Second Amendment – Conservapedia

See also gun control.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states:[1]

For several decades, the lower federal courts had interpreted the Second Amendment as protecting merely a collective right of state militias.[2] However, the U.S Supreme Court has always called it an individual right. The 2008 Supreme Court decision of District of Columbia v. Heller ruled 5-4 that the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

See also Debate:Is the right to bear arms unalienable?

In 1786, the United States existed as a loose national government under the Articles of Confederation. This confederation was perceived to have several weaknesses, among which was the inability to mount a Federal military response to an armed uprising in western Massachusetts known as Shays' Rebellion.

In 1787, to address these weaknesses, the Constitutional Convention was held with the idea of amending the Articles. When the convention ended with a proposed Constitution, those who debated the ratification of the Constitution divided into two camps; the Federalists (who supported ratification of the Constitution) and the Anti-Federalists (who opposed it).

Among their objections to the Constitution, anti-Federalists feared a standing army that could eventually endanger democracy and civil liberties. Although the anti-Federalists were unsuccessful at blocking ratification of the Constitution, through the Massachusetts Compromise they insured that a Bill of Rights would be made, which would provide constitutional guarantees against taking away certain rights.

One of those rights was the right to bear arms. This was intended to prevent the Federal Government from taking away the ability of the states to raise an army and defend itself and arguably to prevent them from taking away from individuals the ability to bear arms.

The meaning of this amendment is controversial with respect to gun control and what type of weapons are covered.

The National Rifle Association, which supports gun rights, has a stone plaque in front of its headquarters bearing the words "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." By dropping the "militia" phrase, the slogan advocates that the Second Amendment should mean that individual citizens have the right to own and use guns.

American law has always said that the militia includes ordinary private citizens, and gun rights advocates say that the amendment means individuals have the right to own and use guns. Gun control advocates began in the late 20th century to say it means only that there is only some sort of collective or state-controlled right.

Supreme Court opinions have all been consistent with the individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment, but the lower court opinions are mixed.

As of 2007, people argue about the meaning of the Second Amendment, but there is no definitive answer. The latest ruling is Parker v District of Columbia, in which the DC Circuit court of appeals ruled on March 9, 2007 that the DC gun ban violated individual rights under the Second Amendment.

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'''''

Quoted from: http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39388c210c1b.htm

Down to the Last Second (Amendment)

Participants in the various debates on firearms, crime, and constitutional law may have noticed that the Second Amendment is often quoted differently by those involved. The two main variations differ in punctuation specifically, in the number of commas used to separate those twenty-seven words. But which is the correct one? The answer to this question must be found in official records from the early days of the republic when the Bill of Rights was sent by the First Congress to the states for ratification. Therefore, a look into the progression of this declaratory and restrictive clause from its inception to its final form is in order.

Before beginning, one must note that common nouns, like "state" and "people," were often capitalized in official and unofficial documents of the era. Also, an obsolete formation of the letter s used to indicate the long s sound was in common usage. The long 's' is subject to confusion with the lower case 'f', therefore, Congress" is sometimes spelled as "Congrefs," as is the case in the parchment copy of the Bill of Rights displayed by the National Archives. The quotations listed here are accurate. With the exception of the omission of quotations marks, versions of what is now known as the Second Amendment in boldface appear with the exact spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as the cited originals.

During ratification debates on the Constitution in the state conventions, several states proposed amendments to that charter. Anti-Federalist opposition to ratification was particularly strong in the key states of New York and Virginia, and one of their main grievances was that the Constitution lacked a declaration of rights. During the ratification process, Federalist James Madison became a champion of such a declaration, and so it fell to him, as a member of the 1st Congress, to write one. On June 8, 1789, Madison introduced his declaration of rights on the floor of the House. One of its articles read:

On July 21, John Vining of Delaware was appointed to chair a select committee of eleven to review, and make a report on, the subject of amendments to the Constitution. Each committeeman represented one of the eleven states (Rhode Island and North Carolina had not ratified the Constitution at that time), with James Madison representing Virginia. Unfortunately, no record of the committee's proceedings is known to exist. Seven days later, Vining duly issued the report, one of the amendments reading:

In debates on the House floor, some congressmen, notably Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and Thomas Scott of Pennsylvania, objected to the conscientious objector clause in the fifth article. They expressed concerns that a future Congress might declare the people "religiously scrupulous" in a bid to disarm them, and that such persons could not be called up for military duty. However, motions to strike the clause were not carried. On August 21, the House enumerated the Amendments as modified, with the fifth article listed as follows:

Finally, on August 24, the House of Representatives passed its proposals for amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the Senate for their consideration. The next day, the Senate entered the document into their official journal. The Senate Journal shows Article the Fifth as:

On September 4, the Senate debated the amendments proposed by the House, and the conscientious objector clause was quickly stricken. Sadly, these debates were held in secret, so records of them do not exist. The Senators agreed to accept Article the Fifth in this form:

In further debates on September 9, the Senate agreed to strike the words, "the best," and replace them with, "necessary to the." Since the third and fourth articles had been combined, the Senators also agreed to rename the amendment as Article the Fourth. The Senate Journal that day carried the article without the word, "best," but also without the replacements, "necessary to." Note that the extraneous commas have been omitted:

With two-thirds of the Senate concurring on the proposed amendments, they were sent back to the House for the Representatives' perusal. On September 21, the House notified the Senate that it agreed to some of their amendments, but not all of them. However, they agreed to Article the Fourth in its entirety:

By September 25, the Congress had resolved all differences pertaining to the proposed amendments to the Constitution. On that day, a Clerk of the House, William Lambert, put what is now known as the Bill of Rights to parchment. Three days later, it was signed by the Speaker of the House, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, and the President of the Senate, Vice President John Adams. This parchment copy is held by the National Archives and Records Administration, and shows the following version of the fourth article:

The above version is used almost exclusively today, but aside from the parchment copy, the author was unable to find any other official documents from that era which carry the amendment with the extra commas. In fact, in the appendix of the Senate Journal, Article the Fourth is entered as reading:

