@ f683e870:557f5ef2

This is what has been achieved on a per-project basis since receiving the grant from Opensats.

npub.world

Together with nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9, I have been refining npub.world to deliver real-time, WoT-powered profile search. These refinements include:

• implementing new desings by nostr:npub1t3gd5yefglarhar4n6uh34uymvft4tgu8edk5465zzhtv4rrnd9sg7upxq

• moving to the new Vertex DVM standard

• improved URL and npub parsing

Vertex crawler

Due to the architectural mistakes I made when designing the first version, I have embarked on a full rewrite of the crawler. The new architecture is simpler, more modular and more performant, and I am confident that it will provide a stable foundation on which to expand the Vertex offering with additional functionalities and analytics.

The major differences with the old version are:

• the DB and RWS interfaces have been broken up and simplified into smaller ones, each defined by their own packages

• a simplified, more efficient algorithm for updating random walks

• use of a custom-built cache to speed up graph computations

• a worker pool pattern to speed up event archiving

These changes have reduced the LOC by more than half while improving performance by \~10x. Of independent interest is the new pipe package, which can also be used by other projects to crawl the Nostr network.

Vertex Relay and DVMs

The Vertex relay has been updated several times, and now supports four DVM services:

• Verify Reputation

• Recommend Follows

• Rank Profiles

• Search Profile

For each service, customers can choose the algorithm to use by specifing the sort option to use between:

• followerCount

• globalPagerank

• personalizedPagerank

More information can be found at https://vertexlab.io/.

Overall, the relay has processed more than 100,000 DVM requests, with the current daily rate standing at around 1,500.

rely

Unsatisfied with the khatru relay framework, I've decided to build my own called rely, with the goal of being simpler and more stable. I've not just scratched a personal hitch: I've used khatru for several months now (the Vertex relay is still using it) and I encountered several issues, some of which I've solved with PRs to the underlying go-nostr library.

The main differences between khatru and rely:

• rely is much simpler, both architecturally and in terms of LOC (less than half)

• rely has a solid testing approach, where a random yet reproducible high traffic hits the relay to see what breaks

• rely implements a worker pool pattern where a configurable number of goroutines process the incoming requests from clients. On the other hand, khatru process them in the HandleWebsocket goroutine, which is spawned every time a client connects. This is dangerous in my opinion because if too many clients connect, memory usage would spike and the relay could potentially crash.

New DVM spec

I helped to draft this new proposal to update the DVM spec, which is one of the most controversial NIPs. While almost everyone agrees that it needs to change, there is no consensus on how to move forward. I believe our proposal is a sensible approach that defines discovery, usage, and error patterns while leaving flexibility for specific DVM kinds.

Looking at the future

Next I am going to move the Vertex relay to the rely framework and to the new crawler package. I expect that this will increase the performance and will make things more solid and more simple. After all of this refactoring and simplification, it will be time to finally add features to the Vertex offering. I have an ambitious roadmap consisting of:

• accepting ecash for DVM requests

• designing client-side validation schemes for the DVM responses

• expanding the pagerank algorithm to make use of mutes and reports

• adding an WoT impersonator check to npub.world

• adding a nip05 check to npub.world

• make a relystore package with some plug&play databases for rely.

@ 3ffac3a6:2d656657

🛡️ Tutorial: Secure SSH Access over Cloudflare Tunnel (Docker Optional)

🎯 Objective

Set up a Cloudflare Tunnel to securely expose SSH access to your system without revealing your home IP or requiring port forwarding. This enables secure remote access even behind NAT, CGNAT, or dynamic IP environments.

This guide:

• Uses Cloudflare Tunnels to proxy traffic
• Does not expose your home IP address
• Uses Docker + Docker Compose for orchestration (optional)
• Can be adapted to run under systemd directly if preferred

---

🔧 Prerequisites

• A domain managed via Cloudflare DNS
• SSH server running on your machine (default port 22)
• Temporary access to the cloudflared CLI (for tunnel creation)

• Either:

• Docker and Docker Compose (used in this example), or

• A native systemd service (alternative not covered here)

---

🪜 Step-by-Step Instructions

---

1. Install and Authenticate cloudflared

Install cloudflared (temporary):

bash curl -L https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-linux-amd64 \ -o cloudflared && chmod +x cloudflared && sudo mv cloudflared /usr/local/bin/

Login with your Cloudflare account:

bash cloudflared tunnel login

This will open a browser and link the machine to your Cloudflare zone.

---

2. Create the Tunnel

Create a named tunnel:

bash cloudflared tunnel create ssh-tunnel

This creates a credential file, e.g.:

~/.cloudflared/5f84da12-e91b-4d2e-b4f0-7ca842f622f1.json

---

3. Define the Tunnel Routing Configuration

Create the tunnel config:

bash nano ~/.cloudflared/config.yml

Example:

```yaml tunnel: ssh-tunnel credentials-file: /etc/cloudflared/5f84da12-e91b-4d2e-b4f0-7ca842f622f1.json

ingress: - hostname: secure-ssh.example.com service: ssh://localhost:22 - service: http_status:404 ```

Then bind the hostname to the tunnel:

bash cloudflared tunnel route dns ssh-tunnel secure-ssh.example.com

Replace secure-ssh.example.com with your own subdomain under Cloudflare management.

---

4. Prepare File Permissions for Docker Use (Optional)

If using Docker, cloudflared runs as a non-root user (UID 65532), so grant it access to your config and credentials:

bash sudo chown 65532:65532 ~/.cloudflared sudo chown 65532:65532 ~/.cloudflared/*

---

5. Define docker-compose.yml (Optional)

yaml version: "3.8" services: cloudflared: image: cloudflare/cloudflared:latest container_name: cloudflared-ssh-tunnel restart: unless-stopped volumes: - ${HOME}/.cloudflared:/etc/cloudflared:ro - ${HOME}/.cloudflared:/home/nonroot/.cloudflared:ro command: tunnel run ssh-tunnel network_mode: host

📝 Docker is used here for convenience and automation. You may alternatively run cloudflared tunnel run ssh-tunnel directly under systemd or a background process.

---

6. Start the Tunnel

Start the container:

bash cd ~/docker/sshtunnel docker compose up -d docker logs -f cloudflared-ssh-tunnel

You should see Registered tunnel connection and other success logs.

---

7. Connect to the Tunnel from Remote Systems

Option A: Ad-hoc connection with cloudflared access tcp

bash cloudflared access tcp --hostname secure-ssh.example.com --url localhost:2222

In another terminal:

bash ssh -p 2222 youruser@localhost

Option B: Permanent SSH Configuration

Edit ~/.ssh/config:

ssh Host secure-home HostName secure-ssh.example.com User youruser IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa ProxyCommand cloudflared access ssh --hostname %h

Then connect with:

bash ssh secure-home

---

✅ Result

• Secure SSH access via a public domain (e.g., secure-ssh.example.com)
• No ports open to the public Internet
• IP address of your machine remains hidden from Cloudflare clients
• Easily extendable to expose other services in future

---

🔁 Optional Enhancements

• Run as a systemd service instead of Docker for lower overhead
• Use autossh or systemd to maintain persistent reverse tunnels
• Expand to forward additional ports (e.g., Bitcoin RPC, application APIs)
• Apply strict firewall rules to limit SSH access to localhost only

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

When developing on nostr, normally it's enough to read the NIP related to a given feature you want to build to know what has to be done. But there are some aspects of nostr development that aren't so straightforward because they depend less on specific data formats than on how different concepts are combined.

An example of this is how for a while it was considered best practice to re-publish notes when replying to them. This practice emerged before the outbox model gained traction, and was a hacky way of attempting to ensure relays had the full context required for a given note. Over time though, pubkey hints emerged as a better way to ensure other clients could find required context.

Another one of these things is "relay-based groups", or as I prefer to call it "relays-as-groups" (RAG). Such a thing doesn't really exist - there's no spec for it (although some aspects of the concept are included in NIP 29), but at the same time there are two concrete implementations (Flotilla and Chachi) which leverage several different NIPs in order to create a cohesive system for groups on nostr.

This composability is one of the neat qualities of nostr. Not only would it be unhelpful to specify how different parts of the protocol should work together, it would be impossible because of the number of possible combinations possible just from applying a little bit of common sense to the NIPs repo. No one said it was ok to put t tags on a kind 0. But no one's stopping you! And the semantics are basically self-evident if you understand its component parts.

So, instead of writing a NIP that sets relay-based groups in stone, I'm writing this guide in order to document how I've combined different parts of the nostr protocol to create a compelling architecture for groups.

Relays

Relays already have a canonical identity, which is the relay's url. Events posted to a relay can be thought of as "posted to that group". This means that every relay is already a group. All nostr notes have already been posted to one or more groups.

One common objection to this structure is that identifying a group with a relay means that groups are dependent on the relay to continue hosting the group. In normal broadcast nostr (which forms organic permissionless groups based on user-centric social clustering), this is a very bad thing, because hosts are orthogonal to group identity. Communities are completely different. Communities actually need someone to enforce community boundaries, implement moderation, etc. Reliance on a host is a feature, not a bug (in contrast to NIP 29 groups, which tend to co-locate many groups on a single host, relays-as-groups tends to encourage one group, one host).

This doesn't mean that federation, mirrors, and migration can't be accomplished. In a sense, leaving this on the social layer is a good thing, because it adds friction to the dissolution/forking of a group. But the door is wide open to protocol additions to support those use cases for relay-based groups. One possible approach would be to follow this draft PR which specifies a "federation" event relays could publish on their own behalf.

Relay keys

This draft PR to NIP 11 specifies a self field which represents the relay's identity. Using this, relays can publish events on their own behalf. Currently, the pubkey field sort of does the same thing, but is overloaded as a contact field for the owner of the relay.

AUTH

Relays can control access using NIP 42 AUTH. There are any number of modes a relay can operate in:

1. No auth, fully public - anyone can read/write to the group.
2. Relays may enforce broad or granular access controls with AUTH.

Relays may deny EVENTs or REQs depending on user identity. Messages returned in AUTH, CLOSED, or OK messages should be human readable. It's crucial that clients show these error messages to users. Here's how Flotilla handles failed AUTH and denied event publishing:

LIMITS, PROBE, or some other reflection scheme could also be used in theory to help clients adapt their interface depending on user abilities and relay policy.

1. AUTH with implicit access controls.

In this mode, relays may exclude matching events from REQs if the user does not have permission to view them. This can be useful for multi-use relays that host hidden rooms. This mode should be used with caution, because it can result in confusion for the end user.

See Frith for a relay implementation that supports some of these auth policies.

Invite codes

If a user doesn't have access to a relay, they can request access using this draft NIP. This is true whether access has been explicitly or implicitly denied (although users will have to know that they should use an invite code to request access).

The above referenced NIP also contains a mechanism for users to request an invite code that they can share with other users.

The policy for these invite codes is entirely up to the relay. They may be single-use, multi-use, or require additional verification. Additional requirements can be communicated to the user in the OK message, for example directions to visit an external URL to register.

See Frith for a relay implementation that supports invite codes.

Content

Any kind of event can be published to a relay being treated as a group, unless rejected by the relay implementation. In particular, NIP 7D was added to support basic threads, and NIP C7 for chat messages.

Since which relay an event came from determines which group it was posted to, clients need to have a mechanism for keeping track of which relay they received an event from, and should not broadcast events to other relays (unless intending to cross-post the content).

Rooms

Rooms follow NIP 29. I wish NIP 29 wasn't called "relay based groups", which is very confusing when talking about "relays as groups". It's much better to think of them as sub-groups, or as Flotilla calls them, "rooms".

EDIT: Flotilla has migrated to exclusively use "managed rooms" — i.e., fully NIP 29 compliant rooms. Relays without NIP 29 support can still support chat, but all messages will be presented as sent to a single room. I've removed references to unmanaged rooms in what follows.

~~Rooms have two modes - managed and unmanaged. Managed~~ rooms follow all the rules laid out in NIP 29 about metadata published by the relay and user membership. In either case, rooms are represented by a random room id, and are posted to by including the id in an event's h tag. ~~This allows rooms to switch between managed and unmanaged modes without losing any content.~~

Managed room names come from kind 39000 room meta events, ~~but unmanaged rooms don't have these. Instead, room names should come from members' NIP 51 kind 10009 membership lists. Tags on these lists should look like this: ["group", "groupid", "wss://group.example.com", "Cat lovers"]. If no name can be found for the room (i.e., there aren't any members), the room should be ignored by clients.~~

Rooms present a difficulty for publishing to the relay as a whole, since content with an h tag can't be excluded from requests. ~~Currently, relay-wide posts are h-tagged with _ which works for "group" clients, but not more generally. I'm not sure how to solve this other than to ask relays to support negative filters.~~ I have ideas on how to solve this in future iterations of relay-based groups, for example using virtual relays or just a better rooms spec.

Cross-posting

The simplest way to cross-post content from one group (or room) to another, is to quote the original note in whatever event kind is appropriate. For example, a blog post might be quoted in a kind 9 to be cross-posted to chat, or in a kind 11 to be cross-posted to a thread. kind 16 reposts can be used the same way if the reader's client renders reposts.

Posting the original event to multiple relays-as-groups is trivial, since all you have to do is send the event to the relay. Posting to multiple rooms simultaneously by appending multiple h tags is however not recommended, since group relays/clients are incentivised to protect themselves from spam by rejecting events with multiple h tags (similar to how events with multiple t tags are sometimes rejected).

Privacy

Currently, it's recommended to include a NIP 70 - tag on content posted to relays-as-groups to discourage replication of relay-specific content across the network.

Another slightly stronger approach would be for group relays to strip signatures in order to make events invalid (or at least deniable). For this approach to work, users would have to be able to signal that they trust relays to be honest. We could also use ZkSNARKS to validate signatures in bulk.

In any case, group posts should not be considered "private" in the same way E2EE groups might be. Relays-as-groups should be considered a good fit for low-stakes groups with many members (since trust deteriorates quickly as more people get involved).

Membership

There is currently no canonical member list published by relays (except for NIP 29 managed rooms). Instead, users keep track of their own relay and room memberships using kind 10009 lists. Relay-level memberships are represented by an r tag containing the relay url, and room-level memberships are represented using a group tag.

Users can choose to advertise their membership in a RAG by using unencrypted tags, or they may keep their membership private by using encrypted tags. Advertised memberships are useful for helping people find groups based on their social graph:

User memberships should not be trusted, since they can be published unilaterally by anyone, regardless of actual access, so it's better to think of them as "bookmarked groups" or "favorites". Possible improvements in this area would be the ability to provide proof of access:

• Relays could publish member lists (although this would sacrifice member privacy)
• Relays could support a new command that allows querying a particular member's access status
• Relays could provide a proof to the member that they could then choose to publish or not

Moderation

There are two parts to moderation: reporting and taking action based on these reports.

Reporting is already covered by NIP 56. Clients should be careful about encouraging users to post reports for illegal content under their own identity, since that can itself be illegal. Relays also should not serve reports to users, since that can be used to find rather than address objectionable content.

Reports are only one mechanism for flagging objectionable content. Relay operators and administrators can use whatever heuristics they like to identify and address objectionable content. This might be via automated policies that auto-ban based on reports from high-reputation people, a client that implements NIP 86 relay management API, or by some other admin interface.

There's currently no way for moderators of a given relay to be advertised, or for a moderator's client to know that the user is a moderator (so that they can enable UI elements for in-app moderation). This could be addressed via NIP 11, LIMITS, or some other mechanism in the future.

General best practices

In general, it's very important when developing a client to assume that the relay has no special support for any of the above features, instead treating all of this stuff as progressive enhancement.

For example, if a user enters an invite code, go ahead and send it to the relay using a kind 28934 event. If it's rejected, you know that it didn't work. But if it's accepted, you don't know that it worked - you only know that the relay allowed the user to publish that event. This is helpful, becaues it may imply that the user does indeed have access to the relay. But additional probing may be needed, and reliance on error messages down the road when something else fails unexpectedly is indispensable.

This paradigm may drive some engineers nuts, because it's basically equivalent to coding your clients to reverse-engineer relay support for every feature you want to use. But this is true of nostr as a whole - anyone can put whatever weird stuff in an event and sign it. Clients have to be extremely compliant with Postell's law - doing their absolute best to accept whatever weird data or behavior shows up and handle failure in any situation. Sure, it's annoying, but it's the cost of permissionless development. What it gets us is a completely open-ended protocol, in which anything can be built, and in which every solution is tested by the market.

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

edit time

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

Vibe coding is taking the nostr developer community by storm. While it's all very exciting and interesting, I think it's important to pump the brakes a little - not in order to stop the vehicle, but to try to keep us from flying off the road as we approach this curve.

In this note Pablo is subtweeting something I said to him recently (although I'm sure he's heard it from other quarters as well):

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzp75cf0tahv5z7plpdeaws7ex52nmnwgtwfr2g3m37r844evqrr6jqy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7qg6waehxw309ac8junpd45kgtnxd9shg6npvchxxmmd9uqzq0z48d4ttzzkupswnkyt5a2xfkhxl3hyavnxjujwn5k2k529aearwtecp4

There is a naive, curmudgeonly case for simply "not doing AI". I think the intuition is a good one, but the subject is obviously more complicated - not doing it, either on an individual or a collective level, is just not an option. I recently read Tools for Conviviality by Ivan Illich, which I think can help us here. For Illich, the best kind of tool is one which serves "politically interrelated individuals rather than managers".

This is obviously a core value for bitcoiners. And I think the talks given at the Oslo Freedom Forum this year present a compelling case for adoption of LLMs for the purposes of 1. using them for good, and 2. developing them further so that they don't get captured by corporations and governments. Illich calls both the telephone and print "almost ideally convivial". I would add the internet, cryptography, and LLMs to this list, because each one allows individuals to work cooperatively within communities to embody their values in their work.

But this is only half the story. Illich also points out how "the manipulative nature of institutions... have put these ideally convivial tools at the service of more [managerial dominance]."

Preventing the subversion and capture of our tools is not just a matter of who uses what, and for which ends. It also requires an awareness of the environment that the use of the tool (whether for virtuous or vicious ends) creates, which in turn forms the abilities, values, and desires of those who inhabit the environment.

The natural tendency of LLMs is to foster ignorance, dependence, and detachment from reality. This is not the fault of the tool itself, but that of humans' tendency to trade liberty for convenience. Nevertheless, the inherent values of a given tool naturally gives rise to an environment through use: the tool changes the world that the tool user lives in. This in turn indoctrinates the user into the internal logic of the tool, shaping their thinking, blinding them to the tool's influence, and neutering their ability to work in ways not endorsed by the structure of the tool-defined environment.

The result of this is that people are formed by their tools, becoming their slaves. We often talk about LLM misalignment, but the same is true of humans. Unreflective use of a tool creates people who are misaligned with their own interests. This is what I mean when I say that AI use is anti-human. I mean it in the same way that all unreflective tool use is anti-human. See Wendell Berry for an evaluation of industrial agriculture along the same lines.

What I'm not claiming is that a minority of high agency individuals can't use the technology for virtuous ends. In fact, I think that is an essential part of the solution. Tool use can be good. But tools that bring their users into dependence on complex industry and catechize their users into a particular system should be approached with extra caution. The plow was a convivial tool, and so were early tractors. Self-driving John Deere monstrosities are a straightforward extension of the earlier form of the technology, but are self-evidently an instrument of debt slavery, chemical dependency, industrial centralization, and degradation of the land. This over-extension of a given tool can occur regardless of the intentions of the user. As Illich says:

There is a form of malfunction in which growth does not yet tend toward the destruction of life, yet renders a tool antagonistic to its specific aims. Tools, in other words, have an optimal, a tolerable, and a negative range.

The initial form of a tool is almost always beneficial, because tools are made by humans for human ends. But as the scale of the tool grows, its logic gets more widely and forcibly applied. The solution to the anti-human tendencies of any technology is an understanding of scale. To prevent the overrun of the internal logic of a given tool and its creation of an environment hostile to human flourishing, we need to impose limits on scale.

Tools that require time periods or spaces or energies much beyond the order of corresponding natural scales are dysfunctional.

My problem with LLMs is:

• Not their imitation of human idioms, but their subversion of them and the resulting adoption of robotic idioms by humans
• Not the access they grant to information, but their ability to obscure accurate or relevant information
• Not their elimination of menial work, but its increase (Bullshit Jobs)
• Not their ability to take away jobs, but their ability to take away the meaning found in good work
• Not their ability to confer power to the user, but their ability to confer power to their owner which can be used to exploit the user
• Not their ability to solve problems mechanistically, but the extension of their mechanistic value system to human life
• Not their explicit promise of productivity, but the environment they implicitly create in which productivity depends on their use
• Not the conversations they are able to participate in, but the relationships they displace

All of these dysfunctions come from the over-application of the technology in evaluating and executing the fundamentally human task of living. AI work is the same kind of thing as an AI girlfriend, because work is not only for the creation of value (although that's an essential part of it), but also for the exercise of human agency in the world. In other words, tools must be tools, not masters. This is a problem of scale - when tool use is extended beyond its appropriate domain, it becomes what Illich calls a "radical monopoly" (the domination of a single paradigm over all of human life).

So the important question when dealing with any emergent technology becomes: how can we set limits such that the use of the technology is naturally confined to its appropriate scale?

Here are some considerations:

• Teach people how to use the technology well (e.g. cite sources when doing research, use context files instead of fighting the prompt, know when to ask questions rather than generate code)
• Create and use open source and self-hosted models and tools (MCP, stacks, tenex). Refuse to pay for closed or third-party hosted models and tools.
• Recognize the dependencies of the tool itself, for example GPU availability, and diversify the industrial sources to reduce fragility and dependence.
• Create models with built-in limits. The big companies have attempted this (resulting in Japanese Vikings), but the best-case effect is a top-down imposition of corporate values onto individuals. But the idea isn't inherently bad - a coding model that refuses to generate code in response to vague prompts, or which asks clarifying questions is an example. Or a home assistant that recognized childrens' voices and refuses to interact.
• Divert the productivity gains to human enrichment. Without mundane work to do, novice lawyers, coders, and accountants don't have an opportunity to hone their skills. But their learning could be subsidized by the bots in order to bring them up to a level that continues to be useful.
• Don't become a slave to the bots. Know when not to use it. Talk to real people. Write real code, poetry, novels, scripts. Do your own research. Learn by experience. Make your own stuff. Take a break from reviewing code to write some. Be independent, impossible to control. Don't underestimate the value to your soul of good work.
• Resist both monopoly and "radical monopoly". Both naturally collapse over time, but by cultivating an appreciation of the goodness of hand-crafted goods, non-synthetic entertainment, embodied relationship, and a balance between mobility and place, we can relegate new, threatening technologies to their correct role in society.

I think in all of this is implicit the idea of technological determinism, that productivity is power, and if you don't adapt you die. I reject this as an artifact of darwinism and materialism. The world is far more complex and full of grace than we think.

The idea that productivity creates wealth is, as we all know, bunk. GDP continues to go up, but ungrounded metrics don't reflect anything about the reality of human flourishing. We have to return to a qualitative understanding of life as whole, and contextualize quantitative tools and metrics within that framework.

Finally, don't believe the hype. Even if AI delivers everything it promises, conservatism in changing our ways of life will decelerate the rate of change society is subjected to and allow time for reflection and proper use of the tool. Curmudgeons are as valuable as technologists. There will be no jobspocalypse if there is sufficient political will to value human good over mere productivity. It's ok to pump the breaks.

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

button #2 nj

@ 32e18276:5c68e245

6 years ago I created some tools for working with peter todd's opentimestamps proof format. You can do some fun things like create plaintext and mini ots proofs. This short post is just a demo of what these tools do and how to use them.

What is OTS?

OpenTimestamps is a protocol for stamping information into bitcoin in a minimal way. It uses OP_RETURN outputs so that it has minimal impact on chain, and potentially millions of documents are stamped all at once with a merkle tree construction.

Examples

Here's the proof of the ots.c source file getting stamped into the ots calendar merkle tree. We're simply printing the ots proof file here with otsprint:

``` $ ./otsprint ots.c.ots

version 1 file_hash sha256 f76f0795ff37a24e566cd77d1996b64fab9c871a5928ab9389dfc3a128ec8296 append 2e9943d3833768bdb9a591f1d2735804 sha256 | --> append 2d82e7414811ecbf | sha256 | append a69d4f93e3e0f6c9b8321ce2cdd90decd34d260ea3f8b55e83d157ad398b7843 | sha256 | append ac0b5896401478eb6d88a408ec08b33fd303b574fb09b503f1ac1255b432d304 | sha256 | append 8aa9fd0245664c23d31d344243b4e8b0 | sha256 | prepend 414db5a1cd3a3e6668bf2dca9007e7c0fc5aa6dc71a2eab3afb51425c3acc472 | sha256 | append 5355b15d88d4dece45cddb7913f2c83d41e641e8c1d939dac4323671a4f8e197 | sha256 | append a2babd907ca513ab561ce3860e64a26b7df5de117f1f230bc8f1a248836f0c25 | sha256 | prepend 683f072f | append 2a4cdf9e9e04f2fd | attestation calendar https://alice.btc.calendar.opentimestamps.org | --> append 7c8764fcaba5ed5d | sha256 | prepend f7e1ada392247d3f3116a97d73fcf4c0994b5c22fff824736db46cd577b97151 | sha256 | append 3c43ac41e0281f1dbcd7e713eb1ffaec48c5e05af404bca2166cdc51966a921c | sha256 | append 07b18bd7f4a5dc72326416aa3c8628ca80c8d95d7b1a82202b90bc824974da13 | sha256 | append b4d641ab029e7d900e92261c2342c9c9 | sha256 | append 4968b89b02b534f33dc26882862d25cca8f0fa76be5b9d3a3b5e2d77690e022b | sha256 | append 48c54e30b3a9ec0e6339b88ed9d04b9b1065838596a4ec778cbfc0dfc0f8c781 | sha256 | prepend 683f072f | append 8b2b4beda36c18dc | attestation calendar https://bob.btc.calendar.opentimestamps.org | --> append baa878b42ef3e0d45b324cc3a39a247a | sha256 | prepend 4fb1bc663cd641ad18e5c73fb618de1ae3d28fb5c3c224b7f9888fd52feb09ec | sha256 | append 731329278830c9725497d70e9f5a02e4b2d9c73ff73560beb3a896a2f180fdbf | sha256 | append 689024a9d57ad5daad669f001316dd0fc690ac4520410f97a349b05a3f5d69cb | sha256 | append 69d42dcb650bb2a690f850c3f6e14e46c2b0831361bac9ec454818264b9102fd | sha256 | prepend 683f072f | append bab471ba32acd9c3 | attestation calendar https://btc.calendar.catallaxy.com append c3ccce274e2f9edfa354ec105cb1a749 sha256 append 6297b54e3ce4ba71ecb06bd5632fd8cbd50fe6427b6bfc53a0e462348cc48bab sha256 append c28f03545a2948bd0d8102c887241aff5d4f6cf1e0b16dfd8787bf45ca2ab93d sha256 prepend 683f072f append 7f3259e285891c8e attestation calendar https://finney.calendar.eternitywall.com ```

The tool can create a minimal version of the proofs:

``` $ ./otsmini ots.c.ots | ./otsmini -d | ./otsprint

version 1 file_hash sha256 f76f0795ff37a24e566cd77d1996b64fab9c871a5928ab9389dfc3a128ec8296 append 2e9943d3833768bdb9a591f1d2735804 sha256 append c3ccce274e2f9edfa354ec105cb1a749 sha256 append 6297b54e3ce4ba71ecb06bd5632fd8cbd50fe6427b6bfc53a0e462348cc48bab sha256 append c28f03545a2948bd0d8102c887241aff5d4f6cf1e0b16dfd8787bf45ca2ab93d sha256 prepend 683f072f append 7f3259e285891c8e attestation calendar https://finney.calendar.eternitywall.com ```

which can be shared on social media as a string:

5s1L3tTWoTfUDhB1MPLXE1rnajwUdUnt8pfjZfY1UWVWpWu5YhW3PGCWWoXwWBRJ16B8182kQgxnKyiJtGQgRoFNbDfBss19seDnco5sF9WrBt8jQW7BVVmTB5mmAPa8ryb5929w4xEm1aE7S3SGMFr9rUgkNNzhMg4VK6vZmNqDGYvvZxBtwDMs2PRJk7y6wL6aJmq6yoaWPvuxaik4qMp76ApXEufP6RnWdapqGGsKy7TNE6ZzWWz2VXbaEXGwgjrxqF8bMstZMdGo2VzpVuE

you can even do things like gpg-style plaintext proofs:

``` $ ./otsclear -e CONTRIBUTING.ots -----BEGIN OPENTIMESTAMPS MESSAGE-----

Email patches to William Casarin jb55@jb55.com

-----BEGIN OPENTIMESTAMPS PROOF-----

AE9wZW5UaW1lc3RhbXBzAABQcm9vZgC/ieLohOiSlAEILXj4GSagG6fRNnR+CHj9e/+Mdkp0w1us gV/5dmlX2NrwEDlcBMmQ723mI9sY9ALUlXoI//AQRXlCd716J60FudR+C78fkAjwIDnONJrj1udi NDxQQ8UJiS4ZWfprUxbvaIoBs4G+4u6kCPEEaD8Ft/AIeS/skaOtQRoAg9/jDS75DI4pKGh0dHBz Oi8vZmlubmV5LmNhbGVuZGFyLmV0ZXJuaXR5d2FsbC5jb23/8AhMLZVzYZMYqwjwEPKWanBNPZVm kqsAYV3LBbkI8CCfIVveDh/S8ykOH1NC6BKTerHoPojvj1OmjB2LYvdUbgjxBGg/BbbwCGoo3fi1 A7rjAIPf4w0u+QyOLi1odHRwczovL2FsaWNlLmJ0Yy5jYWxlbmRhci5vcGVudGltZXN0YW1wcy5v cmf/8Aik+VP+n3FhCwjwELfTdHAfYQNa49I3CYycFbkI8QRoPwW28AgCLn93967lIQCD3+MNLvkM jiwraHR0cHM6Ly9ib2IuYnRjLmNhbGVuZGFyLm9wZW50aW1lc3RhbXBzLm9yZ/AQ3bEwg7mjQyKR PykGgiJewAjwID5Q68dY4m+XogwTJx72ecQEe5lheCO1RnlcJSTFokyRCPEEaD8Ft/AIw1WWPe++ 8N4Ag9/jDS75DI4jImh0dHBzOi8vYnRjLmNhbGVuZGFyLmNhdGFsbGF4eS5jb20= -----END OPENTIMESTAMPS PROOF-----

$ ./otsclear -v <<<proof_string... # verify the proof string ```

I've never really shared these tools before, I just remembered about it today. Enjoy!

Try it out: https://github.com/jb55/ots-tools

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

schedule #1

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

heyyyy

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

12

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

Autor: Bernd Schoepe. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier. Die neuesten Pareto-Artikel finden Sie in unserem Telegram-Kanal.

Die Anmerkungen zum Text (Fußnoten) folgen aus technischen Gründen gesondert.

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Die neuesten Artikel der Friedenstaube gibt es jetzt auch im eigenen Friedenstaube-Telegram-Kanal.

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Dies ist Teil 3 des Essays. Lesen Sie hier Teil 1 und Teil 2.

IV  Denazifizierungsstopp und die „abgesagte“ NS-Aufarbeitung in der Adenauer-Ära

„Nie wieder Krieg, nie wieder Faschismus!“

Dieses Gelöbnis erfuhr seine Ausformulierung, als die durch Krieg und Verfolgung charakterlich tief geprägten und für ihr Leben gezeichneten Väter und Mütter des Grundgesetzes sich 1948 zum Parlamentarischen Rat versammelten. Dort hat man vor dem Erfahrungshintergrund des Totalitarismus Nazi-Deutschlands in den neunzehn Grundrechtsartikeln die Rechte der Menschen vor dem Staat festgeschrieben, die gegen staatliche „Willkür, Ungerechtigkeit und Gewalt“ (25) schützen sollen. Sie wurden zur Grundlage eines neuen Staatsverständnisses, das vom Humanismus und dem Geist der Aufklärung getragen sein sollte. Das Gelöbnis fand seinen verfassungsmäßigen Ausdruck also im Grundgesetz, das am 23. Mai 1949 feierlich in Bonn verkündet wurde. Dessen Geist manifestiert sich besonders in der sogenannten Ewigkeitsklausel der Menschenwürde (Art.1), die den Grundrechtsartikeln, dem Kanon der Menschen- und Bürgerrechte, vorangestellt wurde.

Doch die Unterschriften unter dem Grundgesetz waren kaum trocken, da wurde dieses Gelöbnis schon durch die Frontstaatenideologie des Kalten Krieges überlagert, konterkariert und in der Praxis sukzessive aufgehoben. Der Kalte Krieg hatte bereits begonnen und seine Akteure bedienten sich ungeniert der Vorurteile und Stereotypen, mit denen die Deutschen noch gut aus dem Dritten Reich vertraut waren. Grundiert vom militanten Anti-Kommunismus, der bekanntlich auch die Nazi-Ideologie stark angetrieben hatte, verstärkt durch die Wiederbewaffnung mit der sie begleitenden Aufnahme der BRD in die NATO, konsolidiert in der Zeit der Adenauer-Restauration in den 1950er Jahren, in der ein konservativ-elitäres Staatsdenken gegenüber radikaldemokratischen Bestrebungen klar dominieren und sich durchsetzen sollte, erwies die Aufarbeitung der NS-Vergangenheit sich als der größte und folgenreichste Rohrkrepierer in der Geschichte der noch jungen zweiten deutschen Republik. Erst mit den Frankfurter Auschwitz-Prozessen und stärker dann noch im Zusammenhang mit der Studentenrevolte Ende der 1960er Jahre sollte es zu neuen ernsthaften Bemühungen um gesellschaftliche Aufarbeitung kommen. 

Adenauers Ankündigung einer Beendigung der NS-Aufarbeitung, die er bereits in seiner ersten Regierungserklärung 1949 (!) vor dem Bundestag gab, dürfte auch und gerade aus heutiger Sicht von deutlich wichtigerer Bedeutung für das Fortleben autoritär-rechtsextremer, völkischer und nationalsozialistischer Gesinnungen und Haltungen in Deutschland gewesen sein als der Einzug der AfD in den Bundestag 2017, einschließlich aller geschichtsvergessenen und in ihrer Wortwahl geschmacklosen Äußerungen ihrer Politiker seither. 

Bemerkenswert sind die Worte, mit der Adenauer so früh der gesellschaftlichen Aufarbeitung der NS-Zeit eine klare Absage erteilte:

„Durch die Denazifizierung ist viel Unglück und viel Unheil angerichtet worden. (...) Im Übrigen dürfen wir nicht mehr zwei Klassen von Menschen in Deutschland unterscheiden, die politisch Einwandfreien und die politisch Nicht-Einwandfreien. Diese Unterscheidung muss baldigst verschwinden.“ (26)

Rasch wurden daraufhin die gesetzlichen Grundlagen geschaffen, um in den im Aufbau befindlichen bundesdeutschen Verwaltungsapparat über 50.000 NS-belastete Beamte wiedereinzugliedern, darunter auch viele, die zuvor dem Nazi-Unrechtsstaat als Mitglieder der Gestapo und der SS gedient hatten. Besonders im Bundesjustizministerium hatte ein Netzwerk aus Alt-Nazis unterhalb der ministeriellen Leitungsebene bis in die 1960er Jahre hinein das Sagen, mit großen, noch immer nicht vollständig aufgearbeiteten Auswirkungen auf die Gesetzgebung, durch die NS-Verbrecher in der BRD auf verschiedene Weisen vor Strafverfolgung geschützt wurden.  

Den ideologischen Hintergrund bildet dafür der Konservatismus, dem Adenauer, die CDU/CSU und andere politisch einflussreichen Kräfte anhingen, genauer gesagt das Elitedenken, das für diesen Konservatismus konstitutiv ist. Es erklärt, dass die Regierung lieber auf die alte Elite, auch wenn sie in weiten Teilen nationalsozialistisch belastet war, zurückgriff als ein neues, demokratisch-selbstbewusstes Beamtentum zu begründen und eine aus den verschiedenen Facetten des Widerstandes sich rekrutierende Führungsschicht aufzubauen. Denn die geeigneten Personen für diese Führungsschicht hätte man weitgehend nicht im eigenen Lager, sondern im Lager der politischen Gegner, bei Sozialdemokraten, Sozialisten, Kommunisten und Linksliberalen finden können. 

Fazit: Im Handumdrehen wurde der an das „Nie-Wieder!“– Versprechen an die zukünftigen Generationen geknüpfte, zumindest teilweise ernsthaft und aufrichtig angestrebte Neuanfang –verstanden als ein radikal zu vollziehender Bruch mit der faschistischen Vergangenheit – hintertrieben, entstellt, entkräftet und um seine Wirkung gebracht. Dabei spielte nicht zuletzt die schnell wieder angekurbelte Feindbildproduktion und Russophobie („alle Wege der Linken, Friedensfreunde, Anti-Militaristen und Neutralitätsbefürworter führen nach Moskau!“), eine wichtige Rolle.

Es ist daher kein Zufall, dass sie uns so verblüffend ähnlich auch heute wieder in Politik und Medien begegnet. Sie ist ein Herzstück der deutschen Nachkriegs-Lebenslüge namens „Vergangenheitsbewältigung“. Hier gilt einmal mehr der Satz, dass Untote bekanntlich länger leben.

Sie macht sich heute auch darin bemerkbar, dass die Tatsache, dass es sich bei dem Krieg gegen Russland nicht um einen Eroberungskrieg, sondern um einen Vernichtungsfeldzug gegen eine „minderwertige Rasse und Kultur“ handelte, im kollektiven Bewusstsein der Deutschen nicht verankert wurde. Sonst hätte der Hass auf die Russen und alles Russische gesellschaftlich nicht wieder hoffähig werden können.

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DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH!

Hier können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt, vorerst für alle kostenfrei, wir starten gänzlich ohne Paywall. (Die Bezahlabos fangen erst zu laufen an, wenn ein Monetarisierungskonzept für die Inhalte steht). Sie wollen der Genossenschaft beitreten oder uns unterstützen? Mehr Infos hier oder am Ende des Textes.

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Exkurs zum Niedergang der deutschen Sozialdemokratie

Im Ringen um den Weg, den die Bundesrepublik in den 1950er Jahren nehmen sollte, wurden damals Sozialdemokraten, die sich nicht bedingungslos der Bollwerks- und Frontstaaten-Ideologie des Kalten Kriegs unterwarfen, als „vaterlandslose Gesellen“ diffamiert. Die SPD tat sich immer schwer damit, der Demagogie der bürgerlichen Parteien etwas entgegenzusetzen, da Antikommunismus bei breiten Teilen der Bevölkerung, getreu der Devise „je primitiver, desto besser bzw. wirkungsvoller“, auch nach Hitler verfing. 

Heute schlägt die Sozialdemokratische Partei die Aufrüstungs- und Kriegstrommel lieber selber kräftig mit und diffamiert die Angehörigen der Friedensbewegung und Verfechter einer Détente mit Russland als „Putin-Freunde“ und „Russlandversteher“ oder gar, ins absurd Metaphysische gesteigert als “gefallene Engel aus der Hölle“ (Olaf Scholz).

