On April 3rd, 1836, the most consequential naval battle between the Texians and Mexicans occurred in the Gulf of America. Texians had to date been ineffectual in stopping Mexican supply lines, and it was critical to stop them as Houston drew Santa Anna further east. The Texas ship “The Invincible” - was anything but - pummeled the Mexican “Montezuma” after The Invincible maneuvered to run the Montezuma ashore before unleashing hell on the ship. Later the same day, the Invincible intercepted and American ship supplying Mexicans with weapons. These weapons were critical once rerouted to Houston’s army.

March 27, 1863 - Goliad, Tx It’s been a somewhat quiet last couple of weeks for the revolution. Sam Houston is retreating, James Fannin got himself caught by General Urrea, and Urrea has been pleading with Santa Anna to spare the prisoners under Fannin lives. After marching to Goliad, Urrea is unsuccessful in convincing Santa Anna not to execute the prisoners. ~450 prisoners were shot under a ruse of forced labor under the direction Colonel Portilla of the Mexican army. While tragic for the Texians, the Goliad ordeal and how much time it took to resolve meant that Urrea (Mexico’s best general) would never join his force with Santa Anna’s. Between this moment and the Alamo, Sam Houston has the moral high ground in recruiting new troops to join the Texian cause, and the Mexicans lose their ability to recruit fresh troops from the local population. The Mexicans look like they’re “winning”, but in reality they are fucked. Divided in strength, and losing the hearts and minds of the population they want to rule.

On March 21st 1836 James Fannin, having disobeyed orders to retreat and join with Dam Houston’s main army, was captured by General Urrea and being marched towards Goliad in the Texas coastal plains. Santa Anna had already ordered that all prisoners - nearly 400 men - be executed and for Urrea to urgently join his main army pursuing Houston. Urrea wanted the prisoners spared, and wrote pleading for their mercy. He wasn’t just merciful, in many ways he was a superior military general than Santa Anna. Regardless, the Mexicans are arguing over a mass murder, and there are about to be hundreds of very unlucky Texians. Word travels slow though, so there’s time for Houston to continue to gather forces.

March 14th 1836. The dream of an independent Texas is at an all time low. News of the Alamo falling has spread, Houston is in (strategic) retreat, and Texas generals are disobeying orders. Notably, general James Fannin has been ordered to abandon Goliad and move east to Houston’s forces. Fannin, indecisive throughout the war, asks for reinforcements despite the plea to flee. He’s going to have a bad time in two weeks.

March 10th marks the beginning of Sam Houston’s “Washington” moment of the Texas Revolution. He hears about the Alamo falling and plans - against the wishes of nearly all his advisors - a long sequence of strategic retreats. They starve Santa Anna’s half of the army (he split with Urrea) of supplies and shelter as they retreat further east. Now they wait for the perfect moment, but not without some horrifying losses later in the month.

In March 7th 1836, this Santa Anna character is riding high. He’s killed Travis, Bowie, Davy Crocket and all but a few Alamo survivors. But the Alamo fight had taken ~500 of his best soldiers of ~ 2,000, and he still has no idea what he’s up against in Sam Houston. Houston is preparing his Runaway Scrape strategy moving East. Santa Anna is preparing to split his army. The Alamo will galvanize Texians and Americans alike. He’s so fucked.

I know it’s cliche, but we really are just getting started. Legislation is not as fast as EO’s , but America is screwed financially without embracing bitcoin, and this is a very logical FIRST step. There are people working hard on the next steps and enshrining and expanding this executive order creating a strategic bitcoin reserve. Bullish for America.

On March 5th 1836 William Travis drew a “line in the sand” asking those who would stay and defend the Alamo to cross and join him. They knew the final Mexican attack would come imminently. The colloquialism in a modern context - line in the sand - comes from this moment. All but one defender crossed the line to join the the final defense.

The Travis Letter. Texas founding father William B. Travis was a live player who shaped the world in his sacrifice at the Alamo. No reinforcements ever arrived.

February 23rd 1836 - the first day of the siege of the Alamo. The Texans were completely unprepared. Almost no food in storage, lots of guns but very little gun powder. By the end of the day, they knew what the odds were. No one other than official messengers and those sent to scavenge left.

The at bat that could redeem the family name, or perpetuate the cycle. A fine line.

Trump’s president, and the shaman is going deep on bitcoin with Marty. Not tired of winning. View quoted note →

Any executive order-that you don't want immediately reversed by a future administration-requires legislation to have a lasting impact. The SBR was never going to be a one and done order that put the United States on the right track. The SBR legislation from Senator Lummis has the long term vision of what a reserve could achieve for the country, and is not reliant in any way on an executive order. The right kind of executive order could help for sure, but is not necessary. The bitcoin centric nature of the legislation comes down to credibility in achieving objectives for the United States that isn't bettered by adding centralized altcoins into the reserve. The reckless spending of my lifetime-and subsequent debt crisis we find ourselves in-can be eased by the United States adopting bitcoin in a reserve fashion. It's a low time preference plan that only works with a monetary asset with a fixed supply and unchanging monetary policy. There's only one of those in existence. The SBR is far from dead, and doesn't need an executive order to succeed. Any EO with a basket of crypto is extremely unlikely to find any companion legislation and wouldn't achieve the time horizon necessary to have an impact.

“Scum” This is an absolute incredible promise kept from President Trump. He’s saved Ross Ulbricht’s life. Ross was deserving of mercy.

Gm. It’s Ross Ulbricht day.

The culture in the UK is so foreign to this Texan. Child rape in Ancient Greece has an (gross) ethos behind it, and it wasn’t shunned or secretive. But in the UK the people who revere child rape are secretive about their motivations. I’d love to learn more…

Merry Christmas from a load of Cole’s.

Love the War Mode boys and was determined to give them a better 101 than poor Dave Portnoy has received. View quoted note →

When someone asks what % they should invest in Bitcoin, trying to time the market, and rebalancing, the send them this. View quoted note →

BIG if true.