#Accumulation Phase Strategies

[mesetacadre]

Hey do you think you could watch and give your throughts on youtuber Jonas Čeika video "marx was not a statist"?

Thank you

Quite honestly, the title alone already betrays some amount of anarchist metaphysics, the concept of stateism is a purely idealist notion which only works if you are a liberal about authority. But regardless, I still watched the full thing.

The video starts with a very semantic-focused discourse on how marx never used "socialism" to mean the lower phase of communism, and way too much time on the terms transitionary period/DotP as if they weren't two terms that refer to the same thing. In the case of socialism/lower phase of communism, I think he's obfuscating. He focuses the discussion on whether Marx used a certain term in the same way we do now. This would be like spending a good 5 minutes of a video presenting, with an almost accusatory disposition against modern communists, how the bolsheviks called themselves social-democrats, pretending like the terms haven't simply evolved. He promises an "active engagement with marxist theory" and he starts by arguing semantics. He even acknowledges this possible criticism, but you also then have to defend why that criticism is not valid, instead he acts like merely acknowledging it will make that criticism invalid. I'm also spending this time on this specific point because, later, he also forgets how Marx used the word "socialism".

When he does define the lower stage of communism, he engages in a very mechanic and economicist view, with the simple train of thought: No money (replaced with vouchers) > no capital to accumulate > no classes > no state. I think that just by asking how these vouchers will be regulated and how access to wealth restricted to the use of those vouchers, the conclusion that the substitution of money necessarily leads through that chain to the disappearance of the state becomes, very transparently, downright infantile.

In his point about how the Paris Commune changed Marx's view on the state, he cites excerpts in a very misleading way. The whole point starts by pointing out that, in the preface to the 1872 edition, the experience of the Paris Commune led Marx and Engels to the following analysis: "...the working class cannot simply lay hold of the ready-made state machinery, and wield it for its own purposes". This, along with a disregard of the importance of the specific policy points they outlined in the manifesto, and the importance of absolute centralization, means to him that Marx and Engels, actually, completely disregarded the use of the state on the road to communism. To quote Lenin: "Listen, comrade from Tiflis, one may prevaricate, but one should know the limit...."

What the video doesn't directly address (and although he talks about the text extensively, It's important to cite ideas where they actually come from), is that this quote, although it appeared in the 1872 edition of the manifesto, comes from Civil War in France, a longer text on the Paris Commune. This is a more complete context of that quote that the video never gives [ID in alt text]

That quote is the beginning of a chapter in which Marx describes how the Paris Commune governed itself, and how it broke with the series of revolts that happened throughout the period of feudalism, how the class character of the Commune marked it as the significant event that it is. It is true that the Commune's aspirations for the entire world was for its form to be replicated even in the smallest hamlet, and it may even be true that this influenced Marx to generally reject centralization of the state. However, what the breadtuber obviates throughout the entire video, is that a small state is still a state, and furthermore, that revolutionary strategy is not dictated by what is right or wrong, but by what can be done to advance the cause of the emancipation of the working class. It is one thing to reject the state outright, and another very different thing to acknowledge that it is necessary to take control of the state to emancipate the working class, even if you abstractly oppose the concept of a state. Not only to take control of the state, which is the point of the original quote, it is necessary to create our own worker's state, in whichever form it best suits the concrete reality: "the working class cannot simply lay hold of the ready-made state machinery, and wield it for its own purposes". Jonas says that the proletariat should, instead, create "radically democratic working class institutions". These gentlemen think that when they have changed the names of things they have changed the things themselves.

Instead of understanding that point, he goes even further. Jonas has understood that, by praising the measures taken by the Paris Commune (which, let's remember, failed after two months!), Marx and Engels began to believe that "[the state] is by nature bourgeois". Maybe Jonas started reading Bakunin instead of Marx without realizing, this is perhaps the most liberal and historically illiterate portion of the 30+ minute video essay. Again, comrade from breadtube, one may prevaricate, but one should know the limit. In fact, Marx even says in the same text being discussed: "It is generally the fate of completely new historical creations to be mistaken for the counterparts of older, and even defunct, forms of social life, to which they may bear a certain likeness". The irony needn't be explained.

As if Jonas hadn't misconstrued the text and Marx enough, he shows the quote: "... although there is nothing socialist in them except their tendency...". At first I was unable to find this specific quote in Civil War in France, not in any chapter nor in the footnotes. As it turns out, this quote is not from Civil War in France, as Jonas so succinctly cites it, but from the draft of the text. First, it's simply dishonest to cite such a cherrypicked line from a draft and passing it off as something Marx published.

There might be a myriad of possible reasons why this idea did not make it into the final text, but in order for the audience to correctly follow along, it's necessary for them to know where an idea comes from. Beyond this, which I find misleading enough, the video makes the point that with this line, Marx is clearly differentiating between a dictatorship of the proletariat and socialism. But hang on, didn't Jonas spend the first 5 minutes of the video explaining that, in the times of Marx, socialism was understood to be a reformist and petit-bourgeois stance? So, then, how could this out of context, unpublished line be Marx making a distinction between lower-phase communism and the dictatorship of the proletariat? This is the phrase's context [ID in alt text]:

The actual point of this portion is not even related to what Jonas makes it out to be. Here, using "socialist" as another name for utopians, Marx makes the distinction between previous movements of utopians, those socialist sects, and the Paris Commune, because even though their goals, the emancipation of labor, may appear similar, there is nothing socialist [utopian] in them because their means are not utopian, but the beginnings of scientific communism. So, then, not only did Jonas go back on the first point of the video to dunk on the evil stalinists, and not only did he completely remove the context of a phrase by failing to cite properly, but he also failed to even understand the points made in the text he's cherrypicking. Is this what passes for "active engaging with marxist texts" in breadtube?

After this portion, which I still consider the better half of the video, he veers into talking about socialism in one country, first by, again, very blatantly removing important parts of the texts he talks about. The quote he shows, from Principles of Communism, is as follows: "Will it be possible for this revolution to take place in one country alone? No. By creating the world market, big industry has already brought all the peoples of the Earth [...] into such close relation with one another that none is independent of what happens to the others [...] It follows that the communist revolution will not merely be a national phenomenon but must take place simultaneously in all civilized countries [...] It is a universal revolution and will, accordingly, have a universal range." It is true that Engels states that communist revolutions cannot be confined to the national scale, but those ommissions hide a lot of nuance that is very relevant to discussing Marx and Engels' positions on the national/international question. This is the full quote [ID in alt text]:

Marx and Engels were unable to completely and correctly analyze the imperialist form of capitalism, which hadn't yet fully crystallized, economically speaking. According to them, since capitalism was the most developed in places like England or France, the proletariat was also more developed, and the socialist revolution would happen first in these places, and propagate outwards. This notion was proved false by both theory (Lenin's imperialism) and by practice. Lenin identified that, as imperialism settled down as the highest stage of capitalism, the imperialist chain could only be broken at the weakest link, which was Russia at the time. I'm insisting on Lenin's theories because Jonas also claims Lenin to the "not statist" camp, and the video very quickly loses any originality by defaulting to the narrative of Stalin betraying Marx and Lenin by rejecting the world-wide revolution in the short-medium term as a pre-requisite for the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat. I think that going more in depth into this will only make this response unnecessary longer, but to end it, I think it's apt to end with a Lenin quote which directly refutes this anti-Lenin betrayal notion:

A United States of the World (not of Europe alone) is the state form of the unification and freedom of nations which we associate with socialism—about the total disappearance of the state, including the democratic. As a separate slogan, however, the slogan of a United States of the World would hardly be a correct one, first, because it merges with socialism; second, because it may be wrongly interpreted to mean that the victory of socialism in a single country is impossible, and it may also create misconceptions as to the relations of such a country to the others.

Uneven economic and political development is an absolute law of capitalism. Hence, the victory of socialism is possible first in several or even in one capitalist country alone. After expropriating the capitalists and organising their own socialist production, the victorious proletariat of that country will arise against the rest of the world—the capitalist world—attracting to its cause the oppressed classes of other countries, stirring uprisings in those countries against the capitalists, and in case of need using even armed force against the exploiting classes and their states. The political form of a society wherein the proletariat is victorious in overthrowing the bourgeoisie will be a democratic republic, which will more and more concentrate the forces of the proletariat of a given nation or nations, in the struggle against states that have not yet gone over to socialism. The abolition of classes is impossible without a dictatorship of the oppressed class, of the proletariat. A free union of nations in socialism is impossible without a more or less prolonged and stubborn  struggle of the socialist republics against the backward states.

On the Slogan for a United States of Europe, V. I. Lenin (1915)

Overall, I think this video lacks any kind of rigor or respect for the texts discussed. Citations are pretty predominantly misleading or incomplete in some way, he extrapolates fantastical ideas from texts he doesn't appear to understand, and more in general, the way the video is concienved reeks of dogmatism, the arguments overwhelmingly boil down to "Marx said this (according to me), so it must be true". There is no actual engagement with texts, but there isn't even a will to engage with history. Marxism does not end with Marx and Engels, it's a philosophical and political framework that extends beyond the gospel of incomplete quotes. Even if Marx and Engels really did believe such anti-materialist ideas as "the state is bourgeois by nature", it would not change the facts that the history and experiences after the Paris Commune should also have weight in order to reach conclusions.