Also, the Annals of Congress, formally called The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, show the proposed amendment as follows:

Further, once two-thirds of both chambers of the Congress agreed to the proposed amendments, the House passed a resolve to request that the President send copies of them to the governors of the eleven states in the Union, and to those of Rhode Island and North Carolina. The Senate concurred on September 26, as recorded in their journal:

Fortunately, an original copy of the amendments proposed by the Congress, and sent to the State of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations, does survive. Certified as a true copy by Assembly Secretary Henry Ward, it reads in part:

And so, the proposed amendments to the Constitution were sent to the states for ratification. When notifying the President that their legislatures or conventions had ratified some or all of the proposed amendments, some states attached certified copies of them. New York, Maryland, South Carolina, and Rhode Island notified the general government that they had ratified the fourth amendment in this form:

Article the Fourth. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.[15]

Articles the First and Second were not ratified by the required three-fourths of the states, but by December 15, 1791, the last ten articles were. These, of course, are now known as the Bill of Rights. Renumbering the amendments was required since the first two had not been ratified. The 1796 revision of The Federalist on the New Constitution reflects the change as such:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.[16]

This version is carried throughout the 19th Century, in such legal treatises as Joseph Story's Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1833) and Thomas Cooley's Principles of Constitutional Law (1898). It is also transcribed in this manner in the 1845 Statutes at Large, although the term "state" is capitalized in that text. The latter are the official source for acts of Congress.[17][18][19]

This version still appears today, as is the case with the annotated version of the Constitution they sponsored on the Government Printing Office web site (1992, supplemented in 1996 and 1998). The Second Amendment is shown as reading:

(The Senate-sponsored GPO site does carry a "literal print" of the amendments to the Constitution showing the Second Amendment with the additional commas. The punctuation and capitalization of the amendments transcribed there are the same as those found on the parchment copy displayed in the Rotunda of the National Archives.)[21]

Thus, many scholars argue that correct rendition of the Second Amendment carries but a single comma, after the word "state." It was in this form that those twenty-seven words were written, agreed upon, passed, and ratified.

Why the Commas are Important

It is important to use the proper Second Amendment because it is clearly and flawlessly written in its original form. Also, the function of the words, "a well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state," are readily discerned when the proper punctuation is used. On the other hand, the gratuitous addition of commas serve only to render the sentence grammatically incorrect and unnecessarily ambiguous.

Liberals have made various efforts to subvert the Second Amendment by enacting unconstitutional gun laws which restrict the ability of individuals to protect themselves against the excesses of government. Examples include:

The drafters of the Second Amendment probably had muskets and hand guns in mind, but courts are now struggling to define the weapons covered by the "right to bear arms" in the 21st Century.

For example, the Connecticut Supreme Court in State v. DeCiccio (2015) upheld the constitutionality of a state law prohibiting the transportation of a police batton or dirk knife in a motor vehicle. Yet, the Court struck down the statute to the extent that it infringed on the defendant's right to transport them between his old and new residences.

There are also lower court cases finding Second Amendment protection for tasers, billy clubs, switchblades and other weapons that are less lethal than hand guns.[22]

Bill of Rights: 1 - Freedom of speech, press, etc. 2 - Right to bear arms 3 - Quartering of soldiers 4 - Warrants 5 - Due process 6 - Right to a speedy trial 7 - Right by trial of a jury 8 - No cruel or unusual punishments 9 - Unenumerated rights 10 - Power to the people and states

11 - Immunity of states to foreign suits 12 - Revision of presidential election procedures 13 - Abolition of slavery 14 - Citizenship 15 - Racial suffrage 16 - Federal income tax 17 - Direct election to the United States Senate 18 - Prohibition of alcohol 19 - Women's suffrage 20 - Terms of the presidency 21 - Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment 22 - Limits the president to two terms 23 - Electoral College 24 - Prohibition of poll taxes 25 - Presidential disabilities 26 - Voting age lowered to 18 27 - Variance of congressional compensation

View original post here:

Second Amendment - Conservapedia

Letter: First Amendment is first for a reason – East Oregonian (subscription)

Recently there has been a national trend towards limiting free speech from the political right. This movement manifests in a broad array of circumstances, including national and regional politics, state organizations, nonprofits and personal conversations. It seems that wherever one looks there is evidence of the need of social conservatives to prevent people from expressing their minds.

A few examples would include the Presidents outrage over Fake News; internet trolls attacking factual accounts of peaceful public protests, and local politicians threatening to withdraw support from organizations whose members they simply disagree with. And of course Tuesdays letter to the editor in this newspaper calling for penalties provided on reporting in such a biased and untrue method.

The authors of the United States Constitution were students of the enlightenment and understood that free speech is both a bulwark against tyranny as well as a path toward scientific progress. They knew that no tyrant can long survive the bright light of the truth, and scientific insights require open, unfettered communication. Every person who uses a cellular phone owes a debt not just to the capitalist who sold it to them but also the scientists and engineers who built it using information and conversations which were not limited by the government.

And also, of course, we should note that those governments and groups that the United States claims to oppose universally hold that free speech should be limited or outright forbidden. So the more we oppose free speech, the more we begin to look like our sworn enemies.

Finally, heres the first amendment as a reminder:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Andrew Picken

Pendleton

Stay on topic - This helps keep the thread focused on the discussion at hand. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

Share with Us - We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism.

Be Civil - It's OK to have a difference in opinion but there's no need to be a jerk. We reserve the right to delete any comments that we feel are spammy, off-topic, or reckless to the community.

Be proactive - Use the 'Flag as Inappropriate' link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts.

