Added two items to appendices.

Made many other changes as well.

docs/appendices/crypto_decen_man.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+.. _app_crypto_decen_man:
+
+A Crypto-Decentralist Manifesto By Bit Novosti
+================================================================================
+
+Blockchains are going to rule the world, providing a mechanism for scaling
+social and economic cooperation to an unprecedented level — a truly global
+scale. Such cooperation will involve not only human beings, groups and
+associations but also a growing multitude of increasingly independent
+artificial agents.
+
+Every blockchain creates a social network around its applications, with network
+value growing exponentially with the number of participants in accordance with
+`Reed’s Law <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed%27s_law>`_. This value isn’t
+extracted by intermediaries or controllers, as with previous centralized
+models. Instead, it’s shared among participants, providing economic incentives
+for cooperation without coercion.
+
+Not all blockchains are created equal. There are three key characteristics that
+make scalable blockchain-enabled cooperation possible: openness, neutrality and
+immutability.
+
+**Openness is necessary.** It goes without saying that the rules of the game
+should be open for anyone to see and understand. Anyone should be able to
+participate in any layer of the system without asking for any permission
+whatsoever. Anyone should be able to use the network in accordance with its
+rules. Anyone should be able to create their own client implementing the open
+protocol. Anyone should be able to contribute to network security, and so on. No
+registration, identification or other preconditions should limit
+participation. All such limitations prevent the network from scaling and their
+enforcement creates centralization risks.
+
+**Neutrality is necessary.** It’s important for anyone participating in
+blockchain-enabled cooperation to be on an equal footing with everyone else. It
+doesn’t matter if you wield huge economic power or only a tiny amount. It
+doesn’t matter whether you’re a saintly Mother Theresa or a vicious drug
+dealer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a human or a refrigerator. It doesn’t
+matter what you believe in, what political theory you subscribe to, or whether
+you’re a moral or immoral person. A participant’s ethnicity, age, sex,
+profession, social standing, friends or affiliations, make or model, goals,
+purposes or intentions — none of this matters to the blockchain even a bit. The
+rules of the game are exactly the same for everyone, period. Without neutrality,
+the system is skewed towards one set of participants at the expense of
+others. In that case, it’s less likely to gain universal acceptance and maximize
+network value for everyone.
+
+**Immutability is necessary.** The blockchain is a truth machine preserving one
+universally accepted version of history, one immutable sequence of
+events. What’s true once is always true, regardless of political or business
+interests, and no amount of lobbying can change that. If it’s simply not
+possible to change history, then no resources are wasted on the effort. If there
+are any loopholes at all, then sufficiently motivated and determined interest
+groups will exploit them at the expense of others, diminishing network value for
+everyone.
+
+The rules governing the blockchain network are known in advance. They’re exactly
+the same for everyone and not subject to change other than with 100%
+consensus. Yes, it must be 100%. Because any change to the system’s rules that
+not all participants freely agree to creates a network split, diminishing
+network value for everyone.
+
+It’s impossible to achieve these blockchain characteristics without the system
+**being truly decentralized.** If any aspect of the blockchain system becomes
+subject to centralized control, this introduces an attack vector enabling the
+violation of one or more of the key blockchain characteristics. It may be
+possible to limit participation (such as by enforcing AML/KYC rules), thus
+violating openness. It may be possible to enforce discriminatory policies (such
+as by filtering “illegal” transactions), thus violating neutrality. It may be
+possible to rewrite the history of events (such as by confiscating or
+“redistributing” funds), thus violating immutability. Introducing centralized
+chokepoints creates a precondition for the introduction of “blockchain
+intermediaries or controllers” who can siphon value out of the system at other
+participants’ expense.
+
+So decentralization is the most important feature of blockchain systems, the one
+everything else depends on. With decentralization, blockchains will come to rule
+the world. Without it, they’ll be “contained” and railroaded into niche
+applications.
+
+**We decentralists** are committed to keeping blockchains open, neutral and
+immutable. We’re committed to keeping blockchain systems decentralized. This
+informs all our actions and positions towards any developments in the crypto
+world and beyond. All attempts to violate any of the key blockchain
+characteristics should be fought. All changes to a blockchain’s rules that
+introduce new centralization risks or strengthen existing ones should be
+fought. Only developments that are clearly beneficial to decentralization or
+strengthen the three key blockchain characteristics should be supported and
+encouraged.
+
+The blockchain revolution won’t be centralized. Let’s make sure of it.
+
+Onward.

