Stackernerd

Construction_and_Engineering

>Italy’s government has officially approved a €13.5 billion plan to build a 3.7 km single span suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, linking Sicily with mainland Calabria.
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This would become the longest single span bridge in the world, with a central suspended span of approximately 3.3 km.
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Upon completion, expected between 2032 and 2033, the bridge will carry six road lanes, two rail tracks, and can handle up to 6,000 cars per hour and 200 trains daily.



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**Who’s Behind It & Timeline**

>A consortium led by Webuild (formerly Impregilo), along with Spain’s Sacyr and Japan’s IHI, will construct the bridge.
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Preliminary work including geological and archaeological surveys is slated to begin in late 2025, with full construction potentially starting around September October.
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The roadmap targets a 10 year construction period.



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**The Government’s Rationale**

>Economic Uplift: Expected to create over 100,000 jobs annually and stimulate infrastructure linked growth in southern Italy.
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Geopolitical Strategy: Classified as strategic infrastructure to meet Italy’s NATO driven goal to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP and allocated 1.5% for infrastructure. The bridge could enhance military mobility in the Mediterranean.
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Engineering Confidence: Webuild asserts it has the technology and expertise to build safely even in seismic zones citing examples like Japan’s Akashi Kaikyō Bridge and Turkey’s Çanakkale Bridge.

![](https://m.stacker.news/104306)

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**Public Pushback & Controversies**

>Environmental and Technical Risks: Concerns include seismic threats, wind stress, disruption to migratory birds, and impact on a marine protected area.
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Criminal Influence: Fears of mafia infiltration led to added oversight measures.
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Social Disruption: Around 4,000 residents could be displaced due to expropriations.
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Public Resistance: Protests have mobilized thousands in Messina, demanding the plan be scrapped. Formal complaints have also been filed with the EU.
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Questionable Return on Investment: A study by Unimpresa indicates that 30 years post completion, the bridge’s net operating profit may reach just €3 billion less than a quarter of the total cost, raising concerns over financial viability.

| Aspect            | Details |
|-------------------|---------|
| **Project**       | €13.5B bridge (3.7 km length); record single span |
| **Timeline**      | Preliminary work in late 2025; completion by 2032–33 |
| **Benefits**      | Over 100,000 jobs/year; boosted southern economy; improved defense logistics |
| **Challenges**    | Seismic, environmental, mafia risks; displacement of 4,000 residents; financial concerns |
| **Public Response** | Large-scale protests; legal appeals; environmental complaints lodged with EU |

Italy Signs €13.5b Off on a Mega Bridge to Sicily

Stacker_Stocks

#  As of August 12, 2025, here are the latest updates on the top performing S&P 500 stocks from the previous week: #

![](https://m.stacker.news/104275)

**Etsy Inc. (ETSY) experienced a notable gain of 17.6% last week, reflecting strong investor confidence in its e-commerce platform.** 

![](https://m.stacker.news/104276)

**Netflix Inc. (NFLX) saw a 14% increase, attributed to positive subscriber growth and content offerings.** 

![](https://m.stacker.news/104277)

**Meta Platforms Inc. (META) rose by 13.5%, driven by advancements in its virtual reality initiatives and advertising revenue.** 

![](https://m.stacker.news/104278)

**Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) gained 13%, bolstered by its expanding digital payment solutions.** 

_**These performances highlight a strong week for tech and digital services sectors.**_ 

_**For a broader market perspective, the S&P 500 index rose 2.4% last week, marking its best performance since June.**_  

_**```If you need further details or insights on other sectors or stocks, feel free to ask!```**_

Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks (Aug 5–11, 2025)  Market Movers

Travel

The Case for Standardized Travel Bags on Short-Term Trips🎒

I agree, the idea does sound restrictive at first, but travelers often adapt quickly when they realize it can make their trips smoother, faster, and less stressful.

>Imagine arriving at the airport knowing exactly what kind of bag you’ll carry compact, efficient, and designed specifically for quick trips like business meetings, concerts, or weekend getaways. The concept of airports providing standardized travel bags, roughly the size of a backpack, offers intriguing possibilities that could reshape both passenger experience and airport operations.

>Operationally, enforcing uniform bag sizes could dramatically streamline security screening and boarding. Predictable luggage dimensions mean fewer bottlenecks, optimized overhead bin space, and a smoother flow through the gate. For airlines and airport operators, this translates to improved efficiency, reduced baggage mishandling, and potentially lower costs tied to oversized or checked luggage.

>For travelers, a ready-to-go, pre-approved travel bag simplifies packing and encourages a minimalist approach to short haul travel. It reduces the stress of last minute packing decisions and the risk of forgetting essentials. Plus, eliminating the need for checked baggage can save both time and money, while reducing the frustration of lost or delayed luggage.