[khryswilliams]

Character Strategy Thoughts: Louis

You know, for as much as I try to make my team picking really formulaic, it's actually rooted in silly things most of the time. Case in point, Louis. Like, I now understand why he keeps his eyes closed all the time because I'm not sure if I could handle such a piercing gaze 24/7. Nevertheless, I'm still here for it.

The man is a tank. HP, STR, BLD, and DEF for days. The man wants to sit down and people-watch out of battle, so why NOT make him a literal wall in-battle?

The man takes no flack from physical units and doles out a lot more damage in return; but his SPD and his RES stat leave something to be desired, though. And I can see that DEX stat being a bit of a problem on the more elusive enemies in the late game as well. As much as I want to try to make Louis a more balanced unit, I think I'm fine with taking the gamble of doubling down on what he's good at: playing defense. But there might be a few ideas outside of this.

Potential Inherited Skills

Now, if we're talking about defense, I have a couple options to consider:

Marth's Unyielding skillet allows a unit to recover a percentage of their max HP (up to 40%) equivalent to the threshold required for the skill to trigger. Accumulative cost of 300 SP.

Sigurd's Canter allows a unit to move up to three spaces after initiating combat against a foe at the accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Sigurd's Lance Power set grants a direct bonus (of up to +10) to a unit's Attack stat when the unit is equipped with a lance at the accumulative cost of 5,000 SP.

Sigurd's Hit+ set grants a direct bonus (of up to +30) to a unit's Hit stat for the accumulative cost of 2,500 SP.

Micaiah's Res+ set grants a direct boost (of up to +5) to a unit's RES stat at the accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Roy's Hold Out set allows a unit to survive a round of combat with 1 HP as long as the unit remains above a certain HP threshold for the accumulative cost of 5,000 SP.

Leif's Vantage set allows a unit to counter before the foe's first attack during the Enemy Phase for the accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Lyn's Alacrity set allows a unit's potential follow-up to pop off before the foe's counterattack during the Player Phase if the difference between the unit's and the foe's AS stats is above a certain threshold. Accumulative cost of 3,000 SP.

Lyn's Speed+ set grants a direct bonus (of up to +5) to a unit's SPD stat for the accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Lyn's Speedtaker grants a stacking +2 bonus to a unit's SPD stat (up to a max of +10) for every time a unit has initiated combat against a foe and defeated it during the Player Phase. Costs 2,000 SP.

Ike's Resolve set grants a buff to a unit's DEF and RES stat as long as the unit's HP remains under a certain HP threshold for the accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Ike's Defense+ set grants a direct bonus (of up to +5) to a unit's DEF stat for the accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Corrin's HP+ set grants a direct bonus (of up to +15) to a unit's HP stat for the accumulative cost of 3,000 SP.

Hector's Quick Riposte set guarantees the unit will follow-up as long as the unit's HP is above a certain threshold for the accumulative cost of 3,000 SP.

Soren's Keen Insight set adds up to +7 to a unit's damage output when a unit deals Effective damage for the accumulative cost of 3,000 SP.

Camilla's Spd/Res+ set grants a direct bonus (of up to +5) to a unit's SPD and RES stats for the accumulative cost of 4,800 SP.

Chrom/Robin's Spd/Dex+ set grants a direct bonus (of up to +5) to a unit's SPD and DEX stats for the accumulative cost of 4,800 SP.

...how'd I go from so little ideas to so many?

Whittling Down

There are a bunch of skill ideas where they only work if Louis' HP is below a threshold; so if one of those skills ends up being one that I pick for my final builds, Unyielding might not vibe with the second skill at all. I'll double back if I feel the need.

Louis isn't a mounted unit; but admittedly, it would be funny if Louis broke from the line, murk'd someone, then used Canter to hobble right back to his post. The most fatal MINK to ever MINK.

I don't think that I'm worried about boosting Louis' damage output with skills like Lance Power; I'd be more worried about making him hit. And there are other skills and stat boosts from other Emblems for that. Case in point: Sigurd's Hit+ set.

I am personally MORTIFIED by the thought of a mage unit taking Louis out with a 1-2 punch from a tome; so looking a gift horse (in the form of Micaiah's Res+ set) in the mouth would be foolish. On the other hand, I could offer a different kind of protection with Hold Out. If I pair that with Vantage, the outcome of that could look like a routed enemy.

The thing about SPD is that if I worried about SPD, I'd mainly be worried about the ability to let him attack twice. Now, the direct SPD stat boost is theoretically sound, but Alacrity and Speedtaker give me pause here. Even with Speedtaker's +10 to Louis' SPD stat, the AS difference might never be high enough for Alacrity to trigger. It would just make a lot more sense to eye Quick Riposte before Lyn's Infamous Wombo Combo™.

I do like the idea of Resolve's +7 to Louis' RES stat. Louis isn't impervious to chain attacks that either hit or miss, so seeing his HP whittle down from physical attacks is very much a thing. Plus, it grants a higher boost to his RES stat than Micaiah's and Camilla's buffs. And in speaking of direct buffs, boosting Louis' DEF stat even more just... feels like overkill; so maybe Ike's Def+ set isn't the best idea.

A direct HP boost from Corrin does guarantee that he'll be in the heat of battle for longer. It just feels wrong to have that take up a spot, though.

Moving on, this is where I feel a little iffy. Quick Riposte is a nice thought, but with so many other potential skills revolving around Louis' HP being below a threshold, I'm unsure if investing in that skill makes the most sense.

I mainly picked Keen Insight because Louis is going to be wielding a lance that is effective against SOMETHING. And if I attack with that, that +7 to the damage output post-calculation will come in handy.

And lastly, the idea of Chrom/Robin's direct boosts to my SPD and DEX stats is amazing, but that SP cost is too steep; and depending on what Emblem I pair Louis with, it might be useless. ...well, maybe not; these boosts do stack, but still.

So, I go from 17 to nine: Unyielding, Canter, Hit+, Hold Out, Vantage, Quick Riposte, Resolve, HP+, and Keen Insight.

There are multiple combos in this here pool:

Unyielding could always put me back within the threshold for Quick Riposte to trigger.

Hit+ would help me land a lot more brutal hits, which gets doubled with Quick Riposte as long as I'm topped up on health.

Hold Out would only need to trigger once for Vantage to kick in, but LAWD have mercy — that's one hell of a gamble.

Resolve would keep me in the fight longer, I'd boost my RES and, with Vantage, could take magic units out with less worry for my HP.

I'm not going to hold you, all these combos aren't for someone of my constitution. I'm just this close to just picking Hit+ and Quick Riposte and picking one of the Emblems for their defensive skill.

Patron Emblems

Roy does boost HP and RES, and Hold Out comes as a Sync Skill — so, that could also work with Vantage and Resolve. I also end up spending less SP in the long run. His Blazing Lion attack could also do pretty well.

Leif boosts Louis' DEF and HP pretty decently, and Vantage would come as a Sync Skill — meaning Hold Out and Resolve could come in and work together on an uncommon (yet still possible) scenario.

Ike boosts Louis' DEF and HP more than Leif, Resolve would come as a Sync Skill, which opens the door for me to consider other skills outside of the triple threat.

...and honestly, I came here to boost my RES stat, so Ike wins this battle. And if that's the case, then I'm keeping my Hit+/Quick Riposte idea.

(back to masterpost)

[rockyschexneider]

The Power of Momentum in Internet Marketing: A Supertanker's Insight

The Power of Momentum in Internet Marketing: A Supertanker's Insight

Imagine trying to stop a fully loaded supertanker at sea, cruising at a steady 16 knots, which translates to around 18 miles per hour. This massive steel behemoth, carrying its weight in cargo, takes approximately 20 minutes to come to a halt. That’s right—20 minutes. It’s enough time to make a sandwich, draft a to-do list, and maybe even ponder your life choices. But what does this maritime musing have to do with internet marketing? More than you might think.

Supertankers exemplify momentum in its most palpable form. Their sheer size and speed are a great metaphor for the slow build and eventual unstoppable force of a successful marketing campaign. When setting out on a marketing initiative—be it launching an email series, a social media blitz, or implementing a comprehensive blog strategy—the initial stages can often feel sluggish. Early efforts may seem futile, echoing in silence, with little to no immediate results.

This early phase demands persistence and patience as you lay the groundwork. Every email sent, each social media post published, and every blog article crafted contribute to the start-up process. At first, these efforts may resemble fruitless endeavors, but with consistency and time, momentum gradually builds. Like that lumbering supertanker, once set in motion, the force becomes significant and hard to interrupt. Your campaign transforms into a dominant presence, creating ripple effects across your audience.

However, momentum is a double-edged sword. Just as consistent effort can propel your marketing machine forward, neglect or inconsistency can slow it down. Halting your content flow, pausing ad campaigns, or fading away from audience engagement doesn't result in an instant stop. Instead, much like the slow deceleration of a supertanker, these actions initiate a drawn-out diminishing of momentum, demanding even more time and energy to regain that earlier force.

The key is steadfastness. Even when the landscape appears barren and void of engagement, maintain your course. Each piece of content produced adds to the underlying energy of your marketing engine, accumulating unseen power. Once the threshold is crossed, and true momentum is achieved, the impact is extraordinary and pervasive. The marketing force becomes a resilient entity, capable of cutting through challenges with ease.

Consider this principle as you develop and refine your marketing strategies. You're not just generating content or running campaigns—you're at the helm of a supertanker. Direct it with prudence and consistency. Trust the process and sow the seeds today for the formidable momentum to come.

