What Is Bitcoin and Is It a Good Investment?

Bitcoin (BTC) is a new kind of digital currency-with cryptographic keys-that is decentralized to a network of computers used by users and miners around the world and is not controlled by a single organization or government. It is the first digital cryptocurrency that has gained the public's attention and is accepted by a growing number of merchants. Like other treaties, users can use the digital currency to buy goods and services online as well as in some physical stores that accept it as a form of payment. Currency traders can also trade Bitcoins in Bitcoin exchanges.

There are several major differences between Bitcoin and traditional currencies (eg US dollar):

1. Bitcoin does not have a centralized authority or clearing house (eg government, central bank, MasterCard or Visa network). The peer-to-peer payment network is managed by users and miners around the world. The currency is anonymously transferred directly between users through the internet without going through a clearing house. This means that transaction fees are much lower.
2. Bitcoin is created through a process called "Bitcoin mining". Miners around the world use mining software and computers to solve complex bitcoin algorithms and to approve Bitcoin transactions. They are awarded with transaction fees and new Bitcoins generated from solving Bitcoin algorithms.
3. There is a limited amount of Bitcoins in circulation. According to Blockchain, there were about 12.1 million in circulation as of Dec. 20, 2013. The difficulty to mine Bitcoins (solve algorithms) becomes harder as more Bitcoins are generated, and the maximum amount in circulation is capped at 21 million. The limit will not be reached until approximately the year 2140. This makes Bitcoins more valuable as more people use them.
4. A public ledger called 'Blockchain' records all Bitcoin transactions and shows each Bitcoin owner's respect holdings. Anyone can access the public ledger to verify transactions. This makes the digital currency more transparent and predictable. More importantly, the transparency prevails fraud and double spending of the same Bitcoins.
5. The digital currency can be acquired through Bitcoin mining or Bitcoin exchanges.
6. The digital currency is accepted by a limited number of merchants on the web and in some brick-and-mortar retailers.
7. Bitcoin wallets (similar to PayPal accounts) are used for storing Bitcoins, private keys and public addresses as well as for anonymously transferring Bitcoins between users.
8. Bitcoins are not insured and are not protected by government agencies. Here, they can not be recovered if the secret keys are stolen by a hacker or lost to a failed hard drive, or due to the closure of a Bitcoin exchange. If the secret keys are lost, the associated Bitcoins can not be recovered and would be out of circulation. Visit this link for an FAQ on Bitcoins.

I believe that Bitcoin will gain more acceptance from the public because users can remain anonymous while buying goods and services online, transactions fees are much lower than credit card payment networks; the public ledger is accessible by anyone, which can be used to prevent fraud; the currency supply is capped at 21 million, and the payment network is operated by users and miners instead of a central authority.

However, I do not think that it is a great investment vehicle because it is extremely volatile and is not very stable. For example, the bitcoin price grows from around $ 14 to a peak of $ 1,200 USD this year before dropping to $ 632 per BTC at the time of writing.

Bitcoin surged this year because investors speculated that the currency would gain greater acceptance and that it would increase in price. The currency plunged 50% in December because BTC China (China's largest Bitcoin operator) announced that it could no longer accept new deposits due to government regulations. And according to Bloomberg , the Chinese central bank barred financial institutions and payment companies from handling bitcoin transactions.

Bitcoin will likely gain more public acceptance over time, but its price is extremely volatile and very sensitive to news-such as government regulations and restrictions-that could negatively affect the currency.

Therefore, I do not suggest investors to invest in Bitcoins unless they were purchased at a less than $ 10 USD per BTC because this would allow for a much larger margin of safety .

Otherwise, I believe that it is much better to invest in stocks that have strong fundamentals, as well as great business prospects and management teams because the undering companies have intrinsic values ​​and are more predictable.

Disclosure: Victor Liang has has no positions in Bitcoins and has no plans to change his position in the next 72 hours.

Buy Cheap Tires Without Sacrificing Quality

We all want a bargain, but we also want to know that the product we are buying is of good quality for the money we are paying. Tires are no exception to this, but buying cheap car tires does not need to be the same as buying poor quality tires. By shopping around for the best price, you can often find deals on mid-range or even premium car tires that will save you money both in the short term (low price!) And the long term (by reflecting you much longer).

The EU tyre labels that will be mandatory from November will help you to see the quality of the ty at a glance by showing you how they perform at wet braking, rolling resistance and exterior noise. However, this should just be the start of your research as you will not always be braking in the wet, and sometimes you might even want to go around corners! Both handling and dry braking will also be important factors, and there are also many other aspects of performance and safety that the tire manufacturers test their tires for, so use the internet to look at the quality of the tires more closely. Once you have found a brand that delivers the performance you want, and you know which model you want, it is time to shop around!

