@FeralOink do you mean like actuarial, or general risk?

@Muro I'll be really surprised if it survives ...

just doesn't seem that there would be enough content

@CRoss I like both actuarial and general risk. I studied for the actuarial tests (the old ones, numbers 1, 2 and 3) and worked with actuaries in "business informatics" (stupid term, sounds like misappropriation from real science bioinformatics, similar to "physics for poets" you know? But that's what BCBS in some U.S. states name that department).

@CRoss I like risk as in measurements of uncertainty. In finance that means volatility usually. Standard deviation and descriptive statistics to identify outliers, anomalies and diagnose whether the cause is reporting error, intentional i.e. fraud, or genuine aberration in an historical context. Or heuristic framework or logic. I bet you're sorry you asked now!

@CRoss Now that I think of it, why do you ask? Do you like risk too? General, or actuarial? Genuine question, not a snark question.

@FeralOink yes, more personal financial though

and my wife studied actuarial

so we have conversations that would put normal people to sleep :-)

@CRoss That's nice that you're married and enjoy talking about cool stuff with you wife. Well, maybe not cool, but you know, interesting things that make you think and engage. Like actuarial topics. The concepts are great, but it is very structured. That's why I like financial risk management better. And do it better too, as a job function.

@CRoss Have you seen how vocal and enthusiastic some people get about Bitcoin? Try searching on Twitter or Quora, just the single term. I am rather weary of it, personally. Successfully implementing something like bitcoin (not to mention whether there is even any need for a bitcoin!) is incredibly complicated. That's why it gets so many people excited.

@CRoss Bitcoin's got cryptography, and privacy/ identity, and economics, and payment systems, electronic transfers, transactions processing, economic theory and policy implications, fraud and counterparty risk, all sorts of stuff to discuss. I'd rather they have their own StackExchange for it.

@FeralOink I've seen it. I think there's also a measure of "technology will fix everything" in why people are so exicted

@FeralOink I concur, I'd rather have it somewhere else

but I don't think there will be enough information to support it

@CRoss Oh yes, I think you are correct! But that hasn't stopped anyone yet. There are very few people with the proper background to make a case for or against bitcoin. But that doesn't stop them from trying. The techy folks love the "100% cryptographically secure" aspect. Although the Mt. Gox exchange, a de facto clearinghouse, except not as secure or functional as existing clearinghouses e.g. ACH, was subject to some huge fraud recently, over a million us dollar equivalent in bitcoin stolen.

@FeralOink I saw that

this is the first serous attempt at this concept. first attempts rarely are successful in the long run, at least without non-trivial changes.

@CRoss Bitcoin is of questionable legality, but that is entertaining for people to discuss. The FBI likes the idea of using bitcoin as the currency for some odd sort of information security futures exchange, as an exercise, not a real one!

@CRoss Yup, you are right. Someone who is credible, in my opinion, an advocate of bitcoin is Jon (John?) Matonis. He was a forex trader for VISA, managed currency exchange risk for some one else, was CTO of hushmail, and worked at PayPal. I don't agree with his advocacy of bitcoin...

@CRoss but I respect his opinions as he knows what he is talking about. If he criticizes something, he has facts to back up his claims. When they are not ideological, that is!

@CRoss No, don't tell me, you want barter brought back? Barter is okay as an adjunct form of exchange. But it is so easy to get ripped off and exploited if barter were the ONLY form of exchange.

@FeralOink no, I like currency

@CRoss But I do like pawn shops. Pawn shops are a regulated and legitimate form of banking. There are inefficiencies, but pawn brokers are taking risks, and they charge for it. Pawn shop customers need to be sensible, but sometimes people don't have choices. I'm not talking about illegality or fencing, mind you. Just access, like off hours, or lack of a market for things that aren't liquid... Alternatives? Barter! So yes, you have a valid point about that, if I infer correctly.

@CRoss Okay, sorry, I need to shut up and listen, and stop typing. Barter and currency? I'm confused. What do you mean?

sorry, baby has my attention

I'll respond later

@CRoss Okay, take your time. Baby is more important than bitcoin, more important than anything. IMHO. You are fortunate.

@FeralOink When I was complaining about the gov't restricting barter, it wasn't because I love barter so much. It's because we feel the need to regulate everything these days.