Momentum is the unseen backbone of successful internet marketing. It requires dedication, perseverance, and above all, patience. Eventually, these efforts culminate in a marketing juggernaut that becomes difficult to derail. In steering this ship, embrace the journey and let motivation drive sustained progress and eventual triumph.

Visit my Blog for FREE RESOURCES

**

[fatehbaz]

The franc CFA (originally denoting Colonies françaises d’Afrique) is the official currency of Senegal and most other former French colonies in Africa, from before national independence through the present-day. This monetary system and its history are the subjects of a new book by Fanny Pigeaud and Ndongo Samba Sylla, Africa’s Last Colonial Currency (2021), translated by Thomas Fazi from a 2018 French edition. The book brings to the attention of Anglophone readers the peculiar institutions through which the French Republic continues to exercise colonial rule over nominally independent African states. France’s recent “counterterrorism” operations across the Sahel region (supported and rivaled in scope by the United States’ Africa Command, AFRICOM) represent only one phase in what the Black Alliance for Peace (2020) has called France’s “active and aggressive military presence in Africa for years.” [...] One of Pigeaud and Sylla’s commitments and achievements is to show how “French ‘soft’ monetary power is inseparable from its ‘hard’ military power” (2021: 99). In their telling, the CFA franc has for decades been France’s secret weapon in “Françafrique,” the zone in Africa where France, its representatives, and its monetary system have never really left. [...]

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The franc CFA was born in Paris on the 25th of December, 1945 [...]. The embattled empire was compelled to “loosen its grip” in Africa [in the midst of anticolonial fervor outside of Europe, and with rise of “decolonization” in metropolitan/European public discourses] [...]. Consequently, argue Pigeaud and Sylla, the creation of the CFA franc was “actually designed to allow France to regain control of its colonies” (13). What Minister Pleven called generosity might better be called a swindle. [...] French goods-for-export, now priced in a devalued currency (made cheaper), would find easy markets in the colonies [...]. African goods - especially important raw materials, from uranium to cocoa, priced too expensively for domestic consumption [...] -- would find buyers more exclusively in France [...]. In effect, the new CFA monetary policies re-consolidated France’s imperial economy even as the monopoly regime of the colonial pact could be formally retired in recognition of demands for change from colonial subjects. [...] [T]he egalitarian parlance of community and cooperation modernized French colonial authority, making it more invisible rather than marking its end. [...]

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Most importantly, France has held up a guarantee of unlimited convertibility between CFA francs and French currency [as its so-called most benevolent feature] [...]. [But] CFA francs can only ever be converted into France’s currency [...] before being exchanged for other currencies [...]. In 1994, in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund and against the wishes of most African leaders, French authorities adjusted the franc zone exchange rate for the first time, devaluing the CFA franc by half. This blanket devaluation was the shock through which structural adjustment was forced upon Françafrique [...]. 

And the devaluation proved, to Pigeaud and Sylla, that France’s “‘guarantee of unlimited convertibility’ was an intellectual and political fraud” (74). Nevertheless, French authorities have continually held up - that is, brandished and exploited - this guarantee, without honoring it. [...] Pigeaud and Sylla do not mince words: “France uses its presumed role of ‘guarantor’ as a pretext and as a tool to blackmail its former colonies in order to keep them in its orbit, both economically and politically” (38). [...] In that respect, the CFA franc system has ensured [...] the stabilization of raw material exportation and goods importation, hierarchy and indirect rule, [...] accumulation and mass impoverishment, in short, the colonial order.

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And all along, France has found - or compelled, coerced, and more-or-less directly put in place - useful political partners in Françafrique. [...]

The CFA franc has been central to the French strategy of decolonization-in-name-only. [...]

When and where demands for self-determination and changes to the monetary system (usually more minor than exit or abolition) have been strongest, from charismatic leaders or from below, they have been met with a retaliatory response from France and its African partners, frequently going so far as “destabilisation campaigns and even assassinations and coups d’état” (40). [...]

The first case is exemplary. In 1958, Ahmed Sékou Touré helped lead Guinea to independence [...]. Guinea was alone in voting down De Gaulle’s “Community” proposal [...], and [...] the new state established its own national currency and central bank by 1960. [...] [T]he decision was ultimately made to make Guinea a cautionary tale for the rest of Françafrique. French counter-intelligence officials plotted and hired out a series of mercenary attacks (“with the aim of creating a climate of insecurity and, if possible, overthrowing Sékou Touré,” recalled one such operative), in conjunction with “Operation Persil,” a scheme to flood the Guinean economy with false Guinean bills, successfully bringing about a devastating crash (43). [...] Yet, Sékou Touré was never removed, only ostracized - unlike Sylvanus Olympio in Togo or Modiba Keita in Mali, others whose (initially minor) desired changes to the CFA status quo were refused and rebuffed and who were then deposed in French-linked coups. [...]

So too the Cameroonian economist Joseph Tchundjang Pouemi, an even more overlooked figure since his death at the age of 47 in 1984. Pouemi’s experience working at the IMF [International Monetary Fund] in the 1970s led him to recognize that the leaders of the international monetary system would “repress any government that tries to offer their country a minimum of wellbeing” (60) and could do so especially easily in Françafrique because of the CFA franc.

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All text above by: Matt Schneider. “Africa’s Last Colonial Currency Review.” Society and Space [Book Reviews section of the online Magazine format]. 29 November 2021. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 14, 2024

Testing predictive coding theories of autism spectrum disorder using models of active inference. Arthur, T., Vine, S., Buckingham, G., Brosnan, M., Wilson, M., & Harris, D. (2023). PLOS Computational Biology, 19(9), e1011473.

Distinct context- and content-dependent population codes in superior colliculus during sensation and action. Ayar, E. C., Heusser, M. R., Bourrelly, C., & Gandhi, N. J. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(40), e2303523120.

Unique functional responses differentially map onto genetic subtypes of dopamine neurons. Azcorra, M., Gaertner, Z., Davidson, C., He, Q., Kim, H., Nagappan, S., … Dombeck, D. A. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(10), 1762–1774.

A role for cortical interneurons as adversarial discriminators. Benjamin, A. S., & Kording, K. P. (2023). PLOS Computational Biology, 19(9), e1011484.

Bidirectional synaptic changes in deep and superficial hippocampal neurons following in vivo activity. Berndt, M., Trusel, M., Roberts, T. F., Pfeiffer, B. E., & Volk, L. J. (2023). Neuron, 111(19), 2984-2994.e4.

Neural mechanisms for the localization of unexpected external motion. Chinta, S., & Pluta, S. R. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 6112.

Balancing true and false detection of intermittent sensory targets by adjusting the inputs to the evidence accumulation process. Geuzebroek, A. C., Craddock, H., O’Connell, R. G., & Kelly, S. P. (2023). eLife, 12, e83025.

Hippocampal activity predicts contextual misattribution of false memories. Herz, N., Bukala, B. R., Kragel, J. E., & Kahana, M. J. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(40), e2305292120.

Prefrontal cortical regulation of REM sleep. Hong, J., Lozano, D. E., Beier, K. T., Chung, S., & Weber, F. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(10), 1820–1832.

Distinct spatial maps and multiple object codes in the lateral entorhinal cortex. Huang, X., Schlesiger, M. I., Barriuso-Ortega, I., Leibold, C., MacLaren, D. A. A., Bieber, N., & Monyer, H. (2023). Neuron, 111(19), 3068-3083.e7.

Visual perceptual learning modulates microsaccade rate and directionality. Hung, S.-C., Barbot, A., & Carrasco, M. (2023). Scientific Reports, 13, 16525.

PET-measured human dopamine synthesis capacity and receptor availability predict trading rewards and time-costs during foraging. Ianni, A. M., Eisenberg, D. P., Boorman, E. D., Constantino, S. M., Hegarty, C. E., Gregory, M. D., … Berman, K. F. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 6122.

Mixtures of strategies underlie rodent behavior during reversal learning. Le, N. M., Yildirim, M., Wang, Y., Sugihara, H., Jazayeri, M., & Sur, M. (2023). PLOS Computational Biology, 19(9), e1011430.

Dissociating the contributions of sensorimotor striatum to automatic and visually guided motor sequences. Mizes, K. G. C., Lindsey, J., Escola, G. S., & Ölveczky, B. P. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(10), 1791–1804.

Phase information is conserved in sparse, synchronous population-rate-codes via phase-to-rate recoding. Müller-Komorowska, D., Kuru, B., Beck, H., & Braganza, O. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 6106.

A computational theory of evaluation processes in apathy. Rigoli, F., & Martinelli, C. (2023). Current Psychology, 42(30), 26163–26172.

Memory-related processing is the primary driver of human hippocampal theta oscillations. Seger, S. E., Kriegel, J. L. S., Lega, B. C., & Ekstrom, A. D. (2023). Neuron, 111(19), 3119-3130.e4.

Human-like scene interpretation by a guided counterstream processing. Ullman, S., Assif, L., Strugatski, A., Vatashsky, B.-Z., Levi, H., Netanyahu, A., & Yaari, A. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(40), e2211179120.

Measuring uncertainty in human visual segmentation. Vacher, J., Launay, C., Mamassian, P., & Coen-Cagli, R. (2023). PLOS Computational Biology, 19(9), e1011483.

