Unfortunately ripple does not count any more after Bitcoin was invented

Ripple is "debt" transfer as a matter of fact. and useful when asset transfer is very troublesome... like moving stash of cash from one country to another... Since using Bitcoin for moving "stash of cash" is already very easy it makes Ripple not so much needed.. IMHO

Ripple is less liquid but more stable. I think ripple and bitcoin complement each other well.

S.N. disappears Dec., 2010, and Ripple starts accepting BTC on Jan. 9, 2011. I wonder if there's a connection.

some supposedly japanese guy who invented up some awesome currency.

i'll try to find you a link.

Ripplepay sounds like a great concept, but how does it deal with the situation where an intermediary dies or becomes bankrupt, and their debt must be written off? It seems to lack the certainty of Bitcoin.

Whoever holds that debt could request that it be repaid by family members...however, in combination with bitcoin, ripple would facilitate the exchange of bitcoins for other things...you would not hold debt for extended periods of time, but rather you would settle up periodically.

Is there any work in progress with that approach ?

Ripple and ripple like concept is the only way for a sustainable bitcoin economy! Operating an economy on the bases of a "trust no one" payment system is very expensive. Transfer of "debt"/IOWs is transfer of TRUST. Trust is a fundamental category in every economy and the payment system that serves it. This is trust (not money) that makes the world go round! Money come into play if only the limit of trust is reached and balances have to be settled.

You need 6 block solved (1 hour) before your transaction is confirmed. Nobody will use such method of payment at the point-of-sale terminals! We need a system like p2p Ripple to verify the purchase in just couple of seconds. If trust limit is surpassed only then outstanding balances should be cleared through a bitcoin transaction!