I wish I was paying more attention when debit cards came into common usage. I remember when they were new, but i was a kid and wasn't really watching closely. It seems to me like they just suddenly appeared everywhere and people accepted that this is what they use now. I suppose BTC will experience a user/market conversion like that. Us early adopters will spin our wheels for years in here saying "when they gonna see da light?" then one day, every single n00b and their granny will be "Have you heard about the BTC? Itz kewl beenz bragh!" even though last week they were telling you that you were crazy and didn't know anything. F%$&kin' hipsters...

so, yeah. It will be market driven, not market led. McD's wont do anything avant guard, they wait until things are already accepted then they jump on the bandwagon. Ask any teenager...New and different = weird.

no sorry, i should have read more of this thread first, I was thinking of an entirely different idea for my project. Ive already got a separate, more appropriate thread for that one.

I could handle copy writing, though.

I will take a closer look at your puzzle cube thing, it does sound kind of interesting, but I will have to read through and make sure I understand what it is, how it works, what could be written about it etc.

So far I like what I see and would like to be involved but I have to do some more research to see what I could offer the project from my skill set.

Ill let you know and come back later with my thoughts  

McDonald's is making every move it can to 100% eliminate every human possible from its store front service staff. Humans want 15$ an hour, and rather than do this they are working to fully automate the entire service process at all of their outlets. That is why they are using google and apple pay plus cc and debit. soon you will walk in to McD's and be greeted with a computer terminal and a touch screen, you enter your order, swipe, pay, and a robot delivers your dogshit food.

why dont they use BTC yet? simple. very few people use BTC. Also... even fairly familiar users constantly run into problems. BTC has end user problems. N00bz have 100s of pitfalls to bridge when making the simplest transactions..."OOps I accidentally sent 10BTC when I meant to send 0.01 BTC...what do?" or " oooops I accidentally sent a tx fee of 100BTC when paying for my GMO processed garbage!!!!"

Micky-Dee would have to have a paid (15$/hr) employee on hand 24/7 to walk every BTC user through the process and/or amend every mistake they make... and considering they would probably do about 3 BTC transactions per month, it just isn't worth it.

go ahead and send mcdonalds all sorts of requests and demands, they dont give a shit (except the ones they sell to you disguised as burgers)

hi, please excuse if I am making n00b mistakes, but I am trying to sign a message with my multibit client, following the instructions from the multibit site and have run into a few problems. Any help you can give please ELI5 because I barely understand what I'm doing...

first up i followed instructions from here https://multibit.org/en/help/v0.5/help_signAndVerifyMessage.html

my first problem is;
"4. Enter the receiving address you are using to sign in the 'Address' field."... my problem... You can not copy or paste anything into the 'Address' field...this doesn't really make sense if you want people to actually use it, but I put my address in manually anyway...

so after taking about 5 minutes to manually enter my signing 'send' address, check it twice and typing my message in the 'Message' field I pressed 'sign message' and client told me I was a success. good enough...but... having to manually enter and double check does not make me feel very successful especially when I realize I dont know how to follow the seemingly simple instruction 'Send Message'

how do I send this message? code appears in the 'Signature' field, so i figure i will copy paste this code and paste it onto the forum post where i am trying to verify my identity... guess what? you cant copy or paste this.... its a few lines of code... I'm in a hurry... wtf guys?

so i think i signed a message but it is pretty much useless because i cant do anything with it. I don't have the time to manually copy ~100 random characters from my multibit client to the post im trying to put it on. Is this just some sort of inconvenient oversight in the multibit design, or am i doing it wrong? if its supposed to prohibit copy pasting you might want to think of changing that. no one wants to manually enter lines of random code bruh.

what am i doing wrong?

help and NON-TECH-CENTRIC explanation would be greatly appreciated.

even crap keywords can make money, if you have targeted those keywords and used them in proper context within good quality original content, optimized your SEO and have good "click-through-rate" meaning, people actually click the ads on your site after searching Google for your targeted keywords.

but, yeah, clicks from estonia are worth about 2 cents max. You also want to "geo-target" meaning reach the American market. Those clicks are golden.

if you just want to run a website to make money on ads, write about insurance! http://www.wordstream.com/articles/most-expensive-keywords

