More than a couple of months after Epstein died due to an alleged suicide, news are coming out with a different story.

This time, it is told by a pathologist.

This man has a lot of controversies in his life and death. And many are involved and have too much stake to lose.


https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3035637/jeffrey-epsteins-injuries-point-murder-not-suicide
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/jeffrey-epstein-s-injuries-point-to-murder-not-suicide-pathologist-says
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/10/31/pathologist-says-epsteins-injuries-point-to-murder-not-suicide/

This appears to me very dumbfounding! But at the same time sad.

I have not for once thought that poverty alleviation is so complicated a problem it takes people from MIT and Harvard to do sophisticated experiments on it.

Poverty to me is a simple case of one who has more not giving to the one who does not have enough.

More here:
[1] https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2019/summary/
[2] https://www.ft.com/content/c456b6e2-ee62-11e9-ad1e-4367d8281195?fbclid=IwAR1zJK8WOl9TfSB0Gc93ruFYSjNHa2FHADx_dvl0A6QXoX34ACfTe15Nml0

I just want to make an experiment on dice autobets. But I cannot find the option of shifting from under to over or vice versa, or the option to change preferred range, in autobets.

For example, I want to shift from Over to Under and vice versa when lost, or from 1-10 to 90-100 change when won in a 10% winning chance, or from 1-70 to 30-100 in a 70% winning chance.

Does anybody here knows of a dice site offering this option? Or is this not offered at all?

I have come across this news and I decided to create a thread here for the sake of discussion. Terms such "PROMISES BIG THINGS FOR BITCOIN" and "breakthrough for Bitcoin?" prompted me to do so. Perhaps some technical wiz could provide a friendly breakdown as to what this really means to all of us. For us laymen, who are not too familiar with the technical nitty-gritty of Bitcoin development, this could remain fuzzy.

Although this has been in the development pipeline for sometime, the adoption could take place in the late 1st quarter and early 2nd quarter of next year. That would be around 5 months from now.

In a nutshell this is what it looks like. There are basically three areas where development is focused.




Sources:
https://bitcoinist.com/schnorr-taproot-soft-fork-promises-big-things-for-bitcoin/
https://blog.bitmex.com/the-schnorr-signature-taproot-softfork-proposal/

I was travelling in Singapore yesterday when I chanced upon a taxi covered with Crypto.com ads all over. At the back, it says 100% rebate (?). I was not able to take a picture myself and so I tried scavenging through Google to find an image. This is not exactly it though, the one I saw had more black IIRC.


(Photo grabbed from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7OHKlCV4AA6fW2.jpg)


And then I found out that there is also similar crypto ads in some other cities. This one, for example, is taken in London:


(Photo grabbed from https://medium.com/eosio/a-recap-eos-headlines-london-fintech-week-2017-52bf11b6fcac)


Meanwhile, in Changi Airport, look at how HSBC is marketing itself. Crypto is indeed going mainstream.


(I took this myself.)



After seeing a couple of crypto-related ads in a single day in Singapore, something suddenly comes to my mind. What if all of these ads are promoting Bitcoin? People would be seeing Bitcoin logos everyday; in MRT, buses, malls, houses, underpasses, waiting stations, taxis, laundry shops, and practically everywhere. Would this help a lot? And those who are not familiar will get curious and would want to know more about it.

This to me is a traditional view which remains persistent until the very day.

My mother considered gambling as playing with money. She sternly reminded us not to gamble. When I was in college, there was a hot debate within the church whether or not to accept donations coming from dirty sources such as gambling. And in Islam, gambling (maysir) is haram (forbidden). ^[1]

I have a friend whose father would not serve the family food bought using gambling money.

And just a few years ago, our Education Secretary shunned billions of state-funds because they are coming from gambling. She didn't think it moral and proper to buy books and even build classrooms using the dirty gambling money. ^[2]

What are your thoughts on these? Do you agree with it, or you consider these as old-fashioned views?

