Star Trek Fans Told To Stop "Spocking" Canadian $5 Bill

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Star Trek Fans Told To Stop "Spocking" Canadian $5 Bill

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday March 4, 2015 @09:26AM from the draw-it-on-and-prosper dept.

bellwould writes The Toronto Sun is reporting that Bank of Canada executives are urging Star Trek fans to stop altering Wilfred Laurier's face on the Canadian $5 bill to look like Spock. Although not illegal to draw on the bills, a Bank of Canada spokesperson points out that the markings may reduce effectiveness of the security features or worse, the money may not be accepted.

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Funniest headline I've seen all day by siuengr · 2015-03-04 09:32 · Score: 5, Insightful

It just made me smile.
1. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by monkeyzoo · 2015-03-04 10:01 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Yeah.
  Her full quote is:
  
  She says in a statement, “It is not illegal to write or make other markings on bank notes... However, there are important reasons why it should not be done. Writing on a bank note may interfere with the security features and reduces its lifespan. Markings on a note may also prevent it from being accepted in a transaction. Furthermore, the Bank of Canada feels that writing and markings on bank notes are inappropriate as they are a symbol of our country and a source of national pride.”
  Guess she's asking "please." Not sure I see the harm.
2. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by slew · 2015-03-04 10:14 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  As she is Canadian, I'm surprised she didn't start out flat apologizing for having to ask people to kindly stop Spock-ing the bills so that others can continue to enjoy using the bills in the future...
  On the other hand, when Shatner dies, I'm sure they'll have a bill printed with his picture, so they probably just don't want an image of an American defacing their currency... And they're probably sorry about feeling this way...
3. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by MrBigInThePants · 2015-03-04 10:17 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Very much so. But lets be serious people. Money is serious business to be treated seriously by serious people.
  
  "...Bank of Canada executives are urging.. "
  Oh canada, listen to your financial betters! Stop an absolutely awesome currency-wide joke because they say so for no really good reason. Yes, THIS is how the world should be run, without humour of any sort.
  
  "may reduce effectiveness of the security features or worse, the money may not be accepted."
  
  Oh yes, be afraid Canada, VERY afraid. Authoritarians love to tell you how to act and when that fails attempt to bully and scare you into doing what they want - no matter how ridiculous they sound while doing so.
  
  IOW: BoC executives should STFU.
4. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by jklovanc · 2015-03-04 10:27 · Score: 2
  
  Not sure I see the harm.
  Try to use a "Spocked" bill in a machine. There is a high probability that it will not work.
5. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 10:50 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Really, if you're going to holler "Help, help, I'm being repressed!" over stuff like this, it's going to be hard to take you seriously when you actually have a point.
6. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 11:01 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Bank of Canada, meet the Streisand Effect
7. Re: Funniest headline I've seen all day by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 11:10 · Score: 1
  
  Machine? You mean those things you tap your phone on and stuff comes out? Putting a 5 in there wasn't going to work from the beginning.
8. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by JonWan · 2015-03-04 11:36 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "Try to use a "Spocked" bill in a machine. It's highly illogical to think that it will work."
  There I fixed that for you.
9. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2015-03-04 12:10 · Score: 4
  
  Try to use a "Spocked" bill in a machine. There is a high probability that it will not work.
  Spock would've calculated the probability to 4 or 5 places...
  
  --
  #DeleteChrome
10. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by MrBigInThePants · 2015-03-04 12:12 · Score: 1
  
  You are being a dick.
  
  I never said I was repressed - I am not even from Canada.
  
  I was quite obviously parodying the impotent message from the self important executives.
  
  Why do I have to explain this? Oh right....troll....
11. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by MrBigInThePants · 2015-03-04 12:13 · Score: 1
  
  PS: And don't you oppress me!!!
  
  PS: That was a monty python quote. I would not expect you to get that considering how far over your head my other post flew...
12. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by mattack2 · 2015-03-04 14:17 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Never tell me the odds.
13. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by Aighearach · 2015-03-04 17:48 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I've done a bit of system integration with bill acceptor machines, and they should be fine. They're not looking for visual spectrum stuff, or comparing a bitmap, they're checking for a finite number of specific features. Usually, it is 9 or 11 small spots that are each checked for one thing. None of them are the face visuals.
14. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by tlhIngan · 2015-03-04 18:26 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  I've done a bit of system integration with bill acceptor machines, and they should be fine. They're not looking for visual spectrum stuff, or comparing a bitmap, they're checking for a finite number of specific features. Usually, it is 9 or 11 small spots that are each checked for one thing. None of them are the face visuals.
  Actually, if they're spocking the old $5 bills, it's probably not going to be accepted anyways as we've moved to the new polymer bills. While for a time the old bill acceptors wouldn't accept the new bills, the new bills have pretty much taken over.
  Granted, not being an artist, I have to admit I'd probably keep that $5 bill. Being a paper one it's probably close to being cycled out naturally.
15. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by Opportunist · 2015-03-04 20:21 · Score: 1
  
  No, a true Canadian would proably say "Sir, if it would not be too much of a burden to you, may I ask you to refrain from trampling on my freedoms, eh?"
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
16. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by martin-boundary · 2015-03-04 22:04 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sorry (eh) but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one...
17. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by stealth_finger · 2015-03-04 22:24 · Score: 1
  
  Bloody peasant.
  
  --
  Wanna buy a shirt?
  https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
18. Re: Funniest headline I've seen all day by DThorne · 2015-03-05 01:06 · Score: 1
  
  Speaking as a born and bred Canuck, you are exactly right. Within a day, two messages came forth from the powers that be: it's not illegal to spock a fiver, and this, which I would categorize as a passive aggressive mother's request that you are welcome to keep practising your trombone but I've got this headache that shoots right up and through my temples. Just wait until your father gets home!
19. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-05 02:12 · Score: 1
  
  That don't impress me much!
  
