The concept of "digital scarcity" is fascinating and increasingly relevant in our world. For centuries, scarcity has been a corne! That's where ideas like NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and cryptocurrencies come into play. While they are often linked to discussions about finance and investment, at their core, they explore how we can create and manage scarcity in the digital world. An NFT, for instance, represents a unique digital asset – a piece of art, a virtual collectible, or even a digital certificate. Its "non-fungible" nature means it's irreplaceable, like a one-of-a-kind painting. Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, often have a capped supply, mimicking the limited reserves of precious metals. This built-in scarcity is intended to influence their perceived value. But the implications extend beyond just economics. Digital scarcity impacts art, intellectual property, and even online identity. Consider the proliferation of AI-generated art. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it's easy to imagine a scenario where the market is flooded with AI-created content. How will we value human-created art in such a context? Digital scarcity models, whether through NFTs or other mechanisms, could play a role in preserving the value and authenticity of original artwork. The ethical dimensions are also crucial to consider. Who gets to define digital scarcity? How can we ensure equitable access to digitally scarce resources? Are we creating new forms of inequality by concentrating digital ownership in the hands of a few? These questions demand thoughtful discussion and proactive solutions. Exploring digital scarcity forces us to reconsider fundamental concepts of value, ownership, and authenticity in the digital age. It's a conversation that requires input from artists, economists, technologists, policymakers, and everyone in between. Understanding the nuances of digital scarcity is essential for navigating the evolving landscape of our increasingly digital world. It’s not just about technology; it’s about shaping the future of creativity, culture, and economic systems. And it's something worth discussing, learning, and even debating! #DigitalFuture #Scarcity #TechTrends

AI and Art: The Future of Creativity or a Threat to Authenticity? As AI continues to make waves in the art world, many artists are wondering: is it a tool to enhance creativity, or is it a challenge to human-made art? The rise of AI-generated art has sparked concerns about originality and authenticity. While AI can certainly create visually stunning pieces, it lacks something essential: the emotional depth that human artists pour into their work. True art comes from personal experiences, struggles, and emotions—elements that AI simply can’t replicate. While the technology behind AI is impressive, it will never match the unique perspective that only a human artist can offer. Social media has further complicated this dynamic. Artists now find themselves competing for attention, where algorithms and viral trends often dictate what gets noticed. As AI-generated art becomes more common, many artists feel the pressure to compete to stand out. But in the video, we emphasize the importance of focusing on what truly matters—creating with passion and staying true to the process. It’s easy to get caught up in external validation and social media metrics, but the joy of creating and the personal connection with your audience should always come first. Instead of seeing AI as a threat, the video encourages artists to view it as a tool that can help push their creative boundaries. When used the right way, technology can open up new possibilities for artistic expression. But no matter how advanced AI becomes, the essence of what makes art meaningful will always come from humans. AI might be able to generate images, but it will never capture the emotional resonance that comes from lived experiences, making human creativity irreplaceable in the world of art.

When you hurt genuinely kind people, you might not see an immediate reaction. They won’t raise their voice, make accusations, or cause a scene. Instead, they’ll carry their pain silently, showing the same warmth and compassion they always have. But deep down, something has shifted. They’ll start to distance themselves, not in anger but in quiet acceptance. Slowly, they’ll create space, walking away without any dramatic goodbyes and they won’t look back. These are the people who valued you deeply, who trusted you without question. When that trust is broken, it doesn’t shatter, it fades away, leaving them with no choice but to protect their peace. 🕊️ They won’t stop being kind or lose their gentle nature, but they’ll never see you the same way again. Remember, losing a kind heart is losing something irreplaceable. Cherish them while you can, because once they’re gone, they’re truly gone.

