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

Posted by samzenpus on 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.

33 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Funniest headline I've seen all day by siuengr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It just made me smile.

    1. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by monkeyzoo · · 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 · · 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 · · 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 · · 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 · · 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 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Bank of Canada, meet the Streisand Effect

    7. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by JonWan · · 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.

    8. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by 93+Escort+Wagon · · 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
    9. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by mattack2 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Never tell me the odds.

    10. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by Aighearach · · 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.

    11. Re:Funniest headline I've seen all day by tlhIngan · · 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.

  2. Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by cruff · · 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 everett · · 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.
    2. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Good luck convincing a court that someone owes you money after you refused their cash.

    3. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by Firethorn · · 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
    4. Re:Alternate Bank of Canada Press Release by rubycodez · · 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.

  3. Spock is an odd choice by damn_registrars · · 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.
  4. Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by hey! · · 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 Adambomb · · 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.
    2. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by devforhire · · Score: 2

      Do these charities accept Spocked $5 bill donations?

    3. Re:Remembering Nimoy this way is illogical. by Grisstle · · Score: 2

      Everyone send one Spocked Canadian $5 bill to each of those charities.

  5. Why not run with it? by istartedi · · 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 · · 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
  6. silly reasons not to by rvr · · 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 · · 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.

  7. Negative Spin, Positive Spin by Al+Al+Cool+J · · 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...

  8. Illogical by penguinoid · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    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 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Never tell me the odds!!!

      Oops...wrong franchise...

  9. Re:Hey Canada: Stop "verbing" proper nouns! by Tablizer · · 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

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  10. Subject misses the point by plcurechax · · Score: 2

    They are Canadian, the Bank of Canada is (politely) asking people to stop "Spocking" their Canadian five dollar bank notes ("bills").

  11. Re:On fiat money by rubycodez · · Score: 2

    You're funny, inflation happens under gold standard too. So does fractional reserve banking.

  12. such a tired myth by SuperBanana · · 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.

    --
    Please help metamoderate.