Press conference with Hansi Flick
Hansi Flick: "No matter whether it's Barcelona, Dortmund, or Düren we take every game seriously. We have prepared for the game. What counts for us is that we qualify to the next round. The international players won't play tomorrow, but we still have a good squad."
Flick: "Alexander Nübel will start tomorrow. Manu understands that too."
Flick on Richards: "Chris had problems with his calf. He will not be available tomorrow and on the weekend. We will integrate him step-by-step back into team training."
Flick on the new signings: "In the first few days, I was able to see that they are all technically very good. The first impression is great. I'm pleased with them."
Flick on Marc Roca: "I expect him to reach 100 percent of what he can do. He can bring balance and security with the ball into our game. He will need some time to adjust to our system. It's different from what he has played so far."
Extra penalty shootout training ahead of tomorrow's game?
Flick: "No, we want to go through without a penalty shootout."
Flick: "We gave players like Müller, Boateng, Davies and Martínez time off. I expect them to have recharged their batteries. The last few days have been about integrating the new players and, on the other hand, giving the other players a little break."
Javi to help Roca with his integration?
Flick: "Javi is a very experienced player who's been in Munich for a long time. He can be of great help to Marc. We're ready to integrate the guys anyway. Marc is taking German lessons and speaks great English. So that's not a problem."
Flick on the international players: "Süle is an option for tomorrow as he didn't play against Switzerland. Robert's injury is not that bad, I spoke to him right after. Otherwise we have to wait for tonight's games."
Flick on the NT: "As a national coach you've little time to practice things. I know how important training sessions are to get your ideas across to the players. Jogi didn't have these sessions. What's currently being said isn't good for German football. Jogi did a sensational job."
Flick on last night's Germany game: "In terms of football, the game was good yesterday, the team created chances. There were still mistakes off the ball. Ultimately, it's up to Jogi Löw and his staff to prepare the team for it."
The new signings to debut tomorrow?
Flick: "Tiago Dantas is not allowed to play yet. Everyone else will play. It's a chance for them to show what they can do."
Nübel as the Pokal goalkeeper?
Flick: "I haven't thought about that yet. I'm just thinking about the next game. Due to the current situation, we decided that Alex would play tomorrow. We will see everything else afterwards."
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
"I'm super happy, everything went very quickly. It's a great honor to play for such a big club."
Choupo-Moting: "I think in order to be as successful as possible, you need a deep squad. At Paris we had very tough competition up front. Lewandowski is the best striker in the world for me, but no striker can play all the games. I can help the team with my qualities."
Choupo-Moting: "There were other inquiries and interesting ones. But when the call came from Bayern, it was a great honor, this is the reigning CL winner. Bayern was my favorite before the Final 8, the last 6 months have been very impressive. I am happy that I am here now."
Choupo-Moting on his role: "Of course there were talks with the coach, he made it clear to me that he would be happy if I joined. We didn't talk about a direct role. Everyone knows that FC Bayern have Lewandowski up front. But every player is important."
Choupo-Moting on returning to Germany: "FC Bayern are the biggest team in Germany, so it's a great honor for me to play here now. I wanted to go back to Germany. I'm from Hamburg, now I'm in Munich. It is also a very beautiful city."
Bouna Sarr: "The first impressions are really good. This is the first time I've had an experience abroad and I'm very happy to be here."
Sarr: "I have fond memories of the last five years in Marseille. There were many good moments, sometimes tears, that shaped me. The pre-season friendly against Bayern was a key moment for me and I'm very happy to be here. I got a great welcome & hope that we can win many titles."
Sarr on his role: "I'm another option in this team. Pavard can play right-back, but also centre-back. The club was looking for a different profile for the right-back position. I was brought in to give the team even more options."
Sarr on the upcoming game against Düren: "It's a great opportunity for us to play and gain confidence. You have to treat every opponent with respect."
Is the move to Bayern an opportunity for you to recommend yourself to the French national team?
Sarr: "Of course, this is a club that gets a lot of attention as the current European champion. But I still have to do a good job on the pitch. I don't put any pressure on myself."
Sarr: "It's a great pleasure, great pride to be here. This is a good step at my age. I'll do my best, work hard to improve and help the team."
Joachim Low on critics against him
"I say things the way I mean them. If someone says I'm arrogant, they can do that. Last summer we thought about the important steps we want to take and we will still carry out our plan to take a young and hungry team to the Euros next year"
Lack of respect?
Löw: "No, nobody goes that far. For example, on Saturday I heard Bastian Schweinsteiger's analysis. It's clear that there are divided opinions in football. The experts have to express their opinions. That's a good thing. It's perfectly okay and not disrespectful"
Löw on the people's lack of interest in the NT: "TV ratings between tournaments have also been lower in the past. When it comes to the Euros, the national team will become more important again, so people will identify with the team again. That's completely normal"
Löw: "I am sure that it will be more interesting to watch us again next year before the Euros. There are so many games now. When Dortmund for example play test matches before the season starts, the fans aren't interested either. The audience is looking for the highlights"
Löw: "The 3 at the back was a decision to gain stability for now. We can still play a back 4, most of the players play it at club level. But we want to have this alternative so we can play differently next year. This can be important against teams like France or Portugal"
Löw on Kimmich and Kroos: "The two got along very well from the start. They link our defense to the attack. Jo naturally has the advantage that he played in defense before, so when Toni takes more care of building up the game, Joshua can drop deep and help the back 3"
Mercy
VERSE
“I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.” Psalms 142:1-3 (NLT)
THOUGHT
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? I talk to people everyday that feel that way. Divorce, hunger, disease, addictions, homelessness, debt, trauma, everyday people come to our church for help. And it should be that way. The church is God’s representative on earth. We should be telling everyone that God deeply cares about their personal affairs. David knew this. He was overwhelmed with life and all the challenges it had for him, yet he knew he could turn to the Lord. He cried out to God and plead for mercy. And God listened. Jeremiah attests to this. In Lamentations 3:22-24 Jeremiah writes, “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” What an overwhelming truth. God’s faithful love NEVER ends and His mercies NEVER cease. I can’t even begin to get my brain around that. And the beauty is, every morning I wake up, God is there, with all His love and mercy waiting for me all over again! Today, when you need to, cry out to God. Pour out your complaints to Him. Tell Him all about your troubles. He has a brand new day’s worth of mercy and love waiting for you.