The internet comes into its own when we're talking about shopping for the best prices; there are so many websites available to help you with this, and nowadays, even your average search engine will bring up some prices if you search for the product. So have a look around to see if you can find a cheaper price than your local dealer. Remember to take into consideration fitting costs and disposal of old tires, as well as inconvenience to yourself if you have to go to a specific garage. It is no use finding cheap as chips tires that you have to drive for 50 miles and use up loads of fuel to get fitted!

Once you have a few prices, you can make a few phone calls, as often a tire fitting service will price match with a competitor. This is why it makes sense to call the most convenient tire fitting service first. You may find that a mobile ty fitter can offer the best prices due to lower overheads. Replacing tires may be a necessity, but by spending a little time shopping around, you can get great quality tires at cheap tyre prices !

Police Motorcycle Auctions - Steps to Buy a Seized Bike Now

Everybody likes to save money when they make a major purchase such as a used ATV or a powersports bike. This is especially true in this period of economic crisis.

There are many normal auction houses which allow potential motorcycle purchasers to make significant saving, yet arguably the safest way to buy a bike is to visit one of the popular police motorcycle auctions.

Over the last decade it has been increasingly common to find the police selling off all sorts of goods, sometimes at rock bottom prices, purchasing a motorcycle from a police auction is possibly the best way to procure the bike you want at a bargain price.

Officers sell motorcycles for many reasons. Usually these bikes have been stolen and then recovered, or the motorcycles were just designated by the government. Although in this situation the bike will usually be purchased without a number plate or documentation, the new owner will need to re-register the bike.

Some police motorcycle auctions will have already taken care of the paperwork, meaning the bike is ready to put back on the road. Often officers will have exotic items like all terrain vehicles, which they have been designated and confiscated from a criminal or criminal group, and are unable to track down the original owner.

In this case the government will keep the item for a set period of time, to allow the original owner to come forward and claim it, after a certain time the bike will be put up for sale.

Lastly, the police motorcycle auctions will occasionally sell off used equipment, including bikes, these will have all of the branding and special equipment removed before they are put up for auction. These can be exceptionally good purchases if you are lucky enough to find one.

As mentioned in the previous section, purchasing and ex-police bike from a can be an excellent way to procure an exceptional bike at a great price.

Officers have a policy of decommissioning vehicles within 3 years of purchase and during their lifecycle they are maintained impeccably. During the time that they are used by the government they are seldom driven aggressively, and when they are it is in the hands of a very experienced and highly trained rider.

Therefore, almost every bike will be in superb mechanical condition when it comes up for auction. We also need to consider the fact that some local forces order their motorcycles with factory configurations already installed.

These come in the form of increased engine performance, better braking systems, improved suspension and suchlike, finding one of these bikes at auction is something of a gold mine, you can avail yourself of a factory modified bike at the fraction of the cost of purchasing one from the manufacturer.

Police motorcycle auctions are fairly safe when it comes to risks involved. That being said, it is still important that you check out any bike you intend to bid upon before the auction starts.

You will have no worry over the actual financial transaction involved in buying a bike from a police auction, although you will still need to make sure your choice of bike is suitable and in good order.

Removing a Locked Club or Steering Wheel Lock

What do you do when you have lost your keys to your Locked Club or Steering Wheel Lock also called a steering wheel car theft prevention device?

In cities with high auto theft and theft of autos drivers have to use car theft prevention devices like the The Club to lock the steering wheel to prevent their cars from being stolen. In 2009, British Columbia had the highest car theft frequency in Canada. Approximately 11 vehicles per 1,000 or 2-4 times the auto theft of other provinces and regions. British Columbia is the auto theft capital of the Western World.

A quick search of the Internet will result in several suggestions on how to remove a steering wheel club. Several website recommend forcing the lock with a screwdriver or to freeze the lock with Freon. Both of these methods do not work and usually result in damaging the wheel, front windshield or causing the airbag to deploy at the cost of hundreds of dollars (one person had the front and side air bags deploy at the cost of over $3000). Another persons' fingers were frost bitten not to mention how expensive and environmentally unfriendly using Freon to freeze the lock. Has anyone ever seen the results of using Freon work on any lock? Urban myth or something for MythBusters.

Bottom line: Screwdrivers and Freon does not work. Clubs have been designed to prevent the average or above average car thieves from removing them.

An Automotive Locksmith has been trained to safely, and with no damage to the car, remove a locked Club or Steering wheel lock. Most of the time they can pick the lock with their lock picks quickly and efficiently.