I used to write a blog that targeted Insurance, Mortgage, Attorney, Lawyer, and Degree. It wasnt really about any of those things, just used the words extensively within the context of a serialized work of fiction. I literally had a paper with my keywords on it and I would write goofy stories using those words as much as possible. I made pretty good money before google got wise and b& me  

the blog is still there, but no more ads... a sample; http://gogxmagog.blogspot.ca/2012/02/medical-emergency.html to read it in order you have to start there and go to "new posts" every time. serialized work only works in chronologically reversed order on blogger

note; to be perfectly honest, I made such good money because I fraudulently inflated my traffic stats and secretly asked several American friends to click the ads. ahhh the good old days....

I just posted a new thread regarding an idea for a project before reading this.

my idea is to write a primer on BTC security, NOT an all 'round "what is BTC?" type thing but a simple easy to use "how to use and store btc without getting robbed" book.

I'm a writer, not a technical expert so I am looking to team up with a tech guy to create a comprehensive "how to" book specifically related to personal computer and online security regarding BTC. simple idea but it doesn't exist yet. There are a lot of n00bz who would get into bitcoin if they could feel that they were safe from burglary. I cant tell you how often the first thing comes up in conversation about BTC with n00bz is "Aren't they totally easy to get stolen???" I think there is a market for a simple, no nonsense, guide for the general reader. Face it, most people just want in safely, they don't need to know Gavin's shoe size.

here's link to my original post - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1067912.0

PM me if interested.  

Hey guys,

I was over in the main "Bitcoin Discussion" section today and in trying to answer a user's question about basic bitcoin security information I gave myself an idea...

thread here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1067673.msg11444233#msg11444233

what I thought was; there is a real need for a basic "Bitcoin Security For Dummies" type book. It is technical writing aimed at a general readership, really.

As bitcoin approaches mainstream adoption, there will be many new users who are not really tech savvy or terribly interested in reading through every aspect of bitcoin from its history to its politics to its underlying tech to Gavin's shoe size and favorite color. They will just want to buy, sell, hold, and use BTC WITHOUT GETTING HACKED!

there does not exist as yet, a simple, easy to follow, "DOs & DON'Ts" of using/storing bitcoin manual yet. Hell, when I first got into bitcoin, and started asking questions in here, I was met with comments like "if you can't figure it out, you deserve to get robbed" great public relations guys!

Anyways, a simple easy to read, concise and comprehensive "BTC Security for Dummies" book would be highly marketable, and a well done one would most likely sell tons of copies. Those "for Dummies" books sell in the millions! ( the "for dummies" label is copyrighted, so we cant use that, but you get the point)

It has to cover everything, even the obvious no-brainers, explain all the hacks and exploits and how to avoid them, give tips for safe browsing and computer usage, all storage options with step-by-step how-to's, even the types of scams, ponzis, and rip-offs...everything related to getting your BTC stolen, all fully explained so that granny could easily grasp it and keep her BTC safe and sound. I'm actually surprised no such thing already exists...the market is RIPE my friends...

I am a published writer, good at organizing my thoughts in an entertaining and easy to read manner, what I lack is the technical savvy to do this project on my own. What I propose here is for one of you more technically astute users to provide a list of things that would need to go into said manual, some of the tech background and ins & outs, bullet-point style and not too complicated, then I take that information and write it into a easy and fun to read book. I'm looking for a collaborator. You do the technical, I do the writing. I could even approach a few publishing connections I have with a proposal and we could get offers even an advance before its even written! We could do it ourselves and publish it as an e-book, either way; we split the proceeds 50/50. I'd even be willing to make a contract.

what do you guys think? anyone interested?

jesus, I haven't even visited havelock in a while.... I could make a sweet 0.67 BTC right now (minus fees) for my 100 shares of AM1...

I'm torn. Not if I should sell or not, but, between;

A) who the FUCK would buy them, and do I really want to hurt some poor fool and burn him of ~ half a BTC?
and
B) Do I sit on it, be kind to the community and any naive persons out there, in hopes some type of news might spike the price to...i dunno... 0.7 BTC?

I have to laugh, because otherwise, I will start to cry.

