Monolith Appears In Seattle

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday January 2, 2001 @10:33AM from the well-that-explains-it dept.

LordXarph writes: "AP reports that on new year's day 2001, a 6 foot tall monolith has appeared in seattle. If Monolith Software weren't based in Seattle, I would be worried." Anyone have pictures of this thing? It makes me want to hum Particle Man by They Might Be Giants. Oh wait- Wrong song.Update: 01/03 04:39 AM by H :Check out the picture that a number of people sent in.

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My God! by sharkey · 2001-01-02 05:35 · Score: 3

......It's full of stars!

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"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
Link to picture by Relim · 2001-01-02 05:38 · Score: 5

Here's a picture of the monolith in the Seattle Times.
There's only one because... by Akardam · 2001-01-02 05:39 · Score: 4

... it's the first year of the new Millenium.

Next year there'll be two, the next, three, the next, four, and so on.

By the end of the Millenium, we'll have Monoliths across America, and God will reach down and start the biggest domino effect in the history of the world!
1. Re:There's only one because... by bobthemonkey13 · 2001-01-02 06:37 · Score: 5
  
  All these worlds are yours -- except Seattle. Attempt no landings there.
2. Re:There's only one because... by KFury · 2001-01-02 07:28 · Score: 4
  
  Actually, monoliths reproduce at a geometric rate.
  
  Like Starbucks. Sure, it started out with just one in Seattle, but then there's 2, then 4, then 8, and before you know it, they'll be everywhere.
  
  Kevin Fox
  
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  Kevin Fox
Re:Here's a picture by sulli · 2001-01-02 05:39 · Score: 4

Well, here's an actual picture:
Actual Picture

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sulli
RTFJ.
Proportions by Bazman · 2001-01-02 05:42 · Score: 3

But does it have the 1x4x9 proportions?

Baz
1. Re:Proportions by squidfood · 2001-01-02 07:08 · Score: 5
  
  Well, I just walked down with my trusty tape measure (can see the hill from my office building) and the official size:
  1.0ft x 4.0ft x 8.5+ft
  My ruler goes to 1/16 inches and it was accurate to that level---don't have micrometers to examine further. It was buried slightly at an angle, so I couldn't determine the height.
  It's oriented N/S, but with the sun at its current height there's at least one "sunrise over monolith" place to stand.
  I would have dug it up to determine the height, but there was a crowd there, mostly dog-walkers. I got involved with a conversation with Fido and Rex about the trival 12th-dimensional spacetime rotation required to unify...oh, that's right, you haven't touched it yet.
And another... by Booker · 2001-01-02 05:47 · Score: 4

is here

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SpeakEasy Cafe & the Monolith by LionKimbro · 2001-01-02 05:50 · Score: 5

I suspect that the folk behind the SpeakEasy cafe are behind this;

I walked by the cafe with my girlfriend on New Years [wanting to visit the staff], and they noted that they were closed for New Years Eve and New Years. It said, "Come see us at the Monolith Party!", or something like that.

They're crazy, interesting, and rich enough to pull off something like this. I'd say: Quite possibly (likely?) it was them..!
NINE feet tall... not SIX. by Speare · 2001-01-02 05:54 · Score: 5

That's one short man in the photo if it's only six feet tall.
Didn't see whether the other axes were FOUR feet by ONE foot, but it looks plausible.
(In Clarke and Kubrick's films, as well as Clarke's books, the monoliths' measurements were in the ratio of 1 : 4 : 9, the squares of the first three positive integers, presumably as a sign that the creator was aware of the universality of mathematics as a way of communicating between evolved species.)

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1. Re:NINE feet tall... not SIX. by fm6 · 2001-01-02 07:35 · Score: 3
  
  Been a while since I read the book, but I seem to recall something about it being necessary for the sides to have that ratio, and that anybody who understood how the monolith worked would see this. Of course, we puny humans are incapable of such insight....
  
  __________________
2. Re:NINE feet tall... not SIX. by kaphka · 2001-01-02 08:30 · Score: 4
  
  (In Clarke and Kubrick's films, as well as Clarke's books, the monoliths' measurements were in the ratio of 1 : 4 : 9, the squares of the first three positive integers, presumably as a sign that the creator was aware of the universality of mathematics as a way of communicating between evolved species.)
  Then again, wouldn't an evolved species use metric?
  
