Was Du über Bitcoins wissen solltest

Posted by stefan on 25 May 2011
Sagesex ist zurück. Warum jetzt? Weil es aufregendes zu berichten gibt: Bitcoins, das Geld der Zukunft, stimuliert Fantasie und Diskussion. Was ist dran?Es ist viel über Bitcoin geschrieben worden in letzter Zeit. Aber erstaunlich wenig auf Deutsch. Noch weniger ohne politische Meinungsmache, die man radikal nennen könnte. Das was dann noch übrigbleibt, ist meist verkürzt oder schlicht falsch. Ich hoffe, das können wir ändern.

Was ist neu an Bitcoin?

Bitcoin ist das erste Zahlungssystem und die erste Währung, die ohne eine sogenannte trusted third party auskommt, also ohne eine Bank, der sowohl der Sender als auch der Empfänger einer Zahlung vertrauen müßten. Was ist daran eigentlich so revolutionär?

Banken, auch Zentralbanken, haben ja – gerade zur Zeit – keinen besonders guten Ruf. Bei Zahlungen – gerade international – verlangen sie oft undurchsichtige und scheinbar überhöhte Gebühren, sind unbegründet langsam – drei bis fünf Tage für eine Überweisung innerhalb von Europa – und um das Bankgeheimnis war es auch schon besser bestellt – siehe etwa das Terrorist Finance Tracking Program. Zudem lassen sich Zahlungen durch Banken von Regierungen kontrollieren, die damit etwa Spenden an Wikileaks oder den Zugang zu Onlinecasinos unterbinden, und es kommt immer wieder zu zweifelhaften Kontosperrungen. In Bezug auf Währungen sind die aktuellen trusted third parties, die für den Wert des Geldes garantieren, eher die Zentralbanken oder Regierungen selbst. Auch hier gibt es viele, die mit der Geldpolitik dieser Vertrauensquellen nicht zufrieden sind, wie die aktuelle “Eurokrise” zeigt. Aber warum brauchte man diese trusted third parties bis jetzt überhaupt?

Der wichtigste Grund ist wohl das sogenannte double spending-Problem, also die Frage, wer mich bei einer Überweisung daran hindert, das gleiche Geld einfach zweimal auszugeben, oder im Fall von Bargeld einfach ständig Neues zu drucken. Im ersten Fall sorgt die Bank dafür, daß das Geld von meinem Konto abgezogen wird, und im zweiten unternimmt der Staat drastische Schritte gegen mich. Eine weitere wichtige Frage ist, wie denn neues Geld in Umlauf kommt. All diese Dinge tun Banken, Zentralbanken und Staaten für uns und bis jetzt gab es keinen Weg, ohne sie auszukommen. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 50% [?]

25May

Photography, bitch!

Posted by stefan on 26 July 2010

Julian as a 60-year-old black weirdo

Dear ungrateful readers/viewers!

Some of you have expressed their understandable desire to enjoy more of our mega smrtness (S.M.R.T.) cast into articles again. We are deeply honored. Now Julian is actually writing some of these articles and I, too, will (just like here) address some words to you. However, the more perceptive among our readers should have noticed that my latest passion and favorite means of expression has become photography, and especially photo editing.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

26Jul

Temple Tasting in Angkor

Posted by admin on 7 April 2010

Sagesex is always there for you when it’s time to determine the best things in the world. Just like all other things, old temples must be compared in a fair way. Until today there was no reliable, scientific method for that. But now sagesex presents the new popular sport temple tasting. Because only its taste can safely decide the quality of a temple. And only quality brings fun.

1. Angkor Wat

Let us start with the supposedly best and biggest temple in the world. Where should you start sampling in that? In order to ensure a maximally accurate comparison of the temples, we decided on an ornament that appears in all the temples we tested. The one that would offer the most rewarding tasting experience in my professional opinion. So it was that in the last minute the hot candidate lion’s ass fell through against the bust of an Apsara (tempel dancer). After all, we have to live up to our name.

Monumental, CHECK An Aspara`s smooth breast - ooops, what is that thing coming out of their pants? - Sagesex reveals: Were the ancient Khmer kings ladyboy lovers?

So how does Angkor Wat taste? Impeccable! Smooth and round on the palate, almost imperceptible repulsiveness, hardly any crumbs, sand, or decay. Clear and well-defined. Astonishing after 800 years. This temple can indeed be recommended to every serious temple taster. But is this all there is? What can the competition do?

2. Ta Prohm

Though the tree is not valid in the official comparison it still tastes resinous, stale and disgusting Ta Prohm: mature by nature

This decayed jungle temple is a perfect allegory for the vanity of all being. Andreas Gryphius would have been ecstatic. Maybe it’s also popular because Tomb Raider was shot here. Now how does it taste? Astonishing – the taste perfectly mirrors the decay! Repulsiveness and rancidity, as well as the crumbling sandstone leave an unpleasing, dusty old aftertaste on the tongue. The optimum consumption time for this temple is clearly over. Only for enthusiastic connaisseurs and fans of neglected aging.

