October 1, 2024

I've unwittingly lived my adult life with the deep, sharp fear that scarred my early childhood and teenage life. I've been left exhausted by an absence of trust, a gnawing uncertainty and frankly, a toxic co-mingling of physical violence and love. This has only brought unnecessary suffering; to myself and to those that I love. I have avoided actions that would bring much joy into our world, preferring instead to exist in a cognitive 'safe mode' and emotional isolation. I have clung oh-so tightly to familiar and unhealthy patterns, partly as a rough and worn comfort blanket - but mostly because the alternative meant getting closer to others. And that fucking terrified me.

January 27, 2023

For architecture, the result is visibly obvious; we prioritise quarterly profit (to capture 'value' and survive in this fiat environment) at the expense of enduring beauty, which takes more time, consideration and effort to create. Consider the shoddy, uninspiring landscapes that developers have thrown up for the last 40+ years, all in the name of the quick sale. And now contrast with some of the Art Deco masterpieces that we still revere decades later. Is it just coincidence that the 1920s represented the last hoorah of the gold standard, and the start of our path towards flimsy money?

October 15, 2021

As a node operator, my understanding of Bitcoin has evolved significantly. A theoretical framework has been transformed into lived, practical experience. I monitor the Mempool to check on my Lightning channel status. I engage with other node operators to create liquidity swaps. I scroll through 1ML and Amboss to find other Lightning peers. I collect sats for routing payments. It is a vivid demonstration of my previous notion; that Bitcoin, and by extension its timechain, may just be the the final word on financial freedom.

September 20, 2021

The ideas are elegant. The ambition is impressive. But how exactly does Bitcoin work in practice? Well folks, that's what I've been figuring out for the past month. Armed with my understanding of the network, I embarked on a journey to become a full node operator (i.e. a validator of transactions and blocks). Admittedly, I wasn't quite sure I could pull it off. Even with all my prior research, this felt like a tricky technical challenge. And yet here I am, running a Bitcoin (and Lightning!) node with little fuss. How so?

July 12, 2021

I offer you an initial eyebrow raiser. A different perspective on monetary matters. An exercise in public learning. But you should always, always consult with the real experts who know your personal circumstances. You wouldn't (or shouldn't) buy a house based on some words you find on the internet. So please don't put at risk your precious savings based solely on anything you find here. On that basis we shall proceed.

July 1, 2021

I no longer see regular posting as an achievement. That represents real, glorious progress. Writing is now baked into my personal pie; it is something that I just do. Little effort is expended in getting started, which means I can focus more on content structure and grammar. There is now less musing about personal motivation - and more articulating on the world around me.

June 18, 2021

What I really want to demonstrate is the McCormack brand of thinking. The 'how' just as much as the 'what'. I can express my mental machinations in one post, and explore digital property rights in another. What remains consistent however is the aesthetic and the approach. Enthusiastic enquiry in a crisp written format. Never too long. Rarely too short. And presented in a clean and tidy context.