Profile: 9e9374ab...
on days like this, where my net worth increases by multiples of monthly salary in a matter of hours, I wonder why I even bother working anymore. once there's a safe, effective means of generating cash flow off Bitcoin holdings I'll never have to worry about money again. then the real fun starts...
Who invented RSS?
RSS has a complex history of development with multiple contributors rather than a single inventor. Here's how it evolved:
## Early Development
The conceptual foundation for RSS began in 1997 when Dave Winer developed scriptingNews, which is considered the birth of RSS[4]. However, the first official version of RSS (RSS 0.9) was created by Ramanathan V. Guha and others at Netscape in March 1999 for use on the My.Netscape.Com portal[1][6].
## Key Evolution Stages
**Netscape Era**
Dan Libby at Netscape produced RSS 0.91 in July 1999, simplifying the format by removing RDF elements and incorporating elements from Dave Winer's news syndication format[2]. At this point, RSS was renamed to "Rich Site Summary."
**UserLand Software Period**
After Netscape abandoned the project, UserLand Software took control of the RSS specifications[6]. Dave Winer, while at UserLand, continued development through various versions, ultimately leading to RSS 2.0 in September 2002[2].
**Harvard Standardization**
In July 2003, Winer and UserLand Software assigned the copyright of RSS 2.0 to Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society[2]. This move effectively standardized the format and made it freely available for use.
## Industry Adoption
The format gained widespread adoption between 2005 and 2006, particularly after Microsoft Internet Explorer and Opera Software adopted the now-familiar RSS icon that was originally created by Stephen Horlander for Mozilla Firefox[2]. However, RSS usage declined with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter[6].
Citations:
[1] Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtriya_Swayamsevak_Sangh
[2] RSS - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)
[3] RSS Feed Generator, Create RSS feeds from URL https://rss.app/en/
[4] RSS - Version History - TutorialsPoint https://www.tutorialspoint.com/rss/rss-version-history.htm
[5] How I almost invented RSS | Scott Berkun https://scottberkun.com/2010/how-i-almost-invented-rss/
[6] RSS | Definition, Meaning, & Facts - Britannica https://www.britannica.com/technology/RSS
thanks perplexity for the great sources 🙄
This boy SAVED the INTERNET… but couldn't save himself.
10 years ago, he was persecuted by his government, and ultimately paid with his life.
Aaron Swartz is a modern hero that most people DO NOT KNOW.
But they should.
Aaron was creative, focused, and brilliant.
At 14, he invented RSS; He dropped out of Stanford; At 19, he was in the first Y Combinator class; He co-founded Reddit.
Most likely, if he were alive today, he would be involved with #Bitcoin.
But that’s not EVEN 1% of what he did for us 🙏
Let’s take a look 👇
From a young age, Aaron believed in an OPEN INTERNET. In computers as a tool for LIBERATION.
"But wait, wasn’t the internet always open?"
No.
Believe it or not, there was a time when they wanted you to REGISTER your ID before you could browse or send an email.
He believed that PUBLIC LEGAL RECORDS and SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH should be accessible to everyone.
But in the U.S.,
• 98% of scientific articles are behind paywalls; and
• ~80% of legal records are too.
Imagine being sued and still having to pay to view the documents?
https://video.nostr.build/2af872c7a7d1b74ce0fb8d42369a87df45a7ee2d23df006d287b58ac60fcfe26.mp4
Aaron's war had 3 major battles.
The first was against PACER.
A legal records database.
PACER is PAID... but it was "free" in 17 public libraries.
With friends, Aaron wrote a script on a USB drive, plugged it into a USB port, downloaded 2.7 million documents... and SET THEM FREE.
https://video.nostr.build/21b565dd1742bc950748be2ac0e0ce2868f4b94c54d1da9321a198c49fe85d1e.mp4
No charges were made against the group.
But the FBI began to take notice.
That had only been the beginning. That boy would still challenge the system.
The following year, Aaron would enter the biggest fight of his life — and the greatest battle in internet history against censorship ✊
"SOPA/PIPA" 👉 if you're over 20, you probably still remember these acronyms.
A bill to "combat piracy"... which was just an excuse for the government to shut down ANY SITE, without warning.
Some companies loved the idea.
But those who loved the internet fought back.
And then, something wonderful happened.
We still knew how to fight against online censorship.
In a coordinated response, the biggest websites on the internet "went on STRIKE."
Wikipedia and Reddit went offline. Google turned black.
Protests also erupted in the STREETS.
But...
... but people have short memories.
This battle was won.
However, the NEXT one would be the LAST for young Aaron.
This MIT security camera was the final straw that ruined his life 👇📹
JSTOR was Swartz's final target: the largest database of academic papers in the world.
Aaron wrote a script to download MILLIONS of papers, over the course of months, using his MIT access, in a small room.
MIT has a rebellious culture.
But the FBI could no longer tolerate the boy's defiance.
With the video evidence, the U.S. prosecution charged Aaron with 13 crimes. Up to 50 years in prison.
In January 2011, he was arrested by undercover agents near the Harvard campus.
From then on, he was legally tortured.
Two years later, he would be found dead at home.
