Random Announcements
-
-
BTC is useful, sure, but useful for a lot of nefarious purposes. So the utility cuts two ways. I am sure we would be horrified to hear about some of the things that have been funded by BTC: human trafficking, terrorism, murder for hire, ransomware, kidnappings, etc. My guess is that the use of crypto for bad things and the environmental implications mentioned above make it a net negative–so far--for humanity.
Far cooler as it pertains to blockchain tech IMO is guaranteed execution and smart contracts.
I'm going to address this part because it's a particularly pernicious bit of misinformation. The legacy financial system is absolutely LOUSY with suspicious activity. I use the term "suspicious" because if a bank sees a suspicious transaction, all they have to do to wash their hands of it is flag it as suspicious, they do not need to stop it or look into it further. The FINCEN files showed just the magnitude of this flow of dirty money. Wikipedia sums it thusly: "The reports describe over 200,000 suspicious financial transactions valued at over US$2 trillion that occurred from 1999 to 2017 across multiple global financial institutions." So, if BTC was ONLY used for illicit purposes, it would be less than half the magnitude as what was (probably) criminally passed through the TRACKED legacy system of financial institutions in that time. That does not even include cash-based crimes, which are themselves numerous! The RAND corporation did a study on Zcash (a privacy-focused coin) and did not find widespread evidence of illicit activity. Mrs. Yellen can say what she wants, but the data just doesn't support BTC or any other cryto being anything close to the problem that the good ol' USD is for criminal activity.
So, to sum up: if you own U.S. dollars, you are using the criminal's preferred currency. If you own bank stock, you yourself personally profited from criminal activity. Criminals use what they can. BTC is easier to move than cash, which is easier to move than gold, which is easier to move than grain. Things that are useful for humans are useful for criminals, I'm having trouble thinking of an exception to that statement.
-
I'm going to be spending the next few days unplugged in case you're wondering where I'm at… I'll be getting some much needed r and r. I'll be back before the Pittsburgh hangout on the 25th and definitely for the FW21 reveal. XX
-
Enjoy your well deserved R&R @Filthy !
-
Indeed, we'll hold it down in your absence, good sir. Enjoy!
-
Thanks gentlemen @motojobobo @tvenuto
I couldn't stay away too long.
Iron Heart forum addict. -
I just entered a raffle for a chance to PURCHASE a new graphics card. We were talking about cryptocurrency the other day and this is the main reason why I don't like it, is because it has made new video cards virtually impossible to buy. I wish they would regulate it and also make scalping illegal. Within reason, like maybe selling a new product for more than a 25 percent margin illegal. Old stuff, antiques, collectibles or whatever can remain as is.
-
I was going to post this in the jokes thread. But it’s not a joke…
I've got one shirt I loved, and somehow it just…disappeared. Didn't let anyone borrow it, it just vanished.
-
Been digging into Edward Curtis' amazing work of late: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/edward-sheriff-curtis
Great biography by Timothy Egan: Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
-
For about 24 hours when I post, the page hangs and doesn't refresh. My post is actually there when I reload the page though.
-
I am on mobile and Google Chrome
