Well, now that Trump has won, I guess I can wear this shirt. Free Ross. https://image.nostr.build/04b09437ce4119c655ab1312488b419679fc2d0b11fdf35b3b3ae5dcfc3f5850.jpg


You want non-corporate, non-mainstream media from a progressive-left perspective?

Follow nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld  nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2

I have a feeling it’s going to play a huge role in the independent media landscape


Not enough of y’all know about the Bernie progressives and their lack of emphasis on identity politics.

It was the economy, fighting the elite and big banks, populism

Not the “progressive woke” we think of now that took over with Hillary and after


I'm old enough to remember when bitcoiners were about separation of money and state, not for the consolidation of bitcoin and state.


I don’t think he is a poster child for what we know to be neoliberalism. I think he falls more under Varoufakis’ technofeudalism.


Hey, it’s Micah!


Very relevant and important and already having impacts.


It’s called a reference.


Hey, really want you all to consider supporting nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld and nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 big this upcoming year!

We have an opportunity to continuing digging into the politically homeless left, or they could be pushed further away by conflating bitcoin with Trump/MAGA only.

TPB is going to play a big role!

#asknostr


Climate change is real. You cannot escape it.


I think you misunderstood me. I agree with you. But that doesn’t change my ultimate analysis.


Yes of course they want a voice. That’s all considered in my take. Hence why alliances form.


That’s exactly my point.


It’s more complicated than that.


Here’s my I have only had 5 hours of sleep take on Donald Trump’s win.

This election was about class. Once upon a time, class and identity were separated as the neoliberal era took hold. Democrats capitalized on identity and it worked for a while. But as our guest on @TPBPod, Alan Minsky, noted… Neoliberalism is dead. We have to realize that these new alliances that are forming under Trump are not only odd bedfellows, but because they are, they signify a new cultural and political power shift.

I have been watching this happen since Bernie ran in the 2016 primary. The coalition is building beyond race among the working class. A unity that the left could only dream of. Yet, this is not an empowerment of the working class in the way that we’d envision. I don’t believe that this will end in a worker revolution where the proletariat owns the means of production.

I don’t because this is a coalition of the working class with a different faction. This isn’t the traditional corporate-state-capitalist alliance that has coalesced in the Democratic party. This is an alliance of those who feel powerless, with those who want absolute power.

I am not sure where we are headed, but if Lawrence Wilkerson is right, this is dark.

The liberals will have yet again made it possible for the worst outcomes to happen. The left progressives (a wide umbrella that covers a coalition of socialists and center-left), unable to unite to stop the Democrats, are at their most powerless.

I really ask Democratic supporters, to wake up. We are a country that has been living three different experiences simultaneously. And just now, two roads have merged into one.

I have traveled so much around the US and the world this year. I truly believe that in the US, we have two countries in one. There’s two cultures thar have developed as a result of rural isolation and gross economic inequality. For those who have, identity issues are the only remaining issues. For those who do not, identity is the least important. It makes sense. Then we have the ultra rich, who saw an opportunity to exploit this. This where the danger now exists.

I wish I could tell you what happens next. But, what I do know is that the probabilities of socio-economic and political disasters are much higher now than ever before.

The left must find a way to bring the workers back. But I am afraid that the left has become mainly the highly educated who do not understand the worker’s plight.

And what of bitcoin? Bitcoin works no matter what but also because of what happens next. It is both a deterrent and an accelerant. We have skin in the game.


Cosplaying as political news analyst. Literally living a childhood dream right now. @BitcoinMagazine https://image.nostr.build/44dcfdf48a2ce0b90158d7bf76c57def59c0fa53f0bc49ee5a65a4e926fe0211.jpg


Yay love live journalism. nostr:note10jvxx390reung9cws6k984n9tkeqy2mynl0cpv7pjtr3grdduzpqnfkuu3


It helps to have others introduce themselves. Might be easier to talk about topics. So if it is bible study, maybe discussing the topic of the study session might be a good way to strike up a conversation.


Hey! We did it. We put out our first episode and the podcast lives on! nostr:note1rrtpuk4kh7nfgum7uy7fgjsp40cuyumgqyznmpwa883093vpyypq4spkhv


Thank you!!!


I’ll be part of Bitcoin Magazine’s election coverage tomorrow! Live stream begins at 3pm ET.


“Impaired social interaction is bidirectional,” Dumas said. “But we never say that a neurotypical person has a deficit in social cognition when they have a hard time understanding a person with autism. When an interaction is more difficult, the responsibility lies with everyone involved.”

https://scitechdaily.com/autism-isnt-an-individual-disorder-new-study-uncovers-unique-brain-sync-patterns/


Yes, this is me. Baby me, but still me all the same. I'm serious about the work I do, whether it's journalism, climate change, or bitcoin FUD. I bring that energy to everything I do. I hope I still have what it takes! Our full promo is out everywhere podcasts are found! New episode coming soon.

nostr:note10jvxx390reung9cws6k984n9tkeqy2mynl0cpv7pjtr3grdduzpqnfkuu3


“I want to take this show deeper into what it means to view the world as a left leaning bitcoiner. So this means getting back to this…” nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2

#occupywallstreet #bitcoin #protest #activism

https://v.nostr.build/YZ8hSMC6aDMYfxzW.mp4


Where do I send my btc address?


TPB is punk as shit 🔥

Get ready to get into trouble and change the world with nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 and guests. We’re baaaaackkkkk nostr:note1kvx7tgzn72l9kxurndyd4pa65gzynentp4jsj59hmhrudnpy5u5s204e73


Lolol.


Yo! I cannot wait to have nostr:nprofile1qqs9038vj9tev9vvhc9hwclkm586mjchf9dglkxm35nlqy3pzegyyvspzemhxue69uhkummnw3ezummwwdshguewdaexwqgmwaehxw309ahx7um5wgkhqatz9eek2mtfwdhkctnyv4mqzxnhwden5te0dehhxarj9e6hxetvv4ehxumgd96zucm07jpkxw hosting this show!

https://i.imgflip.com/97o9tl.jpg


OK, we're back! Here's a teaser.

nostr:note1kvx7tgzn72l9kxurndyd4pa65gzynentp4jsj59hmhrudnpy5u5s204e73


I started a Pinstr board featuring Nostr profiles of bitcoiners with progressive, left leaning, and reformist political views.

I’m not trying to make Bitcoin a partisan topic, it simply isn’t. On the other hand, there is still a strong perception that all bitcoiners are libertarian or rightwing bent.

Therefore, it’s easy for progressives to feel lonely and isolated in the Bitcoin world, even more here on Nostr. This board aims to foster a sense of belonging and connection among like-minded individuals.

If you identify as a progressive bitcoiner, please share your profile, and I'll be happy to add it to the board.
And, of course, if you'd like to be removed, just let me know. 😉

Share this note to spread the word, and reach all progressives on Nostr! Thanks!

https://pinstr.app/p/npub18nagz6a53yh6d05e8trj487dhvyfhh4qchvsz87jqng4g4zl5tvs825evl/Progressive%20bitcoiners%20on%20Nostr

Currently listing:  nostr:npub1dc84762hpnp0y4jcvjcgwt8l7sepng93j3hg63hfm80ph6kt82eqktjwqd,  nostr:npub164q45vfa8prpl7f63stsl9qm9n22v6julkasjdqxjc8kevchsj0sp42rl3,  nostr:npub1n3sjlzmhpu8rl56umtptc4lua6zkretq2p82yhytnmlcuq639vlqd0te5l,  nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2, ...


Great review of resistance.money out today : https://blockworks.co/newsletter/daily/issue/post_0f0bc349-658d-4e06-81ee-32a0743179ef
https://m.primal.net/Legn.jpg


As soon as I figure out hour to share them on social media lol.


Lol. https://image.nostr.build/dfb953dc44bc3d084db9592f8394ec16516468bf828b2413bff6b5ab2903b54e.jpg


"A lot of what we think of as culture are actually social revolutions that won. So it shows that revolutions happen all the time." - David Graeber.


The world exists of a series of crises of injustice perpetrated by all of us against all of us. We willfully allow those who hold the reins of power to dictate to us what is acceptable to say or do. We willingly let others take our ability to choose away from us. We are cowards until we are not. Those who make history are the few who could take back their agency, even if for just a moment. Why couldn’t that be you?


