...

Both gold and BTC have been pretty range-bound lately...  Hmm.

GOLD has been a Store of Value for 5000 - 6000 years (depending on whose figures you accept).  For me, it is best thought of as insurance against government malfeasance, as well as a possible lottery ticket (to a MUCH higher price, physical gold in your own possession only).  Oh, and it's shiny!

BTC is volatile as well, but it is also "its own asset class", and so fits very well with my ideas about diversification.  BTC is also a lottery ticket, it may go to a much higher price as well.  Oh, and it's cool and digital...

We'll see what happens!  "We watch together, no?"

...

Re earlier blockchain.info wallets comments from notlist3d, activebiz and Muhammed Zakir and people interested in blockchain.info wallets

Yes, I had a problem with a blockchain.info wallet "somehow" taking all my BTC, perhaps a year ago.  I got it back after emailing them and following their instructions.  I do not recall the nature of the problem, it might have been a programming error on their part, but I did get my BTC back.

So, I keep a small amount at blockchain.info, but the bulk of my BTC I keep in my Ledger Nano and Trezor devices.

...

Kprawn

It looks like I may have the same problem re bitmixer.io payment falling in the downtime here.

I will PM them and see.

...

shinana

If you are in NYC there is a BTC ATM at about 751 10th Avenue ("Sonny's Grocery", the one the WEST side of the avenue, there are TWO "Sonny's" on that block).  Lamassu machine.  No ID, no cameras, took cash for BTC.  I suppose you could just feed it cash, and keep feeding it, perhaps by sending to different BTC addresses.

If you are NOT in NYC, "Google" BTC ATMs in your city.

localbitcoins, for some reason, has been hard for me to use in my city.  But, some localbitcoins users have a LOT of BTC because they bought very early...

...

O/T, but sort-of important to me.  I just (finally after a few days locked out) got back here into bitcointalk.  Had a problem trying to solve the password issue.

Pleased to be back in the arena.



EDIT:

rpietila, username18333, TPTB

I think we can all agree to no more war!  Not against Russia, not against anyone, no more wars period.  The "other TPTB" (the big ones) might have other ideas though.



EDIT_2:

I think I solved my problem re password and password change.

...

Jeremycoin

The guy at the counter was clearly not the owner of the store nor of the machine.  The only thing he really told me was that the machine was used quite a bit.  I was only there some 15 minutes so cannot know for sure.

BOTH other guys put in a number (a lot) of FRNs of different denominations (1s, 5s, 20s, 50s).  That was what made me think of them as possible drug dealers.  Erm, they were both BIG guys...  One of them stepped out the door to call someone: "Hey, did you get the money yet?", I presume that was re the BTC transaction.

*   *   *

I have a HARD time finding BTC via localbitcoins even though I live in a city.  Even then I usually have to pay the guy(s) (we meet in person) 5% over spot anyway.  Plus I have to drive over.  Sometimes pay $5 or $10 to park.  So, the 12%, yes, is very high, but I prefer the relative anonymity.  No names.  No ID.  No hand print.  No apparent cameras.

Keep in mind that it is possible that the motives of the other two customers of the ATM might have been different than my own.  I was bored (that afternoon in NYC), looked up and then found the machine.  And bought some BTC NOT via exchange nor credit card, etc.  Nice and quietly.

...

Just informing anyone interested that there is a BTC ATM (Lamassu) at "Sonny's Grocery" located at about 757 10 Ave. in Manhattan.  On the WEST side of 10th (there are two "Sonny's" on that block).

No apparent cameras.  No ID.  No hand print or fingerprints necessary.  Looked pretty anonymous.

Machine worked fine.

Guy at the counter did not know how it worked but told me that the thing is pretty well used...

STIFF 12% premium over BTC "spot".

...



Hey, username18333, I'll just wait for a letter from them to let me know.

Hey, they're from the government, and they're there to help.  Hey, Ronald Reagan himself sort-of said the opposite...

...

Two more ideas vs. "Economic Totalitarianism" for beginners...

1)  I bought BTC from a Lamassu ATM here in NYC (we are on a visit).  I waited my turn behind two drug dealers (hey, I do NOT KNOW if they were drug dealers), the machine worked fine, the BTC are off to be mixed and sent on to their ultimate destinations.  No apparent cameras, no ID needed, no fingerprints/handprints.  Looked pretty anonymous!  Machine was in "Sonny's Grocery" at about 757 10th Ave (west side of the avenue) in Manhattan.  Stiff 12% or so premium to BTC "spot".

