Sundays
Sunday Ramble
Start-up life has been ramping, pulling my time from family and holiday celebrations — even squeezing my Rambling hours. And I love it. Well, like any job, I don’t love all the bits and bobs, but building a product that I feel passionate about makes up for the short-term sacrifices. So I’ll be excited to share it when we’re ready to pull the curtain back.
The result of start-up land is that this weekend felt a lot less open than the last few. Thankfully, my self-inflicted loss of freedom has been met with some unexpected pro-freedom content that barrelled my way from multiple sources. The first was the must-see interview between Joe Rogan and Dr. Peter McCullough. Listening to Dr. McCullough’s 3-hour interview with Joe Rogan felt like a tipping point in the conversation on COVID in the US. He isn’t an anti-vax advocate, but having a voice of authority pointing out the absurdity of lockdowns and vaccines instead of promoting natural immunity and treatment was a breath of fresh air. Peter even went through the process of explaining how psychologically, the situation was a perfect storm to push people into the belief that the vaccines were the only way out of the COVID maelstrom.
Now, maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but hearing the doctor whose testimony empowered the federal judge to revoke the vaccine mandate in the US made me think the tide is beginning to turn. Or maybe it’s people realizing that 3rd and 4th booster shots make it difficult to continue calling it a vaccine. Or that there are now enough vaccine injuries for people to have brushed with it personally, causing them to question the motives. Or perhaps it’s the realization that Omicron is presenting as nothing more than a common cold despite the over-reaction in many jurisdictions. Or maybe the ruse could only go on so long.
Whatever may be the case, even satirists are beginning to poke fun at the logic. If you’re not familiar with JP’s work, know that he has an uncanny way of roasting just about anything you may find sacred in life. Even his satire on COVID comes through gritted teeth, though.
I don’t know what happens next. Indeed, you’d have to be a hermit in the Himalayas or have your amygdala torn out to have missed the ups and downs of the covid-coaster. Some days feel like dystopia is descending on us, while others feel like the veil is about to drop from the masses’ eyes. And this weekend has me feeling like the latter. A single viral event or word from the right person could cause the water to breach the damn of denial holding afloat the dual lies of “natural immunity is worthless” and “vaccines are our only way out.”
My timing may be horrible here, but I do have faith it will occur sooner than later. Just thinking about the aftermath of a collective waking-up event gives me shivers to consider. If it occurs, there’ll be a lot of not-so-happy campers out there — I’ll be doing my best to avoid them. Thankfully, building a rad product with the potential to change the world is the perfect excuse to keep my head down…except on Sundays.
Rad Reminder on the Interwebs
Bitcoin Price Prediction
Weekly Range: $39k - $52k
I wrote the following for last week’s price prediction, and nothing has changed this week: the range remains the same this week as Bitcoin’s price action continues to consolidate after the pullback started November 10th at $69k and ended, at least temporarily, with the price plunging to $41k on December 4th. As anticipated, the price has been grinding between $46k and $52k since then, as the bulls have bought up the $46k region while the bears heavily defend the $50k. If $46k fails to hold, I anticipate $41k being reached quickly and possibly as low as $39k. If $52k is breached, I expect a run-up to $57k. No matter how you look at it, the price looks set for choppy movements through at least the end of the month.
Bitcoin Q & A
Q: What is the Bitcoin’s Nakomoto Engine?
A: Proof of Work.
Proof of Work is a successful algorithm because it capitalizes on perhaps the most potent force in the human species: self-interest, aka greed. Every mining rig — operated by people — on the Bitcoin network works in perfect self-interest to try and procure the next block on the blockchain earning the block reward (currently 6.25 bitcoin). As soon as a new block is discovered, it is in each miner’s self-interest to move as quickly as possible to solve for the next block in hopes of earning the reward. Individual self-interest keeps the Bitcoin network secure — the Nakamoto Engine in action.
Do you have questions or Ramble topics? Leave a comment or reply to the newsletter to reach me.
Bitcoin donations accepted