U.S. Air Force Accepts Bitcoin, BTC China in Discussion With Regulators, Tween Authors Launch ‘Bitcoin for Kids’ Book Series
U.S. Air Force Accepts Bitcoin,
BTC China in Discussion With Regulators,
Tween Authors Launch ‘Bitcoin for Kids’ Book Series
BTC China in Discussion With Regulators,
Tween Authors Launch ‘Bitcoin for Kids’ Book Series
The world’s busiest bitcoin exchange, BTC China, has been in talks with regulators to approve bitcoin as an official currency, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
While there have been some ‘lower-level’ discussions, the company has not yet had any success arranging high-level meetings, said BTC China CEO, Bobby Lee.
This isn’t surprising, given the reluctance of governments worldwide to make official statements about the currency’s legal status.
Official Approval
To grant official approval would likely cause a spike in activity, with many fearing activity on such a grand scale could undermine one of government’s key economic powers: overseeing fiat currencies.
This hasn’t stopped a recent flurry of interest from high-level government officials, as bitcoin’s value soars too high to ignore. At the time of writing, the bitcoin price on BTC China was 6,267 CNY, or $1,027. Mt. Gox’s price was $1,050, and it was around $990 on the Coindesk BPI.
The upper echelons of government feature many opinions on bitcoin, including some that have shifted over the years. Senator Chuck Schumer, who in 2011 described bitcoin as “an online form of money laundering,” and called for a crackdown, recently tweeted that the cryptocurrency had “significant potential”.
Deputy governor of China’s People’s Bank, Yi Gang, hinted at a personal (unofficial) approval of bitcoin exchanges and people’s ability to trade in and out of digital currencies, but also said it would be impossible for the central bank to recognise bitcoin “in the near future”.
Grey Area
BTC China has taken Gang’s comments on board, and Lee has continued to hold discussions with local regulators.
He has also answered questions about how bitcoin should be regulated, remaining optimistic about the long-term, describing bitcoin’s current status as:
“Not on the black list and not on the white list. It’s in the grey area.”
In the bitcoin universe, anything short of a call for blacklisting can be taken as progress. But while its “grey area” status allows exchanges and payment processors to function reasonably well at the moment, many think some form of recognition and subsequent regulation is necessary for bitcoin to gain widespread acceptance.
Though stories of bitcoin’s black market usage have faded, they have been replaced by regular exchange security failures and thefts on nearly every continent.
China has not been immune to this: the so-called ‘Hong Kong’ bitcoin exchange GBL, which was later found to have its servers located in mainland China, closed suddenly and vanished on 26th October, along with $4.1m of its customers’ money.
Bitcoin Alliance Launches in Canada
The Bitcoin Alliance of Canada will launch today, aiming to assist users and promote the currency nationwide.
Based in Toronto, the Bitcoin Alliance was founded by Anthony Di Iorio, a bitcoin entrepreneur who sold the online gambling site Satoshi Circle in August. The Bitcoin Alliance of Canada (BAC), designed to unite bitcoin businesses and users across Canada, will provide resources and outreach services for bitcoin members.
Di Iorio conceived the Alliance when the price of the cryptocurrency skyrocketed back in April, although he had been organising bitcoin events long before that. The entrepreneur said:
“I got the concept for the Alliance when I realised that representation for bitcoin was lacking.”
The BAC has made some public statements in the interim, like announcing its board in July, but today sees the official launch of its website and membership structure.
The Alliance will offer free memberships alongside a paid two-tier model. Free members will get a 10% discount on bitcoin events, as well as access to educational resources.
There will be two other membership tiers; premium, at the BTC equivalent of CA$25 per year; and a lifetime membership, for CA$125 in BTC.
Premium members will get a 15% discount on events, and will be able to participate in forums and Q&A sessions with the board. Lifetime members will receive a 25% discount, plus the other benefits and surprise promotions. All paid members are eligible for voting rights.
Bitcoin Expo 2014
One of the first events in the BAC’s calendar will be Bitcoin Expo 2014, a conference running from 11th – 13th April in Toronto.
Users can register in January to see a number of speakers, including; Cody Wilson, a DarkWallet developer and the founder of 3D weapon printing advocacy group Defense Distributed; Charles Hoskinson, founder of the Bitcoin Education Project; David Bailey of YBitcoin; and CoinKite’s Rodolpho Novak.
