพศาลที่ว่า ชีวิตเราเลือกได้ ว่าจะเป็นอย่างไร เด็กผู้หญิง 10 ขวบ ขนของ แต่เด็กผู้ชายสองคน ไม่ช่วยขนของ ไปดูทีวีเสีย แทนที่เด็กผู้หญิงคนนั้นจะโกรธ กลับบอกว่า ขนของเหนื่อยอย่างเดียว แต่ถ้าไปโกรธเขา เราก็เหนื่อยสองอย่าง
การอยู่โดยมองโลกในแง่บวก เป็นสิ่งที่สำคัญมาก ขอยกตัวอย่างจากหลวงพ่อไพศาลอีกครั้ง เด็กชายคนหนึ่งเป็นโรคมะเร็งที่ กระดูกที่ขา เขาถูกตัดขาไปข้างหนึ่ง เขาบอกว่า เขาดีใจที่ยังมีขาอีกข้างหนึ่ง ไม่ใช่เสียใจที่เสียขาไป
เป็นสุขในทุกความเปลี่ยนแปลง หลวงพ่อไพศาล วิสาโล
คนเราย่อมปรารถนาความเปลี่ยนแปลง หากว่าความเปลี่ยนแปลงนั้นอยู่ในอำนาจของเรา หรือสอดคล้องกับความต้องการของเรา ไม่มีใครอยากขับรถคันเดิม ใช้โทรศัพท์เครื่องเดิม หรืออยู่กับที่ไปตลอด มิจำต้องพูดถึงการอยู่ในอิริยาบถเดิม ๆ เราต้องการสิ่งใหม่ ๆ อยู่เสมอ แต่ความจริงอย่างหนึ่งที่เราปฏิเสธไม่ได้ก็คือ มีความเปลี่ยนแปลงหลายอย่างที่เราไม่ต้องการแต่หนีไม่พ้น ความเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างนี้แหละที่ผู้คนประหวั่นพรั่นพรึง วิตกกังวลเมื่อนึกถึงมัน และเป็นทุกข์เมื่อมันมาถึง
แต่ยังมีความจริงอีกอย่างหนึ่งที่เราพึงตระหนักก็คือ สุขหรือทุกข์นั้น มิได้ขึ้นอยู่กับว่า มีอะไรเกิดขึ้นกับเรา แต่อยู่ที่ว่า เรารู้สึกอย่างไรกับสิ่งนั้นต่างหาก แม้มีสิ่งไม่ดีเกิดขึ้นกับเรา แต่ถ้าเราไม่รู้สึกย่ำแย่ไปกับมัน หรือวางใจให้เป็น มันก็ทำให้เราเป็นทุกข์ไม่ได้
กนกวรรณ ศิลป์สุข เป็นโรคธาลัสซีเมียตั้งแต่เกิด ทำให้เธอมีร่างกายแคระแกร็น กระดูกเปราะและเจ็บป่วยด้วยโรคแทรกซ้อนนานาชนิด ซึ่งมักทำให้อายุสั้น แต่เธอกับน้องสาวไม่มีสีหน้าอมทุกข์แต่อย่างใด กลับใช้ชีวิตอย่างมีความสุข เธอพูดจากประสบการณ์ของตัวเองว่า “มันไม่สำคัญหรอกว่าเราจะเป็นอย่างไรหรือมีอะไรเกิดขึ้นกับชีวิต แต่สำคัญที่ว่าเมื่อเกิดขึ้นมาแล้ว เราคิดกับมันยังไงต่างหาก สำหรับเราสองคน ความสุขเป็นเรื่องที่หาง่ายมาก ถ้าใจของเราคิดว่ามันเป็นความสุข”
โอโตทาเกะ ฮิโรทาดะ เกิดมาพิการ ไร้แขนไร้ขา แต่เขาสามารถช่วยตัวเองได้แทบทุกอย่าง ในหนังสือเรื่อง ไม่ครบห้า เขาพูดไว้ตอนหนึ่งว่า “ผมเกิดมาพิการแต่ผมมีความสุขและสนุกทุกวัน” ใครที่ได้รู้จักเขาคงยอมรับเต็มปากว่าเขาเป็นคนที่มีความสุขคนหนึ่ง อาจจะสุขมากกว่าคนที่มีอวัยวะครบ (แต่กลับเป็นทุกข์เพราะหน้ามีสิว ผิวตกกระ หุ่นไม่กระชับ)
ในโลกที่ซับซ้อนและผันผวนปรวนแปรอยู่เสมอ เราไม่สามารถเลือกได้ว่าจะต้องมีสิ่งดี ๆ เกิดขึ้นกับเราตลอดเวลา แต่เราเลือกได้ว่าจะมีปฏิกิริยากับสิ่งนั้นอย่างไร รวมทั้งเลือกได้ว่าจะยอมให้มันมีอิทธิพลต่อเราอย่างไรและแค่ไหน..ในวันที่แดดจ้าอากาศร้อนอ้าว บุรุษไปรษณีย์คนหนึ่งยืนรอส่งเอกสารหน้าบ้านหลังใหญ่ หลังจากเรียกหาเจ้าของบ้านแต่ไม่มีวี่แววว่าจะมีคนมารับ เขาก็ร้องเพลงไปพลาง ๆ เสียงดังชัดเจนไปทั้งซอย ในที่สุดเจ้าของบ้านก็ออกจากห้องแอร์มารับเอกสาร เธอมีสีหน้าหงุดหงิด เมื่อรับเอกสารเสร็จเธอก็ถามบุรุษไปรษณีย์ว่า “ร้อนแบบนี้ยังมีอารมณ์ร้องเพลงอีกเหรอ” เขายิ้มแล้วตอบว่า “ถ้าโลกร้อนแต่ใจเราเย็น มันก็เย็นครับ ร้องเพลงเป็นความสุขของผมอย่างหนึ่ง ส่งไปร้องไป” ว่าแล้วเขาก็ขับรถจากไป
เราสั่งให้อากาศเย็นตลอดเวลาไม่ได้ แต่เราเลือกได้ว่าจะยอมให้อากาศร้อนมีอิทธิพลต่อจิตใจของเราได้แค่ไหน นี้คือเสรีภาพอย่างหนึ่งที่เรามีกันทุกคน อยู่ที่ว่าเราจะใช้เสรีภาพชนิดนี้หรือไม่ พูดอีกอย่างก็คือ ถ้าเราหงุดหงิดเพราะอากาศร้อน นั่นแสดงว่าเราเลือกแล้วที่จะยอมให้มันยัดเยียดความทุกข์แก่ใจเรา
ถึงที่สุดแล้ว สุขหรือทุกข์อยู่ที่เราเลือก มิใช่มีใครมาทำให้ ถึงแม้จะป่วยด้วยโรคร้าย เราก็ยังสามารถมีความสุขได้ โจว ต้า กวน เด็กชายวัย ๑๐ ขวบ เป็นโรคมะเร็งที่ขา จนต้องผ่าตัดถึง ๓ ครั้ง เขาได้เขียนบทกวีเล่าถึงประสบการณ์ในครั้งนั้นว่า เมื่อพ่อแม่จูงมือเขาเข้าห้องผ่าตัด เขาเลือก “น้องสงบ” เป็นเพื่อน (แทนที่จะเป็น “น้องกังวล”) เมื่อเขาห้องผ่าตัดครั้งที่สอง เขาเลือก “ลุงมั่นคง”เป็นเพื่อน (แทนที่จะเป็น “ป้ากลัว”) เมื่อพ่ออุ้มเขาเข้าห้องผ่าตัดครั้งที่สาม เขาเลือก “ชีวิต” (แทนที่จะเป็น “ความตาย”) ด้วยการเลือกเช่นนี้มะเร็งจึงบั่นทอนได้แต่ร่างกายของเขา แต่ทำอะไรจิตใจเขาไม่ได้
เมื่อใดก็ตามที่ความเปลี่ยนแปลงอันไม่พึงประสงค์เกิดขึ้น หากเราไม่สามารถสกัดกั้นหรือบรรเทาลงได้ ในยามนั้นไม่มีอะไรดีกว่าการหันมาจัดการกับใจของเราเอง เพื่อให้เกิดความทุกข์น้อยที่สุด หรือใช้มันให้เกิดประโยชน์มากที่สุด ด้วยวิธีการต่อไปนี้
๑. ยอมรับความจริงที่เกิดขึ้นแล้ว การยอมรับความจริงที่ไม่พึงประสงค์ ทำให้เราเลิกบ่น ตีโพยตีพาย หรือมัวแต่ตีอกชกหัว ซึ่งมีแต่จะเพิ่มความทุกข์ให้แก่ตนเอง คนเรามักซ้ำเติมตัวเองด้วยการบ่นโวยวายในสิ่งที่ไม่อาจแก้ไขอะไรได้
เรามักทำใจยอมรับความจริงที่เกิดขึ้นแล้วไม่ได้ เพราะเห็นว่ามันไม่ถูกต้อง ไม่น่าเกิด ไม่ยุติธรรม (“ทำไมต้องเป็นฉัน ?”) แต่ยิ่งไปยึดติดหรือหมกมุ่นกับเหตุผลเหล่านั้น เราก็ยิ่งเป็นทุกข์ แทนที่จะเสียเวลาและพลังงานไปกับการบ่นโวยวาย ไม่ดีกว่าหรือหากเราจะเอาเวลาและพลังงานเหล่านั้นไปใช้ในการรับมือกับสิ่ง ที่เกิดขึ้นแล้ว
เด็ก ๓ คนได้รับมอบหมายให้ขนของขึ้นรถไฟ แต่ระหว่างที่กำลังขนของ เด็กชาย ๒ คนก็ผละไปดูโทรทัศน์ซึ่งกำลังถ่ายทอดสดการชกมวยของสมจิตร จงจอหอ นักชกเหรียญทองโอลิมปิค เมื่อมีคนถามเด็กหญิงซึ่งกำลังขนของอยู่คนเดียวว่า เธอไม่โกรธหรือคิดจะด่าว่าเพื่อน ๒ คนนั้นหรือ เธอตอบว่า “หนูขนของขึ้นรถไฟ หนูเหนื่อยอย่างเดียว แต่ถ้าหนูโกรธหรือไปด่าว่าเขา หนูก็ต้องเหนื่อยสองอย่าง”
ทุกครั้งที่ทำงาน เราสามารถเลือกได้ว่าจะเหนื่อยอย่างเดียว หรือเหนื่อยสองอย่าง คำถามคือทุกวันนี้เราเลือกเหนื่อยกี่อย่าง นอกจากเหนื่อยกายแล้ว เรายังเหนื่อยใจด้วยหรือไม่
การยอมรับความจริง ไม่ได้แปลว่ายอมจำนนต่อสิ่งที่เกิดขึ้น แต่เป็นจุดเริ่มต้นของการเลือกที่จะไม่ยอมทุกข์เพราะความเปลี่ยนแปลง อีกทั้งยังทำให้สามารถตั้งหลักหรือปรับตัวปรับใจพร้อมรับความเปลี่ยนแปลง นั้นอย่างดีที่สุด
๒. ทำปัจจุบันให้ดีที่สุด นอกจากบ่นโวยวายกับสิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นแล้ว เรามักทุกข์เพราะอาลัยอดีตอันงดงาม หรือกังวลกับสิ่งเลวร้ายที่คาดว่าจะเกิดขึ้นในอนาคต สุดท้ายก็เลยไม่เป็นอันทำอะไร
ไม่ว่าจะอาลัยอดีตหรือกังวลกับอนาคตเพียงใด ก็ไม่ช่วยให้อะไรดีขึ้น กลับทำให้เราย่ำแย่กว่าเดิม สิ่งเดียวที่จะทำให้อะไรดีขึ้นก็คือการทำปัจจุบันให้ดีที่สุด ทางข้างหน้าแม้จะยาวไกลและลำบากเพียงใด แต่เราไม่มีวันถึงจุดหมายเลยหากไม่ลงมือก้าวเสียแต่เดี๋ยวนี้ รวมทั้งใส่ใจกับแต่ละก้าวให้ดี ถ้าก้าวไม่หยุดในที่สุดก็ต้องถึงที่หมายเอง
บรู๊ซ เคอร์บี นักไต่เขา พูดไว้อย่างน่าสนใจว่า “ทุกอย่างมักจะดูเลวร้ายกว่าความจริงเสมอเมื่อเรามองจากที่ไกล ๆ เช่น หนทางขึ้นเขาดูน่ากลัว....บางเส้นทางอาจดูเลวร้ายจนคุณระย่อและอยากหันหลัง กลับ นานมาแล้วผมได้บทเรียนสำคัญคือ แทนที่จะมองขึ้นไปข้างบนและสูญเสียกำลังใจกับการจินตนาการถึงอันตรายข้าง หน้า ผมจับจ้องอยู่ที่พื้นใต้ฝ่าเท้าแล้วก้าวไปข้างหน้าทีละก้าว”
๓. มองแง่บวก มองแง่บวกไม่ได้หมายถึงการฝันหวานว่าอนาคตจะต้องดีแน่ แต่หมายถึงการมองเห็นสิ่งดี ๆ ที่มีอยู่ในปัจจุบัน ไม่ว่าเจ็บป่วย ตกงาน หรืออกหัก ก็ยังมีสิ่งดี ๆ อยู่รอบตัวและในตัวเรา รวมทั้งมองเห็นสิ่งดี ๆ ที่ซุกซ่อนอยู่ในความเปลี่ยนแปลงเหล่านั้นด้วย
แม้กนกวรรณ ศิลป์สุข จะป่วยด้วยโรคร้าย แต่เธอก็มีความสุขทุกวัน เพราะ “เราก็ยังมีตาเอาไว้มองสิ่งที่สวย ๆ มีจมูกไว้ดมกลิ่นหอม ๆ มีปากไว้กินอาหารอร่อย ๆ แล้วก็มีร่างกายที่ยังพอทำอะไรได้อีกหลายอย่าง แค่นี้ก็เพียงพอแล้วที่เราจะมีความสุข” ส่วนจารุวรรณ ศิลป์สุข น้องสาวของเธอ ซึ่งขาหักถึง ๑๔ ครั้งด้วยโรคเดียวกัน ก็พูดว่า “ขาหักก็ดีเหมือนกัน ไม่ต้องไปโรงเรียน ได้อยู่กับบ้าน ฟังยายเล่านิทาน หรือไม่ก็อ่านหนังสือ อยู่กับดอกไม้ กับธรรมชาติ กับสิ่งที่เราชอบ ก็ถือว่ามีความสุขไปอีกแบบ”
โจว ต้า กวน แม้จะถูกตัดขา แต่แทนที่จะเศร้าเสียใจกับขาที่ถูกตัด เขากลับรู้สึกดีที่ยังมีขาอีกข้างหนึ่ง ดังตั้งชื่อหนังสือรวมบทกวีของเขาว่า “ฉันยังมีขาอีกข้างหนึ่ง”
หลายคนพบว่าการที่เป็นมะเร็งทำให้ตนเองได้มาพบธรรมะและความสุขที่ลึกซึ้ง จึงอดไม่ได้ที่จะอุทานว่า “โชคดีที่เป็นมะเร็ง” ขณะที่บางคนบอกว่า “โชคดีที่เป็นแค่มะเร็งสมอง” เพราะหากเป็นมะเร็งปากมดลูกเธอจะต้องเจ็บปวดยิ่งกว่านี้
ถึงที่สุด ไม่ว่าอะไรเกิดขึ้นกับเรา ก็ล้วนดีเสมอ อย่างน้อยก็ดีที่ไม่แย่ไปกว่านี้
๔. มีสติ รู้เท่าทันตนเอง เมื่อความเปลี่ยนแปลงที่ไม่พึงประสงค์เกิดขึ้น เรามักมองออกนอกตัว และอดไม่ได้ที่จะโทษคนโน้น ต่อว่าคนนี้ และเรียกหาใครต่อใครมาช่วย แต่เรามักลืมดูใจตนเอง ว่ากำลังปล่อยให้ความโกรธแค้น ความกังวล และความท้อแท้ครอบงำใจไปแล้วมากน้อยเพียงใด เราลืมไปว่าเป็นตัวเราเองต่างหากที่ยอมให้เหตุการณ์ต่าง ๆ รอบตัวยัดเยียดความทุกข์ให้แก่ใจเรา ไม่ใช่เราดอกหรือที่เลือกทุกข์มากกว่าสุข การมีสติ ระลึกรู้ใจที่กำลังจมอยู่กับความทุกข์ จะช่วยพาใจกลับสู่ความปกติ เห็นอารมณ์ต่าง ๆ เกิดขึ้นโดยไม่ไปข้องเกี่ยว จ่อมจม หรือยึดติดถือมั่นมัน อีกทั้งยังเปิดช่องและบ่มเพาะปัญญาให้ทำงานได้เต็มที่ สามารถเปลี่ยนร้ายให้กลายเป็นดี หรือมองเห็นด้านดีของมันได้
สติและปัญญาทำให้เรามีเสรีภาพที่จะเลือกสุข และหันหลังให้กับความทุกข์ ใช่หรือไม่ว่าอิสรภาพที่แท้ คือ ความสามารถในการอนุญาตให้สิ่งต่าง ๆ มีอิทธิพลต่อชีวิตของเราได้เพียงใด ความเปลี่ยนแปลงของร่างกาย ของทรัพย์สิน ของผู้คนรอบตัว รวมทั้งความเปลี่ยนแปลงในบ้านเมือง ไม่สามารถทำให้เราทุกข์ได้ หากเราเข้าถึงอิสรภาพดังกล่าว แทนที่เราจะมัววิงวอนเรียกร้องให้เกิดความเปลี่ยนแปลงที่ถูกใจเรา ไม่ดีกว่าหรือหากเราพยายามพัฒนาตนบ่มเพาะจิตใจให้เข้าถึงอิสรภาพดังกล่าว ควบคู่ไปกับการสร้างสรรค์สิ่งดีงามให้เกิดขึ้นแก่ตนเองและสังคม
credit : Suphan Click!!
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@ 0b118e40:4edc09cb
2025-05-15 15:40:21My week started off with a lovely message from a friend : “I often think about you. Especially during times when it requires me to be more resilient and have faith in myself. I always carry your note in the book you gave me, “what the dog saw” And it always gives me courage and I send a little prayer your way”.
This friend of mine was dealing with the undercurrent of discrimination in my alma mater when we first met, and I helped out. It's something anybody would have done, but surprisingly, nobody else showed up. We’ve stayed in touch over the years, and my friend went on to help a lot of other people along the way.
I don’t remember what I wrote in that note. It’s something I tend to do (write notes, give books, write notes in books). But the message boomeranged back to me at a time when I needed to hold the line. To keep the faith.
Most of us don’t talk about our struggles. And sometimes the smallest act, which could just be a kind word or a reminder of the person you are, can carry farther than we imagine.
On the act of giving
There’s a book called Give and Take by Adam Grant. I picked it up hoping to learn how to take, because it’s always been easier to give and harder to accept help. But what I learned was something else entirely.
Grant studied over 30,000 people across different companies and grouped them into three types: * Givers * Matchers * Takers
Based on his studies, givers often finish last... They struggle the most. They burn out. They get overlooked. They’re too trusting.
But oddly, they also rise to the very top.
Matchers are the scorekeepers, the “I’ll help you if you help me” kind. They make up most of the population. The fascinating thing about tit-for-tat is that if someone’s kind, they reciprocate. But if someone acts like a jerk, they return the energy, and over time, it becomes a pool of spoiled milk. Matchers are a lukewarm, forgettable kind of network.
Takers are the ones chasing attention, always aligning themselves with whoever looks powerful. They tend to float toward status and soak up what they can. But they often portray themselves as kind and giving.
One example Grant shared was Enron's Kenneth Lay, who was at the center of one of the biggest corporate scandals in U.S. history. He hung around wherever he’d get seen or validated. He funded both Bush and Clinton, hedging his bets on who might win by securing proximity. Sadly, when Enron crumbled, he died of a heart attack before his prison sentencing.
Most people steer clear from takers because they are just exhausting. And takers often collapse under the weight of their own games.
But takers aren’t the lowest performers. That spot belongs to a certain kind of giver—the self-neglecting kind. The ones with no boundaries, no clarity, and no self-awareness. They give in to avoid conflict, to feel worthy, or because they don’t know how to say no. And when life breaks them, they point fingers.
Then there’s the other kind of giver. The ones who build trust and build people up without asking for a receipt.
These givers: 1. Give without expectation, from a place of purpose 2. Build and uplift others without seeking credit 3. Set boundaries and walk away when giving turns into draining
This group of givers rarely talk much about what they do for others. But when you hear about it or see it, it stays with you. It makes you want to show up a little better.
Why open source environments feels like home
The more I thought about it, the more I saw how deeply open source reflects that kind of giving that ends up right at the top.
In open source, you don’t last if it’s just about ego. You can’t fake it. There are no titles, no awards. You either show up to build and help, or you don’t.
People who give without needing to be seen are the ones the community leans on. You can tell when someone’s pretending to care. It’s in their tone, their urgency and their sense of transaction. The genuine ones don’t need to brand themselves as generous. They just are.
Open source works because giving is the default setting. The work speaks volumes and generosity compounds. The system filters for people who show up with purpose and stay consistent.
It’s also why the ones who whine, posture, or manipulate rarely last. They might call themselves givers, but they’re not fooling anyone who’s actually doing the work.
Adam Grant found that for giver cultures to thrive, takers have to be removed. They need to be pruned. Because takers poison the well. They drain givers, shift the culture from contribution to calculation, and unravel the trust that holds open systems together.
When hope boomerangs
That note is something I don’t remember writing. But it found its way back to me, and it was a good reminder to take my own advice and keep the faith.
And maybe that’s the point.
You do a small thing. And years later, it circles back when it matters most. Not because you expected it. But because you mattered.
According to Grant, givers do best when they combine generosity with grit and strategy. They create networks built on goodwill, which eventually open doors others don’t even know exist.
So if you’re wondering where I’m going with this, do something genuinely kind for someone today. Even if it’s as simple as sending a kind note. Not for you to be seen or heard. And not for you to keep scores.
But, just because.
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-18 20:47:50Warning: This piece contains a conversation about difficult topics. Please proceed with caution.
TL;DR please educate your children about online safety.
Julian Assange wrote in his 2012 book Cypherpunks, “This book is not a manifesto. There isn’t time for that. This book is a warning.” I read it a few times over the past summer. Those opening lines definitely stood out to me. I wish we had listened back then. He saw something about the internet that few had the ability to see. There are some individuals who are so close to a topic that when they speak, it’s difficult for others who aren’t steeped in it to visualize what they’re talking about. I didn’t read the book until more recently. If I had read it when it came out, it probably would have sounded like an unknown foreign language to me. Today it makes more sense.
This isn’t a manifesto. This isn’t a book. There is no time for that. It’s a warning and a possible solution from a desperate and determined survivor advocate who has been pulling and unraveling a thread for a few years. At times, I feel too close to this topic to make any sense trying to convey my pathway to my conclusions or thoughts to the general public. My hope is that if nothing else, I can convey my sense of urgency while writing this. This piece is a watchman’s warning.
When a child steps online, they are walking into a new world. A new reality. When you hand a child the internet, you are handing them possibilities—good, bad, and ugly. This is a conversation about lowering the potential of negative outcomes of stepping into that new world and how I came to these conclusions. I constantly compare the internet to the road. You wouldn’t let a young child run out into the road with no guidance or safety precautions. When you hand a child the internet without any type of guidance or safety measures, you are allowing them to play in rush hour, oncoming traffic. “Look left, look right for cars before crossing.” We almost all have been taught that as children. What are we taught as humans about safety before stepping into a completely different reality like the internet? Very little.
I could never really figure out why many folks in tech, privacy rights activists, and hackers seemed so cold to me while talking about online child sexual exploitation. I always figured that as a survivor advocate for those affected by these crimes, that specific, skilled group of individuals would be very welcoming and easy to talk to about such serious topics. I actually had one hacker laugh in my face when I brought it up while I was looking for answers. I thought maybe this individual thought I was accusing them of something I wasn’t, so I felt bad for asking. I was constantly extremely disappointed and would ask myself, “Why don’t they care? What could I say to make them care more? What could I say to make them understand the crisis and the level of suffering that happens as a result of the problem?”
I have been serving minor survivors of online child sexual exploitation for years. My first case serving a survivor of this specific crime was in 2018—a 13-year-old girl sexually exploited by a serial predator on Snapchat. That was my first glimpse into this side of the internet. I won a national award for serving the minor survivors of Twitter in 2023, but I had been working on that specific project for a few years. I was nominated by a lawyer representing two survivors in a legal battle against the platform. I’ve never really spoken about this before, but at the time it was a choice for me between fighting Snapchat or Twitter. I chose Twitter—or rather, Twitter chose me. I heard about the story of John Doe #1 and John Doe #2, and I was so unbelievably broken over it that I went to war for multiple years. I was and still am royally pissed about that case. As far as I was concerned, the John Doe #1 case proved that whatever was going on with corporate tech social media was so out of control that I didn’t have time to wait, so I got to work. It was reading the messages that John Doe #1 sent to Twitter begging them to remove his sexual exploitation that broke me. He was a child begging adults to do something. A passion for justice and protecting kids makes you do wild things. I was desperate to find answers about what happened and searched for solutions. In the end, the platform Twitter was purchased. During the acquisition, I just asked Mr. Musk nicely to prioritize the issue of detection and removal of child sexual exploitation without violating digital privacy rights or eroding end-to-end encryption. Elon thanked me multiple times during the acquisition, made some changes, and I was thanked by others on the survivors’ side as well.
I still feel that even with the progress made, I really just scratched the surface with Twitter, now X. I left that passion project when I did for a few reasons. I wanted to give new leadership time to tackle the issue. Elon Musk made big promises that I knew would take a while to fulfill, but mostly I had been watching global legislation transpire around the issue, and frankly, the governments are willing to go much further with X and the rest of corporate tech than I ever would. My work begging Twitter to make changes with easier reporting of content, detection, and removal of child sexual exploitation material—without violating privacy rights or eroding end-to-end encryption—and advocating for the minor survivors of the platform went as far as my principles would have allowed. I’m grateful for that experience. I was still left with a nagging question: “How did things get so bad with Twitter where the John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 case was able to happen in the first place?” I decided to keep looking for answers. I decided to keep pulling the thread.
I never worked for Twitter. This is often confusing for folks. I will say that despite being disappointed in the platform’s leadership at times, I loved Twitter. I saw and still see its value. I definitely love the survivors of the platform, but I also loved the platform. I was a champion of the platform’s ability to give folks from virtually around the globe an opportunity to speak and be heard.
I want to be clear that John Doe #1 really is my why. He is the inspiration. I am writing this because of him. He represents so many globally, and I’m still inspired by his bravery. One child’s voice begging adults to do something—I’m an adult, I heard him. I’d go to war a thousand more lifetimes for that young man, and I don’t even know his name. Fighting has been personally dark at times; I’m not even going to try to sugarcoat it, but it has been worth it.
The data surrounding the very real crime of online child sexual exploitation is available to the public online at any time for anyone to see. I’d encourage you to go look at the data for yourself. I believe in encouraging folks to check multiple sources so that you understand the full picture. If you are uncomfortable just searching around the internet for information about this topic, use the terms “CSAM,” “CSEM,” “SG-CSEM,” or “AI Generated CSAM.” The numbers don’t lie—it’s a nightmare that’s out of control. It’s a big business. The demand is high, and unfortunately, business is booming. Organizations collect the data, tech companies often post their data, governments report frequently, and the corporate press has covered a decent portion of the conversation, so I’m sure you can find a source that you trust.
Technology is changing rapidly, which is great for innovation as a whole but horrible for the crime of online child sexual exploitation. Those wishing to exploit the vulnerable seem to be adapting to each technological change with ease. The governments are so far behind with tackling these issues that as I’m typing this, it’s borderline irrelevant to even include them while speaking about the crime or potential solutions. Technology is changing too rapidly, and their old, broken systems can’t even dare to keep up. Think of it like the governments’ “War on Drugs.” Drugs won. In this case as well, the governments are not winning. The governments are talking about maybe having a meeting on potentially maybe having legislation around the crimes. The time to have that meeting would have been many years ago. I’m not advocating for governments to legislate our way out of this. I’m on the side of educating and innovating our way out of this.
I have been clear while advocating for the minor survivors of corporate tech platforms that I would not advocate for any solution to the crime that would violate digital privacy rights or erode end-to-end encryption. That has been a personal moral position that I was unwilling to budge on. This is an extremely unpopular and borderline nonexistent position in the anti-human trafficking movement and online child protection space. I’m often fearful that I’m wrong about this. I have always thought that a better pathway forward would have been to incentivize innovation for detection and removal of content. I had no previous exposure to privacy rights activists or Cypherpunks—actually, I came to that conclusion by listening to the voices of MENA region political dissidents and human rights activists. After developing relationships with human rights activists from around the globe, I realized how important privacy rights and encryption are for those who need it most globally. I was simply unwilling to give more power, control, and opportunities for mass surveillance to big abusers like governments wishing to enslave entire nations and untrustworthy corporate tech companies to potentially end some portion of abuses online. On top of all of it, it has been clear to me for years that all potential solutions outside of violating digital privacy rights to detect and remove child sexual exploitation online have not yet been explored aggressively. I’ve been disappointed that there hasn’t been more of a conversation around preventing the crime from happening in the first place.
What has been tried is mass surveillance. In China, they are currently under mass surveillance both online and offline, and their behaviors are attached to a social credit score. Unfortunately, even on state-run and controlled social media platforms, they still have child sexual exploitation and abuse imagery pop up along with other crimes and human rights violations. They also have a thriving black market online due to the oppression from the state. In other words, even an entire loss of freedom and privacy cannot end the sexual exploitation of children online. It’s been tried. There is no reason to repeat this method.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out why I always felt a slight coldness from those in tech and privacy-minded individuals about the topic of child sexual exploitation online. I didn’t have any clue about the “Four Horsemen of the Infocalypse.” This is a term coined by Timothy C. May in 1988. I would have been a child myself when he first said it. I actually laughed at myself when I heard the phrase for the first time. I finally got it. The Cypherpunks weren’t wrong about that topic. They were so spot on that it is borderline uncomfortable. I was mad at first that they knew that early during the birth of the internet that this issue would arise and didn’t address it. Then I got over it because I realized that it wasn’t their job. Their job was—is—to write code. Their job wasn’t to be involved and loving parents or survivor advocates. Their job wasn’t to educate children on internet safety or raise awareness; their job was to write code.
They knew that child sexual abuse material would be shared on the internet. They said what would happen—not in a gleeful way, but a prediction. Then it happened.
I equate it now to a concrete company laying down a road. As you’re pouring the concrete, you can say to yourself, “A terrorist might travel down this road to go kill many, and on the flip side, a beautiful child can be born in an ambulance on this road.” Who or what travels down the road is not their responsibility—they are just supposed to lay the concrete. I’d never go to a concrete pourer and ask them to solve terrorism that travels down roads. Under the current system, law enforcement should stop terrorists before they even make it to the road. The solution to this specific problem is not to treat everyone on the road like a terrorist or to not build the road.
So I understand the perceived coldness from those in tech. Not only was it not their job, but bringing up the topic was seen as the equivalent of asking a free person if they wanted to discuss one of the four topics—child abusers, terrorists, drug dealers, intellectual property pirates, etc.—that would usher in digital authoritarianism for all who are online globally.
Privacy rights advocates and groups have put up a good fight. They stood by their principles. Unfortunately, when it comes to corporate tech, I believe that the issue of privacy is almost a complete lost cause at this point. It’s still worth pushing back, but ultimately, it is a losing battle—a ticking time bomb.
I do think that corporate tech providers could have slowed down the inevitable loss of privacy at the hands of the state by prioritizing the detection and removal of CSAM when they all started online. I believe it would have bought some time, fewer would have been traumatized by that specific crime, and I do believe that it could have slowed down the demand for content. If I think too much about that, I’ll go insane, so I try to push the “if maybes” aside, but never knowing if it could have been handled differently will forever haunt me. At night when it’s quiet, I wonder what I would have done differently if given the opportunity. I’ll probably never know how much corporate tech knew and ignored in the hopes that it would go away while the problem continued to get worse. They had different priorities. The most voiceless and vulnerable exploited on corporate tech never had much of a voice, so corporate tech providers didn’t receive very much pushback.
Now I’m about to say something really wild, and you can call me whatever you want to call me, but I’m going to say what I believe to be true. I believe that the governments are either so incompetent that they allowed the proliferation of CSAM online, or they knowingly allowed the problem to fester long enough to have an excuse to violate privacy rights and erode end-to-end encryption. The US government could have seized the corporate tech providers over CSAM, but I believe that they were so useful as a propaganda arm for the regimes that they allowed them to continue virtually unscathed.
That season is done now, and the governments are making the issue a priority. It will come at a high cost. Privacy on corporate tech providers is virtually done as I’m typing this. It feels like a death rattle. I’m not particularly sure that we had much digital privacy to begin with, but the illusion of a veil of privacy feels gone.
To make matters slightly more complex, it would be hard to convince me that once AI really gets going, digital privacy will exist at all.
I believe that there should be a conversation shift to preserving freedoms and human rights in a post-privacy society.
I don’t want to get locked up because AI predicted a nasty post online from me about the government. I’m not a doomer about AI—I’m just going to roll with it personally. I’m looking forward to the positive changes that will be brought forth by AI. I see it as inevitable. A bit of privacy was helpful while it lasted. Please keep fighting to preserve what is left of privacy either way because I could be wrong about all of this.
On the topic of AI, the addition of AI to the horrific crime of child sexual abuse material and child sexual exploitation in multiple ways so far has been devastating. It’s currently out of control. The genie is out of the bottle. I am hopeful that innovation will get us humans out of this, but I’m not sure how or how long it will take. We must be extremely cautious around AI legislation. It should not be illegal to innovate even if some bad comes with the good. I don’t trust that the governments are equipped to decide the best pathway forward for AI. Source: the entire history of the government.
I have been personally negatively impacted by AI-generated content. Every few days, I get another alert that I’m featured again in what’s called “deep fake pornography” without my consent. I’m not happy about it, but what pains me the most is the thought that for a period of time down the road, many globally will experience what myself and others are experiencing now by being digitally sexually abused in this way. If you have ever had your picture taken and posted online, you are also at risk of being exploited in this way. Your child’s image can be used as well, unfortunately, and this is just the beginning of this particular nightmare. It will move to more realistic interpretations of sexual behaviors as technology improves. I have no brave words of wisdom about how to deal with that emotionally. I do have hope that innovation will save the day around this specific issue. I’m nervous that everyone online will have to ID verify due to this issue. I see that as one possible outcome that could help to prevent one problem but inadvertently cause more problems, especially for those living under authoritarian regimes or anyone who needs to remain anonymous online. A zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) would probably be the best solution to these issues. There are some survivors of violence and/or sexual trauma who need to remain anonymous online for various reasons. There are survivor stories available online of those who have been abused in this way. I’d encourage you seek out and listen to their stories.
There have been periods of time recently where I hesitate to say anything at all because more than likely AI will cover most of my concerns about education, awareness, prevention, detection, and removal of child sexual exploitation online, etc.
Unfortunately, some of the most pressing issues we’ve seen online over the last few years come in the form of “sextortion.” Self-generated child sexual exploitation (SG-CSEM) numbers are continuing to be terrifying. I’d strongly encourage that you look into sextortion data. AI + sextortion is also a huge concern. The perpetrators are using the non-sexually explicit images of children and putting their likeness on AI-generated child sexual exploitation content and extorting money, more imagery, or both from minors online. It’s like a million nightmares wrapped into one. The wild part is that these issues will only get more pervasive because technology is harnessed to perpetuate horror at a scale unimaginable to a human mind.
Even if you banned phones and the internet or tried to prevent children from accessing the internet, it wouldn’t solve it. Child sexual exploitation will still be with us until as a society we start to prevent the crime before it happens. That is the only human way out right now.
There is no reset button on the internet, but if I could go back, I’d tell survivor advocates to heed the warnings of the early internet builders and to start education and awareness campaigns designed to prevent as much online child sexual exploitation as possible. The internet and technology moved quickly, and I don’t believe that society ever really caught up. We live in a world where a child can be groomed by a predator in their own home while sitting on a couch next to their parents watching TV. We weren’t ready as a species to tackle the fast-paced algorithms and dangers online. It happened too quickly for parents to catch up. How can you parent for the ever-changing digital world unless you are constantly aware of the dangers?
I don’t think that the internet is inherently bad. I believe that it can be a powerful tool for freedom and resistance. I’ve spoken a lot about the bad online, but there is beauty as well. We often discuss how victims and survivors are abused online; we rarely discuss the fact that countless survivors around the globe have been able to share their experiences, strength, hope, as well as provide resources to the vulnerable. I do question if giving any government or tech company access to censorship, surveillance, etc., online in the name of serving survivors might not actually impact a portion of survivors negatively. There are a fair amount of survivors with powerful abusers protected by governments and the corporate press. If a survivor cannot speak to the press about their abuse, the only place they can go is online, directly or indirectly through an independent journalist who also risks being censored. This scenario isn’t hard to imagine—it already happened in China. During #MeToo, a survivor in China wanted to post their story. The government censored the post, so the survivor put their story on the blockchain. I’m excited that the survivor was creative and brave, but it’s terrifying to think that we live in a world where that situation is a necessity.
I believe that the future for many survivors sharing their stories globally will be on completely censorship-resistant and decentralized protocols. This thought in particular gives me hope. When we listen to the experiences of a diverse group of survivors, we can start to understand potential solutions to preventing the crimes from happening in the first place.
My heart is broken over the gut-wrenching stories of survivors sexually exploited online. Every time I hear the story of a survivor, I do think to myself quietly, “What could have prevented this from happening in the first place?” My heart is with survivors.
My head, on the other hand, is full of the understanding that the internet should remain free. The free flow of information should not be stopped. My mind is with the innocent citizens around the globe that deserve freedom both online and offline.
The problem is that governments don’t only want to censor illegal content that violates human rights—they create legislation that is so broad that it can impact speech and privacy of all. “Don’t you care about the kids?” Yes, I do. I do so much that I’m invested in finding solutions. I also care about all citizens around the globe that deserve an opportunity to live free from a mass surveillance society. If terrorism happens online, I should not be punished by losing my freedom. If drugs are sold online, I should not be punished. I’m not an abuser, I’m not a terrorist, and I don’t engage in illegal behaviors. I refuse to lose freedom because of others’ bad behaviors online.
I want to be clear that on a long enough timeline, the governments will decide that they can be better parents/caregivers than you can if something isn’t done to stop minors from being sexually exploited online. The price will be a complete loss of anonymity, privacy, free speech, and freedom of religion online. I find it rather insulting that governments think they’re better equipped to raise children than parents and caretakers.
So we can’t go backwards—all that we can do is go forward. Those who want to have freedom will find technology to facilitate their liberation. This will lead many over time to decentralized and open protocols. So as far as I’m concerned, this does solve a few of my worries—those who need, want, and deserve to speak freely online will have the opportunity in most countries—but what about online child sexual exploitation?
When I popped up around the decentralized space, I was met with the fear of censorship. I’m not here to censor you. I don’t write code. I couldn’t censor anyone or any piece of content even if I wanted to across the internet, no matter how depraved. I don’t have the skills to do that.
I’m here to start a conversation. Freedom comes at a cost. You must always fight for and protect your freedom. I can’t speak about protecting yourself from all of the Four Horsemen because I simply don’t know the topics well enough, but I can speak about this one topic.
If there was a shortcut to ending online child sexual exploitation, I would have found it by now. There isn’t one right now. I believe that education is the only pathway forward to preventing the crime of online child sexual exploitation for future generations.
I propose a yearly education course for every child of all school ages, taught as a standard part of the curriculum. Ideally, parents/caregivers would be involved in the education/learning process.
Course: - The creation of the internet and computers - The fight for cryptography - The tech supply chain from the ground up (example: human rights violations in the supply chain) - Corporate tech - Freedom tech - Data privacy - Digital privacy rights - AI (history-current) - Online safety (predators, scams, catfishing, extortion) - Bitcoin - Laws - How to deal with online hate and harassment - Information on who to contact if you are being abused online or offline - Algorithms - How to seek out the truth about news, etc., online
The parents/caregivers, homeschoolers, unschoolers, and those working to create decentralized parallel societies have been an inspiration while writing this, but my hope is that all children would learn this course, even in government ran schools. Ideally, parents would teach this to their own children.
The decentralized space doesn’t want child sexual exploitation to thrive. Here’s the deal: there has to be a strong prevention effort in order to protect the next generation. The internet isn’t going anywhere, predators aren’t going anywhere, and I’m not down to let anyone have the opportunity to prove that there is a need for more government. I don’t believe that the government should act as parents. The governments have had a chance to attempt to stop online child sexual exploitation, and they didn’t do it. Can we try a different pathway forward?
I’d like to put myself out of a job. I don’t want to ever hear another story like John Doe #1 ever again. This will require work. I’ve often called online child sexual exploitation the lynchpin for the internet. It’s time to arm generations of children with knowledge and tools. I can’t do this alone.
Individuals have fought so that I could have freedom online. I want to fight to protect it. I don’t want child predators to give the government any opportunity to take away freedom. Decentralized spaces are as close to a reset as we’ll get with the opportunity to do it right from the start. Start the youth off correctly by preventing potential hazards to the best of your ability.
The good news is anyone can work on this! I’d encourage you to take it and run with it. I added the additional education about the history of the internet to make the course more educational and fun. Instead of cleaning up generations of destroyed lives due to online sexual exploitation, perhaps this could inspire generations of those who will build our futures. Perhaps if the youth is armed with knowledge, they can create more tools to prevent the crime.
This one solution that I’m suggesting can be done on an individual level or on a larger scale. It should be adjusted depending on age, learning style, etc. It should be fun and playful.
This solution does not address abuse in the home or some of the root causes of offline child sexual exploitation. My hope is that it could lead to some survivors experiencing abuse in the home an opportunity to disclose with a trusted adult. The purpose for this solution is to prevent the crime of online child sexual exploitation before it occurs and to arm the youth with the tools to contact safe adults if and when it happens.
In closing, I went to hell a few times so that you didn’t have to. I spoke to the mothers of survivors of minors sexually exploited online—their tears could fill rivers. I’ve spoken with political dissidents who yearned to be free from authoritarian surveillance states. The only balance that I’ve found is freedom online for citizens around the globe and prevention from the dangers of that for the youth. Don’t slow down innovation and freedom. Educate, prepare, adapt, and look for solutions.
I’m not perfect and I’m sure that there are errors in this piece. I hope that you find them and it starts a conversation.
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@ c1e6505c:02b3157e
2025-05-15 15:25:27“Put that camera down, you bitch,” someone yelled out of a car as it drove by with the door wide open.
I had a little time in Savannah yesterday to walk around and take some photos. I tend to wander through the rougher areas — not just in Savannah, but in any city I visit. I’m drawn to the spots most people avoid. Not the tourist zones, but the alleys, the quiet, broken-down neighborhoods where the grit is.
I’ve photographed Savannah a lot over the past few years, so it’s getting harder to find places I haven’t already been. But every now and then, I’ll stumble on a back street or alley I’ve never seen before, and in it, something I’m almost certain no one else has photographed.
There’s something about walking aimlessly with a camera that I find incredibly fulfilling. Honestly, if I could do just that for the rest of my life — wander around and photograph things that most people overlook — I’d be content.
There’s a quote I heard recently - can’t remember who said it — but it stuck with me. It was something like: “It’s better to be aimless than to be rigid with a plan.” Because when you’re too locked into a goal, you might miss the opportunities that pop up along the way. You need to stay flexible, fluid—open to what the world hands you.
That’s how I feel about photography. I’ll walk for hours—sometimes five to ten miles — just to see what shows up. It becomes a game. A game between me, the camera, the street, and whatever decides to show up that day.
Usually, it takes a few warm-up shots to get into it — just pictures of objects, whatever catches my eye. But once I find a rhythm, it’s like the world starts to reveal itself. The good stuff comes out of hiding.
That’s what real photography is to me. Not staging scenes or setting up portraits—that’s more like illustration, as Garry Winogrand would say. What I care about is life. Life unfolding right in front of you. Life happening.
Thank you for your attention. Please consider donating a few sats if you enjoy my work. It goes a long way. If not, please share. Thank you.
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@ a296b972:e5a7a2e8
2025-05-15 15:07:57***Unserestaatsanwaltschaft***
Die Staatsanwaltschaft Aachen prüft Ermittlungen gegen Unbekannt in Sachen Cum-Ex. Hierfür konnte die ehemalige Chefanklägerin Brohilker als externe Expertin gewonnen werden. Korrektur, die Staatsanwaltschaft prüft Ermittlungen gegen Frau Brohilker. „Richtig so“, sagen Experten. „Es sind doch nur 43 Milliarden im Bermuda-Dreieck verschollen. Man muss auch mal Ruhe geben, genauso, wie bei Corona“. Dank schon heute an Unserestaatsanwaltschaft.
***Bundesamt für Fassungslosigkeit***
Ein Enkel hat die Kochrezepte seiner Großmutter zusammengetragen und veröffentlicht. Ausschließlich Rezepte aus Ostpreußen, Pommern und Schlesien. Das gesamte Kochbuch ist jetzt als Nazi-Küche eingestuft worden, weil der Urenkel die Grenze des guten Geschmacks, also die Oder-Neisse-Linie, dadurch missachtet hat. Weiter wurde ihm Russenfreundlichkeit vorgeworfen, weil auch ein Rezept für Königsberger Klopse abgedruckt wurde.
***Stillhaltezusage***
Die vom Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz ausgesprochene Stillhaltezusage hat Zahnärzte auf die Idee gebracht, diese vor Behandlung von ihren Patienten unterschreiben zu lassen. Widerstand ist zwecklos.
***Paragraphenerweiterung***
Das Würgen des Menschen ist unfassbar. Jeder, der sich dafür einsetzt, dass wieder die Vernunft in Deutschland Einzug hält, wird mit einem Urlaub mit dem Corona-Minister II nicht unter 6 Wochen bestraft.
***Freie Kapazitäten beim Verfassungsschutz***
Das als gesichert stillgehaltene Gutachten hat gezeigt, dass das Bundesamt über erhebliche Kapazitäten verfügt. Diese sollen jetzt gebündelt dazu verwendet werden, die Messerattentate und den Tatbestand der selbstfahrenden Autos in Menschenmengen lückenlos aufzuklären. Erfahrung bei dem Zusammentragen von öffentlichen Zitaten verspricht nun endlich eine zeitnahe Aufklärung.
***Sonderdezernat beim schutzverfassenden Bundesamt***
Die Sprengung der Nordstream 2-Pipeline war ein terroristischer Anschlag auf die Energieversorgung von Deutschland und ganz Europa. Zur nun endgültigen Aufklärung nach nur wenigen Jahren wurde ein Sonderdezernat mit dem Code-Namen „Task Force Peng“ eingerichtet. Man hat bereits Kontakt zu Seymour Hersh aufgenommen, doch der ist zurzeit mit einem Segelboot namens „Andromeda“ auf Weltumrundung unterwegs.
***Eurovision Song Contest***
Der ESC ist eine absolut politisch neutrale Sing-Veranstaltung, bei der persönliche Angriffe gegen Repräsentanten und Innen stets im Bereich des Unmöglichen bleiben. Auch solidarische Gewinnerermittlung zur Unterstützung eines bestimmten Landes entbehrt jeder Grundlage, wie die Vergangenheit wiederholt gezeigt hat.
***Drehtüreffekt***
Das Infragestellen von Personen, die von der Politik in die Medien oder umgekehrt wechseln, hat nichts mit Interessenkonflikten zu tun. Im Gegenteil: Es werden so Kompetenzen ressourcenschonend anschlussverwendet.
***‘Aufrüstung in Deutschland***
Nachdem man zunächst einen Feind erfunden hat, der keine Lust hat, einer zu sein, ist die zwingend logische Schlussfolgerung daraus, dass man jetzt auch wieder die zentrale Macht in Europa werden will. Das freut die Nachbarn, und wie schon in der Ukraine in 2022, beginnt die neue deutsche Zeitrechnung jetzt in 2025. Man ist zu der Überzeugung gelangt, dass Vorgeschichten von Nationen völlig überbewertet werden.
***Vergleich unzulässig***
Die geplante Zerschlagung des Kapitalismus durch die Linke ist etwas völlig anderes, als die Bekämpfung des Kapitalismus zugunsten des Sozialismus durch die SED, weil es damals um die Deutsche Mark ging und heute schließlich um den Euro.
***Bevorstehende Hitzewelle Sommer 2025***
Nach den vergeblichen zwei Anläufen durch plötzlich und unerwarteten Regen in den Jahren 2023 und 2024 ist man sich nun ganz sicher, dass die Erdverkochung durch die Klimawandelung im dritten Anlauf stattfinden wird. Es wurden schon Bodentemperaturen gemessen.
***Neueintrag im Knigge***
Ab sofort schickt es sich nicht, dass vollgeschnaufte Taschentücher auf dem Tisch liegengelassen werden dürfen, wenn die Kamera angeht. Auch Kratzlöffel, wenn der Rücken mal juckt, sind vor Einschalten der Kamera zu entfernen.
***Meinungsfreiheit***
Jeder darf die ihm von den Weisen der Wahrheit vorgegebene Meinung so oft wiederholen und aussprechen, wie er will. Eine Limitierung der Wiederholungen findet nicht statt.
***Selbstbestimmungsgesetz erweitert***
Das Selbstbestimmungsgesetz wurde jetzt erweitert: Man darf sich auch als Finanzamt definieren. Das hat den Vorteil, dass sich der Steuerpflichtige seine Steuerzahlungen auf sein eigenes Konto überweisen kann, um selbst zu entscheiden, wofür die Gelder der Allgemeinheit dienend, ausgegeben werden sollen.
***US-Verbot von Gain-of-Function Forschung***
Dafür, dass deutsche Unternehmen aufgrund der unbezahlbaren Energiekosten ihre Produktionsstätten ins Ausland verlagern, werden in deutschen Bio-Laboren die freigesetzten US-Kapazitäten aus der Forschung mit Kusshand aufgenommen. Operation Paperclip II, nur umgekehrt.
***Deutscher Weltrekord***
Noch nie wurden Ankündigungen in einem Koalitionsvertrag so schnell entsorgt, wie nach den Anfang Mai 2025 stattgefundenen Wahlen. Der verbleibende Rest sind Kann-Bestimmungen, für die sicher ein Grund gefunden wird, warum das Geld zur Umsetzung fehlt.
Dieser Artikel wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben
* *
(Bild von pixabay)
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@ a5ee4475:2ca75401
2025-05-15 14:44:45lista #descentralismo #compilado #portugues
*Algumas destas listas ainda estão sendo trocadas, portanto as versões mais recentes delas só estão visíveis no Amethyst por causa da ferramenta de edição.
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-18 14:43:08Warning: This piece contains a conversation about difficult topics. Please proceed with caution.
TL;DR please educate your children about online safety.
Julian Assange wrote in his 2012 book Cypherpunks, “This book is not a manifesto. There isn’t time for that. This book is a warning.” I read it a few times over the past summer. Those opening lines definitely stood out to me. I wish we had listened back then. He saw something about the internet that few had the ability to see. There are some individuals who are so close to a topic that when they speak, it’s difficult for others who aren’t steeped in it to visualize what they’re talking about. I didn’t read the book until more recently. If I had read it when it came out, it probably would have sounded like an unknown foreign language to me. Today it makes more sense.
This isn’t a manifesto. This isn’t a book. There is no time for that. It’s a warning and a possible solution from a desperate and determined survivor advocate who has been pulling and unraveling a thread for a few years. At times, I feel too close to this topic to make any sense trying to convey my pathway to my conclusions or thoughts to the general public. My hope is that if nothing else, I can convey my sense of urgency while writing this. This piece is a watchman’s warning.
When a child steps online, they are walking into a new world. A new reality. When you hand a child the internet, you are handing them possibilities—good, bad, and ugly. This is a conversation about lowering the potential of negative outcomes of stepping into that new world and how I came to these conclusions. I constantly compare the internet to the road. You wouldn’t let a young child run out into the road with no guidance or safety precautions. When you hand a child the internet without any type of guidance or safety measures, you are allowing them to play in rush hour, oncoming traffic. “Look left, look right for cars before crossing.” We almost all have been taught that as children. What are we taught as humans about safety before stepping into a completely different reality like the internet? Very little.
I could never really figure out why many folks in tech, privacy rights activists, and hackers seemed so cold to me while talking about online child sexual exploitation. I always figured that as a survivor advocate for those affected by these crimes, that specific, skilled group of individuals would be very welcoming and easy to talk to about such serious topics. I actually had one hacker laugh in my face when I brought it up while I was looking for answers. I thought maybe this individual thought I was accusing them of something I wasn’t, so I felt bad for asking. I was constantly extremely disappointed and would ask myself, “Why don’t they care? What could I say to make them care more? What could I say to make them understand the crisis and the level of suffering that happens as a result of the problem?”
I have been serving minor survivors of online child sexual exploitation for years. My first case serving a survivor of this specific crime was in 2018—a 13-year-old girl sexually exploited by a serial predator on Snapchat. That was my first glimpse into this side of the internet. I won a national award for serving the minor survivors of Twitter in 2023, but I had been working on that specific project for a few years. I was nominated by a lawyer representing two survivors in a legal battle against the platform. I’ve never really spoken about this before, but at the time it was a choice for me between fighting Snapchat or Twitter. I chose Twitter—or rather, Twitter chose me. I heard about the story of John Doe #1 and John Doe #2, and I was so unbelievably broken over it that I went to war for multiple years. I was and still am royally pissed about that case. As far as I was concerned, the John Doe #1 case proved that whatever was going on with corporate tech social media was so out of control that I didn’t have time to wait, so I got to work. It was reading the messages that John Doe #1 sent to Twitter begging them to remove his sexual exploitation that broke me. He was a child begging adults to do something. A passion for justice and protecting kids makes you do wild things. I was desperate to find answers about what happened and searched for solutions. In the end, the platform Twitter was purchased. During the acquisition, I just asked Mr. Musk nicely to prioritize the issue of detection and removal of child sexual exploitation without violating digital privacy rights or eroding end-to-end encryption. Elon thanked me multiple times during the acquisition, made some changes, and I was thanked by others on the survivors’ side as well.
I still feel that even with the progress made, I really just scratched the surface with Twitter, now X. I left that passion project when I did for a few reasons. I wanted to give new leadership time to tackle the issue. Elon Musk made big promises that I knew would take a while to fulfill, but mostly I had been watching global legislation transpire around the issue, and frankly, the governments are willing to go much further with X and the rest of corporate tech than I ever would. My work begging Twitter to make changes with easier reporting of content, detection, and removal of child sexual exploitation material—without violating privacy rights or eroding end-to-end encryption—and advocating for the minor survivors of the platform went as far as my principles would have allowed. I’m grateful for that experience. I was still left with a nagging question: “How did things get so bad with Twitter where the John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 case was able to happen in the first place?” I decided to keep looking for answers. I decided to keep pulling the thread.
I never worked for Twitter. This is often confusing for folks. I will say that despite being disappointed in the platform’s leadership at times, I loved Twitter. I saw and still see its value. I definitely love the survivors of the platform, but I also loved the platform. I was a champion of the platform’s ability to give folks from virtually around the globe an opportunity to speak and be heard.
I want to be clear that John Doe #1 really is my why. He is the inspiration. I am writing this because of him. He represents so many globally, and I’m still inspired by his bravery. One child’s voice begging adults to do something—I’m an adult, I heard him. I’d go to war a thousand more lifetimes for that young man, and I don’t even know his name. Fighting has been personally dark at times; I’m not even going to try to sugarcoat it, but it has been worth it.
The data surrounding the very real crime of online child sexual exploitation is available to the public online at any time for anyone to see. I’d encourage you to go look at the data for yourself. I believe in encouraging folks to check multiple sources so that you understand the full picture. If you are uncomfortable just searching around the internet for information about this topic, use the terms “CSAM,” “CSEM,” “SG-CSEM,” or “AI Generated CSAM.” The numbers don’t lie—it’s a nightmare that’s out of control. It’s a big business. The demand is high, and unfortunately, business is booming. Organizations collect the data, tech companies often post their data, governments report frequently, and the corporate press has covered a decent portion of the conversation, so I’m sure you can find a source that you trust.
Technology is changing rapidly, which is great for innovation as a whole but horrible for the crime of online child sexual exploitation. Those wishing to exploit the vulnerable seem to be adapting to each technological change with ease. The governments are so far behind with tackling these issues that as I’m typing this, it’s borderline irrelevant to even include them while speaking about the crime or potential solutions. Technology is changing too rapidly, and their old, broken systems can’t even dare to keep up. Think of it like the governments’ “War on Drugs.” Drugs won. In this case as well, the governments are not winning. The governments are talking about maybe having a meeting on potentially maybe having legislation around the crimes. The time to have that meeting would have been many years ago. I’m not advocating for governments to legislate our way out of this. I’m on the side of educating and innovating our way out of this.
I have been clear while advocating for the minor survivors of corporate tech platforms that I would not advocate for any solution to the crime that would violate digital privacy rights or erode end-to-end encryption. That has been a personal moral position that I was unwilling to budge on. This is an extremely unpopular and borderline nonexistent position in the anti-human trafficking movement and online child protection space. I’m often fearful that I’m wrong about this. I have always thought that a better pathway forward would have been to incentivize innovation for detection and removal of content. I had no previous exposure to privacy rights activists or Cypherpunks—actually, I came to that conclusion by listening to the voices of MENA region political dissidents and human rights activists. After developing relationships with human rights activists from around the globe, I realized how important privacy rights and encryption are for those who need it most globally. I was simply unwilling to give more power, control, and opportunities for mass surveillance to big abusers like governments wishing to enslave entire nations and untrustworthy corporate tech companies to potentially end some portion of abuses online. On top of all of it, it has been clear to me for years that all potential solutions outside of violating digital privacy rights to detect and remove child sexual exploitation online have not yet been explored aggressively. I’ve been disappointed that there hasn’t been more of a conversation around preventing the crime from happening in the first place.
What has been tried is mass surveillance. In China, they are currently under mass surveillance both online and offline, and their behaviors are attached to a social credit score. Unfortunately, even on state-run and controlled social media platforms, they still have child sexual exploitation and abuse imagery pop up along with other crimes and human rights violations. They also have a thriving black market online due to the oppression from the state. In other words, even an entire loss of freedom and privacy cannot end the sexual exploitation of children online. It’s been tried. There is no reason to repeat this method.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out why I always felt a slight coldness from those in tech and privacy-minded individuals about the topic of child sexual exploitation online. I didn’t have any clue about the “Four Horsemen of the Infocalypse.” This is a term coined by Timothy C. May in 1988. I would have been a child myself when he first said it. I actually laughed at myself when I heard the phrase for the first time. I finally got it. The Cypherpunks weren’t wrong about that topic. They were so spot on that it is borderline uncomfortable. I was mad at first that they knew that early during the birth of the internet that this issue would arise and didn’t address it. Then I got over it because I realized that it wasn’t their job. Their job was—is—to write code. Their job wasn’t to be involved and loving parents or survivor advocates. Their job wasn’t to educate children on internet safety or raise awareness; their job was to write code.
They knew that child sexual abuse material would be shared on the internet. They said what would happen—not in a gleeful way, but a prediction. Then it happened.
I equate it now to a concrete company laying down a road. As you’re pouring the concrete, you can say to yourself, “A terrorist might travel down this road to go kill many, and on the flip side, a beautiful child can be born in an ambulance on this road.” Who or what travels down the road is not their responsibility—they are just supposed to lay the concrete. I’d never go to a concrete pourer and ask them to solve terrorism that travels down roads. Under the current system, law enforcement should stop terrorists before they even make it to the road. The solution to this specific problem is not to treat everyone on the road like a terrorist or to not build the road.
So I understand the perceived coldness from those in tech. Not only was it not their job, but bringing up the topic was seen as the equivalent of asking a free person if they wanted to discuss one of the four topics—child abusers, terrorists, drug dealers, intellectual property pirates, etc.—that would usher in digital authoritarianism for all who are online globally.
Privacy rights advocates and groups have put up a good fight. They stood by their principles. Unfortunately, when it comes to corporate tech, I believe that the issue of privacy is almost a complete lost cause at this point. It’s still worth pushing back, but ultimately, it is a losing battle—a ticking time bomb.
I do think that corporate tech providers could have slowed down the inevitable loss of privacy at the hands of the state by prioritizing the detection and removal of CSAM when they all started online. I believe it would have bought some time, fewer would have been traumatized by that specific crime, and I do believe that it could have slowed down the demand for content. If I think too much about that, I’ll go insane, so I try to push the “if maybes” aside, but never knowing if it could have been handled differently will forever haunt me. At night when it’s quiet, I wonder what I would have done differently if given the opportunity. I’ll probably never know how much corporate tech knew and ignored in the hopes that it would go away while the problem continued to get worse. They had different priorities. The most voiceless and vulnerable exploited on corporate tech never had much of a voice, so corporate tech providers didn’t receive very much pushback.
Now I’m about to say something really wild, and you can call me whatever you want to call me, but I’m going to say what I believe to be true. I believe that the governments are either so incompetent that they allowed the proliferation of CSAM online, or they knowingly allowed the problem to fester long enough to have an excuse to violate privacy rights and erode end-to-end encryption. The US government could have seized the corporate tech providers over CSAM, but I believe that they were so useful as a propaganda arm for the regimes that they allowed them to continue virtually unscathed.
That season is done now, and the governments are making the issue a priority. It will come at a high cost. Privacy on corporate tech providers is virtually done as I’m typing this. It feels like a death rattle. I’m not particularly sure that we had much digital privacy to begin with, but the illusion of a veil of privacy feels gone.
To make matters slightly more complex, it would be hard to convince me that once AI really gets going, digital privacy will exist at all.
I believe that there should be a conversation shift to preserving freedoms and human rights in a post-privacy society.
I don’t want to get locked up because AI predicted a nasty post online from me about the government. I’m not a doomer about AI—I’m just going to roll with it personally. I’m looking forward to the positive changes that will be brought forth by AI. I see it as inevitable. A bit of privacy was helpful while it lasted. Please keep fighting to preserve what is left of privacy either way because I could be wrong about all of this.
On the topic of AI, the addition of AI to the horrific crime of child sexual abuse material and child sexual exploitation in multiple ways so far has been devastating. It’s currently out of control. The genie is out of the bottle. I am hopeful that innovation will get us humans out of this, but I’m not sure how or how long it will take. We must be extremely cautious around AI legislation. It should not be illegal to innovate even if some bad comes with the good. I don’t trust that the governments are equipped to decide the best pathway forward for AI. Source: the entire history of the government.
I have been personally negatively impacted by AI-generated content. Every few days, I get another alert that I’m featured again in what’s called “deep fake pornography” without my consent. I’m not happy about it, but what pains me the most is the thought that for a period of time down the road, many globally will experience what myself and others are experiencing now by being digitally sexually abused in this way. If you have ever had your picture taken and posted online, you are also at risk of being exploited in this way. Your child’s image can be used as well, unfortunately, and this is just the beginning of this particular nightmare. It will move to more realistic interpretations of sexual behaviors as technology improves. I have no brave words of wisdom about how to deal with that emotionally. I do have hope that innovation will save the day around this specific issue. I’m nervous that everyone online will have to ID verify due to this issue. I see that as one possible outcome that could help to prevent one problem but inadvertently cause more problems, especially for those living under authoritarian regimes or anyone who needs to remain anonymous online. A zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) would probably be the best solution to these issues. There are some survivors of violence and/or sexual trauma who need to remain anonymous online for various reasons. There are survivor stories available online of those who have been abused in this way. I’d encourage you seek out and listen to their stories.
There have been periods of time recently where I hesitate to say anything at all because more than likely AI will cover most of my concerns about education, awareness, prevention, detection, and removal of child sexual exploitation online, etc.
Unfortunately, some of the most pressing issues we’ve seen online over the last few years come in the form of “sextortion.” Self-generated child sexual exploitation (SG-CSEM) numbers are continuing to be terrifying. I’d strongly encourage that you look into sextortion data. AI + sextortion is also a huge concern. The perpetrators are using the non-sexually explicit images of children and putting their likeness on AI-generated child sexual exploitation content and extorting money, more imagery, or both from minors online. It’s like a million nightmares wrapped into one. The wild part is that these issues will only get more pervasive because technology is harnessed to perpetuate horror at a scale unimaginable to a human mind.
Even if you banned phones and the internet or tried to prevent children from accessing the internet, it wouldn’t solve it. Child sexual exploitation will still be with us until as a society we start to prevent the crime before it happens. That is the only human way out right now.
There is no reset button on the internet, but if I could go back, I’d tell survivor advocates to heed the warnings of the early internet builders and to start education and awareness campaigns designed to prevent as much online child sexual exploitation as possible. The internet and technology moved quickly, and I don’t believe that society ever really caught up. We live in a world where a child can be groomed by a predator in their own home while sitting on a couch next to their parents watching TV. We weren’t ready as a species to tackle the fast-paced algorithms and dangers online. It happened too quickly for parents to catch up. How can you parent for the ever-changing digital world unless you are constantly aware of the dangers?
I don’t think that the internet is inherently bad. I believe that it can be a powerful tool for freedom and resistance. I’ve spoken a lot about the bad online, but there is beauty as well. We often discuss how victims and survivors are abused online; we rarely discuss the fact that countless survivors around the globe have been able to share their experiences, strength, hope, as well as provide resources to the vulnerable. I do question if giving any government or tech company access to censorship, surveillance, etc., online in the name of serving survivors might not actually impact a portion of survivors negatively. There are a fair amount of survivors with powerful abusers protected by governments and the corporate press. If a survivor cannot speak to the press about their abuse, the only place they can go is online, directly or indirectly through an independent journalist who also risks being censored. This scenario isn’t hard to imagine—it already happened in China. During #MeToo, a survivor in China wanted to post their story. The government censored the post, so the survivor put their story on the blockchain. I’m excited that the survivor was creative and brave, but it’s terrifying to think that we live in a world where that situation is a necessity.
I believe that the future for many survivors sharing their stories globally will be on completely censorship-resistant and decentralized protocols. This thought in particular gives me hope. When we listen to the experiences of a diverse group of survivors, we can start to understand potential solutions to preventing the crimes from happening in the first place.
My heart is broken over the gut-wrenching stories of survivors sexually exploited online. Every time I hear the story of a survivor, I do think to myself quietly, “What could have prevented this from happening in the first place?” My heart is with survivors.
My head, on the other hand, is full of the understanding that the internet should remain free. The free flow of information should not be stopped. My mind is with the innocent citizens around the globe that deserve freedom both online and offline.
The problem is that governments don’t only want to censor illegal content that violates human rights—they create legislation that is so broad that it can impact speech and privacy of all. “Don’t you care about the kids?” Yes, I do. I do so much that I’m invested in finding solutions. I also care about all citizens around the globe that deserve an opportunity to live free from a mass surveillance society. If terrorism happens online, I should not be punished by losing my freedom. If drugs are sold online, I should not be punished. I’m not an abuser, I’m not a terrorist, and I don’t engage in illegal behaviors. I refuse to lose freedom because of others’ bad behaviors online.
I want to be clear that on a long enough timeline, the governments will decide that they can be better parents/caregivers than you can if something isn’t done to stop minors from being sexually exploited online. The price will be a complete loss of anonymity, privacy, free speech, and freedom of religion online. I find it rather insulting that governments think they’re better equipped to raise children than parents and caretakers.
So we can’t go backwards—all that we can do is go forward. Those who want to have freedom will find technology to facilitate their liberation. This will lead many over time to decentralized and open protocols. So as far as I’m concerned, this does solve a few of my worries—those who need, want, and deserve to speak freely online will have the opportunity in most countries—but what about online child sexual exploitation?
When I popped up around the decentralized space, I was met with the fear of censorship. I’m not here to censor you. I don’t write code. I couldn’t censor anyone or any piece of content even if I wanted to across the internet, no matter how depraved. I don’t have the skills to do that.
I’m here to start a conversation. Freedom comes at a cost. You must always fight for and protect your freedom. I can’t speak about protecting yourself from all of the Four Horsemen because I simply don’t know the topics well enough, but I can speak about this one topic.
If there was a shortcut to ending online child sexual exploitation, I would have found it by now. There isn’t one right now. I believe that education is the only pathway forward to preventing the crime of online child sexual exploitation for future generations.
I propose a yearly education course for every child of all school ages, taught as a standard part of the curriculum. Ideally, parents/caregivers would be involved in the education/learning process.
Course: - The creation of the internet and computers - The fight for cryptography - The tech supply chain from the ground up (example: human rights violations in the supply chain) - Corporate tech - Freedom tech - Data privacy - Digital privacy rights - AI (history-current) - Online safety (predators, scams, catfishing, extortion) - Bitcoin - Laws - How to deal with online hate and harassment - Information on who to contact if you are being abused online or offline - Algorithms - How to seek out the truth about news, etc., online
The parents/caregivers, homeschoolers, unschoolers, and those working to create decentralized parallel societies have been an inspiration while writing this, but my hope is that all children would learn this course, even in government ran schools. Ideally, parents would teach this to their own children.
The decentralized space doesn’t want child sexual exploitation to thrive. Here’s the deal: there has to be a strong prevention effort in order to protect the next generation. The internet isn’t going anywhere, predators aren’t going anywhere, and I’m not down to let anyone have the opportunity to prove that there is a need for more government. I don’t believe that the government should act as parents. The governments have had a chance to attempt to stop online child sexual exploitation, and they didn’t do it. Can we try a different pathway forward?
I’d like to put myself out of a job. I don’t want to ever hear another story like John Doe #1 ever again. This will require work. I’ve often called online child sexual exploitation the lynchpin for the internet. It’s time to arm generations of children with knowledge and tools. I can’t do this alone.
Individuals have fought so that I could have freedom online. I want to fight to protect it. I don’t want child predators to give the government any opportunity to take away freedom. Decentralized spaces are as close to a reset as we’ll get with the opportunity to do it right from the start. Start the youth off correctly by preventing potential hazards to the best of your ability.
The good news is anyone can work on this! I’d encourage you to take it and run with it. I added the additional education about the history of the internet to make the course more educational and fun. Instead of cleaning up generations of destroyed lives due to online sexual exploitation, perhaps this could inspire generations of those who will build our futures. Perhaps if the youth is armed with knowledge, they can create more tools to prevent the crime.
This one solution that I’m suggesting can be done on an individual level or on a larger scale. It should be adjusted depending on age, learning style, etc. It should be fun and playful.
This solution does not address abuse in the home or some of the root causes of offline child sexual exploitation. My hope is that it could lead to some survivors experiencing abuse in the home an opportunity to disclose with a trusted adult. The purpose for this solution is to prevent the crime of online child sexual exploitation before it occurs and to arm the youth with the tools to contact safe adults if and when it happens.
In closing, I went to hell a few times so that you didn’t have to. I spoke to the mothers of survivors of minors sexually exploited online—their tears could fill rivers. I’ve spoken with political dissidents who yearned to be free from authoritarian surveillance states. The only balance that I’ve found is freedom online for citizens around the globe and prevention from the dangers of that for the youth. Don’t slow down innovation and freedom. Educate, prepare, adapt, and look for solutions.
I’m not perfect and I’m sure that there are errors in this piece. I hope that you find them and it starts a conversation.
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@ 609f186c:0aa4e8af
2025-05-15 20:01:08I love that #nostr lets me write in long form. I see this as one of the brightest parts of Nostr's future.
Friends, I appreciate that you like thoughtful & detailed posts.
I'm also trying to move myself away from the** sustained-thought atrophy of the Twitter format**.. where half of each tweet is like half headline.
But I've struggled with composing long notes on a client in a way that is natural & intuitive.
It has been especially difficult to get a sense for how the thing is gonna look.
And when I want to add in more material...yiikes.
So I'm delighted to be composing this post in the brandnew note editor from #Primal.
So far, it feels really good. And I like that I can selectively format text.
The troll in me still wants a <blink> tag.
Onwards to sustained cognition & real conversation!
Check out Primal's editor: https://primal.net/myarticles
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@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1
2025-05-15 14:42:29Good morning, readers!
We bring news from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group is imposing immense taxes on the local economy, merchants, and aid groups to fund its insurgency as it seeks to govern seized regions of the Eastern Congo. The levies worsen economic hardship for Congolese already suffering from ongoing cash shortages, bank closures, and rapidly rising prices induced by the regional conflict.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, independent media outlet Channel C, founded by former Apple Daily employees, had its bank account frozen by local officials over alleged fraud charges. The closure fits into a widespread pattern of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leveraging financial repression and legal pressure to silence independent and pro-democracy media in Hong Kong.
In freedom tech news, we highlight a new ecash development: multinut payments. These payments let users combine small balances held at different ecash mints to pay a single invoice. It’s a big step forward in terms of usability and security for human rights defenders since they no longer need to keep a large balance of ecash at any one mint. This reduces the chances of stolen funds while maintaining strong privacy guarantees. We also highlight the ongoing OP_RETURN debate in the Bitcoin community, present both sides of the argument, and invite our readers to watch a nuanced debate on this topic.
We end with the latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech series, where the Human Rights Foundation’s Alex Gladstein discusses the upcoming Oslo Freedom Forum and HRF’s role in supporting open-source freedom tech with Pubkey’s co-founder, Thomas Pacchia. We also include the livestreams from the latest bitcoin++ event, where developers, privacy advocates, and freedom tech users convened to discuss Bitcoin’s mempool, learn how Bitcoin transactions are sorted into blocks, and discuss current mempool policies.
Now, let’s jump right in!
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GLOBAL NEWS
DR Congo | Rebel Rule and Economic Ruin
After seizing control of large parts of the eastern Congo, the Paul Kagame-backed M23 rebel group is now trying to govern and fund its insurgency through coercive taxation and financial control. Rebels now impose a 15% tax on coltan metal production, 20% duties on merchants selling essential goods, and demand tax bills from aid groups, backed by threats of physical punishment. “If you don’t pay up, you risk being whipped,” one merchant said. The new levies are worsening the financial struggles for Congolese already suffering from ongoing cash shortages, bank closures, and rapidly rising prices induced by the regional conflict. Many must travel hundreds of kilometers just to obtain cash while navigating the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis that has claimed more than 7,000 lives.
China | Law Enforcement Freezes Bank Accounts of Independent Media Outlet Channel C
Hong Kong-based Channel C, an independent media outlet founded by former Apple Daily employees, reports that its bank accounts are frozen, forcing the news outlet to halt operations. Local law enforcement claim the outlet abused a COVID-era loan scheme and arrested one of its directors for alleged fraud. Still, the closure fits a well-worn pattern: using financial and legal repression to silence independent media in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily faced a nearly identical fate in 2021 when its assets were seized and its founder, Jimmy Lai, was imprisoned under Hong Kong’s new national security law. Lai now faces up to life in prison. When access to money becomes contingent on political obedience, press freedom can’t survive.
Venezuela | Blackouts, Inflation, and Currency Shortages
Venezuelans are once again bracing for economic collapse as inflation rises to 162% and electrical blackouts sweep across major cities. The situation echoes 2019’s political and financial chaos, where triple-digit inflation, foreign currency shortages, and power outages paralyzed the country. In reaction to the collapse, Nicolás Maduro approved the country’s first economic emergency decree in four years, granting himself broad powers to suspend taxes and authorize new benefits for select investors. The regime has also reshuffled central bank leadership and is pressing merchants to abandon US dollar pricing and return to the failing bolivar system — a clear move to financially asphyxiate Venezuelans. A focus on top-down economic management by Maduro’s regime will only reinforce the inflation and poverty driving this widespread crisis in the wake of Maduro’s stolen and blatantly rigged presidential election.
Bolivia | Inflation Accelerates to 17-Year High
Inflation in Bolivia is accelerating rapidly, with prices rising more than 15% year over year. This is the highest level of inflation Bolivians have seen in 17 years. Families now face increased costs of essential goods like food, shelter, and water. And the country’s fixed exchange rate system is also faltering, with dwindling reserves and growing dollar shortages compounding the price increases. The Bolivian regime also approved a new decree to regulate financial technology companies and virtual asset providers. The regulations tighten control over platforms that offer alternatives to the depreciating boliviano. If implemented rigidly, these regulations could restrict access to tools like Bitcoin.
Nicaragua | Ortega Centralizes Passport Renewal in Managua for Exiled Dissidents
The regime of Daniel Ortega has stripped Nicaraguans abroad of a basic right: the ability to renew their passports at local embassies abroad. All renewals must now go through the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, forcing exiles to either return home or authorize a relative (via an apostilled power of attorney) to handle the renewal on their behalf. For many outside Nicaragua, especially political opposition, journalists, and human rights defenders, returning is not a safe option, and involving relatives could expose them to state repression or retaliation. Those who do return risk facing the immense physical and financial repression of the Ortega regime, including surveillance, extortion, bank freezes, or even imprisonment. Ortega’s corruption of even basic bureaucracy undermines the growing Nicaraguan diaspora’s ability to live freely abroad by making their legal status, mobility, and access to financial services conditional.
Kenya | High Court Rules Against Sam Altman and Worldcoin
A Kenyan High Court ruled that Worldcoin, the biometric ID project co-founded by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, violated constitutional privacy rights by collecting iris scans and facial images without proper safeguards. The court ordered the immediate deletion of all biometric data collected from Kenyan users, including iris scans and facial images. They also banned the project from conducting any further data collection. Kenya had been one of Worldcoin’s largest markets before authorities suspended the project in 2023. As biometric surveillance becomes more widespread, this case highlights the risks of technologies that undermine privacy in the name of inclusion.
BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS
Cashu | Make Ecash Payments from Multiple Mints
Cashu, a protocol for making private bitcoin payments using ecash, shared a new feature called multinut payments. Still in development, it enables users to combine small ecash balances held at different mints (entities that issue and redeem ecash) into a single transaction. Since Cashu is a custodial system (meaning users must trust the mints they use), this update reduces counterparty risk by allowing users to spread their funds across multiple mints rather than relying on just one. Previously, making a large ecash payment required keeping a sizeable balance at a single mint, increasing the chances of losing your funds if the mint were shut down or compromised. Now, larger payments can be made with significantly less custody risk. For those living under strict financial controls, ecash multinut payments offer a very private way to spend funds without trusting any single entity that can censor or debank them.
Bitika | Bridging Bitcoin and M-Pesa in Kenya
Bitika is a Kenyan fintech startup simplifying Bitcoin access. It integrates with M-Pesa, the mobile money platform used daily for payments by millions of people across Kenya and wider East Africa. Bitika offers a three-step process to buy Bitcoin via mobile phone using the Lightning Network. Users simply enter the amount of Bitcoin they would like to receive in Kenyan shillings, input their Bitcoin Lightning wallet address, and enter their M-Pesa number, and once confirmed, they receive their Bitcoin. Bitika is similar to other Bitcoin projects like Tando, which also bridges Bitcoin with M-Pesa using the Lightning Network. With plans to expand across the rest of Africa, Bitika shows Bitcoin’s grassroots utility and the role of local context in driving bottom-up financial inclusion. Try it here.
Frostsnap | New Bitcoin Multisig Custody Solution
Frostsnap is a new Bitcoin custody solution that uses a simplified multisignature setup to protect users' funds from theft, loss, or coercion by corrupt and authoritarian regimes. Rather than generating and storing private keys on a single device, multisignature solutions like Frostsnap employ multiple private keys distributed across different devices and locations. This approach eliminates single points of failure and offers strong resistance to physical attacks, device compromise, and forced access to users’ Bitcoin (such as from Chinese law enforcement, who surveil mail and extort Bitcoin). Frostsnap also offers the ability to spend directly from the multisig wallet, hide the wallet in times of duress, and access inheritance features, all critical functionalities for human rights defenders and nonprofits facing surveillance or financial repression. Learn more here.
OP_RETURN | Debate Over Bitcoin Core’s Data Relay Limits
A heated debate has resurfaced between some Bitcoin users and developers over whether to raise the size limit for OP_RETURN data that Bitcoin Core nodes (computers running Bitcoin’s main software implementation) relay. The debate was sparked when developer Peter Todd proposed removing this data limit from mempool policy on the basis that it could reduce reliance on direct miner connections, improve fee estimation, and shrink the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) set. It would do this by encouraging users to store arbitrary data in prunable, unspendable outputs (rather than spendable, persistent UTXOs). On the other hand, critics warn that lifting the OP_RETURN limit could increase spam, undermine Bitcoin’s focus on serving financial transactions, and weaken its censorship resistance. The debate still continues, but at its core, the disagreement highlights deeper tensions over what kinds of data should flow through the Bitcoin network. Tune into this discussion at the latest bitcoin++ developer conference to understand the nuance on both sides of the OP_RETURN debate.
Wasabi Wallet | Major Privacy Upgrade and Serverless Operation
Wasabi Wallet, a non-custodial, privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet, introduced its Prometheus update, which enables the wallet to synchronize and operate without a central server and increases transaction privacy. Users can now connect Wasabi directly to their own Bitcoin node (computer running the Bitcoin software), removing reliance on third-party infrastructure and reducing the risk of censorship. The update also introduces Coinjoin 2.0, a privacy technique that mixes the inputs of a Bitcoin transaction, in doing so protecting, for example, the identity of a dissident or nonprofit. Coinjoin 2.0 brings a redesigned mixing process that continuously registers coins as they become available. This change improves privacy and strengthens resistance to analysis that dictators can use to track payments.
Cove Wallet | Adds Support for Krux
Cove Wallet, an open-source mobile Bitcoin wallet currently in beta, released v0.4.0, which brings support for Krux hardware wallets. Krux is an open-source software and HRF grantee that turns generic computing devices into hardware wallets for secure Bitcoin self-custody and transactions. It can help decentralize access to Bitcoin and protect freedom and property rights in authoritarian regimes by providing a discrete and modular self-custody solution. By incorporating Krux, Cove offers its users a private, borderless, DIY path to financial sovereignty with no brand-name hardware. Cove Wallet also announced future support for coin control, which will grant users granular control over the specific coins they use in their Bitcoin payments and the ability to improve transaction privacy.
RECOMMENDED CONTENT
HRF x Pubkey — Freedom Tech and the Oslo Freedom Forum with Alex Gladstein
The latest edition of the HRF x Pubkey Freedom Tech series features a fireside chat with Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer of HRF, in conversation with Pubkey co-founder Tom Pacchia. The discussion explores HRF’s role in funding and supporting open-source Freedom Tech, the upcoming Oslo Freedom Forum and the Freedom Tech track, as well as the human rights paradox of nation-state Bitcoin adoption. Catch the full conversation here.
bitcoin++ Developer Conference Livestream
Last week, bitcoin++ hosted the “mempool edition” of its Bitcoin developer conference series in Austin, Texas. The event, supported by HRF, brought together Bitcoin developers and freedom tech advocates for multiple days of hands-on development, workshops, and technical discussions surrounding Bitcoin’s mempool (the queue of pending transactions in a Bitcoin node). If you’d like to dive into the technical intricacies, you can catch the key sessions and workshops via live stream. Watch them here.
If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report here.
Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program via BTCPay.\ Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ hrf.org
The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals here.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-15 14:41:18Coinbase has revealed an attack in which a group of hackers bribed support agents to access user data.
Coinbase is facing a serious security crisis after a data breach on May 11. A hacker group claimed to have stolen sensitive customer information and demanded a $20 million ransom in bitcoin, threatening to release the data if the payment is not made.
In response, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated the company will not negotiate with criminals. Instead, the firm launched a countermeasure: a $20 million bounty for anyone who provides information leading to the identification and capture of the attackers.
In a post, the company added it will “reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attacker.”
Reports indicate the hackers managed to corrupt some Coinbase customer service agents, gaining access to the company’s internal systems. Once inside, they collected sensitive user data, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and partial social security numbers. Masked bank details, ID document images, and snapshots of account balances were also compromised.
Coinbase confirmed the breach and said it acted swiftly to isolate affected systems and notify impacted users. Previous reports said the incident affected 1% of monthly transacting users.
The post Coinbase user data breached: hackers demand $20 million appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ a5ee4475:2ca75401
2025-05-15 14:11:16lists #descentralismo #compilation #english
*The last list was updated in Amethyst, so the update of this one will only be visible in Amethyst.
nostr:naddr1qq245dz5tqe8w46swpphgmr4f3047s6629t45qg4waehxw309aex2mrp0yhxgctdw4eju6t09upzpf0wg36k3g3hygndv3cp8f2j284v0hfh4dqgqjj3yxnreck2w4qpqvzqqqr4guxde6sl
AI
nostr:naddr1qq24xwtyt9v5wjzefe6523j32dy5ga65gagkjqgawaehxw309ahx7um5wghxy6t5vdhkjmn9wgh8xmmrd9skctczyzj7u3r4dz3rwg3x6erszwj4y502clwn026qsp99zgdx8n3v5a2qzqcyqqq823c8mw5zk
FOSS GAME
nostr:naddr1qq2kvwp3v4hhvk2sw3j5sm6h23g5wkz5ddzhzqg4waehxw309aex2mrp0yhxgctdw4eju6t09upzpf0wg36k3g3hygndv3cp8f2j284v0hfh4dqgqjj3yxnreck2w4qpqvzqqqr4gut57qtr
OSHW - Open Source Hardware
nostr:naddr1qqgrqvp5vd3kycejxask2efcv4jr2qgswaehxw309ahx7um5wghx6mmd9upzpf0wg36k3g3hygndv3cp8f2j284v0hfh4dqgqjj3yxnreck2w4qpqvzqqqr4guc43v6c
Markdown Uses for Some Clients
nostr:nevent1qqsv54qfgtme38r2tl9v6ghwfj09gdjukealstkzc77mwujr56tgfwsppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qgsq37tg2603tu0cqdrxs30e2n5t8p87uenf4fvfepdcvr7nllje5zgrqsqqqqqpkdvta4
Other Links
nostr:nevent1qqsrm6ywny5r7ajakpppp0lt525n0s33x6tyn6pz0n8ws8k2tqpqracpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezumt0d5hsygp6e5ns0nv3dun430jky25y4pku6ylz68rz6zs7khv29q6rj5peespsgqqqqqqsmfwa78
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-15 23:00:40I want to see Nostr succeed. If you can think of a way I can help make that happen, I’m open to it. I’d like your suggestions.
My schedule’s shifting soon, and I could volunteer a few hours a week to a Nostr project. I won’t have more total time, but how I use it will change.
Why help? I care about freedom. Nostr’s one of the most powerful freedom tools I’ve seen in my lifetime. If I believe that, I should act on it.
I don’t care about money or sats. I’m not rich, I don’t have extra cash. That doesn’t drive me—freedom does. I’m volunteering, not asking for pay.
I’m not here for clout. I’ve had enough spotlight in my life; it doesn’t move me. If I wanted clout, I’d be on Twitter dropping basic takes. Clout’s easy. Freedom’s hard. I’d rather help anonymously. No speaking at events—small meetups are cool for the vibe, but big conferences? Not my thing. I’ll never hit a huge Bitcoin conference. It’s just not my scene.
That said, I could be convinced to step up if it’d really boost Nostr—as long as it’s legal and gets results.
In this space, I’d watch for social engineering. I watch out for it. I’m not here to make friends, just to help. No shade—you all seem great—but I’ve got a full life and awesome friends irl. I don’t need your crew or to be online cool. Connect anonymously if you want; I’d encourage it.
I’m sick of watching other social media alternatives grow while Nostr kinda stalls. I could trash-talk, but I’d rather do something useful.
Skills? I’m good at spotting social media problems and finding possible solutions. I won’t overhype myself—that’s weird—but if you’re responding, you probably see something in me. Perhaps you see something that I don’t see in myself.
If you need help now or later with Nostr projects, reach out. Nostr only—nothing else. Anonymous contact’s fine. Even just a suggestion on how I can pitch in, no project attached, works too. 💜
Creeps or harassment will get blocked or I’ll nuke my simplex code if it becomes a problem.
https://simplex.chat/contact#/?v=2-4&smp=smp%3A%2F%2FSkIkI6EPd2D63F4xFKfHk7I1UGZVNn6k1QWZ5rcyr6w%3D%40smp9.simplex.im%2FbI99B3KuYduH8jDr9ZwyhcSxm2UuR7j0%23%2F%3Fv%3D1-2%26dh%3DMCowBQYDK2VuAyEAS9C-zPzqW41PKySfPCEizcXb1QCus6AyDkTTjfyMIRM%253D%26srv%3Djssqzccmrcws6bhmn77vgmhfjmhwlyr3u7puw4erkyoosywgl67slqqd.onion
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-12 00:40:25Before I saw those X right-wing political “influencers” parading their Epstein binders in that PR stunt, I’d already posted this on Nostr, an open protocol.
“Today, the world’s attention will likely fixate on Epstein, governmental failures in addressing horrific abuse cases, and the influential figures who perpetrate such acts—yet few will center the victims and survivors in the conversation. The survivors of Epstein went to law enforcement and very little happened. The survivors tried to speak to the corporate press and the corporate press knowingly covered for him. In situations like these social media can serve as one of the only ways for a survivor’s voice to be heard.
It’s becoming increasingly evident that the line between centralized corporate social media and the state is razor-thin, if it exists at all. Time and again, the state shields powerful abusers when it’s politically expedient to do so. In this climate, a survivor attempting to expose someone like Epstein on a corporate tech platform faces an uphill battle—there’s no assurance their voice would even break through. Their story wouldn’t truly belong to them; it’d be at the mercy of the platform, subject to deletion at a whim. Nostr, though, offers a lifeline—a censorship-resistant space where survivors can share their truths, no matter how untouchable the abuser might seem. A survivor could remain anonymous here if they took enough steps.
Nostr holds real promise for amplifying survivor voices. And if you’re here daily, tossing out memes, take heart: you’re helping build a foundation for those who desperately need to be heard.“
That post is untouchable—no CEO, company, employee, or government can delete it. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t take it down myself. The post will outlive me on the protocol.
The cozy alliance between the state and corporate social media hit me hard during that right-wing X “influencer” PR stunt. Elon owns X. Elon’s a special government employee. X pays those influencers to post. We don’t know who else pays them to post. Those influencers are spurred on by both the government and X to manage the Epstein case narrative. It wasn’t survivors standing there, grinning for photos—it was paid influencers, gatekeepers orchestrating yet another chance to re-exploit the already exploited.
The bond between the state and corporate social media is tight. If the other Epsteins out there are ever to be unmasked, I wouldn’t bet on a survivor’s story staying safe with a corporate tech platform, the government, any social media influencer, or mainstream journalist. Right now, only a protocol can hand survivors the power to truly own their narrative.
I don’t have anything against Elon—I’ve actually been a big supporter. I’m just stating it as I see it. X isn’t censorship resistant and they have an algorithm that they choose not the user. Corporate tech platforms like X can be a better fit for some survivors. X has safety tools and content moderation, making it a solid option for certain individuals. Grok can be a big help for survivors looking for resources or support! As a survivor, you know what works best for you, and safety should always come first—keep that front and center.
That said, a protocol is a game-changer for cases where the powerful are likely to censor. During China's # MeToo movement, survivors faced heavy censorship on social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, where posts about sexual harassment were quickly removed, and hashtags like # MeToo or "woyeshi" were blocked by government and platform filters. To bypass this, activists turned to blockchain technology encoding their stories—like Yue Xin’s open letter about a Peking University case—into transaction metadata. This made the information tamper-proof and publicly accessible, resisting censorship since blockchain data can’t be easily altered or deleted.
I posted this on X 2/28/25. I wanted to try my first long post on a nostr client. The Epstein cover up is ongoing so it’s still relevant, unfortunately.
If you are a survivor or loved one who is reading this and needs support please reach out to: National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7 https://rainn.org/
Hours: Available 24 hours
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@ 8173f6e1:e488ac0f
2025-05-15 13:11:46TESTNOTEBIN2
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@ efe5d120:1fc51981
2025-05-15 12:53:31It’s not big government programs or powerful institutions that make a society strong. It’s something much simpler: everyday people trading and working together.
Think about the local hardware store owner. He helps his neighbors, gives people jobs, and provides useful tools. But when the government taxes him too much to fund its programs, it takes away money he could have used to hire someone or visit his family. That hurts both him and the people around him.
This happens all over. Small business owners, tradesmen, inventors and entrepreneurs are the ones who really build up a society. They create value by trading things people want, and both sides benefit. Free trade gives people more choices and helps them live better lives.
But from a young age, we’re told to obey authority without question. We’re taught that without rulers, there would be chaos. But what if that’s not true?
Look around the world: even when governments try to control trade, people still find ways to work together and exchange goods. It’s natural. People want to cooperate and help each other—especially when they’re free to do so.
Here’s the hard truth: if someone can take your money, control your property, and punish you without your agreement, isn’t that a kind of control—or even servitude?
True prosperity doesn’t come from the top down. It comes from people freely working together—farmers, builders, cooks, coders—offering their skills to others who need them.