I had first contacted Shawn Hagerty before Crypto::Trade shit the bed, so I had saved my API and screen capped my trading info. I had similar info from Bitfunder and BTC-TC so I was able to tally it all up and give him my total shares purchased, the price I paid, and where/when I got them. He had requested me to provide this info and YES it is OK if you are not a USA citizen. Anyway, I'm surprized you didnt already do this, but if you can "back-trace" the info, do it. He needs it if you are to see any of what might get distributed.

keywords work on placement on page as well as relevance. Also, if you are enrolled in the google adsense program, showing adsense ads on your site and sharing revenue, you can target certain keywords in the adsense settings, "bitcoin" being probably the most obvious choice in this case. Then you need to have the targeted word appear throughout the page. There is no number of times, minimum or maximum, recommended, but it is said that having your targeted keywords appearing in the first and last paragraphs and several times in the body of the article is most effective. There is also talk that certain areas of the page design get optimal results too.

this article lays it out pretty clear https://moz.com/blog/visual-guide-to-keyword-targeting-onpage-optimization

This works for whatever keywords you might be trying to target as a webmaster with adsense enabled. What it does is optimize your search engine availability AND brings related advertizing to your site. If you have the words "Diabetic socks" targeted and also appearing liberally throughout your website, you will appear high up in searches for "diabetic socks" and get lots of ads selling diabetic socks. When google sees you are getting targeted searching traffic PLUS ad clicks for diabetic socks, those ads pay significantly more than random ad clicks.

it is all algorithms, logic and science, but it makes money and tons of sites are all over it. Unfortunately, it is also why an earnest search for simple information often leads to hundreds of links to empty, information-less, puppet articles that serve little other purpose than to attract traffic and ad revenue. There is no algorithm for QUALITY.

yes, in Canada we dont use Mint Chips, we like our chips "all-dressed"
sorry, Canadian humor   http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/10/all-dressed-chips-from-canada-humpty-dumpty.html

anyway, governments all want in on the digital monies thing, and we could see a move to a cashless society facilitated by centralized digital fiat, they have been talking about it for a while now. Basically it will just make it easier for people to get their head around BTC. If they are using a Govt approved crypto anyways the jump to a decentralized user-controlled one would be that much easier. Even though most money used these days is digital anyways (credit and debit cards, bank transfers) most plebes cant seem to get comfortable with the concept of digital property/currency/value-transfer. Sometimes it takes Big Brother to lead the babies by the hand until they learn to walk on their own.

yeah, one must search around and find all sorts of peices of info, do a lot of searching and reading.

this is probably a better place to go than coindesk --> https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5194.0;all it is a thread about secure storage and you can learn a lot.

There are many "All About BTC" books and articles, but they are so much about the tech and logistics that the general reader may be put off. Plus, some get the concept enough and want to get some BTC but the fear of hackers and their lack of computer savvy is most likely preventing them, or, if they throw caution to the wind they may be missing some basic "do's and don'ts" that will inevitably lead them to getting their BTC stolen and then POOF we just lost another adopter and probably every other potential adopter they talk to after!

when I first heard of BTC and came here to learn about it I did find very simply put "for Dummies" style info hard to find. It's a geek thing that they are resistant to speaking simply and plainly and just getting to the point. You ask them how to turn your computer on and they tell you about the invention of the first supercomputer and then lay some quantum physics on you. Or they just insult you.

they aren't all like that though, I asked questions and I eventually got answers, made some friends but learned who a few of the asshats are in the process. Then I discovered the "ignore" button...

that was a little over 2 years ago. BTC has grown up a bit since then and we are seeing actual socialized mature humans using it now, and grown ups like to make money. Its only butthurt nerds who want to keep the ignorant ignorant because nerds have zero other clout. A real Grown Up with a business mind would write a comprehensive BTC security manual and sell it. A manual that covers EVERYTHING, from secure storage to safe browsing habits to listing every known and possible exploit plus precautions to take to safeguard against them... everything that could happen, how it happens, and what to do to prevent it. Nothing is too obvious or "duh!" to omit, this would be a book for everyone, written so even your granny could understand. A good technical writer assumes the reader knows absolutely nothing, and gives them everything there is to know, staying on subject of course, this book's subject being SECURITY. As bitcoin grows more mainstream some grown up person will eventually come out with a "So You Want To Protect Your BTC Against Theft, But can Barely Run Windows... BTC security for absolute beginners" book and sell it. That Adult could sell it as an ebook online, but I am sure a well written one would be of interest to all sorts of "real" publishers. They would stand to make a lot of money.