Read more:

Letter: First Amendment is first for a reason - East Oregonian (subscription)

BOScoin, a New Cryptocurrency, Introduces "Trust Contracts" to Overcome the Shortcomings of Ethereum Smart … – Yahoo Finance

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BlockchainOS, a blockchain technology company in Korea, announced the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) of BOScoin* from April 17th, 2017 to May 31st, 2017.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170216005500/en/

BOScoin, the first global cryptocurrency issued in Korea, is a cryptocurrency that utilizes the blockchain, ontology language, and timed automation technologies to solve persistent issues in decentralized systems. BOScoins presale in the domestic market already gathered over 2,000BTC (approximately 2 million USD) during a two month period.

*BOScoin - A congressional decentralized cryptocurrency platform for Trust Contracts based on ontology language and timed automation.

Yezune Choi, the BlockchainOS CTO and General Executive Director, outlines the current state of blockchain, "There are two primary issues that need to be solved in the cryptocurrency and blockchain fields. The first issue is the integrity of the Dapps (Decentralized Applications) on the blockchain. The second issue is the consensus mechanism needed for confirming data on the blockchain and the decision making process for revising policies implemented in the core blockchain algorithm. We have been working on these core problems for over 2 years and are now opening our research to the public.

BOScoin, Trust Contracts and the Congress Network operate on top of the alternative blockchain called OWLchain. By the OWLchains integration of ontology language and timed automata into blockchain, the BOScoin and Trust Contracts will serve as digital currency and smart contract with inherent security assurance. And governance through the Congress Network ensures that adequate proposals on blockchain will be discussed and applied within desired time.

The Currency BOScoin

BOScoin is a fixed supply cryptocurrency that will be issued over the next 141 years. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, BOScoin sends a portion of the coins issued to a public account called the Commons Budget. Coins held in the Commons Budget can be used through the voting system to decide on future BOScoin policies. And since voting right is given to only the node operators who invested in the coin, the funds from the Commons Budget are likely to be used for the betterment of the coin.

The Currencys Programming Framework Trust Contracts

Trust Contracts are pre-defined programs or rules that users can create. Similar to Ethereum, the BOScoin team is also aiming to create a general purpose language on top of the blockchain so anyone can write, upload, and execute contracts. However, BOScoins approach is technically different from Ethereum. The BOScoin team believes security is the most important principle for smart contracts on the blockchain. As decentralized systems become more complex, these systems are bound to make mistakes and break. The failure of DAO project from Ethereum is the exact case of it.

BOScoin Team believes in importance of being cautious when dealing with digital assets. This is the reason they carefully selected the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and TAL, the timed automata language, for the development of Trust Contracts. By using OWL and TAL for building contracts, due to the nature of the languages, the Trust Contracts can be mathematically proven to be trustworthy and operate without any unintended consequences.

Decision Making System Congress Network

The Congress is the governance system inside the BOScoin platform. Many decentralized organizations suffer from a poor decision making process. This is why in BOScoin, all node operators are given a vote to decide on how to distribute the Commons Budget. With this vote, node operators can accept or deny proposals brought up from within the community. Anyone can make proposals for using BOScoin. BOScoin believes this kind of democratic system is key to sustaining and growing BOScoin.

Learn more about the BOScoin ICO at https://boscoin.io .

Related Links

Whitepaper :

http://www.boscoin.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/boscoinwhitepaperv20170202.pdf

Bitcointalk : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1759662.msg17777617#msg17777617

Slack : https://boscoin.slack.com

Facebook : https://facebook.com/boscoinio

Twitter : https://twitter.com/boscoin_ico

Reddit : https://www.reddit.com/r/boscoin

Medium : https://medium.com/boscoin

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170216005500/en/

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170216005500/en/

Link:

BOScoin, a New Cryptocurrency, Introduces "Trust Contracts" to Overcome the Shortcomings of Ethereum Smart ... - Yahoo Finance

Cryptocurrency Startup BlockchainOS Seeks Crowdfunding to Challenge Ethereum – Finance Magnates

BlockchainOS, a blockchain technology company from Korea, has announced an ICO (Initial Coin Offering) of its native cryptocurrency BOScoin from April 17th to May 31st, 2017.

To unlock the Asian market, register now to the iFX EXPO in Hong Kong.

BOScoin utilizes ontology language and timed automation technologies to try and solve persistent issues in decentralized systems. Itspresale in the Korean market already gathered over BTC2,000 (approximately $2 million) during a two-month period.

Yezune Choi, the BlockchainOS CTO and General Executive Director, commented, There are two primary issues that need to be solved in the cryptocurrency and blockchain fields. The first issue is the integrity of the Dapps (Decentralized Applications) on the blockchain.

The second issue is the consensus mechanism needed for confirming data on the blockchain and the decision-making process for revising policies implemented in the core blockchain algorithm. We have been working on these core problems for over 2 years and are now opening our research to the public.

BOScoin is a fixed supply cryptocurrency that unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, BOScoin sends a portion of the coins issued to a public account called the Commons Budget. Coins held in the Commons Budget can be used through the voting system to decide on future BOScoin policies. And since voting right is given to only the node operators who invested in the coin, the developers expect that funds from the Commons Budget are likely to be used for the betterment of the coin.

Trust Contracts are pre-defined programs or rules that users can create. Similar to Ethereum, the BOScoin team is also aiming to create a general-purpose language on top of the blockchain so anyone can write, upload, and execute contracts. However, BOScoins approach is technically different from Ethereum.

The BOScoin team believes security is the most important principle for smart contracts on the blockchain. As decentralized systems become more complex, these systems are bound to make mistakes and break. They say that the failure of DAO project from Ethereum is the exact case of it.

BOScoin say they believe in the importance of being cautious when dealing with digital assets. This is the reason they selected the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and TAL, the timed automata language, for the development of Trust Contracts. By using OWL and TAL for building contracts, due to the nature of the languages, they promise that Trust Contracts can be mathematically proven to be trustworthy and operate without any unintended consequences.

Excerpt from:

Cryptocurrency Startup BlockchainOS Seeks Crowdfunding to Challenge Ethereum - Finance Magnates

Core Developer: Bitcoin is About Financial Sovereignty, Not Speed – The Merkle

Eric Lombrozo, a Bitcoin Core developer, believes that bitcoin is about financial independence and freedom, rather than providing a centralized settlement network which already serves as the backbone of todays global financial ecosystem.

