Happy Thanksgiving!
From
Quick Clips by Christine
Just listened to Pete Rizzo’s interview with Michael Terpin: https://x.com/supplyshockbw/status/1953226635081036132?s=46&t=wq0GoOCdXxA5DblxlsJJng
While it was excellent overall, there was one thing that I want to respectfully push back on. In discussing Bitcoin and/vs crypto, Michael notes that he looks at Bitcoin as "store of value" and the rest of crypto as "innovation". I feel very strongly that this is a narrative that is not only mistaken but against which we must push back (again, all respect to Michael).
I ask: innovation toward/for what? When I look out at the vast landscape of crypto, what I see is a network of projects guided by technological determinism and engineering masturbation. Projects that extol the virtue of innovation but offer up self-referential loops of engineering gymnastics garnished with flourishes of Web3, DeFi, Blockchain (all rhetorical devices).
So what is innovation? Well, I believe that it is something that moves us -- humanity -- into a new stage of development, of growth. One can argue over the etymology of the term "innovation" (see etymonline.com/word/innovation), however, I believe strongly that the restoration and renewal to which it speaks is a profoundly humanistic one, focused on virtue and evolution.
In its beautiful simplicity and what it offers us -- the ability to communicate truth, trust, value and meaning across time, space and culture (h/t to nostr:nprofile1qqsp2wdswcnnykz6jg5skv34tth9qw34x22ev4l42jcje25hjzt5yxspp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejs072k5u and nostr:nprofile1qqsfccf03dms7r3l6dwd4s4u2l7waptpu4s9qn4ztj9ealuwqdgjk0spz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuanpwf4k2tn9w5q3yamnwvaz7tmsw4e8qmr9wpskwtn9wvz3aku5) -- Bitcoin exudes innovation. It enables and ushers us into renewal, restoration, growth, and evolution across multiple domains of existence.
The manifest distinction between the self-referential, technological determinism of "crypto = innovation" and "Bitcoin = innovation" is that the latter ultimately makes human action and relationships the locus of activity. We are not anticipating salvation and surrendering ourselves to the tool, we are employing the tool (whether consciously or not in all instances) as a tool for human renewal and growth. We are re-ordering and re-constructing the architecture of human relationships. We are re-fashioning how we "communicate truth, trust, value and meaning across time, space and culture".
As far as what this looks like, well, I see it play out in multiple domains. It is evident in opportunity afforded mothers in Kenya participating in nostr:nprofile1qqstmxppwmj4wdfgkwg5kzeya4egfk3tlv9sp8ca22k7pg503vjenfcpz4mhxue69uhhwmm59eek7anzd96zu6r0wd6qz9rhwden5te0wfjkccte9ekxuct49ehx2aq6s7r0x who employ Bitcoin as means to re-claim their rightful, virtuous place within community and to restore and empower community in the process. I see it play out in the growth of children participating in nostr:nprofile1qqsptpha27kgrdnpw7cqs7ascrayvheshxy4jjwgjd5rdmz7dngnzvspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzvuhsz3rhwvaz7tmpwe6n2a3kdymhxdme0gmk66rzv96k2umhw3mr2mn6d9nxwungw95kjcekwechv6rrwgmh2cmdv3ekvvn6dp58x6ty9ehku6t0dchsqvdtyh who are moving toward an increased expression of their human potential against the heavy weight of oppressions that time and history have assigned to them at birth. I see it in the almost unimaginable spark of self-determination that is being realized in high Andes Mountain communities through nostr:nprofile1qqsq8s77zvvc2c3q4vhu9w7xpedye4kszk8a49mza3xcnu9nndyndrqpzdmhxue69uhh2uewdehhxarj9emkjmn9qyw8wumn8ghj7um4wpjhyttjv4kxz7fwvdjhxceww3exzer9qqr5wk'S work. And so on, and so forth across community-based projects and human rights cases harnessing Bitcoin.
Those of us privileged to live in Canada, the U.S. and other more affluent countries can also witness the innovation of Bitcoin is the unprecedented potential it offers many individuals and groups to climb the hierarchy of needs against the headwinds of social distress either caused by or exacerbated by debt-money. For instance, the opportunity afforded a GenZ-er to realistically plan for the sorts of life goals/goods (home ownership, financially sustainable family life) that were once simply taken for granted by most. In this respect, one can argue that "store of value = innovation".
I don't want to get bogged down in semantics nor over-extend this analysis. What I do want to get across is that we must actively resist the Siren call of crypto as innovation. Yes, the "Bitcoin is digital gold" analogy is useful and has some applications...but it only scratches the surface and is utterly inadequate at capturing the many overlapping circles of innovation that Bitcoin achieves or births.