PRAYER
`Father, I am so glad I can come before You and share all my burdens. I am so grateful for Your mercy and faithfulness. Thank You that they never cease but are new every morning. Praise You Lord.`
AMEN
MEDITATION & VISUALIZATION
God’s mercy for me is new every morning
Visualize today’s verse. See yourself coming before Christ and pleading for His help. Sense His empathy toward you as you share your problems with Him. Imagine pouring out your complaints before Him at the same time sensing His deep compassion toward you. God’s mercy is real and you know it deep in your heart. Feel the praise build inside you and affirm, “God’s mercy for me is new every morning!”
Update from Barcelona
🔴🔵Barcelona are set to confirm goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has signed a new contract with the club that runs until 2025 shortly.
The Germany international has been in talks over an extension for a while and admitted earlier this year that negotiations had been put on hold because of Covid-19.
Those talks now appear to have been completed and should be announced soon.
Ter Stegen has agreed an improved deal that runs until June 2025 and news his future has been secured will be welcomed at Barca after a difficult transfer window.
The 28-year-old is currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in August but is expected back towards the end of the month.
Back-up Neto has done a pretty good job in Ter Stegen’s absence in the first three games of the season, but there’s no doubt Barca will be happy to have the first choice back fit.📰💥
Rumors on the signing of Costa
Hasan Salihamidžić on rumours that the team influenced the signing of Costa: "This is a fairy tale. At Bayern, tasks and competencies have been clearly distributed for decades: the team plays football, the management takes care of the squad. Squad planning is not the team's job."
Salihamidžić: "The management maintains a good relationship with the team council, we exchange ideas. But certainly not about the squad planning."
Salihamidžić on Douglas Costa: "Thanks to him, we are even stronger on the wings than we were last season. We now have four players with different profiles, who are strong dribblers. That makes us unpredictable."
Salihamidžić on Bayern's window: "We are satisfied. The tight schedule and the loss of many players from last season made it necessary to expand with the squad both in terms of quality and depth. Some people also forgot that we secured Nübel, Kouassi and Sané by July."
Salihamidžić on Bouna Sarr: "We've known him for a long time. He's an excellent footballer, fast, aggressive and agile. He'll liven up our game. If he plays to his best ability, he will help us very much." [Kicker]
The Grace of God
“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16-17 (NLT)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Every time I visit Southern California, I am overwhelmed by the amount of people I meet there that seem to be oblivious to the fact that they live in paradise. All around them are the mountains, sun and surf but they don’t see it. All they see is the everyday struggles of life. It is like that with God’s grace. We can get so bogged down with life that we don’t see all the grace that God has brought into our life. Not so with the Apostle John. Instead John starts out his Gospel with an overwhelming appreciation for the grace that God has for us. He writes that we have all received grace from God manifested in “one gracious blessing after another.” He introduces this manifesto of grace in contrast to the Law that was given through Moses. Moses gave us the law but Jesus gave us God’s grace. This grace was manifested in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness toward us through the death and resurrection of Christ. What about you? How is your life? Are experiencing God’s unfailing love? Are you aware of His many blessings? Do you appreciate His faithfulness toward you? Or have you been like the person walking a few miles from the beach, totally unaware of all its beauty and serenity? Today, stop and take the time to be conscious of God’s many blessings given to you. Rejoice in His wonderful grace and faithfulness.
TODAY’S PRAYER
`Father, forgive me for taking Your love and faithfulness for granted. Thank You for Your unfailing love and grace toward me.`
AMEN
TODAY’S MEDITATION & VIZUALIZATION
I will be conscious of all God’s blessings
Begin by thinking of a blessing in your life. It could a blessing of good health, friends, family, job, provisions, forgiveness, unconditional love, salvation, deliverance or protection. When you think of one, spend a few minutes meditating on it and give thanks to God.
Bayern Munich allegedly secure Benfica wunderkind Tiago Dantas on loan
SL Benfica B v UD Vilafranquense - Liga Pro Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty ImagesJust when you thought you were out, Brazzo pulled you back in as Bayern Munich reportedly secured a loan for Benfica wunderkind Tiago Dantas.Per a report from Portuguese journalist Bruno Andrade (Goal and A Bola) and the tabloid Record, Bayern Munich might have pulled some last minute magic in securing a loan deal for Portuguese phenom Tiago Dantas. The 19-year-old has been favorably compared to former Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.Below is the tweet from Andrade:Última hora: Bayern de Munique fechou o empréstimo do jovem Tiago Dantas, do Benfica. Aos 19 anos, o português é um pedido exclusivo de Hans-Dieter Flick, que enxerga nele um "novo Thiago Alcântara". Pasmém: opção de compra de apenas 8 milhões de euros— Bruno Andrade (@brunoandrd) October 5, 2020At the last minute: Bayern Munich secured the loan of youngster Tiago Dantas from Benfica. Nineteen years old, the Portuguese was exclusive requested by Hans-Dieter Flick, who sees him as a “new Thiago Alcântara.” Amazingly: purchase option for only 8 million euros.As stated above (and if true), the young midfielder would head to Bayern Munich on a one-year loan assignment with an option to buy for the cut-rate fee of €8 million.According to TVI 24, however, Benfica’s official source assured them that there is no purchase clause for the young player and that plans are for his return at the end of the season.It should be noted that Bayern Munich did not confirm this move prior to the transfer deadline in Germany, which leaves a gray area in how we should view this report. If true, it could be another coup for the Bayern Munich board.The fact that Flick could finally getting a player that he specifically wanted is a bit of news in its own right, because the treble-winning coach has seen two of his prized transfer targets, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, spurned by the Bayern Munich board.
