Your points are why I think a government-like body will get involved -- and I do believe that there will be an increase is costs when that happens.
Will those costs be greater than for current systems? I don't know. I'm guessing they won't, if only because of Coin's inherent self-defense mechanisms (crypto). On the other hand, most attacks are against "wetware" -- i.e., tricking the people who hold value. Those attacks will need just as much protection -- at just as great a cost -- as for any other medium of value.
Anyway. I don't see much difference between Coin and existing electronic transactions in the situations you describe.
I think this is a fair question. In my opinion, none of the existing alt coins have a real advantage -- technical or in terms of buy-in -- over Bitcoin. I just think that one (or more) will eventually appear.
Nope, I knew that. That's why I wrote that a 51% attacker could "partially control (or completely destroy)" Bitcoin. I think the ability to block transaction verifications would "completely destroy" Bitcoin... but I welcome arguments to the contrary. I might be missing something.
I actually considered doing the calculations based on Butterfly Labs' machines, which claim 1 gigahash performance for only $50 (!). But their machines aren't actually available! The waiting list is, what, nearly a year now? So I said "currently available"... which doesn't include BL's machines, which are (for most people) pure vaporware.
Your explanation doesn't change the main point: He's been illegally flouting regulations for San Carlos Airport for years. AFAIK, there's no dispute about that.
And I only mentioned one instance of douchebaggery. A search for "Larry Ellison" and "douchebag" furthers the tale.
Ellison has a history of being just terrible. When the San Carlos airport cite him for breaking noise ordinances when he flies in during "quiet" hours -- you know, waking up uncounted residents in the area -- he just laugh and pays the fine, over and over again. Now he's suing the airport in San Jose airport so he can do the same thing to that city's 800,000 residents.
Hawaiians can expct zero consideration from this proven douchebag.
I've managed to organize my freelance writing business so I can (and do) travel as much as I want. I'm not 100% -- I travelled 188 days in 2012 -- but that's by choice. (I like having a home base in small-town Ohio, where the livin' is easy.)
Anyway, to answer your questions from my perspective, with travel in the U.S. and Western Europe (which seems to be your focus):
How do I find a good work environment in these conditions [hostels]?
Most modern Hostelling International hostels in Western Europe have comparatively reliable wifi, 24-hour access, and electrical outlets. (I can't speak for other hostel chains or independents.) I've found cafes to be less reliable -- they have less at stake if the wifi goes down. And libraries don't all offer wifi to non-members.
Do hostels generally have quiet areas where work could be done?
Usually.
Is it OK to get out your laptop and spend the day in a cafe in Europe, assuming you keep buying drinks?
It depends. You can usually spend a couple of hours at each, but it's obnoxious to stay when it's crowded. Some have auto-limited wifi access: Check before sitting down.
What about hackerspaces â" are those common on the other side of the globe?
Again, it depends. I know of some in Rotterdam (The Netherlands), but that's a very Western city.
Now, my comments.
Most hostels won't allow stays of more than a week.
Don't plan to do that long a trip at first. Try a few weeks. Learn as you go.
Just get the hell out of high-cost areas like Silicon Valley.
I moved from San Francisco to small-town Ohio four years ago. I'm a freelance writer and have never met most of my clients face-to-face, so my income didn't change at all.
But now I'm out of debt and living in a huge house I bought for $50,000 and enjoy very much. The money that used to go into such things as $6 drinks and $130 residential parking stickers now goes into travel, entertainment, and investment.
I can't walk to eight sushi restaurants anymore. But I've found my lifestyle's improved quite a bit without having to leave my home country. And if I want to be around that many sushi restaurants, I can fly back to San Francisco whenever I want.
Unless you really want to, why leave the country? The U.S. can be very cheap -- you just have to get away from the coasts.
"I suspect that.doc files will be accessible for quite a long while"
That's only half the problem. Can you read an 8" floppy from a TRS-80 Model 2? Do you know anyone who can? Do you know anyone who knows anyone who can?
Yes, there are services for such things (shout out to my friend Sellam Ismail at vintagetech.com!). But there aren't many. And it's hard work actually bringing things to a modern format in any case.
I suspect you're under the age of 40. Us older folks (who are packrats) have shoeboxes full of media we can't read anymore -- and that's probably half-erased and corrupt anyway.
I don't mean to rag on you... only to say that, like most problems, this one is a lot deeper than it appears.
Quite right. "Lost" also treats living creatures like inanimate property. They weren't lost -- they were killed. They're dead. One day they were running about and exercising free will, now they're lifeless.
Thanks to the text for getting it right. Shame on the headline writer.
Customer agrees to terms. Customer breaks agreement. Vendor terminates services.
You're confusing private action to public action, or government action. There is no mob here; there are no vigilantes. There are two private parties with an at-will agreement.
Slashdot Mirror
I doubt this. Could you explain more? What (currently available) computer could do this? What part would the botnet play? How would it be coordinated?
We are of similar minds. :)
I'd moderate this up if I could. :)
Your points are why I think a government-like body will get involved -- and I do believe that there will be an increase is costs when that happens.
Will those costs be greater than for current systems? I don't know. I'm guessing they won't, if only because of Coin's inherent self-defense mechanisms (crypto). On the other hand, most attacks are against "wetware" -- i.e., tricking the people who hold value. Those attacks will need just as much protection -- at just as great a cost -- as for any other medium of value.
