192 - Hiking in Hong Kong
🇭🇰 November already - V and I are just enjoying ourselves being back home in HK. We have lots of things to do and catch up on. I have been out hiking every day this week - the weather has been about perfect - not too hot and not too humid.
While out hiking over the weekend I made a point of going back to the famous spot between DB and Mui Wo where I have been every year recently. It's fun to check back on how things were in the world and what I was anticipating: see for yourself - 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 - what fun! Hope you all have similarly happy memories.
V and I got to enjoy our regular lunch at the Windsurfing club. It's been a while since we were there but it was great to be back and meet the friendly locals. Lunch at the club is not complete without a helicopter visit; this time we had no less than four of them! I am sure that they are not really necessary - just a way to keep up pilot quota and they do make a LOT of noise.
During the week I also got to meet up with some Bitcoiner friends and enjoy a couple of excellent HK Clubs - the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) and the Royal HK Yacht Club (RHKYC) - nice and thanks! This is certainly one of the benefits of living in Hong Kong!
Book of the week
I have several books on the go at the moment - you will recall that I think this is a good practice! I got to finish this one and also listen to Jason's review - I recommend that you do likewise.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, published by CS Lewis in 1950, tells the story of four siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—evacuated from London during World War II to the countryside home of Professor Kirke. There, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe that serves as a portal to the fantastical land of Narnia, a world under the icy rule of the White Witch who has cast a spell making it "always winter but never Christmas". Recall our discussion on the first book in the series - The Magician's Nephew.
Click for Jason's review - I think he is spot on - WDYT? Backup here
In Narnia, Lucy meets Mr Tumnus, a faun who initially is meant to betray her to the White Witch but ultimately defies her by helping Lucy return to her world. Lucy tries to convince her siblings of Narnia’s existence, but they initially do not believe her. On a subsequent visit, Edmund enters Narnia and encounters the White Witch who lures him with enchanted Turkish Delight and the promise of power if he brings his siblings to her. Edmund secretly agrees to betray his siblings, setting up conflict in the narrative.
Eventually, all four children enter Narnia together. They learn from Mr and Mrs Beaver about an ancient prophecy that predicts the end of the Witch’s reign when two Sons of Adam (boys) and two Daughters of Eve (girls) will sit on the four thrones at Cair Paravel. As the rightful heirs, the Pevensies are drawn into an epic struggle between good and evil.
Central to the story is Aslan, the great lion and true king of Narnia. Aslan returns to Narnia to confront the White Witch. When Edmund’s betrayal results in him being sentenced to death according to the witch’s claim of "Deep Magic," Aslan offers himself as a sacrifice in Edmund’s place. Aslan’s death on the Stone Table and subsequent resurrection through "Deeper Magic" should give you pause for thought. Aslan then leads Narnia’s armies in a decisive battle, vanquishing the Witch’s forces.
The Pevensie siblings assume their roles as kings and queens, ruling Narnia for many years with wisdom and justice. Eventually, they return to England through the wardrobe, finding no time has passed, symbolising the ephemeral nature of their magical adventure.
So what symbolism did you catch? Any that Jason missed? Happy to discuss.
Interviews of the week
Hrvoje is back from his holidays and he is cranking out excellent interviews one after another. These two are quite different: the interview with Shannon is an easy one to get started - you should pay careful attention to what she says. The second one is his monthly review with two other researchers - well worth listening to.
How dangerous is EMF really?
Shannon Rowan discusses her fascinating book “The Red Shoes: Our Devil’s Dance with Technology and How We Can Stop It” on whether digital technologies have crossed the Rubicon from being mere tools to becoming our masters and whether they may even inherently be evil.
From the harms of EMF and EMR, to the effects of screen technology on children and adult internet addiction, the internet is wreaking havoc on society. She also looks at some of the mysterious DARPA origins of this technology and little known facts such as how the CIA’s MK-ULTRA predecessor was known as Project Bluebird: isn’t it interesting how Twitter’s initial logo was a bluebird? Remember: there are no coincidences.
Cognitive Dissidents for October
If you are looking for a good monthly review of the madness going on in the world - from a variety of well-informed perspectives this is it. The Cognitive Dissidents discuss the latest in Trump’s crony oligarchism, resource wars in Latin America, the “stable-coin-con” and quite a bit more! There is no shortage of distractions currently.
More in this issue
- Photo memories - Lamma Island and DB to Mui Wo
- Project Updates - Bull Wallet and Windoze
- Plenty of useful links - don't say nobody told you!
- Closing out - Jay and Jason - some fascinating discussion
Lamma Island and DB to Mui Wo
🛠️ Project Updates
The following are updates from some projects that I am following, supporting and collaborating with. These are all part of the Parallel Systems that we need to build and use. What are you doing?
Another great wallet option
Francis is the Founder of Bull Bitcoin, a Canada first globally expanding bitcoin brokerage service. They recently launched their own self custody mobile wallet on iOS and Android: Bull Wallet.