2)  I also bought a "semi-collectible" coin.  An MS-70 Proof Pt Eagle (slabbed).  Certain slabbed bullion coins (as it turns out) have premia WAY over "spot".  I am trying to get an idea of how these kinds of coins will fare..., in an economy that is growing or "acceptable", such a coin is worth little in a TEOTWAWKI...  But, the very rich collect high-end stuff, I am now thinking about stuff that RICH GUYS will want, even bit-billionaires...  High-end art (perhaps in a bubble now though) is also proven as to rising in value, on the average.

...

NO ONE has shown me much positive feedback on various mixers other than the two I have used many times with much success.

bitmixer.io (yes, I am with their signature campaign, because their service is excellent)

blockchain.info's Sharedcoin service (probably requires a blockchain wallet)

I have not used any other, as I am wary of scams...

*   *   *

So how about it?  If anyone else has positive reviews on ANY other mixer, let's hear about it!

...

I am very happy with bitmixer.io's signature campaign.  Super-reliable bot takes care of almost everything!

They do not pay a LOT, but I have used their service, which is why I went with them.

On the other hand, I might need that +/- $20 they have paid me over the past months!  Never know...  

...

That might be useful information. 

Make a BUNCH of back-up copies, maybe place an encrypted version or two (via hashed OP_RETURN) on the blockchain.

These two sites can do just that relatively cheaply and relatively easily!  They would be tamper-proof too.  Might want to use a pseudonym (false name) as author, "just in case".

bitproof.io

and

proofofexistence.com

...

I don't know, because I am not an expert, but this use of the blockchain looks like great news to me.  Factom is readying itself to be the "wholesaler" of placing hashed information on the blockchain.

Someone is going to make big $$$ on this, wait and see!

Even lil ol moi has put up a document or two on the blockchain!  Cheap and easy ways to explore the idea:

proofofexistence.com 

and

bitproof.io

...

silverbits

I have seen that in some countries where the authorities are very strict re their currencies that BTC is succeeding (Argentina is a great example).  Bitcoin allows "money to move around easily" (at least once you get set up).

Like above posters wrote, try localbitcoins.com

If you have friends or family outside your country, they may be able to help.

There could be an excellent, though dangerous, business opportunity to get BTC from outside your country and bring them there...

...

Office Depot and similar stores sell rubber stamps that allow you to stamp ink messages on almost anything.

One way to spread the message might be to stamp "BITCOIN!" on US FRNs. *



* Ahh, it might be a tad illegal to "deface" money though...

...

I have written many times about my good experiences with bitmixer.io and blockchain.info's SharedCoin service.  Both have worked very well (with a bump or two along the way, but all resolved just fine).

And yet, I read on some other threads that some people are using other mixers, and usually having terrible experiences (many seem to be new members here).  I cannot think of ANY other mixer I have seen discussed (other than the two I use) that has a good reputation.

Are there any other good mixers out there?

And why would so many use the BAD ones???

*   *   *

I would be interested in knowing if any of the .onion mixers (via TOR) are any good as well.  I do not "do" TOR as I am not a serious IT guy.

...

At this point I have enough BTC.  I have only done two things with it so far:

1)  Bought gold (inc. from Veldt and Amagi here at bitcointalk)

2)  HODL the rest, almost all in Trezor and Ledger Nano

I plan to do nothing but hold the BTC I have left for sometime.  Good diversification.

...

EDIT: I meant no offense.

/EDIT


Then take care TPTB, I wish you all the very best.  Good luck!

Our world NEEDS the very best.  So, we all hope that your work reaches the light of the day.

I'll irk you no more.  

...

Despite his gruff exterior, I have to hand TPTB a big "+ 1" for making Armstrong better known to or community.

Like Armstrong or not, his breadth of history and his BROAD financial knowledge in general is very hard to beat.

He has a free blog, now part of my daily reading:

http://armstrongeconomics.com/armstrong_economics_blog


Alas, he offers few practical solutions (like how to get income, etc.).  Still, all of his knowledge goes into my mental hopper each day now.  Highly recommended.

...

I use four, depending on my needs:

1) Trezor for long term cold storage
2) Ledger Nano for long term cold storage
3) blockchain.info for spending (and receiving convenience, and, like mentioned above, worldwide access)
4) BTC app for my cellphone

The bulk of my BTC are safe in the Trezor and Ledger.  I like them both, I will use each a few more times and see which is "better".