Over the past two years, various bitcoin communities, analysts and experts have debated on the characterization of bitcoin; specifically whether bitcoin demonstrates the qualities of a settlement network or digital gold.

Since the initial deployment of the bitcoin network, Bitcoin Core developers and other talents in the open source development community of bitcoin have focused on strengthening security measures to eliminate the presence of a central authority within the bitcoin network and ensure the network itself will not be compromised in the future.

The prioritization of security instead of flexibility and functionality as seen in alternative failed blockchain projects allowed bitcoin to prosper and evolve into a decentralized financial network that cant be censored or restricted by a governing entity. It allowed users to settle payments with low fees and at relatively fast speeds, in comparison to traditional banking.

As the bitcoin network grew in size, transactional delays caused discomfort for daily users. Some individuals expressed their concerns over the increasing transaction fee of bitcoin, which is currently at US$0.32 for an average transaction. A $0.32 fee should be enough to have transactions confirmed within a few hours.

However, the Bitcoin Core development team and industry leading companies arent particularly concerned of the rising fees as it is the result of the prioritization of security. Bitcoin Core developers are focused on introducing software like Segregated Witness (Segwit), which allows bitcoin to scale significantly without imposing major security risks unlike hard forks.

Users and investors shouldnt necessarily be overly concerned about the scalability of bitcoin as well because there already exists a scalability and transaction malleability solution in Segwit and two-layer solutions such as Lightning and TumbleBit that can contribute to the scalability of bitcoin. Lightning in particular enables the facilitation of micropayments, that open doors for many applications which intend to rely on bitcoin micropayments.

Bitcoin is still a technology at an early stage. Currently, the Bitcoin network allows users to make payments that werent possible before. Before bitcoin, users couldnt imagine the possibility of transacting millions of dollars within a few hours with less than $1 in transaction fee without the presence and involvement of a governing entity or a bank.

As Lombrozo explains, Bitcoin is about financial sovereignty. If you think its merely about fast and cheap youre short-changing yourself.

The contemporary structure of bitcoin makes it difficult for two-layer solutions to exist. Soft forks like Segwit however allows bitcoin to eliminate transaction malleability and alter its design to welcome two-layer solutions that could enable bitcoin to become a fast, cheap and secure financial network for mainstream users.

Lombrozo believes that the activation of Segwit, implementation of layers and introduction of innovative solutions will allow bitcoin to serve as an important technology to provide users with financial freedom, privacy, independence and flexibility.

You can make it fast and cheap with layers. Current network design does not allow it at large scale. I wish this werent so. Unfortunately HFs carry significant political cost and security risks. I also wish this werent so, noted Lombrozo.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

Read the rest here:

Core Developer: Bitcoin is About Financial Sovereignty, Not Speed - The Merkle

Bitcoin ETFs For Dummies – ETF.com

Spencer Bogart is vice president of equity research for Needham & Co. He joined the firm in 2014 and currently leads the research efforts on blockchain technology and bitcoin while supporting research on cloud software (SaaS) companies. ETF.com recently sat down with Bogart, a former ETF.com analyst, to get his take on all the important developments in the bitcoin market ahead of the key SEC decision on the Winklevoss ETF, expected within the next month.

ETF.com: Before we jump into more specifics, in a nutshell, how would you describe what bitcoin is to the layperson?

Bogart: Bitcoin is peer-to-peer digital cash that's not issued by any central authority.

ETF.com: Tell us about the highly anticipated decision that's coming from the SEC. What is it ruling on and what are the odds the ruling will be positive? Spencer: There's a number of bitcoin ETFs that are going through the regulatory approval process. The one that's been going through the process the longest is the Winklevoss bitcoin ETF [Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust (COIN)]. That's been going on for about 3 1/2, four years now.

The exchange they would like to list that particular ETF onwhich in this case is Bats [owner of ETF.com]has filed a proposed rule change, which would be necessary to list the ETF. It's that proposal that essentially we've been watching go through the regulatory approval process.

At each point along the way, the SEC has had the option to approve, disapprove the ETF or to extend its time to make a decision. All along the way, its chosen the opportunity to extend the time to make a decision, including submitting requests for public comments.

Well now see an end to that process before March 11, which is the deadline. Before that, well either get an approval, a disapproval or Bats will withdraw its request for a rule change. Or, if no decision is made by March 11, then the rule change is automatically approved.

ETF.com: What factors are the SEC considering?

Bogart: I don't have any inside information, but my sense is that the majority of the things that the SEC is particularly concerned about revolve around bitcoin itself as opposed to anything specific about the Winklevoss filing.

They're asking if a digital asset such as bitcoinwhich, unlike a commodity doesn't have a physical form, and unlike a security or derivative, is not under any kind of regulatory supervisionis a suitable underlying asset for an ETF.

At the highest level, that's the kind of thing they're considering. A little bit more in the weeds they're asking if the specific markets that bitcoin trades on are stable, fair and efficient, and if they facilitate or enable or encourage any kind of market manipulation.

And then of course, there are the factors that are more specific to the ETF itself, which I think, in this case, probably the most important ones are what do you use as a reference price for bitcoin, and how are you going to securely store that bitcoin?

Here is the original post:

Bitcoin ETFs For Dummies - ETF.com

Bitcoin Price on the Rise Again After Regulatory Crackdown in China – The Merkle

It seems that the drama with the PBOC and regulations in China is becoming less and less significant, as these news dont seem to have as much impact on the price. In fact, the price is on the way to recovered to pre-crackdown prices as Bitcoin is trading at $1035 on Bitstamp. On Feb. 9th, the PBOC released quite a threatening statement which tanked Bitcoins price 10%, on the bright side it looks like the worst is behind and Bitcoin is setting a new price floor at $1000.

