Free Republic

There are conflicting stories among Bitcoins’ supporters about why a Japanese programmer or team of Japanese programmers, who are known by a pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, developed the original idea for the Bitcoins software. The primary justification for Bitcoins among libertarians is the prediction that Bitcoins will become an alternative currency to all existing central bank currencies. Bitcoins are seen as a first-stage revolt against central bank money. In this essay, I’m going to make a series of arguments. I’m going to tell you in advance what my arguments are. You can then judge whether or not I have been successful...

THE Australian dollar was weaker at noon, after retesting a three-month low, as less dire than expected US employment data helped the American currency maintain strength. Ironically, the local unit later stayed above $US0.9300 even though domestic data on job ads and house prices pointed to signs of an economic slowdown. At 12noon (AEST), the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.9315/17, down from Friday's close of $US0.9364/66. During the morning, the Australian dollar traded between a high of $US0.9319 and and a three-month low of $US0.9285. It reached that low at 9.30am AEST, after testing it during the offshore session....

by Richard Lawrence Poe Wednesday, April 2, 2008 ArchivesPermanent Link HAVE YOU seen the new five-dollar bill? It looks like someone spilled grape juice on it. A violet stain obscures Abraham Lincoln's face. On the back, an oversized numeral five appears in purple. Enough is enough. We must stop the desecration of our currency. The U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing claims it is making our banknotes "safer, smarter and more secure". They say the violet stain on Lincoln's face adds "complexity", rendering counterfeiting more difficult. The big purple five on the back supposedly helps vision-impaired people count...

In 1966, I was traveling the Pacific aboard a freighter. I was 19 years old at the time and attending the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. As part of my academy education, I spent a year as a student officer on freighters, passenger liners, oil tankers, and even tugboats. It was a great way to see and study the world. An Instructive Exchange One of the earliest lessons I learned at sea was about currency exchange rates. Even though currency valuation was not a subject taught at the Merchant Marine academy, my ship constantly traveled from one...

The end of the greenback could be nigh. The US government on Thursday announced plans to introduce other colours on dollar bills to help tourists tell the different notes apart. "International visitors complain 'We can't tell your denominations apart,'" said the Bureau of Engraving and Printing which will release new versions of the $20, $50 and $100 bills next year. US notes are all the same colour and size, which makes them hard to distinguish quickly - a boon for swindlers. The size will not be changed, but the Treasury believes introducing "subtle background colours" will ease the problem and...

US strikes colourful note with new greenback By Jenny Wiggins in New York Published: June 21 2002 0:25 | Last Updated: June 21 2002 0:25 The end of the greenback could be nigh. The US government on Thursday announced plans to introduce other colours on dollar bills to help tourists tell the different notes apart. "International visitors complain 'We can't tell your denominations apart,'" said the Bureau of Engraving and Printing which will release new versions of the $20, $50 and $100 bills next year. US notes are all the same colour and size, which makes them hard to distinguish...