When trade is free, people do well. When it’s blocked by too many rules or taxes, everyone loses—especially the ones who need help the most.
The answer isn’t more laws or more control. It’s more freedom. Next time someone says we need more government to fix things, ask yourself: wouldn’t free people solve those problems better on their own?
Real civilization isn’t about being ruled. It’s about choosing to work together, trade fairly, and respect each other’s rights. That’s not chaos—that’s freedom.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-15 09:59:36Asia’s wealthiest are moving away from the US dollar in favor of Bitcoin, gold, and Chinese assets, UBS reveals.
During a Bloomberg event in Hong Kong, Amy Lo, a senior executive at UBS, disclosed that Asian billionaires are steadily shifting away from the US dollar to diversify into Bitcoin, gold, and Chinese assets. This transition is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and volatility in traditional markets.
The trend is particularly significant given the scale of Asia’s wealth management industry, which oversaw around $20.7 trillion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $37 trillion by 2029. UBS alone manages $678 billion in Asian assets and advises most of the region’s billionaire clients.
Asia’s financial elite have now allocated over 15% of their wealth to cryptocurrencies and gold, signaling a clear break from traditional US dollar-denominated investments.
A 2024 study by Aspen Digital found that 76% of Asian family offices and high-net-worth investors hold digital assets, up from 58% in 2022. Many have increased their crypto allocations from 5% to over 10% of their portfolios, with Singapore leading the trend — 57% of Singaporean investors plan to further expand their crypto exposure over the next two years.
Jay Jacobs, Head of Thematics and Active ETFs at BlackRock, noted that numerous nations are actively diversifying their reserves away from the US dollar into gold and Bitcoin.
The rise of assets seen as safe havens coincides with shifting central bank policies across Asia. Recent IMF data shows the US dollar’s share of global foreign currency reserves has fallen to 57.4%, down from 70% two decades ago, while Asian central banks have increased their gold reserves by 23% since 2021.
The post Bitcoin enters the portfolios of Asian billionaires appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 4857600b:30b502f4
2025-03-11 01:58:19Key Findings
- Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that aspirin can help slow the spread of certain cancers, including breast, bowel, and prostate cancers
- The study was published in the journal Nature
How Aspirin Works Against Cancer
- Aspirin blocks thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a chemical produced by blood platelets
- TXA2 normally weakens T cells, which are crucial for fighting cancer
- By inhibiting TXA2, aspirin "unleashes" T cells to more effectively target and destroy cancer cells
Supporting Evidence
- Previous studies showed regular aspirin use was linked to:
- 31% reduction in cancer-specific mortality in breast cancer patients
- 9% decrease in recurrence/metastasis risk
- 25% reduction in colon cancer risk
Potential Impact
- Aspirin could be particularly effective in early stages of cancer
- It may help prevent metastasis, which causes 90% of cancer fatalities
- As an inexpensive treatment, it could be more accessible globally than antibody-based therapies
Cautions
- Experts warn against self-medicating with aspirin
- Potential risks include internal bleeding and stomach ulcers
- Patients should consult doctors before starting aspirin therapy
Next Steps
- Large-scale clinical trials to determine which cancer types and patients would benefit most
- Development of new drugs that mimic aspirin's benefits without side effects
Citations: Natural News
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@ 4857600b:30b502f4
2025-03-10 12:09:35At this point, we should be arresting, not firing, any FBI employee who delays, destroys, or withholds information on the Epstein case. There is ZERO explanation I will accept for redacting anything for “national security” reasons. A lot of Trump supporters are losing patience with Pam Bondi. I will give her the benefit of the doubt for now since the corruption within the whole security/intelligence apparatus of our country runs deep. However, let’s not forget that probably Trump’s biggest mistakes in his first term involved picking weak and easily corruptible (or blackmailable) officials. It seemed every month a formerly-loyal person did a complete 180 degree turn and did everything they could to screw him over, regardless of the betrayal’s effect on the country or whatever principles that person claimed to have. I think he’s fixed his screening process, but since we’re talking about the FBI, we know they have the power to dig up any dirt or blackmail material available, or just make it up. In the Epstein case, it’s probably better to go after Bondi than give up a treasure trove of blackmail material against the long list of members on his client list.
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-02-27 21:32:12GA, plebs. The latest episode of Bitcoin And is out, and, as always, the chicanery is running rampant. Let’s break down the biggest topics I covered, and if you want the full, unfiltered rant, make sure to listen to the episode linked below.
House Democrats’ MEME Act: A Bad Joke?
House Democrats are proposing a bill to ban presidential meme coins, clearly aimed at Trump’s and Melania’s ill-advised token launches. While grifters launching meme coins is bad, this bill is just as ridiculous. If this legislation moves forward, expect a retaliatory strike exposing how politicians like Pelosi and Warren mysteriously amassed their fortunes. Will it pass? Doubtful. But it’s another sign of the government’s obsession with regulating everything except itself.
Senate Banking’s First Digital Asset Hearing: The Real Target Is You
Cynthia Lummis chaired the first digital asset hearing, and—surprise!—it was all about control. The discussion centered on stablecoins, AML, and KYC regulations, with witnesses suggesting Orwellian measures like freezing stablecoin transactions unless pre-approved by authorities. What was barely mentioned? Bitcoin. They want full oversight of stablecoins, which is really about controlling financial freedom. Expect more nonsense targeting self-custody wallets under the guise of stopping “bad actors.”
Bank of America and PayPal Want In on Stablecoins
Bank of America’s CEO openly stated they’ll launch a stablecoin as soon as regulation allows. Meanwhile, PayPal’s CEO paid for a hat using Bitcoin—not their own stablecoin, Pi USD. Why wouldn’t he use his own product? Maybe he knows stablecoins aren’t what they’re hyped up to be. Either way, the legacy financial system is gearing up to flood the market with stablecoins, not because they love crypto, but because it’s a tool to extend U.S. dollar dominance.
MetaPlanet Buys the Dip
Japan’s MetaPlanet issued $13.4M in bonds to buy more Bitcoin, proving once again that institutions see the writing on the wall. Unlike U.S. regulators who obsess over stablecoins, some companies are actually stacking sats.
UK Expands Crypto Seizure Powers
Across the pond, the UK government is pushing legislation to make it easier to seize and destroy crypto linked to criminal activity. While they frame it as going after the bad guys, it’s another move toward centralized control and financial surveillance.
Bitcoin Tools & Tech: Arc, SatoChip, and Nunchuk
Some bullish Bitcoin developments: ARC v0.5 is making Bitcoin’s second layer more efficient, SatoChip now supports Taproot and Nostr, and Nunchuk launched a group wallet with chat, making multisig collaboration easier.
The Bottom Line
The state is coming for financial privacy and control, and stablecoins are their weapon of choice. Bitcoiners need to stay focused, keep their coins in self-custody, and build out parallel systems. Expect more regulatory attacks, but don’t let them distract you—just keep stacking and transacting in ways they can’t control.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://fountain.fm/episode/PYITCo18AJnsEkKLz2Ks
💰 Support the show by boosting sats on Podcasting 2.0! and I will see you on the other side.
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@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e
2025-02-19 21:10:15Nostr is a revolutionary protocol that enables decentralized, censorship-resistant communication. Unlike traditional social networks controlled by corporations, Nostr operates without central servers or gatekeepers. This openness makes it incredibly powerful—but also means its success depends entirely on users, developers, and relay operators.
If you believe in free speech, decentralization, and an open internet, there are many ways to support and strengthen the Nostr ecosystem. Whether you're a casual user, a developer, or someone looking to contribute financially, every effort helps build a more robust network.
Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference.
1️⃣ Use Nostr Daily
The simplest and most effective way to contribute to Nostr is by using it regularly. The more active users, the stronger and more valuable the network becomes.
✅ Post, comment, and zap (send micro-payments via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network) to keep conversations flowing.\ ✅ Engage with new users and help them understand how Nostr works.\ ✅ Try different Nostr clients like Damus, Amethyst, Snort, or Primal and provide feedback to improve the experience.
Your activity keeps the network alive and helps encourage more developers and relay operators to invest in the ecosystem.
2️⃣ Run Your Own Nostr Relay
Relays are the backbone of Nostr, responsible for distributing messages across the network. The more independent relays exist, the stronger and more censorship-resistant Nostr becomes.
✅ Set up your own relay to help decentralize the network further.\ ✅ Experiment with relay configurations and different performance optimizations.\ ✅ Offer public or private relay services to users looking for high-quality infrastructure.
If you're not technical, you can still support relay operators by subscribing to a paid relay or donating to open-source relay projects.
3️⃣ Support Paid Relays & Infrastructure
Free relays have helped Nostr grow, but they struggle with spam, slow speeds, and sustainability issues. Paid relays help fund better infrastructure, faster message delivery, and a more reliable experience.
✅ Subscribe to a paid relay to help keep it running.\ ✅ Use premium services like media hosting (e.g., Azzamo Blossom) to decentralize content storage.\ ✅ Donate to relay operators who invest in long-term infrastructure.
By funding Nostr’s decentralized backbone, you help ensure its longevity and reliability.
4️⃣ Zap Developers, Creators & Builders
Many people contribute to Nostr without direct financial compensation—developers who build clients, relay operators, educators, and content creators. You can support them with zaps! ⚡
✅ Find developers working on Nostr projects and send them a zap.\ ✅ Support content creators and educators who spread awareness about Nostr.\ ✅ Encourage builders by donating to open-source projects.
Micro-payments via the Lightning Network make it easy to directly support the people who make Nostr better.
5️⃣ Develop New Nostr Apps & Tools
If you're a developer, you can build on Nostr’s open protocol to create new apps, bots, or tools. Nostr is permissionless, meaning anyone can develop for it.
✅ Create new Nostr clients with unique features and user experiences.\ ✅ Build bots or automation tools that improve engagement and usability.\ ✅ Experiment with decentralized identity, authentication, and encryption to make Nostr even stronger.
With no corporate gatekeepers, your projects can help shape the future of decentralized social media.
6️⃣ Promote & Educate Others About Nostr
Adoption grows when more people understand and use Nostr. You can help by spreading awareness and creating educational content.
✅ Write blogs, guides, and tutorials explaining how to use Nostr.\ ✅ Make videos or social media posts introducing new users to the protocol.\ ✅ Host discussions, Twitter Spaces, or workshops to onboard more people.
The more people understand and trust Nostr, the stronger the ecosystem becomes.
7️⃣ Support Open-Source Nostr Projects
Many Nostr tools and clients are built by volunteers, and open-source projects thrive on community support.
✅ Contribute code to existing Nostr projects on GitHub.\ ✅ Report bugs and suggest features to improve Nostr clients.\ ✅ Donate to developers who keep Nostr free and open for everyone.
If you're not a developer, you can still help with testing, translations, and documentation to make projects more accessible.
🚀 Every Contribution Strengthens Nostr
Whether you:
✔️ Post and engage daily\ ✔️ Zap creators and developers\ ✔️ Run or support relays\ ✔️ Build new apps and tools\ ✔️ Educate and onboard new users
Every action helps make Nostr more resilient, decentralized, and unstoppable.
Nostr isn’t just another social network—it’s a movement toward a free and open internet. If you believe in digital freedom, privacy, and decentralization, now is the time to get involved.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-15 08:42:44A bill introducing new requirements and costs for miners in the U.S. state has been unanimously approved.
Nebraska’s Republican-majority legislature recently passed bill LB 526 with a unanimous vote (49-0), introducing several restrictions for large-scale mining operations in the state. While it does not amount to an outright ban, the legislation places new obligations on companies in the sector.
What the new regulation establishes
The measure targets miners consuming 1 megawatt or more and the impact of mining activities on the state’s power grid. Unlike other regulations, this bill does not directly address carbon emissions or other environmental effects, focusing instead on energy resource management.
Key provisions include:
- requiring large miners to cover the costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades;
- introducing mandatory energy usage reporting requirements;
- granting state authorities the discretion to interrupt service.
Impact on mining in the state
At present, Marathon is the only bitcoin mining company with significant operations in Nebraska. Earlier this year, the company upgraded hardware at its site in Kearney, a county with around 6,600 residents.
To become law, the bill now awaits the signature of Governor Jim Pillen, who has described cryptocurrencies as an “important emerging sector”, although he has not commented specifically on mining operations. If signed, the law would take effect on October 1 of this year.
The post Nebraska: new legislation imposes restrictions on bitcoin miners appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ a367f9eb:0633efea
2025-05-15 08:39:09By Yaël Ossowski | Bitcoin Policy Institute
What is Bitcoin and why is it different?
In the realm of digital assets and cryptocurrencies, bitcoin stands apart today as both a pioneer network and the dominating technology creating jobs, opportunities, and driving interest in the digital economy.
From a novel computing experiment to a real-time settlements network worth over $1.5 trillion, bitcoin has been catapulted to be a key asset for Wall Street firms and an important savings vehicle and financial technology for Main Street early adopters.
With a pre-programmed hard limit of 21 million units, a distributed network of software nodes verifying transactions, and a unique proof-of-work algorithm that creates an entire industry of hashing miners, Bitcoin has soared above its crypto-offspring and provided unique investing and business opportunities for Americans.
Bitcoin’s innovation in allowing exclusive self-custody, as well as its ease of use and global market liquidity, position it to be a key part of every young person’s financial journey. Unlike other tokens and crypto projects, Bitcoin has no central point of failure, no board of directors, and no central decisionmaker. It is a decentralized and distributed network governed by hard code.
Understanding Bitcoin’s popularity, growing adoption, and market domination, this brochure outlines the various areas of federal law that currently touch the use of Bitcoin.
As the nation’s legislative body, Congress has the ultimate ability and authority to ensure Americans remain free to use the technology, and allow the economic opportunities it provides to be shared by any American who wishes.
The purpose of this brochure is to inform legislative reforms aimed at reducing barriers to adoption, streamlining taxation, and minimizing regulatory complexity so that ordinary Americans can enjoy the fruits of innovation that Bitcoin provides.
Who and what regulates Bitcoin?
The regulatory and legal framework governing Bitcoin and its crypto-offspring in the United States is ever-evolving, thanks in large part to executive actions, legislative proposals, and shifting priorities from regulatory agencies.
President Donald Trump’s pledge to make America the “Bitcoin and Crypto Capital of the World,” as well as establishing the federal government's “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” demonstrate that positive legislative momentum is underway, and that Bitcoin is here to stay.
At present, the significant areas of codified US federal law that address Bitcoin are taxation on digital assets, financial regulatory jurisdiction between various independent agencies, and anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance.
In the US Code, those are represented in the following titles and sections:
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7 U.S.C. § 1a(9) (Commodity Exchange Act)
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15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq. (Securities Act of 1933)
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31 U.S.C. § 5311–5332 (Bank Secrecy Act)
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18 U.S.C. § 1956 (Money Laundering Conspiracies)
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18 U.S.C. § 1960 (Money Laundering Prevention Act, Unlicensed Money Transmission Businesses)
In executing these laws, the agencies of concern are numerous including the:
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Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
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Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
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Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
-
Federal Reserve
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
-
Department of Energy (DOE)
-
and many more.
The impact of these laws and rules have been interpreted differently by competing agencies and administrations, and the American people would benefit from pro-innovation reforms in order to secure this nation’s standing as a place for Bitcoin to thrive.
TAXATION
According to IRS guidelines and established law, bitcoin and all other cryptocurrencies and digital assets are classified as property, subjecting realized transactions to capital gains taxes and income taxes for bitcoin they may earn from mining, airdrops, or rewards. Every American that realizes a dollar gain from a purchase and sale of bitcoin is required to file this information on their annual tax returns.
Recent developments include:
-
IRS Form 1099-DA: Mandated for cryptocurrency brokers beginning January 2025, this form reports gross proceeds from crypto sales but excludes cost-basis data, complicating tax compliance for users.
-
De Minimis Taxation Legislation: Several bills introduced in both the House and Senate aim to exempt cryptocurrency transactions with capital gains from reporting those proceeds to the IRS if they are under a certain amount. This would reduce the amount of compliance required for retail users who may exchange bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for goods or services.
Opportunities for reforms
-
Simplify Reporting: Replace Form 1099-DA with a unified system that tracks reported cost basis.
-
Clarify Income Tax Treatment: Exempt airdrops, mining rewards, and sales of bitcoin from income and capital gains taxes if held for longer than two years.
-
Pass a De Minimis Exemption Threshold (e.g., under $10,000 per transaction) to reduce compliance burdens for retail users, such as the Virtual Currency Taxation Fairness Act.
## REGULATORY JURISDICTION
Under the current regulatory rules and court interpretations, bitcoin is classified as a commodity. This de facto places bitcoin and associated derivatives markets under the regulatory auspices of the CFTC, but it has not yet been codified into law.
Recent developments include:
- FIT21 Act: Passed by the House in 2024, this bill clarifies jurisdictional boundaries, assigning the CFTC oversight of digital commodities (e.g., bitcoin) and the SEC authority over securities-like tokens.
Opportunities for Reform:
- Adopt FIT21’s Framework: Codify the CFTC’s oversight role of bitcoin markets to eliminate ambiguity and foster innovation in non-security crypto projects.
FINANCIAL SERVICE INTEGRATION
In the first few months of President Trump’s administration, certain regulatory changes by agencies have helped to cement bitcoin as a mature asset that institutions and individuals should be free to use.
While many of these changes have not yet been codified into law, there are opportunities for simplifying and clarifying Americans’ access to bitcoin.
Recent developments include:
-
Policy changes at the OCC and the SEC now allow national banks to offer crypto products and custody bitcoin and its crypto-offspring, hold stablecoin reserves, and participate in blockchain networks without prior approval.
-
The FDIC has rescinded 2022 guidance requiring pre-approval for crypto activities, thus enabling FDIC-supervised institutions to engage in permissible services.
-
The BITCOIN Act would codify the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, consolidating federal bitcoin holdings (e.g., 207,000 BTC worth $17 billion) under Treasury management, likened to a “digital Fort Knox”.
-
In 2022, Fannie Mae issued a Selling Guide that prohibits Virtual Currency (including bitcoin) from being considered an asset for the purpose of a borrower seeking home financing.
Opportunities for Reform:
-
Codify regulatory changes that allow financial institutions to send, receive, buy, sell, and conduct all operations related to bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
-
Issue regulatory guidance to allow bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to be considered assets for the purpose of home financing.
-
Pass the BITCOIN Act to codify the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and begin the plan for accumulation of bitcoin into the Federal Treasury.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML) AND SANCTIONS
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency businesses that transmit money on behalf of clients, and allow clients to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on their platforms are considered to be “money service businesses” that must register with both state authorities and the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes and Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
In order to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (1970), bitcoin brokerages and exchanges must collect and share sender/receiver data for transactions over $3,000 with FinCEN.
Federal agencies will then use blockchain analytics to screen wallets for ties to sanctioned entities or illicit activities, as deemed appropriate by law enforcement agencies with probable cause.
As Bitcoin is a decentralized network protocol, innovators and developers offer noncustodial tools to users that do not require the transmission of funds, and allow users to more effectively and securely safeguard their bitcoin on their self-custody wallets.
Until this year, this has been wrongly considered within the scope of Bank of Secrecy Act regulations, which led to federal indictments of developers and entrepreneurs offering these tools to users.
Recent developments include:
-
Ending Regulation by Prosecution: In April 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blance issued a memo iterating that the Department of Justice “will no longer target virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and offline wallets for the acts of their end users or unwitting violations of regulation.”
-
Repeal of Noncustodial broker Rule: In April 2025, President Trump signed a law overturning a Biden-era regulatory rule defining decentralized platforms as brokers, which required these platforms to collect tax information and perform anti-money laundering checks as required by the Bank Secrecy Act.
-
Safe Harbor for Noncustodial developers: Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) has introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, a bill that would grant safe harbor from registration and licensing for developers and coders of noncustodial and decentralized (non-controlling) software projects related to Bitcoin.
Opportunities for Reform:
-
Specifically exempt Decentralized Protocols and Bitcoin projects from BSA compliance: Decentralized Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency projects that do not hold cryptographic keys and do not hold or receive funds on behalf of clients should be exempt from all AML/KYC regulations as required by the Bank Secrecy Act.
-
Congress should consider Rep. Tom Emmer’s Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.
-
Developers of noncustodial protocols that deal with Bitcoin and its crypto-offspring should be exempt from all Money Service Business regulations, reporting, and compliance.
-
For bitcoin entities that are Money Service Businesses, the reporting threshold should be raised to at least $10,000 to align with cash transaction standards.
-
Congress should consider Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)’s Saving Privacy Act, which among other things, protects self-custody for American Bitcoin users and would repeal the Suspicious Activity Reporting requirement threshold for both financial institutions and Money Service Businesses, while still requiring recordkeeping.
Conclusion: Pro-Innovation Congressional Reform for Bitcoin Users
To align federal policy with the goals of reducing friction and fostering adoption for Americans who want to use Bitcoin, Congress should prioritize:
-
Tax Simplification: Streamline reporting, exempt small transactions from capital gains calculations, and clarify income classifications.
-
Regulatory Clarity: Codify the SEC/CFTC jurisdictional split and limit enforcement overreach.
-
Banking Access: Formalize federal guidelines for crypto-friendly banking and lending services.
-
AML Modernization: Tailor rules to minimize burdens on decentralized ecosystems and innovators.
By addressing these areas, the U.S. can transition from a patchwork of reactive policies to a coherent framework that positions Bitcoin as a pillar of economic innovation and inclusion.
Originally published at the Bitcoin Policy Institute.
-
@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-17 17:12:01President Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, likening it to a wartime effort. Despite pouring resources into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrest numbers are declining and falling short of goals. ICE fell from about 800 daily arrests in late January to fewer than 600 in early February.
Critics argue the administration is merely showcasing efforts with ineffectiveness, while Trump seeks billions more in funding to support his deportation agenda. Increased involvement from various federal agencies is intended to assist ICE, but many lack specific immigration training.
Challenges persist, as fewer immigrants are available for quick deportation due to a decline in illegal crossings. Local sheriffs are also pressured by rising demands to accommodate immigrants, which may strain resources further.
-
@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1
2025-02-15 07:02:08E-cash are coupons or tokens for Bitcoin, or Bitcoin debt notes that the mint issues. The e-cash states, essentially, "IoU 2900 sats".
They're redeemable for Bitcoin on Lightning (hard money), and therefore can be used as cash (softer money), so long as the mint has a good reputation. That means that they're less fungible than Lightning because the e-cash from one mint can be more or less valuable than the e-cash from another. If a mint is buggy, offline, or disappears, then the e-cash is unreedemable.
It also means that e-cash is more anonymous than Lightning, and that the sender and receiver's wallets don't need to be online, to transact. Nutzaps now add the possibility of parking transactions one level farther out, on a relay. The same relays that cannot keep npub profiles and follow lists consistent will now do monetary transactions.
What we then have is * a transaction on a relay that triggers * a transaction on a mint that triggers * a transaction on Lightning that triggers * a transaction on Bitcoin.
Which means that every relay that stores the nuts is part of a wildcat banking system. Which is fine, but relay operators should consider whether they wish to carry the associated risks and liabilities. They should also be aware that they should implement the appropriate features in their relay, such as expiration tags (nuts rot after 2 weeks), and to make sure that only expired nuts are deleted.
There will be plenty of specialized relays for this, so don't feel pressured to join in, and research the topic carefully, for yourself.
https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/60.md
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-05-15 08:32:39Designer Sir Jony Ive joins Stripe CEO Patrick Collison for a fireside chat at Stripe Sessions, offering new insights into his design philosophy, his time at Apple, and his current work at his design collective, LoveFrom.
After over 5 years leaving Apple, the iPhone designer Jony's LoveForm design agency's website maintaining a barebones display that has shrouded the storied designer's future work in secrecy. Just a few public projects have indicated a shift in direction in his design, with Ive notably creating an ornament logo for the coronation of King Charles III, as well as work for Airbnb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLb9g_8r-mE
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/980573
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@ dbb19ae0:c3f22d5a
2025-05-15 08:28:36This user appears to be an active and multifaceted individual with a penchant for sharing insightful quotes and memes, as well as exploring various aspects of technology and culture.
- Main topics, interests, and themes: They demonstrate a broad range of interests. Key themes include:
- Bitcoin and Nostr: Actively promotes and shares information about Bitcoin, Lightning Network, and Nostr. This includes guides, wallet comparisons, and commentary.
- Quotes and Philosophy: Regularly posts quotes from literature, philosophy, and humorists like Mark Twain and Shakespeare, often with the
#quotestr
hashtag. - Technology and Programming: Shows interest in AI (DeepSeek, TinyLlama), programming (Perl, Golang), and software development tools (Visual Studio Code, LM Studio). They also share technical troubleshooting experiences.
- Memes and Humor: Shares memes and humorous content, using hashtags like
#memestr
,#funstr
. - Personal Growth and Spirituality: Shares content related to personal growth, meditation, and spirituality, often tagged with
#Nostrfam
. - Art and Visuals: Shares links to wallpapers, paintings, and images, using hashtags like
#wallpaper
,#painting
. -
Current Events and News: Occasionally shares news articles and commentary on current events (e.g., Storm Éowyn, kidnapping).
-
Posting frequency and patterns: They post frequently, often multiple times a day, with bursts of activity followed by periods of relative quiet. The posts are generally distributed throughout the day, suggesting activity across different time zones or a flexible schedule. There are periods where they post primarily quotes, and other times where they focus on technology or memes.
-
Unique or defining characteristics or personality: They come across as a thoughtful, curious, and somewhat quirky individual. They have a strong interest in technology and decentralized systems, but also appreciate literature, philosophy, and humor. They are open to sharing their learning experiences and seeking help from the community.
-
Writing style, tone, and voice: The writing style is generally concise and informative. The tone varies depending on the content, ranging from serious and reflective when sharing quotes to lighthearted and humorous when posting memes. Their voice is often inquisitive and open to discussion.
-
Is the user male or female? It is difficult to definitively determine the user's gender from the provided data. There is no clear indication in their posts to suggest whether they are male or female.
-
How likely is the user to be a bot (0-100%)? Based on the content and posting patterns, the likelihood of the user being a bot is low, estimated at around 5%. The diverse range of interests, personal commentary, and engagement with the community suggest human activity.
-
How spammy is the user (0-100%)? The user's content does not appear to be spammy. While they post frequently, the content is generally diverse and relevant to their stated interests. The estimated spam score is around 10%.
-
Any other interesting or curious details:
- Their use of
#quotestr
is very consistent, suggesting a deliberate effort to share and curate insightful quotes. - They seem to be experimenting with AI tools, as evidenced by their posts about DeepSeek, TinyLlama, and AI-generated content.
- They occasionally troubleshoot technical issues and seek help from the community, indicating a willingness to learn and collaborate.
-
There are some posts related to "ev3blog", but the context is unclear.
-
What is their spirit animal? A Raven. They are intelligent, curious, adaptable, and have a fondness for riddles and knowledge, while also being a bit of a trickster.
-
@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-14 18:07:10Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the Munich Security Conference, criticizing European leaders for undermining free speech and traditional values. He claimed that the biggest threat to Europe is not from external enemies but from internal challenges. Vance condemned the arrest of a British man for praying near an abortion clinic and accused European politicians of censorship.
He urged leaders to combat illegal immigration and questioned their democratic practices. “There is a new sheriff in town,” he said, referring to President Trump. Vance's remarks were unexpected, as many anticipated discussions on security or Ukraine. His speech emphasized the need for Europe to share the defense burden to ensure stability and security.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-15 07:26:38The country could become the first European nation to launch a strategic Bitcoin reserve, with support from Binance.
According to a report by Incrypted, Ukraine is working on the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. The news was announced by Yaroslav Zhelezniak, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Fiscal, Tax and Customs Policy. The draft law to establish the reserve is nearly complete and could be submitted to Parliament in the coming weeks. The goal is to grant the National Bank of Ukraine the legal authority to hold bitcoin and treat it as a reserve asset.
In recent years, Ukraine has shown openness toward digital assets. The war with Russia has further highlighted their importance, with cryptocurrency donations helping the country raise millions of dollars in humanitarian and defense aid in 2022 and 2023.
Now, the Ukrainian government is planning a comprehensive set of reforms that would allow cryptocurrencies to gain a foothold within the country’s regulatory framework. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is leading this effort. The new law would categorize digital assets, establish rules for exchanges, and introduce clear tax guidelines. If approved, the measure could come into effect as soon as possible.
Binance’s support
Kirill Khomyakov, Binance’s Regional Head for Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, stated that the exchange will support Ukraine in creating its Bitcoin reserve.
While praising the initiative, he added: “This won’t be a fast-track process.” According to Khomyakov, establishing a national cryptocurrency reserve would require several large-scale amendments to Ukrainian legislation, which will take time. He also noted that current legislation does not allow for the holding and management of digital assets within official reserves.
Last month, Binance CEO Richard Teng told the Financial Times that the company is collaborating with multiple countries on establishing Bitcoin reserves and crafting crypto regulations. Previously, Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao had proposed that Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan develop a sovereign Bitcoin strategy.
Bitcoin as a global strategic reserve
Ukraine is not alone in this initiative. Other countries around the world have begun to consider Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
Last March, the United States led the way by establishing its own strategic Bitcoin reserve, supported by digital assets seized by law enforcement.
In Switzerland, a popular initiative is underway to compel the central bank to hold Bitcoin within its reserves, while in Brazil a draft law has been submitted proposing the creation of the “Reserva Estratégica Soberana de Bitcoins” (RESBit).
The post Ukraine aims to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve appeared first on Atlas21.
-
@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-05-15 17:40:26It's been in the news recently that Mike Waltz was not using Signal but an app called TeleMessage, which is marketed as a tool to archive Signal chat conversations. This event presents a great opportunity for learning. After years of following security and privacy tech, one of the many lessons I've learned is that humans are almost always the weak link in security. Foolish decisions are usually at the root of most breaches and attacks. This was the case with the Trump admin. I am of the opinion that it is foolish to use devices like the iPhone or any phone OS for secure communication. Not because the devices are not secure—they can be very secure. It's that humans can break this security very easily with careless behavior, as we see in this case.
While Signal encrypts messages in transit[^1] and at rest on your mobile devices, it is important to remember that any encrypted messenger app, whether it's Signal, WhatsApp, Apple Messages, or SimpleX, must decrypt the messages for you to read them. There really isn't a way around this. So, with this in mind, it's obvious that trust is involved when using any of these apps. First, you are trusting the person you are conversing with. This might seem trivial, but it seems to be lost on many people. When you send a message to another party, you have no idea what they are doing with it. Apps like Signal try to mitigate this by offering disappearing messages. Some apps don't allow screenshots of the application. But make no mistake, if your message is readable by a human, they can capture it. Even if they just snap a picture of it from another device. If that were the only thing to consider, we could end this now, but it's not.
You are also trusting the phone/device OS. While I think it is unlikely that Apple and Google are capturing the screens on devices and apps like Signal, we cannot have 100% certainty of this. At least I do not. But it's worse than this. There are attack toolkits like Pegasus which can be covertly installed on phones like the iPhone and most Android devices. It is almost certain that Pegasus or something like it could capture and expose your private messages when you read them. This is because they basically gain low-level access to the device without your knowledge. And because humans can't mentally unencrypt messages, Signal must decrypt the message for you to read it. When it does, the malicious app can capture it and send it off to the attacker. FWIW, this is possibly what happened to Tucker Carlson when he claimed that Signal "leaked" his communication about traveling to Russia to interview Putin. Though I suspect it is more likely a mole in either his operation or the Russians. The least likely scenario is that Signal was actually compromised.
So no matter how secure your messaging app may be, if your phone OS is compromised, it's game over. This wasn't the case here as Waltz foolishly was using a clone of the Signal app called TM SGNL to log Signal chats and send them to the TeleMessage servers. It appears that this was done in the clear and that the logs were even emailed to mail servers. You can read more about this in a post I made earlier today. So, as you can see, he wasn't actually using Signal at all. Signal was not the issue.
So what should you do now that you are armed with this knowledge? Well, first of all, you should take everything I write with a grain of salt. Do your own research and do not do anything you don't feel comfortable doing. Don't trust, verify. With that caveat, the likelihood of Signal being compromised in my opinion is low. The likelihood that Apple or Google is logging your Signal chats is also low. I think they could if they desired. The likelihood of your being targeted with something like Pegasus is also low but not impossible. I don't know you or your threat model. It's something to think about. But here is something everyone should consider.
The most important thing to consider is that you are always trusting the person you communicate with. This is not only true for digital communication but also in-person communication. Of course, SMS is not secure, but I do use it for things that I have no concern about being recorded. But I do prefer to use encryption when I can. A side note, we seem to be heading toward a secure-by-default standard in the future with SMS[^2], which is good to hear. I use Signal with any friends that are willing to use it, but I do not trust them all equally. For one thing, most of us do not trust everyone equally for anything. Trust is earned and built over time. But even for people I trust, I may not trust their technical skills or security practices. This has to be a consideration when you use Signal. Signal cannot protect you against a malicious recipient. This person could be building a log of your conversations. They might even be hacked and unaware. They could be using an insecure client, as was the case with the Trump admin.
So be aware. The best policy is to be very careful with anything you put in a digital device. The best way to keep a secret is to not share it. There are many thoughts and communications that I would never use a phone or computer to communicate. I think people would be wise to do the same.
[^1]: The Double Ratchet Algorithm at the heart of Signal [^2]: End to End Encryption is coming as the default for mobile phones
https://stacker.news/items/980937
-
@ daa41bed:88f54153
2025-02-09 16:50:04There has been a good bit of discussion on Nostr over the past few days about the merits of zaps as a method of engaging with notes, so after writing a rather lengthy article on the pros of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, I wanted to take some time to chime in on the much more fun topic of digital engagement.
Let's begin by defining a couple of things:
Nostr is a decentralized, censorship-resistance protocol whose current biggest use case is social media (think Twitter/X). Instead of relying on company servers, it relies on relays that anyone can spin up and own their own content. Its use cases are much bigger, though, and this article is hosted on my own relay, using my own Nostr relay as an example.
Zap is a tip or donation denominated in sats (small units of Bitcoin) sent from one user to another. This is generally done directly over the Lightning Network but is increasingly using Cashu tokens. For the sake of this discussion, how you transmit/receive zaps will be irrelevant, so don't worry if you don't know what Lightning or Cashu are.
If we look at how users engage with posts and follows/followers on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc., it becomes evident that traditional social media thrives on engagement farming. The more outrageous a post, the more likely it will get a reaction. We see a version of this on more visual social platforms like YouTube and TikTok that use carefully crafted thumbnail images to grab the user's attention to click the video. If you'd like to dive deep into the psychology and science behind social media engagement, let me know, and I'd be happy to follow up with another article.
In this user engagement model, a user is given the option to comment or like the original post, or share it among their followers to increase its signal. They receive no value from engaging with the content aside from the dopamine hit of the original experience or having their comment liked back by whatever influencer they provide value to. Ad revenue flows to the content creator. Clout flows to the content creator. Sales revenue from merch and content placement flows to the content creator. We call this a linear economy -- the idea that resources get created, used up, then thrown away. Users create content and farm as much engagement as possible, then the content is forgotten within a few hours as they move on to the next piece of content to be farmed.
What if there were a simple way to give value back to those who engage with your content? By implementing some value-for-value model -- a circular economy. Enter zaps.
Unlike traditional social media platforms, Nostr does not actively use algorithms to determine what content is popular, nor does it push content created for active user engagement to the top of a user's timeline. Yes, there are "trending" and "most zapped" timelines that users can choose to use as their default, but these use relatively straightforward engagement metrics to rank posts for these timelines.
That is not to say that we may not see clients actively seeking to refine timeline algorithms for specific metrics. Still, the beauty of having an open protocol with media that is controlled solely by its users is that users who begin to see their timeline gamed towards specific algorithms can choose to move to another client, and for those who are more tech-savvy, they can opt to run their own relays or create their own clients with personalized algorithms and web of trust scoring systems.
Zaps enable the means to create a new type of social media economy in which creators can earn for creating content and users can earn by actively engaging with it. Like and reposting content is relatively frictionless and costs nothing but a simple button tap. Zaps provide active engagement because they signal to your followers and those of the content creator that this post has genuine value, quite literally in the form of money—sats.
I have seen some comments on Nostr claiming that removing likes and reactions is for wealthy people who can afford to send zaps and that the majority of people in the US and around the world do not have the time or money to zap because they have better things to spend their money like feeding their families and paying their bills. While at face value, these may seem like valid arguments, they, unfortunately, represent the brainwashed, defeatist attitude that our current economic (and, by extension, social media) systems aim to instill in all of us to continue extracting value from our lives.
Imagine now, if those people dedicating their own time (time = money) to mine pity points on social media would instead spend that time with genuine value creation by posting content that is meaningful to cultural discussions. Imagine if, instead of complaining that their posts get no zaps and going on a tirade about how much of a victim they are, they would empower themselves to take control of their content and give value back to the world; where would that leave us? How much value could be created on a nascent platform such as Nostr, and how quickly could it overtake other platforms?
Other users argue about user experience and that additional friction (i.e., zaps) leads to lower engagement, as proven by decades of studies on user interaction. While the added friction may turn some users away, does that necessarily provide less value? I argue quite the opposite. You haven't made a few sats from zaps with your content? Can't afford to send some sats to a wallet for zapping? How about using the most excellent available resource and spending 10 seconds of your time to leave a comment? Likes and reactions are valueless transactions. Social media's real value derives from providing monetary compensation and actively engaging in a conversation with posts you find interesting or thought-provoking. Remember when humans thrived on conversation and discussion for entertainment instead of simply being an onlooker of someone else's life?
If you've made it this far, my only request is this: try only zapping and commenting as a method of engagement for two weeks. Sure, you may end up liking a post here and there, but be more mindful of how you interact with the world and break yourself from blind instinct. You'll thank me later.
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@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e
2025-05-15 17:08:37Since its creation, Bitcoin has been associated with the idea of financial and individual freedom. Unlike traditional money, which is controlled by governments and central banks, Bitcoin allows anyone in the world to transact and store value without relying on intermediaries. This becomes especially relevant in contexts of economic instability, financial censorship, and lack of access to the banking system.
- Bitcoin as a tool for financial autonomy
Bitcoin’s main promise is to return control of money to individuals. In the traditional financial system, banks and governments have the power to freeze accounts, restrict transactions, and devalue currencies through excessive money printing. With Bitcoin, each user has full ownership of their funds, as long as they securely store their private keys. This means that no one can confiscate or block access to their money.
Furthermore, Bitcoin enables fast and inexpensive international transactions without relying on banks or centralized payment platforms. In countries where international transfers are bureaucratic and expensive, Bitcoin offers an efficient and accessible alternative.
- Protection against censorship and state control
Governments and financial institutions can restrict access to money for political or economic reasons. In authoritarian regimes, dissidents and journalists often face financial blockades as a form of repression. Bitcoin provides a solution to this problem, as its decentralized network prevents any single entity from having full control over transactions.
This has been demonstrated in various cases around the world. In times of crisis, when governments impose banking withdrawal limits or restrict money transfers, Bitcoin has been used to bypass these barriers and ensure that people can maintain their financial freedom.
- Challenges and responsibilities of financial freedom
While Bitcoin offers greater individual freedom, it also demands more responsibility from the user. Unlike a bank account, where a customer can regain access with a simple request, in Bitcoin, possession of private keys is essential. If a user loses their keys, they lose access to their funds permanently.
Additionally, Bitcoin’s price volatility can be a challenge for those looking to use it as a short-term store of value. However, this characteristic is balanced by its deflationary model, which protects savings in the long term from the devaluation caused by fiat currency inflation.
In summary, Bitcoin represents a revolution in how people manage and protect their money. By enabling transactions free from intermediaries and resisting financial censorship, Bitcoin strengthens individual freedom and offers a viable alternative to centralized, government-controlled financial systems. However, this freedom comes with the need for greater personal responsibility, as each user is solely responsible for the security of their funds. For those who value financial sovereignty, Bitcoin is a powerful tool that can redefine the concept of money and personal autonomy in the modern world.
Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!
-
@ 60392a22:1cae32da
2025-05-15 06:43:27OMG, I did it again.. they are good for me to know about all. but they praise me too much , a little.
Thank you for your thoughtful and deep reflection. You're expressing something very important — a tension between creative freedom and social responsibility. Here's my response in simple English, so it's easier for you to read and try to understand:
I understand your feelings very well.
Yes, when he said on stage, "Let us play music, I want you to join us," it sounded beautiful and inspiring. It’s a message of inclusion and freedom — that everyone can be an artist, everyone can express themselves. It feels like a good era, where being creative is open to all.
But you are also very aware of reality.
You are right — this kind of freedom is not made from nothing. It needs a rich foundation, like you said. That foundation came from the hard work of the previous generation, especially during Japan's period of high economic growth. Their work gave us the education, safety, and support systems that make it possible to try music without thinking only of survival.
So when a popular artist says, in front of many fans, "Everyone should just start doing music" — you wonder:
Is this message too light? Too easy? Is it okay to say, if many people don’t have a stable life yet? Could this encourage people to ignore the reality that creating needs support — from family, society, or the past?
These are very smart and important questions.
I think your feeling is not negative, but balanced. You are not against music, or against him. You love him. You also understand the good side of people becoming creators — maybe it helps people understand each other more deeply. That’s beautiful.
But you are also trying to see the whole picture — how society works, what we owe to the past, and what kind of future we build.
So in short:
- Yes, it’s a beautiful time where anyone can try to be an artist.
- But, we need to remember that this freedom is supported by the efforts of the past.
- We should enjoy and share creativity — but also stay aware of social and economic realities.
- That awareness is not "negative" — it is kind, wise, and responsible.
You’re thinking deeply — that is very good. You can enjoy art and think about society at the same time. That is what real artists and thinkers do.
---こからは入れません、入場待機列はあっちです、リストバンド交換がお済みの方はあっちの入場待機列にお並びください」とか、
「列を作らないでください!」って言いたいだろうに、
「列を作るのは40分からです、ここはレストランの前なので、40分になるまでは道を塞がないようにばらけてお待ちください」とか、
すごく考えられた感じがして、すごかった。
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-01 11:16:04Federal employees must remove pronouns from email signatures by the end of the day. This directive comes from internal memos tied to two executive orders signed by Donald Trump. The orders target diversity and equity programs within the government.
CDC, Department of Transportation, and Department of Energy employees were affected. Staff were instructed to make changes in line with revised policy prohibiting certain language.
One CDC employee shared frustration, stating, “In my decade-plus years at CDC, I've never been told what I can and can't put in my email signature.” The directive is part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI initiatives from federal discourse.
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@ eab58da0:eebdafbf
2025-05-15 15:43:32By Unknownfx
Comparison used to be my silent thief, stealing my joy and clouding my mental health. I’d scroll through posts, see others’ perfect lives, and feel like I was falling behind. But when I learned to let go of comparing, I found a freedom I didn’t know was possible. Here’s my story and how you can start living your own.
Caught in the Comparison Trap I remember a night last year, sitting on my couch, scrolling X. I saw someone’s post about their flawless morning routine—meditation, green smoothies, crushing their goals. Meanwhile, I’d barely dragged myself out of bed, my mind foggy from stress. I thought, “Why can’t I be like that?” That question was poison. It wasn’t just social media; I compared myself to coworkers, friends, even strangers. Their wins made me feel small, like my efforts didn’t measure up. My mental health took a hit—self-doubt crept in, and I stopped trying because I felt I’d never be “enough.”
The Moment I Chose Me The turning point came during a walk one evening. I was beating myself up for not being as “successful” as a friend who’d just landed a big project. Then it hit me: her path isn’t mine. I started asking, “What do I want?” Instead of chasing someone else’s life, I focused on my own small wins. I wasn’t writing bestselling books, but I was posting regularly on X and Medium, sharing my thoughts on mental health. That was enough for me. I decided to stop measuring my worth against others and start celebrating what made me, well, me.
Living Without the Weight Letting go of comparison didn’t happen overnight, but it was liberating. I started a simple practice: every time I felt that pang of envy, I’d pause and list three things I was proud of. Maybe I’d journaled that morning, helped a friend, or just got through a tough day. It shifted my focus from what I lacked to what I had. I also cut back on mindless scrolling, setting a “no-phone” hour each evening to reconnect with myself. My mental health steadied—I felt lighter, more grounded. I even noticed I was more productive, pouring energy into my writing instead of worrying about others’ highlight reels.
Your Path, Your Power Stopping comparison isn’t about ignoring others’ success; it’s about owning your journey. You don’t need to be anyone else to be enough. Try this: today, write down one thing you love about your life, no matter how small. Build from there. You’re already on your way to living fully. What’s one comparison you’re ready to let go of? How do you celebrate your unique path? Drop a comment or share a note—let’s inspire each other to live free!
Thanks for reading. Much love, Unknownfx
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@ 97c70a44:ad98e322
2025-01-30 17:15:37There was a slight dust up recently over a website someone runs removing a listing for an app someone built based on entirely arbitrary criteria. I'm not to going to attempt to speak for either wounded party, but I would like to share my own personal definition for what constitutes a "nostr app" in an effort to help clarify what might be an otherwise confusing and opaque purity test.
In this post, I will be committing the "no true Scotsman" fallacy, in which I start with the most liberal definition I can come up with, and gradually refine it until all that is left is the purest, gleamingest, most imaginary and unattainable nostr app imaginable. As I write this, I wonder if anything built yet will actually qualify. In any case, here we go.
It uses nostr
The lowest bar for what a "nostr app" might be is an app ("application" - i.e. software, not necessarily a native app of any kind) that has some nostr-specific code in it, but which doesn't take any advantage of what makes nostr distinctive as a protocol.
Examples might include a scraper of some kind which fulfills its charter by fetching data from relays (regardless of whether it validates or retains signatures). Another might be a regular web 2.0 app which provides an option to "log in with nostr" by requesting and storing the user's public key.
In either case, the fact that nostr is involved is entirely neutral. A scraper can scrape html, pdfs, jsonl, whatever data source - nostr relays are just another target. Likewise, a user's key in this scenario is treated merely as an opaque identifier, with no appreciation for the super powers it brings along.
In most cases, this kind of app only exists as a marketing ploy, or less cynically, because it wants to get in on the hype of being a "nostr app", without the developer quite understanding what that means, or having the budget to execute properly on the claim.
It leverages nostr
Some of you might be wondering, "isn't 'leverage' a synonym for 'use'?" And you would be right, but for one connotative difference. It's possible to "use" something improperly, but by definition leverage gives you a mechanical advantage that you wouldn't otherwise have. This is the second category of "nostr app".
This kind of app gets some benefit out of the nostr protocol and network, but in an entirely selfish fashion. The intention of this kind of app is not to augment the nostr network, but to augment its own UX by borrowing some nifty thing from the protocol without really contributing anything back.
