Mandrik

Sold baklava for Bitcoin in 2011

Public Key

npub1qex7yjtuucs6ac49kjujdgytrjsphn5a4pdscu2w3qlprym4zsxqfz82qk

NIP-05 Address

mandrik@nostrplebs.com

NIP-57 Address

mandrik@zeuspay.com

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsqvn0zf97wvgdwu2jmfwfx5z93egqme6w6skcvw98gs0s3jd63grqpr4mhxue69uhkummnw3ez6ur4vgh8wetvd3hhyer9wghxuet5qyvhwumn8ghj7ur4wfshv6tyvyhxummnw3ezumrpdejqgel203

Publishing to

nostr-pub.wellorder.net

puravida.nostr.land

nostr.wine

Author Public Key

npub1qex7yjtuucs6ac49kjujdgytrjsphn5a4pdscu2w3qlprym4zsxqfz82qk

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Last Notes

2025-05-20 10:25:46

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I like just doing things. Then normie friends say "I wish I could do things," as they go back to their mediocre lives filled with zero challenges in life.
Main thing that separates us is fear. They fear change, but we welcome it.

2025-04-29 14:19:13

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It's fixed no matter what.

2025-04-26 15:21:49

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The effort is worth it. I tracked every single calorie. That made a huge difference.

2025-04-26 14:36:53

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Had to shave so we could see what was going on under the rug.
My wife stood in the shower with me for nearly 90 minutes working on it. Hilarious experience. 😂
I hated doing it, but the irony is, seeing what I looked like without the chest hair is what really pushed my coach to wrap up the cut. Not even the DEXA scan convinced him as much!

2025-04-26 14:14:48

🔥PROOF OF WORK🔥
June 25, 2024: 204.6 lbs, 25-28% BF
April 26, 2025: 161.2 lbs, 12.3% BF (April 3 DEXA scan)
800+ daily calorie deficit
4x workouts per week
6.1 million steps, 20k daily average
No gimmicks. No skipped gym days.
This is how I did it:👇
https://blossom.primal.net/e18056c9e62206a273838a8325002172863de5992a822fc2541e024775c6bc1e.png
I started cutting June 25, 2024 with CoachFHM (Twitter handle) as my trainer, thanks to a referral from @nprofile…se3m . The goal was to build muscle, but the fat had to go first.
Francis' plan was an aggressive 800+ daily calorie deficit for 6 months. I wanted to stick with the carnivore diet, and he wanted me to eat some yogurt and fruit pre-workout. I compromised and agreed to this macro plan:
2005 calories
60g carbs
205g protein
105g fat
A few months in, I ran into issues trying to stay carnivore while cutting. I went into greater detail here:
https://x.com/Mandrik/status/1864306324160315874
TL;DR - my body needed carbs. It was time for a change.
New daily macros:
1885 calories
185g protein
185g carbs
45g fat
Foods I introduced - sweet potatoes, rice (white & black), lots of fruits and vegetables, bread, and more dairy options.
Things were going well, but it was clear this was going to take longer than six months. I'd have run away if Francis told me 10 months, but I wanted to keep pushing after seeing so much progress.
I took Christmas week off, eating maintenance calories with a light workout schedule. It was a much needed break, but weight loss slowed down from there.
January was rough. I live in the northeast US. Cold, no sun, and eating less. Oh, and I was caffeine-free (still am), which makes cutting extra hard mode.
A perfect storm for losing my mind.
By the end of the month I was cracking, and Francis recognized what was going on. He said it was time for a break - eat maintenance level calories for all of February.
I literally wept with joy that first day. I can't believe the toll this cut was taking on me, and how incredible it felt eating a normal amount of calories.
That month changed me as a human being. I began to recognize I could do normal things, like go to a restaurant and even have a little taste of dessert. Enjoy life without overindulging.
Up until that point I had never experienced this. I never felt in control of my eating. I had to restrict myself from certain foods because I couldn't moderate them. That's why the carnivore diet was so good for me.
Not anymore.
I used this energy for one last push. The goal was always to get in that 10-12% body fat range. My weight dropped down into the high 160s, so I knew I was close. I scheduled a DEXA scan for early April. Results?
Total body fat: 12.3%
I could keep pushing. Try to work towards more ab definition as I worked closer to 10% BF. That sounds great, but I was mentally done. I was getting close to cracking again, spending the past few months waking up at 4AM every day. We agreed to end the cut on April 26 no matter what, so I hung in there.
Now here I am, having just crawled across the finish line. Could I have done better? Of course. I still see body fat around my midsection that would have been nice to lose.
I will always be one of those people who needs to be reminded by others of my accomplishments. I focus on what still needs done vs what I worked so hard to do.
So today I take a step back, and recognize that I've accomplished something that I never in my life thought possible. I spent the past 10 months undoing decades of bad eating decisions.
It's ok to feel great about that. I did it!🔥
So I'm going to celebrate this W. Spend a few weeks going to the gym, eating maintenance level calories. Recovering from this incredible and awful experience.
Then it's on to phase 2:
We build. 🏋️‍♂️