Mit dem Friedensnobelpreisträger und NS-Widerstandskämpfer Willy Brandt an der Spitze fuhr die SPD ihren größten Wahlerfolg ein – die von ihm geführte erhielt in der Bundestagswahl 1972 45,8 Prozent. Außenpolitisch überzeugte sie mit „Wandel durch Annäherung“ und „Wir wollen ein Volk guter Nachbar sein“. Nun ist sie beim Führungspersonal bei einem farblosen Apparatschik und Waffenlobbyisten (27) namens Lars Klingbeil und 16,4 % der Wählerstimmen angekommen. Zumindest die ebenso blasse und ideenlose Saskia Esken, die bei vielen einzig und allein für ihre Diffamierung von Demonstranten gegen das Corona-Unrecht („Covidioten“) in Erinnerung bleiben wird, zieht aus ihrer Unbeliebtheit nun die Konsequenz und tritt ab.

Indem die SPD, in Anbetracht der Friedensinitiativen Trumps die Chance verstreichen lässt, sich selbst in ihrer Politik gegenüber Russland zu korrigieren, um doch noch auf den Pfad der Diplomatie zurückzukehren und zu verhindern, dass auch noch der letzte Rest sozialdemokratischer Substanz über Bord geworfen wird, setzt Sozen-Konkursbeschleuniger Klingbeil zusammen mit BlackRock-Millionär Merz auf den Scholzschen Zeitenwende-Wahnsinn von 100 Milliarden für die Rüstung lieber noch weitere 500 Milliarden Euro drauf. Er und der den Kommiss-Ton perfekt beherrschende Pistorius, mit seinen Einlassungen zum „russischen Diktatfrieden“, der, wenn man ihn denn schon unbedingt so nennen will, ja nicht zuletzt auf das Konto der diplomatischen Untätigkeit der deutschen Regierung geht, besiegeln durch das von der Schuldenbremse befreite, in puncto Kostspieligkeit nach oben offene Aufrüstungs- und Militarisierungsprogramm, unter das in Wirklichkeit auch ein großer Teil der geplanten Infrastrukturmaßnahmen subsummiert werden wird (28), das Schicksal der ältesten Partei Deutschlands. Wissen diese SPD-Politiker wirklich nicht, was sie tun, wenn sie für die Profite der Rüstungswirtschaft alles verraten und auf lange Sicht verspielen, wofür diese Partei außen- und sozialpolitisch einmal stand und wofür sie gewählt wurde?    

All das, was die SPD als Friedens- und Entspannungspartei einmal zur stärksten politischen Kraft gemacht hat, wird nun wie im Wahn von ihr verleugnet und mutwillig, geschichtsvergessen-revanchistisch zerstört. Und nicht nur das: Die SPD liefert den Rechten (nein, nicht der AfD, sondern den sonstigen Extremisten der Mitte!) den Grund, den neoliberal bereits entkernten Sozialstaat weiter – ab jetzt aber mit Bulldozern statt mit der Spitzhacke – zu zerstören. Sie nimmt dafür auch weitere, schwere Beschädigungen der Legitimität unserer ohnehin dahinsiechenden Demokratie in Kauf. Die Demokratie liegt nämlich seit Corona bei uns auf der Intensivstation und muss, u.a. durch regierungsfinanzierte „NGOs“ und staatlich organisierte Anti-AfD-Demonstrationen, künstlich beatmet werden!

Schließlich war die SPD zusammen mit der Merz-Union sogar bereit, einen kalten Putsch gegen die Integrität des Parlamentarismus und die elementaren Spielregeln der Demokratie durchzuführen. Mit diesem Putsch hat man im abgewählten 20. Bundestag noch schnell politisch äußerst weitreichende Grundgesetzänderungen durchgesetzt – und das gegen die neuen Mehrheiten des bereits gewählten 21. Bundestages! Die durch Bruch des Wahlversprechens ermöglichte Grundgesetzänderung, stellt einen besonders beschämenden Akt der Machtanmaßung, Wählerverhöhnung und Demokratiemissachtung dar. Und sie verfehlte ihre Wirkung nicht. Kurz darauf konnten die Demoskopen neue Rekordwerte für die AfD messen, die nun als stärkste Partei noch vor der CDU lag. Das Merz-Manöver dürfte im Übrigen dafür gesorgt haben, dass ihm nach der Wahl zum Bundeskanzler, die ja alles andere als glatt verlief, ein Makel anhängt, der so gravierend ist, dass er für den Rest seiner Amtszeit (hoffentlich) nicht mehr zu tilgen sein wird.

Das besonders Irre, das nicht nur den Fall der SPD beschreibt, ihr Versagen aber besonders plastisch hervorhebt, ist, dass es seit Beginn des Ukraine-Kriegs innerhalb der EU (mit Ausnahme Orbans) keine diplomatischen Initiativen gegeben hat, um mit Russland wieder ins Gespräch zu kommen. Im Rückblick wirken da selbst die Kalten Krieger vor und während der Ostpolitik von Willy Brandt wie Appeasement-Politiker. 

Stattdessen war wiederholt eine Bundesaußenministerin zu vernehmen, die offenbar nur sehr eingeschränkt dazu imstande ist, ihre sprachliche Performanz dem hohen Amt angemessen zu kontrollieren. Sie wollte öffentlich „Russland ruinieren“ und erklärte dem Land ein anderes Mal, vor dem Europarat, beiläufig den Krieg. Dass Baerbock, die in ihrer Amtszeit in fast jedes diplomatische Fettnäpfchen getreten ist, jetzt zur zweithöchsten UN-Chef-Diplomatin gewählt wurde, ist Realsatire pur!

Polemik als geistiger Notwehrakt 

Doch Halt! – Gerade merke ich, wie mich mein Hang zur Polemik fortzureißen beginnt!

Die Polemik ist ein hilfreiches (und noch nicht ganz verbotenes!) geistiges Notwehr-Mittel in Zeiten eines zunehmend aggressiv aufgeheizten gesellschaftlichen Klimas. Wie soll man nicht zum Polemiker und Satiriker angesichts des grassierenden Wahnsinns der Politik und ihrer vielen verrückt und absurd anmutenden Pathologien und Regressionen werden, hinter denen bei genauerem Hinsehen dann doch oft auch Kalkül vermutet werden muss? Wie sind sie anders als Vorgänge zu deuten, die zur Abwicklung der Demokratie führen sollen? Vorgänge, die durch eben jene Kräfte betrieben werden, die „unsere Demokratie“ inflationär lobpreisen und nicht müde werden, ihre „Werte“ in Sonntagsreden hervorzuheben. Gleichzeitig werden diese Werte aber durch Cancel Culture, Zensur und Denunziation massiv von ihnen angegriffen und von innen immer weiter ausgehöhlt.

Definitiv verhält es sich heute so, dass der Hang zur Polemik dem Umstand geschuldet wird, dass wir mittlerweile in schier unglaublichen Zeiten von Travestie-Ausgeburten  leben. Diese machen es uns immer schwerer, nicht ganz die Bodenhaftung zu verlieren. All die wahnwitzigen Phänomenen, die wie wildgewordene Säue tagein tagaus durch das globale Dorf der Massenmedien in Echtzeit** getrieben werden, sie gefährden das Restvertrauen in den gesunden Menschenerstand und schränken die Möglichkeiten stark ein, einen halbwegs stabilen, geerdeten, vernunftgeleiteten Realitätsbezug aufrechtzuerhalten.

Und doch soll hier nicht ein weiteres Mal in dieser Façon mit der Regierungspolitik abgerechnet werden. Auf der Suche nach den tieferen Gründen für diese negativen Entwicklungen, soll stattdessen im zeithistorischen Material an einigen neuralgischen Stellen genauer nachgesehen und an der Oberfläche gekratzt werden, um die blinden Flecken bundesrepublikanischer Selbstwahrnehmung sichtbar zu machen.

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Bernd Schoepe, Jahrgang 1965,  Studium der Soziologie, Germanistik, Philosophie und Erziehungswissenschaften in Frankfurt/M. und Hamburg. Erstes und zweites Staatsexamen. Freier Autor, der zu bildungspolitischen, bildungssoziologischen- und bildungsphilosophischen Themen schreibt. Seit 2003 im Hamburger Schuldienst. Langjähriges GEW-Betriebsgruppen-Mitglied, ehem. Vertrauensmann, ehem. Mitglied der Hamburger Lehrerkammer. Hauptberuflich bin ich Politik- Deutsch- und Philosophielehrer an einer Hamburger Stadtteilschule. Kontakt: berndschoepe\@gmx.de

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LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!

In Kürze folgt eine Mail an alle Genossenschafter, danke für die Geduld!

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Sie sind noch nicht auf Nostr and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil! Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf Start. Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im Pareto-Wiki.

@ 5188521b:008eb518

Elysium

Part I: The Failed Harvest

First, the quiet came. Each day, the markets grew quieter, the people hungrier. A farmer stared at wilted crops, dread settling in his heart. In a kingdom once resplendent with markets and sky-reaching monuments, it was the first failed harvest that marked the end of affluence and the beginning of collapse.

By the second year, market traders stood before empty stalls, goods long gone, rotten, or ruined. Jobless men prowled, foraging the streets for vermin and meager scraps of sustenance. Young women offered their time for bread, their eyes hollow in the act. Widows, too, entered strangers’ homes, bartering themselves for their children’s next meal. Orphans, gaunt and brittle, drew meaningless shapes in the dust, their laughter a forgotten memory.

Rumors surged like wind through dry grass. Scapegoats were blamed; superstitions gripped the masses. By the third year, it was known to the people and the king alike, there would be no more monuments erected, only tombstones. The king called the council, heavy with despair. In a room filled with tension, ministers and knights sat around a table.

Before them stood the realm’s wisest farmer, a man worn from years of labor, hunger, and loss. His voice echoed the deep hunger that gripped the kingdom. “Your Majesty, the land is weary. It cries for respite.” His words hung heavy in the room, laying bare the reality of their fate.

Part II: The Devil’s Pact

In the dimly lit chamber, a palpable tension filled the air. The alchemist, servant to the king and master of arcane arts, stepped into the flickering candlelight. He held an aged book, its scent mingling with the murk of looming spells. With a voice both smooth and haunting, he shattered the quiet, his words a ripple through stone walls.

“Sire, alchemy is our last refuge. We can harvest time to feed the earth,” he began, revealing a parchment inked with cryptic circles and lines. “Each citizen, willingly or not, will spare a mere whisper of their years. An unnoticeable offering. With careful alchemy, we can replenish our lands and fortify your reign with the alms of myriad souls.” Leaning closer, he whispered the words that would redefine their civilization: a devil’s proposal intended for the king but felt by all. “Consider, my lord, a reign without end, each year stretched beyond nature’s limits, a kingdom fed by the borrowed time of its people. No more famine. No more want.”

The court waited, their faces etched with fear and desperate hope, ready to tread any path that led away from the abyss of famine.

For a moment, the king was a statue, his face a veil behind which storms brewed. Finally, exhaling a breath heavy with fate, he spoke. “We’ve endured enough hardship. We shall seize a future that knows no famine.”

The air thickened as the alchemist retreated with a solemn nod, the weight of the chosen path settling in.

He reopened his tome and voiced the incantation. Arcane syllables filled the room, weaving a desperate gambit to salvage their decaying kingdom. Thus, in the dark hours of night, they sealed a new covenant that would reverberate through generations.

Part III: Vines and Moss

In the decades that followed the alchemist’s rites, the kingdom thrived like spring after a bitter winter. Fields were lush year-round, erasing hunger and the memories of famine. Marketplaces bustled, no longer a graveyard of commerce but a carnival of exotic goods from every corner of the world. The air seemed perfumed with prosperity — healthy river fish, basilisk meats, and spices from faraway lands. A century rolled by. The king, unaging, stretched his influence over land and sea, turning his realm into an empire. Statues weathered, and languages evolved, but the king abided.

Yet, a toll was exacted. Years stolen from the people, a time tax woven into the fabric of life. The spell fed both earth and crown, cloaking decay with a veneer of wealth. The young wore the faces of old men, their eyes wise beyond their years. Every heartbeat was a sacrifice, a quiet tax to feed the castles of power.

Then came the year when the land rebelled. Coaxed by the spell, the soil had given until it couldn’t, its silent plea for rest ignored. The land remembered stolen seasons, now determined to settle old scores. Crops withered; rivers soured. Beasts waned, their numbers thinning. The kingdom, starved of Earth’s gifts, unraveled — not from human revolt, but from the silent insurrection of the land that once fed them.

With hunger as the harbinger, society fractured. Chaos and mass confusion swallowed the land, a virulent blight not even alchemy could stem. Witch hunts raged for a merciless century, fire consuming flesh and innocence. Men’s strength wilted, armies disbanded. Women, walking in the agonizing footsteps of famine-haunted foremothers, bartered touch for bread.

Monuments lay buried under vines and moss. Fertile lands turned barren. Schools emptied, their echoing halls abandoned, and children torn from learning, were sent to farm dying lands. Art withered. Painters swapped colors for shades of gray, and soon vanished altogether. Teachers and engineers were supplanted by an ever-growing class of soil-bound serfs.

Desperate, the eternal king sought another spell. He asked the people not for mere years but decades. The alchemist obliged, crafting another spell from dark incantations. Yet the ravaged earth, too spent to yield, exacted a monstrous price: lifetimes for crumbs of bread. People, skeletal, on the verge of vanishing, offered their very existence. A silence settled, a collective sacrifice borne not in rebellion, but in surrender.

Part IV: Clara The Torchbearer

In the land between sleep and waking, Clara was a child again, standing at the threshold of a room aglow with amber light. Her mother ground herbs, the wooden table before her strewn with books, vials, and leaves. “These aren’t just leaves and liquids,” her mother said. “They’re doors to the gardens of your mind.” Her words sank into Clara like stones into deep water.

She woke to a gusting wind. Her dream dissolved like morning mist. The sun broke over the kingdom, time’s toll evident in every vine-entangled ruin. Light spilled into her chamber.

Clara’s room was modest: a bed, a wardrobe, a desk. On it, a lone candle and scattered books that whispered of the kingdom’s past grandeur and freedoms now lost. It was her mother’s notes and books, crafted in the quiet, away from royal eyes — a puzzle to decipher, a quest still yearning for footsteps.

She draped a linen robe over her shoulders and approached the window, her fingers ink-stained from yesterday’s writings. Below, people shuffled through life, joyless and muted.

The spell cast long ago had become an oppressive, faceless dictator. It promised bread but dealt only crumbs, a tarnished magic now woven into the kingdom’s culture as enduringly as its ancient stone walls and teeming graveyards.

She remembered the cold spring day she put her mother in the earth. The ground was hard, the casket simple. The tombstone bore the words: ‘Seed in Drought.’

The chambermaid standing beside her asked what it meant.

“Her wish,” Clara answered. Her face gave nothing away, her thoughts a distant country.

From her room, Clara watched the people below — eyes down, spirits broken. Clara was not like the others. She carried an inner fire, gifted from her mother, a quiet revolt against a gray world.

In her room’s sanctuary, amid ink and parchment molded by hands long stilled, Clara found traces of a freer past, free from famine and theft of years. A past now entrusted to her. As she flipped through the timeworn pages of an ancient tome, something caught Clara’s eye. In the margins of the text, a note penned in her mother’s hand: “For Clara — Elric is the keeper of truths that free us. Go where I could not. Find him.” Below it, a tender signature, her mother’s name etched in ink.

The name ‘Elric’ stirred a latent memory, a shared secret often spoken by her mother. Filled with a sense of destiny, Clara closed her worn books and left her chamber.

At the age of twenty, for the first time, she ventured beyond the confining walls of her castle. Guided by remnants of forgotten eras, she set forth to unearth truths long interred but never wholly erased. Her compass drew her toward the Whispering Pines, a land untouched by the alchemist’s dark arts and, as her mother had often mentioned, the rumored dwelling of Elric.

Part V: Far to Go

Clara walked through towns void of kindness, over land stripped of life. Each day sculpted her in the likeness of the land she traversed — a leaner body, hands hardened, face etched by sun and wind.

Thirteen days out, Clara trudged through the ashen remains of a town, its name forgotten, its history lost. Empty buildings sagged under the weight of time, their hollow frames like gravestones against the evening sky. Vacant faces, like clock dials without hands, glanced through her, never at her.

Spying a run-down tavern, she cautiously stepped inside. The door whined on rusted hinges. She eased onto a splintered stool. “Bread,” she rasped. The innkeeper, a bloated man with eyes like rotted plums, flung stale crust onto the counter. Her teeth sank into the stale crust, her body weeping for nourishment.

The room stank of unwashed bodies and sour ale. In a dim corner, men gambled their souls on dice, their faces marred by desperation and greed. As she made to leave, talk stilled, and eyes tracked her. A rough hand seized her wrist.

“Far to go?” The words, a mockery.

Her eyes darted to the innkeeper, pleading for an ally. His gaze, cold, turned away. “Yes, far,” she replied, stalling.

Then, violence. Teeth, nails, a taste of blood. Outmanned, her screams died in cruel laughter. Her clothes yielded, torn in the contest of her humiliation.

After the degradation, she stepped outside and into the soft rain of the night. Her path now carried weight measured in more than miles.

Ahead, barren land stretched mercilessly. A fleeting image of her mother’s face offered a brief moment of comfort. She tilted her head back, letting rain droplets fall onto her tongue to dilute the bitterness that swelled within her. The night urged in tones only darkness knows. Turn back, it murmured.

But she walked on. Her will was a defiant ember, the last flicker of light in a world teetering on oblivion, its humanity long forfeited.

Part VI: Elric

After weeks traversing a harsh expanse, gaunt but unbroken, she found herself beneath the Whispering Pines. As she approached, she carried more than her own weight. She embodied her mother’s enduring hope and her land’s final prayer for redemption.

Elric greeted her at the doorway. “You’ve come,” he said, leading her inside, the room warm from the fire in the stone hearth.

Her eyes roved from the firelight dancing on the walls to the shelves laden with books. A staircase twisted upward, its banister engraved with ancient symbols.

“Your homeland withers,” Elric said, drawing from his pipe, the wood old and marked by years. The scent of herbs, a blend cultivated through many seasons, sharpened the mind as it filled the room. “The spell,” she confirmed.

“Mmm,” he exhaled, his eyes shifting to the fireplace, wood popping in the heat. “Your forebears knew better days. Days without sacrifice.”

“The legends spoke truth, then?”

“Indeed.”

“Did you know I was coming?”

“I’ve waited twenty years. This isn’t our first meeting.”

“We’ve met before?”

“Once, when you were but a newborn. Your mother and I collaborated. We worked on a potion that siphons the power of nature to protect the truth in our world, to shield it from alchemy and dark spells.”

Elric opened a small cabinet beside the hearth. From it, he took an empty wooden chalice and a stoppered glass vial. Uncorking the vial, he poured a golden liquid into the chalice, the firelight making it shimmer. “This elixir hails from untarnished lands, free from the alchemy that poisons your realm. One sip and illusions shatter, transforming soul and society alike.” “What is it called?” she asked.

He looked at her intently. “Elysium,” he said, the word hanging heavy in the room. “It’s both the end and the beginning of your journey. You must experience it to understand. Drink.”

She sipped the brew; it tasted of nothing. Soon, as she nestled by the fire, the walls took a breath, and the world sharpened as if coming into focus for the first time. The air thickened into a heavy mist, her fingers danced through it, each ripple sending colors splashing around like bioluminescent whispers. She floated, her body dissolving, her name a distant echo.

Elric’s gaze turned to the fire, shadows playing across his face. “Elysium shows only what one needs to see, no more, no less,” he said, his voice a gentle wave against the shores of her uncertainty. “In my own experience with Elysium, I saw a torchbearer in the veil of time, a young soul with the spark to undo the dark spell on your land.” His eyes found Clara’s. “But the torchbearer had to come to me, the journey forging the resolve. Had I sought you out sooner, before your heart was ready, Elysium’s truth would have been a burden too heavy.”

As the reality of his words sank in, Clara felt the weight of the years, the faces of the countless lives lost to the alchemist’s dark magic flashing before her eyes. “And the elixir… why not share it sooner?”

Elric sighed, his eyes drifting to the ancient books lining the shelves. “Elysium’s truth is a double-edged blade. In the wrong hands, it could cut through the fabric of reality, leaving wounds that might never heal. Your kingdom…” he gestured vaguely towards the window, “…it wasn’t ready. But now, the ground has been furrowed by suffering, ready to receive the truth about the universe, the spell, the suffering.”

The walls breathed with a rhythm older than time. She looked at her hands moving through the bioluminescent mist, each movement sending ripples across the room. Tendrils of light danced in the air, ethereal spirits beckoning her towards another realm.

“But why?” Clara pressed, her presence deepening with each breath. “Why involve yourself?”

Elric’s eyes softened. “I once lived in your kingdom, fleeing when I realized the spell’s plague. Your mother and I, we shared a vision of a world free from dark alchemy. But more than a promise to an old friend, it’s a battle against the grasp of evil spells, a grasp threatening to choke the essence of life and freedom from this world. It’s a battle,” he looked at Clara with a profound earnestness, “that now passes to you.”

Suddenly, reality shattered, and her soul twisted and warped through a portal faster and faster until she touched the core of the cosmos.

Here, in a land beyond words, beyond the confines of time and space, she witnessed the birth and demise of the universe. With each breath, a star was born and died; each blink saw the rise and fall of civilizations. Like a photon racing at light speed through the cosmos, untouched by time, she beheld the entirety of all that ever was and will be.

Peering beyond the infinitely small, she saw the source code of the universe, equations as living tendrils of light materializing into particles, planets, and stars. The universe, a symphony of mathematical elegance, its physicality a melody resonating along the strings of her consciousness.

She floated amidst the cosmic code, orchestrating the universe — the planets, the voids, the unseen forces weaving through them — and she was one with all. She was the universe gazing at itself. Beyond the veil of mortality, she saw endless realms, death a mere doorway. In that boundless expanse, she brushed against the face of the divine.

A golden phoenix took form before her.

“I am Veritas,” it spoke, not in words, but in a language of complex geometry.

It exposed the grim truths of her lands, the Great Famine, and the enslaving spell — a counterfeit prosperity bought at the terrible price of human years.

“How do we break free?” Clara’s voice carried the untold suffering of generations.

“Simple,” the phoenix intoned. “Don’t battle the alchemist or his spell; you won’t win. Acknowledge the illusion. Tend to your own gardens, and reliance on the alchemist and the king fades. Elysium shields you, body and mind, from the spell’s reach.”

As the vision faded, Clara found herself back on the wooden floor, her head cushioned by a pillow. The urgency of her quest snapped her back to reality, a newfound resolve kindling in her chest.

“I see now,” she breathed, her voice steady. “I know what I must do.”

Elric nodded, a sage with a deep understanding of the paths of the universe. “Yes, but first, tea. There’s strength to regain and you have a long journey ahead,” he said, anchoring them both in a moment of calm before the impending storm of change.

Part VII: The Wayfarer’s Hearth

After days navigating barren expanses, Clara entered a cobblestone town as twilight settled. Figures lined the street, some alive, some not, most in limbo — too tired to beg, too frail to feed. Candlelight flickered from the windows of a tavern, illuminating well-fed faces. “The Wayfarer’s Hearth,” read the sign above the door.

She approached. The door creaked open to admit her, wafting out stale beer and the scent of roast meat. Her fingers twitched involuntarily, memories of weeks ago crawling up her spine, but her body ached for sustenance, for warmth. Holding her satchel close, safeguarding the vial of Elysium, she chose a chair at an empty table and settled in. Soon enough, food appeared.

The man who had set her meal before her took the adjacent seat with deliberate ease, his eyes lingering on her satchel. Her pulse quickened.

“You carry a weight, wanderer,” he said.

“Or hope,” she countered, her grip on her satchel unyielding.

A glass shattered. Drunkards stumbled into their table, a wave of mead sweeping over worn wood. Clara’s heart surged, the man’s fingers brushed her satchel, pulling the vial from its sanctuary. “Hope carries its own burden,” he said.

“The hope of my people is in that vial,” she shot back, her voice stripped bare.

“This is Elysium,” he said, his words like barbs. “At what cost, wanderer, do you think Elysium will save your people?”

Doubt snaked around her convictions. Was she the bearer of emancipation or a harbinger of calamity? Was her land ready for Elysium? “You know it?” she asked.

“I know it,” he said, eyeing it closely.

“Return it,” she commanded.

He handed over the vial. “The road to freedom is paved with the stones of responsibility. I wouldn’t want to walk in your shoes.”

She nodded, heavy but resolute. Clara left as quietly as she’d come, meal untouched, mission intact.

The night took her in. She cast a final glance back at a room oblivious to her departure. That night, she’d sleep under indifferent stars, closer to home but adrift in certainty, carrying the weight of a thousand stones of untold responsibility, a Trojan’s shroud for her people, a destiny unasked.

Part VIII: This is Elysium

Under a storm-heavy sky, Clara returned home. In her pocket was Elysium; in her mind, a plan that required Harold — an old friend and a knight by trade.

In the guild hall, Harold sat among knights and minstrels, a goblet in hand. “Look at this,” Clara said, pushing the vial across the table without ceremony. Her words pierced the tavern’s noise as she recounted her journey.

Harold looked at her, then at the vial. “You mean to say that one day, this will help us fight the spell?”

“No,” said Clara, her voice deep with a new knowing. “It means one day, we won’t have to.”

“Heresy,” Harold said. “You’re risking death.”

“So are we all,” she answered.

“They’ll burn you at the stake.”

“If I’m right, they won’t.”

“A trial then, regardless,” Harold said, his gaze dropping to the vial as the tavern’s jovial banter became a distant echo for them both.

“So be it,” Clara said, meeting his gaze. She leaned in, her fingers resting on his scarred knuckles. “Our farms take our children. It’s not right.”

“It’s how things are.”

“It’s how things were.”

“A trial will not be lenient, Clara. I can’t let you bring this to the king.”

“Not the king. The people.” She continued. “But don’t trust me. See for yourself.” Her eyes locked onto his. “Drink,” she said, her words echoing Elric’s.

Harold hesitated but finally drank. His eyes widened. He gripped the edge of the wooden table, his knuckles turning white. A sort of vacant gaze overcame him as if he’d journeyed to someplace far.

When the Elysium vision receded, he opened his eyes and looked at her anew, seeing the world for the first time again. He glanced around the hall as though it were a foreign land, his eyes lingering on the mundane — a crack in the table, the smudged goblet, a flickering torch on the wall—with awe and wonder. She knew then that they stood as one. Two visionaries, shouldering the burden of transforming the world, ready to shepherd their people into a revolutionary dawn.

In the square, the stone eyes of old heroes watched. A crowd formed, silenced by expectation and unaccustomed to the art of public speaking. Autumn leaves swirled at their feet.

“A new dawn!” Harold broke the silence. “Generations sacrificed, giving years for meager sustenance. But the land wants not our years — only our care and periodic reverence. The tales of a time without the toll of hunger, without a tax on life itself, from before the Great Famine, are not myths. They are forgotten chapters of our history, now on the verge of being rewritten.”

He raised the vial. Sunlight mirrored in its gold. “This is Elysium.”

Part IX: A Revolution Takes Shape

In the fading light of day, Harold and Clara stood by a murmuring brook, leaves rustling at their feet in quiet revolt. Faces young and old assembled around them; each one a silent rebellion against the servitude that taxed their years.

They drank, the chalice passing from hand to hand, a new ritual born. With each gathering, the numbers swelled; with each sip, more souls entwined. Slowly, yet with unyielding certainty, the kingdom shifted over the years. It changed not through a coup or uprising but through a still, relentless force, like water eroding stone. As the seasons passed and more villagers imbibed the Elysian brew, the weight of their invisible chains lessened, their atoms scattering into the evening air.

Shielded now, villagers sowed their own gardens, sanctuaries from the alchemist’s dominion. Bountiful harvests followed, hope supplanted despair. Word of the blooming private gardens spread like wildflowers, and fields once cursed by dark alchemy lay fallow and forgotten.

And there, by the unassuming brook, a revolution took shape. The soft sounds of the stream became an earthbound anchor for the myriad souls who opened the door to walk in the cosmic gardens of their minds. Each ritual added another stitch in the fabric of a new dawn; each sip, another brushstroke on the canvas of a world remade.

Part X: The Old Man

A decade drifted by. With each soul that tasted Elysium, the fetters of the old world loosened. The alchemist’s spell, once a yoke around their necks, now waned like thick morning fog giving way to the warmth of the day. Fields once cursed now bore food, not dread. Families gathered around bountiful tables, words flowing freely, unveiled.

Each year, townsfolk met by the sword in the square. Harold’s blade, the first monument raised in ages, stood as freedom’s spine, the axis of their new world. An old man approached, his eyes dimmed by memories of famine, leading a boy by the hand. Their eyes met, a chasm bridged: one soul untarnished by hunger, the other haunted by its ghost.

The old man stepped forward, his fingers quivering on the hilt of the sword. “Clara, what becomes of us if the land fails us again?” Years of hardship wavered in his voice, the ghosts of famine flickering in his eyes.

“It could,” Clara said, her voice steady as bedrock. “But it’s different now. Our fields are wider, our hands more skilled. We’re not trying to trick the earth with alchemy anymore. We speak in the simple terms it understands: soil, sun, water, time.”

Above, the alchemist’s fortress loomed, its towers now marred with cracks. Clara looked up. Empty windows stared back, like dead eyes on a fallen beast. Old times had ended; new ones had begun.

Part XI: The Note

Dawn broke, casting new light over worn cobblestones. Clara moved through the marketplace as if through a dream. The scent of cinnamon and rich coffee filled the air as she ran her fingers down silken tassels and through powdery barrels of golden saffron. Voices haggled; her feet felt the earth’s warm embrace.

Traders argued leisurely, their time no longer taxed by the spell. Children laughed, unburdened by field and plow.

Fields that once caged both young and old now released thinkers, builders, creators. The horizon changed form — bridges leapt over waterways, roads bound the land. Each stone laid was more than a fixture; it was a vow, a pact between the present and the future. It was today’s promise to a future yet unborn, anchored by the prosperity that now bloomed under Elysium’s sky.

As evening descended, the grand hall filled with voices unburdened by yesterday’s sorrow. In a secluded corner, Clara and Harold exchanged words about the loftier truths Elysium had laid bare.

A courier emerged from the crowd, extending a sealed parchment. “For you, mademoiselle.”

With a nod, Clara exchanged a coin for the note. Her eyes brightened as she absorbed the message:

Only a true renaissance resounds to the Whispering Pines. Continue, in health and strength. - Elric

She passed it to Harold, their eyes locking in wordless affirmation. “The Whispering Pines acknowledge us,” he finally said. “And so, we continue,” Clara replied, her voice unwavering, guided by truth. In the hall’s enveloping warmth, laughter, toasts, and spirited debates blended into a harmonious score — a sound that would have been foreign to their ancestors, a sound that marked the close of an era and the dawn of something profoundly new.

---

This story first appeared in Tales from the Timechain. Support our work and buy a copyhere.

79% of the zaps from this story will be passed onto the author, Reed.

21 Futures requests 21% for operating costs.

---

Ioni Appelberg (pronounced Yo-Ni Apple-Burg) is a bitcoin philosopher, futurist, author, and content creator. His content centers around science fiction, human history and it often takes the form of swashbuckling journeys to the frontiers of technology, space, and the human mind. His love of sci-fi, psychedelics, and futurism may take his stories (and unsuspecting readers) to strange but exciting places. He is also an avid reader, a medical doctor, a freedom fighter, an MMA fighter, a psychonaut, and a terrible chess player.

@ c4f5e7a7:8856cac7

I've managed to amass three SN profiles.

Is there a way to combined these?

@k00b @ek

https://stacker.news/items/995836

@ 32e18276:5c68e245

Damus OpenSats Grant Q1 2025 Progress Report

This period of the Damus OpenSats grant has been productive, and encompasses the work our beta release of Notedeck. Since we sent our last report on January, this encompasses all the work after then.

Damus Notedeck

We released the Beta version of Notedeck, which has many new features:

Dave

We've added a new AI-powered nostr assistant, similar to Grok on X. We call him Dave.

Dave is integrated with tooling that allows it to query the local relay for posts and profiles:

Search

The beta release includes a fulltext search interface powered by nostrdb:

Zaps

You can now zap with NWC!

And More!

• GIFs!
• Add full screen images, add zoom & pan
• Introduce last note per pubkey feed (experimental)
• Allow multiple media uploads per selection
• Major Android improvements (still wip)
• Added notedeck app sidebar
• User Tagging
• Note truncation
• Local network note broadcast, broadcast notes to other notedeck notes while you're offline
• Mute list support (reading)
• Relay list support
• Ctrl-enter to send notes
• Added relay indexing (relay columns soon)
• Click hashtags to open hashtag timeline

Damus iOS

Work continued on the iOS side. While I was not directly involved in the work since the last report, I have been directing and managing its development.

What's new:

Coinos Wallet + Interface

We've partnered with coinos to enable a one-click, non-KYC lightning wallet!

We now have an NWC wallet interface, and we've re-enabled zaps as per the new appstore guidelines!

Now you can see all incoming and outgoing NWC transactions and start zapping right away.

Enhanced hellthread muting

Damus can now automatically mute hellthreads, instead of having to do that manually.

Drafts

We now locally persist note drafts so that they aren't lost on app restart!

Profile editing enhancements

We now have a profile picture editing tool so that profile pictures are optimized and optionally cropped

Conversations tab

We now have a conversations tab on user profiles, allowing you to see all of your past conversations with that person!

Enhanced push notifications

We've updated our push notifications to include profile pictures, and they are also now grouped by the thread that they came from.

And lots more!

Too many to list here, check out the full changelog

Nostrdb

nostrdb, the engine that powers notecrumbs, damus iOS, and notedeck, continued to improve:

Custom filters

We've added the ability to include custom filtering logic during any nostrdb query. Dave uses this to filter replies from kind1 results to keep the results small and to avoid doing post-processing.

Relay index + queries

There is a new relay index! Now when ingesting notes, you can include extra metadata such as where the note came from. You can use this index to quickly list all of the relays for a particular note, or for relay timelines.

NIP50 profile searches

To assist dave in searching for profiles, we added a new query plan for {kind:0, search:} queries to scan the profile search index.

How money was used

• relay.damus.io server costs
• Living expenses

Next quarter

We're making a strong push to get our Android version released, so that is the main focus for me.

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

Iran raising a red flag in war times? That's a bit. Sabrina Carpenters "persona" - she's doing a bit. In the pope election the cardinals locking themselves in a conclave and the white smoke thing - it's a bit. Everything is only a bit.

Maybe I'm just old and interpret too much into youth slang but - that's actually a HUGE cultural shift if young people think of nothing as authentic anymore. What even is authentic?

https://stacker.news/items/1006348

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

test

@ b83a28b7:35919450

This is the second installment in the series "The Net Appears" where I document my journey from being in a well-established and well-paying fiat job into the unknown world of independent work in freedom tech. Will I end up finding something truly inspiring and fulfilling, while being able to support my family? We'll find out over the course of the next few weeks.

---

So this happened a couple of days ago:

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpwp69zm7fewjp0vkp306adnzt7249ytxhz7mq3w5yc629u6er9zsqqsd6khjdmgmme3xrnzj5xn5tfwer5pjchh20mcp4lfemurfsj3v4wgsjw0uj

Let's back up a bit, because in the first installment of this series, I was still in limbo.

If you’d told me three weeks ago that corporate martyrdom could be negotiated like a farmers-market cantaloupe, I’d have laughed you off the Microsoft Teams grid. Yet there I was, video-boxed opposite my Senior Vice Priest of PowerPoint, calmly re-petitioning for a graceful guillotine.

His verdict: the guillotine is for optics only, and apparently it clashes with the brand guidelines. Laying off The AI Guy would look like we’d just unplugged the future for spare parts. Impossible. But the man did extend an olive branch the size of a bonsai: “Resign, and we’ll cash out your vacation - thirty glorious days of fiat.”

Not the three-month severance I’d fantasized about, but enough to buy time, dignity, and a respectable stack of Claude API credits. I signed before he could replace goodwill with an NDA.

And then I chose July 4 as my last day. Cue bald eagles, Sousa marches, and a slow-motion shot of me frisbee-flinging my employee badge into an erupting grill. Independence from fiat, by literal fireworks.

---

Space Rush

The moment rumors of my exit hit Teams, meeting invites vanished like socks in a hotel dryer. I’ve used the liberated hours to launch A Muse Stochastic, my audio-visual fever dream where generative melodies court glitch-poetry and occasionally elope with Gemini Veo video frames. The first episode is live, pulsing somewhere between synaptic Vivaldi and quantum origami. So far it has six listeners and one confused Australian-shepherd (my most honest critic).

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpwp69zm7fewjp0vkp306adnzt7249ytxhz7mq3w5yc629u6er9zsqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3zamnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wwa5kuef0qqsvhtdltg2k3guhmshgmgt3nc9ejy0ct96t7udm04r5mupplcmdtesppmn7x

Meanwhile the playwright in me, neglected for months beneath sprint plannings and quarterly road-maps, finally crawled into the light. “Waiting for Satoshi,” first conceived on a warm Prague evening exactly one year ago ( nostr:nprofile1qy0hwumn8ghj7en0deehgu3dw3jhxapwdah8yetwv3jhytnrdakj7qgcwaehxw309a5hxmrpdejzumn0wd68yvfwvdhk6tcqyzaz7w2gxdjcga0fz6qt3x8ehc83mpgpvmr2swwmuzzdqfn26m3q54mhg79 can attest to this), now wears its final coat of dialogue. Tomorrow it debuts on GitHub - Creative Commons, open-source, fork-and-prosper - perhaps the inaugural play to invite pull requests for stage directions. If anyone wishes to add a tap-dancing Lightning node, be my guest.

---

Prague on the Horizon

Next week I return to BTC Prague, where ghosts of last year’s epiphany still linger near the pastry stand. This time I’m lugging camera gear, not corporate slide decks. Episode Two of Finding Home will be filmed there, featuring a wanderer whose bitcoined life map reads like Odysseus riding a Lightning invoice.

Perhaps my only conference of the year, I'm looking forward to catching up with friends old and new, and catch a whiff of that infectious bitcoin hopium.

---

Micro-lessons from Week Three

1. Severance is a mindset. One month of paid vacation feels oddly richer than three months shackled to uncertainty.

2. Symbolism scales. Pick an Independence Day, any Independence Day, and watch the universe queue fireworks.

3. Creative backlogs age like fine kimchi. Leave an idea in brine for a year and it returns with extra tang.

4. Open source = open veins. Releasing art into the commons is terrifying until you remember blood circulates best when it moves.

5. Microsoft Teams silence is golden (parachute). Each canceled stand-up funds roughly eight bars of experimental synth.

---

Gazing Forward

I still don’t know how mortgage, car payments, and teenage-soccer-tour fees will reconcile with my bank balance come August. Yet the dread that once clung to my ribcage has dissolved, replaced by a jittery anticipation - like the hush before a stadium crowd erupts. Every unknown now feels less like a void and more like a blank slide awaiting wild, irreverent doodles.