Sources:
1. https://questionsonislam.com/question/what-gambling-what-view-islam-gambling
2. https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/education-and-home/2016/09/29/1628372/briones-shuns-gambling-money-education
3. https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/10/29/opinion/editorial/pragmatism-morality-classrooms-pagcor-money/293705/

I am planning to buy something from the US. The problem is that the company does not offer direct shipment to the Philippines. I therefore need an address in the US which I could make use of when purchasing the stuff. This is supposed to be the escrow's address. Upon receipt, the escrow will be shipping the same to my address in the Philippines.

I know that similar escrow services are offered here but they seem to involve bitcointalk members only, not involving an outside company, at least as far as I observe. I am not sure if any escrow will accept deals exactly the same as mine.

If anyone knows someone who offers such escrow service, please comment below. No worries, what I'm buying is absolutely legal.

I was supposed to inquire from reputable escrows on the forum one by one but it seems it is more of a hassle already so I created this thread instead.

Thanks!
 

I was aghast at the decision!

"We are thankful, but maybe those resources would be more relevant to reforest Europe," said Onyx Lorenzonihe, chief of staff of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.

What is wrong with extending a helping hand? This world is one single community.

Do you smell something selfish and unpleasant in this?

Sources:
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/27/americas/brazil-rejects-g7-aid-amazon-intl/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49479470

I've known countries where Bitcoin and crypto in general are legal. In some, it is legal in the sense that it is not illegal; meaning, there are no existing laws which Bitcoin violates, nor laws which are deliberately crafted to make it illegal. While other countries consider Bitcoin legal, it is never accepted as a currency. It may be a security, an asset, a commodity, and so on but never a currency. It may be used as a medium of exchange in selected countries but these countries do not have an explicit law that backs up such set-up.

And then here comes New Zealand. Starting September 1, companies in the country are allowed to pay their employees in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. There are corresponding tax laws on this as well. But here's the condition which I find amazing and encouraging. These cryptocurrencies should be a currency, meaning, that they function as such. It should be, for all its intents and purposes, a money. This is a huge step in mainstreaming the use of Bitcoin and other cryptos in the country.

Sources:
https://www.ft.com/content/54dd4854-bd06-11e9-b350-db00d509634e
https://thenextweb.com/hardfork/2019/08/12/new-zealand-bitcoin-salary-regulation-bad-idea/
https://cointelegraph.com/news/new-zealand-rules-receiving-income-in-bitcoin-is-legal-taxable

And just like that. Jeffrey Epstein has died!

Suicide? I can't really say.

What could you make out of this?

It is funny how people calling themselves cryptocurrency trading experts offer courses and seminars on cryptocurrency trading techniques and strategies. They will explain to you the current price by way of complicated charts and patterns that will look like the price today is something that can easily be predicted days or weeks or months ago.

Everything that happened to Bitcoin's price made very clear sense to them. In hindsight, that is. They can offer crystal clear explanations with conviction to the path Bitcoin's price tread. They would explain to you all the candles, red and green, and the whys of the spikes and the dumps and all the price movements according to the charts.

But they cannot say with significant certainty what the price is tomorrow, the following week, or the following month. They are experts in hindsight but not in foresight.

Beware of all these experts. They are good in making it appear as if the future price of Bitcoin is right there under your nose. And yet they are busy conducting classes for a few bucks per student. 

 

[9 consecutive wins]

My record has finally been broken today!

I have made 9 consecutive wins in my rolls today! I am already amazed even though I have very low bets.

But I am curious about your records. How many consecutive wins have you made in a dice game?

By the way, more often than not I bet on a 50% winning chance.

(Image taken from: https://bitcoinist.com/peter-schiff-will-regret-being-wrong-about-bitcoin-pompliano-cnbc/)

A day has passed and there seems to be an eerie silence here about what took place in the golden debate. Do you guys find it uninteresting at all? Or are we simply speechless? Or is there no more point discussing about it here?

Care to drop some feedback, BTCitcoiners?


For those who were not able to watch, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wigz8z6Vm3U&feature=youtu.be

[THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON!]

THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON!

Congratulations, OG, The International 2019 Champions!

(Photo grabbed from https://www.facebook.com/wykrhmreddy/photos/a.255722787803667/3076577352384849/?type=3&theater)

Here's the final ranking and their corresponding prizes.