Anyway. I don't see much difference between Coin and existing electronic transactions in the situations you describe.
It's a matter of degree. I think it's an order of magnitude (i.e., 10x) easier to lose Coin than paper currency.
I think this is a fair question. In my opinion, none of the existing alt coins have a real advantage -- technical or in terms of buy-in -- over Bitcoin. I just think that one (or more) will eventually appear.
:)
Think SixDegrees -> MySpace -> Facebook -> ???.
Nope, I knew that. That's why I wrote that a 51% attacker could "partially control (or completely destroy)" Bitcoin. I think the ability to block transaction verifications would "completely destroy" Bitcoin... but I welcome arguments to the contrary. I might be missing something.
Why thank you! :)
I actually considered doing the calculations based on Butterfly Labs' machines, which claim 1 gigahash performance for only $50 (!). But their machines aren't actually available! The waiting list is, what, nearly a year now? So I said "currently available"... which doesn't include BL's machines, which are (for most people) pure vaporware.
--The author
Your explanation doesn't change the main point: He's been illegally flouting regulations for San Carlos Airport for years. AFAIK, there's no dispute about that.
And I only mentioned one instance of douchebaggery. A search for "Larry Ellison" and "douchebag" furthers the tale.
Ellison has a history of being just terrible. When the San Carlos airport cite him for breaking noise ordinances when he flies in during "quiet" hours -- you know, waking up uncounted residents in the area -- he just laugh and pays the fine, over and over again. Now he's suing the airport in San Jose airport so he can do the same thing to that city's 800,000 residents.
Hawaiians can expct zero consideration from this proven douchebag.
I posted my own comment before reading yours, and it looks like GMTA... or, at least, *we* do. :) Nicely done.
I've managed to organize my freelance writing business so I can (and do) travel as much as I want. I'm not 100% -- I travelled 188 days in 2012 -- but that's by choice. (I like having a home base in small-town Ohio, where the livin' is easy.)
Anyway, to answer your questions from my perspective, with travel in the U.S. and Western Europe (which seems to be your focus):
Most modern Hostelling International hostels in Western Europe have comparatively reliable wifi, 24-hour access, and electrical outlets. (I can't speak for other hostel chains or independents.) I've found cafes to be less reliable -- they have less at stake if the wifi goes down. And libraries don't all offer wifi to non-members.
Usually.
It depends. You can usually spend a couple of hours at each, but it's obnoxious to stay when it's crowded. Some have auto-limited wifi access: Check before sitting down.
Again, it depends. I know of some in Rotterdam (The Netherlands), but that's a very Western city. Now, my comments.
Good luck!
I'm guessing you don't live in Europe. The foosball table at a Paris client of mine is a *necessity*, as is the espresso machine.
By the way, they call it "babyfoot". Isn't that adorable?
Wait... you're suggesting that there are no well-paying jobs in the legal profession for people with doctorates?
Just get the hell out of high-cost areas like Silicon Valley.
I moved from San Francisco to small-town Ohio four years ago. I'm a freelance writer and have never met most of my clients face-to-face, so my income didn't change at all.
But now I'm out of debt and living in a huge house I bought for $50,000 and enjoy very much. The money that used to go into such things as $6 drinks and $130 residential parking stickers now goes into travel, entertainment, and investment.
I can't walk to eight sushi restaurants anymore. But I've found my lifestyle's improved quite a bit without having to leave my home country. And if I want to be around that many sushi restaurants, I can fly back to San Francisco whenever I want.
Unless you really want to, why leave the country? The U.S. can be very cheap -- you just have to get away from the coasts.
"I suspect that .doc files will be accessible for quite a long while"
That's only half the problem. Can you read an 8" floppy from a TRS-80 Model 2? Do you know anyone who can? Do you know anyone who knows anyone who can?
Yes, there are services for such things (shout out to my friend Sellam Ismail at vintagetech.com!). But there aren't many. And it's hard work actually bringing things to a modern format in any case.
I suspect you're under the age of 40. Us older folks (who are packrats) have shoeboxes full of media we can't read anymore -- and that's probably half-erased and corrupt anyway.
I don't mean to rag on you... only to say that, like most problems, this one is a lot deeper than it appears.
...over the *entire San Andreas Fault*. So $50,000 isn't enough to survey and extract it all.
Still: it's interesting in its own right. Congrats to the researchers!
You leave my mother out of this! She never made any basement commentary!
This is good, and long past due. Amazing that it took so long.
Jan-Jaap Eikenboom = John Jacob Oaktree!
Ah, the Dutch.
Which side do you find less open to considering the ideas of the other?
(Assuming there are two sides, of course.)
I was going to write this.
Worst. Lede. Ever.
Quite right. "Lost" also treats living creatures like inanimate property. They weren't lost -- they were killed. They're dead. One day they were running about and exercising free will, now they're lifeless.
Thanks to the text for getting it right. Shame on the headline writer.
You're wrong.
Customer agrees to terms. Customer breaks agreement. Vendor terminates services.
You're confusing private action to public action, or government action. There is no mob here; there are no vigilantes. There are two private parties with an at-will agreement.