Next dispatch will likely come with reflections from Prague. The last two years, I was moved to unexpected tears on the final day, marveling at the sheer profundity of the human experience of the week past. Surely, that can't repeat for a third year in a row?

Until then, may your own nets appear exactly when logic insists they can’t - and may they be woven from liberated vacation days and the audible crackle of celebratory fireworks.

@ fa0165a0:03397073

Test of untype

Let see what this markdown editor goes for. Quite nice layout, but so far in my testing only usable via computer. On phone, the keyboard covers the writing area, hehe. Now, where do these get published when posted?

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

The importance of being lindy

I've been thinking about what Vitor said about #Amethyst living on extended time. And thinking. And doing a bit more thinking...

It's a valid point. Why does Amethyst (or, analog, #Damus) still exist? Why is it as popular as it is? Shouldn't they be quickly washed-away by power-funded corporate offerings or highly-polished, blackbox-coded apps?

Because a lot of people trust them to read the code, that's why. The same way that they trust Michael to read it and they trust me to test it. And, perhaps more importantly, they trust us to not deliver corrupted code. Intentionally, or inadvertently.

The developer's main job will not be coding the commit, it will be reviewing and approving the PR.

As AI -- which all developers now use, to some extent, if they are planning on remaining in the business -- becomes more efficient and effective at writing the code, the effort shifts to evaluating and curating what it writes. That makes software code a commodity, and commodities are rated according to brand.

Most of us don't want to make our own shampoo, for instance. Rather, we go to the store and select the brand that we're used to. We have learned, over the years, that this brand won't kill us and does the job we expect it to do. Offloading the decision of Which shampoo? to a brand is worth some of our time and money, which is why strong, reliable brands can charge a premium and are difficult to dislodge.

Even people, like myself, who can read the code from many common programming languages, do not have the time, energy, or interest to read through thousands of lines of Kotlin, Golang, or Typescript or -- God forbid -- C++, from repos I am not actively working on. And asking AI to analyze the code for you leaves you trusting the AI to have a conscience and be virtuous, and may you have fun with that.

The software is no longer the brand. The feature set alone isn't enough. And the manner in which it is written, or the tools it was written with, are largely irrelevant. The thing that matters most is Who approved this version?

The Era of Software Judges has arrived

And that has always been the thing that mattered most, really.

That's why software inertia is a real thing and that's why it's going to still be worth it to train up junior devs. Those devs will be trained up to be moral actors, specializing in reviewing and testing code and confirming its adherance to the project's ethical standards. Because those standards aren't universal; they're nuanced and edge cases will need to be carefully weighed and judged and evaluated and analysed. It will not be enough to add Don't be evil. to the command prompt and call it a day.

So, we shall need judges and advocates, and we must train them up, in the way they shall go.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

---

"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.  A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world." - Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto, 1993

---

Privacy is essential to freedom. Without privacy, individuals are unable to make choices free from surveillance and control. Lack of privacy leads to loss of autonomy. When individuals are constantly monitored it limits our ability to express ourselves and take risks. Any decisions we make can result in negative repercussions from those who surveil us. Without the freedom to make choices, individuals cannot truly be free.

Freedom is essential to acquiring and preserving wealth. When individuals are not free to make choices, restrictions and limitations prevent us from economic opportunities. If we are somehow able to acquire wealth in such an environment, lack of freedom can result in direct asset seizure by governments or other malicious entities. At scale, when freedom is compromised, it leads to widespread economic stagnation and poverty. Protecting freedom is essential to economic prosperity.

The connection between privacy, freedom, and wealth is critical. Without privacy, individuals lose the freedom to make choices free from surveillance and control. While lack of freedom prevents individuals from pursuing economic opportunities and makes wealth preservation nearly impossible. No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.

Rights are not granted. They are taken and defended. Rights are often misunderstood as permission to do something by those holding power. However, if someone can give you something, they can inherently take it from you at will. People throughout history have necessarily fought for basic rights, including privacy and freedom. These rights were not given by those in power, but rather demanded and won through struggle. Even after these rights are won, they must be continually defended to ensure that they are not taken away. Rights are not granted - they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

crazy

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 – Flash, the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses, just announced a new partnership with the Bitcoin Only Brewery, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Flash for seamless Bitcoin payments. 

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

As Co-Founder of Flash, it's not every day we get to toast to a truly refreshing milestone.

Okay, jokes aside.

We're super buzzed to see our friends at @Drink_B0B
Bitcoin Only Brewery using Flash to power their online sales!

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack – shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented: “Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept Bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

In May, fast-food chain Steak ‘N Shake went viral for integrating bitcoin at their restaurants around the world. In the same month, the bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas set a new world record with 4,000 Lightning payments in one day.

According to a report by River Intelligence, public Lightning payment volume surged by 266% from August 2023 to August 2024. This growth is also reflected in the overall accessibility of lighting infrastructure for consumers. According to Lightning Service Provider Breez, over 650 Million users now have access to the Lightning Network through apps like CashApp, Kraken or Strike.

Bitcoin Only Brewery’s adoption of Flash reflects the growing trend of businesses integrating Bitcoin payments to cater to a global, privacy-conscious customer base. By offering no-KYC delivery across Europe, the brewery aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty, appealing to the increasing number of consumers and businesses embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method.

“Flash is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Corbin added. “We’re building a future where businesses of all sizes can seamlessly integrate Bitcoin payments, unlocking new opportunities in the global market. It’s never been easier to start selling in bitcoin and we invite retailers globally to join us in this revolution.”

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

Media Contact:

Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.comPhotos paywithflash.com/about/press

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

hey

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

The other day, I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my favorite living artists. Our conversation was so captivating that I felt compelled to share it. I’m leaving his name out for privacy.

Since our last meeting, I’d watched a documentary about his life, one he’d helped create. I told him how much I admired his openness in it. There’s something strange about knowing intimate details of someone’s life when they know so little about yours—it’s almost like I knew him too well for the kind of relationship we have.

He paused, then said quietly, with a shy grin, that watching the documentary made him realize how “odd and eccentric” he is. I laughed and told him he’s probably the sanest person I know. Because he’s lived fully, chasing love, passion, and purpose with hardly any regrets. He’s truly lived.

Today, I turn 44, and I’ll admit I’m a bit eccentric myself. I think I came into the world this way. I’ve made mistakes along the way, but I carry few regrets. Every misstep taught me something. And as I age, I’m not interested in blending in with the world—I’ll probably just lean further into my own brand of “weird.” I want to live life to the brim. The older I get, the more I see that the “normal” folks often seem less grounded than the eccentric artists who dare to live boldly. Life’s too short to just exist, actually live.

I’m not saying to be strange just for the sake of it. But I’ve seen what the crowd celebrates, and I’m not impressed. Forge your own path, even if it feels lonely or unpopular at times.

It’s easy to scroll through the news and feel discouraged. But actually, this is one of the most incredible times to be alive! I wake up every day grateful to be here, now. The future is bursting with possibility—I can feel it.

So, to my fellow weirdos on nostr: stay bold. Keep dreaming, keep pushing, no matter what’s trending. Stay wild enough to believe in a free internet for all. Freedom is radical—hold it tight. Live with the soul of an artist and the grit of a fighter. Thanks for inspiring me and so many others to keep hoping. Thank you all for making the last year of my life so special.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 — Bitcoin payment gateway startup Flash, just announced a new partnership with the “Bitcoin Only Brewery”, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Lightning payments.

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack, shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented:

“Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

Media Contact:
Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.com

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

@ 6c05c73e:c4356f17

Isa Energia Brasil

Descrição da Empresa

A Isa Energia Brasil é uma das principais empresas do setor de transmissão de energia elétrica do Brasil. Anteriormente conhecida como ISA CTEEP (Companhia de Transmissão de Energia Elétrica Paulista), a companhia passou por um processo de rebranding em novembro de 2023 para refletir sua atuação em escala nacional, que se estende por 18 estados brasileiros.

• Papel no setor: Desempenha um papel crucial na infraestrutura energética do país, sendo responsável por transmitir aproximadamente 33% de toda a energia elétrica produzida no território nacional e 94% no estado de São Paulo.
• Controladora: A companhia é controlada pelo grupo colombiano ISA (Interconexión Eléctrica S.A.), um dos maiores conglomerados de transmissão de energia da América Latina, que detém uma participação majoritária em seu capital social.
• Vantagens: Essa conexão confere à Isa Energia Brasil um sólido respaldo técnico e financeiro, além de sinergias operacionais e de governança.

acoes isae4

Visão Geral da Empresa

A Isa Energia Brasil (ISAE4) é uma das maiores e mais importantes empresas de transmissão de energia elétrica do Brasil. Em termos simples, seu principal negócio é "transportar" a energia em alta tensão das usinas geradoras até as redes de distribuição que a levam para cidades e indústrias.

• Analogia: Pense nela como a gestora das grandes "rodovias" da eletricidade do país.

Mercado que Atua

O mercado de atuação da Isa Energia Brasil (ISAE4) é o setor de transmissão de energia elétrica, um segmento estratégico, altamente regulado e com características muito particulares dentro da cadeia de energia do Brasil. Para entender o mercado da empresa, é preciso conhecer 4 pilares principais:

1. O Modelo de Concessões Públicas

• Funcionamento: A Isa Energia Brasil não opera em um mercado aberto e tradicional. Sua atuação é baseada em concessões de longo prazo (geralmente 30 anos), adquiridas por meio de leilões públicos organizados pelo Governo Federal, através da ANEEL (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica).
• Como funciona: Nos leilões, o governo define os projetos (novas linhas de transmissão e subestações a serem construídas). Vence a empresa que se propõe a construir e operar a infraestrutura pelo menor valor de receita anual.
• Barreiras de entrada: Este modelo cria altíssimas barreiras para novos concorrentes, pois exige enorme capacidade de investimento (capital intensivo), conhecimento técnico especializado e habilidade para vencer disputas acirradas nos leilões.

2. A Previsibilidade da Receita (RAP)

• Receita Anual Permitida (RAP): É a remuneração que a empresa tem direito a receber por disponibilizar suas linhas de transmissão em perfeitas condições de operação. O valor da RAP é definido no leilão e reajustado anualmente por um índice de inflação (geralmente o IPCA), o que protege a receita da desvalorização da moeda.
• Baixo risco: Como a receita é fixa e garantida por contrato, o risco operacional é muito baixo. A empresa recebe o valor integral desde que suas linhas e subestações estejam funcionando. Se houver falhas, ela pode ser penalizada com um desconto na receita, por isso a eficiência na operação e manutenção é fundamental.

3. Posicionamento Estratégico e Geográfico

• Dominância: É responsável por transportar aproximadamente 33% de toda a energia elétrica produzida no Brasil e impressionantes 94% da energia consumida no estado de São Paulo, o maior centro de carga do país.
• Capilaridade nacional: Embora sua origem seja paulista (antiga CTEEP), a empresa expandiu sua atuação e hoje possui ativos em 18 estados brasileiros, o que a posiciona como um player de relevância nacional.
• Principais concorrentes: Seus principais competidores no setor de transmissão são outras grandes empresas como a Eletrobras, TAESA e Alupar, que também disputam ativamente os leilões da ANEEL.

4. Vetores de Crescimento e Perspectivas

• Transição energética: O Brasil está aumentando massivamente sua capacidade de geração de energia renovável, especialmente eólica e solar. A maioria dessas novas usinas está localizada no Nordeste e no norte de Minas Gerais, longe dos grandes centros consumidores (Sudeste). Isso cria uma necessidade urgente de construir novas "autoestradas" de energia para escoar essa produção, garantindo uma demanda contínua por novos projetos de transmissão.
• Crescimento da demanda: O crescimento econômico e populacional do país, além da eletrificação da economia (ex.: carros elétricos), aumenta a necessidade geral de energia, exigindo uma rede de transmissão cada vez mais robusta e confiável.

Oportunidades que o Ativo Traz

As principais oportunidades que a empresa traz são:

• Alta previsibilidade de receita devido à Receita Anual Permitida (RAP).
• Expansão em investimentos de infraestrutura.
• Contratos de concessão renovados e com longa duração.

Isso tudo torna a empresa uma excelente pagadora de dividendos e JCP. No último anúncio da empresa, foram destinados R$2,36 por ação de juros sobre capital próprio, o que a torna um excelente ativo para o longo prazo.

quadro de jcp da isae4

Riscos

Por ser uma empresa que atua no setor de energia elétrica, ela assume alguns riscos que precisam ser monitorados de perto, tais como:

• Natureza (escassez de chuvas): Pode prejudicar a geração de energia e, como consequência, reduzir a transmissão de energia elétrica. Consulte aqui.
• Riscos regulatórios e governamentais (o principal): A empresa opera em um setor regulado pela ANEEL e sob concessões do governo.
• Financeiro: Para financiar seus projetos, a empresa precisa se endividar via debêntures, que são atreladas à Selic. Qualquer variação altera o financeiro da empresa.
• Dividendos: Pode ser uma faca de dois gumes, pois está previsto pagamentos muito maiores no futuro, o que pode retardar o crescimento da empresa devido ao pagamento excessivo.
• Risco operacional: Tudo que envolve intervenção humana pode ter falhas, mesmo que a empresa opere com alta eficiência hoje. Alguém pode “dormir no ponto”.

Tabela de Endividamento

A dívida bruta da companhia atingiu R$ 14.952,1 milhões no 1T25, aumento de R$ 1.678,3 milhões (+12,6%) em relação ao saldo final do 4T24. O aumento se deve, principalmente, à:

• 18ª emissão de debêntures no montante de R$ 1.400,0 milhões em março de 2025.
• 4º desembolso do BNDES em janeiro de 2025 com valor de R$ 82,1 milhões.

A companhia concluiu a 18ª emissão de debêntures no 1T25, levantando R$ 1.400,0 milhões em 2 séries: - Primeira série: R$ 500,0 milhões com custo de IPCA + 7,41% e vencimento em setembro de 2033. - Segunda série: R$ 900,0 milhões com custo de IPCA + 7,41% e vencimento em junho de 2033.

Catalisadores

Os pontos-chave que considero ao investir na empresa são:

• Parceria com a Taesa ampliada. Matéria aqui.
• Alta previsibilidade de receita devido à Receita Anual Permitida (RAP).
• Nova rodada de emissão de debêntures para ampliação de investimentos.
• Previsão de queda da Selic para 12,5% em 2026, o que tornaria “os débitos da empresa mais baratos”.
• Alta perspectiva de aumento no pagamento de dividendos e JCP ao longo dos próximos anos.

cotacao da isase4 lucro liquido isae4

FAQ

A ação ISAE4 é uma boa ação para investir?

Cada um deve fazer sua análise, mas acreditamos que é uma empresa sólida e com bons fundamentos.

Qual é o preço justo da ação ISAE4?

Não há uma base sólida para calcular o preço justo. Na nossa ótica, o ativo está subvalorizado.

Qual o DY da ISAE4?

Dividendo de 10,2% anunciado em 2021.

Como declarar o ISAE4?

A declaração do ISAE4 é dividida em três partes principais:

1. Declaração da Posse das Ações (o que você tinha em carteira).
2. Declaração dos Rendimentos Isentos (Dividendos).
3. Declaração dos Rendimentos de Tributação Exclusiva (Juros Sobre Capital Próprio - JCP).

O documento mais importante para este processo é o Informe de Rendimentos, fornecido pelo banco escriturador das ações.

• Empresa: ISA ENERGIA BRASIL S.A.
• CNPJ: 02.998.611/0001-04
• Banco Escriturador: Itaú Corretora de Valores S.A.
• Como obter o informe: Acesse o Portal de Correspondências Digitais do Itaú para obter seu informe oficial. Ele contém todos os valores separados e prontos para a declaração.

Bio

Investir não precisa ser um bicho de sete cabeças! Na Threedolar, democratizamos o acesso ao mundo dos investimentos, oferecendo conteúdo claro e prático. Comece hoje mesmo a construir seu futuro financeiro!

Disclaimer

Lembre-se: este não é um conselho de investimento. Faça sua própria pesquisa antes de investir. Resultados passados não garantem lucros futuros. Cuide do seu dinheiro!

Referências

• Earnings Release 1T25
• Comunicado ao Mercado - Contratos AIE
• Paraguaçu e Aimorés emitem R$ 700 milhões em debêntures
• Interligação Elétrica Paraguaçu-Aimorés
• Taxa de Juros - Brasil
• Dados Históricos - INMET
• Fundamentus - ISAE4
• Concessões - Isa Energia Brasil

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

enjoy

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

The importance of being lindy

I've been thinking about what Vitor said about #Amethyst living on extended time. And thinking. And doing a bit more thinking...

It's a valid point. Why does Amethyst (or, analog, #Damus) still exist? Why is it as popular as it is? Shouldn't they be quickly washed-away by power-funded corporate offerings or highly-polished, blackbox-coded apps?

Because a lot of people trust them to read the code, that's why. The same way that they trust Michael to read it and they trust me to test it. And, perhaps more importantly, they trust us to not deliver corrupted code. Intentionally, or inadvertently.

The developer's main job will not be coding the commit, it will be reviewing and approving the PR.

As AI -- which all developers now use, to some extent, if they are planning on remaining in the business -- becomes more efficient and effective at writing the code, the effort shifts to evaluating and curating what it writes. That makes software code a commodity, and commodities are rated according to brand.

Most of us don't want to make our own shampoo, for instance. Rather, we go to the store and select the brand that we're used to. We have learned, over the years, that this brand won't kill us and does the job we expect it to do. Offloading the decision of Which shampoo? to a brand is worth some of our time and money, which is why strong, reliable brands can charge a premium and are difficult to dislodge.

Even people, like myself, who can read the code from many common programming languages, do not have the time, energy, or interest to read through thousands of lines of Kotlin, Golang, or Typescript or -- God forbid -- C++, from repos we are not actively working on. And asking AI to analyze the code for you leaves you trusting the AI to have a conscience and be virtuous, and may you have fun with that.

The software is no longer the brand. The feature set alone isn't enough. And the manner in which it is written, or the tools it was written with, are largely irrelevant. The thing that matters most is Who approved this version?

The Era of Software Judges has arrived

And that has always been the thing that mattered most, really.

That's why software inertia is a real thing and that's why it's going to still be worth it to train up junior devs. Those devs will be trained up to be moral actors, specializing in reviewing and testing code and confirming its adherance to the project's ethical standards. Because those standards aren't universal; they're nuanced and edge cases will need to be carefully weighed and judged and evaluated and analysed. It will not be enough to add Don't be evil. to the command prompt and call it a day.

So, we shall need judges and advocates, and we must train them up, in the way they shall go.

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

หลังเสียงระเบิดลูกสุดท้ายของสงครามโลกครั้งที่สองเงียบลง สิ่งที่ยังดังต่อไปในบ้านอเมริกันทุกเช้าคือเสียงโฆษณาจากวิทยุที่เตือนว่า “อย่าลืมกินมื้อเช้านะ เพราะมันคือมื้อที่สำคัญที่สุดของวัน” วาทกรรมนี้ไม่ได้หล่นมาจากปากหมอ หรือคำสอนพระ แต่มันลอยออกมาจากกล่องซีเรียลแบรนด์หนึ่งที่ชื่อว่า Grape-Nuts ซึ่งผลิตโดยบริษัท General Foods ที่ตอนนั้นกำลังครองพื้นที่โต๊ะอาหารเช้าทั่วประเทศ

Grape-Nuts เกิดขึ้นมาตั้งแต่ปี 1897 โดยชายชื่อ Charles William Post หรือ C.W. Post ชายหนุ่มที่เคยเข้ารับการรักษาตัวที่ Battle Creek Sanitarium ของหมอ John Harvey Kellogg ผู้คลั่งไคล้ในสุขภาพและการละราคะด้วยการกินคลีนแบบไม่กินเนื้อสัตว์ ที่นั่นเองที่ Post ได้แรงบันดาลใจจากอาหารสำหรับผู้ป่วยที่หมอ Kellogg คิดค้นขึ้น และพอกลับบ้าน เขาก็ลุกขึ้นมาสร้างแบรนด์ซีเรียลของตัวเองในชื่อ Grape-Nuts โดยเน้นเรื่องไฟเบอร์ การย่อย และสุขภาพล้วนๆ

ชื่อ “Grape-Nuts” ฟังแล้วงงใช่มั้ย เฮียจะเล่าให้ฟัง คือเจ้านี่มันไม่มีองุ่น ไม่มีถั่ว แต่ Post บอกว่าซีเรียลของเขาหวานธรรมชาติเหมือนองุ่น และเวลาย่อยจะเกิดสารที่เขาเรียกว่า grape sugar ก็เลยตั้งชื่อว่าประมาณ “ถั่วแห่งองุ่น” ฟังดูเฮลตี้แบบมีความรู้แต่จริงๆ คือชื่อทางการตลาดล้วนๆ ที่หวังจะสร้างจินตภาพใหม่ให้อาหารเช้าแบบแห้งๆ

หลังจากนั้นธุรกิจของเขาก็โตเอาโตเอา กลายเป็น Postum Cereal Company และค่อยๆ เข้าซื้อกิจการของบริษัทอาหารอื่นๆ จนปี 1929 เปลี่ยนชื่อเป็น General Foods Corporation กลายเป็นบริษัทยักษ์ใหญ่ที่ถือครองแบรนด์ดังมากมาย ไม่ว่าจะเป็น Jell-O, Maxwell House, Birds Eye, Log Cabin เรียกว่าครอบคลุมทั้งอาหารแห้ง อาหารสด ของหวาน และเครื่องดื่ม

พอเข้าสู่ยุคสงครามโลกครั้งที่สอง ประเทศสหรัฐฯ ต้องการทุกแรงงาน ทุกมือ และทุกสมองมาช่วยกันเดินหน้าเครื่องจักรสงคราม รัฐบาลประกาศให้การผลิตกลายเป็นภารกิจแห่งชาติ บริษัทใหญ่ๆ ก็เลยรีบเสนอหน้ามาเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของความรักชาติ General Foods ก็ไม่พลาด พวกเขาเปิดแคมเปญผ่านแบรนด์ Grape-Nuts ว่า “Eat a Good Breakfast – Do a Better Job” หรือ “กินมื้อเช้าให้ดี ทำงานให้เยี่ยม” พร้อมประโยคที่กลายเป็นคำขวัญติดหัวคนทั้งประเทศว่า “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”

พวกเขาไม่ได้บอกว่า “กินของเราแล้วดี” แต่ใช้เทคนิคย้อนศร บอกว่า “ไม่กินมื้อเช้า...ระวังสุขภาพแย่นะ” แล้วค่อยสอดแทรกว่าอาหารเช้าที่เหมาะสม ควรจะเป็นสิ่งที่เทนมใส่แล้วกินได้ใน 2 นาที—นั่นแหละ Grape-Nuts เอง

วาทกรรมนี้ถูกส่งผ่านรายการวิทยุ หนังสือพิมพ์ และโฆษณาทุกแบบที่มีในตอนนั้น โดยอ้างว่า “ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านโภชนาการกล่าวไว้” ซึ่งตอนนั้นยังไม่มีแหล่งอ้างอิงแน่นอนว่าใครคือผู้เชี่ยวชาญคนนั้น แต่ก็ไม่มีใครกล้าค้าน เพราะมันฟังดูถูกต้องและน่าเชื่ออย่างประหลาด

ผลที่ตามมาคืออะไร? คนเริ่มเปลี่ยนวิธีคิดเรื่องอาหารเช้า จากเมื่อก่อนที่มื้อแรกของวันอาจเป็นแค่ขนมปังจิ้มไข่ลวก กากหมูกับข้าว หรือแม้แต่มันต้มจิ้มน้ำปลา กลายเป็นการเทซีเรียลใส่นมเย็น หวานกรุบกรอบทุกคำ และรู้สึกดีเหมือนได้ทำหน้าที่พลเมืองที่ดีไปในตัว เพราะได้รีบออกไปทำงาน

เบื้องหลังของวาทกรรมนี้จริงๆ แล้วคือการต่อยอดกำไรอย่างชาญฉลาดของบริษัทอาหารที่ต้องการเปลี่ยนพฤติกรรมการกินของทั้งประเทศให้หมุนรอบสินค้าในมือของตัวเอง โดยเฉพาะ Grape-Nuts ซึ่งเป็นผลิตภัณฑ์แห้ง เก็บได้นาน ผลิตได้เร็ว และใช้ทรัพยากรน้อยกว่าการปรุงอาหารสดๆ ที่เคยนิยมกันมาแต่ก่อน

กลยุทธ์แบบนี้ฉลาดมาก เพราะมันไม่ได้ขายของโดยตรง แต่มันขาย “แนวคิด” ก่อน แล้วค่อยผูกของเข้ากับแนวคิดนั้นทีหลัง และคนก็เชื่อง่าย เพราะยุคนั้นกำลังหิวหาความมั่นคงทั้งกายและใจหลังเพิ่งผ่านความโกลาหลของสงครามมาหมาด ๆ

แน่นอนว่า General Foods ไม่ได้ทำเรื่องนี้คนเดียว แต่พวกเขาคือเจ้าที่ “เริ่มต้นก่อน” และใช้พลังของสงครามเป็นแรงส่งทางวัฒนธรรม จากจุดเล็กๆ บนกล่องซีเรียล กลายเป็นคำขวัญที่ครูสอนในโรงเรียน พ่อแม่พูดกับลูก และโฆษณาพูดกับคนทั้งประเทศ

แคมเปญประสบความสำเร็จมากถึงขั้นที่บริษัทโฆษณานำไปรีไซเคิลซ้ำให้แบรนด์อื่น เช่น Kellogg’s, Post และ Quaker จนทุกกล่องซีเรียลในซูเปอร์มาร์เก็ตพูดประโยคเดียวกันโดยไม่ต้องนัดหมาย มันกลายเป็นวาทกรรมฝังหัวคนไปแบบเนียน ๆ ว่า ถ้าไม่กินมื้อเช้า จะโฟกัสงานไม่ได้ จะเรียนไม่รู้เรื่อง จะหงุดหงิดง่าย แล้วก็...จะดูเหมือนไม่รักตัวเอง

สิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นในยุคนั้นไม่ใช่แค่การตลาด แต่มันคือ “การสร้างความหมายใหม่ให้มื้อเช้า” จากเดิมที่แต่ละบ้านมีวิธีของตัวเอง ก็กลายเป็นการกำหนดสูตรสำเร็จที่มาพร้อมภาพเด็กยิ้ม คนสุขภาพดี และคุณแม่ที่เตรียมโต๊ะให้พร้อมก่อนลูกจะตื่น

นักข่าวจาก The Guardian เคยเขียนไว้อย่างแสบ ๆ ว่า นี่ไม่ใช่แค่แผนการขายของ แต่มันคือ “moralizing through breakfast” หรือการใส่ศีลธรรมลงไปในอาหารเช้า ถ้าไม่กิน ก็เหมือนคนไม่มีวินัย ถ้ากิน ก็เหมือนได้รับการยอมรับ เป็นผู้ใหญ่ที่ดี ดูแลตัวเองได้

ตรงนี้แหละที่น่าสนใจ เพราะมันย้อนกลับไปถึงรากความคิดของหมอ John Harvey Kellogg เมื่อหลายสิบปีก่อน ที่มองว่าอาหารควรถูกออกแบบเพื่อควบคุมจิตใจมนุษย์ให้อยู่ในกรอบศีลธรรม เขาอาจไม่ได้อยากทำการตลาด แต่สุดท้ายบรรษัทใหญ่กลับนำอุดมการณ์นั้นมารีแพ็คในเวอร์ชันที่ขายได้จริง

หลังจากนั้น วัฒนธรรมมื้อเช้าแบบอุตสาหกรรมก็ฝังรากแน่นยิ่งขึ้นในสังคมตะวันตก โดยเฉพาะเมื่อตลาดเริ่มเจาะไปที่เด็ก ๆ ด้วยการ์ตูนมาสคอต ของเล่นในกล่อง และสีสันสดใสที่ล่อตาล่อใจ ในขณะที่เนื้อในกล่องก็เต็มไปด้วยน้ำตาล แป้ง และบางครั้งก็สารเติมแต่งที่ไม่ต่างจากขนมหวาน

น่าสนใจว่าตลอดยุคหลังจากนั้น จนถึงปัจจุบัน คำว่า “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” ยังถูกใช้ซ้ำโดยแบรนด์อาหารเช้าหลายเจ้าทั่วโลก ทั้งที่ความจริงในทางวิทยาศาสตร์ใหม่ๆ เริ่มตั้งคำถามกับคำกล่าวนี้แล้วว่า จริงหรือ? หรือแค่ “ขายของเก่ง” กันแน่

นักโภชนาการอิสระเริ่มออกมาเปิดโปงว่า คำกล่าวที่ว่า “อาหารเช้าสำคัญที่สุดของวัน” ไม่มีงานวิจัยที่รองรับอย่างชัดเจน มันเป็นเพียงคำที่ถูกทำซ้ำโดยบริษัทที่มีผลประโยชน์เต็มเปา รายงานจาก Livestrong, Reddit Skeptics และหลายแหล่งสรุปตรงกันว่า ประโยคนั้นไม่ได้มาจากแพทย์ แต่มาจากห้องประชุมโฆษณา

แต่ถึงจะรู้แล้วว่าถูกหลอก คนจำนวนมากก็ยังเชื่ออยู่ดี เพราะมันไม่ใช่แค่ข้อมูล แต่มันกลายเป็น ความทรงจำร่วมของทั้งสังคม ไปแล้ว ทุกวันนี้แม้จะมีการศึกษามากมายในเรื่องของมื้ออาหาร แต่อาหารมื้อเช้าก็ยังคงเป็นสิ่งที่ "แตะต้องไม่ได้" ยังคงถูกมองว่าใครไม่กินอาหารเช้าจะโง่

เฮียว่าการตลาดที่แนบเนียนที่สุด ไม่ใช่การเปลี่ยนความคิดคน แต่คือการทำให้คน “จำไม่ได้ว่าความคิดนั้นมาจากไหน” แล้วเผลอเชื่อไปเองว่ามันคือความจริงแต่กำเนิด

เมื่อเฮียมองย้อนกลับไป ก็เห็นชัดเลยว่าอาหารเช้าของเราถูกนิยามใหม่โดยกล่องกระดาษที่ข้างในกรอบแต่ข้างนอกหวานลวง เป็นทั้งของกิน และของหลอกในเวลาเดียวกัน

ทุกวันนี้ เราอาจยังเห็นโฆษณาที่บอกว่า “อาหารเช้าคือเชื้อเพลิงของวัน” หรือ “อย่าออกจากบ้านโดยไม่กินอะไรเลย” แล้วยังเห็นบางโฆษณาบอกว่า "การตากแดดคือการก่อโรคมะเร็งผิวหนัง"

ทั้งที่ความจริงบางทีมื้อเช้าที่ดีที่สุด ก็อาจไม่ต้องอยู่ในกล่องซีเรียล หรือจานขนมปังปิ้ง แต่มันอาจเป็นช่วงเช้าที่เรารู้สึกว่า...วันนี้เราควบคุมชีวิตตัวเองได้อีกวัน ไม่ต้องถูกควบคุมด้วยอำนาจที่มองไม่เห็นใดๆต่างหาก #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

From designer Anna Cairns, the workhorse monospace typeface is rooted in feminist theory.

Across CMM Coda’s subtly imperfect, analogue-inspired letterforms – based on the IBM Selectric typewriter’s typeface, Dual Basic – Anna practically and conceptually brings together the feminist legacy of software and typewriters with the aesthetic sensibilities of the genre associated with the industry. Additionally, CMM Coda enables Anna to explore her intrigue in the blurry terminology used in text production, such as typing, coding and writing, “especially now that most text is created digitally,” Anna says, with typefaces being software in their own right. “We also associate a certain look with each of these modalities,” she continues, “so my idea was to create a typeface that can jump all of these genres simply through a play with white space,” an approach that resulted in CMM Coda’s multiple styles.

Learn more about Comma at https://commatype.com/, a new foundry founded by the Berlin-based type designer Anna Cairns.

Continue reading at https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/comma-type-cmm-coda-graphic-design-project-110625

https://stacker.news/items/1004142

@ edeb837b:ac664163

On June 10th, 2025, four members of the NVSTly team traveled to New York City to attend the 2025 American Business Awards® ceremony, held at the iconic Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It was an unforgettable night as we accepted the Gold Stevie® Award for Tech Startup of the Year—this time, in person.

Meow (left), rich (center), MartyOooit (right)

Representing NVSTly at the event were:

• Rich, CEO & Founder
• Meow, CTO, Lead Developer, & Co-Founder
• MartyOooit, Investor
• Noob, Market Analyst (not shown in photos)

MartyOooit (left), rich (center), Meow (right)

While we shared the exciting news back in April when the winners were announced, being there in person alongside other winners—including eBay, AT&T, T-Mobile, HP Inc., and Fidelity Investments—made the achievement feel even more surreal. To be honored alongside billion-dollar industry leaders was a proud and humbling moment for our startup and a huge milestone in NVSTly’s journey.

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🎤 Team Interview at the Event

During the event, our team was interviewed about the win. When asked:

“What does winning a Stevie Award mean for your organization?”
“How will winning a Stevie Award help your organization?”

Here’s what we had to say:
📺 Watch the video

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A Big Win for Retail Traders

NVSTly was awarded Gold for Tech Startup of the Year in recognition of our work building a powerful, free social investing platform that empowers retail traders with transparency, analytics, and community-driven tools.

Unlike traditional finance platforms, NVSTly gives users the ability to:

• Share and track trades in real time
• Follow and receive alerts from top traders
• Compete on global leaderboards
• Access deep stats like win rate, average return, and more

Whether you're a beginner or experienced trader, NVSTly gives you the insights and tools typically reserved for hedge funds—but in a free, social format built for the modern investor.

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Continued Recognition and Momentum

This award adds to a growing list of recognition for NVSTly:

• 🏆 People’s Choice Winner at the 2024 Benzinga Fintech Awards
• 🔁 Nominated again for Best Social Investing Product in the 2025 Benzinga Fintech Awards
• 🌟 Team members JustCoreGames and Lunaster are nominated for Employee of the Year (Information Technology – Social Media) in the 2025 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence

We’re beyond proud of what our small but mighty team has accomplished—and we’re just getting started. 🚀

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Thanks to the Stevie Awards for an incredible night in New York, and to our community of 50,000+ traders who’ve helped shape NVSTly into what it is today.
This win is yours, too.

Stay tuned—more big things are coming.

— Team NVSTly

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The event brought together some of the most respected names in tech, finance, and business.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

via me

I had a completely different newsletter partially written earlier tonight about whether or not "this cycle is different" when this nagging thought entered my head. So I'm going to write about this and maybe I'll write about the dynamics of this cycle compared to past cycles tomorrow.

A couple of headlines shot across my desk earlier tonight in relation to the potential escalation of kinetic warfare in the Middle East. Apparently the U.S. Embassy in Iraq was sent a warning and evacuation procedures were initiated. Not too long after, the world was made aware that the United States and Israel are contemplating an attack on Iran due to the "fact" that Iran may be close to producing nuclear weapins. The initial monkey brain reaction that I had to these two headlines was, "Oh shit, here we go again. We're going to do something stupid." My second reaction was, "Oh shit, here we go again, I've seen these two exact headlines many times over the years and they've proven to be lackluster if you're a doomer or blood thirsty war monger." Nothing ever happens.

As I venture into my mid-30s and reflect on a life filled with these types of headlines and my personal reactions to these headlines, I'm finally becoming attuned to the fact that the monkey brain reactions aren't very productive at the end of the day. Who knows exactly what's going to happen in Iraq or Iran and whether or not kinetic warfare escalates and materializes from here? Even though I'm a "blue-blooded taxpaying American citizen" who is passively and unwillingly contributing to the war machine and the media industrial complex, there's really nothing I can do about it.

The only thing I can do is focus on what is in front of me. What I have control of. And attempt to leverage what I have control of to make my life and the life of my family as good as humanly possible. Ignoring the external and turning inward often produces incredible results. Instead of worrying about what the media wants you to believe at any given point in time, you simply look away from your computer screen, survey the physical space which you're operating in and determine what you have, what you need and how you can get what you need. This is a much more productive way to spend your time.

This is what I want to touch on right now. There's never been a better time in human history to be productive despite what the algorithm on X or the mainstream media will lead you to believe. Things aren't as great as they could be, but they're also not as bad as you're being led to believe. We live in the Digital Age and the Digital Age provides incredible resources that you can leverage to make YOUR life better.

Social media allows you to create a platform without spending any money. AI allows you to build tools that are beneficial to yourself and others with very little money. And bitcoin exists to provide you with the best form of money that you can save in with the knowledge that your relative ownership of the overall supply isn't going to change. No matter what happens in the external world.

If you can combine these three things to make your life better and - by extension - potentially make the lives of many others better, you're going to be well off in the long run. Combining these three things isn't going to result in immediate gratification, but if you put forth a concerted effort, spend the time, have some semblance of patience, and stick with it, I truly believe that you will benefit massively in the long run. Without trying to sound like a blowhard, I truly believe that this is why I feel relatively calm (despite my monkey brain reactions to the headlines of the day) at this current point in time.

We've entered the era of insane leaps in productivity and digital hard money that cannot be corrupted. The biggest mistake you can make in your life right now is overlooking the confluence of these two things. With an internet connection, an idea, some savvy, and hard work you can materially change your life. Create something that levels up your knowledge, that enables you to get a good job in the real world, or to create a company of your own. Bring your talents to the market, exchange them for money, and then funnel that money into bitcoin (if you're not being paid in it already). We may be at the beginning of a transition from the high velocity trash economy to the high leverage agency economy run on sound money and applied creativity.

These concepts are what you should be focusing most of your time and attention to today and in the years ahead. Don't get distracted by the algorithm, the 30-second video clips, the headlines filled with doom, and the topics of the 24 hour news cycle. I'll admit, I often succumb to them myself. But, as I get older and develop a form of pattern recognition that can only be attained by being on this planet for a certain period of time, it is becoming very clear that those things are not worth your attention.

Living by the heuristic that "nothing ever happens" is a pretty safe bet. Funnily enough, it's incredibly ironic that you're led to believe that something is happening every single day, and yet nothing ever happens. By getting believing that something happens every day you are taking your attention away from doing things that happen to make your life better.

Tune out the noise. Put on the blinders. Take advantage of the incredible opportunities that lie before you. If enough of you - and many others who do not read this newsletter - do this, I truly believe we'll wake up to find that the world we live in is a much better place.

Nothing ever happens, so make something happen.

Intelligence Officials Are Quietly Becoming Bitcoin Believers

Ken Egan, former CIA Deputy Chief of Cyber Operations, revealed a surprising truth on TFTC: the intelligence community harbors numerous Bitcoin advocates. Egan explained that intelligence professionals uniquely understand how governments weaponize financial systems through sanctions and account freezing. Having wielded these tools themselves, they recognize the need for personal financial sovereignty. He shared compelling anecdotes of discovering colleagues with "We are all Satoshi" stickers and a European chief of station paying for dinner with a BlockFi card to earn Bitcoin rewards.

"I think there are a lot of Bitcoiners, not just at CIA, but across the whole national security establishment... they're in it for the exact same reasons everybody else is." - Ken Egan

The Canadian trucker protests served as a pivotal moment, Egan noted. Watching Western governments freeze citizens' bank accounts for political dissent struck a nerve among intelligence professionals who previously viewed financial weaponization as a tool reserved for foreign adversaries. This awakening has created unlikely allies within institutions many Bitcoiners distrust.

