Ha, thanks nostr:npub1mp77smkmq77zwp3d8ke2let567cype0m3lhwx7v97gu2fans40qsn7vzdd. I loved our chat.

nostr:npub13m8g5un3u00xjuw39ven55jj6q52fuuyheye4upus9lwjhvhtfvseeqpgd I was talking about what Leo_Haf on X wrote to measure the "Transaction Health" of the blocks in the Mempool.

This is an excellent way to see who is spamming on Bitcoin and who is not.

His link:

https://mempool.orangepill.ovh/

You click on a link and it shows you:

This is a thank you note, to nostr:npub13m8g5un3u00xjuw39ven55jj6q52fuuyheye4upus9lwjhvhtfvseeqpgd whom I have listened to for years when he was on Swan Cafe. He was one of the few I resonated with with his humor and his ability to painfully and annoyingly bring up how SPAMming/SCAMing on Bitcoin is bad.

Recently, TERRENCE asked me to be on a Spaces called, "Bitcoiners for Harris." I thought that was cool as I have so few 'followers' and never aspire to be an influencer. But, like most, I have strong opinions, especially in cancer and recently Bitcoin so I said sure.

What I didn't know was it was a 1on1 only, as I have never spoken on the Internet before and it was an honor so I went with it at TERRENCE'S lead.

I am not sure if I rambled on and on so I like to write more than I like to speak. Again, as my granddad told me, "everyone is entitled to their own STUPID opinion."

But I want to to show how people can't be boxed into specific groups, especially with Bitcoin. It is annoying to me when I watch a Presidential State of the Union and like sheep half a side (R) stands up to clap or the other half (D) stand up to clap on issues.

That isn't human. Where are the various individuals on both sides who stand up and clap regardless of what their group thinks?

That is the tough part, to go against the grain (insert the famous Steve Jobs quote here).

It is easy to just "Go along" and clap and say "YEAH" when someone says something everyone in the direct, warm center, of the comfort zone.

It's harder to branch out, to learn, to change your mind, to change your views, to listen to others, to lean into your differences, to get UNCOMFORTABLE, perhaps to the edge or chaos.

That is the problem with our society, we all have to be comfortable. Gone are the days when kids played outside from sunup to sundown and came home so thirsty we drank out of the garden hose like they'd been lost in the desert for days. Today, people can't even walk a mile without a water bottle. I grew up in Kansas, we couldn't afford AC but we had an 'Attic Fan' that basically was like a Convection oven as I fell asleep with my head in the window sill dreaming there was a breeze and not just still humid hot air with a layer of sweat on me.

Uncomfortable.

Today, I see the younger generation posting videos of how they RAW DOGGED (or whatever stupid name it is) a flight for 8 hours. Meaning they didn't drink water or eat or watch video or read.

JESUS CHRIST.

Think of the day, our founding mothers and fathers, the covered wagons, chopping wood, our soldiers in battle with trench foot.

When was the last time you were uncomfortable, really uncomfortable?

It's good for the soul.

Especially when discussing tough issues.

Tangent but I am who I am. Am I the only one TERRENCE could find who is a Bitcoiner who supports Harris? Why aren't there more of you? How was I selected and not you to speak on that Space?

Worried about Mark Cuban or what other Maxis think? Uncomfortable?

So, let's dig in, have you already labeled me a Liberal as I simply live in Minneapolis and support Harris?

I have the guts to stand up on both sides of issues so I applaud a candidate who is willing to meet in the middle of issues and change their mind. When Trump considers this a threat? Him: "Hey, you can't be for Securing the Border when it is my issue?"

Me: "Yes you can."

So I tried to convey this speaking on the Space, but let's do a stream of conscience lightning round.

Me:

Yes, I live in Minneapolis. I love Minneapolis. Yes I live in Ilhan Omar's district, no I have never voted for her, extremism has to go on both sides. Yes I went out my front door with my then 18 year old daughter to where George Floyd died. No, George Floyd is not a poster child of good and Derek Chauvin is an ahole cop rightly in prison. No, I do not believe in Defund the Police and agree most police are great and I thank them in person always for being Peace Officers to 'serve and protect.' Yes I have a ton of MAGA/NRA friends but I will never own a gun since I don't have the right temperament. No, I do not live my life fear based and lean socially liberal. No, I don't like Kamala's fiscal policy, especially in Unrealized Gains (I think of Saylor.)

The last 2 presidents have added $16 Trillion to our debt, the next President will not be any better for our debt issue, and Bitcoin could care less.

Bottom line, as I spoke on this, "we spend trillions on trying to kill the people we hate than save the people we love."

TRUMP: Will spend $10 Trillion on fear based policy

HARRIS: Will spend $10 Trillion on love based policy

Bottom line, pretty much a waste of money on both sides but I'd rather help people in America, the homeless or addicted or veterans or get people I love into a house.

Trump's Bitcoin Talk in Nashville was an embarrassment to Bitcoin, to me. He has no idea what he was talking about but sure he rang some bells for the center of the crowd. Low effort.