"Aaron would be 38 years old today.
He was accused of 'pirating' scientific papers funded with public money.
Facing up to 50 years in prison, he took his own life.
Those he inspired continue to democratize access to science.
Let us remember him."
*These are the words of Susan, his mother.
After his death, the charges were dropped by the government.
Aaron never considered entering a 'plea deal'. He would have faced millions of dollars in legal costs.
The father of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, published a short poem at the time that says it all:
“The world was a little worse for his passing,
But a lot better for his being.”
Aaron wasn’t a unanimous figure. You may disagree with his methods.
But he was faithful to his ideal.
He was genuine. Firm in what he believed.
He was a person who used his prodigious skills not to enrich himself, but to make the internet fairer, and the world a better place.
Aaron had worked with Virgil Griffith (former Ethereum, now imprisoned for "teaching about crypto" to North Koreans).
He knew Elizabeth Stark (from Lightning).
He was friends with Zooko.
And he wrote about #Bitcoin — on the DAY he was arrested (1/6/11)! 😢
http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/squarezooko
Curious? To learn more about the story, start with this documentary (on YouTube) 👇
[https://youtu.be/9vz06QO3UkQ](https://youtu.be/9vz06QO3UkQ)
We’ll finish with an excerpt from the "Manifesto for Free Access," by Aaron himself:
"Information is power. But, like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves. There is no justice in following unjust laws. It’s time to come to the light, and, in the tradition of civil disobedience, declare our opposition to the private theft of public culture.
We must take information, wherever it is, make our copies, and share them with the world."
RIP, Aaron ✊
I don't know much about the guy but people give him so much credit for things he didn't do
This boy SAVED the INTERNET… but couldn't save himself.
10 years ago, he was persecuted by his government, and ultimately paid with his life.
Aaron Swartz is a modern hero that most people DO NOT KNOW.
But they should.
Aaron was creative, focused, and brilliant.
At 14, he invented RSS; He dropped out of Stanford; At 19, he was in the first Y Combinator class; He co-founded Reddit.
Most likely, if he were alive today, he would be involved with #Bitcoin.
But that’s not EVEN 1% of what he did for us 🙏
Let’s take a look 👇
From a young age, Aaron believed in an OPEN INTERNET. In computers as a tool for LIBERATION.
"But wait, wasn’t the internet always open?"
No.
Believe it or not, there was a time when they wanted you to REGISTER your ID before you could browse or send an email.
He believed that PUBLIC LEGAL RECORDS and SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH should be accessible to everyone.
But in the U.S.,
• 98% of scientific articles are behind paywalls; and
• ~80% of legal records are too.
Imagine being sued and still having to pay to view the documents?
https://video.nostr.build/2af872c7a7d1b74ce0fb8d42369a87df45a7ee2d23df006d287b58ac60fcfe26.mp4
Aaron's war had 3 major battles.
The first was against PACER.
A legal records database.
PACER is PAID... but it was "free" in 17 public libraries.
With friends, Aaron wrote a script on a USB drive, plugged it into a USB port, downloaded 2.7 million documents... and SET THEM FREE.
https://video.nostr.build/21b565dd1742bc950748be2ac0e0ce2868f4b94c54d1da9321a198c49fe85d1e.mp4
No charges were made against the group.
But the FBI began to take notice.
That had only been the beginning. That boy would still challenge the system.
The following year, Aaron would enter the biggest fight of his life — and the greatest battle in internet history against censorship ✊
"SOPA/PIPA" 👉 if you're over 20, you probably still remember these acronyms.
A bill to "combat piracy"... which was just an excuse for the government to shut down ANY SITE, without warning.
Some companies loved the idea.
But those who loved the internet fought back.
And then, something wonderful happened.
We still knew how to fight against online censorship.
In a coordinated response, the biggest websites on the internet "went on STRIKE."
Wikipedia and Reddit went offline. Google turned black.
Protests also erupted in the STREETS.
But...
... but people have short memories.
This battle was won.
However, the NEXT one would be the LAST for young Aaron.
This MIT security camera was the final straw that ruined his life 👇📹
JSTOR was Swartz's final target: the largest database of academic papers in the world.
Aaron wrote a script to download MILLIONS of papers, over the course of months, using his MIT access, in a small room.
MIT has a rebellious culture.
But the FBI could no longer tolerate the boy's defiance.
With the video evidence, the U.S. prosecution charged Aaron with 13 crimes. Up to 50 years in prison.
In January 2011, he was arrested by undercover agents near the Harvard campus.
From then on, he was legally tortured.
Two years later, he would be found dead at home.
"Aaron would be 38 years old today.
He was accused of 'pirating' scientific papers funded with public money.
Facing up to 50 years in prison, he took his own life.
Those he inspired continue to democratize access to science.
Let us remember him."
*These are the words of Susan, his mother.
After his death, the charges were dropped by the government.
Aaron never considered entering a 'plea deal'. He would have faced millions of dollars in legal costs.
The father of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, published a short poem at the time that says it all:
“The world was a little worse for his passing,
But a lot better for his being.”
Aaron wasn’t a unanimous figure. You may disagree with his methods.