The new #ProofOfWork in this second decade is making #Bitcoin understandable beyond the tech-savvy public. This is the reason why we are trying to create a real, welcoming context where #Bitcoin feels less like a code and more like people. #Bitcoinization is an art and we are all the artists.
#BitcoinBitches #Milan #September21 https://image.nostr.build/a56e88c8877eac32b1411fab10c70798de6ba4771c1b289a226c4ee3a208ea3c.jpg


 We are so lucky to have David Byrne in this world.

https://m.primal.net/LRgX.png


COINJOINS PROTECT DEMOCRACY

My latest in Forbes, inspired by my experience at nostr:npub17xvf49kht23cddxgw92rvfktkd3vqvjgkgsdexh9847wl0927tqsrhc9as's Global Bitcoin Summit.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/10/09/how-bitcoin-coinjoins-facilitate-pro-democracy-protests/


Imagine two Klu Klux Klan white nationalists had access to your personally identifiable information for a "private investigation", handed to them on a silver platter by the government's financial surveillance database.

That's exactly what happened in Tennessee, and why the Bank Secrecy Act needs to be abolished.

Full story:
https://www.therage.co/finchem-fincen-tennessee-bank-data/


John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy is an excellent album.


Undergrads!


This was my SNL.


Still blows my mind that the worst bitcoin mining FUD is from commentaries--scientific journal articles that are advocating for a certain POV--and not novel research. Mora et al., with figures removed, is probably only a page long.


Climate change is really happening. These hurricanes are not man-made, beyond the reality that climate change is man-made. There's no weather seeding going on.


I hope you come back to reality and realize that while the availability of energy has led to increased standards of living, that fossil fuels are the reason why we are getting worsening hurricanes, flooding, destruction of biodiversity, increased water insecurity that could threaten the entire food system, and more.


I read an article today about how booming the US natural gas industry is right now. I'm really curious when we might start openly talking about how we were never ever going to get rid of fossil fuels with the addition of wind and solar without batteries capable of fully replacing natural gas plants.

I need Andrew Dessler (who is not on Nostr) to talk me down from this very pessimistic ledge.


I am worried for the family of the person HBO is about to claim is Satoshi. What do we gain through these witch hunts? Nothing. Bitcoin is beyond anything Satoshi could have imagined. It doesn’t belong to h them anymore. In many ways, Satoshi is irrelevant. That’s a good thing.


I think I am finally old enough to really appreciate Bob Dylan’s music.


Amazing. Have a great time!


I have not! I will have to find it.


Bitcoin Amsterdam?


Are you losing your mind and business to the US’ regulation by enforcement approach?

The WEF is here to tell you not to worry. In its new report on digital asset regulation, it has found that industry players see the US’ “tough approach” a “positive for the industry”.

It also finds that the EU’s reserve requirements for stablecoins are too strict, and that we should all be using digital identities and the blockchain for AML/KYC.

Full story:
https://www.therage.co/wef-crypto-regulation-report/


“We were hesitant about there being too much overlap between bitcoin and nostr. The problem is: bitcoin is dead good, and nostr is dead good, and they go together like bread and butter and it’s delicious.” — nostr:npub1c878wu04lfqcl5avfy3p5x83ndpvedaxv0dg7pxthakq3jqdyzcs2n8avm on nostr:npub14mcddvsjsflnhgw7vxykz0ndfqj0rq04v7cjq5nnc95ftld0pv3shcfrlx


"According to data from TheMinerMag, Foundry USA Pool and MARA Pool mined 18% of all bitcoin blocks in January 2022. As of August 2024, that figure has risen to 33.6%, and that doesn’t include U.S.-based hashrate connected to Chinese pools."
https://theminermag.com/news/2024-09-26/china-bitcoin-mining-dominance/


Good morning. I'm still the new *interim* host of @`The Progressive Bitcoiner'.


I am willing to believe it’s been bad given how terrible Katrina was.


You're probably an anarchist if you support this.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/06/hurricane-helene-mutual-aid


Direct action isn’t petitioning the government authorities to do better or fix things that are broken. Direct action is saying, “screw it, we’ll do it ourselves” or, “we can stop this without them”.

The first step toward freedom is acting like you are already free.

This is also known as anarchism, btw.

K bai.


GM #Nostr
It’s #SaturdayForSatoshi.
Stand in front of your local bank today and radiate some #Bitcoin vibes. 🧡 https://image.nostr.build/19fb432fbc81b67332f83495670629838543a0764992d035d8f5559fe925f3b3.jpg


Bitcoin is peer-to-peer, eliminating the need for transactional middlemen like Visa, who facilitate transactions for a price.

That seems like something the Department of Justice should be in favor of, given their recent lawsuit filing against Visa.
https://m.primal.net/LLzi.jpg
https://m.primal.net/LLzj.jpg


How can you not love David Graeber’s ideas on anarchism, anthropology, and the exploration of human possibilities?


I was in Baxter next door to Brainerd with no way out!


Thank you! I am excited for what comes next, too.


Two bitcoin conferences in the span of a week. Life forever changed. Left last Thursday for MN for the Mining Conference where I had the honor to introduce Daniel Batten’s recorded keynote, proved to everyone I am a sadist for loving how brutal mining is, and talked about the importance of supporting our work at the Bitcoin Policy Institute and my research on bitcoin mining! Then, back in Nashville, TN for an incredible Human Rights Foundation bitcoin summit. Met the most incredible humans from around the world. And somewhere in between, I became the next host of nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld !

Just another week…


Thanks! I will follow up once I am home.


https://i.nostr.build/qle4MRYcna4mxk12.gif  nostr:note1zd4d42uj9s6y7amp5d5f6l2cc7dczsprnw4r8fyxe4xy4x5zv54qpezpl5


As new host of  nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld, I think we should do a bitcoiner version of, “here it is,  your moment of zen” that provides a little savage levity… I dunno, thinking Saifedean’s show probably has a lot of material to pull from.

Good morning, everyone. I take no prisoners.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeGd5YzVrYnB0Yzd4YzlqbzlvZDcwOHYweDQxejV2bms1dDJobDEwMSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/1c4Gd8nBy9xDi/giphy.webp


It's a volunteer no pay position, do they accept non-paying job posts?


As new host of  nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld, I'm going to need some help! I'm looking for a volunteer who can manage our social media accounts. If that's you, please send me a DM!


I can confirm this is true. I'll be on as interim host until a permanent host can be found. Going forward, we'll be putting out an episode a month.

Losing the only prominent left bitcoin podcast at this unique moment is just not fathomable. Thank you again, Trey, for doing your part, I'll do my best to live up to your work!

nostr:note1h89n8c3wnevx68kstmg6tfxaq9fg5kl5u0lnddphp9szzjvtw0tqf53x40


Talking bitcoin mining at The Mining Conference in Baxter, MN. https://image.nostr.build/de06673dbc23d0bdd283c6c2437bb67c5d26026795e26cc07b3997edb9d99844.jpg


That would be wild.


wtf. what a nightmare.


It kind of makes you think… nostr:note14ze0hq7zjvynv5zf3jwu85al2wcmlwwsj3p5kscpl5nyq02n548q70pnxj


YO THEY DIDN’T EVEN REDACT THINGS CORRECTLY PEOPLE ARE POSTING VIDEOS AND GIFS MOVING THE BLACK BOXES 😂 https://v.nostr.build/QXNV1MH9VGRXMcsA.mp4


Tornado Cash? Needed a banking license. Samourai Wallet? Needed a banking license. WhatsApp, Apple, X, probably all need licenses too.

Sounds retarded? Correct. That's why the SEC has proposed a rule to formalize licensing requirements for communication protocols.

In a speech at the annual U.S. Treasury Market Conference, Gensler announced to rule on proposed amendments to the Exchange Act by November, which expand the definition of the term "exchange" to mean "systems that bring together buyers and sellers of securities [...] (i.e. "communication protocols")."

Critics argue the rule may be weaponized to criminally indict software developers given the already hostile environment for crypto- and privacy devs.

If this rule passes, we are fucked beyond comprehension.

Full story:
https://www.therage.co/gensler-to-rule-on-licensing-requirements-for-communication-protocols-2/


Could also be very stupid people. I assume we will eventually find out the truth.


Insane story unfolding with what happened to Swan’s bitcoin mining operation.

https://blockspace.media/insight/swan-bitcoin-sues-former-employees-over-alleged-theft-of-bitcoin-mining-business/


I don’t think of myself as having much sway but I am voting for @DrJillStein and @ButchWare in November. We must dismantle the US imperial War Machine beginning with ending the genocide in Gaza and putting an end to the recent escalation in broader regional war.

Even though you have been led to believe you can only vote for Democrats or Republicans, you actually can choose to make a different choice. Vote for peace.