2025-04-05 14:08:12

It's ironic that "Another Brick in the Wall" was the #1 song when I was born 45 years ago today.
I wouldn't be a bitcoiner if my journey hadn't included rejecting public school indoctrination.
Fulfillment in life comes from being your own man - not a cog in the machine.

2025-04-05 13:40:30

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And since we are all Satoshi - Happy birthday everyone!
Except CSW. Fuck that clown!

2025-04-05 13:39:39

45 years old today, and in the best shape of my life. Feels good. 💪
Going to enjoy a slice of cake for the first time in 15 years. Think I've earned it. 🍰
Special birthday wishes to my boy Satoshi, who turns 50! 🎉

2025-03-29 08:36:39

GM 4,AM crew 🌛

2025-03-29 01:20:51

See you at btc++ in May, Austin!

2025-03-27 00:35:15

Beefsteak Nashville 2024 was extra special when my daughters & I served baklava together. @nprofile…dwvz
https://m.primal.net/PuXL.png

2025-02-19 11:28:42

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oof

2025-02-19 11:20:56

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You can think what you want. Sure, content plays a role but UX is very important to me. I could go into it with further details but I'd need to sit down and think on it longer.

2025-02-19 10:39:19

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I don't know. It's like art - I don't know what I like until I see it.

2025-02-19 10:38:43

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I should too

2025-02-19 10:10:01

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My twitter experience has been great, but I've blocked a lot of content. I mostly see only what I want to.

2025-02-19 09:40:21

Haven't been on Nostr much lately. TBH, I'm not much of a fan of the experience on existing Android apps, so I just haven't been using it.
I'm ok waiting a bit and coming back to see how the apps change and grow.
GM ✌️☀️

2025-02-08 09:06:29

How do I permanently leave group DMs?
I find these all annoying as hell, especially seeing them in my notifications on amethyst.

2025-01-28 01:02:54

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I'm not a huge fan of raw, floor meat.

2025-01-23 12:20:04

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Wasn't a dry eye in the house when they played that call.

2025-01-23 12:19:39

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That's awesome 😂

2025-01-22 12:54:18

What a fucking day yesterday was.
Wow.

2025-01-16 16:56:41

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Idk why it double uploaded but who cares 😂

2025-01-16 16:56:07

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Short Barreled Rifle
https://video.nostr.build/03992e379fa0cc1a10491dd48f7346eeda2330595f25e08d8816b5c72d0d62bc.mp4 https://video.nostr.build/898e4056b96e35ee0a79d9cf5686e9f3946e53766afe1a7f3d6873038d2f3fea.mp4

2025-01-15 20:57:14

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Interesting. Thx for sharing!