But he was faithful to his ideal.
He was genuine. Firm in what he believed.
He was a person who used his prodigious skills not to enrich himself, but to make the internet fairer, and the world a better place.
Aaron had worked with Virgil Griffith (former Ethereum, now imprisoned for "teaching about crypto" to North Koreans).
He knew Elizabeth Stark (from Lightning).
He was friends with Zooko.
And he wrote about #Bitcoin — on the DAY he was arrested (1/6/11)! 😢
http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/squarezooko
Curious? To learn more about the story, start with this documentary (on YouTube) 👇
[https://youtu.be/9vz06QO3UkQ](https://youtu.be/9vz06QO3UkQ)
We’ll finish with an excerpt from the "Manifesto for Free Access," by Aaron himself:
"Information is power. But, like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves. There is no justice in following unjust laws. It’s time to come to the light, and, in the tradition of civil disobedience, declare our opposition to the private theft of public culture.
We must take information, wherever it is, make our copies, and share them with the world."
RIP, Aaron ✊
Who invented RSS?
RSS has a complex history of development with multiple contributors rather than a single inventor. Here's how it evolved:
## Early Development
The conceptual foundation for RSS began in 1997 when Dave Winer developed scriptingNews, which is considered the birth of RSS[4]. However, the first official version of RSS (RSS 0.9) was created by Ramanathan V. Guha and others at Netscape in March 1999 for use on the My.Netscape.Com portal[1][6].
## Key Evolution Stages
**Netscape Era**
Dan Libby at Netscape produced RSS 0.91 in July 1999, simplifying the format by removing RDF elements and incorporating elements from Dave Winer's news syndication format[2]. At this point, RSS was renamed to "Rich Site Summary."
**UserLand Software Period**
After Netscape abandoned the project, UserLand Software took control of the RSS specifications[6]. Dave Winer, while at UserLand, continued development through various versions, ultimately leading to RSS 2.0 in September 2002[2].
**Harvard Standardization**
In July 2003, Winer and UserLand Software assigned the copyright of RSS 2.0 to Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society[2]. This move effectively standardized the format and made it freely available for use.
## Industry Adoption
The format gained widespread adoption between 2005 and 2006, particularly after Microsoft Internet Explorer and Opera Software adopted the now-familiar RSS icon that was originally created by Stephen Horlander for Mozilla Firefox[2]. However, RSS usage declined with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter[6].
Citations:
[1] Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtriya_Swayamsevak_Sangh
[2] RSS - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)
[3] RSS Feed Generator, Create RSS feeds from URL https://rss.app/en/
[4] RSS - Version History - TutorialsPoint https://www.tutorialspoint.com/rss/rss-version-history.htm
[5] How I almost invented RSS | Scott Berkun https://scottberkun.com/2010/how-i-almost-invented-rss/
[6] RSS | Definition, Meaning, & Facts - Britannica https://www.britannica.com/technology/RSS
users don't know what's possible. though devs don't always know what creates real value for the users.
I have a recurring medical issue that somewhat randomly causes internal bleeding. It has sent me to the ER in an ambulance many times. Nothing shows you the criticality of time like bleeding out on your bathroom floor while your wife panics above you.
As I get older I am finding that there's no deep message in most media and I don't care to both waste my time doing things that don't create real value AND let someone else inject their brain worms into me. Even music is becoming tough to listen to. If anything, I try to stick to the classics and non-fiction.
the raw milk argument is tough for me as someone who believes food is broken and the old ways were better, but who has also wrecked his body in weird ways attempting to live by the old ways. I am sympathetic but cautious.
good news is at this point due to Bitcoin I am not worried about the immediate impact of being fired so I'm able to speak a little more freely. like getting drunk and telling our corporate counsel about my history of psychedelic use for treating - you guessed it - anxiety
I rest a little easier knowing it's been this way since the founding of the country and we've navigated through it so far
I've never read an article or book that saved me from making mistakes as a manager or a founder. The scenarios I seem to bump into are usually entirely preventable but also very specific. Coming from an engineering IC background (albeit with a marketer's worldview), I have had many shortcomings in managing the procedural aspects of business. I'm less experienced in business modeling, legal, and people operations. I recognized those weaknesses after a startup I had built burned down around me. I've learned a lot about those areas over the last few from many odd mistakes. I am still making mistakes - I made two just this week (that I'm aware of)!
Anyway, Founder Mode misses benefits of Manager Mode, and vice versa. As always, the answer is somewhere in the middle.
My neighbors will never know I own Bitcoin.
you can acknowledge the value of a truly scarce asset like Bitcoin without wasting your brain on libertarianism.
absolutely nothing...?
everyone wants to be a source of truth. source of truth for this, source of truth for that. fucking game of thrones over source of truth. how about you all just do your jobs, eh? there's value in distributing knowledge.
hard to imagine a human machine interface for this kind of tech that doesn't immediately become outdated. also how do we avoid hooking our brains into a centralized corporate machine? not going to install tech that likely becomes obsolete in months into my body to feed Musk's bank account, or anyone's. not insurmountable issues but seem to be big hurdles. I'd consider it if these could be solved.