  There, now its a Shania Twain quote. She's a Canadian dontchaknow...
Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by cruff · 2015-03-04 09:32 · Score: 5, Funny

The Bank of Canada wishes to inform Star Trek fans that while they may live long, they may not prosper if other parties refuse to accept defaced $5 bills that have been drawn on (aka "Spocked") in tribute to the late actor Leonard Nimoy.
1. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by SeaFox · 2015-03-04 09:43 · Score: 1
  
  The Bank of Canada wishes to inform Star Trek fans that while they may live long, they may not prosper if other parties refuse to accept defaced $5 bills.
  Whoops, is that legal? In the U.S. you cannot decline payment made in cash (if you normally take cash). But it's also illegal to deface money.
  But if it's not illegal to Spock a 5-spot in Canada that makes the bills legal currency still.
2. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by everett · 2015-03-04 09:45 · Score: 2
  
  This isn't entirely correct, you're not allowed to not take cash to settle a debt. If there's no debt, you're more than welcome to tell people to piss off with their bag of change.
  
  --
  Sig withheld to protect the innocent.
3. Re: Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 09:46 · Score: 1
  
  You can refuse a specific bill if it seems possible it is not legitimate.
4. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Deadstick · 2015-03-04 09:56 · Score: 1
  
  In the U.S. you cannot decline payment made in cash (if you normally take cash).
  Sure you can, if you haven't delivered the goods. Notice the reference to "all debts"? If a debt doesn't exist, you have every right to demand pork bellies before you hand over the merchandise.
  OTOH, if the restaurant cashier doesn't want to take your bill in cash after your meal, you can tell them to take it or leave it.
5. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  This isn't entirely correct, you're not allowed to not take cash to settle a debt. If there's no debt, you're more than welcome to tell people to piss off with their bag of change.
  Actually there is no legal requirement to take cash, debt or no debt. You can refuse to accept cash if you want.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
6. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 10:12 · Score: 1
  
  In the U.S. you cannot decline payment made in cash (if you normally take cash).
  Sure you can, if you haven't delivered the goods. Notice the reference to "all debts"? If a debt doesn't exist, you have every right to demand pork bellies before you hand over the merchandise.
  OTOH, if the restaurant cashier doesn't want to take your bill in cash after your meal, you can tell them to take it or leave it.
  Uh no. There is no legal requirement for an individual or business to accept cash. If they refuse cash payment and you walk out with out paying they can file a theft complaint. Just because a note is legal tender does not mean it must be accepted for payment.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
7. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by pthisis · 2015-03-04 10:12 · Score: 1
  
  Whoops, is that legal? In the U.S. you cannot decline payment made in cash (if you normally take cash). But it's also illegal to deface money. My understanding is that it is not illegal to deface money in the US. It's illegal to deface coins or bills with intent to defraud, or to deface bills with the intent of making them unfit for reissue/circulation. There are sites like Where's George that are designed to deface currency for the purpose of tracking it, which is clearly not intended to make it unfit for circulation since the whole point is to track it in circulation. IMO it's highly unlikely that spocking US currency would result in prosecution, for logistical reasons alone. And there's a reasonable argument that the reason to spock a bill is to make a joke that will not have an audience if the bill is removed from circulation, and therefore the intent is not to render it unfit for circulation. I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice.
  
  --
  rage, rage against the dying of the light
8. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 10:39 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Good luck convincing a court that someone owes you money after you refused their cash.
9. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by blue9steel · 2015-03-04 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  I had to go look this up. Apparently the distinction is that they must accept payment in dollars and may not require that you pay in rubles, pesos or pieces of eight but they're free to mandate what form those dollars take, electronic vs. paper for example.
10. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by swb · 2015-03-04 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  As far as I know, this is only true prior to creating the debt. You can decide you'll only sell your widget for credit cards, in trade for tribbles or whatever payment method you decide on. But you can only do so BEFORE the sale.
  After the sale (once the debt is created), you MUST accept legal tender to settle the debt when it is offered. If I sit down in a restaurant and eat a meal without any notice that I can't pay my bill in cash and then I want to pay in cash, they must take my cash.
11. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by future+assassin · 2015-03-04 10:56 · Score: 1
  
  Can you spot me a Spock? I need a few grams of weed.
  
  --
  by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
12. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by garyoa1 · 2015-03-04 11:04 · Score: 1
  
  5 loonies = 1 Spock? Kewl!
  
  --
  Wuddooeyeno? IITYWYBMAD? Like nuts? eclecticallyincorrect.com
13. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by spire3661 · 2015-03-04 11:21 · Score: 1
  
  And then i will write payment refused on the receipt and never pay you. If you press it in court, a judge is NOT going to like that you refused legal tender to settle the debt, regardless of form. You are right you can refuse, but then the person indebted to you can simply write the debt off leaving you little recourse.
  
  --
  Good-bye
14. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by spire3661 · 2015-03-04 11:25 · Score: 1
  
  they can file a complaint, but ouu would win in court. If you refuse cash for a debt, then person who owes you the debt can legally tell you he considers the matter settled. No court is going ot look favorably on you if you dont take cash for a debt.
  
  --
  Good-bye
15. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by spire3661 · 2015-03-04 11:26 · Score: 1
  
  Paper/Coin is the only LEGAL tender. Electronic forms are NOT legal tender, they are agreements based on trust with private third parties.
  
  --
  Good-bye
16. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by blue9steel · 2015-03-04 11:39 · Score: 1
  
  I understand what you're saying but that's not the way the courts are currently interpreting it.
17. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Baloroth · 2015-03-04 11:46 · Score: 1
  
  Actually there is no legal requirement to take cash, debt or no debt. You can refuse to accept cash if you want.
  Actually, there is, sort of. You can refuse to accept cash: however, they are valid legal payment for the debt, so if you refuse the payment, you are either de facto implying the debt no longer exists (because you're not accepting repayment for it), or you're breaking the law by refusing legal payment. You cannot refuse repayment in cash and then claim the debt still exists. IANAL, so I'm sure there are subtleties involved with, for e.g., contracts (i.e. you agree to give them 10 widgets later in exchange for 5 doohickeys now, offering cash instead would be a violation of the contract), but generally, creditors must accept cash in repayment of debts.
  