We've just had a very successful The International 9! See you all again next year!

Sources:
https://www.vpesports.com/dota2/newbee-acquire-the-ex-forward-gaming-roster-will-be-going-to-ti9
https://liquipedia.net/dota2/The_International/2019
https://boards.fireden.net/v/thread/406124997/
http://chinaherald.news/valve-announces-dota-2-world-championship-2019-in-shanghai/

I just want to hear some advice and actual experiences about using Exodus wallet with iphone.

There is this existing thread already (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2639970.0) about Exodus wallet and I can say that the feedback appears to be generally great. However, they are mainly discussing about the web wallet. And the last post was made more than a year ago. There must have been more recent experiences since then.

The reason I want to use Exodus is that:

• I am normally mobile so a smart phone is the most convenient way to manage my wallet.
• I want to use a wallet that supports a SegWit address.
• There is no Electrum mobile wallet for iphone. (Am I right?)
• I need a wallet where I can store altcoins as well.

Thank you in advance!

[Satoshi Nakamoto]

Mga kababayan, katuwaan lang to. Alam kong karamihan sa atin sa ngayon masyado ng abala sa iba't ibang gawain at usapin dito sa forum. Nariyan ang paghahabol ng bounty post requirements, gambling, prediction, betting, at iba pa. Pero pagka bakante naman kayo o baka trip niyo lang, maaari nating alalahanin ang nakaraan at mamangha.

Wala kasi akong magawa sa ngayon kaya binabrowse ko ang mga posts ni Satoshi Nakamoto. O di ba, alam kong marami pa rin sa atin ang hindi nakabasa sa kanyang personal na mga posts.

Ang galing! Parang hindi kapani-paniwala na ang taong tinitingala nating lahat na parang diyos ay minsan din palang parang tayo, nakikipag-discuss ng mga bagay-bagay na parang ordinaryong tao lang din. Bago siya naging parang legend na lang at biglang naglaho, inayos niya muna ang Bitcoin pati ang forum na ito at nakipag-usap din sa mga members.

Una niya palang post ay ang pagwelcome nya sa lahat dito sa forum. Tapos nagrereply pa sya sa kung paano hahatiin ang isang Bitcoin, kung hanggang ilang decimals ba pwede. Tsaka gumawa din sya ng thread upang pag-usapan kung anong magandang logo para sa Bitcoin.

Tapos sa ngayon masyado ng kumplikado ang usapin tungkol sa kung ano ba talaga ang Bitcoin. May mga nagsasabing asset, o speculative asset. Para sa iba ito ay isang cryptocurrency o digital currency. Sa iba naman ito ay isang security. Itinuturing naman ito sa iba bilang virtual property. Tinatawag din itong digital gold. Pero sa napakaikling whitepaper ni Satoshi Nakamoto, ang Bitcoin talaga ay isang electronic cash.

Sobrang makasaysayan ng forum nating ito na ginawa mismo ni Satoshi. Kung sa ngayon, halos 50 Sats na lang ang binibigay ng Bitcoin faucets at itinuturing natin itong walang kwenta at aksaya lamang sa oras, noong araw ang isang faucet na dinivelop ni Gavin Andresen ay nagbibigay ng 5 BTC.

At kung sa ngayon halos magkandarapa tayo makabuo lamang ng 0.1 BTC, noong araw may thread pa dito na nagpa-auction ng 10,000 BTC para sa $50 lang. At guess what! Palpak pa! Hanggang $25 lang ang pinakamataas na bid. Masyado daw mataas ang $50 starting bid. Isang napakalaking LOL!  

Ika nga ni Boy Cobra, itong forum na ito ay mailalagay sa ating history books sa mga darating na araw. At napag-uusapan man ang Bitcoin sa napakaraming social media sites kahit saan, itong forum na ito ay mananatiling kakaiba dahil lahat ng mga social media sites ay maglalaho din at makakalimutan balang araw. Pero hindi ang forum na mismong si Satoshi Nakamoto ang gumawa. At taas-noo nating sabihin sa ating mga apo na minsan tayo ay nakasama dito sa kung saan ang lahat ay nagsimula.



