"A block chain is just a signature verifiable log database with all of the issues a log database has plus limitations imposed by the verification requirements."

Good straight forward and simple description. Thanks

Looking in outstanding mode but have folk who
* Actually read the act
* Read amendments
* Informed debate on how this cascades
* Impact on companies and customers

Managing global downlink centres is a big and expensive business. You need diversity for not just resilience but also local weather conditions.

With only 2 downlink nodes for now not too useful except to experiment with. Also a lot depends on the quality control systems in place to manage signal acquisition and correction plus seemless switchover modes supported.

But definitely one for mix. Could open market for smaller rebroadcasters to consume sport 'world feeds' into OTT services without physical setup.

In good ole UK we use following system
* Every year little form through post to register folk in household for election register ( can state if entry not public info )
* Get card through post about next election
* On day of election go to polling station.
* If you have polling card fine if not any proof of id or even just name and address
* You get ticked off on paper list
* Given your bit of paper go into little booth
* Make X next to candidate ( for EU and local elections may be more than 1 )
* Fold up
* Put in box
* Someone outside will ask you who you vote for. I always decline ( exit poll I think it called )

Then those boxes are taped up and sent to counting station. Lots of paid folk count them out.

They announce vote about 8-12 hours later

Simples

Also you don't have to be completely cashless for risk of this happening ( government monitoring and shutdown of accounts ). If cash payments become anomaly they will be tracked or become reason for suspicion.

By Arthur C Clarke. Except a lot more detail on the transformation, why and relationship to monolith.

Why is this a new revelation? Kubrick and Clarke worked closely together on 2001 resulting in arguable best film/book combo ever.

The advertisers and data buyers are who get majority of upgrades and updates you cannot see. You are the product.

A bit like pigs complaining that the slop they eat is always the same. As long as it flattens them up then fit for purpose.

The difficulty level is set I think every 14 days or so.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Difficulty

If all chinese BC mining farms went offline then after that time cost to compute for non chinese farms would drop to compensate

Impact: fun 14 days then normal.

I love your idea of using cargo ships as emergency power stores and producers.

You have a great career in front of you. Employed a few myself. Great combo of open network experience with hardened systems with thousands of smart little shits ( technical term ) trying it on daily.

If you want smarts buy a fire stick, chromecast or roku. Max $50.

Price point is a bit higher at equiv $20 per month. Also you sign up for 12 months.

Seems to be profitable. I stopped my sky cinema subscription to afford it.

I think they made my money from me. After initial Bing in first month averages around 3 visits a month.

So only new thing here is lower price point.

Am only looking at 'outstanding' answers but good mix of experts providing informed answers.

Just wish there was upvoted facility here.

Very good point. One benefit of pubically traded companies is larger transaction volumes leading to more accurate pricing ( although here effects still apply).

A related area is house prices in UK. Trading volumes are historically low so assumptions on price being made on small number of transactions.