Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mystery Tiles From Around the World

Posted by Hemos on from the where-do-they-come-from dept.

puppetman writes "The Kansas City Star has an interesting story about Toynbee Tiles. They show up embedded in streets, and can be found in the US (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Aberdeen, Edgewood, Washington, etc), Chile, Argentina and Brazil. They are made of "epoxy or super hard plastic that's actually inlaid in the asphalt itself." The tiles invariably state, "Toynbee Ideas in Kubrick's 2001 Resurrect Dead On Planet Jupiter". Sometimes there are secondary tiles that request people make more while others are of a more paranoid slant. Toynbee was a religious historian who believed that "well-being of a civilization depends on its ability to respond successfully to challenges, human and environmental". There is even a Ray Bradbury book, The Toynbee Convector. Toynbee.net has a link to a Usenet posting where someone ask's Kubrick's daughter if the man himself knew of the tiles. To date, the origin of the tiles are a mystery. Any /.'ers able to provide the location of additional tiles, or perhaps clues for solving the mystery?"

7 of 466 comments (clear)

  1. Aaargh! by NaugaHunter · · Score: -1, Redundant

    It's Pittsburgh, you insensitive clod!

    --
    R: That voice. Where have I heard that voice before? B: In about 365 other episodes. But I don't know who it is either.
  2. GPS coordinates by blackp · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Maybe someone can compile a list of GPS coordinated for these tiles, so we can go TOYNBEE Tile GPSing.

  3. Re:Would everyone who wants to claim responsibilit by oPless · · Score: -1, Redundant

    and the server has melted already

  4. finally! by BigGerman · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I!!! for one!!! welcome!!! our new!!! tile-embedding overlords!!!

  5. Overlord by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I for one, welcome our tile laying Overlord(s)

  6. Self replicating, it's too late to stop them by Rogerborg · · Score: 0, Redundant

    And I for one welcome our new tile overlords.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  7. list of tiles by fizban · · Score: 0, Redundant

    http://www.toynbee.net/

    --

    +1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.