The Alliance is taking pro bono legal counsel through its general counsel Stuart Hoegner, and it hopes to reach regulators to cement bitcoin’s position in Canada, Di Iorio said.
The Alliance was developed at arm’s length from the Bitcoin Foundation, which has been busy setting up international chapters.
Di Iorio had originally discussed becoming a chapter of the Foundation, but negotiations fell through. The Foundation sent through an agreement that would have required the Alliance to merge its membership with the Foundation’s own. Di Iorio said:
“The board unanimously decided not to go forward with that agreement. When we got it, we were really disappointed with it. We had to push ahead with our membership structure, but still left the door open for some kind of working relationship with them.”
“We are looking forward to working with them in a friendship role, in a way that we retain our independence,” he added.
The Alliance’s next step is to reach out to groups in other countries and collaborate with them in a spirit of decentralised cooperation.
Board members for the Alliance are; entrepreneurs Eric Spano, Howard Patosh and Curtis Albrecht; telecoms investigator Michael Perklin; community technology advocate Jeff Coleman; and Reed Holmes, the business development manager for incumbent Canadian bitcoin exchange Virtex.
If children are indeed the future, then the Sabra sisters are living proof that alternative currencies could have a lasting impact on the world.
13-year-old JuJu Sabra, 12-year-old GiGi Sabra and 10-year-old JoJo Sabra were already accomplished authors of nonfiction titles like “42 Fun Facts About Jackie Robinson” and “What Is STEM?” when, like many people, they became captivated by all things cryptocurrency.
Since 2009, this globetrotting trio have been working as bloggers, vloggers and entrepreneurs with the help of their mother and teacher, Ponn Sabra.
But despite mom’s helping hand, it was their uncle IJ who provided their first lesson in bitcoin earlier this year, setting in motion what would become the Sabra Sisters’ most ambitious project to date. They would soon be in contention for the title of ‘World’s Youngest Bitcoin Entrepreneurs’.
“My brother is an incredible storyteller,” Ponn, who has been instrumental in encouraging her daughters to further their brand, told CoinDesk in an interview. She added:
“He’s very animated and extremely persuasive… we openly discussed the possibility of this truly fascinating innovation, and he never got bored by our many questions.”
Ponn recalls that IJ challenged the girls to write a bitcoin-based book with his help, giving them just 24 hours to take up his offer. Though other children may have been dissuaded from the topic’s complexities, the Sabra sisters spent their three-hour ride home researching bitcoin.
More impressively, the sisters launched a blog less than a day later. This blog would profile their attempts to learn more about alternative currency.
Just as quickly as it began, the BitKidz blog blossomed into a three-book project designed to motivate moms and kids to harness the disruptive power of bitcoin. Called “Bitcoin for Kids”, the series has been a family affair that has grown each sister’s individual strengths.
Getting ready for sale
JuJu, the oldest sister and self-professed leader of the group, interviewed notable bitcoin community members from Coingig, LetsTalkBitcoin, BitPay and more; middle sister GiGi researched bitcoin books, blogs and resources to break down their concepts; and JoJo, the “baby of the bunch” added to the flow and format of the books.
Mom, in turn, worked with editors, formatters, illustrators and publicists to ensure the book was ready for sale on Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook Book and more.
Book one focuses on the bitcoin basics, colourful images and includes a first-person narrative; book two offers step-by-step tutorials and book three features tips and tricks from industry luminaries.
The Sabras promoted the series with a contest that ran from 13th November to 19th November to celebrate the release, offering a grand prize of 0.25 BTC and a digital copy of The “Bitcoin For Kids Trilogy” to increase the book’s visibility.
The prize also went to a good cause, helping 16-year-old winner Jesse Ward, who had been looking for ways to help his family earn extra money in a tough economy.
Future Plans
If all goes to plan, the Sabra Sisters could soon help inspire more kids and parents to use bitcoin to better their financial outlook – Bitcoin Academy and Bitcoin Bootcamp have since added the Bitcoin for Kids books as part of their curriculum, and are looking to start a pilot program next month.
“Excited about the opportunity, we were motivated to finish the project and finally launch,” JuJu said. “Many things happened that very week, our 1 BTC that we bought at $101 was now $150, Silk Road was seized and we met Kids Using Bitcoin!”
Currently travelling abroad, the Sabra sisters have big plans for their return to the states – hosting book readings and book signings, giving school presentations and making appearances at bitcoin meetups.
