GHAWG-- God's Hog: A Watchful Guardian-- LeoThreads Zapfic Entries 376-389

#GHAWG is short for "God's Hog: A Watchful Guardian." This fictional story tells how David Guardia, a courier and business owner from Bayonne, New Jersey, US moved into the next phase of his life after spending the final ten years of his ailing father's life helping him.

More details can be found in the first post of this weekly recap.

🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

Zapfic Entries 376-389

3️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ 2024-March-02 00:11:39

Holbrook was our destination for the day. After some research by Lionel, we discovered that we would need to split our overnight accomodations. The Kids would stay at the Wigwam; the rest of us would stay at Brad's Desert Inn.
🏍️ This is the 2nd location featuring the Wigwam Motel. The 1st location mentioned was in San Bernardino, California, US. This was where David Guardia had his first meeting with the uncanny Manny Rey and The Lord since he was in his 10-day coma. It's also when David began to tone down his hyperactive honeymoon activities with Rhonda Bella Guardia, his wife.

3️⃣7️⃣7️⃣ 2024-March-03 00:07:18

Next day, we set out for Gallup, New Mexico. It's 21 miles past Lupton, AZ, so our ride was longer than we had expected. However, Gallup is where the hotels are. We could've set up camp at Lupton, but desert nights aren't fun.
🏍️ Gallup is the only place in New Mexico mentioned by name in the iconic song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66". Other, bigger cities can be founf on Old Route 66 (namely, Albuquerque and Santa Fe), but this is the one which qualified for lyrical entry into the song. The area near Lupton, Arizona, US was mostly desert, so it wouldn't have been fun there overnight.

3️⃣7️⃣8️⃣ 2024-March-04 00:03:36

We rode I40/"Old Route 66" as we passed by Petrified Forest National Park. Along the way we passed Chambers, Sanders, Houck, and (of all place names in AZ) Allentown. At the Rest Area near Lupton Hank shared a discovery he made.

We rode I40/"Old Route 66" as we passed by Petrified Forest National Park. Along the way we passed Chambers, Sanders, Houck, and (of all place names in AZ) Allentown. At the Rest Area near Lupton Hank shared a discovery he made.
🏍️ One of the first stops David Guardia made on his Epic Ride as Allentown, Pennsylvania, US. If you placed bets on David not running into another Allentown during his Epic Ride, you would have lost that bet. 🏍️ This zapfic entry looks like most travel entries sprikled throuhgout `Rat Bike`. However, its purpose to to kick off th series of zapfic entries which, taken together, I will refer to as "Cryptocurrency 101"; the rest of this Weekly Summary post will be Cryptocurrency 101.

🏍️ One of the first stops David Guardia made on his Epic Ride as Allentown, Pennsylvania, US. If you placed bets on David not running into another Allentown during his Epic Ride, you would have lost that bet.

🏍️ This zapfic entry looks like most travel entries sprikled throuhgout Rat Bike. However, its purpose to to kick off th series of zapfic entries which, taken together, I will refer to as "Cryptocurrency 101"; the rest of this Weekly Summary post will be Cryptocurrency 101.

🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️ PRESENTING CRYPTOCURRENCY 101 BELOW 🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

3️⃣7️⃣9️⃣ 2024-March-05 00:04:15

"A Coin Cloud Bitcoin ATM is near us." "It's been a while since we checked our wallets," added Frank. "Isn't crypto just digital money?" asked Lindsay. "So are dollars and euros in bank accounts. Let's check it out," I said.
🏍️ By sheer dumb luck, I encountered Coin Cloud Bitcoin ATM on the digital map showing Lupton, Arizona, US. This gave me an opportunity to devote some zapfic entries to various topics from the world of cryptocurrency. It was also an opportunity to get each of Our Heroes some face time (so to speak) in one place before they rode out of Arizona and into New Mexico.