3. Phnom Krom

A treat for mildew fetishists

Pnohm Krohm is the outsider in our tempel tasting test. It’s not in the Angkor park proper, but on a hill on the other side of Siem Reap. That is why it offers an enchanting view onto the huge Tonle Sap lake and the setting sun. The temples themselves are original and majestic, too. However, we’re not here for the view. Outer beauty is ubiquitous. The taste is what counts.

The huge mildew spots on the only Apsara on the temple that has not yet been stolen don’t make for high hopes. Indeed, the repulsiveness of this breast is enormous. Sandy and stale it spreads on the tongue and I was anxious to get rid of the aftertaste. Ew! Disgusting! This temple is no good in terms of taste.

Result

The Sagesex Angkor Temple Tasting yields a clear picture: The fame of Angkor Wat is deserved. No other temple tastes so fresh and so clean. While Ta Prohm might constitute some kind of specialty for friends of decay, Pnohm Krohm can only be recommended to perverted mildew fetishists. We’re glad we haven’t paid for this one. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to taste Bayon, the central tempel that to me seems clearly ahead in terms of holiness. If one of you ever happens to get the chance, we look forward to a tasting report.

Popularity: 9% [?]

7Apr

Sagesex discovers: The cheapest alcoholic drink in the world

Posted by stefan on 3 April 2010

We thought we had found a truly cheap and disgusting drink in a so-called Thai whisky (rather something like Thai rum, but they call anything whisky) without any latin writing on the soft drink bottles it comes in for about 70 Baht (about $2). Cambodia proved us wrong:

unidentified Cambodian "Whisky"

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Popularity: 12% [?]

3Apr

Become a better person with 7/11

Posted by julian on 28 March 2010

Wherever there’s civilisation, there’s advertising. And Thailand is very civilized in that sense. In Bangkok’s Skytrain there are ad wagons themed entirely for one product; advertising spots shout at you from screens everywhere. Mostly congruent with western advertising, the blockbusters are sweets, drinks, fashion and above all beauty and health products. Yet what struck us as most useful are trendy small bottles containing drinks that are supposed to make you more beautiful, smart, or healthy. If you believe the ads, Thai women can make sure to be wed in the most romantic way by regularly enjoying a glass of chicken essence! How about better memory or just a little whiter skin? You local 7/11 super market keeps an entire palette of world improvement drinks in store for you. Exclusively and using death defying self experiments, sagesex has now tested the favorites from the fridge. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 8% [?]

28Mar

Sagesex exposes – the ugly Truth about Thailand’s official national Travel Agency T.A.T.

Posted by admin on 13 March 2010

So what is this T.A.T.? And why is it that in Bangkok strange Thais always send you there without you asking for it? Sagesex illuminates.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

13Mar

The Bangkok Strange Street Food Series 1: Skewed Stuff

Posted by julian on 20 February 2010

Yeah, Bangkok is still inspiring us. I believe it’s the mix – between eastern roots and the striving for western ideals, between business and people sleeping at the roadside, traffic chaos and idyllic parks, between worldly commerce and golden temples, and especially between cheap and delicious. Because the only thing that’s more abundant and cheap on Bangkok’s streets than sex is food.

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Popularity: 12% [?]

20Feb

WeiWuWei: How to build and sell a subversive iPhone app

Posted by admin on 13 October 2009

We did it! My brother Christoph and I have written WeiWuWei, the iPhone app that I had had in my head for months. What it does? Well, Wei Wu Wei means act without doing. And in this spirit, it automagically enhances your SpringBoard experience so that you can act (launch apps) without doing (search for them).

We hope it will soon be available on RockYourPhone and in the Cydia store. Unfortunately, iPhone guru and Cydia initiator Saurik seems a little slow these days in answering his mail. I can totally understand that, he probably gets millions of mails a day. It’s just that maybe he should get someone else to handle the Cydia store. The price? Not sure yet, but you can definitely afford it ;) Why won’t it be in the AppStore? Read on … Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 7% [?]

13Oct

How to keep fit on the road/Apple decided I’m an extremist

Posted by admin on 21 August 2009

When I wanted to introduce you to two beautiful iPhone apps that are helping me stay physically fit, and challenge my readers a bit, I got a disturbing glance into The Man’s mind … Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 8% [?]

21Aug

The world’s best beer for the urban clochard

Posted by admin on 13 August 2009

On my first evening in St. Petersburg, I discovered the world’s most stylish beer for the politically conscious urban clochard: Bagbier!

Bagbier - the ultimate beer for the politically conscious urban clochard

Bagbier - the ultimate beer for the politically conscious urban clochard

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Popularity: 10% [?]

13Aug