TomBombadil

I started Bitcoin day 2 by taking a small amount of mushrooms so "not everyone at the conference seemed like an asshole". Ultimately I don't think that worked it just made my tummy ache.

Day 2 was no longer industry badge holders only so it was massively more busy. Really the first day in a way. First of all there were way more pigs and rent-a-pigs. 2+ private companies, locale PD, TSA, and secret service off the top. Plus of course a few "totally not cops" wandering around not suspiciously at all. This made the line into the main stage area so long that you would find its tail randomly in the middle of the convention floor hundreds of yards away from the security checkpoint.

The vibe today was different as well. With so many more people the level of grift has lowered. Now not only were there bitcoiners trying to sell each other new wallets or advertising yet another mining resale service but just regular type people. You could tell by the way they looked around with vague confusion yet obvious hope. Many people are drawn to Bitcoin for an alternative to whatever isn't working. I can't afford my groceries any more and these bitcoiners say they can help let's check it out sorta deal.

There were many keynotes and talks today. As yesterday they ranged from mind melting libertarian screeds to intriguing bits of tech talk.

Phill Zimmerman, inventor of PGP, gave a short talk about why the US is fighting against E2EE. Pretty good besides his need to keep saying "the US is doing this, obviously china is doing it more"

It was also a day of political speeches on the main stage. All MCd by this guy:

The human rights foundation spoke about people needing to check their financial privileges and argued that Bitcoin allows those in disadvantaged areas to potentially transmit value sans government approval and banking institutions. Perhaps the most compelling talk of the day and at least attempting to make a True case for crypto.

By now though I had only drank 3 cups of coffee, including some free Bitcoin coffee (not made by robots which were broken today whenever I walked by), and nothing else. My stomach was loving it.

Unfortunately I was looking masc today and wouldn't you know it at Bitcoin 2024 the men's bathrooms had long lines and the women's didn't. Didn't want to argue with libertarians about gender so no quick women's room run for me.

In the afternoon the main stage had senators Tim Scott and Cynthia Lummis. Who spent the whole time just saying each other's names repeatedly. "If the government controls the money then they control us" says two senators to standing ovation.

20 minutes late they finally shut up and allow the giant Snowden head to dominate the stage. He gave perhaps the best talk of the day and essentially begged everyone to take his warnings about the lack of privacy on BTC blcokchain seriously. Lots of clapping and yet the block chain remains insecure. But that's what he's always done. Begged to be taken seriously while everyone pretends to care but does not heed him. Declares the US to be (becoming) the "Land of the fee home of the slave" to end his speech.

Between every speech ads play. This trailer for "God bless bitcoin" was incessant. Don't worry the animation remains shitty

Next was RFK jr. Now this was when the crowd really got wild. Absolutely jam packed audience. Nowhere to stand but the far back of the giant hall. He declares his Bitcoin policy. He declares himself the first Bitcoin president And says it's strange that since the fall of the Soviet Union America has gotten less free. A paradox he says. LOL. He ends his speech with something like "I'm not red, blue or even purple. Those are the party's colors. I consider myself orange. Trump may have orange hair but I have an orange heart" crowd goes fuckin insane.

Finally it was Russell Brand and the CEO of Rumble's turn. They just spent the few minutes I was there going back and forth about how awesome each other is.

I couldn't handle anymore so I stumbled out of the convention hall to try and find some food away from the conference. As a final goodbye for the day I saw the Cyber truck Bitcoin edition from the header. I've seen more bazingamobiles here than I have anywhere else ever. Most aren't quite so ugly just the normal amount.

I'm so tired. Tomorrow surely will be great. They've banned large bags and backpacks from the whole convention for the day. Trump will be there at 3 rumors persist that Harris will show up. The lines will be longer.

These photos are big maybe i should shrink em for tomorrow.