While Bitcoin is receiving scurrility in the East, the Western markets are showing massive support for the cryptocurrency. We can see that the Chinese markets are loosing dominance becausethere is now a premium of $40-50 for the Western markets, while the value per Bitcoin on the Chinese exchanges is lower than average. This chart from Tradeblock shows the price difference best:

Its only expected that Bitcoins price would be cheaper in China as many users refuse to convert their Yuan into Bitcoin for the fear that they wouldnt be able to withdraw the coins later. However, some more opportunistic traders are also doing just the opposite which is buying up those cheap coins in the hopes of the price stabilizing again once cryptocurrencywithdrawals turn back on.

People were doing the same thing when MtGox was going under, they bought coins on MtGox much under market price, since they bet on the exchange to returning to normal. Unfortunately for them we all know how that situation turned out MtGox filed for bankruptcy and every investor took a loss.

Other relevant news include the fact that Investing.com, one of the most popular investment resources has labeled Bitcoin as a strong buy. According to their technical summary chart for the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is worth buying at the moment:

It seems that traders are optimistic about Bitcoins support. However, in such a volatile free market any hint of drama can send the chart sideways. With the Bitcoin ETF decision coming March 11th, tensions will only increaseas traders bet on the outcome.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

Read the rest here:

Bitcoin Price on the Rise Again After Regulatory Crackdown in China - The Merkle

5 Common Misconceptions About Bitcoin – The Merkle

Satoshi Nakamotos creation is often seen as something it is not, as there are a lot of misconceptions that simply dont want to go away. Sometimes, because some want to smear bitcoin, and often because others fail to do their homework properly. Here are a few common misconceptions about bitcoin that the average joe keeps on believing:

Ponzi schemes usually involve a central entity trying to persuade possible investors, telling them they will make a huge profit. In these schemes, the only way those on top can make money is at the expense of others. Bitcoin is a decentralized peer-to-peer currency, there is no central entity. It does not require a constant flow of money to sustain itself, not does it require new adopters to survive.

Moreover, it is important to note that, if it was all a Ponzi scheme, we would assume Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoins creator, would live an extravagant lifestyle. He owns roughly 1 million bitcoins a little over US$1 billion at the time of press. Yet, these coins havent been moved in years.

It is true that Silk Road, an infamous dark web marketplace, helped bitcoin grow in 2011. In 2013, the FBI took down the Silk Road, but that did not stop bitcoin from growing. Recently, bitcoins market caphit $15 billion, as the ecosystem of legitimate businesses who accept bitcoin keeps on growing. In some cases, businesses can even get a special license that allows them to legally accept bitcoin as a form of payment.

Nevertheless, bitcoin is used by criminals, just like fiat currencies, commodities, app store gift cards, gym membership vouchers and pretty much anything with value.

In the early days, it was very hard to use bitcoin as almost no one was accepting the cryptocurrency. Nowadays, however, there are thousands of businesses accepting bitcoin throughout the world, and one can not only buy food, but also get a haircut, hire a lawyer, and even get a lightsaber. Theres a useful app out there, called Bitcoin Map, that lets users know which brick-and-mortar businesses around them accept bitcoin.

Heres a video of a transaction at Subway:

Hackers have been successful at stealing large amounts of bitcoin in the past, but that doesnt mean the cryptocurrency isnt safe. Most bitcoin thefts were a result of inadequate wallet security, and since then risk-mitigating measures have been taken. Yet, these high-profile bitcoin heists can make the currency look unsafe.

Users need to properly secure their wallets , and that means backing them up and encrypting them. Offline wallets are the safest way one can store their bitcoins, and even these should be backed up.

Although you dont need a bank account or a social security number to pay with bitcoin, transactions arent completely anonymous. Every transaction is publicly recorded on the blockchain in order to prevent certain actions, such as spending the same bitcoin twice.

Granted, its hard to use bitcoin transactions to uncover someones real identity, but it is possible. If someones transactions are tracked down to an exchange, for example, it is possible authorities uncover the persons identity through a subpoena. To protect ones privacy, a bitcoin address should only be used once.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

View post:

5 Common Misconceptions About Bitcoin - The Merkle

Comets Strike On Day 1 – Bahamas Tribune

LEADER OF THE PACK: Athletes compete yesterday on day one of the BAISS Track and Field Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Eleven new meet records were set, and the two-team race for the 2017 Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools Track and Field title has already developed atop the standings following day one.

The two-time defending champions Queens College Comets streaked ahead of the field and set the pace with an already dominant performance.

The Comets posted 449 points, 53 points ahead of perennial powerhouse St Augustines College Big Red Machine, who scored 396 yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The familiar foes have quickly emerged as the lone contenders yet again for this years title as the St Annes Blue Waves stand in third with 132 points, the St Johns College Giants are fourth with 96 points while the Nassau Christian Academy Crusaders round out the top five with 91 points.

The remainder of the field includes the Temple Christian Suns with 66.50 points, Jordan Prince William Falcons (53.50 points), Kingsway Academy Saints (32 points), Aquinas College Aces (24 points), St Andrews School Hurricanes (23 points), Westminster College Diplomats (22 points) and Charles W Saunders Cougars (14 points).

In addition to the new meet records set on day one, six athletes surpassed the CARIFTA qualifying standards.

The Big Red Machines Megan Moss took the Under-16 girls 400m in 54.96 seconds. She surpassed the previous meet record of 56.72 and the U-18 CARIFTA standard of 57.00.

In the U-18 girls event, the top three finishers - Wendira Moss of St Johns (54.94), Marrisa White of SAC (56.62) and Tyler Gray of St Annes (56.88) all surpassed the previous record in the division and the aforementioned CARIFTA standard.

On the boys side, the top three finishers in the U-14 boys 400m all surpassed the previous 20-year-old meet record of 1:00.30, with SACs Otto Laing in first place at 53.42, the Comets Antonio Bethel at 54.24 and SACs Shimar Bain at 58.69.