Check out the full podcast here for more on Bitcoin's national security implications, privacy tech prosecutions, and legislative priorities.

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Headlines of the Day

Stripe Buys Crypto Wallet Privy After Bridge Deal - via X

Trump Calls CPI Data "Great" Urges Full Point Fed Cut - via X

Bitcoin Hashrate Reaches New All-Time High - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

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Bitcoin’s Next Parabolic Move: Could Liquidity Lead the Way?

Is bitcoin’s next parabolic move starting? Global liquidity and business cycle indicators suggest it may be.

Read the latest report from Unchained and TechDev, analyzing how global M2 liquidity and the copper/gold ratio—two historically reliable macro indicators—are aligning once again to signal that a new bitcoin bull market may soon begin.

Download the report here

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Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

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Final thought...

Life is good.

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Download our free browser extension, Opportunity Cost: https://www.opportunitycost.app/ start thinking in SATS today.

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

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

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

testttt

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Look and see\ Look and see

You look like how you look at me

Look and see\ Look and see

The colorless through the color TV

Look and see\ Look and be

The unborn identity

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

hey test

@ 04c3c1a5:a94cf83d

I am getting my nails done.

@ 70c48e4b:00ce3ccb

Dear readers,

“The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations.” — David Friedman

What If we could enforce promises without force?

David Friedman, in his book The Machinery of Freedom, tosses out a pretty wild idea: that people can build systems of cooperation and justice without needing a government at all. These systems rely on voluntary agreements, social reputation, and mutual incentives. In such a world, contracts hold value because honoring a promise brings greater rewards than breaking it.

From Friedman to Bitcoin

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e8zsFTV94bw/maxresdefault.jpg

This vision shaped the thinking behind Angor, a funding tool built on Bitcoin. Friedman’s ideas showed that systems of cooperation could work without central authority, and Bitcoin now provides the foundation to build them. It records transactions in a public and tamper-proof way. With features like Taproot, people can set clear rules for funding and accountability. Angor uses these tools to help founders and backers create agreements that are transparent and easy to verify.

The result is a new kind of marketplace where follow-through is visible, and reputation becomes a real asset. Instead of relying on enforcement from above, trust is earned through action and built into the system itself.

What happens after the project succeeds?

One important question kept returning throughout our work: what happens after a project succeeds? The founder raises the funds, delivers the product, and begins earning revenue. What mechanism ensures that revenue is shared as promised? How can investors protect their interests in an environment that relies on voluntary structure rather than external authority?

To explore possible answers, we looked at how libertarian thinkers approach contracts in stateless systems.

How libertarian thinkers approach contracts without the state?

Friedman, along with other libertarian thinkers like Murray Rothbard and Bruce Benson, describes voluntarily created legal systems where people make binding agreements and use private mechanisms to enforce them. These mechanisms include:

• Reputational risk
• Collateralized performance
• Community arbitration
• Decentralized insurance

Such tools can replace state-backed enforcement when trust is earned and incentives are aligned.

If founders are anonymous:

When a founder chooses to remain pseudonymous, legal enforcement is not available. In this case, the agreement between the founder and investor can rely on cryptographic mechanisms such as performance bonds, revenue proofs, and public reputation systems.

1. Performance Bonds

• Founders deposit additional Bitcoin into a separate, time-locked contract. As they meet revenue-sharing milestones, they are allowed to unlock specific portions of this bond.

• If a revenue allocation is missed or a deadline passes without fulfillment, the contract redirects the bond to investors through a Taproot clause i.e. a feature in Bitcoin that lets you set up ‘if-this-then-that’ rules directly into a transaction, but privately. This creates a clear and automatic consequence, reinforcing accountability through financial incentives.

1. Revenue Proofs and Oracles

• Most founders, especially those running small businesses like cafes, games, or services, do not earn revenue in Bitcoin. Their income flows through fiat systems, which means automatic on-chain revenue streaming is not an option. The only way to maintain transparency is to prove income after the fact. This starts with exporting a sales report from a platform such as Stripe, Revolut, or a point-of-sale system. The founder hashes the file and posts that hash to the Bitcoin blockchain as a timestamped public reference.

• An oracle plays the role of a neutral verifier. This could be a trusted accountant or an observer chosen by the investor community. Their job is simple: compare the actual report with the hash recorded on-chain. If the data matches, the oracle signs a message that triggers the revenue-share payout using a Discreet Log Contract (DLC).

A DLC is similar to a smart contract, but built for Bitcoin. It allows two parties to agree on a specific outcome, such as how much revenue was made, and only releases funds when that outcome is confirmed by the oracle.

This process does not depend on central enforcement. Instead, it works through mutual agreement and the oracle’s reputation, or any collateral they may have provided in advance.

1. Reputation as collateral

• Every revenue-share payout is recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, making it publicly visible and verifiable. Community-run indexers can scan the chain and track whether a founder consistently delivers payments on time. This performance history is then summarized into what is known as a “contract streak,” which refers to the number of consecutive payouts completed without delay.

• These streaks are published as signed events through protocols like Nostr, allowing anyone to verify a founder’s track record. A strong, uninterrupted streak builds credibility and can improve the chances of raising funds for future projects. In contrast, a broken streak signals risk, which discourages new investment and reduces access to support from the Angor community.

If founders are public:

When a founder uses a real identity, the parties can combine legal agreements with on-chain contracts. These hybrid arrangements allow for tools like enforceable smart contracts, voluntary arbitration, and potentially community-backed insurance.

1. Legally binding smart contracts

• This type of agreement formally identifies the founder’s legal entity and clearly links it to specific Taproot addresses used in the project. It outlines the rules for revenue sharing, describes what constitutes a breach, and specifies how disputes should be resolved. Because it is a formal legal document, it can be enforced in any relevant jurisdiction where the founder has a presence or assets.

1. Private arbitration

• During the contract setup, both parties can agree to a neutral arbitrator who will step in if a dispute arises. If a revenue payout is delayed or missed, the arbitrator reviews all relevant data, including on-chain records, oracle confirmations, and supporting documentation. Based on this evidence, the arbitrator issues a decision that determines whether funds should be released, held, or redirected. This method provides a clear resolution process without involving courts, while still maintaining a fair and structured outcome.

1. Equity sharing and traditional securities

• When founders are publicly identified and operating under a registered entity, they can also offer equity in the company as part of the funding arrangement. This can take the form of direct share issuance, convertible notes, or tokenized equity, depending on jurisdictional frameworks and investor preferences.

While Angor does not facilitate equity transfers directly, the on-chain agreement can reference these arrangements clearly. Investors may receive shares documented in a cap table, with accompanying legal agreements that govern dividend rights, voting power, or exit terms.

This method provides a more conventional form of investor alignment and is often well-understood by experienced backers. It can also be combined with on-chain revenue-sharing mechanisms to create hybrid models that balance transparency with long-term equity value.

Final Thought: Alignment Over Authority

The ideas in The Machinery of Freedom show how people can build cooperative systems without relying on centralized authority. Angor puts those ideas into action by applying them to decentralized crowdfunding. Each campaign becomes a contract. Each payout becomes a public signal of integrity. Reputation is built over time, through visible and verifiable performance.

This approach shifts enforcement from force to alignment. It rewards honesty and transparency while making misuse costly. By designing systems where trust is earned through action and recorded on-chain, we move toward a more resilient model of funding. This model is grounded in consent, shaped by shared incentives, and supported by the open logic of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin itself works this way. Miners follow the rules not because they are told to, but because breaking them wastes energy, time, and opportunity. The cost of cheating is built into the system. Angor adopts the same principle: integrity is not enforced from above, it is embedded in the architecture.

If you are building on Angor or exploring similar ideas, reach out. The tools are evolving, and the community is growing.

https://docs.angor.io/images/tools/hub.png

Have you tried Angor yet?

Thank you & Ciao. Guest writer: Paco nostr:npub1v67clmf4jrezn8hsz28434nc0y5fu65e5esws04djnl2kasxl5tskjmjjk

@ 8194da31:0f3badf3

I got fired at 29.

Best thing that ever happened to me.

Everyone told me to follow the safe path.

"Go to college."

"Get a secure job."

"Don't take risks."

So I became a physical therapist.

Safe. Boring. Soul-crushing.

Then COVID hit and changed everything.

I became a wheelchair technician.

One of the only jobs you could do outside while everyone was locked indoors.

Driving through empty cities while the world hid.

Listening to podcasts to stay sane.

That's when I discovered Michael Saylor talking about Bitcoin in 2022.

Digital freedom.

Money nobody could control.

Escape from the broken system.

I was hooked.

So I landed a corporate job to stack more Bitcoin.

The strategy worked.

I bought more Bitcoin in a bear market.

But I sacrificed my physical and mental health.

Ten hours of driving daily.

Weight piling on.

Happiness draining out.

They fired me after 10 months.

Left me with nothing but a mortgage to pay.

Terrifying but liberating.

A friend from the gym threw me a lifeline.

"Want to train people?"

I grabbed it.

While building others' bodies, I built my future:

• Kept writing online • Kept studying Bitcoin • Kept building my dream

Now I help Bitcoiners grow their influence and personal brand.

So they can taste freedom too.

Found an amazing girlfriend who believes in the vision.

The mortgage doesn't scare me anymore.

Here's what I learned:

Society's safe path leads to society's prison.

Your risky path leads to your freedom.

Stop asking permission to live differently.

Start building the life that makes you excited to wake up.

The world needs what you're hiding.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

What is KYC/AML?

• The acronym stands for Know Your Customer / Anti Money Laundering.
• In practice it stands for the surveillance measures companies are often compelled to take against their customers by financial regulators.
• Methods differ but often include: Passport Scans, Driver License Uploads, Social Security Numbers, Home Address, Phone Number, Face Scans.
• Bitcoin companies will also store all withdrawal and deposit addresses which can then be used to track bitcoin transactions on the bitcoin block chain.
• This data is then stored and shared. Regulations often require companies to hold this information for a set number of years but in practice users should assume this data will be held indefinitely. Data is often stored insecurely, which results in frequent hacks and leaks.  
• KYC/AML data collection puts all honest users at risk of theft, extortion, and persecution while being ineffective at stopping crime. Criminals often use counterfeit, bought, or stolen credentials to get around the requirements. Criminals can buy "verified" accounts for as little as $200. Furthermore, billions of people are excluded from financial services as a result of KYC/AML requirements.

During the early days of bitcoin most services did not require this sensitive user data, but as adoption increased so did the surveillance measures. At this point, most large bitcoin companies are collecting and storing massive lists of bitcoiners, our sensitive personal information, and our transaction history.

Lists of Bitcoiners

KYC/AML policies are a direct attack on bitcoiners. Lists of bitcoiners and our transaction history will inevitably be used against us.

Once you are on a list with your bitcoin transaction history that record will always exist. Generally speaking, tracking bitcoin is based on probability analysis of ownership change. Surveillance firms use various heuristics to determine if you are sending bitcoin to yourself or if ownership is actually changing hands.  You can obtain better privacy going forward by using collaborative transactions such as coinjoin to break this probability analysis.

Fortunately, you can buy bitcoin without providing intimate personal information. Tools such as peach, hodlhodl, robosats, azteco and bisq help; mining is also a solid option: anyone can plug a miner into power and internet and earn bitcoin by mining privately.

You can also earn bitcoin by providing goods and/or services that can be purchased with bitcoin. Long term, circular economies will mitigate this threat: most people will not buy bitcoin - they will earn bitcoin - most people will not sell bitcoin - they will spend bitcoin.

There is no such thing as KYC or No KYC bitcoin, there are bitcoiners on lists and those that are not on lists.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future.

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Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community.

A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights

Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place.

Abundant Access to Fresh Water

Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact.

Grow Your Own Food

A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming.

Guns

The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice.

A Strong Community You Can Depend On

No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security.

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Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Jason Lowery’s thesis, Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin, reframes bitcoin not merely as digital cash but as a transformative security technology with profound implications for investors and nation-states alike.

For centuries, craft brewers understood that true innovation balanced tradition with experimentation—a delicate dance between established techniques and bold new flavors.

Much like the craft beer revolution reshaped a global industry, bitcoin represents a fundamental recalibration of how humans organize value and project power in the digital age.

The Antler in the Digital Forest: Power Projection

Lowery, a U.S. Space Force officer and MIT scholar, anchors his Softwar theory in a biological metaphor: Bitcoin as humanity’s “digital antler.” In nature, antlers allow animals like deer to compete for resources through non-lethal contests—sparring matches where power is demonstrated without fatal consequences. This contrasts sharply with wolves, who must resort to violent, potentially deadly fights to establish hierarchy.

The Human Power Dilemma: Historically, humans projected power and settled resource disputes through physical force—wars, seizures, or coercive control of assets. Even modern financial systems rely on abstract power structures: court orders, bank freezes, or government sanctions enforced by legal threat rather than immediate physical reality.

Lowery argues this creates inherent fragility: abstract systems can collapse when met with superior physical force (e.g., invasions, revolutions). Nature only respects physical power.

Bitcoin’s Physical Power Engine: Bitcoin introduces a novel solution through its proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Miners compete to solve computationally intense cryptographic puzzles, expending real-world energy (megawatts) to validate transactions and secure the network.

This process converts electricity—a tangible, physical resource—into digital security and immutable property rights. Winning a “block” is like winning a sparring match: it consumes significant resources (energy/cost) but is non-destructive.

The miner gains the right to write the next page of the ledger and collect rewards, but no participant is physically harmed, and no external infrastructure is destroyed.

Table: Traditional vs. Bitcoin-Based Power Systems

Power System

Mechanism

Key Vulnerability

Resource Cost

Traditional (Fiat/Banking)

Legal abstraction, threat of state force

Centralized points of failure, corruption, political change

Low immediate cost, high systemic risk

Military/Economic Coercion

Physical force, sanctions

Escalation, collateral damage, moral hazard

Very high (lives, capital, instability)

Bitcoin (Proof-of-Work)

Competition via energy expenditure

High energy cost, concentration risk (mining)

High energy cost, low systemic risk

Softwar Theory National Strategic Imperative: Governments Are Taking Notice

Lowery’s Softwar Theory has moved beyond academia into the corridors of power, shaping U.S. national strategy:

1. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Vice President JD Vance recently framed bitcoin as an instrument projecting American values—”innovation, entrepreneurship, freedom, and lack of censorship”. State legislation is now underway to implement this reserve, preventing easy reversal by future administrations.
2. Regulatory Transformation: The SEC is shifting from an “enforcement-first” stance under previous leadership. New initiatives include:
   • Repealing Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121), which discouraged banks from custodying digital currency by forcing unfavorable balance sheet treatment.
   • Creating the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to develop clearer crypto registration/disclosure rules.

The Investor’s Lens: Scarcity, Security, and Asymmetric Opportunity

For investors, understanding “Softwar” validates bitcoin’s unique value proposition beyond price speculation:

• Digital Scarcity as Strategic Depth: Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million makes it the only digital asset with truly inelastic supply, a programmed scarcity immune to political whims or central bank printing.

  This “scarcity imperative” acts as a natural antidote to global fiat debasement. As central banks expanded money supplies aggressively (Global M2), bitcoin’s price has shown strong correlation, acting as a pressure valve for inflation concerns. The quadrennial “halving” (latest: April 2024) mechanically reduces new supply, creating built-in supply shocks as adoption grows. * The Antifragile Security Feedback Loop: Bitcoin’s security isn’t static; it’s antifragile. The network strengthens through demand: * More users → More transactions → Higher fees → More miner revenue → More hashpower (computational security) → Greater network resilience → More user confidence.
  This self-reinforcing cycle contrasts sharply with traditional systems, where security is a cost center (e.g., bank security budgets, military spending). Bitcoin turns security into a profitable, market-driven activity. * Institutionalization Without Centralization: While institutional ownership via ETFs (like BlackRock’s IBIT) and corporate treasuries (MicroStrategy, Metaplanet) has surged, supply remains highly decentralized.

  Individuals still hold the largest share of bitcoin, preventing a dangerous concentration of control. Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone are projected to see over $20 billion in net inflows in 2025, demonstrating robust institutional capital allocation.

The Bitcoin Community: Building the Digital Antler’s Resilience

Lowery’s “Softwar” theory underscores why bitcoin’s decentralized architecture is non-negotiable. Its strength lies in the alignment of incentives across three participant groups:

1. Miners: Provide computational power (hashrate), validating transactions and securing the network. Incentivized by block rewards (newly minted BTC) and transaction fees. Their physical energy expenditure is the “muscle” behind the digital antler.
2. Nodes: Independently verify and enforce the protocol rules, maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Run by users, businesses, and enthusiasts globally. They ensure decentralized consensus, preventing unilateral protocol changes.
3. Users: Individuals, institutions, and corporations holding, transacting, or building on bitcoin. Their demand drives transaction fees and fuels the security feedback loop.

This structure creates “Mutually Assured Preservation”. Attacking bitcoin requires overwhelming its global, distributed physical infrastructure (miners/nodes), a feat far more complex and costly than seizing a central bank’s gold vault or freezing a bank’s assets. It transforms financial security from a centralized liability into a decentralized, physically-grounded asset.

Risks & Responsibilities

Investors and policymakers must acknowledge persistent challenges:

• Volatility: Bitcoin remains volatile, though this has decreased as markets mature. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is widely recommended to mitigate timing risk.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: While U.S. policy is increasingly favorable, global coordination is lacking. The EU’s MiCAR regulation exemplifies divergent approaches.
• Security & Custody: While Bitcoin’s protocol is robust, user errors (lost keys) or exchange hacks remain risks.
• Environmental Debate: Proof-of-Work energy use is scrutinized, though mining increasingly uses stranded energy/renewables. Innovations continue.

Jason Lowery’s “Softwar” theory elevates bitcoin from a financial instrument to a socio-technological innovation on par with the invention of the corporation, the rule of law, or even the antler in evolutionary biology. It provides a coherent framework for understanding why:

• Nations like the U.S. are looking to establish bitcoin reserves and embracing stablecoins—they recognize bitcoin’s role in projecting economic power non-violently in the digital age.
• Institutional Investors are allocating billions via ETFs—they see a scarce, secure, uncorrelated asset with antifragile properties.
• Individuals in hyperinflationary economies or under authoritarian regimes use bitcoin—it offers self-sovereign wealth storage immune to seizure or debasement.

For the investor, bitcoin represents more than potential price appreciation. It offers exposure to a fundamental reorganization of how power and value are secured and exchanged globally, grounded not in abstract promises, but in the unyielding laws of physics and mathematics.

Like the brewers who balanced tradition with innovation to create something enduring and valuable, bitcoin pioneers are building the infrastructure for a more resilient digital future—one computationally secured block at a time. The “Softwar” is here, and it is reshaping the landscape of p

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

For years American bitcoin miners have argued for more efficient and free energy markets. It benefits everyone if our energy infrastructure is as efficient and robust as possible. Unfortunately, broken incentives have led to increased regulation throughout the sector, incentivizing less efficient energy sources such as solar and wind at the detriment of more efficient alternatives.

The result has been less reliable energy infrastructure for all Americans and increased energy costs across the board. This naturally has a direct impact on bitcoin miners: increased energy costs make them less competitive globally.

Bitcoin mining represents a global energy market that does not require permission to participate. Anyone can plug a mining computer into power and internet to get paid the current dynamic market price for their work in bitcoin. Using cellphone or satellite internet, these mines can be located anywhere in the world, sourcing the cheapest power available.

Absent of regulation, bitcoin mining naturally incentivizes the build out of highly efficient and robust energy infrastructure. Unfortunately that world does not exist and burdensome regulations remain the biggest threat for US based mining businesses. Jurisdictional arbitrage gives miners the option of moving to a friendlier country but that naturally comes with its own costs.

Enter AI. With the rapid development and release of AI tools comes the requirement of running massive datacenters for their models. Major tech companies are scrambling to secure machines, rack space, and cheap energy to run full suites of AI enabled tools and services. The most valuable and powerful tech companies in America have stumbled into an accidental alliance with bitcoin miners: THE NEED FOR CHEAP AND RELIABLE ENERGY.

Our government is corrupt. Money talks. These companies will push for energy freedom and it will greatly benefit us all.

@ b1e9b8df:07685594

OERTR steht für eine Art, freie Bildungsressourcen (Open Educational Resources) über das dezentrale Protokoll Nostr zu verbreiten, auffindbar zu machen und weiterzuentwickeln.

Statt zentraler Plattformen oder Silos nutzen wir Relays – offene Knoten im Nostr-Netzwerk – um Materialien, Metadaten, Annotationen und Kurse dauerhaft, hoch verfügbar und maschinenlesbar im interoperablen Datenraum verfügbar zu machen.

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🚀 Unser Ziel

• OER auffindbar machen – über strukturierte Events (z. B. Kind 30023, 30142)

• Mitmachen ermöglichen – durch einfache Workflows mit git, Matrix & Nostr

• Bildung dezentral denken – jenseits von Plattformlogiken

• Metadaten lebendig halten – durch Community-gestützte Annotation & Remixbarkeit

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🔧 Womit wir arbeiten

• 💬 Matrix zur Koordination & Diskussion

• 💻 git(hub) zur offenen Entwicklung und Dokumentation

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📡 Mach mit!

➡ Nostr folgen:\ 👉 npub1k85m3haymj3ggjknfrxm5kwtf5umaze4nyghnp29a80lcpmg2k2q54v05a (nähere Infos auf https://github.com/edufeed-org/OERTR )

➡ Matrix beitreten:\ 🟢 #OERTR:rpi-virtuell.de\ https://matrix.to/#/%23OERTR:rpi-virtuell.de\ Zum Diskutieren, Planen, Ausprobieren.

➡ GitHub anschauen:\ 📂 https://github.com/edufeed-org/OERTR\ Mit Beispieldaten, n8n-Workflows, NIP-Verlinkungen & mehr.

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🧠 Ideen zum Start

• 🔍 Indexe für OER-Projekte (z. B. OERinfo, rpi-virtuell, WirLernenOnline)

• 📚 Tagging-Events für Fachbereiche, Zielgruppen & Lizenztypen

• 🤝 Event-Verknüpfung mit Mastodon, Mobilizon, Wikidata

• 🧩 Mitdenken beim Aufbau eines offenen Bildungsraums via Nostr

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📎 Beispiel: OER-Material posten

json { "kind": 30142, "tags": [ ["d", "https://example.org/oer1234"], ["r", "https://example.org/oer1234"], ["subject", "Ethik"], ["author", "Max Mustermann"], ["license", "CC-BY 4.0"] ], "content": "Material zur Gewaltfreien Kommunikation für die 5. Klasse" }

💡 Fragen? Ideen?

Wir freuen uns über Feedback, Pull Requests oder ein einfaches "Hallo!"\ ➡ Schreib uns im Matrix-Raum oder auf Nostr .

OERTR – ein Netzwerk. Kein Silo.

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

เรื่องของซีเรียล ที่เรารู้กัน ความจริงมันก็ไม่ได้สวยหรูสามัคคีอะไรเท่าไรครับ เบื้องหลังผลประโยชน์ระดับโลก ส่วนมากมีความขัดแย้งรุนแรงเสมอๆ

Recap นิดนะครับ ย้อนกลับไปช่วงปี 1880s ที่เมืองเล็ก ๆ อย่าง Battle Creek มลรัฐมิชิแกน สหรัฐฯ ดร. John Harvey Kellogg เป็นผู้กำกับดูแล Battle Creek Sanitarium ซึ่งเปิดสอนเรื่องสุขภาพครบทุกด้าน ทั้งโภชนาการออกกำลังกาย ไปจนถึงการควบคุมราคะ โดยเฉพาะเรื่องอาหารเช้า เขาเชื่อว่ามื้อแรกของวันมันมีอำนาจควบคุมอารมณ์และจิตวิญญาณได้ ถ้าเริ่มต้นด้วยไข่ แฮม หรือเนื้อ มันจะพลิกเรือจิตใจให้ไหลเข้าสู่ตัณหา …ซึ่งไม่ใช่จุดประสงค์ชีวิตนักพรตชาว Adventist เลย

ปี 1894 ในห้องครัวของโรงพยาบาลแห่งนี้ ดร. John กับน้องชาย Will ทดลองทำข้าวธัญพืชอบสมุนไพร เมล็ดธัญพืชบดที่หล่นบนเตาแล้วกลายเป็นแผ่นกรอบ มีชื่อเรียกชั่วคราวว่า “Granose biscuits” หรือ “wheat flakes” ซึ่งเป็นจุดเริ่มต้นของอาหารเช้าที่เน้นสุขภาพ ไม่ใช่ความอร่อย

วันที่ 7 มีนาคม 1897 ดร. John ยืนกรานจัดแจก Corn Flakes ตามหลักการ “ไม่หวาน ไม่อิ่มมาก” ในแบบฉบับ ซีเรียลไม่ใส่น้ำตาล (sugarless cereal) ให้กับคนไข้ของเขาเป็นครั้งแรก ความหวังคือให้พลังย่อยและช่วยเรื่องลำไส้ เพื่อสุขภาพมากกว่าความหรรษาปลายลิ้น

แต่แน่นอนว่า สูตรชีวิตด้านอาหารแบบพระเขาไม่ง้อลิ้นชาวบ้าน อย่าพูดถึงยอดขายเลย! น้องชาย Will Keith Kellogg ซึ่งเป็นนักธุรกิจสายลุย มองเห็นว่ารสจืดแบบนี้ไม่เกิด เขาจึงแฝงแนวคิดว่า “ทำไงให้ซีเรียลอร่อยจนคนยอมจ่าย” และสุดท้ายก็เติมน้ำตาลเข้าไป ปรับหน้าแพ็กเกจ และใส่โฆษณาชวนเชื่อว่า “อาหารเช้าสำคัญที่สุดของวัน” จนคนเริ่มเชื่อ

จากความเข้าใจเรื่องบริษัทสตาร์ทอัพของยุคนั้น ระหว่าง 1897–1906 ความแตกแยกของแนวคิดพี่-น้องก็ชัดเจนขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ ดร. John ที่เชื่อเรื่อง purity ของอาหาร ไม่เห็นด้วยกับน้ำตาล กลับขัดแย้งกับ Will ที่มองว่า “นี่ล่ะโอกาสทองเชิงพาณิชย์” จนในปี 1906 Will ตัดสินใจแยกออกมาเปิดบริษัทใหม่ในชื่อ Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company วันที่ 19 กุมภาพันธ์ 1906 โดยผลักดันซีเรียลหวาน มีน้ำตาล จนขายดีทะลุเป้า

ตอนนี้พี่น้องก็กลายมาเป็นศัตรูทางธุรกิจจนได้ Will ยึดชื่อ Kellogg ทำโฆษณาเต็มแรง ลงโฆษณาเสาไฟ times square ใหญ่สุดในตอนนั้น ดร. John ฟ้องศาลขอสิทธิ์ในชื่อ Kellogg คืน เพราะเขาคิดว่าควรเป็นของผู้เริ่มต้นก่อน สุดท้าย Michigan Supreme Court ตัดสินให้ Will ชนะ ชัดเจนว่า “ใครทำการตลาด เขาก็เป็นเจ้าของชื่อ”

หลังจากนั้น ซีเรียลใส่น้ำตาลแบบกล่อง (boxed cereal) ก็เริ่มกระจายไปทั่วโลกในช่วงปี 1909–1920 โดย mass‑production ออกวันละหลักหมื่นกล่อง และโฆษณาไประดับครอบครัว วัยเด็ก และแม่บ้าน วาทกรรมคือ "ให้ลูกแข็งแรง" "อาหารเช้าแห่งอารยธรรม" ที่สำคัญคือ “ทำง่าย กินง่าย”

พอถึงปี 1907 โรงงานเกิดไฟไหม้ แต่กลับสร้างใหม่ในเวลา 6 เดือน แสดงให้เห็นถึงพลังของธุรกิจซีเรียลกล่องอย่างแท้จริง หลังจากนั้นในปี 1922 บริษัทก็เปลี่ยนชื่อเป็น Kellogg Company และโตเต็มที่ในช่วง 1920s–1930s นับเป็นเครื่องจักรของความเชื่อที่ว่า น้ำตาลในอาหารเช้าย่อมดีกว่าไขมันและเนื้อ แต่ในอีกมุม มันก็คือน้ำตาลอัดเม็ดเชิงการตลาดชุดแรกของโลก

ในภาพรวม หากมองจากสายตาประชาอเมริกันยุคต้น เคลล็อกพี่เป็นผู้ปฏิวัติโภชนาการสุทธิ เขาต้องการให้ซีเรียลเป็นอาหาร “ปราศจากสาปราคะ” ที่มุ่งเน้นสุขภาพ แต่ Will พาเรื่องนี้เข้าสู่วงการพาณิชย์ ขายง่าย รสหวาน และถูกเชื่อมกับแนวคิดว่าเด็กน้อยต้องกินอะไรเดี๋ยวนั้นเพื่อแข็งแรง กระทั่งพลังตลาดทำให้คนย้ายจากมื้อเช้าแบบหนัก ไปเป็นชามซีเรียลจิ้มกับนมในสไตล์ยุคใหม่ โดยไม่รู้เลยว่าหัวใจแท้จริงมันเริ่มตั้งแต่มุ่งปราบราคะและโมเดิร์นลุยตลาด

เมื่อดู timeline เต็มรูปแบบ เราจะเห็นว่า 1894: ดร. John ทดลอง Flaked wheat/raw Granose 1897: แจก Corn Flakes สูตรจืด sugarless จนเป็นกินกับนมเพื่อช่วยการย่อย (milk accompaniment)
1906: Will แยกบริษัท สร้างตลาดซีเรียลหวาน 1909: เปลี่ยนชื่อเป็น Kellogg Company 1922: บริษัทขยายสู่ตลาดโลกโดยสมบูรณ์

ทุกย่างก้าวมีหัวใจสำคัญคือการเปลี่ยนพฤติกรรมผู้คนจาก “กินอาหารจริง” เป็น “กินอาหารกล่อง” จากไข่ เบคอน สตูว์ มาเป็นชามซีเรียลจิ้มกับนมที่ใส่น้ำตาลจัด ทั้งที่แท้จริงแล้วเป้าหมายแรกคือ “สงบกิเลส” แต่กลับจบที่ “กระตุ้นยอดขาย”

คุณลองจินตนาการถึงคนอเมริกันก่อนซีเรียล ตื่นเช้ามาเจอจานไข่ดาว เบคอน หรือแม้แต่ข้าวใส่จานพร้อมผัก ยิ่งทำงานหนักเสริมด้วยแผนยุทธศาสตร์ชีวิต พอซีเรียลมา “แค่เท กลืน กินง่าย” มันก็เข้าใจว่ามันคือความสะดวกและอนาคตของโภชนาการ ที่ถูกโปรโมตว่าดีต่อสุขภาพ ทั้ง ๆ ที่มันควรถูกตั้งคำถามในเรื่องน้ำตาลอยู่ไม่น้อย

วันนี้เรารู้แล้วว่า ซีเรียลกล่องใส่น้ำตาลคือผลิตภัณฑ์แห่งยุคตลาด เมื่อย้อนรอยดู มันไม่ใช่แค่เค้าว่าอร่อยหรือดี แต่คือการปั้นภาพว่า “นี่คือสิ่งที่คนยุคใหม่ควรกิน” โดยมีบริษัทและรัฐหนุนหลังให้มันกลายเป็นสิ่งที่เข้าใจว่า ‘ปกติ’ ทั้งที่ความจริงมัน ‘ผิดธรรมชาติ’ ตั้งแต่ต้นน้ำ #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

Introdução

O princípio do sola scriptura, pedra angular da teologia protestante desde a Reforma do século XVI, estabelece que apenas a Escritura constitui a autoridade final e suprema em questões de fé e prática cristã. Este princípio, formulado inicialmente por Martinho Lutero e sistematizado pelos reformadores subsequentes, pretende oferecer um fundamento epistemológico sólido para a teologia, livre das supostas corrupções da tradição eclesiástica.

Contudo, uma análise rigorosa revela que o sola scriptura incorre em contradições lógicas fundamentais que comprometem sua viabilidade como sistema epistemológico coerente. Este artigo examina essas contradições através de três perspectivas complementares: filosófica, exegética e histórica.

A Contradição Performativa Fundamental

O Problema da Autorreferência

O sola scriptura enfrenta um dilema epistemológico insuperável: afirma que apenas a Escritura possui autoridade final em matéria de fé, mas essa própria regra não é explicitamente ensinada na Escritura. Trata-se de uma contradição performativa clássica, onde o enunciado viola suas próprias condições de possibilidade.

Esta situação configura uma falácia de petitio principii (círculo vicioso), pois exige que se aceite uma doutrina que não pode ser sustentada pelas premissas do próprio sistema. Para estabelecer o sola scriptura, seria necessário recorrer a uma autoridade externa à Escritura – precisamente aquilo que o princípio pretende rejeitar.

Fundacionalismo Mal Estruturado

Do ponto de vista epistemológico, o sola scriptura apresenta-se como um fundacionalismo defeituoso. Pretende funcionar como axioma supremo e auto-evidente, mas falha ao não fornecer a base textual que sua própria metodologia exige. Um verdadeiro fundacionalismo escriturístico deveria ser capaz de demonstrar sua validade através de uma prova explícita nas próprias Escrituras.

O Testemunho Contrário das Escrituras

Limitações do Registro Escrito

A própria Escritura reconhece as limitações do registro textual. João 21:25 declara explicitamente: "Jesus fez também muitas outras coisas. Se cada uma delas fosse escrita, penso que nem mesmo no mundo inteiro haveria espaço suficiente para os livros que seriam escritos."

Este versículo é particularmente problemático para o sola scriptura, pois reconhece que nem todos os ensinamentos de Cristo foram preservados por escrito. Como pode a Escritura ser suficiente se ela própria admite sua incompletude?

A Valorização da Tradição Oral

Paulo, em 2 Tessalonicenses 2:15, oferece uma instrução que contradiz frontalmente o sola scriptura: "Assim, pois, irmãos, ficai firmes e conservai os ensinamentos que de nós aprendestes, seja por palavras, seja por carta nossa."

O apóstolo valoriza inequivocamente tanto a tradição oral ("por palavras") quanto a escrita ("por carta"), estabelecendo um modelo de autoridade dual que o protestantismo posterior rejeitaria.

A Necessidade de Autoridade Interpretativa

A narrativa do eunuco etíope em Atos 8:30-31 demonstra a inadequação da Escritura isolada como autoridade final. Quando Filipe pergunta se o eunuco entende o que lê, a resposta é reveladora: "Como poderei entender, se alguém não me ensinar?"

Este episódio ilustra que a mera posse do texto bíblico não garante compreensão adequada. É necessária uma autoridade interpretativa externa – no caso, representada por Filipe, que age com autoridade apostólica.

A Complexidade Hermenêutica

Pedro, em sua segunda epístola (3:16-17), reconhece a dificuldade interpretativa inerente às Escrituras: "Suas cartas contêm algumas coisas difíceis de entender, as quais os ignorantes e instáveis torcem, como também o fazem com as demais Escrituras, para a própria destruição deles."

Esta passagem não apenas reconhece a complexidade hermenêutica dos textos sagrados, mas também alerta sobre os perigos da interpretação inadequada. Implicitamente, sugere a necessidade de uma autoridade interpretativa confiável para evitar distorções doutrinárias.

O Paradoxo Histórico da Canonização

A Dependência da Tradição Eclesiástica

Um dos argumentos mais devastadores contra o sola scriptura emerge da própria história da formação do cânon bíblico. Os concílios de Hipona (393 d.C.) e Cartago (397 d.C.) foram responsáveis pela definição oficial do cânon das Escrituras tal como conhecemos hoje.

Este fato histórico cria um paradoxo insuperável: aceitar a Bíblia como autoridade única requer aceitar a autoridade da tradição eclesiástica que a definiu. O próprio cânon bíblico é produto da tradição apostólica e da deliberação conciliar, não de autodefinição escriturística.

A Circularidade da Autopistia

Tentativas protestantes de resolver este dilema através do conceito de "autopistia" – a suposta capacidade das Escrituras de se auto-autenticar – apenas aprofundam o problema circular. Como determinar que as Escrituras possuem esta propriedade sem recorrer a critérios externos? A própria doutrina da autopistia não é explicitamente ensinada na Escritura.

Implicações Teológicas e Epistemológicas

A Fragmentação Interpretativa

A história do protestantismo oferece evidência empírica das consequências práticas do sola scriptura. A multiplicação de denominações e interpretações divergentes sugere que o princípio, longe de fornecer clareza doutrinária, pode na verdade contribuir para a fragmentação teológica.

Se a Escritura fosse verdadeiramente suficiente e auto-interpretativa, seria razoável esperar maior convergência hermenêutica entre aqueles que aderem ao sola scriptura. A realidade histórica sugere o contrário.

A Alternativa Católica e Ortodoxa

As tradições católica e ortodoxa, embora enfrentando suas próprias tensões epistemológicas, mantêm pelo menos coerência interna ao reconhecer explicitamente múltiplas fontes complementares de autoridade: Escritura, Tradição e Magistério (no caso católico) ou Escritura e Tradição (no caso ortodoxo).

Estas posições evitam a contradição performativa do sola scriptura ao não reivindicar que sua própria metodologia epistemológica seja derivada exclusivamente da Escritura.

Conclusão

A análise crítica do sola scriptura revela contradições estruturais que comprometem fundamentalmente sua viabilidade como princípio epistemológico. O princípio incorre em contradição performativa ao estabelecer uma regra que não pode ser derivada de suas próprias premissas, configura um fundacionalismo mal estruturado ao carecer de base textual explícita, e enfrenta o testemunho contrário da própria Escritura, que reconhece suas limitações e a necessidade de autoridades interpretativas externas.

O paradoxo histórico da canonização – onde o próprio cânon bíblico depende da autoridade tradicional que o sola scriptura pretende rejeitar – representa talvez o golpe mais decisivo contra o princípio protestante.

Isso não implica necessariamente a falsidade do protestantismo como sistema teológico, mas sugere que seus fundamentos epistemológicos requerem reformulação substancial. Uma teologia protestante intelectualmente honesta precisaria reconhecer as limitações do sola scriptura e desenvolver uma epistemologia mais nuançada que leve em conta a complexidade das fontes de autoridade religiosa.

A busca pela verdade teológica, independentemente de compromissos confessionais, exige o reconhecimento rigoroso das limitações e contradições inerentes aos nossos sistemas epistemológicos. No caso do sola scriptura, essa honestidade intelectual revela um princípio que, por mais central que seja para a identidade protestante, não pode sustentar o peso epistemológico que tradicionalmente lhe foi atribuído.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

There is something quietly rebellious about stacking sats. In a world obsessed with instant gratification, choosing to patiently accumulate Bitcoin, one sat at a time, feels like a middle finger to the hype machine. But to do it right, you have got to stay humble. Stack too hard with your head in the clouds, and you will trip over your own ego before the next halving even hits.

