Awesome. I'm sending over .2 BTC just in case he needs beer (or chips, ha) for the weekend. Thanks again for the hard work you're putting in, Bkk.

This is what I'm interested in--as long as you are reasonably confident you could source the required components in time. I wouldn't mind the option of ordering a spare set of parts (or three) as well, to allow room for error.

Now about getting you that oscilloscope. I'd be happy to chip in, who's with me?

It was my understanding that John K has all of ragingazn's verified personal info.

We didn't get to vote on the creation of the Federal Reserve, the same year income tax was imprelented. And you can't seriously say with a straight face the our government properly represents us.

They will only succeed in exacerbating the problem they attempt to eradicate.

Bitcoin was brought about by world banks acting irresponsibly. If they had not bailed out everybody and their cousin to the tune of billions upon billions of fiat taxpayer money, it's likely something like Bitcoin would not appear for years.

Good job, you greedy bastards.

Very scammy behavior IMO. The CEO has a colorful past as a con artist and served jail time for it. Take your money elsewhere.

This really looks like a promising idea. Will be following closely.

Ron Paul (per his own words) went into politics to spread ideas, not to win. And while Gavin and others may be smarter than Ron Paul, the real question is, are they more principled? I would guess not.

Gavin, you do realize that you're in a unique position here, where your decisions now within the Foundation will greatly affect Bitcoin's future.

While I agree with you about Bitcoin not being the sole catalyst for financial freedom, you must understand that by lobbying and engaging DC politicians, you are working within the very same corrupt system that Satoshi was fed up with.

Now look at someone like Ron Paul, who has worked within this corrupt system for his entire career. Numerous versions of his bill to audit the Federal Reserve (like, a full-on audit) were struck down time and again by banking interests. His attempts at the Presidency were easily kneecapped by a corrupt GOP and corporate-owned media. Do you really think something so disruptive like Bitcoin, that not only competes with the Federal Reserve, but threatens entire banking industries around the world, with all their money and power, are going to lay back and accept Bitcoin just because some politically-naive programmers hired a few good lawyers?

It's like handing your enemy a time bomb, saying, "Here's what will eventually destroy you, however I'm going to show you all of its secrets so you don't attack me first."

I am, as are others, fearful that you are jumping into a snake pit here, and one misstep could doom Bitcoin to the shadows of the internet. And I'm sure the moneyed interests in Washington would be just fine with that.

Spend a few days on the BFL forums and you'll see why. Not the brightest group over there. The moderators are bullies (probably by design, as some have been given product) and many of their customers do not speak English very well (or at all). Most are just honest folks who keep holding out hope for their magic money machine. More of them are waking up, and are loudly being told to get refunds so BFL can distance themselves from undesireable customers.

Their ads and slick website continue to draw in the naive and greedy, piggybacking off bitcoin's success, promising huge returns on investment. Funny how scams, having evolved over the years, still operate by exploiting a plethoria of basic human emotions.

Yeah the IRS will be after you too, when they see that you're on BFL's payroll.

What I fear is this could deliver bitcoin into the hands of politicians, opening the door wide open to incompetent regulation, or regulation meant to weaken bitcoin.

Special interests in Washington could easily kneecap bitcoin into being so difficult to use, that it remains fringe. Therefore it would be little threat to the dollar or euro.

caption contest!!

It's hard if your only business experience is running an international mail order scam for six years.

Da Bulls!
Daaa.... bears?

(I'll just leave this here)
http://youtu.be/769A4mUY7g0

Any heatsink would work potentially, however having the holes pre drilled is a huge timesaver.

If Bkk gives the go-ahead that these will dissipate the heat well enough, given multiple boards stacked together and a fan blowing at them, I'm in for at least 50.

If you really kept up with the facts and did your due diligence, you would find out that the President of Butterfly Labs, Sonny Vleisides, is a felon. He was convicted of running a mail fraud racket that, over six years, stole $20 million from the elderly and naive. These scams went by names like Shamrock Agency, German Swiss Group and World Expert Fund. His business partner at the time, Dennis Emmet, is now in jail for MURDER. He shot a guy IN THE FACE after getting into an argument.

These are facts, not libel. Google his name and read the affidavit. Even if they are legitimately creating a product, look at his past business practices, who he associates himself with, and ask yourself seriously if they are worthy of your hard-earned money. This company has not delivered for a year and is run by a former con artist. Any newbies thinking about pre-ordering need to take this into consideration.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=110805.0
http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2005/may/01/nac04.htm

The whole company stinks to high heaven. Sonny Vleisides, a smart, slippery con artist who ran a mail order scam for six years, stealing $20 million from the elderly and naive with no sense of remorse, stinks. The people he surrounds himself with stink: Dennis Emmet, his associate in the mail order scam, killed a guy in an argument. He's in a Costa Rican prison for murder. It's all in the affidavit, go read it.

Imagine what goes through a guy like Sonny's head when he sees an opportunity like bitcoin. Now he's running Butterfly Labs. Perhaps it's a natural evolution of The Shamrock Agency and Old Amsterdam, his two other scam companies.

Even if it is somehow legitimate, imagine what is happening behind closed doors with these people. Get your money out while you still can.

Agreed. They are a few years too late in any endeavor to seriously attack bitcoin and not come off as tyrannical. The average Joe doesn't know what kind of power the banking cartel/monopoly has, and they certainly don't want him to wake up. They will tread carefully.

On a happier note, I transferred funds to Gox via Dwolla this morning. Hours later I get the DHS email. Regardless, they funded my account for the full amount just a little while ago. I doubt they want to lose customers over this.

Just to follow up on this, as I was worried about the same thing. My story begins when I transferred funds to Mt Gox's Dwolla account this morning (bad timing is an understatement).

Two hours later I get the email from Dwolla about DHS. I'm thinking, "Oh shit, there goes my money, down the money hole, to fund a massive, bloated bureaucracy no less."

A bit shaken up, I send a worried email to Gox. They respond within hours saying, "Yes, we realize what happened, we don't know anything yet, your patience is appreciated, blah blah." Now I'm making plans on how to break this to my wife, thinking I'm going to be living outside for awhile.

Then the incredible happened. Just a few hours ago, I get an email saying my account has been funded for the full amount. Thank God. I buy some cheap coins and get them the hell out of there.

I figure one of two things happened: I got lucky and the funds were transferred out in time, or Mt Gox is willing to take this one on the chin to keep existing customers. Thankfully my experience ended happily. I hope others have a similar experience.