2025-01-15 19:34:07

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Always

2025-01-15 19:18:38

I'm not religious. There is no combination of words in the English language that you can use to convince me otherwise.
Sometimes, though, I wish there was. To admit anything else would be a lie.
Christianity is on the rise amongst bitcoiners, and I sometimes think of my own experiences with religion because of this.
I grew up in America with the Greek Orthodox church. I was an alter boy, and I went to Greek school after normal school. We were taught Greek culture, religious topics, language, etc.
The church was my social center. More than that, it was an aesthetically pleasing place.
The Byzantine iconography. The smells of incense. The feel of the pews. The beautiful hymns chanted in Greek. The taste of the Eucharist.
As a youth & young adult, the divine liturgy was an experience for the senses. I wanted to believe. The idea of a greater power watching over us is very powerful. It gives a man purpose.
Alas, I could not believe. I do not believe. It's not me.
True believers show up every Sunday, but there are also the ones present for the social aspects. It's what they grew up with. They go through the motions, live their lives as decent humans, but are likely too afraid to confront their beliefs.
I couldn't respect myself if I did this. I can't be inauthentic to myself and to the true believers in attendance.
Being honest with myself meant leaving the church. It was like denouncing the club, removing myself from a social circle that was the foundation for much of my life.
It left a space that I've done my best to fill.
I think the world would be a better place if everyone lived by the general teachings of Jesus. If we were kind to others. Love your neighbor, forgive people, and all that. This is decent human behavior.
I try to live my life this way, but it is not easy.
This post isn't a cry for help. Deep down, I'm not trying to be convinced. Much like my journey with the carnivore diet, and diet in general, only my own experiences will convince me. I remain unconvinced.
I'm glad some of you are true believers, and I wish you peace and happiness on your spiritual journies. 🧡

2025-01-08 15:22:45

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Come to Vegas in May for the Bitcoin conference!

2025-01-08 12:44:31

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Doing = learning
Using Bitcoin is the way!

2025-01-08 12:32:48

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Always be coinjoining

2025-01-08 12:32:33

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Do we really need more of those?

2025-01-08 12:28:52

How were bitcoiners orange pilled before books and podcasts? The white paper, mostly.
I tried reading it in 2011, but found it too technical and boring. Yup.😂
So what worked?
A bitcoin-only auction site called Bitmit. A place where I could sell baklava in 2012 with minimal fees.
I had a website at the time, but I also had listings on eBay & Etsy for extra exposure. The listing + PayPal fees sucked, so I sold at a markup to make up the difference.
BitMit allowed me to sell my baklava at a discount while taking home higher profits. Not bad, but it didn't stop there!
I could then flip the bitcoin on LocalBitcoins at a slight markup, earning profit on my profit!
Profitception! 🤯
I was an idiot in hindsight, of course. Had I known then what I know now I would have HODLed every sat, but that's not the point.
These experiences taught me the true value of Bitcoin, and it had nothing to do with a fiat price.
People were willing to pay over spot for something permissionless, with low fee transactions, that entities like PayPal couldn't stop.
I never could have gleaned this from the white paper.
By mid-2012, I saw that this was something to hold on to. I decided to move off the fiat standard, and on to the Bitcoin standard. That's exactly what I did before the end of the year.
And it truly started 13 years ago today.
Thanks, Bitmit. ✌️
https://image.nostr.build/a29c253b98bb418600489a9f8827de7ea7019b374c601b5aad17f2ebb037bb7e.jpg
https://image.nostr.build/5d52fe3f7f7cb28db8e56d8325b814eda6984dea61d0bca4aa4ac579edd7bd7d.jpg

2024-12-31 22:13:35

Happy New Year, frens ✌️

2024-12-30 11:16:46

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Good luck

2024-12-25 10:44:40

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I always thought it was weird how the Greek Orthodox only celebrate Easter on the Julian calendar but not Christmas.
Obviously not all the Orthodox churches do this. Guess it doesn't ultimately matter, but consistency would be nice. 😂

2024-12-25 09:57:35

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Merry Christmas!

2024-12-25 09:56:25

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Merry Christmas!

