NFT's - Have You Heard About Them?

It's Friday, and a day off for me, so I have computer stuff to do (lots of it), banking and tax stuff to do (lots of it) and a quick run to the grocery store. I also have a chat with Aearwen today instead of our usual Wednesday because ... well, Wednesday with the dryer mess-up and all that entailed was too much of a mess to allow for me to chat. So we're picking up 48 hours later instead. All's good. 

I'm busy looking at new dryers. I have a specific size that it 
can't exceed in order for it to fit into the space we have, but 
so far that shouldn't be a problem. I'd love to get in for under 
$800, but I'm also checking my bank balance to be sure 
I can afford that. Not really making me happy. 

Because I have a ton of computer work that has to be done before our tax appointment on Wednesday, I'm not going to have lots to say today. I know ... you're probably breathing a sigh of relief. LOL

NFT's are a way to own digital items - art, scripts, 
music, etc. I think we've come a long way from 
the days of exchanging a cow for a handful of beans. 

The buzz in the investment world is something called an NFT "Nonfungible Tokens". The term always has me smiling a little bit as I envision a small patch of mushrooms. I ascribe that vision to the Shire and blame Tolkien, but truly, NFT's seem a bit of a fairy-tale themselves. Basically, to quote the New York Times...

An NFT is an asset verified using blockchain technology, in which a network of computers records transactions and gives buyers proof of authenticity and ownership. The current boom is mostly for digital assets, including images, GIFs, songs or videos. Most importantly, NFTs make digital artworks unique, and therefore sellable.

So, clear as mud? Bitcoins already confused me because of their value and the fact that no actual token of value changes hands - no cash, no credit card, just a bleep from one account to another. Now we're selling specific items that aren't physical, and they're apparently worth a lot! 

Want to know what was worth $69.3 million? 
Here's a detail from Beeple's "Everydays -
The First 5000 Days" digital artwork. I'm not 
going to deny the artistry, and I have no idea 
how large/expansive the actual piece is 
(this is a detail), but $69.3 million? Really? 

Beeple's (yes, that's the artist's name aka Mike Winkelmann) digital artwork, "Everydays - The First 5000 Days" just sold for $69.3 million. Obviously we're all in the wrong field of work. I can't even wrap my head around this. I recommend the NYT article (just follow the link). It may not help you understand this latest investment craze, but they explain it far better than I can. 

I don't want the drafty caves and the animal skin clothing, but 
I wouldn't mind a step back into a simpler time either. Things 
are moving so fast now, I'm starting to feel ancient! 

Can we return to the era of cavemen and hunting with spears and fire? Please? It would be so very much simpler in so many ways. But, until we are able to do that, I'll just write in my blog, remain amazed at the world around me, and enjoy catching up with my virtual friends around the world. Have an excellent day. Stay safe, be kind and please wear your mask. I'll be back tomorrow.