Football Transfer Gossip
Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, 21, is poised for a move to Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, after falling out of favour at Emirates Stadium. (Mirror)
Tottenham are to make one last effort to sign Inter Milan's 25-year-old Slovakia defender Milan Skriniar. (Mirror)
Juventus are preparing a bid for Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri with a view to signing the 26-year-old Italy international on loan. (Calciomercato - in Italian)
Arsenal have given up hope of signing Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, 27, from Atletico Madrid. The Gunners are not prepared to meet his £45m buy-out clause. (Mirror)
Sheffield United are set to pip West Brom to the signing of 25-year-old Metz and Senegal forward Habib Diallo. (Le 10 Sport - in French)
French centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, 20, could be on his way out of Barcelona on loan, with Fulham his preferred destination, while Everton have also registered an interest. (Le 10 Sport - in French)
Bayern Munich will turn their attention to Juventus and Brazil winger Douglas Costa, 30, if they fail to land Chelsea's England forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, 19. (Kicker - in German)
Celtic are interested in signing West Ham's Scotland midfielder Robert Snodgrass, 33, on loan but are also open to a permanent deal. (Sun)
Germany defender Antonio Rudiger's loan move to AC Milan is all but done, with Chelsea happy to let the 27-year-old go before negotiating a contract extension, with two years left on his current deal. (90min)
Anderlecht are closing in on a deal for West Ham's Republic of Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen, 24. (Het Laatste Nieuws - in Dutch)
Brighton are preparing a 11.5m euro (£10.4m) bid for Poland midfielder Jakub Moder, 21, before loaning him back to Lech Poznan for the season. (Super Express - in Polish)
Valencia and Central African Republic midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, 27, is the subject of a 25m euro (£22m) bid from an unnamed Premier League club.(Marca - in Spanish)
Roma and Netherlands winger Justin Kluivert, 21, is heading to RB Leipzig on a season-long loan. (Fabrizio Romano via Football Italia)
Paris St-Germain have put in a late loan request for Porto and Portugal defensive midfielder Danilo Pereira, 29. (Goal)
Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Davy Klaassen, 27, is set to return to boyhood club Ajax, after a 11m euro (£10m) fee was agreed for the Netherlands international. (De Telegraaf - in Dutch)
Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, 31, will sign a two-year deal at Bayern Munich, after leaving Paris St-Germain. (Kicker via Goal)
Flick on Bayern vs Hertha
Hansi Flick: "Ultimately, we have to take into account the circumstances. We only had a two-week break and a short preparation. It's not easy for the players, they're not all at 100 percent. We know that we can work better defensively because a few percent is still missing."
Flick: "We have to get back to playing good football after the international break, the attractive football that we all love. Let's see which new players we'll have by the end of tomorrow. We have to get back on our feet."
Flick: "80 or 90% is not enough against Hertha, they have very strong players, especially in the attack. What makes me happy is our mentality, I can't complain about that. Even when you are tired, you can still perform. Lewandowski was not at 100% and still scored 4 goals."
Flick: "Our playstyle today was not Bayern like."
Flick on Lewandowski: "We know that Robert is an extraordinary goalscorer. It's also important to me that he plays and works hard off the ball and that is what he does. The quality he has is unique."
Flick on Javi Martínez: "I assume that he will still be with us tomorrow after 18:00 (deadline). He still has a contract here. But I cannot 100% confirm that."
Transfer Gossip
Real Madrid have joined the race to sign Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar in a huge blow for Arsenal.(Daily Record)
Tottenham Hotspur will focus on finding moves away for a number of fringe players after securing the loan signing of striker Carlos Vinicius, with head coach Jose Mourinho satisfied with his defensive options if a deal cannot be agreed for Milan Skriniar or Antonio Rudiger.(The Guardian)
William Saliba could leave Arsenal on loan before Monday's international transfer deadline, with Mikel Arteta admitting the next few days are a "crucial moment" in shaping his squad for the rest of this season.(The Daily Telegraph)
West Ham have turned their attention to signing Watford defender Craig Dawson after being priced out of the market for James Tarkowski.(Daily Mail)
Ousmane Dembele is reportedly now keen on signing for Manchester United - but Barcelona sporting director Ramon Planes is opposed to him leaving the Nou Camp.(Daily Mirror)
Bayern Munich are in talks with Chelsea about taking 19-year-old England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi on a season-long loan. (Sport Bild, via Mail)
France forward Ousmane Dembele, 23, has had a change of heart about joining Manchester United - but his club Barcelona have not yet sanctioned any potential move. (L'Equipe via Mirror)
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, 27, has called France team-mate Dembele to convince him to move to Old Trafford. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prepared to sell winger Daniel James, 22, to help fund a late bid for 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho. Solskjaer, however, has yet to convince the club's hierarchy to sell the Wales international. (ESPN)
Leeds United have revived their interest in signing James by offering Manchester United £25m. (Football Insider)
Chelsea have told Inter Milan they would prefer to see Spanish left-back Marcos Alonso leave on a permanent deal after the Serie A side registered an interest in signing the 29-year-old on loan with an option to buy. (Goal)
Manchester United's Diogo Dalot, 21, is in talks with AC Milan - but Roma also want the Portuguese right-back as part of their deal for United's English centre-back Chris Smalling, 30. (Sun)
Arsenal's Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira, 24, has arrived in Spain to undergo a medical with Atletico Madrid on Saturday before completing a season-long loan deal, with a purchase option for £18.1m. (AS - in Spanish)
Tottenham will make a fresh attempt to sign Inter's Slovakia centre-half Milan Skriniar, 25, this weekend after completing a loan deal for Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius. (Standard)
Tottenham have also asked about the availability of Turkey centre-half Merih Demiral, but Juventus are not willing to let the 22-year-old leave. (Goal)
Burnley's move for Wales winger Harry Wilson, 23, could now collapse as they are reluctant to meet Liverpool's £15m asking price. (Football Insider)
Championship sides Bournemouth, Swansea City and Luton Town are all interested in signing Tottenham and United States defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, 22. (Mail)
Arsenal are willing to send French centre-back William Saliba, 19, out on loan, with talks having taken place with Rennes. (Guardian)
Inter Milan are closing in on signing Parma's Italian full-back Matteo Darmian, 30, in a £1.81m deal. (Goal)
FC Bayern Munich planning update
FC Bayern Munich are planning to make a second sizeable offer to Chelsea for Callum Hudson-Odoi before the deadline closes on Monday night but the west London club are expected to reject it no matter what.
It was reported on Saturday evening that FC Bayern Munich had made a bid to sign the 19-year-old winger on loan with an option to buy him in 2021 for £70 million.
TheAthleticUK has been informed that the cash sum the Bundesliga club proposed may be even higher.
Sources say FC Bayern Munich made their approach in the past 48 hours and were quickly turned down, but the European champions are not prepared to give up just yet.
