The Allure of Fame vs. the Power of Ideas I’ve often found myself scrolling through social media, whether it’s YouTube, Twitter, or some other platform, and feeling a pang of jealousy. Watching others bask in the glow of fame, with hundreds, thousands, or even millions of eyes on them, it’s hard not to want a piece of that. Their ideas are so well-articulated, their thoughts so thought-provoking, that part of me can’t help but wish I were in their shoes. But then I take a step back and realize that craving fame is not the right motivation. Most of the people who achieve that level of recognition do so not because they chased popularity, but because they had something valuable to say. Their ideas, perspectives, and the way they connect with others are what draw people to them—not a desire to be famous. It’s tempting to believe that gaining a following on social media is the ultimate goal. The allure of fame is powerful, and I can’t deny that it has its pull. But I also know that this isn’t something I should aspire to. The drive to create should come from the strength of the ideas themselves, not from a desire to be recognized. This is something I struggle with. Even if I could come up with great ideas, strong arguments, and genuine thoughts and feelings on a topic, would I be able to remain consistent like those who have succeeded? The people who become known for their content are not only brilliant—they are also incredibly consistent in articulating their ideas. It’s a difficult journey, and if you’re not willing to recognize how much harder it is than it appears, you might want to reconsider. Ultimately, I’m beginning to understand that the true reward lies in the strength of the ideas we share, not in the number of people who notice them. If I can focus on that, the rest will follow naturally, or perhaps not at all—and that’s okay too.

Breaking the Cycle: Thoughts on Nostr and Freedom Tech The journey from the birth of the internet to where we are now has been a long one. It feels like there’s a natural progression in how things go: something starts out for the people, by the people, and it gains trust. But as it gets bigger, it centralizes and turns into something like an evil big brother. I’ve seen it happen with so many things—governments, companies, money—you name it. If something can become centralized, it seems like it will. For the longest time, I just accepted that as the way of the world. It felt like we were stuck in this cycle of control, and the best times to live were those moments in between the extremes. Like, in the 80s and 90s in the United States, there was a good balance between the people having control and the government having control. But if you weren’t lucky enough to live during one of those times, it felt like you were destined to struggle. That was my mindset until I discovered Bitcoin. Bitcoin gave me a bit of hope that maybe the cycle could be broken. I spent a lot of time studying it, trying to find any flaws that might keep it from fulfilling its purpose of giving people freedom. I’m not saying it’s perfect, but the way it prioritizes decentralization and security is pretty remarkable. It’s a tool for freedom, and that’s something that really got me thinking. With Bitcoin giving me hope, my imagination started running wild. I began to wonder if this cycle of control could be broken in other areas too. That’s when I discovered Nostr. I don’t know if all this freedom tech will work, but I do know what the old ways have led to. So why not give it a try? I want my kids to have a better future, one with more freedom. With this new tech, at least there’s a chance. With the old ways, there’s nothing to look forward to.