Finally, governments are taking on the plastic industry.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/09/23/california-sues-exxonmobil-plastics-recycling/


Yes but not well represented among the hardcore believers.


No, I think the progressive moment came into maturity under Obama and died when Bernie lost the second time.


Are you being serious right now? Serious question.


LIkewise!


The progressive movement seemed to die about a decade ago. What happened? Why is bitcoin important for progressives, why should they care, those that found a calling in occupy and beyond?

We get into all of it. nostr:note1f0cmvvsq264e3ptl6mk4vwxc4mwhc46xw2eklffvwcky3rk90sjsknwtgy


Replacement noise canceling headphones arrived, so relieved.


That's quite the display of actual brain rot.


First episode I listened to was about why there would be no more episodes.

Related to my frustration at leftist open source community for not appreciating bitcoin at all, and beeing aleanated from most bitcoiner because they have so many other weird ideas.


Uh, oh. Cramer thinks more data centers is a bad thing. Time to go all in on data centers.

"Jim Cramer expressed his frustration over Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ:ORCL)'s plans to potentially add another 1,000 to 2,000 data centers on top of its existing 162. He raised concerns about the environmental impact of such expansion, noting that data centers currently consume about 4% of the world's energy.

'What drives me crazy is that Oracle has 162 data centers and is considering adding another 1,000 or 2,000. What does that do to the planet? If you think about it, data centers use about 4% of all energy today, and if that doubles to 8%, we need to control the 30% that's wasted.'"

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jim-cramer-expressed-frustration-over-084807924.html


Recorded my final nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld interview with nostr:npub164q45vfa8prpl7f63stsl9qm9n22v6julkasjdqxjc8kevchsj0sp42rl3 earlier today. Bittersweet to say the least but I finished the conversation feeling hopeful about the future of our left movement within bitcoin and I think Trey likely brought new people into the space who will pick up the torch that he carried after Mark stepped down.

The struggle continues!


So, not a surprise to some, but Microsoft (and other large tech companies like it) are also/also becoming energy companies.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/09/re-opened-three-mile-island-will-power-ai-data-centers-under-new-deal/


First they came for Bitcoin projects funding aid in Palestine, and I did not speak out, because I was not Palestinian.


Pretty sure that doing a PhD adversely affected my mental health. But...it was really a result of the inherent power imbalance between PhD advisor and advisee. There are ways to limit that without limiting the freedom of the advisor, but departments seem unwilling to build on more sustainable models.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanwai/2024/09/19/can-pursuing-a-phd-impact-mental-health/


I admit I am a degrowther but I am starting to think that what I consider degrowth is maybe not what many other degrowthers see it to mean. There is a lot of ignorance around energy and technology the is pervasive in aspects of the degrowth/climate movement that is also mixed with doomer vibes.

1) As Baidrillard pointed out, we cannot escape capitalism as thus we cannot escape the technological advances that we have created as a result. But what we can do, imo, is find the communist, find the anarchist, elements that exist simultaneously in contradiction and build on these aspects to find a way out. The whole concept of the falling rate of profit (which Kliman argues is temporal and thus why many misunderstand it including Marxists) is one that can be also interpreted through creative destruction. When taken to its limit, we can see where a post-work, degrowth world could actually arise.

I say this with respect, but it angers me to see rejection rather than embrace of the full spectrum of possibilities as the only way forward for so many of my colleagues in the climate movement.

Lastly, Israel proved you can’t escape through low-fi tech to avoid surveillance and attacks. So QED.

https://x.com/aashisjo/status/1836411875137065027


This is devastating and also a reminder that we need decentralized platforms, there is no other way forward.

nostr:note1c5ut2us8l95d85q2vfl337rpm460d2ynjvawreya8y7hs3rkjrssvch7ky


To the best of my knowledge, the Bitcoin for Palestine nostr:npub1kmwdmhuxvafg05dyap3qmy42jpwztrv9p0uvey3a8803ahlwtmnsnhxqk9 was the largest project by sats received on nostr:npub1kmwdmhuxvafg05dyap3qmy42jpwztrv9p0uvey3a8803ahlwtmnsnhxqk9 nostr:note1c5ut2us8l95d85q2vfl337rpm460d2ynjvawreya8y7hs3rkjrssvch7ky


My noise canceling headphones broke yesterday. Crazy glue arrives today, pray to the plastic gods that this is repairable. I have really been struggling without them. https://image.nostr.build/53cd8362c8dc8d1af3863728c0415dd860f267bc913fb94b5b9a919742504e88.jpg


Happy for Trey, but this is sad news for me. I still think we need more content that takes a different perspective on bitcoin and which also challenges existing mythologies around bitcoin that exist within and outside of the bitcoin community. Honored to be the last episode, let’s make this a memorable one, Trey. nostr:note1krt3kgzft0rfncp5qym6xsz7pwss53l2c6d27ffg42r5y3waa0ksqx653h


You look like a perfect fit
For a girl in need of a tourniquet
But can you save me?

Come on and save me
If you could save me
From the ranks of the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone

'Cause I can tell you know what it's like
A long farewell of the hunger strike
But can you save me?

Come on and save me
If you could save me
From the ranks of the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone.

You struck me dumb, like radium
Like Peter Pan, or Superman
You have come to save me

Come on and save me
If you could save me
From the ranks of the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone
Except the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone
But the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone

Come on and save me
Why don't you save me?
If you could save me
From the ranks of the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone
Except the freaks
Who suspect they could never love anyone
Except the freaks
Who could never love anyone

https://youtu.be/72fDsC2kX7g?si=ZzSl41w3Kxp_oBnr


Today I learned about zombie servers in data centers.

"Inactive servers (also referred to as comatose or 'zombie' servers), represent obsolete or unused servers that consume electricity but provide no useful information services. Previous studies have estimated that inactive servers represent 10%–30% of servers in US data centers [28–31]." (Shehabi et al., 2018)

I can't imagine that these exist in a bitcoin mining facility. Zombie bitcoin miners sucking up electricity but not generating bitcoin?? The crazy thing is the 10-30% figure for non-crypto data centers. That's a lot of waste.


Thank you for your kind words. ♥


"Instead, she’ll pursue her campaign against Riot from afar—and widen her scope. She has joined the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, a protest group that backs a nationwide ban on crypto mining. “When we leave things up to each state, it’s like playing whack-a-mole,” says Sawicky. 'We need a big federal law.'"

Wow, I did not know there was a national coalition against bitcoin mining...

https://www.wired.com/story/the-worlds-biggest-bitcoin-mine-is-rattling-this-texas-oil-town/


Sometime late next year after I finish my papers.


I'm autistic, and I've experienced a lot of unnecessary hardship in my life because I didn't know I was on the spectrum, but even after knowing, I wasn't taught what to do to better understand how my brain works so that I could navigate the world. Through autistic-centered therapy, I've learned a lot over the past several years, and I have many thoughts...

I've been thinking a lot about the importance of early intervention in autism. Temple Grandin and others emphasize how important this is. But what does that even mean? I think it does not mean teaching autistics to be like neuroypticals. The problem for me and others on the spectrum is that we've been taught to understand the world as if we had a built-in intuitive system. A heuristics way of managing sensory input, one might say. But the problem is that autistic people don't have such well-developed systems, but we do have strong analytical systems.

My theory is that every disabling aspect of autism is because of information overload and trauma. We get more information in every domain compared to neurotypicals.  So we can't make intuitive guesses with limited data, we actually have too much data, so we need to take a more cognitive and analytical approach. Yet, through cognitive approaches, we can actually make better decisions/observations/connections than neurotypicals.

So I think any kind of intervention should reflect this. Whether it is in childhood or adulthood. It should be focused on interpreting, navigating, and managing sensory inputs. For those on the spectrum, this means it will be cognitive processing the vast majority of the time. Teaching autistic people to sense their bodies and learn how to cognitively interpret them will go a long way.

Interventions for helping those who are non-speaking who have trouble controlling their body--to me--should focus on increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in motor systems. But also teaching them how to communicate through letter boards and typing as early as possible is essential to avoid trauma and worsening sensory overload. There's cutting edge research showing a direct connection between emotion and sensory overload in the brain.

Finally, we need acceptance. Autistic people experience so much abuse through their lives, one study reported 9 in 10 autistic women experienced some form of sexual abuse. They concluded the targeted abuse of those on the spectrum had no relation to perceived diagnostic "deficits" but rather, autistic people are singled-out because we are different. Nothing more, nothing less. Teach your kids to accept those who are different. Autistic people have higher rates of suicide. Therapy for those on the spectrum is mostly about undoing all the harm neurotypicals did to us. Most autistic people are traumatized, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Autism is a neurotype and a spectrum. It can be both abling and disabling, depending on how severe the information overload is. But I think if we reframe how we look at it, and we address the foundational challenges, we can make it so that no aspect of autism is disabling.

