Here's what you get for customer service from MtGox ;-)

Very sorry for the delay in replying and thanks very much for the interest. Unfortunately, I have to move out of the area on short notice and can't sell any more syrup. It is good stuff. If you by some make sure it says Pure Wisconsin on it, other wise it is blended with other maple syrups.

Excellent idea, treats BTC as an instrument, puts it in The Market. Either it "floats" or not ;-) (could not resist pun)

I agree with Littleshop. Also, al tho Paypal irritates me as well, I don't think "politicizing" bitcoins in this way is a good idea, for the same reasons that promoting it as a way way to buy drugs would not be a good idea. The adoption of bitcoins for general usage will need to be based on it's benefits for commerce and transfer, and side issues will "color" the image. Paypal and other businesses will adopt bitcoins when competition requires it. Plus, I don't think there aren't enough users yet for this to be an to be effective method of "persuasion". I am sure the time will come when it will be.

Bicoins discussed as payment method in the /. comments.

http://politics.slashdot.org/story/11/10/24/1419239/wikileaks-suspends-publishing-of-cables-due-to-financial-blockade

Interesting discussion about mining and bitcoin stabiltiy

http://forum.theuklibertarian.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=597&start=20#p8590

Here's a blog post I found by searching for "maple syrup bitcoins" ...  wtf?
You will understand my consternation when you read it, nothing to do with maple syrup.

This guy REALLY doesn't like banks.

New Decentralized Currency Stimulating Underground Barter Economy

http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/business/currency/news.php?q=1307459423

One way I think the general public would start paying more attention and, I think, start using BTC more, is to promote the "No identity theft" angle. If they / we could buy BTC easily from a trusted source (with a CC) and then use them for online purchases that don't require handing over their CC info, it would be a major PR point. "Use BTC - No ID Theft Risk!" I know I am personally a little nervous every time I hand over all of my CC info. It would require a simple way to buy BTC without the  Dwolla - Exchange - etc. process required now.

To coin a phrase: "All economics are local." The merchants that I have talked to around here in Northern Podunk USA about bitcoins don't care about global issues per se. They want to know: wtf are bitcoins? Then, what are advantages to me to use them? Etc. Decentalizd = local, imo, is what I am saying. Legal and tax issues are "local". Seems like a good idea and no harm done to try it.

Really good interview, gives an interesting "outside" view of BTC, a pretty realistic assesment, imo. The New Yorker article referenced looks excellent. Thanks for the link.

Update 10/31/11  I have to discontinue this offer. Thanks much for your interest.

For Sale: Single Source 100% Pure Wisconsin Maple Syrup

Hi. I buy this Maple Syrup locally and am curious to see if there is an interest amongst bitcoiners.  These Maple Syrups are all made here in Northwestern Wisconsin straight from the Sugar Maple trees.  It's the Pure stuff, no additives or blending. They taste great and would make cool "Bought With Bitcoins" gifts.  

There are more Local Producers in this area that have been making Maple Syrup for years. I will be visiting them to check out their operations and taste their product.  It's a tough job but it's got to be done! I will be adding them as things progress.

I am selling at about cost and shipping as cheap as possible so it's a good deal for some Really Good Single Source 100% Pure Wisconsin Maple Syrup.

This also helps spread the word about Bitcoins here in the Northwestern Wisconsin Boonies.  
(Folks here have NO CLUE what I am talking about when I mention bitcoins so it fun to explain.)

Please check out my website.  http://purewisconsinmaplesyrup.wordpress.com/
The website is a work in progress.  Questions and suggestions are welcome.  





12 Oz. 100% Single Source Wisconsin Maple Syrup (Hemshrot’s)

1.75  BTC (today)        + shipping (by zip) (1.5 BTC or so)

There are more sizes and syrups available on the website.
http://purewisconsinmaplesyrup.wordpress.com/

Thanks for looking.

edit

From what I've seen from Tradehill and Jared from the startup of Tradehill I will trust them on this. I have removed all my funds from Dwolla and let them know.    Good luck Jared.

Yes, I use them, along with MtG and TH.  It seems to work very well. They respond promptly to emails. Another plus to me is that the layout gives me all my info on one page for trading.  Thumbs up.

I think it depends on the type of trading you do. I use MtG, TH and ExchBC.  Here are my non techish views after a few months of trading.

I am a part timer I guess, so I don't "need" the MtG trade volume very often, but I use it for bigger trades (40 BTC +) altho TH is getting better all the time on volume and speed.  TH and ExchBC both have excellent responsiveness to me as a client, and obviously TH works hard to get in front of questions here on the forum.  They (TH) are always available and have excellent answers to all issues.  They get an A+ from me for that, and also for the way they handled the traffic deluge that fell on them when MtG became one with the clusterfuck.  ExchBC has also responded very well to my queries. 

Security seems to be very good on TH and ExchBC, but I am not very technecalish.  At least I have a pretty good impression that they are ON it.  As far as MtG goes, I've read everything I could find about the Great GOXification, but because of their (MtG's) clipped, slow, Hans Solo-ish "Everything's fine here" style I am still not entirely sure WTF happened or will happen and fully expect to be confused again in the future. They REALLY need to get a PR person in there.  That said, it works for me and I still use it.  (Rant over.  Yes, I do feel better now, thanks. 

Interface:  short version - Gox sucks, and apparently will continue to into the foreseeable future (see rant above).  TH is "gooder" but the charts are kind of lame, as they already know, and I need to have two or three tabs open to trade (dash, market, and trade).  Transfers are fine.   ExchBC is very good, simple, fast, not fancy but all my info is on one page.  Kudos for that, folks.  Transfers are fine.  Needs some charts, imho.

Commisions:  moving target... milage may vary.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the ongoing updates to the charts. They are very useful and keep improving without slowing down, so I am sending another fragment of a decimation of a digital currency to the whiskey fund. Well deserved.

Excellent Chatrs. The WTF section actually worked, as in, I get the charts now. Thanks for the work. I sent a kopec to help the pizza fund.

Dobradov, the music link in you sig. is a perfect soundtrack for this edition of  Cluster Gox XII. Thanks!

No luck here either. Sent two packets of id info, dwolla info, transfer info, etc., no reply. Tried to log in to the main page but, GOXED!  ;-)  A nice exercise in learning inner peace and serenity.

Nice Charts hazek. http://bitcoinity.org/markets?theme=light