...

To one degree or another, I have talked about Bitcoin to some 6 - 8 people (all of them, like me, are non-tekkies).  Some were young, but very little interest.

Only ONE was interested enough to buy some, he bought BTC1.000 from me as a long-term speculation.

It looks like it's going to take a long, long time before BTC gets big.

...

It has now been several weeks since I received my OpenDime hardware items.  They are "almost" a hardware wallet, it looks like a way (for me, others have different ideas, see below) to load some BTC on the stick -- then pass it around, somewhat like the BTC coins I have seen discussed elsewhere.

Extensive conversation at the OpenDime thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1452987.0

*  *  *

So, I loaded one with a tiny amount of BTC when I received the pieces, and then "swept" the BTC to my wallet allowing Private Key imports.  everything went fine, no issues.

But, I am curious re other people's experiences, and even more so about IDEAS about using OpenDime USB stick!

...

I have used BTC ATMs in NYC, Miami and in Vancouver (Canada).  In all cases to BUY Bitcoin.

New York did not require ID (years ago) nor anything like a callback number, SMS, etc.  Fee was about 8%.

Miami required ID.  Fee: 14% (ouch).

Vancouver required NO ID (!), fee was around 7%.  The one in Vancouver was the very first BTC ATM I read somewhere.  I have a picture around I can post sometime.

...

vokain (and others interested)

There is no doubt that Trump rallies are MUCH bigger and enthusiastic than $hillary rallies.  My wife and I went to one some 5 weeks ago, the energy and enthusiasm were very high.  I have heard that it is the opposite at the Hyena Rodent rallies...

It seems that many are strongly pro-Trump, in HRC's case, they are NOT pro-HRC as much as anti-Trump.  I have yet to meet even ONE $hillary supporter who actually is enthusiastic about here.  The few I know who like her (like some of my female cousins) just HATE Trump, I do know (and not interested in guessing) why.

There is discussion here that maybe the polls are "missing" Trump supporters.  I don't know.  But, the polls did get BREXIT wrong...

I agree with pedrog.  If you can be patient, and IF (big "if") your strategy would be good in the FUTURE as well, then 1% per day will wind up making you a mint.

You could also touch base with any friends or family you may have, invest THEIR money and take 30%, for example.  Like hedge fund managers do.  If your method works as advertised, almost anyone you know (who has a brain) would take about 0.35% - 1.4% per day on their investment.

...

BitcoinBarrel

1) How much did they charge (premium) over "spot price"?  Around here, the BTC ATMs charge a very high 14% premium.  (In Vancouver (on a recent vacation) it was closer to 7%.)

2) Did you have to supply ID?  (Once in NYC I did not have to supply ID, I would guess that has changed.)

...

Zero Hedge just pulled (deleted) an article with a Soros video involving US elections.  And just when I had a snappy response.

I don't have any doubts about the Rothschilds being extremely influential, maybe Soros is even a LACKEY of theirs.  Whether or not the NWO / Global Elite is as powerful as many say, well I don't know.  But, in the end, it does not make a whole lot of difference in how we act as individuals.

They just stay the f*** out of my way, or mostly, I'll pay a (low) amount to the Global Parasites (by "Going Galt"), and as long as they don't f*** with our bearing business or try to take away our gold & guns, then I'll let others deal with them.

It does look like $hillary is going to be our next POTUS.  Ick.  Ugh.

...

The problem I see with the rather low level of anonymity currently possible with Bitcoin (easy ways to get anonymity) is that to finally BUY anything with your BTC makes it easily traceable again (I exclude merchants hidden by TOR).  Also, buying the BTC in the first place means a transaction cost (14% at some BTC ATMs!), can be low at Circle (etc.), but then you no longer have anonymity...

The only purchases I have made w/ BTC are for gold, but that gold had to be shipped to me, no anonymity there.

"The Corner Bitcoin Guy" would be an excellent service to have were the above personal security issues resolved correctly.  But, the BTC would still have to re-appear in a trackable manner...