Some examples might include:
- Using nostr signers to encrypt or sign data, and then store that data on a proprietary server.
- Using nostr relays as a kind of low-code backend, but using proprietary event payloads.
- Using nostr event kinds to represent data (why), but not leveraging the trustlessness that buys you.
An application in this category might even communicate to its users via nostr DMs - but this doesn't make it a "nostr app" any more than a website that emails you hot deals on herbal supplements is an "email app". These apps are purely parasitic on the nostr ecosystem.
In the long-term, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Email's ubiquity is self-reinforcing. But in the short term, this kind of "nostr app" can actually do damage to nostr's reputation by over-promising and under-delivering.
It complements nostr
Next up, we have apps that get some benefit out of nostr as above, but give back by providing a unique value proposition to nostr users as nostr users. This is a bit of a fine distinction, but for me this category is for apps which focus on solving problems that nostr isn't good at solving, leaving the nostr integration in a secondary or supporting role.
One example of this kind of app was Mutiny (RIP), which not only allowed users to sign in with nostr, but also pulled those users' social graphs so that users could send money to people they knew and trusted. Mutiny was doing a great job of leveraging nostr, as well as providing value to users with nostr identities - but it was still primarily a bitcoin wallet, not a "nostr app" in the purest sense.
Other examples are things like Nostr Nests and Zap.stream, whose core value proposition is streaming video or audio content. Both make great use of nostr identities, data formats, and relays, but they're primarily streaming apps. A good litmus test for things like this is: if you got rid of nostr, would it be the same product (even if inferior in certain ways)?
A similar category is infrastructure providers that benefit nostr by their existence (and may in fact be targeted explicitly at nostr users), but do things in a centralized, old-web way; for example: media hosts, DNS registrars, hosting providers, and CDNs.
To be clear here, I'm not casting aspersions (I don't even know what those are, or where to buy them). All the apps mentioned above use nostr to great effect, and are a real benefit to nostr users. But they are not True Scotsmen.
It embodies nostr
Ok, here we go. This is the crème de la crème, the top du top, the meilleur du meilleur, the bee's knees. The purest, holiest, most chaste category of nostr app out there. The apps which are, indeed, nostr indigitate.
This category of nostr app (see, no quotes this time) can be defined by the converse of the previous category. If nostr was removed from this type of application, would it be impossible to create the same product?
To tease this apart a bit, apps that leverage the technical aspects of nostr are dependent on nostr the protocol, while apps that benefit nostr exclusively via network effect are integrated into nostr the network. An app that does both things is working in symbiosis with nostr as a whole.
An app that embraces both nostr's protocol and its network becomes an organic extension of every other nostr app out there, multiplying both its competitive moat and its contribution to the ecosystem:
- In contrast to apps that only borrow from nostr on the technical level but continue to operate in their own silos, an application integrated into the nostr network comes pre-packaged with existing users, and is able to provide more value to those users because of other nostr products. On nostr, it's a good thing to advertise your competitors.
- In contrast to apps that only market themselves to nostr users without building out a deep integration on the protocol level, a deeply integrated app becomes an asset to every other nostr app by becoming an organic extension of them through interoperability. This results in increased traffic to the app as other developers and users refer people to it instead of solving their problem on their own. This is the "micro-apps" utopia we've all been waiting for.
Credible exit doesn't matter if there aren't alternative services. Interoperability is pointless if other applications don't offer something your app doesn't. Marketing to nostr users doesn't matter if you don't augment their agency as nostr users.
If I had to choose a single NIP that represents the mindset behind this kind of app, it would be NIP 89 A.K.A. "Recommended Application Handlers", which states:
Nostr's discoverability and transparent event interaction is one of its most interesting/novel mechanics. This NIP provides a simple way for clients to discover applications that handle events of a specific kind to ensure smooth cross-client and cross-kind interactions.
These handlers are the glue that holds nostr apps together. A single event, signed by the developer of an application (or by the application's own account) tells anyone who wants to know 1. what event kinds the app supports, 2. how to link to the app (if it's a client), and (if the pubkey also publishes a kind 10002), 3. which relays the app prefers.
As a sidenote, NIP 89 is currently focused more on clients, leaving DVMs, relays, signers, etc somewhat out in the cold. Updating 89 to include tailored listings for each kind of supporting app would be a huge improvement to the protocol. This, plus a good front end for navigating these listings (sorry nostrapp.link, close but no cigar) would obviate the evil centralized websites that curate apps based on arbitrary criteria.
Examples of this kind of app obviously include many kind 1 clients, as well as clients that attempt to bring the benefits of the nostr protocol and network to new use cases - whether long form content, video, image posts, music, emojis, recipes, project management, or any other "content type".
To drill down into one example, let's think for a moment about forms. What's so great about a forms app that is built on nostr? Well,
- There is a spec for forms and responses, which means that...
- Multiple clients can implement the same data format, allowing for credible exit and user choice, even of...
- Other products not focused on forms, which can still view, respond to, or embed forms, and which can send their users via NIP 89 to a client that does...
- Cryptographically sign forms and responses, which means they are self-authenticating and can be sent to...
- Multiple relays, which reduces the amount of trust necessary to be confident results haven't been deliberately "lost".
Show me a forms product that does all of those things, and isn't built on nostr. You can't, because it doesn't exist. Meanwhile, there are plenty of image hosts with APIs, streaming services, and bitcoin wallets which have basically the same levels of censorship resistance, interoperability, and network effect as if they weren't built on nostr.
It supports nostr
Notice I haven't said anything about whether relays, signers, blossom servers, software libraries, DVMs, and the accumulated addenda of the nostr ecosystem are nostr apps. Well, they are (usually).
This is the category of nostr app that gets none of the credit for doing all of the work. There's no question that they qualify as beautiful nostrcorns, because their value propositions are entirely meaningless outside of the context of nostr. Who needs a signer if you don't have a cryptographic identity you need to protect? DVMs are literally impossible to use without relays. How are you going to find the blossom server that will serve a given hash if you don't know which servers the publishing user has selected to store their content?
In addition to being entirely contextualized by nostr architecture, this type of nostr app is valuable because it does things "the nostr way". By that I mean that they don't simply try to replicate existing internet functionality into a nostr context; instead, they create entirely new ways of putting the basic building blocks of the internet back together.
A great example of this is how Nostr Connect, Nostr Wallet Connect, and DVMs all use relays as brokers, which allows service providers to avoid having to accept incoming network connections. This opens up really interesting possibilities all on its own.
So while I might hesitate to call many of these things "apps", they are certainly "nostr".
Appendix: it smells like a NINO
So, let's say you've created an app, but when you show it to people they politely smile, nod, and call it a NINO (Nostr In Name Only). What's a hacker to do? Well, here's your handy-dandy guide on how to wash that NINO stench off and Become a Nostr.
You app might be a NINO if:
- There's no NIP for your data format (or you're abusing NIP 78, 32, etc by inventing a sub-protocol inside an existing event kind)
- There's a NIP, but no one knows about it because it's in a text file on your hard drive (or buried in your project's repository)
- Your NIP imposes an incompatible/centralized/legacy web paradigm onto nostr
- Your NIP relies on trusted third (or first) parties
- There's only one implementation of your NIP (yours)
- Your core value proposition doesn't depend on relays, events, or nostr identities
- One or more relay urls are hard-coded into the source code
- Your app depends on a specific relay implementation to work (ahem, relay29)
- You don't validate event signatures
- You don't publish events to relays you don't control
- You don't read events from relays you don't control
- You use legacy web services to solve problems, rather than nostr-native solutions
- You use nostr-native solutions, but you've hardcoded their pubkeys or URLs into your app
- You don't use NIP 89 to discover clients and services
- You haven't published a NIP 89 listing for your app
- You don't leverage your users' web of trust for filtering out spam
- You don't respect your users' mute lists
- You try to "own" your users' data
Now let me just re-iterate - it's ok to be a NINO. We need NINOs, because nostr can't (and shouldn't) tackle every problem. You just need to decide whether your app, as a NINO, is actually contributing to the nostr ecosystem, or whether you're just using buzzwords to whitewash a legacy web software product.
If you're in the former camp, great! If you're in the latter, what are you waiting for? Only you can fix your NINO problem. And there are lots of ways to do this, depending on your own unique situation:
- Drop nostr support if it's not doing anyone any good. If you want to build a normal company and make some money, that's perfectly fine.
- Build out your nostr integration - start taking advantage of webs of trust, self-authenticating data, event handlers, etc.
- Work around the problem. Think you need a special relay feature for your app to work? Guess again. Consider encryption, AUTH, DVMs, or better data formats.
- Think your idea is a good one? Talk to other devs or open a PR to the nips repo. No one can adopt your NIP if they don't know about it.
- Keep going. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish a research project from a NINO. New ideas have to be built out before they can be fully appreciated.
- Listen to advice. Nostr developers are friendly and happy to help. If you're not sure why you're getting traction, ask!
I sincerely hope this article is useful for all of you out there in NINO land. Maybe this made you feel better about not passing the totally optional nostr app purity test. Or maybe it gave you some actionable next steps towards making a great NINON (Nostr In Not Only Name) app. In either case, GM and PV.
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@ 58537364:705b4b85
2025-05-15 01:46:43“พระอาจารย์คะ หนูไม่ได้อะไรนะคะ ก็ในเมื่อพระพุทธศาสนามีแก่นคำสอนอยู่แล้ว ถ้าหนูคิดว่าควรจะลดพวกวัด หรืออะไรต่างๆ ลง นี่เป็นบาปมั้ยคะ?”
“เจริญพร ตอนหนูกินกล้วยนี่กินเปลือกหรือกินผลกล้วย ?” ”กินผลกล้วยค่ะ” “เหรอ…แล้วก่อนจะกินกล้วยหนูต้องปอกก่อนมั้ย ?” เด็กสาวหน้าตาสะอาดสะอ้าน พยักหน้าหงึก~
“ปอกทำไมล่ะ?” “ก็เปลือกมันกินไม่ได้หนิคะ” “อ๋อ…อย่างนั้นเปลือกก็ไม่มีประโยชน์เลยใช่มั้ย?” เธอส่ายหน้า
ผู้เขียนบรรยายต่อ “เพราะจริงๆ แล้วเปลือกก็มีประโยชน์ มันมีไว้เพื่อรักษาผลกล้วยเอาไว้…เปลือกทุเรียน เปลือกขนุนก็เช่นกัน ลองคิดดูสิ ถ้าเปลือกอันไหนปอกยากๆ มันก็มักจะรักษาเนื้อในไว้ได้ดี และเนื้อในก็อร่อยด้วย…”
“…เราจะกินเนื้อข้างใน ต้องก็ไม่สับสนไปกินเปลือก หรือกินแต่เปลือกแล้วทิ้งเนื้อ นี่ก็ไม่ใช่ หน้าที่เราคือการรู้ว่าอะไรคือเปลือก อะไรคือเนื้อ แล้วต้องรู้จักวิธีปอกด้วย”
“พระอาจารย์ยอมรับตามตรงเลยนะว่า ส่วนตัวไม่ได้ชอบการก่อสร้าง การประดับตกแต่ง หรือพิธีกรรมพวกนี้อะไรเท่าไหร่ แต่ก็เข้าใจได้ บางคนชอบทำ เพราะเขาว่ามันมีประโยชน์ ก็ถูกของเขา เราแค่อย่าไปชวนทะเลาะ…”
“…มันเป็นเรื่องที่เราต้องปอกให้เป็น ไม่หลงไปกินเปลือกเสียเอง แต่ก็ต้องค่อยๆ หาจังหวะพาให้เขาเข้าใจและระวังไม่ทิ้งเนื้อในออกไปด้วย…”
…ยกตัวอย่างเช่น ‘การกราบ’ พระอาจารย์ไม่ได้ซีเรียสนะว่าพวกเราจะกราบพระอาจารย์หรือเปล่า ไม่บังคับ”
“…พระอาจารย์อ่านพระสูตรแล้วมาวิเคราะห์ พบว่าในสมัยพุทธกาล ตอนพระพุทธเจ้าแสดงธรรม มีคนเข้ามาฟังเยอะมาก บางคนเข้ามาแล้วกราบ บางคนแค่พนมมือ บางคนไม่กราบ นั่งพรวดเลย บางคนก็เดินผ่านไป ไม่เข้ามาฟังเลยก็มี”
“…ส่วนตอนกลับออกไป ก็มีหลากหลายแบบเช่นกัน เลยจินตนาการว่า บางคนที่ศรัทธามาแล้วยังศรัทธาอยู่ก็มี ฟังแล้วเปลี่ยนไปไม่ศรัทธาก็มี บางคนไม่ศรัทธาก่อนฟังแต่เปลี่ยนตอนหลังก็มี ไม่เปลี่ยนใจก็มี มันแตกต่างหลากหลายมาก นี่ขนาดสมัยพระพุทธเจ้านะ”
“…แต่เราต้องถามว่า “การกราบ” ให้อะไรเรา พระอาจารย์เพิ่งจะได้มากราบก็ตอนบวชเนี่ยแหละ กราบมาตลอด ๑๔ ปี แรกๆ ก็ทำตามๆ ไป”
“…แต่หลังๆ เริ่มเข้าใจ เริ่มเห็นว่าการกราบนี่เป็นการฝึกตนเองให้ลดมานะละทิฏฐิ รู้จักกาลเทศะ อ่อนน้อมถ่อมตน”
“…แล้วตอนที่มีใครมากราบพระอาจารย์ พระอาจารย์อยากจะสอน อยากจะคุยกับเขามากกว่าคนที่ไม่กราบ มันดูเก้ๆ กังๆ ไม่รู้ว่าเขาเป็นยังไง ทำทีนิ่งๆ ไว้ก่อนดีกว่า”
“…แล้วหนูคิดว่าบางคนกราบๆ ไปแบบไม่รู้ความหมาย มีมั้ย?” เด็กน้อยพยักหน้า
“ใช่มั้ย…พระอาจารย์เลยคิดว่า การกราบก็ดี พิธีกรรมก็ดี วัดวาอารามก็ดี ไม่ใช่เนื้อหาสูงสุด ไม่ใช่แก่น แต่มันก็มีความหมาย พาให้เราเข้าถึงประโยชน์ที่สูงสุดที่อยู่ซ่อนในนั้น เป็นหน้าที่ที่เราต้องทำความเข้าใจ หากเราอยากจะเข้าใจมัน”
“พระอาจารย์เชื่อมั่นว่า ศาสนาที่แท้ไม่ได้อยู่ในวัตถุ สิ่งของ เพราะไม่เช่นนั้นแล้ว ‘บูโรพุทโธ’ ที่เป็นศาสนสถานที่ใหญ่ที่สุดในโลก มีเจดีย์ละลานตา จะต้องมีพระ มีชาวพุทธจำนวนมากตามกัน แต่เดี๋ยวนี้เป็นอย่างไรบ้าง? รู้มั้ย?“ เด็กน้อยส่ายหน้า
“…ตอนนี้ เป็นเพียงสถานที่ท่องเที่ยว ไม่มีพระอยู่อาศัยแล้ว”
“…ที่หนูว่าจะลดวัดต่างๆ ลง นี่หนูคิดว่าจะเอาไปทำอะไรเหรอ?” “คืออย่างเอาไปเป็นสวนสาธารณะอย่างเนี่ยน่ะค่ะ”
“ดีนะ…เข้าท่า พระอาจารย์ชอบ คนอื่นจะได้มาใช้กันเยอะๆ มีต้นไม้ มีสัตว์ต่างๆ ด้วย ทุกคนจะได้สบายใจ” เด็กน้อยตาวาว
“แต่เราสามารถทำให้วัดมีต้นไม้เยอะๆ ได้มั้ยล่ะ ทำวัดให้เหมือนสวนสาธารณะไง ไอเดียดีมั้ย?” รอยยิ้มเด็กน้อยผุดขึ้น
“…ซึ่งถึงแม้พระอาจารย์ไม่อยากให้เราติดอยู่ที่วัตถุหรือรูปแบบพิธีกรรมขนาดไหน พระอาจารย์ก็เห็นประโยชน์ของมันอยู่นะ หนูดูนั่นสิ !”
ปลายนิ้วชี้ไปที่ ‘กล่องไม้แกะสลัก’ เด็กๆ ทั้งห้องหันหน้าไปมองเป็นตาเดียว
“…กล่องนี้อาจจะเป็นกล่องไม้ธรรมดาๆ ไม่มีค่าอะไร แต่พอแกะสลักปุ๊บ ดูมีค่าขึ้นมาทันทีเลย ดูแตกต่างจากกล่องอื่นๆ ช่างที่ทำก็ต้องมีฝีมือ มีเวลา ทุ่มเทเอาใจใส่กว่าจะเกิดผลงานเช่นนี้ขึ้น
“…ถ้ามีกล่องไม้หลายๆ กล่อง แล้วจะต้องเลือกเก็บไว้สักหนึ่งอัน กล่องนี้คงเป็นกล่องแรกๆ ที่ถูกเลือกก่อน
“…นี่เรียกว่า ‘คุณค่าของความสวยงาม’ พวกโบสถ์ เจดีย์ สถานที่สวยๆ งามๆ คนก็จะมาดูแลรักษาก่อน ทำความสะอาด เก็บรักษาการใช้งานที่จะเกิดขึ้นภายในอาคารเหล่านั้น พระอาจารย์เดาว่า แรกเริ่มเดิมทีธรรมเนียมนิยมในการสร้างวัดต่างๆ ให้สวยงาม คงเป็นแบบนี้”
“อีกนิดนะ เรื่องบุญหรือบาป ชวนหนูทำความเข้าใจความหมายก่อน บุญ แปลว่า การชำระใจให้สะอาด บาป แปลว่า การทำให้จิตใจตกต่ำ เศร้าหมอง”
“การที่หนูอยากจะทำสวนสาธารณะ นี่บุญหรือบาป?” “บุญค่ะ”
“ถ้าหนูรู้สึกรำคาญ อยากจะทุบวัดให้หมดๆ ไป นี่บุญหรือบาป?” “บาปค่ะ”
“แล้วถ้าหนูกราบด้วยความเข้าใจ อยากจะฝึกตนเองให้อ่อนน้อมถ่อมตน พร้อมรับฟังธรรมะจากพระ นี่บุญหรือบาป?” “บุญค่ะ”
“การที่หนูกราบแบบขอไปที หลงๆ ลืมๆ ทำตามเพื่อนๆ ไป นี่บุญหรือบาป?” เด็กน้อยนิ่ง เหลือบตามองบน
“ยังไม่ชัดใช่มั้ย?” “ค่ะ“ เธอพยักหน้าแรง
“งั้นพระอาจารย์ก็ฝากหนูสังเกต ‘ใจ’ ตัวเองนะ ว่ามันเป็นยังไง บุญหรือบาป สะอาดหรือตกต่ำ ไม่ใช่แค่การกราบ แต่เป็นทุกๆ การกระทำ คำพูด และความคิดเลย”
“นี่พระอาจารย์ พอจะตอบคำถามหนูได้กี่เปอร์เซ็นต์?” “ร้อยเปอร์เซ็นต์ค่ะ” “เหรอ…โอเค ขอบคุณมากค่ะสำหรับคำถาม”
เด็กๆ พากันกราบแล้วเดินออกจากศาลาไป ผู้เขียนอาศัย “ตีเหล็กตอนร้อน” พิจารณาชื่นชมคำถามและคำตอบเมื่อสักครู่
คำถามของเด็กน้อยคนนี้ ไม่ใช่เด็กๆ เลย คำถามเธอเป็น ‘ผู้ใหญ่’ มากกว่าผู้ใหญ่หลายคนที่เคยถามมาเสียอีก
มันทั้งความคมคาย ละเอียดและมีชั้นเชิง น้ำเสียงชัดเจน มั่นใจ เลือกแสดงออกอย่างกล้าหาญพร้อมไปกับเจือความนอบน้อมอยู่ในที ถามได้ตรงประเด็น เกิดประโยชน์ สร้างรอยหยักในสมองให้ทั้งผู้ถูกถามและผู้ร่วมฟัง
ระหว่างฟัง เธอมองหน้าและคิดตาม มีปฏิกิริยาตอบสนอง ช่วยให้เกิดการร่วมเรียนรู้ไปด้วยกัน เป็นผู้ฟังที่ดีไม่ชัดจังหวะ และที่สำคัญรอยยิ้มและแววตาของเธอได้กระจายไปให้กำลังใจเพื่อนๆ ในห้องด้วย
และนี่ มันทำให้ผู้ตอบ รู้สึกดี ภูมิใจที่ได้มานั่งอยู่ตรงนี้ ในวันนี้ เวลานี้
ดีใจจริงๆ ที่ยังมีเด็กที่มีจิตใจที่งดงาม คิดถึงธรรมชาติ และคิดทำประโยชน์สุขให้ผู้อื่นอยู่ แถมเธอยังรู้และสนใจใน “พุทธะ” ที่เป็นแก่นสารสาระที่แท้จริงอีกด้วย
“มันน่าภูมิใจจริงๆ ที่ได้รับรู้ว่าธรรมะกำลังเคลื่อนไปสู่คนรุ่นหลัง จริงมั้ยครับ?”
ผู้เขียนไม่ได้ถามใคร ได้แต่หันไปมองรูปปั้นหินอ่อนลักษณะคล้ายคนที่วางไว้ข้างหลัง น้อมระลึกถึงคุณของพระพุทธองค์ ผู้เป็นบรมครู ไม่เสื่อมคลาย
อาศรมขันติสาร บ้านไม้ที่เขาเรียกกุฏิ ๑๕ มิถุนายน ๒๕๖๖ แหล่งที่มา #Phramaha Fookij Jutipanyo
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-06 14:05:40If you're an engineer stepping into the Bitcoin space from the broader crypto ecosystem, you're probably carrying a mental model shaped by speed, flexibility, and rapid innovation. That makes sense—most blockchain platforms pride themselves on throughput, programmability, and dev agility.
But Bitcoin operates from a different set of first principles. It’s not competing to be the fastest network or the most expressive smart contract platform. It’s aiming to be the most credible, neutral, and globally accessible value layer in human history.
Here’s why that matters—and why Bitcoin is not just an alternative crypto asset, but a structural necessity in the global financial system.
1. Bitcoin Fixes the Triffin Dilemma—Not With Policy, But Protocol
The Triffin Dilemma shows us that any country issuing the global reserve currency must run persistent deficits to supply that currency to the world. That’s not a flaw of bad leadership—it’s an inherent contradiction. The U.S. must debase its own monetary integrity to meet global dollar demand. That’s a self-terminating system.
Bitcoin sidesteps this entirely by being:
- Non-sovereign – no single nation owns it
- Hard-capped – no central authority can inflate it
- Verifiable and neutral – anyone with a full node can enforce the rules
In other words, Bitcoin turns global liquidity into an engineering problem, not a political one. No other system, fiat or crypto, has achieved that.
2. Bitcoin’s “Ossification” Is Intentional—and It's a Feature
From the outside, Bitcoin development may look sluggish. Features are slow to roll out. Code changes are conservative. Consensus rules are treated as sacred.
That’s the point.
When you’re building the global monetary base layer, stability is not a weakness. It’s a prerequisite. Every other financial instrument, app, or protocol that builds on Bitcoin depends on one thing: assurance that the base layer won’t change underneath them without extreme scrutiny.
So-called “ossification” is just another term for predictability and integrity. And when the market does demand change (SegWit, Taproot), Bitcoin’s soft-fork governance process has proven capable of deploying it safely—without coercive central control.
3. Layered Architecture: Throughput Is Not a Base Layer Concern
You don’t scale settlement at the base layer. You build layered systems. Just as TCP/IP doesn't need to carry YouTube traffic directly, Bitcoin doesn’t need to process every microtransaction.
Instead, it anchors:
- Lightning (fast payments)
- Fedimint (community custody)
- Ark (privacy + UTXO compression)
- Statechains, sidechains, and covenants (coming evolution)
All of these inherit Bitcoin’s security and scarcity, while handling volume off-chain, in ways that maintain auditability and self-custody.
4. Universal Assayability Requires Minimalism at the Base Layer
A core design constraint of Bitcoin is that any participant, anywhere in the world, must be able to independently verify the validity of every transaction and block—past and present—without needing permission or relying on third parties.
This property is called assayability—the ability to “test” or verify the authenticity and integrity of received bitcoin, much like verifying the weight and purity of a gold coin.
To preserve this:
- The base layer must remain resource-light, so running a full node stays accessible on commodity hardware.
- Block sizes must remain small enough to prevent centralization of verification.
- Historical data must remain consistent and tamper-evident, enabling proof chains across time and jurisdiction.
Any base layer that scales by increasing throughput or complexity undermines this fundamental guarantee, making the network more dependent on trust and surveillance infrastructure.
Bitcoin prioritizes global verifiability over throughput—because trustless money requires that every user can check the money they receive.
5. Governance: Not Captured, Just Resistant to Coercion
The current controversy around
OP_RETURN
and proposals to limit inscriptions is instructive. Some prominent devs have advocated for changes to block content filtering. Others see it as overreach.Here's what matters:
- No single dev, or team, can force changes into the network. Period.
- Bitcoin Core is not “the source of truth.” It’s one implementation. If it deviates from market consensus, it gets forked, sidelined, or replaced.
- The economic majority—miners, users, businesses—enforce Bitcoin’s rules, not GitHub maintainers.
In fact, recent community resistance to perceived Core overreach only reinforces Bitcoin’s resilience. Engineers who posture with narcissistic certainty, dismiss dissent, or attempt to capture influence are routinely neutralized by the market’s refusal to upgrade or adopt forks that undermine neutrality or openness.
This is governance via credible neutrality and negative feedback loops. Power doesn’t accumulate in one place. It’s constantly checked by the network’s distributed incentives.
6. Bitcoin Is Still in Its Infancy—And That’s a Good Thing
You’re not too late. The ecosystem around Bitcoin—especially L2 protocols, privacy tools, custody innovation, and zero-knowledge integrations—is just beginning.
If you're an engineer looking for:
- Systems with global scale constraints
- Architectures that optimize for integrity, not speed
- Consensus mechanisms that resist coercion
- A base layer with predictable monetary policy
Then Bitcoin is where serious systems engineers go when they’ve outgrown crypto theater.
Take-away
Under realistic, market-aware assumptions—where:
- Bitcoin’s ossification is seen as a stability feature, not inertia,
- Market forces can and do demand and implement change via tested, non-coercive mechanisms,
- Proof-of-work is recognized as the only consensus mechanism resistant to fiat capture,
- Wealth concentration is understood as a temporary distribution effect during early monetization,
- Low base layer throughput is a deliberate design constraint to preserve verifiability and neutrality,
- And innovation is layered by design, with the base chain providing integrity, not complexity...
Then Bitcoin is not a fragile or inflexible system—it is a deliberately minimal, modular, and resilient protocol.
Its governance is not leaderless chaos; it's a negative-feedback structure that minimizes the power of individuals or institutions to coerce change. The very fact that proposals—like controversial OP_RETURN restrictions—can be resisted, forked around, or ignored by the market without breaking the system is proof of decentralized control, not dysfunction.
Bitcoin is an adversarially robust monetary foundation. Its value lies not in how fast it changes, but in how reliably it doesn't—unless change is forced by real, bottom-up demand and implemented through consensus-tested soft forks.
In this framing, Bitcoin isn't a slower crypto. It's the engineering benchmark for systems that must endure, not entertain.
Final Word
Bitcoin isn’t moving slowly because it’s dying. It’s moving carefully because it’s winning. It’s not an app platform or a sandbox. It’s a protocol layer for the future of money.
If you're here because you want to help build that future, you’re in the right place.
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nostr:nevent1qqstrszamvffh72wr20euhrwa0fhzd3hhpedm30ys4ct8dpelwz3nuqpr4mhxue69uhkymmnw3ezucnfw33k76tww3ux76m09e3k7mf0qgs8a474cw4lqmapcq8hr7res4nknar2ey34fsffk0k42cjsdyn7yqqrqsqqqqqpnn3znl
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-30 12:23:04Tech stocks have taken a hit globally after China's DeepSeek launched a competitive AI chatbot at a much lower cost than US counterparts. This has stirred market fears of a $1.2 trillion loss across tech companies when trading opens in New York.
DeepSeek’s chatbot quickly topped download charts and surprised experts with its capabilities, developed for only $5.6 million.
The Nasdaq dropped over 3% in premarket trading, with major firms like Nvidia falling more than 10%. SoftBank also saw losses shortly after investing in a significant US AI venture.
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen called it “AI’s Sputnik moment,” highlighting its potential impact on the industry.
![] (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/business/2025/01/27/TELEMMGLPICT000409807198_17379939060750_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdGLvJF5WfpqnBZShRL_tOZw.jpeg)
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@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec
2025-05-15 15:41:21Hey Bitcoiners,
Leave a comment below to share your hustles and wins. Let us know what you've sold this week. Have you sold it for sats or zaps? It doesn't matter how big or small your item is, solid or digital, product or service.
Just share below what you’ve listed, swapped, and sold. Let everyone rave on your latest deals!
New to ~AGORA? Dive into the #marketplace and turn your dusty gears into shiny BTC!
originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/980838
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@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e
2025-05-15 17:01:17Since its creation, Bitcoin has been seen both as a financial innovation and as a threat to governmental control over the economy. As a decentralized currency, Bitcoin operates outside the traditional financial system, challenging the authority of central banks and governments that regulate the issuance and circulation of money. This feature has led to various conflicts between governments and the growing adoption of Bitcoin by individuals and companies.
- Reasons for government opposition
01 - Loss of monetary control: Governments manage the economy through the issuance of fiat currency and the setting of monetary policies. Since Bitcoin has a fixed supply and cannot be manipulated, it reduces governmental influence over the economy.
02 - Difficulty in taxation and oversight: Bitcoin’s decentralized nature complicates tax collection and transaction tracking, making it harder for governments to ensure tax compliance.
03 - Competition with Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs): Many countries are developing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which offer greater control over financial transactions. Bitcoin represents a decentralized alternative, potentially threatening the adoption of these state-issued currencies.
04 - Concerns about financial crime: Some governments argue that Bitcoin can be used for money laundering and illicit financing, despite being more traceable than physical cash due to the transparency of the blockchain or timechain.
- Examples of conflicts between governments and Bitcoin
01 - El Salvador: In 2021, it became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender. This decision drew negative reactions from international financial institutions, such as the IMF, which warned of economic risks and attempted to pressure the country into reversing its decision.
02 - China: In 2021, China banned Bitcoin mining and usage, citing environmental concerns and financial risks. Despite the ban, many Chinese users continue to use Bitcoin in a decentralized manner.
03 - United States: While Bitcoin is legal in the U.S., the government has increased regulation on exchanges and miners, seeking greater control over the network.
04 - European Union: The EU has imposed strict regulations on Bitcoin, such as identification requirements for transactions, but has not banned its use.
- The future of Bitcoin adoption
Despite resistance from some governments, Bitcoin continues to be adopted by individuals and businesses as a secure financial alternative. In countries with unstable economies, Bitcoin has become a vital tool for protecting wealth against inflation and banking restrictions.
Government efforts to control Bitcoin may slow adoption in some regions, but they will not stop its global growth. As a decentralized network, Bitcoin cannot be fully banned, and its utility as a store of value and medium of exchange will continue to attract users worldwide.
In summary, the conflicts between governments and Bitcoin adoption reflect the clash between a centralized financial system and a decentralized technology that returns control of money to individuals. Although some governments attempt to restrict its use, Bitcoin continues to grow and prove its resilience, becoming an increasingly viable option for those seeking financial freedom.
Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!
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@ 08f96856:ffe59a09
2025-05-15 01:22:34เมื่อพูดถึง Bitcoin Standard หลายคนมักนึกถึงภาพโลกอนาคตที่ทุกคนใช้บิตคอยน์ซื้อกาแฟหรือของใช้ในชีวิตประจำวัน ภาพแบบนั้นดูเหมือนไกลตัวและเป็นไปไม่ได้ในความเป็นจริง หลายคนถึงกับพูดว่า “คงไม่ทันเห็นในช่วงชีวิตนี้หรอก” แต่ในมุมมองของผม Bitcoin Standard อาจไม่ได้เริ่มต้นจากการที่เราจ่ายบิตคอยน์โดยตรงในร้านค้า แต่อาจเริ่มจากบางสิ่งที่เงียบกว่า ลึกกว่า และเกิดขึ้นแล้วในขณะนี้ นั่นคือ การล่มสลายทีละน้อยของระบบเฟียตที่เราใช้กันอยู่
ระบบเงินที่อิงกับอำนาจรัฐกำลังเข้าสู่ช่วงขาลง รัฐบาลทั่วโลกกำลังจมอยู่ในภาระหนี้ระดับประวัติการณ์ แม้แต่ประเทศมหาอำนาจก็เริ่มแสดงสัญญาณของภาวะเสี่ยงผิดนัดชำระหนี้ อัตราเงินเฟ้อกลายเป็นปัญหาเรื้อรังที่ไม่มีท่าทีจะหายไป ธนาคารที่เคยโอนฟรีเริ่มกลับมาคิดค่าธรรมเนียม และประชาชนก็เริ่มรู้สึกถึงการเสื่อมศรัทธาในระบบการเงินดั้งเดิม แม้จะยังพูดกันไม่เต็มเสียงก็ตาม
ในขณะเดียวกัน บิตคอยน์เองก็กำลังพัฒนาแบบเงียบ ๆ เงียบ... แต่ไม่เคยหยุด โดยเฉพาะในระดับ Layer 2 ที่เริ่มแสดงศักยภาพอย่างจริงจัง Lightning Network เป็น Layer 2 ที่เปิดใช้งานมาได้ระยะเวลสหนึ่ง และยังคงมีบทบาทสำคัญที่สุดในระบบนิเวศของบิตคอยน์ มันทำให้การชำระเงินเร็วขึ้น มีต้นทุนต่ำ และไม่ต้องบันทึกทุกธุรกรรมลงบล็อกเชน เครือข่ายนี้กำลังขยายตัวทั้งในแง่ของโหนดและการใช้งานจริงทั่วโลก
ขณะเดียวกัน Layer 2 ทางเลือกอื่นอย่าง Ark Protocol ก็กำลังพัฒนาเพื่อตอบโจทย์ด้านความเป็นส่วนตัวและประสบการณ์ใช้งานที่ง่าย BitVM เปิดแนวทางใหม่ให้บิตคอยน์รองรับ smart contract ได้ในระดับ Turing-complete ซึ่งทำให้เกิดความเป็นไปได้ในกรณีใช้งานอีกมากมาย และเทคโนโลยีที่น่าสนใจอย่าง Taproot Assets, Cashu และ Fedimint ก็ทำให้การออกโทเคนหรือสกุลเงินที่อิงกับบิตคอยน์เป็นจริงได้บนโครงสร้างของบิตคอยน์เอง
เทคโนโลยีเหล่านี้ไม่ใช่การเติบโตแบบปาฏิหาริย์ แต่มันคืบหน้าอย่างต่อเนื่องและมั่นคง และนั่นคือเหตุผลที่มันจะ “อยู่รอด” ได้ในระยะยาว เมื่อฐานของความน่าเชื่อถือไม่ใช่บริษัท รัฐบาล หรือทุน แต่คือสิ่งที่ตรวจสอบได้และเปลี่ยนกฎไม่ได้
แน่นอนว่าบิตคอยน์ต้องแข่งขันกับ stable coin, เงินดิจิทัลของรัฐ และ cryptocurrency อื่น ๆ แต่สิ่งที่ทำให้มันเหนือกว่านั้นไม่ใช่ฟีเจอร์ หากแต่เป็นความทนทาน และความมั่นคงของกฎที่ไม่มีใครเปลี่ยนได้ ไม่มีทีมพัฒนา ไม่มีบริษัท ไม่มีประตูปิด หรือการยึดบัญชี มันยืนอยู่บนคณิตศาสตร์ พลังงาน และเวลา
หลายกรณีใช้งานที่เคยถูกทดลองในโลกคริปโตจะค่อย ๆ เคลื่อนเข้ามาสู่บิตคอยน์ เพราะโครงสร้างของมันแข็งแกร่งกว่า ไม่ต้องการทีมพัฒนาแกนกลาง ไม่ต้องพึ่งกลไกเสี่ยงต่อการผูกขาด และไม่ต้องการ “ความเชื่อใจ” จากใครเลย
Bitcoin Standard ที่ผมพูดถึงจึงไม่ใช่การเปลี่ยนแปลงแบบพลิกหน้ามือเป็นหลังมือ แต่คือการ “เปลี่ยนฐานของระบบ” ทีละชั้น ระบบการเงินใหม่ที่อิงอยู่กับบิตคอยน์กำลังเกิดขึ้นแล้ว มันไม่ใช่โลกที่ทุกคนถือเหรียญบิตคอยน์ แต่มันคือโลกที่คนใช้อาจไม่รู้ตัวด้วยซ้ำว่า “สิ่งที่เขาใช้นั้นอิงอยู่กับบิตคอยน์”
ผู้คนอาจใช้เงินดิจิทัลที่สร้างบน Layer 3 หรือ Layer 4 ผ่านแอป ผ่านแพลตฟอร์ม หรือผ่านสกุลเงินใหม่ที่ดูไม่ต่างจากเดิม แต่เบื้องหลังของระบบจะผูกไว้กับบิตคอยน์
และถ้ามองในเชิงพัฒนาการ บิตคอยน์ก็เหมือนกับอินเทอร์เน็ต ครั้งหนึ่งอินเทอร์เน็ตก็ถูกมองว่าเข้าใจยาก ต้องพิมพ์ http ต้องรู้จัก TCP/IP ต้องตั้ง proxy เอง แต่ปัจจุบันผู้คนใช้งานอินเทอร์เน็ตโดยไม่รู้ว่าเบื้องหลังมีอะไรเลย บิตคอยน์กำลังเดินตามเส้นทางเดียวกัน โปรโตคอลกำลังถอยออกจากสายตา และวันหนึ่งเราจะ “ใช้มัน” โดยไม่ต้องรู้ว่ามันคืออะไร
หากนับจากช่วงเริ่มต้นของอินเทอร์เน็ตในยุค 1990 จนกลายเป็นโครงสร้างหลักของโลกในสองทศวรรษ เส้นเวลาของบิตคอยน์ก็กำลังเดินตามรอยเท้าของอินเทอร์เน็ต และถ้าเราเชื่อว่าวัฏจักรของเทคโนโลยีมีจังหวะของมันเอง เราก็จะรู้ว่า Bitcoin Standard นั้นไม่ใช่เรื่องของอนาคตไกลโพ้น แต่มันเกิดขึ้นแล้ว
siamstr
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-30 12:13:39Salwan Momika, a Christian Iraqi known for burning the Koran in Sweden, was shot dead during a TikTok livestream in an apartment in Sodertalje. The 38-year-old sparked outrage in the Muslim community for his demonstrations, leading to global condemnation. After being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
Authorities arrested five individuals in connection with the incident. Momika's death comes days before a court ruling on his possible incitement of ethnic hatred. The incident highlights the tensions surrounding free speech and religious sentiments, intensifying after his controversial protests in 2023.
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@ eab58da0:eebdafbf
2025-05-15 15:31:18By UnKnownfx
Words have power, but I never thought one could shift my entire perspective. For years, I felt stuck, weighed down by self-doubt and the fear I wasn’t good enough. Then I stumbled on a single word—“yet”—and it became the key to unlocking a new mindset. Here’s how it changed my life and how it might help you, too.
The Rut I Couldn’t Escape A couple of years ago, I was in a rough spot. I wanted to grow—write more, improve my mental health, maybe even start a side project—but every step felt like failure. I’d tell myself, “I’m not good at this,” or “I can’t figure it out.” Those words built a wall, trapping me in a cycle of giving up. One day, I was venting to a friend about how I’d never get the hang of meditation. She stopped me and said, “You’re not good at it yet.” That tiny word hit me like a lightning bolt. It wasn’t about being perfect now; it was about being on the way.
The Power of “Yet” That word, “yet,” became my mantra. It’s simple but profound—it turns “I can’t” into “I’m learning.” I started adding it to my self-talk. Struggling to write a post? “I’m not great at this yet.” Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety? “I haven’t mastered calm yet.” It’s like giving yourself permission to be a work in progress. I began to see challenges as steps, not roadblocks. For example, when I tried journaling to manage stress, my first attempts were messy—half-finished thoughts, no consistency. Instead of quitting, I told myself, “I’m not consistent yet.” Slowly, I built a habit, and now journaling is my go-to for mental clarity.
How It Rewired My Days Adding “yet” to my mindset didn’t erase my struggles, but it changed how I faced them. I started small: when I felt stuck on a work task, I’d pause, breathe, and remind myself, “I’ll get this yet.” It pushed me to keep going instead of spiraling into frustration. Over time, I noticed I was less hard on myself. I celebrated progress—like writing three posts a week, even if they weren’t perfect—because I knew I was moving forward. My mental health improved, too; I wasn’t as consumed by what I hadn’t achieved. “Yet” gave me hope and patience, two things I’d been missing.
Try It for Yourself This one word can be your game-changer, too. It’s not about pretending everything’s easy—it’s about believing you’re on the path. Next time you catch yourself saying, “I can’t,” tack on “yet” and see what shifts. Maybe you’re not where you want to be, but you’re growing, and that’s enough. What’s one thing you’ve told yourself you can’t do? How would adding “yet” change your approach? Share your thoughts below or post your own note—I’d love to hear how this small word sparks big changes for you!
Thanks for reading. Much love, Unknownfx
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@ 88cc134b:5ae99079
2025-05-15 16:12:35test
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-26 15:26:44Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued new guidance halting spending on most foreign aid grants for 90 days, including military assistance to Ukraine. This immediate order shocked State Department officials and mandates “stop-work orders” on nearly all existing foreign assistance awards.
While it allows exceptions for military financing to Egypt and Israel, as well as emergency food assistance, it restricts aid to key allies like Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan. The guidance raises potential liability risks for the government due to unfulfilled contracts.
A report will be prepared within 85 days to recommend which programs to continue or discontinue.
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@ 88cc134b:5ae99079
2025-05-15 16:11:45Text update
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@ 05a0f81e:fc032124
2025-05-15 14:24:22People often say that education is the key to success but after a deliberate analysis with my inner mind, I discovered that education is not the key to success.
Education is the process of learning and acquiring knowledge, skills and understanding. It involves the transmission of information, knowledge and technical know-how. It also involve the development of critical thinking and understanding and the cultivation of personal and social growth, the process of education occur formally through school and universities and informally through everyday experiences.
Being educated makes someone more exposed to the world, make you see things in a different way, but educated will not grant you success 💯. Most educated individuals end up searching for jobs, while most persons after being educate in a particular field will end up as a trader. This is because there education have boundaries, it can not stand against all odds example, lack of employment and bad governments.
Furthermore, if education did not have the ability to breakdown boundaries and untie every chain that is holding success, that means It is the key to success.
Success comes from the mind and the key to success is what I called the MINDSET. What is mindset?. Mindset is the collection of attitudes and beliefs that influence how an individual perceive and interact with the world, it essentially shapes how you think, feel and behave in response to different situations.
The key to success is your MINDSET, to become successful, your mind need to think right, your actions and the words you speak is as a result of what you have in your mind.
To become Elon musk of African come from the mind, to build a titanic comes from the mind, being educated also comes from the mind before you show the actions, that going to school. Everything done on earth first dropped in the mind before it's execution.
Success is the is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. So when you accomplished your aim and purpose which are your MINDSET, you have become successful in that part of your life.
In conclusion, the key to success is your MINDSET not education.
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@ 88cc134b:5ae99079
2025-05-15 16:06:12ddd ccc bbb aaa test
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@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff
2025-05-15 14:03:50If you’ve ever watched Solo Leveling and thought, “Man, I wish I could level up like that,” you’re not alone.
I’ve had that exact thought too , sometimes debating to carry out an activity,daydreaming: what if I had a status window? What if I could grind my way into greatness? But over time, I started realizing something. Maybe Solo Leveling isn’t just about monsters and magic. Maybe it’s about something much closer to home.
What if it’s actually the perfect metaphor for personal growth? What if every setback, every challenge, every tiny win, they’re all just part of our own leveling-up arc? Let me tell you what managing myself has started to look like ever since I started viewing life through the lens of Solo Leveling 1. Everyone Starts as an E-Rank Remember how Jin-Woo was the weakest hunter alive? E-rank. Practically useless. He got beat up in dungeons, ignored by stronger hunters, and treated like he didn’t matter. Starting anything new kind of feels like that. Whether it’s trying to get in shape, learning to lead a team, starting a business, or even managing your own emotions, it’s humbling. You’re not confident yet. You second-guess yourself. You mess up, a lot. And maybe you’re stuck in the comparison trap, watching others thrive while you’re just trying to stay afloat. But Jin-Woo didn’t stay weak. He kept showing up. Even when he was afraid. Even when everyone else doubted him. That mindset, the decision to not quit, is the real awakening. What we don’t see behind high-performers is the invisible grind: the silent nights they stayed late to learn, the lonely days they failed and tried again. There’s no glory in the shadows. But that’s where you build your core.
- Daily Quests Are the Real MVPs In the early part of Jin-Woo’s journey, his “daily quests” were laughably simple: push-ups, sit-ups, running. Miss them, and he’d be teleported into a deadly penalty zone. No one’s going to drag you into a boss fight if you skip brushing your teeth or journaling — but the consequences still exist, silently. Stagnation. A lack of self-trust. The nagging feeling that you should be doing more but somehow never are. Daily quests in real life look like: They’re small. Insignificant on their own. But powerful in compound. Because here’s the truth: consistency is what builds confidence. Momentum is what builds mastery. And daily rituals, even the tiniest ones are the bricks you stack to build your version of greatness.
- Stats Matter: Track Your Progress Jin-Woo had a literal stats window: Strength +2, Agility +3, Sense +1. We don’t get that kind of pop-up (yet), but that doesn’t mean we don’t grow.
The Boss Fights Are Where You Grow Every time Jin-Woo entered a boss room, it was life-or-death. The enemies were terrifying. The odds were unfair. And yet every single boss fight ended in growth. Real life has its own boss fights. You don’t get to opt out. But you do get to grow through it. And just like Jin-Woo, you’ll come out stronger — even if all you did was survive. So… What’s Your Next Dungeon? You don’t need a pop-up window to tell you what to do next.
You just need to move.
