pam

live simply, yet fully . love deeply . laugh often

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Last Notes

2025-04-24 00:29:28

saylor 2.0 is not what we need

2025-04-23 14:36:21

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Some thoughts on the topic of brand influence in open source innovation.
Elon joined Tesla as chairman in 2004, became CEO in 2008, and open-sourced Tesla’s patents in 2014 just after the Model S launched to rave reviews. By then the brand Tesla was catching up globally as a dominant factor.
I vaguely recall (and someone with the book can check) that in The Cathedral and the Bazaar, the Red Hat CEO wrote in the foreword that once you’ve built a trusted brand, it no longer matters whether your product is open-source or not.
So therein lies the power of product when trust and brand leads, the fear of being copied fades.
But I do not know enough about branding power in the open source innovation world to have a definitive take. Maybe something worth looking into.

2025-03-26 08:09:10

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Thank you for such a well written and detailed thought of the recent election. I value your input. I have to say, I do not know enough about Germany but I do want to add it to my reading list next. Love the pastries though, next level!
I have a few more questions if you don't mind. Feel free to respond whenever you can.
1. The taxation scenario you described is heavy Keynesian influence paired with elements of socialism. Has it always been this way ? Do you think this is sustainable?
2. I recall reading about how economic instability and dissatisfaction with both socialism and capitalism during the interwar years created fertile ground for Hitler’s rise, with big companies initially supporting him. Do you think these ideological tensions have always existed in Germany, or are they resurfacing in a new form today?
3. How does a centralised monetary system like the Euro benefit /disbenefit Germany ?
4. My current book is on the painful impact of Great Britain from the IMF during mid 70s. From it I got a bigger picture on the strained relationship between Europe and the US. Do you see this translating in the EU ?
5. In light of yesterday’s leaked message regarding the Yemen bombing, where JD Vance criticized Europe, do you see tensions between Europe and the U.S. influencing EU policies or public sentiment?
6. You mentioned societal values. Do you think the memory of WW2 still influences Germany’s political and cultural identity today? How does this impact the younger generations?
7. The geographical split you mentioned is fascinating. Has this always been a defining feature of German politics, or is it more pronounced now due to recent economic and social factors?

2025-02-25 04:40:28

🫂
On some days, all you can give is a hug. All you need is a hug.
https://m.primal.net/PKPo.jpg
Art by Checksy

2025-02-09 23:43:08

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btw thanks for always responding without ego or pride. I see you, and I appreciate it

2025-02-09 22:49:46

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yea, Aristotle is always practical and rational but now I wonder if democracy can exist without autocracy and if Plato was right all along

2025-02-09 15:40:10

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Nikola Tesla hands down - open source thinker and can imagine everything in his head. Edison patented everything

2025-02-07 13:23:01

Zen harmony -
Attention is not intention
The greatest prison is the prison inside your own mind
Peace isn’t something you chase. It’s something you choose.
If you give people enough space, they will reveal themselves to you
Bonds are not made of conversations or connections, but of understanding
Live like nature. Everything blends with each other. Everything flows naturally
Those who have walked the path of inner stillness often radiate the most profound joy
Don’t be like the storm that crashes onto the mountain. Be the mountain that watches the storm pass

2025-02-07 13:13:36

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someone responded to this beautifully on this chat. the idea of emptying your mind is not to force it to think of nothing, but to accept thoughts and whatever that comes to mind, understand it and let it pass. have a focus point, the easiest is breathing and keep going back there, and after a while you while feel a sense of calmness. Sometimes it takes you 15 mins, sometimes 45 mins, there's no telling unless if you are a pro with inner stillness. i'm a rookie.
But is it thoughts in your mind, anxiousness, or you have a song stuck in your head - cause the latter can be funny, esp if you are singing out loud in a crowded area lol

2025-02-07 00:18:31

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that's a pretty pic but a lot of steak. American portions are huge.

2025-02-05 15:11:26

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you remind me of my fascination with Moore’s adoption theory a few years ago =) The diffusion curve has been around since the 60s, and its adoption strategies are still very relevant and evolving. I love your idea of micro-incentives for adoption and meeting people where they are. This piece I wrote is a broad conception of international trade possibilities for small businesses exploring everything from policies to economic influences, needs, and how we can realize these possibilities. I’m really glad you resonated with the education section. It's people like you who add significant value to global Bitcoin adoption especially for small businesses on a daily basis.

2025-02-05 04:32:42

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People often don't want wars but politicians do because they are funded by certain individuals with certain interests - democracy is messed up that way.

2025-02-05 01:41:18

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Awww, happy anniversary to you and your wife ❤️

2025-02-01 12:11:55

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*have to bookmark some of your posts

2025-02-01 11:05:47

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Its beautiful. I came across this Finnish word 'sisu' which means perseverance, determination, resilience? It was shared by someone who was digging for natural water in the winter to use in the sauna. It was a nice word to remember.

2025-01-31 02:00:16

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this underwater treasure hunting looks fascinating. Also your pics of Boracay is beautiful. what would be your top islands to visit within southeast asia ?

2025-01-31 01:31:10

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that's incredible. I'm looking forward to the window's compatibility version to test on iot hw protos. this is gonna speed up innovation drastically.

2025-01-24 18:05:37

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You must be doing something right when neither left nor right can influence you to be bias, to take sides nor narrate your principles.
When it comes to open source, results speak for itself for the hundreds of open source devs you have helped empower globally, and the millions of people who are experiencing its innovations day-to-day.
Love the topic you will be sharing on. But stay safe ok ?

2025-01-21 02:18:42

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Your modern version of the viking saga :) I find it sad as Greenland has one of the oldest recorded histories in the world and culturally so unique yet it remains poor largely due to historical colonization. To see it exchange hands between the powerful without the consideration of real independence is your modern version of colonization. Why go to war when you can just make a country really poor, and trade those countries instead.

2025-01-21 01:58:58

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I’m glad you liked the piece. I agree with ch 11 on specifics like carnal desires as something natural and sexual fulfillment as a therapeutic agency. Intimacy can be powerful when fulfilled both sexually and emotionally.
But the challenge I have with his book (as well as absolute meditation without reality check) is blurring the lines between confidence vs ego, manipulation, obsession etc - which can position one as “I know more”, “I am right”, “I’m telling you what you need (not what I need)” - and all these can make a person overly dominating and encroach on someone else’s space and peace of mind, that hinders their growth. I find the book to be heavy on the “I” instead of “We”
When it comes to strengthening emotional anchoring, I find emotional detachment incredibly powerful especially concepts from stoicism and general attachment theories. If you like to explore this further, there’s a really powerful book by Dr Amir Levine called “Attached” identifying if you an anxious, avoidant or secure partner and how to move towards a secured space emotionally. And if you pair that with metta loving kindness, I think it’s a powerful emotional anchoring trait without the ego.
It’s the ability to love and respect someone else and being love and respected back to the fullest, by first loving and respecting yourself. I think once the base is solid, pair that with an intelligent, independent, resilient trait and it makes a woman, a force to be reckon with ❤️

2025-01-20 00:52:31

There will always be noise, political dramas, empty cans, those who are easily swayed, lalangs, etc., perhaps now more than ever. We can either get distracted by them and lower our standards to theirs, or we can focus on the signal and keep moving forward.

