Some MemeStreams users have heard me talk about ordering dollar coins from the US Mint web site and racking up credit card points. Well, the couponers have caught on too. Supposedly one person bought $800,000 worth.

People really cashing in on the Mint's Free Shipping for Dollar Coins

At SummerCon I was talking about how you can sometimes buy $1 coins from the U.S. Mint's web site, get free shipping, rack up the miles/points/rebates/etc on your credit card and repeat.

Well, that program is back. The web site is a little confusing. The shopping card will say "$4.95" ESTIMATED shipping, but the page for these coins says "The United States Mint pays for standard shipping and handling of domestic orders."

Supposedly this is a program to help get the coins in circulation because people generally don't like them.

Anyway, they come pre-rolled and ready for deposit at your bank (or to pay your credit card bill).

In the past there was a limit per order, but I don't see one listed anywhere. The shopping card will let you buy $25,000 worth. The transaction is processed as a "Purchase" not a "Cash Advance."

Order now and you might get them by Dragon*Con. The shotgun shell shaped, hard metal tubes are very dense and pretty much require your carry-on to be opened and that they will have to dig through all of the creative stuff you put on top of it, because, you know, you want to use lots of packing popcorn so it doesn't get damaged.

US Mint - "Buy money with your credit card" is BACK!

Photos from ToorCamp (variably being referred to as "FailCamp," "DustCamp," and "EntoormentCamp" are starting to appear on Flickr.

I'm glad I went, but a variety of issues will probably lead to poor reviews from a lot of campers. More details later. I'm late getting cleaned up and checked out of my hotel - but also enjoy the Titan I Missile Silo Photos.

ToorCamp - a set on Flickr

Here's an article/interview from Tim Ferris that does a much better than I do at explaining the shoes I was wearing at SummerCon today.

Tim Ferriss: The Barefoot Alternative: Vibram Five Fingers Shoes

I guess I’m a machine. I can’t get these CAPTCHAs from MegaUpload.com.

I’ve been working on my own ray-traced CAPTCHA for a few weeks now, and I’m finding it very difficult to create a CAPTCHA that I can’t write software to break – unless it’s darn near impossible for a human to solve. I think these are dead. Time to move on to something else.

Of course, maybe their engine is just broken.

The CAPTCHAs found me out - I am, in fact, a machine

There's a lot of talk about hacker spaces in Atlanta. I've wanted to
start one for a long time and I think there's a perfect storm of
interest for it to happen. I've even been thinking about using my tax
refund to pre-pay a lease, open the doors and see what happens.

I know of several other groups who are talking about it, some becoming
more serious.

If you are interested in a hacker space in Atlanta, I would appreciate
your input and have a handful of questions on a survey to get a general
idea of what people want in one, where they want it, etc.
http://hacklab.cypherghost.com/

Much appreciated...

-Ghost

Atlanta Hacker Lab Survey

Before the advent of radar, the British used giant parabolic microphones to literally listen for enemy aircraft.

Sound mirrors - Denge - Sound Radar

For those of you keeping track, the Unix Epoch will be 1234567890 on Feb 13th. (Exact time depending on your Time Zone... unless you want to be UTC about it.)

westboro baptist church and me on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The Independent is carrying a great article about another mail hacker who sends strangely addressed envelopes. Here’s my favorite quote:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/return-to-sender-artist-puts-royal-mail-to-the-test-955499.html

She has a book coming out soon as well, already listed on Amazon: Envelopes: A Puzzling Journey Through the Royal Mail .

Always Use Zipcode » Another Mail Hacker