N.B.: The blue words in bold are links. Click on it for more info.
Much credit to xtraelv, his signature, and this thread for most of the info and links.
Please delete this thread mods if this is considered nonsense.
A little dose of history every now and then is always interesting.

• Status: Legal
• Exchanges are regulated.
• Businesses are required to be registered and meticulous in their record-keeping.

• Status: Not illegal
• No laws guiding cryptocurrency operations.
• Users warned about associated risks.
• Urged public to be “mature” with investment decisions.
• Increased demand for cryptocurrency.

• Status: Legal
• Crypto activities are legal.
• Income from mining and operations in crypto is not taxed until 2023.

• Status: Unregulated, not illegal
• Central bank: Digital currency companies are not licensed or regulated.
• Cryptocurrencies are not considered financial assets nor can they be acquired by investment funds (CVM).
• A key player in the Latin American cryptocurrency market.

• Status: Not illegal
• Crypto gains are taxed.
• Describes cryptocurrency as “potentially catastrophic.”
• Positive about blockchain technology.

• Status: Illegal
• Draft bill: 10-year jail term for cryptocurrency use.
• Business can't get licenses.
• Financial institutions are prohibited from “dealing with virtual currencies.”
• Acknowledges the value of distributed ledger technology.

• Status: Unregulated, not illegal
• Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender.
• ICOs are banned (Sept 2017).
• Government investigating ways to regulate cryptocurrencies.

• Status: In progress
• Use and development of cryptocurrencies and blockchain are encouraged.
• Legal framework for regulation is being developed.
• Described as Blockchain Island.

• Status: Unregulated, not illegal
• Not a legal tender.
• Mining is an entrepreneurial activity and taxed accordingly.
• Tokens deemed as property.

• Status: Unregulated, not illegal
• Not a legal tender.
• Residents free to hold, trade and transact.
• Crypto earnings are subject to capital gains taxes.
• Businesses are not obligated to accept digital currencies (Reserve Bank).

• Status: Not illegal, laws vary in different states
• Not a legal tender.
• Exchanges are money transmitters, subject to jurisdiction (FinCen).
• Considered as property and taxed accordingly (IRS).
• Cryptocurrencies are securities (SEC).
• Bitcoin is a commodity, cryptocurrency derivatives can be traded publicly (CFTC).

• Status: Not illegal
• Not legal tender.
• Legal frameworks on cryptocurrencies and trading digital assets are being developed.
• Users hope that cryptocurrency will tip the balance of power.

Source: https://quotes.cointelegraph.com/?fbclid=IwAR0Ozo3gvyd0nz8mCdUTMaWtJx-hIqFMWvnC0LI9GJSGCj0rgUxlDUeo8S0

Redistribution of wealth is an undying issue that has been hotly debated and pushed forward in a lot of ways, legal or illegal. Taxation and other monetary policies are among the legal ways. Illegal ways would include a Robin Hood way of equalizing wealth- robbing from the rich and then giving away to the poor.

When concerns of poor countries are discussed, the issue would seem to inevitably swerve into redistribution of wealth. When the topic on the table is all about the top billionaires of the world, it will eventually end up an issue of a handful of wealthy elites worth more than the total worth of billions and billions of the world's poorest, or even of countries. When concerns about quality of life is talked about, it becomes a perfect opening topic about the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, the privileged and the deprived, and so on.

I say, even if god will one day confiscate all the wealth of the world and redistributes them equally to everyone, a week is too long for the world to revert to its previous situation. It will just be a matter of days for a few to become wealthy and others penniless.

If one day god will redistribute all minerals equally to all countries, a year later some would become more powerful while others would end up borrowing from the others.

If an entire piece of land is equally divided among all the inhabitants, half a year later, someone would turn into a vast farm owner while some become his mere workers.  

[always]

Most often, we fail because of our emotions.

When emotions get the better of us, our reason is going to be blinded. When sound reason is blinded by emotions, expect things to end up exactly the way we do not want.

And so here are the top three emotions we should learn to check always.