Day 1 I was on edge immediately as I was told no bears were allowed upon entering. It was also industry day (why do I have an industry badge I don't know just for this extra day I guess)

I soon realized I was in a fever dream of libertarian 4channery when I strolled through the Bitcoin Art gallery and saw the paintings.

The vendors hall was just as feverish. The panties for Bitcoin booth was especially... Revealing. However the busiest booth was the BTC trading cards. And of course the multiple booths dedicated to not paying income tax.

There were also robots making coffee. Of course for each coffee robot was a man standing behind it waiting for it to fuck up and need help.

And of course everyone is very hype that trump is coming... As you can see in the main pic. no time has been wasted by the bitcoiners after the trump attempt.

During registration I realized there are also Whale passes. These things are insanely pricey and get you nothing but "The Deep" a tiny lounge area. And some special seating. Guess the price of these fuckin things... Main passes cost ~$700 industry passes ~$4k...

spoiler

Whale passes ~$20k

Obviously a discount if you pay in BTC. so that's a steal then.

Check the map for all the sweet perks being a whale gives ya.

Talks during the day ranged from boring nothing about how great BTC is, to a few interesting technical talks, to having the most ghoulish people imaginable on stage. A black rock exec for instance and minister from Dubai.

This talk was followed by libertarian excellence. "Why is black rock here these people are rent seeking scum" true my friend maybe examine why your perfect coin is so infected with them. Maybe push at your ideology a little. Definitely got the biggest crowd reaction though and most enjoyable personally since they almost said true statements.

Later we went to a podcast live show in a bar. On entrance we were greeted with what the lady at the door said was the most beautiful ice sculpture she'd ever seen. It was no sculpture of lenin I was disappointed to find.

Easily the funniest part of the day. They had a comedian come up and roast the hosts. When his jokes weren't just "you gay" or "who here is a n*****?" he was pretty good at roasting bitcoiners.

There was also a hotdog eating contest. One guest just loved bukele. He had the biggest cowboy hat I ever saw.

Overall day 1: 10% technically interesting, 40% libertarian madness, 50% fever dream. Ready for day 2 let's go.

There's so much great art here at Bitcoin2024.

Help I'm in hell

Truly a genius. Far too dangerous

Firstly hilarious that BI is basically just posting message board comments as news.

But also those comments are expectedly hideous.

Spring is arriving. I wish to be outside doing basically anything. Some late season snow showing or skiing, some hiking, climbing and camping.

Instead I gotta sit here and work to make money. Totally stupid.

Anyway that's all just feeling the call to the mountains.

Truly simply the worst. My favorite part is where they just straight up say Israelis are fuckin loser cry babies.

Escape-room experts say participants generally “win” about 30% to 40% of the time. But Turkenich always makes sure his customers complete their mission.

“Everyone in Israel thinks they’re so smart and they, you know, blame the operator if they don’t win,” he said.

“Because of our history, we have to win because we can’t afford losing.”

Chuds really hate when other people are also having fun. I mean Breckenridge is like one of the most gentrified fuckin places and yet chuds still complain because of a little lingering counterculture. If you can even call such weed funny things countercultural anymore.

If you're only reference for terrorists are movie villains this makes complete sense.

Anyway obviously Hamas are a bunch of deranged freaks for taking some stimulants before going into battle. Unlike our wholesome IOF doing peaceful and cool drugs.

Proves once and for all that psychedelics don't actually make you a good person.

I wish a very traumatizing trip upon this occupier when a rain of missiles begins flying.

A strange little bit of the Internet I bring to hexbear. Getting drunk on the holy Spirit hits different when you're on shrooms.

I distinctly remember a giant Israeli flag on this page previously when I was looking for somewhere to get spores from years ago but that seems to have been removed.

Anyway this has been a PSA don't buy spores at mushrooms.com

Poor ole Canadian pilots bullied by the aggressive Chinese.... Off the coast of China. They were just allegedly helping to blockade out a Chinese ally. Nothing aggressive about that.