docs/appendices/dec_of_ind.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+.. _app_dec_of_ind:
+
+The Ethereum Classic Declaration Of Independence
+================================================================================
+
+Let it be known to the entire world that on July 20th, 2016, at block 1,920,000,
+we as a community of sovereign individuals stood united by a common vision to
+continue the original Ethereum blockchain that is truly free from censorship,
+fraud or third party interference. In realizing that the blockchain represents
+absolute truth, we stand by it, supporting its immutability and its future. We
+do not make this declaration lightly, nor without forethought to the
+consequences of our actions.
+
+**Looking Back**
+
+It should be stated with great gratitude that we acknowledge the creation of the
+Ethereum blockchain platform by the Ethereum Foundation and its founding
+developers. It certainly can be said without objection, that without their hard
+work and dedication that we as a community would not be where we are today.
+
+From its inception, the Ethereum blockchain was presented as a decentralized
+platform for “applications that run exactly as programmed without any chance of
+fraud, censorship, or third-party interference” `[1] <https://ethereum.org>`_
+. It provided a place for the free association of ideas and applications from
+across the globe without fear of discrimination while also providing
+pseudonymity. In this decentralized platform, many of us saw great promise.
+
+**List of Grievances**
+
+It is however, with deep regret, that we as a community have had to
+spontaneously organize `[2]
+<https://www.reddit.com/r/EthereumClassic/comments/4u4o61/call_for_action_what_can_i_do_to_help_ethereum>`_
+to defend the Ethereum blockchain platform from its founding members and
+organization due to a long train of abuses, specifically by the leadership of
+the Ethereum Foundation. These grievances are as follows.
+
+* For rushing the creation of a “soft fork,” which was comprised of a minor
+  change in the Ethereum blockchain code for the sole purpose of creating a
+  blacklist and censoring transactions that normally would have been allowed.
+
+* For neglecting the full implications of the “soft fork” by the Ethereum
+  blockchain as a warning that they were violating the principles and values
+  coded therein. `[3]
+  <https://blog.ethereum.org/2016/06/28/security-alert-dos-vulnerability-in-the-soft-fork>`_
+
+* For creating an unrepresentative voting mechanism called the “carbon vote”,
+  which they initially stated was “unofficial” `[4]
+  <https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/4s0rz6/a_vote_that_nobody_knows_about_is_not_a_vote/d55nye3>`_
+  only to contradict these statements a day before determining to hard fork. `[5]
+  <https://blog.ethereum.org/2016/07/15/to-fork-or-not-to-fork>`_
+
+* For rushing the creation of a “hard fork,” which was comprised of an irregular
+  state change in the Ethereum blockchain code that violated the properties of
+  immutability, fungibility, and the sanctity of the ledger.
+
+* For willfully deciding to not include replay protection in the “hard fork”, an
+  action which has unnecessarily cost exchanges and thousands of users the
+  rightful ownership of their Ether tokens. `[6]
+  <https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CopwJVHXEAABEKd.jpg>`_
+
+**Respecting the Values Essential for Blockchains**
+
+One might ask what harm can be done from changing the code of the Ethereum
+blockchain and bailing out `[7]
+<https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/bailout>`_ “The DAO”
+token holders, which is not an unreasonable question. Many of us have an innate
+sense of right and wrong, so at first glance rescuing "The DAO" felt
+right. However, it violated two key aspects of what gives peer-to-peer cash `[8]
+<https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf>`_ and smart contract-based systems value:
+fungibility and immutability.
+
+Immutability means the blockchain is inviolable. That only valid transactions
+agreed upon via a cryptographic protocol determined by mathematics are accepted
+by the network. Without this, the validity of all transactions could come into
+question, since if the blockchain is mutable, any transaction could be
+modified. Not only does this leave transactions open to fraud, but it might
+spell disaster for any distributed application running atop the platform.
+
+Fungibility is the feature of money where one unit equals another unit. For
+instance, a Euro equals another Euro just as a Bitcoin equals another
+Bitcoin. Unfortunately, an ETH no longer equals another ETH. The alleged