3️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ 2024-March-06 00:09:51

"First thing to know about crypto," Sanjay began to tell Lindsay, "is this: not your keys, not your crypto. Crypto is truly yours when you control access to it. Public key is your address. Private key acts like an ATM PIN."
🏍️ With cryptocurrency being covered daily in the legacy financial media centered around both Wall Street and City of London, most consumers of this financial news would be used to having cryptocurrency being regulated as much as most other financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, options, derivative, etc. If you're on decentralized social media powered by Hive blockchain, or if you come to GHAWG by means of search engines, then you know that cryptocurrency-- starting with Bitcoin ($BTC)-- is meant to be decentralized digital money which we control ourselves. Although we're responsible for unpleasant tasks of security and data recovery-- which is to be expected when we adhere to the principle of "Be Your Own Bank"-- we're also responsible for how we acquire and dispose of the cryptocurrency under our direct control. 🏍️ A short time after I made the cover image used for the post noted above, the digital map of Lupton no longer showed Coin Cloud Bitcoin ATM. For a while I had considered not making these zapfic entries. Then I remembered that GHAWG takes place in the near future, 2026 through 2028. Who knows what the digital maps will look like by then? So I kept Cryptocurrency 101.

"First thing to know about crypto," Sanjay began to tell Lindsay, "is this: not your keys, not your crypto. Crypto is truly yours when you control access to it. Public key is your address. Private key acts like an ATM PIN."

🏍️ With cryptocurrency being covered daily in the legacy financial media centered around both Wall Street and City of London, most consumers of this financial news would be used to having cryptocurrency being regulated as much as most other financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, options, derivative, etc. If you're on decentralized social media powered by Hive blockchain, or if you come to GHAWG by means of search engines, then you know that cryptocurrency-- starting with Bitcoin ($BTC)-- is meant to be decentralized digital money which we control ourselves. Although we're responsible for unpleasant tasks of security and data recovery-- which is to be expected when we adhere to the principle of "Be Your Own Bank"-- we're also responsible for how we acquire and dispose of the cryptocurrency under our direct control.

🏍️ A short time after I made the cover image used for the post noted above, the digital map of Lupton no longer showed Coin Cloud Bitcoin ATM. For a while I had considered not making these zapfic entries. Then I remembered that GHAWG takes place in the near future, 2026 through 2028. Who knows what the digital maps will look like by then? So I kept Cryptocurrency 101.

3️⃣8️⃣1️⃣ 2024-March-08 00:02:54

Once at the Bitcoin ATM, Hank & Frank showed Lindsay what kinds of cryptocurrency were supported. They showed her how they deposited cash to their $DOGE Ledger wallets. "You'll have fun with Dogecoin," Hank told Lindsay.
🏍️ Even though these are called "Bitcoin ATMs," these devices support a number of the leading cryptocurrencies by market cap. Among the leaders in market cap are Bitcoin ($BTC)-- because why would it not be in the year 2024?-- and-- beacuse WTF??? happened in Spring 2021?-- Dogecoin ($DOGE).

3️⃣8️⃣2️⃣ 2024-March-09 00:08:03

Rhonda used the "Bitcoin" ATM to see her ETH balance, and she was pleasantly surprised. "I was expecting my bag to be less than what I see here," she told Lindsay. "Gas fees must have been very low during my ride with David."

Rhonda used the "Bitcoin" ATM to see her ETH balance, and she was pleasantly surprised. "I was expecting my bag to be less than what I see here," she told Lindsay. "Gas fees must have been very low during my ride with David."
🏍️ The first time we encounter Ethereum ($ETH) in GHAWG-- before the arrival of Lindsay Etxeberria transformed it into The GHAWG Universe and this zapfic serial became `Rat Bike`-- was when everyone was playing tourist in Bozeman, Montana, US and both Rhonda Bella and David Guardia visited the American Computer & Robotics Museum. For anyone who had ever transacted in either $ETH or any Layer Two token of Ethereum, the bane of their cryptocurrency experience is the gas fee. Sooner or later, anyone using $ETH (or L2) will spend more on the gas fee than for the actual TX itself.

🏍️ The first time we encounter Ethereum ($ETH) in GHAWG-- before the arrival of Lindsay Etxeberria transformed it into The GHAWG Universe and this zapfic serial became Rat Bike-- was when everyone was playing tourist in Bozeman, Montana, US and both Rhonda Bella and David Guardia visited the American Computer & Robotics Museum. For anyone who had ever transacted in either $ETH or any Layer Two token of Ethereum, the bane of their cryptocurrency experience is the gas fee. Sooner or later, anyone using $ETH (or L2) will spend more on the gas fee than for the actual TX itself.