Don't try to cure us. A different way of interpreting the world can only benefit society, not harm it.


The Democrats rebrand is to take a
Neocon imperialist ideology and package it within a hip, younger, and culturally diverse wrapper. They aren’t stupid. This isn’t a real win for struggles against oppression. This is just system capture. When your own identity becomes reified and sold back to you, it looks like you but something is missing. Sense it. Act on it.


Bitcoin for me right now is about finishing my PhD on bitcoin mining. It’s a lot of work but I am as close as I have ever been to being able to defend my thesis. I have a lot of educating to do among the academic community about why any of this even matters. It’s not an easy task. But we have a good story to tell, so I am fully committed and putting all my energy into this.


I guess there are benefits to being controversial lol.


I wish the Twitter/X algorithm wouldn't only pick up on my most "controversial" posts. But it seems like most people only want to engage with posts that push their primal, primate emotional buttons.


When a Nobel Prize winner gets 13 retractions on their peer reviewed publications...Ugh. Grateful that there are other scientists fact checking, but still, this is such a problem. The incentives are misaligned.

https://retractionwatch.com/2024/09/13/nobel-prize-winner-tallies-two-more-retractions-bringing-total-to-13/


I'm really enjoying watching this latest transition for bitcoin mining. Core Scientific really has been the most impressive to watch so far, just considering how they managed to survive bankruptcy, and now they're making a fully committed attempt to evolve beyond bitcoin mining.

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


Let's also remember that the US has killed 124 times more US Americans since 9/11 than the 'most significant' terrorist attack on earth with an average of 44 (!) veteran suicides PER DAY. 🇺🇲

https://m.primal.net/Kmvo.png


Long live Allende. Long live the power of music to rally the hopes and dreams of a better society, so dangerous that Pinochet's death squads had to murder one of the greatest voices of his generation, Victor Jara.

El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido.

Remember the other 9/11 today.
https://m.primal.net/KmoR.png


Ultimately, no pubco mining company can resist the investor push toward AI. Profit margins, profit margins, profit margins.

https://theminermag.com/news/2024-09-05/bitcoin-marathon-ai-board/


David Graeber on how to trigger Bitcoin Twitter during a bear market:

"Then there's also libertarian socialism, which means the democratic control, not by the state, but by communities or by workers, self organizing in a voluntary fashion--that's genuine socialism in my opinion."

https://x.com/chunkymark/status/1044264672504016897


RIP David Graeber.


I got COVID for sure this summer. But, I think niacin helped me get over the fatigue faster. Just saying. Orthomolecular medicine ftw.


Did you miss this? BM republished it this week. Tortured myself so you wouldn't have to.

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/print/f-k-bad-research


More on the AI-bitcoin mining merger front. Looks like most of the pubcos are at some stage of incorporating HPC/AI services.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bet-more-on-the-bitcoin-miners-cashing-in-on-ai


Thank you nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 loved the piece on nostr:npub1h8nk2346qezka5cpm8jjh3yl5j88pf4ly2ptu7s6uu55wcfqy0wq36rpev And great it will be in the next issue of nostr:npub1t8a7uumfmam38kal4xaakzyjccht4y5jxfs4cmlj0p768pxtwu8skh56yu. This paper just got my a step closer to going freelance academic, if this is the sort of stuff “publish or perish” leads to. https://bitcoinmagazine.com/print/f-k-bad-research

Some abridged notes on the original paper.
 https://x.com/dugandrupe/status/1754876572987777394?s=46


I have been chasing this story since October 2023.

I spoke to sources in Gaza whose Binance accounts had been frozen – The addresses they provided were not listed in Israel's official seizure orders.

https://m.primal.net/KRqe.jpg https://m.primal.net/KRqf.jpg

I was then put in touch with Turkish and Saudi Arabian nationals whose Binance accounts were frozen, who were allegedly told to contact Israeli police.

https://m.primal.net/KRqm.jpg https://m.primal.net/KRqq.jpg

The claim that Binance is freezing all Palestinian accounts, to my knowledge, is not correct. And this is what kept the story from being published.

Palestinians in the Westbank appear to be unaffected, while Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were only affected so long they had a certain balance in their account. But we couldn't figure out what that threshold was, as communication into Gaza was effectively cut off.

So I reached out to other news outlets hoping that I'd get help investigating the story. I reached out to CoinDesk editor in chief Kevin Reynolds, both via email and on the personal phone number he gave me – and got ghosted.

I reached out to Forbes, who were initially interested in the story, but Forbes refused to let me publish under my pseudonym.

Just recently I reached out to Bennet Tomlin
 and Cas Piancey of Protos and got ghosted there too.

In November 2023, a journalist from Reuters contacted my source to write about the account seizures, but dropped the story as well.

Binance owes us an explanation under what legal framework it seizes the accounts of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip not listed in official seizure orders, and under what legal framework it seizes the accounts of foreign nationals on behalf of the Israeli government.

nostr:note17enuy4tf30nw094wstpytlm287tp3h6z3mve36sgxk8lteu9ntws8x8f89


Cypherpunk desires.


Consciousness raising requires people coming together to realize these basic facts about the world around us.

nostr:note13r6rhpmrrpylfkxf6jzcf8vhtahplvexvt2kssxr8z4m3kmkdquqxhfcq5


This.

nostr:note1qmaq2y4ye7tenqd9fzz6fta55jj4s94l3kwulmr8qd7y5hdxv59q97ys5c


I love that NVK lets me live in his mind rent-free. An incredibly communistic gesture, comrade NVK.

nostr:note1leza3432m298n426q28luj5qn0ves5mulzkpzp90j5la436edhuqq7tm3x


Commies biggest danger is not just stealing your property, but stealing your time.

"Don't engage with retards" is the mantra I often forget to follow.


let's me live, I mean!


Crazy thing is that NVK lets me leave in his mind rent free. That's incredibly communist of him!


Cry harder when you can’t keep up with intellectual stimulation from nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2

Sorry, we’re gonna be a growing nostr a bit much for NVK’s liking I think. nostr:note1leza3432m298n426q28luj5qn0ves5mulzkpzp90j5la436edhuqq7tm3x


Emphasis on voluntary. If you don't want to be part of the production process, you can advocate for change and get consensus on that, or setup up your own society where it works the way you want. That's a lot how bitcoin works, doesn't it? Don't like the way the protocol works, submit a BIP and convince others its a good idea or fork the software and build your own network.


This reads a bit like an advertisement, but interesting nonetheless regarding the claims on energy use reduction. Of course, Marathon/MARA have their own dual-immersion cooling system called 2PIC that is also compatible with AI servers. I am really curious to know how MARA's compares.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/27/nvidia-partner-sustainable-metal-cloud-ai-data-center-energy-consumption.html

https://www.mara.com/2pic/home


An anarchist form of communism was indeed tried in Spain to varying success. They were eventually overpowered by fascists and centralized communism.

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/murray-bookchin-to-remember-spain-the-anarchist-and-syndicalist-revolution-of-1936


For all those crying, "communism is coercion", "communism is authoritarianism", let me introduce you to Peter Kropotkin. Kropotkin was a zoologist and advocate of decentralized communist societies, a.k.a, anarcho-communism. Here's an LLM-derived short biography.

Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921) was a Russian geographer, zoologist, and one of the most influential anarchist thinkers. He is best known for his advocacy of anarcho-communism, a form of communism that emphasizes the abolition of the state and capitalism in favor of a decentralized, stateless society where resources and goods are communally owned and managed. Kropotkin's vision of society was rooted in mutual aid, voluntary cooperation, and the belief that human beings are naturally inclined towards solidarity and communal living.

Kropotkin argued that centralized state power and capitalism inherently create inequality, oppression, and conflict. Instead, he proposed decentralized communities, where local groups or communes would manage their own affairs, making decisions through direct democracy and consensus. These communities would cooperate with each other in a network, exchanging goods and services based on need rather than profit. By removing the hierarchical structures of state and capital, Kropotkin believed that individuals could freely associate and work together for the common good, fostering a society of equality, freedom, and mutual support.