Israel’s overreach: The perils of ignoring power limits Israel’s prolonged multi-front aggression and its utter dependence on US support expose the perilous consequences of power overreach. Tel Aviv is left dangling in the wind with a sledgehammer, but no strategy to climb down. Mohamad Hasan Sweidan In the study of international relations, one of the most important threats to nations arises from an internal lack of awareness about their limits of power. A nation-state’s power projection is ultimately defined by key factors – military, economic, technological, diplomatic, and political reach – that are measurable and have inherent limitations. This principle has led retired Israeli Colonel Gur Laish, former senior director for National Security Strategy at Israel’s National Security Council, to issue a stark warning. In a paper published on 19 August by the Begin-Sadat Center for Israeli Strategic Studies, Laish cautions Israeli leaders against embracing a new security doctrine that overlooks its limitations. Israel’s strengths Israel undeniably ranks among the world’s most formidable military powers, providing the occupation state with a strategic advantage over its regional adversaries. Its armed forces are ranked 15th globally and have received over $130 billion in support from the US, its irreplaceable ally in international affairs. Economically, Israel is also a significant player. In 2023, The Economist ranked Israel fourth among developed countries for economic success. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated Israel’s GDP to be $564 billion and its per capita GDP to be $58,270, putting it at 13th worldwide. Since its founding, Israel has received nearly $330 billion in foreign aid from the US, bolstering its economic dominance. Technologically, Tel Aviv also stands out on the global stage. The Global Innovation Index 2023 ranks Israel 14th out of 132 economies. Within the high-income group of 50 economies, Israel is ranked 13th and holds the top spot among 18 countries in North Africa and West Asia. The Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024 also ranks Israel third globally and first regionally, underscoring its technological prowess. Diplomatically and politically, Israel benefits from unwavering US support, allowing it impunity from many international laws and norms. Washington has used its veto power in the UN Security Council 89 times, more than half of which have been to block resolutions critical of the occupation state. Since 1945, out of 36 draft resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine, 34 were vetoed by the US, effectively shielding Israel from accountability for its actions. The US has also played a pivotal role in Israel’s diplomatic achievements, including normalization agreements with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) and, more recently, the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco (2020), with ongoing efforts toward Saudi–Israeli normalization. Dependence on Washington: A double-edged sword Israel’s superiority in all these fields is closely tied to continuous US support, which also reveals a critical vulnerability. Dependence on Washington necessitates Israel’s alignment with western policies, which has led Israeli elites to caution against straining US–Israel relations. Retired colonel Benina Sharvit Baruch highlights this point in an article for the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). She notes that Israel’s integration into the international system is under threat, especially in light of the ongoing Gaza war, which has significantly damaged its global standing. Baruch warns that failing to counteract this trend could further undermine Israel’s spiraling economy, national security, and military objectives. Just last week, former ombudsman of the Israeli army, reserve General Yitzhak Brik, said the occupation entity “faces collapse in less than a year” if the war of attrition continues. In another piece, the INSS also stresses that the US-Israel strategic alliance is contingent on shared values: Israel’s strategic importance to the United States is relevant only as long as the shared values are safeguarded. At this time, the special relations are in danger, especially given the widening gaps on the perception of democracy, Israeli policy on the Palestinian issue, and the growing alienation between the American Jewish community and the State of Israel. Indicators that Israel is reaching its limits Beyond its dependency on US support, Israel’s military engagements, particularly in Gaza, have exposed the constraints of Tel Aviv’s power projection. Ten months into Israel’s brutal military assault on the besieged strip, the Palestinian resistance is still able to target Tel Aviv. History shows that states that ignore their limitations often face decline. In his seminal work, Politics Among Nations, Hans Morgenthau argues for a balance between power and policy, warning that excessive force disrupts this equilibrium, leading to instability and potential decline. Similarly, Paul Kennedy’s The Rise and Fall of Great Powers illustrates “imperial overstretch,” where ambitions exceed capabilities and precipitate decline. A recent example is the constrained ability