OK. I now understand your argument and think it's valid. Then what's the best path forward, in your opinion? The answer isn't obvious to me. My gut tells me that there must be a better "compromise" technical solution that hasn't been proposed yet.

Nostr is not something that you just dump something on. It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes.

I'm very interested in this. Harsh in what way? I've used fenbendiazole and ivermectin without any noticeable side effects. Heads up: I've heard that ivermectin may have negative impacts on fertility from a qualified source (I haven't done the DD on this myself).

Elon is one of the most interesting characters of our time. I can't figure him out. I know better than to trust him, but I have a hard time not liking the guy and some of the things he's done. I can't tell if his political convictions are based on personal principles or a self-serving weather vane. He's simultaneously inspiring and terrifying.

After discussing the v30 vs. UASF debate, I've conceded that it's a lose-lose, false binary. v30, as implemented, with no additional measures for mitigating the legal risks for full nodes, is begging for legal, media, and political attacks. UASF sets a dangerous precedent - consensus changes in the name of "safety." Political and financial powers could then point at UASF and demand KYC, blacklisting, etc. for "the children / safety / terrorism / financial stability." Perhaps there's a way to scan new v30 blocks for illegal content in OP_RETURN and immediately prune it? I think additional novel ideas should be considered. My gut tells me that there must be a better "compromise" technical solution that hasn't been proposed yet. Something that mitigates the legal risks without setting a dangerous precedent. Big brains are often accompanied by big egos. I hope the big brains can step back, see the bigger picture, and constructively collaborate on developing and implementing an alternative solution.

Religion is stronger than reason

From GPT: Yes, the "peace and harmony" promises are definitely relevant in understanding Peter Thiel’s Antichrist argument, particularly when it comes to his critique of modern ideological trends. Thiel often targets the contemporary obsession with "peace," "harmony," and "sustainability" as part of a larger, utopian vision that he believes ultimately leads to stagnation and a denial of the need for bold progress. Peace and Harmony in the Antichrist Scenario The Promise of "Peace and Harmony" as a Stagnating Ideal: One of Thiel's central arguments is that modern society has become too focused on achieving "peace" and "harmony" through gradual, often incremental solutions. This vision of a conflict-free, perfectly balanced society, where everyone gets along and everything is optimized for the common good, represents, in Thiel's view, an ideal that ultimately prevents progress. In this sense, the desire for peace and harmony can be seen as a tool of the "Antichrist" because it aligns with a broader cultural and political agenda of reducing risk, suppressing competition, and avoiding bold ideas that could disrupt the established order. A Conformist Vision of Peace: Thiel critiques how modern notions of peace often prioritize sameness and conformity over creativity and radical change. The pursuit of harmony, according to Thiel, can often morph into a societal push for everyone to think and act alike, smoothing out differences and discouraging disruptive innovation. This is the "Antichrist" influence he speaks of—a force that turns society away from the uncomfortable but necessary tensions of change and progress, instead encouraging a passive, tranquil existence devoid of meaningful challenge or growth. The Antichrist’s Deceptive Promises: The "peace and harmony" vision, Thiel argues, is seductive because it promises a world free from conflict and suffering. But he sees this promise as ultimately false. It’s a vision that hides the reality of stagnation and mediocrity behind a veil of comfort and safety. Thiel compares this to the biblical figure of the Antichrist, who might appear to offer peace, but in reality, is delivering something far more destructive: a world where nothing new happens, where the human drive to explore, create, and transcend is suffocated. Critique of the "Ruling Class" and Their Vision of Utopia: Thiel also ties the idea of "peace and harmony" to what he sees as the growing influence of a technocratic, managerial elite in society. This class, according to Thiel, promotes policies that emphasize sustainability, equality, and global cooperation, all of which sound noble on the surface. However, these ideas often come with the cost of stifling innovation and dissent. The pursuit of "harmony" becomes a tool to suppress disruptive technologies, entrepreneurial ambition, and new ideas, all of which are essential to true human progress. In this way, the "peace and harmony" promise is seen as part of the larger ideological framework that keeps people from questioning the system or striving for something radically new. Utopianism vs. Transcendence: Thiel is particularly critical of utopian ideologies that claim to offer peace and harmony. These are, in his view, ideologies that promise a perfect future without recognizing the need for great individual achievements or risks. Rather than focusing on transcendence—seeking to go beyond current limits—utopian promises of peace and harmony focus on the elimination of strife and the maintenance of current systems. For Thiel, the idea that we should strive for a world where everything is harmonious and optimized is limiting because it shuts down the possibility of transcending our current reality, whether through space exploration, revolutionary technologies, or radical societal transformations. How Peace and Harmony Relate to the "Antichrist" Ideal In Thiel’s philosophy, "peace and harmony" are not inherently bad, but the way they are framed in the modern world—especially in terms of ideological and political conformity—serve as manifestations of the Antichrist mindset. This mindset, while promising stability and comfort, ultimately prevents humanity from achieving its highest potential by discouraging true, disruptive progress. To summarize: the promise of "peace and harmony" is seen as part of a broader ideology that Thiel believes stifles innovation, creativity, and risk-taking. The "Antichrist" scenario, in Thiel’s view, is the force that seeks to make the world less about the pursuit of great, transformative goals and more about managing and optimizing the status quo. Peace and harmony, in this sense, become tools for maintaining a stagnating, complacent society, rather than for fostering the bold, disruptive changes that could lead to real progress.

