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@@ -3,6 +3,31 @@
 **N.B.** The terminology used herein is definitely a work in progress, ...
 along with all other aspects.
 
+ Throughout this document we will fall back on activity pub parlance, though the
+concepts should apply to any decentralised communication; or at least those
+which follow a pub/sub model.
+
+
+## Premises
+
+The following premises should be true - WIP.
+
+- Per instance:
+    - The instance itself is an "actor"
+        - Purely automated; a conglomeration of any other actors within the
+          instance
+            - potentially groups and users (human actors)
+            - newswire, stories, ...? (other automated actors)
+    - The newswire stream is an actor (subscribe and publish)
+    - The stories stream is an actor (publish only)
+- Per user:
+    - Any user of the instance is actually a curator (moderator)
+        - all other access is public
+        - individual users are _not_ actors (?)
+
+
+## Aim
+
 The aim for the initial phase(s) is to implement the following five functions,
 referenced from: https://hamishcampbell.com/omn-projects-are-tools-for-you-to-change-and-challenge-the-world-we-live-and-die-in/
 
@@ -29,6 +54,7 @@ referenced from: https://hamishcampbell.com/omn-projects-are-tools-for-you-to-ch
       just another pipe into the system. At the core sits the storage tank:
       a simple database holding all the flows.
 
+
 ## Phase 1
 
 The following terms are purely for differentiating between certain implementation details.