+attacker’s ETH was no longer as good as your ETH and was worthy of censorship,
+deemed necessary by a so-called majority.
+
+Ultimately, these breaches in fungibility and immutability were made possible by
+the subjective morality judgements of those who felt a burning desire to bring
+the alleged attacker to justice. However, in doing so they compromised a core
+pillar of Ethereum just to do what they felt was in the interests of the
+“greater good”. In a global community where each individual has their own laws,
+customs, and beliefs, who is to say what is right and wrong?
+
+Deeply alarmed that these core tenets were disregarded by many of the
+Foundation’s developers, and a sizable portion of Ethereum participants, we, as
+a community, have organized and formed a code of principles to follow for the
+Ethereum Classic chain.
+
+**The Ethereum Classic Code of Principles**
+
+We believe in a decentralized, censorship-resistant, permission-less
+blockchain. We believe in the original vision of Ethereum as a world computer
+that cannot be shut down, running irreversible smart contracts. We believe in a
+strong separation of concerns, where system forks of the codebase are only
+possible when fixing protocol level vulnerabilities, bugs, or providing
+functionality upgrades. We believe in the original intent of building and
+maintaining a censorship-resistant, trustless and immutable development
+platform.
+
+Herein are written the declared values by which participants within the Ethereum
+Classic community agree. We encourage that these principles not be changed via
+edict by any individual or faction claiming to wield power, authority or
+credibility to do so.
+
+We, as a community agree that:
+
+* The purpose of Ethereum Classic is to provide a decentralized platform that
+  runs decentralized applications which execute exactly as programmed without
+  any possibility of downtime, censorship, fraud or third party interference.
+
+* Code is law; there shall be no changes to the Ethereum Classic code that
+  violate the properties of immutability, fungibility, or sanctity of the
+  ledger; transactions or ledger history cannot for any reason be reversed or
+  modified.
+
+* Forks and/or changes to the underlying protocol shall only be permitted for
+  updating or upgrading the technology on which Ethereum Classic operates.
+
+* Internal project development can be funded by anyone, whether via a trusted
+  third party of their choice or directly, using the currency of their choice on
+  a per project basis and following a transparent, open and decentralized
+  crowdfunding protocol.
+
+* Any individual or group of individuals may propose improvements, enhancements,
+  or upgrades to existing or proposed Ethereum Classic assets.
+
+* Any individual or group of individuals may use the Ethereum Classic
+  decentralized platform to build decentralized applications, hold crowdsales,
+  create autonomous organisations/corporations, or for any other purpose they
+  deem suitable.
+
+**Looking Forward**
+
+For the many reasons listed above, we have chosen to rename the original
+blockchain “Ethereum Classic” with the ticker symbol “ETC”, so that the
+community and all other participants can identify the original, unforked, and
+immutable blockchain platform.
+
+Our most sincere gratitude goes to those developers within and outside the
+Foundation who opposed interfering with the Ethereum blockchain ledger and
+enabled the Ethereum Classic chain to survive and live on. We know there are
+many of you and we welcome you at anytime to join our decentralized community.
+
+We will continue the vision of decentralized governance for the Ethereum Classic
+blockchain and maintain our opposition to any centralized leadership takeover,
+especially by the Ethereum Foundation as well as the developers who have
+repeatedly stated that they would no longer develop the Ethereum Classic chain.
+
+We likewise will openly resist the “tyranny of the majority,” and will not allow
+the values of the system to be compromised. As a united community, we will
+continue to organize for the defense and advancement, as required, for the
+continuation and assurance of this grand experiment. The Ethereum Classic
+platform, its code and technology, are now open to the world as Open Source
+software. `[9] <https://github.com/ethereumproject>`_ It is now freely available
+for all who wish to improve and build upon it: a truly free and trustless world
+computer that we together as a community have proven and will continue to prove
+is anti-fragile. `[10] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragile>`_
+
+- The Ethereum Classic Community