2025-01-19 08:51:05

The roles that women have played throughout history is truly incredible.
The first shift in feminist movement probably happened during Jesus of Nazareth period as he gave as equal power to become his followers. The second trigger might be during the industrial wave 19th century when women started working in factories and contributed to contribute to household finances. The third shift which is a huge contributor to the modern feminist movement would be the knowledge-based movement in the 20th century when power and wealth shifted from muscular-needs to knowledge-based.
Taking a closer look into history...
When we look back way before the old testament circa 3000 BC, physical strength was needed for survival, so men naturally took up the role of lead and provision while women were confined to domestic roles in a patriarchal structure. Evolution has a lot of contribution on the women-men dynamics and it should not be discarded.
As time went on, during Old testament period 400 BC, there were the rise of women like Miriam (Moses’s sister), Ruth (one of my fav chapters - on love, loyalty and redemption), Queen Esther and Deborah, a judge and prophetess who brought peace to Israel through Barak. But there remain social constraints like Hagar who was given to Abraham by Sarah and birth Ismael which led to religious tensions till today and Tamar who was passed on from one son to another until she decided to get knocked up through the father instead.
Between the old and new Testament, the Catholic Bible covers this period well - this is called the second temple era. This is the whole Athenian Greek culture under Alexander the Great and later by the Romans, the Peloponnesian war which marked the starting point of democracy. Spartan women had more freedom culturally compared to Greek women. Judith, from the Catholic bible (book of Judith), fought to protect her people.
The New Testament (1st century AD) perhaps triggered the first revolutionary rise of women’s recognition as equals based on how Jesus would engage with them (Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene, his mother). Women and men don’t speak to each other in public, let alone treat strangers or diff social status with respect and kindness. For Jesus, all were welcome to be his followers. I think Phoebe was identified as the first nurse and deacon in the bible.
The early christian era (1st - 4th century) saw a rise of faith-based women leadership, there were women martyrs and saints but churches remain a patriarchal structure.
During the medieval period (5th - 15th century) the elites played a crucial role in bringing some form of education to their children and although women were educated at home, there were more opportunities for women to expand their roles as theologians, scientists, and artists. But they remain largely restricted to marriage and motherhood outside religious institutions.
The 15th century to the 18th century was the renaissance and enlightenment era. Thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft (A Vindication of the Rights of Woman), Christine de Pizan (a medieval court writer) or Artemisia Gentileschi (a Renaissance artist) began advocating for women’s rights.
(I am in my Jane Austen era at this moment - his pride and her prejudice - dang this movie never gets old).
The industrial revolution perhaps triggered the second revolutionary rise of women’s recognition and importance. There were more women who started working in factories despite low wages and poor working conditions, and brought money home - which changed the dynamics of a home welfare that was once absolutely dependent on men (and taxation of course).
The 20th and 21st century transformed the women's roles drastically mainly due to survival during wars and the rise of knowledge based industries. Knowledge does not require physical strength but it can pay the bills. The shift of dynamics in the importance of women’s role vs the patriarchal stubborn need to not be equals has seen the rise of various feminist waves from flapper moment to workplace equality to harassment etc in the last century.
I love how in today’s world, women are empowered to make conscious choices. Modern feminism has made significant stride in offering women more options and challenging outdated societal norms.
But what I find to be damaging is how modern feminism is sometimes boxed in by political moments - and it become too focused on specific political stances or identity categories which sidelines the broader, more inclusive aspects of feminist thought.
To me a highly valued woman is not what the ‘left’ or ‘right’ expects her to be. She is not defined based on what society defines her but the respect she gives herself and the dignity she carries. Her values are intrinsic and not based on anyone’s validation. A highly valued woman does not contribute to dynamics that feel performative, manipulative, attention-seeking or lack genuine connection. She seeks relationships rooted in honesty and growth.
I also deeply believe that the support structure of men is fundamentally important in how women rise and grow. And it works both ways. This could be seen from the times of Marie and Pierre Curie and their shared love for science and reading, to examples set by even our own parents on mutual support. A highly valued woman can be the emotional anchor a man needs to continually grow and pursue his dreams, and vice versa.
As we look back throughout history, the dynamics between men and women have definitely changed but what's beautiful in today’s world is that respect comes from within because you want to, not because you have to.

2025-01-19 08:13:03

I find it fascinating how much of what is considered "modern" Western discovery has actually been a long-standing practice in Southeast Asia.
1. Going barefoot - common when entering a home or sacred place. Leave the dirty shoes outside to maintain cleanliness and respect.
Grounding however is not an explicit term used but it's been a norm without realising it through practises like meditating outdoors and spending time in nature and more.
2. Meditation retreats - has long been a part of Southeast Asian culture.
3. Sunlight - In tropical countries that don't experience four seasons, sunlight is a natural part of life.
4. Seed oil is bad - In SEA, lard, ghee, palm oil, coconut oil have always been commonly used.
5. Raw milk is good - it's commonly available in restaurants and it is even delivered to homes daily.
6. Fermented food - common in many Southeast Asian diets (tempeh, tempoyak, fish sauces etc).
7. Herbal remedies and natural health - for generations, southeast asians have relied on herbal remedies, and alternative medicines (traditional chinese herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, malay herbal treatments, and borneo indigenous herbal practices among the Iban, Kadazan, Dayak, and Bidayuh peoples)
8. Spiritual significance - Many aspects of life in Southeast Asia, from daily practices to festivals, carry deep spiritual meaning.
9. Aphrodisiac foods - Ingredients like Tongkat Ali and various herbal drinks are commonly available.
Southeast Asia is culturally integrated due to centuries of colonization by various empires, as well as its strategic position as a global trade hub which brought together different groups of people. The divisions that exist today are mostly artificial social constructs which are deeply embedded in religious practices, politics, and corrupt power plays.

2025-01-18 17:38:09

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There’s a really good book called ‘The Courage to Be Disliked’ by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. It's based on Adler’s concepts of not needing external validation or approval of others as you end up conforming to their expectations and not your dreams. It a realization that you can’t control the feelings and actions of others, you can only control yours. There was also a talk between Andrew Huberman and Jordan Peterson recently on this but they went deeper into the Adler - Carl Jung - Freud dynamics.

2025-01-18 17:19:33

I’ve been exploring different types of meditation. Zen (zazen) was something I started with and do daily. It's the simplest way to let thoughts pass in acceptance and find a point of focus like breathing. Another one I love are daily walks - a diff kind of mental switch off and clarity.
I grew up with spiritual meditation on bible verses, something I did during my teenage years. The one I could not do was object-focused meditation. I attended a retreat in India once, to an ashram in a French colonial place. It was beautiful, in a high spot with a perfect setting of sunlight striking in the middle but I could not find my center.
I am currently appreciating metta (loving - kindness) as it's likely where i am in my journey and current headspace of peace, self growth and love. It sets a foundation of compassion that overcomes inner conflict, which is crucial before extending that warmth and kindness to the world.
The meditation journey it interesting - for me what I love is emptying my brain and finding a deep sense of calmness and clarity, but I am still a beginner in this. I think different people have different ways of benefiting from it. @nprofile…9wcq has shared a complex book on it and always reminds me of different meditation practices at different points of my life this past year which I deeply appreciate although I am not at that level yet :)
#nevent1q…xfg8

2025-01-17 16:05:56

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i like that he loves to figure out how to learn better, including his debates on knowledge based contributions on AI - but is there a metadata tech development portion I am missing out or is this more of a principle oriented approach ?