  --
  "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
18. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 11:54 · Score: 1
  
  Actually there is no legal requirement to take cash, debt or no debt. You can refuse to accept cash if you want.
  Actually, there is, sort of. You can refuse to accept cash: however, they are valid legal payment for the debt, so if you refuse the payment, you are either de facto implying the debt no longer exists (because you're not accepting repayment for it), or you're breaking the law by refusing legal payment. You cannot refuse repayment in cash and then claim the debt still exists. IANAL, so I'm sure there are subtleties involved with, for e.g., contracts (i.e. you agree to give them 10 widgets later in exchange for 5 doohickeys now, offering cash instead would be a violation of the contract), but generally, creditors must accept cash in repayment of debts.
  =
  Per the web site you referenced:
  This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
  So absent a state law failure to accept cash in no way eliminates a debt.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
19. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 11:56 · Score: 1
  
  Per treasury.gov
  This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
20. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 11:57 · Score: 1
  
  And then i will write payment refused on the receipt and never pay you. If you press it in court, a judge is NOT going to like that you refused legal tender to settle the debt, regardless of form. You are right you can refuse, but then the person indebted to you can simply write the debt off leaving you little recourse.
  And you would lose in court. There is no law requiring someone to accept legal tender in payment of a debt; and failure to do so does not absolve someone of liability for the debt.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
21. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 11:59 · Score: 1
  
  they can file a complaint, but ouu would win in court. If you refuse cash for a debt, then person who owes you the debt can legally tell you he considers the matter settled. No court is going ot look favorably on you if you dont take cash for a debt.
  Except there is no requirement to accept cash and you'd still wind up losing and paying up. For some reason people think "Legal Tender" = "Must Accept" when it does not.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
22. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by LordLimecat · 2015-03-04 12:10 · Score: 1
  
  Pretty sure there have been court cases about this. If someone rolls up with a wheelbarrow full of $3000 in loose change, you can tell them to piss off without voiding the debt.
23. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by LordLimecat · 2015-03-04 12:14 · Score: 1
  
  While it is interesting to suppose what it would be like if that were to work, in reality it would not:
  In State v. Carroll, 1997 WL 118064 (Ohio App. 4 Dist.), the Court upheld the municipal court's refusal to accept the pennies. The plaintiff argued that under 31 U.S.C.A. ' 5103, United States coins are legal tender "for all debts, public charges taxes and dues," and for that reason the city was required to accept the pennies as payment of the fine. Without pointing to any case law, the Court simply concluded that "It defies logic and common sense that this Congress intended such a wooden and broad application of the statute beyond the control of the payee regardless of the circumstances."
  Source
24. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 12:15 · Score: 1
  
  Disclaimer first, this is US centric, though it 'should' work in many countries.
  
  So absent a state law failure to accept cash in no way eliminates a debt.
  Actually, it kind of does. Work out the logic and realize that not all businesses are creditors.
  Take two restaurants.
  1. Fast food joint. You place your order, they tell you a total, and you pay before they give you your food. NOT a creditor, if they don't want to take cash they don't have to.
  2. Sit down traditional restaurant where the bill comes AFTER your meal. They're thus a creditor because they extend you credit(your food) before payment. If I eat at the restaurant(and the no cash policy isn't explained to me before my meal) and offer cash to settle the bill, they MUST take it. Otherwise I can indeed pretty much just walk out without paying if they refuse valid US currency.
  That refusal DOES effectively eliminate the debt because, let's say the business continues to ask for payment. I offer cash. They take me to court. NO SANE JUDGE is going to say 'no, you have to pay by debit card!' because US Currency has been declared, by law, a valid payment method for all debts, 'public or private'. I offered valid payment for the debt, they refused it. It's on them, not me. I offered to pay and they declined to receive said payment.
  Consider the examples:
  Bus line: You pay BEFORE you ride, no debt.
  Movie Theater: You buy your ticket before seeing the show.
  Convenience stores & gas stations: Pay first. Now, some gas stations even today operate on a credit basis for their filling stations, so they would have to accept cash. Given that a number give discounts for cash, it's not a big deal for them.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
25. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by LordLimecat · 2015-03-04 12:15 · Score: 1
  
  Not only that there are in fact precedents indicating that the courts will have no problem declaring you a jackass for trying to use pennies, and uphold your debt regardless of your shenanigans.
26. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by LordLimecat · 2015-03-04 12:18 · Score: 1
  
  ITT: Not-lawyers discuss not-law.
  Now, Im not a lawyer, either, but I am familiar with Treasury.gov's stance, and with at least 1 court case where the court held that you dont have to accept payment in pennies.
27. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Solandri · 2015-03-04 12:19 · Score: 1
  
  Good luck convincing a court that someone owes you money after you refused their cash.
  Why would they owe you money? You never gave them the goods because you couldn't be sure their cash wasn't counterfeit. If anyone is going to have to convince a court, it's they who are going to have to argue that I did something illegal by refusing to accept their funny money.
28. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by LordLimecat · 2015-03-04 12:22 · Score: 1
  
  You'd have a hard time claiming theft if a reasonable attempt to pay was made.
  Not really. When you go to a store, the seller has no obligation to sell you anything. When you attempt to purchase a good, at that point you are offering an exchange with the vendor; they can lower the price, raise it, give the item away, or even refuse to sell you the item at all (all of which have happened in the real world). Until you and the seller come to terms and exchange currency for the good, you do not have legal posession of it.
  Im sure there is a much more accurate legal explanation for this, so I'll let StackExchange do the talking (though I would note they misinterpret Treasury.gov's stance on debt, as they leave out some crucial parts).
  http://skeptics.stackexchange....
29. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by LordLimecat · 2015-03-04 12:23 · Score: 1
  
  Just to be clear: Is this your opinion, or do any courts share your view on the matter?
30. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 12:26 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  There is no law requiring someone to accept legal tender in payment of a debt; and failure to do so does not absolve someone of liability for the debt.
  Yes there is -
  U.C.C. – ARTICLE 3 – NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS , PART 6. DISCHARGE AND PAYMENT 3-603. TENDER OF PAYMENT.
  (a) If tender of payment of an obligation to pay an instrument is made to a person entitled to enforce the instrument, the effect of tender is governed by principles of law applicable to tender of payment under a simple contract. (b) If tender of payment of an obligation to pay an instrument is made to a person entitled to enforce the instrument and the tender is refused, there is discharge, to the extent of the amount of the tender, of the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse with respect to the obligation to which the tender relates. (c) If tender of payment of an amount due on an instrument is made to a person entitled to enforce the instrument, the obligation of the obligor to pay interest after the due date on the amount tendered is discharged. If presentment is required with respect to an instrument and the obligor is able and ready to pay on the due date at every place of payment stated in the instrument, the obligor is deemed to have made tender of payment on the due date to the person entitled to enforce the instrument.
  31 US Code 5103 - Legal tender -
  United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Foreign gold or silver coins are not legal tender for debts.
  If I owe you $2k and show up with 20 authentic $100 bills and you refuse them, I'm debt free.
  Now, if you're selling a car(for example) for $2k and you don't want cash, you're free to refuse to sell me the car for my $2k cash. But you're not allowed to hold me hostage if you provide me services before payment and I offer to pay by cash.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
31. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 12:29 · Score: 1
  
  Disclaimer first, this is US centric, though it 'should' work in many countries.
  
  So absent a state law failure to accept cash in no way eliminates a debt.
  Actually, it kind of does. Work out the logic and realize that not all businesses are creditors.
  You're take is interesting, though wrong. Being a creditor has no bearing on the what you must accept in payment; in fact it's pretty clear no one is required to accept cash. Why don't you try it, go to court, and report back?
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
32. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 12:30 · Score: 1
  
  31 USC 5103 - Legal Tender and UCC 3-603 Tender of payment disagree.
  Keep in mind the difference between a sale and a debt. If you OWE a company money, they must accept cash to settle it. If you're PRE-PAYING, ie giving them payment before the good is provided or service rendered, then they don't have to accept cash to provide the service.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
33. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by mjwx · 2015-03-04 12:33 · Score: 1
  
  Good luck convincing a court that someone owes you money after you refused their cash.
  If Canada are anything like other commonwealth countries, then it will go something like this:
  
  Plaintiff: Your honour, the tender offered by the defendant was defaced.
  Judge: I see, please pay the plaintiff in non defaced currency.
  
  In Australia you can refuse payment by cash, a lot of businesses dont have the facilities to process it (mainly online businesses). Only certain types of businesses are forced to accept cash (most do because cash is such a useful medium and it's the cheapest, fastest way of facilitating small transactions).
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
34. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 12:48 · Score: 1
  
  Sure - I'll just quote UCC Article 3, Negotiable Instruments, part 6. Discharge and payment.
  (a) If tender of payment of an obligation to pay an instrument is made to a person entitled to enforce the instrument, the effect of tender is governed by principles of law applicable to tender of payment under a simple contract.
  (b) If tender of payment of an obligation to pay an instrument is made to a person entitled to enforce the instrument and the tender is refused, there is discharge, to the extent of the amount of the tender, of the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse with respect to the obligation to which the tender relates.
  (c) If tender of payment of an amount due on an instrument is made to a person entitled to enforce the instrument, the obligation of the obligor to pay interest after the due date on the amount tendered is discharged. If presentment is required with respect to an instrument and the obligor is able and ready to pay on the due date at every place of payment stated in the instrument, the obligor is deemed to have made tender of payment on the due date to the person entitled to enforce the instrument.
  And 31 USC 5103 - United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Foreign gold or silver coins are not legal tender for debts.
  So I submitted legal tender and you refused. I'm happy because you just 'wrote off' my debt.
  I'll note that the MOST the courts would do is tell you to accept my cash.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
35. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 12:52 · Score: 1
  
  Not really. When you go to a store, the seller has no obligation to sell you anything.
  The context, in this case, is a sit-down restaurant. The meal has already been served and consumed. You're not getting it back. The eater has incurred a debt with the restaurant for the price of the meal.
  They have to accept cash at that point. A gas station or McDonalds would be free to keep their product and refuse the cash, because the exchange hasn't happened yet.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
36. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 13:00 · Score: 1
  
  The fix is to tender the bills in a non-assholish way. IE reasonably large bills, not defaced or origamied.
  You show up with 7 'clean' 20 bills to pay a $128 bill, you should be good.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
37. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by fishwallop · 2015-03-04 13:02 · Score: 1
  
  This is a Canadian thread, so the proper reference is to the Currency Act ; specifically, s. 8(2).
  Coins are legal tender, but only up to a maximum number of coins depending on the denomination. The most you can use in one transaction is 100 (dimes or nickels).
38. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Socguy · 2015-03-04 13:20 · Score: 1
  
  I have personally experienced Telus, a major phone company in Canada, refusing cash payments of their bills due to the cost of handling the money. Also pennies (before rounding was introduced) were only valid currency up to about $2 here in Canada. I have no idea about the other coins but it wouldn't surprise me if there were similar regulations around them.
39. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 13:22 · Score: 1
  
  Do you have a citation on how the courts handle a reasonable attempt to pay in cash? IE bills of reasonable denomination that have not been defaced or altered?
  Okay, they don't have to accept $100 worth of pennies or $10k worth of $1 bills. What about 5 $20 bills or 100 $100s*?
  *$100 being the highest denominator in common circulation
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
40. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 13:25 · Score: 1
  
  Nice try but U3-603 refers to negotiable instruments,which is a written promise to pay an individual a stated amount of money. A bill in a restaurant isn't a negotiable instrument, for example.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
41. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 13:31 · Score: 1
  
  Nice try but U3-603 refers to negotiable instruments,which is a written promise to pay an individual a stated amount of money. A bill in a restaurant isn't a negotiable instrument, for example. Yea, those most courts would simply say take the money and both of you stop wasting our time. My point is some people seem to believe that if a business refuses to accept your cash in payment you are discharged of the obligation to pay; which is not the case.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
42. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by spire3661 · 2015-03-04 13:49 · Score: 1
  
  Lets look at the terms.
  
  Legal tender: when i began my search, i typed in legal tender and the first result was this
  
  "legal tender
  noun
  coins or banknotes that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt."
  
  The root meaning of the words themselves are Lawful OFFER. It seems to me that its not just my opinion? Care to counter?
  
  --
  Good-bye
43. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 14:14 · Score: 1
  
  My point is some people seem to believe that if a business refuses to accept your cash in payment you are discharged of the obligation to pay; which is not the case.
  Again, I'll clarify a bit: I'm not saying a business can't refuse cash. It CAN in 'most' cases. The ONLY time it's obligated to accept cash is when you actually OWE them money. My common example would be the sit-down restaurant. The meal has been delivered and consumed, the debt created.
  Then, per 31 USC 5103, US currency is legal tender for that debt. While UCC article 3 might not apply(I've seen judges contort more to make something applicable), you've still made a valid offer to pay.
  This can be modified in some ways with a previously agreed upon contract, but unless the business has gone out of it's way to tell you that cash isn't accepted before they extend you credit, they have to take it.
  Like I said, if they end up taking it to court, the worst the court is going to do is tell them to take the cash and be happy, assuming that the 'cash' isn't in some crazy state like 'all pennies', 'folded into 10k paper cranes' etc...
  Oh yeah, and they're not obligated to take partial payment.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
44. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by mark-t · 2015-03-04 14:17 · Score: 1
  
  They don't owe you money if you refuse to accept cash... but neither do they owe you the services or goods for which you may have wanted to pay for in cash... in which case they are typically asked for immediately in advance of such services rendered or goods exchanged.
  
