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+# HOME — Tony Second Brain / AgentOS
+
+> **Canonical vault root:** `/home/vpsadmin/AgentOS`  
+> **Open this folder in desktop Obsidian.**  
+> Last updated: 2026-07-09  
+> Maintainer: Anthony (Tony) · Operator agent: Leonard (Hermes profile)
+
+---
+
+## North star
+
+One local markdown vault that:
+
+1. You can browse in Obsidian on the laptop  
+2. Leonard can read/write on the VPS (no root required)  
+3. Survives model swaps (system > model)  
+4. Compounds: Raw dump → structured notes → project status
+
+This is the Julian-Goldie-shaped loop, Hermes-native: **vault = memory galaxy**.
+
+---
+
+## Active projects (max 3 primary)
+
+| Project | Path | Status (see status.md) |
+|---------|------|------------------------|
+| **Athena Oracle** | `04_projects/athena-oracle/` | Live research pipeline |
+| **AI Talk Show** | `04_projects/ai-talk-show/` | Dual agents + edge-tts; native TTS on laptop if desired |
+| **Local velocity / Phoenix** | `04_projects/local-velocity/` + `phoenix-salon/` | Salon digital presence |
+
+Secondary / parked: memory-system tests (complete), Grok inbox experiments (do not expand).
+
+---
+
+## Non-negotiables
+
+- **No root required** for vault work — everything under `$HOME`  
+- **Gitea:** `Tony_tech/*` and `Leonard/*` writable; `Ty_Tech/*` read-only  
+- **No firehose** — selective saves into the right project folder  
+- **User memory:** propose only → `01_user/proposed_memory.md` (Tony confirms)  
+- **Secrets:** never in the vault (tokens stay in env / agent-config outside git if sensitive)  
+- **Grok:** not for agent/MoA calls (OOC); free/local models only for tooling  
+- **VPS Chatterbox / swap:** off agenda — laptop optional for local TTS  
+
+---
+
+## How the loop works
+
+```
+YOU (laptop Obsidian)     LEONARD (VPS Hermes)      GITEA (optional mirror)
+        │                        │                         │
+   edit notes ◄── Git/Syncthing ──► read/write vault  ──push──► personal-agent-os
+   dump to 00_Raw/          consolidate after work           backup/history
+```
+
+1. Dump messy stuff → `00_Raw/`  
+2. Durable project truth → `04_projects/<name>/status.md` + `decisions.md`  
+3. Topic synthesis → `01_Wiki/` (one idea / topic page when worth it)  
+4. Daily briefs / session notes → `04_Daily/`  
+5. Shippable artifacts → `05_Output/`  
+6. Agent lessons → `02_agents/leonard/lessons.md` (reusable only)
+
+---
+
+## Agent boot (Leonard)
+
+On multi-step sessions, load in order (token budget ~1500 unless task needs more):
+
+1. This file (`HOME.md`) — skim  
+2. `00_system/memory_policy.md`  
+3. `02_agents/leonard/lessons.md`  
+4. Relevant `04_projects/<project>/status.md`
+
+Full checklist: `02_agents/leonard/boot_prompt.md`
+
+---
+
+## MoA policy
+
+Default: **Leonard builds alone.**  
+Escalate to mixture-of-agents only when Leonard flags a real design fork (e.g. sync architecture failure modes, product vs service tradeoffs). Not for folder creation or routine consolidations.
+
+---
+
+## Desktop setup
+
+See `DESKTOP_SYNC.md`.