3️⃣8️⃣3️⃣ 2024-March-09 16:03:36

"Gas fees??" asked Lindsay, with a quizzical look the iconic C-3PO would recognize. "Each ETH transaction has a cost associated with it," said Rhonda. "It's what keeps the Ethereum network operational." "Ah, OK," said Lindsay.
🏍️ Given that Lindsay Etxeberria began GHAWG (and `Rat Bike`) with minimal to zero exposure to cryptocurrency, it makes sense that she would ask about something like gas fees. Thankfully for her, the best person who can explain Ethereum to her is Rhonda Bella Guardia.

3️⃣8️⃣4️⃣ 2024-March-10 16:03:36

Once it was my turn to use the "Bitcoin" ATM, something caught my eye. "It's about damn time." "What is it?" asked Lindsay. "Hive-Backed Dollar is finally supported by these people. That's one dollar's worth of HIVE crypto."
🏍️ For anyone who had been following GHAWG (including `Rat Bike`) from the beginning, it is known that David Guardia has a Hive account. He created his Hive account shortly after 2020-March-20, the day the Genesis Block was written to Hive blockchain, so the the time GHAWG starts he had been a Hiver for nearly 6 years. By the time he starts his Epic Ride he had been on Hive for 8 years.

3️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ 2024-March-11 00:13:27

"That's social media Hive, right?" asked Lionel. "So you know about Hive?" I asked. "Oh yes. It's big in Nigeria." "What's your name there?" "@finnsjacket" "I'm @ratbike. If you guys want to sign up, use Lionel's referral."
🏍️ Lionel Odunsi, the Nigerian foreign exchange student spending his senior year at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reveals another detail about Hive social media: it has a good following in Nigeria. David Guardia is being generous enough with his status on Hive that he's passing up on refferal earnings.

3️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ 2024-March-12 00:06:30

"Remember how ETH transactions cost some gas fee, Lindsay?" She nodded. "Transactions on Hive are feeless. No fees. They still have a cost, but that cost is paid for in other ways. On top of that, HBD in savings earns 20% APY."
🏍️ This is the main selling point of Hive. Feeless transactions which are virtually instantaneous, needing only enough time to reach blockchain. Another selling point is the existince of 3 forms of cryotocurrecy: liquid $HIVE tokens, staked $HIVE known as Hive Power (HP), and the algorithmic stablecoin known as Hive Backed Dollar ($HBD) As of 2024-March-24, any $HBD placed in Savings earns an APY of 20%.

"Remember how ETH transactions cost some gas fee, Lindsay?" She nodded. "Transactions on Hive are feeless. No fees. They still have a cost, but that cost is paid for in other ways. On top of that, HBD in savings earns 20% APY."

🏍️ This is the main selling point of Hive. Feeless transactions which are virtually instantaneous, needing only enough time to reach blockchain. Another selling point is the existince of 3 forms of cryotocurrecy: liquid $HIVE tokens, staked $HIVE known as Hive Power (HP), and the algorithmic stablecoin known as Hive Backed Dollar ($HBD) As of 2024-March-24, any $HBD placed in Savings earns an APY of 20%.

