In a nutshell (okay, let's try this and keep it short... 😮‍💨)

Bitcoin is the discovery of a set of rules and incentives paired with cryptographic technologies that enable it to produce a set of records that is protected directly by time and energy.

It comes with units that are treated as monetary units and its use as part of the incentive mechanism makes it just as important as everything else. This is why it cannot be repurposed for other non-monetary purposes.

The rule is that the set of records with the most amount of time and effort invested into it is the truth. This is why other proof of work Cryptos cannot compete and without proof of work, the rest of them are hardly revolutionary and actually reinvent fiat money with extra steps.

Bitcoin was developed off the backs of many years of research and development and failed attempts, but it hit the sweet spot. It will not just go away and with its hard supply cap and it not being comparable to anything else, it is uniquely hard money and it is effectively inevitable to become the next money used around the world.

The only thing that could kill it is an undiscovered but critical bug that can only be fixed by changing one of its core principals, such as its decentralized nature.

So no. I don't think anyone can ever be too late. If the question is am I too late to get ultra rich, maybe, but probably not. But if the question is am I too late to acquire and use better money, the answer is never yes.

Are you using an SSD? One of the most common mistakes is not using an SSD because of the nature of how Bitcoin downloads but then validates and indexes the data, it is pretty disk intensive and that tends to be the bottleneck.

I would expect that in a week you should be done, but 50% doesn't mean you're half way there unfortunately. I would expect maybe 2 more weeks at that rate 😬. I may be wrong, you may get lucky.

My experience using Mullvad has progressively worsened. I am constantly blocked from ChatGPT and forced to log in, and I am completely unable to use my Youtube alternatives like FreeTube.

Ledn.io blocks 100% of all Mullvad traffic too.

What are other people's experiences and workarounds?

Not sure how forcing all Europeans to ID themselves will prevent bots from participating in the conversation... Unless they also plan to restrict Europeans from seeing content by those who don't have a European identity... So like a great firewall of China type of thing.

https://unleashed.chat/

Followed. Nostr currently has a lot of perspective from America and it seems fairly clear that Europe is a big enemy of freedom of speech, much worse than USA (and the UK is even worse).

I'm curious to learn your perspective on what recent US affairs have affected you in Europe and how much of it is due to US affairs vs Europe's ongoing crackdown on freedoms.

Also I would recommend you follow nostr:nprofile1qqsg7etgmmkqzg9vk2jdre8rz8ygr5cxcwt2j2ytpgrl2exjpuvxy6qpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuumwdae8gtnnda3kjctvqy28wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hsmrcrsz who fights for the marginalised people in Europe.

But if you do set up a wallet, you can earn them.

Here's a guide by nostr:nprofile1qqsr7acdvhf6we9fch94qwhpy0nza36e3tgrtkpku25ppuu80f69kfqpz9mhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejj7qghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummnw3ezucnpdejz7qg4waehxw309aex2mrp0yhxgctdw4eju6t09ug4n6q3

nostr:nevent1qqsz003xaxdw6ye2tee8g4ypfpk0w0y3z2f6my9t3022a904aug2j7spr3mhxue69uhkummnw3ezu6r4wdax7mn9vaujuam0wfkxgtczyqlhwrt96wnkf2w9edgr4cfruchvwkv26q6asdhz4qg08pm6w3djgqcyqqqqqqg0qcac2

The headline benefit of their wallet is that by collecting that data, it enables them to offer you the ability to top up your wallet using your bank money.

This is a primal specific thing. They let you set up your own wallet and link it using a lightning address, but they provide this feature as a default in order to help newcomers get started quickly.

Those who wish to withhold the information asked will either find another solution or simply not set up a wallet at all, but this gets more people on board in general.

Those who are more into privacy are more into putting in work. Fortunately, Primal gives you the option to choose, but other clients just force you to do extra work to set it up.

How do I get it to know my followers based on now? If I rebroadcast my profile will that do it? And will citrine know to keep that indefinitely until it changes?

Fuck off scammer.

Nwc is about you sending zaps out. The lightning address is what you need to add to your profile to get zaps coming in.

That is pretty cool. Are there use cases already or is it something we are yet to see?

nostr:nevent1qqsz003xaxdw6ye2tee8g4ypfpk0w0y3z2f6my9t3022a904aug2j7spr3mhxue69uhkummnw3ezu6r4wdax7mn9vaujuam0wfkxgtczyqlhwrt96wnkf2w9edgr4cfruchvwkv26q6asdhz4qg08pm6w3djgqcyqqqqqqg0qcac2

Can't wait to hear from Satoshi!!! 😍

"Enforce democracy" 🤔

Rather I should call it "getting stuck in a yellow box"

That's a good one. Different countries have different limits, does it make one safer than the other?

Maybe limits as a concept introduces security, or does it introduce a false sense of security?

I think reckless drivers should be punished, but arbitrary rules tend to be gamed and those cause unexpected after effects. For example, it is common in the UK for people to slow at speed cameras and then take off once past. This is erratic driving and does not achieve the intended purpose as far as I can tell.

For those who get caught, they must attend a course at cost, and it is clear that it is a money making machine more than a reformative thing.

Also speeding is treated with the same punishment as stopping in a yellow box which can be at best irritating for people who must wait for you to clear away, but it is hardly dangerous. It is very easy to make this mistake when there is traffic too.

I think that state getting involved in other people's security just causes more inequality, especially when done from higher levels. Smaller communities can have better solutions.

Of course, we must have a balance in this case, but I just wanted to throw in that maximum freedom does not mean minimum security, but I do believe that maximum state security does mean minimum freedoms.

I don't think these things are at the opposite ends of a spectrum.

I just think security is something you must build for yourself and not expect it as a god given right.

You have the freedom to build walls, protect yourself and protect others.