GREED- It is always best to sell at the highest price and buy at the lowest. But that is very hard to achieve. So stick to your TA or target selling price and be contented with your profit. Greedy people would always adjust their sell order price when they see the green candles continuously rising. Their ask price gets higher and higher until it is not filled anymore. The price then begins to go down low. The greedy person waits for it to rise back to take back the lost potential profit. And you know how this will end. The lost potential profit balloons until no profit is to be taken. In trying to gain every cent or sat, nothing is gained at all. This is also true to setting buy order.

FEAR- Never sell or buy out of fear. A lot of fearful people buy during the bull run, fearing of missing out or FOMO. What usually happens is that the price will correct or retrace after a bull run. Here comes the fearful, just got FOMOed, fearing again of losing big or even thinking his coin is going to die. The ending is obvious. While he tries to be positive and wait for a little while, he is already shaking. He ends up deciding to sell at a much lower price, losing big. And by the time the correction is through and another long green is about to take place, he gets FOMOed again. This is going to become a cycle until enlightenment comes.  

CONFIDENCE- Too much confidence will definitely kill you. We have to remember that despite our brilliance in analyzing charts, the prices of cryptocurrencies remain highly unpredictable. Sometimes, or perhaps oftentimes, even expert traders differ greatly in their Technical Analyses (TA). Moreover, even if we have a good source of still-to-be-released news, we cannot fully expect that the prices will always follow. FUDs may not cause a red. Good news may not result in green either.


Admittedly, I am also struggling. But I guess we really need to control them. What do you think?

[Libra]

BASAHIN ANG WHITEPAPER

I just want to bring up a local discussion about Facebook's cryptocurrency, Libra.

Alam nating isa ito sa pinakamainit na pinag-uusapan sa ngayon. Napansin ko kasing parang hindi pinapansin ng mga Pinoy dito itong usaping ito kaya gumawa ako ng thread. Alam nating ang Pilipinas ang isa sa pinakamahilig gumamit ng social media sa buong mundo, at naturingang "world's social media capital." At hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na ang Facebook ang numero unong social media dito sa bansa. Kaya mas magandang kilalanin din natin ang kanilang cryptocurrency.

Ano nga ba ang Libra at ano ang layunin nito?

Ang Libra ay isang cryptocurrency na gagawin ng Facebook. Ang layunin ng Libra ay gumawa ng global digital currency kung saan maaaring mamili o magpadala ang user ng pera gamit ang Libra na halos walang babayarang fee.

Ibig sabihin ang Libra ay pag-aari ng Facebook?

Bagama't ang Libra ay inumpisahan ng Facebook, hindi natin masasabing pagmamay-ari na ito ng Facebook. May tinatawag na Libra Association kung saan isa lamang ang Facebook sa mga founding members nito.

Ano ang Libra Association?

Alam ng Facebook na hindi sila madaling pagkatiwalaan ng mga tao pagdating sa pamamahala ng Libra kung kaya't ang Libra Association ay nabuo. Isa lamang ang Facebook sa mga miyembro nito. Maliban sa Facebook, ang iba pang kasapi ng Libra Association ay ang Spotify, Uber, Paypal, Visa, ebay, Mastercard at iba pa. Balak ng Facebook na kumalap ng 100 founding members ng Libra Association. Paraan din ito upang mapabilis ang paglaganap ng Libra.   

Bawat isang founding member ay magbibigay ng at least $10 Million, pagkatapos pumasa sa requirements na hinihingi ng association. At magkakaroon ng isang boto sa Libra Association council, kikita sa interest galing sa Libra reserve, at makapag-operate ng validator node.

Ano naman ang Calibra?

Ang Facebook ay hindi naman talaga ang siyang mamamahala sa kanilang tungkulin sa Libra. Binuo nila ang isa pang kompanya na bagama't subsidiary ng Facebook ay separate ito at may ibang tungkulin. Ito ang Calibra. Ang Calibra ang talagang kompanya na miyembro ng Libra Association. Ito ang nagsisiguro ng privacy ng mga Libra users na may mga Facebook accounts. Sinisiguro nito na ang Facebook data ng mga users ay nananatiling private, at hindi ito magkakaroon ng mga ads base doon sa binabayaran mo gamit ang Libra.