Thalamocortical control of cell-type specificity drives circuits for processing whisker-related information in mouse barrel cortex. Young, T. R., Yamamoto, M., Kikuchi, S. S., Yoshida, A. C., Abe, T., Inoue, K., … Shimogori, T. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 6077.

[penig]

I have done it! I am giddy with triumph!

It wasn't that hard, and the instructions weren't any more confusing than the instructions on cheap furniture assembly always are; but for whatever weird brain reason, I could not get through the "ID all the parts" phase when I first tried this however many years ago, and it's only since getting back on my feet post-foot-surgery that I've felt able to tackle it again. Failure to do it marked the beginning of a long nosedive in my ability to Cope, so this is a milestone.

This evening, or tomorrow, D and I can have a conversation/strategy session about what to do with the vinyl, which DVDs need to be arranged in some way other than alphabetical by title (we have box sets, series, movies, non-fiction, related properties, etc.) and then I can buckle down and make a huge improvement, not only in this room, but in other rooms where random DVDs have accumulated for no good reason.

Probably at some point they'll have to be relocated to a room that actually has a DVD player in it, but we have a long way to go before we can realistically tackle that room and this is a step in the right direction.

[mariacallous]

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is now forecasting a moderate-to-strong El Niño season to continue through February 2024. The forecast itself mostly piques the interests of meteorologists, oceanographers, fishers, and the global network of food commodity traders and crop insurers whose fortunes live and die in the technical arcana of the weather report.

But this forecast has vast implications: Even a typical El Niño can reduce harvests for important crops, increase the disease burden, hammer developing and middle-income countries’ economic prospects, increase armed conflict risk in the tropics, and fuel maritime conflict and territorial ambitions in the East and South China Seas.

Some of these challenges—such as civil wars and maritime conflict in the South China Sea—would manifest as immediate, hurricane-like clear and present dangers. But many would not. Like climate change, perhaps the greater danger lays in the accumulation of thousands of small cracks in the global food, public health, and other systems that are the bedrock of life.

Most of these hazards will hit hardest in countries that are ill-equipped for the economic and political fallout. They add urgency to easing developing and middle-income countries’ debt burdens and building more resilience into the global food system. For the United States, they highlight the need to adopt a more comprehensive strategy for defining national security threats and government responses to them.

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a cyclic pattern of warming and cooling in the waters of the east-central Pacific Ocean. ENSO oscillates between cool (La Niña) and warm (El Niño) phases at intervals averaging five to seven years. Climate change is giving ENSO a “push,” making the swings back and forth deeper and potentially longer lasting. The currently forming El Niño follows a rare “triple dip” La Niña that ended in June lasted nearly three years—the longest in over 50 years.

But what happens in the east-central Pacific doesn’t stay there. As Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Josh Willis has said, “When the Pacific speaks, the whole world listens.” ENSO is the single most important driver of year-to-year variation in global climate. ENSO’s teleconnections—links between weather phenomena separated by vast distances—shape weather across the southern United States, Africa, Latin America, and closer to “home” in Southeast Asia and Oceania. They cause or strengthen droughts as well as extreme rainfall events and affect temperature and humidity levels over much of the world.

Both El Niños and La Niñas cause weather-related hazards. The crushing three-year drought that’s been devastating the Horn of Africa since October 2020? It’s partly a result of that triple-dip La Niña. South America’s severe drought, gripping many of the world’s most significant grain exporters? ENSO’s effect is there, too. Ditto for drought in the U.S. south and southwest. The transition to an El Niño will likely bring some relief to these areas, though that “relief” has come to the Horn in the form of torrential rains and flooding that burst the banks of the Juba and Shabelle rivers and forced 300,000 Ethiopians and Somalis from their homes. This whipsawing between extremes is the “push” climate change is providing.

But more broadly, the effects aren’t symmetrical. Shifting from La Niña to El Niño conditions doesn’t just redistribute good and bad weather around the globe. El Niños come with much more downside risks to global food supplies, public health, economic recovery in the global south, as well as to peace and stability – in the Global South where its impacts are most acute, but also in East Asia.

Let’s start with food. Though global food prices are down a bit from record highs following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they are still among the highest prices seen in the last 60 years. And these prices don’t yet fully reflect the effect of Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and attacks on Ukrainian export infrastructure, both of which further weaponize Russia’s role in food markets and have led prices to begin creeping back up at a time when more than 250 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity.

Some qualified good news: In the past, El Niños haven’t caused global food prices to spike, with price effects being relatively modest. A multinational team of scientists found both El Niños and La Niñas suppress global yields for maize, rice, and wheat, with the effects of El Niño particularly strong for maize. On average, El Niños slightly reduce global food supply, though the effects are typically modest and can be offset by planting more acreage to offset lower productivity.

But at the country or regional level, as in western and southern Africa, the effects can be quite strong, sending local prices higher and increasing rural unemployment. El Niño effects for food production aren’t confined to land, either. The warming of the West-Central Pacific suppresses catches for important fisheries like the Peruvian anchoveta—the world’s most productive fishery—and in heavily fished areas like the East and South China Seas.

The effects of weather-related crop failures on food markets operate on two levels. First, they constrict actual supply in a market where demand is both constantly growing and price-inelastic: The prevailing price doesn’t change biological necessities. Second, they shape current expectations about future production and thus hedging behavior. Expecting a bad harvest, buyers with the means and the foresight—like China—may begin stockpiling grains in anticipation of failed harvests or potential market disruptions.

In the past, these activities have only had modest effects on prices. Yet this time may be different. These hedging strategies are now being implemented in the context of rising economic nationalism in which governments—especially authoritarian ones—are resorting to export bans to address concerns about domestic food shortages and explicitly weaponizing food trade; that is, they are occurring in markets that are more risky than in the recent past. This could be bad news for a global food security picture already hammered by the Ukraine war and the lingering effects of coronavirus-related supply chain disruptions.

Speaking of the coronavirus: A strong El Niño could increase the infectious disease burden. Analyzing the strong El Niño of 2014 to 2015, researchers found increases in cases of plague in Colorado and New Mexico, cholera in Tanzania, and dengue fever in Brazil and Southeast Asia. In the U.S. southwest and Tanzania, the culprit was wetter-than-normal conditions that increased the abundance of plague-carrying fleas and overwhelmed drainage and sanitation systems, causing drinking water to become contaminated with cholera. In Brazil and Southeast Asia, higher temperatures and droughts had a more complicated impact: Bereft of standing water in the natural environment, mosquitos penetrated further and in larger numbers into urban areas with open water sources, then matured more rapidly—and developed more voracious appetites, thus infecting more people.

At the macro scale, the economic losses from El Niños can be significant. Failed crops are foregone income that drive up demand for imports. Burst riverbanks and dams must be repaired and often come with considerable damage to infrastructure such as roads and electricity grids, which are critical for the normal functioning of the economy.

But that’s just a fraction of the story. A recent article in Science by Christopher Callahan and Justin Mankin attributes massive economic losses to the persistent negative effects of El Niños on growth, estimating total global losses of $5.7 trillion from the 1997 to 1998 El Niño.

That’s an enormous number. But it’s not as if the world lost nearly a sixth of total economic output in 1998 (world GDP was roughly $31.5 trillion at the time). Many of those effects emerged in the years after the event due to the compounding effects of forgone growth investment—the same reason money saved now is worth more than money saved later—and the high costs of building back after associated natural disasters such as floods and mudslides. And because we never “see” foregone growth due to lack of investment or diversion of resources from building new schools to repairing roads, we don’t typically think of these losses when counting up the economic consequences of natural disasters. It’s an example of how many of the costs of climate-related events are almost imperceptible in the moment but add up to real (and large) numbers.

The estimates reported in the Science article are orders of magnitude above previous ones of El Niño–associated economic losses. While some economists have questioned the astounding size of these estimates, even losses in parts of Africa and countries where the historic relationship between El Niños and GDP growth is strongest—such as Peru, Ghana, and Indonesia—could still wind up being in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

El Niño’s effects for economic growth and food supplies help us understand one of its other consequences: elevated risk of civil conflict. Over a decade ago, Solomon Hsiang, Kyle Meng, and Mark Cane found that civil conflicts—armed conflicts between rebels and governments—were more than twice as likely to break out during El Niños relative to La Niñas in world regions whose local climate is affected by ENSO teleconnections, with conflict outbreaks clustering between July and November. In doing so, their study was the first to link climate at the global scale with armed conflict, a topic that is now the subject of exhaustive study and discussion.

When studying climate impacts on conflict, researchers almost never find a smoking gun. To date, no rebel leader has cited El Niño as their rallying cause. Rather, what researchers find is that climatic factors “load the dice,” making conflict marginally likelier to occur. Again, the impact is hard to detect in any given conflict but emerges from analyzing hundreds if not thousands of conflict events over time.

El Niño’s adverse consequences for fisheries also increase the risk of militarized conflict on the seas. Of particular concern are its effects in the East and South China Seas, where the impact on fish populations is strong, fishing pressure is high, and the regions’ major fishing nations—China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan among them—have tense security relationships in the best of times. While it’s extremely unlikely a Taiwan invasion would begin over a fisheries dispute, these types of militarized conflicts are one of the few scenarios in international affairs where the coast guards and navies of rival countries may come into conflict over the actions of third parties—such as fishing vessels crossing disputed maritime boundaries—that they do not command or control.

Facing these potential outcomes, what can be done? Countries with strong ENSO teleconnections—which are mostly developing and middle-income—need resources and budgetary space to address problems such as rising food import bills, disaster preparedness and relief, and adequate provisioning for their security forces.

