Thanks, Russell, that was great! On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 4:58 PM, RussellMc wrote: > On 9 December 2013 16:53, John Ferrell wrote: > > > I followed a Slashdot reference to > > > http://www.michaelnielsen.org/ddi/how-the-bitcoin-protocol-actually-works= / > > > > After trying to figure that out I have concluded that I am simply not > > smart enough to understand the system. > > > > > 1. You just need to chug through it slowly and accept the assumptions he > states. > > 2. Or realise that it's akin to this, but totally different: > > Here's an easy game to play. > Here's an easy thing to say: > > If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, > And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort, > And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, > Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report! > > If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, > And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, > And your data is corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash, > Then your situation's hopeless, and your system's gonna crash! > > You can't say this? > What a shame sir! > We'll find you > Another game sir. > > If the label on the cable on the table at your house, > Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse, > But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol, > That's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall, > > And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss > So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse, > Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, > 'Cause as sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang! > > When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk, > And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary risc, > Then you have to flash your memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM. > > Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your mom! > > *Gene Ziegler.* > 1995 > > > > > > > On 12/8/2013 5:42 PM, IVP wrote: > > >> Thoughts? > > > Bitcoins have been described as gambling rather than investing, > > > because the marketplace in general has yet to decide whether > > > they are acceptable as currency. As a result their value has been > > > swinging wildly > > > > > > I've seen a few stories about them recently - the hacking of Sheep > > > Marketplace, Chinese banks declining them, a new Lamborghini > > > apparently bought with Btc (ISTR at the time when a Btc was > > > $1000, shortly after dipping to $700, poor car dealer), and others > > > > > > There's almost a parallel between Btc and Continentals > > > > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_American_currency > > > > > > because of uncoordinated acceptance > > > > > > Joe > > > > -- > > John Ferrell W8CCW > > "All things have their season" > > > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .