Ace of Spades HQ

October 04, 2013

FBI seizes $3.6M in BitCoin
Dread Pirate Roberts arrested
Silk Road site shutdown
— Purple Avenger

Ross Ulbricht == Dread Pirate Roberts

The Silk Road underground/black market trading site lived in what's been termed the "deep web" or DarkNet, vast area where normal search engines don't usually yield usable results. Most is completely legit mundane stuff, some not so legit. Apparently drugs, weapons, etc were offered for sale on Silk Road. If it could be bought/sold for a price, it was traded there with no restriction.

The seizure order.

BitCoin takes hit on arrest news, but seems to have bounced back some.

Apparently Silk Road used TOR for security. Back in Sept I posted this about how the FBI has compromised the TOR servers to distribute some malware to unmask user anonymity. At the time, the nominal excuse being given for compromising TOR was a child porn sting, which seemed kinda thin. Casting such a wide net and compromising thousands of user's machines to locate one dude, who they pretty much had ID'd and located already smelled a bit funny.

Now with the Silk Road/Dread Pirate bust and seizure of millions in Bitcoin maybe we know the real reason the FBI compromised the TOR servers. They were hunting much bigger game than some child porn dude. They had their sights set on the hundreds of thousands of sketchy dark web users of Silk Road going through TOR. I imagine the freeways are clogged with people suddenly blowing town who left no forwarding address.

More on this bust HERE, HERE, and HERE.

fficial&client=firefox-a">It looks like the US media isn't ignoring this story even though it doesn't look good at all for San Francisco where Silk Road and Dread Pirate Roberts seem to have been based.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 09:00 AM | Comments (165)
Post contains 304 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I had no idea any of these things existed. Who knew you could get more than porn and sports scores on the web...?

Posted by: Countrysquire at October 04, 2013 09:03 AM (LSJmV)

2 Foist. Feets don't fail me now!

Posted by: RWC at October 04, 2013 09:03 AM (fWAjv)

3 Next up: Over-charge the hell out of him, freeze his assets, hide/refuse to disclose procedural violations and exculpatory evidence and force him to take a plea (or death).

'Cause law enforcement overreach trumps the Constitution now or terrorists are going kill you in your sleep.

Posted by: RoyalOil at October 04, 2013 09:04 AM (VjL9S)

4 First!!!

Posted by: DeFacto at October 04, 2013 09:04 AM (Q1+WW)

5 Wow, the Net is vast and deep.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at October 04, 2013 09:04 AM (HEMX5)

6 NO PROBLEM WITH RUNNING AN ONGOING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE IN FRISCO ..AS THEY ARE A SANCTUARY CITY THAT IS THE EPICENTER OF SCOFFLAWS...LIKE POLOOKA

Posted by: Ludwig Olsen at October 04, 2013 09:05 AM (3GuQx)

7 I have absolutely no idea what any of this is about. Due to my ignorance, I'll just go sit in a corner and let y'all talk about this.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Chelsea [/i][/s][/u][/b] at October 04, 2013 09:05 AM (4df7R)

8 Did Ulbricht run out of gas while trying to escape?

Posted by: Countrysquire at October 04, 2013 09:05 AM (LSJmV)

9 Where am I going to get my blow?

Posted by: Old Guy at October 04, 2013 09:05 AM (ZVGxp)

10 Get off my lawn!

Posted by: garrett at October 04, 2013 09:05 AM (OhOhI)

11 I have money invested in BTC. I held, because I believe it has a future value way higher, but man was that exciting watching it drop 33% in value. It's back to pre-panic just about, 2 days later.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:06 AM (E8IHS)

12 Why was this guy living in the States? Wouldn't he have been better off in some eastern European state? Hubris.

Posted by: Xander Crews at October 04, 2013 09:06 AM (SUbHR)

13 7 I have absolutely no idea what any of this is about. Due to my ignorance, I'll just go sit in a corner and let y'all talk about this. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Chelsea at October 04, 2013 01:05 PM (4df7R)
Likewise. In the interim, I recommend a smoked pecan pie. o.O It is that kind of day.

Posted by: Kinley Ardal at October 04, 2013 09:06 AM (3uJY6)

14 Yeah, I always assume any service that offers anonymity is probably run by the Feds. Or, in this case, just totally compromised. It's just such an obvious strategy. If I were the Feds, that's what I'd do.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at October 04, 2013 09:07 AM (ZPrif)

15 As long as they were able to protect Eric Holder's identity, everything is cool.

Posted by: Fritz at October 04, 2013 09:07 AM (UzPAd)

16 CORRECTION: Silk Road only sold drugs.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:07 AM (E8IHS)

17 The Feds arrested It's a Tax Roberts?

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:07 AM (KRpfP)

18 Because Bitcoin is an existential threat? Or, just to prove the feds can hack anything?

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 09:07 AM (AskuI)

19 OT: It seems Chad, obama butt posterboy lied. http://goo.gl/Sej3gG

Posted by: Jesse Pinkman at October 04, 2013 09:07 AM (A/ga/)

20
..... and THAT....all my grandkids....is how the First War Against Bartertown started.

Posted by: fixerupper at October 04, 2013 09:08 AM (nELVU)

21 I have absolutely no idea what any of this is about. Due to my ignorance, I'll just go sit in a corner and let y'all talk about this. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Chelsea at October 04, 2013 01:05 PM (4df7R) I would say fake it like I do but that may lead to dark places.

Posted by: RWC at October 04, 2013 09:09 AM (fWAjv)

22 18 Because Bitcoin is an existential threat? Or, just to prove the feds can hack anything? Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 01:07 PM (AskuI) The feds didn't hack bitcoin. They arrested the guy who rand the domain, and managed to get its hands on $3.6 in private keys. The rest is lost/hidden.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:09 AM (E8IHS)

23 Likewise. In the interim, I recommend a smoked pecan pie. o.O It is that kind of day.

Posted by: Kinley Ardal at October 04, 2013 01:06 PM (3uJY6)

Maybe smoked pecan pie as dessert after a lunch of Heather's green chile chili? Because DAMN that sounds good.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Chelsea [/i][/s][/u][/b] at October 04, 2013 09:09 AM (4df7R)

24 Now with the Silk Road/Dread Pirate bust and seizure of millions in Bitcoin maybe we know the real reason the FBI compromised the TOR servers. Obligatory "Who runs Batertown!"

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 09:09 AM (xorT2)

25 There are huge areas of the web, like Tor, that I'm really curious about. But I'm too scared to go near them.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at October 04, 2013 09:09 AM (ZPrif)

26 US shuts down black market, underground economy tax avoidance scheme.

The Soviets used to do that a lot.

Posted by: History Rythm Review at October 04, 2013 09:10 AM (lT4FJ)

I know they were doing illegal and bad stuff there

but like Capone, the main beef the government has with it is that government isn't getting its vig..... its cut....the tax.

government really really hates that. like taking a warm body away from a zombie

Posted by: thunderb at October 04, 2013 09:10 AM (zOTsN)

28 Hubris well I guess. Running a worldwide drug ring from the public library. Bet he trolled here more than once.

OFFS, a PG version of Warren Zevon? They left out the only good verse.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at October 04, 2013 09:10 AM (JNUY4)

Damn! Shut down afore I could purchase a nuke!

/Ayatollah Kominme

Posted by: maddogg at October 04, 2013 09:10 AM (xWW96)

30 25 There are huge areas of the web, like Tor, that I'm really curious about. But I'm too scared to go near them. Posted by: Flatbush Joe at October 04, 2013 01:09 PM (ZPrif) It *might* be controlled by the Feds. The Tor network can be easily compromised if the feds run most the network.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:10 AM (E8IHS)

31 There used to be a search engine ( Gone, far as I know- it was bookmarked on my Win 2000, Optiplex 160 ) that searched the "dark net" and you could find some really weird shit there.

Posted by: backhoe at October 04, 2013 09:11 AM (ULH4o)

32 I'm going to go back and hang out on the previous thread, if anyone else would like to join me.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Chelsea [/i][/s][/u][/b] at October 04, 2013 09:12 AM (4df7R)

33
Guys.... you know.... we're only a couple a steps away from them gunning citizens down in the stree . .

. . oh, wait..... that happened yesterday.

Posted by: fixerupper at October 04, 2013 09:12 AM (nELVU)

34 i've heard the term bitcoin, a bartering type thing?
so it sells drugs? that i've never heard.
are we sure? or did the fed not like bartering instead of taxing sells?

Posted by: willow at October 04, 2013 09:13 AM (nqBYe)

35 sales*

Posted by: willow at October 04, 2013 09:13 AM (nqBYe)

36 That Dental Hygienist wasn't wearing a hoodie.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:13 AM (KRpfP)

37 mwr i'll go, but i won't read the comments!

Posted by: willow at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (nqBYe)

its really about stopping an underground market they cannot tax

must. control. all. markets

Posted by: thunderb at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (zOTsN)

39 This is a semi stomp.

Posted by: Roc Ingersol at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (ZFXqT)

40 I'm sure that Ulbrecht is not the first Dreat Pirate Roberts, either. Last I heard, he'd retired to Patagonia.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (/Crba)

41 Warren Zevon? That is crazy hipster pop music. Zevon, Madonna, Milli Vanilli... even the Stones are selling out with their Steel Wheels crap. I don't get music these days. I hate these posts. Isn't there a war is Syria?

Posted by: HotGas Contingent at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (M9u7w)

42 The feds didn't hack bitcoin.

They arrested the guy who rand the domain, and managed to get its hands on $3.6 in private keys. The rest is lost/hidden.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 01:09 PM (E8IHS)

They hacked Tor. But the question remains, did they do it to grab bitcoins, or just to show off?

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (AskuI)

43 This is where I admit my ignorance as to what Bitcoin is.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (DmNpO)

44 I've made up my mind. It's chili and pie and then a trip to Hastings to buy a book or two. Plenty of time to read tonight at work.

Posted by: EROWMER at October 04, 2013 09:14 AM (OONaw)

45 but BREAKING NEWS! --> RT @markknoller Obama and Biden order sandwiches, Pres Obama had money in his hand ready for both of them.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at October 04, 2013 09:15 AM (DmNpO)

46 Posted by: Jesse Pinkman at October 04, 2013 01:07 PM (A/ga/) SM damn H. Nothing about this administration and it's lackeys is legit.

Posted by: RWC at October 04, 2013 09:15 AM (fWAjv)

47 34 i've heard the term bitcoin, a bartering type thing? so it sells drugs? that i've never heard. are we sure? or did the fed not like bartering instead of taxing sells? Posted by: willow at October 04, 2013 01:13 PM (nqBYe) It's a de-centralized crypto-currency. As a CS guy, I was incredulous at first. I'm basically a believer right now. Watch the video on this website if you care. http://www.weusecoins.com/en/

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:15 AM (E8IHS)

48 45 Is Hastings still open?

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:15 AM (KRpfP)

49 They hacked Tor. But the question remains, did they do it to grab bitcoins, or just to show off? Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 01:14 PM (AskuI) Wouldn't put it past them.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:15 AM (E8IHS)

50 They hacked Tor. But the question remains, did they do it to grab bitcoins, or just to show off? If it was to show off, expect bragging shortly

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 09:15 AM (xorT2)

Folks.... they used illegally obtained net info, to track him back YEARS, as they already had the data. They tracked his and others net use, and email...

Was there a search warrant issued to track him? and gather said data???? sure does not look like it.

This is an attempt to justify their spying on every American, in the name of the 'War on Drugs'...

And I'm sure there will be many here, willing to trade their Privacy, and Civil Rights... for the appearance of Safety....

Posted by: Romeo13 at October 04, 2013 09:16 AM (lZBBB)

52 Best fucking song ever.

Posted by: Sharkman at October 04, 2013 09:16 AM (5mRmR)

53 " In the interim, I recommend a smoked pecan pie. o.O It is that kind of day. Posted by: Kinley Ardal at October 04, 2013 01:06 PM"

Hmm... that sound as if it would go well with bacon. *realizes this statement applies to nearly everything*

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at October 04, 2013 09:16 AM (knoK7)

54 'sounds', dammit....

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at October 04, 2013 09:16 AM (knoK7)

55 @19
Wow, it turns out Chad is full of it. His Dad says he didn't even sign up yet. And to boot, Chad looks like one of the Doublemint twins. Yes, he is definitely typical of who Obama expects will sign up for this fiasco.

The best part?
"And he could have chosen to be covered by his fatherÂ’s plan, which, under the Affordable Care Act, would have been required to cover dependents up to the age of 26. Chad said his father encouraged him to be covered under his own plan, even though the cost was higher. "He's old school, so he wants me to take responsibility," Chad told The Huffington Post."

Got that? Chad is old school, and will have his own insurance, because that's the responsible thing to do. Insurance I pay for. Good job, Chad.

Posted by: pep at October 04, 2013 09:16 AM (6TB1Z)

56 19 OT: It seems Chad, obama butt posterboy lied.

http://goo.gl/Sej3gG
============
That's what's called "Revolutionary Truth" comrade.

Doesn't have to be actually true, just has to help the cause . . . .

Posted by: RoyalOil at October 04, 2013 09:16 AM (VjL9S)

57 I had an account there. Never bought anything (or wanted to). It was pretty unbelievable, though - amazing just to browse through it all.

Posted by: Who, Me? at October 04, 2013 09:17 AM (ay6+/)

58 They want to shut 'em down out of jealousy. Dude had a website that worked. #Repeal404Care

Posted by: Schrödinger's cat [/i] at October 04, 2013 09:17 AM (U2UQk)

59 57 19 OT: It seems Chad, obama butt posterboy lied. http://goo.gl/Sej3gG ============ That's what's called "Revolutionary Truth" comrade. Doesn't have to be actually true, just has to help the cause . . . . --- Another Potemkin Village for the Potemkin Presidency.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:17 AM (/Crba)

60 People who can't produce anything shut down those who could.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:18 AM (KRpfP)

61 Yep, never even knew of the existence of this world...I guess I'm on team No Opinion on this one, although my initial instinct is to support a libertarian market place.

Posted by: MSM at October 04, 2013 09:19 AM (ELdpj)

62 Should we be surprised that the FBI hijacked TOR? After all they kept some servers running because of a malware browser exploit. Remember that?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at October 04, 2013 09:19 AM (HEMX5)

63 This morning's News Dump had the Legal Insurrection link (related to this): http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/10/unsealed-documents-shed-light-on-lavabit-case/ interesting read if you haven't read it yet

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at October 04, 2013 09:20 AM (IXrOn)

64 I await someone to get on the floor of Cgress and challenge Harry Reid to release his tax returns, because we have it "on good authority" that the returns contain deductions for BitCoin child pr0n purchases.

Posted by: wooga at October 04, 2013 09:20 AM (M9u7w)

65 62 Yep, never even knew of the existence of this world...I guess I'm on team No Opinion on this one, although my initial instinct is to support a libertarian market place. --- I'd lean that way if not for the story that DPR had a hit put out on a guy that attempted to blackmail him. Someone posted the exchanges on a site I visit on that particular matter.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:20 AM (/Crba)

Yes folks.... People use TOR to ensure their Privacy....

The Supremes have said that in order to have a Right to Privacy, you must have a reasonable expectation of Privacy, like... shutting the blinds... once you do an act to ensure privacy, your privacy is protected.

TOR users use it, to ensure Privacy... thus doing an Act which should give them a reasonable expectation of Privacy...

The Government hacked it... inserted malware... invaded your machine, to bypass the Privacy TOR was supposed to give.... and without Individual Warrants of what is to be searched, or where should be searched, as the Constitution dictates.

Rights???? what Rights....

Posted by: Romeo13 at October 04, 2013 09:21 AM (lZBBB)

67 Got that? Chad is old school, and will have his own insurance, because that's the responsible thing to do. Insurance I pay for. Good job, Chad.

Posted by: pep at October 04, 2013 01:16 PM (6TB1Z)

Chad and Julia are dating

Posted by: The Jackhole at October 04, 2013 09:22 AM (nTgAI)

68 The WWII Veterans Memorial now has more security than our consulate at Bengazi did.

Posted by: RoyalOil at October 04, 2013 09:22 AM (VjL9S)

69 O/T: File this under "The Outside Will Kill You". Or in this case, Asian giant wasps. http://tinyurl.com/qxgnxg7 Two. Inches. Long. Dammit, where's that flamethrower...

Posted by: Brother Cavil at October 04, 2013 09:23 AM (naUcP)

70 I couldn't understand this thread any less if it was written in Peruvian.

Posted by: Countrysquire at October 04, 2013 09:23 AM (LSJmV)

71 Piece by Costa on the "emerging offer" by Boehner to end the shutdown. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/360413/emerging-offer-robert-costa

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at October 04, 2013 09:23 AM (ZPrif)

72 Nothing like reporting on a story a couple days late.

Posted by: ThisBeingMilt at October 04, 2013 09:24 AM (7mQyC)

73 I do not mean to trash the thread, but an idea just occurred to me which I regard as important enough to impart. If you want to call me down afterwards I will accept my punishment. How about the activists among us go put up "Barry-Cades" around other monuments in the country to demonstrate the silliness of Obama's barricades? Know where is a World War I memorial? Put some saw horses around it with a sign "This Memorial is Closed due to the Government Shut down. Do not remove the "Barry-cades." Mocking them with humor is the best tactic there is.

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 09:24 AM (bb5+k)

74 72 Piece by Costa on the "emerging offer" by Boehner to end the shutdown. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/360413/emerging-offer-robert-costa --- How much you want to bet that Barky attempts to unilaterally change the deal at the last second, scuttling the deal?

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:25 AM (/Crba)

75 The seized bitcoins are nigh on useless to the feds unless they cash them in, which I believe might be illegal. Not sure.

Posted by: UWP at October 04, 2013 09:26 AM (vj51i)

76 Why was this guy living in the States? Wouldn't he have been better off in some eastern European state? Hubris. Posted by: Xander Crews at October 04, 2013 01:06 PM (SUbHR) He probably felt what he was doing was normal, considering where he was, and thus no big dealÂ…

Posted by: The Political Hat at October 04, 2013 09:26 AM (XvHmy)

77 "Tree Closed due to Government shut down."

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 09:26 AM (bb5+k)

78 70 O/T: File this under "The Outside Will Kill You". Or in this case, Asian giant wasps. http://tinyurl.com/qxgnxg7 Two. Inches. Long. Dammit, where's that flamethrower... Posted by: Brother Cavil Geez! However, the hornets we have in south Ga. are at least 2 inches long. Nasty things.

Posted by: backhoe at October 04, 2013 09:27 AM (ULH4o)

79 How about the activists among us go put up "Barry-Cades" around other monuments in the country to demonstrate the silliness of Obama's barricades? How about those plaques in Chicago celebrating the Obamas...?

Posted by: Brother Cavil at October 04, 2013 09:27 AM (naUcP)

80 It is reported that "Dread Pirate Roberts" allegedly had Canadian man assassinated. Thought it was an joke to Princess Bride not that this guy used that as his handle.

Posted by: Man with no middle finger as I have 6 at October 04, 2013 09:27 AM (bkAvJ)

81 Piece by Costa on the "emerging offer" by Boehner to end the shutdown. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/360413/emerging-offer-robert-costa *** It seems as if Boehner has learned that he doesn't have to give it all up in the name of cooperation. Get SOMETHING out of this, and it will be a win.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at October 04, 2013 09:27 AM (DmNpO)

82 Know where is a World War I memorial? Put some saw horses around it with a sign "This Memorial is Closed due to the Government Shut down. Do not remove the "Barry-cades." Mocking them with humor is the best tactic there is. Or, "Please do not remove the BarryCades. Please walk around them".

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 09:27 AM (xorT2)

83 Chad and Julia are dating Posted by: The Jackhole at October 04, 2013 01:22 PM (nTgAI) I dont think Chad sinks that way...

Posted by: Jesse Pinkman at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (A/ga/)

84 I thought the whole point of BitCoin was that it is anonymous and can't be seized?

Posted by: Jose at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (zc/sw)

85 He probably felt what he was doing was normal, considering where he was, and thus no big dealÂ… Posted by: The Political Hat at October 04, 2013 01:26 PM (XvHmy) The nation desperately needs a storage unit of value that is not subject to tampering by Washington DC. (or anyone else.)

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (bb5+k)

86 I'm a bit surprised the FBI didn't just quietly scoop up Ulrich and make a secret plea deal to turn him and allow Silk Road to keep operating normally as a sting front.

They could have milked that and generated "anonymous leads" that led to thousands of arrests over the years if it was all done on the D/L and Silk Road was never mentioned as the "anonymous source"

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (9MLX+)

87 76 The seized bitcoins are nigh on useless to the feds unless they cash them in, which I believe might be illegal. Not sure. Posted by: UWP at October 04, 2013 01:26 PM (vj51i) Anarchists everywhere are having a ball that the govt can't move the money without everyone knowing. The FBI made a new address and sent all the money there.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (E8IHS)

Just got here and read this. And I thought commenting on AoSHQ was risque'.

What fraction of 1% of the population does this affect?

Posted by: Soona at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (3Mz5/)

89 "Tree Closed due to Government shut down." Hang signs everywhere!

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 09:28 AM (xorT2)

90 Kerry Picket ‏@KerryPicket 1m Just got a notice from my health insurer. I'm being forced on to the exchanges. Feel like I'm being sent to the gulags.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (DmNpO)

91 87 I'm a bit surprised the FBI didn't just quietly scoop up Ulrich and make a secret plea deal to turn him and allow Silk Road to keep operating normally as a sting front. They could have milked that and generated "anonymous leads" that led to thousands of arrests over the years if it was all done on the D/L and Silk Road was never mentioned as the "anonymous source" --- Why do something useful people will never know about when you can make a public seizure that you can crow about and chase off all the little fish you could have caught?

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (/Crba)

92 Jeesh! I need coffee. Chad doesn't SWING that way.

Posted by: Jesse Pinkman at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (A/ga/)

93 They arrested the Dread Pirate Roberts? Inconceivable!

Posted by: Emperor Norton II at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (MlqTY)

94 I thought the whole point of BitCoin was that it is anonymous and can't be seized?

If they get your wallet and key, they got your coin.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (9MLX+)

95 I do not know what any of this means

Posted by: Jones in CO at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (8sCoq)

96 46 but BREAKING NEWS! --> RT @markknoller Obama and Biden order sandwiches, Pres Obama had money in his hand ready for both of them.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at October 04, 2013 01:15 PM (DmNpO)

Finally - the JEF is saving the taxpayer some money.

I'm betting that sandwich cost less than the hourly wage + benefits for a full-time WH chef.

Time he starts to live within our budget.....

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (PZ6/M)

97 How about those plaques in Chicago celebrating the Obamas...? Posted by: Brother Cavil at October 04, 2013 01:27 PM (naUcP) The Sillier the better. And the more noticeable. Mockery rocks the highest throne. Make people laugh at them and you will hurt them to the core.

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (bb5+k)

98 85 I thought the whole point of BitCoin was that it is anonymous and can't be seized? Posted by: Jose at October 04, 2013 01:28 PM (zc/sw) It can be seized if you password is taken. Which is what happened. Most of the BTC were not seized, the "hot" ones were, meaning the ones on tap for normal consumer use on Silk Road.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:29 AM (E8IHS)

99 Yes folks.... People use TOR to ensure their Privacy.... The Supremes have said that in order to have a Right to Privacy, you must have a reasonable expectation of Privacy, like... shutting the blinds... once you do an act to ensure privacy, your privacy is protected. TOR users use it, to ensure Privacy... thus doing an Act which should give them a reasonable expectation of Privacy... The Government hacked it... inserted malware... invaded your machine, to bypass the Privacy TOR was supposed to give.... and without Individual Warrants of what is to be searched, or where should be searched, as the Constitution dictates. Rights???? what Rights.... Posted by: Romeo13 at October 04, 2013 01:21 PM (lZBBB) Don't be silly! The Right to Privacy Â™ had nothing to do with doing and saying stuff outside the purview of our benevolent government! It is ALL about the right to force you to pay for some pre-teen girl's contraceptives and abortions! Now that's "privacy"!

Posted by: Typical Progressive at October 04, 2013 09:30 AM (XvHmy)

100 ot From freebeacon.com's headline: Study: Obamacare Costing 66,000 Jobs in Illinois Â“But this labor data from the presidentÂ’s very own home state shows that not only will Obamacare fail to deliver its health insurance goals, it also threatens to cause further damage to IllinoisÂ’ already-fragile economy,Â” she said. Â“Advocates of Obamacare should be prepared to answer the question: How many lost jobs and lost hours are too many?Â” According to the study, the loss in hours equates to 66,000 retail, food, and merchandise jobs since 2011. These sectors are the lowest-paid jobs in Illinois, and account for one-fifth of the stateÂ’s total employment. you can't have your cake and...

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at October 04, 2013 09:30 AM (IXrOn)

101

Posted by: Purp at October 04, 2013 01:28 PM (9MLX+)

they need the Propaganda hit for a big Arrest... to justify their spying on every American...

So they can go... 'see? It worked.... we got the evil bad guy who was selling Mushrooms...'

Posted by: Romeo13 at October 04, 2013 09:30 AM (lZBBB)

102 I'm listening to Geraldo. A woman calls up and says her insurance canceled her plan. Geraldo is pretending to be shocked!

Posted by: Jesse Pinkman at October 04, 2013 09:30 AM (A/ga/)

103 Hook 'em Horns! WooHoo!

Posted by: Daybrother at October 04, 2013 09:30 AM (+Dpi9)

104 Bitcoin is just digital cash, where having the private key to an address is "possession".

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:30 AM (E8IHS)

105 Lonegan/Booker debate live online now- abc local website (ny). He's trying to paint Lonegan as a Tea Party Extremist... Lonegan is tearing him up but of course they aren't letting him respond to booker's attacks

Posted by: Roxanne, Roxanne at October 04, 2013 09:31 AM (RwTQ0)

106 Or, "Please do not remove the BarryCades. Please walk around them". Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 01:27 PM (xorT2) Or, how about "Please ignore these Barry-Cades, and the one's in Washington too! "

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 09:31 AM (bb5+k)

107 According to the study, the loss in hours equates to 66,000 retail, food, and merchandise jobs since 2011. These sectors are the lowest-paid jobs in Illinois, and account for one-fifth of the stateÂ’s total employment. --- Expect booms in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kentucky.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:31 AM (/Crba)

108 Know where is a World War I memorial? Put some saw horses around it with a sign "This Memorial is Closed due to the Government Shut down. Do not remove the "Barry-cades." >>

Since I have a limited saw horse budget this custom barricade tape would be fun.

http://www.customcautiontape.com/

Posted by: Buzzsaw at October 04, 2013 09:31 AM (wrS2o)

109 28 ---OFFS, a PG version of Warren Zevon? They left out the only good verse. Posted by: Stringer Davis at October 04, 2013 01:10 PM (JNUY4) -------------------------- One of my kids likes Dire Straits, having been introduced to them via Mama's old vinyl editions. (Which is odd, since I am only 39.) So he's downloading songs he likes and keeps finding that modern versions of "Money for Nothing" leave out the entire verse where the word "faggot" is used. Never mind the context of the usage. Blasphemous uttterance is blasphemous utterance, and the priests of purity will not be defied.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at October 04, 2013 09:32 AM (dfYL9)

110 I have absolutely no idea what any of this is about. Due to my ignorance, I'll just go sit in a corner and let y'all talk about this.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Chelsea at October 04, 2013 01:05 PM (4df7R)

Ditto. Although it kinda reminds me of the book I've been reading off and on (because it's so damn long): REAMDE by Neal Stephenson, where a multiplayer video game was modeled on, and then used for, laudering pot profits.

Posted by: Lizzy at October 04, 2013 09:32 AM (JRmiD)

111 They may shoot you dead if you drive around a Barrycade.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:32 AM (KRpfP)

112 You know, living in a banana republic where technology is backward and where a small bribe takes care of any problem sounds pretty good right about now.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 09:32 AM (AskuI)

113

File this under "The Outside Will Kill You". Or in this case, Asian giant wasps.

http://tinyurl.com/qxgnxg7

Two. Inches. Long.

Two words : Shotgun

Posted by: Joe Biden at October 04, 2013 09:32 AM (OhOhI)

114 OT, but Day 4 of Obamacare, and I still can't log in.

Posted by: Lauren at October 04, 2013 09:33 AM (ELdpj)

115 Hook 'em Horns! WooHoo!

Posted by: Daybrother at October 04, 2013 01:30 PM (+Dpi9)

What happened? They fire Brown?

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 09:33 AM (AskuI)

116 113 You know, living in a banana republic where technology is backward and where a small bribe takes care of any problem sounds pretty good right about now. --- Belize, anyone? There's not a whole hell of a lot there, but it has English as the official language.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:33 AM (/Crba)

117 they need the Propaganda hit for a big Arrest...

TOP MEN strike again.

These guys aren't even playing checkers let alone n-dimensional chess...maybe tic-tac-toe.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:33 AM (9MLX+)

118 Sounds like DPR would make a great moron. $1.2 BILLION is sales. That's a lot of shit.

Posted by: John Smith at October 04, 2013 09:33 AM (wR+pz)

119 90 "Tree Closed due to Government shut down." Hang signs everywhere! Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 01:28 PM (xorT2) Yup. "Moon unavailable for viewing due to Government Shutdown."

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 09:34 AM (bb5+k)

120 Its very important for people to understand that there is no default if the debt ceiling is not raised. There is no default if we do not raise the debt cieling. That is a wholly made up canard by the president and the democrats. Decisions will have to be made on what gets funded but that is not a default. There is more than enough money to pay our "mandatory" obligations and debt service. The president intimating that ss checks will not go out is fearmongering at its worst. He is truly a scumbag. I hate that piece of shit with every marow of my being.

Posted by: kreplach at October 04, 2013 09:34 AM (Ezq3m)

121 I still don't understand Bitcoin.

How is it different than transferring money via PayPal, etc. How do you buy Bitcoins? And, more to the point, how do you cash them in for real currency?

Posted by: Jay Carney at October 04, 2013 09:35 AM (f9c2L)

122 116 Hook 'em Horns! WooHoo! Posted by: Daybrother at October 04, 2013 01:30 PM (+Dpi9) - What happened? They fire Brown? --- I'm assuming he's cheering Texas beating Iowa State thanks to a controversial call. How far the mighty have fallen since Colt McCoy got ass-raped out of the title game by Bama.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:35 AM (/Crba)

123 Belize, anyone?

My neighbor's son moved there and love it. Food costs are apparently zero. You can just walk out into the jungle a bit and find edible tasty stuff everywhere.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:35 AM (9MLX+)

124 The federal government is constitutionally obligated to make debt payments. Welfare payments, not so much.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 09:36 AM (AskuI)

125 120 90 "Tree Closed due to Government shut down." Hang signs everywhere! Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 01:28 PM (xorT2) Yup. "Moon unavailable for viewing due to Government Shutdown." --- Oh, sure, it is the GOVERNMENT making the moon disappear...

Posted by: Gru at October 04, 2013 09:36 AM (/Crba)

126 Sounds like DPR would make a great moron. $1.2 BILLION is sales. That's a lot of shit. Maybe we could get shirts then!