Insiders say a decision has been made & Callum Hudson-Odoi will not be heading to Germany even if they return with a more lucrative offer. The hierarchy & Lampard are united on the matter and don’t want him to go. Player is happy at Chelsea and has not asked for a move [The Athletic UK]
Marc Roca
Marc Roca has completed his medical in Munich. The Spaniard will sign a 5-year contract. Transfer fee: €9m plus add-ons.
After Marc Roca, FC Bayern Munich are still looking to strengthen in three positions: Right-back, winger, and striker.
Max Aarons is deemed too expensive [Norwich demands €22m fixed + €11m in add-ons]. In addition, not everyone at the club is convinced of the player.
Regarding the wing, Callum Hudson-Odoi remains FC Bayern's top priority. Thomas Lemar is definitely off the table.
As for the search for a backup striker, Andrej Kramarić is not an option anymore due to his high pricetag. Hansi Flick could have imagined Mario Götze at FC Bayern Munich but not the bosses. Mario Götze is now in talks over a move to Hertha Berlin. [BamS]
Sven Ulreich
Thank you for everything, Sven Ulreich!
Sven Ulreich has left Bayern and signed for Hamburg.
Ulreich: "I would like to thank FC Bayern and the fans for five wonderful and successful years. I've learned an incredible amount here and have always felt very comfortable. The togetherness in this team is just phenomenal."
Ulreich: "I am now looking forward to the new HSV challenge and would like to do my part to ensure that the club will soon be back in the Bundesliga - and then I look forward to seeing FC Bayern again."
Hasan Salihamidžić: "Sven is a great team player, he has proven that in his five years at FC Bayern. When Manuel Neuer got injured in 2017, Sven replaced him very well. HSV is getting an experienced goalkeeper who can take on a leadership role."
Salihamidžić: "I would like to thank Sven for his professional attitude and commitment to FC Bayern and I wish him all the best at his new club."
Hansi Flick: "Sven is an absolute professional and has done our team very well. As a backup, he gave 100% in every training and was always reliable when we needed him. Sven wants to play more often, so he wants to take this step."
Flick: "Hamburger SV is a top club with clear goals, we wish Sven lots of success - and that we will see each other again in the Bundesliga next season. He was very popular in our team, we will miss him."
Press Conference with Hansi Flick
Hansi Flick on Cuisance's failed transfer: "It's a difficult situation for him. I spoke to him and told him that I'll absolutely support him. He has not trained with us today because he didn't have a corona test yet, so he's not available for tomorrow."
Flick on transfers: "We'll wait until Monday to see what happens and when Monday comes we will define the goals that we consider realistic."
Flick on the Roca news: "I can't say anything, I can't confirm or deny anything. The focus now is not on transfers but rather the Hertha game tomorrow."
Flick confirms Ulreich to Hamburg: "Sven is an absolute professional and has showed 100% professionalism in every training. As a person and as a player, we will definitely miss him, so we wish him all the best at HSV and hope that we will see him again next season in the Bundesliga."
Flick confirms interest in Hudson-Odoi: "He's one of the best talents in his position. He can play on the wings and also as a number 10. That is why it's legitimate for us as FC Bayern to show interest."
Flick on the personnel: "Alaba and Goretzka are back. We'll have to wait and see with Kingsley Coman as he pulled out in training today. It's not ideal, but we will have eleven players on the pitch. Coman already had muscular problems vs BVB and we have to wait for tomorrow."
On The #UCL draw
On the #UCLdraw:
Hansi Flick: "It's an interesting group. There's no easy draw in the Champions League. The name says it all: champions play each other. That's why we're looking forward to the challenge in every game, against Atlético and of course Salzburg, where we'll travel by bus just an hour and a half away."
Manuel Neuer: "It's a strong group, but we have a strong team. Like every year, the defending champions are the favourites in the group. We're really looking forward to the games."
Robert Lewandowski: “We have to be ready. It doesn't matter how many titles we've won; we want more."
Thomas Müller: "A very interesting group. I haven't played against two of the teams - Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow. As current Champions League winners, we're already under pressure in the group stage. But I'm really looking forward to these opponents."
Lucas Hernández: "I'm really looking forward to meeting my former club Atlético Madrid in the group stage. It's the club where I grew up playing football, who gave me an incredible amount and with whom I'm very connected."
Hernández: "The two games against them will be complicated, as they defend extremely well and are very strong offensively with their newcomers. They will present us with problems and we will have to give 100 percent to beat them."
True Secret About Women !!!!
A woman's toughest time is when she is separated from the man she really loves. She could become upset.
It takes time for a woman to trust a man, and when she does, it's hard to change her mind, but if you screw up, you could just forget about it.
A woman is such a school from which you'll never graduate.
Your wedding certificate with her is not a "driving licence", its just a "Learners permit". Continue wooing her.
Now she can be very angry, and later on she can be a very sweet angel, all of which lies on your approach. Yes, do treat her correctly.
A woman hardly forgets stuff, remember that she hurts more, prevent getting her hurt. Stop harsh words and still affirm her.
A woman can be highly secretive... Most times when they prove hard to men, they go to their closet and cry to friends. Make your woman your best friend.
All women Love to be begged. Men often miss out on this. Yes please handle them like babies sometime its all they want.
All women have a unique character like salt, their presence might not be noticed but their absence makes all things tasteless.
If she loves you she can do everything you ask of her as far as it makes u happy, so never force her to love you.
If you don't take care of her, she will find someone who will. They are always there only that she chose you.
If a woman really loves you, she'll be shy even to ask for money from you, but as a gentleman, she won't wait to be asked, and particularly if she loves you, she can never leave you unnecessarily to spend ... that’s what makes them unique ...
`If you have a good woman in your life, don't take her for granted. They are expensive jewelry.`
An Incorruptible Life
*2 Timothy 1:10 (TPT)*
*This truth is now being unveiled by the revelation of the anointed Jesus, our life-giver, who has dismantled death, obliterating all its effects on our lives, and has manifested his immortal life in us by the gospel.*
What makes you unique as a Christian is the life of God in you. Unlike the natural man, your new life is incorruptible and non-perishable. It is indestructible by sin and death and immune to the perils of the world. It is the life the Lord Jesus brought to us by the gospel and this life is at work in you now. To have an incorruptible life means that the quality of your living as a Christian is not affected by external conditions. Nothing should affect the kind of life ordained for you to live.