2025-01-17 07:41:40

Has anyone trained AI-driven feedback systems using metadata through federated learning, homomorphic encryption, or differential privacy (with noise injection)? Would love to hear your thoughts on the development and infra complexities

2025-01-17 07:39:39

I started this year with a footprint on personal empowerment. I couldn't help but notice how different these philosophical ideas are next to each other, but as a whole, it's a nice balance.
Buddhist Teachings (Thích Nhất Hạnh, Dalai Lama) - ego and attachment to desires causes suffering. True happiness comes from selflessness.
My take - I love this, and agree entirely, but love yourself first, so that you can be whole as you love others.
Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) - tap into your inner ego. Align purpose with actions.
My take - Over the years I’ve realised that good intention is more important than anything else.
Marcus Aurelius (Stoicism) - accept what we cannot control, and strengthen resilience when facing challenges. Virtue and rationality are core Stoic principles.
My take - I’ve grown to appreciate the wisdom of emotional detachment. It’s not about suppressing love or your deepest desires and drive but ensuring you don’t succumb to emotional prison that carries destructive emotions like anxiety, fear, and insecurity - as it can rule you and ruin your relationship with those around you.
The Secret (Law of Attraction) - visualise and live in a positive bubble with gratitude, till it becomes real.
My take - manifestation is great BUT those who manifest without reality check can be imposing, manipulative and egoistic.
Rhonda Byrne, in The Secret - our thoughts shape our reality
My Take - it leans towards the mystical part of manifestation, not my cup of tea.
Prayer (Christianity) - manifestation with a reality check (God’s will is the arch)
Reality transurfing - let the universe decide. Tweak your thoughts and intentions so that you can shift your energy and awareness to align with parallel realities
My take : I love the energy and universe concept, but I also believe you determine your own destiny.
Gabby Bernstein - don’t trust the universe. Trust faith, fate and divine energy
My take : I love the romantic notion of fate, but not one out of despondency. And I also deeply believe that our actions and choices shape our destiny, and this is how your soul’s call to greatness is defined.
Faith-Based Self-Help (e.g., Zig Ziglar, Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking) - trust in faith and miracles without tangible evidence.
My take : I am my father’s daughter and believe in the strength of faith especially as it provides a sense of purpose and resilience during challenging times. But faith also changes the structure of your brain so I am more realistic than mythical about it.
Tony Robbins - you decide and act on it.
My take : makes me want to run a marathon after listening to it.
David Goggins - you are 100% responsible for your life.
My take : Absolutely. But it comes with the understanding that everyone has different levels of challenges.
Jocko Willink (Discipline Equals Freedom) - rigid discipline for daily structure and self control is non-negotiable.
My take : this is my 6am - 8am motivation for pilates and sunrise walks.
Eckhart Tolle (The power of now) - live in the present, discard ego’s obsession over past or future
My take : agreed, but reflection and striving makes you whole.
Marie Kondo (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up) - keep what “sparks joy” .
My take : Agreed. We all should definitely declutter life every now and then - remove noise or ambivalence that drains us and focus on the signal
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REMT - Albert Ellis) - logical thinking improves emotional responses.
My take : I love this. It sets the stage for modern concepts of “reframing” and “mindfulness”
Atomic Habits (James Clear) - on small, incremental improvements.
My take : I find this to be most helpful when you go through an extreme period of pain and you find it hard to carry on and so you start with small shifts until you gradually see yourself getting better.
Overall these books have similar goals - empowering yourself, strengthening your mind, resilience, growth. It depends on what you need when, for example :
self awareness & compassion - Buddhist teaching, stoicism
moments of crisis - Atomic habits, stoicism
long-term goals - think and grow rich, Tony Robbins
clarity and balance - Marie Kondo
positive mind - faith based, the secret
discipline - jocko
spirituality - Gabby Bernstein, prayer
relationship & teamwork - REBT
For all other times, a balance of these philosophies can be pretty powerful (but with a reality check)

2025-01-09 06:21:55

Stalemate is an interesting tactic. You avoid it when you're winning, but go for it when you're losing. It reminds me of life, where people sometimes settle for whatever they can get, either out of fear of losing more or a lack of belief in something better.

2025-01-09 06:19:50

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this is beautiful

2025-01-03 13:41:31

When it comes to global finance, countries often suffer when currencies clash with political instability and economic uncertainty. In the traditional economic system that has currency dominance or trade hegemony, when gov’ts struggle to defend currency pegs or manage foreign debts & investments, economies become fragile. A part of my interest is understanding at a deeper level how Bitcoin could play a role in creating a more equitable global financial system.
In 1994, Mexico’s interest rate ballooned to nearly 100%. This was during the Tequila Crisis of 1994-1995, when Mexico's peso was pegged to the USD and was overvalued.
The country’s economy was heavily dependent on foreign capital and was destabilized by the rising political unrest, especially after the assassination of Colosio (who vowed to eliminate corruption from all sectors and was often likened to JFK).
In order to remain pegged, Mexico had to buy pesos on the open market whenever speculative pressures arose - but their foreign currency reserve was depleting.
So they issued short term bonds (Tesobonos) to attract foreign investment, and these values reflected the huge amount of debts Mexico had.
Foreign investors were getting nervous about repayment, so the Mexican government devalued the Peso by 15% from 2.9 pesos to 3.4 Pesos to a dollar.
When it comes to devaluation, for foreign investors it should seem like Mexican assets are cheaper in terms of USD, and would produce higher returns once the economy stabilises so the Mexican govt was banking on a positive boost. But instead the devaluation signaled desperation and uncertainty about the government's ability to manage the crisis, causing a dramatic free fall of selling Peso in the open market. Peso lost 50% of its value within a few weeks.
To attract investors back, the central bank drastically increased interest rates up to 80% - 100% . Borrowers, businesses and consumers, struggled to repay loans (as they had to pay 2x). Thousands of businesses went bankrupt and millions lost their jobs.
Mexico went into severe recession with GDP contracting by 6.2%. Bill Clinton and the IMF sent a ~$40B loan to bailout Mexico. Today the exchange rate is at 20 Pesos to 1 US dollar.
A high exchange rate like this makes it more expensive to buy in USD - hence making import harder, while increasing demand in exports for Mexico. This was something Mexico wasn't ready for and couldn't handle.
But the reverse also holds true. I remember watching a documentary on China that came under scrutiny for "currency manipulation" , devaluing its Renminbi to boost exports to the US and reduce imports (which fosters internal circulation).
While China gained massive trade advantages, many small businesses lost out, especially in SEA and globally. Devaluing currency or artificial currency was part of China’s economic strategy in the 90s and 2000s. It was also once pegged to the US from ‘94 - ‘05 but it has been a floating currency since and its ties with BRICS encourages more trades in RMB.
The Mexican Peso crisis might sound very similar to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
I remember George Soros was a key figure in making speculative attacks that SEA’s strong trade will collapse - we never will know if it's due to him that everyone pulled out or he was right, but the Thai baht, pegged to the USD, could not withstand these speculative pressures. The gov’t lacked sufficient foreign reserves and had high foreign debt, which led to the decision to float the baht, resulting in its massive devaluation. And then the collapse spread like dominoes.
I also remember reading about the impact of the rise of interest rates by the US federal reserve which also played a key role in the 1997 Asian Financial crisis.
As U.S. interest rates increased, foreign investors pulled out their capital from emerging markets like Thailand in hopes for returns in the U.S. This capital outflow created a vacuum, fueling speculative attacks on these countries' currencies. Defending currency pegs became increasingly expensive because of the higher interest rates. It was a loss-loss situation. Indonesia and the Philippines were also affected.
Asian tigers - Korea and Malaysia were impacted with the loss of foreign investment, but Malaysia was originally not pegged. Maddy made the call to peg it to prevent further loss, as its reserve currency was in abundance (few things Maddy did right)
When we go through all this global trade chaos and historical economic shocks, can Bitcoin make a difference in the future?
In countries where currencies are manipulated or subject to gov’t instability, Bitcoin could serve as a hedge, independent of local gov’t or central bank policies. Given the growing acceptance and accessibility worldwide, businesses can continually operate within the global trade environment despite currency devaluation or capital controls.
Small businesses globally will not succumb to unfair competitions like China's currency devaluation strategy to boost export resulting in loss of business to trade hegemony, if importers and exporters use Bitcoin for cross-border payments, layer 2 through lightning.
Ultimately, Bitcoin could help provide the economic restart that countries need when they are in a limbo, shifting the power back to the people and away from governments that manipulate currencies for political gain.