3️⃣8️⃣7️⃣ 2024-March-13 21:51:42

Lindsay's eyeballs popped out on hearing about the 20% APY on HBD in savings. "You won't see this with Bitcoin or Ethereum or Dogecoin," I told Lindsay. "On a separate aspect of cryptocurrency, Hive blockchain is decentralized."
🏍️ During the 1970s and 1980s, money held in savings account would earn at least 5%. By the time 2000 arrived, the interest rate for savings was at best trivial, if not insulting, at nearly 0%. Even in the 2020s, savings accounts were considered "healthy" if they offered 3% interest. So you can see how excited anyone would be to earn 20% just to have money parked in some form of savings. The community built on Hive blockchain set up institutions which made savings possible; the same cannot be said for Bitcoin or Ethereum. Although Dogecoin is just as famous for its tight-knit community as it is for its raison d'être-- memecoin-- it didn't go that far, either. 🏍️ Given Lindsay Etxeberria's background, it's no surprise that she would loathe any involvement by Wall Street institutions and Big Government into any new activities such as cryptocurrency. Although Bitcoin's rise from curiosity to sought-after alternative to gold was amazing, it came at the cost of increased centralization. Ethereum, the leading cryptocurrency most famous for its use of smart contracts, is essentially run by one man (Vitalik Buterin, a.k.a. "VB"). So David Guardia thought it was important to inform Lindsay that decentralized cryptocurrency exists.

Lindsay's eyeballs popped out on hearing about the 20% APY on HBD in savings. "You won't see this with Bitcoin or Ethereum or Dogecoin," I told Lindsay. "On a separate aspect of cryptocurrency, Hive blockchain is decentralized."

🏍️ During the 1970s and 1980s, money held in savings account would earn at least 5%. By the time 2000 arrived, the interest rate for savings was at best trivial, if not insulting, at nearly 0%. Even in the 2020s, savings accounts were considered "healthy" if they offered 3% interest. So you can see how excited anyone would be to earn 20% just to have money parked in some form of savings. The community built on Hive blockchain set up institutions which made savings possible; the same cannot be said for Bitcoin or Ethereum. Although Dogecoin is just as famous for its tight-knit community as it is for its raison d'être-- memecoin-- it didn't go that far, either.

🏍️ Given Lindsay Etxeberria's background, it's no surprise that she would loathe any involvement by Wall Street institutions and Big Government into any new activities such as cryptocurrency. Although Bitcoin's rise from curiosity to sought-after alternative to gold was amazing, it came at the cost of increased centralization. Ethereum, the leading cryptocurrency most famous for its use of smart contracts, is essentially run by one man (Vitalik Buterin, a.k.a. "VB"). So David Guardia thought it was important to inform Lindsay that decentralized cryptocurrency exists.

3️⃣8️⃣8️⃣ 2024-March-14 16:07:03

"Decentralization is good for both faith and money," I said to Lindsay. "Bitcoin's decentralized digital crypto. Anyone can acquire it, anyone can manage it. No permission's needed from some authority. No middlemen are needed."
🏍️ At its most fundamental, money is a medium of exchange two parties are willing to recognize and accept for trade. It's the most primitive use of a 3rd item when two parties want other things. Commerce and trade predate institutions of government. They predate banking. They predate rule by kings. When 2 parties have something the other parties want, yet they cannot make a direct trade, they find a mutually desired 3rd item to trade. That mutually desired 3rd item is what came to be known as money.

"Decentralization is good for both faith and money," I said to Lindsay. "Bitcoin's decentralized digital crypto. Anyone can acquire it, anyone can manage it. No permission's needed from some authority. No middlemen are needed."

🏍️ At its most fundamental, money is a medium of exchange two parties are willing to recognize and accept for trade. It's the most primitive use of a 3rd item when two parties want other things. Commerce and trade predate institutions of government. They predate banking. They predate rule by kings. When 2 parties have something the other parties want, yet they cannot make a direct trade, they find a mutually desired 3rd item to trade. That mutually desired 3rd item is what came to be known as money.

3️⃣8️⃣9️⃣ 2024-March-15 19:38:39

Rhonda could see that Lindsay had a lot to process. "It's OK, Lindsay; none of us came into crypto knowing a thing, either. The more we learned, the more amazed we grew from its potential. Whatever questions you have, just ask."
🏍️ Although this is not the first instance where we see Rhonda Bella (now Rhonda Bella Guardia) act as a mentor to Lindsay Etxeberria, this zapfic entry may be the best example. It makes sense since they are the only women present in a group made of mostly men. While both Rhonda and Lindsay are as differen as any 2 people can be from each other-- in looks, appearances, mindsets, belief systems, and other ways I can't even imagine-- they have enough in common that they can build solid bonds of sisterhood and shared humanity. By this time, Lindsay has established good relations with the 5 men who ride with her. Even so, she still benefits from the presence and influence of the-- literally-- towering figure that is Rhonda.