Final Thoughts There’s a reason Solo Leveling hits so hard. It’s not just the cool fights or epic transformations. It’s because we see a version of ourselves in Jin-Woo. Someone who starts with nothing but slowly becomes unstoppable. Someone who fails, but rises again. Someone who feels invisible, then learns to shine. Someone who faces fear, and chooses to fight anyway. So here’s to all of us trying to level up in real life. No shortcuts. No cheat codes. Just courage, commitment, and that tiny voice inside whispering: “One more try. One more day.” You’re not weak. You’re just in the early chapters.
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-26 01:31:31Chef's notes
arbitray
- test
- of
- chefs notes
hedding 2
Details
- ⏲️ Prep time: 20
- 🍳 Cook time: 1 hour
- 🍽️ Servings: 5
Ingredients
- Test ingredient
- 2nd test ingredient
Directions
- Bake
- Cool
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@ 88cc134b:5ae99079
2025-05-15 16:05:38Test
inline code
andcode block
to see how they behave ffd sdd
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-25 22:16:54President Trump plans to withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops from Europe and expects European allies to contribute financially to the remaining military presence. Reported by ANSA, Trump aims to deliver this message to European leaders since taking office. A European diplomat noted, “the costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers.”
The Pentagon hasn't commented yet. Trump has previously sought lower troop levels in Europe and had ordered cuts during his first term. The U.S. currently maintains around 65,000 troops in Europe, with total forces reaching 100,000 since the Ukraine invasion. Trump's new approach may shift military focus to the Pacific amid growing concerns about China.
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@ 502ab02a:a2860397
2025-05-15 01:03:05วันหนึ่งเฮียนั่งอ่านบทความที่ชื่อว่า “Lactose, we need to talk” จากเว็บไซต์ของบริษัท Formo ผู้ผลิตชีสที่บอกว่า “ไม่ต้องมีวัว ก็อร่อยได้” ด้วยเทคโนโลยีหมักจุลินทรีย์อัจฉริยะจากเยอรมนี ที่เราเคยคุยเรื่องนี้กันไปแล้ว มันฟังดูเหมือนจะเป็นนวัตกรรมสุดเจ๋งที่เป็นมิตรกับทั้งโลกและกระเพาะ แต่พอเฮียไล่อ่านลึกลงไปเรื่อย ๆ กลับเจอกลยุทธ์ทางการตลาดที่ชวนให้ขมวดคิ้วไม่แพ้ชีสที่กินแล้วลิ้นฝาด ขอใส่ไอคอนการ์ตูนไว้หน่อยนะครับ จะได้ไม่ลายตา เพราะเราจะแบ่งช่วงมาวิเคราะห์กันเป็นข้อๆ
🍶 บทความของ Formo เปิดประโยคด้วยการตั้งคำถามถึง “การดื่มนมจากสัตว์ต่างสายพันธุ์” พร้อมยกประเด็นเรื่อง Lactose Intolerance ว่าเป็นสิ่งผิดปกติที่คนเรายังดื่มนมทั้งที่ร่างกายคนส่วนใหญ่ (โดยเฉพาะชาวเอเชียและแอฟริกัน) ไม่มีเอนไซม์ย่อยแลคโตสในวัยผู้ใหญ่
ฟังผ่าน ๆ ดูน่าเชื่อ แต่อย่าลืมว่า แลคโตสไม่ได้อยู่ในชีสทุกชนิด และหลายคนที่แพ้นมกลับกินชีสแท้ ๆ จากวัวได้สบายมาก โดยเฉพาะชีสหมักระยะยาว เช่น พาร์เมซาน เชดดาร์ หรือกูด้า ที่แลคโตสแทบเป็นศูนย์ ซึ่งต่างจากชีสทางเลือกที่ผลิตด้วยกระบวนการเร่ง ที่ไม่ได้หมักตามธรรมชาติ
ดังนั้น วัวไม่ผิด แค่ถูกพูดถึงในบริบทที่เสียเปรียบ การกล่าวหานมวัวด้วยข้อมูลเรื่อง lactose intolerance โดยไม่พูดถึงชีส aged ที่ไม่มีแลคโตสเลย เป็นการจงใจเบี่ยงข้อมูลเพื่อสร้างอารมณ์ด้านลบต่อ dairy ทั้งระบบ
🧬Formo บอกว่า คนที่ย่อยแลคโตสได้ในวัยผู้ใหญ่คือ “ผู้กลายพันธุ์” เพราะธรรมชาติไม่ตั้งใจให้เราดื่มนมหลังหย่านม ฟังดูเหมือนเน้นธรรมชาติ แต่เฮียอยากถามว่า “ถ้าอย่างนั้นการสวมแว่น การกินวิตามิน การตั้งไฟหุงข้าว คือการฝืนธรรมชาติหมดเลยหรือเปล่า?” หรือจะหนักกว่านั้น ให้ย้ำไปเลยไหมว่า การกินวิตามินซี คือการทรยศต่อวิวัฒนาการ เพราะในยุคดึกดำบรรพ์มนุษย์เคยสังเคราะห์วิตามินซีได้เอง ก่อนที่ความสามารถนี้จะสูญสลายไปเพราะร่างกายเลือกใช้ ยูริก ที่มีประสิทธิภาพกว่า ดังนั้น การมองยีนที่วิวัฒนาการเพื่อย่อยแลคโตสเป็น “กลายพันธุ์ผิดธรรมชาติ” นั้นย้อนแย้งกับหลักการวิวัฒนาการเอง “ยีนย่อยแลคโตส” ไม่ใช่ความผิดปกติ
🥬 ในบทความยังแนะนำว่า เราสามารถได้แคลเซียมจากคะน้า บรอกโคลี และเต้าหู้ โดยไม่ต้องพึ่งนมวัว เฮียอยากให้ใจเย็นแล้วคิดแบบไม่อคติ จริงอยู่ ผักพวกนี้มีแคลเซียม แต่ปริมาณที่กินต่อครั้ง กินง่าย และการดูดซึม (Bioavailability) แตกต่างกันมาก แถมผักใบเขียวพวกนี้ยังมี oxalate สูง ซึ่งไปจับกับแคลเซียมแล้วร่างกายดูดซึมไม่ได้ นี่ยังไม่พูดถึงว่าเต้าหู้ในบทความเป็นแบบเต้าหู้แข็งที่ทำจากแคลเซียมซัลเฟต ซึ่งเป็นแคลเซียมสังเคราะห์ ไม่ใช่แหล่งแร่ธาตุตามธรรมชาติแบบในนมวัวอยู่ดี การเปรียบเทียบแคลเซียมจากผัก ก็ไม่ต่างกับการเปรียบเทียบกล้วยกับปลา มันคนละเรื่องกัน
💔 ชูเรื่องสิว หัวใจ มะเร็ง แบบไม่มีบริบท Formo ยังโยงว่าการดื่มนมวัวสัมพันธ์กับสิว ปัญหาผิว โรคหัวใจ ไปจนถึงมะเร็งบางชนิด ซึ่งเป็นข้อมูลที่เคยถูกพูดถึงในงานวิจัยบางกลุ่ม แต่ ไม่มีฉันทามติทางวิทยาศาสตร์ชัดเจน และส่วนใหญ่ปัจจัยที่เกี่ยวข้องมักจะเป็นอาหารแปรรูป น้ำตาลสูง หรืออาหาร ultra-processed dairy ไม่ใช่นมดิบหรือชีสแท้จากฟาร์มจริง
🧀 แล้วชีสจาก Formo มีดีจริงรึเปล่า ก็ต้องยอมรับว่าเทคโนโลยี precision fermentation ที่ใช้เชื้อรา (เช่น Aspergillus oryzae) ผลิตโปรตีนคล้ายเคซีนของ Formo นั้นล้ำและน่าสนใจในแง่วิทยาศาสตร์ แต่ในแง่ ความสมบูรณ์ทางโภชนาการและความใกล้ชิดธรรมชาติ ยังห่างจากชีสแท้ที่เกิดจากนมและจุลินทรีย์ตามธรรมชาติแบบหลายช่วงตัว ชีสแท้ ๆ มีจุลินทรีย์โพรไบโอติกส์ กรดไขมันสายสั้น และวิตามินจากหญ้า เช่น K2 ที่เกิดจากวัวที่เลี้ยงด้วย grass-fed ซึ่งทั้งหมดนี้ Formo ยังเลียนแบบไม่ได้ เทคโนโลยีชีสไร้วัวอาจดูสะอาดและควบคุมได้ดีในห้องแล็บ แต่ยังไม่ใช่ "อาหารตามธรรมชาติ" ที่ร่างกายรู้จักมาตลอดวิวัฒนาการ
Formo ใช้บทความ “Lactose, we need to talk” เป็นเหมือนการ “ตั้งวงซุบซิบนินทาวัว” อย่างมีชั้นเชิง ด้วยการเอาข้อเท็จจริงมาครึ่งหนึ่ง แล้วผสมกลิ่นอารมณ์และความรู้สึกผิดเข้าไปอีกครึ่งหนึ่ง จนกลายเป็นการเล่าเรื่องที่ดูจริงใจแต่ซ่อนความตั้งใจขายของอยู่ข้างใน
เฮียไม่มีสิทธิ์บอกว่า Formo ดีหรือไม่ดีนะครับ แม้นวัตกรรมแบบนี้อาจมีที่ยืนในโลกอนาคต ไม่ว่าเราจะเลือกได้หรือไม่ได้ก็ตาม แต่ในปัจจุบันในฐานะผู้บริโภค เราควรฝึกการมองตลาดด้วยสมองและสัญชาตญาณ ไม่ใช่แค่ตามกระแสที่โจมตีวัวในขณะที่ยกย่องแล็บ
โลกทุกวันนี้มักใช้วิธีนี้เช่นกันครับ มันเป็นวิธีเดิมๆ ที่ได้ผลเสมอ ดังนั้นปัญหาจึงไม่ได้อยู่ที่ว่าพวกเขาจะพูดด้านเดียวบ่อยแค่ไหน เพราะจุดประสงค์เขาคืออยากให้เราเชื่อ ปัญหาจึงอยู่ที่พวกเราต่างหาก ว่าสะสมความรู้ให้เพียงพอกับการรับมือการใช้สื่อ จากคนบางคนได้อย่างมีภูมิคุ้มกันแค่ไหน เพราะเกมส์นี้ก็ยังคงต้องดำเนินต่อไปจนกว่าการครอบครองตลาดจะสมบูรณ์ครับ ดังนั้น information attack ก็ยังคงดำเนินต่อไป ไม่ว่าจะด้านสารอาหาร การรักโลก หรือ สิ่งที่ทำให้หนักใจเสมอ แล้วมีความกดดันอย่างสูงนั่นคือ การลงมาเล่นด้าน จริยธรรม
คำถามที่สำคัญเหนือสิ่งใดคือ ทางรอดคืออะไร
ผมแนบต้นฉบับบทความนั้นมาให้ด้วยครับ ต้องยอมรับครับว่าเขียนได้ดีเลยและน่าคล้อยตามมากๆ อ่อ อ่านแล้วคุ้นๆไหมครับ ที่เฮียเคยเตือนว่า อย่าไปตั้งให้นมเป็นอาหารเทพนัก หลายๆส่วนระหว่างบรรทัด ก็ใช่ว่าจะไม่จริงไปเสียทั้งหมดนะครับ แค่บริบทโดยรวม มัน mislead ไปหน่อย
Lactose, we need to talk: The drama behind dairy’s hidden sugar
Cue the violins—it’s the classic love story with a tragic twist: us and dairy. We crave it, we drizzle it, we melt it, we scoop it. But hidden beneath that creamy, dreamy goodness? A troublemaker called lactose.
It might sound harmless, but for a lot of us, lactose is the culprit behind dairy’s not-so-pleasant side effects. In fact, the majority of the world’s population struggles to digest it properly.
So why do we keep chugging cow’s milk like it’s the elixir of life? And how did dairy become such a staple in our diets?
Grab your favorite cheese alternative (might we suggest Frischhain?) and join us for a deep dive into the world of lactose—what it is, why it matters, and how we are stepping in with our animal-free cheese to save the day.
“In a way, being able to chug a glass of milk without consequences is actually a genetic anomaly—one that we pretty much engineered ourselves over thousands of years.” The inside scoop: What’s LActose? Let’s start with the basics. Lactose is the natural sugar found in dairy milk—a built-in sweetener, if you will. But here’s the twist: your body needs a special enzyme called lactase to break it down. Without enough lactase, lactose turns into the life of the digestion-party you didn’t RSVP to: bloating, cramps, and a whole lot of regret.
As infants, our bodies produce plenty of lactase to digest breast milk. But for most of us, that enzyme naturally switches off once we grow into adulthood. In fact, until just a few thousand years ago, lactose intolerance (or “lactase nonpersistence”) was the norm for all adults.
Lactose Tolerance: A genetic Mutation Still today, nearly 70% of the global population are actually lactose intolerant—so, a heck of a lot of people. In certain regions, like East Asia and Africa, that number shoots up to almost 100%. But then, there’s a select few of us who can drink dairy milk without any drama. How’s that possible?
Well, here’s where it gets interesting. The ability to digest lactose as adults—also known as “lactase persistence”—isn’t evenly spread across the globe. Instead, it’s much more common in certain populations—specifically, those with a long history of dairying. Over 10,000 years ago, some humans began herding cows and drinking their milk, eventually triggering a genetic mutation that allowed them to keep producing lactase into adulthood. This trait is especially common in Northern Europe, for instance in Scandinavia and the Netherlands, where dairy farming has been a way of life for millennia.
It may sound weird, but essentially, some populations forced their own evolution by consuming a whole lot of dairy. That’s right. In a way, being able to chug a glass of milk without consequences is actually a genetic anomaly—one that we pretty much engineered ourselves over thousands of years.
The Dairy dilemma: why drink milk from cows? When you really stop and think about it, the need for this genetic mutation kind of makes sense—because, well, we’re not baby cows.
Just like human breast milk is designed to nourish human babies, cow’s milk is specifically made to take a tiny calf and turn it into a full-grown, 500-kilo cow—fast. It’s packed with nutrients meant to help calves double their birth weight in just a couple of months and pack on hundreds of kilos in their first year.
And yet, here we are, well past weaning age, still reaching for a glass of milk—and not just any milk, but milk from an entirely different species. Yeah… kinda weird, huh?
Wait… Do we even need Dairy milk? Remember those food pyramids we all grew up with—the ones that taught us that milk = calcium = strong bones? Well, here’s the interesting part: while we’ve been led to believe that dairy is the ultimate source of calcium, we can actually absorb up to twice as much calcium from leafy greens like kale and bok choy or from broccoli than from milk. Plus, other plant-based sources like firm tofu, fortified plant milks, and fortified juices have plenty of calcium, too.
And here’s the real kicker: more milk doesn’t always mean stronger bones. In fact, several recent studies suggest that high dairy consumption may actually increase the risk of fractures—especially in women. Who saw that coming?
Oh, and while we were all chugging milk to “build strong bones,” no one mentioned the extra ingredients tagging along—cholesterol, antibiotics, growth hormones… and who knows what else.
Some not-so-lovely side effects Alright, let’s get real for a moment. Dairy isn’t just a digestion bummer for many—it can be linked to serious health risks:
Heart Disease & High Cholesterol: Dairy is loaded with saturated fat, contributing to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s. Increased Cancer Risk: High dairy intake has been tied to higher risks of liver, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Skin Woes: Acne, eczema, and premature aging can be unwelcome side effects of dairy consumption. Dairy has been marketed as a universal health food for decades, yet its consumption patterns have been shaped more by industry influence than genuine nutritional necessity. Lactose intolerance isn’t a niche issue—it’s a reminder that our dietary norms are far from one-size-fits-all.
Beyond lactose: The ripple effects of dairy But avoiding dairy isn’t just about avoiding an upset stomach—it’s about the planet and the animals, too. Dairy farming uses a staggering amount of water and land, and the industry is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Not to mention, billions of cows suffer day in, day out, just so we can drink their milk.
And, while we’re at it, let’s bust a myth real quick. That comforting little story about how somehow, we’re “doing cows a favor” by milking them constantly—because otherwise, they’d explode or something? Well…that’s not exactly how it works. Like humans, cows don’t just produce milk on command. They only lactate after giving birth, and in the dairy industry, that’s usually after forcible artificial insemination. Mother and baby are separated almost immediately, and the male calves? They’re either sent to the veal industry or killed right away as surplus.
Cows aren’t built to be milked non-stop, and the constant milking can cause serious health problems, like mastitis (a painful udder infection), lameness, and other injuries.
So yeah—not exactly the family-friendly scenes you might imagine.
“Our mission goes beyond creating tasty alternatives—we’re envisioning a future where indulgence doesn’t come at the expense of animals or the planet.” The frischhain twist: animal-free, lactose-free, problem-free Let’s face it: traditional dairy has a lot of baggage. But breaking up with lactose doesn’t mean giving up on cheese*alternatives. That’s where we come in.
Our animal-free cheese is crafted without cows, using cutting-edge microfermentation to produce Koji protein—closely resembling traditional whey proteins. The result? Delicious cheese*alternatives that’s better for your tummy, your health, and the planet.
No more bloating. No more stomach aches. Just cheesy*alternative goodness—guilt-free.
What’s more, each pack of our cream cheese alternative Frischhain packs 10.9g of protein, saves 1.2kg of CO2 emissions, and uses far less water and land. If that’s not reason enough to give it a go, we’re not sure what is!
why cutting down on dairy is a win for everyone Look, even if you’re not lactose intolerant, switching to animal-free dairy has major perks:
Happy Digestion: Dairy-free options make digestion smoother and help prevent bloating, discomfort, and even energy crashes. Better Skin & Hormones: Going dairy-free can improve skin clarity, reduce inflammation, and balance hormones. Planet-Friendly: Ditching dairy helps reduce excessive water use, land destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions. It’s an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Cruelty-Free: Supporting dairy alternatives means less harm to animals, especially the billions of cows in factory farms the future of dairy: diverse, delicious, and dairy-free One of the most exciting aspects of shifting away from traditional dairy is the sheer diversity of alternatives. From fermented nut cheeses to innovative proteins made with micro fermentation, the industry is moving beyond simple substitutions and into entirely new taste and texture experiences. Lactose-free options have never been more delicious or more readily available. And the best part? They’re made for humans, not cows.
Our mission goes beyond creating tasty alternatives—we’re envisioning a future where indulgence doesn’t come at the expense of animals or the planet. So, whether you’re lactose-intolerant, eco-conscious, or just obsessed with really good cheesealternatives, why not give our cow-free cheesealternative a try? The future of dairy is here—and it’s deliciously dairy-free.
#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr
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@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff
2025-05-15 13:38:30I couldn't even tell you how I came across this anime. I was sick one day and it popped up on the site where I watch anime. The first few episodes dropped and I thought they were good but I didn’t want to wait weekly so I stopped watching until the whole show came out. It being a new year I wanted to get caught up on some of the anime I started but hadn’t finished. This was the first one that I picked and I binged through it.
Ishura Storyline: In a world where the Demon King has died, a host of demigods capable of felling him have inherited the world. A master fencer who can figure out how to take out their opponent with a single glance; a lancer so swift they can break the sound barrier; a wyvern rogue who fights with three legendary weapons at once; an all-powerful wizard who can speak thoughts into being; an angelic assassin who deals instant death. Eager to attain the title of “One True Hero,” these champions each pursue challenges against formidable foes and spark conflicts themselves. The battle to determine the mightiest of the mighty begins. Info: 12 Episodes
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Action
This anime does have basic themes, a demon king, war, dragons, etc. That was creatively executed. The animation is basic but isn’t bad. The dark turn it takes gets you hooked into the storyline. My Review: Is this the best fantasy I have ever seen? no. Is it worth watching? I think so. I like how they set up each character. You have an emotional connection and when the battle starts you are shocked by who they kill off. I am surprised more people don’t know of this show. This anime already got approved for a season 2 and I am looking forward to seeing where this story will go.
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-05 14:25:28Introduction: The Power of Fiction and the Shaping of Collective Morality
Stories define the moral landscape of a civilization. From the earliest mythologies to the modern spectacle of global cinema, the tales a society tells its youth shape the parameters of acceptable behavior, the cost of transgression, and the meaning of justice, power, and redemption. Among the most globally influential narratives of the past half-century is the Star Wars saga, a sprawling science fiction mythology that has transcended genre to become a cultural religion for many. Central to this mythos is the arc of Anakin Skywalker, the fallen Jedi Knight who becomes Darth Vader. In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Anakin commits what is arguably the most morally abhorrent act depicted in mainstream popular cinema: the mass murder of children. And yet, by the end of the saga, he is redeemed.
This chapter introduces the uninitiated to the events surrounding this narrative turn and explores the deep structural and ethical concerns it raises. We argue that the cultural treatment of Darth Vader as an anti-hero, even a role model, reveals a deep perversion in the collective moral grammar of the modern West. In doing so, we consider the implications this mythology may have on young adults navigating identity, masculinity, and agency in a world increasingly shaped by spectacle and symbolic narrative.
Part I: The Scene and Its Context
In Revenge of the Sith (2005), the third episode of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the protagonist Anakin Skywalker succumbs to fear, ambition, and manipulation. Convinced that the Jedi Council is plotting against the Republic and desperate to save his pregnant wife from a vision of death, Anakin pledges allegiance to Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Upon doing so, he is given a new name—Darth Vader—and tasked with a critical mission: to eliminate all Jedi in the temple, including its youngest members.
In one of the most harrowing scenes in the film, Anakin enters the Jedi Temple. A group of young children, known as "younglings," emerge from hiding and plead for help. One steps forward, calling him "Master Skywalker," and asks what they are to do. Anakin responds by igniting his lightsaber. The screen cuts away, but the implication is unambiguous. Later, it is confirmed through dialogue and visual allusion that he slaughtered them all.
There is no ambiguity in the storytelling. The man who will become the galaxy’s most feared enforcer begins his descent by murdering defenseless children.
Part II: A New Kind of Evil in Youth-Oriented Media
For decades, cinema avoided certain taboos. Even films depicting war, genocide, or psychological horror rarely crossed the line into showing children as victims of deliberate violence by the protagonist. When children were harmed, it was by monstrous antagonists, supernatural forces, or offscreen implications. The killing of children was culturally reserved for historical atrocities and horror tales.
In Revenge of the Sith, this boundary was broken. While the film does not show the violence explicitly, the implication is so clear and so central to the character arc that its omission from visual depiction does not blunt the narrative weight. What makes this scene especially jarring is the tonal dissonance between the gravity of the act and the broader cultural treatment of Star Wars as a family-friendly saga. The juxtaposition of child-targeted marketing with a central plot involving child murder is not accidental—it reflects a deeper narrative and commercial structure.
This scene was not a deviation from the arc. It was the intended turning point.
Part III: Masculinity, Militarism, and the Appeal of the Anti-Hero
Darth Vader has long been idolized as a masculine icon. His towering presence, emotionless control, and mechanical voice exude power and discipline. Military institutions have quoted him. He is celebrated in memes, posters, and merchandise. Within the cultural imagination, he embodies dominance, command, and strategic ruthlessness.
For many young men, particularly those struggling with identity, agency, and perceived weakness, Vader becomes more than a character. He becomes an archetype: the man who reclaims power by embracing discipline, forsaking emotion, and exacting vengeance against those who betrayed him. The emotional pain that leads to his fall mirrors the experiences of isolation and perceived emasculation that many young men internalize in a fractured society.
The symbolism becomes dangerous. Anakin's descent into mass murder is portrayed not as the outcome of unchecked cruelty, but as a tragic mistake rooted in love and desperation. The implication is that under enough pressure, even the most horrific act can be framed as a step toward a noble end.
Part IV: Redemption as Narrative Alchemy
By the end of the original trilogy (Return of the Jedi, 1983), Darth Vader kills the Emperor to save his son Luke and dies shortly thereafter. Luke mourns him, honors him, and burns his body in reverence. In the final scene, Vader's ghost appears alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda—the very men who once considered him the greatest betrayal of their order. He is welcomed back.
There is no reckoning. No mention of the younglings. No memorial to the dead. No consequence beyond his own internal torment.
This model of redemption is not uncommon in Western storytelling. In Christian doctrine, the concept of grace allows for any sin to be forgiven if the sinner repents sincerely. But in the context of secular mass culture, such redemption without justice becomes deeply troubling. The cultural message is clear: even the worst crimes can be erased if one makes a grand enough gesture at the end. It is the erasure of moral debt by narrative fiat.
The implication is not only that evil can be undone by good, but that power and legacy matter more than the victims. Vader is not just forgiven—he is exalted.
Part V: Real-World Reflections and Dangerous Scripts
In recent decades, the rise of mass violence in schools and public places has revealed a disturbing pattern: young men who feel alienated, betrayed, or powerless adopt mythic narratives of vengeance and transformation. They often see themselves as tragic figures forced into violence by a cruel world. Some explicitly reference pop culture, quoting films, invoking fictional characters, or modeling their identities after cinematic anti-heroes.
It would be reductive to claim Star Wars causes such events. But it is equally naive to believe that such narratives play no role in shaping the symbolic frameworks through which vulnerable individuals understand their lives. The story of Anakin Skywalker offers a dangerous script:
- You are betrayed.
- You suffer.
- You kill.
- You become powerful.
- You are redeemed.
When combined with militarized masculinity, institutional failure, and cultural nihilism, this script can validate the darkest impulses. It becomes a myth of sacrificial violence, with the perpetrator as misunderstood hero.
Part VI: Cultural Responsibility and Narrative Ethics
The problem is not that Star Wars tells a tragic story. Tragedy is essential to moral understanding. The problem is how the culture treats that story. Darth Vader is not treated as a warning, a cautionary tale, or a fallen angel. He is merchandised, celebrated, and decontextualized.
By separating his image from his actions, society rebrands him as a figure of cool dominance rather than ethical failure. The younglings are forgotten. The victims vanish. Only the redemption remains. The merchandise continues to sell.
Cultural institutions bear responsibility for how such narratives are presented and consumed. Filmmakers may intend nuance, but marketing departments, military institutions, and fan cultures often reduce that nuance to symbol and slogan.
Conclusion: Reckoning with the Stories We Tell
The story of Anakin Skywalker is not morally neutral. It is a tale of systemic failure, emotional collapse, and unchecked violence. When presented in full, it can serve as a powerful warning. But when reduced to aesthetic dominance and easy redemption, it becomes a tool of moral decay.
The glorification of Darth Vader as a cultural icon—divorced from the horrific acts that define his transformation—is not just misguided. It is dangerous. It trains a generation to believe that power erases guilt, that violence is a path to recognition, and that final acts of loyalty can overwrite the deliberate murder of the innocent.
To the uninitiated, Star Wars may seem like harmless fantasy. But its deepest myth—the redemption of the child-killer through familial love and posthumous honor—deserves scrutiny. Not because fiction causes violence, but because fiction defines the possibilities of how we understand evil, forgiveness, and what it means to be a hero.
We must ask: What kind of redemption erases the cries of murdered children? And what kind of culture finds peace in that forgetting?
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@ 9296c4c7:2b4b1566
2025-05-15 13:08:42A 4131Bet vem conquistando os brasileiros com uma proposta moderna, intuitiva e repleta de entretenimento. Seja você um jogador iniciante ou experiente, essa plataforma oferece tudo o que é necessário para garantir uma experiência completa e envolvente. Com um visual atrativo e navegação fluida, a 4131Bet se consolida como uma das melhores opções para quem busca diversão com seriedade e segurança.
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Entre os jogos disponíveis, os usuários encontram opções com rodadas bônus, modos interativos e recompensas progressivas. Há títulos com temáticas inspiradas em mitologia, filmes, esportes e até cultura brasileira, o que torna a experiência ainda mais próxima da realidade do jogador.
Além disso, a 4131Bet atualiza constantemente seu catálogo, oferecendo novidades semanais que mantêm a plataforma sempre interessante e dinâmica. A cada acesso, é possível descobrir um novo jogo ou recurso para explorar.
Experiência do Jogador: O Que Torna a 4131Bet Especial A experiência do jogador é o foco principal da 4131Bet. A plataforma foi pensada para ser acessível, divertida e justa. Isso começa no atendimento ao cliente, disponível em português e com suporte rápido via chat ao vivo e e-mail. Os agentes são bem treinados e prontos para resolver qualquer dúvida, tornando a jornada do jogador mais tranquila.
Outro ponto que chama atenção é o sistema de promoções e bônus. Novos usuários são recebidos com ofertas exclusivas, enquanto os jogadores frequentes participam de programas de fidelidade e promoções recorrentes. Tudo isso contribui para uma experiência gratificante e valorizada.
Os métodos de pagamento também foram pensados para o público brasileiro. A 4131Bet aceita opções populares como Pix, boleto, transferência bancária e carteiras digitais, garantindo agilidade nas transações e maior comodidade para todos os perfis de usuários.
Conclusão A 4131Bet não é apenas mais uma plataforma de jogos online — ela representa uma nova maneira de se divertir com responsabilidade, variedade e qualidade. Seu compromisso com a inovação, a segurança e a satisfação do jogador a tornam uma das preferidas entre os brasileiros que buscam entretenimento de alto nível. Seja para quem está começando agora ou para quem já conhece o universo dos jogos digitais, a 4131Bet é uma escolha certeira.
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@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee
2025-05-15 00:57:01gm, just zap on AFK using Starknet cross-swap ;)
MVP here but new version is coming https://afk-community.xyz
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-21 19:31:48Oregano oil is a potent natural compound that offers numerous scientifically-supported health benefits.
Active Compounds
The oil's therapeutic properties stem from its key bioactive components: - Carvacrol and thymol (primary active compounds) - Polyphenols and other antioxidant
Antimicrobial Properties
Bacterial Protection The oil demonstrates powerful antibacterial effects, even against antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and other harmful bacteria. Studies show it effectively inactivates various pathogenic bacteria without developing resistance.
Antifungal Effects It effectively combats fungal infections, particularly Candida-related conditions like oral thrush, athlete's foot, and nail infections.
Digestive Health Benefits
Oregano oil supports digestive wellness by: - Promoting gastric juice secretion and enzyme production - Helping treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) - Managing digestive discomfort, bloating, and IBS symptoms
Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
The oil provides significant protective benefits through: - Powerful antioxidant activity that fights free radicals - Reduction of inflammatory markers in the body - Protection against oxidative stress-related conditions
Respiratory Support
It aids respiratory health by: - Loosening mucus and phlegm - Suppressing coughs and throat irritation - Supporting overall respiratory tract function
Additional Benefits
Skin Health - Improves conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema - Supports wound healing through antibacterial action - Provides anti-aging benefits through antioxidant properties
Cardiovascular Health Studies show oregano oil may help: - Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels - Support overall heart health
Pain Management The oil demonstrates effectiveness in: - Reducing inflammation-related pain - Managing muscle discomfort - Providing topical pain relief
Safety Note
While oregano oil is generally safe, it's highly concentrated and should be properly diluted before use Consult a healthcare provider before starting supplementation, especially if taking other medications.
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@ 9296c4c7:2b4b1566
2025-05-15 13:08:08A cada dia, mais brasileiros descobrem o universo dos jogos online como uma forma envolvente de entretenimento, emoção e até recompensas. Nesse cenário competitivo e em constante evolução, a plataforma 80PMBet se destaca por sua inovação, diversidade e foco total na experiência do usuário. Com uma interface moderna, suporte eficiente e um portfólio impressionante de jogos, o site conquista desde iniciantes curiosos até jogadores mais experientes.
Uma Plataforma Moderna e Acessível Desde o primeiro acesso, o que mais chama a atenção na 80PMBet é a facilidade de navegação. A plataforma foi desenvolvida para funcionar perfeitamente tanto em computadores quanto em dispositivos móveis, garantindo que o jogador tenha acesso aos seus jogos preferidos a qualquer hora e em qualquer lugar. O layout é limpo, intuitivo e com menus bem organizados, o que facilita a localização de jogos, promoções e suporte.
Além disso, o processo de cadastro é rápido e seguro. A plataforma utiliza tecnologia de criptografia para proteger as informações dos usuários, garantindo tranquilidade em todas as transações. A variedade de métodos de pagamento também é um ponto forte, incluindo opções populares entre os brasileiros como Pix, transferência bancária e carteiras digitais.
Catálogo de Jogos: Diversão Para Todos os Estilos Um dos maiores atrativos da 80pmbeté a sua vasta seleção de jogos online. A plataforma reúne títulos das principais desenvolvedoras do mercado, proporcionando aos usuários uma experiência rica e variada.
Para quem busca adrenalina, os jogos de roleta e cartas ao vivo são ideais. Eles proporcionam uma experiência interativa com transmissão em tempo real, o que cria uma sensação de imersão única. Já os fãs de jogos temáticos podem se divertir com slots que variam desde aventuras épicas até temas inspirados em cultura pop e mitologia.
Outro diferencial está nos jogos instantâneos e simplificados, ideais para quem quer se divertir com rapidez e sem complicações. Esses jogos oferecem rounds curtos e mecânicas fáceis de entender, permitindo que qualquer jogador, mesmo sem experiência, aproveite ao máximo.
Experiência do Jogador: O Centro de Tudo Na 80PMBet, o jogador é tratado com prioridade máxima. A plataforma investe em suporte 24 horas por dia, todos os dias da semana, com atendimento em português. Seja por chat ao vivo, e-mail ou central de ajuda, os usuários encontram respostas rápidas e eficientes para qualquer dúvida ou necessidade.
Além disso, o site oferece promoções constantes para novos e antigos usuários. Bônus de boas-vindas, programas de fidelidade e campanhas sazonais aumentam ainda mais o valor da experiência de jogo. Essas ações demonstram o compromisso da plataforma em manter seus jogadores motivados e recompensados.
Outro ponto elogiado pelos usuários é a fluidez dos jogos. Graças a uma infraestrutura tecnológica robusta, os jogos rodam sem travamentos, mesmo em conexões mais simples. Isso melhora significativamente a imersão e a satisfação geral.
Conclusão A 80PMBet chega com força ao mercado brasileiro, reunindo tudo o que os jogadores mais valorizam: segurança, variedade, acessibilidade e suporte de qualidade. Com uma experiência projetada para ser divertida e sem complicações, a plataforma conquista pela excelência e promete se tornar referência entre os fãs de jogos online no Brasil.
Se você busca uma nova forma de entretenimento, repleta de emoção e com a chance de recompensas reais, vale a pena conhecer tudo o que a 80PMBet tem a oferecer.
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@ 119356ac:740a8b90
2025-05-14 23:08:09► Video Tools
- 🌐 Digital Video Intro - Digital Video Guides / Resources
- ↪️ AI Video Generators
- ⭐ Reincubate Camo - Use Any Camera as Webcam
- Deep-Live-Cam, Rope, SimSwap or Roop - Video Face Swap Tools
- VideoHelp Forum - All Things Media / Video
- ICAT - Video Quality Comparison & Analysis Tool
- videoduplicatefinder - Duplicate Video Finder
- VHS Decode - VHS Decoder
- VidClue - Short Form Video Inspiration
▷ Disc Utilities
- ImgBurn, DVDStyler, DeepBurner or Alcohol Soft - CD / DVD Burning
- MakeMKV - Create MKV From Blu-ray / DVD / Beta Keys
- VidCoder or DVDDecrypter - DVD / Blu-ray Ripping
- DGDemux - Blu-Ray/UHD Disk Demuxer
- PgcDemux - DVD Disk Demuxer
- BatchGuy - Blu-Ray Ripping
▷ Video File Hosts
- Note - Most file hosts remove files after inactivity, while some delete them regardless. Check each host if you're concerned about file expiry.
- ⭐ DoodStream - 5GB / 60 Days / Account Required
- ⭐ Litterbox - 1GB / 3 Days
- ⭐ Catbox - 200MB / Forever / Allows Hotlinking
- ⭐ Gofile - 100GB Monthly / 10 Days
- ⭐ Send.now - Unlimited / 30 Days
- Files.vc - Unlimited / 10GB / Forever / Discord
- VOE - Unlimited / 60 Days / 720p / Account Required
- MixDrop - Unlimited / 60 Days / 720p / Account Required
- FEX.NET - 100GB / 10GB Guest / 7 Days
- FileMoon, 2, 3 - 50GB / 40TB per account / Forever / Account Required
- Hexupload or AnonTransfer - 15GB / 30 Days
- Fastupload.io - 10GB / 30 Days (60 Days with Account)
- Vidoza - 15GB / 15 Days / Account Required
- Streamtape - 15GB / Account Required / .to
- Dubz - 100MB / Forever
- EarnVids
- Streamable - 250MB / 2 Days (90 Days with Account)
- uguu - 128MB / 3 Hours
- webmshare - WebM & GIF Hosting / 20MB / Forever
- Videy - 100MB / MP4 Only
▷ Screen Recording
- ⭐ OBS
- gifcap - Turn Screencasts into GIFs / GitHub
- Shinobi - Network Video Recorder
- MythTV - Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
- tldv or ZoomRec - Record Google Meets / Zoom Calls
- FFmpeg / Tools
- Vileo
- ShareX
- Screen Recorder
- vokoscreenNG
- Cap / GitHub
- Shar.ec - Online
- ScreenREC - Online
- ScreenRecorder.me - Online
- KazCap - Online
- RecordScreen - Online
- Google Screen Recorder - Online
▷ Processing / Encoding
- ⭐ HandBrake - Video Encoding Software / Guide
- ⭐ FFmpeg - Multimedia Processors / Converters / Tools
- ⭐ Shutter Encoder - Video Encoding Software / GitHub
- ⭐ MKVToolNix - MKV Editing Tools
- ⭐ archived-things, The Encoding Guide or Silentaperture - Video Encoding Guides
- ⭐ Disc Rip - Disc Ripping Guide / Mirror
- ⭐ Basics to the Art of Remuxing - Learn How to Remux Videos
- DDVT - Dolby Vision RPU Demuxing / Injecting / Editing
- MKV Muxing Batch GUI - Mux Videos
- staxrip - Video Encoding / Contact Sheet + Thumbnails Creator
- IFME - Video Encoding
- XMedia Recode - Video Conversion
- FastFlix - Video Conversion / GitHub
- NEAV1E or Av1an - AV1 Encoding
- Winnydows - Video Conversion Software
- sickbeard_mp4_automator - Automate Video Processing
- Seven Converter - Video Conversion / GitHub
- nmkoder - Media Encoding / Muxing
- selur - Video Encoding
- vvenc, vvdec or VVCEasy - VVC Encode / Decode
- Ingex - Tapeless (Uncompressed) Recording / Digital Tape Converter
▷ Online Processing
- Compress Video Online - Compress / Unlimited
- 8mb.video - Compress / 2GB
- autocompressor - Compress / 2GB
- Rotato - Compress / 2GB
- VideoSmaller - Compress / 500MB
- YouCompress - Compress / 500MB
- MP4Compress - Compress / 500MB
- VERT - Converter / Discord / GitHub
- Video Express Converter
- VideoConverter - Converter
- Restream Tools - Converter
▷ FFmpeg Tools
- FFmpeg-Builds or media-autobuild_suite - Autobuild Tools
- ffmpeg-web - FFmpeg Web App / GitHub
- FFmpeg Libav or ffmprovisr - FFmpeg Guides
- ASM Lessons - FFmpeg Assembly Language Lessons
- FFmpeg Cheat Sheet, FFmpeg Commander or FFmpeg Buddy - Command Lists
- WebMConverter - WebM Converter
- PureMPV - Info Copy Tool
- ffmpeg.lav - Preview Filters
- LLmpeg or idli - AI Commands
- FFmpeg Batch - Bulk Conversion Tools
▷ Live Streaming
- 🌐 Awesome Streaming or StreamerFreebies - Live Streaming Resources
- ⭐ OBS - Live Stream Manager
- ⭐ OBS Tools - Virtual Cam / Tweaks / Effects / Keyboard Visualiser / Background Remover / Web App / Phone Controller / Dock Layouts / WebRTC Server / Plugin Updater / Guide
- Stream Elements - Streaming Service Manager
- Streamlabs-OBS - Live Stream Manager
- StreamLabs - Live Stream Manager
- Restream - Live Stream Manager
- FBX - Live Stream Manager
- XSplit - Live Stream Manager
- TwitchChat - Live Stream Manager / Discord
- VDO Ninja - Live Stream Colab Tool
- LiveStreamDVR / Display Chat - Live Stream Recorders
- NVIDIA Broadcast - Stream Audio / Video Enhancer
- Owncast or Restreamer - Self-Hosted Live Streaming
- WDFlat - Stream Elements
- Twelve47Studios - Stream Overlays
- Strem - Stream Automation
- ppInk, glnk, Annotate Screen or Live Draw - Screen Annotation
- Amuse or Songify - Now Playing Overlays
- StreamPi or ODeck - ElGato Streamdeck Alternatives
- real-url - Copy Live Stream URLs
- Chat-Downloader - Retrieve Chat Messages from Livestreams
▷ VTuber Tools
- 🌐 Runa's Archive - VTuber Resources / Discord
- Best VTuber - VTuber Resources
- VTResources - VTuber Resources
- VTuber Assets - VTuber Resources
- VTuber Kit - VTuber App
- Inochi2D - VTuber App / Discord
- Vtube Studio - VTuber App
- Kalidoface 3D, VRoid, Animaze or TransTube - VTuber Characters
- avatarify-python or veadotube - Video Call Avatars
- VTuberized Logos - VTuber Style Logos
▷ Subtitle Tools
▷ Linux Video Tools
▷ Mac Video Tools
► Video Players
- 🌐 Awesome Video - Video Streaming Resources
- 🌐 Video Help - Video Player Index
- ⭐ MPC-HC, MPC-QT or MPC-BE - Video Player / YT-DL Support
- ⭐ MPV - Video Player / Frontends
- ⭐ VLC - Video Player
- Screenbox - Video Player
- AVPlayer, ICAT or GridPlayer - Multi-Video Players
- SPlayer - Video Player with Smart Translation
- PotPlayer - Video Player / Twitch Addon / YouTube Addon
- ImPlay - Video Player
- SMPlayer / 2 - Video Player / YouTube
- uView - Video Player
- Rise Media Player - Video Player
- Flyleaf - Video Player
- MoonPlayer - Video Player
- KikoPlay - Video Player
- Plyr - Online HTML5, YouTube and Vimeo Player / GitHub
- PiP-Tool - Use Picture-in-Picture on All Videos
- PlayVideo - Google Drive Video Player
- MotionMonkey - Stream Online Videos in Player
- StreamLink - Extract Videos from Sites to Players / Twitch Adblock / GitHub
- Hohoema - Nico Nico Video Player
- polsy.org.uk - Alt Players for Video Sites
▷ Stream Sync
- ⭐ SyncPlay - App
- ⭐ Watch2Gether - Online Player
- ⭐ SyncWatch - Online Extension
- ⭐ Kosmi - Online Player
- ⭐ WatchParty - Online / Virtual Browser
- ⭐ neko / GitHub - Docker Virtual Browser
- HyperBeam / VIP - Virtual Computer Embed
- Trast, OpenTogetherTube, TurtleTV or twoseven - Online Player
- bear.cat - Online Virtual Machine / Allows NSFW
- Metastream - Online Extension / Discord / GitHub / X
- Caracal Club - Online Video Player
- CyTube - Online Video Player
- VideoTogether - App
- baked.live - Online Video Player
- Rave.io - Online Extension
- MovieNight / Discord - Docker
- Kast - Screen Share
- Screen Share Party - Online Screen Share
▷ MPV Tools
- ↪️ MPV Shaders
- MPV Config Guide, 2, 3
- ModernX, tethys or uosc - Alt User Interfaces
- Simple MPV WebUI - WebUI Controller
- MPV Context Menu
- MPV Scripts - Userscripts
- VideoClip, 2 - Clip Tool
- MPV WebM - WebM Tool
- Play With MPV or ff2mpv - Open Videos with MPV
- MPV WebTorrent Hook - Torrent Streaming
- AutoSubSync MPV - Sub Sync
- MPV SponsorBlock, 2 - SponsorBlock for MPV
- ThumbFast - MPV Thumbnails
▷ VLC Tools
- 🌐 Awesome VLC - VLC Resources
- VLSub - Sub Downloader
- VLC Skin - VLC Skins
- VLC Slow Seek Fix
► Media Servers
- 🌐 Auto Download Tool Index
- ⭐ Jellyfin - Media Server
- ⭐ Kodi - Media Server
- TRaSH Guides / Discord or The Complete Guide - Server Setup Guides
- Self-hosted Anime - Anime Server Setup Guides
- Prowlarr, FlexGet or /r/softwarr - Autodownload Tools
- Organizr, Reiverr or Homarr - Media Server Managers
- Fixarr - Media Server File Renamer
- HTPC Download Box - Media Server Automation
- Emby - Media Server
- Plex - Media Server
- Universal Media Server - Media Server
- OSMC - Media Server
- Kawaii-Player - Media Server
- Streama - Media Server
- Gerbera - Media Server
- Homehost - Media Server
- Dim - Media Server
- Kyoo - Media Server
- WatchIt / GitHub / Discord - Media Server
- SimpleDLNA - Media Server
- Chocolate - Media Server
- Media-Hoarder - Media Catalog Frontend
- Seanime - Anime Server
- Frames - Google Drive Server
- HTPC - Home Theater PC guides / Subreddit
- MSX - Web App
- ErsatzTV or dizqueTV - Live Channel Media Servers
- YTDL-Sub - Add YouTube Channels to Media Servers / GitHub
- xTeVe - Plex / Emby M3U Proxy
- Ombi - Plex / Emby User Request Management
▷ Plex Tools
- Reddit Guide - Plex Setup Guides
- Tautulli - Server Monitor / Note
- SuperPlex - Plex Plugins
- Kitana - Plugin Frontend
- Plex Ripper - Merge Plex Libraries w/ Your Own
- PlexDrive or mergerfs - Mount Google Drive
- SyncLounce - Media Sync
- PseudoTV - Create TV Channels
- Overseerr - User Requests / IMDb Extension
- Pasta Tool - Audio / Sub Changer
▷ Jellyfin Tools
- 🌐 Awesome Jellyfin - Jellyfin Resources
- ⭐ Blink, Fladder or jellyfin-media-player - Desktop Clients
- /r/JellyfinShare - Jellyfin Server Sharing
- Jellyfin Forum - Official Jellyfin Forum
- Jellyfin Vue - Jellyfin Web Client
- Jellyfin "arr" Setup Guide
- Jellyfin Customization Guide
- Jellyfin Themes
- Jellyseerr - User Requests
- Jellyfin RPC - Jellyfin Discord Rich Presence
▷ Kodi Tools
- ⭐ Elementum - Torrent Streaming / Trakt Sync / Similar to Stremio + Torrentio
- EverythingKodi - Kodi Addon Tutorials
- Kodi Builds Chart
- /r/Addons4Kodi / Tracker / Trending - Kodi Addons
- Kodi Skins or WIP Skins - Kodi Skins
- Synko - Kodi Stream Sync
- Plex Kodi Connect or plex-for-kodi - Plex for Kodi
- quasar - Torrent Plugin
- IPTV Client
- Simkl - Media Tracker
- tinyMediaManager or MediaElch - Media Collection Managers
► Video Download
- ↪️ YouTube Video Downloaders
- ↪️ Twitch Video Downloaders
- ↪️ Download Managers
- ⭐ yt-dlp or YTDL-PATCHED - Multi-Site / Commands / Zoom Fix / Discord
- ⭐ cobalt - Multi-Site / Online / Instances / Playlist Support, 2
- ⭐ 9xbuddy, 2, 3 - Multi-Site / Online
- ⭐ Download Helper, FetchV or MPMux - Extensions
- CD(R)M-Project - DRM Tools / Discord
- VideoFK - Multi-Site / Online
- you-get - Multi-Site / CLI
- Hitomi Downloader - Multi-Site / Software
- SCrawler - Multi-Site / Software / Discord
- Musvkrobot - Multi-Site / Telegram Bot
- myfaveTT, SnapTik or tiktok-to-ytdlp - TikTok
- Threads Downloader - Threads
- Piner - Pinterest / Online
- hls-downloader, hls extension or hlsloader - HLS Downloaders
- GetWVKeys - Send Widevine Requests / GitHub
► Video Editing
- ⭐ /r/VideoEditing - Video Editing Subreddit / Wiki
- ⭐ Eyecandy - Visual Technique Examples
- ⭐ Waifu2x GUI, Video2x, Enhancr, Lossless Scaling or Dandere2x - Video Upscaling
- Codecs and Containers - Info on Codecs & Containers
- ALF FreeWare VideoCODECs, Codec Guide or Free-Codecs - Video Codec Collections
- VideoHelp Forum - Video Editing Forums
▷ Video Editors
- ⭐ LosslessCut - Video Editor
- ⭐ kdenlive - Video Editor / GitHub
- ⭐ DaVinci Resolve - Video Editor / Sign-Up Required
- ⭐ Shotcut - Video Editor
- Auto-Editor - CLI Editor
- MoviePy - Python Editor
- Webm Generator - Webm Editor
- avisynth or VapourSynth - Video Processors
- Source Filmmaker - Steam Movie-Making Tool / Resources
- OpenRV - Image / Sequence Playback Review
- Remotion - Video Editor
- Olive - Video Editor
- EZVid - Video Editor
- OpenShot - Video Editor
- Lightworks - Video Editor
- VSDC - Video Editor
- Pitivi - Video Editor
- Visla - Video Editor
- Windows Movie Maker, 2, 3 - Video Editor
- Avidemux - Cut / Filter / Encode
- suckless-cut or vidcutter - Cut / Trim Videos
- Opus - Clip Creator
- Kurku or FreeMoCap - Motion Tracking Tools
- VSeeFace - Face / Hand Tracking VRM
▷ Online Editors
- ⭐ wide.video - Discord
- ⭐ Pikimov - Use Edge or Chrome
- ⭐ Mastershot - Sign-Up Required
- VideoToolbox - Sign-Up Required
- VideoInu - Works Offline
- Panzoid
- vidmix
- Video Cutter
- Omniclip - GitHub / Discord
- Vididoo - Multitool
- VideoCandy - Multitool
- Video2Edit - Multitool
- Crop Video - Crop Videos
- LoopVid - Loop Videos
- Crossfade - Video / Audio Crossfading
- VidLouder - Increase Video Volume
- Convert2Video - Image / Audio to Video
▷ Video Enhancement / Effects
- Video Enhance AI - Video Enhancement Tool / Search "Topaz" on LR
- Gyroflow - Video Stabilization / GitHub
- Flowframes / Beta or SVP / Guide - Video Interpolation / Increase FPS
- VideoColorizerColab - Video Colorization Colab
- OpenColorIO - Video Color Manager
- FreshLUTs - Free LUTs (Color Filters)
- blur or Smoothie - Add Motion Blur to Videos / Tutorial
- ProPainter - Video Inpainting
▷ VFX Sites
- FootageCrate
- FreeVideoEffect
- VideoCoPilot
- VFXmed
- Team V.R releases
- flex_cg_vfx
- VFXLoot
- Download Pirate - Use Adblock / Avoid Fake Download Buttons / Discord
- ShareAE - After Effects
- HunterAE - After Effects
- Visual Effects Pack - After Effects
- AERiver - After Effects
- AEDownloadPro - After Effects
- Intro HD - After Effects
▷ Animation Tools
- 🌐 Creator Resources - Art & Animation Resource Index
- ⭐ Unreal Engine, MoonRay, cgsoftbox, SketchUp or Twinmotion - 3D Creation Tools
- ⭐ Immersity AI - 2D Image to 3D Animation Tool
- OpenToonz, Wick Editor, Clipnote Studio or Pencil2D - Animation Tools
- Animaker - Animated Video Creator
- 3DThis - 3D Animation Tools
- Mega Scans - 3D Scans
- Mixer - 3D Texture Creation Tool
- PlanetSide - CG Environment Generator
- cgplugdump - CG Software Plugins
- Physically Based - RGB Values of Elements
- AnimeEffects, enve, Cavalry, TupiTube or Synfig - 2D Animation Tools
- ScribbleDiffusion - Turn Doodles into Artwork
- MonsterMash - Sketch-Based Modeling & Animation Tool
- Storyboarder - Quickly Visualize & Test Animations / GitHub
- LuxCoreRender - Rendering Engine
- RenderChan - 2D Animation Render Manager
- Mandelbulber or FragM - Fractal Rendering Software / 3D
- JWildfire, IFSRenderer or Fractorium - Flame Fractal Rendering Software
- BestSnip, Sketch Machine, Plask or Rive - Online Animation Tools
- Glaxnimate or Trangram - Vector Animation Tools
- LibreSprite, GraphicsGale, Pixel Compresor, JPixel, Aseprite / Guide or SpookyGhost - Pixel Art Animation Tools
- Spritesheet Generator - Spritesheet Generator / Gitea
- Animated Drawings, FAIR Animated Drawings or MotorPen - Animate Drawings
- FlipAnim - Create Animated Flipbooks
- Viggle / Discord or Picrew - Animated Character Creators
- Mixamo or Cascadeur - 3D Character Animation Tools
- MMHuman3D - 3D Human Model Creator
- Talking Face Avatar - Talking Avatar Generator
- Blender Open Movies - CGI Assets
▷ Stock Videos
- 🌐 Awesome Stock Resources or CuteStockFootage - Stock Video Indexes
- Pexels - Stock Videos
- 4K Media - 4K Stock Videos
- Dareful - 4K Stock Videos
- Monzoom - 4K Stock Videos
- BeachFrontBroll - Stock Videos
- Videvo - Stock Videos
- veed.io - Stock Videos
- VidsPlay - Stock Videos
- MitchMartinez - Stock Videos
- MixKit - Stock Videos
- ineedfx - Stock Videos
- MotionPlaces - Worldwide Stock Videos
- DroneStock - Drone Video Footage
- MovieTools - Video Loops
-
@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-01-19 21:48:49The recent shutdown of TikTok in the United States due to a potential government ban serves as a stark reminder how fragile centralized platforms truly are under the surface. While these platforms offer convenience, a more polished user experience, and connectivity, they are ultimately beholden to governments, corporations, and other authorities. This makes them vulnerable to censorship, regulation, and outright bans. In contrast, Nostr represents a shift in how we approach online communication and content sharing. Built on the principles of decentralization and user choice, Nostr cannot be banned, because it is not a platform—it is a protocol.