Despite the risk of you losing your key to your steering wheel lock they are still a great deterrent to prevent the theft of your car. Even if your car has an alarm system, immobilizer or the car is equipped with transponder or chip key security system a club or steering wheel lock is highly recommended to install on your car. And if you do lose your Club key, a car Locksmith will remove the steering wheel lock with no damage to your car or steering wheel.

If you have auto insurance, Canadian Automobile Association, American Automobile Association or other emergency auto/RV/motorcycle/bike roadside service, and if your keys are locked inside the car or trunk, or your keys are lost or broken, they will cover emergency locksmith service up to $100. A professional automotive locksmith will provide you with a receipt so you can submit it to your auto insurance provider for reimbursement.

Step By Step: How to Change A Tyre

It is important to know exactly how to change a tyre in case you end up into a messy situation on the side of the highway. Some of us have people to call in these cases but there are occasions where you might be far out and help could take some time to arrive. Here is an easy step-by-step tutorial on how to change your tyres.

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   Firstly, make sure that you stop on the side of the road where it is safe and you have enough space to change the tyre. Always be aware of the oncoming traffic where you are changing the tyre.







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   Making sure that you have all the necessary tools to do this job is an important factor. You will need a tyre iron, a jack, a spare tyre that is properly inflated and fit for the purpose, as well as the manual for the car. This manual will give you the necessary instructions on how to change the tyre if there are specific features your car may have.







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   Make sure that you have the handbrake activated before you start with the wheel changing process. It is also important to place an object behind the opposite wheel in case the car starts to roll backwards.







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   On most cars, there are indentations under the car that make for a stable place to place the car jack. You can see where these indentations are by means of small markings along the side of the car. The side of the car has to be at least twenty centimetres off the ground so that you can easily change the part.







5. 
   
   
   
   
   
   You will need to remove the hubcap so that you can reach the tyre. The hubcap has been clipped on and can be removed by wedging the flat part of the tyre iron into the crevice of the cap. The hubcap is the part of the tyre that protects the lug nuts beneath.







6. 
   
   
   
   
   
   Loosen the lug nuts using the correct side of the iron. Some cars have special adaptors that fit onto the nuts. You won't need to completely remove the lug nuts as of yet. You can remove them as soon as you have taken the tyre off of the wheel. The tyre should simply click out of place and be easy to remove.







7. 
   
   
   
   
   
   Fit the spare tyre to the wheel piece. The bolts have to line up with the holes. Place the lug nuts onto the bolts and start tightening it equally by hand. You can then use the iron to tighten the nuts properly without having wasted too much energy. Do not over fasten as it could break.







8. 
   
   
   
   
   
   You can then place the hubcap back onto the face and lower the car. The spare tyre should only be used for emergency moments. You will notice that they are narrower than a regular tyre.

Now you can drive safely to a fitment centre. As soon as you get there you should get the tyre replaced.

21St Century Roulette - A New Way to Play, the Digital Way

The most popular roulette table game in today's casinos is played at a table with a house dealer, a wheel with 38 pockets, 18 red, 18 black and 2 green colors containing the numbers zero and double zero. A single zero wheel also exists and is popular in European Casinos. The table has a felt betting layout with numbers and colors corresponding to the wheel.

Let us first consider how the casino advantage (house edge) is calculated. The popular double zero wheel has 38 numbered positions that include:

0, 00 and 1 through 36. The payout for a single number win is 35 to 1. Assume there are 38 $ 1.00 chip bets on all the numbers. The casino will collect 37 losing wagers and pay the winner 35 chips. The casino retains a $ 2.00 profit, therefore 2/38 = 5.26%.

Basic Table Roulette

Here are the bet (s) combinations that players can make at the basic table:

a) Straight Up - Chip (s) placed on a single number. Example: # 17. A winning payout is 35 to 1.

b) Split Bet - a Two number bet vertical or horizontal. Example: Chip (s) placed on the line between the 5 & 8. Pays 17 to 1 if either of the two numbers win.

c) Street Bet - A bet on three consecutive numbers. Example: Chip (s) placed on the line of a bottom row number such as 19, will cover 19 -21. Payout is 11 to 1 for the win.

d) Corner Bet - A bet on four numbers. Example: Chip (s) placed at the corner intersection of 25, 26, 28 & 29. Winning payout is 8 to 1.

e) Line Bet - A six consecutive number bet. Example: chip (s) placed on a line between two numbers at the bottom such as 31 & 34 will cover 31 - 36, the payout is 5 to 1 for the win.

The above examples are known as Inside Bets . There are other betting options on the felt called Outside Bets with more desirable odds but less desirable payouts. They are:

Column Bet - Betting on twelve numbers in a column such as 1 - 34. Winning payout is 2 to 1.