2024-12-25 09:56:08

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Merry Christmas🧡🧡🎄

2024-12-25 09:55:42

It's Christmas morning, I haven't opened a single gift yet, but I've already received everything I could have ever asked for, and more.
Merry Christmas, frens. 🎄🧡

2024-12-23 11:24:48

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Sorry to hear. I guess some of us are just willing psychopaths.

2024-12-23 09:45:41

GM pre-5AM risers 🌛✌️

2024-12-22 01:21:26

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Same to you, Mel!

2024-12-22 01:21:13

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✌️🧡

2024-12-21 19:52:03

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🧡 🧡 🧡 🧡 🧡 🧡

2024-12-21 19:51:23

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Customer service was always needed. So many companies in the early days had none and it was not good.

2024-12-21 15:32:28

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We learn so much from the people who came before us.

2024-12-21 13:54:42

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That's the real message here 🧡

2024-12-21 13:25:50

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Indeed

2024-12-21 13:25:42

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It sucks having to tell people you can't help. 😔

2024-12-21 12:54:33

I suspect few people in the world have interacted with more individuals who lost bitcoin than I have.
I answered support tickets for a non-custodial web wallet that, at the time, was the most popular in the world.
I'm talking about 100,000+ tickets over five years, many from users who lost access to their funds. Not just tiny amounts, mind you.
Sometimes hundreds of bitcoin.
My inability to help them still weighs on me.
We added warnings and info about the importance of backups. It's not that I could have done more. The nature of the old Blockchain(.)info wallet made that impossible.
The bottom line is personal responsibility demands extraordinary effort, and not everyone is up for the challenge.
Lost password? Sorry, I can't help.
Lost seed phrase? Sorry, I can't help.
Funds stolen by a phishing site? *Sigh*
What troubles me most isn't the sadness I felt from doing this daily for so many years. No, eventually you grow numb to it.
That's what truly hurt.
I imagine this is a lesser version of what people in the medical field have to do to cope with their jobs - learning to stop caring so much.
It takes a toll on your humanity if you live this way for too long.
I could have stayed in that job. Stacked more sats. It made sense, financially. I'd have a lot more bitcoin today if I did.
Instead, I left, choosing to be with my family and focus on self improvement.
Anyone who has worked during the early years of a startup will understand how incredibly burnt out you are once you finally step away. It took me years to push through that.
But I still think about those users.
The ones who made all the mistakes of the past that you, the bitcoiners of today, would learn from.
Almost seven years have passed since I left, and I'm no longer numb to their pain. I feel sadness for them again.
And I'm grateful for that.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and take some time to reflect on the things that truly matter in this life. 🧡✌️

2024-12-18 16:06:09

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I don't think any of that has anything to do with weight management.
Eating less is way more important.

2024-12-18 13:43:16

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My cousin keeps bees, so I have a hookup. 😆

2024-12-18 13:23:46

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The only way. Lots of PoW.

2024-12-18 13:23:33

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Probably between 20-25% body fat before. Now I'm probably around 15% or so. Goal is 10-12%
Good for you! 🔥

2024-12-18 13:06:30

No it's actually not. I did that five years and never lost the stubborn body fat.
Spending 6+ months in an 800+ caloric deficit is the cure. For me, switching to high carb, low fat during this time is the cure (still working on the last 10ish lbs).
Testosterone jumped naturally from 550ng/dL to over 1000.
Excess fat is finally starting to disappear.
My muscle growth is at ATHs.
Eating meat once a day helped me overcome my carb addiction. It taught me disciplined eating and I felt great for those years.
But it didn't solve everything.
#nevent1q…5772

2024-12-17 22:12:58

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15-20k steps per day too. Vital!

2024-12-17 22:12:45

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Yeah I have a trainer right now monitoring exercise and nutrition. 4x per week. I've been building good muscle mass in this cut!

2024-12-17 17:32:24

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I'm not eating garbage carbs, so still no baklava for me. It's mostly carbs like fruits, some sweet potato, yogurt, etc.