For instance, you should never get to the point where your love for someone is stifled. That is to have your love corrupted or vitiated. This is what the Apostle meant when he wrote in 1 Peter 1:22-23 that _“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”._ You have been born-again with a new life that cannot be corrupted by any negativity. Nothing should degenerate your moral excellence.
Do you understand why you are called to live perfect in this world? It is because your life is incorruptible. This is the life you should be living. Do not excuse the glorious life of perfection the Lord has given you to live for human weaknesses and worldly corruptions. Do not join the bandwagon of those who say no one can be perfect on earth. Virtue and moral excellence are what underscore your living as a child of God. Just like Jesus, you are called to display the life of glory and perfection; the incorruptible life of God. Hallelujah!
*DECLARATION*
`Thank you, Lord for the incorruptible life. I am born of the incorruptible Word of life; my living is always in righteousness and true holiness. There is no corruption with me. For my life is non-perishable and indestructible. Hallelujah!`
*FURTHER STUDY*
*John 10:10*
_The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly._
*2 Peter 1:3*
_According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue._
Stay on Top
*_2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)_*
*Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.*
There is no down time for the Christian who lives by the word and abides in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Believe what God says about you; He says your path only shines brighter and brighter unto a perfect day. He says, He daily triumphs you to triumph. He leads you in a victory parade every day. The Lord’s pleasure for you is that you display His glory every time and under all circumstances. He made you the praise of His glory, exactly what 1 Peter 2:9 says _“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”._
This means that you must not have any down times in your Christianity - this is reality and no facade. Christianity is a defined life of glory; it is the life of perfection. It is the overcoming life. We do not get defeated. Situations do not overwhelm us. Circumstances do not beat us down. Nothing in the world successfully opposes us because the greater one lives in us and our faith in Christ has overcome the world. This is who we are - champions. We are icons of glory and sons of the Lord’s manliness. This does not mean we do not go through tough times; we do but we only win.
You see, human experiences must not affect your position on the word. Keep the authority of the word of God as true and the final authority in your living. Practice the truth of the word and maintain constancy in your fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Work out the Word by your faith in all situations and maintain your victory under all circumstances. The Lord’s pleasure for you is that you always stay on top. Your present phase must always be better than the previous, there must always be progress with you. You are a champion, keep championing.
*DECLARATION*
I am a child of Word; I always stay on top. I maintain constancy in my fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I make constant progress; I have no retrogression. I have no down times because I always stay on top. Hallelujah!
*FURTHER STUDY*
*Ephesians 3:20*
_Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us._
*Hebrews 11:1-3*
_Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The Glorious Church
*_Romans 12:11 (AMP)_*
*Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.*
One thing is certain; we are in the last age of the church. And the best of God’s family will be manifested in this age. One thing will be common with God’s army in this generation - a generation of zealous Christians. A people having great energy and enthusiasm in pursuit of the Lord’s mission of perfection and preparing for himself a glorious church. Often times, people are touted as being fanatics in their aggressive and exaggerated response to the things of God. Let’s ponder over this; Won’t the Lord love these so-called fanatics who choose to go all out for him? Surely, he does, and in this generation, there is an outburst of true lovers of God.
In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul mentions having zeal in the use of spiritual gifts as well as in a broader sense of all service to the Lord. The biblical definition of zeal in this context has a three-fold meaning. First, “be excited about doing something”; next, “to do one’s best” and thirdly, “do it quickly.” The Lord has raised and is raising many zealous Christians whose hearts are rubbed with his pure fire to spread his gospel all around the world. A church which is truly excited about the Lord’s mission, a church who gives their very best and are prompt to finish the mission in time.
The zeal of the Lord burns in your heart. Endeavour to give the right response to this holy call. Don’t be shy to be called a Jesus fanatic. It is truly an honourable position. People are fanatics of less honourable ventures such as politics, sports, paganism, etc. To be a zealous Christian doesn’t begin with you, but by being overwhelmed by God’s love. It is He who works in you to do of His good pleasure. Love is the fuel for your zeal. Continue loving the Lord and see the spontaneous outburst of true zeal in serving Him. The glorious church the Lord seeks is a zealous one. Be aglow and fervent in spirit and zeal always serving the Lord.
*PRAYER*
Father, I praise you, for you work in me to live zealously for You. I love you Lord. Your zeal has consumed me and I serve you with my all. I am given for your mission in this generation. I respond to your love which produces your zeal in me to push for the satisfaction of your heart. Amen.
*FURTHER STUDY*
*Psalm 69:9*
_For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
IBM Makes Bold Moves in Blockchain Technology
IBM is making bold moves to bring blockchain technology to the mainstream, announcing on Tuesday it has launched a new set of blockchain services on the IBM Cloud and donated nearly 44,000 lines of code to the Linux Foundation’s open source Hyperledger Project, a move that aimed at helping developers explore and easily build distributed ledgers. http://www.ibm.com/blockchain/
Additionally, the tech giant said it will soon open IBM Garages in London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo, where businesses would be able to collaborate with IBM experts on the design and implementation of blockchain technology.
IBM Global Business Services, a division of IBM and the world’s largest business and services provider, will also expand its blockchain consulting practice for clients in banking and financial services, and logistics. IBM Interactive Experience, the largest global digital agency, will also engage clients to co-design new use cases for blockchain in more than 25 IBM Studios around the globe.
IBM, which said it is committed in “making blockchain a powerful new business solution across multiple industries,” is currently working with a number of partners including London Stock Exchange and Kouvola Innovation.
With London Stock Exchange, IBM is developing open blockchain technologies to help manage risk and bring additional transparency to global financial markets, while the collaboration with Kouvola Innovation, a Finnish business development organization, is focused on using blockchain technology to transform logistics value chains into a more seamless process.