  --
  File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
45. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Your.Master · 2015-03-04 15:00 · Score: 1
  
  They would owe you money because the entire premise of this discussion is that they have a debt to you. A debt literally means they owe you money.
46. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by rubycodez · 2015-03-04 15:18 · Score: 1
  
  You could not be more wrong, coins are legal tender too
  Section 31 U.S.C. 5103: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."
47. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by swb · 2015-03-04 15:19 · Score: 1
  
  Right, they can refuse the sale ahead of time. There is no debt before the sale.
  But once the debt exists, they cannot refuse to accept legal tender for its payment.
48. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Your.Master · 2015-03-04 15:21 · Score: 1
  
  Can you explain what happens if a restaurant comes up with a bill, and a reasonable attempt to pay the bill in full is made with cash, which the restaurant refuses? By reasonable, I mean in appropriate denominations with no particular reason to suspect fraud and which pass reasonable anti-fraud validation (so sufficient defacement is unreasonable).
  I really have a hard time believing the claim that you will be charged with theft in this scenario. Can you cite an example?
  I'm not trained in law but surely you see this defies common sense.
  Also, lots of people are citing US law, but this is a matter of Canadian law. Are you sure of your statements in a Canadian context, a US context, or both?
49. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by rubycodez · 2015-03-04 15:21 · Score: 2
  
  You talk out of your ass. Look up relevant cases before spewing in ignorance, two decades ago even the IRS was bitch slapped after refusing trucker who paid in pennies. Refusing legal tender puts you in a very bad position in a court of law.
50. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 15:25 · Score: 1
  
  Canada is not part of the United States.
51. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Livius · 2015-03-04 15:27 · Score: 1
  
  Is it still cash after it's defaced?
  Probably, but the point is that it's no longer completely certain.
52. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by canadian_right · 2015-03-04 15:44 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know about the USA,but in Canada there are limits on how many coins and bills you can use to pay debts. See the Currency act.
  
  --
  Anarchists never rule
53. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by spire3661 · 2015-03-04 16:24 · Score: 1
  
  You are interpreting wrong. 'However' is not necessarily a limiter you think it is. "United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. "
  
  stands alone.
  
  "There is, however," is unrelated to the part about debt. Since neither of us are lawyers lets agree its ambiguous at best, instead of claiming early victory.
  
  --
  Good-bye
54. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by mirix · 2015-03-04 17:33 · Score: 1
  
  Here's the rules, FWIW. Pennies are only valid to 25c.
  
  (2) A payment in coins referred to in subsection (1) is a legal tender for no more than the following amounts for the following denominations of coins:
  (a) forty dollars if the denomination is two dollars or greater but does not exceed ten dollars;
  (b) twenty-five dollars if the denomination is one dollar;
  (c) ten dollars if the denomination is ten cents or greater but less than one dollar;
  (d) five dollars if the denomination is five cents; and
  (e) twenty-five cents if the denomination is one cent.
  
  --
  Sent from my PDP-11
55. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 19:22 · Score: 1
  
  Canada law has a clause to prevent the kind of douchebaggery suggested by the GP
  http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-52/page-1.html#h-6
  
  A payment in coins referred to in subsection (1) is a legal tender for no more than the following amounts for the following denominations of coins:
  (a) forty dollars if the denomination is two dollars or greater but does not exceed ten dollars;
  (b) twenty-five dollars if the denomination is one dollar;
  (c) ten dollars if the denomination is ten cents or greater but less than one dollar;
  (d) five dollars if the denomination is five cents; and
  (e) twenty-five cents if the denomination is one cent.
56. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Rick+in+China · 2015-03-04 19:47 · Score: 1
  
  In this case the "may be refused" portion could be justified under the case where security measures which are required to identify legal tender are not recognisable or have been damaged, which would be sufficient means to refuse the money as legal tender.
57. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 19:58 · Score: 1
  
  She's mostly right, but maybe not for entirely the correct reasons. In that Case, the clerk had imposed what the Court found to be a Reasonable manner in which the currency was to be tendered to the Clerk. Specifically, that the coins be properly packaged if the presenter wished to use pennies. His weren't because he was trying to be a Dick about it. ( The takeaway is that if you're trying to be a Dick about it, the Courts are probably going to get grumpy with you, and you'll lose.) But it also means that unless the Creditor is able to claim that your manner of actually making the payment is unreasonable, then they can NOT deny it.
  One word of caution: Most of your daily transactions, particularly retail ones, exchange payment prior to the transfer of ownsership/point of sale. So in that case they can refuse any and all payment as they see fit.
58. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Opportunist · 2015-03-04 20:30 · Score: 1
  
  You'll have a hard time proving in a court that you made a reasonable attempt to pay. Judges tend to go by occam's razor, and what's more likely: You bailing after eating 'cause you can't / don't want to pay, or the waiter refusing to take your cash?
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
59. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 21:14 · Score: 1
  
  Again, UCC 3 - 603 refers to negotiable instruments, not debts. A negotiable instrument is a debt but not all debts are negotiable instruments. While I agree a judge could contort it to include your example a restaurant bill isn't a negotiable instrument. I also agree a judge would likely tell them to "take the cash." The whole argument is a bit silly since i doubt a place would refuse cash unless it was in some really silly form, such as offering to pay a $5 bill with a $10,000 or $100,000 note.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
60. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-04 21:27 · Score: 1
  
  You talk out of your ass. Look up relevant cases before spewing in ignorance, two decades ago even the IRS was bitch slapped after refusing trucker who paid in pennies. Refusing legal tender puts you in a very bad position in a court of law.
  Sure, Rosen v Continental Airlines. Refusing cash didn't put them in a bad position.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
61. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by manwargi · 2015-03-04 21:37 · Score: 1
  
  A classic on this topic.
62. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2015-03-04 21:51 · Score: 1
  
  But it's also illegal to deface money.
  They're not defacing the banknotes, they're rehairing them.
  
