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Most of the regulars here probably know that I'm into the Bitcoin. I've been completely obsessed with it for just over 5 years now. I've mined, I've traded (usually unsuccessfully), I've held.

Bitcoin has changed, and not in a good way.

When I first got into bitcoin, there really wasn't much you could buy with it. There was that farm in Argentina(?) that would sell Alpaca socks, Bees Brothers Honey, Satoshi Dice (gambling), and that was pretty much it. The network was much smaller with less users and less transactions. 'Real' people still hadn't heard of bitcoin yet.

Back then, the energy was good. Communities valued differing opinions and being nerds, there was ample debate on every topic no matter how menial. Every time a new merchant accepted BTC, everyone was excited and would try to support that business. The motto wasn't 'HODL', but rather 'Spend and Replace'. Big business started accepting Bitcoin. Microsoft and Steam where huge victories. Buying games off steam with bitcoin was an amazing experience.

So what happened? Bitcoin stopped growing and started shrinking. Business that used to accept bitcoin stopped. Steam? They left. There are many other examples of companies that previously accepted bitcoin that no longer do.

***

In 2014, a number of the Bitcoin Core Developers created BlockStream. Blockstream was one of the early 'companies' to actually receive funding in bitcoinland. The initial announcement was generally well received (after all, if someone wants to spend money on dev work, that's great). Some people expressed concern about this new company. Blockstream's stated goal was to enhance the bitcoin ecosystem using something called sidechains. This concept was completely new at the time and everyone was pretty unsure what a sidechain even was and how it worked.

The basic idea of a sidechain is that you can send bitcoin to a script address that would lock up the bitcoin until a set of conditions are met. While the bitcoin is locked up in that script address, you can then reference the locked-up bitcoin in another blockchain and transact on this other blockchain referencing the 'value' of the locked up bitcoin. This new sidechain could offer additional functionality (like faster blocks, bigger blocks, additional scripting features, etc). When the transaction is complete, the sidechain could signal back to the original chain to release the funds (and possibly redistribute them if value was transferred on the sidechain).

One of the first examples (I think it actually /was/ the first) of a working sidechain was from a company called 21inc. This company received a pretty good chunk of cash to develop a little chip that was going to be installed everywhere. This chip was capable of mining as well as performing transactions. The idea was that one of these chips would be installed in pretty much every powered appliance. Your fridge, your washing machine, your cell phone, etc. All these devices would be mining and earning a small amount of bitcoin. 21inc would collect 75% and the 'owner' of the device would get the remaining 25% of mining revenue. So, your fridge would be mining away earning you a small amount of bitcoin. This bitcoin could then be used to pay for services. Your fridge could buy food or electricity or whatever. Your washing machine could buy water. Your phone could pay for stuff. There was a lot of excitement, but unfortunately 21inc never really went anywhere beyond a dev kit that you could purchase.

Back to Blockstream. While the initial response to Blockstream's incorporation and funding was positive, eventually people started to question their motives. Blockstream's stated business model was to create sidechains and profit off them. 6 months after Blockstreams founding, Lightning was announced. Lightning was kind of like a sidechain but not quite... The initial response to the announcement was overwhelmingly positive. Lightning promised quick, cheap transactions using bitcoin as the value backing the transaction.

Not everyone was a fan of Blockstream. Some people looked into where the funding had come from and found that AXA Venture Partners (a subsidvision of AXA insurance) was a major contributor to the initial seed funding. Many of the investors of Blockstream had some pretty heavy traditional banking background and that worried some people. Blockstream starting hiring Bitcoin Core developers in 2015. It wasn't long before ~50% of the core developers (the ones that actually committed code) where on Blockstream's payroll. And around this time, the narrative started changing.

At the time, there were two main communities that people would discuss Bitcoin: reddit/r/bitcoin and bitcointalk.com. Both of these communities were run be the same person, Michael Marquardt, who went by the handle 'Theymos'. Discussion was generally open and unmoderated until some time in 2015. The block size debate had resurfaced again. This debate had been going on for years and until this point it was pretty much assumed that when transaction volume warranted it, that there would be an update to increase the block size. There were several proposals on the table, but the proposal that had the most traction was an 8MB block size.