Ano ang coin ng Libra?     

Ang coin ng Libra ay tinatawag din na Libra.  Ang salitang ito ay isang Roman unit ng timbang, kung sa atin ito ay parang kilo o gramo. Ang Lib din sa salitang Libra ay "free" sa salitang French. So parang nagsisimbolo din ang Libra ng "financial freedom." Ito naman ang kanilang symbol: ≋.
 
Magkaano naman ang halaga ng isang Libra?

Kaya sinasabi ng iilan na ang Libra ay isang stablecoin dahil ang halaga nito ay hindi nalalayo sa totoong halaga ng fiat. Pero sa ngayon hindi pa naman talaga napagpasyahan kung magkaano ang isang Libra. Ang sigurado lang ay nais nila itong gawing stable upang mas nagagamit ito bilang pambili talaga. Hindi katulad ng ibang crypto, kasama na ang Bitcoin, na laging nagbabago ang halaga at ang isang tindahan halimbawa ay maaaring malugi kapag kinabukasan ang halaga ng bawat crypto na tinanggap niya ay bumagsak.

So papaano nila sinisiguro na ang halaga ng Libra ay mananatiling stable?

Ang halaga ng Libra ay nakabase sa mga bank deposits at government securities sa iba't ibang fiat currency na stable din katulad ng USD, Euro, Yen, Pound, etc. Para maging consistent ang halaga ng Libra kahit na may mga fluctuations din sa halaga ng mga currencies na ito, sinisiguro ng Libra Association na balanse lagi ang composition ng mga ito. Sa madaling sabi, hindi lang laging nakafocus sa USD halimbawa o sa Yen. Nagdedepende ang composition ng mga depositong ito sa halaga din ng mga fiat currencies na bumubuo nito.

Okay. Medyo hindi ko naintindihan yun. Ano na lang, paano gamitin sa totoong buhay ang Libra?

May mga wallet apps na nadadownload. Ang Facebook o Calibra ay may Calibra wallet app din. May mga third-party wallets apps din. Magcacash-in ka dito at icoconvert mo into Libra, or vice versa. Maaari ka ng bumili gamit ito sa mga stores, online man o hindi, na tumatanggap din ng Libra. May mga local resellers din katulad ng mga convenience stores or grocery stores kung saan maaari kang mag-load o mag-refill kapag kailangan mo na.   

Ang mga Libra wallets na ito ay iniintegrate din sa iba pang apps katulad ng messenger o WhatsApp. Kung pamilyar kayo sa coins.ph, at least may idea kayo kahit papaano.

Ilan lahat ang supply ng Libra?

Ganito ang proseso. Sa tuwing may magcacash-in at magcoconvert into Libra, ang fiat ay mapupunta sa Libra Reserve at automatic na magmimint ng katumbas na halaga sa Libra na ibibigay sa user. Ngayon, kapag naman magcoconvert from Libra into fiat o magcacash-out, ang Libra ay automatic na mabuburn at ibibigay sayo ang katumbas na halaga sa fiat. So parang 1:1 lagi ang ratio.

Anong blockchain ang ginagamit ng Libra?

Ang Libra ay may sariling blockchain, ang Libra Blockchain. Dito nakaimbak ang mga data ng transactions ng Libra. Kung ang blockchain ng Bitcoin ay kayang magprocess ng 7 transactions per second at ang sa Ethereum naman ay 15 transactions per second, ang Libra Blockchain naman ay kayang magprocess ng 1,000 transactions per second.

Ito ay open source na may Apache 2.0 na lisensya. Ibig sabihin nito ay maaaring gumawa ng apps ang ibang mga developers gamit ito.


Ito lang muna sa ngayon. Mas maganda kasing mapag-usapan before sa 2020 launching. Tsaka mainit na usapin talaga 'to sa ngayon lalo't pati gobyerno, lalo na sa US, ay medyo umaangal sa planong ito. Tuloy parang napakalaki at napakarami ng hadlang sa development nito.

Ano naman kaya ang masasabi ng ating mga kababayan?


Sources:
https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/18/facebook-libra/
https://libra.org/en-US/white-paper/
https://developers.libra.org/