Get a job with some real algo-traders to get some ideas. Learn a language other than PHP.   What you are describing sounds cool but you will discover just how hard it is pretty soon.

Thanks guys.  I get it now.   

I noticed on blockchain.info the biggest recent transaction,  seems to split into two address,

http://blockchain.info/fb/1tbcq2

Which I didn't think was possible.   Is this transaction split into two,  or is the small transaction the transaction fee. If so, it seems rather large.  I thought transaction fees for fixed rather than a percent.

Also,  how can you send funds to more than one address in on transaction using the Satoshi client.  Is it possible?

A lot of software can be about egos.  While the Bitcoin architecture is genius the code itself is merely adequate.  With all projects that use contributions from volunteers,  you need people managing it which are full time.   It's harder than it looks. Bitcoin's biggest enemy could be its own success.

Tor was part funded by the US Navy....

It's strange how the TV is always so accurate about things I know nothing about, but when they mention Bitcoin they get it so completely wrong.

I applied to a 'online payments processing firm',  no not that one.  I mentioned an interest in Bitcoin.  Never heard anything. 
Or maybe they found out about my goat fucking conviction.

Looks like whatever folder you placed the diablo miner code isn't in your CLASSPATH environment variable.  (or you haven't set you CLASSPATH environment variable) 

On Windows you set this with the system page on control manager.  (years since I did it, sorry)  on Linux 
export CLASSPATH="$CLASSPATH:/wherever"

Which sets it for one terminal session.   

Hope this helps

Please let me post on the big boys forum.  I have had 3 hours 10 mins logged in for *ages* now!

You need to be sure that using the considerable amount of money it will cost you wouldn't be better spent just buying Bitcoin. Electricity costs far more than you think it does. If you are just playing with mining bitcoin whatever is in your computer now is probably fine.

Hello my name is Dr Greenthumb   *cough* 

It will be extremely successful or it will banned by the powers that be.  Probably both.

Apparently shares in evil US oil companies rose on the news of Hugo Chavez died, as the capitalists enjoy a momentary lull and the global economic storm. 

Does mean that Bitcoin ( and presumably gold too ) will sink a bit in the next few days?

As the same 'the value of investments can go up as well as down'

lots of interesting and insightful comments.  Thanks ! 

About a year ago I purchased a small number of Bitcoins, which, in theory I could sell for several times what I paid for them,  but I don't want to because there value (relative to other currencies anyway) might go up.  At least that's what my flawed monkey brain tells me.

The question is this,  if everybody is thinking like me,  won't that mean the value will keep going up as more and more people hoard bitcoin? 

Won't this mean Bitcoin is more like gold ( a store of value ) than a genuine currency ?