2024-12-17 16:49:39

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Working hard, one day at a time.

2024-12-17 16:30:39

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Good luck on your journey! Finding what works for you is a challenge worth undertaking.

2024-12-17 16:12:56

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Hat guy and his ego

2024-12-17 16:12:11

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To be clear, my health was fantastic on carnivore. I did it five years. I had really bad carb addiction from being obese for most of my early life. Carnivore helped me manage a lot of how I eat and form better habits.
I was in good shape but had lingering, stubborn body fat that wasn't going anywhere. So I hired a trainer, and started eating in a deficit. I found it difficult to stay carnivore in a deficit. No energy. So I listened to my body and started eating carbs.
That's where I am now.

2024-12-17 16:04:24

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Good for you! 🔥🔥🔥

2024-12-17 16:01:54

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Switching from carnivore to high carb was the biggest change, but we'll worth it. My testosterone dropped from mid 550ng/dL to 250 after 2 months of trying to cut on low carb.
Switching to high carb boosted my T to over 1000, and has helped out with muscle growth while burning fat. It's crazy that I did that while in a fucking 800+ calorie deficit!
My body has gone into total recomposition mode. My trainer has been so helpful getting through it all!

2024-12-17 15:59:40

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Actually eating high carb, low fat. I hired a trainer and switched my diet. I've been in a 800+ calorie deficit and it's working well, but I needed carbs.
It has been a crazy 6 months!

2024-12-17 15:58:25

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I remember talking to the Butterfly Labs guys waaay back in the day, and one of them claimed to be behind the buttcoin website (Josh).
I don't know if that was true or not!

2024-12-17 15:56:44

I'm down from 205lbs to 177lbs in six months, and I'm not stopping.
The last time I was in the 170's was as a fat teenager. Now, in my mid-40s, I'm in the best shape of my life.
I probably have another 10-12 pounds to go for my cutting goal.
Then, WE BUILD!

2024-12-17 15:45:34

Update: it's dead
#nevent1q…tz8w

2024-12-17 14:51:03

Today is one of those I AM ABSOLUTELY GOING TO MURDER THIS GYM DAY days.

2024-12-16 03:16:15

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No SBF this time

2024-12-16 03:15:54

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That's what's up

2024-12-16 03:15:40

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The week of Christmas when I get to take a break from my 26 week deficit of eating only 1885 calories per day to deload/eat maintenance. 😂

2024-12-14 23:11:33

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People will have to struggle with this as Bitcoin makes them wealthier. Not always easy.

2024-12-14 17:31:16

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You're here now, and that's all that matters. ✌️

2024-12-14 16:22:51

I will always be a Class of 2011 bitcoiner at heart. I came here looking for an alternative to the dollar, and immediately recognized the potential.
I stayed for digital gold, which was easy to grasp. I was already using gold & silver as savings & money long before Bitcoin existed.
Wall Street, billionaire investors, nation state Bitcoin adoption - none of this excites or inspires me.
I draw inspiration from normal people using Bitcoin to pull themselves out of debt, or to escape government tyranny. People who use better money to work around the existing systems that hold them down.
I'm glad there are people who think about the much bigger picture, but that's me.
Forever a #Bitcoin pleb. 🧡

2024-12-14 13:11:13

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Wow 😂

2024-12-14 12:27:07

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Elden Ring tbh. Maybe DS3. You don't have to play them in order.
Demon's Souls remake on PS5 is very good though.

2024-12-14 11:58:09

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I felt like Wukong was a good game but not that great. I know I'm in the minority, but it felt too easy (not a criticism), combat didn't feel that great, and the invisible wall shit was frustrating as hell. Map design was questionable.
Art style was obviously incredible and the soundtrack was spot on. But it felt like a better-than-most Soulslike a few notches below a FromSoftware game.
I think I one shot most everything. Hardest fight took maybe 4-5 attempts.