Small Wins

Stacking sats is not glamorous. Discipline. Stacking every day, week, or month, no matter the price, and letting time do the heavy lifting. Humility lives in that consistency. You are not trying to outsmart the market or prove you are the next "crypto" prophet. Just a regular person, betting on a system you believe in, one humble stack at a time. Folks get rekt chasing the highs. They ape into some shitcoin pump, shout about it online, then go silent when they inevitably get rekt. The ones who last? They stack. Just keep showing up. Consistency. Humility in action. Know the game is long, and you are not bigger than it.

Ego is Volatile

Bitcoin’s swings can mess with your head. One day you are up 20%, feeling like a genius and the next down 30%, questioning everything. Ego will have you panic selling at the bottom or over leveraging the top. Staying humble means patience, a true bitcoin zen. Do not try to "beat” Bitcoin. Ride it. Stack what you can afford, live your life, and let compounding work its magic.

Simplicity

There is a beauty in how stacking sats forces you to rethink value. A sat is worth less than a penny today, but every time you grab a few thousand, you plant a seed. It is not about flaunting wealth but rather building it, quietly, without fanfare. That mindset spills over. Cut out the noise: the overpriced coffee, fancy watches, the status games that drain your wallet. Humility is good for your soul and your stack. I have a buddy who has been stacking since 2015. Never talks about it unless you ask. Lives in a decent place, drives an old truck, and just keeps stacking. He is not chasing clout, he is chasing freedom. That is the vibe: less ego, more sats, all grounded in life.

The Big Picture

Stack those sats. Do it quietly, do it consistently, and do not let the green days puff you up or the red days break you down. Humility is the secret sauce, it keeps you grounded while the world spins wild. In a decade, when you look back and smile, it will not be because you shouted the loudest. It will be because you stayed the course, one sat at a time. \ \ Stay Humble and Stack Sats. 🫡

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Jason Lowery’s thesis, Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin, reframes bitcoin not merely as digital cash but as a transformative security technology with profound implications for investors and nation-states alike.

For centuries, craft brewers understood that true innovation balanced tradition with experimentation—a delicate dance between established techniques and bold new flavors.

Much like the craft beer revolution reshaped a global industry, bitcoin represents a fundamental recalibration of how humans organize value and project power in the digital age.

The Antler in the Digital Forest: Power Projection

Lowery, a U.S. Space Force officer and MIT scholar, anchors his Softwar theory in a biological metaphor: Bitcoin as humanity’s “digital antler.” In nature, antlers allow animals like deer to compete for resources through non-lethal contests—sparring matches where power is demonstrated without fatal consequences. This contrasts sharply with wolves, who must resort to violent, potentially deadly fights to establish hierarchy.

The Human Power Dilemma: Historically, humans projected power and settled resource disputes through physical force—wars, seizures, or coercive control of assets. Even modern financial systems rely on abstract power structures: court orders, bank freezes, or government sanctions enforced by legal threat rather than immediate physical reality.

Lowery argues this creates inherent fragility: abstract systems can collapse when met with superior physical force (e.g., invasions, revolutions). Nature only respects physical power.

Bitcoin’s Physical Power Engine: Bitcoin introduces a novel solution through its proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Miners compete to solve computationally intense cryptographic puzzles, expending real-world energy (megawatts) to validate transactions and secure the network.

This process converts electricity—a tangible, physical resource—into digital security and immutable property rights. Winning a “block” is like winning a sparring match: it consumes significant resources (energy/cost) but is non-destructive.

The miner gains the right to write the next page of the ledger and collect rewards, but no participant is physically harmed, and no external infrastructure is destroyed.

Table: Traditional vs. Bitcoin-Based Power Systems

Power System

Mechanism

Key Vulnerability

Resource Cost

Traditional (Fiat/Banking)

Legal abstraction, threat of state force

Centralized points of failure, corruption, political change

Low immediate cost, high systemic risk

Military/Economic Coercion

Physical force, sanctions

Escalation, collateral damage, moral hazard

Very high (lives, capital, instability)

Bitcoin (Proof-of-Work)

Competition via energy expenditure

High energy cost, concentration risk (mining)

High energy cost, low systemic risk

Softwar Theory National Strategic Imperative: Governments Are Taking Notice

Lowery’s Softwar Theory has moved beyond academia into the corridors of power, shaping U.S. national strategy:

1. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Vice President JD Vance recently framed bitcoin as an instrument projecting American values—”innovation, entrepreneurship, freedom, and lack of censorship”. State legislation is now underway to implement this reserve, preventing easy reversal by future administrations.
2. Regulatory Transformation: The SEC is shifting from an “enforcement-first” stance under previous leadership. New initiatives include:
   • Repealing Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121), which discouraged banks from custodying digital currency by forcing unfavorable balance sheet treatment.
   • Creating the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to develop clearer crypto registration/disclosure rules.

The Investor’s Lens: Scarcity, Security, and Asymmetric Opportunity

For investors, understanding “Softwar” validates bitcoin’s unique value proposition beyond price speculation:

• Digital Scarcity as Strategic Depth: Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million makes it the only digital asset with truly inelastic supply, a programmed scarcity immune to political whims or central bank printing.

  This “scarcity imperative” acts as a natural antidote to global fiat debasement. As central banks expanded money supplies aggressively (Global M2), bitcoin’s price has shown strong correlation, acting as a pressure valve for inflation concerns. The quadrennial “halving” (latest: April 2024) mechanically reduces new supply, creating built-in supply shocks as adoption grows. * The Antifragile Security Feedback Loop: Bitcoin’s security isn’t static; it’s antifragile. The network strengthens through demand: * More users → More transactions → Higher fees → More miner revenue → More hashpower (computational security) → Greater network resilience → More user confidence.
  This self-reinforcing cycle contrasts sharply with traditional systems, where security is a cost center (e.g., bank security budgets, military spending). Bitcoin turns security into a profitable, market-driven activity. * Institutionalization Without Centralization: While institutional ownership via ETFs (like BlackRock’s IBIT) and corporate treasuries (MicroStrategy, Metaplanet) has surged, supply remains highly decentralized.

  Individuals still hold the largest share of bitcoin, preventing a dangerous concentration of control. Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone are projected to see over $20 billion in net inflows in 2025, demonstrating robust institutional capital allocation.

The Bitcoin Community: Building the Digital Antler’s Resilience

Lowery’s “Softwar” theory underscores why bitcoin’s decentralized architecture is non-negotiable. Its strength lies in the alignment of incentives across three participant groups:

1. Miners: Provide computational power (hashrate), validating transactions and securing the network. Incentivized by block rewards (newly minted BTC) and transaction fees. Their physical energy expenditure is the “muscle” behind the digital antler.
2. Nodes: Independently verify and enforce the protocol rules, maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Run by users, businesses, and enthusiasts globally. They ensure decentralized consensus, preventing unilateral protocol changes.
3. Users: Individuals, institutions, and corporations holding, transacting, or building on bitcoin. Their demand drives transaction fees and fuels the security feedback loop.

This structure creates “Mutually Assured Preservation”. Attacking bitcoin requires overwhelming its global, distributed physical infrastructure (miners/nodes), a feat far more complex and costly than seizing a central bank’s gold vault or freezing a bank’s assets. It transforms financial security from a centralized liability into a decentralized, physically-grounded asset.

Risks & Responsibilities

Investors and policymakers must acknowledge persistent challenges:

• Volatility: Bitcoin remains volatile, though this has decreased as markets mature. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is widely recommended to mitigate timing risk.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: While U.S. policy is increasingly favorable, global coordination is lacking. The EU’s MiCAR regulation exemplifies divergent approaches.
• Security & Custody: While Bitcoin’s protocol is robust, user errors (lost keys) or exchange hacks remain risks.
• Environmental Debate: Proof-of-Work energy use is scrutinized, though mining increasingly uses stranded energy/renewables. Innovations continue.

Jason Lowery’s “Softwar” theory elevates bitcoin from a financial instrument to a socio-technological innovation on par with the invention of the corporation, the rule of law, or even the antler in evolutionary biology. It provides a coherent framework for understanding why:

• Nations like the U.S. are looking to establish bitcoin reserves and embracing stablecoins—they recognize bitcoin’s role in projecting economic power non-violently in the digital age.
• Institutional Investors are allocating billions via ETFs—they see a scarce, secure, uncorrelated asset with antifragile properties.
• Individuals in hyperinflationary economies or under authoritarian regimes use bitcoin—it offers self-sovereign wealth storage immune to seizure or debasement.

For the investor, bitcoin represents more than potential price appreciation. It offers exposure to a fundamental reorganization of how power and value are secured and exchanged globally, grounded not in abstract promises, but in the unyielding laws of physics and mathematics.

Like the brewers who balanced tradition with innovation to create something enduring and valuable, bitcoin pioneers are building the infrastructure for a more resilient digital future—one computationally secured block at a time. The “Softwar” is here, and it is reshaping the landscape of p

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Here’s a revised timeline of macro-level events from The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 by Lionel Shriver, reimagined in a world where Bitcoin is adopted as a widely accepted form of money, altering the original narrative’s assumptions about currency collapse and economic control. In Shriver’s original story, the failure of Bitcoin is assumed amid the dominance of the bancor and the dollar’s collapse. Here, Bitcoin’s success reshapes the economic and societal trajectory, decentralizing power and challenging state-driven outcomes.

Part One: 2029–2032

• 2029 (Early Year)\ The United States faces economic strain as the dollar weakens against global shifts. However, Bitcoin, having gained traction emerges as a viable alternative. Unlike the original timeline, the bancor—a supranational currency backed by a coalition of nations—struggles to gain footing as Bitcoin’s decentralized adoption grows among individuals and businesses worldwide, undermining both the dollar and the bancor.

• 2029 (Mid-Year: The Great Renunciation)\ Treasury bonds lose value, and the government bans Bitcoin, labeling it a threat to sovereignty (mirroring the original bancor ban). However, a Bitcoin ban proves unenforceable—its decentralized nature thwarts confiscation efforts, unlike gold in the original story. Hyperinflation hits the dollar as the U.S. prints money, but Bitcoin’s fixed supply shields adopters from currency devaluation, creating a dual-economy split: dollar users suffer, while Bitcoin users thrive.

• 2029 (Late Year)\ Dollar-based inflation soars, emptying stores of goods priced in fiat currency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin transactions flourish in underground and online markets, stabilizing trade for those plugged into the bitcoin ecosystem. Traditional supply chains falter, but peer-to-peer Bitcoin networks enable local and international exchange, reducing scarcity for early adopters. The government’s gold confiscation fails to bolster the dollar, as Bitcoin’s rise renders gold less relevant.

• 2030–2031\ Crime spikes in dollar-dependent urban areas, but Bitcoin-friendly regions see less chaos, as digital wallets and smart contracts facilitate secure trade. The U.S. government doubles down on surveillance to crack down on bitcoin use. A cultural divide deepens: centralized authority weakens in Bitcoin-adopting communities, while dollar zones descend into lawlessness.

• 2032\ By this point, Bitcoin is de facto legal tender in parts of the U.S. and globally, especially in tech-savvy or libertarian-leaning regions. The federal government’s grip slips as tax collection in dollars plummets—Bitcoin’s traceability is low, and citizens evade fiat-based levies. Rural and urban Bitcoin hubs emerge, while the dollar economy remains fractured.

Time Jump: 2032–2047

• Over 15 years, Bitcoin solidifies as a global reserve currency, eroding centralized control. The U.S. government adapts, grudgingly integrating bitcoin into policy, though regional autonomy grows as Bitcoin empowers local economies.

Part Two: 2047

• 2047 (Early Year)\ The U.S. is a hybrid state: Bitcoin is legal tender alongside a diminished dollar. Taxes are lower, collected in BTC, reducing federal overreach. Bitcoin’s adoption has decentralized power nationwide. The bancor has faded, unable to compete with Bitcoin’s grassroots momentum.

• 2047 (Mid-Year)\ Travel and trade flow freely in Bitcoin zones, with no restrictive checkpoints. The dollar economy lingers in poorer areas, marked by decay, but Bitcoin’s dominance lifts overall prosperity, as its deflationary nature incentivizes saving and investment over consumption. Global supply chains rebound, powered by bitcoin enabled efficiency.

• 2047 (Late Year)\ The U.S. is a patchwork of semi-autonomous zones, united by Bitcoin’s universal acceptance rather than federal control. Resource scarcity persists due to past disruptions, but economic stability is higher than in Shriver’s original dystopia—Bitcoin’s success prevents the authoritarian slide, fostering a freer, if imperfect, society.

Key Differences

• Currency Dynamics: Bitcoin’s triumph prevents the bancor’s dominance and mitigates hyperinflation’s worst effects, offering a lifeline outside state control.
• Government Power: Centralized authority weakens as Bitcoin evades bans and taxation, shifting power to individuals and communities.
• Societal Outcome: Instead of a surveillance state, 2047 sees a decentralized, bitcoin driven world—less oppressive, though still stratified between Bitcoin haves and have-nots.

This reimagining assumes Bitcoin overcomes Shriver’s implied skepticism to become a robust, adopted currency by 2029, fundamentally altering the novel’s bleak trajectory.

@ ae9dc5ef:77f0ed87

I'm excited to announce that Nostr Game Engine just reached its first development milestone: v0.0.

What is Nostr Game Engine?

Nostr Game Engine is built on top of the modular and proven jMonkeyEngine.

What sets it apart? Its internals are being gradually replaced with Nostr-powered modules, turning it into a reference engine purpose-built for decentralized games.

This first release delivers these key capabilities:

Peer-to-Peer Networking

Forget centralized game servers. Nostr Game Engine gives you real P2P multiplayer, using WebRTC for data streaming and Nostr relays for coordination.

Want to dig deeper? This is a draft NIP that is a revised version of this other draft NIP, that details how the signaling works.

WebRTC is already a solid and reliable peer-to-peer protocol, equipped with a full set of NAT traversal capabilities, but its signaling phase typically relies on specialized central servers.

By coupling WebRTC with Nostr, we take signaling decentralized too by relying on a network of dumb public relays that are oblivious to what encrypted data we send to them and are easily replaceable.

(see the documentation for more info)

Nostr Authentication & Gamertags

NGE has a fully managed Nostr Auth flow, with support for NIP-49 encrypted local nsecs and  NIP-46 remote signers.

It also fully handles metadata, including external identities:  your profile picture, display name, and other details can carry over between games, and even from other Nostr clients and communities.

This release is also introducing Gamertags: persistent gaming handles tied to your Nostr pubkey. They are like Xbox Gamertags or the old Discord handle, but they’re decentralized and follow you across any game that supports them (check this draft nip for more info).

Match Making

While matchmaking is planned for a later milestone on the roadmap, this release ships with an early implementation to help test RTC connections.

This initial implementation has the APIs to create lobbies that are discoverable and optionally password-protected. Players can search and filter for lobbies using both client-side and relay-side filtering, depending on what the relay supports.

Right now, you can’t see how many players are in a lobby, and the feature is still a bit rough around the edges, but it's a solid start, and more improvements are coming as we move further along the roadmap.

The cool part? You don’t even need to know Nostr is running under the hood. The engine exposes simple APIs like createLobby, findLobbies, and connectToLobby, the developer can call them when needed, and the engine handles all the relay querying and data stitching behind the scenes.

(see the documentation for more info)

A new Nostr Client Library

The engine uses a new Nostr client library built from scratch, designed for performance, asynchronicity, and memory efficiency. It’s lean, fast, and built to be the foundation for everything that comes next.

Cross-Platform and language of choice

The entire codebase is written mostly in Java, and it builds natively for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Support for Android, iOS, and Web Browsers is on the roadmap.

What has been built so far?

• Version 0.0, with the core features mentioned above

• Documentation covering the key components of the engine

• An app template to help bootstrap projects and experiment with the engine

• An high performance and portable nostr client library

• A tech demo (more on that later)

So now, you can get a real feel for the engine, see what it does, play around with it, and maybe even start experimenting with your own ideas.

Roadmap

This is just the beginning. There is a full roadmap on the website.

Upcoming milestones include ads, deeper identity features, and tools that make decentralized game development as smooth as possible.

Sea of Nostriches

This is a demo built for this release. 

You start alone in an open ocean with a boat, nothing much at first. 

But as soon as another player joins (another peer), your boat begins sending data directly to theirs via peer-to-peer communication. You’ll see this visualized as a stream of numbers moving between boats in game.

If you have a profile picture set, it’ll automatically appear on your boat’s sail, and you’ll see others’ profile pictures on theirs.

That’s the core of it. 

It is not a real game, as there is nothing really to do, no lag compensation, no score etc… but it is a decent reference, and an “integration test” for this release.

There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes, like how the ocean is simulated or how rendering is handled, but that’s beyond the scope of this post. You can check out the full source code on GitHub, along with native builds for all supported platforms and a portable JAR.

---

That’s all for now! Huge thanks go to nostr:nprofile1qythwumn8ghj7ct5d3shxtnwdaehgu3wd3skuep0qyt8wumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgtcqypu8xwr40lp96ewdj2fef408wy70gd3carf9n6xu7hrnhq6whpgly925h0z for making this possible. Their support allows me to dedicate full-time effort to this project and contribute to the growth of the Nostr ecosystem.

---

Check out the website at ngengine.org and browse the docs at ngengine.org/docs if you want to dig deeper.

Feel free to come up with any questions. I’ll do my best to answer.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 – Flash, the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses, just announced a new partnership with the Bitcoin Only Brewery, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Flash for seamless Bitcoin payments. 

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

As Co-Founder of Flash, it's not every day we get to toast to a truly refreshing milestone.

Okay, jokes aside.

We're super buzzed to see our friends at @Drink_B0B
Bitcoin Only Brewery using Flash to power their online sales!

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack – shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented: “Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept Bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

In May, fast-food chain Steak ‘N Shake went viral for integrating bitcoin at their restaurants around the world. In the same month, the bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas set a new world record with 4,000 Lightning payments in one day.

According to a report by River Intelligence, public Lightning payment volume surged by 266% from August 2023 to August 2024. This growth is also reflected in the overall accessibility of lighting infrastructure for consumers. According to Lightning Service Provider Breez, over 650 Million users now have access to the Lightning Network through apps like CashApp, Kraken or Strike.

Bitcoin Only Brewery’s adoption of Flash reflects the growing trend of businesses integrating Bitcoin payments to cater to a global, privacy-conscious customer base. By offering no-KYC delivery across Europe, the brewery aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty, appealing to the increasing number of consumers and businesses embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method.

“Flash is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Corbin added. “We’re building a future where businesses of all sizes can seamlessly integrate Bitcoin payments, unlocking new opportunities in the global market. It’s never been easier to start selling in bitcoin and we invite retailers globally to join us in this revolution.”

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

Media Contact:

Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.comPhotos paywithflash.com/about/press

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Nooit is mijn dans echter\ Dan net nadat het regende\ Want regen biedt een kans\ Om mijn gevoel te voelen

Zolang de regen spettert\ En ik mezelf graag zie\ Wordt er niets verplettert\ Ook al lijkt dat soms wel zo

Zodra de regen ophoudt\ En zich terugtrekt met de wolken\ Komt een nieuwe glans\ Voor het eerst mijn ogen binnen

Wat is het leven heerlijk\ Als ik eerlijk ben en voel\ Wat is het leven zacht\ En het brengt me naar mijn doel

Wat zou ik weten zonder regen\ Gewoon steeds evenveel\ Niet groeien is niet leven\ Daarom dans ik het liefst

Net na de echte regen

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.

---

If you missed my nostr introduction post you can find it here. My nostr account can be found here.

---

We are nearly at the point that if something interesting is posted on a centralized social platform it will usually be posted by someone to nostr.

We are nearly at the point that if something interesting is posted exclusively to nostr it is cross posted by someone to various centralized social platforms.

We are nearly at the point that you can recommend a cross platform app that users can install and easily onboard without additional guides or resources.

As companies continue to build walls around their centralized platforms nostr posts will be the easiest to cross reference and verify - as companies continue to censor their users nostr is the best censorship resistant alternative - gradually then suddenly nostr will become the standard. 🫡

Current Nostr Stats

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

In een zee van mogelijkheden\ Kunnen we best veel tijd aan dromen besteden

Dromen is een universele taal\ Het wordt gedaan door ons allemaal

Het is het woord\ Dat deze gelijkheid de grond in boort

@ 43820409:694a54a4

This is a brief summary.

This is the best article ever created.

You may be wondering why?

Why

Because we made it.

How

• It just is
• Everyone agrees

---

Thank you for your attention.

End.

@ 5188521b:008eb518

This memo intends to brief the federated societies of the galaxy on the status of one specific emerging civilization that has increasingly been of interest to our members, and further, to recommend caution when traveling unannounced nearby their local planet.

External Memo #263 from the Emerging Civilizations Council (ECC)

As you are all aware, it is the intention of our federated societies to isolate any emerging civilization in order to allow them the freedom to evolve and innovate independent of any external knowledge or technology. The benefits of this are twofold. Firstly, if during their scientific exploration and development, they are able to reach our same conclusions about the fundamentals of the universe, then we receive additional independent confirmation of our existing knowledge base. Secondly, and of much greater interest, is that all of our most advanced zero-to-one technological innovations have originated from these isolated civilizations because they are permitted to solve problems without bias from more advanced societies.

In earlier times, some of our members practiced strategic infusions of knowledge into emerging civilizations that would be disguised as native discoveries in order to secretly accelerate their advancement. While this was effective in developing advanced and peaceful civilizations more quickly, it was observed that those societies rarely developed any meaningful new technologies. As we have since learned, once a bias is introduced into an emerging civilization, it is typically destined to only innovate around our existing knowledge base.

More dangerously, societies that become aware of more advanced galactic civilizations almost always become focused on extrasolar power projection. This is an extension of the local evolutionary pressures that led to their domination as the apex predator on their planet. Only after they access the virtually unlimited resources of the galaxy, and they have resolved their internal struggle over distribution of those resources, will they be granted full federation status and interspecies technology transfer can be permitted. Prior to this stage, technology transfer from advanced societies must be avoided, as it can destabilize their development and often leads to the destruction of our most precious galactic resource; independent, decentralized technological innovation.

The dominant intelligent species of the specific civilization that is the focus of this memo identify as “Humans” and collectively inhabit a planet they call “Earth.” The Humans of Earth have yet to discover any advanced technology that would be useful to our members at this time; however, based on a key recent milestone in their development, their status has been upgraded to that of “pre-federation,” making them the leading candidate for our next admission into the galactic federation. As such, it has been estimated that first contact with the Humans of Earth may be possible within the next 1-2 GmRs [1 Galactic micro-Rotation (GmR) equals approximately 200 Earth solar orbits and spans approximately 10 human generations].

Their recent promotion to pre-federation status is based on their discovery of inviolable absolute scarcity — a key event that was independently reached among all federation members and typically triggers exponential advancement within two to four local generations. As is the case on Earth, inviolable absolute scarcity is virtually always used to develop undiluted intraspecies communication of value (the so-called perfect money). This has shown to be critical for cooperation and advancement among planetary apex predators throughout our galaxy.

The Earth-based discovery centers around a simple massless ledger system that is secured by electric power projection and is rapidly being adopted among the Humans of Earth. As with most apex predators, human trust is extremely difficult to scale across their entire planetary population. However, the new Earth-based monetary system, which they have named “bitcoin,” is quickly gaining the trust of humans as it continues to prove its inviolability. As has been the case among all emerging civilizations since the formation of the ECC, scarcity alone, even absolute scarcity, has never been enough to trigger exponential technological growth. The source of absolute scarcity must also be inviolable, or it will never be sufficiently trusted among a population.

The new currency of Earth is in the process of proving its inviolability by surviving numerous attacks with no meaningful disruption. Notably, even those closest to its discovery attempted to violate the properties of Earth’s initial implementation of absolute scarcity but were unsuccessful. Today it continues to withstand external attacks by those who have the most to lose, as adoption of a true and fair economic communication threatens to expose the opposition’s less productive, less efficient ideas. This, of course, is the specific class that must be disintegrated in order to allow the Humans of Earth to innovate freely and unlock exponential advancement. This same scenario has played out in all of our ancient histories following the discovery of inviolable absolute scarcity.

Because bitcoin has only existed for approximately one half of one human generation, proofs of inviolability have only been apparent to those who are looking the closest into the implications of the new discovery. Unsurprisingly, the humans who are the most inadequately compensated by the previous monetary systems are the first to find the benefits of inviolable absolute scarcity.

The highly anticipated exponential advancement from the now pre-federation Humans of Earth has attracted the interest of many of our members. Note, that at this juncture, the galactic playbook permits members to approach a pre-federation civilization undetected in order to fairly attain small quantities of their local implementation of inviolable absolute scarcity. The purpose of this practice is to allow our members to obtain a compatible and trusted source of compensation to be used in exchange for the first valuable innovations of a pre-federation society in a way that avoids unnecessary exposure to our technology prior to its full federation status.

Fortunately, all members who have taken part in this practice have fairly participated in the securitization of the bitcoin network, contributing small amounts of energy to organize and record transactions onto its independent time-based ledger system called the “Timechain.” Fair participation is critical to establish trust upon first contact.

Further, our members have, thus far, successfully minimized their impact on the new monetary system of Earth. This is important to disguise our existence but will also help gain trust in the future as no member will be seen as having abused its privileged access to overwhelming amounts of energy and computational power. To that end, it is believed that none of our members have collected more than a single payment for their energy contributions; meaning that no member society has more than 50 out of the full supply of 21,000,000 bitcoin (this was originally the smallest attainable payment for this form of fair participation).

The ECC asks that you please continue exercising caution, keeping your contributions to the bitcoin network to an absolute minimum. As a reminder, even a single service payment (currently 6.25 out of the full supply of 21,000,000 bitcoin), will likely be sufficient compensation for any of their innovations following first contact. Once awarded full federation status, Humans of Earth will be permitted to act as a full trading partner and will be eligible for other means of value for value payment.

However, the purpose of this message is not simply to commend our members for following those aspects of the galactic playbook. All federated societies of the galaxy should also be aware that there have recently been an increasing number of atmospheric anomalies detected by the Humans of Earth. Many believe that these anomalies are primarily caused by the influx of near-earth TDEs following their upgrade to pre-federation status [Temporary Distortion Events (TDEs) are a byproduct of most means of galactic travel]. We are, therefore, requesting that all members voluntarily announce their travel coordinates to help ensure that any TDEs in the future are adequately dispersed in space-time to avoid detectable events on Earth.

Although it has been almost 50 GmRs since the last emerging civilization was upgraded to pre-federation status, it is imperative that we maintain the complete isolation of the Humans of Earth at this critical juncture. As stated, if the Humans of Earth begin to suspect the presence of an overwhelmingly advanced species, they are highly likely to skew their innovations towards violent technologies that could destabilize their society and disrupt their potential for future contributions.

Thank you for maintaining our core principles as we begin to prepare for the next member to be admitted into our peaceful, decentralized federation.

End wideband galactic transmission…

---

This story first appeared in Tales from the Timechain. Support our work and buy a copy here.

79% of the zaps from this story will be passed onto the author, Reed. 21 Futures requests 21% for operating costs.

---

@nostr:npub1xgyjasdztryl9sg6nfdm2wcj0j3qjs03sq7a0an32pg0lr5l6yaqxhgu7s is a Christian, father of three, husband, bitcoiner, mechanical engineer in the nuclear power industry, science nerd and is passionate about the pursuit of truth. Reed also organized the Western Mass Bitcoin Meetup and is active on bitcoin twitter (@FreedomMoney21) and Nostr (nostrplebs.com/s/reed)

@ 266815e0:6cd408a5

Streams are the key to nostr

Loading events from a nostr relay is probably the most inconsistent way of loading data I've had to work with, and that's only loading from a single relay. the problem gets exponentially more complicated once you try to load events from multiple relays

Unlike HTTP nostr does not have a simple flow with timeouts built in. events are sent back one at a time and can fail at any point or have massive (10s) gaps between them

The key is to use streams. something that starts, emits any number of results, then maybe errors or completes. luckily it just so happens that JavaScript / TypeScript has a great observable stream library called RxJS

What is an observable

An Observable in RxJS is stream a of data that are initialized lazily, which means the stream is inactive and not running until something subscribes to it

```ts let stream = new Observable((observer) => { observer.next(1) observer.next(2) observer.next(3) observer.complete() })

// The stream method isn't run until its subscribed to stream.subscribe(v => console.log(v)) ```

This is super powerful and perfect for nostr because it means we don't need to manage the life-cycle of the stream. it will run when something subscribes to it and stop when unsubscribed.

Its helpful to think of this as "pulling" data. once we have created an observable we can request the data from it at any point in the future.

Pulling data from relays

We can use the lazy nature of observables to only start fetching events from a nostr relay when we need them

For example we can create an observable that will load kind 1 events from the damus relay and stream them back as they are returned from the relay

```typescript let req = new Observable((observer) => { // Create a new websocket connection when the observable is start let ws = new WebSocket('wss://relay.damus.io')

ws.onopen = () => { // Start a REQ ws.send(JSON.stringify(['REQ', 'test', {kinds: [1], limit: 20}])) }

ws.onmessage = (event) => { let message = JSON.parse(event.data) // Get the event from the message and pass it along to the subscribers if(message[0] === 'EVENT') observer.next(message[1]) }

// Cleanup subscription return () => { ws.send(JSON.stringify(['CLOSE', 'test'])) ws.close() } }) ```

But creating the observable wont do anything. we need to subscribe to it to get any events.

ts let sub = req.subscribe(event => { console.log('we got an event' event) })

Cool now we are pulling events from a relay. once we are done we can stop listening to it by unsubscribing from it

ts sub.unsubscribe()

This will call the cleanup method on the observable, which in turn closes the connection to the relay.

Hopefully you can see how this work, we don't have any open, connect, or disconnect methods. we simply subscribe to a stream of events and it handles all the messy logic of connecting to a relay

Composing and chaining observables

I've shown you how we can create a simple stream of events from a relay, but what if we want to pull from two relays?

Easy, lets make the previous example into a function that takes a relay URL

```ts function getNoteFromRelay(relay: string){ return new Observable((observer) => { let ws = new WebSocket(relay)

// ...rest of the observable...

}) } ```

Then we can "merge" two of these observables into a single observable using the merge method from RxJS

The merge method will create a single observable that subscribes to both upstream observables and sends all the events back. Think of it as pulling events from both relays at once

```ts import { merge } from 'rxjs'

const notes = merge( getNoteFromRelay('wss://relay.damus.io'), getNoteFromRelay('wss://nos.lol') )

// Subscribe to the observable to start getting data from it const sub = notes.subscribe(event => { console.log(event) })

// later unsubscribe setTimeout(() => { sub.unsubscribe() }, 10_000) ```

But now we have a problem, because we are pulling events from two relays we are getting duplicate events. to solve this we can use the .pipe method and the distinct operator from RxJS to modify our single observable to only return one version of each event

The .pipe method will create a chain of observables that will each subscribe to the previous one and modify the returned values in some way