In summary, Kropotkin's advocacy for decentralized communist societies involves dismantling both the state and capitalist systems, replacing them with self-managed, cooperative communities that operate on principles of mutual aid and shared resources. This vision aims to create a society where individuals have autonomy and equality, and where the social fabric is strengthened through collaboration and collective responsibility.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kropotkin


“Double, bubble, war and rubble,
When you mess with women, you’ll be in trouble.
We’re convicted of murder if abortion is planned.
Convicted of conspiracy if we fight for our rights.
And burned at the stake when we stand up to fight.”
– W.I.T.C.H. Hex, 1969


If you’re a #newcomer to #Nostr. Here are the top 12  recommendations on who to follow:

nostr:npub16uqhv2xpgmn2w9gmg00dvs28x9pd79wzcdnqcmfjjtpym35qymmq3cv8yd
nostr:npub1mznweuxrjm423au6gjtlaxmhmjthvv69ru72t335ugyxtygkv3as8q6mak
nostr:npub1xapjgsushef5wwn78vac6pxuaqlke9g5hqdfjlanky3uquh0nauqx0cnde
nostr:npub12rv5lskctqxxs2c8rf2zlzc7xx3qpvzs3w4etgemauy9thegr43sf485vgnostr:npub12rv5lskctqxxs2c8rf2zlzc7xx3qpvzs3w4etgemauy9thegr43sf485vg
nostr:npub1tm9a3meetjyn82a9x7gygf88wwuw7834jw26z6z6x4xpa875jcxqcpdtjr
nostr:npub1hwwpvhdeml9vgywkwsnxnw3v6t3ruhlr9enhhwy9w5f0vr8k3j0qr9h4zh
nostr:npub169jd0rqttrk7kgk4f9pveuhcz4d7lfzacr3hzlxplqws7yf52xlsqr5ua8
nostr:npub14tqz0qf33h7gc0t76ztca7d8aq2556u2umy3pva99dp064582qpqqjnqxc
nostr:npub1c878wu04lfqcl5avfy3p5x83ndpvedaxv0dg7pxthakq3jqdyzcs2n8avm
nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2
nostr:npub1md5qn5j74l7zkjzd58dqcjwkwdj4uc8legh8zyzrym4mrkzesffqj36q6s


I can relate to this. In 2020, I quit Twitter completely and started drawing. It was great.


Yeah, it was the title.


lolol.


Not scheduled to give it in person, but I recorded it for the conference but, they ultimately decided not to include it, so I posted it on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/9gGw464vVTY?si=1vQ1X7ZmeYa31hHH


From my talk that was (unintentionally) censored.

"Bitcoin is in a struggle against system capture, this is especially true at the center of the financial system, Wall Street. So many have cheered the development of Bitcoin ETFs, and the arrival of institutional investors. But I caution against this cheering, because this is only system capture, not revolution. If Wall Street succeeds, Bitcoin will be objectified and commodified in the true sense of the word. It will be packaged and sold back to you in a form that will at the surface feel familiar but will ultimately be a hollow reflection of what it once was.

Yet, because Bitcoin is peer-to-peer, it can at least exist in simultaneous contradiction. Even if Wall St tries to capture Bitcoin, we can still use Bitcoin as it was originally intended. The question is, will the original intent of a peer-to-peer electronic cash system be that which scales with mass adoption, or will it be the reified package that Wall Street sells you? Remember, we can still use torrents to download movies, music, and books for free because it's peer-to-peer, but most people pay for a Netflix subscription these days."


Highly recommend this as a starting point. I will dig through some more references so those interested can read more about the fact that when they're building FOSS and open protocols, they're ultimately acting as everyday anarcho-communists, not anarcho-capitalists. The reality to keep in mind is that we're made up entirely of contradictions, so a clear dichotomy between what is or isn't communist does not really exist. Being comfortable with contradictions is a healthy step forward for moving away from the currently highly polarized environment we find ourselves in.

nostr:note1cmkwej67g4795qe73lk6y3ghsgfrh96ntapprukd68h959rehd6qgkgwnn


Also, pretty much any book from David Graeber. Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism is good, too.


This is a good start, "Peer to peer: from technology to politics to a new civilisation": https://www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/contributions/others/pEERNewP2P.pdf


One of the surprises of Nostriga for me was the appearance of the https://layer3.news/ project. It’s nostr + rss + news + ai.


Good morning fellow commies who are building on a free and open protocol in a very cooperative kind of commie anarchist manner.


Gah, I can't stand that guy. Mayo Pete.


Looking forward to watching the recording of the Nostriga talks. I heard there was some really interesting discussions.


THE APOCALYPSE WILL BLOSSOM.

Jenny Holzer, Inflammatory Essays, 1979-82

https://m.primal.net/KMWa.png


Some context:
"To realize we're all already communists when working on a common projects, all already anarchists when we solve problems without recourse to lawyers or police, all revolutionaries when we make something genuinely new.”
― David Graeber, Revolutions in Reverse: Essays on Politics, Violence, Art, and Imagination

nostr:note1szuuk526qsxh603yt9alp9f2rdaa5pvrznrareqadhfflxct2t0sdlyyvm


I want to thank Alex Gladstein for reaching out to me. It appears that what happened was the result of a mistake in judgment of one staffer and not what HRF's bitcoin team would have approved of, if they had known. It was really shocking to be told by a conference organizer that my talk was not allowed if it was going to be controversial (because I referred to someone as a communist), so I'm grateful that this was an error of judgment and nothing more.


I want to thank Alex Gladstein for reaching out to me. It appears that what happened was the result of a mistake in judgment of one staffer and not what HRF's bitcoin team would have approved of, if they had known. It was really shocking to be told by a conference organizer that my talk was not allowed if it was going to be controversial (because I referred to someone as a communist), so I'm grateful that this was an error of judgment and nothing more.

nostr:note1szuuk526qsxh603yt9alp9f2rdaa5pvrznrareqadhfflxct2t0sdlyyvm


From my censored talk! nostr:note1sjlcspg59l253x983dwe7zc573ts5qp6ludc0p99rqfapsm3q8yqdwgf3w


Hoping this works. I am really  sad to report that my talk was censored at Baltic HoneyBadger. As best as I know, here's what happened (please read my nostr-based article using one of the following options given below). My talk is on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gGw464vVTY

On nostr:
nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzq47yajg409s43jlqkamr7mwsltwtzay44r7cmwxj0uqjyyt9qs3jqq25ym3ef9vhyanfvyk5u5z32an5kwt4fa5y5newzg8

Habla link: https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzq47yajg409s43jlqkamr7mwsltwtzay44r7cmwxj0uqjyyt9qs3jqq25ym3ef9vhyanfvyk5u5z32an5kwt4fa5y5newzg8


# This Bitcoin Talk is Dangerous!: How My Talk Got Censored at BHB 2024

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I was not able to attend the Baltic HoneyBadger 2024 conference where I was invited to give a talk and participate on a bitcoin mining panel. This, sadly, wasn't the worst part of it!  What was worse was that I was censored at BHB. Yes, really. Please keep in mind, that everything I am describing here is my personal opinion of the events as they unfolded and to the best of my knowledge.

The title of my talk was, "Jeff Booth is a Communist". Because, well, he is in the very best way possible. I explain this in my actual talk. Regardless of what you think about communism, banning a word does not make it go away. To the credit of the conference organizers, they did not censor my talk's title. Based on my conversations with them, it appears that The Human Rights Foundation's Compliance Team did.

Yes, ***compliance team***. You read correctly. Don't believe me? I have receipts. Please keep in mind, when I was invited to speak at the conference, I was not told that I was going to be on an HRF sponsored stage with speech restrictions prior to agreeing to speak there. Nor that the travel stipend was likely from an HRF grant. I would never have agreed to such terms if I had known.

![image](https://i.imgur.com/RPmaku0.jpeg)

![image](https://i.imgur.com/zKEnxBs.jpeg)

I have to say, I was furious that my title was censored. Censorship is the last thing I would expect at a bitcoin conference. I decided it was best for me to give my talk anyway. Sadly, a day later I learned that my passport had arrived but was missing in the package delivery facility. Long story here that isn't worth going into, needless to say, I worked very hard to get it back to no avail.

Now that I was stuck in the US and unable to travel, I tried getting a virtual talk to the conference organizers. I was told this was acceptable and that they would find room for it on the agenda and put it on a different stage that HRF was not sponsoring.  So, I worked very hard on Saturday to finish my talk and record it. I got a file to the conference A/V person. Sadly, despite being told they would place my talk on the agenda and play it as part of the conference, for whatever reason unknown to me, it was not and I received no explanation for this.

