Thanks, Blue.

Incidentally, where in the bitcoin source are the checkpoints checked?

I read the first paper ("Dencentralized currencies are probably impossible.")  His argument is basically that since the blockchain is checkpointed, bitcoin is not really a decentralised currency.  The checkpoints by the bitcoin developers constitute a form of centralization.   I suppose he has a point, but it would be extraordinarily expensive to abuse that centralization, at least at the moment.

So what kind of TLC does it need?

You would benefit from some better pics, and giving some more detail on what kind of care it needs.

Are you planning to patent this?

What are the advantages of the bittorrent protocol over bitcoin's current P2P scheme?

I think this is what you're after.  (Referred to from here.)

Anyone can put up a web page.  Doesn't mean anything substantial is going to happen.  My understanding is that they don't have the relevant unions onside, so they are doomed to fail.

Yes, "double spend" by physical duplication is impossible to detect reliably in physical transactions with no corresponding block chain record.

Thanks, Theymos.

I've only ever generated litecoins (came too late for solo generation of bitcoins.)

DNS appears to be inaccurate (resolves to IP address 1.2.3.4.)

Just came across this rule:   Makes sense.  First time I'd seen this rule, and I was just wondering whether there are any systematic descriptions of the protocol which mention this.  I didn't come across it in the wiki's description of the protocol specification or rules, and I'm wondering what else I might read to get as comprehensive an understanding as possible.  (Other than the code, of course.  I know I have to be reading that, too.  Incidentally, where is the code in the Satoshi client and pybtcengine which implements this rule?)

See what I mean about governments doing irrational things which move markets?

MimiTheKid is right.  This is a hard time to invest wisely in.  It's not just markets doing irrational things, its governments moving markets with irrational policies.  Unless you have inside information on what those policies are going to be (which does happen, but probably not to you), your investments will be based on speculation about the mental states of politicians and bureaucrats.

At this stage, sheer wealth preservation is a worthy objective.  If you can hold on to your money until things settle down, and invest it then, you could do very well.

Soros's book The new paradigm for financial markets: the credit crisis of 2008 and what it means is a good read, if you're into this sort of thing.

I need a development machine, and may be interested.  How much memory, and what CPU(s) does it have?  Does $130 include shipping?  What escrow terms?

Thanks, everyone.  That gave me enough information to hunt down the history.  It is outlined in more detail here.

Sorry, I don't follow.  Can you elaborate, please?

Edit: Oh, do you mean the coin has no resale value because the purchaser is not supposed to know what's under the hologram sticker?  I guess that's a concern.  Still, if we're talking about 1000BTC transactions, I wouldn't be trusting the integrity of the transaction to the integrity of a sticker anyway.

I'm surveying all known vulnerabilities of bitcoin and related protocols.  I have no evil designs.