  --
  Ezekiel 23:20
63. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · 2015-03-05 01:42 · Score: 1
  
  I wouldn't worry about seeing any $10,000 or even $100,000 notes as those reside in private collections and while still legal tender someone would be a fool to try an use one. I would however question where they got a $100,000 note and I believe that the secrete service would also have some questions as those were only used for inter-bank transfers.
  
  --
  Time to offend someone
64. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2015-03-05 02:08 · Score: 1
  
  I wouldn't worry about seeing any $10,000 or even $100,000 notes as those reside in private collections and while still legal tender someone would be a fool to try an use one. I would however question where they got a $100,000 note and I believe that the secrete service would also have some questions as those were only used for inter-bank transfers.
  I fully agree, though it would be interesting to see the face on clerk that was handed one of them and the alarm on the collector's part when the clerk put a big line on it with an anti-counterfeit pen.
  
  --
  I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
65. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by mrchaotica · 2015-03-05 05:13 · Score: 1
  
  You'll have a hard time proving in a court that you made a reasonable attempt to pay.
  Theft is a criminal offense, so the burden is on the prosecution to prove that you failed to make a reasonable attempt to pay. And there's nothing stopping the defense from simply putting the waiter on the witness stand and asking "did the defendant attempt to give you cash in payment?" Unless said waiter perjures himself, I have a hard time seeing how the alleged-thief could possibly be found guilty.
  
  --
  "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
66. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Opportunist · 2015-03-05 06:17 · Score: 1
  
  People lie. People lie under oath. Why the fuck should the waiter care about the perjury? There is nobody who could prove him wrong. And it only increases his credibility because, hey, who'd imperil his liberty over something as trivial as just keeping his job?
  You would neither be the first nor would you be the last innocent person behind bars because it would have inconvenienced someone to tell the truth.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
67. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by rubycodez · 2015-03-05 10:22 · Score: 1
  
  correct but I'm in subthread started by SeaFox that brought up USA
68. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by rubycodez · 2015-03-05 10:24 · Score: 1
  
  we are in subthread started by SeaFox that brought up USA differences
69. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by ImprovOmega · 2015-03-05 11:45 · Score: 1
  
  Most people won't risk jail time to cover their employer's ass. Perjury is actually a fairly serious offense. Why would you risk lying to the court for a minimum wage job?
70. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · 2015-03-06 01:00 · Score: 1
  
  This now makes me wonder what would happen if one where to try to use one of those high denomination bills at Wal*Mart. I know they have had problems in the past with the novelty $1,000,000 bills. Maybe Best Buy would also be worth visiting.
  
  --
  Time to offend someone
Spock is an odd choice by damn_registrars · 2015-03-04 09:33 · Score: 3, Funny

I thought the original portrait on the Canadian $5 bill looks more like a young Palpatine.

--
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
1. Re:Spock is an odd choice by Tablizer · 2015-03-04 11:13 · Score: 1
  
  Palpatine? Hmm. Well, this one is spot-on:
  http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix...
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
2. Re:Spock is an odd choice by Megane · 2015-03-05 00:25 · Score: 1
  
  The thing is, Canadians have been Spocking their five dollar bills for decades. What surprised me was that they're still doing it after the bill was redesigned.
  And after doing a google image search, it seems there have been a few people who tried it with the US five dollar bill too. Abe Lincoln's beard makes him look like Mirror Spock though. And the new Canadian five has also been Snaped.
  
  --
  #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by hey! · 2015-03-04 09:37 · Score: 5, Informative

His family has requested that donations be made in his memory to one of the following charities
Everychild Foundation http://everychildfoundation.or...
P.O. Box 1808
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Foundation http://www.copdfoundation.org/
20 F Street NW, Suite 200-A
Washington, D.C. 20001
Beit T’Shuvah Treatment Center http://www.beittshuvah.org/tre...
8831 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Bay-Nimoy Early Childhood Center at Temple Israel of Hollywood http://www.tiohnurseryschool.o...
7300 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Source: http://www.startrek.com/articl...

--
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
1. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by Kjella · 2015-03-04 09:49 · Score: 1
  
  Beit Tâ(TM)Shuvah Treatment Center
  Is that a relative of T'Pol? I guess funding the Vulcan economy is only logical.
  
  --
  Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
2. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by Adambomb · 2015-03-04 09:52 · Score: 2
  
  Spocking 5$ bills has been a thing for a long time now up here in Canada. It's just seeing a spike due to the recent sad news.
  It's not like this is some specific tribute thing.
  
  --
  Ice Cream has no bones.
3. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by devforhire · 2015-03-04 09:58 · Score: 2
  
  Do these charities accept Spocked $5 bill donations?
4. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by Grisstle · 2015-03-04 09:59 · Score: 2
  
  Everyone send one Spocked Canadian $5 bill to each of those charities.
5. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by king+neckbeard · 2015-03-04 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  Spocked $5 bills would seem appropriate. It would also alow these charities to see how much of an impact Nimoy has had.
  
  --
  This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
6. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by gstoddart · 2015-03-04 10:58 · Score: 1
  
  Spocking 5$ bills has been a thing for a long time now up here in Canada
  Man, I have got to start reading the news letter more often.
  Here I've been going around with un-Spocked bills like a n00b.
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Why not run with it? by istartedi · 2015-03-04 09:37 · Score: 4, Interesting

Why not issue commemorative $5 notes? Commemorative coins are issued in the US, although actors aren't usually on them. There is, AFAIK, no commemorative US or Canadian note like that. Stamps are more liberal in that regard. I'm sure a lot of conservatives would hate it, say it's "undignified", blah, blah... It's Canada so they might even have to get permission from the Queen; but if they don't, then why not innovate? Come on Canada. You're so cool in many other ways. Make it happen.

--
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
1. Re:Why not run with it? by show+me+altoids · 2015-03-04 09:45 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Well, if Shatner had died instead, you might have a point, since he is actually Canadian. Nimoy was born in Boston.
  
  --
  I feel sorry for people that don't drink, because when they get up in the morning, that's as good as they're gonna feel
2. Re:Why not run with it? by SleepyHappyDoc · 2015-03-04 09:51 · Score: 1
  
  I don't think we've ever had a commemorative bill circulating that wasn't part of an official set (like 1967). Coins, sure, they have a new design all the time, but not bills.
  