>However, the idea is not without challenges. Managing the logistics of distributing, collecting, and sanitizing these bags between uses is critical especially in a post pandemic world where hygiene is paramount. Additionally, a one size fits all solution might not suit every traveler, limiting personal preferences or specialized packing needs.

>Ultimately, the adoption of standardized travel bags at airports could be a game changer for short trips combining convenience with operational benefits. Yet, its success depends on balancing efficiency with flexibility, and innovation with practicality.

_How feasible do you think this concept is? Could it redefine the future of quick trips, or are the hurdles too significant to overcome?_

BooksAndArticles

The Literature of Harsh Lands

Haven't read them but I saw a flim based on Farthest North, It’s about Nansen’s Arctic expedition and how they tried to reach the North Pole by drifting with the ice. I have to make it my next read thx.

Extreme landscapes don’t just set the scene they decide the rules. In the heart of a scorching desert, on a frozen glacier, or atop a wind battered mountain ridge, survival isn’t guaranteed. The environment shapes the story, pushes characters to their limits, and reveals truths they might never have faced otherwise.

**Tracks** by **```Robyn Davidson```** _is a memoir of her 1,700-mile solo trek across the Australian desert with camels. It’s a powerful story of solitude, endurance, and transformation in a harsh landscape._

![](https://m.stacker.news/104216)

**The Sheltering Sky** by **```Paul Bowles```** _explores existential despair as an American couple navigates the vast Sahara Desert, where the relentless heat and isolation become metaphors for human fragility._

![](https://m.stacker.news/104217)

**Skeletons on the Zahara** by **```Dean King```** _recounts a true story of shipwreck survivors stranded on Africa’s desert coast in 1815, battling starvation and madness as the desert tests their very survival._

![](https://m.stacker.news/104218)

These books show how the land can become more than a backdrop it becomes a living, unforgiving force shaping every moment.

**```If you have any other books you read which feels closely related to this one's please tell```**

security

**For years, hardware wallets have been the go-to for Bitcoin security. They keep your private keys offline, protected from hacks, malware, and remote compromise. But the recent revelations and debates have sparked a fresh wave of skepticism:**

>Ledger’s recovery backdoor: The controversy around Ledger’s recovery phrase storage and potential for key extraction shook trust in their security model.

Trezor’s chip vulnerabilities: Side channel attacks and chip-level flaws remind us that hardware isn’t invincible.

Coldcard’s UX hurdles: While Coldcard emphasizes security with air gapped transactions, its steep learning curve can push users toward risky shortcuts.



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>So, do we still trust hardware wallets or is there a better path forward?

The answer depends. For many, hardware wallets remain the backbone of their security stack because they offer a tangible, physical barrier that software wallets just can’t match. But we need to be realistic about their limits:

Supply chain risks: If a device is tampered with before you get it, your security is compromised from day one.

User error: Complex setups like Coldcard’s can lead to mistakes the biggest threat to Bitcoin security isn’t hackers but the user themselves.

Firmware trust: Closed source or opaque firmware can hide vulnerabilities or backdoors.



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>What are you using today and why?

Are you relying on a popular hardware wallet? Or have you moved on?

Ledger or Trezor? Classic choices, but do you fully trust their supply chain and firmware?

Coldcard? Loved for its air gapped approach but challenging to master.

DIY wallets: Have you explored SeedSigner, Specter DIY, or other open source, community-driven options that let you build your own cold storage from scratch? These promise more transparency and control at the cost of complexity.



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>Have you explored DIY wallets like SeedSigner or Specter?

DIY hardware wallets bring a fresh alternative:

SeedSigner: Uses a simple camera-based air-gapped signing process with opennsource hardware you can build yourself or buy cheaply. It eliminates firmware trust issues and increases transparency.

Specter DIY: Focuses on easy multisig setups with DIY hardware wallets, increasing security by requiring multiple physical signatures for spending.


Are these just for advanced users, or do they offer a practical future for everyday hodlers?


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>Are NFC cards, airgapped phones, or taproot scripts part of your stack?

Some advanced setups combine multiple layers:

NFC cold storage cards: Taproot enabled cards that can sign transactions offline using NFC on your phone.

Airgapped phones: Using old or dedicated phones disconnected from networks to sign transactions safely.

Taproot scripts & multisig: Leveraging Bitcoin’s latest scripting capabilities to add privacy and security through complex spending conditions.



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>Let’s talk real setups not marketing brochures.

What hardware or software do you actually use?

How do you balance convenience, security, and trust?

What pitfalls have you encountered?

Which innovations or DIY projects have impressed or discouraged you?

And how do you see the future of Bitcoin custody evolving?