The Sabra sisters aim to raise between $1,500 and $3,000 to turn the Bitcoin for Kids trilogy, as well as its free companion primer, into paperback books.
For San Diego’s smaller merchants, it was easy to dismiss bitcoin as phoney money or a Ponzi scheme: a novelty that wasn’t to be taken seriously. However one Minnesotan native, a sustainable grocer, is beginning to change their minds.
Michelle Larson-Sadler owns Conscious Cookery, a small business operated out of the Hillcrest Farmers’ Market, which showcases more than 120 local merchants and craftspeople.
It’s here that Larson-Sadler has been selling a selection of organic, heirloom and Fairtrade-certified foods since 2002. Not only is Larson-Sadler one of the longest-tenured merchants at the market, she’s also unique in another way: “I stand apart from most as the first store in San Diego to accept bitcoin to pay for groceries.” She told CoinDesk: “I find accepting bitcoin as payment for an essential basic is a very significant thing.”
It’s not just Larson-Sadler who is aware of her position. She says members of the San Diego Bitcoin Meetup group have begun speaking to vendors about accepting bitcoin at the market, and that her name frequently comes up in conversation. She explains:
“Whenever the meetup members mention my business, or my name, there seems to be an aura of credibility surrounding it, just because I am one of the longest running vendors at this [...] 17-year-old market.”
The University of Minnesota graduate can’t take all the credit for this distinction. She notes that her husband was the first family member to notice the virtual currency. Regardless, her decision is paying off; Conscious Cookery recently landed an unexpected high-profile mention in NPR (National Public Radio).
“My participation in the event was selling my goods as a vendor who accepts bitcoin,” she said. “I had no advance notice that I was going to be plugged into an article for NPR.”
With all this attention, it’s easy to see why Larson-Sadler has high hopes for the alternative currency movement. She remarks: “I am on the front edge of the wave, and it is just a matter of time when people will start to use it at my stand and online.”
A Community Reacts
Due to the growing buzz around bitcoin, Larson-Sadler says a number of her peers are currently on the fence about whether to accept the cryptocurrency or not. Although she understands their position, she believes it will inevitably change.
She cites the experience of Claravale Farm’s owners, whom the San Diego Bitcoin Meetup group has been speaking to about the benefits of the currency. She said:
“Knowing the farmer’s wife who comes down from outside Monterey, a seven-hour drive each way, and their long-standing raw dairy business – the second largest raw dairy in the state of California – I can totally understand their hesitation.”
Larson-Sadler says this reluctance is especially prevalent among farmers, who she notes are already at the mercy of Mother Nature and the traditional banking system. “However, there is risk involved when it comes to money and banking,” she said. “Our US dollar could be worth little or nothing in a moment’s notice.”
Larson-Sadler believes that, in time, information and acceptance will help bitcoin become mainstream.
Conscious Cookery Is Born
Conscious Cookery could easily be viewed as a natural undertaking for Larson-Sadler, who has been active in the retail and food service industries since she was a teenager looking for a new endeavour that would give her a creative outlet while she stayed at home with her first child.
Farmer-Market
New to California, Larson-Sadler wasn’t able to pass the time with regular trips to the St Paul Downtown Farmers’ Market. This outlet denied, she was soon struck with the idea to start her own version of an old-fashioned mercantile and she applied for a spot at the Hillcrest Farmers’ Market. Despite the two-year waiting list, Larson-Sadler ended up securing fill-in slots after just a couple months.
Now, she attends the market every Sunday as a permanent member, and her family helps her every step of the way. Larson-Sadler notes that her family is involved in all of Conscious Cookery’s operations, from her husband who built both the website and the store, to her children who assist her with setting up the company’s booth.
Winning Customers, One At A Time
While the merchants’ reaction to her decision to accept bitcoin has been mixed, Larson-Sadler has seen a steady uptake in sales, something she is grateful for during challenging economic times. She said:
“Even with the trend toward buying and eating ‘real food’, you would be surprised how many people cannot even afford to eat this way. It is my hope that with accepting bitcoin, it can be a way for many to lessen their dependence on these type of programs.”
Larson-Sadler is also taking steps to increase her base of digital currency users, offering a 15% discount to bitcoin users on purchases online and at the farmers’ market in November and December.
“I want to get people to use bitcoin for everyday purchases and have bitcoin work for people as a monetary exchange between two persons, anywhere in the world, without paper notes, without the middleman,” Larson-Sadler added.
