While driving to Ohio (or was it while driving back), I was thinkin' about Bitcoin which lead me to thinkin' 'bout BW. I was picturin', in my mind, those two guys from NPR in BW's office where he happened to have the computer on showin' 25K BTC in a MyBitcoin.com account. This is not disputed. http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=137795648&m=137803856 at 14:45, Jacob(?) sees on the screen the before mentioned amount settin' in MBC. But does he really see that? What if all he really saw was a page to look like MBC with a fake 25K BTC sittin' there. Almost anybody here could set up a page like that to impress whoever, like a girl, for example, or an investor, or someone from the media. See what I'm gettin' at here?

Here is what I came up with. BW never had 25K BTC in MBC. BW and MBC are one and the same. It was gettin' time to close MBC down and reap the rewards, but when and how. The two NPR guys, by happenstance, provided that opportunity. And while the NPR guys were enjoyin' lunch at Meze Grill, POOF! MBC gets hacked(?). What happens in later days is that BW gets all of his 25K BTC back, and everyone else (maybe not everyone) gets 51% (or was it 49%? I didn't bother to research this, but we all know this transpired--It's either 51/49 or 49/51 which is close enough).

Correct me if I'm wrong on the following, though it doesn't make too much of a difference. I don't believe BW ever mentioned having 25K BTC prior to that radio clip, did he? Of course, he would have no reason to, like I would have no reason statin' that I currently have $13,677.31 in my Chase checking account. But if I wanted to impress some young naive girl, all I would have to do is leave on the computer a screen shot of $130,677.31 in my Chase account. She ain't goin' to look at the URL to see the truth. The actual screen shot is so powerful, eyes won't move up to the top of the page. Of course I enter the picture immediately and, with one click of the mouse, I'm off the page, with the screen now showin' the Chase Bank home page. Of course, I now won't tell her that that money isn't mine. The subject would be something on the lines that I'm plannin' a vacation, want to come? Where to? Pattaya!

So let's recap what I believe happened that morning.

Bruce and Ed had a nice breakfast. Ed cooked. The phone rings. It's the two guys from NPR. Sure, come over.

Bruce: We need to get dress, love.
Ed: Why.
Bruce: Two guys are coming over from NPR.
Ed: Are they...
Bruce: No. Better! They want to take about Bitcoin.
Ed: What should we do before they get here?
Bruce: Remember our MBC dilemma?
Ed: Yes.
Bruce: All we need is a fictitious screen shot.
Ed: I'm on it, love.

That said, now punch wholes (wrong word choice?) in my theory.

Bruno

The author actually wrote "Then Wagner became the target of a countercampaign that publicized a successful lawsuit against him for mortgage fraud, costing him much of his reputation within the community" in the article, but what catched my eye was the big photo of BW with the text "Bitcoin's chief proselytizer, Bruce Wagner, at one of the few New York City restaurants that accept the currency.
Photo: Michael Schmelling"


Phinnaeus Gage: Good thinking.

Altering a web-site is damn easy:

http://www.fslog.com/2007/01/21/javascript-trick-to-edit-the-page-displayed/

Just fetch the javascript part from that page there, put it in the adress bar, then press enter, now you can edit the web page to the content of your heart.

Just on a general note: If someone have been involved in an economic scam, even if this was 10 years ago, I'd NEVER trust them to handle anything related to money at all. People can change, and does so at times, but I won't take my chances.

He's just that bloke off the youtube with the 200 views per episode - I'm not that bothered personally. I'll leave judging people to someone more qualified. I've better things to do with my life.

As I said - I've better things to do with my life. Call the cops if you have concerns - I'm assuming there is a legal mechanism in your country. Use it. dial 911 (or whatever it is - use it to speak out if you are serious and a 'good' man)

...
snip
...
TLDR;  some hot(?) buttcoin fan-fiction.



The more you sling theoretical mud like this - the less likely the real mud will stick.
The real mud is the Bold Funding sliminess.

Save the cheese-o-drama scripts of paranoid MyBitcoin scenarios featuring your favourite villain for your pitch to the movie moguls.

He is smart enough to stay off these forums.  Unfortunately a lot of Bitcoin users think that everything begins and ends with these forums when Bitcoin.org doesn't even link directly this place.    He runs a Google group that is quite active with Bitcoin related things.   Obviously, telling by the Wired article, he stays active.




ssaCEO, I wouldn't suggest ignoring Wired or any other media for that matter.  You seem to feel strongly, I think maybe you should approach the person who wrote that article.   If this piece got the writer hits, I have no doubts they wouldn't mind doing a follow up, especially if it can spur some controversy.   

Here is the "bitcoin show" episode with the wired writer, Ben Wallace. He seems to be pretty cautious with his words talking to Bruce. I will admit I was a bit suprized to see Bruce's picture in the article when I opened my Wired that landed in my mail last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIsu9nv6pA

Congratulation Mr. Wallace, you have now been squished by the bitcoin show's ratio squishier!

To be fair, when I first discovered Bitcoin Bruce was all over this forum... it would be hard to do an article without him in it.

He does mention


in the article.

Bruce has always seemed very shifty to me... but to be fair just because someone says something in a post here (or any other forum) doesn't make it true.

I actually listened to this whole show (rare since I can't usually deal with Bruces style of interviewing(if you can call it that) or the squished video) and personally I would prefer that Ben Wallace host a show about bitcoin.