of the US to support multiple fronts, evidenced by its diminished focus on Ukraine following the outbreak of the Gaza war. Several indicators suggest that Israel, by continuing its war in Gaza, may be approaching the limits of its power. For starters, economic strain is becoming evident despite Israel’s historically strong economy. In the last quarter of 2023, Israel’s GDP contracted by about 20 percent compared to the previous year. There was also a significant decrease in consumption by 27 percent, and investment fell dramatically by 70 percent. The war has disabled approximately 18 percent of Israel’s workforce, with 250,000 civilians displaced and four percent of the workforce called up as reservists. In response, the occupation state plans to increase military spending from four percent to six or seven percent of GDP by the decade’s end. This increase in military spending comes as the global economy is already under strain, and the US is less capable of providing the same financial support as in the past. In addition to the economic strain, there has been a failure to achieve the military objectives outlined at the onset of the conflict. Last month, the New York Times reported that, despite ongoing military operations, the Israeli leadership is considering a ceasefire in Gaza that would leave Hamas in control. This shift in strategy is seen as a concession, acknowledging that the complete destruction of Hamas, the war’s primary goal, is not feasible. In June, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari candidly admitted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated policy of eliminating Hamas was unrealistic, describing it as “throwing sand in the eye of the public” and adding: Hamas is an idea. Anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong. Concerns are also mounting over a second major front with Lebanon, a development that has now become a reality. Since 8 October 2023, Tel Aviv has adopted a cautious strategy to avoid broadening the conflict, aware that its military forces are already heavily committed in Gaza. ‘Boiling a frog’ In accordance with Iran’s grand strategy, the prolonged conflict has drained the Israeli military’s resources, making it hesitant to engage in a new confrontation without significant US support. The deployment of US naval fleets in the region, intended to deter any potential response from Iran, Lebanon, or Yemen, highlights Israel’s dependence on American military support. This dependency reveals Israel’s current inability to manage multiple fronts independently. Furthermore, Israel’s heavy reliance on US support limits its autonomy and increases its vulnerability to shifts in American foreign policy. This dependency extends across economic, political, and military dimensions, further constraining Tel Aviv’s ability to act independently. This week, Israel’s Defense Ministry announced that the US military has completed its 500th flight, airlifting over 50,000 tons of weapons and equipment to the occupation army. In addition to the reinforcements airlifted to Israel since 7 October, Washington has sent Tel Aviv 107 shipments of military supplies by sea. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah claimed in a speech late last year that Israel’s munitions stock had been largely depleted in the first month of its Gaza assault and that the occupation army was almost entirely reliant on arms transfers from its allies, primarily the United States. What would happen if that pipeline of weapons halted or if it suffered major production delays? For Colonel Laish, Israel’s traditional approach of rapid, decisive conflicts is being replaced by a strategy that accepts prolonged wars. This new, high-risk strategy promoted by Netanyahu could exceed Israel’s capabilities, as the society, economy, and military are not equipped for sustained, drawn-out conflicts. This shift, driven by a sense of invulnerability due to current levels of US support, has led to a decline in long-term planning. As Stephen Walt, a Harvard University professor of international relations, writes in Foreign Policy, “the deepest problem facing Israel is the gradual erosion of Israeli strategic thinking over the past fifty years.” Walt argues that one important factor in the decline of Israeli strategic thinking at the expense of tactical choices is “the sense of arrogance and impunity that stems from American protection and respect for Israel’s wishes.” If the most powerful country in the world supports you no matter what you do, the need to think carefully about your actions will inevitably diminish. Walt posits that Israel today, by prioritizing immediate tactical gains over strategic vision, faces a looming and resounding defeat. As it stands, the occupation state has yet to propose a realistic plan for Gaza’s future or a strategy to address its regional adversaries, who are becoming increasingly emboldened. https://thecradle.co/articles/israels-overreach-the-perils-of-ignoring-power-limits