  --
  Stasis is death. Embrace change.
3. Re:Why not run with it? by Wraithlyn · 2015-03-04 10:01 · Score: 1
  
  Probably because all of the automatic bill-verification stuff would fail if the design is completely different.
  Coins don't have this issue because they can be recognized by size and weight.
  
  --
  "Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
4. Re:Why not run with it? by xaxa · 2015-03-04 10:14 · Score: 1
  
  British paper money currently features (£5-10-20-50) Elizabeth Fry (prison reformer), Charles Darwin, Adam Smith (philosopher) and James Watt and Matthew Boulton (engineers), so there shouldn't be a problem from the queen. But I think people tend to have been dead for a while.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B...
5. Re:Why not run with it? by wiredlogic · 2015-03-04 11:12 · Score: 1
  
  Because you need standardized bills that change infrequently to minimize hassles with automatic validators. The validation steps for coins don't require imaging their surface.
  
  --
  I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
Revisionist history? by SeaFox · 2015-03-04 09:39 · Score: 1

I read this story on the BBC site yesterday, and the title of the story was 'Spocking' not illegal, Canada Says at the time. It even still appears on Google search with that title. But now the headline has been changed to Bank spokesman says writing on bills "inappropriate".
Some shiny-shoed people getting a bit upset and influencing the media?
1. Re:Revisionist history? by Austerity+Empowers · 2015-03-04 09:44 · Score: 1
  
  Given that I never heard of "Spocking" before these articles, and now that I have heard of it wished I was Canadian and had a ready supply of $5 bills, I wondered if their intent wasn't contrary to the stated purpose.
  I will have to settle on "Bill Murray"ing US $5 bills for now.
2. Re:Revisionist history? by rogoshen1 · 2015-03-04 10:12 · Score: 1
  
  or go with "daniel day lewis-ing' and you don't have to do anything!
3. Re:Revisionist history? by Minwee · 2015-03-04 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  If you were Canadian, you would have been seeing Spock on the $5 for years and years. Even the older bills with different portraits were suitable for being "Spocked".
  Not only that, you would know how to fold two $1 bills so that "Banque du Canada - Bank of Canada" changed into a request to do something impolite with a banana.
4. Re:Revisionist history? by TheGratefulNet · 2015-03-04 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  I wanted to do some john belushi'ing of my money, but I wasn't sure if I should use pollen or dark sunglasses.
  (yeah, right; 'why not both?')
  
  --
  
  --
  "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
5. Re:Revisionist history? by sexconker · 2015-03-04 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  Some shiny-shoed people getting a bit upset and influencing the media?
  Never trust a man in clean shoes. (Also never trust a man in a wheelchair with dirty shoes.)
6. Re:Revisionist history? by LainTouko · 2015-03-04 12:23 · Score: 1
  
  The new headline does actually convey strictly more information than the old one, since as well as conveying what the bank spokesman is saying, you can deduce from his criticism of "inappropriate" that it is not illegal, otherwise the criticism would be that it was illegal, or at least contain this information.
7. Re:Revisionist history? by Your.Master · 2015-03-04 15:25 · Score: 1
  
  I'm Canadian. I guess I don't use cash enough, because I don't remember ever seeing Spock (I do remember one instance of it being made to look like the devil with horns and a goatee).
  And I'm way too young to have Canadian $1 bills be a thing.
They'll stop defacing when govt stops devaluing by JoeyRox · 2015-03-04 09:44 · Score: 1

until then it's fair game.
silly reasons not to by rvr · 2015-03-04 09:49 · Score: 5, Insightful

I have an old $5 in my wallet, will be fun to do. The enjoyment I get out of doing this is easily worth $5.
The bank listed "important reasons". I call BS on each one.
- Reduced lifespan, so what? It is being replaced anyway.
- It might be rejected in a transaction. Lame, someone else will take it. Its only $5
- Source of national pride. Really? My guess is half of Canadians have never heard of him or know he was the PM.
Checked my wallet, there is an old $5, jackpot! I am feeling more Canadian pride in doing this on a Canadian bill then ... putting maple syrup on my bacon.
1. Re:silly reasons not to by jklovanc · 2015-03-04 10:34 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  - Reduced lifespan, so what? It is being replaced anyway.
  Do you replace your car every time you use it? It is going to be replaced anyway, eventually. By reducing lifespan one is increasing the costs of to the government and wasting my taxes.
  
  It might be rejected in a transaction. Lame, someone else will take it. Its only $5
  If it is my last cash and the machine will not accept it that I would quite perturbed.
  
  Source of national pride.
  Canadian money has national leaders on it not actors.
2. Re: silly reasons not to by jklovanc · 2015-03-04 15:27 · Score: 1
  
  Not after a single use. The US $5 note has a lifespan of about 5 years. Cut that in half and you just doubled the cost of having a $5 bill. I was just pointing out how stupid the "you are going to replace it anyway" argument was.
3. Re:silly reasons not to by drinkypoo · 2015-03-04 15:52 · Score: 1
  
  Canadian money has national leaders on it not actors.
  You'd think that...
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
4. Re:silly reasons not to by antdude · 2015-03-04 17:19 · Score: 1
  
  $5 is a lot for poor people!
  
  --
  Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
5. Re:silly reasons not to by DNS-and-BIND · 2015-03-04 18:50 · Score: 1
  
  Canadian money has foreigners on it. What, not a foreigner? You mean Canada still isn't a republic? LOL
  
  --
  Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
6. Re:silly reasons not to by SuiteSisterMary · 2015-03-05 04:15 · Score: 1
  
  How does drawing on a bill reduce it's lifespan? Especially compared to common use, folding, crumpling, in and out of pockets, wallets, etc etc, going through the laundry
  
  --
  Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
7. Re:silly reasons not to by jklovanc · 2015-03-05 05:32 · Score: 1
  
  How does drawing on a bill reduce it's lifespan?
  Because it is defaced it will be immediately destroyed upon returning to a central bank. So a bill that could have been re-issued if it had not been defaced is destroyed therefore the lifespan is decreased.
Mr. Spock by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2015-03-04 09:55 · Score: 1

"Doctor, perhaps you are right. What is Mr. Scott's condition?"
"Well, I don't (is Vulcan neck pinched) think..."
(Eases him down.)
"Remember, eh."