For this reason, creditor countries—especially China and those in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development—need to address the large debt overhangs many of these countries accumulated during the coronavirus pandemic. Ghana’s $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund is a signal that creditor countries, including China, can work together to address these challenges.

Consistent with the increasing role armed forces are playing in disaster response and relief, countries such as the United States may be called upon to provide more emergency services that leverage their considerable airlift capacity and ability to move medical supplies and emergency food aid in difficult circumstances.

Stepping back from immediate responses, a bigger picture take-home point emerges for the U.S. government. The evidence of strong, adverse health, economic, and security consequences has made clear that the conventional approaches to defining national security interests and threats are lacking. Climate impacts—El Niños among them—are security impacts, but identifying and responding to them shouldn’t be the exclusive domain of national security and intelligence agencies like the Department of Defense and National Security Council. The Biden administration has done more to mainstream climate security than any of its predecessors—but there is far more work to be done.

[bug-the-chicken-nug]

Bug's RWBY Worldbuilding Series 1

Hey, look, something nobody asked me to do! I'm about to start a multi-part post on my AU-but-theoretically-at-least-decently-applicable-to-canon idea of Aura/Semblances/Dust/Magic, in that order, in a system that should help unify and streamline them while still making there be an actual difference in what Magic is. I will also repeat myself sometimes in later posts, just so that each post can still be understood on its own without going to every link I'll add as I update this series The tag will be #Bug's RWBY Worldbuilding Series Without Further Ado, Part 1: Aura <- You are here. Part 1-B: Active Aura

Aura is a form of energy produced by all living things, and can diffuse into the atmosphere and surroundings as a wave/particle (it is both, much like photons). Passive Aura is the main thing produced, being akin to "infrared". The exact intensity and frequency of its production also directly coincides with an organism's physical and emotional state. So, when Grimm "sense" negative emotions, this is actually *what* they sense. The specific pattern of Aura produced by a person in distress. Active Aura would be "ultraviolet" in comparison, giving it new properties and abilities thanks to having much more energy to work with. (more on that later!) For now, we're focusing on the broader role and importance of Aura in Remnant, rather than the more specific combat-related things. That comes in my next installment. The Aura passively produced when you experience negative emotion is also what Grimm "eat", meaning that Grimm do not actually have any need to kill humans, however, the act of terrorizing and then killing humans allows them to become stronger at an accelerated rate. The traumatic death of a person produces massive blooms of the "negative" Aura they feed upon. Therefore, it unfortunately serves as their kind's most lucrative feeding strategy, even *with* the energy and risk that must first be invested into hunting and killing prey. Aura particles linger after they are produced, and reach a point where they "cool" (lose energy) to a sort of "ambient" energy level rather than losing all of it, leading to a "background" Aura field that surrounds and permeates the entirety of Remnant. However, the Aura does not simply diffuse itself calmly and evenly throughout Remnant, and then lie still and passive. Aura forms myriad invisible currents, vortices, jetstreams, and eddies throughout the world, much like air or water, although Aura also can and does phase through solid obstacles as it flows. In ways that are not yet well understood, this also has a profound impact on Remnant's ecosystem. Areas where Aura currents converge, or where dense currents flow, can often seem richer than others. This leads to phenomena such as how certain settlements can exist with little physical protection: For instance, by developing the means to discern areas that are within fast-flowing "rivers" of Aura, one can create settlements and trade routes in which negative emotion is typically "washed downstream" faster than it attracts Grimm. Even though Grimm can and do follow the Aura "upriver", especially if negativity gets truly out of hand, they will typically be distracted by the "runoff". Strong vortices and gyres of Aura can also accumulate a dense enough concentration of energy to allow for a very steady "low-level" activation of Dust deposits without any living creature's direct input, allowing for locations like Lake Matsu's floating islands to exist. Dust itself also attracts low-energy Aura, while higher-energy Aura becomes increasingly resistant to its pull. As such, it is not only affected by Aura currents, but the global actions of Dust across the world, all "pulling" unevenly on the background Aura field, contributes heavily to the formation and distribution of currents.

Such a phenomenon can be used as a simple and low-tech way to locate "rivers" as well: If a Dust crystal, especially one held at a considerable distance from anyone's person (such as up upon a flag or banner, for instance), begins to take on a slight glow by itself, and/or starts to weakly exhibit its inherent elemental property on its own, it's a clear sign that you are within a strong Aura current. More advanced applications allow for people to place specially-prepared Dust crystals in machinery and electronics and have the tiny, subtle fluctuations in the Dust's output be read carefully enough to be useful for myriad purposes, measuring and visualizing what might otherwise be almost entirely opaque to human senses. However, human activity and Dust industry can and does alter Aura currents, and sometimes disrupt even those currents which were thought to be too large and stable to *be* disruptable. This can be harmful, as was the case for the Great Vacuan Gyre, whose dissolution greatly worsened and accelerated the region's environmental degradation through an incredibly complex string of unforeseen chain reactions. Little could be done, as little was understood about just how important the invisible Aura currents can truly be to the environment. However, it can also be harnessed in intentional ways. Aura "dams" and Aura "diverters" can be built to increase security, although they do not outwardly look like the kinds of "dams" you may be used to at all, as Aura is not "dammed" by creating physical barriers. By extension, background Aura can also be used to generate power. This is almost always done by using Dust as the middleman, however, which also means the Dust will eventually be expended. Dust industries across Remnant are, of course, keenly against efforts to develop a way to harness atmospheric Aura without a Dust-based intermediate. Also, note that I haven't even gotten into explaining *active* Aura yet. That'll be next.

[jones-friend]

I RECENTLY PLAYED TWO MORE GAMES

Clank! Catacombs is a variant of the Clank! games that plays more as a roguelike. This is a combination deckbuilder dungeon crawler. In Clank! Catacombs you draw 5 cards off your deck and must resolve all of them. Blue diamond symbols let you acquire new and better cards. Boots allow you to move about the dungeon. Swords let you fight enemies for one time bonuses. Clank! is a negative resource accumulated on the Clank! board where health is depicted. Whenever a dragon attack is rolled each players Clank! cubes accumulated here are added to a bag and randomly drawn. If your color is drawn you take a damage. Tiles are revealed as players explore the dungeon, your goal is to find an Artifact in the depths and escape the catacombs.

I love this game, especially bc I died and got 0 points. This is a huge risk/reward game with balanced mechanics. The Clank! mechanic works beautifully making more powerful cards more risky as is exploring the dungeon. The marketplace of cards to buy never gets too wonky, there’s a great balance of power. I highly recommend Clank! Catacombs if you want something fresh to bring to your group.

Earth feels a lot like someone played Wingspan and said “why can’t my forest bird be on the last row?” In Earth each player is building an ecosystem of plants and terrain scoring points based on your sprouts, how tall your trees, starting goals, and any other scoring goals you give yourself. Its marketed as a game without downtime, whenever a player takes an action you get to take a smaller version of that action.

I feel like that last bit about being no downtime is a bit overblown, games have been doing that for a while and I don’t feel that point makes Earth stand out (see: Race for the Galaxy, where turn phases are dictated by cards played). This is similar to Wingspan as cards activate depending on the type of turn being taken. So if someone takes the Compost action all your red actions trigger. This is the only real player to player interaction the game has. Cards will not affect or score off of your opponents areas like Wingspan or Flourish. I remember Ark Nova being compared to Terraforming Mars but when I played it the game felt different enough. This is a liiiiittle too close for comfort to Wingspan. The games run very similarly. If Wingspan is dnd 5e this is Pathfinder where you can minmax your board with abilities in different ways instead of being constrained by Wingspan biomes. I do also have a bone to pick about the card design, I feel there’s a lot of visual clutter with sprouts being the only transparent feature, its a little bit symbol hell but not the worst case. Overall this game has good bones, great replayability, there’s depth to the strategy in ways that give it its own personality distinct from games of its type. If you enjoy engine building games this is a great example of one.

[shubhragoyal]

When to Visit a Gynaecologist? - Dr. Shubhra Goyal

Here are some signs you shouldn't ignore!

Being a woman can be both an exciting and gratifying experience as well as a challenging one. When it involves our well-being and health, there are a lot of factors to consider. Although it may be tempting, it is not a good idea to ignore some of these things. We'll talk about when to get medical help in today's blog, to help you spot the red flags and work accordingly.

The following list of nine symptoms and situations calls for a trip to the gynaecologist as soon as time permits.

1. Aching Cramps:

During their monthly menstrual cycles, many women feel excruciating pain. Those few days can seem to last an eternity due to lower abdominal discomfort, aching breasts, and headaches. But what happens if the period continues and gets worse? That might be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, a disorder where excess tissue accumulates in the uterus and results in bleeding and swelling. A gynaecologist can help with the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

2. Vaginal bleeding:

It is typical for women to start spotting a few months after beginning to use some birth control methods or to have heavier periods as they approach menopause. To find out the source of unexpected vaginal bleeding, such as that which occurs after menopause, you should visit a gynaecologist.

3. Discomfort during intimate moments:

Feels dry during intercourse? It could be because of the birth control pills or menopause taking you to the next phase of life.

Also, if you are below 18 or occasionally have sex with multiple people, the chances of acquiring cancer due to HPV infection gets higher.