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  MSK
A.C. Clarke to "Milk This Crap For All It's Worth" by tenzig_112 · 2001-01-02 05:59 · Score: 3

Arthur C. Clarke has a full schedule his novel's titular year. He'll rake in enough cash this year to buy a whole closet full of surongs.
The new commercial for Ford:
The David Bowman look-alike floats up to the monolith in his pod. SFX: breathing.
"My God ... it's full of cars."
Voice Over: "That's right! We're clearing out the over-stock for the 2002's!"

full story
Ridiculopaths R us
You know, it's not JUST "theme from 2001" by D.+Mann · 2001-01-02 06:28 · Score: 3

Denny Sargent couldn't resist humming the theme to ''2001: A Space Odyssey,'' when he walked up to touch the imposing object, which stands on a grassy knoll in Magnuson Park like the movie's enigmatic extraterrestrial guardian.

I wish people would realize that it's not JUST the "theme from 2001," it's a piece of music called "Also Sprach Zarathrusta" by Richard Strauss.
1. Re:You know, it's not JUST "theme from 2001" by Greyfox · 2001-01-02 06:54 · Score: 4
  
  Personally I think the Monkees theme song ("Hey-Hey We're the Monkees") would have been a much better fit for the opening sequence...
  
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  I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
The actual creators of the Seattle Monolith... by Anonymous Coward · 2001-01-02 06:29 · Score: 5

...are at http://www.isupportthemonolith.org/. No joke. These really are the people. ;-)

This project has been ongoing for months in the Seattle area. On New Year's Eve, a parade/protest/whatever was organized from Capitol Hill in Seattle (the "Bohemian" Neighborhood) up and down its main street and then into downtown Seattle. The parade was in support of the monolith that was going to be emplaced at an unknown location. We were supposed to have a wooden faux monolith with us but the cops confiscated it. The real monolith was put into place while this was going on.
hey thats not a monolith! by Cookie+Monster · 2001-01-02 06:35 · Score: 5

It's just an unfinished Domino peice.
(or it will be soon after a geek gets
their hands on some black n white paint)

It's only a matter of time :)

Other tricks to do... glue a monkey toy to the top, make it output funny noises randomly, etc.
Prepare for the end! by Anonymous Coward · 2001-01-02 06:44 · Score: 3

The end of high prices!

Seriously, does this remind anyone of a Simpsons episode? ;)
SpeakEasy Cafe? Nope. by Anonymous Coward · 2001-01-02 07:33 · Score: 3

As an employee of Speakeasy, I can safely say that the monolith was not a promotion item, nor is Speakeasy affiliated with the monolith or its appearance. A number of us did attend a certain parade/public revelry/gathering that was to have a wooden monolith replica burnt in effigy at its culmination. Hence the sign.
Re:What, are we supposed to go throw bones at it? by Black+Parrot · 2001-01-02 07:42 · Score: 3

The funny thing is, the original wasn't really supposed to put the apes on the road to technological civilization. What they saw was just the screensaver; they read their own message in to it.

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Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Re:Correction... by jafac · 2001-01-02 08:21 · Score: 3

heh, Also Sprach Zarathrusta sounds like the name of a highbrow porno flick.

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These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
Why feet? by xant · 2001-01-02 08:29 · Score: 5

Wouldn't an advanced alien species measures things in meters? Or have they not converted over yet, either?
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It's rare that you're presented with a knob whose only two positions are Make History and Flee Your Glorious Destiny.
public access supports the monolith by lucidvein · 2001-01-02 10:12 · Score: 3

I read this comment earlier today and thought for sure it would get moderated above zero...

The important information... www.isupportthemonolith.org/

Anyway, Deface the Nation, a public access news show which lampoons the media has been promoting this since the anniversary of WTO/N30. Great show if you're in the area. The soundman for their DTN was driving around with a mock monolith on his car until the police stopped him and then tried to confiscate his hammer.

We need a bit more humor in this city again. It's getting a little too serious. So cheers to all involved.

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"I have a cunning plan..."
Re:Me = Dumbass by LionKimbro · 2001-01-02 22:45 · Score: 3

Somehow, I don't think you've ever met the SpeakEasy crew...

I find it rather laughable to believe that this is "scheming marketeers"...

The SpeakEasy staff are the most environmentally (both social and ecological environments) conscious people I have ever met.

Their cafe is an incredible place.