It’s these transactions that Larson-Sadler predicts will help build a successful bitcoin economy; where participants don’t just buy into the currency as an investment, but use it for goods and services too.
“At last weekend’s market, I had at least a dozen customers who asked me about bitcoin, and a large spectrum of ages to boot,” she said. ”They see my bitcoin sign and they go – ‘You accept bitcoin? Great!’ or ‘Tell me about bitcoin’.”
Monty Henry, Owner
Some of Our Latest Articles:
Next-Generation Bug / Microwave / ELF / Spy Phone / GSM And Camera Detectors (Buy, Rent, Layaway) tinyurl.com/2eo8mlz Open...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)
Nanny IP (Internet) Cameras, GPS Trackers, Bug Detectors and Listening Devices, etc, (Buy / Rent / Layaway): tinyurl.com/396jlw6...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)
NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA.
Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.
NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA: http://www.dpl-surveillance-equipment.com/wireless_hidden_cameras.html
Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.
• Remote Video Access
• Video is Recorded Locally To An Installed SD Card (2GB SD Card included)
• Email Notifications (Motion Alerts, Camera Failure, IP Address Change, SD Card Full)
• Live Monitoring, Recording And Event Playback Via Internet
• Back-up SD Storage Up To 32GB (SD Not Included)
• Digital Wireless Transmission (No Camera Interference)
• View LIVE On Your SmartPhone!
Includes:
* Nanny Cameras w/ Remote View
* Wireless IP Receiver
* Remote Control
* A/C Adaptor
* 2GB SD Card
* USB Receiver
FACT SHEET: HIDDEN NANNY-SPY (VIEW VIA THE INTERNET) CAMERAS
Specifications:
Receiver Specs:
* Transmission Range of 500 ft Line Of Sight
* Uses 53 Channels Resulting In No Interference
* 12V Power Consumption
* RCA Output
* Supports up to 32gig SD
Camera Specs:
* 640x480 / 320x240 up to 30fps
* Image Sensor: 1/4" Micron Sensor
* Resolution: 720x480 Pixels
* S/N Ratio: 45 db
* Sensitivity: 11.5V/lux-s @ 550nm
* Video System: NTSC
* White Balance: Auto Tracking
• Video is Recorded Locally To An Installed SD Card (2GB SD Card included)
• Email Notifications (Motion Alerts, Camera Failure, IP Address Change, SD Card Full)
• Live Monitoring, Recording And Event Playback Via Internet
• Back-up SD Storage Up To 32GB (SD Not Included)
• Digital Wireless Transmission (No Camera Interference)
• View LIVE On Your SmartPhone!
Includes:
* Nanny Cameras w/ Remote View
* Wireless IP Receiver
* Remote Control
* A/C Adaptor
* 2GB SD Card
* USB Receiver
FACT SHEET: HIDDEN NANNY-SPY (VIEW VIA THE INTERNET) CAMERAS
Specifications:
Receiver Specs:
* Transmission Range of 500 ft Line Of Sight
* Uses 53 Channels Resulting In No Interference
* 12V Power Consumption
* RCA Output
* Supports up to 32gig SD
Camera Specs:
* 640x480 / 320x240 up to 30fps
* Image Sensor: 1/4" Micron Sensor
* Resolution: 720x480 Pixels
* S/N Ratio: 45 db
* Sensitivity: 11.5V/lux-s @ 550nm
* Video System: NTSC
* White Balance: Auto Tracking
Make Your Own Nanny Cameras: Make Tons Of Money In A Booming, Nearly Recession-Proof Industry!
Your Primary Customers Include But Are Not Limited To Anyone In The Private Investigator, Government, Law Enforcement And/Or Intelligence Agencies Fields!
* You Buy Our DVR Boards And We'll Build Your Products! (Optional)
* You Buy Our DVR Boards And We'll Build Your Products! (Optional)
Our New Layaway Plan Adds Convenience For Online Shoppers
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's
layaway plan makes it easy for you to buy the products and services
that you want by paying for them through manageable monthly payments
that you set. Our intuitive calculator allows you to break down your
order's purchase price into smaller payment amounts. Payments can be
automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using
MoneyGram® ExpressPayment® Services and you will receive your order once
it's paid in full. Use it to plan and budget for holiday purchases,
anniversaries, birthdays, vacations and more!
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's
Customers can now use the convenience of layaway online to help them
get through these tough economic times.