Bethel also set a new record of his own in the long jump with a new mark of 5.31m to erase the 17-year-old mark of 5.18m.

In the U-16 boys 400m, Kendrick Major of Queens College set a new mark in the event in 49.84, followed by teammate Ethan Hanna in 50.47 and Raymond Oriaki of SAC in 50.92.

Oriaki would return to break an 11-year-old meet record in the 80mH with his time of 11.41.

The middle distance events also produced a new meet record in the U-14 girls 1,200m with first place going to the Comets Devin Cuffy-Bethel in 4:04.49.

Breyanna Kemp of CW Saunders (4:15.04), and Esther Simms of St Johns (4:19.83) surpassed the old record of 5:39.92.

Several records also fell in the field. The Comets Shaunece Miller set a new mark of 1.45m in the U-14 girls high jump while Jordan Lewis of Temple Christian set a new mark in the U-18 boys discus with his throw of 42.04 metres.

The Big Red Machine also produced a pair of CARIFTA qualifying sprint hurdlers. Oscar Smith ran 14.27 in the U-18 boys 110mH to dip below the necessary 14.70, while Travonte Mott took the U-20 boys race in 14.00 ahead of the 14.50 pace.

Doniesha Anderson set a new record of 1.73m in the U-20 girls high jump and also took first place in the 400m in 55.56.

The Comets Lavardo Henfield also took home two first place finishes on day one, winning both the U-20 boys 400m (48.77) and long jump (6.72m).

Full results can be found at http://www.tekresults.net

The Comets are currently ahead of last years pace when they posted 462 points on day one 28 points ahead of the Big Red Machine who scored 434. They went on to lead the duration of the meet and win with a total of 1,477 points while SAC was second with 1365.

Continued here:

Comets Strike On Day 1 - Bahamas Tribune

Late rally falls short for Lady Comets – YourGV.com

The Halifax County High School varsity girls basketball team appeared to be out of contention entering the last four minutes of Wednesday nights 5A North Region Conference 16 Tournament semi-final game against Albemarle High School in Charlottesville.

Trailing 37-26 with just under four minutes left in the game, the Comets didnt appear to have much steam left. Yet, they didnt give up.

Dee Dee Jeffress and Tamiara Logan helped fuel a late 10-3 run, but the rally came up short as Albemarle held on for a 40-36 win.

The Comets still have a chance to make the field for next weeks 5A North Region Tournament. Halifax County High School will face Orange High School Friday night at 5:30 p.m. in a game to determine third place and the conferences third seed in the region tournament.

It will be good to be able to play at home again, said Comets Head Coach David Graham.

I think the girls are feeling good. Weve played pretty well over the last three weeks and have been very competitive. Were hoping for good things Friday night.

Graham said his team gave a solid effort in Wednesday nights game against Albemarle High School.

We gave it a great effort, said Comets Head Coach David Graham in noting his team was down by as many as 14 points at one point in the contest.

Im very proud of their effort. The difference in a close game is missed opportunities. We had our chances, but could not catch a break.

Jeffress led the Comets in scoring with 13 points, nine of which came in the second half. Logan scored nine points, even with being held to just three free throws in the second half.

Brittany Clark chipped in five points, all coming in the fourth quarter, and Nichole Gillard chipped in four points. Akiah Clauden and Shadajah Davis both scored two points and Malasia Boyd had one point.

The game was tied 11-11 at the end of the first quarter, but the Comets managed to score only three points in the second quarter, opening the door for Albemarle to take a 22-14 lead at halftime.

We had one quarter in which we had no offense, Graham pointed out.

We missed about three layups on a fastbreak that we should have converted and didnt.

That, unfortunately, was the picture for the Comets all game long.

We had no fast-break points, remarked Graham.

We played a good solid game by the numbers (on the scoreboard). But, this is playing in Conference 16, and when you play these good teams, youve got to convert when you have opportunities.

Original post:

Late rally falls short for Lady Comets - YourGV.com

Comets Faceoff – Nolan Baumgartner – Story | CNYHomepage – WUTR WFXV CNYhomepage

Video One: We kicked off this week's show with a look back at the Utica Comets last three games. Full disclosure, due to the Comets' travel schedule the show had to be shot Tuesday (02/14) or before the Comets grabbed a 5-2 win over Toronto.

Video Two: It's part one of our two part interview with Comets assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner. We uncovered how the former first round pick got into coaching, and what he misses most about his playing days.

Video Three: We're glad you stuck around for part two of this two part interview. During this stint Nolan Baumgartner discussed the benefits of being a coach with a lengthy playing career. Plus, we dug deeper to figure out which current player reminds the former first round pick of himself.

Video Four: No surprise here, we ended the show with a look at the Utica Comets' upcoming schedule.

See the rest here:

Comets Faceoff - Nolan Baumgartner - Story | CNYHomepage - WUTR WFXV CNYhomepage

Kings defeat Comets – Kokomo Herald (press release)

The Lewis Cass Kings flew past the Caston Comets 46-29 on Valentines Day. Earlier this season, the Kings defeated the Comets by 47 points in the Cass County Tournament. The Comets forced the Kings, which typically plays with a fast tempo, to slow down plays and to commit rare turnovers. With several rough plays, the Kings still managed to remain on top throughout the game.

Cohen Nies, a senior, lead the Kings with a double-double: 16 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Fellow senior Alec Eurit had 14 points and four steals. Eurit also showed his strength with a one-handed dunk at the end of the game.

Hes just a shade under 6-foot. Hell tell you hes 6-foot, said head coach Jon Kitchel. He is very athletic. He made it look easy too. Alec had a really big night both ends of the floor both defense and offense.

The coach also praised Nies performance.

This is about three or four games in a row Cohen has come through with either a double-double or right at it, said Kitchel. Over time, I thought our pressure from our guards and Cohen were just difference makers.

