OK, then don't believe me.

That was my first thought when I heard it, too.

Take it with a grain of salt.

Haha, crystal, ain't it?

So, I had a rather interesting experience at work today.

Today, I had a meeting with a client who, as it turns out, has a tested IQ about 5-6 standard deviations above the norm with at least 7 advanced degrees from multiple Ivy League institutions.  He's also the CEO of multiple companies.  I verified the legitimacy of all his claims online.

Anyway, Bitcoin came up.

According to him, Bitcoin was invented by "some kid," albeit some bright kid.  He also said there is a digital currency called "Coins" originating in California that he claims is doing very well, even better than Bitcoin.

He recommended that I take 10-15% of my total assets and invest them in all available digital currencies.  He said in about 5-10 years I will have so much money I won't know what to do with it.

Specifically regarding Bitcoin, he said it's definitely going places but not at the rate you would necessarily expect.

So, if you ever wanted to know what a guy with a psychometrically tested IQ of 180+ thinks about Bitcoin/digital currencies, there ya go.

He also said never to touch the stock market  

I have some geek friends but I'm not sure how busy they are.  The first that came to mind was studying for some ridiculous physics test to get his PhD.
  But actually, come to think of it my girlfriend's dad is an actor and he owns an theater company.  He knows tons of actresses and actors.  They're pretty damn good, too.  I saw their performance of Steven King's Misery.  It was very impressive.

My interest in the Adler Planetarium?  Well, I like thinking about the Universe and I like Astronomy, so my vague answer would be that I simply have interest in it, and it would be fun to go there.  I don't think I've been there in a very long time.

I have a guitar lesson to teach in an hour.  I will check back again after then to see if there are any updates on the cabbie.  Hope he feels better!

Won't be able to post until later today after I get off work.

Hopefully he will have posted by then

I'll check back in later.
 

Ok, I have my pickup and drop-off locations selected, as well as a time.  I have a webcam available to record footage of a phone-call and Bitcoin transaction. 


Phinnaeus, I'm not sure that I will have immediate access to a video camera outside of the webcam though.  Will this be a problem for when the cabbie comes to pick me up?  I'm sure I can rent one or something if I'm in a bind.  At the very least, I think my buddy has a digital camera with some meager video capturing capabilities.  Otherwise, do you know what kind of filming he plans to have on his end?  If you don't need any footage from me at all, that's fine too, just trying to be as helpful as possible.

Also, he could post his BTC address in his signature, or at least in his marketplace advertisement.  That would make payment a breeze.

If there's anything else you can think of, let me know

The correlation between the Bitcoin's price and Google Trends has always been interesting.

Check it out now.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=bitcoin&ctab=0&geo=all&date=ytd&sort=0

This would be an angle I would like to spin for the college newspaper.  There are many crime alerts issued because so many UIC students  get mugged or assaulted near the campus.  Having Bitcoins can reduce or eliminate the need for students to carry credit/debit cards or cash.

Yeah, I realized the issue of the address.  

For the sake of this first transaction, I don't think that needs to be an issue.  I think the main point is just showing the simplicity of the transaction (i.e.  customer calls, customer sends Bitcoins, customer suddenly has a cab ride).  He could just email me or text me his BTC address and that would be fine for this first transaction.

The cabby's Bitcoin address appearing on a website would be nice, but even a card would be fine.  After all, once you send your BTC once, that address will be saved in your address book and you won't need to enter it again.  This is great for repeat customers.

Flexcoin would also be a great option in this case.  I have a Flexcoin account, and if I could send my coins to "BitcoinCab" or something, it would be really nice and easy.

No problem. Thursday can work for me.  PM me if necessary, we can hash out the details.

Phinnaeus...what about a split-screen video recording?

Here's what I'm thinking:

On my end at my place, I have a video camera of me making the call to the cab company and sending the Bitcoins on my computer.

On the cab drivers end, he can have a video of him receiving the phone call (obviously, we would just arrange a time for me to call and have the cameras set up beforehand).

Then, the video tape of the cab ride and the rest of it.

You could split-screen the video of the call to show both the caller and receiver to show how the entire transaction works.

I have classes on Tuesday and Thursday.  If you want to set something up, let me know.  I'm down to do it.

I go to school in the city.  He can take me to Potbelly's.  It's ordinarily about a mile walk.  But that's 15-ish minutes, and I'm constantly late for class.

FYI no smart-phone.  Could be an issue.  How does he address the non-smart-phone user?  With...cash?  Hell no.

But, it could be in the UIC newspaper.  When I tell them about it.

I bought.

That sucks you guys have been having problems.

I've written a good number of emails to TradeHill in the past and I've never been disappointed.  Their check to me also arrived very quickly.  It really sucks when your money is tied up because it can be a very helpless feeling, but so far Tradehill has been the most observably reliable exchange in my opinion.  They make me feel too safe when I shouldn't feel that way.  That's really a compliment, but I think a lot of us feel too safe with Bitcoin in general, even though we understand the risks.

Stuff like this is gonna happen, but I'd feel a lot safer with a TradeHill holdup than a Gox holdup, or a holdup on some newer exchange.

I guess I meant to imply balance in the question.  My question would be phrased with the words "climb too high" if it was the beginning of June.  He would've already gotten rich once, wouldn't you think?

Tomatoes, tomahtoes.

Red hats are not red
But they are hats nonetheless
Figure that shit out

A haiku by me

Among all the Bitcoin conspiracy theories, is there one that places Satoshi in the role of the "manipulator?"

It's his brainchild, he wouldn't let the price drop too far, would he?

Power chord =  Root + 5th

Por ejemplo, C natural y G natural