2025-01-03 03:08:09

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Well the first time I read it I was against it, angry even. Second time I read it years later I decided to keep an open mind and understand that there are many perspectives, researchers, interpretations of theories, I’d agree with some and not others and that's ok. I think this is a book you have to keep an open mind on while reading it.
Understanding the sexual and carnal instincts doesn’t make us a slave to them, but it is rather empowering. When we recognize that these instincts exists in ourselves and others, it can encourage open communication in relationships.
Some things I have different takes on, like I believe being faithful is a choice and not determined by evolutionary excuses.
But sometimes it's also not always about resisting infidelity, it’s about emotional and mental alignment. Your journey evolves as a person and it makes all the difference whether both the committed parties can grow together or not. At the honeymoon phase we think everyone is flawless and perfect, but only when we start peeling the layers, do we really love the person for everything they are.
On cultural influence, I think it’s a double-edged sword. Cultural norms can have positive influence or act as a bondage - in both shaping expectations and subconscious biases especially on taboo topics like interracial or same-sex relationships or even suits vs overalls etc.
In underserved regions for example people feel repressed because of who they are, where they come from and historical prejudice. But there is also continuous prejudice against them by others be it society, government etc (systemic inequalities). The only way to break free from this type of cultural conditioning is for both parties (the underserved and the prejudiced parties) to acknowledge and make conscious efforts to eliminate bias.
And underserved regions here are not just traditional topics like racism but also others like economically underserved regions from developed countries.
I think the book is great in understanding from an evolutionary perspective but lacks nuances of individual choices and empowerment let alone their innate traits like creativity and critical thinking that influences evolution. We don’t have to accept every argument to find value in engaging with it. But I think choice is what makes us human.
Would love your take on it, especially on the balance between instinct, choice, and cultural influence that shapes our lives

2025-01-03 01:15:41

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its an interesting book, read it twice over the years

2025-01-02 18:29:41

I was reading this book (‘The world for sale’ by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy) which started off on how this oil and gas trading company called Vitol provided fuel for the rebels during the Arab Spring with the protection of NATO and funding from Qatar, and it piqued my curiosity on Libya’s rebel support.
Qatar was an intermediary between Western governments and Libyan rebels. It facilitated the provision of arms and fuel through commodity traders. Vitol was a commodity trader.
Some backstory on Libya. Libya was governed by Gaddafi for a very very long time - 42 years. (I’ve written some bits on the political states of North Africa over the last few decades somewhere along these posts).
But Gaddafi’s leadership is often commented from opposite ends - One side calls him a ruthless dictator. The other side calls him the most democratic leader in Africa.
Muhammad Ali stated in his autobiography that the US and Gaddafi did not see eye to eye because of the political influence on religion. But more importantly Gaddafi controlled Libya’s oil by nationalizing it.
Nationalization swept the countries in the middle east and africa in the 70s which loosened the clutches of the global oil dominance by the infamous “Seven Sisters” . In this case, nationalizing it allowed for free trade to happen? (and in the process - petrostate was formed).
Libya is in the top 10 crude oil producers in the world. Many wanted their hands on it but it was hard when Gaddafi was controlling it.
During the Arab Spring which was a wave of uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, including Libya, rebel factions rose against Gaddafi's regime.
I think when you run for 42 years, even if you were a good person, it prevents strong and decent opponents to rise, and instead creates a vacuum that extremist are quick to fill in. But this period marked a turning point, as both internal dissent and external interventions, including CIA’s and NATO’s involvement, led to Gaddafi's fall and the subsequent struggle for control over Libya’s oil wealth.
Back to Vitol and Qatar and funding the rebels - the only way rebels can win the war in Libya is with more fuel (if you remember the Desert Fox incident during WW2- never run out of fuel in the deserts of Africa). And the only way for global powerhouses to control oil in Libya is to fund the rebels to bring down Gaddafi.
There was a lot of competition among commodity traders to work with rebels as they barter trade fuel for crude oil through the pipelines. But nothing beats Vitol’s founder Ian Taylor who was a leading donor for the Tories party who won the project. Also ironically Washington sanctioned Gaddafi from buying fuel or selling crude oil, but waived sanction for anyone buying from Vitol’s company.
Benghazi, a key city in Libya and a hub for the oil industry, became a battleground during the civil war between rebels and Gaddafi’s government forces. It became a lawless militant state with rising death rates and poorly managed hospitals, food supply etc and people were suffering. Heavily armed youths patrolled the city (a few years down the road, a mob would break into the US consulate and murder the ambassador).
Unfortunately Gaddafi was murdered during the NATO-led intervention during the Arab Spring. I read that he was sodomised brutally by rebels with a bayonet and was beaten to death. His gruesome murder was apparently recorded on phone and broadcasted globally.
Libya grew from the poorest country - to the richest country in the continent under Gaddafi.
And now it’s back to a poor and struggling country controlled by rebels.
Gaddafi also had billions of dollars frozen in Western bank accounts. In September 2011, $300 million in Libyan assets in the West was unfrozen - not to aid Libyan citizens, but to settle payments owed to Vitol for supplying fuel to the rebels.
Many of these large commodity traders apparently have their offices in sleepy towns in Switzerland or New England. And they work for profit hence supporting whichever rebels or gov’ts that benefited them. From the book, it states "Their numbers have remained relatively small: a large share of the world’s traded resources is handled by just a few companies, many of them owned by just a few people."
I am attaching here another piece of article on Libya's governance under Gaddafi. It talks about how Gaddafi promoted direct democracy and was not a dictator because many of his proposals were countered by congress like him wanting home schooling, abolishing capital punishment, to give all oil profits back to the people and even wanting to eliminate the central government. Things he managed to push forth was free schooling, free hospitalisation and free electricity.
The combination of socialism and capitalism in Libya can be expanded to a topic of its own (Someday if i have the time, I will write on the historical bridges of socialism and capitalism around the world).
This article also talks about CIA interventions and how it advocated the rise of extremist militant Muslims around the world from Muslim brotherhood in Egypt to Sarekat Islam in indonesia to Jamar Al islami in Pakistan to al Qaeda and ISIS over the last 4-5 decades.
Will this be the year the CIA is abolished ? Only time would tell.
The story of Libya has always saddened me. Makes me hope more than ever for the liberalizations of people in situations like this
https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/10/20/libya-from-africas-wealthiest-democracy-under-gaddafi-to-terrorist-haven-after-us-intervention/