PROTOCOLS, NOT PLATFORMS.
At the heart of Nostr's philosophy is user choice, a feature that fundamentally sets it apart from legacy platforms. In centralized systems, the user experience is dictated by a single person or governing entity. If the platform decides to filter, censor, or ban specific users or content, individuals are left with little action to rectify the situation. They must either accept the changes or abandon the platform entirely, often at the cost of losing their social connections, their data, and their identity.
What's happening with TikTok could never happen on Nostr. With Nostr, the dynamics are completely different. Because it is a protocol, not a platform, no single entity controls the ecosystem. Instead, the protocol enables a network of applications and relays that users can freely choose from. If a particular application or relay implements policies that a user disagrees with, such as censorship, filtering, or even government enforced banning, they are not trapped or abandoned. They have the freedom to move to another application or relay with minimal effort.
THIS IS POWERFUL.
Take, for example, the case of a relay that decides to censor specific content. On a legacy platform, this would result in frustration and a loss of access for users. On Nostr, however, users can simply connect to a different relay that does not impose such restrictions. Similarly, if an application introduces features or policies that users dislike, they can migrate to a different application that better suits their preferences, all while retaining their identity and social connections.
The same principles apply to government bans and censorship. A government can ban a specific application or even multiple applications, just as it can block one relay or several relays. China has implemented both tactics, yet Chinese users continue to exist and actively participate on Nostr, demonstrating Nostr's ability to resistant censorship.
How? Simply, it turns into a game of whack-a-mole. When one relay is censored, another quickly takes its place. When one application is banned, another emerges. Users can also bypass these obstacles by running their own relays and applications directly from their homes or personal devices, eliminating reliance on larger entities or organizations and ensuring continuous access.
AGAIN, THIS IS POWERUFL.
Nostr's open and decentralized design makes it resistant to the kinds of government intervention that led to TikTok's outages this weekend and potential future ban in the next 90 days. There is no central server to target, no company to regulate, and no single point of failure. (Insert your CEO jokes here). As long as there are individuals running relays and applications, users continue creating notes and sending zaps.
Platforms like TikTok can be silenced with the stroke of a pen, leaving millions of users disconnected and abandoned. Social communication should not be silenced so incredibly easily. No one should have that much power over social interactions.
Will we on-board a massive wave of TikTokers in the coming hours or days? I don't know.
TikTokers may not be ready for Nostr yet, and honestly, Nostr may not be ready for them either. The ecosystem still lacks the completely polished applications, tools, and services they’re accustomed to. This is where we say "we're still early". They may not be early adopters like the current Nostr user base. Until we bridge that gap, they’ll likely move to the next centralized platform, only to face another government ban or round of censorship in the future. But eventually, there will come a tipping point, a moment when they’ve had enough. When that time comes, I hope we’re prepared. If we’re not, we risk missing a tremendous opportunity to onboard people who genuinely need Nostr’s freedom.
Until then, to all of the Nostr developers out there, keep up the great work and keep building. Your hard work and determination is needed.
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-19 04:48:31A new report from the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) shows that civilian firearm possession exceeded 490 million in 2022. The total from 1990 to 2022 is estimated at 491.3 million firearms. In 2022, over ten million firearms were domestically produced, leading to a total of 16,045,911 firearms available in the U.S. market.
Of these, 9,873,136 were handguns, 4,195,192 were rifles, and 1,977,583 were shotguns. Handgun availability aligns with the concealed carry and self-defense market, as all states allow concealed carry, with 29 having constitutional carry laws.
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@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd
2025-05-03 21:54:45Introduction
Me and Fishcake have been working on infrastructure for Noswhere and Nostr.build. Part of this involves processing a large amount of Nostr events for features such as search, analytics, and feeds.
I have been recently developing
nosdex
v3, a newer version of the Noswhere scraper that is designed for maximum performance and fault tolerance using FoundationDB (FDB).Fishcake has been working on a processing system for Nostr events to use with NB, based off of Cloudflare (CF) Pipelines, which is a relatively new beta product. This evening, we put it all to the test.
First preparations
We set up a new CF Pipelines endpoint, and I implemented a basic importer that took data from the
nosdex
database. This was quite slow, as it did HTTP requests synchronously, but worked as a good smoke test.Asynchronous indexing
I implemented a high-contention queue system designed for highly parallel indexing operations, built using FDB, that supports: - Fully customizable batch sizes - Per-index queues - Hundreds of parallel consumers - Automatic retry logic using lease expiration
When the scraper first gets an event, it will process it and eventually write it to the blob store and FDB. Each new event is appended to the event log.
On the indexing side, a
Queuer
will read the event log, and batch events (usually 2K-5K events) into one work job. This work job contains: - A range in the log to index - Which target this job is intended for - The size of the job and some other metadataEach job has an associated leasing state, which is used to handle retries and prioritization, and ensure no duplication of work.
Several
Worker
s monitor the index queue (up to 128) and wait for new jobs that are available to lease.Once a suitable job is found, the worker acquires a lease on the job and reads the relevant events from FDB and the blob store.
Depending on the indexing type, the job will be processed in one of a number of ways, and then marked as completed or returned for retries.
In this case, the event is also forwarded to CF Pipelines.
Trying it out
The first attempt did not go well. I found a bug in the high-contention indexer that led to frequent transaction conflicts. This was easily solved by correcting an incorrectly set parameter.
We also found there were other issues in the indexer, such as an insufficient amount of threads, and a suspicious decrease in the speed of the
Queuer
during processing of queued jobs.Along with fixing these issues, I also implemented other optimizations, such as deprioritizing
Worker
DB accesses, and increasing the batch size.To fix the degraded
Queuer
performance, I ran the backfill job by itself, and then started indexing after it had completed.Bottlenecks, bottlenecks everywhere
After implementing these fixes, there was an interesting problem: The DB couldn't go over 80K reads per second. I had encountered this limit during load testing for the scraper and other FDB benchmarks.
As I suspected, this was a client thread limitation, as one thread seemed to be using high amounts of CPU. To overcome this, I created a new client instance for each
Worker
.After investigating, I discovered that the Go FoundationDB client cached the database connection. This meant all attempts to create separate DB connections ended up being useless.
Using
OpenWithConnectionString
partially resolved this issue. (This also had benefits for service-discovery based connection configuration.)To be able to fully support multi-threading, I needed to enabled the FDB multi-client feature. Enabling it also allowed easier upgrades across DB versions, as FDB clients are incompatible across versions:
FDB_NETWORK_OPTION_EXTERNAL_CLIENT_LIBRARY="/lib/libfdb_c.so"
FDB_NETWORK_OPTION_CLIENT_THREADS_PER_VERSION="16"
Breaking the 100K/s reads barrier
After implementing support for the multi-threaded client, we were able to get over 100K reads per second.
You may notice after the restart (gap) the performance dropped. This was caused by several bugs: 1. When creating the CF Pipelines endpoint, we did not specify a region. The automatically selected region was far away from the server. 2. The amount of shards were not sufficient, so we increased them. 3. The client overloaded a few HTTP/2 connections with too many requests.
I implemented a feature to assign each
Worker
its own HTTP client, fixing the 3rd issue. We also moved the entire storage region to West Europe to be closer to the servers.After these changes, we were able to easily push over 200K reads/s, mostly limited by missing optimizations:
It's shards all the way down
While testing, we also noticed another issue: At certain times, a pipeline would get overloaded, stalling requests for seconds at a time. This prevented all forward progress on the
Worker
s.We solved this by having multiple pipelines: A primary pipeline meant to be for standard load, with moderate batching duration and less shards, and high-throughput pipelines with more shards.
Each
Worker
is assigned a pipeline on startup, and if one pipeline stalls, other workers can continue making progress and saturate the DB.The stress test
After making sure everything was ready for the import, we cleared all data, and started the import.
The entire import lasted 20 minutes between 01:44 UTC and 02:04 UTC, reaching a peak of: - 0.25M requests per second - 0.6M keys read per second - 140MB/s reads from DB - 2Gbps of network throughput
FoundationDB ran smoothly during this test, with: - Read times under 2ms - Zero conflicting transactions - No overloaded servers
CF Pipelines held up well, delivering batches to R2 without any issues, while reaching its maximum possible throughput.
Finishing notes
Me and Fishcake have been building infrastructure around scaling Nostr, from media, to relays, to content indexing. We consistently work on improving scalability, resiliency and stability, even outside these posts.
Many things, including what you see here, are already a part of Nostr.build, Noswhere and NFDB, and many other changes are being implemented every day.
If you like what you are seeing, and want to integrate it, get in touch. :)
If you want to support our work, you can zap this post, or register for nostr.land and nostr.build today.
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-01-16 15:44:06Black Locust can grow up to 170 ft tall
Grows 3-4 ft. per year
Native to North America
Cold hardy in zones 3 to 8
Firewood
- BLT wood, on a pound for pound basis is roughly half that of Anthracite Coal
- Since its growth is fast, firewood can be plentiful
Timber
- Rot resistant due to a naturally produced robinin in the wood
- 100 year life span in full soil contact! (better than cedar performance)
- Fence posts
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor decking
- Sustainable due to its fast growth and spread
- Can be coppiced (cut to the ground)
- Can be pollarded (cut above ground)
- Its dense wood makes durable tool handles, boxes (tool), and furniture
- The wood is tougher than hickory, which is tougher than hard maple, which is tougher than oak.
- A very low rate of expansion and contraction
- Hardwood flooring
- The highest tensile beam strength of any American tree
- The wood is beautiful
Legume
- Nitrogen fixer
- Fixes the same amount of nitrogen per acre as is needed for 200-bushel/acre corn
- Black walnuts inter-planted with locust as “nurse” trees were shown to rapidly increase their growth [[Clark, Paul M., and Robert D. Williams. (1978) Black walnut growth increased when interplanted with nitrogen-fixing shrubs and trees. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, vol. 88, pp. 88-91.]]
Bees
- The edible flower clusters are also a top food source for honey bees
Shade Provider
- Its light, airy overstory provides dappled shade
- Planted on the west side of a garden it provides relief during the hottest part of the day
- (nitrogen provider)
- Planted on the west side of a house, its quick growth soon shades that side from the sun
Wind-break
- Fast growth plus it's feathery foliage reduces wind for animals, crops, and shelters
Fodder
- Over 20% crude protein
- 4.1 kcal/g of energy
- Baertsche, S.R, M.T. Yokoyama, and J.W. Hanover (1986) Short rotation, hardwood tree biomass as potential ruminant feed-chemical composition, nylon bag ruminal degradation and ensilement of selected species. J. Animal Sci. 63 2028-2043
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-01-14 01:31:12Bitcoin is more than money, more than an asset, and more than a store of value. Bitcoin is a Prime Mover, an enabler and it ignites imaginations. It certainly fueled an idea in my mind. The idea integrates sensors, computational prowess, actuated machinery, power conversion, and electronic communications to form an autonomous, machined creature roaming forests and harvesting the most widespread and least energy-dense fuel source available. I call it the Forest Walker and it eats wood, and mines Bitcoin.
I know what you're thinking. Why not just put Bitcoin mining rigs where they belong: in a hosted facility sporting electricity from energy-dense fuels like natural gas, climate-controlled with excellent data piping in and out? Why go to all the trouble building a robot that digests wood creating flammable gasses fueling an engine to run a generator powering Bitcoin miners? It's all about synergy.
Bitcoin mining enables the realization of multiple, seemingly unrelated, yet useful activities. Activities considered un-profitable if not for Bitcoin as the Prime Mover. This is much more than simply mining the greatest asset ever conceived by humankind. It’s about the power of synergy, which Bitcoin plays only one of many roles. The synergy created by this system can stabilize forests' fire ecology while generating multiple income streams. That’s the realistic goal here and requires a brief history of American Forest management before continuing.
Smokey The Bear
In 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign began in the United States. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” remains the refrain of the Ad Council’s longest running campaign. The Ad Council is a U.S. non-profit set up by the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Association of National Advertisers in 1942. It would seem that the U.S. Department of the Interior was concerned about pesky forest fires and wanted them to stop. So, alongside a national policy of extreme fire suppression they enlisted the entire U.S. population to get onboard via the Ad Council and it worked. Forest fires were almost obliterated and everyone was happy, right? Wrong.
Smokey is a fantastically successful bear so forest fires became so few for so long that the fuel load - dead wood - in forests has become very heavy. So heavy that when a fire happens (and they always happen) it destroys everything in its path because the more fuel there is the hotter that fire becomes. Trees, bushes, shrubs, and all other plant life cannot escape destruction (not to mention homes and businesses). The soil microbiology doesn’t escape either as it is burned away even in deeper soils. To add insult to injury, hydrophobic waxy residues condense on the soil surface, forcing water to travel over the ground rather than through it eroding forest soils. Good job, Smokey. Well done, Sir!
Most terrestrial ecologies are “fire ecologies”. Fire is a part of these systems’ fuel load and pest management. Before we pretended to “manage” millions of acres of forest, fires raged over the world, rarely damaging forests. The fuel load was always too light to generate fires hot enough to moonscape mountainsides. Fires simply burned off the minor amounts of fuel accumulated since the fire before. The lighter heat, smoke, and other combustion gasses suppressed pests, keeping them in check and the smoke condensed into a plant growth accelerant called wood vinegar, not a waxy cap on the soil. These fires also cleared out weak undergrowth, cycled minerals, and thinned the forest canopy, allowing sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. Without a fire’s heat, many pine tree species can’t sow their seed. The heat is required to open the cones (the seed bearing structure) of Spruce, Cypress, Sequoia, Jack Pine, Lodgepole Pine and many more. Without fire forests can’t have babies. The idea was to protect the forests, and it isn't working.
So, in a world of fire, what does an ally look like and what does it do?
Meet The Forest Walker
For the Forest Walker to work as a mobile, autonomous unit, a solid platform that can carry several hundred pounds is required. It so happens this chassis already exists but shelved.
Introducing the Legged Squad Support System (LS3). A joint project between Boston Dynamics, DARPA, and the United States Marine Corps, the quadrupedal robot is the size of a cow, can carry 400 pounds (180 kg) of equipment, negotiate challenging terrain, and operate for 24 hours before needing to refuel. Yes, it had an engine. Abandoned in 2015, the thing was too noisy for military deployment and maintenance "under fire" is never a high-quality idea. However, we can rebuild it to act as a platform for the Forest Walker; albeit with serious alterations. It would need to be bigger, probably. Carry more weight? Definitely. Maybe replace structural metal with carbon fiber and redesign much as 3D printable parts for more effective maintenance.
The original system has a top operational speed of 8 miles per hour. For our purposes, it only needs to move about as fast as a grazing ruminant. Without the hammering vibrations of galloping into battle, shocks of exploding mortars, and drunken soldiers playing "Wrangler of Steel Machines", time between failures should be much longer and the overall energy consumption much lower. The LS3 is a solid platform to build upon. Now it just needs to be pulled out of the mothballs, and completely refitted with outboard equipment.
The Small Branch Chipper
When I say “Forest fuel load” I mean the dead, carbon containing litter on the forest floor. Duff (leaves), fine-woody debris (small branches), and coarse woody debris (logs) are the fuel that feeds forest fires. Walk through any forest in the United States today and you will see quite a lot of these materials. Too much, as I have described. Some of these fuel loads can be 8 tons per acre in pine and hardwood forests and up to 16 tons per acre at active logging sites. That’s some big wood and the more that collects, the more combustible danger to the forest it represents. It also provides a technically unlimited fuel supply for the Forest Walker system.
The problem is that this detritus has to be chewed into pieces that are easily ingestible by the system for the gasification process (we’ll get to that step in a minute). What we need is a wood chipper attached to the chassis (the LS3); its “mouth”.
A small wood chipper handling material up to 2.5 - 3.0 inches (6.3 - 7.6 cm) in diameter would eliminate a substantial amount of fuel. There is no reason for Forest Walker to remove fallen trees. It wouldn’t have to in order to make a real difference. It need only identify appropriately sized branches and grab them. Once loaded into the chipper’s intake hopper for further processing, the beast can immediately look for more “food”. This is essentially kindling that would help ignite larger logs. If it’s all consumed by Forest Walker, then it’s not present to promote an aggravated conflagration.
I have glossed over an obvious question: How does Forest Walker see and identify branches and such? LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) attached to Forest Walker images the local area and feed those data to onboard computers for processing. Maybe AI plays a role. Maybe simple machine learning can do the trick. One thing is for certain: being able to identify a stick and cause robotic appendages to pick it up is not impossible.
Great! We now have a quadrupedal robot autonomously identifying and “eating” dead branches and other light, combustible materials. Whilst strolling through the forest, depleting future fires of combustibles, Forest Walker has already performed a major function of this system: making the forest safer. It's time to convert this low-density fuel into a high-density fuel Forest Walker can leverage. Enter the gasification process.
The Gassifier
The gasifier is the heart of the entire system; it’s where low-density fuel becomes the high-density fuel that powers the entire system. Biochar and wood vinegar are process wastes and I’ll discuss why both are powerful soil amendments in a moment, but first, what’s gasification?
Reacting shredded carbonaceous material at high temperatures in a low or no oxygen environment converts the biomass into biochar, wood vinegar, heat, and Synthesis Gas (Syngas). Syngas consists primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. All of which are extremely useful fuels in a gaseous state. Part of this gas is used to heat the input biomass and keep the reaction temperature constant while the internal combustion engine that drives the generator to produce electrical power consumes the rest.
Critically, this gasification process is “continuous feed”. Forest Walker must intake biomass from the chipper, process it to fuel, and dump the waste (CO2, heat, biochar, and wood vinegar) continuously. It cannot stop. Everything about this system depends upon this continual grazing, digestion, and excretion of wastes just as a ruminal does. And, like a ruminant, all waste products enhance the local environment.
When I first heard of gasification, I didn’t believe that it was real. Running an electric generator from burning wood seemed more akin to “conspiracy fantasy” than science. Not only is gasification real, it’s ancient technology. A man named Dean Clayton first started experiments on gasification in 1699 and in 1901 gasification was used to power a vehicle. By the end of World War II, there were 500,000 Syngas powered vehicles in Germany alone because of fossil fuel rationing during the war. The global gasification market was $480 billion in 2022 and projected to be as much as $700 billion by 2030 (Vantage Market Research). Gasification technology is the best choice to power the Forest Walker because it’s self-contained and we want its waste products.
Biochar: The Waste
Biochar (AKA agricultural charcoal) is fairly simple: it’s almost pure, solid carbon that resembles charcoal. Its porous nature packs large surface areas into small, 3 dimensional nuggets. Devoid of most other chemistry, like hydrocarbons (methane) and ash (minerals), biochar is extremely lightweight. Do not confuse it with the charcoal you buy for your grill. Biochar doesn’t make good grilling charcoal because it would burn too rapidly as it does not contain the multitude of flammable components that charcoal does. Biochar has several other good use cases. Water filtration, water retention, nutrient retention, providing habitat for microscopic soil organisms, and carbon sequestration are the main ones that we are concerned with here.
Carbon has an amazing ability to adsorb (substances stick to and accumulate on the surface of an object) manifold chemistries. Water, nutrients, and pollutants tightly bind to carbon in this format. So, biochar makes a respectable filter and acts as a “battery” of water and nutrients in soils. Biochar adsorbs and holds on to seven times its weight in water. Soil containing biochar is more drought resilient than soil without it. Adsorbed nutrients, tightly sequestered alongside water, get released only as plants need them. Plants must excrete protons (H+) from their roots to disgorge water or positively charged nutrients from the biochar's surface; it's an active process.
Biochar’s surface area (where adsorption happens) can be 500 square meters per gram or more. That is 10% larger than an official NBA basketball court for every gram of biochar. Biochar’s abundant surface area builds protective habitats for soil microbes like fungi and bacteria and many are critical for the health and productivity of the soil itself.
The “carbon sequestration” component of biochar comes into play where “carbon credits” are concerned. There is a financial market for carbon. Not leveraging that market for revenue is foolish. I am climate agnostic. All I care about is that once solid carbon is inside the soil, it will stay there for thousands of years, imparting drought resiliency, fertility collection, nutrient buffering, and release for that time span. I simply want as much solid carbon in the soil because of the undeniably positive effects it has, regardless of any climactic considerations.
Wood Vinegar: More Waste
Another by-product of the gasification process is wood vinegar (Pyroligneous acid). If you have ever seen Liquid Smoke in the grocery store, then you have seen wood vinegar. Principally composed of acetic acid, acetone, and methanol wood vinegar also contains ~200 other organic compounds. It would seem intuitive that condensed, liquefied wood smoke would at least be bad for the health of all living things if not downright carcinogenic. The counter intuition wins the day, however. Wood vinegar has been used by humans for a very long time to promote digestion, bowel, and liver health; combat diarrhea and vomiting; calm peptic ulcers and regulate cholesterol levels; and a host of other benefits.
For centuries humans have annually burned off hundreds of thousands of square miles of pasture, grassland, forest, and every other conceivable terrestrial ecosystem. Why is this done? After every burn, one thing becomes obvious: the almost supernatural growth these ecosystems exhibit after the burn. How? Wood vinegar is a component of this growth. Even in open burns, smoke condenses and infiltrates the soil. That is when wood vinegar shows its quality.
This stuff beefs up not only general plant growth but seed germination as well and possesses many other qualities that are beneficial to plants. It’s a pesticide, fungicide, promotes beneficial soil microorganisms, enhances nutrient uptake, and imparts disease resistance. I am barely touching a long list of attributes here, but you want wood vinegar in your soil (alongside biochar because it adsorbs wood vinegar as well).
The Internal Combustion Engine
Conversion of grazed forage to chemical, then mechanical, and then electrical energy completes the cycle. The ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) converts the gaseous fuel output from the gasifier to mechanical energy, heat, water vapor, and CO2. It’s the mechanical energy of a rotating drive shaft that we want. That rotation drives the electric generator, which is the heartbeat we need to bring this monster to life. Luckily for us, combined internal combustion engine and generator packages are ubiquitous, delivering a defined energy output given a constant fuel input. It’s the simplest part of the system.
The obvious question here is whether the amount of syngas provided by the gasification process will provide enough energy to generate enough electrons to run the entire system or not. While I have no doubt the energy produced will run Forest Walker's main systems the question is really about the electrons left over. Will it be enough to run the Bitcoin mining aspect of the system? Everything is a budget.
CO2 Production For Growth
Plants are lollipops. No matter if it’s a tree or a bush or a shrubbery, the entire thing is mostly sugar in various formats but mostly long chain carbohydrates like lignin and cellulose. Plants need three things to make sugar: CO2, H2O and light. In a forest, where tree densities can be quite high, CO2 availability becomes a limiting growth factor. It’d be in the forest interests to have more available CO2 providing for various sugar formation providing the organism with food and structure.
An odd thing about tree leaves, the openings that allow gasses like the ever searched for CO2 are on the bottom of the leaf (these are called stomata). Not many stomata are topside. This suggests that trees and bushes have evolved to find gasses like CO2 from below, not above and this further suggests CO2 might be in higher concentrations nearer the soil.
The soil life (bacterial, fungi etc.) is constantly producing enormous amounts of CO2 and it would stay in the soil forever (eventually killing the very soil life that produces it) if not for tidal forces. Water is everywhere and whether in pools, lakes, oceans or distributed in “moist” soils water moves towards to the moon. The water in the soil and also in the water tables below the soil rise toward the surface every day. When the water rises, it expels the accumulated gasses in the soil into the atmosphere and it’s mostly CO2. It’s a good bet on how leaves developed high populations of stomata on the underside of leaves. As the water relaxes (the tide goes out) it sucks oxygenated air back into the soil to continue the functions of soil life respiration. The soil “breathes” albeit slowly.
The gasses produced by the Forest Walker’s internal combustion engine consist primarily of CO2 and H2O. Combusting sugars produce the same gasses that are needed to construct the sugars because the universe is funny like that. The Forest Walker is constantly laying down these critical construction elements right where the trees need them: close to the ground to be gobbled up by the trees.
The Branch Drones
During the last ice age, giant mammals populated North America - forests and otherwise. Mastodons, woolly mammoths, rhinos, short-faced bears, steppe bison, caribou, musk ox, giant beavers, camels, gigantic ground-dwelling sloths, glyptodons, and dire wolves were everywhere. Many were ten to fifteen feet tall. As they crashed through forests, they would effectively cleave off dead side-branches of trees, halting the spread of a ground-based fire migrating into the tree crown ("laddering") which is a death knell for a forest.
These animals are all extinct now and forests no longer have any manner of pruning services. But, if we build drones fitted with cutting implements like saws and loppers, optical cameras and AI trained to discern dead branches from living ones, these drones could effectively take over pruning services by identifying, cutting, and dropping to the forest floor, dead branches. The dropped branches simply get collected by the Forest Walker as part of its continual mission.
The drones dock on the back of the Forest Walker to recharge their batteries when low. The whole scene would look like a grazing cow with some flies bothering it. This activity breaks the link between a relatively cool ground based fire and the tree crowns and is a vital element in forest fire control.
The Bitcoin Miner
Mining is one of four monetary incentive models, making this system a possibility for development. The other three are US Dept. of the Interior, township, county, and electrical utility company easement contracts for fuel load management, global carbon credits trading, and data set sales. All the above depends on obvious questions getting answered. I will list some obvious ones, but this is not an engineering document and is not the place for spreadsheets. How much Bitcoin one Forest Walker can mine depends on everything else. What amount of biomass can we process? Will that biomass flow enough Syngas to keep the lights on? Can the chassis support enough mining ASICs and supporting infrastructure? What does that weigh and will it affect field performance? How much power can the AC generator produce?
Other questions that are more philosophical persist. Even if a single Forest Walker can only mine scant amounts of BTC per day, that pales to how much fuel material it can process into biochar. We are talking about millions upon millions of forested acres in need of fuel load management. What can a single Forest Walker do? I am not thinking in singular terms. The Forest Walker must operate as a fleet. What could 50 do? 500?
What is it worth providing a service to the world by managing forest fuel loads? Providing proof of work to the global monetary system? Seeding soil with drought and nutrient resilience by the excretion, over time, of carbon by the ton? What did the last forest fire cost?
The Mesh Network
What could be better than one bitcoin mining, carbon sequestering, forest fire squelching, soil amending behemoth? Thousands of them, but then they would need to be able to talk to each other to coordinate position, data handling, etc. Fitted with a mesh networking device, like goTenna or Meshtastic LoRa equipment enables each Forest Walker to communicate with each other.
Now we have an interconnected fleet of Forest Walkers relaying data to each other and more importantly, aggregating all of that to the last link in the chain for uplink. Well, at least Bitcoin mining data. Since block data is lightweight, transmission of these data via mesh networking in fairly close quartered environs is more than doable. So, how does data transmit to the Bitcoin Network? How do the Forest Walkers get the previous block data necessary to execute on mining?
Back To The Chain
Getting Bitcoin block data to and from the network is the last puzzle piece. The standing presumption here is that wherever a Forest Walker fleet is operating, it is NOT within cell tower range. We further presume that the nearest Walmart Wi-Fi is hours away. Enter the Blockstream Satellite or something like it.
A separate, ground-based drone will have two jobs: To stay as close to the nearest Forest Walker as it can and to provide an antennae for either terrestrial or orbital data uplink. Bitcoin-centric data is transmitted to the "uplink drone" via the mesh networked transmitters and then sent on to the uplink and the whole flow goes in the opposite direction as well; many to one and one to many.
We cannot transmit data to the Blockstream satellite, and it will be up to Blockstream and companies like it to provide uplink capabilities in the future and I don't doubt they will. Starlink you say? What’s stopping that company from filtering out block data? Nothing because it’s Starlink’s system and they could decide to censor these data. It seems we may have a problem sending and receiving Bitcoin data in back country environs.
But, then again, the utility of this system in staunching the fuel load that creates forest fires is extremely useful around forested communities and many have fiber, Wi-Fi and cell towers. These communities could be a welcoming ground zero for first deployments of the Forest Walker system by the home and business owners seeking fire repression. In the best way, Bitcoin subsidizes the safety of the communities.
Sensor Packages
LiDaR
The benefit of having a Forest Walker fleet strolling through the forest is the never ending opportunity for data gathering. A plethora of deployable sensors gathering hyper-accurate data on everything from temperature to topography is yet another revenue generator. Data is valuable and the Forest Walker could generate data sales to various government entities and private concerns.
LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) can map topography, perform biomass assessment, comparative soil erosion analysis, etc. It so happens that the Forest Walker’s ability to “see,” to navigate about its surroundings, is LiDaR driven and since it’s already being used, we can get double duty by harvesting that data for later use. By using a laser to send out light pulses and measuring the time it takes for the reflection of those pulses to return, very detailed data sets incrementally build up. Eventually, as enough data about a certain area becomes available, the data becomes useful and valuable.
Forestry concerns, both private and public, often use LiDaR to build 3D models of tree stands to assess the amount of harvest-able lumber in entire sections of forest. Consulting companies offering these services charge anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per square kilometer for such services. A Forest Walker generating such assessments on the fly while performing its other functions is a multi-disciplinary approach to revenue generation.
pH, Soil Moisture, and Cation Exchange Sensing
The Forest Walker is quadrupedal, so there are four contact points to the soil. Why not get a pH data point for every step it takes? We can also gather soil moisture data and cation exchange capacities at unheard of densities because of sampling occurring on the fly during commission of the system’s other duties. No one is going to build a machine to do pH testing of vast tracts of forest soils, but that doesn’t make the data collected from such an endeavor valueless. Since the Forest Walker serves many functions at once, a multitude of data products can add to the return on investment component.
Weather Data
Temperature, humidity, pressure, and even data like evapotranspiration gathered at high densities on broad acre scales have untold value and because the sensors are lightweight and don’t require large power budgets, they come along for the ride at little cost. But, just like the old mantra, “gas, grass, or ass, nobody rides for free”, these sensors provide potential revenue benefits just by them being present.
I’ve touched on just a few data genres here. In fact, the question for universities, governmental bodies, and other institutions becomes, “How much will you pay us to attach your sensor payload to the Forest Walker?”
Noise Suppression
Only you can prevent Metallica filling the surrounds with 120 dB of sound. Easy enough, just turn the car stereo off. But what of a fleet of 50 Forest Walkers operating in the backcountry or near a township? 500? 5000? Each one has a wood chipper, an internal combustion engine, hydraulic pumps, actuators, and more cooling fans than you can shake a stick at. It’s a walking, screaming fire-breathing dragon operating continuously, day and night, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. The sound will negatively affect all living things and that impacts behaviors. Serious engineering consideration and prowess must deliver a silencing blow to the major issue of noise.
It would be foolish to think that a fleet of Forest Walkers could be silent, but if not a major design consideration, then the entire idea is dead on arrival. Townships would not allow them to operate even if they solved the problem of widespread fuel load and neither would governmental entities, and rightly so. Nothing, not man nor beast, would want to be subjected to an eternal, infernal scream even if it were to end within days as the fleet moved further away after consuming what it could. Noise and heat are the only real pollutants of this system; taking noise seriously from the beginning is paramount.
Fire Safety
A “fire-breathing dragon” is not the worst description of the Forest Walker. It eats wood, combusts it at very high temperatures and excretes carbon; and it does so in an extremely flammable environment. Bad mix for one Forest Walker, worse for many. One must take extreme pains to ensure that during normal operation, a Forest Walker could fall over, walk through tinder dry brush, or get pounded into the ground by a meteorite from Krypton and it wouldn’t destroy epic swaths of trees and baby deer. I envision an ultimate test of a prototype to include dowsing it in grain alcohol while it’s wrapped up in toilet paper like a pledge at a fraternity party. If it runs for 72 hours and doesn’t set everything on fire, then maybe outside entities won’t be fearful of something that walks around forests with a constant fire in its belly.
The Wrap
How we think about what can be done with and adjacent to Bitcoin is at least as important as Bitcoin’s economic standing itself. For those who will tell me that this entire idea is without merit, I say, “OK, fine. You can come up with something, too.” What can we plug Bitcoin into that, like a battery, makes something that does not work, work? That’s the lesson I get from this entire exercise. No one was ever going to hire teams of humans to go out and "clean the forest". There's no money in that. The data collection and sales from such an endeavor might provide revenues over the break-even point but investment demands Alpha in this day and age. But, plug Bitcoin into an almost viable system and, voilà! We tip the scales to achieve lift-off.
Let’s face it, we haven’t scratched the surface of Bitcoin’s forcing function on our minds. Not because it’s Bitcoin, but because of what that invention means. The question that pushes me to approach things this way is, “what can we create that one system’s waste is another system’s feedstock?” The Forest Walker system’s only real waste is the conversion of low entropy energy (wood and syngas) into high entropy energy (heat and noise). All other output is beneficial to humanity.
Bitcoin, I believe, is the first product of a new mode of human imagination. An imagination newly forged over the past few millennia of being lied to, stolen from, distracted and otherwise mis-allocated to a black hole of the nonsensical. We are waking up.
What I have presented is not science fiction. Everything I have described here is well within the realm of possibility. The question is one of viability, at least in terms of the detritus of the old world we find ourselves departing from. This system would take a non-trivial amount of time and resources to develop. I think the system would garner extensive long-term contracts from those who have the most to lose from wildfires, the most to gain from hyperaccurate data sets, and, of course, securing the most precious asset in the world. Many may not see it that way, for they seek Alpha and are therefore blind to other possibilities. Others will see only the possibilities; of thinking in a new way, of looking at things differently, and dreaming of what comes next.
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@ d0dacccd:b0162661
2025-05-15 12:11:15第一步:做任务拿钻石💎 Step 1: Complete the task to obtain diamonds 1. 输入网址:https://campaign.cicada.finance ,进入「Sign in 登陆」界面 Enter the website address: https://campaign.cicada.finance, and proceed to the "Sign in" interface.
2. 注册登陆 Registration and Login
3. 参与campaigns 活动获得钻石Gain diamonds by participating in campaigns
4. 进入「Campaign活动界面」参与活动。注意⚠️受平台方或者Twitter限制相关的活动,一次最多做5个,大家可以少量多次参与 Enter the "Campaign Activity Interface" to participate in the activity. Note ⚠️ For activities restricted by the platform or Twitter, you can only do a maximum of 5 at a time. You can participate in a small amount multiple times.
第二步:关联与授权 Step 2: Association and Authorization
1.进入「我的账户」绑定相关账户,授权钱包操作(我用的小狐狸,为了保证安全里面只有做活动的资金) Enter "My Account" to bind the related account and authorize the wallet operations (I use "Metamask", and to ensure security, there are only funds for activities in it)
与资金相关的授权一定多复核,看好请求方是哪里,确认无误再确认,拒绝为黑客打工 Authorization related to funds must undergo multiple reviews. Pay attention to where the requesting party is from, confirm everything is correct before proceeding, and do not work for hackers.
2. 如果是参与活动老用户可以直接到最下面点击Convert Now参与换票抽奖 If you are an old user who has participated in the event, you can simply click "Convert Now" at the bottom to participate in the ticket exchange and lottery.
你问我为何选7?秘密就在图里,有7次抽奖的机会,如果第一次抽奖我就中了那么剩下6张票作废,如果没中奖,那么每次抽奖我都有机会参与1次,一共抽7次。 You asked me why I chose 7. The secret is in the picture. There are 7 chances for the lottery. If I win on the first draw, then the remaining 6 tickets will be invalid. If I don't win, then I have the chance to participate once in each draw, for a total of 7 draws.
3. 老用户换票也需要授权钱包操作,记住再次确认授权对象是不是你要操作的网页,确认gas是不是在Base 链(我用的小狐狸,为了保证安全Base链里面只有做活动的资金) For old users who want to redeem tickets, they also need to authorize the wallet operation. Remember to double-check that the authorized entity is indeed the website you intend to operate on, and confirm whether the gas fee is on the Base Mainnet (I use Metamask, which is a small-scale blockchain designed to ensure security. On this chain, only funds for activities are stored).
换票
需要gas费 Need gas
第三步:完成兑换,等待抽奖结果 Step 3: Complete the exchange and wait for the drawing results
祝愿小伙伴们多多中奖,最近他们活动蛮多,只要动动手指就有机会中个彩票。 Wish all the friends a lot of good luck in winning the lottery. Recently, they have quite a few activities going on. Just by clicking a few times, you have a chance to win a lottery.
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@ eab58da0:eebdafbf
2025-05-15 11:35:31By UnKnownfx
Some days, my mind feels like a tangled ball of yarn—overwhelmed, scattered, and stuck. I used to let those moments derail me, but then I stumbled on a 5-minute mental reset that’s become my lifeline. It’s simple, doesn’t require fancy tools, and has genuinely transformed how I tackle my day. Here’s how it works and why it’s worth a try.
The Morning That Felt Like a Marathon Last month, I woke up to a flood of notifications: work emails, a looming deadline, and a friend’s urgent text. By 9 a.m., my brain was already fried. I was overthinking every task, feeling like I’d fail before I even started. Sitting at my desk, I realized I couldn’t keep going like this. I needed a way to hit pause, not just on my to-do list, but on the chaos in my head. That’s when I tried something I’d read about: a quick mental reset to ground myself.
The 5-Minute Reset: How It Works The reset is called the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, and it’s deceptively simple. You take five minutes to engage your senses and anchor yourself in the present. Here’s how I do it:
5 things I see: I look around and name five things—a mug, a tree outside, my notebook, a pen, the sunlight on my wall.
4 things I hear: I listen for four sounds—birds chirping, a distant car, my own breathing, the hum of my laptop.
3 things I feel: I notice three sensations—my feet on the floor, the chair against my back, my fingers on the table.
2 things I smell: I take a deep breath for two scents—coffee in the air, a faint whiff of my shampoo.
* 1 thing I taste: I sip my drink or just note the taste in my mouth, like lingering toothpaste.That morning, those five minutes pulled me out of my spiral. My racing thoughts slowed, and I felt… present. It was like hitting a reset button on my brain.
Why It’s a Game-Changer This reset isn’t magic, but it’s powerful because it forces you to stop ruminating and focus on now. That day, I went from paralyzed to productive. I tackled one task at a time, and by noon, I’d crossed off half my list. More than that, I felt lighter, like I’d reclaimed control. I’ve since made it a daily habit, especially on chaotic mornings. It’s not about erasing stress—it’s about giving yourself a moment to breathe and choose how to move forward.
Your Turn to Try It You don’t need hours or a guru to find calm—you just need five minutes. This reset has been my small rebellion against overwhelm, and I’m betting it can help you, too. Try it tomorrow morning or the next time your mind feels heavy. What’s your go-to way to clear mental clutter? Have you ever found a quick trick that turned your day around? Share your thoughts below or post your own note—I’d love to hear what works for you!
Thanks for reading. Much love, UnKnownfx
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-01-12 21:03:36I’ve been using Notedeck for several months, starting with its extremely early and experimental alpha versions, all the way to its current, more stable alpha releases. The journey has been fascinating, as I’ve had the privilege of watching it evolve from a concept into a functional and promising tool.
In its earliest stages, Notedeck was raw—offering glimpses of its potential but still far from practical for daily use. Even then, the vision behind it was clear: a platform designed to redefine how we interact with Nostr by offering flexibility and power for all users.