If you are experiencing discomfort or bleeding during sex, your gynaecologist might suggest a lubricant, a different sex strategy, or another choice. She knows the solutions to your issues. And the only qualified gynaecologist who can provide you with information this accurate is. A gynaecologist will go over the risk concerns if you decide to continue having sex after obtaining treatment for the STD.

Read More: https://www.drshubhragoyal.com/welcome/blogs/when-to-visit-a-gynaecologist

[starseedfxofficial]

The Volume Oscillator Cheat Code: Unlocking Market Moves in the Consolidation Phase When the Forex market slows down into a consolidation phase, many traders find themselves in a mental tug-of-war: Should I trade, or should I sit this one out? If you’ve ever watched price action move sideways, feeling like you’re stuck in a dull family dinner where nobody’s talking, then welcome to the dreaded consolidation phase. But what if I told you there’s a hidden tool that acts like a lie detector for price breakouts? Enter the Volume Oscillator—the underrated, often misunderstood indicator that can reveal whether the market is about to wake up or just faking enthusiasm like a bad actor in a soap opera. But here’s the problem: Most traders use the Volume Oscillator incorrectly. They either misunderstand its signals, ignore the nuances of volume shifts, or, worst of all, don’t even realize it can be a powerful weapon during low-volatility market conditions. So today, we’re peeling back the curtain to reveal insider techniques, little-known secrets, and proven strategies for using the Volume Oscillator in the consolidation phase like a seasoned pro. The Silent Killer of Most Traders: Why Consolidation Phases Wipe Out Accounts Let’s face it—most traders love volatility. It’s where the big moves happen, and profits roll in like a tidal wave. But when the market starts moving sideways, many traders get impatient and start forcing trades. It’s like swiping right on a dating app just because you’re bored—not a good idea. The result? A slow drain on your capital as stop losses get triggered repeatedly. This is exactly why understanding how volume behavior changes in a consolidation phase is crucial. Low volatility does not mean inactivity—it means preparation. Think of it as a coiled spring. The market is loading up energy, and once it’s released, price action will surge. The key to anticipating these breakouts? Watching volume trends. How the Volume Oscillator Exposes the Market’s Next Move The Volume Oscillator (VO) measures the difference between two moving averages of volume. Typically, traders use a short-term (e.g., 5-period) and a long-term (e.g., 20-period) moving average of volume to detect momentum shifts. The Volume Oscillator formula is:   Essentially, it tells you whether volume is increasing or decreasing relative to past trends, which is vital in a consolidation phase. Here’s what you need to watch for: - Positive Volume Oscillator: This suggests increasing volume, which often precedes a breakout. If price action is tightening in a range while VO is climbing, the market is brewing something big. - Negative Volume Oscillator: If VO is declining while price moves sideways, this indicates weak participation. Any price movement is likely a false breakout or a fakeout designed to trap impulsive traders. - Sudden VO Spikes: If the Volume Oscillator suddenly jumps above zero after a long period of contraction, it’s a warning sign that market participants are waking up—expect a major price move soon. The Ninja Strategy: Spot Breakouts Before They Happen Most traders react to breakouts after they occur. Smart traders predict them before they happen. Here’s how: Step 1: Identify the Consolidation Zone Look for price action that’s been stuck in a range for a prolonged period. The smaller the candlesticks and the lower the volatility, the better. Step 2: Monitor the Volume Oscillator - If VO is steadily increasing despite price staying inside the range, accumulation is taking place. Big players are secretly positioning for a breakout. - If VO is declining, avoid placing breakout trades—the market lacks participation, meaning price may fake out before reversing. Step 3: Confirm with Price Action & Fakeout Filters - A breakout is valid if it occurs after VO has increased, confirming strong participation. - If price suddenly spikes without a Volume Oscillator increase, beware of false breakouts. Step 4: Execute with Precision - Place your buy/sell orders slightly outside the consolidation range only if VO supports the move. - Use tight stop losses if VO is low (indicating a potential fakeout) and wider stops if VO is rising (confirming strength). The Insider’s Edge: Hidden Volume Oscillator Tricks No One Talks About - Divergence is King: If the Volume Oscillator is rising while price is still stuck, this is an early clue that the breakout will have real momentum. - Volume "Echo" Effect: A sudden drop in VO after a breakout usually signals a retest before a continuation. Use this as an opportunity to enter on a pullback. - Pair VO with Other Indicators: The best confirmations come when VO aligns with tools like Bollinger Bands (squeezing before an expansion) or Relative Strength Index (RSI) (breaking out from overbought/oversold levels). Final Takeaway: Don’t Be the Trader Who Misses the Signal Most traders lose money not because they lack knowledge, but because they ignore volume clues in consolidation phases. The Volume Oscillator is your early warning system—it whispers what the market really intends to do before price action makes it obvious. Want more underground Forex strategies like this? Check out our expert insights, tools, and free resources at: - Forex News Today – Get ahead of market-moving events. - Free Forex Courses – Learn advanced tactics for smarter trading. - StarseedFX Community – Get daily alerts and live analysis. - Smart Trading Tool – Automate your lot sizing and order management.   —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[procleanmd]

ProClean Carpet Cleaning - A Step-by-Step Guide

ProClean Carpet Cleaning helps households and businesses enjoy a fresh environment by using a comprehensive approach to keep carpets clean and healthy. The process starts with various steps that improve the look of carpets and help create a better indoor atmosphere. Following are the key stages of ProClean carpet cleaning, emphasizing the importance of professional services for residents of Frederick, MD.   The first phase of the ProClean carpet cleaning procedure begins with thoroughly inspecting the carpet. This initial assessment allows the cleaning crew to pinpoint specific areas of concern, including potential mold growth, high-traffic zones, or stains. The best cleaning method depends on the carpet fiber type and the dirt accumulation level. This thorough assessment paves the way for a customized cleaning plan that meets the specific needs of each carpet.   After the examination, the first step is to pre-treat stains and spots. Experts at ProClean carpet cleaning tackle tough stains—such as food spills, pet accidents, and dirt tracked in from outside—by employing specialized treatments. This pre-treatment stage helps remove stains during the primary cleaning process. The cleaning crew enhances effectiveness by allowing the pre-treatment solution to sit for a while, ensuring thorough cleanliness.   The actual carpet cleaning begins once the pre-treatment is complete. ProClean employs advanced cleaning tools and techniques to deliver precise and optimal results. Steam cleaning, or hot water extraction, is one of the most commonly used methods. This method begins by injecting hot water and cleaning chemicals deep into the carpet fibers, effectively breaking up dirt and waste. The powerful extraction tools push the contaminated water and pollutants into the carpets, cleaning and refreshing them. This method ensures a thorough cleaning by penetrating deep into the fibers and cleaning the surface effectively.   ProClean tackles specific issues, including mold growth and regular carpet cleaning. Mold can grow in carpets due to moisture and humidity, posing a risk to residents' health. ProClean provides essential mold removal services to Frederick, MD, and Sterling, VA. If mold is found during the inspection, the cleaning crew will use specific strategies to remove it and ensure the carpets are cleaned and free of harmful mold spores. This method may require drying techniques and antibacterial treatments to stop mold from returning in the future.   The next step is to refresh the carpets following the thorough cleaning process. Grooming helps the carpet fibers return to their natural position, improving the overall appearance. This step is essential for plush carpets, ensuring a uniform look and texture. Grooming can also help facilitate air movement through the carpet strands, speeding up the process.   After polishing the carpets, the last step is to conduct a post-cleaning examination. This action guarantees that all remaining stains or problems have been addressed and that every area has been thoroughly cleaned. The ProClean crew is dedicated to delivering outstanding work, making this previous check a chance to ensure client satisfaction.   ProClean carpet cleaning keeps one's carpets clean and in excellent condition. The thorough process, from the initial inspection to the final review after cleaning, ensures carpets look great and are free from allergens and pollutants. ProClean helps maintain a safe and healthy indoor environment by offering specialized mold removal in Sterling, Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland, for those dealing with mold issues. Homeowners and businesses can enhance their environments by opting for professional carpet cleaning, leading to cleaner and more inviting spaces. 

[khryswilliams]

Character Strategy Thoughts: Seadall

Of course this man uses tarot cards for fortune telling. Persona 3 Reload is never leaving my consciousness, is it? But, he is a dancer, which proves HELLA beneficial. Let's see if I can't carve him a more solid spot in my final fourteen.

Now, the thing about Dancers is that his stats, aside from Movement, are largely irrelevant because he should not be seeing any combat. But that doesn't mean that he can't be helpful in some situations. He can wield up to A-level arts, so that could be useful in breaking ranged foes. Let's see what I can cook up here.

Potential Inherited Skills

Marth’s Avoid+ set grants a direct bonus to a unit’s Avoid stat (max +30). Accumulative cost of 4,500 SP.

Marth’s Break Defenses allows the unit to make an extra attack at half the damage output if the unit initiates combat and breaks the foe. Costs 2,000 SP.

Marth’s Unyielding set lets the unit recover a certain percentage of HP at the start of the Player Phase if the unit’s HP was under a given threshold at the end of the Enemy Phase (max recovery = 40% of max HP). Accumulative cost of 300 SP.

Sigurd’s Canter set allows a unit to move up to three spaces after the unit takes an action (except using an item and Waiting). Accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Micaiah’s Resistance+ set grants a direct bonus to a unit’s RES stat (max +5). Accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Roy’s Hold Out set allows a unit to survive a fatal round of combat with one HP remaining if the unit’s HP was above a given threshold at the beginning of combat. Accumulative cost of 5,000 SP.

