If you want to enjoy peaceful gatherings over the holidays, it’s probably better not to bring up politics. But there will be no avoiding the questions about the other hot topic of the moment. So this is your last chance to be prepared: Ars Technica: Want to really understand how bitcoin works? Here’s a gentle primer.

+ And here’s a look at the hard math behind bitcoin’s global warming problem.

+ Bitcoin isn’t the only tech contributing to climate change. Your adult movie habit has a big carbon footprint. (At least, I think that’s a foot…)