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Your turn: Share your honest hardware wallet experiences, tricks, and advice. Because Bitcoin security isn’t just theory it’s what you build in your own hands.

Are Hardware Wallets Still the Gold Standard?

podcasts

The Kevin Rooke Show

**Darknet Diaries dives deep into cybercrime, hacking, darknet markets, and surveillance ops. It’s not a Bitcoin show per se but Bitcoin’s always lurking in the shadows of these stories.**

📌 **Must-hear episodes:**

>**Ep. 135** – _Bitcoin Fog: A gripping story of laundering, tracing, and law enforcement tactics._

>**Ep. 99** – _The Hacker Next Door: Shows how easy it is to weaponize basic tools and where Bitcoin fits in._

>**Ep. 80** – _The Pirate Bay: A classic, showing Bitcoin’s early use in radical freedom zones._


_**```This is the podcast for Bitcoiners who understand that code, crime, and sovereignty are tightly entangled.```**_

Darknet Diaries – Bitcoin’s Dark Corners, Exposed

**The Kevin Rooke Show is Bitcoin's builder's corner. Every episode is a long form conversation with entrepreneurs, developers, and founders shaping the Lightning Network and Bitcoin's scaling infrastructure.**

**```It’s not marketing fluff. Kevin gets guests to talk through:```**

```✓```What they’re building
```✓```Why it matters
```✓```Where it’s failing
```✓```How it can evolve


_He asks tough questions about business models, UX friction, and protocol trade-offs, making this show a goldmine for anyone interested in the real world path to hyperbitcoinization._
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![](https://m.stacker.news/97963)

![](https://m.stacker.news/97964)

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🔊 Recommended Episodes:

**Episode 124**– **```Roy Sheinfeld (Breez)```**

> “Open source Lightning wallets aren’t enough.”
Roy dives into the tension between custodial UX and sovereignty.



**Episode 117** – ***```Olaoluwa Osuntokun (LND)```**

> One of the LND co-creators discusses Taproot, Lightning’s growing pains, and future privacy improvements.



**Episode 105** – **```Paul Itoi (Stacker News / Fountain)```**

> Discusses attention markets, podcasting 2.0, and how Lightning enables creators to monetize natively.



**Episode 121** – **```Tony Giorgio (Mutiny Wallet)```**

> Hardcore talk about privacy, surveillance, and adversarial Lightning use.





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📢 What to Say on Stacker News:

> Kevin Rooke consistently delivers the most technical, thoughtful Lightning Network interviews in the game. If you’re curious about where real world Bitcoin usage is going (not just memes), this is the feed.

You’ll hear from the builders behind Breez, Zeus, Phoenix, LN Markets, Stacker News, and more unfiltered, uncensored, and often brutally honest.


_**Glasgow’s legendary Caley depot officially St Rollox Works has roared back to life after years of dormancy.**_

![](https://m.stacker.news/95811)

_**Originally built in 1856, the site was mothballed in 2019 and thought to be lost to history. But as of June 8, 2025, it's back with a 23 wagon overhaul contract for Transport for London and plans to scale from 40 to 5,000 jobs over the next decade.**_

![](https://m.stacker.news/95812)

Key details:

```✓```Bought in 2021 by David Moulsdale (Optical Express founder) for £5.75M.

```✓```Now operated by Gibson’s Engineering (father-son team Dougie & Fraser Gibson).

```✓```First major job: repairing TfL long-vehicle wagons over two years.

```✓```Long-term goal: create a “one-stop” electric rail maintenance hub, handling full electrified stock servicing.

_Backed by bids for ScotRail and Great British Railways replacement programmes_


_The depot is now a B-listed heritage site meaning it blends Victorian era architecture with cutting edge electric rail infrastructure. It's directly connected to the Glasgow Edinburgh mainline._


## What does this mean for construction, rail tech, and regional industry?

Is this a blueprint for reviving dormant industrial sites across Europe and the US?

Could this signal a rail infrastructure renaissance (especially with green rail tech catching on)?

What’s the incentive for private buyers to take on public sector scale projects like this? Will they get policy support or just struggle under red tape?


**```Also should we expect tokenization or public private crowdfunding tools (maybe BTC-based) to help fund these legacy to modern transformations?```**

**Drop your takes:**

•Is heritage based infrastructure revival a net win?

•Could this inspire Bitcoiners to support or build in IRL public goods?

•Anyone working on tokenized infra, modular rail tech, or public bidding systems?