2025-01-01 11:10:49

2024 was a lot to handle but losing my boy was my breaking point. To anyone who have lost any form of love, I wish peace fills your heart and that you find the courage to keep moving forward. Let 2025 be a year of healing and recovery.
Thinking of my boy always makes me smile. Fido was so kind in his own way. I can only hope that in everything we do, we do it with that deep level of kindness and genuine love, and have fun while at it. And I hope that the goodness that we give out to the world finds its way back to us. Happy New Year everyone.

2025-01-01 08:34:20

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Happy new year to you too

2024-12-28 12:41:52

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You got this

2024-12-28 12:38:03

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I'm deeply sorry for your loss

2024-12-27 18:34:23

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Some thoughts, or stuff I read or heard in recent weeks :
It’s easier to search for answers than it is to ask the right questions.
Start. You’ll figure it out as it goes
“I’m so sorry.” Such worthless, feeble words. But really, in such a situation, there was nothing helpful to be said (when someone passes away)
Grief is something that breaks you in ways you can’t explain
Celebrate America not out of fear but out of love (by @npub1sg6…f63m)
Grassroots innovators don’t wait for permission.
Don’t let people guilt trip you into becoming a lesser version of yourself
Timing has a lot to do with everything
The key is knowing when to walk away.
It’s one of those things you never thought you’d like but it ended up being your favourite
If you are often surrounded by people who validate your choices, then it gets harder for you to confront your flaws.
If you are in an echo chamber of adulation or excuses, it would be difficult to see the need for change.
If you are restless in relationships, it could reflect a search for something deeper that you haven't found yet.
True connection lies with those who value the entire spectrum of who you are - the success, the struggle, and everything in between
Only help someone who is willing to help themself
Love makes us vulnerable to loss, yet it gives life its greatest meaning.
sometimes love is about recognizing what's best for the other person, even if it's not what we want personally
Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and you grow old wanting to get back to
“It’s a house. Just a pile of stones and mortar, and a crumbling one at that. It’s meaningless without love to fill it. My home is wherever you are.”
Just a girl from the wrong side of the tracks

2024-12-27 14:27:24

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happy birthday Sophia, have a great one

2024-12-13 12:51:28

"You make money in free software exactly the same way you do it in proprietary software: by building a great product, marketing it with skill and imagination, looking after your customers, and thereby building a brand that stands for quality and customer service."
"You can’t compete with a monopoly by playing the game by the monopolist’s rules. The monopoly has the resources, the distribution channels, the R&D resources; in short, they just have too many strengths. You compete with a monopoly by changing the rules of the game into a set that favors your strengths."
https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/open-sources/1565925823/ch10.html

2024-12-12 17:09:11

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My current book - 'Imperial Reckoning, the untold story of Britain’s gulag in Kenya', on the atrocities and torture of colonizers on the Kikuyu people. The book is authored by Caroline Elkins, business econs prof from Harvard who specializes in African and African American Studies. It was a nice coincidence to read it this week alongside African Bitcoin Conf. The stories were devastating but the people are truly incredible and resilient, with an indomitable will to keep moving forward.

2024-12-12 17:02:39

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Happy birthday Derek

2024-12-10 11:37:58

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♥️

2024-12-05 04:59:18

Open source devs are like jazz musicians. There’s a shared framework, but they are free to interpret it in their own and create what they want. They thrive on spontaneous creativity with no rigid plans. They take risk with unexpected ‘notes’ and ‘rythms’. They contribute individually but complement each other. Like open source devs, jazz musicians have their own decentralised collaboration where musicians listen to each other and adapt in real-time. By doing this, they both create something greater, a sum of their efforts. And, like a good jazz jam session, anyone with the skills or understanding can join in and contribute.

2024-12-04 05:35:09

Lessons from Fido
1. Love with all your heart and let others love you back.
Fido did everything with love. His big sloppy kisses, his tail wags, that proud look when you called him a good boy. He hated goodbyes but gave the best welcomes. When you have genuine love, it's easy to be loved.
2. The little things bring the most joy.
Morning sunbathing, belly rubs, sharing meals by my side, rolling in the sand, playing with the cats and chasing birds, Fido found happiness in the simplest things. He had a knack for reminding me that happiness didn't have to be fancy or a set goal to be achieved, it’s in the beauty of everyday life.
3. Keep going, even when things are hard.
He loved his walks, and even in his final days, he insisted on one last stroll in the park. We did it slowly and steadily, just watching him sniff every corner and wagging his tail a happy boy. Hold on to what you love, no matter how hard it gets.
4. Don’t let fear run your life.
Thunderstorms and fireworks were his worst enemies. We managed his anxiety together with hugs, music (mostly Jazz), and all the soothing I could give, but it wasn't easy. Fear is hard, but it doesn’t have to win.
5. Every day is a fresh start.
No matter what happened the day before, Fido always woke up ready for a new adventure. That’s an energy my dog and I shared over the last 12 years.
6. Live in the moment
Fido was a master of being present. Whether he was with my twin nephews, playing with his toys, or just lying by my feet, he gave all his attention to whatever made him happy in that moment.
7. Take breaks and ask for what you need.
He had the best way of pulling me out of work - stretching under my desk or nudging my chair until I noticed him. And if that didn’t work, he’d climb onto the little table beside mine and stare at me until I laughed. He always got his belly rubs, and I got my reminder to pause and breathe.
8. Be strong, no matter what.
Even with CKD, liver issues, cancer and more, he found reasons to live fully every single day. On his last morning, he even walked outside to bask in the sun. His strength was subtle but unshakable.
9. Stay close to the ones you love.
Fido was my shadow, always needing to be by my side. In his last moments, he kept reaching out to me, making sure I was there. It broke my heart, but it also fills it, knowing I was with him till the very end.
10. Let go when it’s time, but do it your way.
I didn’t want to make the decision for him. I wanted him to leave when he was ready, and he did. He was surrounded by love and in his safe place. Letting him go was the hardest thing, but it was also the most loving thing I could do.
My dog taught me how to live fully, love unconditionally, and let go with grace. Goodbye my precious boy. You will always be loved 🤍
https://m.primal.net/MnLh.jpg
https://m.primal.net/MnLi.jpg
https://m.primal.net/MnLe.jpg
https://m.primal.net/MnLd.jpg

2024-12-01 17:21:39

I lost my good boy today. My heart is beyond broken. His spirit was strong and he tried so hard to stay on, but his organs started failing him.
Up until yesterday I refused to let emotions get the better of me and was trying so many different things to bring his toxic level down. But last night as I was taking a shower, Fido had a surge of anxiety and tried to go up the stairs to look for me. He has been so weak that I have been camping in the hall with him and we have not gone up to the room this week. That’s when I knew. They said when it's time, they will look for their person - and he came looking for me. After that he went on rapid decline.
We had his home administration of sub cut infusion, his gastric concoction, various liquid food, even vanilla ice cream to soothe his throat, his vet has been on back to back house calls - but he was no longer responding.
All I could do was to give him his belly rubs and gentle massages but emotions came rolling in. I told him to take his time and I think he didn't want to let me go just as much as I wanted him to stay. Even until his last breath he wanted me to pet him.
He has been my happy moments even when times were hard, and a constant joy. He is my shadow and side kick in everything I do and I cannot imagine a day without him in it.
Last lesson from Fido - when you love, just love.