--
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Negative Spin, Positive Spin by Al+Al+Cool+J · 2015-03-04 09:58 · Score: 4, Interesting

Other articles spin it the other way.
'Spocking' Laurier on $5 not illegal, says Bank of Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/sp...
Only on older $5 bills by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 10:08 · Score: 1

Dang! I went to "Spock" a fiver but it was one of the new plastic bills and the picture is different.
Hey Canada: Stop "verbing" proper nouns! by Radical+Moderate · 2015-03-04 10:20 · Score: 1

South Park was so right.

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Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.
It worked a lot better on the old bills. by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 10:24 · Score: 1

Mike Meyers popularized it on David Letterman IIRC years ago.. the old paper $5 bills had Laurier's face at a better angle, so he looked much more like Nimoy when the hair was penned in. Lots of us Canadians actually suspect they purposely changed his pose to try to avoid this in the newer bills...
1. Re:It worked a lot better on the old bills. by Blimbo · 2015-03-04 17:38 · Score: 1
  
  Spocking $5 dollar bills has been going on for some time. I saw my first one late 1990s in Toronto..
Re:Seriously? by Minwee · 2015-03-04 10:27 · Score: 1

You know, the new bill has Laurier on it too.
I believe by publiclurker · 2015-03-04 10:28 · Score: 1

it is only illegal to deface money with the intent to defraud. It's been many years, but that was the claim from some people that made jewelry out of coins. they had the appropriate regulation listed but, like I said, it was many years ago. Also, I think you may be able to decline payment if the money has been defaced to the point that you cannot discern its legitimacy.
1. Re:I believe by Firethorn · 2015-03-04 12:35 · Score: 1
  
  18 US Code 333 - Mutilation of national bank obligations:
  Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
  It's not intent to defraud, but merely that it wouldn't be suited to be reissued. So those 'track this bill' stamps are okay, because they can be reissued. Drawing a lewd image on them, knowing that the bank wouldn't knowingly reissue it, would be.
  
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  I don't read AC A human right
Illogical by penguinoid · 2015-03-04 10:34 · Score: 5, Funny

This complaint is illogical. I estimate a 99.9732156% chance that it will be ignored.

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Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
1. Re:Illogical by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 12:13 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Never tell me the odds!!!
  Oops...wrong franchise...
2. Re:Illogical by Anonymous Coward · 2015-03-04 15:04 · Score: 1
  
  Never tell me the odds, oh 2:1... well that's not bad.
Streisand Effect engaged by Tablizer · 2015-03-04 10:55 · Score: 1

Now that they pointed out the fun prank to all, I want to Spockify some also.
And, I just found some cool Dr-Who-ifications on Google.
Let the nerdification begin...

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Table-ized A.I.
Re:Hey Canada: Stop "verbing" proper nouns! by Tablizer · 2015-03-04 11:02 · Score: 5, Funny

Bushificationism of verbicates will continue to continuify. If you are bothertized by it, then please seekify some therapification.
- Thankitize You, The Managementors

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Table-ized A.I.
Re:Seriously? by wiredlogic · 2015-03-04 11:13 · Score: 1

Looks fit to be Neelixed or Quarked though.

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I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
oblig by melchoir55 · 2015-03-04 11:38 · Score: 1

Cue Streisand effect.
Subject misses the point by plcurechax · 2015-03-04 12:30 · Score: 2

They are Canadian, the Bank of Canada is (politely) asking people to stop "Spocking" their Canadian five dollar bank notes ("bills").
Re:On fiat money by rubycodez · 2015-03-04 15:10 · Score: 2

You're funny, inflation happens under gold standard too. So does fractional reserve banking.
Re:On fiat money by rubycodez · 2015-03-04 15:11 · Score: 1

oh, and boom-bust also happens under gold standard. Proven by thousands of years of history in the west and east. Proven by pre-fed USA too.
such a tired myth by SuperBanana · 2015-03-04 15:43 · Score: 3, Interesting

First off, Canada != US, fellow American.
Second: people and businesses can limit the forms of payment they'll accept for practical reasons all the time. As in: no bills over a certain amount, or refusing payment in pennies. Coins CAN be legal tender, but no merchant or private party MUST accept a particular form of currency. Don't want to accept $1 bills, only $5 and $10? That's fine:
http://www.snopes.com/business...
"Legal tender is the default method of payment assumed in contractual agreements involving debts and payments for goods or services unless otherwise specified."
Third: the currency is defaced. That is the whole point - it's potentially not legal currency if you've drawn all over it. If you interfere with security features in the bill and it becomes more risky to trust as valid (such as, counterfeit bills that meet other security features elsewhere on the bill)...then they are right to refuse it.
I'm kind of shocked Canada doesn't specifically outlaw defacement of the currency; the US sure does.

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Please help metamoderate.
Alternative decoration by gringer · 2015-03-04 16:38 · Score: 1

As an alternative, Canadians are free to decorate them in such a way that the face looks like Barbara Streisand.

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Ask me about repetitive DNA
Re:Seriously? by Whiteox · 2015-03-04 17:02 · Score: 1

Why not Narns? You got something against them?

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Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
Is it Spock or paper? by Ed+Avis · 2015-03-04 22:18 · Score: 1

How do these banknotes fit into the rules of Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard?

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-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
Re:On fiat money by silentcoder · 2015-03-05 02:19 · Score: 1

> The increase of gold is negligible.
Except when it's not... if a sudden surge of gold increase does happen - then there are no systems in place to counter inflation through things like interest hikes, instant hyper-inflation.
Exactly what destroyed the Spanish empire. Too much gold and silver from the Americas - instant riches, collapse of the gold based currency.

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Unicode killed the ASCII-art *
Re: On fiat money by rubycodez · 2015-03-05 09:46 · Score: 1

Were they only looking at endpoint? for the USA, item for $2 in 1800 cost $1.00 in 1850 (deflation) but then $1.32 in 1875 (inflation) but back to $1 in 1895
Jailable offense, here in the Land of the Free... by BryceM · 2015-03-05 10:04 · Score: 1

Here in the land of the free, you could be sentenced to up to 6 months in jail and an unlimited fine for making a "Five Dollar Bill Murray"... http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/us...
It's Not Fair by BattyMan · 2015-03-06 03:26 · Score: 1

None of our American presidents even slightly resemble Spock...

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Exceeding the recommended torque is not recommended.
Really? by herbierobinson · 2015-03-07 08:12 · Score: 1

Does anyone out there really think Leonard Nimoy would be honored by this?

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An engineer who ran for Congress. http://herbrobinson.us