Bitcoin is a store of value. Bitcoin is a medium of exchange. Bitcoin is a unit of account. Bitcoin is a network. Bitcoin is a protocol. Bitcoin is a map and the territory. Bitcoin is innovation and gives rise to innovation.
Let us not neglect the staggering beauty of this exquisite phenomenon. Let us not surrender the human story and evolution which Bitcoin exalts. Let us not relinquish the rightful claim to innovation which is Bitcoin and is set forth through Bitcoin. 🙏🧡
I really like nostr:nprofile1qqs263kmzthz2zsssat2knc0xqrmqnt7dx05t6kr4d5kqaefvgvaypcpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduq36amnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3dwp6kytnhv4kxcmmjv3jhytnwv46qd97yrv for these discussions and I’m grateful he continues to have them. This idea, though that bitcoin is “old tech” and crypto represents “innovation” is just wrongheaded though in my mind. It reminds me of a poster. I saw it one time of all the crazy ideas people had for electricity when it first became available. People thought that shooting it directly into your head would make you smarter or shooting it directly into your muscles would make you stronger. There are 1000 Nazi ideas for things that you could do with electricity. In the end, electricity prove to be useful for just one thing, producing or storing energy in one place and using it in another.
This is essentially the case with Blockchain as well. There are a million crazy ideas for things that it “might” do but ultimately, it’s only purpose is to store value and transmit it from one time and place to be used in another time or place.
Making our money “smarter” so that it can do things without our input doesn’t give us more control over our money. It gives our money more control over us. That’s the opposite of the freedom that Satoshi imagined we would gain by removing trusted third parties.
That’s no innovation. That’s the same old system that created the need for bitcoin in the first place.
"The White House Digital Assets Report asks the Treasury to finalize a rule that would codify all transactions that obfuscate the source of funds as a "primary money laundering concern".
https://www.therage.co/white-house-digital-assets-report-financial-privacy-primary-money-laundering/
😮
Hubby!!!
Hubba hubba
Are there places where undocumented people are getting these things for free? I worked with refugees and immigrants for 30 years and I never met a single person that was getting free housing or Medicaid.
In June I bought my first “new” pair of pants of the 2000”s because we were traveling and I couldn’t get to a thrift store. Felt horrible
It should be more profitable to conserve a thing than to exploit it. Bitcoin Only.
I really miss that cartoon.
Biked the Sparta-Elroy trail through the tunnels today. I know I'm a Viking, but there are a few things I really love about Wisconsin. https://video.nostr.build/c743b17d85fd69eea13cfa0a5722cc6d654e79b77138827a6cea24152af9672a.mp4
I think its kinda crazy that some people think this is a problem. We SHOULD be voting for platforms not personalities. We don't want Kings or Queens. We want to agree on a set of policy objectives. On some level I don't even care if our "leader" agrees with them. I just want someone who can get them done. Honestly, how is this wrong? The alternative is you get someone who says one thing and does another.
I cant stand Kamala. She was my absolute least favorite candidate in 2020. But if she vows to advance the broad policy objectives the party has agreed on, then I'm all in.
If you didn’t read A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin, the audio book is pretty good. Actually sounds a little like nostr:npub1dc84762hpnp0y4jcvjcgwt8l7sepng93j3hg63hfm80ph6kt82eqktjwqd
My Niece has a new #Vikings podcast. #SKOL
It’s only a matter of time. The growing popularity of any thing ensures that increasingly ignorant people will feel compelled to opine about it. This is how the “blockchain not bitcoin” got here. At some point you look worse for not having an opinion than having an uninformed one. Somewhere near the bottom of this descent, the Hitler comparisons appear.
I ran a triathlon in my mid 40’s. Came in a respectable middle of the pack but I realized the next year I’d move up an age group and I imagined I’d really beat up on those old geezers. Came in 2nd to last. Any random 40 year old can work themselves into shape to run a triathlon in a few weeks time but if you’re still doing it at 50, you’re a more or less serious athlete. So much easier to stay in shape than get in shape.
Sounds bad I know but did I mention it had a sunroof?
I'll probably never forget the 1995 Volvo that I paid $30,000 for in 2016.
Now you're telling me it really cost $960,000?
Not gonna lie. Hurts a bit.
The crazy thing is that the people who are blocking this are probably also the most upset with the idea of nine different genders. Well trans people are mostly doing their best to fit into your fucking he/she dichotomy and you won’t even let them do that.
Oh man. This is a tough spot. I really enjoy your Notes…….A LOT.
Just imagine how much easier the connections to the Trump train would be if we had invested a little more in Amtrak/public transit.