2024-11-28 09:23:22

Today we did many many advance test to find out why Fido is struggling so much. Unfortunately beyond his chronic kidney disease, he also has rapid liver decompensation combined with underlying cancers. We now go on full palliative care to make sure he has no pain, no nausea, eats well and do everything he loves - the park, sunshine, chase birds, play with the cats and be happy for as long as he can. He has a few days to a few weeks. If I’m lucky, he celebrates my bday with me on 31/12. If I am luckier, I celebrate his with him on 16/2. He has been my little boy and my best friend for 12 years and made my house a home. I can only hope he has had a great time with me as I have with him.
https://m.primal.net/MjOl.jpg

2024-11-27 20:17:03

This has now become my personal journal of Fido’s survival journey as I stay up at unearthly hours watching my boy sleep. Today was quite the episode. His regular vet was close and he could not recover from his fatigues until evening so I made the call to head to any nearby vet for a dose of IV.
The closest was a 30 mins drive and the journey was stressful for him. We did met a good looking vet who was super gentle and careful with him (I wish I had at least combed my hair but he give a 50% discount nevertheless). My boy was better after we got back but 30 mins in he started vomiting, convulsing and could not control his pee. My mom broke down crying, I really thought I was going to lose him.
The only thing I could do was to keep him warm until he stopped shivering and administered 1.5ml dose of antacid and anti nausea, and 3ml fluid every 30 mins. About 2 hours later he stopped shivering, and 5 hours later he finally stood up and went out to pee. I administered another 1.5ml dose as a precaution to prevent vomiting.
He started getting his thirst back. I mixed half a mug of chamomile tea (caffeine free) with 1 litre of water and gave it to him sparingly. It apparently reduces nausea and anxiety. He is still weak but better than he was the whole day and is finally asleep. Tonight we camp in the hall.
The goal of IV is to mimic dialysis to flush out toxins but he can’t take more than 100ml as it will cause fluid retention in his lungs. Tmr’s goal is to work out a plan with his doctor to reduce his nausea - that seems to be the only thing holding him back from getting his system cleared up. For now, I have to just ensure no more vomiting. He has lost 4 kg over the last 2 weeks 💔
Fido has a very generic dog name - my mom named him after her grandpa’s dog. It was also Abraham Lincoln’s dog name.
My boy’s spirit is strong but his body is weak. For as long as he is going to keep fighting, I am going to fight for him
https://m.primal.net/Miqy.jpg

2024-11-27 07:31:39

Focusing too much on competitors drains time and focus better spent advancing your own goals.

2024-11-27 07:04:58

It’s all a work in progress
https://m.primal.net/MiUt.jpg

2024-11-26 17:09:18

My dog has been throwing up everyday but we are getting a hang of understanding his body better. I’m still hoping we can reverse his CKD end stage.
2 days back his arteries were too shrunk, foot swollen, we had to skip IV for 2 days which caused toxin buildup. His stool has blood, his prostate swollen, his pee was leaking. i started cutting back on some meds and gave him more homemade electrolytes (1 litre water, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon sugar) which balanced him up.
Today his legs were great for an IV fix, and he took it like a champ. But I got carried away and went back to his full dosage of meds only for him to throw up again. Tonight it’s gonna be syringing in electrolytes every hour to balance him. And start over tmr.
I’m sleeping down with him. Despite him feeling awful. He can still paw you for a belly rub lol. Lessons from Fido - never miss any opportunity for a good time no matter how bad you feel
My only hope is that there is no thunderstorm tonight. In my attempts to soundproof the room, I’ve managed to block heavy sound of rain by sealing window and door gaps, and adding thick sponges, but thunders have higher decibels and these days they are just nasty.
I’ve purchased some sound insulation used for cars, and some dry walls that i'll drill to the wall for added mass. And place sound absorbent foams on it.. hopefully it works
My dog has a private nurse, driver, poop collector, personal chef, maid and passive income. I am working double job and sleep deprived. If you’ll need financial advice, look him up.

2024-11-24 21:01:34

Was looking at some family pictures last night and it brought back so many memories. There’s this pic of my mom and dad where my dad would stare at her lovingly while she looks at the camera.
I grew up in a family where my parent’s were each other’s support mechanism and sidekick. They both trusted and depended on each other entirely and had a sense of adventure in their routine. They were each other’s pen pals for a few years before they actually met. And some 40 years later they still celebrated the day they went on their first date. My dad said he had very little money on their first date but because my mom spilled a drink on her pants, he bought her a pair of Levi’s with everything he had - well it worked for them lol.
They definitely didn’t have it easy raising us up as we grew up in extreme poverty, but my dad wouldn’t have advanced his career or upward mobility without my mom and my mom wouldn’t have realized she can do everything her heart desires without my dad. She picked up piano at 50 among many other skills she wanted to acquire.
I love that they were always honest with each other although that meant you can’t ever get one parent to hide your mischief from the other lol. And they had their deeply rooted passion and commonality in their love towards helping people. But most of all, they were each other's best friend. I think love like that is rare and precious.

2024-11-24 11:54:22

This week’s favorite captions -
Live with intention and gratitude
When the chase ends, the routine begins
Once you start seeing results, the grind becomes addictive
It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving
Set aside some time everyday to daydream and see how effective the week is.
Never reply when you are angry, never make a promise when you are happy and never make a decision when you are sad

2024-11-23 23:58:53

My boy is feeling much better today. His creatinine was off the roof at 910 umol/ (ideal range at 60-150) His urea was 48.9 umol/L (ideal range 3.6 - 8.9).
He needs his IV every day this week alongside phosphate binders, probiotics, calcium carbonate, vitamin B complex. And gastric and anti nausea meds in the morning.
I’ve got a mini apothecary going on, crushing all his meds and mixing it with either honey, baby food (fruit puree) or blended carrot and cucumber juice to syringe it in.
The hope is to bring his CKD stage down, from end stage - stage 4 to a stage 2 level which gives him a few more months. Whether his body is reacting positively we will know at the end of the week. But thus far he is much better.
If and when my dog no longer responds to the meds, I won't stress him up anymore. Until then we do what we can to make him feel better. But the fact that he trust me entirely with his life puts one in a diff state of mind.
We went to the park yesterday. I drove over and although he walked a short distance of 30m walk, he was a happy boy.
Lessons from my dog this week - can’t let fear control you. His fear of thunderstorms messed him up badly. And because the heart, gut, kidneys are all interrelated, hypertension has a domino effect. I’m building a mini wearable to measure his stats daily and halfway through soundproofing the room.
Lesson no 2 - Find joy even in toughest moments. I love how even the simplest thing like going out for his morning sun puts a smile on his face despite everything he is feeling.
As for this girl, weekends are when all the tiredness from the week comes crashing in and your body shuts down. But this weekend is going to be a ‘catch up on work’ weekend.
My routine now is to be up by 3am to work while the boy sleeps. I’ve got 6 days to several major datelines so it’s going to be quite a mad week ahead.
Hope everyone has a good rest and a great week ahead. Take it easy you’ll ❤️

2024-11-23 15:58:34

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i guess the simplest way to imagine the differentiation between dvms and nostr is that relay on nostr functions like the internet itself, while dvm is an app that sits on top of it.
The risk is when all clients rely on dvm as primary access point, which can lead to centralisation.