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 09:36 AM (xorT2)

127

"Moon unavailable for viewing due to Government Shutdown."

Posted by: Diogenes' Lamp at October 04, 2013 01:34 PM (bb5+k)

Well, by Ancient Law.... as we did plant a Flag on it.. it is ours...

And by ours, I mean the Federal Governments as they have not released any land to private hands on the Territory known as the Moon...

Ergo.... shutdown....

Posted by: Romeo13 at October 04, 2013 09:36 AM (lZBBB)

128 How is it different than transferring money via PayPal, etc. How do you buy Bitcoins? And, more to the point, how do you cash them in for real currency? Posted by: Jay Carney at October 04, 2013 01:35 PM (f9c2L) No one controls Bitcoin. It's based on cryptographic "proofs of work" to prove who owns what. You can trade it just like you trade for gold, or oil, or paper... "Hey I have USD, would you trade BTC for USD?"

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:37 AM (E8IHS)

129 I do trade through Coinbase. If you are in US there's no bartering, etc. They just use a rolling average price based on the major exchanges in the US.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:37 AM (E8IHS)

130 "Tree Closed due to Government shut down."

Hang signs everywhere!

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 01:28 PM (xorT2)

-------------------------------------------------

Start putting closed signs in front of fed. offices that aren't closed. Let's just shut the fucker down, period.

Posted by: Soona at October 04, 2013 09:38 AM (3Mz5/)

131 How do you buy Bitcoins?

There's several exchanges. Click on the chart graphic and that'll take you to a list of known exchanges.

You can also mine/create them from scratch with BitCoin "mining" operations, but its very compute intensive.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:38 AM (9MLX+)

132 My neighbor's son moved there and love it. Food costs are apparently zero. You can just walk out into the jungle a bit and find edible tasty stuff everywhere. I'm sure the jungle feels the same way. LOL

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2013 09:39 AM (xorT2)

133 Why is it bad news for the city of San Francisco ...?

Posted by: PJ at October 04, 2013 09:39 AM (ZWaLo)

134 Anarchists everywhere are having a ball that the govt can't move the money without everyone knowing. The FBI made a new address and sent all the money there. Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter And now, having leaned hard on so many exchanges to register as financial entities, they have to play the same game. Ha!

Posted by: Daybrother at October 04, 2013 09:39 AM (tkDyW)

135 5 Wow, the Net is vast and deep. Yeah, just like my cooter.

Posted by: Zombie Linda Lovelace at October 04, 2013 09:39 AM (wR+pz)

136 maddog, i favorited it, going to send to my daughters. they will laugh like crazy knowing how i am.

Posted by: willow at October 04, 2013 09:39 AM (nqBYe)

137 Even if the site were totally secure and anonymous, it still seems like it would be incredibly risky to have drugs and other contraband sent to your home.

The cops catch you picking up the package and you're done.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at October 04, 2013 09:40 AM (SY2Kh)

138 You can also mine/create them from scratch with BitCoin "mining" operations, but its very compute intensive. Posted by: Purp at October 04, 2013 01:38 PM (9MLX+) It's essentially not profitable to get in now. The new ASIC machines are flowing, and people have had them on backorder for months. Just go to Coinbase if you want to buy. Waaaay easier.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:41 AM (E8IHS)

139 Every piece of mail is photographed. They probably scan for contraband as well.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:42 AM (KRpfP)

140

"At the time, the nominal excuse being given for compromising TOR was a child porn sting, which seemed kinda thin."

If the feds need to compromise TOR in order to pull off a child porn sting and in the process happens to uncover the identities of various and sundry drug and weapons dealers, I'm okay with it. Online anonymity is a myth. All 'anonymous' means is that someone with resources hasn't bothered looking for you yet.

As a corollary, any free resistance movement that relies (or will rely) on the Internets for confidential communications deserves to be compromised. Just as any conventional pin tumbler lock can be picked given time, technique and tools, so can any identity or web-based operation be uncovered.

Posted by: troyriser at October 04, 2013 09:42 AM (O66NZ)

141 Why is it bad news for the city of San Francisco

Come for the trolleys, stay for the international super villains and black markets

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:42 AM (9MLX+)

142 138 Even if the site were totally secure and anonymous, it still seems like it would be incredibly risky to have drugs and other contraband sent to your home. The cops catch you picking up the package and you're done. --- They don't send it to their home, they send it to a PO Box or some other location. Problem is that stuff being sent to a PO Box tends to get inspected far more often than stuff sent to a residence, which is how at least one of the Silk Road guys got busted.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at October 04, 2013 09:42 AM (/Crba)

143 How does one "seize" bitcoins. They have no physicality for the feds to hold on to. They are virtual money so it seems to me the issuer or storer of the bitcoins could very easily "just say no" to the seizure and leave them credited to whomever the feds were trying to seize them from.

Posted by: AmyH at October 04, 2013 09:43 AM (zmlwq)

144 The Smug is strong with this one.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:43 AM (KRpfP)

145 Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge No, but of course they should fire Brown to stop the insanity. They could buy two decent coaches for what they pay him now.....Hey, wait just a minute....that's an idea: Have Defensive AND Offensive coaches! I was commenting that DPR was a UT grad.

Posted by: Daybrother at October 04, 2013 09:44 AM (suC/p)

146 >>Why is it bad news for the city of San Francisco

Yeah, I'd think they would be less upset bt DPR than they are about all of those damn Google execs who have been gentrifying their hippie neighborhoods.