IBM, a founding member of the Linux Foundation’s **Hyperledger Project**, joined hands with a number of other technology firms and financial institutions, including Digital Asset Holdings, Intel and **R3**, to launch the cross-industry collaboration. The Hyperledger Project intends to develop an enterprise grade, open source blockchain dedicated to support business transactions. https://coinjournal.net/r3-digital-asset-jp-morgan-ibm-join-linux-foundation-blockchain-initiative/ https://coinjournal.net/digital-asset-closes-us50m-funding-from-13-financial-leaders-announces-partnership-with-asx/ https://coinjournal.net/news/ibm-makes-bold-moves-in-blockchain-technology/coinjournal.net/head-of-research-says-r3-open-source-blockchain-will-start-operating-within-a-year
IBM’s new blockchain services is aimed at helping developers create and manage blockchain networks, and “move from understanding the potential of blockchain, to actually using it to change their business processes in powerful ways,” Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President, IBM Research, said in a statement. http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/49029.wss
IBM’s capabilities include:
Pluggable architecture to allow developers to use software modules (consensus module for example) that best suits their needs;
A new consensus algorithm developed by IBM Research tailored to specific blockchain use cases;
Advanced identity management built with the latest cryptography;
Smart contracts that can be written in popular programming languages such as Java or Golang and executed in containers;
Fine-grained privacy and confidentiality control allows authors of smart contracts to precisely specify both who can view them and who can execute them.
The news comes simultaneously with the announcement that Japan Exchange Group, Asia’s largest bourse, **has teamed up** with IBM to start experimenting with blockchain technology for trading in low transaction markets. https://coinjournal.net/asias-largest-bourse-will-start-testing-blockchain-tech-in-march/
Has Love fallen into Disrepute?
"Why do you love me?" is mostly the counter question when a lady receives a love proposal.
It has become so easy for some men to utter the phrase without reservations "I love you".
The speed with which some of these people fall in love is the same speed they fall out of it. Why do some people get angry when their love proposals are turned down ? Don't those whom are proposed to, reserve the right to accept or reject ?
I should think if you really love someone, their happiness should be your utmost concern. And if the person you love feels she is going to be happy with another person, you should be gracious enough to prove your love by allowing her to go. And if they are truly yours, they will return. But if it is not meant to be, no matter how hard you try, you will not be loved in return.
It is difficult to let go because it is not her that you love, but the joy you derive from being with her. Love is so fulfilling when returned.
*One of the paradoxes of love is that, " Sometimes, the one you love, does not love you and the who loves you, you also do not love"*.
*_Better be lonely than marry someone you do not love._*
It is not fair to accept to marry someone you do not love, you deny each other the fulfilment of love you both deserve.
*Do not lead people on when you do not love them. Be frank and firm with them.*
Do not accept to marry anyone because you pity them.
Some people have also misconstrued sex for love. But, if it were so, prostitutes would have been the "best of lovers". Do not fall into Satan's version of love which is lust.
With prayer and patience you will find your true love.
"Friends today, enemies tomorrow" should as much as possible be avoided. GOD is Love. Love is sacrosanct and love must not be brought into disrepute.
Reference(s):
————————
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1 John 4:18
Take Heed
There is this temptation of assuming we are better than others, especially when we compare ourselves with others.
A temptation, all especially believers must guard against. And this is why salvation is not acquired by anyone's efforts or works. Apostle Paul wrote "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".
If no one should boast, then that comparasm of being better than another because you did something that person didn't do or that person is doing something "wrong" you will never do is unnecessary.
It is written, " But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags"
Beloved, have you come to realise that you may be fortunate to have learnt and matured into depending on the Holy Spirit's promptings?
So that the good works that you boast of is influenced by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ told a parable of two men, a Pharasee and a tax collector going to the temple to pray. The Pharasee prayed, " GOD, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector." He continued by listing his works, "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess."
The tax collector we are told would not even raise his eyes to heaven, beat his chest and prayed, "GOD, be merciful to me a sinner!’.
Jesus said, "the tax collector went down his house more justified than the Pharasee.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Reference(s): *[NKJV]*
————————
Ephesians 2:8&9
Luke 18:10-14
1 Corinthians 10:12
Isaiah 64:6
Jesus The Lord
*_2 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)_*
*For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.*
One of the great themes of the New Testament is the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Over and over we are reminded that He is Lord. The Lordship of Jesus Christ was not just a doctrine or an idea to the early Apostles but rather a living reality that must be with us also in this present age. The truth of Jesus being Lord and head of the church is not just important, it is everything. Jesus is Lord of the entire universe. He is the Lord of His creation and reigns supreme in and over all things. Hallelujah!
John 1:1 says, that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:14 explains _"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”._ Jesus is God. This is an absolute truth revealed by the scriptures. He is not a passer-by prophet or leader who once walked on earth as postulated by some who lack the insight into His real personality. By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, all things were created by him, and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Until you have intimately come to acknowledge his Lordship in your living you cannot enjoy the blessings of his Lordship. And the first step to partaking in this blessing is by confessing him Lord through faith. That is why you must pursue goals that take the gospel to the streets to bless the world with the Lordship of Jesus. And truly, His Lordship must touch every aspect of your living and conduct or He is not Lord intimately. He leads his army in triumphant procession to victory. Tell the world about this unique Lord Jesus. Tell them about his coming. Tell them about his dominion. For behold, the Lord comes!
*DECLARATION*
Lord Jesus, you are my God. Thank you for your Lordship that always leads me to glory and honour. You are my master. I tell the world of your Lordship and dominion. You are above all things in the heavens and in the earth. Your glory is seen in all the earth as I preach you to the world. I love you Lord Jesus.
*FURTHER STUDY*
*Matthew 28:18*
_And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth._
*Revelation 19:16
_And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Dying Problem of Bitcoin Hacks and Thefts
Although the days of massive bitcoin thefts are not behind us, better security solutions are slowly making their way to market. As we saw with the recent theft from Bitstamp’s hot wallet, even the largest, most-experienced players in the bitcoin space can have trouble securing their own bitcoins. Having said that, there have been a variety of new security solutions, such as multisig addresses and hardware wallets, that will make bitcoin security much simpler for everyone. As the proper tools and security techniques for safely storing bitcoins become common knowledge throughout the community, we should see a continued decline in the number of large thefts that take place on a regular basis.
Bitcoins vs bitcoin IOUs
The first issue with thefts and hacks in the bitcoin world has to do with education. For whatever reason, many people who use online exchanges or wallets seem to believe that they are holding bitcoins in their various accounts at Coinbase, Bitstamp, Circle, and other online bitcoin solutions. The reality is that users of these sites are storing bitcoin IOUs, not actual bitcoins. One of the golden rules of bitcoin is that the owner of the private key to an address is the one who owns the bitcoins associated with that address.