2024-12-14 10:47:41

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It may feel that way, but it's completely intentional. It's how their games function. It's part of why people call them the hardest games ever.
You either adjust to it or give up. I understand why a lot of people get frustrated and quit. I was one of them. 😂
If you can hold on and put the time in (might be 10+ hours), it will eventually click and you will be rewarded with one of the greatest gaming experiences of your life.

2024-12-14 10:30:04

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The Tree Sentinel is a beginner trap, meant to slaughter you out of the gate. 😂
The combat takes time. Like a lot of time. I must have quit and retried Dark Souls 1 five or six times before it clicked with me.
These games are not for everyone. That said, I'm glad I gave my first FromSoftware game many hours until it all clicked. You have no idea how incredibly beautiful ER is until you get a chance to explore every little bit of it.

2024-12-14 10:26:30

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I'll carve it on your ass with a pocket knife next time I see you! 😂🧡

2024-12-14 10:18:09

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How many hours have you played? There is a steep learning curve to get used to if you have no history playing a FromSoftware game. Not everyone wants to do that, understandably.
I have hundreds of hours in all the Elden Ring/Dark Souls/Sekiro/Demon's Souls games, and consider ER to be one of the greatest video games ever created. The art, music, gameplay, controls, etc. Absolutely incredible.
One of my most played games on Steam.

2024-12-14 09:51:39

GM to all the other lunatics who regularly wake up before 5AM for no good reason at all. 🌛

2024-12-14 01:43:34

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TY 🙏

2024-12-13 23:55:29

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Thanks! Still a ways to go!

2024-12-13 23:47:53

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This made me actually lol 😂 😂 😂

2024-12-13 23:47:32

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No before/after pics until my first big goal is reached! 😄

2024-12-13 23:32:46

Good news: Six months into a training program and I have to get rid of nearly all my clothes.
Bad news: I hate shopping for clothes. 😂
PROGRESS! 💪🔥
https://image.nostr.build/4dca63e0e397a30623f8e44487e1f6e74010d2da0b511ad774c716b54b38380a.jpg

2024-12-13 17:22:19

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It's gonna be delicious butt spicy salsa in a few hours

2024-12-13 17:21:56

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Yes

2024-12-13 09:59:36

Health, relationships, love, family, freedom - these are the real flex.
Stack sats, but don’t let them stack you. #Bitcoin
GM ☀️

2024-12-12 12:58:08

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Not me. I was in the trenches, working for a company that supported big blocks. Also a mod on both r/btc and r/Bitcoin.
It was a stressful time, l but I'm glad I came to the correct conclusion on the matter.

2024-12-12 12:43:47

Don't go to Tuscon in January, please. 😂
Sorry for getting excited with a stupid idea before talking to the family. My bad!
https://image.nostr.build/790a0535849239b08f094ecd46a417f0f6d0e649cc214551b04e5e4b8740c12e.jpg

2024-12-12 12:32:59

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My #1 favorite Bitcoin book of all time.

2024-12-08 11:30:30

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🙏

2024-12-07 20:38:47

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Lovely

2024-12-07 20:09:10

Finally had my $100k toast!
I bought a bottle of 2012 Cristal Rosé during the last bull market, expecting to pop it then.
We all know how that turned out. 😂
So it sat in a cool, dark place, waiting for the opportunity to be popped.
I don't drink anymore, but $100k was a worthy milestone to celebrate with a few sips of overpriced but delicious champagne. It's not so much about the fiat value as it is a way to recognize how far we've all come on this incredible journey.
I'm so grateful for all the opportunities Bitcoin has given me and my family. What a ride!
https://image.nostr.build/a88fff501663cce27e8500b59b6d2ab630559b4708716643b001b06c48a2a17e.jpg 🙏🧡✌️

2024-12-06 13:43:54

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You are so bad ass, Mags! 🔥 🔥 🔥

2024-12-05 23:47:10

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So true

2024-12-05 13:03:04

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$100k is absolutely something. It's an incredible achievement for Bitcoin.
But yes, we are only just getting started.