In case haven’t mentioned it before, over the past few years I’ve been working on an open-source project called CypherPoker.JS

It’s a decentralized, soon to be anonymous, truly peer-to-peer Texas Hold’em platform that incorporates blockchain technologies and a unique cryptosystem named SRA (based on a MIT research paper from the late 70s), which remove the need for trusted third parties and the things that go along with them: rakes / high fees, censorship susceptibility, etc.

To the best of my knowledge, to date there’s nothing out there like this.

The “.JS” part means that the software is written in JavaScript for the modern browser, Node.js, and Electron. Basically, it runs on almost any device or operating system and yes, there’s a web demo you can try right now (or download the desktop version if you prefer).

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A Short History

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After building the core game engine and a basic but extensible UI I incorporated Bitcoin, pumped up the software’s peer-to-peer capabilities, and most recently added support for Bitcoin Cash. Because creating a team was the plan from the get-go I spent plenty of time documenting everything along the way.

There’s plenty more in store for CypherPoker.JS but it’s at a point now where I’m not sure I can continue to do it all on my own in a reasonable amount of time.So I’m reaching out to YOU, that person who thinks that this is a pretty kick-ass concept-turned-prototype that they’d like to be associated with. It has the potential to transform the online gaming industry, not just poker. Yes, this is that early stage project you’ve been waiting to join.

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“I’m in! What can I do?”

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Now, I get that not everyone’s a coder or designer and there are many shoes that need to be filled if this project is going to continue to grow at a healthy rate. Here are some suggestions:

• Exposure / Hype

Most social networks have a way to bring posts to prominence. These may include sharing, re-posting / cross-posting, liking, upvoting, plussing, starring. or otherwise showing approval or providing additional exposure. There’s a good chance that you can do that you can do one of these things right now and that it’s probably really easy.Also watch for new releases, updates, and upcoming stuff. Share whatever you think is interesting.

• Developers & Interactive Designers (UX / UI)

Modern (ECMAScript 2017) JavaScript, HTML5 / CSS3, browser, Node.js, Electron. Make GitHub pull requests with any important / useful / cool things. Some suggestions.

• Players & Testers

Give it a try! Make a free test account (no sign-up required), get some free testnet Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash and make a deposit (instructions on the site). Once the deposit is confirmed you can transfer it to other accounts, including new ones that you create. Be aware of this outstanding issue if you want to use Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash proper.

If you find problems, feel free to post them on the subreddit (or DM), tweet about them, or post them directly to the GitHub issues system where they should eventually end up anyway (you can use a free account). I also do email.

• Evangelism

Spread the gospel of peer-to-peer poker.Get to know its deeper inner truths. Play it, praise it, grow the flock!

• Donations

Those would help a lot, actually. My laptop’s been acting up and I’ll probably need a new one soon. I also don’t have regular internet access; makes working on this project challenging.

Bitcoin: 18yWpM7CnYox58YMJ2iVa1aJZCs1sufPhg

Bitcoin Cash: bitcoincash:qrgzc6nf6275er7k04tjwauf4ptm9mw9qcaq6fceup

• Host a Node / Distribute the Code

If you have some web server space or Node.js / PHP+MySQL hosting please consider hosting a node. Limits have been built into the software (e.g. max database size), so you don’t have to worry about it unnecessarily eating up resources. DM or email me for details.

• Sponsorship

Tournament funding and advertising are two immediate ideas that spring to mind but if you have any other sponsorship ideas I’d be happy to discuss them. Please contact me via DM or email.

• Quid Pro Quo

Perhaps you need a hand with one of your projects? Maybe you’d like a few guest blog posts? Possibly there’s some other reciprocal arrangement you’d like to propose?Contact me via DM or email to hash out the details.

After five weeks off the job and finally managing to walk away with the bank, you’d think the unions would be eager to get back to work, wouldn’t you? I would too. But we’d both be wrong. Now they’re fussing over how they should return to work.

Have you ever done that thing where you rub the palm of your hand into your forehead in an agitated, twisting motion? Yeah.

Do you wanna know what I think happened? I think that City Hall saw Caribana looming and figured it couldn’t afford to lose it. Perhaps because of money. Perhaps reputation. Perhaps both. The negotiators blinked and, as a result, Miller has offered our collective anuses up for all sorts of wanton abuse. I can’t believe I used to call him General.

Oh well, at least it’ll be settled soon and we can all get back to doing whatever it is we do. Which is actually pretty much the same thing we’ve been doing all this time. How exciting.

Sarcasm, you say? Moi?! The impropriety!

Just hit the streets if you require evidence of various, excitingly subversive a-goings-ons:

Now who feels like an impudent little monkey?

Unfortunately, these people are so underground, I have no idea who they are or what this is all about. It’s clear they’re fucking with the post office, I  just can’t fathom why. Until they make themselves known, I guess we’ll just have to call them the Jacket Mailers Collective, or JaMaCo for short.

I know, right? That would make a good song. JaMaCo, down in Key Largo, blah blah blah blah, on the go, etc. Already half written! Unfortunately, JaMaCo is going to need a kick-ass stage show because someone already beat them to the headlines:

Pleasehelpusmrsnixon.com, a domain whose brilliance is bested only by torontocitylife.com

The nifty people behind this campaign are targeting one Janet Nixon, wife of Gordon Nixon, president and CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada. RBC is one of the few remaining bank conglomerates in Canada and I believe Gordon can have people legally “disappeared”. He’s that powerful. The bank invested in a, let’s say, controversial project called the tar sands. It’s a messy way to get oil out of tar-covered sand patches.

The group has been trying to stop the project’s source of funding, which is RBC, but Gordon doesn’t much care for their company. What to do?

Of course; talk to the guy’s wife!

The website features a fireside chat addressing, in a casual and friendly manner, Mrs. Nixon, asking for her assistance in helping her husband see some reason. “Thank you, Janet. Thank you very much.”

So nice.

In keeping with the sentiment, I’m so glad you could join me and share a moment of your time. That’s right, I’m pointing directly at you. Thank you.

Now, unfortunately, I have other duties to attend to, so I’ll have to bid you adieu. I’m sure you understand that I would never eschew you for something if it wasn’t critically important.