docs/appendices/index.rst

@@ -12,3 +12,5 @@ blank
    digital_signatures
    how_nodes_find_each_other
    code_is_law_principle
+   crypto_decen_man
+   dec_of_ind

docs/introduction.rst

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ openness
    is available for inspection.
 
 reliability
-   It is virtually impossible to shut down.
+   It is always available and virtually impossible to shut down.
 
 trustlessness
    There is no need to rely on any single person or entity.
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ identical backup servers geographically distributed.  Suppose these web servers
 were only accessible using `onion routing
 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_routing>`_.  This setup can provide
 significant censorship resistance, security, pseudonymity, openness and
-reliability.  Note however how much effort is required.  With ETC these
+reliability.  Note however how much effort is required.  With ETC, these
 properties are present by default!
 
 Because ETC is trustless, *no one* has special powers.  Therefore, it
@@ -48,4 +48,6 @@ financial and identity services.
 
 Final note, everyone *effectively* runs their applications on the same single
 computer, the ETC world computer.  However, this *virtual* computer is actually
-implemented by a worldwide network of computers.
+implemented by a worldwide network of computers.  All the computers in the
+network run all applications in parallel.  This extreme redundancy is a main
+reason the ETC world computer has its amazing properties.

docs/world_computer/clients.rst

@@ -22,5 +22,39 @@ the ETC network using Web 3.
 Web 3
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-Web 3 is a standard set of interfaces to communicate with the ETC system.  It
-uses Javascript Object Notation (JSON).
+Web3 refers to a standard set of ETC application programming interfaces using
+the Javascript Object Notation Remote Procedue Call (JSON RPC) protocol.  Web3
+provides a convenient way to interact with ETC nodes and the ETC system.  The
+name Web3 refers to the most ambitious goal for Ethereum Classic (ETC) which is
+to replace the World Wide Web (Web). Blockchain based replacements for the Web
+are often referred to as Web 3.0.
+
+The Web was developed by Tim Berners-Lee and first made publicly available in
+1991. It is a user friendly general purpose system based on the Internet.
+Initially the Web mainly contained simple static content such as primitive
+personal home pages. As the Web evolved, greater dynamism and interactivity was
+possible such as with social media. This improved Web is often referred to as
+Web 2.0. The term was popularized by Tim O’Reilly.
+
+Neither the Internet nor the Web were initially designed to be trustless
+systems. Components have been steadily introduced to improve security such as
+Transport Layer Security (TLS), certificate authorities, and, Domain Name System
+Security Extensions (DNSSEC). Unfortunately, many such improvements are only
+partially adopted.
+
+Gavin Wood popularized the term Web 3.0 for blockchain based trustless
+alternatives to the Web. Confusingly, Web 3.0 also sometimes refers to the
+Semantic Web.
+
+Web 3.0 is a peer to peer replacement for the Web. A peer to peer architecture
+is required to build trustless systems.  Web 3.0 users are pseudonymous. They
+are only identified by their accounts, unlike the Web, where addresses can be
+associated with identities.  ETC requires access to additional short and long
+term storage systems to replace the Web. The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)
+is an example of a compelling peer to peer storage system that can integrate
+with ETC.
+
+The Web currently coexists with blockchain systems. Websites access these
+systems to provide additional functionality. As ETC and related systems mature,
+browsers will increasingly just point to these Web alternatives thus ushering in
+the era of Web 3.0.

docs/world_computer/index.rst

@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ World Computer (Virtual Machine)
 
 The world computer is a single virtual machine implemented by a worldwide
 network of computers.  Programs on the world computer are referred to as
-:ref:`smart contracts <ch_smart_contracts>`.  Users interact with the world
+:ref:`smart contracts <ch_smart_contracts>`.  Because the world computer is
+`Turing complete <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_completeness>`_,
+smart contract can be arbitrarily complex.  Users interact with the world
 computer through :ref:`clients <ch_clients>` using
-:ref:`accounts <ch_accounts>`.
+:ref:`accounts <ch_accounts>`.  In fact, *all* actions on the world computer are
+initiated by :ref:`transactions <ch_trans>` sent from users.
 
 .. toctree::
    accounts