Lucina’s Dual Support grants a bonus to their adjacent allies’ Avoid stats that increases depending on the unit’s support level with the allies. Total bonuses issued cap at +90. Costs 2,000 SP.

Ike’s Defense+ set grants a direct bonus to a unit’s DEF stat (max +5). Accumulative cost of 2,000 SP.

Byleth’s Art Focus set grants a direct bonus to a unit’s Hit stat when the unit is equipped with an art (max +30) in exchange for a flat -10 to their Dodge stat. Accumulative cost of 1,000 SP.

Corrin’s HP+ set grants a direct bonus to a unit’s HP stat (max +15). Accumulative cost of 3,000 SP.

Corrin’s Quality Time set restores HP to a unit’s adjacent allies and increases that unit’s support level with them if the unit acts or waits near allies. (Max HP recovery +10.) Accumulative cost of 500 SP.

Eirika’s Lunar Brace set allows the unit to deal extra damage equivalent to a percentage of the foes’ DEF stat when the unit initiates combat with a physical attack. (Max damage = 30% of foe’s DEF.) Accumulative cost of 5,000 SP.

Veronica’s SP Conversion grants an extra 20 SP for each defeated foe. Triggers without a ring or bracelet equipped. Costs 300 SP.

Whittling Down

I'm a Bad Bitch, You Can't Kill Me... Maybe

Now here's the thing. Seadall avoiding combat on most occasions is sound in theory. But in practice, he could still be within the scope of long-ranged attacks from enemies despite being behind allied units. With that in mind, there is a strong case for him to inherit the Avoid+ skillset. That could supplement Canter, too.

He could use Canter to get out of dodge, and the Avoid+ skillset would assure that he doesn't get touched should he find himself in a compromising situation. Even though Avoid+ is expensive, it might make for a good pair. If I go this route, I should consider getting SP Conversion to make sure I have enough SP in enough time.

Another idea would be pairing Avoid+ with Unyielding. In the event that he does get touched, having that extra healing would come in clutch. Any remaining lost HP could be easily recovered by Jean, Anna, or Ivy.

One more idea would be pairing Avoid+ with Hold Out. It does seem nice; but in the event that an ambush happens and the worst takes place, I fear the skill might trigger too early given how squishy Seadall is. He might not survive an Enemy Phase with it. Not to mention that I'm already thinking about investing in the Avoid+ skills, which do cost a pretty penny already. I don't wanna spend more time on this game than I already am.

"You Won't Break My Soul"? More Like, "I'm Gon' Break This Foe"

Seadall could also help out with combat if he needs to. He wields arts, which breaks bow, tome, and knife users. Skills like Break Defenses, Lunar Brace, and Art Focus would come in handy — especially Lunar Brace given how low his STR stat is. But there are literally 13 other units that can deal a better damage output without having to break them. Plus, a break is a break as long as the damage output is more than one. I can get by without amplifying break damage.

Boosting Stats

If I didn't want to be elusive, I could just increase his DEF and RES with their respective skill sets. Or, alternatively, give boosts to his HP to increase his durability. But filling my inherited skill slots with stat boosters just feels like I'm not taking full advantage of them by not making them work with what Seadall already has.

Support Synergy

Case in point: Seadall's playstyle always involves him being near allies to dance for them. Skills like Dual Support and Quality Time require allies to do nothing but be nearby, AND they have synergy with his personal skill. That seems like more of a vibe.

Further Whittling

I started with 13 ideas and I leave with six: Avoid+, Canter, SP Conversion, Unyielding, Dual Support, and Quality Time.

The thing about Dual Support is that Seadall only has support levels with four units in my final 14; so only four people would be getting the value from that skill. With that in mind, Dual Support might not make the most sense.

Quality Time also increases support, but the HP recovery is universal. I don't necessarily mind the HP recovery, but I think it might be the most beneficial for the army if all healing took place after attacks and actions. Not to mention I'm already healing folks with Seadall's personal skill already and have three people that can use healing staves ready to go to work.

That leaves a potential trio: Avoid+, SP Conversion and either Canter or Unyielding. I'm kind of inclined to go for Canter because of the opportunity to get out of attack range, which is a stronger case that I would make for Unyielding, given what I said about Quality Time.

So, yeah — Avoid+, SP Conversion, and Canter it is! I use SP Conversion to see how fast I get the SP I need to get the best version of the Avoid skill and Canter will stay where it is once I get it!

Patron Emblems

If Kagetsu gets Byleth and Zelkov gets Camilla, that would leave Seadall with Chrom. And I'm not gonna hold you — I'm okay with that. I really don't care about the stat boosts, but the support Sync Skills that Chrom offers are nice for him to have, especially considering that he's always going to be nearby other allies in most occasions.

And WHAM. There's my final fourteen all planned out.

(back to masterpost)

[cwmorton]

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How to Start Mining Pi Network Cryptocurrency: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to start mining Pi Network, a cryptocurrency developed by experts from Stanford University. Pi Network is unique because it's designed to be mined easily on mobile devices before its full launch to the public. Here’s a detailed walkthrough on how you can get involved in this intriguing project. First things first, you need to download the Pi Network app. You can do this by opening your web browser on your mobile device and navigating to minepi.com. There, you have the option to download the app directly from the website or you can go to your device's app store, search for 'Pi Network' or 'Pi', and download it from there. Once the app is installed, open it and you'll be prompted to sign up. When signing up, you can use a special code provided by other users to join their mining network. For instance, you could use the code 'Solerift' (s o l e r i f t) to join the network mentioned in our reference video. This is optional, but joining a network can enhance your mining experience by connecting you with other miners. After signing up, you'll start the mining process. Mining in the Pi Network is quite straightforward and resource-light. Here's how it works:    1. **Daily Check-In**: Every day, you'll receive a notification from the app that your mining period has ended. You need to open the app and tap a button to confirm and restart the mining process.    2. **Security Circle**: You're encouraged to invite friends to join your 'security circle'. This circle consists of people who have verified their identity and are also mining Pi. A maximum of five members in your circle helps secure your mining activity.    3. **Mining Rate**: Your mining rate can increase by various activities like locking up your Pi balance for a certain period or by signing up more people under you. Initially, your mining rate might be lower, but as you expand your network, it increases. To give you a sense of what mining Pi could look like over time, the video we're referencing mentions that the user has been mining for about 2 years and has accumulated nearly 5,000 Pi with 13 people in their network. This gives us an idea that with patience and network building, the accumulation can be significant. Now, let's talk about what happens with your mined Pi. Currently, Pi isn't available on any cryptocurrency exchanges because the network is still in its pre-launch phase. However, once Pi launches its mainnet, users will be able to transfer their Pi to exchanges for trading or selling. The value of Pi at the launch is speculative, but for reference, the video mentions checking CoinMarketCap, where Pi was valued at $31.60 at the time. If we do some math with the 4,850 Pi accumulated by the user, it would amount to approximately $153,000 at that valuation. However, it's important to remember that cryptocurrency values can fluctuate wildly, and there's no guarantee of maintaining or increasing value upon full launch. Pi's strategy of mobile-only mining before launch aims to democratize access and prevent 'whales' (people with large amounts of capital) from dominating the market before the general public can participate. Here are some tips to maximize your experience:    1. **Consistency**: Remember to check in daily to keep your mining active. It's minimal effort but crucial for accumulation.    2. **Expand Your Network**: The more people you bring into your network, the faster your mining rate. Share your referral code with friends and family.    3. **Stay Informed**: Keep an eye on Pi Network's official communications for updates on the mainnet launch and any changes in policy or features.    4. **Be Patient**: Cryptocurrency, especially one in pre-launch like Pi, requires patience. The real value might come over time. In conclusion, mining Pi Network cryptocurrency is an exciting and potentially rewarding venture with very little initial investment other than your time. By following these steps, you can join thousands of early adopters in this innovative crypto project. Remember, while the financial gain is speculative, the experience of participating in a new form of digital currency distribution is unique. Enjoy the process, and who knows, Pi might just go to the moon! Don't forget to engage with the community by liking and subscribing to content creators who provide insights into Pi Network, and consider using invitation codes like 'Soul Rift' when you sign up to join existing networks. Let's see together if Pi reaches its full potential. Happy mining! ```

[nikshahxai]

Nik Shah: Striving for Enduring Success in All Areas of Life

Success is often seen as a singular achievement, a point in time where goals are met and dreams are realized. However, Nik Shah, a respected entrepreneur and thought leader, has demonstrated that enduring success is not a final destination but an ongoing journey. Enduring success encompasses more than just business achievements; it extends to personal growth, relationships, health, and emotional well-being. Shah’s holistic approach to success has allowed him to thrive in multiple areas of life, creating a well-rounded and fulfilling existence.

In this article, we’ll explore how Nik Shah strives for enduring success in every aspect of his life, using a combination of mindset shifts, strategies, and principles that ensure long-term prosperity. We’ll discuss his approach to business success, personal development, work-life balance, and the core values that guide his decisions. By following Shah’s example, you can learn how to create a balanced and sustainable path to success that not only brings professional achievements but also fosters happiness and well-being.

The Concept of Enduring Success

Enduring success is the idea of achieving lasting fulfillment, growth, and prosperity over time. Unlike short-term victories that may bring immediate satisfaction, enduring success is about sustaining progress and maintaining momentum over the long term. It’s the ability to adapt, learn, and evolve through various phases of life while maintaining focus on what truly matters.