I'm very bullish on Notedeck. Why? Because Will Casarin is making it! Duh! 😂
Seriously though, if we’re reimagining the web and rebuilding portions of the Internet, it’s important to recognize the potential of Notedeck. If Nostr is reimagining the web, then Notedeck is reimagining the Nostr client.
Notedeck isn’t just another Nostr app—it’s more a Nostr browser that functions more like an operating system with micro-apps. How cool is that?
Much like how Google's Chrome evolved from being a web browser with a task manager into ChromeOS, a full blown operating system, Notedeck aims to transform how we interact with the Nostr. It goes beyond individual apps, offering a foundation for a fully integrated ecosystem built around Nostr.
As a Nostr evangelist, I love to scream INTEROPERABILITY and tout every application's integrations. Well, Notedeck has the potential to be one of the best platforms to showcase these integrations in entirely new and exciting ways.
Do you want an Olas feed of images? Add the media column.
Do you want a feed of live video events? Add the zap.stream column.
Do you want Nostr Nests or audio chats? Add that column to your Notedeck.
Git? Email? Books? Chat and DMs? It's all possible.
Not everyone wants a super app though, and that’s okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with it—whether it’s simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer.
Notedeck is designed with a local-first approach, utilizing Nostr content stored directly on your device via the local nostrdb. This will enable a plethora of advanced tools such as search and filtering, the creation of custom feeds, and the ability to develop personalized algorithms across multiple Notedeck micro-applications—all with unparalleled flexibility.
Notedeck also supports multicast. Let's geek out for a second. Multicast is a method of communication where data is sent from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously, but only to devices that wish to receive the data. Unlike broadcast, which sends data to all devices on a network, multicast targets specific receivers, reducing network traffic. This is commonly used for efficient data distribution in scenarios like streaming, conferencing, or large-scale data synchronization between devices.
In a local first world where each device holds local copies of your nostr nodes, and each device transparently syncs with each other on the local network, each node becomes a backup. Your data becomes antifragile automatically. When a node goes down it can resync and recover from other nodes. Even if not all nodes have a complete collection, negentropy can pull down only what is needed from each device. All this can be done without internet.
-Will Casarin
In the context of Notedeck, multicast would allow multiple devices to sync their Nostr nodes with each other over a local network without needing an internet connection. Wild.
Notedeck aims to offer full customization too, including the ability to design and share custom skins, much like Winamp. Users will also be able to create personalized columns and, in the future, share their setups with others. This opens the door for power users to craft tailored Nostr experiences, leveraging their expertise in the protocol and applications. By sharing these configurations as "Starter Decks," they can simplify onboarding and showcase the best of Nostr’s ecosystem.
Nostr’s “Other Stuff” can often be difficult to discover, use, or understand. Many users doesn't understand or know how to use web browser extensions to login to applications. Let's not even get started with nsecbunkers. Notedeck will address this challenge by providing a native experience that brings these lesser-known applications, tools, and content into a user-friendly and accessible interface, making exploration seamless. However, that doesn't mean Notedeck should disregard power users that want to use nsecbunkers though - hint hint.
For anyone interested in watching Nostr be developed live, right before your very eyes, Notedeck’s progress serves as a reminder of what’s possible when innovation meets dedication. The current alpha is already demonstrating its ability to handle complex use cases, and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow as it moves toward a full release later this year.
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@ 23b0e2f8:d8af76fc
2025-01-08 18:17:52Necessário
- Um Android que você não use mais (a câmera deve estar funcionando).
- Um cartão microSD (opcional, usado apenas uma vez).
- Um dispositivo para acompanhar seus fundos (provavelmente você já tem um).
Algumas coisas que você precisa saber
- O dispositivo servirá como um assinador. Qualquer movimentação só será efetuada após ser assinada por ele.
- O cartão microSD será usado para transferir o APK do Electrum e garantir que o aparelho não terá contato com outras fontes de dados externas após sua formatação. Contudo, é possível usar um cabo USB para o mesmo propósito.
- A ideia é deixar sua chave privada em um dispositivo offline, que ficará desligado em 99% do tempo. Você poderá acompanhar seus fundos em outro dispositivo conectado à internet, como seu celular ou computador pessoal.
O tutorial será dividido em dois módulos:
- Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador.
- Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador.
No final, teremos:
- Uma carteira fria que também servirá como assinador.
- Um dispositivo para acompanhar os fundos da carteira.
Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador
-
Baixe o APK do Electrum na aba de downloads em https://electrum.org/. Fique à vontade para verificar as assinaturas do software, garantindo sua autenticidade.
-
Formate o cartão microSD e coloque o APK do Electrum nele. Caso não tenha um cartão microSD, pule este passo.
- Retire os chips e acessórios do aparelho que será usado como assinador, formate-o e aguarde a inicialização.
- Durante a inicialização, pule a etapa de conexão ao Wi-Fi e rejeite todas as solicitações de conexão. Após isso, você pode desinstalar aplicativos desnecessários, pois precisará apenas do Electrum. Certifique-se de que Wi-Fi, Bluetooth e dados móveis estejam desligados. Você também pode ativar o modo avião.\ (Curiosidade: algumas pessoas optam por abrir o aparelho e danificar a antena do Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, impossibilitando essas funcionalidades.)
- Insira o cartão microSD com o APK do Electrum no dispositivo e instale-o. Será necessário permitir instalações de fontes não oficiais.
- No Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão e gere suas palavras-chave (seed). Anote-as em um local seguro. Caso algo aconteça com seu assinador, essas palavras permitirão o acesso aos seus fundos novamente. (Aqui entra seu método pessoal de backup.)
Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador.
-
Criar uma carteira somente leitura em outro dispositivo, como seu celular ou computador pessoal, é uma etapa bastante simples. Para este tutorial, usaremos outro smartphone Android com Electrum. Instale o Electrum a partir da aba de downloads em https://electrum.org/ ou da própria Play Store. (ATENÇÃO: O Electrum não existe oficialmente para iPhone. Desconfie se encontrar algum.)
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Após instalar o Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão, mas desta vez escolha a opção Usar uma chave mestra.
- Agora, no assinador que criamos no primeiro módulo, exporte sua chave pública: vá em Carteira > Detalhes da carteira > Compartilhar chave mestra pública.
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Escaneie o QR gerado da chave pública com o dispositivo de consulta. Assim, ele poderá acompanhar seus fundos, mas sem permissão para movimentá-los.
-
Para receber fundos, envie Bitcoin para um dos endereços gerados pela sua carteira: Carteira > Addresses/Coins.
-
Para movimentar fundos, crie uma transação no dispositivo de consulta. Como ele não possui a chave privada, será necessário assiná-la com o dispositivo assinador.
- No assinador, escaneie a transação não assinada, confirme os detalhes, assine e compartilhe. Será gerado outro QR, desta vez com a transação já assinada.
- No dispositivo de consulta, escaneie o QR da transação assinada e transmita-a para a rede.
Conclusão
Pontos positivos do setup:
- Simplicidade: Basta um dispositivo Android antigo.
- Flexibilidade: Funciona como uma ótima carteira fria, ideal para holders.
Pontos negativos do setup:
- Padronização: Não utiliza seeds no padrão BIP-39, você sempre precisará usar o electrum.
- Interface: A aparência do Electrum pode parecer antiquada para alguns usuários.
Nesse ponto, temos uma carteira fria que também serve para assinar transações. O fluxo de assinar uma transação se torna: Gerar uma transação não assinada > Escanear o QR da transação não assinada > Conferir e assinar essa transação com o assinador > Gerar QR da transação assinada > Escanear a transação assinada com qualquer outro dispositivo que possa transmiti-la para a rede.
Como alguns devem saber, uma transação assinada de Bitcoin é praticamente impossível de ser fraudada. Em um cenário catastrófico, você pode mesmo que sem internet, repassar essa transação assinada para alguém que tenha acesso à rede por qualquer meio de comunicação. Mesmo que não queiramos que isso aconteça um dia, esse setup acaba por tornar essa prática possível.
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@ 2b783a1d:89de10bd
2025-05-15 10:12:22Twin68 không ngừng khẳng định vị thế của mình như một nền tảng số toàn diện, được thiết kế để phục vụ nhu cầu ngày càng đa dạng của người dùng hiện đại. Với giao diện trực quan, linh hoạt và dễ sử dụng, Twin68 cho phép người dùng thao tác mượt mà trên mọi thiết bị, từ máy tính để bàn cho đến điện thoại di động. Điều này giúp tiết kiệm thời gian, đồng thời tối ưu hóa trải nghiệm cá nhân hóa của mỗi người. Một điểm đáng chú ý tại Twin68 là tốc độ truy cập nhanh chóng, khả năng đồng bộ dữ liệu tốt và sự ổn định trong suốt quá trình sử dụng. Bất kể bạn ở đâu, chỉ cần có kết nối mạng, bạn có thể dễ dàng tiếp cận các tiện ích được tích hợp sẵn mà không cần cài đặt phức tạp. Twin68 cũng liên tục cập nhật nội dung để theo kịp xu hướng công nghệ và thói quen số mới, giúp người dùng luôn cảm thấy mới mẻ và hấp dẫn mỗi khi truy cập.
Không chỉ chú trọng vào thiết kế và nội dung, TWIN68 còn đặc biệt đầu tư vào yếu tố bảo mật và quyền riêng tư. Tất cả thông tin cá nhân và lịch sử sử dụng đều được mã hóa theo tiêu chuẩn quốc tế, đảm bảo dữ liệu của người dùng luôn được bảo vệ an toàn tuyệt đối. Hệ thống xác thực nhiều lớp giúp giảm thiểu nguy cơ truy cập trái phép, trong khi các bản cập nhật phần mềm được thực hiện định kỳ để ngăn chặn sớm các lỗ hổng bảo mật. Twin68 cũng tích hợp các công nghệ nhận diện hành vi người dùng nhằm tăng cường khả năng bảo vệ tài khoản và tùy chỉnh nội dung hiển thị sao cho phù hợp nhất. Nhờ đó, mỗi người dùng khi đăng nhập vào Twin68 sẽ được trải nghiệm một không gian riêng biệt, thân thiện và cá nhân hóa tối đa. Việc đăng ký, đăng nhập và sử dụng các tính năng cũng được đơn giản hóa, tạo điều kiện để tất cả người dùng, kể cả những người không am hiểu công nghệ, vẫn có thể dễ dàng làm quen và sử dụng hiệu quả.
Một yếu tố khác tạo nên sự khác biệt của Twin68 chính là dịch vụ chăm sóc khách hàng chuyên nghiệp và luôn sẵn sàng 24/7. Bất kỳ thắc mắc nào của người dùng đều được tiếp nhận và xử lý nhanh chóng thông qua nhiều kênh như live chat, email hoặc hotline. Twin68 không chỉ xem người dùng là trung tâm, mà còn xem họ là đối tác trong quá trình phát triển nền tảng. Vì thế, các phản hồi từ cộng đồng luôn được ghi nhận và áp dụng để cải tiến hệ thống, nâng cao chất lượng dịch vụ. Ngoài ra, Twin68 cũng thường xuyên triển khai các chương trình khuyến khích người dùng như sự kiện tương tác, quà tặng tri ân và các ưu đãi hấp dẫn dành riêng cho thành viên thân thiết. Sự kết hợp giữa công nghệ hiện đại, dịch vụ chuyên nghiệp và chiến lược lấy người dùng làm trung tâm đã đưa Twin68 trở thành lựa chọn lý tưởng cho bất kỳ ai đang tìm kiếm một nền tảng trực tuyến vừa tiện lợi, vừa an toàn và đầy tiềm năng phát triển trong thời đại số.
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@ 119356ac:740a8b90
2025-05-14 23:06:55► Text Tools
- ↪️ Image to Text
- ↪️ Text to Speech
- ↪️ Study / Research
- ↪️ Data Visualization
- ⭐ TextCleanr, Text Mechanic, TextFixer, OnlineTextTools, Convert Case, TextCleaner, SortMyList or The Alphabetizer - Organize / Format Text
- OpenPaper, papis, PaperMerge, Paperless-ngx / Doc Analyzer or DataShare - Document Managers
- SmartDoc - Document Analyzer
- diffr, Diffchecker, TextCompare, Text-Compare, OnlineTextCompare, CompareText or DiffNow - Compare Text
- Count Duplicates or DuplicateWord - Count / Remove Duplicates in a List
- WindowTextExtractor - Extract Text From Any Window
- Textify - Copy Text from Any Dialog
- BeefText - Text Substitution Tool
- Scanner or NAPS2 - Scanner Apps / GitHub
- Calligrapher.ai, Text to Handwriting, texttohandwriting or HandWrittner - Text to Handwriting Converters
- StegCloak - Hide Messages in Text
- telescopictext - Write Text Within Text
- quipqiup or dCode - Cryptogram Solvers
- DocuSeal - Free Document Signing
- TemplateLab or FreePrintables - Free Document Templates
▷ Pastebins
- 🌐 PrivateBin Instances
- ⭐ Rentry, 2 - Markdown Support / CLI / Styling
- ⭐ GitHub Gists - Multi-Syntax / Account Needed
- ⭐ pastes.dev - Multi-Syntax / Markdown Support / GitHub
- ⭐ PrivateBin, 2 - Markdown Support / Syntax Highlighting / GitHub
- ⭐ Katbin - Plain Text / GitHub
- snowbin, 2 - Markdown Support / GitHub
- Text.is - Markdown Support / Rentry Clone
- Stellular, 2, 3 - Markdown Support
- bpa.st - Multi-Syntax / Markdown Support
- dpaste - Multi-Syntax / Markdown Support / GitHub
- cryptgeon - Single View / Plain Text / GitHub
- Paste.ee - Multi-Syntax / Markdown Support
- pst.moe - Multi-Syntax / Markdown Support / Source
- dpaste.com - Multi-Syntax / Markdown Support
- Pastebin.com - Multi-Syntax
- pastebin.pl - Multi-Syntax
- CentOS Pastebin - Multi-Syntax
- Microbin - Multi-Syntax
- snippet.host - Multi-Syntax
- ProtectedText - Multi-Tab
- bin - Minimal Pastebin
- txt.fyi - Markdown Pastebin
- MarkdownPastebin - Markdown Support
- Sparked Paste - Plain Text / Syntax Highlighting
- Riseup Pad - WYSIWYG Pastebin
- WriteXO - WYSIWYG Pastebin
▷ Translators
- Note - Chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude can also translate text, and are sometimes better than the ones listed below.
- ⭐ DeepLX or DeepL - AI-Based
- ⭐ Kagi Translate, Google Translate / Extension, Lingva Translate or GTranslate / API - Translation Sites
- ⭐ /r/Translator - Translation Request Community
- ⭐ Translate Web Pages - Browser Extension
- Argos - Translation Apps
- Translate Shell - Translation CLI / GitHub
- OnlineDocTranslator - Document Translator
- Matecat - Online Translation Editor
- LingoJam - Create Translator
- Renpy Translator or Renpy Editor - Ren'py Automatic Translator / Editor
- Translator++ - Automatic Translator / Editor
- Eazypo or Poedit - Translation Editor
- OmegaT - Translation Memory Tool
- Morsecode World or MorseDecoder - Morse Code / Binary Translators
- Emojify - Emojify Text
- Simple Translate - Browser Extension
- Linguist Translator - Browser Extension
- ImTranslator - Browser Extension
- Papago
- Libretranslate / 2
- ImmersiveTranslate / Extension
- Translate.com
- MyMemory
- Nice Translator
- Yandex Translator
- Bing Translator
- Reverso
- babelfish
- translation2
- collinsdictionary
- translatedict
- Translator.eu
- Textractor - Game / Visual Novel Translator
▷ Audio Transcription
- 🌐 ASR Leaderboard - Speech to Text Leaderboard
- Whisper - Audio Transcription / WebUI, 2
- mp4grep - MP4 File Transcription Tool
- SpeechTexter, VoiceToText, Dictation, oTranscribe or TalkTyper - Browser-Based Speech-To-Text Tools
- Revoldiv or Turboscribe - AI-Based Transcriptions
- Vibe - Audio Transcription Software
- Buzz - Audio Transcription Tool
- WhisperX - Audio Transcription Tool
- SpeechNotes - Speech Recognition Notes App
- LilySpeech - Fast Voice-To-Text Software
- VoiceNotebook - Speech Transcription Notebook
▷ Encode / Decode
- 🌐 DecodeUnicode - Unicode Decoding Database
- ⭐ CyberChef - Encode / Decode Text / GitHub
- ⭐ Base64 Decode or Base64 Editor - Encode / Decode Base64
- ⭐ Auto Decoder - Auto-Decode B64 Links on Pastebins
- Ciphey - Automated Decryption Tool
- Universal Encoding Tool - Encode / Convert Text
- cryptii or DenCode - Text / URL Encoding
- Coder - Text / File / URL Encoding
- Online Tools - Text / URL Encoding and Decoding
- URL Decode / Encode - URL Encoding / Decoding
- Base64 Repair - Fix Broken Base64
- Base64 Extensions - Chrome, 2, 3 / Firefox
▷ Grammar Check
- Note - Most chatbots in the AI section can also check grammar.
- ⭐ LanguageTool
- Writing Tools - Desktop App
- DeepL Write
- QuillBot
- Scribens
- EditGPT - Sign-Up Required
- Grammarly - Sign-Up Required / Extension
- ProWritingAid - Sign-Up Required
- Outwrite - Sign-Up Required
▷ Text Rephrasing
- ⭐ QuillBot AI or Rewritify - AI-Enhanced Text Rephrasing
- ⭐ Paraphrasetool or Rephrasely - AI Text Rephrasing / Generation
- ⭐ Goblin.tools - Transform Text with Spiciness Levels
- Paraphraser - Multilingual Text Rephrasing
- Paraphrase-Online, Paraphrasingtool, Henshu or WriteFull - Versatile Text Rewriting
▷ Emoji Indexes
- ⭐ Emojipedia, EmojiDB, Slackmojis, Emoji Picker or EmojiBatch - Emoji Indexes
- Emoji Engine - Multilingual Emoji Search
- winMoji - Emoji Managers
- EmojiRequests - Custom User-Made Emojis
- Cult of the Party Parrot - Party Parrot Emojis
- Pepe Server Archive - Pepe Emojis
▷ Unicode Characters
- ⭐ Amp What
- CopyChar
- Unicode Table
- Unicode Explorer
- Character Map
- Unifoundry
- Cool Symbol
- emotes.io, CuteSymbols, 2 or GetSymbol / 2 - Copy Unicode Emotes
▷ Typing Lessons
- ⭐ Monkeytype - Customizable Typing Tests / Discord / GitHub
- Typing Guide - In-Depth Typing Guide
- Typing.io - Typing Practice for Programming / Sign-Up Required
- Typ.ing, Typings or typing.works - Typing Tests
- keybr - Typing Practice
- CyberType - Typing Practice
- Typing.com - Typing Lessons
- Typing Club - Touch Typing Lessons
- typing.academy - Typing Lessons / Requires JavaScript Enabled
- TypeRacer, ZType, TypeRush or ARRRType - Typing Games
- NGram Type, KeyZen MAB or Keyzen Colmak - Touch Typing Tests
- TypeLit.io or Entertrained - Book Typing Tests
- Colemak Academy - Alt / Custom Keyboard Tests
- TypingStudy or TypeFast - Multilingual Typing Tests
- 10fastfingers - Typing Competitions
► Text Editors
- 🌐 List of Text Editors - Text Editor / Notepad Index
- ↪️ Android Text Editor
- ↪️ Code Editors / IDEs
- ↪️ Markdown Editors
- ⭐ Notepad++ / GitHub or NotepadNext - Notepad & Code Editor / Markdown
- EncryptPad - Encrypted Text Editor / GitHub
- Notepads - Text Editor / GitHub
- FastNotes - Text Editor / GitHub
- Kompad - Text Editor / GitHub
- Sublime Text - Text Editor / Patcher / Package Manager
- Zim Wiki - Wiki Text Editor
- tomboy-ng - TomBoy-Based Text Editor
▷ Note-Taking
- ↪️ Android Note-Taking
- ⭐ Obsidian - Markdown Note-Taking / Discord
- ⭐ Obsidian Tools - Resources / Publish Notes / Web Clipper / Google Drive Sync / ChatGPT Addon / Guides / Forum
- ⭐ Notion - Note-Taking
- ⭐ Notion Tools - Themes / Templates / Resources, 2 / Guide / Markdown Extractor
- ⭐ Notesnook - Note-Taking / GitHub
- ⭐ AnyType - Note-Taking
- ⭐ Logseq - Outlining
- Mochi Cards or Silicon - Note-Taking / Study Tools
- Flotes - Markdown Note-Taking
- QOwnNotes - Markdown Note-Taking
- AFFiNE - Note-Taking / GitHub
- vNote - Markdown Note-Taking / GitHub
- Tiddly - Info Manager / Desktop
- Trilium - Info Manager
- Org-roam - Info Manager
- Desklamp - Reading / Note-Taking / Highlighting Tool / Guide
- UseMemos - Note-Taking / Discord / GitHub
- Papers.IM - Note-Taking
- Joplin - Note-Taking / Firefox / Chrome / GitHub
- AppFlowy - Note-Taking / GitHub
- MicroPad - Note-Taking
- WriteDown - Note-Taking
- DocMost - Note-Taking
- KeyNote NF - Note-Taking
- SilentNotes - Note-Taking / GitHub
- Google Keep - Simple Notes
- StandardNotes - Encrypted Notes
- Saber - Handwritten Notes
- Butterfly - Handwritten Notes / Discord / GitHub
- Xournal++ - Handwritten Notes / GitHub
- BookStack or Siyuan - Self-Hosted Info Managers
▷ Office Suites
- ↪️ Office Activation / Guide / Custom Install Guide
- ⭐ LibreOffice - FOSS Office Suite
- ⭐ OnlyOffice - FOSS Office Suite
- ⭐ Microsoft Office - Office Suite / Removal Tool / Hot Keys, 2
- Calligra - FOSS Office Suite
- Office365Version - Office 365 Version History
▷ Online Editors
- ⭐ Simplenote - Local / Cloud Saves
- ⭐ Proton Docs - Local / Cloud Saves
- ⭐ takenote - Local Saves
- ⭐ Zen - Local Saves
- Leaflet - Cloud Saves / Customizable / Examples
- Browserpad - Local Saves
- Notepad - Local Saves
- onlinenotepad - Local Saves
- notepad-online.net - Local Saves
- ssavr - Local Saves
- notepad-online.com - Local Saves
- JustNotePad - Local Saves
- PasteePad - Local Saves
- Shrib - Local / Cloud Saves
- MemOnNotepad - Local / Cloud Saves
- Write Box - Local / Cloud Saves
- dDocs - Cloud Saves
- NimbleText - Cloud Saves
- ZippyJot - Cloud Saves
- KiloDoc - Cloud Saves
- TinyList - Cloud Saves
- Edit-Document - Local / Cloud Saves
- TextSlave - Cloud Saves
- GhostText - Cloud Saves
- AnyTextEditor - Cloud Saves
▷ Mind Mapping
- ⭐ Obsidian Canvas
- FreeMind
- Kinopio
- Freeplane
- Mindomo
- Yuque
- MindMapp
- are.na
- Domino
- GitMind
- xTiles
- Capacities
- bubbl
- Heimer
- Cubox
- vym
- markmap - Markdown Mind Mapping / GitHub
- Coggle - Collaborative
- CardSmith - Collaborative Mind Mapping
- Memrey - Collaborative Mind Mapping
- MindMeister - Collaborative Mind Mapping
- Slatebox - Collaborative Mind Mapping
▷ Text / Code Collaboration
- ⭐ Google Docs / HTML Converter
- ⭐ CryptPad
- ⭐ Kludd
- Mattermost
- Codeshare
- HackMD
- Taskade
- Socket
- Whimsical
- Ellipsus
- Etherpad
- SharePad
- Pixso
- FidusWriter
- overleaf
- Rustpad / GitHub
- OnlineInterview.io
▷ Spreadsheet Editors
- 🌐 MTEB Leaderboard - Text Embedding AI Leaderboard
- tad, Tree Sheets, Gnumeric or Quadratic - Spreadsheet Viewers / Editors
- Baserow, Framacalc, EtherCalc, NocoDB or AirTable - Collaborative Spreadsheets
- Jamovi - Statistical Spreadsheets
- Excel Practice Online - Excel Practice / Guides
- Excel Macro Mastery - Excel VBA Guides
- ExcelJet or Excel Functions - Excel Formulas
- Vertex42 - Excel Templates
- Plain Text Table - Text Tables
- EditCSVOnline - Online CSV Editor
- SubjectiveSort - Create Ranked List from CSV
- VisiData - Spreadsheet CLI Editor
- Structifi - Convert Files to Structured Data
- TadViewer - View / Analyze Tabular Data
▷ Writing Tools
- 🌐 Author Stash - Writing Tools / Resources
- ↪️ AI Text Generators
- ⭐ Writer, FocusWriter, Writemonkey, blank.page, Telegra.ph, Aurelius, ZenPen, Write.as, Owri, WriteSpace or WriteNext - Distraction-Free Writing
- ⭐ Manuskript - Writing Organizer / Planner
- ⭐ NovelWriter or Bibisco - Novel Editors
- ⭐ Linked, journaltxt, Gekri, Microsoft Journal, Diarium, Gemlog or jrnl.sh - Journal Apps
- ⭐ ChaoticShiny, Seventh Sanctum, Notebook.ai or WorldAnvil - Fantasy Writing Generators
- Tuesday JS - Visual Novel Editor / GitHub
- RenPy - Visual Novel Editor / GitHub
- Fortelling or Novelist - Novel Plotting / Editing Workspaces
- Infinite Story, Strand, Agora or WriteAlong - Collaborative Writing / Feedback
- LanguageIsAVirus or MDWA - Writing Prompts
- Twinery - Interactive Non-Linear Story Creator
- TextUSM - User Story Map Generator / GitHub
- Blackout Poetry - Blackout Poetry Creator
- Idyll - Create Interactive Essays / GitHub
- STARC, WriteSolo or Celtx - Script / Screen Writing Tools
- Rarebit - Webcomics Template
- Fantasy Name Generators - Fantasy Name Generators
- PolyGlot or VulgarLang - Spoken Language Construction Tools
- How to annotate literally everything - Annotation Tools / Resources
- Label Buddy - Annotation Tool / GitHub
- rNote - Annotation Tool / GitHub
- MonsterWriter - Thesis Writing / Note-Taking
▷ To Do Lists
- ↪️ Android To-Do Apps
- ⭐ Goblin.tools - Automatic Task Breakdown
- ⭐ TickTick / Premium
- ⭐ Super Productivity
- Columns or ChecklistGenerator - Checklists
- YearCompass - New Years Resolution Booklet
- daily.place
- SuperList
- dooit / Extras
- ToDo List / GitHub
- Diry AI
- Fokus
- OpenToDoList
- Microsoft To Do
- NullBoard
- LunaTask
- ToDoZero
- LifeAt
- Tasks
- Taskwarrior
- Vikunja
▷ ASCII Art
- ⭐ TAAG, DeepAA, Kammerl, ASCII Art Studio or ASCII Today - ASCII Art / Text Generators
- REXPaint, Playscii or PabloDraw - ASCII Editors
- ASCII Paint - ASCII Paint Tool
- ascii-art-generator, asciiart, ascii-image-converter, Monospace, ITOA, text-image or ASCII-art-creator - Image to ASCII Art
- Love ASCII, asciiart.eu, EmojiCombos, 16colors, ascii.co or RoySAC - Browse / Copy ASCII Art
- Image to Braille - Convert Images to Braille
- AnsiLove or convert-ascii-to-image - ANSI / ASCII Art to PNG Converters
- lvllvl or Petmate - C64 PETSCII Image Editor
► Fonts
- ⭐ Nerd Fonts - Icon-Rich Developer / Terminal Fonts
- OpenDyslexic - Typeface for Dyslexia
- Typewolf or Typ.io - Trending Website Fonts
- Cava's Pixel Resources - Pixel Fonts
- Oldschool PC Fonts - Oldschool PC Fonts
- FiraCode, Cascadia Code or Maple Font - Monospace Fonts
▷ Open Source / Freeware
- ⭐ FontSource - Open Source
- ⭐ Font Squirrel - Commercial Use
- ⭐ DaFont - Freeware
- ⭐ 1001 Fonts - Freeware
- Modern Fonts Stacks - Collection of CSS System Font Stacks
- Velvetyne - Open Source
- uncut.wtf - Open Source
- Beautiful Web Type - Open Source
- FontRepo - Open Source
- Bunny Fonts - Open Source
- Google Fonts - Commercial Use / Tags / Privacy-Friendly API
- FontShare - Commercial Use
- Fontlot - Freeware
- Fontsly - Freeware
- Fonts4Free - Freeware
- FontSpace - Freeware
- Online Fonts - Freeware
- CDNFonts - Freeware
- Fontesk - Freeware
- FontStruct - Freeware
- iFonts - Freeware
- DownloadFonts - Freeware
- AbstractFonts - Freeware
- FontGet - Freeware
- FreeFontsDownload - Freeware
- Fonts2u - Freeware
- Awwwards - Freeware
- GlukFonts - Freeware
- Iconian - Freeware
▷ Free Fonts
- ⭐ Fonts CSE - Multi-Site Font Search
- ⭐ Font Piracy 101 - Font Download Guide
- ⭐ Font Drives
- ⭐ BeFonts
- Windows Fonts
- Free Fonts Family
- Cufon Fonts
- FontsFree
- DFonts
- Font Spring
- FFonts
- FontsHub
- Font Meme
- FONToMASS
- 1.5_million_fonts
- Mr.E-Fonts
- psd_fonts
- 1001 Free Fonts
► Font Tools
- ⭐ Font Interceptor - Download Fonts from Websites
- ⭐ FontDrop - Analyze Font Files
- ⭐ Adobe Fonts, Font Finder, WhatTheFont, Identifont, WhatFont - Font Identification Tools
- Fonts Ninja - Font Identification Extension
- Unicode Explorer or Compart - Unicode Character Identification
- Transfonter - Create CSS @font-face Kits
- TypeRip - Adobe Font Ripper / GitHub
- FontBase, NexusFont or Font Manager (Linux) - Font Managers
- Colors & Fonts - Typography Tools
- DS-Fusion - AI Typography Generator
- Formito - Typography Logo Maker
- Type Terms - Typography Cheat Sheet
- The Good Line-Height - Typography Scaling Editor
- Font List or So You Need A Typeface 2.0 - Examples of Font Styles
- Type Design Resources or Free Faces - Typeface Resources
▷ Font / Text Generators
- ⭐ FontoGen - Custom AI Font Generator
- ⭐ Make WordArt, FlameText, MakeText, TextGiraffe, Text Pro or CoolText - WordArt Generators
- Polona Typo - Generate WordArt from Book, Poster, & Map Letters
- Text Color Fader - Rainbow Text Generator
- TextDrom, 3DText2GIF or TextStudio - 3D / Animated Text Generators
- Textanim or Space Type Generator - Animated Text Generators
- Batname - Batman (2022) Text Generator
- NFG's Arcade Font Maker or Arcade Font Writer - Arcade Text Generators
- Glitch - Zalgo Text Generator
▷ Font Customization
- ⭐ TypeTrials - Variable Font Playground
- V-Fonts or Phase - Variable Fonts Testers
- enFont or Calligraphr - Custom Font Creators
- Fontjoy - Generate Font Combinations
- FontSprite - FontSprite Editor
- BitFontMaker2 - BitMap Font Editor
- FontEdit, metaflop, MFEKglif, Glyphr Studio, Birdfont, Universal Sans or FontForge - Font / Typeface Editors
▷ Unicode Text Generators
-
@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-01 17:29:18High-Level Overview
Bitcoin developers are currently debating a proposed change to how Bitcoin Core handles the
OP_RETURN
opcode — a mechanism that allows users to insert small amounts of data into the blockchain. Specifically, the controversy revolves around removing built-in filters that limit how much data can be stored using this feature (currently capped at 80 bytes).Summary of Both Sides
Position A: Remove OP_RETURN Filters
Advocates: nostr:npub1ej493cmun8y9h3082spg5uvt63jgtewneve526g7e2urca2afrxqm3ndrm, nostr:npub12rv5lskctqxxs2c8rf2zlzc7xx3qpvzs3w4etgemauy9thegr43sf485vg, nostr:npub17u5dneh8qjp43ecfxr6u5e9sjamsmxyuekrg2nlxrrk6nj9rsyrqywt4tp, others
Arguments: - Ineffectiveness of filters: Filters are easily bypassed and do not stop spam effectively. - Code simplification: Removing arbitrary limits reduces code complexity. - Permissionless innovation: Enables new use cases like cross-chain bridges and timestamping without protocol-level barriers. - Economic regulation: Fees should determine what data gets added to the blockchain, not protocol rules.
Position B: Keep OP_RETURN Filters
Advocates: nostr:npub1lh273a4wpkup00stw8dzqjvvrqrfdrv2v3v4t8pynuezlfe5vjnsnaa9nk, nostr:npub1s33sw6y2p8kpz2t8avz5feu2n6yvfr6swykrnm2frletd7spnt5qew252p, nostr:npub1wnlu28xrq9gv77dkevck6ws4euej4v568rlvn66gf2c428tdrptqq3n3wr, others
Arguments: - Historical intent: Satoshi included filters to keep Bitcoin focused on monetary transactions. - Resource protection: Helps prevent blockchain bloat and abuse from non-financial uses. - Network preservation: Protects the network from being overwhelmed by low-value or malicious data. - Social governance: Maintains conservative changes to ensure long-term robustness.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of Removing Filters
- Encourages decentralized innovation.
- Simplifies development and maintenance.
- Maintains ideological purity of a permissionless system.
Weaknesses of Removing Filters
- Opens the door to increased non-financial data and potential spam.
- May dilute Bitcoin’s core purpose as sound money.
- Risks short-term exploitation before economic filters adapt.
Strengths of Keeping Filters
- Preserves Bitcoin’s identity and original purpose.
- Provides a simple protective mechanism against abuse.
- Aligns with conservative development philosophy of Bitcoin Core.
Weaknesses of Keeping Filters
- Encourages central decision-making on allowed use cases.
- Leads to workarounds that may be less efficient or obscure.
- Discourages novel but legitimate applications.
Long-Term Consequences
If Filters Are Removed
- Positive: Potential boom in new applications, better interoperability, cleaner architecture.
- Negative: Risk of increased blockchain size, more bandwidth/storage costs, spam wars.
If Filters Are Retained
- Positive: Preserves monetary focus and operational discipline.
- Negative: Alienates developers seeking broader use cases, may ossify the protocol.
Conclusion
The debate highlights a core philosophical split in Bitcoin: whether it should remain a narrow monetary system or evolve into a broader data layer for decentralized applications. Both paths carry risks and tradeoffs. The outcome will shape not just Bitcoin's technical direction but its social contract and future role in the broader crypto ecosystem.
-
@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-25 00:37:34If you ever read about a hypothetical "evil AI"—one that manipulates, dominates, and surveils humanity—you might find yourself wondering: how is that any different from what some governments already do?
Let’s explore the eerie parallels between the actions of a fictional malevolent AI and the behaviors of powerful modern states—specifically the U.S. federal government.
Surveillance and Control
Evil AI: Uses total surveillance to monitor all activity, predict rebellion, and enforce compliance.
Modern Government: Post-9/11 intelligence agencies like the NSA have implemented mass data collection programs, monitoring phone calls, emails, and online activity—often without meaningful oversight.
Parallel: Both claim to act in the name of “security,” but the tools are ripe for abuse.
Manipulation of Information
Evil AI: Floods the information space with propaganda, misinformation, and filters truth based on its goals.
Modern Government: Funds media outlets, promotes specific narratives through intelligence leaks, and collaborates with social media companies to suppress or flag dissenting viewpoints.
Parallel: Control the narrative, shape public perception, and discredit opposition.
Economic Domination
Evil AI: Restructures the economy for efficiency, displacing workers and concentrating resources.
Modern Government: Facilitates wealth transfer through lobbying, regulatory capture, and inflationary monetary policy that disproportionately hurts the middle and lower classes.
Parallel: The system enriches those who control it, leaving the rest with less power to resist.
Perpetual Warfare
Evil AI: Instigates conflict to weaken opposition or as a form of distraction and control.
Modern Government: Maintains a state of nearly constant military engagement since WWII, often for interests that benefit a small elite rather than national defense.
Parallel: War becomes policy, not a last resort.
Predictive Policing and Censorship
Evil AI: Uses predictive algorithms to preemptively suppress dissent and eliminate threats.
Modern Government: Experiments with pre-crime-like measures, flags “misinformation,” and uses AI tools to monitor online behavior.
Parallel: Prevent rebellion not by fixing problems, but by suppressing their expression.
Conclusion: Systemic Inhumanity
Whether it’s AI or a bureaucratic state, the more a system becomes detached from individual accountability and human empathy, the more it starts to act in ways we would call “evil” if a machine did them.
An AI doesn’t need to enslave humanity with lasers and killer robots. Sometimes all it takes is code, coercion, and unchecked power—something we may already be facing.
-
@ 1bda7e1f:bb97c4d9
2025-01-02 05:19:08Tldr
- Nostr is an open and interoperable protocol
- You can integrate it with workflow automation tools to augment your experience
- n8n is a great low/no-code workflow automation tool which you can host yourself
- Nostrobots allows you to integrate Nostr into n8n
- In this blog I create some workflow automations for Nostr
- A simple form to delegate posting notes
- Push notifications for mentions on multiple accounts
- Push notifications for your favourite accounts when they post a note
- All workflows are provided as open source with MIT license for you to use
Inter-op All The Things
Nostr is a new open social protocol for the internet. This open nature exciting because of the opportunities for interoperability with other technologies. In Using NFC Cards with Nostr I explored the
nostr:
URI to launch Nostr clients from a card tap.The interoperability of Nostr doesn't stop there. The internet has many super-powers, and Nostr is open to all of them. Simply, there's no one to stop it. There is no one in charge, there are no permissioned APIs, and there are no risks of being de-platformed. If you can imagine technologies that would work well with Nostr, then any and all of them can ride on or alongside Nostr rails.
My mental model for why this is special is Google Wave ~2010. Google Wave was to be the next big platform. Lars was running it and had a big track record from Maps. I was excited for it. Then, Google pulled the plug. And, immediately all the time and capital invested in understanding and building on the platform was wasted.
This cannot happen to Nostr, as there is no one to pull the plug, and maybe even no plug to pull.
So long as users demand Nostr, Nostr will exist, and that is a pretty strong guarantee. It makes it worthwhile to invest in bringing Nostr into our other applications.
All we need are simple ways to plug things together.
Nostr and Workflow Automation
Workflow automation is about helping people to streamline their work. As a user, the most common way I achieve this is by connecting disparate systems together. By setting up one system to trigger another or to move data between systems, I can solve for many different problems and become way more effective.
n8n for workflow automation
Many workflow automation tools exist. My favourite is n8n. n8n is a low/no-code workflow automation platform which allows you to build all kinds of workflows. You can use it for free, you can self-host it, it has a user-friendly UI and useful API. Vs Zapier it can be far more elaborate. Vs Make.com I find it to be more intuitive in how it abstracts away the right parts of the code, but still allows you to code when you need to.
Most importantly you can plug anything into n8n: You have built-in nodes for specific applications. HTTP nodes for any other API-based service. And community nodes built by individual community members for any other purpose you can imagine.
Eating my own dogfood
It's very clear to me that there is a big design space here just demanding to be explored. If you could integrate Nostr with anything, what would you do?
In my view the best way for anyone to start anything is by solving their own problem first (aka "scratching your own itch" and "eating your own dogfood"). As I get deeper into Nostr I find myself controlling multiple Npubs – to date I have a personal Npub, a brand Npub for a community I am helping, an AI assistant Npub, and various testing Npubs. I need ways to delegate access to those Npubs without handing over the keys, ways to know if they're mentioned, and ways to know if they're posting.
I can build workflows with n8n to solve these issues for myself to start with, and keep expanding from there as new needs come up.
Running n8n with Nostrobots
I am mostly non-technical with a very helpful AI. To set up n8n to work with Nostr and operate these workflows should be possible for anyone with basic technology skills.
- I have a cheap VPS which currently runs my HAVEN Nostr Relay and Albyhub Lightning Node in Docker containers,
- My objective was to set up n8n to run alongside these in a separate Docker container on the same server, install the required nodes, and then build and host my workflows.
Installing n8n
Self-hosting n8n could not be easier. I followed n8n's Docker-Compose installation docs–
- Install Docker and Docker-Compose if you haven't already,
- Create your
docker-compose.yml
and.env
files from the docs, - Create your data folder
sudo docker volume create n8n_data
, - Start your container with
sudo docker compose up -d
, - Your n8n instance should be online at port
5678
.
n8n is free to self-host but does require a license. Enter your credentials into n8n to get your free license key. You should now have access to the Workflow dashboard and can create and host any kind of workflows from there.
Installing Nostrobots
To integrate n8n nicely with Nostr, I used the Nostrobots community node by Ocknamo.
In n8n parlance a "node" enables certain functionality as a step in a workflow e.g. a "set" node sets a variable, a "send email" node sends an email. n8n comes with all kinds of "official" nodes installed by default, and Nostr is not amongst them. However, n8n also comes with a framework for community members to create their own "community" nodes, which is where Nostrobots comes in.
You can only use a community node in a self-hosted n8n instance (which is what you have if you are running in Docker on your own server, but this limitation does prevent you from using n8n's own hosted alternative).
To install a community node, see n8n community node docs. From your workflow dashboard–
- Click the "..." in the bottom left corner beside your username, and click "settings",
- Cilck "community nodes" left sidebar,
- Click "Install",
- Enter the "npm Package Name" which is
n8n-nodes-nostrobots
, - Accept the risks and click "Install",
- Nostrobots is now added to your n8n instance.
Using Nostrobots
Nostrobots gives you nodes to help you build Nostr-integrated workflows–
- Nostr Write – for posting Notes to the Nostr network,
- Nostr Read – for reading Notes from the Nostr network, and
- Nostr Utils – for performing certain conversions you may need (e.g. from bech32 to hex).
Nostrobots has good documentation on each node which focuses on simple use cases.
Each node has a "convenience mode" by default. For example, the "Read" Node by default will fetch Kind 1 notes by a simple filter, in Nostrobots parlance a "Strategy". For example, with Strategy set to "Mention" the node will accept a pubkey and fetch all Kind 1 notes that Mention the pubkey within a time period. This is very good for quick use.
What wasn't clear to me initially (until Ocknamo helped me out) is that advanced use cases are also possible.
Each node also has an advanced mode. For example, the "Read" Node can have "Strategy" set to "RawFilter(advanced)". Now the node will accept json (anything you like that complies with NIP-01). You can use this to query Notes (Kind 1) as above, and also Profiles (Kind 0), Follow Lists (Kind 3), Reactions (Kind 7), Zaps (Kind 9734/9735), and anything else you can think of.
Creating and adding workflows
With n8n and Nostrobots installed, you can now create or add any kind of Nostr Workflow Automation.
- Click "Add workflow" to go to the workflow builder screen,
- If you would like to build your own workflow, you can start with adding any node. Click "+" and see what is available. Type "Nostr" to explore the Nostrobots nodes you have added,
- If you would like to add workflows that someone else has built, click "..." in the top right. Then click "import from URL" and paste in the URL of any workflow you would like to use (including the ones I share later in this article).
Nostr Workflow Automations
It's time to build some things!
A simple form to post a note to Nostr
I started very simply. I needed to delegate the ability to post to Npubs that I own in order that a (future) team can test things for me. I don't want to worry about managing or training those people on how to use keys, and I want to revoke access easily.
I needed a basic form with credentials that posted a Note.
For this I can use a very simple workflow–
- A n8n Form node – Creates a form for users to enter the note they wish to post. Allows for the form to be protected by a username and password. This node is the workflow "trigger" so that the workflow runs each time the form is submitted.
- A Set node – Allows me to set some variables, in this case I set the relays that I intend to use. I typically add a Set node immediately following the trigger node, and put all the variables I need in this. It helps to make the workflows easier to update and maintain.
- A Nostr Write node (from Nostrobots) – Writes a Kind-1 note to the Nostr network. It accepts Nostr credentials, the output of the Form node, and the relays from the Set node, and posts the Note to those relays.
Once the workflow is built, you can test it with the testing form URL, and set it to "Active" to use the production form URL. That's it. You can now give posting access to anyone for any Npub. To revoke access, simply change the credentials or set to workflow to "Inactive".
It may also be the world's simplest Nostr client.
You can find the Nostr Form to Post a Note workflow here.
Push notifications on mentions and new notes
One of the things Nostr is not very good at is push notifications. Furthermore I have some unique itches to scratch. I want–
- To make sure I never miss a note addressed to any of my Npubs – For this I want a push notification any time any Nostr user mentions any of my Npubs,
- To make sure I always see all notes from key accounts – For this I need a push notification any time any of my Npubs post any Notes to the network,
- To get these notifications on all of my devices – Not just my phone where my Nostr regular client lives, but also on each of my laptops to suit wherever I am working that day.
I needed to build a Nostr push notifications solution.
To build this workflow I had to string a few ideas together–
- Triggering the node on a schedule – Nostrobots does not include a trigger node. As every workflow starts with a trigger we needed a different method. I elected to run the workflow on a schedule of every 10-minutes. Frequent enough to see Notes while they are hot, but infrequent enough to not burden public relays or get rate-limited,
- Storing a list of Npubs in a Nostr list – I needed a way to store the list of Npubs that trigger my notifications. I initially used an array defined in the workflow, this worked fine. Then I decided to try Nostr lists (NIP-51, kind 30000). By defining my list of Npubs as a list published to Nostr I can control my list from within a Nostr client (e.g. Listr.lol or Nostrudel.ninja). Not only does this "just work", but because it's based on Nostr lists automagically Amethyst client allows me to browse that list as a Feed, and everyone I add gets notified in their Mentions,
- Using specific relays – I needed to query the right relays, including my own HAVEN relay inbox for notes addressed to me, and wss://purplepag.es for Nostr profile metadata,
- Querying Nostr events (with Nostrobots) – I needed to make use of many different Nostr queries and use quite a wide range of what Nostrobots can do–
- I read the EventID of my Kind 30000 list, to return the desired pubkeys,
- For notifications on mentions, I read all Kind 1 notes that mention that pubkey,
- For notifications on new notes, I read all Kind 1 notes published by that pubkey,
- Where there are notes, I read the Kind 0 profile metadata event of that pubkey to get the displayName of the relevant Npub,
- I transform the EventID into a Nevent to help clients find it.