![image](https://i.imgur.com/Xl2MgG3.jpeg)

Ben Arc, after learning of what was happening, said he would play it during his LNBits workshop. So thankfully, my talk still played in front of an audience of BHB conference attendees. If you're bothered that I've gone public rather than use background channels, please understand that based on what I was told, it is my belief that HRF's team made a unilateral decision and made no effort to contact me in private to discuss the content of my talk. Since the courtesy was not offered to me, I do not feel the need to offer this to HRF or BHB.

I am disappointed that the organization that I held in such high esteem and believed was aligned with my commitment to free speech, appears to not share my values. I can't emphasize enough the disappointment, pain, and sadness I feel over what has happened. I never expected this from an organization that promotes human rights. Free speech is a human right.

I want to thank my friends who supported me throughout this. Especially Ben Arc, who offered me time during his workshop to play my talk. Thank you for supporting me. I cannot say this enough.

The video and talk are posted as part of this article. I will also post them in a separate, standalone nostr article. Thank you for reading this. Please watch the recording of my talk and share it with others.

## Baltic HoneyBadger 2024: Jeff Booth is a Communist

Click the image to watch the talk on YouTube.
[![IMAGE ALT TEXT HERE](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9gGw464vVTY/0.jpg)](https://youtu.be/9gGw464vVTY)

TRANSCRIPT:

My original intent with this talk was to be a little provocative, but mostly to have a little bit of fun with some ideas I’ve been playing with this summer. Sadly, I’m no longer in a lighthearted mood as this has been a trying week. I was looking forward to speaking in person at Honey Badger, but the universe had different plans. Considering that the universe has chosen to set me on a slightly different path, I think it is most appropriate that my talk adapts to this new path.

In 2008, Bifo Berardi, an Italian philosopher of the autonomist movement, was part of a discussion at the Tate Modern art gallery in London that reflected on the relationship between art, labor, and politics. We know about this discussion because David Graeber, the late anarchist and anthropologist, wrote a review.

What Graeber noted was a complete lack of reflection on modern art beyond the 1960s or 1970s. There was an attempt to understand the challenges of the 21st century within the context of the 20th century. But what really stood out was Berardi’s depressing comments about the future. First, you have to understand something about Bifo if you’ve never seen him speak. He’s the most jovial, bouncy-energy, and uplifting, white haired Italian philosopher you could ever witness.

Bifo said–according to Graeber’s recollection, “The twentieth century was the “century of the future.”

But that’s over. In the current moment, which is no longer one of conjunction but of connection, there is no longer a future. Cyber-space is infinite, but cyber-time is most definitively not. The precarity of labor means life is pathologized; and where once Lenin could teeter back and forth from depressive breakdowns to decisive historical action, no such action is now possible, suicide is the only form of effective political action; art and life have fused and it’s a disaster; any new wave of radical subjectification is inconceivable now. If there was hope, it is only for some great catastrophe, after which possibly, maybe, everything might change.”

Depressing right? Bifo was arguing that the future is dead. The 20th century was the century of the future and the 21st century is the century of precarity with no future in sight.To quote Graeber’s review of the talk, “We have come to a point where it is impossible to even imagine projecting ourselves forwards in time in any meaningful way, where the only radical gesture left to us is therefore self-mutilation or suicide.”

(Graeber/Fisher slide)I can’t help but imagine that 2008 was a pivotal moment for thinkers like Graeber and another favorite of mine, Mark Fisher. Mark Fisher was a social critic and best known for his book, “Capitalist Realism”. Seeing the Great Financial Crisis play out as critics of the existing system, in light of the historical failures of the 1960s and 1970s to create revolution to avoid the future that we find ourselves in at that moment, and for some the greatest intellectual thinkers of the 20th century to simply say there was no hope, had to weigh heavy on them.

Which is why I think they rejected the idea that there was no way out. All around in their environment, they saw a future lost, even Fisher acknowledged that the future was cancelled through his analysis of how music and culture as a whole changes after the 1970s. Graeber condenses it into one word: Dreamworld. Meaning that we could only make sense of this lost future through a kind of fantasy, through sci-fi, or literally dreams. Yet, rather than give into the desire to be defeated, they tried to find a way out.

(All possibilities slide) Something that I really like about Graeber, which really isn’t his idea alone, Marcel Mauss made this observation as well. Which is that all possibilities occur simultaneously in our current world. I like this because it reveals the possibility of contradictions that can be exploited for the creation of new opportunities for revolution. It also suggests that the future is not dead, but already here, or at least, the path toward a future that takes us out of this state of precarity is already here.

(Chancellor slide) The reality is that Bitcoin arises from this reality that all possibilities occur simultaneously. All of us are survivors of the crisis that happened in 2008. We’re acutely aware of this event in part because Bitcoin was born during this time. The genesis block is a historical documentation of the most critical aspect. Chancellor on the brink of second bailout. The banks were bailed out, the cycle of capital destruction–or creative destruction–was stifled. Since the recession of the 1970s, cue the website, “WTF Happened in 1971?”, we’ve been stuck. Everyone knows this. Everyone feels this. It’s something like when you walk into a casino, and the stench of cigarette smokes permeates and clings to every fiber it touches. You can’t get it out no matter how much Fabreeze you use.

(Kliman/Marx/Schumpeter slide) If you were to ask Andrew Kliman, a Marxist economist, it’s because the government and Federal Reserve feared the fallout of the business cycle. Maybe you didn’t know this, but Karl Marx, the original Marxist economist, documented this cycle, which he called capital destruction. You might be more familiar with the term creative destruction, defined by the Austrian economist, Joseph Schumpeter. Either way, the natural order of capitalism has been subverted because capitalism is built on a contradiction, which is that it’s very innovative process leads to its own self-destruction. This is actually necessary, so that new capital can be created and capitalism can be reborn.

What happened then was that American government and central bank refused to let this happen. Of course, with the destruction of capital comes a certain amount of economic crisis that affects the value of stocks and employment. If your businesses are leveraged, it might lead to deflation. But if you keep delaying the natural process of capitalism, what you do is set a course for something that could be potentially much worse than a brief crisis that resolves mostly on its own, maybe with some help to keep workers afloat while new capital is created within newer, more efficient industries. A crisis so much worse, that it could destroy not just the economic system, but our ecological system, too. Leaving in its wake a dystopian, technofeudalistic slave world where you indeed own nothing and are happy insofar as you are told you are to believe you are happy while you wear industrial scale face masks because the world is so damaged that it isn’t safe to breathe the air without them.

(Solarpunk slide) This is where we are, headed toward a crisis far worse than capitalism could have ever designed. We’re on course for something much worse than the worst aspects of capitalism. But luckily, the future is already here. It already exists. What we have is the Internet. We have distributed networks. We have peer to peer. We have free and open source software. We have crowdfunding. We have the ability to build mesh networks in a way that we could not do 10 years ago. We have high-speed Internet access that can allow us to locally host most of our content and share it with anyone around the world. We have cryptography. Even though we’re entering a stage that is nothing like the capitalism that Marx or Schumpeter once described, nor the kind of capitalism that workers organized against, which the cultural revolutionaries of the 1960s and 1970s could not fathom, we still have evidence that we can get through the end of capitalism with the tools that capitalism has provided us.

Bitcoin is a distributed, peer-to-peer monetary system. It takes the cypherpunk beyond the virtual world of the Internet and into the real world. It breaks down the barriers because it is tied to the physical world, not just through its energy use, but through its purchase power. It allows us to transfer and influence the social layer because it is a network that anyone can participate in. Like the Internet and as a result of it, Bitcoin challenges system capture. While mega corporations have managed to capture aspects of the Internet through mega platforms like Facebook, Amazon, and others, we can still build our own platforms and protocols that belong to us and which no one can control. Obviously, Nostr is a prime example.

Bitcoin is in a struggle against system capture, this is especially true at the center of the financial system, Wall Street. So many have cheered the development of Bitcoin ETFs, and the arrival of institutional investors. But I caution against this cheering, because this is only system capture, not revolution. If Wall Street succeeds, Bitcoin will be objectified and commodified in the true sense of the word. It will be packaged and sold back to you in a form that will at the surface feel familiar but will ultimately be a hollow reflection of what it once was.

Yet, because Bitcoin is peer-to-peer, it can at least exist in simultaneous contradiction. Even if Wall St tries to capture Bitcoin, we can still use Bitcoin as it was originally intended. The question is, will the original intent of a peer-to-peer electronic cash system be that which scales with mass adoption, or will it be the reified package that Wall Street sells you? Remember, we can still use torrents to download movies, music, and books for free because it's peer-to-peer, but most people pay for a Netflix subscription these days.