The distinct operator takes a method that returns a unique identifier and filters out any duplicate values

```ts import { merge, distinct } from 'rxjs'

const notes = merge( getNoteFromRelay('wss://relay.damus.io'), getNoteFromRelay('wss://nos.lol') ).pipe( // filter out events we have seen before based on the event id distinct(event => event.id) ) ```

Now we have an observable that when subscribed to will connect to two relays and return a stream of events without duplicates...

As you can see things can start getting complicated fast. but its also very powerful because we aren't managing any life-cycle code, we just subscribe and unsubscribe from an observable

Taking it to an extreme

Hopefully at this point you can see how powerful this is, we can think of almost any data loading pattern as a series of observables that pull data from upstream observables and stream it back to the original subscriber.

Here is a quick sketch of what it could look like to load user profiles. each node is an observable that "pulls" data from its child node ending with the "connect websocket" or "load from database" nodes which do the work of making a relay connection

Conclusion

All this might seem pretty simple and straight forward, but its been a long six month of learning for me. I've had to completely rethink how data and nostr events should be handled in a client and how to avoid screwing up and shooting myself in the foot with these powerful tools.

If you want to give RxJS a try I would encourage you to checkout the nostr sdk I've been building called applesauce

Its uses RxJS for pretty much everything and has the simplest and most flexible relay connection API I've seen so far (mainly no life-cycle management)

@ 6fef351a:2a884204

Hello hello!

Willkommen bei einem neuen Projekt! Heart Money – mein Newsletter zum gleichnamigen Podcast auf YouTube, den es noch nicht gibt. Aber bald. Nur noch ein paar Wochen…

Es geht um hartes Geld. Und um das Geld des Herzens. Ich rede und schreibe über Bitcoin, Gesellschaft und das, was mich bewegt.

Gerade ist eine wilde Zeit für mich. Ich habe meinen Job als Data Analystin Ende letzten Jahres an den Nagel gehängt, um über Bitcoin aufzuklären – weil es alles auf den Kopf gestellt hat.

Heute sehe ich die Welt mit neuen Augen. Meine Welt ist schöner geworden. Etwas freier. Viel optimistischer!

Und leider auch bürokratischer. Ich mache mich gerade selbstständig und das geht in Deutschland bekanntlich nur mit einigen Hürden und Formalitäten: Ein Gewerbe anmelden, Gründungszuschuss beantragen, Formulare ausfüllen – für Behörden, Krankenkasse, Berufsgenossenschaft, Versicherungen. Oh boy…

Deswegen freue ich mich um so mehr, dass ich so fancy Tools wie Substack nutzen kann, um meinen Gedanken eine neue Form zu geben.

In diesem Newsletter teile ich Ideen, Anregungen, Videos und andere Fundstücke rund um Bitcoin. Echt, persönlich, frei gedacht. Los geht’s:

MEINE HEART WORDS DER WOCHE

1. Ein Gedanke

Immer wieder höre ich von langjährigen Bitcoinern, dass sie bei der Arbeit nicht über Bitcoin sprechen – so auch diese Woche. Die Kollegen würden negativ reagieren. Da wäre nichts zu machen. Den Aufwand spare man sich lieber. Aber was wäre, wenn unsere Äußerungen mehr bewirken als wir allgemein glauben? Wie würde eine Welt aussehen, in der Menschen ehrlich und offen über ihre Interessen und Überzeugungen sprechen? Wäre unsere Welt noch dieselbe?

2. Ein Geschenk

Diese Woche habe ich ein besonderes Buch erhalten – ein Geschenk von einem Hörer meines Podcasts Bitcoin kurz erklärt. Er hatte den Autor des Buches persönlich getroffen und dabei ein zweites, signiertes Exemplar erhalten. Der Autor bat ihn, das erste Exemplar an eine Frau weiterzugeben – und so kam es dann zu mir! Herzlichen Dank, J. ✦

3. Eine Vorfreude

Im Juli findet die berühmtberüchtigte Bitcoin-Zitadelle statt, dieses Jahr auf der Wasserburg Heldrungen. Die Tickets waren nach Verkaufsstart im Oktober 2024 innerhalb weniger Tage ausverkauft – oder waren es Stunden? Ich habe in den letzten Wochen alle Hebel in Gang gesetzt, um noch zwei Tickets für zwei Frauen zu ergattern, die erst spät von diesem legendären Event erfahren haben. Und bin schließlich fündig geworden. Ich freue mich riesig auf das Event – und über die gestiegene Frauenquote ★

4. Ein Post auf Social Media

Die Überschrift ist – zugegeben – provokant. Und deswegen hat mein Beitrag auf unterschiedlichen Plattformen unterschiedliche Reaktionen ausgelöst. Die LinkedIn-Leser reagierten zustimmend und wohlwollend, während der ein oder andere Bitcoin-Maximalist auf X seinen Ärger kundtat… Details findest du auf Instagram, LinkedIn, X oder NOSTR. Was denkst du?

5. Ein Zitat

Wenn die Nacht zu wolkig ist für Sterne, können wir immer noch zusehen, wie ganz lautlos ein neuer Bitcoin-Block entsteht.

Das geht übrigens auf mempool.space. Schon ausprobiert? Bitcoin ist offen und transparent. Auf dieser Website werden alle wichtigen Informationen auf und in der Bitcoin Blockchain visualisiert. Und hier wird erklärt, wie man sich auf der Seite zurechtfindet.

Danke fürs Lesen! Wenn dir dieser Beitrag gefallen hat, leite ihn gerne weiter oder antworte mir. Dein Feedback hilft, diesen Newsletter besser zu machen.

Hab einen schönen Sonntag oder eine schöne Woche – ganz egal, wann du diese Worte liest.

Nicole ❤️

@ d5ca7093:549ad1ec

In a world flooded with information and noise, it’s easy to feel like your brain is constantly switching channels.
One minute you’re reading a technical spec, the next you’re researching vintage Japanese vending machines,
then somehow deep in a Telegram rabbit hole about solar-powered mesh networks.

Sound familiar?

---

For some of us, this isn’t just a personality quirk—it’s our baseline.
We don’t think in straight lines.
Ideas come in bursts. Focus comes in waves.
We thrive on novelty, but routine feels like quicksand.

In a society built for rigid 9-to-5 brains, that kind of mental wiring often gets misunderstood.
But here’s the truth:

If you learn to structure the chaos, it becomes a superpower.

---

What most people call distraction is actually high bandwidth.
It’s fast processing mixed with open curiosity.
But without systems in place, that power leaks.

We chase every thought, every notification, every dopamine hit.

That’s why building your own structure is key—not to control your mind,
but to support it.

• Custom workflows
• Intentional routines
• Clear priorities

These turn scatter into momentum.

---

In the Bitcoin and Nostr world, this mindset fits naturally.

We’re already breaking free from one-size-fits-all models.
We self-host. We fork code. We build for edge cases.

Why not apply the same philosophy to how we work and think?

You don’t need corporate-style productivity hacks.
You can build your own.
Ones that work with your brain, not against it.

---

Use your site as your digital command center.
Set up tools that work offline.
Use local-first apps.
Block out time for deep work.
Make room for curiosity.

Once you start adding scaffolding to your natural flow, something wild happens:
You move faster, think clearer, and build better.

---

The minds that don’t “fit in” are often the ones pushing things forward.
That’s not a bug—it’s a feature.
But features need configuration.

Self-sovereignty isn’t just about running a node or holding your keys.
It’s about designing a life and workflow that fits you—especially
when your brain runs on a different operating system.

---

So if your mind doesn’t follow the rules, maybe it’s because
you were built to make new ones.

Structure isn’t the enemy.
It’s the multiplier.

---

Follow my thoughts and work at:
🌐 https://taidigital.xyz
🔑 @taidigital.xyz on Nostr

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Jason Lowery’s thesis, Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin, reframes bitcoin not merely as digital cash but as a transformative security technology with profound implications for investors and nation-states alike.

For centuries, craft brewers understood that true innovation balanced tradition with experimentation—a delicate dance between established techniques and bold new flavors.

Much like the craft beer revolution reshaped a global industry, bitcoin represents a fundamental recalibration of how humans organize value and project power in the digital age.

The Antler in the Digital Forest: Power Projection

Lowery, a U.S. Space Force officer and MIT scholar, anchors his Softwar theory in a biological metaphor: Bitcoin as humanity’s “digital antler.” In nature, antlers allow animals like deer to compete for resources through non-lethal contests—sparring matches where power is demonstrated without fatal consequences. This contrasts sharply with wolves, who must resort to violent, potentially deadly fights to establish hierarchy.

The Human Power Dilemma: Historically, humans projected power and settled resource disputes through physical force—wars, seizures, or coercive control of assets. Even modern financial systems rely on abstract power structures: court orders, bank freezes, or government sanctions enforced by legal threat rather than immediate physical reality.

Lowery argues this creates inherent fragility: abstract systems can collapse when met with superior physical force (e.g., invasions, revolutions). Nature only respects physical power.

Bitcoin’s Physical Power Engine: Bitcoin introduces a novel solution through its proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Miners compete to solve computationally intense cryptographic puzzles, expending real-world energy (megawatts) to validate transactions and secure the network.

This process converts electricity—a tangible, physical resource—into digital security and immutable property rights. Winning a “block” is like winning a sparring match: it consumes significant resources (energy/cost) but is non-destructive.

The miner gains the right to write the next page of the ledger and collect rewards, but no participant is physically harmed, and no external infrastructure is destroyed.

Table: Traditional vs. Bitcoin-Based Power Systems

Power System

Mechanism

Key Vulnerability

Resource Cost

Traditional (Fiat/Banking)

Legal abstraction, threat of state force

Centralized points of failure, corruption, political change

Low immediate cost, high systemic risk

Military/Economic Coercion

Physical force, sanctions

Escalation, collateral damage, moral hazard

Very high (lives, capital, instability)

Bitcoin (Proof-of-Work)

Competition via energy expenditure

High energy cost, concentration risk (mining)

High energy cost, low systemic risk

Softwar Theory National Strategic Imperative: Governments Are Taking Notice

Lowery’s Softwar Theory has moved beyond academia into the corridors of power, shaping U.S. national strategy:

1. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Vice President JD Vance recently framed bitcoin as an instrument projecting American values—”innovation, entrepreneurship, freedom, and lack of censorship”. State legislation is now underway to implement this reserve, preventing easy reversal by future administrations.
2. Regulatory Transformation: The SEC is shifting from an “enforcement-first” stance under previous leadership. New initiatives include:
   • Repealing Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121), which discouraged banks from custodying digital currency by forcing unfavorable balance sheet treatment.
   • Creating the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to develop clearer crypto registration/disclosure rules.

The Investor’s Lens: Scarcity, Security, and Asymmetric Opportunity

For investors, understanding “Softwar” validates bitcoin’s unique value proposition beyond price speculation:

• Digital Scarcity as Strategic Depth: Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million makes it the only digital asset with truly inelastic supply, a programmed scarcity immune to political whims or central bank printing.

  This “scarcity imperative” acts as a natural antidote to global fiat debasement. As central banks expanded money supplies aggressively (Global M2), bitcoin’s price has shown strong correlation, acting as a pressure valve for inflation concerns. The quadrennial “halving” (latest: April 2024) mechanically reduces new supply, creating built-in supply shocks as adoption grows. * The Antifragile Security Feedback Loop: Bitcoin’s security isn’t static; it’s antifragile. The network strengthens through demand: * More users → More transactions → Higher fees → More miner revenue → More hashpower (computational security) → Greater network resilience → More user confidence.
  This self-reinforcing cycle contrasts sharply with traditional systems, where security is a cost center (e.g., bank security budgets, military spending). Bitcoin turns security into a profitable, market-driven activity. * Institutionalization Without Centralization: While institutional ownership via ETFs (like BlackRock’s IBIT) and corporate treasuries (MicroStrategy, Metaplanet) has surged, supply remains highly decentralized.

  Individuals still hold the largest share of bitcoin, preventing a dangerous concentration of control. Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone are projected to see over $20 billion in net inflows in 2025, demonstrating robust institutional capital allocation.

The Bitcoin Community: Building the Digital Antler’s Resilience

Lowery’s “Softwar” theory underscores why bitcoin’s decentralized architecture is non-negotiable. Its strength lies in the alignment of incentives across three participant groups:

1. Miners: Provide computational power (hashrate), validating transactions and securing the network. Incentivized by block rewards (newly minted BTC) and transaction fees. Their physical energy expenditure is the “muscle” behind the digital antler.
2. Nodes: Independently verify and enforce the protocol rules, maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Run by users, businesses, and enthusiasts globally. They ensure decentralized consensus, preventing unilateral protocol changes.
3. Users: Individuals, institutions, and corporations holding, transacting, or building on bitcoin. Their demand drives transaction fees and fuels the security feedback loop.

This structure creates “Mutually Assured Preservation”. Attacking bitcoin requires overwhelming its global, distributed physical infrastructure (miners/nodes), a feat far more complex and costly than seizing a central bank’s gold vault or freezing a bank’s assets. It transforms financial security from a centralized liability into a decentralized, physically-grounded asset.

Risks & Responsibilities

Investors and policymakers must acknowledge persistent challenges:

• Volatility: Bitcoin remains volatile, though this has decreased as markets mature. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is widely recommended to mitigate timing risk.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: While U.S. policy is increasingly favorable, global coordination is lacking. The EU’s MiCAR regulation exemplifies divergent approaches.
• Security & Custody: While Bitcoin’s protocol is robust, user errors (lost keys) or exchange hacks remain risks.
• Environmental Debate: Proof-of-Work energy use is scrutinized, though mining increasingly uses stranded energy/renewables. Innovations continue.

Jason Lowery’s “Softwar” theory elevates bitcoin from a financial instrument to a socio-technological innovation on par with the invention of the corporation, the rule of law, or even the antler in evolutionary biology. It provides a coherent framework for understanding why:

• Nations like the U.S. are looking to establish bitcoin reserves and embracing stablecoins—they recognize bitcoin’s role in projecting economic power non-violently in the digital age.
• Institutional Investors are allocating billions via ETFs—they see a scarce, secure, uncorrelated asset with antifragile properties.
• Individuals in hyperinflationary economies or under authoritarian regimes use bitcoin—it offers self-sovereign wealth storage immune to seizure or debasement.

For the investor, bitcoin represents more than potential price appreciation. It offers exposure to a fundamental reorganization of how power and value are secured and exchanged globally, grounded not in abstract promises, but in the unyielding laws of physics and mathematics.

Like the brewers who balanced tradition with innovation to create something enduring and valuable, bitcoin pioneers are building the infrastructure for a more resilient digital future—one computationally secured block at a time. The “Softwar” is here, and it is reshaping the landscape of p

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Machtig water\ Door velen bemind

Element van beweging\ Vormgever aan land\ Bondgenoot van wind

Voorkomer van comfort\ Toelater van rust

Machtig water\ Waar ik ook ga\ Ik weet dat jij de grond onder mijn voeten kust

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Bitcoin has always been rooted in freedom and resistance to authority. I get that many of you are conflicted about the US Government stacking but by design we cannot stop anyone from using bitcoin. Many have asked me for my thoughts on the matter, so let’s rip it.

Concern

One of the most glaring issues with the strategic bitcoin reserve is its foundation, built on stolen bitcoin. For those of us who value private property this is an obvious betrayal of our core principles. Rather than proof of work, the bitcoin that seeds this reserve has been taken by force. The US Government should return the bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex and the Silk Road.

Using stolen bitcoin for the reserve creates a perverse incentive. If governments see bitcoin as a valuable asset, they will ramp up efforts to confiscate more bitcoin. The precedent is a major concern, and I stand strongly against it, but it should be also noted that governments were already seizing coin before the reserve so this is not really a change in policy.

Ideally all seized bitcoin should be burned, by law. This would align incentives properly and make it less likely for the government to actively increase coin seizures. Due to the truly scarce properties of bitcoin, all burned bitcoin helps existing holders through increased purchasing power regardless. This change would be unlikely but those of us in policy circles should push for it regardless. It would be best case scenario for American bitcoiners and would create a strong foundation for the next century of American leadership.

Optimism

The entire point of bitcoin is that we can spend or save it without permission. That said, it is a massive benefit to not have one of the strongest governments in human history actively trying to ruin our lives.

Since the beginning, bitcoiners have faced horrible regulatory trends. KYC, surveillance, and legal cases have made using bitcoin and building bitcoin businesses incredibly difficult. It is incredibly important to note that over the past year that trend has reversed for the first time in a decade. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a key driver of this shift. By holding bitcoin, the strongest government in the world has signaled that it is not just a fringe technology but rather truly valuable, legitimate, and worth stacking.

This alignment of incentives changes everything. The US Government stacking proves bitcoin’s worth. The resulting purchasing power appreciation helps all of us who are holding coin and as bitcoin succeeds our government receives direct benefit. A beautiful positive feedback loop.

Realism

We are trending in the right direction. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a sign that the state sees bitcoin as an asset worth embracing rather than destroying. That said, there is a lot of work left to be done. We cannot be lulled into complacency, the time to push forward is now, and we cannot take our foot off the gas. We have a seat at the table for the first time ever. Let's make it worth it.

We must protect the right to free usage of bitcoin and other digital technologies. Freedom in the digital age must be taken and defended, through both technical and political avenues. Multiple privacy focused developers are facing long jail sentences for building tools that protect our freedom. These cases are not just legal battles. They are attacks on the soul of bitcoin. We need to rally behind them, fight for their freedom, and ensure the ethos of bitcoin survives this new era of government interest. The strategic reserve is a step in the right direction, but it is up to us to hold the line and shape the future.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

In het hart van een gepensioneerde operazangeres ontstond een stemmetje. Het stemmetje klonk verrast. "He," ging het hart. "Ik heb een stemmetje gekregen! Hoe kan dit? Kan iemand me horen? Zouden mijn gedachten me kunnen horen?" vroeg het stemmetje, niet wetend aan wie. Want de gedachten hoorden het niet. Zij waren zo druk bezig met het verleden en hadden een grote angst dit te verliezen. "Weet je nog?" gingen de gedachten. "Voor duizenden mensen heb ik gezongen! Avond na avond! Tienduizenden mensen hebben me toegejuicht! Wat waren ze onder de indruk! Luister! Ik kan het nog steeds!" "He," ging het hart. "Hoor je me dan niet? Het ging toch helemaal niet om dat gejuich. Weet je dan niet meer hoe ik me volledig bloot gaf aan die mensen. Mijn diepste en meest persoonlijke verhalen waren te horen in mijn liederen. Daar draaide het toch om? De mensen waren niet enkel onder de indruk. Hun harten hebben mijn verhalen gevoeld en konden zo kennis geven aan hun gedachten. Is dat niet wat echt telde?" Maar de gedachten waren volop aan het zingen voor de ene persoon die ze konden vinden die wou luisteren. "He," ging het hart. "Ook in dit moment zijn mijn liederen te horen door vele gedachten en te voelen door vele harten over de hele wereld. Heb ik dan geen rust verdiend? Kan ik niet even genieten van de rust die in dit moment te vinden is, maar jullie van me afnemen?" Maar de gedachten waren nog steeds volop aan het zingen.

@ 1f3ce62e:6e6b5d83

This question is an invitation to explore your internal congruence in those actions because this is key to show up as a Whole Self.

Internal alignment on the way you feel, think, communicate, and act create harmony in our life. Looking at it can be a compass to quickly identify those moments of internal misalignment and easily work our way back to balance.

When we think one thing and say another, or when we say one thing and do another, or when we think one thing and do another, in those situations we show up partially. We are one person with a group of friends and someone else with another group. We are one person at work and another at home.

Finding that internal alignment requires us to identify our limiting believes and fears of not being accepted as we are. All those limitations are not us, they are just mental concepts our societies, communities and families created, but are not defining who we really are.

In order to explore your internal alignment, think about an specific situation at work or at your personal life and let's jump into a CREATIVE COACHING TIME:

🌱 What do you feel about this situation?\ 🌱 What do you think about it?\ 🌱 What do you say about this situation? If you haven't said anything yet, why? Are there any fears or limiting believes?\ 🌱 What have you done about this? If you haven't, why?

🌱 Is it congruence between what you feel and what you say?\ 🌱 Is it congruence between what you think and what you have done?

🌱 What small step can you take to get closer to internal alignment?

Congruence between what you feel, think, say and do eventually leads to come at work or be at home as same person, as a whole self.

In my adventure at the corporate world, I have experienced that using colors is related to being childish and not being professional. But when I tried to overcome that limiting belief using a lot of colors in a presentation as a test, people actually appreciated it and liked it.

Since then, I have been exploring how to introduce colors while interacting with teams at work. In that experimentation, I have learned that colors can speaks to our brains and help us with visual memory.

Some colors can trigger positive emotions in us, as well as, some others might trigger negative ones.

Colors can be used as a creative tool to express ideas, communicate with our teams important messages and create spaces with specific purposes as we will explore in this book.

Your beliefs about using colors at work are going to determine your impression of these series of blog posts, so sooner than later, I would like to invite you to another CREATIVE COACHING TIME to explore them:

\ 🌱 What do colors make you feel?\ 🌱 What are your beliefs about colors?\ 🌱 What are your beliefs about using colors at work?\ 🌱 What are the reasons behind those beliefs?\ 🌱 Would you like to try to use more colors at work for a week and explore what happens?\ \ As a creative tool, colors can also be used to describe the way you feel as well as your talents (by thinking, communicating and doing).

Internal congruence is an aspect that can help us a lot on identifying how opaque or brilliant are our colors. An example can help you to understand how to apply colors into your internal congruence. Let's imagine you feel very emotionally overwhelmed today but you don't talk about it at all. That is an opaque representation of the color pink.

In the following blogs, we will explore each color, its meaning and how you can apply it to express your feelings and identify your talents. It will help you to see yourself from a new perspective (the primary goal of creativity) and learn something about yourself. As we start this colorful journey, you might need to learn a little bit about each color first.

We can also use colors to define roles in a group as well as the mission of a team in an organization. Then, I will invite you to reflect on how we use colors at work today (if we do it at all) and additional ways of using them.

Although there are a lot of colors, you don't have to have them all at once, so there is not race to win anything here. You don't need to compete with others on their colors versus yours. There might be times in your life or professional career where you will need to develop one color more than another. Even as feelings, you can feel RED ❤️ today and PINK 🩷 tomorrow. The idea is to let yourself experiment all feelings without judgement.

An evolutionary goal as individuals, if there could be any, it might be to have them or have experienced all, but you have your whole life for it.

An evolutionary purpose as a teams, organizations and companies, it could be to use them as a diverse way of feeling, thinking, expressing and acting. And this could set a new step into our diversity and inclusion discussions in the future. Being GREEN 💚 today, doesn't mean I will always be GREEN. It might be that the situation today requires me to be GREEN. This could eventually lead to focusing on being more than gender, color, race or any other tags we are using these days. We will talk more about that in a chapter.

Before we jump into the colors, let's have a a new CREATIVE COACHING TIME, It is your turn now, before knowing anything about the meaning of the colors, quickly rate yourself based the first word that appears in your mind when you read these questions (Low or High):

How RED ❤️ are you?\ How ORANGE 🧡 are you?\ How YELLOW 💛 are you?\ How GREEN 💚 are you?\ How PINK 🩷 are you?\ How SKY BLUE 🩵 are you?\ How BLUE 💙 are you?\ How VIOLET 💜 are you?

You can apply the same questions to feelings. Remember this set of answers are a picture of you today, by the time doing this exercise. You can come back to it every time you want to check how colorful are you in the way you think, you feel, you communicate and you act anytime.

Hope this helps!

Stay colorful in a black and white World

Laus 🌱💛

@ df478568:2a951e67

Marty Bent Vibe coded the opportunity cost app. I have not tried it yet, but love the concept. I have been into bitcoin since 2014, but I spent more generational wealth than I would care to admit back then. I've heard stories of fortunes blown on cocaine in the 1980's. I could write a story about spending a fortune on Diet Mt. Dew. I don't drink Diet Mt. Dew anymore. This one time, I spent about a million sats for a light beer at a baseball game. I wouldn't say I had a drinking problem, a million sats was only five bucks at the time. I didn't know that much bitcoin would be worth over a thousand bucks eleven years later.

I don't drink beer anymore. Bitcoin tends to do that to you.

We can afford chairs now. To be honest, we need a couch. The last couch I bought was in 2017 and it cost about a whole bitcoin. That couch is buried in a landfill today. My wife loves furniture, but even she's hesitant to spend sats on a couch now. We know we need a couch, but we don't want to spend sats on something we will need to replace before the next halving.

Many of us who have been in bitcoin for more than a decade have some regrets. I know I do, but we need to live our lives. I would never say you should sit on the floor, but I encourage to you to think about time. How long will this thing I need to buy last? If you think you can give a 3 million sat couch to your grandchildren, spend three million sats on the couch. If your five year plan for the couch is to help fill a landfill, maybe you only need to buy a used couch at a thrift store. This is not investment advice of course. How can it be? I don't know what kind of couch hazards you have in your house. I have trouble finding a couch of my own, but it's how I think about making bigger purchases. How many years of your retirement will that watch, car, house or whatever cost you from your stack? You can only determine that for yourself. I think the opportunity cost app will help you keep track of your decision.

This app was made by someone who once spent a whole bitcoin on a heater. I can't speak for Marty, but I believe the opportunity cost app will help you learn from my mistakes.

For more information, check out:

https://www.opportunitycost.app/

Check out the code on GitHub.

Using The Opportunity Cost App

The app is pretty straight forward. It is only available on Chrome for now so I installed it on the Chromium browser. I looked at the settings, but kept them default.

Then I searched for a Rolex in Duck Duck Go.

The default is bitcoin, but there is a sat calculator in the corner too, I have always wanted a Rolex Milgauss with a green sapphire so I looked it up on eBay. It's about 8 million sats. That's too rich for my blood, but I might be willing to part with a million sats for that watch. I'll definitely pick it up for 500,000 sats. I can wait. Bitcoin is the best clock in the world. I wouldn't go so far as to call this Rolex a shitcoin, but bitcoin is a better clock than any watch in my opinion--Even when compared to my favorite watch.

Video From Opportunity Cost Website

How will you use the Opportunity Cost browser extension?

☮️ npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0

https://zapthisblog.com/calculate-your-opportunity-cost-while-shopping/

900,678

@ 044da344:073a8a0e

Meine Karriere als Auftragsforscher neigt sich ihrem Ende entgegen. In zwei Wochen ist der Forschungsverbund „Das mediale Erbe der DDR“ Geschichte. Gerade hat mir der Geldgeber mitgeteilt, dass er sich nicht mehr Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung nennt, sondern Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt. BMFTR statt BMBF. Bitte, sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, verwenden Sie ab sofort nur noch das neue Logo. Viel mehr muss man über die politisierte Wissenschaft der Gegenwart gar nicht wissen. Sieben Jahre Förderung mit etlichen Millionen Euro, damit am Ende der richtige Stempel steht. Es soll mir keiner erzählen, dass das den Nachwuchs nicht formt.

Ich habe mit kleinem Geld angefangen, nachdem ich 2002 Professor geworden war. An der LMU in München hatte ich eigentlich alles, was ich brauchte. Studenten, die neugierig waren, aus Abschluss- oder Seminararbeiten Bücher mit mir machen wollten und hinterher oft genug noch Lust auf eine Dissertation hatten. Aufträge ergaben sich eher zufällig aus dem, was wir ohnehin machten. Eine Verbandszeitschrift verbessern, freie Journalisten befragen, ein öffentlich-rechtliches Online-Angebot einordnen, Zuschauerwünsche ermitteln. Ich habe dabei schnell gelernt, dass sich das nicht lohnt. Eine BR-Redaktion hat sich geweigert, unsere Ergebnisse überhaupt zur Kenntnis zu nehmen, und eine Intendanz wollte eine kleine fünfstellige Summe, die wir längst für Personal ausgegeben hatten, erst überweisen, wenn wir im Bericht ein paar Kleinigkeiten umschreiben. Ich dachte: Lass die anderen den Euros nachlaufen. Ich mache einfach mein Ding.

Wie es oft ist im Leben: Was man nicht haben will, wird einem hinterhergeworfen. Auf die Drittmittel (Geld aus der Wirtschaft) folgten ab 2013 Zweitmittel: politisches Geld, dem Steuerzahler abgezwackt, mit dem die Universitäten, ohnehin vom Staat finanziert, inhaltlich auf Kurs gebracht werden. Ich war Sprecher in drei interdisziplinären Forschungsverbünden. ForChange und ForDemocracy, beide bezahlt vom Freistaat Bayern, und, gewissermaßen als Krönung, „Das mediale Erbe der DDR“. Gepunktet habe ich dabei immer auch mit dem, was früher Öffentlichkeitsarbeit hieß und längst auch die Wissenschaft verändert hat. In Kurzform: Reichweite ist mindestens so wichtig wie Tiefe. Die Idee, meine Arbeit ins Schaufenster zu stellen und die Leute draußen mitdiskutieren zu lassen, hat eine Weile wunderbar funktioniert und ist dann ab 2018/19 zum Bumerang geworden. Aber das ist eine andere Geschichte.

Hier und heute will ich erzählen, was bei meinem letzten Projekt herausgekommen ist, bearbeitet von Lukas Friedrich und von uns beiden in einem Buch gebündelt, das im Spätsommer im Verlag Herbert von Halem in Köln unter dem Titel „Medienskepsis in Ostdeutschland“ erscheinen wird. Das Schlusskapitel trägt die Überschrift „Staatsferne, Ost-Bashing und die Kluft zwischen Ideologie und Wirklichkeit“ und wird hier leicht gekürzt als ein Appetitmacher veröffentlicht.

Ein Fazit zu den Wurzeln der „Medienskepsis Ost“

Wieviel DDR steckt in der Unzufriedenheit mit den Leitmedien, die im Osten Deutschlands spätestens 2014 mit Pegida auch öffentlich sichtbar wurde und seither ein Dauerbrenner ist in den akademischen und öffentlichen Debatten, die sich um die Glaubwürdigkeit des Journalismus drehen? Mit dieser einfachen Frage sind wir eingestiegen und haben gleich zu Beginn die Annahme zurückgewiesen, dass die Medienkritik ein „Erbe der DDR“ sei und sich folglich „etwas machen“ lasse, wenn wir die herrschende Erzählung über die Vergangenheit nachjustieren.

Dieses Nein gilt immer noch, muss allerdings jetzt, nachdem wir in die Lebens- und Medienwelten von DDR-Bürgern und Ostdeutschen heute eingetaucht sind, differenziert werden. Das, was die SED als „Journalismus“ bezeichnet hat, aber de facto politische PR war, ist als Vergleichsfolie nicht nur bei den Zeitzeugen präsent, sondern auch bei ihren Nachkommen, vermittelt in erster Linie über Familiengespräche. Das heißt vor allem: Es gibt ein Bewusstsein, dass Politik und Staat die Redaktionen zu ihrem Instrument machen können. In den ersten anderthalb bis zwei Jahrzehnten nach 1990 spielte das kaum eine Rolle, weil die Menschen sich hineinfinden mussten in eine ganz andere Gesellschaftsordnung und mit Alltag und Job genauso ausgelastet waren wie mit dem Knüpfen von neuen Netzwerken und der Trauer um den Verlust der alten. „Ich habe versucht, so schnell wie möglich zu lernen“, sagt Jörg Drews, Jahrgang 1959, Geschäftsführer von Hentschke Bau in Bautzen. Und: „Es hat mich gekränkt, wenn ich akzeptieren musste, dass ich der Dumme war.“ Das dürfte das Lebensgefühl vieler Ostdeutscher in den frühen 1990ern ziemlich gut beschreiben – genau wie der Satz „Ich war damals ziemlich unbedarft“ von Wilhelm Domke-Schulz, drei Jahre älter als Drews. Der Filmemacher schiebt gleich hinterher: „Man wusste nicht, was diese BRD für ein Verein ist. Man war ja nie dort gewesen. Ich war mir sicher, dass ein paar Sachen bleiben werden. Nie wieder Faschismus, nie wieder Krieg. Und ansonsten kann man sich überraschen lassen. Die Überraschung sah dann anders aus. Die DDR hat keine Kriege geführt. Die BRD schon. Und mit dem Faschismus: Da müsste ich jetzt ein bisschen ausholen.“

Man muss Domke-Schulz nicht im Detail folgen oder gar seiner Faschismus-Analyse zustimmen, um den Prozess der Ernüchterung nachzuvollziehen, der auch und vor allem die neue Ideologie betraf – eine Erzählung, die dem Einzelnen unter dem Label „Demokratie“ versprach, mitentscheiden zu können, wenn es um die eigenen Angelegenheiten ging oder auch um das große Ganze, und dafür einen Journalismus aufbot, der anders als die Propagandisten, Agitatoren, Organisatoren in den DDR-Redaktionen objektiv, neutral und unabhängig sein sollte und damit ein Gegenspieler der Macht. Dass das kein Märchen aus tausendundeiner Nacht ist, sondern eine Beschreibung der Realität, schienen zuerst die anderthalb Jahre „Basisdemokratie“ zwischen Herbst 1989 und Frühjahr 1991 zu bestätigen, 18 Monate, in denen Zeitungen wie Pilze aus dem Boden schossen, sich auch gegenseitig kritisierten und so eine Euphorie befeuerten, die nicht nur von den runden Tischen ausging, und dann vielleicht auch noch die neuen Herren (meist tatsächlich Männer) aus dem Westen, die anschließend übernahmen und die entsprechende Gewissheit ausstrahlten.

Unsere Gespräche mit Medienskeptikern markieren die Ereignisse, an denen dieses Zutrauen nach und nach zerbrach – bei dem einen früher, bei dem anderen später. Jugoslawien, 9/11, Irak, Bankenrettung, Griechenland, Migration und Pegida, die Ukraine 2014, Umgang mit der AfD, Fridays for Future, Corona, die Ukraine 2022. Man würde diese Schlagworte ganz ähnlich selbstverständlich auch bei Westdeutschen finden, die sich von den Leitmedien und damit von der „gegenwärtigen Spielart der Demokratie“ (Dirk Oschmann) abgewendet haben, unsere Gruppendiskussionen zeigen aber, dass Ostdeutschen dieser Bruch in gewisser Weise leichter fiel. Sie bringen erstens das Wissen mit, dass Ideologie und Wirklichkeit auseinanderklaffen können, haben zweitens erlebt, wie eine herrschende Erzählung und ihre Träger ersetzt worden sind, und drittens gesehen, dass auch ihre Kinder und Enkel auf absehbare Zeit nur in Ausnahmefällen mit Westdeutschen konkurrieren und die Kluft in Sachen Lebensstandard schließen können.

Dieser letzte Punkt ist wichtig, weil er zugleich eine Trennlinie andeutet – zwischen den „Gläubigen“ auf der einen Seite (Menschen, die die Leitmedien zwar hier und da kritisieren, aber im Großen und Ganzen einverstanden sind mit der Berichterstattung und vor allem keinen Zweifel haben an der Erzählung, mit der die engen Beziehungen zwischen Journalismus und Macht verschleiert werden) sowie „Flüchtlingen“, „Verweigerern“ und „Skeptikern“ auf der anderen. Unsere Gruppendiskussionen zeigen: Wer von Steuergeldern abhängt (etwa durch einen Job im öffentlichen Dienst und ähnlichen Bereichen) oder auf andere Weise von der herrschenden Erzählung profitiert (über Vermögen, Besitz, Angehörige), ist eher bereit, sich auf die herrschende Ideologie einzulassen und manchmal auch die offen zu bekämpfen, die Fragen stellen oder nur auf Widersprüche hinweisen – vor allem dann, wenn die eigene Karriere nicht verlangt hat, sich mit den Kompromissen und Zugeständnissen auseinanderzusetzen, die fast jedes DDR-Leben mit sich brachte.

Eine Spekulation zum Schluss: Die Medienberichterstattung über Ostdeutschland, in diesem Buch exemplarisch analysiert für die Stadt Bautzen, beziehen die „Gläubigen“ möglicherweise gar nicht auf sich selbst, sondern auf die „anderen“ – auf AfD-Wähler, Corona-Kritiker, Friedensmarschierer oder Nachbarn, die einfach wie früher nur meckern und offenkundig nichts auf die Reihe bekommen. Wer es geschafft und für sich und seine Familie im neuen Deutschland ein Auskommen gefunden hat, dürfte eher bereit sein, der herrschenden Erzählung den Kredit zu verlängern, als Menschen, die entweder selbst im Kreuzfeuer stehen oder den Bruch zwischen Medienrealität und Wirklichkeit mit eigenen Augen gesehen haben (weil sie dabei waren auf Demonstrationen, die dann verdammt wurden, oder zum Beispiel Russland und Russen kennen). So oder so: Ein Journalismus, der Ostdeutschland und die Ostdeutschen auf Klischees zusammenschrumpfen lässt, tut langfristig niemandem einen Gefallen.

Titelbild: Pegida 2015. Foto: Opposition 24, CC BY 2.0

Michael Meyen: Videos

Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus

Unterstützen

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

In a coastal village divided by a rushing river, two clans lived on opposite banks The Southern Kaduna and The Northern Kaduna, Generations of mistrust had built walls between them, though the river carried the same water, and the sky above shone on both.

No one dared cross the river, though everyone longed to.

Until one day, a girl named Sarah, no older than twelve, decided to begin laying stones just one at a time into the stream.

The elders laughed. “A child’s game,” they said.

But Sarah came back each day. Rain or sun. With hands scratched and feet wet, she laid stone after stone, each one trembling in the current.

One morning, a boy from the South side stood watching. Then, silently, he brought a stone of his own. He laid it next to hers.

They said nothing.

Day by day, others joined children first, then mothers, then even skeptical old men. Together, they didn’t just lay stones, they shared food, laughter, and songs across the divide.

By the end of the season, the river had a bridge.

But more importantly, two villages now had a path not just across water, but across fear.

And when asked who built the bridge, they didn’t say Sarah’s name.

They simply said, “It started with one small step. Then many others followed.”

Moral: Every great journey starts small. The first step might not shake the earth but it can change the world.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Recently we have seen a wave of high profile X accounts hacked. These attacks have exposed the fragility of the status quo security model used by modern social media platforms like X. Many users have asked if nostr fixes this, so lets dive in. How do these types of attacks translate into the world of nostr apps? For clarity, I will use X’s security model as representative of most big tech social platforms and compare it to nostr.

The Status Quo

On X, you never have full control of your account. Ultimately to use it requires permission from the company. They can suspend your account or limit your distribution. Theoretically they can even post from your account at will. An X account is tied to an email and password. Users can also opt into two factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of protection, a login code generated by an app. In theory, this setup works well, but it places a heavy burden on users. You need to create a strong, unique password and safeguard it. You also need to ensure your email account and phone number remain secure, as attackers can exploit these to reset your credentials and take over your account. Even if you do everything responsibly, there is another weak link in X infrastructure itself. The platform’s infrastructure allows accounts to be reset through its backend. This could happen maliciously by an employee or through an external attacker who compromises X’s backend. When an account is compromised, the legitimate user often gets locked out, unable to post or regain control without contacting X’s support team. That process can be slow, frustrating, and sometimes fruitless if support denies the request or cannot verify your identity. Often times support will require users to provide identification info in order to regain access, which represents a privacy risk. The centralized nature of X means you are ultimately at the mercy of the company’s systems and staff.

Nostr Requires Responsibility

Nostr flips this model radically. Users do not need permission from a company to access their account, they can generate as many accounts as they want, and cannot be easily censored. The key tradeoff here is that users have to take complete responsibility for their security. Instead of relying on a username, password, and corporate servers, nostr uses a private key as the sole credential for your account. Users generate this key and it is their responsibility to keep it safe. As long as you have your key, you can post. If someone else gets it, they can post too. It is that simple. This design has strong implications. Unlike X, there is no backend reset option. If your key is compromised or lost, there is no customer support to call. In a compromise scenario, both you and the attacker can post from the account simultaneously. Neither can lock the other out, since nostr relays simply accept whatever is signed with a valid key.

The benefit? No reliance on proprietary corporate infrastructure.. The negative? Security rests entirely on how well you protect your key.

Future Nostr Security Improvements

For many users, nostr’s standard security model, storing a private key on a phone with an encrypted cloud backup, will likely be sufficient. It is simple and reasonably secure. That said, nostr’s strength lies in its flexibility as an open protocol. Users will be able to choose between a range of security models, balancing convenience and protection based on need.

One promising option is a web of trust model for key rotation. Imagine pre-selecting a group of trusted friends. If your account is compromised, these people could collectively sign an event announcing the compromise to the network and designate a new key as your legitimate one. Apps could handle this process seamlessly in the background, notifying followers of the switch without much user interaction. This could become a popular choice for average users, but it is not without tradeoffs. It requires trust in your chosen web of trust, which might not suit power users or large organizations. It also has the issue that some apps may not recognize the key rotation properly and followers might get confused about which account is “real.”

For those needing higher security, there is the option of multisig using FROST (Flexible Round-Optimized Schnorr Threshold). In this setup, multiple keys must sign off on every action, including posting and updating a profile. A hacker with just one key could not do anything. This is likely overkill for most users due to complexity and inconvenience, but it could be a game changer for large organizations, companies, and governments. Imagine the White House nostr account requiring signatures from multiple people before a post goes live, that would be much more secure than the status quo big tech model.

Another option are hardware signers, similar to bitcoin hardware wallets. Private keys are kept on secure, offline devices, separate from the internet connected phone or computer you use to broadcast events. This drastically reduces the risk of remote hacks, as private keys never touches the internet. It can be used in combination with multisig setups for extra protection. This setup is much less convenient and probably overkill for most but could be ideal for governments, companies, or other high profile accounts.

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Nostr’s security model is not perfect but is robust and versatile. Ultimately users are in control and security is their responsibility. Apps will give users multiple options to choose from and users will choose what best fits their need.

@ df478568:2a951e67

How To Mine Your Own Vanity Nostr Key