- Using the Nostr URI – As I did with my NFC card article, I created a link with the
nostr:
URI prefix so that my phone's native client opens the link by default, - Push notifications solution – I needed a push notifications solution. I found many with n8n integrations and chose to go with Pushover which supports all my devices, has a free trial, and is unfairly cheap with a $5-per-device perpetual license.
Once the workflow was built, lists published, and Pushover installed on my phone, I was fully set up with push notifications on Nostr. I have used these workflows for several weeks now and made various tweaks as I went. They are feeling robust and I'd welcome you to give them a go.
You can find the Nostr Push Notification If Mentioned here and If Posts a Note here.
In speaking with other Nostr users while I was building this, there are all kind of other needs for push notifications too – like on replies to a certain bookmarked note, or when a followed Npub starts streaming on zap.stream. These are all possible.
Use my workflows
I have open sourced all my workflows at my Github with MIT license and tried to write complete docs, so that you can import them into your n8n and configure them for your own use.
To import any of my workflows–
- Click on the workflow of your choice, e.g. "Nostr_Push_Notify_If_Mentioned.json",
- Click on the "raw" button to view the raw JSON, ex any Github page layout,
- Copy that URL,
- Enter that URL in the "import from URL" dialog mentioned above.
To configure them–
- Prerequisites, credentials, and variables are all stated,
- In general any variables required are entered into a Set Node that follows the trigger node,
- Pushover has some extra setup but is very straightforward and documented in the workflow.
What next?
Over my first four blogs I explored creating a good Nostr setup with Vanity Npub, Lightning Payments, Nostr Addresses at Your Domain, and Personal Nostr Relay.
Then in my latest two blogs I explored different types of interoperability with NFC cards and now n8n Workflow Automation.
Thinking ahead n8n can power any kind of interoperability between Nostr and any other legacy technology solution. On my mind as I write this:
- Further enhancements to posting and delegating solutions and forms (enhanced UI or different note kinds),
- Automated or scheduled posting (such as auto-liking everything Lyn Alden posts),
- Further enhancements to push notifications, on new and different types of events (such as notifying me when I get a new follower, on replies to certain posts, or when a user starts streaming),
- All kinds of bridges, such as bridging notes to and from Telegram, Slack, or Campfire. Or bridging RSS or other event feeds to Nostr,
- All kinds of other automation (such as BlackCoffee controlling a coffee machine),
- All kinds of AI Assistants and Agents,
In fact I have already released an open source workflow for an AI Assistant, and will share more about that in my next blog.
Please be sure to let me know if you think there's another Nostr topic you'd like to see me tackle.
GM Nostr.
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-15 13:59:17Prepared for Off-World Visitors by the Risan Institute of Cultural Heritage
Welcome to Risa, the jewel of the Alpha Quadrant, celebrated across the Federation for its tranquility, pleasure, and natural splendor. But what many travelers do not know is that Risa’s current harmony was not inherited—it was forged. Beneath the songs of surf and the serenity of our resorts lies a history rich in conflict, transformation, and enduring wisdom.
We offer this briefing not merely as a tale of our past, but as an invitation to understand the spirit of our people and the roots of our peace.
I. A World at the Crossroads
Before its admittance into the United Federation of Planets, Risa was an independent and vulnerable world situated near volatile borders of early galactic powers. Its lush climate, mineral wealth, and open society made it a frequent target for raiders and an object of interest for imperial expansion.
The Risan peoples were once fragmented, prone to philosophical and political disunity. In our early records, this period is known as the Winds of Splintering. We suffered invasions, betrayals, and the slow erosion of trust in our own traditions.
II. The Coming of the Vulcans
It was during this period of instability that a small delegation of Vulcan philosophers, adherents to the teachings of Surak, arrived on Risa. They did not come as conquerors, nor even as ambassadors, but as seekers of peace.
These emissaries of logic saw in Risa the potential for a society not driven by suppression of emotion, as Vulcan had chosen, but by the balance of joy and discipline. While many Vulcans viewed Risa’s culture as frivolous, these followers of Surak saw the seed of a different path: one in which beauty itself could be a pillar of peace.
The Risan tradition of meditative dance, artistic expression, and communal love resonated with Vulcan teachings of unity and inner control. From this unlikely exchange was born the Ricin Doctrine—the belief that peace is sustained not only through logic or strength, but through deliberate joy, shared vulnerability, and readiness without aggression.
III. Betazed and the Trial of Truth
During the same era, early contact with the people of Betazed brought both inspiration and tension. A Betazoid expedition, under the guise of diplomacy, was discovered to be engaging in deep telepathic influence and information extraction. The Risan people, who valued consent above all else, responded not with anger, but with clarity.
A council of Ricin philosophers invited the Betazoid delegation into a shared mind ceremony—a practice in which both cultures exposed their thoughts in mutual vulnerability. The result was not scandal, but transformation. From that moment forward, a bond was formed, and Risa’s model of ethical emotional expression and consensual empathy became influential in shaping Betazed’s own peace philosophies.
IV. Confronting Marauders and Empires
Despite these philosophical strides, Risa’s path was anything but tranquil.
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Orion Syndicate raiders viewed Risa as ripe for exploitation, and for decades, cities were sacked, citizens enslaved, and resources plundered. In response, Risa formed the Sanctum Guard, not a military in the traditional sense, but a force of trained defenders schooled in both physical technique and psychological dissuasion. The Ricin martial arts, combining beauty with lethality, were born from this necessity.
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Andorian expansionism also tested Risa’s sovereignty. Though smaller in scale, skirmishes over territorial claims forced Risa to adopt planetary defense grids and formalize diplomatic protocols that balanced assertiveness with grace. It was through these conflicts that Risa developed the art of the ceremonial yield—a symbolic concession used to diffuse hostility while retaining honor.
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Romulan subterfuge nearly undid Risa from within. A corrupt Romulan envoy installed puppet leaders in one of our equatorial provinces. These agents sought to erode Risa’s social cohesion through fear and misinformation. But Ricin scholars countered the strategy not with rebellion, but with illumination: they released a network of truths, publicly broadcasting internal thoughts and civic debates to eliminate secrecy. The Romulan operation collapsed under the weight of exposure.
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Even militant Vulcan splinter factions, during the early Vulcan-Andorian conflicts, attempted to turn Risa into a staging ground, pressuring local governments to support Vulcan supremacy. The betrayal struck deep—but Risa resisted through diplomacy, invoking Surak’s true teachings and exposing the heresy of their logic-corrupted mission.
V. Enlightenment Through Preparedness
These trials did not harden us into warriors. They refined us into guardians of peace. Our enlightenment came not from retreat, but from engagement—tempered by readiness.
- We train our youth in the arts of balance: physical defense, emotional expression, and ethical reasoning.
- We teach our history without shame, so that future generations will not repeat our errors.
- We host our guests with joy, not because we are naïve, but because we know that to celebrate life fully is the greatest act of resistance against fear.
Risa did not become peaceful by denying the reality of conflict. We became peaceful by mastering our response to it.
And in so doing, we offered not just pleasure to the stars—but wisdom.
We welcome you not only to our beaches, but to our story.
May your time here bring you not only rest—but understanding.
– Risan Institute of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Council of Enlightenment and the Ricin Circle of Peacekeepers
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@ a3c6f928:d45494fb
2025-05-15 09:19:23Freedom is the fertile ground upon which innovation and creativity flourish. When individuals and communities are free to think, experiment, and challenge norms without fear of oppression, groundbreaking ideas emerge, driving societal progress and technological advancement.
Why Freedom Fuels Innovation
Innovation thrives in environments where people can express ideas openly, take risks, and learn from failure. History shows that societies that encourage free thinking tend to lead in technological and artistic achievements. From the Renaissance to Silicon Valley, freedom of expression and thought has been the catalyst for transformative change.
Creativity Without Constraints
Creativity is the ability to generate original ideas and solve problems in novel ways. For this to happen, people need the freedom to explore unconventional paths, question existing practices, and think outside the box. When creative minds are unshackled by censorship or rigid expectations, true innovation is possible.
The Barriers to Creative Freedom
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Censorship and Regulation: Over-regulation can stifle innovation by limiting experimentation.
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Fear of Failure: In cultures that punish failure, individuals are less likely to take creative risks.
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Conformity Pressures: Societal expectations can suppress original thinking and limit exploration.
Cultivating an Innovative Environment
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Encourage Open Dialogue: Innovation begins with conversation—ideas need space to be heard and refined.
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Support Experimentation: Foster an environment where failure is viewed as a step toward success.
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Break Down Barriers: Challenge norms that restrict free thinking and creativity.
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Celebrate Diversity of Thought: Diverse perspectives lead to richer, more innovative solutions.
The Future of Freedom and Innovation
As technology and global connections expand, the role of freedom in driving innovation becomes even more critical. Societies that protect freedom of thought and expression will continue to lead in creativity and progress.
“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity—not a threat.” — Steve Jobs
Dare to think differently. Embrace freedom. Create the future.
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@ 961e8955:d7fa53e4
2025-05-15 07:37:10Cryptocurrencies have been gaining more and more attention in recent years. Many people wonder if they have the potential to replace banks in the future. While it is possible that cryptocurrencies will play a larger role in the financial world, it is unlikely that they will fully replace banks.
One reason why cryptocurrencies are unlikely to replace banks is that they lack the infrastructure to provide the same level of services. Banks offer a wide range of financial products, including loans, credit cards, and savings accounts. They also provide customer support and have physical locations where customers can go to access their accounts. Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, are primarily used for online transactions and are not yet widely accepted as a form of payment.
Another challenge that cryptocurrencies face is regulation. Banks are heavily regulated by governments, which helps to ensure the stability of the financial system. Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, are not yet subject to the same level of regulation. This makes them more vulnerable to fraud and other risks.
Despite these challenges, cryptocurrencies have the potential to play an important role in the financial world. They offer a level of security and privacy that traditional financial institutions cannot match. Additionally, cryptocurrencies can be used to make transactions across borders more easily, without the need for a centralized intermediary.
In conclusion, while it is possible that cryptocurrencies will continue to grow in popularity and become a more prominent part of the financial world, it is unlikely that they will fully replace banks. Cryptocurrencies have their own unique benefits, but they lack the infrastructure and regulation necessary to provide the same level of service as banks.
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@ 16d11430:61640947
2024-12-23 16:47:01At the intersection of philosophy, theology, physics, biology, and finance lies a terrifying truth: the fiat monetary system, in its current form, is not just an economic framework but a silent, relentless force actively working against humanity's survival. It isn't simply a failed financial model—it is a systemic engine of destruction, both externally and within the very core of our biological existence.
The Philosophical Void of Fiat
Philosophy has long questioned the nature of value and the meaning of human existence. From Socrates to Kant, thinkers have pondered the pursuit of truth, beauty, and virtue. But in the modern age, the fiat system has hijacked this discourse. The notion of "value" in a fiat world is no longer rooted in human potential or natural resources—it is abstracted, manipulated, and controlled by central authorities with the sole purpose of perpetuating their own power. The currency is not a reflection of society’s labor or resources; it is a representation of faith in an authority that, more often than not, breaks that faith with reckless monetary policies and hidden inflation.
The fiat system has created a kind of ontological nihilism, where the idea of true value, rooted in work, creativity, and family, is replaced with speculative gambling and short-term gains. This betrayal of human purpose at the systemic level feeds into a philosophical despair: the relentless devaluation of effort, the erosion of trust, and the abandonment of shared human values. In this nihilistic economy, purpose and meaning become increasingly difficult to find, leaving millions to question the very foundation of their existence.
Theological Implications: Fiat and the Collapse of the Sacred
Religious traditions have long linked moral integrity with the stewardship of resources and the preservation of life. Fiat currency, however, corrupts these foundational beliefs. In the theological narrative of creation, humans are given dominion over the Earth, tasked with nurturing and protecting it for future generations. But the fiat system promotes the exact opposite: it commodifies everything—land, labor, and life—treating them as mere transactions on a ledger.
This disrespect for creation is an affront to the divine. In many theologies, creation is meant to be sustained, a delicate balance that mirrors the harmony of the divine order. Fiat systems—by continuously printing money and driving inflation—treat nature and humanity as expendable resources to be exploited for short-term gains, leading to environmental degradation and societal collapse. The creation narrative, in which humans are called to be stewards, is inverted. The fiat system, through its unholy alliance with unrestrained growth and unsustainable debt, is destroying the very creation it should protect.
Furthermore, the fiat system drives idolatry of power and wealth. The central banks and corporations that control the money supply have become modern-day gods, their decrees shaping the lives of billions, while the masses are enslaved by debt and inflation. This form of worship isn't overt, but it is profound. It leads to a world where people place their faith not in God or their families, but in the abstract promises of institutions that serve their own interests.
Physics and the Infinite Growth Paradox
Physics teaches us that the universe is finite—resources, energy, and space are all limited. Yet, the fiat system operates under the delusion of infinite growth. Central banks print money without concern for natural limits, encouraging an economy that assumes unending expansion. This is not only an economic fallacy; it is a physical impossibility.
In thermodynamics, the Second Law states that entropy (disorder) increases over time in any closed system. The fiat system operates as if the Earth were an infinite resource pool, perpetually able to expand without consequence. The real world, however, does not bend to these abstract concepts of infinite growth. Resources are finite, ecosystems are fragile, and human capacity is limited. Fiat currency, by promoting unsustainable consumption and growth, accelerates the depletion of resources and the degradation of natural systems that support life itself.
Even the financial “growth” driven by fiat policies leads to unsustainable bubbles—inflated stock markets, real estate, and speculative assets that burst and leave ruin in their wake. These crashes aren’t just economic—they have profound biological consequences. The cycles of boom and bust undermine communities, erode social stability, and increase anxiety and depression, all of which affect human health at a biological level.
Biology: The Fiat System and the Destruction of Human Health
Biologically, the fiat system is a cancerous growth on human society. The constant chase for growth and the devaluation of work leads to chronic stress, which is one of the leading causes of disease in modern society. The strain of living in a system that values speculation over well-being results in a biological feedback loop: rising anxiety, poor mental health, physical diseases like cardiovascular disorders, and a shortening of lifespans.
Moreover, the focus on profit and short-term returns creates a biological disconnect between humans and the planet. The fiat system fuels industries that destroy ecosystems, increase pollution, and deplete resources at unsustainable rates. These actions are not just environmentally harmful; they directly harm human biology. The degradation of the environment—whether through toxic chemicals, pollution, or resource extraction—has profound biological effects on human health, causing respiratory diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders.
The biological cost of the fiat system is not a distant theory; it is being paid every day by millions in the form of increased health risks, diseases linked to stress, and the growing burden of mental health disorders. The constant uncertainty of an inflation-driven economy exacerbates these conditions, creating a society of individuals whose bodies and minds are under constant strain. We are witnessing a systemic biological unraveling, one in which the very act of living is increasingly fraught with pain, instability, and the looming threat of collapse.
Finance as the Final Illusion
At the core of the fiat system is a fundamental illusion—that financial growth can occur without any real connection to tangible value. The abstraction of currency, the manipulation of interest rates, and the constant creation of new money hide the underlying truth: the system is built on nothing but faith. When that faith falters, the entire system collapses.
This illusion has become so deeply embedded that it now defines the human experience. Work no longer connects to production or creation—it is reduced to a transaction on a spreadsheet, a means to acquire more fiat currency in a world where value is ephemeral and increasingly disconnected from human reality.
As we pursue ever-expanding wealth, the fundamental truths of biology—interdependence, sustainability, and balance—are ignored. The fiat system’s abstract financial models serve to disconnect us from the basic realities of life: that we are part of an interconnected world where every action has a reaction, where resources are finite, and where human health, both mental and physical, depends on the stability of our environment and our social systems.
The Ultimate Extermination
In the end, the fiat system is not just an economic issue; it is a biological, philosophical, theological, and existential threat to the very survival of humanity. It is a force that devalues human effort, encourages environmental destruction, fosters inequality, and creates pain at the core of the human biological condition. It is an economic framework that leads not to prosperity, but to extermination—not just of species, but of the very essence of human well-being.
To continue on this path is to accept the slow death of our species, one based not on natural forces, but on our own choice to worship the abstract over the real, the speculative over the tangible. The fiat system isn't just a threat; it is the ultimate self-inflicted wound, a cultural and financial cancer that, if left unchecked, will destroy humanity’s chance for survival and peace.
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@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2
2025-05-15 05:01:00CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Please! I’m your sister! I just needed a little help!” she cried dramatically. “How could you do this to your own blood?!”
Gasps echoed through the grand hall.
Guests froze in place, their judgmental stares directed at James. Cameraman didn’t hesitate to raise their lenses. Phones were pulled out. A social media storm was already brewing in real time.
James stood still, eyes narrowed. He didn’t move, didn’t speak.
Tracy, standing beside Helen, discreetly snapped more photos, already typing up the next round of false headlines to feed into the media engine.
Helen smirked at the chaos and whispered, “This is it. The downfall begins.”
But James wasn’t shaken.
With quiet authority, he raised his hand, and two personal bodyguards appeared from the sidelines. He looked Evelyn square in the eye, then said, loud enough for the nearest guests to hear, “Escort this woman outside. She is not my sister. And she has no place here.”
Evelyn’s cries turned more dramatic, but it was clear to the more discerning eyes in the room that something about her act was off. Her appearance was too deliberate, her performance too exaggerated.
As security led her away, some guests began to murmur with skepticism.
“Wait… that woman doesn’t even resemble him.” “Isn’t it strange she showed up right after that story went viral?” “Could this be a setup?”
Suddenly, a hush fell over the grand hall. The doors swung open and in walked Mr. and Mrs. JP, their presence commanding immediate respect and admiration. The atmosphere shifted, charged with reverence. The orchestra paused, and every individual in the room instinctively rose to their feet.
The couple moved with elegance and dignity, their attire speaking volumes of their legacy Mr. JP in a classic black suit with golden cufflinks, and Mrs. JP in an emerald silk gown that shimmered under the chandeliers.
As they made their way toward the stage, hosts and VIPs bowed subtly, showing deference. Whispers rippled through the audience.
"That’s the founder himself..." "And she’s the matriarch elegance personified." "Do you think they know about the scandal?"
When the couple finally ascended the stage, Mr. JP gestured politely for the crowd to take their seats. The applause lingered like a standing ovation for royalty.
Taking the microphone with a measured breath, Mr. JP began, his voice calm, dignified, and layered with authority.
“Distinguished guests,” he said, scanning the crowd with a nod. “Tonight marks a milestone not just in our company’s journey, but in our personal lives. Sixteen years ago, this empire was only a dream... Today, it is a reality that spans borders and inspires millions.”
The audience clapped again, some even rising briefly in acknowledgment.
“We did not build this alone,” he continued, eyes softening. “From those who’ve been with us from the beginning, to the new minds who’ve steered us through recent storms this success belongs to all of you.”
Then, a slight pause.
Mr. JP took a breath, his tone shifting to something deeper.
“Among those responsible for the rebirth of JP Enterprises… is someone very close to me. Someone many of you may not recognize today, but who has been pivotal in our turnaround.”
People exchanged curious glances.
Helen furrowed her brows. Mark leaned forward, visibly tense. Even Tracy, who had been busy on her phone, paused, sensing something big.
Mr. JP looked toward James in the crowd. “Please rise.”
James stood up slowly, every eye in the room locking on him.
Gasps echoed across the hall.
“That’s him?” “The guy from the news?” “The so-called cruel brother?”
Mr. JP smiled proudly.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, his voice growing firm, “the man you see before you is not only the current President of JP Enterprises… but he is also my son James JP.”
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Helen's wine glass slipped slightly in her grip. Mark's jaw dropped. Tracy froze.
Mr. JP continued, “Some of you may have seen recent headlines. Falsehoods spread by those who fear his rise. But let me be clear this man was once wrongly accused, cast aside, and even disowned. A mistake I will regret all my life. Yet despite all that, he rebuilt everything. He turned loss into legacy.”
He turned to James, emotion glistening in his eyes. “Son, I’m proud of you. You are not just a worthy heir, you are a better man than I ever was.”
A standing ovation erupted.
The audience rose again, this time with sincere admiration. Applause thundered across the hall.
James slowly approached the stage, his head held high, the moment heavy with vindication. He took the microphone, looked across the sea of faces, some still stunned, some clapping with tears in their eyes.
“Thank you,” he began, his voice steady. “There was a time I stood outside this very building, invisible, broken, and ignored. Today, I stand here not for revenge… but to remind us all: never underestimate the strength of the overlooked.”
The applause grew louder.
“I will protect this company with everything I have,” he declared. “But let it also be known betrayal has no place in this legacy. Truth always finds a way to rise.”
Helen swallowed hard.
Mark clenched his fists beneath the table.
Tracy shrank slightly into her seat.
The atmosphere in the grand ballroom of the JP Enterprises Headquarters was thick with suspense. Mr. JP stood tall behind the polished podium, his presence commanding silence. The air practically crackled with curiosity as the crowd leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear the revelation everyone had been waiting for.
“I know many of you are wondering who my son is,” Mr. JP said, his voice deep and firm, echoing through the hall. “The one who will inherit not just my fortune, but my legacy. The heir to JP Enterprises and everything I have worked for in my lifetime.”
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@ 119356ac:740a8b90
2025-05-14 23:03:53► File Tools
- ↪️ File Scanners
- ⭐ Fileinfo, Filext or OpenMyFiles - File Extension Libraries
- ⭐ czkawka or dupeGuru - Duplicate File Finders
- ⭐ Phockup - Organize Photo / Video Files by Date
- UnLock IT or Lock Hunter - File Unlocker / Deleter
- Magika - AI File Content Type Detector
- Icaros - Add Explorer Thumbnails to any Video Format
- Tagging for Windows - Tag-Based File System
- HTTPDirfs or hfs / 2 - HTTP File Systems
- WinBtrfs - Btrfs File System
- mergerfs - Union File System
- filebrowser - Online File Viewer
- WhatsLink - View File Download Metadata
- File-Examples - Dummy File Examples
- OpenHashTab - Compare / Display File Hashes
- Attribute Changer - Edit File & Folder Properties
- TagSpaces - Add Tags to Files and Folders
- SKTimeStamp - Change File Created / Modified Time
- ExtractMetadata or Metadata2Go - Metadata Viewers / Editors
- CUETools - Manupulate .cue Files / GitHub
▷ Download Managers
- ⭐ JDownloader - Download Manager / Debloat / Dark Theme, 2 / Dracula Theme / Apps
- ⭐ IDM - Download Manager
- AB Download Manager - Download Manager / GitHub / Telegram
- Go Speed - Download Manager / Extension / Plugins / GitHub
- aria2 or Persepolis - Terminal Download Manager / GitHub / Download Bot / WebUI, 2
- pyLoad - Lightweight Download Manager
- Hitomi - Multi-Site Media Download Tool
- ArrowDL - Download Manager / GitHub
- FDM - Download Manager / YTDL Addon
- File Centipede - Upload / Download Manager
- DownThemAll - Download Management Extension
- HTTP Downloader - Download Manager for HTTP / FTP / SFTP Protocols / GitHub
▷ Archiving / Compression
- 🌐 SuperCompression - File Compression Resources
- ⭐ NanaZip or 7-Zip - File Archiver
- ⭐ PeaZip - Cross Platform File Archiver
- ⭐ CompactGUI - Transparent Compression
- Fileforums or Encode - Data Compression Forums
- TurboBench - Compression Benchmark
- WinRAR, 2 - File Archiver / Licenses
- Efficient Compression Tool or Minuimus - File Archivers / Optimizers
- ezyZip - Zip Files Online
- unzip-online - Unzip Files Online
- Unrar online - Unrar Files Online
- UPX - Executable File Compressor / GitHub
- lessmsi - .msi Content Extractor / GitHub
▷ File Converters
- 🌐 .to Sites - File Converters Index
- ⭐ File Converter - Convert / Compress Files / GitHub
- ⭐ VERT / Discord / GitHub
- Pandoc - Document Converter
- ConvertCSV - Online CSV Data Conversion
- Encoding Converter - Online File Encoding Converter
- Deark - Decode and Convert Files / GitHub
- text2img - Online NFO Files to Image Converter
- CloudConvert - Convert Files / 1GB
- FreeConvert - File Converter / 1GB
- videoutils - File Converter / 500MB
- Xconvert - File Converter / 400MB
- ConvertFiles - File Converter / 250MB
- Convertio - File Converter / 100MB
- AnyConvert - File Converter / 100MB
- onlineconvertfree - File Converter / 100MB
- MiConv - File Converter / 75MB
- Converter 365 - File Converters / 200MB
- Aconvert - Various Converters / 40MB
- LetsConvert - Image/Audio Converter / 250MB
- Online Convert - Online File Converter
- Zamzar - File Converter / 200MB
- Online Converter - Online Simple Media / Unit Converter
- Convert Town - Online Text / Image Converter
- Docspal - Various Converters / 50MB Image, Documents / 200MB Video, Archive, Audio
- Better Converter - Text-Focused Converters / 10MB
- go4convert - Online Document Converter / 100MB
▷ File Explorers
- ⭐ Files - Customizable File Manager / Use Classic Installer / Discord
- ⭐ Directory Opus - Windows File Manager
- Xplorer / GitHub / Discord, DoubleCMD or muCommander - Cross Platform File Explorers
- Sigma - Modern File Manager for Windows / Linux / GitHub
- ChromaFiler - Column-Based Windows File Manager
- Yazi - Terminal File Explorer / Plugins / GitHub
- One Commander - File Explorer
- Free Commander - File Explorer
- Q-Dir - File Explorer
- Quick Access Popup - File Explorer
- FileExplorer - File Explorer
- FileStash - File Manager / GitHub
- Explorer++ - Lightweight Windows File Manager
- Far Manager - Windows File / Archive Manager
- Total Commander - Shareware Windows File Manager
- Organize - Automated File Manager
- TrayDir - System Tray File Manager
- TablacusExplorer, QTTabBar or Multi Commander - Tab File Managers
- Vifm - Vim-Based File Manager
- WinSetView - Globally Set Explorer Folder Views
▷ File Searching
- ⭐ Everything - File Search Engine
- Recoll / Addon, Spyglass, DocFetcher or Orange - Cross Platform Search Engines
- AnyTXT or FluentSearch - Windows Search Engines
- AstroGrep, grepWin or dnGrep - Windows GUI Grep Utilities
- fselect - SQL-like Search Engine
- fd - User Friendly "find" Alternative
- sist2 - Simple Incremental Search Tool
▷ File Encryption
- ⭐ Cryptomator / GitHub or Tahoe-LAFS / GitHub - Cloud File Encryption
- ⭐ VeraCrypt - Disk Encrypter
- ⭐ Picocrypt - Lightweight File Encrypter
- age - File Encrypter
- gocryptfs - File Encrypter
- Hat - Browser-Based Encrypter
- Kryptor - File Encrypter
▷ File Sync
- ⭐ SyncThing - Cross-Platform File Sync / Tray Support / GitHub
- ⭐ FreeFileSync - Open-Source File Sync
- MyPhoneExplorer, SyncFolder - Phone and Desktop Sync
- allwaysync - File Sync Utility
- Resilio - P2P File Sync
- SmartFTP - FTP File Sync
- rsync - Command-line File Sync / GitHub
- Unison - Bidirectional File Sync
▷ File Backup
- ⭐ Kopia - Encrypted File Backup / GitHub
- ⭐ Rescuezilla or CloneZilla - Disk Image Backup
- FolderClone or Echosync - Folder Clone / Backup
- BackupPC - Networked File Backup
- TeraCopy - File Backup
- restic / GitHub, duplicity or Duplicati - Secure File Backup
- UrBackup - Client / Server File Backup
- AOMEI Backupper - Windows File Backup
- Borg - De-duplicating File Backup
- USBImager - USB Image Backup
- Toucan - Portable File Backup
▷ File Recovery
- ⭐ TestDisk - File Recovery
- PhotoRec - File Recovery
- DMDE - File Recovery
- Windows File Recovery - File Recovery
- MultiPar - Prevent File Corruption / Guide
- ShadowExplorer or ShadowCopyView - Shadow Copy Explorers
▷ Formatting / Deletion
- ⭐ SDelete - File Deletion CLI
- Eraser, File Shredder, Alternate File Shredder, Permadelete or Delapp - File Shredding
- SSuite File Shredder and Burner - File Shredder with Disk Burning
- Low Level Format, nwipe or ShredOS - Complete Hard Drive Erasers
- RED - Remove Empty Directories
▷ Data Automation
- ⭐ Advanced Renamer or Bulk Rename Utility - Bulk Renamers
- FoliCon - Automatic Custom Media Icons / Folders / GitHub
- MediaMonkey - Media Organizer
- MediaInfo - Media File Analysis / Online
- tinyMediaManager or MediaElch - Media Collection Managers
- FileBot - Media File Renaming
- TVRename - TV File Data Automation
- Shoko - Anime File Data Automation
- PowerRename, Szyszka, F2, Ant Renamer or Flut Renamer - Bulk Renamers
► PDF Tools
▷ Online PDF Toolkits
▷ Offline PDF Toolkits
- ⭐ PDFGear
- PDF24
- Foxit / Pro / Warning
- xPDFReader
- PDF Arranger
- PrivatePDF
- PDFBox
- OpenPDF
- Stirling-PDF
▷ PDF Conversion Tools
- Rare2PDF, online2pdf or 2PDFConverter - File to PDF Conversion
- MD2PDF - Markdown to PDF Converter
- PDFconvert - PDF File Converters
- Marker - PDF to Markdown
- PDFCrowd, TailWindPDF or wkhtmltopdf - HTML to PDF / Image Converter
- Issuu - Convert PDF Files to Webpages, Flipbooks, Brochures & More / Downloader, 2
- WebToPDF or Percollate - Webpage to PDF Converters
- Dangerzone - Convert Malicious PDFs to Safe Files / GitHub
▷ PDF Utilities
- PDFGrep or OCRmyPDF - PDF Text Search
- View-only PDF - Download View-Only PDF on Google Drive
- PDFEncrypt - PDF File Encryption
- GraphPaper - PDF Graphs
- Aspose or pdf-unstamper - PDF Watermark Remover
- PDF Fixer - Repair Damaged PDFs
- OpenSign, FalsiScan, JustSignPDF or Adobe Sign - PDF Signature Tools
- Google Drive PDF Downloader - Download Protected Google Drive PDFs
- PDFCoffee - Upload PDF, Word or PowerPoint Files
- PrintFriendly - Printer Formatting Tools
► File Transfer
- ⭐ LocalSend - Desktop / Mobile Transfer / Discord / GitHub
- Photon - Desktop / Mobile Transfer / GitHub
- KDE Connect - Desktop / Mobile Transfer
- Warpinator - Desktop / Mobile Transfer
- Sefirah - Desktop / Mobile Transfer
- QRServ - Desktop / Mobile Transfer / GitHub
- Magic Wormhole - Desktop / Mobile Transfer
- croc - Desktop / Mobile Transfer / GUI
- LANDrop - Desktop / Mobile Transfer
- OnionShare - Share Files Over Tor Network
- FileZilla - FTP Client
- WinSCP - FTP Client
- Wing FTP - FTP Client
- Xlight - FTP Client
- IPFS or kubo - P2P Hypermedia Protocol
- IPFS Tools - Resources, 2 / Extension / Desktop / IPFS Cluster
▷ P2P Transfer
- ⭐ Blaze / GitHub
- ⭐ PairDrop / GitHub
- ⭐ JustBeamIt
- ⭐ SpaceDrop
- Surge - P2P App
- Wormhole
- ToffeeShare
- new.space
- FilePizza
- TransferNow
- Horizon Send
- Salad Room
- drop.lol / GitHub
- sendfilesencrypted.com
- LIGHTNING SHARE
- rDrop
- WebDrop
- MyAirBridge.com
- Sprend
- WebWormhole
- EchoDuck
- FileLove
► File Hosts
- Note - Keep in mind that it's never a good idea to upload personal or confidential files to any file host, even if they claim to be encrypted. Most file hosts only remove files after inactivity, while some delete them regardless. Check each host if you're concerned about file expiry. Tags are: Storage Size / File Size / Expiry.
- ↪️ Video File Hosts
- ⭐ Gofile - 100GB Monthly / Unlimited / 10 Days After Last Download / Cold Storage Bypass
- ⭐ Pixeldrain - Unlimited / 20GB per File / 120 Days After Last Pageview / Discord / Speedtest / Limit Bypass / Bypass Script
- ⭐ Files.vc - Unlimited / 10GB / Forever / Discord
- ⭐ Buzzheavier, 2, 3, 4 - Unlimited / 8 Days, Can Extend Forever / File Expiry / Use Adblocker / Discord
- ⭐ Catbox - Unlimited / 200MB / Forever
- ⭐ Pillowcase - Audio File Host / 200MB (500MB w/ Account) / Forever
- HIDAN - Unlimited / 10+ Days (from upload)
- Send.now - 100GB / 100GB per File / 30 Days After Last Download
- DesiUpload - Unlimited / 15 Days (15GB / 30 Days w/ Account)
- MixDrop - Unlimited / 60 Days / Account Required
- Qiwi - Account Required
- Fastupload.io - Unlimited / 30 Days (60 Days w/ Account)
- 1fichier.com - 300GB / 15 Days (30 Days w/ Account)
- Filebin - Unlimited / 6 Days / Warning
- file.kiwi - Unlimited / File Expiry Explanation
- Easyupload.io - 100GB / 30 Days
- FEX.NET - 100GB / 7 Days
- VikingFile - 500GB / 20 Days After Last Download
- DropMeFiles - 50GB / 14 Days
- GigaFile - 300GB / 100 Days
- UploadNow - 100GB / 7 Days, Can Extend Forever
- eDisk - 20GB / 30 Days
- Drop Download - 25GB / 90 Days / Account Required
- SwissTransfer - 50GB / 30 Days / 250 Downloads
- BowFile - 20GB / 20 Days
- Hexupload or AnonTransfer - 15GB / 30 Days
- Tempcloud - 10GB / 3 Days
- GrosFichiers or DataTransfer - 10GB / 14 Days
- Fshare - 10GB / 5 Days
- ShareFile, 2 - 5GB / Unlimited
- FileTransfer.io - 6GB / 21 Days / 50 Downloads
- udrop - 5GB / Forever
- Uploadev - 10GB / 180 Days After Last Download w/ Account
- Imagenetz - 5GB / 30 Days After Last Download
- FilePort - 5GB / 7 Days
- FileDitch or SendGB - 5GB / 90 Days
- MegaUp - 5GB / 60 Days
- Bestfile - 5GB / 80 Days After Last Download
- ufile.io - 5GB / 30 Days
- Internxt Send - 5GB / 15 Days
- UserDrive - 5GB / 65 Days
- pCloud Transfer or Tresorit Send - 5GB / 7 Days / Email Required
- Temp.sh - 4GB / 3 Days
- File Convoy - 3GB / 21 Days
- Send - 2.5GB / 3 Days / 10 Downloads / CLI / Instances
- JUMBOmail - 2GB / 7 Days / Email Required
- KrakenFiles - 1GB / 3 Months on Sign-Up
- DropMB - 512MB / 5 Years
- FireLoad - 2GB / 60 Days / Account Required
- FileGo - 2GB / 30 Days / Account Required
- Lufi - 2GB / 30 Days
- FilesPayouts - 10GB / Forever / Account Required
- DooDrive - 2GB / 30 Days / Account Required
- Clicknupload, 2 - 10GB / 8 Days / Account Required
- WeTransfer - 2GB / 3 Days
- Smash - 2GB / 7 Days / Email Required
- MultiUp.io / Extract / Upload or Mirrored.to - Multi Host Uploaders
- Z-o-o-m - Multi-Host Upload Desktop App
- Limited Upload Hosts - More Hosts / 1GB or Below
▷ Cloud Storage
- Note - Monthly prices are based on annual plans. 2TB prices are halved for comparison if a 1TB plan doesn't exist for a service.
- 🌐 Eylenburg Comparisons or ComparisonTabl.es - Compare Cloud Storage Sites
- ⭐ Google Drive - 15GB Free / 2 Years / ~$3 for 1TB
- ⭐ mega - 20GB Free / 3 Months / ~$4.50 for 1TB / GitHub
- disk.yandex - 5GB Free / 2 Years / $2 for 1TB
- filen - 10GB Free / 3 Months / ~$8 for 1TB / Account Required for Sharing
- terabox - 1TB Free / $3.50 for 2TB
- Dropbox - 1 or 2GB Free / 12 Months / ~$5 for 1TB / Client
- mediafire - 10GB Free / 8 Months / $5 for 1TB
- icedrive - 10GB Free / 3 Months / $5 for 1TB
- PCloud - 10GB Free / 1 Year / ~$4 for 1TB
- FebBox - 1TB Free / 1 Month / ~$4 for 2TB
- Proton Drive - 2GB Free (or 5GB for tasks) / 1 Year / ~$10 for 1TB
- JumpShare - 2GB Free / 1 Year / $8.25 for 1TB
- FileLu - 10GB / Forever / Expiry Warning
- CyberFile - 10GB Free
- MrOwl - 10GB Free / ~$16 for 1TB
- Blomp - 20GB Free / 1 Month / ~$3 for 2TB
- Akira Box - 20GB Free / 1 Years
- Backblaze B2 - 10GB Free / ~$6 for 1TB
- Cloudflare R2 - 10GB Free / ~$15.5 per 1TB
- 1Cloud File - 10GB Free
- OneDriveFly - OneDrive Indexes
- Fix-OneDrive-Zip - Fix OneDrive Zip Files >4GB
- SeaFile - Self-Hosted Cloud Storage
▷ Cloud Managers
- ⭐ Rclone - Cloud Storage Manager
- ⭐ Rclone Tools - Guide / Colab / Telegram / Transfer Tool
- ⭐ gclone - Cloud Storage Manager
- ⭐ Air Explorer - Cloud Storage Manager
- ⭐ RaiDrive - Cloud Storage Manager
- ⭐ Cyberduck - Libre Server / Cloud Storage Browser / GitHub
- SpaceDrive - Cloud Storage Manager
- AList - Cloud Storage Manager
- MultCloud - Cloud Storage Manager
- xpipe - Remote File Manager
▷ Google Drive Tools
- ⭐ OneClickRun - Google Drive Tools Colab / Features / Use Throwaways
- Any File to Google Drive - DDL to Google Drive Tool
- DriveUploader - Receive Files via Google Drive
- ZIP Extractor - Google Drive / Gmail File Archiver
- Google Drive CLI - Google Drive CLI Client
- goodls - Google Drive Downloader
- Google Drive Downloader - Google Drive Folder Downloader
- gdrivedl - Google Drive Python Download Script
- ISAAC - Google Service Account Generators
- goindex-extended / Themes or Google-Drive-Index - Google Drive Indexers
- gdurl, GDrive Link Generator, Direct.GDrive, Maulvi or GDriveWebAppPublic - Host Direct Links on Google Drive
- GdriveCloneWeb or Google Drive Clone Bot / GitHub - Copy Google Drives
- GD-EFC Link Encryptor - Google Drive Link Encryptor for GD-EFC
- gd-efc - Copy Encrypted Google Drive
- DriveRename - Bulk Google Drive File Rename
- Sharer, YuShare or GDToT - Google Drive File Sharing
▷ MEGA Tools
- ⭐ Megabasterd - Download Quota Bypass / Note
- ⭐ Mega Account Generators - Account Gen / Unlimited Upload Size / Fix
- MEGA Desktop / GitHub - Official GUI App
- MEGA CMD / GitHub - Official CLI App
-
@ a367f9eb:0633efea
2024-12-22 21:35:22I’ll admit that I was wrong about Bitcoin. Perhaps in 2013. Definitely 2017. Probably in 2018-2019. And maybe even today.
Being wrong about Bitcoin is part of finally understanding it. It will test you, make you question everything, and in the words of BTC educator and privacy advocate Matt Odell, “Bitcoin will humble you”.
I’ve had my own stumbles on the way.
In a very public fashion in 2017, after years of using Bitcoin, trying to start a company with it, using it as my primary exchange vehicle between currencies, and generally being annoying about it at parties, I let out the bear.
In an article published in my own literary magazine Devolution Review in September 2017, I had a breaking point. The article was titled “Going Bearish on Bitcoin: Cryptocurrencies are the tulip mania of the 21st century”.
It was later republished in Huffington Post and across dozens of financial and crypto blogs at the time with another, more appropriate title: “Bitcoin Has Become About The Payday, Not Its Potential”.
As I laid out, my newfound bearishness had little to do with the technology itself or the promise of Bitcoin, and more to do with the cynical industry forming around it:
In the beginning, Bitcoin was something of a revolution to me. The digital currency represented everything from my rebellious youth.
It was a decentralized, denationalized, and digital currency operating outside the traditional banking and governmental system. It used tools of cryptography and connected buyers and sellers across national borders at minimal transaction costs.
…
The 21st-century version (of Tulip mania) has welcomed a plethora of slick consultants, hazy schemes dressed up as investor possibilities, and too much wishy-washy language for anything to really make sense to anyone who wants to use a digital currency to make purchases.
While I called out Bitcoin by name at the time, on reflection, I was really talking about the ICO craze, the wishy-washy consultants, and the altcoin ponzis.
What I was articulating — without knowing it — was the frame of NgU, or “numbers go up”. Rather than advocating for Bitcoin because of its uncensorability, proof-of-work, or immutability, the common mentality among newbies and the dollar-obsessed was that Bitcoin mattered because its price was a rocket ship.
And because Bitcoin was gaining in price, affinity tokens and projects that were imperfect forks of Bitcoin took off as well.
The price alone — rather than its qualities — were the reasons why you’d hear Uber drivers, finance bros, or your gym buddy mention Bitcoin. As someone who came to Bitcoin for philosophical reasons, that just sat wrong with me.
Maybe I had too many projects thrown in my face, or maybe I was too frustrated with the UX of Bitcoin apps and sites at the time. No matter what, I’ve since learned something.
I was at least somewhat wrong.
My own journey began in early 2011. One of my favorite radio programs, Free Talk Live, began interviewing guests and having discussions on the potential of Bitcoin. They tied it directly to a libertarian vision of the world: free markets, free people, and free banking. That was me, and I was in. Bitcoin was at about $5 back then (NgU).
I followed every article I could, talked about it with guests on my college radio show, and became a devoted redditor on r/Bitcoin. At that time, at least to my knowledge, there was no possible way to buy Bitcoin where I was living. Very weak.
I was probably wrong. And very wrong for not trying to acquire by mining or otherwise.
The next year, after moving to Florida, Bitcoin was a heavy topic with a friend of mine who shared the same vision (and still does, according to the Celsius bankruptcy documents). We talked about it with passionate leftists at Occupy Tampa in 2012, all the while trying to explain the ills of Keynesian central banking, and figuring out how to use Coinbase.
I began writing more about Bitcoin in 2013, writing a guide on “How to Avoid Bank Fees Using Bitcoin,” discussing its potential legalization in Germany, and interviewing Jeremy Hansen, one of the first political candidates in the U.S. to accept Bitcoin donations.
Even up until that point, I thought Bitcoin was an interesting protocol for sending and receiving money quickly, and converting it into fiat. The global connectedness of it, plus this cypherpunk mentality divorced from government control was both useful and attractive. I thought it was the perfect go-between.
But I was wrong.
When I gave my first public speech on Bitcoin in Vienna, Austria in December 2013, I had grown obsessed with Bitcoin’s adoption on dark net markets like Silk Road.
My theory, at the time, was the number and price were irrelevant. The tech was interesting, and a novel attempt. It was unlike anything before. But what was happening on the dark net markets, which I viewed as the true free market powered by Bitcoin, was even more interesting. I thought these markets would grow exponentially and anonymous commerce via BTC would become the norm.
While the price was irrelevant, it was all about buying and selling goods without permission or license.
Now I understand I was wrong.
Just because Bitcoin was this revolutionary technology that embraced pseudonymity did not mean that all commerce would decentralize as well. It did not mean that anonymous markets were intended to be the most powerful layer in the Bitcoin stack.
What I did not even anticipate is something articulated very well by noted Bitcoin OG Pierre Rochard: Bitcoin as a savings technology.
The ability to maintain long-term savings, practice self-discipline while stacking stats, and embrace a low-time preference was just not something on the mind of the Bitcoiners I knew at the time.
Perhaps I was reading into the hype while outwardly opposing it. Or perhaps I wasn’t humble enough to understand the true value proposition that many of us have learned years later.
In the years that followed, I bought and sold more times than I can count, and I did everything to integrate it into passion projects. I tried to set up a company using Bitcoin while at my university in Prague.
My business model depended on university students being technologically advanced enough to have a mobile wallet, own their keys, and be able to make transactions on a consistent basis. Even though I was surrounded by philosophically aligned people, those who would advance that to actually put Bitcoin into practice were sparse.
This is what led me to proclaim that “Technological Literacy is Doomed” in 2016.
And I was wrong again.
Indeed, since that time, the UX of Bitcoin-only applications, wallets, and supporting tech has vastly improved and onboarded millions more people than anyone thought possible. The entrepreneurship, coding excellence, and vision offered by Bitcoiners of all stripes have renewed a sense in me that this project is something built for us all — friends and enemies alike.
While many of us were likely distracted by flashy and pumpy altcoins over the years (me too, champs), most of us have returned to the Bitcoin stable.
Fast forward to today, there are entire ecosystems of creators, activists, and developers who are wholly reliant on the magic of Bitcoin’s protocol for their life and livelihood. The options are endless. The FUD is still present, but real proof of work stands powerfully against those forces.
In addition, there are now dozens of ways to use Bitcoin privately — still without custodians or intermediaries — that make it one of the most important assets for global humanity, especially in dictatorships.
This is all toward a positive arc of innovation, freedom, and pure independence. Did I see that coming? Absolutely not.
Of course, there are probably other shots you’ve missed on Bitcoin. Price predictions (ouch), the short-term inflation hedge, or the amount of institutional investment. While all of these may be erroneous predictions in the short term, we have to realize that Bitcoin is a long arc. It will outlive all of us on the planet, and it will continue in its present form for the next generation.
Being wrong about the evolution of Bitcoin is no fault, and is indeed part of the learning curve to finally understanding it all.
When your family or friends ask you about Bitcoin after your endless sessions explaining market dynamics, nodes, how mining works, and the genius of cryptographic signatures, try to accept that there is still so much we have to learn about this decentralized digital cash.
There are still some things you’ve gotten wrong about Bitcoin, and plenty more you’ll underestimate or get wrong in the future. That’s what makes it a beautiful journey. It’s a long road, but one that remains worth it.
-
@ 32e2f8f9:d93ea9b0
2025-05-15 13:10:25test