Twenty-four years ago today, evil took 2,977 innocent lives in the deadliest terror attack ever carried out on American soil. Among those murdered were my brother Gary, my best friend Doug, and 656 other colleagues and friends from Cantor Fitzgerald.
I am alive today because that Tuesday was my oldest son Kyle’s first day of kindergarten. I was dropping him off instead of going to my office which occupied the 101st through 105th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
As I entered the classroom my phone started ringing but disconnected each time I’d answer. I later learned that it was my brother Gary trying to call. He spoke to my sister and said goodbye.
What I’ve learned serving as the Secretary of Commerce is how profoundly beautiful and extraordinary this country is, but also how desperately our adversaries wish us harm. Make no mistake: if given the chance, the monsters who orchestrated the September 11 attacks, and those like them, would do it again. And again. And again.
But the greatness of America lies in the way our military, our government, our first responders, and our people confront these horrors, challenges and threats.
America is a nation that rebuilds, endures, and never surrenders to evil.
Today, we honor those we lost 24 years ago and the brave first responders and individuals who courageously stepped up to save others. Today I am so very sad as I remember, and so very proud to be an American.
A bit more about the inspiration behind Dr. Back:
My orange pill moment came from learning about @adam3us' work on Hashcash. I had already been exposed to Bitcoin through some tech blogs and a developer friend, but what really hit home was reading a thread that discussed how the same type of micro transactions he theorized would combat email spam and DDOS attacks could also apply to Bitcoin. This blew my mind. It was toward the end of 2012 and I stayed up all night thinking of different use cases and revenue streams resulting from pairing tiny payments with artistic endeavors.
So not long after I started experimenting with street art and bitcoin public and private keys. It was a way for me to test the waters re: whether or not I wanted to commit to a career as a bitcoin artist. I figured if people engaged with the art, that would be a good sign to keep at it. And while there wasn't much early engagement, I was already down the rabbit hole.
I’ve since done several experiments to promote micropayments such as Black Swan and an open source split lightning payments plugin. And I’m still a big believer in the future of Bitcoin-powered micropayments and their ability to benefit creatives and society as a whole. Thank you all for reading and thank you Dr. Back for helping change my life forever!
- cryptograffiti 💊
If Bitcoin breaks $150,000 by tomorrow at 4pm EST, I will give 3 random followers 1 whole Bitcoin, 1,000 shares of MSTR, and an all expenses paid trip to Myrtle Beach. Must be 21 or older and currently hold at least .1 BTC to qualify.
Must like and retweet to be considered.
My open letter in today’s New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and London Times:
TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH.
Most people wait – for a doctor’s visit, a diagnosis, a warning sign. They wait until something’s wrong to do what’s right.
But we believe that the best things are built – and health is no exception.
We want to sleep better, train better, and live better – not because we’re told to, but because we choose to.
For over a decade, we’ve worked with the world’s top performers – researching what it takes to win championships, break records, and push the edge of human potential. We’ve learned that when data meets discipline, the results are extraordinary.
Now that same 24/7 data can be in your hands.
And it’s about to get even more powerful.
You can perform better.
You can live longer.
You can feel more alive.
You don’t have to wait for symptoms or permission.
You just have to take control.
Join us on 5.8.25.
Last week, America established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Tune in to the Bitcoin for America livestream at 8:45 AM EST tomorrow as we discuss what comes next.
⬛X: Follow us @bitcoinpolicy
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If Musk’s approach to @DOGE is so horrendous why doesn’t the opposition start their own DOGE? A better, faster, more effective one? Compete!
Opposing congress, senators, & 11,000 media/pundits all with their thumbs up their asses. All talk, no action. People voted for change.