If Bitcoin is the bridge from the virtual world of simultaneous possibilities that are possible thanks to the revolutionary power of the Internet–which challenges the very fundamental notions of capitalism which are property rights and scarcity–then perhaps we can escape the destructive path that the Federal Reserve put us on.

To do this, we have to focus our efforts on building tools that make it easy to use Bitcoin. If we can empower people to break out of the economic system, then we can empower them to make a new choice. We don’t have to be debt slaves. When we interact with Bitcoin, not just as a store of value but as a medium of exchange, then I think we start to realize the power that it gives us. It gives us a taste of true freedom that exists right now as a possibility alongside the possibility of totalitarianism. Bitcoin must be easier to use. We have scaling issues to deal with still. We need developers to work together, not against each other, toward the goal of bringing Bitcoin to the masses. Along with that, we have to pass along the values that we’ve learned from the Internet. A free and open society is the only way forward. Working in collaboration with each other, with the freedom to participate in certain projects or not, is a powerful lesson in community building. We have to harness the ability of crowdfunding as a way of building communities that transcend our local ones. Cypherpunks write code, but if you can’t write code, then build peer-to-peer communities that are both physical and virtual. We must take the next step forward before it is too late. We must bring the cypherpunk into the physical world.

(Booth slide) Anyway, this talk  was originally inspired by my favorite communist, Jeff Booth. It was originally titled, “Jeff Booth is a communist” but the Human Rights Foundation decided to act unilaterally–kind of like one of those state-communist parties that dictate from the top what kind of speech is acceptable–to censor my title. But let me tell you something, if you believe that we need to accept a new system is coming, and that abundance will result from technological deflation while we will make less money but also work less (if at all) for more, then you’re by definition a post-scarcity, post-work, anti-capitalist. Or, better said, you’re into fully automated luxury communism. This isn’t Maduro’s communism. This isn’t Mao’s communism. This is what happens only when capitalism finally out innovates itself to the point that it drives profits toward zero. When abundance is accepted, artificial scarcity–one of the necessary conditions for capitalism to exist–will be destroyed. When workers are no longer part of the production system, then the concept of value, whether from the point of view of the labor theory of value or of subjective value theory, will dramatically change into something that would be unrecognizable and probably incompatible with capitalism. With abundance, private property would also be challenged–another fundamental property of capitalism. Remember how stupid we all thought NFTs were because anyone could hit control+C and download an identical copy of their monkey jpg? That’s exactly what abundance does to artificial scarcity. It makes a mockery of it. It makes a mockery of capitalism.

Embrace your communist side. As Graeber pointed out, we’re already communists. The future is already here.

“We are at a crossroads. What worked before will not work in the future. Technology is moving too fast—and it will only move faster from here. Even if we wanted to, we can’t put the genie back into the bottle. We need to build a new framework for our local and global economies, and soon, or the same technology that has the power to bring abundance to us and our world will instead destroy it.”
  --Jeff Booth, *The Price of Tomorrow*

The unfortunate story about how my talk was censored at Baltic HoneyBadger 2024.


Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I was not able to attend the Baltic HoneyBadger 2024 conference where I was invited to give a talk and participate on a bitcoin mining panel. This, sadly, wasn't the worst part of it!  What was worse was that I was censored at BHB. Yes, really.

The title of my talk was, "Jeff Booth is a Communist". Because, well, he is. I explain this in my actual talk. Regardless of what you think about communism, fear of a word does not change the effect of it. To the credit of the conference organizers, they did not censor my talk's title. The Human Rights Foundation's Compliance Team did.

Yes, ***compliance team***. You read correctly. Don't believe me? I have receipts.

![image](https://i.imgur.com/zKEnxBs.jpeg)

I have to say, I was furious that my title was censored. Censorship is the last thing I would expect at a bitcoin conference. I decided it was best for me to give my talk. Sadly, a day later I learned that my passport had arrived but was missing in the package delivery facility. Long story here that isn't worth going into, needless to say, I worked very hard to get it back to no avail.

Now that I was stuck in the US and unable to travel, I tried getting a virtual talk to the conference organizers. I was told this was acceptable and they would find room for it on the agenda and put it on a different stage that HRF was not sponsoring.  So I worked very hard on Saturday to finish my talk and record it. I got a file to the conference A/V person. Sadly, despite being told they would play my talk, I was ghosted.

![image](https://i.imgur.com/Xl2MgG3.jpeg)

Ben Arc, after learning of what was happening, said he would play it during his LNBits workshop. So thankfully, despite the best efforts of the Human Rights Foundation, my talk still played on the FOSS stage in front of an audience of BHB conference attendees. If you're bothered that I've gone public rather than use background channels, please understand that HRF's team made a unilateral decision and made no effort to contact me in private to discuss the content of my talk. Since the courtesy was not offered to me, I do not feel the need to offer this to HRF or BHB.

I am disappointed that the organization that I held in such high esteem and believed was aligned with my commitment to free speech, is not. I can't emphasize enough the disappointment, pain, and sadness I feel over what has happened. I never expected this from an organization that promotes human rights. Free speech is a human right.

My talk is available online, along with the transcript.


Kind of exhausted, long and tiring week. But I have a new talk that I'm excited to share with all of you soon.


Thanks! Glad to be making more use of it.


Read Mark Fisher's Post Capitalist Desire, his final lectures!


Climate change physicist. I have crazy ideas about bitcoin.


By the way, I'm also on matrix. Find me at: @jyn_urso:matrix.org


I think the alby browser extension was messing with it. Tried in chromium and all good there. Removed alby then tried brave again and it is working. Thanks for your help!


Testing primal.


Hey. Yeah. Primal isnt working for me in browser. Is it incompatible with brave?


Yes I do. It wont let me post.


Primal why you hate me so much?


Tell me why*


Yes but tell my primal hates me.


I want to very sincerely thank the anon that donated +1M sats last week to The Rage. Your contributions are what make independent journalism possible.

We are currently fundraising to be able to cover the Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash trials in September and December in NYC.  If you value independent reporting, please consider donating to our Geyser Fund.

https://geyser.fund/project/therage


I was PODCONF disapproved. 🤣 https://podconf.xyz/mission-and-manifesto/


Dear compliant bitcoiners, I have an announcement to make. Do not cross me again PODCONF. You have been warned.

https://www.bugle.news/untitled-7/


Dear compliant bitcoiners, I have an announcement to make. Do not cross me again PODCONF. You have been warned.

https://x.com/bitcoin_bugle/status/1818281816610193690?s=46&t=Y5zXLZzOj5Dh0FMJlu4BFA


ANNOUNCEMENT: The University of Wyoming has established the UW Bitcoin Research Institute. uwyo.edu/bitcoin

The BRI aims to produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications about bitcoin from all academic disciplines.

First act: hiring nostr:npub1yezu4atsdgchvlyjz5efwks8n7ze2rssq674qe04m5pp8e5y32tqfdawc7!

Much academic bitcoin research is quite poor, because it's done by people who don't understand bitcoin.

Mora et al predicted "bitcoin alone could push emissions 2 degrees".

They failed to account for the difficulty adjustment *and* didn't know there was a block size cap!

Others like Taleb’s infamous "Bitcoin Black Paper" are unaware of Layer 2s like Lightning, and others are unaware of the supply cap -- perhaps bitcoin's most distinctive feature. Others make faulty assumptions about bitcoin user demographics.

These mistakes make their way into journalism, and policy. Bitcoin is multi-faceted in theory, and even more so in practice. Journalists can't be experts, so they rely on academics. Too many of those academics have let them down.

The good news is that there is good academic research on bitcoin. Work by Will Luther, nostr:npub18wgtxzhx75qd2aq3gn35mcv5m8zx7z6xdsf6a95asltys70deekqqjr2wn , nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 , nostr:npub10afr060h0g3vf2ykynr6cvw2u7ta3tzpgjczfyufp420aeeen0xszf0xj0 , Matthew Ferranti, nostr:npub1ws69pst0kcaqa9cgm85l3xzkqrfuphldu5dv6r5cp8tjjzfyv82s5vxzeg and others understands and explains bitcoin very well.

But for academics interested in bitcoin, the incentives often don't line up. Few advisors will let their advisees focus on bitcoin, so bitcoin projects must be side projects. And without advisor or community support, these projects are rarely taken on.

The Bitcoin Research Institute fixes the incentives. We provide a community who can support scholars and give critical feedback on their projects, and we provide funds for travel and lodging.