The largest thefts in the bitcoin space have happened at the various exchanges and online wallet services that pile up bitcoins from a large number of different users, so it’s important for the general public to realise that they are responsible for the security of their own bitcoins. The point of building bitcoin, which was outlined in Satoshi’s original white paper, was to create a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system.” Perhaps many of the risks associated with bitcoin security could be avoided if more users simply read the white paper. In this paper, the need that was fulfilled with the invention of bitcoin was clearly laid out on the first page:
[blockquote]What is needed is an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust, allowing any two willing parties to transact directly with each other without the need for a trusted third party.[/blockquote]
Although the removal of trusted third parties is a key point mentioned by Satoshi in the paper, many people are still building and using centralized, trusted third parties built on top of the bitcoin protocol. It may take more time — and unfortunately more thefts — for the basic point of bitcoin to become implanted into the minds of bitcoin users. The amount of trust placed in these third parties is often quite unbelievable, even after the MtGox debacle in early 2013. For example, the potential bitcoin ETF coming from the Winklevoss Twins includes no insurance for shareholders, and the creators of the ETF are not liable in cases of stolen or lost bitcoins. It should be noted that Circle is one of the few online wallet providers who offers insurance for the entirety of their hot and cold wallets — with the exception in cases where a user’s password was compromised.
Secure storage is becoming easier
The good news for anyone who is looking to take back the responsibility of securing their own private keys is that plenty of new options have hit the market over the past two years. Hardware wallets, such as Trezor, allow users to store their private keys offline, while also having the ability to sign transactions to be sent to an Internet-connected device. Malware on the Internet-connected smartphone or laptop may attempt to trick the Trezor user into sending bitcoins to the wrong address, but the screen and buttons on the Trezor make it clear which address the bitcoins are being sent to before the transaction is authorised. https://buytrezor.com/?a=5a2061181959
Multisig addresses have also gained some notoriety over the past year, and Bitstamp has finally decided to join the multisig movement after their own hot wallet was hacked earlier this month. The premise of a multisig address is that multiple signatures are needed for a transaction to be sent. One example of a company using multisig to their advantage is GreenAddress. This is an online wallet where transactions must be signed by both the user and GreenAddress before they can be sent. This allows users to get some added security from a third party without giving control of their funds over to that third party. If GreenAddress starts behaving badly or simply disappears, full control over the wallet can automatically return to the user after a predetermined amount of time. The setup of GreenAddress’s online wallet gives users access to traditional banking security options, such as daily spending limits, in addition to an unique solution for instant confirmations.
Multisig addresses are not limited to requiring signatures from multiple people before a transaction can be sent, this special kind of address can also be used by individuals who wish to require signatures from more than one of their own computing devices. This creates a new form of two-factor authentication based on bitcoin where a user can require a signature from their desktop computer and their smartphone before a transaction is sent. Bitcoin Authenticator is one of the wallet providers currently working on this sort of functionality.
What needs to happen next?
Education on proper bitcoin security and responsibility over one’s private keys is going to be a crucial element to preventing more large-scale thefts in the future, but hardware wallets and multisig addresses also need to become more available to the general public. The Trezor is still a bit expensive for the average bitcoin user, but Ledger is currently working on improvements to their own alternative, smartcard-based solution that could bring these sorts of hardware devices to the masses in the near future. As long as more people decide to take control of their own private keys and take advantage of the new security solutions that are becoming available each year, we should see the slow death of bitcoin thefts continue to improve the integrity of the entire ecosystem.
Not the Talking but the Doing
*_1 John 3:18 (NLT)_*
*Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.*
In his address to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, the Lord revealed himself as the one who is true. _"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is...true" (Revelation 3:7 KJV)._ What does this teach you? This teaches that as a child of God, you must have a vivid understanding of reality. The Lord is true. He is The Amen. Whatever comes out of his mouth is the truth. He does not say what is not true of him. Likewise, he does not lie about what is true of him. All his promises are yes and true. There's not a scintilla of falsehood in him. This is the reason why you can trust the Lord at all times.
This is the person you are following as a Christian. You must clearly see his truthfulness and emulate him. As the theme scripture admonishes, don't just say you love your brother or sister. Show them that you love them. Show your love by your action, not merely by your words. Many people speak the truth but they do not do the truth. There are some who preach the truth all right, but they themselves do not walk in the truth that they teach. This was typical of the pharisees of Jesus' time. The Lord once reprimanded them for being hypocritical. The Lord told his disciples, _“The scribes and the Pharisees administer the authority of Moses, so do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don’t do what they say" (Mathew 23:1-3, ISV)._
It is not the talkers who have approval before God but the doers. James wrote, _"Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!" (1:23, MSG)._ So who may be called a 'fool' in this context? The one who listens to the word of God but does not do what the word says. That person is only deceiving himself or herself that he or she is approved for merely listening to the word of God. The world is looking for Christians who will show them love and not those who just talk to them about love. What you do is what proves who you are, so give proof to your love by showing it rather than merely talking about it. Hallelujah!
*DECLARATION*
I am a person of my word. I am genuine and trustworthy. My love comes with demonstration. Every word I utter is true, and not false. I follow the example of my Lord Jesus. Glory to his name forever. Amen.
*FURTHER STUDY*
*3 John 1:3*
_For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth._
*1 John 4:20*
_If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?_
*James 2:15-17*
_If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
A Spotless Bride
*_Ephesians 5:27 (NLT)_*
*He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.*
How do you want to appear on the day of your wedding? How do you envisage your bride on that special, joyful occasion of presenting her to yourself as your lawfully wedded wife? For Jesus, he sees a bride who has no spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. He sees a wife gloriously dressed in dazzling white silk, radiant in holiness. The church is Jesus' bride, his spotless bride. His delight is for her to appear glorious, so he owes it a duty to die for her, and to wash her with his pure blood, thus, making her holy and without blemish.
You are that spotless bride. The ever-resplendent glory of Jesus Christ, the Lord. As your head, he teaches you. He leads you. He guides you. He trains you to live the glory life where no human or angel can find fault with you. Do you know the Lord's desire for you? His desire is that when the devil sees you, he should run away from you because of the dazzling light that oozes from your excellent purity. The devil cannot come close to a holy Christian. He is afraid, so much afraid of holy living.
Beloved of Christ, you have none other responsibility to Christ than to respond rightly to his love and his righteous training. It is his will to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, but it is your responsibility to keep yourself in his love, submitting your will to him as your Lord and protector. Whenever your personal ambitions come into conflict with the Lord's will for you, gladly lay down your ambitions at his feet, so that he can cheerfully lead you in the path of rightness according to his love. Keep yourself in his love.