What interests me about the whole Bloomberg fiasco here is that apparently very few at Bloomberg know much of anything about Bitcoin!  Bloomberg employs thousands of purportedly smart people, yet they cannot easily find someone on their ranks who knows enough to write about this subject without so many mistakes or distortions?

Neither incompetence nor malice seem to explain this.  Perhaps it's both...

...

Hillary vs. Trump debate comments

I watched the debate carefully.  The Donald perhaps did a little better this time than in the previous two debates, but (IMO) he needed a Home Run / Knock Out.  And he did not get it.

The MainStream Media and .gov collusion along with the unusually skillful liar Hillary make her the likely next President.  If that means anything to the direction of your lives (anyone), then you need to start planning now (start planning yesterday even better).

Hillary is very polished and an exceptionally accomplished Liar.  Around halfway through the debate, I turned to my wife and told her that had I been the one debating her, I would have gotten my ass kicked...

I regret that the American people have not seen through her lies and corruption.  What has come out (Wikileaks emails, the O'Keefe videos showing the sleaze and illegality of the Democrat Party, Hillary's various lies and hypocrisy (Goldman-Sachs speeches, the Klinton Krime Family Foundation, etc.) should have all been more than enough to bury her.  But, it has not.

Unless there is a Big Surprise out there (a BREXIT or extreme health problems), she is the next POTUS.

...

In dollar (US) value, I hold about 20 times as much gold as I do Bitcoin.  I do like them both, but they are different assets with different characteristics.  Holding gold and BTC is not an "either or" deal.  In fact, diversification in holding both is a good idea.

I hold a lot of gold because I value safety for a large part of what I own.

Bitcoin has other positive features that I like, but my holdings will never get large.*



* Unless BTC gets to $50,000 each...  

...

trollerc & iamnotback

Indeed, no place is close to perfect.

I cannot properly comment on anywhere in Asia because of my very limited travels there (Korea, Japan and 10 days in HK and China years ago).  Maybe HK if the Chinese rule with a light hand.  The Philippines seem to have aspects of both Latinolandia and SE Asia, but as I have not BEEN there, that is just a comment based on reading and some offhand comments from Americans who have been or lived there.

Argentina has a long record of progress/degeneracy/progress/degeneracy/progress/degeneracy......  Still, if out in the sticks (boring), one could fabricate a good life.

I read good things about Chile & Paraguay (one of my "virtual friends", on my email Joke List moved to Paraguay FROM Australia, she's happy there!).

My beat is Peru, but that is a little too poor and a little too chaotic to be a good choice for most.  Our business is there because my in-laws (wonderful people) are there.  Peru has good food though, and for the most part they are friendly to foreigners.  Peru is our family's Plan B...

But, re LatAm, it is highly unlikely that you would be happy unless your Spanish is reasonably good.

Costa Rica (pretty there), Panama and Uruguay might also be good choices, but, again, SPANISH would help a lot.

*   *   *

I would be interested in iamnotback's opinion on advice I have put out to various people re exfiltration (emigration):

You must spend at least EIGHT WEEKS (bare minimum) in ANY candidate country before considering moving there.  And not an eight week vacation: you need to talk with lawyers (immigration and investment matters), and eat the food (if you don't like it, don't move there), mixing it up with the locals (to see if you would get along OK).

"Every day is a good day."  (Bill D., a Zen guy I know)

*   *   *

There is a little tiny bit of time for Americans to act post-debate (but pre-election, then a bit more (possibly chaotic) until inauguration) is case things go bad: Hillary wins.  That is not certain (HRC win), as the MSM, polls, etc. are all corrupt liars.

By "tiny bit of time" I mean there is time to get some things accomplished.  Not abundant time, but enough.  

It helps if you already have the mentality and if you have already begun...

My wife and I have starting dusting-off our Plan B scenarios.  What I really think would happen (again, assuming a HRC win) is that we will likely just Go Dark (Go Galt, but quieter), and just hunker down.  They will likely not aggressively come after quiet citizens.  If they do, we will be ready.