2024-11-23 15:45:17

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Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️

2024-11-23 15:42:48

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They both process data differently that’s for sure - relay is your rawest and simplest decentralized form. Dvms are like Shopify - aggregators of sorts and have centralized access points - clients might find it easier to extract data and modify than to custom build, but might create a centralized bottleneck and other centralized risks if not careful. I don’t know enough about redundant events but sounds more like a design issue than a system issue? Maybe better implementations might help (filtering etc)

2024-11-23 14:14:23

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That is true. And in that same spirit, the irony of statistics - they are developed based on assumptions, to validate assumptions

2024-11-23 13:06:27

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isn't DVM an advanced search feature with customization and automation ? i 'd reckon they would complement each other

2024-11-23 02:04:54

One of the biggest challenge for my dog is overcoming the fear of thunder and fireworks. I always have Jazz on but it is no longer enough. I've started sound proofing the room. From what i read, seal all gaps first - windows and doors. I've got sound absorbents for the doors (2" thick) and additional thick sponges for the windows. And then I'm going to work on the walls and ceiling. If anyone has any tips and tricks, would love to know more.

2024-11-23 01:57:24

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he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease over a year ago. It's unfortunately common for aging dogs

2024-11-23 01:46:13

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♥️

2024-11-23 01:45:50

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Thank you but you are far too kind. We likely cross paths in our creative interests ♥️

2024-11-23 01:38:55

This boy is feeling much better today. Two nights ago was the worst he endured in his 12 years. After throwing up twice, he was in so much pain he could not sit, and stood for a total of 6 hours.
I don’t know if it was the lack of sleep the last few days or the heartbreak but when I walked into the vet in the morning I just burst out crying. Fortunately the doctor made a concoction of meds (gastric, anti nausea, anti inflammatory) which worked like a charm. But he can no longer take sub cut fluid as his arteries are too shrunk. We got him on IV drips and he started feeling much better again.
Later today we will get his full blood works profile. Internal testing showed infection. Very much hoping it’s an isolated infection and we can find an antidote.
But he is already at his end-stage. We will be focusing on palliative care moving forward.
The brain understands but the heart is hurting.
All I know is, I won’t put him through endless hospitalisation torture. He will do everything he loves for as long as he can. And I will find ways to keep his hospitalisation on a need-base only. When its time to say goodbye, I'd let him do it at his own terms.
I’m about to wake him up for his morning sunshine. He slept so well last night - baby steps but with endless gratitude for yet another day with my happy boy ❤️
https://m.primal.net/Meij.jpg

2024-11-21 17:14:08

My boy has gotten real bad this week. We’ve been up and down the vet nearly everyday. Today he couldn’t hold down his food or water. I’m on night watch. My mom is helping out. Next few days are super critical. I just hope by some miracle his toxin level reduces. He loves life too much to give up now. And I love him too much to imagine a life without.
When something you love so deeply is in pain, it’s a whole diff level of heartbreak
https://m.primal.net/MdMx.jpg

2024-11-19 16:05:05

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He was the epitome of grunge style, the whole anti-mainstream disheveled raw feel that the underground music rocked. Would be epic to pay homage to a Bitcoin grunge collection. I’ll contribute to creating a layering skirt that mimics a flannel tied around the waist paired with a crop top. Also only recently I learnt of his heavy influence and passion towards the hip hop genre. If Kurt Cobain was born a tech founder…
Happy birthday @npub1sg6…f63m. Have a good one ❤️

2024-11-18 11:41:56

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Mike and Fiatjaf are correct on DID. Matt’s perspective needs some nuance. One of DID’s challenges is decentralizing the resolution layer so maybe pegging to sidechain might do the trick but I don't fancy tokens so not something I have a clear assessment of. DID can exist independently as long as it is retrieved together, both metadata and verification keys.
But all of you big boys need to zoom out.
** Firstly, Bluesky and Twitter today have become a reflection of the extreme polarization that plagues America - and that is incredibly sad. Nostr must remain non-partisan, enabling clients with footprints of Bluesky and Twitter, among many others in it - and it's up to people to pick relays and peek into different worlds within Nostr. .
Until and unless Bluesky opens up a client for the right wing folks and anyone else, it remains centralized. There is no need to talk about “what if”.
** Secondly, user adoption is key. Only thing to understand about Bluesky is that they knew who their target early adopters were and went for it. That's all we need to learn from them.
Who are Nostr’s early adopters? Tech folks (and it's not the 3 to 4 of you here but millions out there), bitcoin folks, people who need censorship resistance (investigative journalists, people from challenging places), people who are curious and those who just want to see all the client devs here succeed.
** Thirdly, listen to the users. Brazilian users were all here first but did not know how to find people who matched their interest. Then they left. I always see devs pissing on users for voicing out their problems instead of trying to understand the concerns.
Privacy is needed for some people - and while Nostr can’t provide it atm, don’t forget about it - open it up to any devs who want to focus on it.
**Fourthly - let your imagination run wild with Nostr use cases. Web5 was an incredibly simple and powerful decentralized platform but nobody understood the application side or impact of it globally. Man it breaks my heart to see it go but if there is anything you want to take away from it - start focusing on applications and use cases
** And lastly, one cannot just keep building stuff and then whining when nobody shows up. Builders have to go out there and start hustling for early adopters (i.e. figure out the persona of the target audience and creatively reach out). And then listen to them. Improve your product. And keep repeating the process - again and again until you hit your mainstream users.

2024-11-17 14:40:59

A compilation of penned down lines in recent weeks - from stuff I read, watched, heard, conversed or thoughts that came to mind :
We're not lost. I just don't know where we are.
The last mile, the final 10% is the most important. It requires all the attentions to the details
"You'll be my home," she said. “And I'll be yours."
Each individual is ultimately responsible for their own path.
Nostr is your personal art space and every note is your blank canvas.
Do what’s right by sticking to your convictions and you’ll do okay.
Energy doesn’t lie
Always be your biggest cheerleader and your strongest gatekeeper.
People treat you exactly how they feel about you.
I think you already knew this and I just captured what has been for you, scattered intuition.
Bet on yourself, even if no one else does
The simple things are also the most extraordinary things
One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving
“Vek zhivi–vek uchis.” Live and learn
If someone tells you, it’s me or the dog, pick the dog
The more I understand the world better, the more I want to stay away from politics
Between continuous and discontinuous lies a spectrum of demands for behavioral change.
Your heart’s validation is bigger than your friend’s recommendation.
Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.
Keep going, finish the year strong

2024-11-17 14:33:40

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happy birthday!

