Speaking of the ECDSA, I was wondering if it might be a good idea to have everyone start including a second (more secure?) signature algorithm that does not require a random nonce.  Then when a vast majority of the network nodes contain the new "nonceless" signature algorithm switch over to it but leave the current algorithm as a deprecated option.

On the other hand, thinking out loud here, using the nonce allowed us to discover the bad RNG on android devices.  By switching the ECDSA we might actually mask any future RNG issues which might then cause even harder to detect problems like identical private key generation.

Don't see it.  Bitcoin and fiat can both exist at the same time.

Because it is not 62, it is 58:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Base58Check_encoding

'0' 'O' 'I' and 'l' are not used, 62 - 4 = 58.

So, in fact, his equation is in error.  We only use 24 of the captital letters so 24³³/58³³ = (24/58)³³.

I am surprised no one else (including me) caught that the first time around.

It was interesting to read my OP in this old thread.  Man, all I can say is what a noob I was back then

I don't see how you can call it a democracy until ever single person has the right to vote!

What about all those poor unfortunate corporations?  Sure, it has been ruled that as persons they have the right to spend as much money as they want in any election - but this entire class of "persons" still, even in this modern day and age, have not been granted the right to vote.

I don't think you should be throwing around the word democracy so lightly.

I think hate it the wrong word.  Anger it is more like it.

I think this (directly from the horse's mouth) sum up the reason for our fear/anger/hate nicely:

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?id=BASE

FIFY

If you compress a 100 megabyte file down to 112 bytes then that would be really cool.

I have only one small question for you:

If I change one byte in the 100 megabyte file would the xxx.yyyyyyyyyy.zzz crypto key change?

I am going to assume it must because you need to be able to recover the two different (different by only one byte) 100 megabyte files, right?

You still trust banks?

No, the bad thing was that the thief did not get hurt.  Ideally one of the other customers would have tripped him, causing him to sail head first into a wall and be knocked out cold where he could have been detained until the police arrived.

Ideally...

Like I said I happen to be somewhat of an "expert" on data compression and transmision having worked for 25 years in the disk drive, set top box and video industries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-2, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4, etc.) so if you would like me to take a look at your idea I will.  I can tell you if the theory looks sound or maybe point our something you may have overlooked.

Are you trying to compress audio, video, text, binary files or all of these?

I think your really may be on to something here.  For example here in compressed form is an entire book related to the subject of data compression:

ISBN-10: 1846286026

Notice how I have encoded an entire book in a very small number of digits.

http://www.amazon.com/Data-Compression-The-Complete-Reference/dp/1846286026/ref=pd_sim_b_1

BTW I have some experience in this area having worked on data compression algorithms in the past.  So, if you want to send me an explaination of the idea I will let you know what I think of it.

As a seller I have always worried about the "grab and run" and until recently I thought that I was just being paranoid BUT:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=288053.0

So, as a seller what I do is meet toward the back of the coffee shop, not near the door.  I make sure I have my running shoes on in case I need to chase and tackle them.  If there are a lot of tables and people between us and the door then I figure it will slow them down enough for me to get them before they make it to the door.

Another word of warning for sellers here (lame scam attempted on me):

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=278352.0

And a word of warning to would be scammers.  You never know if the one you are scamming or attempting to scam has some real skills, read this entire thread, it is hilarious:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=279648.0

I have done a lot of business at

https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/BurtW/

Are you buying or selling?

Buying:

Find a seller near you.

Open an order to buy BTC from them.  I suggest an even amount of USD and let the BTC fall out of the price.  That way the money is easier to count when you meet.  For example buy $200 worth rather than 2.000 BTC worth.  

The seller should then fund the contract.  You will be notified when this is done.  You will be given a secret number that only you know.  Remember or write it down as it comes in handy later.

Arrange a place to meet.  I usually meet at a public place with free WiFi, Starbuck's for example but any public spot (for safety) with free WiFi will do.

It is best to bring a smaller number of bills.  For example if you are buying $5000 worth you should bring $100 bills, not $10 bills as it takes a long time to count that many bills.  If you are buying only say $200 then it $20 bills work, etc.

The seller will then count the money and if it is all there they can release the BTC directly to your localbitcions account.

When the funds are released the seller will get the secret number that only you know.  If he shows you that secret number then you know the BTC has been transferred to you.  You can also just check your own localbitcoins wallet and see that the funds have arrived.

Most of the time the people I have met have been really cool Bitcoiners so if we have time we have some coffee and chat and get to know each other.  Sometimes the other person is in a hurry or they don't want to chat for whatever reason and that is fine too.

Curious:

If someone make a cash deposit into my bank account then can that be reversed, if so how can that be reversed?

Why would PayPal care what is in the memo since they already know he is buying and selling btc?

Speaking as someone who personally had my funds frozen for a couple of month because I bought BTC with PayPal - maybe they have changed their tune?

I will still take the under 4 weeks just based on history...

That is easy to answer so I will answer it for him:  don't put BTC addresses in the comments.  Now back to my question above:  what about chargebacks, fraud and PayPal freezing your account.

Using PayPal?  Question:  what makes your site different from the dozens and dozens of other sites that have attempted to use PayPal and have all failed?

What, specifically, are you going to do to prevent PayPal chargebacks to your account and PayPal freezing your account and the accounts of everyone that sends you funds?

Not exactly sure what you are asking but maybe check out this thread:  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=90982.0

Try this thread for a more technical discussion:  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=281279.0