For Nik Shah, enduring success isn’t just about building a business empire or accumulating wealth. It’s about cultivating a life that aligns with his core values, goals, and aspirations. Whether it’s leading a successful company, maintaining healthy relationships, or improving his personal health, Shah’s approach to success is rooted in balance, long-term vision, and resilience.

How Nik Shah Strives for Enduring Success in Business

Business is often seen as a key driver of success, but Nik Shah recognizes that the success of a business should be sustainable. It’s not about quick wins or instant gratification but rather about building a resilient foundation that ensures long-term profitability and growth. Here’s how Shah achieves enduring success in his professional life:

1. Visionary Leadership: Long-Term Business Growth

One of the key principles that Shah follows in business is the importance of visionary leadership. Having a long-term vision allows him to stay focused on sustainable growth rather than chasing fleeting opportunities. Nik Shah places emphasis on strategic planning, which helps him align his business objectives with long-term goals that reflect his core values.

Shah’s leadership is guided by a clear vision that goes beyond just maximizing profits. He aims to create lasting impact, develop meaningful partnerships, and innovate in ways that align with his personal philosophy and societal values. By focusing on a bigger picture, Shah has been able to grow businesses that are both financially successful and socially responsible.

2. Building Resilient and High-Performing Teams

Enduring business success is also built on the strength of the teams that support it. Nik Shah places a strong emphasis on hiring and developing high-performing teams that are aligned with his vision and goals. He understands that businesses don’t succeed because of one individual—they succeed because of a collaborative effort.

To achieve sustained success, Shah builds strong teams by encouraging a culture of trust, respect, and mutual support. He focuses on hiring individuals who bring diverse perspectives, talents, and ideas to the table, knowing that collaboration fuels creativity and innovation. By fostering a positive and inclusive work environment, Shah has been able to maintain team cohesion and long-term success in his businesses.

3. Embracing Adaptability and Innovation

In business, success is often determined by how quickly a company can adapt to changing market conditions, consumer needs, and technological advancements. Nik Shah embraces adaptability and innovation as core components of his business strategy. Rather than sticking to outdated methods, Shah consistently seeks opportunities to innovate and evolve, ensuring that his businesses remain relevant and competitive.

By staying open to new ideas, technologies, and methodologies, Shah is able to navigate industry shifts and market challenges with resilience. His approach to innovation allows him to lead businesses that are not only profitable but also forward-thinking, which is crucial for enduring success.

Nik Shah’s Approach to Personal Growth and Well-Being

While business is a significant part of Nik Shah’s life, he understands that true enduring success goes beyond financial achievements. It encompasses personal growth, emotional health, and overall well-being. Shah’s holistic approach to success involves continuous self-improvement and prioritizing well-being to ensure a balanced life. Here are the key principles he follows for personal growth and well-being:

1. Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement

For Nik Shah, personal growth is an ongoing process. He believes that enduring success can only be achieved by committing to lifelong learning and self-improvement. Whether it’s reading, attending seminars, or engaging in discussions with other thought leaders, Shah continually seeks new opportunities to expand his knowledge and refine his skills.

This commitment to learning enables Shah to stay ahead in business, leadership, and personal development. By consistently challenging himself and evolving, Shah ensures that he remains adaptable and capable of handling the complexities of life and business.

2. Mental and Emotional Resilience

A major factor in enduring success is the ability to handle mental and emotional challenges. Nik Shah practices techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and journaling to build emotional resilience. These practices help him stay focused, calm, and emotionally grounded during stressful situations.

By fostering mental clarity and emotional balance, Shah is able to navigate life’s ups and downs without being overwhelmed by them. His emotional resilience is a key driver of his ability to stay committed to long-term goals, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.

3. Work-Life Balance

Achieving enduring success requires maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life. Nik Shah understands the importance of not burning out and makes a conscious effort to set boundaries between his professional and personal commitments. He places value on spending quality time with family, pursuing hobbies, and taking time for personal reflection.

Shah’s approach to work-life balance ensures that he doesn’t sacrifice his personal well-being for business success. By maintaining a balanced lifestyle, he is able to remain focused, energized, and passionate about both his work and personal life. This balance ultimately contributes to his long-term success in all areas of life.

The Role of Relationships in Enduring Success

While business and personal growth are important, Nik Shah knows that relationships are at the heart of enduring success. Whether it’s with family, friends, colleagues, or business partners, Shah believes that building strong, supportive relationships is essential for achieving true success. Here’s how relationships contribute to Shah’s holistic success:

1. Building Trust-Based Relationships

At the core of Nik Shah’s relationships is trust. Whether he’s working with clients, colleagues, or business partners, Shah prioritizes trust and transparency. He understands that relationships based on mutual respect, honesty, and trust are more likely to thrive and lead to long-term collaboration.

By fostering trust-based relationships, Shah has created a network of individuals who support his vision and share in his commitment to achieving sustained success. These relationships provide Shah with valuable insights, feedback, and emotional support, which help him overcome challenges and reach his goals.

2. Mentorship and Giving Back

Nik Shah is also committed to giving back and mentoring others. He believes that true success involves sharing knowledge, offering guidance, and supporting the growth of others. Through his mentoring relationships, Shah helps aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders navigate their own journeys to success.

By investing time and energy into mentoring others, Shah creates a cycle of positive impact that benefits both him and those he mentors. This generosity and willingness to help others grow strengthens his network and creates a ripple effect of success.

3. Creating a Positive Social Impact

Enduring success also involves making a positive contribution to society. Nik Shah is deeply committed to using his resources and influence to create social change. Whether it’s through philanthropy, community involvement, or advocating for causes he believes in, Shah uses his success as a platform to make a difference.

By focusing on creating a positive social impact, Shah ensures that his success extends beyond personal gain and benefits others as well. This sense of purpose and contribution adds depth and meaning to his definition of enduring success.

Conclusion: Striving for Enduring Success with Nik Shah’s Principles

Nik Shah demonstrates that enduring success is not a single achievement but an ongoing journey that involves continual growth, resilience, and a commitment to balance. By focusing on long-term goals, personal growth, emotional resilience, and building strong relationships, Shah has been able to create success that is sustainable, fulfilling, and impactful.

For anyone seeking to achieve enduring success in all areas of life, Nik Shah’s approach provides a roadmap for balancing ambition with well-being, resilience with adaptability, and individual achievement with a commitment to giving back. By adopting these principles, you too can create a life that is not only successful but also meaningful, balanced, and sustained over time.

Explore More on @nikshahxai

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About the Authors

For more information about Nik Shah's digital presence, as well as insights from contributing authors such as Nanthaphon Yingyongsuk, Sean Shah, Gulab Mirchandani, Darshan Shah, Kranti Shah, John DeMinico, Rajeev Chabria, Francis Wesley, Sony Shah, Dilip Mirchandani, Nattanai Yingyongsuk, Subun Yingyongsuk, Theeraphat Yingyongsuk, and Saksid Yingyongsuk, click here to explore further.

[coinalistnet]

Friday marked a significant day for altcoins as both XRP and Dogecoin (DOGE) saw substantial gains. These cryptocurrencies were buoyed by positive developments concerning spot Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) filings. Meanwhile, Solana's decentralized exchange Jupiter ignited interest in its JUP token through a strategic buyback initiative. SEC's Consideration of ETF Applications In a noteworthy update, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) acknowledged applications for spot ETFs featuring XRP and Dogecoin. This acknowledgment triggers a 240-day review period, offering hope for increased institutional involvement in the crypto market. These filings add to a growing trend, following recent applications for other altcoins such as Solana (SOL) and Litecoin (LTC). Implications of ETF Approval The potential approval of spot ETFs for XRP and DOGE could significantly enhance market dynamics. With regulated investment vehicles, institutions could gain exposure to these assets without the risks associated with directly handling cryptocurrencies. Such developments are expected to boost liquidity and drive demand, particularly as the traditional financial sector increasingly integrates digital assets. Market Performance Highlights At the time of writing, XRP stood at $2.73, marking a 10% increase within 24 hours and positioning it as the top performer among major cryptocurrencies by market value. DOGE followed suit with a 4% rise. These movements are underpinned by favorable regulatory signals and diminishing trade tensions, offering a positive outlook for market participants. Jupiter's Innovative Buyback Strategy Jupiter's JUP token also experienced a 10% rise, thanks to the platform's announcement of a robust buyback strategy. By committing 50% of its protocol fees to buy back and lock JUP tokens over a three-year period, Jupiter aims to decrease supply and enhance the platform’s sustainability. Bitcoin's Steady Resolve While altcoins advanced, Bitcoin (BTC) held steady, trading around $97,000 amidst ongoing outflows from U.S.-listed spot ETFs. This stability came despite a net outflow of $650 million from BTC ETFs this week, reflecting Bitcoin's resilience against broader economic challenges, including unexpected U.S. inflation reports. The Path Ahead Analysts predict that Bitcoin's current accumulation phase, combined with regulatory clarity, could lead to a robust rally in the coming weeks. A diversified approach balancing BTC and ETH continues to be recommended for those seeking to capitalize on potential cryptocurrency market growth. In summary, the latest ETF filings and strategic initiatives within the cryptocurrency space are fostering a climate of optimism and potential growth. These developments underscore the maturing landscape of digital assets and their slowly expanding role within mainstream finance. Read the full article