Dozens Bet - Betting on the first twelve, second twelve or third twelve. Winning payout is 2 to 1.

Red or Black - A bet on either color. A winning payout is even money at 1 to 1.

Odd or Even - A win also pays even money.

1-18 or 19-36 - Pays even money for the win.

21st Century Roulette

Enter the 21st Century and technology has added some competition with virtual reality. Three variations are currently available:

Rapid Roulette

Electronic Roulette

Video Roulette

Rapid Roulette

The Rapid Roulette pit has a live dealer and wheel surrounded by twelve player stations, each with a video screen containing a virtual table. Players have the option of selecting their own virtual chip conviction and can change their value any time. Increment amounts are: $ .50; $ 1.00; $ 2.00; $ 5.00; $ 25.00 and $ 100. The minimum bet is five dollars. All buy in's and cash outs are handled by the dealer. Once you purchase your credits, select your chip amount. When the screen displays "place your bets" you will have exactly 40 seconds to "touch screen" your wages on to the virtual table. If you make an error you can clear and reset or drag the chip (s) into the desired position with your finger. The dealer then spins the ball. All wins and losses are resolved immediately on the credit meter.

An interesting feature is the "neighbors" bet. For instance, if you bet # 8, press the neighbors tab and the two numbers on each side of the # 8 on the wheel will be bet for you. Your bet will cover # 8, 12, 19, 29, and 31. Winning payouts are the same as table roulette.

Electronic Roulette

The Electronic Roulette cell has eight player stations with video screens containing wagering options similar to Rapid Roulette. The minimum bet is two dollars. Virtual chip values ​​are: $ 1.00, $ 5.00, $ 20.00, $ 50.00, $ 100. Each unit has a bill acceptor for credit purchases and a slot for your player's card.

In the center, is a real wheel, which is continuously rotating. Once the "place your bets" single shows on the screen, the players have exactly 50 seconds to make their wagers by touch screen. When time expires, a small ball is catapulted onto the wheel. After the ball lands on a number, credits are automatically added or deducted from all player stations. A cash out button will deliver the ticket when players are ready to move on.

Video Roulette

This option has a virtual display of the wheel and table, in a unit similar to a slot machine. You may wager for as little as five cents and play at your own pace. Various amounts can be incrementally increased up to ten times by touching the screen to wager and then pressing spin when ready. Although this looks convenient, you pay a price for the benefit. All winning payout amounts are reduced. For example, if you play at the twenty-five-cent level, the winning payout is 34 for 1 instead of the traditional 35 to 1. This return doubles the house edge to 10.53%. Playing at the five or ten cent level, the payout is 32 for 1. The house edge is now 15.8%. This is the price you pay for betting small and slow.

Good Luck with whatever game you choose!

Better Than a Sample Cover Letter - Job Applications That Recruiters Can not Put Down

I do not mean to dis the sample cover letter. Job applications demand cover letters. And samples give you a format, a way to get past a blank page. That can be very useful. Just do not make the mistake of thinking they are enough. Simply put your information in a sample cover letter and you'll turn out the same boring slush the hiring manager sees from 98% of the other candidates. Which means you're just making the job easy for the 3 people who create a cover letter that pops.

But there is something you can do about it, a lot in fact, and it's not tough or time consuming. Here are just a couple of little known techniques for turning dull cover letter samples into hot properties recruiters want to follow up:

Be like Mike . What I mean is, show the hiring manager how much you understand about her and her needs. You're in a similar industry after all. Point out the parallels - explicitly. "Last year, we were so overworked, four accountants took early retirement. After you've established some identification with the recruiter, show her what you can do for her. "Well, while we could not stop them from leaving, I could do this ... and a surprising thing happened. Of course, we've got to talk about how that translates from government to a private firm." Now you're the trusted advisor instead of one more applicable begging for a job. And there's an obvious reason for you to get together.

Read the best copywriting . Study it, in fact. Cover letters are sales pages, period. Instead of asking for the sale, you're asking for the interview.

Great copywriters make more money than you or me. Why? Because they get people to take action. Their clients are not looking for pretty language, they want the cash register to ring. Copywriters do not balk at using emotional language, strong imagery, bold claims, and hot-button phrases like fast, certain, and now.

The next time you're at the check out counter check out the tabloids, the Inquirer or the Globe. Skip the story about the potato chip that looks like Elvis and read the ads. Pay close attention to how quickly they get to what interests you. Its' usually features combined with benefits. Now look over your job application letter. You're really advertising yourself, are not you? Is your writing worthy of a hot property like you?

Make just a couple of small powerful changes to your cover letter . Most applicants will not. Make a few changes, and together they'll make your job pack impossible to put down.