Rhonda could see that Lindsay had a lot to process. "It's OK, Lindsay; none of us came into crypto knowing a thing, either. The more we learned, the more amazed we grew from its potential. Whatever questions you have, just ask."

🏍️ Although this is not the first instance where we see Rhonda Bella (now Rhonda Bella Guardia) act as a mentor to Lindsay Etxeberria, this zapfic entry may be the best example. It makes sense since they are the only women present in a group made of mostly men. While both Rhonda and Lindsay are as differen as any 2 people can be from each other-- in looks, appearances, mindsets, belief systems, and other ways I can't even imagine-- they have enough in common that they can build solid bonds of sisterhood and shared humanity. By this time, Lindsay has established good relations with the 5 men who ride with her. Even so, she still benefits from the presence and influence of the-- literally-- towering figure that is Rhonda.

🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

Next Week (2024-March-29)

Zapfic Entries 390-396

Our Heroes acquire the additional identity of FELIX LEGION, and they will have the riding gear to match.

At LeoThreads

At this point, the Weekly Summaries will have caught up with the daily zapfic entries.

However, a few zapfic entries will be published which fill in gaps from earlier in the serial. These entries will better explain how both The Twins (Hank & Frank, the Brothers Marchenko) and The Kids (Sanjay Rampersad and Lionel Odunsi) teamed up with David Guardia between his release from the hospital in Le Claire, Iowa, US and their arrival at STURGIS.

NOW AVAILABLE! -- GHAWG, Uninterrupted for those who want to binge-read the daily zapfic serial one Act (or Interlude) at a time.

ALSO AVAILABLE! -- The GHAWG Diaries for those who want to witness the formation of The GHAWG Universe and how it's taking place. Published on Mondays when there is no GHAWG, Uninterrupted post (or, for that matter, any other post).

PLUS! -- GHAWG Behind the Scenes to see how elements of The GHAWG Universe take shape, from graphics to spreadsheets and other research. Included is a subseries called "Fun with Maps" showing the interesting things I find as I map out the David Guardia's ride. Curently "Fun with Maps" is at South Bend, Indiana, US.

Catch the latest zapfic entries for GHAWG at LeoThreads. Get caught up with GHAWG with these weekly summaries at InLeo.

🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

GHAWG Navigation

To find other weekly summary posts such as this one-- or to read the serial without annotated commentary-- use the post GHAWGnav: Navigating The GHAWG Universe.

🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

That's it for this Weekly Summary. I'm ^[!!]
Thanks for your time and for reading #GHAWG, LeoThreads at InLeo's first daily zapfic serial. Give the post an upvote or a reblog if you liked it. Feedback is welcome. Until next time!

[!!] -- signature graphic was made by @ahmadmanga

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GHAWG-- God's Hog: A Watchful Guardian-- LeoThreads Zapfic Entries 376-389

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Zapfic Entries 376-389

3️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ 2024-March-02 00:11:39

3️⃣7️⃣7️⃣ 2024-March-03 00:07:18

3️⃣7️⃣8️⃣ 2024-March-04 00:03:36

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3️⃣7️⃣9️⃣ 2024-March-05 00:04:15

3️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ 2024-March-06 00:09:51

3️⃣8️⃣1️⃣ 2024-March-08 00:02:54

3️⃣8️⃣2️⃣ 2024-March-09 00:08:03

3️⃣8️⃣3️⃣ 2024-March-09 16:03:36

3️⃣8️⃣4️⃣ 2024-March-10 16:03:36

3️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ 2024-March-11 00:13:27

3️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ 2024-March-12 00:06:30

3️⃣8️⃣7️⃣ 2024-March-13 21:51:42

3️⃣8️⃣8️⃣ 2024-March-14 16:07:03

3️⃣8️⃣9️⃣ 2024-March-15 19:38:39

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Next Week (2024-March-29)

Zapfic Entries 390-396

At LeoThreads

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GHAWG Navigation

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🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️ PRESENTING CRYPTOCURRENCY 101 BELOW 🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️

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