"BOOOOOO"

...and Kamala Harris is no different but at least I have hope she will take the time to learn about Bitcoin starting with the "Crypto for Harris" crowd who clearly doesn't understand the difference between Bitcoin versus Crypto.

"BOOOOO"

Both sides, I was uncomfortable typing this but I hope you were uncomfortable reading it too.

It proves we are alive.

Fight for Bitcoin.

Support those like TERRENCE who support the uncomfortable.

Again, just one man's stupid opinions, right Granddad?

(insert some meme or picture here as metrics say it is better for engagement)

https://fountain.fm/episode/4RQ6p0eYBGtmjNfhoRp6

nostr:npub1h8nk2346qezka5cpm8jjh3yl5j88pf4ly2ptu7s6uu55wcfqy0wq36rpev

Sure..censorship resistance at the protocol level is a differentiator, but the to the average person, you may as well be talking gibberish. They don’t know wtf a protocol is in the first place - let alone why it matters for censorship resistance to happen at that level, or more importantly, WHY they should trust Nostr to deliver on that promise. “Bcoz nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m said so” is not an argument.

————

Bluesky is a case in point here.

It’s got a VERY similar feature set to X, claims to be open source / censorship resistant (similar narrative to Nostr), and is growing MUCH faster than Nostr, bc it has captured a key audience, ie; people with TDS and EDS (Elon Derangement Syndrome).

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/bluesky-signups-surge-uk-amid-musks-row-with-government-over-riots-2024-08-13/?

I’ve been on there a few times, and the content quality is enough to make you want to throw up….but at the very least, it’s working for that kind of content, and for the people who want it.

I don’t have a direct answer here..but I think it’s something to do with the over-emphasis on technicals.

nostr:npub1az9xj85cmxv8e9j9y80lvqp97crsqdu2fpu3srwthd99qfu9qsgstam8y8 mentioned increasing the emphasis on design the other day. I agree this is a move in the right direction. We’re taking a very design-focused approach with nostr:npub15xd2mmjnh3caykh77djsv73e0zkrp42jp5mwerx8f4m6su40wdvss7t3l3 (we’ll have ALOT more to show in the next 6wks).

That being said, it’s not enough.

IMO, Nostr is technically mature enough for us to go out there and talk about it to more people, and build a narrative BEYOND the 500 of us that are talking to each other on here.

People like nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft or nostr:npub1dergggklka99wwrs92yz8wdjs952h2ux2ha2ed598ngwu9w7a6fsh9xzpc can correct me if I am wrong here. Maybe there’s alot more to do technically.

But if I am right, I’d like to see more initiatives that are marketing oriented being supported by nostr:npub17xvf49kht23cddxgw92rvfktkd3vqvjgkgsdexh9847wl0927tqsrhc9as and nostr:npub10pensatlcfwktnvjjw2dtem38n6rvw8g6fv73h84cuacxn4c28eqyfn34f and other coalitions. Maybe we even need a council of Nostr businesses, who together pool some funds to help drive some marketing initiatives?

Whatever the case, we need to expand upon the Nostr narrative, make it more compelling and speak to more people about it.

At the very least, we have to conquer then Bitcoiners. If we can’t get the segment who are into freedom money onto the freedom of speech network, we’re DOA. That’s a first step.

I know nostr:npub1hz5alqscpp8yjrvgsdp2n4ygkl8slvstrgvmjca7e45w6644ew7sewtysa is working on a very cool initiative in relation to this. The Nostr Booth is IMO a great way to make Nostr more “real” for bitcoiners by having a physical presence at all the conferences.

I know nostr:npub1utx00neqgqln72j22kej3ux7803c2k986henvvha4thuwfkper4s7r50e8 + nostr:npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6 are doing some Podcast outreach. That’s super important too. nostr:npub16vrkgd28wq6n0h77lqgu8h4fdu0eapxgyj0zqq6ngfvjf2vs3nuq5mp2va and crew are putting on Nostriga. Amazing. nostr:npub16c0nh3dnadzqpm76uctf5hqhe2lny344zsmpm6feee9p5rdxaa9q586nvr / nostr:npub12vkcxr0luzwp8e673v29eqjhrr7p9vqq8asav85swaepclllj09sylpugg are doing great things with nostr:npub1spdnfacgsd7lk0nlqkq443tkq4jx9z6c6ksvaquuewmw7d3qltpslcq6j7, etc on the content side. I’ve got some things up my sleeve personally which I will begin to do once nostr:npub15xd2mmjnh3caykh77djsv73e0zkrp42jp5mwerx8f4m6su40wdvss7t3l3 is in a position to represent a NEW kind of Nostr-product..

But we need MOAR..

And…we also need to find another angle that is NOT about censorship resistance. That’s clearly not working against X.

I don’t know the EXACT narrative or spin, but it has to be more “running towards” than “running from”.

More white pill, less black pill.

Anyway.

I will probably turn this into an article. I’ve been thinking more and more about “writing in public” as we build Satlantis, and sharing more about how we’re thinking about growing a “network product” on top of a “network protocol”.

If you think this was valuable, please repoast so more people can see and get involved in the discussion.