...

iamnotback

I am not trying to say I have found anything unusually profound, only what is happening with me.    My life was unbalanced for a LONG time, it looks like the course correction has been bearing obvious fruit for a year or two.

It's all good.  Bravo, and best wishes to you in regards to everything.

*   *   *

I will mention re the election that it looks very scary (that is, a likely Hillary win) over here.  Of course, the MSM is completely corrupted here, we ought believe nothing.  Unexpected BREXIT won after all.

The last debate is in a few hours.  We will see if anything happens.

...

Coinbuddy

Keep us informed of your progress, and when ready advise us more details of what you would like to do with anyone joining you.

Just using my imagination for a sec I can see some possibilities.

But with all the scams around, yeah, I can also foresee problems.

Good luck! 

10-4.  My holdings of BTC are mostly for emergency transferrable funds.  CA$H ($20s, $50s, $100s) are already stashed away as well.  You already know I own Au and Pt (for longer-term wealth preservation) and some Ag ("TEOTWAWKI" money if it comes to that).

I am not interested in living in the woods, the last time I went camping (at 22) cured me of that when I had to hunt a tick down in my tent after sundown.  Dealing with bugs, arachnids and other natural pests is (I hope) behind me now.  

[I am the only one I know who has been bitten by a Black Widow, not recommended]

* * *

I had hoped that a thread I established elsewhere (on non-traditional assets assuming $hillary wins) was going to "take" here at bitcointalk.  Apparently not.

I was close to introducing an idea of yours, iamnotback.  Namely that an interesting "non-traditional asset" is one you raised quite some time ago when I joined the conversations: EDUCATE oneself!  Having the right skill set is of tremendous value, but is hard at 60 when one (me) is not that smart, ah well.  Have to choose the right skill set too...

We'll just keep selling bearings in Peru.

And if BTC or stocks go WAY UP in an Uncle Janet (Yellen) / Obama / Hillary set of scenarios, I hope I can sell near the top.  LIMA is starting to get nice (it's springtime there now).

...

iamnot & trollerc

Defeat TPTB with a blockchain.  Ahh, not going to happen.  The BANKSTERS look to have their own blockchains soon enough.  Whether "their" blockchains are "best" or not (technically speaking) does not matter.

Compromise != Slavery, at least not necessarily much, IMO.  Restrictions on what each of us can do really do not matter much, as long as TPTB where each of us are are not too intrusive.

YES, trollerc, almost all .govs are quickly seizing ever-more power of all sorts.  Which of course is bad.


But, true freedom comes from within.  The outer is just a manifestation of the inner.

That's right (emphasis mine).  When you have little to lose, you are more free.  If you are well-hidden you are more free.  If you have assets that not many know about you are more free.  If you are an Internet participant, then you are less free....

You want stuff?  An easy life?  Than you are enslaved.  Perhaps not a harsh enslavement, but still.


Or you can raise your consciousness a la Emmet Fox.  Freedom (everything really) comes from within.

NO WAY anyone is going to defeat any PTB with just a small network of programmers making and spreading an AltCoin.  Ain't gonna happen, TPTB are too entrenched.

Even if Bitcoin is NOT run by them, it's too small to matter.

When the Giants fight, we small dogs ought to just stay hidden & quiet while eating...

...

Fascinating back & forth email set with Armstrong.  Nice to see two high-IQ guys analyzing...

I wrote at my blog years ago (in 2012) that The Elite is broken into factions, and that was what is slowing down their plans.  I forget is we are allowed to post shortened links, but here goes:

goo.gl/XjxYGl

Or you can Google: "The Fractured Elite: The Only Reason Why We Are Not A Fascist State, Yet" which will likely take you there.

*   *   *

An idea I have read a couple of times now is that Trump ought to "pull a Perot" and buy a 30 or 60 minute block on ALL the major channels, and present his case: why he is the one better suited to lead vs. the simian (at best) Hillary...