We're removing barriers for scholars who want to work on bitcoin.

More academic work on bitcoin should be done by people who understand bitcoin. The BRI aims to produce that work, which will filter up to journalists and policymakers.

The University of Wyoming is the perfect place for this, with Sen Lummis, nostr:npub1uyz4w2w4rcphk0q5arzkutrecgscxwzajj4dkvh9mjyqjtxslm6qea8632 , State Sen Rothfuss, Law School Dean Julie Hill, Steve Lupien, bitcoin miners using all kinds of energy like nostr:npub1k7tcreyu0w970fxsht8ccw54az2yh27agf4x2s92crwam9mw9cws558edl , a School of Energy Resources, School of Environment and Natural Resources...

The UW Bitcoin Research Institute is a 501c(3) nonprofit. Because of nostr:npub1uyz4w2w4rcphk0q5arzkutrecgscxwzajj4dkvh9mjyqjtxslm6qea8632 , the University -- and by extension the BRI -- can accept bitcoin directly. And UW allocates 4% of our investments to bitcoin, so if you donate bitcoin to the BRI, we will NOT sell it.

If you're a scholar and you want to be involved, my DMs are open!

If you're a journalist and you want to learn more, my DMs are open!

If you want to support our work, you can do so here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/49172/donations/new


By the end of this year, I will have attended 12 or so bitcoin events for 2024. These have been great experiences but they have also shown me that at conferences, bitcoin appears as tho it is mostly for straight white men. Yet, we know that this isn’t true when we look at the global demographics of bitcoin users.

What I would love to see is a conference that invited bitcoin speakers like sex workers, activists, domestic abuse survivors, psychedelic-based healers, LGBTQ identifying bitcoiners, black bitcoiners who can educate us on the history of racist banking practices in the US and who are using bitcoin for financial empowerment, critics of bitcoin, and so on.

Even if 75% of attendees were conference speakers, the event would be a success because it would be a great opportunity for these overlooked groups to be together under the same roof.

Bitcoin is for anyone who needs it. I’d like to hear from those who need it most.


"In the event of a repressive Trump regime, you will wish you had money that resists censorship—money that an authoritarian cannot control. You will wish you had bitcoin".

https://www.newsweek.com/bitcoin-can-protect-freedom-help-win-elections-opinion-1925491


Check out my latest piece in
@BitcoinMagazine
 where I explore the evolving culture around #Bitcoin:
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/reflections-on-bitcoin-culture


OK, finally got primal.


Nein.


TPB84 - Bitcoin Mining is Climate Action with  nostr:npub1n3sjlzmhpu8rl56umtptc4lua6zkretq2p82yhytnmlcuq639vlqd0te5l and  nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 is out now 🗣 🎧 🎥

In this episode we discuss
- Bitcoin Mining's Unique Environmental Solutions
- Climate Change & Activism
- Regulatory concerns
- Rise in Authoritarianism & more

Listen and support via  nostr:npub1v5ufyh4lkeslgxxcclg8f0hzazhaw7rsrhvfquxzm2fk64c72hps45n0v5 or wherever you get your podcasts

https://www.fountain.fm/episode/tAH6PzmTNUbsZlDt2tXs

https://m.primal.net/HzAl.png


"Just thinking about #Bitcoin in general and the idea behind it, there are really big odds against Bitcoin's success. But we do it because we think it's the right thing to do."

A call to action from  nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 on this week's #tpbpod episode. Watch via our YouTube channel, or listen via  nostr:npub1v5ufyh4lkeslgxxcclg8f0hzazhaw7rsrhvfquxzm2fk64c72hps45n0v5 or wherever you get your podcasts by searching for "The Progressive Bitcoiner"

https://v.nostr.build/3Pe3M.mp4


I spent 7 months completing the study in my keynote. Hundreds of hours of hair pulling and arm twisting to be able to get data. It was hard! If my work has made an impact on you, please help a brotha out with a zap or donation to my geyser fund (https://geyser.fund/project/miningfudbuster)! Keynote video linked as well.

https://x.com/btcpolicyorg/status/1785034444753047726?s=46&t=Y5zXLZzOj5Dh0FMJlu4BFA


FUD. Agh. Need an edit button. My screen is covered in cracks so I can’t see typos as easily…support my work so I can buy a new phone. 😳 nostr:note16w5ar85dw3dnus6tg0tel8j5ktm080rc5e40zxrrypx0h2f43apqler93d


FUD!


I’ll be at the Bitcoin Energy Summit in Miami next week.


Talking with nostr:npub1n3sjlzmhpu8rl56umtptc4lua6zkretq2p82yhytnmlcuq639vlqd0te5l and nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 today reminded me of why I do what I do 🧡

Grateful for these two, and so many of you, who are pursuing truth and goodness, against all odds. nostr:note1cqvazxsy342zvud7xqq8gal6zauk0tyy8pa8gm2jjfqmfay2txls7fq7sq


LFG. nostr:note18mzgs04ayd54ell42fmd3g7lr8gdeccw4l00eqlql3cxfg3203qqhgljdm


No idea!


Thanks everyone for your support. I have a geyserfund now. Please donate and support my FID busting work.

https://geyser.fund/project/miningfudbuster


Good day.


I am here but just barely.


Miss you too!


Someone sent me sats thanking me for an amazing panel discussion at Madeira. Thank you. 😊


Damus.


It’s also kind of broken lol.


Every time I come back to this app it’s very different from the last time I used it. Pp


Every time I come back to this app it’s very different from the last time I used it. P


Every time I come back to this app it’s very different from the last time I used it.


Thanks! Say hello if you are there in person.


What is(are) the most misunderstood piece(s) in the bitcoin mining narrative?

I'll go first. I think it's difficulty adjustment and that miners shut off when price to mine > bitcoin revenue.


Speaking on a panel about bitcoin mining regulation and fud on Thursday at Pacific bitcoin.


I am at Pacific Bitcoin this week.


More people should be talking about this(IMO):  https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/us-government-frames-bitcoin-privacy-as-criminal by nostr:npub1mznweuxrjm423au6gjtlaxmhmjthvv69ru72t335ugyxtygkv3as8q6mak


Good evening, nostr fans.


I’m excited to be part of the brand relaunch of nostr:npub1fpcd25q2zg09rp65fglxuhp0acws5qlphpg88un7mdcskygdvgyqfv4sld podcast with its new host nostr:npub164q45vfa8prpl7f63stsl9qm9n22v6julkasjdqxjc8kevchsj0sp42rl3 along with nostr:npub18jgxqshg38cgzcv43zvqhnc7hjn223psy2kkmkpqt2azd9thyy4sxjc5gt on web development.

Over its 40 episode run last year, it featured interviews with some amazing guests including: nostr:npub1c8yfvnudu8wfjdmgyeqvhw3lrgjyn92yjvwaxy04n9vq93s5f7uqrp5l93 nostr:npub10afr060h0g3vf2ykynr6cvw2u7ta3tzpgjczfyufp420aeeen0xszf0xj0 nostr:npub1wtfnlhvhvm90lgsgyd6cu82tj3v429y7qkuu54srwzxpefppc2zq3cjjv2 nostr:npub1s05p3ha7en49dv8429tkk07nnfa9pcwczkf5x5qrdraqshxdje9sq6eyhe nostr:npub12lzwey2hjc2ce0stwa3ldhg04h93wj263lvdhrf87qfzz9jsggeqwuntw2 nostr:npub1dc84762hpnp0y4jcvjcgwt8l7sepng93j3hg63hfm80ph6kt82eqktjwqd nostr:npub1n3sjlzmhpu8rl56umtptc4lua6zkretq2p82yhytnmlcuq639vlqd0te5l

If you haven’t listened to this podcast before, maybe because you thought it wasn’t aligned with your worldview, I hope this two minute clip by its founder Mark Stephany will give you some insights into how bitcoin can speak to a wider audience.
https://nostr.build/p/nb11511.mp4


In case you missed our announcement on Twitter. Environmental Bitcoiner Meetup is tomorrow from 6:30-9pm at Sweet Liberty Drinks in Miami.

https://twitter.com/jyn_urso/status/1653888779214802944?s=46&t=Y5zXLZzOj5Dh0FMJlu4BFA


I am going to try really hard to be there! nostr:note1yqqkhy9ep7gsz2agh4v3m5n2phmg8fd3vxfamk4ltzwazysnpl3qgzm03x


are these the only choices? wait, no, nostr.


lol. wth is this madness.


dalnet, kidsworld and a bit on undernet.


i miss those days.