Bitcoin press hits, notable sources

[RodeoX]

Hey there is an app for that now!
I just noticed Paxx Media AB has primitive iPhone app available at the official app store. It just fetches some Mt.Gox data at the moment but the author is promising more later. It's $3.99, not cheep but i bought it to show some support.

[Fhtagn]

Silk Road (and, the story seems to imply, bitcoins) attracts official attention:

  Senators target Internet narcotics
  http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/05/3678190/apnewsbreak-senators-target-internet.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/05/136971766/senators-target-website-that-sells-narcotics

This is likely to become an attack on both Tor and Bitcoin, as enabling technologies. Politicians often legislate with a broad brush.
Write these Senators(especially if you live in NY or WV) and urge them to keep their focus narrow.
Omission of Bitcoin from this action could provide some legal support later, if Bitcoin comes up against things like the recently extended Patriot Act.

The Senators don't seem to understand how Silk Road works; Bitcoin will be an even bigger stretch for them. Help them see that Bitcoin isn't about drugs and money laundering.
It's worth a try.

[error]

I wouldn't contact either of those senators; it's clear that they're both insane, and mentioning Tor and Bitcoin to them would, if they haven't heard of them before, be a very bad idea.

[kiba]

I wouldn't contact either of those senators; it's clear that they're both insane, and mentioning Tor and Bitcoin to them would, if they haven't heard of them before, be a very bad idea.

Political insanity. We all have it. Some have it worse than others.

[Fhtagn]

I wouldn't contact either of those senators; it's clear that they're both insane, and mentioning Tor and Bitcoin to them would, if they haven't heard of them before, be a very bad idea.

They are bound to find out about both, if they don't already know. They hire staff and consultants to inform them. Opting out of the system is one option, but I (and others) choose to go another route.

[hazek]

The Senators don't seem to understand how Silk Road works; Bitcoin will be an even bigger stretch for them. Help them see that Bitcoin isn't about drugs and money laundering.
It's worth a try.

They do however understand not to type the name Bitcoin or Tor anymore because they know the more people find out about it and start using it the more resilient we get

[marcus_of_augustus]

Here's schumer's press release posted on his OWN web site. Looks like Utica College will get federal funds out of it.

http://schumer.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=333075&

" ... today called on FBI Director Robert Mueller to utilize Utica College’s cutting edge Cybersecurity Center to train FBI agents to appropriately investigate cybercrime and online terrorism. Utica College is home to both the Economic Crime Institute (ECI) and the Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP). ..."

[Fleembit]

Schumer mentions Bitcoin specifically in this article: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Schumer-Calls-on-Feds-to-Shut-Down-Online-Drug-Marketplace-123187958.html

"To make sure the money exchanged can't be traced, the site uses a new digital currency called Bitcoins that can be purchased online by visitors, according to Schumer. Using real money, users purchase these Bitcoins, which can be traded at roughly $9 to one bitcoin, and use them as proxy for real money when they buy things on Silk Road.

"It's an online form of money laundering used to disguise the source of money, and to disguise who's both selling and buying the drug," said Schumer."

[fabianhjr]

Because freedom = terrorism.

[mewantsbitcoins]

Here's schumer's press release posted on his OWN web site. Looks like Utica College will get federal funds out of it.

http://schumer.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=333075&

" ... today called on FBI Director Robert Mueller to utilize Utica College’s cutting edge Cybersecurity Center to train FBI agents to appropriately investigate cybercrime and online terrorism. Utica College is home to both the Economic Crime Institute (ECI) and the Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP). ..."

Training monkeys won't work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yndfqN1VKhY

[Fhtagn]

The Senators don't seem to understand how Silk Road works; Bitcoin will be an even bigger stretch for them. Help them see that Bitcoin isn't about drugs and money laundering.
It's worth a try.

They do however understand not to type the name Bitcoin or Tor anymore because they know the more people find out about it and start using it the more resilient we get

They say any press is good; that's one upside to this. Bitcoin is about to see some Streisand effect.

For Bitcoin to gain mainstream adoption, legality is important. Most people won't touch it, if it's banned in their country.

Politicians react to voter pressure. Even if people think that they don't care about the constituency, the Senators still want to keep their jobs. These two are probably hoping for some "tough on drugs" voter credits.

[FreeMoney]

Any guesses on how much Silk Road is paying schumer?

[Indemnified]

Any guesses on how much Silk Road is paying schumer?

You get it!

[error]

Now if I were going to call these guys, I would forget about Bitcoin and Tor and stick with the end prohibition message.

[Fhtagn]

Now if I were going to call these guys, I would forget about Bitcoin and Tor and stick with the end prohibition message.

Maybe if we buy them a nice pair of alpaca socks.

[marcus_of_augustus]

Now if I were going to call these guys, I would forget about Bitcoin and Tor and stick with the end prohibition message.

Maybe if we buy them a nice pair of alpaca socks.

Don't even think about it, but how long until some idiot sends them a package from Silk Road? 

[mewantsbitcoins]

Now if I were going to call these guys, I would forget about Bitcoin and Tor and stick with the end prohibition message.

Maybe if we buy them a nice pair of alpaca socks.

Don't even think about it, but how long until some idiot sends them a package from Silk Road? 

moa, you are putting ideas into people's heads. That would be massive lulz 

[TylerJordan]

I was doing a bit of google trends research the other day and discovered that *in terms of searches* bitcoin has overtaken the federal reserve. Posted about it here: 

http://earthsociety.org/news/2011/06/bitcoin-overtakes-federal-reserve-on-google-trends/


While not really meaningful, it's a great way to get peoples attention.

[Prze_koles]

I dunno if it was already posted but:  http://www.ct24.cz/vysilani/2011/06/05/211411058050022-20:00-horizont-ct24/  from 14:10

LOL. Slush there?

[marcus_of_augustus]

Now if I were going to call these guys, I would forget about Bitcoin and Tor and stick with the end prohibition message.

Maybe if we buy them a nice pair of alpaca socks.

Don't even think about it, but how long until some idiot sends them a package from Silk Road? 

moa, you are putting ideas into people's heads. That would be massive lulz 

Ideas are dangerous => they should make ideas illegal.

Another reddit thread started ...

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/hscno/bitcoin_is_an_online_form_of_money_laundering/

"Maybe US Senator Charles Schumer should turn his attention to central banks and the global monetary theft of the planet."