NOTE- I am pretty good at getting information across in an easy to read, entertaining manner, but I lack the actual tech knowledge to confidently create such a manual myself. If any of you more tech savvy Bitcoiners would like to collaborate (you write, in bullet points, everything that should be covered, I put it in a context easily digested by the general reading audience) I would gladly split the profits with you 50/50. PM me if you like.

caveat- I have been published before and my professional work is of much higher quality than the stuff I post here. forums are just "throw-away" a properly done BTC security manual writing team would also budget for an editor (or if going trad hard-copy publisher route- they provide editors, insist on it actually)

anyways, something to chew on, I have to go to work now.

have a great day!

welly, well, well, well!

I just got off the phone with Shawn Hagerty! He is a very nice and helpful guy I must say.

He had not replied to my email because it had gone into his spam folder, but with my help he found it opened it read it and was VERY interested indeed!

The MSD is indeed VERY interested in the info that ken may receive btc from Kraken via the Mt.Gox bail-out or whatever you call it. Those funds are indeed legally belonging to us and any attempt by ken to access them is a very serious crime. He was unaware of these funds until I told him and he said he was going to act on this info immediately as I mentioned there is a month's end deadline. I also told him he could contact Kraken directly and they would most likely assist in blocking Kenny.

Like I said, he is a nice guy and I was able to ask him a few questions, here is what I learned...

Ken has been absolutely uncooperative and non-communicative. There is, however, a deadline for paying those fines and disgorging any company funds. If he fails to make good on the fines and disgorge then he will face criminal charges and any assets he has will be seized.

Shawn could not say what other govt agencies might be after Ken, but he did mention that his past actions could very well be under scrutiny of the FBI!

long story short; if ken keeps up his present cowardly weasel behavior past payment deadline (most likely late 2015) he will face jail plus losing everything of value he might own (cars, house, even his sad-sack looking clothing)

so, no money yet, but the wheels of justice are indeed moving slowly forward and will crush that scumbag ken within a few months. Its better news than nothing.

AND yes, Shawn Hagerty IS the guy to send info to, just give him a call to let him know to check his spam folder. Also, be polite. The guy deals with frustrated people who have lost all sorts of money every day and he is doing everything he can to help us.

Jutarul went to HK? When? Could you point me to whatever post he made regarding this trip? Was that the person who went and saw a closed empty office? Please elaborate, I don't remember any in-person HK reports.

Or put them in jail like Finland did.
The thing is, these guys have to pay 5 billion but they made probably 10x that. To top it off, they will just cover the 5 billion by raising their fees. Business as usual.

retailers can accept it no problem, will consumers use it?
I certainly hope so. How much of a percentage of online transactions would BTC need to move the price?

LTC Goldcoin and PPC dont bring anything new that bitcoin doesn't already offer. Bitcoin is fine. Its Coke. all others are RC Cola. alts gotta at least be Pepsi if their going to make any headway.

OP's post, and the countless others like it are just the rumblings of users who are bored. The crypto world has been a little boring this last year.

I like the concept. Mining should be distributed, not in the hands of a few big players, as it is now. The profits will be negligible, but who cares? mining for profit is over, this solution will maintain the network. Until they prove themselves to be a total scam that is....

You only have to drive for about 10 minutes before you see someone doing something incredibly stupid behind the wheel of their car. And dont think road rage happens because someone is following the rules. road rage is all about some entitled dick head driving irresponsibly and getting frustrated with whomever might be in his way.

I don't really see how driver-less cars will be accepted. too many goons on the road who will refuse to conform.

Why would NSA go to all the trouble creating this huge sprawling secret organization then drop the simplest easiest to figure out clue right in the open? It makes no sense that an entity who could build a virtually uncrackable code would try and hide something in a puzzle so simple that a child could see through it.

Don't worry OP, they are filming new episodes of Xfiles soon, you can fantasize all over that kindergarten-level shiz real soon and you wont have to make an ass of yourself in here anymore.