We all shop now
and then just to face a hard reality -- big credit card bills. However,
our latest financing innovation can help you avoid that. Find out why
more and more shoppers are checking out DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's
e-layaway plan.
If you're drooling over a new nanny
camera, longing for a GPS tracker, or wishing for that spy watch, but
you're strapped for cash and can't afford to do credit, do what Jennie
Kheen did. She bought her iPod docking station (hidden camera
w/motion-activated DVR) online using our convenient lay-away plan.
Our
online layaway plan works like the old-fashioned service stores used to
offer. But, in Kheen's case, she went to
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com, found the iPod docking station (hidden
camera w/motion-activated DVR), then set up a payment plan.
"It's automatically drawn from my account," she said. "I have a budget, $208.00 a month.
In
three months, Kheen had paid off the $650.00 iPod docking station. She
paid another 3.9 percent service fee, which amounted to about $25.35
(plus $12.00 for shipping) for a total of $687.35.
"You
pay a little bit each month," Kheen said. "It's paid off when you get
it and you don't have it lingering over your head. It's great."
Flexible
payment terms and automated payments make our layaway plan an
affordable and fiscally responsible alternative to credit cards.
1. Register:
It's quick, easy and FREE! No credit check required!
2. Shop:
Select
the items or service you want and choose "e-layaway" as your payment
option. Our payment calculator makes it easy for you to set up your
payment terms.
3. Make Payments:
Payments are made on the schedule YOU set. Check your order status or adjust your payments online in a secure environment.
4. Receive Products:
Receive the product shortly after your last payment. The best part, it's paid in full... NO DEBT.
More Buying Power:
*
Our lay-away plan offers a safe and affordable payment alternative
without tying up your credit or subjecting the purchase to high-interest
credit card fees.
No Credit Checks or Special Qualifications:
* Anyone 18 years old or older can join. All you need is an active bank account.
Freedom From Credit Cards:
*
If you are near or beyond your credit limit or simply want to avoid
high interest credit card fees, our e-layaway is the smart choice for
you.
Flexible Payment Schedules:
*
Similar to traditional layaway, e-layaway lets you make regular payments
towards merchandise, with delivery upon payment in full. Payments are
automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using
MoneyGram® ExpressPayment®
A Tool for Planning Ahead:
*
Our e-layaway makes it easy for smart shoppers like you to plan ahead
and buy items such as bug detectors, nanny cameras, audio bugs, gps
trackers, and more!
No Hidden Charges or Mounting Interest:
Our
e-layaway makes shopping painless by eliminating hidden charges and
monthly interest fees. Our customers pay a flat transaction fee on the
initial purchase price.
NO RISK:
* You have the right to cancel any purchase and will receive a refund less a cancellation fee. See website for details.
Security and Identity Protection:
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment
has partnered with trusted experts like McAfee and IDology to ensure
the security and integrity of every transaction. Identity verification
measures are integrated into our e-layaway system to prevent fraudulent
purchases.
Note: Simply Choose e-Lay-Away as a "Payment Option" in The Shopping Cart
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
is a world leader in providing surveillance and security products and
services to Government, Law Enforcement, Private Investigators, small
and large companies worldwide. We have one of the largest varieties of
state-of-the-art surveillance and counter-surveillance equipment
including Personal Protection
and Bug Detection Products.
Buy, rent or lease the same
state-of-the-art surveillance and security equipment Detectives, PI's,
the CIA and FBI use. Take back control!
DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
Phone: (1888) 344-3742 Toll Free USA
Local: (818) 344-3742
Fax (775) 249-9320
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
Google+ and Gmail
DPLSURVE
Twitter
DPLSURVE
MSN
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
AOL Instant Messenger
DPLSURVE32
Skype
Montyl32
Yahoo Instant Messenger
Montyi32
Alternate Email Address
montyi32@yahoo.com
Join my Yahoo Group!
My RSS Feed
Phone: (1888) 344-3742 Toll Free USA
Local: (818) 344-3742
Fax (775) 249-9320
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
Google+ and Gmail
DPLSURVE
DPLSURVE
MSN
Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com
AOL Instant Messenger
DPLSURVE32
Skype
Montyl32
Yahoo Instant Messenger
Montyi32
Alternate Email Address
montyi32@yahoo.com
Join my Yahoo Group!
My RSS Feed
http://www.goodguide.com/
posted by DPL-Surveillance-Equipment | 11:49 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
<< Home