Interesting thoughts. I think we'd have to violate the "never more than 21 million coins" concept to implement either. Plus, the first idea would be difficult. How would we know all the coins were lost and not simply being hoarded? I dunno. I'm sure people a lot smart than myself have come up with solutions already.

Snark noted.

That is my present understanding as well.

It is my understanding that lost wallets which are not recoverable result in lost Bitcoins. That is, the coins are gone forever. If that's the case, then it seems theoretically possible, though impractical, that a person could destroy all existing wallets and all existing coins would essentially be lost forever.

How does the system protect against such?

When I learned about Bitcoin early last year, it was being touted as a privacy solution. Though, the last I remember hearing this doesn't really stand up too well. Perhaps the issues have been resolved? I don't know.

However, for me personally, it solves the problem of my curiosity. That's solution enough.

Why not setup a betting pool?

The original site/idea came about in 2005. I had the same idea as BrannigansLaw, but he beat me to it.

I am a graduate student on hold due to a shortage on funds. I would like to return to school and finish my program, and I was thinking it might be fun to raise the funds within the Bitcoin economy. (I'd have to exchange the funds to cash, obviously.) I was looking to explore some ideas and pick the brain of the community about how this might be done.

I have come up with a few myself. I could clearly work my way through school. I have a background in web design, but it has been a few years since I have done any serious work. Plus, my skill set is a little limited at this point. I could design sites, sell templates, or something else along those lines. I have also considered teaching English (ESL), but there doesn't seem to be my demand for that. I can write moderately well, but I am incredibly slow and my "creative" writing is not so creative. (Though, I guess that might work for technical documents.) What are some other ideas?

I am not interested in receiving donations. I prefer to work my way through. Though, I thought it might be interesting to establish a Bitcoin scholarship fund for students. That might be a great way to promote Bitcoins to the general public.

Anyway, ideas? I'm open.

Kit, here. I have been exploring Bitcoins for a while. I decided it was a time to get involved. I am an educator and former web designer.

Thank you. I have been following Bitcoin for a while, and this provides an easy means to "enter the economy" so to speak. Who knows, hopefully I'll become an advertiser soon.