This is a fascinating discussion and you will appreciate how much innovation there is in the bitcoin space. I have long been a fan of Liquid Bitcoin and you will learn how they have incorporated it into Bull Wallet. A most interesting implementation and nicely done. Listen too to the advantages that Liquid gives. If you are a user of Aqua (we have discussed this before) you will already be aware of some of these.
What is even more interesting was the whole discussion on ARK. I have highlighted this before but until now I was not aware of any real-life implementations. Bull is leading the way here and this discussion led me to another update interview. ARK is progressing well and has enormously interesting potential - well beyond simple payments. More on this next week.
Private Spaces in GrapheneOS
You will recall that I am very much a fan of GrapheneOS to give you a more secure and private phone, replacing the stock Android operating system. I was aware of Private Spaces but recently it has become even more interesting, being available in all of the additional profiles and not just the owner profile.
This is a great explanation and demonstration of how it works here. You likely will want to give this a go.
Especially interesting with this is that you can use an additional, separate google account if needed in each private space. This can be useful if you must use Google Play (sandboxed) - eg for banking applications - and this account can be fully separate from your normal account. There is no risk of data leakage.
Windoze 11 - it is time to say NO
If you are a Windoze user you are at a critical moment and likely an important decision is due. Evil Microsoft is abandoning all Windoze 10 users and forcing them to upgrade to Windoze 11. In many cases this will require that you buy a new computer! You really need to open your eyes and look at what is going on.
Micro$oft wants to enforce use of a TPM chip in a way that is a privacy risk and they will require that you must have an online account using a Microsoft ID (aka Digital ID). The real objective is AI surveillance of everything you do on your computer and this leads to Social Credit Score.
You do not want nor need any of the AI features but they will be forced upon you and you will be deemed to have accepted it all willingly by virtue of clicking a stupid checkbox.
Rob explains - do click and listen to him. You need to get off Windoze NOW.
I have explained to you many times that switching to Linux is the most sensible option. Doing so is free and you can try it out before you commit - it likely will run on your existing computer - no need to buy a new one. Rob explains:
02:41 Linux is Free - and you can test it before you commit to it
07:27 There Are so Many Linux Distros! Ubuntu is a great choice
09:54 Installing Linux 101 - use LibreOffice instead of M$ Office
12:47 Handling the Pain of App Installation - use AppCenter
20:22 Advanced Work Uses - it's all possible
22:40 Windows as a Virtual Machine
24:03 Summary
BTW: Apple is only slightly better. For years they have enforced AppleID with such fervent obsession that it was obviously nefarious from the outset. However, you can create multiple accounts on your mac and they do not need AppleIDs - this is something that you likley do want to investigate and/or do.
🔗 Links for your edification
The following are links from my NetNewswire feeds - learn, enjoy and share.
Act now - or forever hold your peace
Are you fed up with the ever increasing nonsence, surveillance and control that is being imposed on you and all around you? Think - Digital ID, CBDC and surveillance/policing in general.
You have the opportunity to speak up now and make your dissent clear. Doing do is free and it is absolutely your legal right to do so. It is time to speak up and let your disagreement be known. If you do not speak up now, you will regret it. If enough people take action this really can have an impact and slow down or reverse some of the current lunacy.
Conscientious Currency
Click, read and take action - share with others - templates are included
Remember Anatomy of the State. The state is that entity that produces nothing and has (and will use) the monopoly of violence on its citizens. It is by no means benevolent - all this might remind you of Organised Crime.
ICYMI - LSB has also suggested taking action with some video tutorials and he also includes template letters that you can use.
Failure to take action really is passive agreement and acceptance - and you will get what you deserve. Take action now as Tess suggests and you may very well disrupt and turn back some of the evil that is being perpetrated on you. Each DSAR is a vote that really counts and makes a difference, unlike those in your (s)elections.
Fairy Tales?
We all know fairy tales and they have been taught for centuries. What you might not know is that many of them (maybe all?) have factual, real-life origins. That of the Pied Piper is but one of many that this girl investigates and explains. I do recommend that you check her channel - you will be surprised by many.
She does cover most of the theories that I have heard about this story. What do you think? Have you other ideas or insights?
🤔 Closing Thoughts
Closing out this week with just one item. It is a fascinating discussion - almost like Jason found his long-lost brother.
Jay Weidner is a renowned filmmaker, author and scholar. Considered to be a ‘modern-day Indiana Jones’ for his ongoing worldwide quests to find clues to mankind’s spiritual destiny via ancient societies and artifacts, his body of work offers great insight into the circumstances that have led to the current global crisis.
Jay really is a well known producer with decades of high quality production experience. He was producer for Gaia for many years. From their discussion, it may well be that there is future collaboration with Jay to do some production for Jason's research - that would be interesting.
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- Morpheus to Neo in The Matrix
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