2024-11-08 10:47:16

There’s something about people who leave you feeling energized after talking to them or reading their notes. When possible, do the same

2024-11-08 06:18:20

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oh wow its beautiful

2024-11-08 00:43:21

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There's a saying i recently came across : There is observation and there is seeing. The eye of observation is strong, the eye of seeing is weak - Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

2024-11-08 00:37:59

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haha the first time i went to Vietnam, the taxi guy held my hands to cross the road - i would have never done it otherwise. those city roads are wild. I love the Philippines! i've done Manila and lots of partying in makati during college days lol. And Taal Volcano and lake area - that was just dreamy and romantic. I think there is a bitcoin beach in the Philippines? I've never done Thailand beaches unfortunately but most i know have - one of the bucket list. I've only been to bangkok and crossed the southern borders several time and accidentally participated in the water festival once.

2024-11-07 23:25:52

Is America ready to bring Snowden home ?

2024-11-07 23:24:46

I woke up thinking of hidden beaches today - there is one on an island I lived, it takes 2 hours hike to get to that beach - it’s a beautiful hike with waves hitting the shorelines next to you. There’s also a lighthouse and I remembered how peaceful it was sitting right on top, seeing the sea spread as far as your eyes can take you.
Another time I explored a hidden beach was a random impromptu flight to Vietnam and another 5 hour bus ride on a windy road to a beach called Mui Ne. The beach was beautiful but what I remembered most was how the sky had a blanket of stars shinning from miles and miles away . I’ve never seen a spread of stars that beautiful. There’s something special in exploring hidden beaches
The mind needs to work but the heart needs a break.

2024-11-07 23:18:24

If you stayed away from mainstream and read hundreds of books from various perspective, your ability to view, gauge, and grasp the nuances of things will be very different

2024-11-07 16:15:50

My brother : you have to master the Sicilian defense. That’s the only thing you need to good at (after hitting 4 different strategies to take me down).
Everything else I read : don’t even bother abt Sicilian defense, you are not that person. Lol
What are your favourite moves ?

2024-11-07 13:21:53

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❤️

2024-11-07 13:20:33

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awww..those dads and babies workout pics are super adorable - you should totally name your workout. this is called the night feed crunch.
https://m.primal.net/LvgX.jpg
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/dads-working-out-babies-adorable-8209189

2024-11-07 12:35:29

When you have a dog that needs to stick his nose in whatever you are doing, pilates is customised to one hand rubbing his belly, forehead and one hand everything else, planks is making sure you don't fall on the dog when he insists on sleeping between you and the mat.

2024-11-07 09:50:41

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Did you visit the waterfalls ? I heard its beautiful.

2024-11-07 09:48:32

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those big boys gotta chill

2024-11-07 09:46:51

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Travis was the real deal, he defined gig economy to what it is, and despite all the the flaws, you can't take that away from him.

2024-11-07 09:41:00

You build up these little things, and eventually, they make a big thing

2024-11-07 09:39:57

I appreciate people who create real value for other people.

2024-11-07 09:37:30

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The market price is between $100 million - $150 million. Apparently the fights these days are between the old school and the modern oligarchs.

2024-11-06 07:19:23

Lessons from my dog this past week. He went into a shock mode with the fireworks and thunderstorm. I was up most of the week keeping him calm, and was literally functioning on coffee. He went on a hiatus with his meds and food. And after various attempts, what worked like a charm was positive reinforcement i.e. cheering him on and telling he is a good boy every time he took his meds and food. Maybe we all need some cheering on in our lives too. He has been much better the last 2 days.
This morning’s thunderstorm started at 4am so I thought since I’m up I’ll practice my guitar. I can’t tell which he thought was worse - the thunder or my playing. Pretty sure he would pay me to stop singing if he could too. But it worked like a charm and he slept back.
Next goal is to soundproof the room. But it will only keep the thunder away. I’ll still be around. Stuff my dog puts up with, for love

2024-11-06 04:45:48

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looks amazing! love the old fashion pestle and mortar style of making it

2024-11-06 04:44:55

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i think i have all the ingredients in my kitchen - except for palm vinegar, never heard of it. And somehow never got the hang of salted egg. But would definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing!

2024-11-06 04:40:27

Another interesting story about my first boss - after a few years as a manager, he decided to pursue his masters in the UK. He sold his nice comfortable house, his big cars, let his maids go - and took his family with him (his wife and 3 kids).
He was on full scholarship but given pounds currency was a few times more, he took extra jobs to survive - cleaning toilets every morning from 3am at his university. But he has such a great spirit that he would publish comic strips of a “floor engineer” making light-hearted jokes of his experiences mopping the floor and washing toilets everyday.
He finished his masters with high qualifications, and IEEE recognised his accomplishments and awarded him a full scholarship to do his PhD. He was among the10 selected globally.
He went on to finish his PhD and next thing you know, the US hunted him down, got him a special O visa - I think it's called an “extraordinary visa” which is super hard to get. After a few years of hardship, today his family is quite settled and he has a good life going for him. What a journey to look back to.

2024-11-06 04:14:32

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his other book Purple Cow was pretty good too

2024-11-06 04:13:51

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love the local harvest - somtam is the mango salad ?

2024-11-06 03:55:52

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it's beautiful and passionate

2024-11-06 03:00:53

Was catching up with my former bosses today - I’m blessed to have had great bosses - though both were different.
My first boss was a hands-on kind, and big on self development - perfect for a starter team. We constantly pushed ourselves to be better. This team was fun, I was the birthday prankster and we even jammed together (I did the drums). We were without a doubt the most popular team of 10 in a building of 3000 people.
My second boss was different - he was a hands-off kinda boss but a safety net if you fall. He gave that freedom and his trust with it. This was perfect as I was expediting my growth stage in my career. I rarely entered the office but sealed deals bigger than his sales team that he decided to create another role for me. I hated sales and I would tell customers as it is and somehow they trusted me. I remember only setting meetings with my boss every time his favorite team Manchester United wins - boy he will be in the happiest mood lol.
Over time I kept in touch with both of them but they have both left the country - one to the US and one to Singapore. They are both incredibly polite and kind and I have never stopped short at learning from them even till today. It’s nice and nostalgic catching up with people who leave good memories in your life

2024-11-05 13:54:39

Good luck, America

2024-11-03 08:51:51

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i don't know! my sister thinks its the baby of the baby lizard, my mom thinks its teenage pregnancy, my brother says they travel in packs when they are young, maybe siblings. I initially thought it was the foot but it is quite intact. Maybe its a gecko. There were both sent together.

2024-11-03 07:15:48

the queen needs her freedom (this after losing two rounds back to back)
#note1c0g…akv4

2024-11-03 07:06:40

In today's episode of what the cat brought home. Maybe its some kinda baby water dragon or monitor lizard i don't know. Found it in my kitchen. It was still alive so I left it back at a lake nearby. Amazing how quickly they change colours based on the surrounding, but man if curiosity does not kill the cat, its likely gonna kill me. Luckily the dog was in the room sleeping.
https://m.primal.net/LrCa.jpg
https://m.primal.net/LrCc.jpg

2024-11-03 06:55:31

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sounds perfect