I'm thinking ~$80k is a reasonable area to start bidding. Depending on stock market conditions and the v30 / UASF drama (and if the mainstream media gets involved), ~$60k is possible

Agree on pretty much everything you're saying, except the first sentence. Maybe this is just a semantics mismatch. I more or less agree on the lose-lose situation. A publicized CSAM attack could have a significant negative impact on price and public perception (at least for some time). BIP-444 seems to be a bit "clumsy" and opens up a potential can of worms. I think the proposal has room for improvement, both technically and rhetorically. Perhaps there's a way to scan new blocks for illegal content in OP_RETURN and immediately prune it? I think v30, as implemented, with no additional measures for mitigating the legal risks for full nodes, is the worst option. But coming back to the BIP-444 soft fork, my understanding of your argument is that what's important is WHY it's being done, and this makes it substantially different from the previous taproot soft fork that was done to improve technical capabilities. Is that accurate?

Try yoga or "lazy yoga" (Thai massage)

I think the odds are effectively zero anyway. QC is a researcher funding grift. Even those who believe it's possible admit that it's a long way out (10+ years). There's no eminent threat and therefore integrating post-quantum crypto is a waste of time and resources.

I'm not Vegan or Vegetarian, but I respect those who choose those diets out of compassion for animals. I assume it's more challenging to get adequate nutrition, but I think it's possible.

I get your argument (I think) and can see the potential threat vector, but I would argue it's not new and has already been done (taproot softfork). Would the BIP-444 soft fork set any substantially new precedent?

No AI content is a great call

Dear Windows users: I sometimes have to use Windows for work and it's shockingly bad after using Linux Mint for years. Linux Mint has a better UI/UX, is faster, doesn't get viruses or need antivirus, doesnt spy on you, doesn't take forever to update, and is free and open source. The Libre Office suite is nearly as good as MS Office, fully compatible with MS document files, and it's 100% free and open source. You can still use Office 365, Teams, and everything else in the browser. Unless you must use native Adobe creative tools, specialty software only available for Windows, or specific Windows-only video games, you really should at least try it. Nearly all popular apps are now also available for Linux. Adobe tools are also still available in the browser via the Creative Suite. Download the 3GB ISO file and use Balena Etcher to make the bootable USB (super easy). Then press Del, F2, and/or F12 when you turn your computer on and change the boot order to the USB stick. AI can guide you through the process, but it's not even necessary. That's it. You can then take it for a spin (running with the OS on the USB, note: this will be slower and you can't easily save files this way) and then decide if you want to install it on the same drive as your Windows OS (not recommended) or a separate, new SSD/NVMe hard drive (recommended). You can then "dual boot" (select Windows or Linux on bootup) and eventually just ditch the Windows drive all-together (after backing up your user directory on an external drive or USB). Years ago, it was true that Linux wasn't as easy or nice as Windows. Now that has flipped (particularly with Linux Mint Cinnamon). The UI/UX and performance of Linux Mint is way better now. Hardware compatibility / drivers is also a non-issue now - everything is plug and play. You don't ever need to use a terminal, but you may eventually find it more efficient for some tasks. Mint takes care of everything like OS and software updates via a GUI, just like Windows. Macs have a slick UI/UX and excellent hardware design, but I personally still prefer Linux Mint.

We're not going to let this happen

Jewelry opportunity?

Stealing this

> I've moved on to other things

*If we allow and accept it