Who has the power to kill the world? Money is Power is Money. Sasha Latypova This is a follow on to the recent article contributed by Catherine Austin Fitts of Solari.com to this stack. If you have not read it, I suggest you do so now. It provides a very clear “big picture” analysis of the covid con, and offers historical perspective to it. Attempts to post this article to Facebook resulted in immediate (within 2 seconds) removal. You will not find this information in propaganda news sources: Musings on the Department of Defense Musings on the Department of Defense Editor’s note: This post was contributed by Catherine Austin Fitts of Solari.com. I learned a lot of information I wasn’t aware of from this article, please don’t skip it! I highly recommend to visit Catherine’s website and subscribe to her report. She offers a wealth of resources, education and true human intelligence. Read full story I am frequently asked, how do you know who gave the orders to start killing the world under pretenses of a fake pandemic in 2020? This question is not a very difficult one, as the power hierarchy is clearly visible: the laws that are being invoked (national emergency, suspension of the Constitution) defense production, weapons purchasing, full liability protection to those who follow the orders to kill. This is not difficult, but requires reading and understanding the relevant public documents, or at least reading my pinned postwhere all this is summarized. If you don’t want to read these documents or my prior articles, here is a very simple thought experiment: who do you think has enough power (measured in money) to pull off a global murder operation? Catherine Austin Fitts and Carolyne Betts recently spoke on CHD TV, full video here. Tweet and transcript from Sense Receptor includes video clip: In this clip from a recent episode of the Children's Health Defense series, Financial Rebellion, Investment banker and former HUD official Catherine Austin Fitts describes how the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has spent $20 trillion of taxpayer money (between 1998 and 2015) that has gone undocumented and unaccounted for. Fitts also highlights the fact that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has done the same with $1 trillion of taxpayer money. Fitts starts out her overview of "the missing money" by noting that in 1994 the New York Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Reserve (the Fed) bought shares in the Bank of International Settlements (BIS). The investment banker notes that the Bank of International Settlements "is the central bank of central banks in Switzerland and operates above the law...[as] they have sovereign immunity and enjoy it in many respects and they can receive and hold money secretly [and] can keep money on their balance sheets secretly." Effectively, Fitts says, the U.S. government buying those shares "made their relationship with the BIS much closer..." The investment banker goes on to note that in October 1995 a budget deal in U.S. Congress "basically crashed and burned" and "it was then that...the president of one of the largest pension funds said to [her], 'They'—whoever 'They' is—have given up on the country and are moving all the money out starting in the Fall." Fitts says it was that Fall, October 1997, "when money started to go missing from HUD, as well as the Department of Defense." As of today, Fitts says, "there's...$20 trillion between 1998 and 2015 missing from DOD and $1 trillion missing from HUD." "The other thing that started to happen when that money started to go missing...was what I call the Great Poisoning..." Fitts adds. "Literally, it was the next month after the budget deal crashed that OxyContin was approved and the HUD predatory lending started and the pill mill started and really, the targeting of the low-income neighborhoods started, including the roundups coming from the private prison movement." "Undocumentable adjustments then skyrocket[ed]," Fitts adds. Cut to 2001, and "the day before 9/11 Donald Rumsfeld gave a press conference at the Department of Defense...[announcing] that the Department of Defense was missing $2.3 trillion..." video here: Fitts was told that one of the offices at the Pentagon that was blown up was the location for the office of Naval Intelligence Research Group, which was investigating the missing money. "The rest is history," Fitts says. "The Patriot Act had passed, and then the DOD got huge appropriations and nobody really cared about the missing money." Cut to 2018, and Fitts notes that during the theatrical hearings held during the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress—including both the Senate and the House, Republicans and Democrats—along with the Trump White House "got together and issued a policy called Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board Statement 56." (Fitts refers to it as FASAB 56 or, phonetically speaking, 'Faz-B 56.') "[W]hat FASAB 56 says, very short and simple, is basically the government can keep secret books as a matter of administrative policy, thus refusing to obey all the financial management rules and regulations and laws, including the constitutional provisions for disclosure of financial operations," Fitts says. Image She adds that "they extended it, along with the classification laws, to private companies and banks doing business with the federal government, which means when you look at the U.S. securities market, the large cap section of the U.S. market...most