note. This article works best on https://habla.news/u/marc@primal.net/how-to-mine-a-nostr-vanity-key-with-rana

Rana is a vanity npub generator.

I'll show you how to use it on Ubuntu.

If you're not Linux ninja and use Windows instead of Linux ninja weapons, you can still use Linux with Virtualbox, free ans open source virtualization software. Head over to

https://www.virtualbox.org/ to learn more. They also have an enterprise business if you need that sort of thing, you can learn more at https://shop.oracle.com/

Rana is a nostr vanity key mining program. The source code can be found here.

Rana Is On GitHub

https://github.com/grunch/rana

Since rana already has pretty good docs, I decided to make a video instead of write about this because It's easier to see rana in action than it is to write about Rana. I went off on some tangents, so I might edit this down later, but I hope it helps you mine your own nostr key.

nevent1qqsfk7a000m8zc3ptsuu4vytepqc9eedceclpt2ns9pzlech5cpaflceng5al

Show Notes

https://github.com/grunch/rana

https://virtualbox.org/

https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/getting-started/installation.html

cargo run --release -- --vanity-n-prefix=juxtap0se

☮️

nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0

900,969

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

In much of the world, it is incredibly difficult to access U.S. dollars. Local currencies are often poorly managed and riddled with corruption. Billions of people demand a more reliable alternative. While the dollar has its own issues of corruption and mismanagement, it is widely regarded as superior to the fiat currencies it competes with globally. As a result, Tether has found massive success providing low cost, low friction access to dollars. Tether claims 400 million total users, is on track to add 200 million more this year, processes 8.1 million transactions daily, and facilitates $29 billion in daily transfers. Furthermore, their estimates suggest nearly 40% of users rely on it as a savings tool rather than just a transactional currency.

Tether’s rise has made the company a financial juggernaut. Last year alone, Tether raked in over $13 billion in profit, with a lean team of less than 100 employees. Their business model is elegantly simple: hold U.S. Treasuries and collect the interest. With over $113 billion in Treasuries, Tether has turned a straightforward concept into a profit machine.

Tether’s success has resulted in many competitors eager to claim a piece of the pie. This has triggered a massive venture capital grift cycle in USD tokens, with countless projects vying to dethrone Tether. Due to Tether’s entrenched network effect, these challengers face an uphill battle with little realistic chance of success. Most educated participants in the space likely recognize this reality but seem content to perpetuate the grift, hoping to cash out by dumping their equity positions on unsuspecting buyers before they realize the reality of the situation.

Historically, Tether’s greatest vulnerability has been U.S. government intervention. For over a decade, the company operated offshore with few allies in the U.S. establishment, making it a major target for regulatory action. That dynamic has shifted recently and Tether has seized the opportunity. By actively courting U.S. government support, Tether has fortified their position. This strategic move will likely cement their status as the dominant USD token for years to come.

While undeniably a great tool for the millions of users that rely on it, Tether is not without flaws. As a centralized, trusted third party, it holds the power to freeze or seize funds at its discretion. Corporate mismanagement or deliberate malpractice could also lead to massive losses at scale. In their goal of mitigating regulatory risk, Tether has deepened ties with law enforcement, mirroring some of the concerns of potential central bank digital currencies. In practice, Tether operates as a corporate CBDC alternative, collaborating with authorities to surveil and seize funds. The company proudly touts partnerships with leading surveillance firms and its own data reveals cooperation in over 1,000 law enforcement cases, with more than $2.5 billion in funds frozen.

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The global demand for Tether is undeniable and the company’s profitability reflects its unrivaled success. Tether is owned and operated by bitcoiners and will likely continue to push forward strategic goals that help the movement as a whole. Recent efforts to mitigate the threat of U.S. government enforcement will likely solidify their network effect and stifle meaningful adoption of rival USD tokens or CBDCs. Yet, for all their achievements, Tether is simply a worse form of money than bitcoin. Tether requires trust in a centralized entity, while bitcoin can be saved or spent without permission. Furthermore, Tether is tied to the value of the US Dollar which is designed to lose purchasing power over time, while bitcoin, as a truly scarce asset, is designed to increase in purchasing power with adoption. As people awaken to the risks of Tether’s control, and the benefits bitcoin provides, bitcoin adoption will likely surpass it.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

The former seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.

The latter's future remains to be seen. Dependence on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

— ODELL (@ODELL) October 27, 2022

The Basics

• Lightning is a protocol that enables cheap and fast native bitcoin transactions.
• At the core of the protocol is the ability for bitcoin users to create a payment channel with another user.
• These payment channels enable users to make many bitcoin transactions between each other with only two on-chain bitcoin transactions: the channel open transaction and the channel close transaction.
• Essentially lightning is a protocol for interoperable batched bitcoin transactions.
• It is expected that on chain bitcoin transaction fees will increase with adoption and the ability to easily batch transactions will save users significant money.
• As these lightning transactions are processed, liquidity flows from one side of a channel to the other side, on chain transactions are signed by both parties but not broadcasted to update this balance.
• Lightning is designed to be trust minimized, either party in a payment channel can close the channel at any time and their bitcoin will be settled on chain without trusting the other party.

There is no 'Lightning Network'

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise.
• There are many lightning channels between many different users and funds can flow across interconnected channels as long as there is a route through peers.
• If a lightning transaction requires multiple hops it will flow through multiple interconnected channels, adjusting the balance of all channels along the route, and paying lightning transaction fees that are set by each node on the route.

Example: You have a channel with Bob. Bob has a channel with Charlie. You can pay Charlie through your channel with Bob and Bob's channel with User C.

• As a result, it is not guaranteed that every lightning user can pay every other lightning user, they must have a route of interconnected channels between sender and receiver.

Lightning in Practice

• Lightning has already found product market fit and usage as an interconnected payment protocol between large professional custodians.
• They are able to easily manage channels and liquidity between each other without trust using this interoperable protocol.
• Lightning payments between large custodians are fast and easy. End users do not have to run their own node or manage their channels and liquidity. These payments rarely fail due to professional management of custodial nodes.
• The tradeoff is one inherent to custodians and other trusted third parties. Custodial wallets can steal funds and compromise user privacy.

Sovereign Lightning

• Trusted third parties are security holes.
• Users must run their own node and manage their own channels in order to use lightning without trusting a third party. This remains the single largest friction point for sovereign lightning usage: the mental burden of actively running a lightning node and associated liquidity management.
• Bitcoin development prioritizes node accessibility so cost to self host your own node is low but if a node is run at home or office, Tor or a VPN is recommended to mask your IP address: otherwise it is visible to the entire network and represents a privacy risk.
• This privacy risk is heightened due to the potential for certain governments to go after sovereign lightning users and compel them to shutdown their nodes. If their IP Address is exposed they are easier to target.
• Fortunately the tools to run and manage nodes continue to get easier but it is important to understand that this will always be a friction point when compared to custodial services.

The Potential Fracture of Lightning

• Any lightning user can choose which users are allowed to open channels with them.
• One potential is that professional custodians only peer with other professional custodians.
• We already see nodes like those run by CashApp only have channels open with other regulated counterparties. This could be due to performance goals, liability reduction, or regulatory pressure.

• Fortunately some of their peers are connected to non-regulated parties so payments to and from sovereign lightning users are still successfully processed by CashApp but this may not always be the case going forward.

Summary

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise. There is no singular 'Lightning Network' but rather many payment channels between distinct peers, some connected with each other and some not.
• Lightning as an interoperable payment protocol between professional custodians seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
• Lightning as a robust sovereign payment protocol has yet to be battle tested. Heavy reliance on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, the friction of active liquidity management, significant on chain fee burden for small amounts, interactivity constraints on mobile, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

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If you have never used lightning before, use this guide to get started on your phone.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ c631e267:c2b78d3e

Ich dachte immer, jeder Mensch sei gegen den Krieg, \ bis ich herausfand, dass es welche gibt, \ die nicht hingehen müssen. \ Erich Maria Remarque

Was sollte man von einem Freitag, den 13., schon anderes erwarten?, ist man versucht zu sagen. Jedoch braucht niemand abergläubisch zu sein, um den heutigen Tag als unheilvoll anzusehen. Der israelische «Präventivschlag» von heute Nacht gegen militärische und nukleare Ziele im Iran könnte allem Anschein nach zu einem längeren bewaffneten Konflikt führen – und damit unweigerlich zu weiteren Opfern.

«Wir befinden uns im Krieg», soll ein ranghoher israelischer Militärvertreter gesagt haben, und der Iran wertet den israelischen Angriff laut seinem Außenminister als Kriegserklärung. Na also. Der Iran hat Vergeltungsschläge angekündigt und antwortete zunächst mit Drohnen. Inzwischen ist eine zweite israelische Angriffswelle angelaufen. Ob wir wohl künftig in den Mainstream-Medien durchgängig von einem «israelischen Angriffskrieg auf den Iran» hören und lesen werden?

Dass die zunehmenden Spannungen um das iranische Atomprogramm zu einer akuten Eskalation im Nahen Osten führen könnten, hatte Transition News gestern berichtet. Laut US-Beamten sei Israel «voll bereit», den Iran in den nächsten Tagen anzugreifen, hieß es in dem Beitrag. Heute ist das bereits bittere Realität.

Der Nahe Osten steht übrigens auch auf der Themenliste des diesjährigen Bilderberg-Treffens, das zurzeit in Stockholm stattfindet. Viele Inhalte werden wir allerdings mal wieder nicht erfahren, denn wie immer hocken die «erlauchten» Persönlichkeiten aus Europa und den USA «informell» und unter größter Geheimhaltung zusammen, um über «Weltpolitik» zu diskutieren. Auf der Teinehmerliste stehen auch einige Vertreter aus der Schweiz und aus Deutschland.

Die Anwesenheit sowohl des aktuellen als auch des vorigen Generalsekretärs der NATO lässt vermuten, dass man bei dem Meeting weniger über das Thema «Neutralität» sprechen dürfte. Angesichts des Zustands unseres Planeten ist das schade, denn der Ökonom Jeffrey Sachs hob kürzlich in einem Interview die Rolle der Neutralität in geopolitischen Krisen hervor. Mit Blick auf die Schweiz betonte er, der zunehmende Druck zur NATO-Annäherung widerspreche nicht nur der Bundesverfassung, sondern auch dem historischen Erbe des Landes.

Positives gibt es diese Woche ebenfalls zu berichten. So hat der US-Gesundheitsminister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nach der «sensationellen» Entlassung aller Mitglieder des Impfberatungsausschusses (wegen verbreiteter direkter Verbindungen zu Pharmaunternehmen) nun auch bereits neue Namen verkündet. Demnach möchte er unter anderem Robert W. Malone, Erfinder der mRNA-«Impfung» als Technologie und prominenter Kritiker der Corona-Maßnahmen, in das Komitee aufnehmen.

Auch die Aufarbeitung der unsinnigen Corona-Politik geht Schrittchen für Schrittchen weiter. In Heidelberg hat die Initiative für Demokratie und Aufklärung (IDA) den Gemeinderat angesichts der katastrophalen Haushaltslage zu einer offenen und ehrlichen Diskussion über die Ursachen der Krise aufgefordert. Das Thema «Corona» sei «das Teuerste, was Heidelberg je erlebt hat», sagte IDA-Stadtrat Gunter Frank im Plenum. Außerdem seien aus den Krisenstabsprotokollen der Stadt auch die enormen Verwerfungen ersichtlich, und es gebe Anlass für tiefgehende Gespräche mit der Stadtverwaltung.

Den juristischen und öffentlichen Druck auf die Kommunen möchte der Unternehmer Markus Böning erhöhen. Seine «Freiheitskanzlei» will Bürgern helfen, die Aufarbeitung selbst in die Hand zu nehmen. Unter dem Motto «Corona-Wiedergutmachung» bietet er Hilfestellung, wie Betroffene versuchen können, sich unrechtmäßige Bußgelder zurückzuholen.

So bleibt uns am Ende dieses finsteren Freitags doch auch Anlass zur Hoffnung. Es gibt definitiv noch Anzeichen von Menschlichkeit. Darauf möchte ich mich konzentrieren, und mit diesem Gefühl verabschiede ich mich ins Wochenende.

[Titelbild: Pixabay]

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

@ 2cde0e02:180a96b9

watercolor pencils, water brush & pen

https://stacker.news/items/1006159

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

I am the space\ In which your experience takes place

You could never meet me\ For I hold no identity

The only way to really see me\ Is to be me

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Love, I thank you for your warmth\ Ever lifting

You keep me charmed\ Ever drifting

May I be me\ And you be you

In a perfect harmony\ Embracing all life makes us grow through

@ 58537364:705b4b85

ในร่างกายที่มันมีสิ่งที่เรียกว่า… ระบบประสาท ทีนี้มีอะไรเข้ามากระทบร่างกาย คือกระทบระบบประสาท ปฏิกิริยามันก็เกิดขึ้น เป็นเหตุการณ์ อย่างใดอย่างหนึ่งขึ้น

เหตุการณ์นั้นแหละสำคัญ ถ้าให้เกิดความรู้สึกที่ถูกใจมันจะเป็นบวก เหตุการณ์นั้นไม่รู้สึกถูกใจแก่จิต มันก็จะเป็นลบ #ตัวกูเพิ่งเกิดเมื่อมีการกระทบแล้ว

ถ้าเหตุการณ์ที่เป็นบวกเกิดขึ้น ตัวกูบวกก็เกิดขึ้น เหตุการณ์ที่เป็นลบเกิดขึ้น ตัวกูที่เป็นลบเกิดขึ้น #ตัวกูนี้เกิดหลังเหตุการณ์ ขอให้เข้าใจดีๆ ไม่ใช่เกิดอยู่ก่อน

ตัวกูคลอดออกมาจาก situation ที่มากระทบระบบประสาท เช่นว่า… ไม่ได้กินอาหาร ขาดอาหาร มันหิว ความหิวเกิดขึ้นแก่ระบบประสาท ต่อมาจึงเกิด concept ว่า กูหิว, มีการกินแล้วจึงเกิด concept ว่า กูกิน

ถ้ามีอาการอร่อยแก่ลิ้น มันจึงเกิด concept ว่า… กูอร่อย หรือ มาทีหลังเหตุการณ์เสมอ จะถือว่าเป็น product ของเหตุการณ์นั้น ๆ ก็ได้

นี่คือความที่ไม่มีตัวจริง มิใช่ของจริง ของสิ่งที่เรียกว่าตัวกู #ขอให้รู้จักว่าตัวกูนี้มันเป็นมายาถึงขนาดนี้

ฟังดูการพูดอย่างนี้ มันเป็น logic แต่ความจริงของธรรมชาติมันเป็นอย่างนั้น ถือตามกฎ logic ธรรมดาสามัญ ที่พูดกันอยู่นี้ไม่ได้ ต้องถือตามความเป็นจริงที่ว่า มันเป็นอยู่อย่างไร

จิตก็เป็นธาตุชนิดหนึ่ง สิ่งแวดล้อมต่างๆ ที่เป็นธาตุชนิดหนึ่ง พอมาถึงกันเข้า ก็เกิดปฏิกิริยาออกมาอย่างนั้นอย่างนี้ ความรู้สึกที่เรียกว่า… #จิตคิดนึกได้นี้_ก็เป็นปฏิกิริยาที่เกิดขึ้นเท่านั้น แล้วความรู้สึกว่าตัวกู ตัวนี้ก็เป็นเพียงปฏิกิริยาที่เกิดขึ้นเท่านั้น.

มันฟังยากสำหรับท่านทั้งหลายที่ว่า ผู้กระทำนั้นเกิดทีหลังการกระทำ มันผิด logic อย่างนี้

แต่ความจริงเป็นอย่างนั้น self หรือ ego ผู้กระทำจะเกิดทีหลังการกระทำ เป็นปฏิกิริยาของการกระทำ

ความคิดอย่าง ตรรกะ หรืออย่างปรัชญา เอามาใช้กับสิ่งนี้ไม่ได้ ขอยืนยันไว้อย่างนี้

ถ้าท่านยังไม่เชื่อ ท่านก็ไปคิดดูเรื่อย ๆ ไปเถอะ ท่านจะพบว่ามันไม่เป็นอย่างกฎเกณฑ์ทางตรรกะหรือทางปรัชญา ที่เรามีๆ กันอยู่

ผู้กระทำเป็นเพียง concept ไม่ใช่ตัวจริง ส่วนการกระทำมันเป็นเหตุการณ์ของธรรมชาติ พอเข้ามาถึงจิตแล้ว ก็เกิดความคิด ความเชื่อ ความยึดว่าตัวกู

ตัวกูซึ่งเป็นเพียง concept ไม่ใช่ของจริง

พุทธทาสภิกขุ

อตัมมยตาประทีป

ชีวิตใหม่และหนทางเข้าถึงชีวิตใหม่

หน้า_๒๙๕-๒๙๖

@ a296b972:e5a7a2e8

Europa sitzt in einem Demokratie-Simulator. Auf die Scheiben im Cockpit werden Bilder projiziert, die nicht der Realität entsprechen, und es gibt immer noch zu viele Menschen, die diese Simulation nicht erkannt haben.

Nichts wäre erstrebenswerter, als über eine positive Entwicklung, hin zur Vernunft und realitätsbezogenen, auf Tatsachen beruhenden Entscheidungen, berichten zu können. Die Frage ist, ob nicht zuerst unentwegt auf Missstände hingewiesen werden muss, um weitere Menschen dazu zu bewegen, sich denjenigen anzuschließen, die offensichtlich an Indoktrinationsintoleranz leiden.

Wer sich vor Hofberichterstattung und die tägliche Fahrt durch die Gehirnwaschanlage schützen will, der meidet den öffentlich-rechtlichen Unfug und die einschlägigen Käseblätter, die vielleicht noch halbwegs dazu geeignet sind, den Fisch auf dem Markt einzuschlagen, um ihn nach Hause zu tragen, vorausgesetzt, man kann ihn sich noch leisten.

Die Neuen Medien liefern die Informationen, die man sonst im „Qualitäts-Mainstream“ nicht finden kann, was nicht verwundert, denn infiltriert von willigen Erfüllungsgehilfen, die Angst um ihr Prestige und ihre Stellung haben, kann man hier keine freie Berichterstattung erwarten.

Beste Unterhaltung bietet auch die Bundespressekonferenz-Show, auf die schon näher eingegangen wurde. Offizieller Regierungssprech in höchster Perfektion. Ob man dort wirklich davon überzeugt ist, dass es irgendjemanden gibt, der diesen Verlautbarungen Glauben schenkt? Was hat Tante Käthe immer gesagt: G E L D   L O C K T   I M M E R !

Was also tun? Die Neuen Medien auch noch meiden, und sich vor dem blanken Wahnsinn schützen, in dem man ihn ignoriert, was jedoch nicht bewirkt, dass er nicht mehr da wäre.

Temporäre Abstinenz tut auch hier gut, allerdings ist der Wiedereinstieg so ähnlich, wie der erste Arbeitstag nach einem zweimonatigen Urlaub, falls man nicht in seinem Lieblings-Job gelandet ist.

Und was, wenn die Irren vollends durchdrehen, und man bekommt es nicht mit? Schön, ändern kann man vielleicht wenig, aber man kann sich vielleicht noch eine richtig gute, edle Flasche Rotwein kaufen, und die am Vorabend des Untergangs genießen, oder noch schnell einen Baum pflanzen.

Hier ein Beispiel für jemanden, dessen besonderer Blick sehr an den Universal-Gesundheits-Klima-Hysteriker erinnert:

https\://rumble.com/v6umjdj-respekt-und-anerkennung-deutscher-general-lobt-ukrainische-angriffe-in-russ.html

Wie sieht der Alltag aus, wenn man sich einmal nicht mit den Informationen über Dauer- Bekloppte beschäftigt?

Wenn sich ein Besuch in der nächst größeren Stadt nicht vermeiden lässt, sieht man vor allem gehetzte Menschen, viele mit einem finsteren Blick, anders, als früher.

Viele zahlen mit Karte oder ihrem Handy, Kleckerbeträge. „Zahlen Sie noch bar, oder schon mit Überwachung?“, wünschte man sich, dass die Verkäuferinnen den Kunden fragen würden. Tun sie aber nicht.

Die Menschen scheinen keine Ahnung zu haben, was auf sie zukommt. Im Oktober soll der digitale Euro eingeführt werden, natürlich zuerst nur freiwillig. Was das bedeutet, kennt man ja schon. Freiwilligkeit durch das Schaffen eines Raumes, in dem der Zwang in der Luft hängt, wie damals der Kohlenstaub im Ruhrgebiet. Es wird die persönliche ID vorangetrieben, mit einem Wallet, das die Anonymität und die persönliche Freiheit immer mehr aushöhlen will.

Europa soll unter einen Demokratie-Schutzschirm gestellt werden, der zu nichts anderem dient, als dass diejenigen, die derzeit glauben zu wissen, was gut für die Menschen ist, ihre kruden Vorstellungen auch durchsetzen können. Zweifelhaft, was in den USA vorgeht, was da gerade mit Palantir, natürlich nur zur Sicherheit der Amerikaner, so im Hintergrund schon anläuft. Hierzu gibt es interessante Informationen von Regenauer und Tögel. Einziger Hoffnungsschimmer, besonders für Deutschland: Das klappt sowieso nicht. In den hintersten Bergdörfern in den italienischen Alpen gibt es Glasfaseranschluss, und fährt man in Deutschland auf’s Land, reiht sich Funkloch an Funkloch.

Die wirklich wichtige und große Frage ist, wie können sich Gemeinschaften, die diesen Irrsinn nicht mitmachen wollen, weitgehend aus dem System ausklinken? Bitcoin ist ein erster Schritt zur finanziellen Unabhängigkeit. Eine regionale Lebensmittelversorgung, mit nicht verseuchten, genunmanipulierten, mit Schadstoffen weitgehend unbelasteten Produkten entwickelt sich ebenfalls schon sehr gut. Was, wenn der Zugang zu Informationen über das Internet von einer Anmeldung mit persönlicher ID abhängt und man will und hat keine? Was ist mit Dokumenten, wenn man verreisen oder das Land verlassen will? Was ist, wenn man krank wird und auf das noch vorhandene Rest-Gesundheitssystem angewiesen ist? Was, wenn das Unternehmen seine Mitarbeiter auf staatliche Anweisung zu etwas zwingen muss, was der Mitarbeiter vielleicht gar nicht will, er aber auf das Einkommen angewiesen ist?

Das alles sind Fragen, zu denen es schwer ist, auch in den Neuen Medien, passende Antworten zu finden. Die würden in der Tat Hoffnung machen, dass es ein Schlupfloch gibt, sich, wenn vielleicht auch mit Einschränkungen, den „demokratischen“ Verhältnissen, auf denen nur noch Demokratie draufsteht, aber sehr wenig bis keine Demokratie mehr drin ist, so weit es geht zu entziehen. Sachdienliche Hinweise gerne in der Kommentarfunktion.

Oder ist es „gesünder“, sich zurückzuziehen, die Klappe zu halten und dafür zu sorgen, dass man unter dem Radar bleibt? Diese Gabe ist leider nicht jedem gegeben. Besonders nicht denen, die einen ausgeprägten Wahrheitssinn und ein starkes Gerechtigkeitsgefühl haben.

Menschen die andere belügen, die werden geliebt. Menschen, die anderen sagen, dass sie belogen werden, die werden gehasst.

„Die Wahrheit ist dem Menschen zumutbar.“ (Ingeborg Bachmann)

„Kein Mensch hat das Recht zu gehorchen.“ (Hannah Ahrendt)

“Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben.”

* *

(Bild von pixabay)

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Jaren tellen\ Hoeft voor mij niet

Verhalen vertellen\ Over geluk en verdriet

Een warme haven\ Veilig en fijn

Dromen voorgedragen\ Onschuldig en rein

Momenten ervaard, geleerd\ En geïntegreerd

Ideeën, geloven en gevoelens\ Gevormd en gecreëerd

Zonder eind of echt begin\ Vallen, groeien, leren, stoeien

Een gezin in een gezin met een gezin erin\ Gezind gericht blijft liefde vloeien

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

One of the most common criticisms leveled against nostr is the perceived lack of assurance when it comes to data storage. Critics argue that without a centralized authority guaranteeing that all data is preserved, important information will be lost. They also claim that running a relay will become prohibitively expensive. While there is truth to these concerns, they miss the mark. The genius of nostr lies in its flexibility, resilience, and the way it harnesses human incentives to ensure data availability in practice.

A nostr relay is simply a server that holds cryptographically verifiable signed data and makes it available to others. Relays are simple, flexible, open, and require no permission to run. Critics are right that operating a relay attempting to store all nostr data will be costly. What they miss is that most will not run all encompassing archive relays. Nostr does not rely on massive archive relays. Instead, anyone can run a relay and choose to store whatever subset of data they want. This keeps costs low and operations flexible, making relay operation accessible to all sorts of individuals and entities with varying use cases.

Critics are correct that there is no ironclad guarantee that every piece of data will always be available. Unlike bitcoin where data permanence is baked into the system at a steep cost, nostr does not promise that every random note or meme will be preserved forever. That said, in practice, any data perceived as valuable by someone will likely be stored and distributed by multiple entities. If something matters to someone, they will keep a signed copy.

Nostr is the Streisand Effect in protocol form. The Streisand effect is when an attempt to suppress information backfires, causing it to spread even further. With nostr, anyone can broadcast signed data, anyone can store it, and anyone can distribute it. Try to censor something important? Good luck. The moment it catches attention, it will be stored on relays across the globe, copied, and shared by those who find it worth keeping. Data deemed important will be replicated across servers by individuals acting in their own interest.

Nostr’s distributed nature ensures that the system does not rely on a single point of failure or a corporate overlord. Instead, it leans on the collective will of its users. The result is a network where costs stay manageable, participation is open to all, and valuable verifiable data is stored and distributed forever.

@ f4db5270:3c74e0d0

Hi Art lover! 🎨🫂💜

You may not know it yet but all of the following paintings are available in #Bitcoin on my website: <https://isolabellart.carrd.co/>

For info and prices write to me in DM and we will find a good deal! 🤝

THE QUIET ROOM 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed May 8, 2025

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OLTRE LA NEBBIA 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed April 18, 2025

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TO THE LAST LIGHT 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed April 5, 2025

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BLINDING SUNSET 40x40cm, Oil on board - Completed March 18, 2025

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ECHI DEL TEMPO PERDUTO 40x40cm, Oil on board - Completed March 09, 2025

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EVANESCENZE 40x40cm, Oil on board - Completed February 11, 2025

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OLTRE LA STACCIONATA 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed February 8, 2025

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LONELY WINDMILL 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed January 30, 2025

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN 40x50cm, Oil on canvas - Completed January 23, 2025

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SUN OF JANUARY 40x50cm, Oil on canvas - Completed January 14, 2025

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THE BLUE HOUR 40x50cm, Oil on canvas - Completed December 14, 2024

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WHERE WINTER WHISPERS 50x40cm, Oil on canvas - Completed November 07, 2024

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L'ATTESA DI UN MOMENTO 40x40cm, Oil on canvas - Completed October 29, 2024

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LE COSE CHE PENSANO 40x50cm, Oil on paper - Completed October 05, 2024

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TWILIGHT'S RIVER 50x40cm, Oil on canvas - Completed September 17, 2024

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GOLD ON THE OCEAN 40x50cm, Oil on paper - Completed September 08, 2024

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SUSSURRI DI CIELO E MARE 50x40cm, Oil on paper - Completed September 05, 2024

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THE END OF A WONDERFUL WEEKEND 40x30cm, Oil on board - Completed August 12, 2024

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FIAMME NEL CIELO 60x35cm, Oil on board - Completed July 28, 2024

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INIZIO D'ESTATE 50x40cm, Oil on cradled wood panel Completed July 13, 2024

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OMBRE DELLA SERA 50x40cm, Oil on cradled wood panel - Completed June 16, 2024

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NEW ZEALAND SUNSET 80x60cm, Oil on canvas board - Completed May 28, 2024

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VENICE 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed May 4, 2024

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CORNWALL 50x40cm, Oil on board - Completed April 26, 2024

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DOCKS ON SUNSET 40x19,5cm, Oil on board Completed March 14, 2024

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SOLITUDE 30x30cm, Oil on cradled wood panel - Completed March 2, 2024

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LULLING WAVES 40x30cm, Oil on cradled wood panel - Completed January 14, 2024

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MULATTIERA IN AUTUNNO 30x30cm, Oil on cradled wood panel - Completed November 23, 2023

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TRAMONTO A KOS 40x40cm, oil on board canvas - Completed November 7, 2023

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HIDDEN SMILE 40x40cm, oil on board - Completed September 28, 2023

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INIZIO D'AUTUNNO 40x40cm, oil on canvas - Completed September 23, 2023

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BOE NEL LAGO 30x30cm, oil on canvas board - Completed August 15, 2023

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BARCHE A RIPOSO 40x40cm, oil on canvas board - Completed July 25, 2023

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IL RISVEGLIO 30x40cm, oil on canvas board - Completed July 18, 2023

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LA QUIETE PRIMA DELLA TEMPESTA 30x40cm, oil on canvas board - Completed March 30, 2023

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LAMPIONE SUL LAGO 30x30cm, oil on canvas board - Completed March 05, 2023

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DUE NELLA NEVE 60x25cm, oil on board - Completed February 4, 2023

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UNA CAREZZA 30x30cm, oil on canvas board - Completed January 17, 2023

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REBEL WAVES 44x32cm, oil on canvas board

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THE SCREAMING WAVE 40x30cm, oil on canvas board

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"LA DONZELLETTA VIEN DALLA CAMPAGNA..." 30x40cm, oil on canvas board

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LIGHTHOUSE ON WHITE CLIFF 30x40cm, oil on canvas board

@ 0403c86a:66d3a378

Exciting news for FOOTBALL fans ⚽! Global Sports Central 🌐 is teaming up with Predyx, a leading prediction market in the Bitcoin ecosystem, to bring you comprehensive coverage of the very first Club World Cup directly on Nostr. This partnership is all about enhancing your experience with the latest news, insights, and interactive features!

The Club World Cup will showcase the best clubs from around the globe, and with our collaboration, you’ll be fully engaged in the action. Predyx focuses on long-term outcomes, allowing you to make predictions on who will win it all. Plus, if you’re not happy with your predictions, you can sell your shares at any time and switch allegiance—after all, it’s a free market!

What You Can Expect:

• Latest News and Match Reports: Stay updated with the latest news, in-depth match reports, and insights from the tournament, ensuring you never miss a moment.

• Market Odds Tracking: Follow the shifts in market odds in real-time, giving you the edge when making predictions and engaging with the action.

• Player of the Day Card: Celebrate standout performances with our Daily Player of the Day card, highlighting the top players from the tournament.

• Game oN Frontpage: Each day, we’ll feature the frontpage of the day, showcasing the most historical matchups and capturing the feel of the game.

• Best Moments Replays: Relive the excitement with replays of the best moments from the Cup, so you can catch all the highlights and unforgettable plays.

• Long-Term Predictions: Engage with Predyx to forecast who will win the tournament and who will take home the MVP award, allowing you to make strategic predictions as the tournament unfolds.

• Easy Login System: Getting started is a breeze! All you need is a Lightning wallet to log in and participate, making it simple for everyone to join in on the fun.

• Lightning-Fast Bitcoin Payments: With the Lightning Network, placing your bets and making predictions is faster and easier than ever. Enjoy seamless transactions while you cheer for your favorite teams!

"Predyx is excited to be part of this innovative partnership," said Derek. "We’re bringing fans a new way to interact with the game they love, all while using the fast and secure Lightning Network."

Predyx is a Bitcoin-native prediction market platform running on the Lightning Network. We’re building the fastest, most trust-minimized betting engine in the world — no deposits, instant payouts, sats-native, and degen-friendly.

Global Sports Central 🌐 Your daily spin around the sports world 🔄 Stay in the loop with the latest scores, stories, and stats.

GSC360 - Where Every Angle Matters

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Capitalism 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.

@ d61f3bc5:0da6ef4a

What happens when you integrate a Nostr client with a bitcoin lightning wallet? They both get massively better! Social interactions benefit from seamless micropayments, while the wallet is able to tap into the massive address book represented by the Nostr social graph. This makes it possible to interact with people around the world in totally new ways. For example, Markus from Germany can zap a note posted by Isabella in Costa Rica, who can then buy a coffee with those sats, all from the same app.

At Primal, our goal is to deliver products that have mass appeal; products that can be easily used by anyone. Our latest iOS release represents our best take on how to build on open protocols and balance the tradeoffs between user sovereignty, user experience and ease of use. We believe that Nostr and Bitcoin will grow to billions of users, and we are building the technology that will help onboard and delight everyone.

Nostr Onboarding

Our goal is to achieve the highest level of user experience on a decentralized network, without sacrificing user sovereignty over their account, connections, and content. Therefore the onboarding process needs to be smooth and resemble what users are used to on legacy platforms, while providing access to their Nostr keys:

The user is able to sign up and start using Nostr quickly and without friction. Their key is available in the Account Settings, providing complete control over their Nostr account. In addition, the user can specify the set of Nostr relays they wish to publish to. The Primal iOS app signs all content with the user’s key and publishes it directly to the specified set of relays. This achieves full user control over their Nostr account, social connections, and the content they publish.

Performance & UX

In order to compete with the centralized legacy platforms, we must match and exceed their level of user experience. Interfaces must load quickly and completely, otherwise people will lose interest and Nostr will see a high degree of user churn. With this in mind, we built the Nostr caching service, and open sourced it so that other Nostr developers can leverage it as well. This enables us to provide the types of user experiences that are expected by most people today:

For details about our caching approach please refer to my Nostrasia presentation.

Primal Wallet

We are psyched to introduce Primal Wallet, an insanely easy-to-use transactional wallet, ideal for holding small amounts of bitcoin and making payments on the lightning network.

Strike is providing custody, fiat conversions, and lightning network connectivity to Primal users. By integrating with Strike, we are able to provide uninterrupted service to U.S. and international customers.

Smooth onboarding and wallet operation are essential for our use case. Given that we are dealing with very small amounts, we decided to take the custodial approach. This sacrifices direct user custody over the funds, but makes the overall UX seamless and reliable. New users are able to send and receive sats as soon as they download the app.

Here are a few additional points to keep in mind:

1. \In-App Purchases\: Once the wallet is activated, it is fully-operational and able to receive sats. If the user doesn’t own any sats, they are able to buy small amounts via an in-app purchase, in $5 increments. Note that these purchases are subject to “Apple tax” (15% in U.S. and Canada, 30% elsewhere, for customers with iOS devices), plus 1% Strike margin. Primal does not make any revenue on these purchases. Users can always buy sats through a different method and send them to their Primal Wallet. The in-app purchase is merely a convenient way for new users to get started with small amounts.

2. \Maximum Wallet Balance\: Primal Wallet is designed for holding and transacting with small amounts of bitcoin. Larger amounts should be kept in self custody, preferably on a hardware wallet. To encourage self custody for larger amounts, we are enforcing a maximum wallet balance of 1,000,000 sats (approximately USD $400 at the time of this writing).

We believe that Primal Wallet offers the best tradeoff balance for our use case, including social media zaps, and small purchases: coffee, beer, lunch, etc. We are planning to expand the feature set of the wallet in the upcoming releases, based on the feedback from our users.

Open Networks Win

Nostr is an open network, not controlled by any person, company, nor organization. Anyone can join without asking for permission, and any developer is free to build on it. In a short amount of time, hundreds of projects have sprouted building on Nostr, including: Damus, Amethyst, Snort, Highlighter, Alby, Nos, Mutiny, Coracle, ZBD, Fountain, Habla.news, Plebstr, Spring, Iris, Nostrgram, Current, Blogstack, Zap.stream, Listr, Nostr.band, Nostr.build, Flycat, Nosta.me, NoStrudel, Nostur, Nostore, Zaplife, Wavlake, and many more.

Your Nostr keys work with Primal, as well as every other app in the Nostr ecosystem. You can seamlessly use your Nostr identity in social media apps, blog/news sites, marketplaces, etc. Every Nostr product brings more users and more gravity to the entire network. This is why we believe that Nostr will eventually connect everybody.

If you are not satisfied with the status quo dictated by the legacy media complex, if you think that the global town square should not be owned by anyone, if you feel that people should be in control over their online identity, social connections, and the content they publish - you do have a choice. Join us on Nostr. 🤙💜

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Liefde\ De samenkomst\ Van zien en zijn

Leven\ Het zijn en zien\ Een vorm gekregen

Sterven\ Een deur\ Die vrijheid geeft van vorm

En eeuwig leven\ Aan liefde

@ 8096ed6b:4901018b

🎵 The Duck Song by Bryant Oden

🔗 https://song.link/us/i/314050537

@ 6ad08392:ea301584

**Release Notes #3: shipping daily. **

This one’s a short update — not because there’s nothing going on, but because there’s too much going on. It’s literally 2am here and we’ve got red lights going and code, designs, content all being pushed.

The entire core team is in Prague right now, working 7am to 2am every day. We’re prepping for the first public unveiling of Satlantis at BTCPrague next week. 

We’ve shipped some serious upgrades in the last sprint. 

Download the latest TestFlight from Apple here. Download the latest Android App here.

---

The Good

🎥 Video Posting from Satlantis!

You can now upload and post actual video content to Satlantis. The look and feel is not quite a  “reel” like what you’d see on Instagram or TikTok— but that will happen.

So for now, video works just like any other post and like what you’d expect on any other Nostr based application, except it also has auto-play when you scroll through and if you single tap, you turn on music. Try it out. Share something. 

🧭 Upgraded Onboarding

We flipped the onboarding flow: sign-up now comes first, interests come second.It’s smoother, faster, and gets people into the product more quickly if they have an account and for those who don’t they get a chance to personalise things first.

🎟 Events Keep Improving

Especially on mobile web, where the UI and flow have been polished. RSVP is smoother, co-hosts render better, and the venue tiles actually work now.

Events are turning into one of the best parts of Satlantis. And it’s only getting better.

🧠 Smarter Merchant Suggestions

We’ve made upgrades to the way merchants are suggested — with new clustering that better matches your interests andpersonality. The results? Recommendations that just feel more relevant. This is the kind of travel directory that actually understands you.

💬 Chat Is Live (on Web)

Yes, finally. You can now DM other users via the web app, powered by Nostr (NIP-04). Mobile is not ready though. More on that below.

🧪 Smarter Feed

The content feed is starting to learn. It’s early days — but already, the relevance and vibe are improving. We’re making the shift from “just a feed” to “a window into your world.”

🐛 Bug Extermination

We fixed hundreds of small, annoying bugs — layout issues, crashes, scroll weirdness, sync jank — all squashed. The app is faster, cleaner, crisper, and it will keep getting more that way.

🧱 Infrastructure Overhaul

The long story short is that we’re in the process of re-engineering our infrastructure. This won’t make headlines, but you’ll feel it. 

This is Vano literally migrating our DB over to new infra while at dinner earlier tonight.

---

The Bad

📵 Mobile Chat Isn’t Ready

As mentioned above, Chat is live on web — but chat on mobile is lagging behind because the focus has been on more important features. We want this to feel right — and we’re not there yet. I think I’ll stop making promises for now on when it will be released and just tell you when it’s there..lol

🔔 Notifications Still Suck

We’re half way through an upgrade here. Trying to sync up notifications from all the different functions in the app has been more involved than we wanted. Right now the syncing is better, but you still can’t click on anything (well..on web you can, but mobile not yet).

By next release, this will be much better.

---

The Ugly

🏙 The New Destination Home Page Isn’t Ready (Yet)

This one hurts, because the new destination pages are so damn close. They’re a big upgrade — with fresh layout, dynamic modules, better content flow — but they won’t land until next week. 

We’ll be launching them at BTCPrague and since that’s in Prague, you’ll get to see it in action on that page. Once again, this is a first release for this new design, so expect it to be buggy. It will get significantly better over the coming weeks as we clean it up.

---

Sneak Peak

We’re working to make videos beautiful on Satlantis. Check out the up & coming feed, videos and reels design (yes, reels):

This, and much more going on!

---

Final Words

Like I said — short update this week. But not because we’re slowing down. Quite the opposite. We’re pushing harder than ever — and preparing to open the doors next week in Prague.

If you're already using Satlantis, now’s a good time to update. Check out video posts, test the chat, explore the smarter feed, and try posting your own.

If you’re coming to BTCPrague — get the app ready. Satlantis is the official home for the side events, and things are going to move fast.

More very soon.

Aleksandar Svetski

PS - We are launching our crowdfund next week! This will be an opportunity to own a piece of Satlantis & a piece of the future. I’ll do a dedicated post on this next week.

---

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 – Flash, the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses, just announced a new partnership with the Bitcoin Only Brewery, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Flash for seamless Bitcoin payments. 

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

As Co-Founder of Flash, it's not every day we get to toast to a truly refreshing milestone.

Okay, jokes aside.

We're super buzzed to see our friends at @Drink_B0B
Bitcoin Only Brewery using Flash to power their online sales!

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack – shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented: “Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept Bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

In May, fast-food chain Steak ‘N Shake went viral for integrating bitcoin at their restaurants around the world. In the same month, the bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas set a new world record with 4,000 Lightning payments in one day.

According to a report by River Intelligence, public Lightning payment volume surged by 266% from August 2023 to August 2024. This growth is also reflected in the overall accessibility of lighting infrastructure for consumers. According to Lightning Service Provider Breez, over 650 Million users now have access to the Lightning Network through apps like CashApp, Kraken or Strike.

Bitcoin Only Brewery’s adoption of Flash reflects the growing trend of businesses integrating Bitcoin payments to cater to a global, privacy-conscious customer base. By offering no-KYC delivery across Europe, the brewery aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty, appealing to the increasing number of consumers and businesses embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method.

“Flash is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Corbin added. “We’re building a future where businesses of all sizes can seamlessly integrate Bitcoin payments, unlocking new opportunities in the global market. It’s never been easier to start selling in bitcoin and we invite retailers globally to join us in this revolution.”

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

Media Contact:

Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.comPhotos paywithflash.com/about/press

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

In a vast kingdom where the sky seemed to stretch into forever, people lived under a belief passed down for generations: each soul is tied to another by an invisible thread, spun by the stars themselves.

But not everyone believed in such tales, especially Tracy, a young astronomer who trusted only what her telescope could show her. Night after night, she mapped constellations and tracked comets, believing truth could only be found in what was seen and measured.

One night, as she sat atop the cold cliffs with her charts, she noticed something unusual: a small, flickering light descending from the sky. It wasn’t a star. It wasn’t a meteor.

It was… a boy.

He landed silently, without a sound, in the meadow below.

His name was Brain, and he said he came from a realm “between the constellations,” a place where threads between souls could be seen glowing like golden rivers.