*PRAYER*
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for demonstrating your love for me in various ways. I am convinced that you love me beyond every limit. I am therefore locked in your will. I have no ambition for myself. Your service is my delight. Your joy is my strength. Hallelujah!
*FURTHER STUDY*
*Jude 1:21*
_Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life._
*Ephesians 5:22*
_Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord._
*Psalm 73:25*
_Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
ZeusHash May Close Cloud Mining Service
In the same week that CEX.io announced that they are temporarily suspending their cloud mining service due to the low cost of Bitcoin rendering it unprofitable, ZeusHash, the cloud mining service offered by hardware manufacturer Zeusminer have followed suit announcing on their blog that they may also be forced to suspend their cloud mining operations, stating that as per their terms of service, if the cloud mining contracts remain unprofitable for 10 consecutive days then the service will be suspended
[blockquote]"As Bitcoin price witnessed significant and continuous dropping lately, the daily payouts of GHS will not be able to cover maintenance fees (now at $0.0023 per GHS per day) very soon. As you can see the payouts today have already been eaten up by 98%+ of maintenance fees. According to our Terms, “in case the daily mining return is lower than the maintenance fee for at least 10 days in a row”, we’ll have to cease the operation of our mining farms and freeze all GHS contracts, which is a forced measure when there’s no mining profitability. We’d like to warn you not to purchase more GHS as it’s not the best time for investment. And we are working on different plans for your profits when the conditions for freezing GHS contracts are met. The final solution will be released then."[/blockquote]
The Cloud Mining Climate
Being the 2nd cloud mining company in a week to suspend services paints a bearish picture for the short term future of cloud mining. In our interview with Ghash, Bitmain & BTC China we discussed cloud mining as well as mining centralisation. With Bitcoin losing value over the last few weeks and difficulty remaining high, it's hard to not envisage a future where only those with cheap, or renewable energy are able to run cost efficient mining operations. In CEX's blog post that announced the suspension of their cloud mining service they referenced the need to negotiate more attractive rates in order for the operation to become profitable again, something also shared by Zeushash in their announcement
[blockquote]As a dedicated cloud mining platform, ZeusHash will continue its efforts to seek for better solutions to deliver more cost-efficient cloud mining contracts. Negotiations with our partners are going on smoothly and it won’t be long before the new contracts are available[/blockquote]
White Hat Hacker Returns Stolen Bitcoins
A hacker that stole hundreds of bitcoins from Blockchain.info has returned returned them to the site after they identified a vulnerability on the site.
The mystery hacker, who uses the alias “johoe” on Bitcointalk, could have retained the bitcoins, worth around $90,000. Instead, he or she chose to send them back to their rightful owners via the wallet service Blockchain.info.
The hack was made possible due to a serious flaw at Blockchain.info that made it possible for funds to be transferred out.
On Reddit, one user said that they created a new wallet and deposited 100 bitcoins into it. Within 17 seconds, all of the bitcoins were transferred to another address.
How Did it Happen?
The flaw appears to have been introduced during a software update that contained flawed code, causing wallets to be generated with previously used R-values allowing anyone monitoring the addresses to calculate the private key and gain access to the wallet. The issue was resolved within three hours, but that was long enough for the hack to take place.
Johoe says that he, or she, took the bitcoins in order to keep them safe before a less honest person came along and stole them. Blockchain.info claimed that less than 0.0002 of the user base was affected, but this was still an alarming incident for that small percentage.
Blockchain.info Issues
Blockchain.info has been highlighted as a potentially problematic wallet service. Users visiting the site using the Tor browser were subject to man in the middle attacks, and some users have highlighted issues with their code. These two errors are the most serious in a string of accusations against the service.
Blockchain.info said that it was working with its users to resolve problems after the Johoe hack, and would be processing refunds in due course. The consequences would have been far worse for the company if the funds had been stolen forever, so Johoe has probably done them a favour. Some users have said that they’re missing funds that haven’t been returned, but this is not verified as a separate hack and is still being investigated.
Blockchain.info is arguably the best-known wallet provider on the internet, and is also the largest provider globally. Thanks to its simple interface and lack of learning curve, it has made bitcoin far more accessible to novices. However, it has been removed from bitcoin.org’s list of approved wallet vendors until it improves its security.
Bitcoin Investment Trust Wins 48,000 Auctioned Bitcoins
The Bitcoin Investment Trust has successfully bid for 48,000 bitcoins that were auctioned last week.
The coins were originally part of a huge stash of bitcoins owned by Silk Road, the defunct dark web marketplace. They had been placed up for auction after it was shut down and its assets were seized. Silk Road’s founder, Ross Ulbricht, was also arrested.
The US Marshals Service put 50,000 of Silk Road’s bitcoins up for auction last week, split into 20 blocks. In total, they were worth about $18 million. The Bitcoin Trust clearly has the lion’s share of the blocks on offer: 19 out of 20. It used a syndicate model to bid and buy, with 104 participants in total.
However, there were fewer participants this time around compared to the first ever bitcoin auction: 11 buyers vs 45 originally. This could be because the earning potential is lower, or because bitcoin’s value has decreased since June. The lower participation could also simply show that the novelty of the government auction has worn off, or that bidders are shifting to a syndicate strategy to give themselves more power. The auction was also much shorter this time around, with 6 hours of bidding time instead of 12, and this may explain why there were fewer bids.
Tim Draper, a venture capitalist, reportedly purchased the remaining 2,000 bitcoins from the Silk Road auction . Draper purchased the entire stash of almost $30,000 bitcoin in the first auction, so he was expected to be involved in this one. The investor has said that some of the coins will be distributed to bitcoin startup companies as part of a project called Boost. http://www.miningpool.co.uk/silkroad-auction-ends/
The Bitcoin Trust is an investment fund that deals solely in cryptocurrencies. Its syndicate, formally known as SecondMarket, completed the transaction last Monday. There will be more than 100 beneficiaries in the syndicate, so it’s impossible to say where those coins are going to be spent.
Ulbricht’s assets are still the subject of court orders, so there may be more auctions to come once the confiscated bitcoin become available. Interest is likely to fluctuate again, depending on bitcoin’s value when the next round is announced.
@Friendlys