Gavin Andreson (former lead developer for Bitcoin and the man that Satoshi left in charge when he mysteriously left), coded up a fully functional bitcoin client that would accept these larger blocks. The client was called BitcoinXT and would enable a block size increase if 750 of the last 1000 blocks signaled for the increase (75% threshold).

Meanwhile, on reddit (where all the bitcoiners would congregate), Theymos was no longer taking a light handed approach to moderation. Any post that promoted BitconXT was 'offtopic' or 'alt-coin discussion' and those posts would be removed. Comments would be removed, and Theymos went so far as to modify the custom CSS for the bitcoin subreddit so that deleted comments wouldn't show up at all hiding the extent of moderation. It was around this time that I noticed that some threads would be sorted weirdly. Instead of the normal sort order of 'new' or 'best', many threads were being sorted by 'controversial'. Sorting in this way would allow Theymon to bury comments and mislead the discussion. This sorting manipulation was not just on a few threads, I would see quite a few examples of this every day and it was an obvious attempt to quell and mislead actual discussion.

As BitcoinXT started gaining support, someone or some group started attacking nodes running the XT nodes. THey would be DDoSed into oblivion. Core developers under the payroll of Blockstream even condoned these attackes and suggested other possible attack vectors, such as faking support to cross the activation threshold only to pull support at the last moment. Anyone that would publicly support a block size increase would be publicy smeared and attacked. Many people and companies continue to be smeared and attacked to this day. (One recent example is coinbase being removed from the bitcoin.org website because they added Bitcoin Cash support).

One day, during some 'Who is Satoshi?' drama, Gaven Andresen posted a tweet saying that he believed that Craig Wright was satoshi. This was after Gavin had met with Craig in person and had allegedly watched Craig sign a message with an original Satoshi private key. When Gavin posted this tweet, the Core developers claimed that was evidence that he had been hacked and revoked his commit access to the github bitcoin repo. That access was never reinstated. The original developer that was chosen by satoshi had been kicked out.

The scaling argument continued to rage on. Users of reddit/bitcoin that supported a block size increase would find themselves banned from the sub. These big blockers would find a new home in reddit/btc and stop posting in reddit/bitcoin. The community was split -- big blockers lived on reddit/btc and small blockers lived on reddit/bitcoin.

More proposals would be offered. Bitcoin Unlimited was released sometime around early 2017, again with the goal of increasing block sizes using a new signaling technique. Another idea was 'SegWit'. In the spring of 2017 segwit had ~30% support while Bitcoin Unlimited was at times approaching 50%. However, bitcoin was at a stalemate.

Some bitcoin industry leaders met in NY to create what would become the New York Agreement. This agreement would accept SegWit, and a block size would be enabled 90 (?) days after that. The block size would be 2MB, the smallest increase possible, but an increase nonetheless. As per the agreement, miners started signaling, and Segwit was enabled on mainnet. However, after Segwit was enabled, a massive campaign was launched called NO2x. This campaign was ultimately successful, and is why Bitcoin only has 1MB blocks.

Since then, bitcoin hasn't been growing like it did prior to that time. Instead of features being added, features were being removed. Things were getting more complex instead of simpler and more accessable. Bitcoin used to be 'Build it and they Will Come', but now bitcoin actually discourages people from using it. That is not the bitcoin I signed up for.

Fortunately, just prior to Segwit activating on mainnet, Bitcoin ABC was created to split the bitcoin chain, and on August 1, 2017 Bitcon Cash was born. Unlike bitcoin, Bitcoin cash is growing. Bitcoin cash has many of the 'old-timer' working on it. These people helped make bitcoin what it was, but many now fight for Bitcoin Cash. Bitcoin Cash has nearly caught up with Bitcoin in terms of acceptance in less than one year.

This is really just the very, very tip of the iceburg. There is so much more that I have left out. In short, I feel that Bitcoin has been hijacked and no longer represents the bitcoin described in the whitepaper. It no longer follows the formula that made it successful initially. Bitcoin Cash is now the closest thing to the original vision, and that's why I am a Bitcoin Cash Supporter.

I got a really bad case of the shits last night as well as excruciating abdominal pain.

Once I convinced myself that I would not piss out my asshole until after a hearty meal, I walked to the Emergency Room. Of all the toetullie kewal things I was the _only_ ER patient between 2:00 and 5:00 AM so I got the Red Carpet treatment.

