diff --git a/posts/2024-05-10_kv-stores-indexer/README.md b/posts/2024-05-10_kv-stores-indexer/README.md index 49ab400..dfde678 100644 --- a/posts/2024-05-10_kv-stores-indexer/README.md +++ b/posts/2024-05-10_kv-stores-indexer/README.md @@ -1,5 +1,4 @@ --- -title: "Key/Value Stores: How We Improved the Performance of Our tx-indexer by 10x" publication_date: 2024-05-10T13:37:00Z slug: kv-stores-indexer tags: [blog, post, tx-indexer, dev] diff --git a/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/README.md b/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af4f0e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ +--- +publication_date: 2024-05-21T12:33:00Z +slug: the-gnome +tags: [gnome, brand-update, new-logo] +authors: [gno.land] +--- + +# Introducing our new Gno.land logo: the gnome + +[![banner](https://gnolang.github.io/blog/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/thumbs/banner.png)](https://gnolang.github.io/blog/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/banner.png) + +We are excited to introduce our new Gno.land logo, a significant shift that +reflects the true spirit of our project. + +From the very beginning, the character of the "gnome" has been a source of +inspiration for gno.land, representing the essence of our journey and values. +In time, this character has not only inspired our project but has also become +part of gno.land’s identity. + +The black hole of the previous logo represented +finality, inevitability, the ultimate end state, and was an interesting +representation of something that cannot be seen; but it also had nothing to do +with gnomes. Gnomes are warm and inviting in character, are the opposite of the +cold and unemotional void of black holes, where all that is known is pulled in +and ceases to exist. + +_But why gnomes?_ + +In Greek, _gnomi_ means “the means of knowing; mind; intelligence; judgment”. +_Gnomic poetry_ refers to a type of poetry involving short memorable maxims of +wisdom that flourished in the 6th century in Greece. Today, when we hear _gnome_ +we think of earth-dwelling figures often found in lush blue-green gardens, +guarding or simply enjoying the land they are in. + +Nobody knows for sure the origin of these gnomes, but the earliest known +reference to it comes from Paracelsus as _gnomus_, a Swiss Christian theologian +philosopher and alchemist of the Renaissance. He also called them _pygmies_ in +his _“A book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies, and Salamanders, and on Other Spirits”_ +published in 1566, a study on myth creatures as they relate to Christianity. + +While the depiction of gnomes are varied, their general character was described +by Paracelsus: +_“the Pygmies (gnomes) are mountain people who keep pledges, are honest, hard +working, loyal to man, and “have money, because they themselves coin it” - +Paracelsus_ + +(perhaps Paracelsus would have preferred to be identified as a gnome, since he was also an alchemist). + +This character is consistent with Swiss folklore, as gnomes are said to have +caused the landslide that destroyed the Swiss village of Plurs in 1618 - the +villagers had become wealthy from a local gold mine created by the gnomes, who +had poured liquid gold down into a vein for the benefit of humans. The villagers +were corrupted by this newfound prosperity, which greatly offended the Gnomes. +(Wikipedia on Gnomes). + +By combining Swiss folklore and the original description by Paracelsus, we can +describe gnomes in the following manner: +1. At first, gnomes create timeless value for humanity. +2. Humanity becomes corrupted through greed and abuses these timeless values. +3. Finally, the gnomes take remedial action. + +Whether the timeless value is that of an element such as gold, or that of a +protocol such as crypto(currencies), gnomes are hardworking alchemists who wish +the best for humanity and actively resist corruption and greed as a matter of +principle. This quality of character is sorely needed in the field of +cryptocurrencies and blockchain, where it is so easy to become corrupted by +greed and bag-holder syndrome, resulting in stalled innovation and broken +promises at best, and the loss of life savings and the death of the wellbeing +of entire communities at worse (thus far). + +Our field of crypto needs more gnomes to create timeless software and protocols +for humanity. Such technology should be: +1. intuitive (easy to use and understand) +2. expressive (for societal infrastructure; finance, social, knowledge) +3. finalized (completed) +4. secure (unhackable) +5. scalable (affordable) + +These are timeless values we strive to bring to the world through gno.land. In +addition, gnomes are not afraid to take a stance against greed and evil. Some +say that gnomes wear the Phrygian cap, which represents Zoroaster, the “three Magi” +from the east, or the revolutionary pursuit of liberty. Gnomes are also earth +dwellers, masons of the rock, and the guardians of the land. + +Gnomes are thus an ideal representation of the builders behind gno.land. That’s +why the logo had to change. We hope you like the new logo, an iconic depiction +of the gnome with cap; and hope that the gnomic spirit can help guide us to build +a better honest world for all of us. + +_- the gnomes of gno.land_ + + diff --git a/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/banner.png b/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/banner.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5dee142 Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/banner.png differ diff --git a/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/thumbs/banner.png b/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/thumbs/banner.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b0cdad Binary files /dev/null and b/posts/2024-05-21_the-gnome/src/thumbs/banner.png differ