[57north-discuss] bitcoin

[tj]

On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 12:52:01AM +0000, Aidan Karley wrote:
> Though I'm rarely in Aberdeen any more, I do still read the passing
> mails.  Many of you may have met the service "sci-hub.io", which by
> various tricks allows access to a lot of published science papers
> without needing a major library access. Since most of the science in
> such papers is paid for from our tax $CURRENCY$, I don't feel
> particularly constrained about using it. (Besides, my professional
> society fees run to over £200/year, a significant part of which goes
> to an Athens subscription.)

The current situation with academic papers is ridiculous. It seems to be
that firewalled paper just don't get read, no one is benefitting in this
scenario.

> Good service, casting a light into the depths of academic publishing
> by it's contrast ; I feel that I should be paying my due.But they only
> record a "Bitcoin account" as a support method. Since we went through
> this with WikiLeaks, I understand why. But it does leave me with the
> problem of how to buy BitCoin in order to pay to them.
>
> I wouldn't be surprised if other people had similar other problems,
> though the details may differ.  TTBOMK, the only way I can get BitCoin
> into the (currently empty) "wallet" which I set up a few days ago is
> to go down to an ATM on Sauchiehall St in Glasgow and buy some there.
> (Though quite how I'd then "get" them "into" my"wallet" I'm rather
> vague on. (how do you split a BitCoin, for example? for a bullion
> coin, I have a chisel, but for a bit coin, I'm less clear. ) Are there
> "cyber financiers" out there? And is this potentially a topic for a
> Tuesday? I haz coinage and can travelz, but am not sure of an
> effective path to take. 

If you head to Glasgow to use a bitcoin atm there will probably be
either someone or some written material explaining how to use it.

It probably involves a smart phone app and a qr code.

> Also, should I kill two stones with one bird and get my (P)GPG(P) keys
> set up and validated at the same time? I've found both passports now,
> and offended enough people over the years to be recognised, if not
> exactly welcomed. 

Yes you should, joining the web of trust brings many benefits. Someone
might even know what they are (not me!).

- [tj]