Project Revival: Glasgow’s Caley Depot

bitcoin

>_**Bitcoin briefly cracked new all time highs this year, but recent Polymarket odds suggest we may already be past the 2025 peak. The market now gives BTC about a 61% chance of reaching $110,000 in 2025, but only 29% odds for hitting $150,000 and a mere 14% chance for $200,000.**_

>_**That’s a notable shift in sentiment, especially given the halving tailwinds, ETF inflows, and renewed institutional interest. A parallel market predicts a correction down to ~$70k before year end, indicating growing caution.**_

>_**Is this a signal that we've overheated too fast?
Or are prediction markets underestimating longer term momentum from Layer 2s, ordinals, and macro tightening relief?**_

>_**Also interesting: the same markets tie in election odds, showing Trump’s potential return could impact crypto’s trajectory. Are these contracts just noise, or valuable signals?**_

>_**Are you using Polymarket or Kalshi to hedge BTC exposure or just to speculate?
Do you think prediction markets are more accurate than technical analysis or analyst projections?**_

🧩Polymarket Bets: Has Bitcoin Already Topped for 2025?

AskSN

Are You Getting Dumber?

Some people often just totally stop trying to understand complex ideas and just outsource the thinking to AI and that's sad.

Politics_And_Law

Save Our Wallets – Protect Your Right to Transact Freely

k00b

If you value your financial freedom this is a cause to get behind,let’s encourage lawmakers to support laws that protect our right to transact freely with Bitcoin.

econ

Pleb Economist #7: Talking Bitcoin with academic economists

SimpleStacker

This captures why so many economists struggle with Bitcoin, It doesn’t fit neatly into traditional money theories, and that makes conversations tricky but interesting.

Ross Ulbricht 300BTC Donation received from a Dark Web Dealer: Alphabay

supratic

Shows how much loyalty Ross still has even from behind bars.

What's your tip to stack more sats?

Aardvark

Honestly, without some planning and bargain hunting our food bill would be out of control.

Circle is wildly overvalued

grayruby

Circle's business model is yield skimming. Not sure that justifies 50x earnings.

Private delays, abandonments drive project stress higher

BlokchainB

Tough times for private projects confidence is clearly taking a hit.


>_**Las Vegas has rapidly transitioned from a city without major league teams to a burgeoning sports hub the addition of MLB's Athletics complements existing franchises like the NFL's Raiders and the NHL's Golden Knights, further solidifying the city's status.  This diversification enhances the city's appeal to both residents and tourists, fostering a more vibrant and inclusive sports culture.**_

>_**The presence of a major league baseball team is expected to invigorate local community engagement, youth sports programs, and regional pride.  As with previous team introductions, the A's arrival could inspire a new generation of fans and athletes, embedding baseball deeper into the city's cultural fabric.**_


## Economic Impact: Opportunities and Challenges

>_**The stadium's construction is projected to inject significant capital into the local economy, creating thousands of jobs across construction, hospitality, and service sectors.  Proponents estimate an annual economic impact of $1.3 billion, driven by increased tourism and related spending.**_

>_**However, the financial model includes $380 million in public funding, a point of contention among critics who question the return on investment for taxpayers comparisons to other publicly funded stadiums have sparked debates about the efficacy of such expenditures.**_

>_**Additionally, the A's proposal to play up to eight home games annually outside Las Vegas raises concerns about potential revenue losses analysts estimate this could result in annual losses of $2.6 million to $3 million in incremental tax revenue and between $65 million and $75 million in incremental spending.**_

## Infrastructure and Long Term Vision

>_**The stadium's development necessitates significant infrastructure enhancements, including transportation and public services, to accommodate increased traffic and visitors these upgrades aim to ensure seamless integration into the city's existing framework, promoting sustainable growth.**_

>_**Long term, the stadium is envisioned as a catalyst for further economic development, potentially attracting additional investments and events its strategic location on the Strip positions it as a central hub for sports and entertainment, aligning with Las Vegas's broader vision of becoming a global sports capital.**_


## Community Perspectives

>_**The stadium's development has elicited diverse opinions within the community, supporters highlight the potential for job creation increased tourism and enhanced city prestige. Conversely, opponents express concerns over public funding, potential displacement, and the prioritization of resources.**_

>_**Engaging with community stakeholders remains crucial to address concerns and ensure that the stadium's benefits are equitably distributed. Transparent communication and inclusive planning can foster community support and mitigate potential adverse impacts.**_


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**Conclusion**

**```The Las Vegas Athletics stadium represents a significant investment in the city's future, with the potential to reshape its cultural and economic landscape while promising substantial benefits, it also presents challenges that require careful navigation. Balancing economic ambitions with community interests will be key to realizing the stadium's full potential and ensuring it serves as a unifying asset for Las Vegas.```**

```✓```Is this a smart move for Vegas or a gamble with public money? 
```✓```Are there better models for funding sports infrastructure? 
```✓```How should the city engage locals in shaping the stadium’s future?