They were concerned about my abdominal pain so they gave me a CT scan.

This is point at which the Roffle Copters start up their engines, their blades turning slow at first then whirling faster and faster:

The scan and some blood tests turned up that I have a garden variety case of the shits that the doc said would "resolve itself" with the aid of such over-the-counter remedies as Imodium. Too bad that I'm busted so flat that I can't buy any yet.

LOLCATS:

That same CT scan turned up a "mass" on my right kidney. The diagnostic radiologist and my ER doc both said it's most likely cancer.

But the ER doc said "It's not going to kill you as it's quite treatable. They'll just surgically remove your kidney then prescribe a course of chemotherapy."

I'm down with that as I've always hoped that the day would come that I might be completely overcome with vomiting while at the same time receiving an IV drip of Fenergin, Arnold Schwarzenegger-like anti-nausea medication.

I'll book an appointment with my Primary Care Physician just after I post this. Their scheduling people always ask _why_ I want to see her. The worse my complaint is the sooner I get seen.

I'll need a referral most likely to a Nephrologist, then that same kidney doc will give me a biopsy. I'll know from my Pathologist's report how likely I am to fulfill you sorry lot's heart's desires by perishing in indescribable agony, as well as what the best course of treatment would be.

Wish Me A Long And Happy Life!

Dying,

Mischa

Normally when I want to make yogurt, I use a thermophilic process:

1. Heat/boil a gallon of milk to kill (reduce) whatever is in it.
2. Let it cool down to about 115-120°F (45-50°C).
3. Stir in a few tablespoons of store-bought yogurt, or "back-slopped" yogurt from the previous batch.
4. Hold it at 115°F/45°C for 8 - 16 hours.
5. Store in fridge.

You can use a yogurt maker, but some Instant Pots come with a yogurt function and if your oven can keep the temperature at 115°F/45°C, then you can just put a covered pot of it in there.

I got a couple of these on clearance with the intention of using one as a starter culture. It supposedly contains these active cultures:

L. lactis subsp. lactis, L. lactis subsp. cremoris, L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis, Leuconostoc subsp. cremoris, S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium sp.

My bottle is almost identical (some of the names are reformatted):

L. lactis subsp. lactis, L. lactis subsp. cremoris, L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis, Leuconostoc spp., S. thermophilus, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. rhamnosus, L. paracasei, L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium spp.

Filmjölk is described as a mesophilic yogurt - with the strains added to cold milk, not boiled, and fermented at room temperature, i.e. 70-78°F (21-26°C). However, some of the strains listed above, such as thermophilus and bulgaricus, are clearly found in thermophilic process yogurts.

So should I just make it the thermophilic way like usual, do it at room temperature, or try to do each version? Is there a middle ground (such as keeping it warm for 4 hours, and then letting it drop to room temperature)?

Blood Moon 2018 prophecy: What is the Blood Moon prophecy and will the world end?

Nibiru is just so passé.

Welp...just got back from a doctor's appointment for some routine bloodwork. Good news is I'm down to 159 lb--this in all clothes less shoes and with a big meal in me. Bad news is, somehow, I've *shrunk* about 2 inches, and can no longer use the phrase "six-foot dyke in steel-toed work boots." I mean, "five-foot-ten dyke in steel-toed work boots" doesn't have quite the same punch to it, you know? But the measure doesn't lie: 178cm, 5'10" on the dot.

And no one can tell me WTF happened there. If my mother's any indication there's almost 20 years still to go to menopause, and I haven't lost any bone or muscle mass. A co-worker about my age says she lost an inch a couple of years ago and the doctor told her it was bad posture, but I don't slouch, so...who knows?

Odd. This bugs me more than it ought to to be honest.

Alison Angel of all people. I was quite dumbfounded.

This particular photo is completely appropriate for your workplace - but no others you have been warned!

Just now a ravishingly lovely young nanny responded to my acceptance of her Friendship request by asking about my family then but minutes later letting me know that she loved me than one or two minutes more asked me to marry her.

I sincerely pointed out that I would be honored were she to accept my sincere offer of friendship.

Not long at all after that she informed me she needed me to buy her an iTunes card Right Now so I instantly blocked her.

That's the third time that I've been approached with quite likely the single most-popular romance scam.

I assert it's vitally important you learn to be a judge of character lest you fall victim to scammers.