of the disclosure is meaningless. You have no idea how the money works at many of these companies and the government because they're so intertwined." Fitts adds that "the COVID-19 operation could never have happened without that [FASAB 56], because it put the Department of Defense, and [other federal government] agencies in a position to, essentially, access an unlimited amount of secret money." Fitts says somebody once told her that FASAB 56 is "a wet dream" as it allows for "secret money for secret operations." "I think it was one month after FASAB 56 passed that suddenly Moderna magically raised $500 million. Quite a coincidence". In 2018 the Pentagon failed it’s first-ever audit. "'We failed the audit, but we never expected to pass it,' Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told reporters, adding that the findings showed the need for greater discipline in financial matters within the Pentagon." In 2023, the Pentagon failed the 6th audit in a row. Image June 2024: Management Advisory: Review of DoD Funds Provided to the People’s Republic of China and Associated Affiliates for Research Activities or Any Foreign Countries for the Enhancement of Pathogens of Pandemic Potential (Report No. DODIG‑2024‑099) The DOD Office of Inspector General issued this statement: I wish I were kidding: Here is the DOD IG report. They simply don’t know how much money they gave to Chinese research laboratories to make scary “bioengineered viruses”. So, who gave the orders to kill the world? To understand who gives orders, you need to understand who has power to do so. Power is measured in money. Can you think of anyone that can “take” the money from the bank account that is not there? Who has this magical capability? Can Elon Musk do this? Tedros, the war criminal in Geneva? Bill Gates? Fauci? NO! They all have to somehow obtain the money first, legally or illegally. The Pentagon can however. They spend 10x+ what their official spending budget says, seemingly pulling it out of thin air, for decades, and NEVER ACCOUNT for it. This is not some secret, hidden pile of cash, this is better! This money is taken from us in plain sight, openly. They just take it and spend it, and the Congress can go pound sand… OK, admittedly, they had to 9/11 part of the Pentagon offices to burn some of the financial records with a magical Boeing airplane that leaves no traces on the lawn, but whatevs. It sent the proper message, like, freedom is not free… warriors don’t do math… It is certainly not “just” the Pentagon which is running this global kill op. The enterprise is complex and is called PHEMCE (Pandemic Enterprise). Here is the detailed map of the fascist octopus kindly provided by the octopus itself: Next time someone asserts that “Pfizer captured the FDA” or HHS/Fauci directs DOD, who are just poor little soldiers following orders, you can laugh at this propaganda nonsense. The power structure is quite easy to discern from this map. Another insight form this map is blazingly obvious: if someone successfully prosecutes Pfizer for lying about covid vaccines, especially if this is done on the (incorrect) legal theory that Pfizer wasn’t part of the Operation Warp Speed (AG Kobach), how does this theoretical legal victory affect the ability of the DOD-HHS lead Blob to continue the mass murder operation called “Pandemic Preparedness”. If you answered “not at all”, you are right! And that’s exactly why these lawsuits are structured the way they are structured: carefully avoiding going after the real perpetrators. Circled in red are the irreplaceable permanent parts of it - the US Government, including the DOD (and all it’s military countermeasures offices), HHS (with all its military countermeasures offices, CDC, FDA, NIH), Congress and White House, and foreign governments, too! They are all “partners” in this Enterprise. They are all connected to the funding, which, as we discussed, comes from the DOD’s unlimited ability to spend without accounting. Next layer is the “performers” - the private sector that is receiving the money and orders and is doing the work. These are replaceable parts. There is a nearly unlimited selection of the “performers” all desperate for government cash and replaceable at any time: You can see the relevant importance of Pfizer to the entire organization depicted on this chart. The Pentagon planned and prepared for this global kill campaign over decades. Since 2020, we are living under permanent military dictatorship. They steal our money and use it to murder us. Simply because they can. Do not comply. Art for today: Pink Peonies, oil on panel, 12x12 in. Who has the power to kill the world? Money is Power is Money. Sasha Latypova This is a follow on to the recent article contributed by Catherine Austin Fitts of Solari.com to this stack. If you have not read it, I suggest you do so now. It provides a very clear “big picture” analysis of the covid con, and offers historical perspective to it. Attempts to post this article to Facebook resulted in immediate (within 2 seconds) removal. You will not find this information in propaganda news sources: Musings on the Department of Defense http://donshafi911iamthefaceoftruth.blogspot.com/2024/07/who-has-power-to-kill-world-money-is.html