Kace Kitchel, a junior, and Evan Ohman, a senior, both had only three points which is out of the normal for the two athletes. Kitchel added five assists and six rebounds. Ohman, with an injured knee, played cautiously in order to prevent any further damage. The Kings out-rebounded the Comets 30-14. The Kings held the Comets to just two points in the fourth quarter solidifying the 14th win for the Kings. The Kings host the Class 1A No. 1 Lafayette Central Catholic on Feb. 17 in a battle for third place in the Hoosier Conference.

See the original post here:

Kings defeat Comets - Kokomo Herald (press release)

World Travel Inc – About

Welcome to World Travel, Inc. We are dedicated to helping you improve your travel program by making it easier for you to manage, and easier for your traveler to travel. Since 1983, our company has been growing and hiring travel experts who are passionate about our industry. We take pride in finding the best solutions for our valued clients.

We are subject-matter experts when it comes to improving travel programs for mid-market companies, because this is our primary focus. World Travel, Inc. is the 4th largest independent TMC in the United States according to BTN Magazine. We've achieved this honor through completely organic growth, with no mergers or acquisitions. We are industry leaders in travel management for mid-market companies, exemplified by our client retention rate of 97.8%.

Most of all, we value the relationships we build with our clients, our partners, and within our company walls. Benefit from high-touch service, intuitive consultation, and an excited team of travel experts skilled at making travel simple.

Our vision is to preserve and cultivate genuine relationships with our people, clients and partners by proactively investing in their success.

View post:

World Travel Inc - About

World Travel – Today’s Military

30 Days of Paid Vacation

Active-duty service members receive 30 days of paid vacation each year, compared to the standard two weeks (14 days) for entry-level civilian careers. While there are some limitations to when vacation time can be used, service members generally receive their requested time off after giving proper advance notice to their superior officer.

Both domestic and international bases offer amenities to full-time residents and traveling personnel. In addition to residential and training facilities, bases sometimes feature pools, basketball and tennis courts, bowling alleys, movie theaters and recreation centers. Service members are sometimes also permitted access to private campgrounds, beaches and other attractions great for family vacations.

Service members can occasionally book free flights on military aircraft. This is known as Space Available Travel, also called "Space A Travel" or "military hops." This program allows service members and their immediate families to fly for free when seats on routine flights are open. To participate, service members register in advance and wait for an unused seat to the destination of their choice. While its not something troops depend on for necessary trips, Space A Travel can be a great way to score an inexpensive vacation or travel home on leave.

View original post here:

World Travel - Today's Military

How to Celebrate Black History Around the World – Travel+Leisure

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the history and culture of people of African descent along with their contributions to society.

As an African American, I find it is often filled with regurgitated information on particular parts of our history seen through very narrow lenses that are usually defined by non-black people. There is a cap on when our stories often begin, only giving narratives of weary slaves and nothing of our lives either before or beyond America.

Despite what some textbooks may say, I know my history is not just black history or American history, but world history. The African diaspora goes beyond the realm of the United States of America, and many of us did not come to America willingly when we were taken from our ancestral homes.

You can go to numerous countries around the world and learn how the African slaves turned their sorrow into a positive cultural impact felt around the world. For those looking to explore black history outside of the United States, here are a few top destinations to visit where you can learn more.

Although it is considered illegal to collect data on ethnicity and race, numerous sources estimate that there are about 3 to 5 million people of African ancestry living in France.

The presence of African and Caribbean immigrants has had a tremendous impact throughout the country and holds a unique position in African American history. The next time you visit the romantic city, join Black Paris Tours for a rich cultural experience dedicated to learning about the wealth of black history in Paris, including walking in the same steps as James Baldwin in the days of the Harlem Renaissance. If you're looking for niche tours in black history, check out Walking the Spirit Tours for the Josephine Baker in Paris package and more.

Havana is the center of culture in Cuba, and within the city lives a beautiful connection to its African roots through dance, music, food, and more.

The lasting effects of slavery can be felt across the islands: Race relations are still strained at times, with most people having some West African ancestry in their bloodlines.

You can learn about the African roots in Havana through the Afro-Cuban Religion Tour with Urban Adventures to see how deep black culture is embedded into the Cuban way of life.

The beautiful city of Amsterdam is brimming with history, from the National WWII Monument to its famous canals. On top of its rich Dutch culture, it is home to a vibrant community of African immigrants that dates back to the 16th century when trade companies would bring over captured slaves.

Since then, the black community continues to thrive in Amsterdam alongside its natives. Book a Black Heritage Tour to learn about the presence of enslaved African and indigenous people and their lasting impact on the city.

The gorgeous city of Cartagena is known for its colorful streets, picturesque beaches, and unique blend of African and Spanish cultures. Before you leave this city, you must take a trip to Palenque, a town created by runaway African slaves who turned it into a community with African roots that can still be seen today in the food, music, and overall way of life.

You can explore the town with Experience Real Cartagena, led by tour guide Alex Rocha, who will narrate your visit and explain the historical importance of the place.

The presence of African and Caribbean immigrants in London dates back to the reign of Henry VIII, when many Africans came over as servants and artists to look for opportunity. This growing presence continued when lines of trade opened between England and various African nations, including the slave trade.

Fast forward to today, when there are over 1 million residents who are considered Black British natives. You can learn more about the journey of African immigrants with Black History Walks, a company that offers tourist treks in London to explore African culture, museums, and art in contemporary Britain.

Read more:

How to Celebrate Black History Around the World - Travel+Leisure

Highlighted destination of the week: Kolkata – World Travel Guide


World Travel Guide
Highlighted destination of the week: Kolkata
World Travel Guide
Another landmark you can't help but notice is Victoria Memorial, a domed colonial-era marble building set on the edge of the Maidan, which happens to be one of the world's largest urban parks. The city also has a number of notable Hindu temples, ...

The rest is here:

Highlighted destination of the week: Kolkata - World Travel Guide

Team to travel 10000 miles for Easley World Series – Greenville News

Subscribe today for full access on your desktop, tablet, and mobile device.

Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about

Little League Baseball grants Australia a berth in Senior League championship

Try Another

Audio CAPTCHA

Image CAPTCHA

Help

CancelSend

A link has been sent to your friend's email address.

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

The Greenville News Published 6:07 p.m. ET Feb. 16, 2017 | Updated 10 hours ago

A scene from the 2016 Big League Baseball World Series in Easley.(Photo: BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)Buy Photo

There will be a little Down Under in the Upstate this summer.

Little League Baseball announced Thursday that Australia has received a direct entry into its Senior League Baseball World Series, scheduled for July 29 to Aug. 5 at the J.B. "Red" Owens Complex in Easley.

Players ages 13 to 16 are eligible to compete in the Senior League. Australia Baseball offered Senior League competition for the first time in 2016, when a team from Melbourne reached the World Series as champion of the Asia-Pacific Region and finished as runner-up. This season, the Australia champion will advance to the World Series without having to play in a regional.

Little League said in a news release that its decision was based in large part because of the rapid growth of the organization since its arrival in Australia in 2008. Australia has 1,000 Little League teams, and participation has increased 50 percent in the past three years, according to the release.

Easley hosted Little League Baseball's Big League World Series from 2001 to 2016. Little League announced last year that it was discontinuing its Big League division, for players ages 16 to 18. It also decided to moveits Senior League World Series to Easley from Bangor, Maine, which had hosted the Senior League World Series since 2002.

1:37

1:34

0:56

0:33

0:47

2:42

0:56

1:00

0:43

1:22

0) { %>

0) { %>

Here is the original post:

Team to travel 10000 miles for Easley World Series - Greenville News

Where to go on Holiday in March 2017 – World Travel Guide


World Travel Guide
Where to go on Holiday in March 2017
World Travel Guide
March is a great time to travel in many places it's the shoulder season between chilly winter and Easter, when prices are hiked up, and in warmer climes, temperatures and humidity are usually low enough to make sightseeing a pleasure and not an ...

Continue reading here:

Where to go on Holiday in March 2017 - World Travel Guide

Inside the race to build the fastest ever supercomputer – Eyewitness News

When China unveiled the Sunway TaihuLight in June 2016, it became the fastest supercomputer in the world. It easily surpassed the previous record holder, Tianhe-2. Its almost three times as fast. But now, the title it has held for less than a year is under threat, with the Japanese planning to build something even faster.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to invest 19.5 billion yen ($172 million) in the new machine, as part of an attempt to revitalise Japans electronics industry and reassert Japan's technical dominance.

Recent years have seen Japan's lead challenged by competition from South Korea and China, but the Japanese government hopes to reverse that trend.

IMMENSE COMPUTING POWER

The new machine, called the AI Bridging Cloud Infrastructure, or ABCI, is designed to have a capacity of 130 petaflops. That means it will be able to perform 130 quadrillion calculations a second. Still confused? Well for the sake of easy comparison, thats equal to the computing power of 70,652 Playstation 4s.

As well as out-computing the current Chinese machine it will also be nearly ten times as fast as the Oakforest-PACS, the current fastest Japanese supercomputer, whose 13.6 petaflops will be dwarfed by those of the new machine. As far as we know, there is nothing out there that is as fast, said Satoshi Sekiguchi, director general at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the proposed machine, though, is its hyper-efficient power consumption. The computers designers are aiming for a power consumption of fewer than three megawatts. This would be five times lower than the TaihuLight, and the same as the Oakforest-PACS, the output of which is ten times lower.

THE APPLICATION

While other countries have optimised their most powerful computers for processes such as atmospheric modelling or nuclear weapon simulations, AIST aims to use the new machine to accelerate advances in AI technology. ABCI could help companies improve driverless vehicles by analysing vast amounts of traffic data. According to Sekiguchi, the supercomputer could also be used to mine medical records to develop new services and applications.

The computer will also be made available to Japanese corporations for a fee, said Sekiguchi, alongside others involved in the project. Japanese companies currently outsource their major data-crunching to foreign firms such as Google or Microsoft.

THE FUTURE

Japan hopes that ABCI will be operational by 2018, whereupon it will take the top spot on the TOP 500s ranking list of supercomputers.

It might not stay there for very long, though. Computer manufacturer Atos has already begun work on the Bull sequana supercomputer for the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). This machine is projected to have a performance of one exaflop, meaning that it will be able to perform a billion calculations a second - almost seven and a half times faster than the ABCI.

The French machine won't be operational until 2020 however, meaning ABCI should still enjoy a spot in the supercomputing limelight.

This article was republished courtesy of World Economic Forum.

Written by Robert Guy, content producer, Formative Content.

Continued here:

Inside the race to build the fastest ever supercomputer - Eyewitness News

Local vet taking part in stem cell therapy study for dogs – WPTV.com

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Cosby just doesnt get around like he used to.

We have six dogs and hes always the one thats the last to get up. The last to get out, said his owner Brian Cirillo.

And for Cirillo, its sad to see.

I hate it. Its always like he always on his tippy topes on his back legs. So its heartbreaking.

But a new trial study that is about to start at the St. Francis Pet Care Center in Tarpon Springs, could be just what Cosby needs.

Veterinarian Mike Amsberry is offering stem cell therapy for dogs.

They are seeing that its very, very safe. And very effective.

This study is focused specifically on four-legged friends with arthritis.

But in the past hes seen stem cell treatments work wonders for other ailments.

Its cells treating the body, rather than then some foreign substance. Some medication.

In this trial, the stem cells come from umbilical cords of donor dogs.

Not only can qualified pets get the treatment for free, but owners are paid too.

Cosby seems like the perfect candidate.

I think thats where everything seems to be going with regard to medicine. So to be on the leading edge of that to potential help him without having to put him on a bunch of medicine is definitely a plus, said Cirillo.

The hope is one day Cosby will be able to keep up with the rest.

And lead the way to help thousands of other dogs.

For more information on the trial study go to petstemcells.org.

Here is the original post:

Local vet taking part in stem cell therapy study for dogs - WPTV.com