This Means you: among my very worst experience as a consulting software engineer was getting stiffed for seven solid weeks of sixteen-hour days.

Happily my tormentor bailed and so sold her site when she was one of the very first to get the bad news that the Dot-Com Crash hit one month before.

I still have my source for a truly fascinating graphics application and have consulted experts who assert that I own its copyright because that particular client never paid me for it.

Real Soon Now you'll find it as an iPad App in the App Store. I'll drop you a dime once it's there.

XXXTentacion: Controversy rages after rapper's shooting death

The killing of US rapper XXXTentacion has set social media ablaze: vicious arguments have broken out about how to memorialise such a problematic figure, as fans pore over conspiracy theories about the perpetrator and even question if the rapper was killed at all.

Florida police have confirmed the 20-year-old, born Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was shot dead on Monday.

Despite this, fans are probing videos purporting to show him after the shooting. Posts online point out potential discrepancies in his facial tattoos and question the lack of visible blood, bullets and shattered glass in the footage. Some suggest his death was faked as part of an elaborate prank for a future video release.

A video from several months ago of XXXTentacion denying his own death (after an apparent suicide prank on his own channel) has also re-circulated widely, leading to further confusion.

[...] He spent much of last two years in and out of jail or on house arrest.

At the time of his death he was awaiting trial for beating and falsely imprisoning his former partner, Geneva Ayala, having already pled no contest to charges of home invasion robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm in a separate case.

I made this unaccepted submission about him a few weeks ago:

Related: Spotify Removes Two Artists From Playlists Due to "Hate Content and Hateful Conduct"

I wrote in a prior journal that I had an upcoming date with a married woman I met while at a playground a few months ago. Last Friday I had that date.

We met at a fancy bar. It was the kind of place that had a wine menu a dozen pages long. Very classy place. I arrived first, and she showed up a few minutes later. She extended her hand for a handshake, but I refused it and went in for the hug. She was a little surprised.

The conversation was fantastic and flowed easily. Eventually there was a natural point in the conversation where I could bring up/ask whether or not we were actually on a date. She said she wasn't sure. I let her know about my open relationship status and she said that they have a more Don't Ask Don't Tell type setup.

I'm really bad at remembering exact words. I more remember the 'feel' of the conversation. I got the impression that they used to have a DADT setup, but since her daughter they kinda stopped, but in an unsaid way. It wasn't exactly clear. I did say that I didn't want to be 'that guy', and that I don't want to cause problems with their family.

Anyways, we continued the evening and later a live band came on and started playing. We got up to dance at one point. As we danced we caressed each others fingers in a soft and erotic way. It almost felt as if sparks were jumping between our fingers.

We sat back down and ordered another drink. She ordered another after that 'to find an excuse to prolong the night'. Eventually it was almost 1:00am. She had to run a 5k with her daughter the next morning (I felt terrible for her the next morning). We left, I kissed her, and she hopped into her Uber.

It was an amazing night. I think it was the best date I've been on since I started dating again.

Elder Scrolls VI Officially Announced

The revelation of The Elder Scrolls VI at this year's E3 came as a complete surprise for most gamers, since no one was really expecting news about the open-world adventure. The teaser trailer is only 36 seconds long, and it opens up with a foggy flyby of a large mountainous area.

[...] Unfortunately, there is no gameplay, no details on the characters, no information on the story, and nothing about the mechanics, physics, or technology other than that game director Todd Howard revealed that the current generation of home consoles are not not powerful enough to run the game, including the Xbox One and PS4.

I take this to mean that Xbox One X and PS4 Pro are also not powerful enough.

Recently it was leaked that Microsoft was working on various products, including the next Xbox "Scarlett" for around 2020. There were no technical details. However, there have been reports about the AMD CPU and graphics architecture that will be used in PS5 (and maybe Xbox):

PS5 Possibly uses AMD Ryzen CPU as Sony Appears to be Actively Working with the Tech – Rumor

Sony working with AMD on PS5 gear

What we might see is the same 8 core count in these consoles, except using more powerful Ryzen cores, possibly on the 7nm GlobalFoundries/TSMC node. Maybe they will have 2 threads per core instead of 1.

Here's a bit of Navi news:

AMD’s Navi will be a traditional monolithic GPU, not a multi-chip module

Coyote and apple in rural New Mexico