Tracy laughed. “That’s impossible.”

But Brain smiled. “You’ve just never looked with the right eyes.”

He began teaching her to listen not with ears, but with heart. To observe not only the sky, but the people beneath it. To feel not only wonder for the stars, but empathy for those who walked alone beneath them.

Days passed. Then weeks.

Tracy’s maps changed. Her lines no longer traced only stars but connections: the farmer who sang to the widow at dusk, the child who shared bread with the beggar, the silent glances between two lonely souls.

Then one night, Brain was gone.

He left no trace except a final message carved into her telescope:

“The thread exists. And you’ve become part of it.”

Tracy wept. But when she looked up at the sky that night, she saw not just stars.

She saw stories. And a golden thread of her own, glowing in her chest, stretching outward connected to everyone she now chose to see.

Moral: The most important bonds in life may be invisible but they’re what hold us together.

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

Someone 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.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Square, the payments platform operated by Block (founded by Jack Dorsey), is reporting 9.7% bitcoin yield on its bitcoin holdings by running a Lightning Network node.

The announcement was made by Miles Suter, Bitcoin product lead at Block, during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas. Suter explained that Square is earning “real bitcoin from our holdings” by efficiently routing payments across the Lightning Network.

Square’s yield comes from its role as a Lightning service provider, a business it launched two years ago to boost liquidity and efficiency on the Lightning Network. According to Lightning Labs’ Ryan Gentry, Square’s 9% yield could translate to roughly $1 million in annual revenue.

The Lightning Network, a Bitcoin layer-2 protocol, has long been promoted as a solution to Bitcoin’s scalability and transaction speed issues. It enables micropayments and off-chain transactions, reducing congestion on the main blockchain. However, the network faces challenges, including the need for inbound liquidity—users must lock up BTC to receive BTC—potentially limiting participation by smaller nodes and raising concerns about decentralization.

Despite these hurdles, Square remains committed to advancing Bitcoin payments via Lightning. Suter revealed that 25% of Square’s outbound bitcoin transactions now use the Lightning Network. The company is actively testing Lightning-based payments at the Bitcoin 2025 event and plans to roll out the service to all eligible Square merchants by 2026.

Suter emphasized the transformative potential of Lightning:

“When you enable real payments by making them faster and more convenient, the network becomes stronger, smarter, and more beneficial. So if you’re questioning whether bitcoin is merely an asset, the response is no. It has already evolved into both an asset and a protocol, and now Block is spearheading the initiative to transform it into the world’s premier payment system.”

Square’s ongoing investment in Lightning signals its belief in Bitcoin’s future not just as a store of value, but as a global payments protocol.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

The world around me\ Is assumed to be

Through sensory observations\ This appears to me

What I experience\ Is for me

But the ultimate experience\ Is for me\ To be

@ f0fd6902:a2fbaaab

https://stacker.news/items/1006238

@ 70c48e4b:00ce3ccb

Dear reader,

HODLing was never the end goal.

HODLing Bitcoin is smart. It always has been. If you held through the Mt. Gox hacks, China bans, the 2017 Blocksize wars, the 2018 bloodbath, and the FTX clownery of 2022, then you already know. Bitcoin rewards conviction.

But let’s not forget why you got in.

It was never just about watching numbers go up. You felt something. Something deep. A quiet voice inside said, “This system is broken. I’m done playing by its rules.” - That is where it all began.

Back in 2008, while the banks were crashing the economy and handing you the bill, Bitcoin showed up as a silent answer. A lifeboat. A revolution wrapped in code.

The whitepaper starts with a simple, powerful idea: "A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution."

https://plebsite.net/cdn/shop/files/Bitcoin_Whitepaper-Poster-3.jpg

And Bitcoin has lived up to that vision.

You saw it in El Salvador when they made it legal tender — even if they later made it optional. You saw it when WikiLeaks used Bitcoin after getting cut off by banks. You saw the Silk Road prove what peer-to-peer money really means. No matter what you think of those examples, one thing is clear: It worked. It was used. It still works.

Today, Bitcoin powers circular economies across the world — in Costa Rica, South Africa, Brazil, and beyond. People are using it because their local money fails them. Bitcoin became more than a store of value. It became a tool for survival and sovereignty.

https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/67e422a1808f4902b8a1c6bc/Bitcoin-Ekasi-Center/960x0.jpg?format=jpg&width=1440

And now, look at you.

You believed early. You stacked. You held. And now, you have more Bitcoin than you ever imagined. Your needs are met. Your wants, too. You held through it all. And maybe now, you’ve found some stability, maybe even freedom. You stayed patient. You played the long game. You won.

So now the question is simple: What will your Bitcoin build?

Let me paint you a picture- Somewhere out there, there is a young soul maybe in Lagos, maybe in Buenos Aires, maybe right next door. This person might be working on a new privacy tool that protects free expression. Or developing a drone taxi system to change the way people move in growing cities. Or creating a decentralized alternative to platforms like Patreon, where no one is silenced for thinking differently.

They do not have powerful connections. They are not sitting in fancy offices or attending tech conferences. They are building quietly, with conviction and hope.

You can be the magical wand in their life. Your belief and support can turn someone's idea into something real. You can help create the next chapter of their story.

Angor allows you to do exactly that. It gives you a way to fund builders directly, using your Bitcoin. The process is safe and structured. You support projects in stages, and the funds only move forward when clear milestones are completed. Everything is on-chain, using Bitcoin scripts and time-locked contracts to ensure accountability.

This is how the ecosystem grows.

Where do you go now that HODLing was just the beginning?

Here’s what you do:

1. Check the Proposal

Go read the Angor docs. It’s not some bloated whitepaper. It’s clean, clear, and you’ll get it. Here’s the link - https://docs.angor.io/start/.

2. Join the Talk on Nostr

Nostr is where real, uncensored conversation is happening. It is decentralized and open by design. Use a client like Primal or Damus to dive in. Or check out nostr.band to explore what people are building and sharing across the network.

This is where ideas take shape. Builders post updates. Communities give feedback. The next wave of innovation is already in motion — and you can be part of it.

Follow Angor on Nostr: nostr:nprofile1qqs8p3ywfd92w7zvjgy7wrpylz8t30hy3z5dc5al4070l9y8qr8rejcksnh5c

3. Contribute

Whatever your skill is writing, design, coding, memes, Angor has room for you. Get on GitHub. Even if you just report a bug or suggest a feature, it helps. Or you could even fork the code and do as you wish.

4. Explore Angor Hub

This is the cockpit. It’s where you find new projects, track progress, talk to founders and make moves. Dive in. It’s live.

https://docs.angor.io/images/tools/hub.png

Final Thoughts

Bitcoin gave us the base layer. It proved that peer-to-peer money works. But that was just the beginning. Now it’s time to build the next layer together.

And no, this is not about another meme coin or a monkey NFT. This is about real infrastructure. Real value. Real use cases.

Angor is for the misfits, the dreamers, the people who read the whitepaper and said, “Yeah, this is the way.”

So if you have Bitcoin, do not treat it like a relic from a past battle. Use it to empower the next builder. Fund a project. Spark a new idea. Help decentralize the next thing.

You got into Bitcoin to protect your future maybe even to get rich but also to bring some change to the world.

HODLing was the first act.

Building is the second.

Angor is where we build.

Let’s make sure the next wave of Bitcoiners do not just see price charts. Let them see tools, apps, ideas, and communities that actually do something. Real things. Useful things. Built on the hardest money the world has ever known.

You in?

Thanks for reading, See y’all soon for another blog post. Ciao

Guest Post by nostr:npub1v67clmf4jrezn8hsz28434nc0y5fu65e5esws04djnl2kasxl5tskjmjjk

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, my dearest human family\ Happy New Year, my dearest animal family

Dear children of the Earth\ I wish you all a magical year

May it be utterly new\ Ever-changing\ New now

And may your journey say\ Life is amazing! I'm in a maze\ Life is awesome! Quite some awe\ Life is magical! True alchemy

I am human\ Black woman, I love you so\ Life-giver of my origin, the negro [nigiro]

I am\ Thus physical and non-physical meet

Life is to be\ As the elements are and compete\ And as they collide with one another\ One becomes aware of an other\ And so life sets on a journey\ To discover the other

Animal life is set to explore\ Allowing all experience the other has in store\ Life left to experience without a voice\ Until it discovers there is an 'I'\ And it has a choice

Human life is to be inside a human body\ Thus fusion between intellect and feeling\ Gets to express its perspective\ Inside infinity

Truly, a magical gift\ My Holy Trinity

And so from human life flow many voices\ As it navigates through infinite choices

Thus I say

Life is magic\ A gift for all that is here\ Perceived by too many as tragic\ Take care of your vision, I tell you, my dear [tell-a-vision]

Life is magic\ And words are spells\ Placing your aim beyond your reach\ It takes away efficiency from your speech

Life is magic\ Above all else\ Even when it has me feeling blue\ Seemingly left without a clue

Still I say

Perfection\ You are everything\ And I am of you

The source, the mirror\ And the reflection

@ 05a0f81e:fc032124

Lying is a great tool for destruction, it have damage many marriage, relationships, culture, religion. It have also destroy human integrity and reputation.

What is lying? Lying is an act of someone saying something that is not true either to gain favor or to achieve any other hidden agenda.

There are many reasons why people lie, kids lie to flee from punishment, but adult lie either to gain favour or to achieve his hidden agendas. Since the existence of the world, adult lies have no positive impact on the society and the world at large.

Adult lies brings hatred, kill dreams, cage future and success, end norm and culture, delete history, the reason adult lie is different from the reason children's lie. Anything built on lies collapse when the truth arises, Anything covered with lies uncover when the truth unveil, lie leads to life full of regrets and angers especially when the truth unveils. Lies destroy life's and societies.

What happen if a child is raise on lies !.

When parents raise there children with lies, the children mindset reset towards the reason for the lies. If the lies are about a person, the children will end up hating the person, if it were about a profession, the children will end up hating the profession. Single mothers who lie to there baby about there father end up raising a child that hate his or her father.

Most norms and cultures have gone extinc all because of lies, some generations did not meet most norms because of lies, most legacy died because of lies.

When parents raise there children with lies, they did the children harm and they are destroying the society because children will grow into adults and have there own family, they will keep passing on the baton (lies) to generations and norms and cultures will keep dieing and the society will end up shattered.

Raise your child on truth! Raise your child on truth Teaching them repercussions and consequences if the truth is too wild.

@ 0e29efc2:ff142af2

Table of Contents

1. Intro
2. Important Terminology
3. Getting Started
4. Where do I buy bitcoin?
5. Okay, I bought some bitcoin-now what?
6. Less than 0.01 BTC
7. More than 0.01 BTC and less than 0.1 BTC
8. More than 0.1 BTC
9. How Bitcoin Works
10. Skepticism
11. Someone will hack it
12. The government will try to stop it
13. It’s not backed by anything
14. Conclusion

Intro

Maybe you saw an article in Forbes, a news segment about MicroStrategy (MSTR), or you glanced at the bitcoin price chart; whatever the spark, your curiosity led you here. Enough friends and relatives keep asking me about bitcoin that I finally organized my thoughts into a single reference. This is not a comprehensive guide—it assumes you trust me as a heuristic.

Important Terminology

Sat (satoshi) – the smallest unit of bitcoin. One bitcoin (₿) equals 100 000 000 sats.

Getting Started

Where do I buy bitcoin?

I use River because it publishes proof‑of‑reserves, supports the Lightning Network, and pays interest on idle USD balances (currently 3.8 %).

Okay, I bought some bitcoin-now what?

Withdraw it immediately. Centralized exchanges can and do fail. Your next step depends on how much bitcoin you hold.

If at any point you're struggling, please reach out to me.

Less than 0.01 BTC

1. On your phone open Safari (iOS) or Chrome (Android).
2. Paste https://wallet.cashu.me?mint=https://mint.westernbtc.com. Confirm the prompt that asks whether you trust https://mint.westernbtc.com. I run this mint so beginners can skip the gnarly parts.
3. Complete setup.
4. Tap Receive → LIGHTNING → enter amount → COPY.
5. In River choose Send → Send to a Bitcoin wallet, paste the invoice, verify, and send.
6. Return to the wallet; your sats should appear.

More than 0.01 BTC and less than 0.1 BTC

It's time for cold storage. Cold storage means a dedicated signing device not connected to the internet. Think of it like keys to a house. If you have the keys (your cold storage signing device), you can get into your house (the bitcoin). I recommend and use the COLDCARD Q or COLDCARD MK4 from COLDCARD. See this thorough walkthrough.

The creator nostr:npub1rxysxnjkhrmqd3ey73dp9n5y5yvyzcs64acc9g0k2epcpwwyya4spvhnp8 makes reliable content.

More than 0.1 BTC

The next security upgrade involves something called multisig. It requires the use of multiple devices instead of one. Think of those nuclear launch silos in movies where two keys need to be turned in order to launch the missile. One person can't reach both keys, so you need two people. Like the two keys needing to be turned, we need a certain number of keys (signing devices) to be used.

This offers a number of benefits. Say you have a 2-of-3 multisig setup. You would need two of the three keys to move the bitcoin. If you were to lose one, you could use the two others to move it instead. Many choose to geographically distribute the keys; choosing to keep one at a friend’s house or with a bank.

The previous video I linked covers multisig as well. Again, please reach out to me if you need help.

How Bitcoin Works

I'm going to paint a scene portraying the basics of how bitcoin works. Picture a race that's supposed to take 10 minutes to run start-to-finish, and there's a crowd of people spectating. When the fastest runner crosses the finish line, they're awarded 50 bitcoin. Everyone in the crowd recognizes who won, and writes it down on their own scoreboard. Then, the next race begins.

Now, let's say more racers who've had special training join. They start winning consistently because of it, and now the race only lasts about 9 minutes. There's a special rule everyone in the crowd agreed to, that they can make the race harder to ensure it's around 10 minutes long. So they make the race harder to counteract the faster runners.

With this in mind, let's get to the skepticism you might have.

Skepticism

Someone will hack it

Think of bitcoin as the people in the crowd. If someone tries to cheat and writes on their scoreboard that they have a billion bitcoin, their scoreboard is going to look different than everybody else’s. The other people in the crowd will cross-reference with each other and decide to ignore that person who cheated.

The government will try to stop it

Again, think of the crowd. In reality, the "crowd participants" are scattered all around the world. You might be able to stop many of them, but it would be almost impossible to stop everyone. Imagine people are watching the race on TV, can you find everyone who's spectating? Ironically, attempted bans often increase interest.

It’s not backed by anything.

Think of the runners. The runners are bitcoin miners. They have to expend real energy to participate in the race. The more bitcoin miners, the more secure the network. In summary, it's backed by electricity and work.

Conclusion

There are too many topics to cover in one article. I haven't even touched on the history of money, what money is, scarcity, etc. The best way to learn is to research the topics you're interested in for yourself. It took months of deep diving before I was sold on bitcoin, and I had many touch points before that.

Once you see it though, you can't unsee it.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

The latest AI chips, 8K displays, and neural processing units make your device feel like a pocket supercomputer. So surely, with all this advancement, you can finally mine bitcoin on your phone profitably, right?

The 2025 Hardware Reality: Can You Mine Bitcoin on Your Phone

Despite remarkable advances in smartphone technology, the fundamental physics of bitcoin mining haven’t changed. In 2025, flagship devices with their cutting-edge 2nm processors can achieve approximately 25-40 megahashes per second when you mine bitcoin on your phone—a notable improvement from previous generations, but still laughably inadequate.

Meanwhile, 2025’s top-tier ASIC miners have evolved dramatically. The latest Bitmain Antminer S23 series and Canaan AvalonMiner A15 Pro deliver 200-300 terahashes per second while consuming 4,000-5,500 watts. That’s a performance gap of roughly 1:8,000,000 between when you mine bitcoin on your phone and professional mining equipment.

To put this in perspective that hits home: if you mine bitcoin on your phone and it earned you one penny, professional miners would earn $80,000 in the same time period with the same effort. It’s not just an efficiency problem—it’s a complete category mismatch.

According to Pocket Option’s 2025 analysis, when you mine bitcoin on your phone in 2025, you generate approximately $0.003-0.006 in daily revenue while consuming $0.45-0.85 in electricity through constant charging cycles. Factor in the accelerated device wear (estimated at $0.75-1.20 daily depreciation), and you’re looking at losses of $1.20-2.00 per day just for the privilege of running mining software.

Mining Economic Factor

Precise Value (April 2025)

Direct Impact on Profitability

Smartphone sustained hash rate

20-35 MH/s

0.00000024% contribution to global hashrate

Daily power consumption

3.2-4.8 kWh (4-6 full charges)

$0.38-0.57 at average US electricity rates

Expected daily BTC earnings

0.0000000086 BTC ($0.0035 at $41,200 BTC)

Revenue covers only 0.9% of electricity costs

CPU/GPU wear cost

$0.68-0.92 daily accelerated depreciation

Reduces smartphone lifespan by 60-70%

Annual profit projection

-$386 to -$412 per year

Guaranteed negative return on investment

Source: PocketOption

Bitcoin’s 2025 Network: Harder Than Ever

Bitcoin’s network difficulty in 2025 has reached unprecedented levels. After the April 2024 halving event that reduced block rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC, mining became significantly more competitive. The global hash rate now exceeds 800 exahashes per second—that’s 800 followed by 18 zeros worth of computational power securing the network.

Here’s what this means in practical terms: Bitcoin’s mining difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks (roughly every two weeks) to maintain the 10-minute block time. As more efficient miners join the network, difficulty increases proportionally. In 2025, mining difficulty has increased compared to 2024, making small-scale mining even less viable.

The math is unforgiving:

• Global Bitcoin hash rate: 828.96 EH/s
• Your smartphone’s contribution: ~0.000000003%
• Probability of solo mining a block: Virtually zero
• Expected time to mine one Bitcoin: Several million years

Even joining mining pools doesn’t solve the economic problem. Pool fees typically range from 1-3%, and your minuscule contribution would earn proportionally tiny rewards—far below the electricity and device depreciation costs.

The 2025 Scam Evolution: More Sophisticated, More Dangerous

Fraudsters now leverage AI-generated content, fake influencer endorsements, and impressive-looking apps that simulate realistic mining activity to entice you to mine bitcoin on your phone.

New 2025 scam tactics include:

AI-Powered Fake Testimonials: Deepfake videos of supposed successful mobile miners showing fabricated earnings statements and encouraging downloads of malicious apps.

Gamified Mining Interfaces: Apps that look and feel like legitimate games but secretly harvest personal data while simulating mining progress that can never be withdrawn.

Social Media Manipulation: Coordinated campaigns across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube featuring fake “financial influencers” promoting mobile mining apps to younger audiences.

Subscription Trap Mining: Apps offering “free trials” that automatically charge $19.99-49.99 monthly for “premium mining speeds” while delivering no actual mining capability.

Recent cybersecurity research shows that over 180 fake mining apps were discovered across major app stores in 2025, with some accumulating more than 500,000 downloads before being removed.

Red flags that scream “scam” in 2025:

• Apps claiming “revolutionary mobile mining breakthrough”
• Promises of earning “$10-50 daily” from phone mining
• Requirements to recruit friends or watch ads to unlock withdrawals
• Apps that don’t require connecting to actual mining pools
• Testimonials that seem too polished or use stock photo models
• Apps requesting permissions unrelated to mining (contacts, camera, microphone)

The 2025 Professional Mining Landscape

To understand why, consider what professional bitcoin mining looks like in 2025. Industrial mining operations now resemble high-tech data centers with:

Cutting-edge hardware:

• Bitmain Antminer S23 Pro: 280 TH/s at 4,800W
• MicroBT WhatsMiner M56S++: 250 TH/s at 4,500W
• Canaan AvalonMiner A1566: 185 TH/s at 3,420W

Infrastructure requirements:

• Megawatt-scale power contracts with industrial electricity rates
• Liquid cooling systems maintaining 24/7 optimal temperatures
• Redundant internet connections ensuring zero downtime
• Professional facility management with 24/7 monitoring

For a small operation, you might need at least $10,000 to $20,000 to buy a few ASIC miners, set up cooling systems, and cover electricity costs. These operations employ teams of engineers, maintain relationships with power companies, and operate with margins measured in single-digit percentages.

2025’s Legitimate Mobile Bitcoin Strategies

While it remains impossible to mine bitcoin on your phone profitably, 2025 offers exciting legitimate ways to engage with bitcoin through your smartphone:

Lightning Network Participation: Apps like Phoenix, Breez, and Zeus allow you to run Lightning nodes on mobile devices, earning small routing fees while supporting bitcoin’s payment layer.

Bitcoin DCA Automation: Services enable automated dollar-cost averaging with amounts as small as $1 daily. Historical data shows $10 weekly bitcoin purchases consistently outperform any mobile mining attempt by 1,500-2,000%.

Educational Mining Simulators: Legitimate apps like “Bitcoin Mining Simulator” teach mining concepts without false earning promises. These educational tools help users understand hash rates, difficulty adjustments, and mining economics.

Stacking Sats Rewards: Apps offering bitcoin rewards for shopping, learning, or completing tasks.

Lightning Gaming: Bitcoin-native mobile games where players can earn sats through skilled gameplay, with some players earning $10 monthly.onfirm that even the most optimized mobile mining setups in 2025 lose money consistently and predictably.

The Bottom Line

When you mine bitcoin on your phone fundamental economics remain unchanged: it’s impossible to profit. The laws of physics, network competition, and energy efficiency create insurmountable barriers that no app can overcome.

However, 2025 offers unprecedented opportunities to engage with bitcoin meaningfully through your smartphone. Focus on education, legitimate earning opportunities, and strategic investment rather than chasing the impossible dream of phone-based mining.

The bitcoin community’s greatest strength lies in its commitment to truth over hype. When someone promises profits to mine bitcoin on your phone in 2025, they’re either uninformed or deliberately misleading you. Trust the mathematics, learn from the community, and build your bitcoin knowledge and holdings through proven methods.

The real opportunity in 2025 isn’t to mine bitcoin on your phone—it’s understanding bitcoin deeply enough to participate confidently in the most important monetary revolution of our lifetime. Your smartphone is the perfect tool for that education; it’s just not a mining rig.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

De laatste zonnestralen van de dag streken over de eeuwige golven en weerkaatsten als lichtpuntjes in de ogen van schipper Joris terwijl hij nog een slok nam van zijn glazen fles die de vorm had van het hoofd van een oude monnik.

Gekregen van een oude vrouw uit de bergen van de Himalaya, zorgde de rum genaamd 'Old Monk' voor een verwarmend gezelschap op deze eenzame kerstnacht.

Joris had met zijn boot naar India gevaren nadat zijn vrouw hem had verlaten en hij een Indiër had ontmoet die had gezegd: "Waar ik vandaan kom, zijn vrouwen vrij en worden ze niet gezien als enkel en alleen de mooie lichamen die zij bezitten of als eeuwig bezit van een gezin."

Verward en ongelovig had Joris gekeken naar de wereld en besefte dat vrouwen inderdaad slechts gezien werden als hun fysieke schoonheid, genegeerd werden voor hun koesterende gevoeligheid en bekritiseerd werden door hun spontane intensheid en had hierop voor twee jaar lang gezocht in India naar deze vrije vrouwen met als enig resultaat een oude vrouw te ontmoeten die alleen in de bergen woonde en dagelijks haar wijsheid deelde met ieder luisterend oor.

Daar ging het doorzichtig monnikshoofd en verliet met een grote gebogen vlucht de hand van schipper Joris toen plots met groot kabaal de boot abrupt tot stilstand kwam en Joris hals over kop naar de andere kant van het dek geslingerd werd.

Het monnikshoofd verdween in het donker terwijl Joris zijn lichaam probeerde te lokaliseren en met zijn ogen wijd open zijn hersenen zo veel mogelijk informatie probeerde door te spelen.

Tevergeefs, want zijn enorme verschot werd gevolgd door een enkel groeiende verbazing, ongeloof en desoriëntatie toen de boot begon te kantelen.

De bundel licht, afkomstig van de mast van de boot, zwierde doorheen het donker en kwam te schijnen op een gigantische rots in het midden van de zee die werd bezeten door een oogverblindende glinstergroene schijn.

Uit het donker kwam het monnikshoofd, dat nog steeds in volle vlucht was, in het vizier van de lichtbundel en plaatste zich exact tussen de glinstergroene verschijning en Joris waarbij Joris doorheen het monnikshoofd gezegend werd met het zicht op een pracht van een zeemeermin die uitnodigend poseerde op de rots.

Met een luide plons viel Joris achterover in het water toen hij zich realiseerde dat vrouwen zichzelf ook lieten vangen door lust en hun uiterlijke opmaakcompetities en met een dankbare glimlach zonk hij naar de bodem van de zee en was opnieuw geboren.

@ 5188521b:008eb518

Macaron returns, fluffs his white linen napkin, and takes his seat at their table, “Thank you, John, for extending my French people such great mercy as to be allowed to transact freely on the Bitcoin blockchain.” He extends his arm out towards a waiter, “Monsieur? Champagne for the three of us please!”

Vrrrm! “I can’t believe we were able to find an American Mustang in this French countryside. I am ripping down these narrow roads!” John celebrates.

“Bloody hell, slow down!” Lily begs as her oversized diamond dangle earrings sway side to side. “You’ve got nothing to prove, John. Big man in your yankee ten-gallon hat. Let’s just get there safely.”

John slows to give her a smoldering look, “Aww, my sweet British compatriot, you care about me!”

“Bollocks! I care about not dying!” Lily retorts. “Now focus on the mission. We need to save a boatload of English border collies — literally. Frenchman Macaron wants to groom them into French poodles!”

John wags a finger off the wheel to reply in his Southern drawl, “However, my sweet Lily flower, my US Hash Force intends to project power to coerce the French for the dogs’ release!”

Lily bats his finger away, “Yes, but may I remind you, my arrogant wanker, geographically challenged friend, MI6’s intel says to steadily power on any miners as His Majesty’s Hash Force may do. The border collies’ barge will take about an hour to flee France, cross the English channel, and safely reach our shores so we don’t want to burst their souffle too quickly. Oh, and the barge is armed with explosives controlled by a remote detonator. When Macaron asks for his bitcoin ransom payment in exchange for the dogs’ release, how do you cowboys plan to help from across the pond?”

John takes both hands off the wheel to flex his biceps, “Shock and awe, Lily. Full Throttle! We’re not giving the French a single sat. Instead, we’re diverting maximum energy to the U.S. Hash Force, of course!”

Lily guffaws, “And where is this sudden surge of readily available power supposed to come from undetected?”

“No need to worry my English crumpet! Our back of the envelope calculations suggest that, with a little help from the Texas of the North, there’s enough flared natural gas in the U.S. to run the entire Bitcoin network!” John proudly replies.

Lily’s jaw drops, “So miners have already stealthily built out the infrastructure to capture wasted natural gas flares for the benefit of the U.S. government, but are waiting to turn them on until commanded to by the U.S. Hash Force?!”

“Yup! As soon as Macaron sees our hash power come online, we’re going to try to start mining blocks on the Bitcoin network to Denial of Service (DOS) attack any UTXOs with a known history of French transactions.”

“A DOS attack, for peace?” Lily asks skeptically.

“Peace through strength, baby! If you don’t comply with America’s dog rights standards, you get censored. America saves British dogs again, and without a single shot fired!”

“Not fair! It’s only because our MI6 chainanalysis intel knows which Bitcoin addresses to censor on the blockchain we suspect belong to Macaron and his government that this plan even has a shot at succeeding. You’re lucky Macaron is even more self-assured than you Americans. That’s the only reason France doesn’t have a Hash Force of its own to project power back!”

John pulls the Mustang up to the front of the fancy French restaurant, Chandelier. Lily grabs her green purse that matches her elegant emerald ball gown, and they head inside to meet Macaron.

John and Lily spot Macaron sitting alone at the white linen table closest to the dance floor. He’s tapping his Louis Vuitton snake leather shoes, checking his Chanel watch, and fluffing his floofy black French Hermès beret. The red French ascot spilling out of his black and white blouse looks ridiculous.

John lets out a big sigh, and Macaron stands with open arms, “Lily, John, welcome to France!” Before John can flinch away, Macaron kisses him on both cheeks. He lifts up Lily’s hand for a kiss, “Mademoiselle.”

John raises his hand, “Waiter! I’ll take a bourbon, neat. And make it a double!” John calls out.

Slap!

“Hey, what was that for, Frenchie?” John asks as he rubs his face.

“Rude American, where are your manners?” Macaron asks as he pulls out a hidden red detonator clipped in the folds of his ascot. “Don’t drive me to prematurely push this button and blow up the boat carrying your English doggies! First, send me my bitcoin ransom payment. Then we can celebrate with drinks!” Macaron demands.

“In your dreams, Frenchie!” John presses his finger to his ear, “Uniform, Sierra, Alpha!”

Macaron turns to Lily and scoffs, “What is this rude American man doing, Lily?”

Annoyed, Lily answers, “Check your bitcoin UTXOs. Notice anything?”

Macaron frantically queries his Bitcoin node remotely from his cellphone and breathes a sigh of relief, “Phew. No, I don’t notice anything at all. All of my unspent bitcoin is still under the control of my government’s private key.”

“And it’ll stay that way, too!” John beats his chest. “You mess with the US, and you get the Hash Force! We just secretly doubled the difficulty to mine a block by turning on all of our miners — as many miners as the entire existing Bitcoin network! Now you’ll have to wait twice as long for your French bitcoin transactions to confirm! That is, unless you release the barge of dogs right now!”

Lily drops down to the table and buries her face in her palms to hide her embarrassment.

Flustered, Macaron furiously types out a long text message with the order to release the barge of English Border Collies to cross the English channel. “There, I’ve let the dogs out! Will you two please excuse me for a moment? I have to place a call with my government to confirm we haven’t lost our property rights to spend our bitcoin.

Beaming with pride, John falls back into his chair at the table. “We did it, Lily! Quick, give the command for His Majesty’s Hash Force to power on so we can 51% attack this guy!”

Lily finally stops rubbing her eyes, “John, that isn’t how any of this works!”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“Within a 2,016 block difficulty adjustment period, doubling the hash power means the global Bitcoin network will mine new blocks twice as fast, not slower! At least, until the 2,016 block period ends and the difficulty adjusts so miners resume taking on average 10 minutes to generate a valid block. And sure, maybe the US has a political incentive to not collect the fees of any transactions of UTXOs with a known French association, but the rest of the network’s miners will happily profit from the sats you leave in the mempool! But most of all, the Bitcoin network is now just twice as secure from attack!”

John’s double bourbon finally arrives at the table. Selfishly focused on his own glass, he doesn’t bother to stop the waiter in case Lily wants to order a drink of her own. He drinks a big gulp, “But if you give the order for His Majesty’s Hash Force to power on, won’t we have over 51% of the hash power of the Bitcoin network? We can write Macaron’s bitcoin out of existence!”

Lily crosses her arms, “Not exactly. It’s not enough to just surpass half the hashrate. We also need to maintain a higher hashrate than the legacy chain to generate more chain weight to then reorg the other chain when we join the legacy network. We would have to be mining this heavier chain in secret, but in one bombastic order you just completely blew apart our whole plan! Now we’d need some sort of massive collusion somehow between existing miners, and some secret stealth miners, to have any power projection.”

John mutters under his breath, “Frenchie’s been gone a long time. Wonder what he’s up to….”

Macaron returns, fluffs his white linen napkin, and takes his seat at their table, “Thank you, John, for extending my French people such great mercy as to be allowed to transact freely on the Bitcoin blockchain.” He extends his arm out towards a waiter, “Monsieur? Champagne for the three of us please!” Macaron turns to John and Lily, “After my phone call, I am in much better spirits. Though I’m bitter you denied paying our bitcoin ransom, I’m grateful you’re furthering the security of the Bitcoin network.”

In his excitement, Macaron leans forward and claps his hands together, “You two are so lucky to be dining with me tonight. You won’t have to drink that sparkling-wine-swill you have in your home countries. Tonight, you’ll get to have proper champagne, from the Champagne region of France — my treat!”

John grunts in disgust, “Macaron, you can order champagne, but I’ve got my bourbon.”

Lily steps on John’s foot, “Ow! What was that for?” John shrieks.

“Aren’t you going to ask me if I want anything?” Lily asks.

“Huh?” John replies confusedly.

Macaron takes Lily’s hand, “Mademoiselle, in addition to champagne, can I get you anything else?”

Lily recoils her hand back, “Gin martini. Shaken, not stirred.”

“Lily, may I ask you another question?” Macaron asks sweetly.

“Bloody hell, what is it, Macaron?” she responds while rolling her eyes.

“Why do I get the feeling that forgetting to ask you what you’d like to drink isn’t the first time John has neglected to ask you what you wanted?”

Lily’s eyes light up as she leans in closer to Macaron, “Why, yes. This isn’t the first time John’s ever disregarded my needs. You know, he’s always only thinking about himself, his own ego, and he never misses a chance to interrupt me—”

“—That’s not true!” John interrupts.

Lily kicks him under the table, “See what I mean?”

Macaron whisks Lily’s hair behind her ear, “You have such beautiful earrings, Lily. Did John buy those for you?”

“No, John never buys me anything.”

“What do you mean?” John protests.

Lily shrugs him off and Macaron leans in closer to Lily to whisper just loud enough for John to hear, “You know, in my country, men like me know how to show a lady respect.”

John stands up and extends out his hand, “C’mon, Lily. I think it’s time I take you out onto the floor for a dance.”

She shakes her head, so he stomps on her feet under the table.

“Ow!” Lily shrieks.

“I insist,” John presses. “They’re playing my song, Don’t Stop Believin’. C’mon!”

On the dance floor, John pulls Lily close to whisper in her ear, “What are you doing? We’ve finished our mission. Let’s ensure the dogs safely cross the English channel and get out of here! The way you’re flirting with him we’ll never leave!”

Lily blushes, “John, are you that blind? If Macaron is suddenly being sweet to us, then he must be scheming something.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” John shakes his head. “Look, there’s no time to argue. We can’t risk him blowing up the barge as long as he’s got that remote detonator clipped to his ascot! He’s in a jubilant mood for now, but those French can be so melodramatic. We’ve got to get the detonator to ensure the safety of the dogs until they reach safe harbor at your shores.”

John’s box step dancing pace quickens as he looks over to check on Macaron. He spots him placing an order with the waiter and grits his teeth, “He’s pure evil. He was willing to kill the English border collies if he didn’t get ransom payment for not grooming them into French poodles. Only the threat of our Hash Force forced him to comply with our demand for their release!”

Lily breaks away from John to do a twirl on the dance floor; her elegant flowy green dress tries to keep up. She flips her hair and winks at Macaron, “Maybe I should flirt with him some more? After all, he’s so handsome — and he listens to me!”

John stops dancing and stomps his feet.

“Aww, are you jealous, John?” Lily asks.

“Jealous?!”

Lily floats back to John, digs her nails into the back of his neck, and nibbles on his ear as she whispers, “John, you better dip me on this dance floor! Otherwise, I’m going to ask him to draw me like one of his French girls. C’mon John, Don’t stop believin’!”

Ahem Macaron clears his throat, adjusts his detonator-pinned ascot, and taps Lily on the shoulder.

“Mademoiselle, may I have this dance?”

“Oh, certainly,” she replies. “Better than this brute with two left feet!”

John grunts in dissatisfaction and bolts back to the table.

With Macaron distracted dancing with Lily for what feels like an eternity, John defiantly presses his finger to his ear. “MI6 — status report. What’s taking so long?” he mutters under his breath. “I hate seeing this Frenchie dance with an English lass who deserves so much better. It’s driving me crazy!”

“You just gotta distract him from detonation for ten more minutes,” a British accent replies. “Intel shows the puppy barge armed with explosives has almost reached us across the channel, and then we can safely disarm it.”

“USHF, come in,” John queries.

“We’ve got trouble! The global energy grid has spiked along the Asian seaboard, and among the French alps. Looks like a secret French Hash Force we’ve never detected is colluding with the existing Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan miners!

They’ve stopped including American-linked bitcoin address transactions in their blocks! Can you politely get him to back down? We’ve already played our power-projection show-of-force card!”

“Ok, I’ll do my best to play nice with Frenchie, but no promises!” John cautions. As he watches Lily and Macaron dance with disdain, a waiter approaches him at the table.

“Here you are, monsieur. Your appetizer.”

“Appetizer? I didn’t order an appetizer! All I ordered was this bourbon.”

“I’m sorry monsieur, but the other gentleman of your party insists. He said he offers this delicacy as a gift. A token of appreciation for the mercy demonstrated today by you, the quote Big American Man enquote.”

John looks on the dance floor and sees Macaron give him a nod with a big wiley grin. Lily gives him the “go-ahead” signal, so John pops one of the hot slimy appetizer balls into his mouth.

“Mhmm! These are tastier than Ma’s Frito Pie!” he shouts as Macaron and Lily walk over to join him back at the table. John continues, “These remind me of the Rocky Mountain oysters we have back at home! Of course, I’m grateful they aren’t, if you know what I mean. What are they, anyways?”

“Escargot,” the Frenchman replies, “a local specialty.”

“Escar-what-now?” John asks.

“Snails!” Lily clarifies.

John gags and spits his half-eaten snail onto the floor. He stands up and slams his ten-gallon cowboy hat on the table. “Ok, that’s it! I’ve had enough! Macaron, stop playing nice. We know you’ve activated some secret alliance with the miners on the other side of the globe! What’re you up to?”

“John, don’t upset him! Think about the puppies!” Lily pleads.

“To heck with the puppies! I’m not letting this man stand up a Hash Force to DOS attack us! You hear that, Macaron? You mess with the best, and we’ll use kinetic force against your miners stashed in the caves of the French alps!” Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Macaron wags his finger, and pulls out the detonator switch clipped to his ascot.

“Silly pompous American, did you forget I still have the detonator? Did you really think I was going to let you get away with rescuing your hideous English border collies? Life is one giant power projection game, and the way nation states survive is by mutually assured preservation. In exchange for taming the unwieldy fur of Tibetan Mastiffs, Chinese Chow Chows, and Japanese Shih-Tzu and Shiba Inus, these countries pledged their miners to our stealthy French Hash Force when we’re in need. Well, thanks to your little stunt, not only did I find the perfect opportunity to project power back at you arrogant Americans, but also dump these hideous dogs given to me onto your barge, so they’re the British Isles’ problem now!”

“But we’ll be overrun by doges!” Lily gasps in horror.

“Yes, Lily! That’s what you get for partnering with John! What do Americans say?” Macaron asks rhetorically. “That’s right, ‘No dogs left behind!’ But most of all, John, I just wanted one last dance with your girlfriend, and to watch you eat snails!” French nasally honking laughing sounds

Lily shouts back, “I’m not his girlfriend!” She pulls a whistle out of her purse and blows it as hard as she can, but it doesn’t make a sound. John looks at her confused, and Macaron honks even harder. The whole restaurant starts to rumble, and the chandeliers sway from the ceiling.

“What’s this!?” Macaron shouts.

Gradually, then suddenly a stampede of bulldogs comes barreling into the dining room, knocking over all the tables, and tackling Macaron! As he falls, the detonator gets knocked into the air, and Lily catches it just before it hits the floor.

John looks at her, bewildered, and stammers, “You…. you let the Bitcoin dogs out??”

“You think you wankers got all the tricks? The English have a few surprises too! Now c’mon, let’s flee out the back in my British Mini Cooper. And this time, I’m driving!”

---

Will Schoellkopf is the author of two books: Bitcoin Girl Save the World and The Bitcoin Dog: Following the Scent to the Bitcoin C++ Source Code. He hosts the Bitcoin podcast It’s So Early! and publishes a weekly newsletter, featuring his favorite Bitcoin Posts of the Week, at realbitcoindog.com. His work has appeared in the anthology 21 Futures: Tales from the Timechain, in print at Bitcoin Magazine, Citadel21, Stackchain Magazine and online at Satoshi’s Journal. Follow him on Nostr and X @realBitcoinDog, or email will@realbitcoindog.com

@ 3294129b:2a7654fa

📍 Satoshi House, Dubai 🗓️ June 21st, 2025 – 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM

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Let’s Talk Bitcoin. Let’s Talk Freedom.

Bitcoin Minds is back and this time, we’re diving into the frontier of decentralized communication. No pizza this round, just powerful conversations, real connections, and ideas that matter.

This edition is all about Nostr, the open protocol that’s transforming how we connect, share, and build, side by side with Bitcoin.

Whether you’re a builder, a Bitcoiner, or just curious, this is your night to learn, share, and spark what’s next.

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🎤 What to Expect:

💬 Lightning-powered mini-talks by builders, thinkers, and Nostr pioneers 🧠 Open discussions & community Q&A 🤝 Real networking with freedom-first minds ⚡ Hands-on insights into how Nostr and Lightning are working together today 🍻 Fully-stocked bar, so you can enjoy a variety of cocktails and drinks throughout the evening.

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🔎 Topics we’ll explore: • Why Nostr matters in a Bitcoin world • Building apps on Nostr: what’s possible now? • Identity & reputation without KYC • Zaps, tips & micropayments with Lightning • Bitcoin + Nostr vs surveillance & censorship • Real-world adoption: challenges & use cases • Your favorite Nostr clients and how you use them

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🎟️ Entry:

FREE — but RSVP is required 🔐 Limited spots, unlimited signal.

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Bitcoin Minds: Nostr Edition

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Zonneschijn\ Stralen, lachen, zo fijn\ Moge de wereld dankbaar zijn

De vrouw, mijn gevoeligheid\ Bron van creativiteit

Genietend niets doen in het gras\ Met wat brood en wat wijn in het glas