Posted by: Lizzy at October 04, 2013 09:44 AM (JRmiD)

147 113 You know, living in a banana republic where technology is backward and where a small bribe takes care of any problem sounds pretty good right about now. Posted by: Vashta Nerada at October 04, 2013 01:32 PM (AskuI) ---------------------------------------- Hey, we're working on it. We're working on it! Be patient.

Posted by: Preezy Barack at October 04, 2013 09:44 AM (dfYL9)

148 If it was local trades, you could use those sketchy bike messenger services or something like that. They ain't gonna ask a lot of questions

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:44 AM (9MLX+)

149 There is more than enough money to pay our "mandatory" obligations and debt service.

The president intimating that ss checks will not go out is fearmongering at its worst.

He is truly a scumbag. I hate that piece of shit with every marow of my being. Posted by: kreplach
.........
Not exactly. We would have to default on funding something.

Yes, interest on the debt is well under 10% of the budget and it would be easy to continue paying that off.

But Interest along with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense and Welfare programs make up close to 80% of the budget. And we are running a 30% deficit.

Something WILL not get funded. Even if we close all discretionary spending programs/departments, we'll still have to cut payments to one of those big boys I mentioned above.

Posted by: Jay Carney at October 04, 2013 09:45 AM (f9c2L)

150 Posted by: AmyH at October 04, 2013 01:43 PM (zmlwq) People don't memorize all the keys. Keys determine who owns bitcoins. The Feds grabbed his computers, hence seizure. Most of the bitcoins are "safe" but to run a business not all of them can be. Imagine you're running a restaurant: You'll need cash on hand for day to day operations, not all of your money.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:45 AM (E8IHS)

151 There is more than enough money to pay our "mandatory" obligations and debt service

"More than enough"? No, there isn't.

Don't board the Crazy Train with the belief that failing to raise the debt ceiling is an option without major consequence.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at October 04, 2013 09:46 AM (SY2Kh)

152 The best thing to do with seized Bit Coins is to use them. If they are taken out of circulation the remainder are worth more.

Posted by: Boss Moss former editor of the Harvard Law Review at October 04, 2013 09:46 AM (KRpfP)

153 How does one "seize" bitcoins.

His servers had wallets on them.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 09:46 AM (9MLX+)

154

Bitcoin. It's viable as long as the internet is up. If the SHTF, the internet is going to be the first thing shut down. Then what? Just tell the guy you're trying to buy ammo off of that you've got a shit-ton of bitcoin but can't get to it at the moment?

But I'll gladly pay you with bitcoin Tuesday for a box of .223 today.

Yeah.

Posted by: Soona at October 04, 2013 09:47 AM (3Mz5/)

155 damn sock.. off!

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at October 04, 2013 09:47 AM (f9c2L)

156 Yeah. Posted by: Soona at October 04, 2013 01:47 PM (3Mz5/) Bitcoin isn't for the ultimate SHTF scenario. It's for the long descent into financial banana republicry. BTW: I own both guns/ammo and bitcoins. I'm hedging against zombies and the Fed at the same time!

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at October 04, 2013 09:51 AM (E8IHS)

157 We're recording every phone conversation and individual internet activity in the world to stop ~~terrorism~~ child porn, drug dealing and tax evasion so its OK. Really. That's all we need the information for.

Posted by: NSA at October 04, 2013 09:52 AM (PWsaR)

158 I have it on good authority that when the "UPS guy" asks you to sign for a package, it is wise to first ask yourself, "Does this guy look like a cop?" UPS and FBI attract very different looking employees.

Posted by: Oschisms at October 04, 2013 10:18 AM (fcHUj)

159 This is a psych-op. It denotes weakness and panic not strength. Indications are we are near the climax and will soon be in the denouement. Comets are bad omens. Google ISON.

Posted by: Huggy at October 04, 2013 10:29 AM (VctSv)

160 A truly classic Zevon tune for this kind of shit hitting the fan

Posted by: Misanthropic humanitarian, now with 50% more sensitivity at October 04, 2013 10:51 AM (HVff2)

161 The more government control the more black and grey markets. Historically. Hmmm you'd think someone would catch on. Obama still at babysteps. Gibson guitars and apparently some grocery store -- training ground.

Posted by: gracepmc at October 04, 2013 11:25 AM (rznx3)

162 LOL, that is my local library where the dude got pinched.

Posted by: navybrat at October 04, 2013 11:31 AM (pAylc)

163 No one talks about fight club.

Posted by: tangonine at October 04, 2013 11:44 AM (x3YFz)

164 87 I'm a bit surprised the FBI didn't just quietly scoop up Ulrich and make a secret plea deal to turn him and allow Silk Road to keep operating normally as a sting front.

Posted by: Purp at October 04, 2013 01:28 PM (9MLX+)

They didn't need to make a plea deal. They've had access to the server since July. The fact that no one other than DPR was arrested suggests that Tor and Bitcoin are secure.

Posted by: schizoid at October 04, 2013 11:49 AM (OKy8L)

165 The malware didn't compromise TOR encryption per se, what it did was unmask your anonymity at the browser level transmitting your real IP info and MAC to the FBI. with that, finding you is not hard.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at October 04, 2013 12:25 PM (9MLX+)

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