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Shuts and Failures

by Michael Maiello

EmmaZahn's picture

Bank Of Canada won’t discuss melting plastic bills, says national security behind silence

by EmmaZahn 1/6/2013 - 6:35 pm

 

OTTAWA — Disclosing details of behind-the-scenes discussions about tales of melting banknotes could endanger national security or international relations, says Canada’s central bank. / In response to a formal request from The Canadian Press, the Bank Of Canada released 134 pages of internal records — almost completely blanked out — concerning allegations its new polymer bills melted in the scorching summer sun. / The bank began issuing $100 polymer banknotes in late 2011, saying they were harder to counterfeit than paper notes and would last much longer. / Unconfirmed reports of cooked currency emerged in July when a Kelowna, B.C., bank teller said she had heard of cases in which several bills had melted together inside a car.

Read the full article at http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/01/bank-of-canada-wont-discuss-melting-plastic-bills-says-national-security-behind-silence/

The bank says it has tested the new bills for heat-resistance, and they passed. But maybe at lower temperatures than the cotton bills they are replacing.

One thing I did notice when I first got some from an ATM is that static electricity causes them to stick together like crazy. To the point that I initially was sure the machine had ripped me off. What I routinely do now is keep some older bills in my wallet to interlace with the new twenties. I have heard stories (which I believe) of people overpaying by two or three times because of bills sticking together.

Oh, and some vending machines aren't set to accept the new-style bills. A PR disaster for the Bank of Canada.

by acanuck 1/7/2013 - 1:03 am

I've got to admit this commenter at the site makes a good point and does it well:

Lloyd Diggins Average Canadian • 3 days ago

  •  

OMFG. Did you also hear the news that the old paper bills when lit on fire burn, or that if you grab them in the middle and pull arms in opposite directions that they can rip even? [....]

Maybe I'm a bit overly sympathetic to that argument right now because I've been dealing recently with a Significant Other suddenly having temper tantrums, the two-year-old kind, over adjustments to change in items like cell phones and various home gadgets.

Yeah, adjusting to change sucks, and change isn't often introduced well or smoothly.  That's reallity. What's strange about this is, it would be natural to think that older people would have the most tolerance to this rather than the least, having gone through it so many times, but they are often the ones freaking out the most.

by artappraiser 1/7/2013 - 5:36 am

What made no sense to me was not just the aggravation but the expense of that big of a change to currency when for the most part it will soon be history anyway replaced by cell phone banking and/or plastic with embedded rfid chips.  

What's strange about this is, it would be natural to think that older people would have the most tolerance to this rather than the least, having gone through it so many times, but they are often the ones freaking out the most.

What can I say?  Straws, camels.  

I wish I could remember the name or author of a short story from a very long time ago about a retirement celebration.  The reveal at the end is that the retirement not from work per se but from a specific amount of consumption required from everyone to keep the economy going and provide jobs.  It won a Hugo, I think.

by EmmaZahn 1/7/2013 - 10:09 am

Hey, how did this thread degenerate into a discussion of how we grumpy old farts can't tolerate change? I'll admit I'm grumpy and old, but I tolerate change just fine. Speaking of which, the Canadian govt. has stopped minting pennies and is starting to pull them out of circulation to be melted down. You're next.

by acanuck 1/7/2013 - 11:43 am (re: EmmaZahn)

To get rid of the penny, or to be melted down? :^0

by erica20 1/7/2013 - 12:03 pm (re: acanuck)

the Canadian govt. has stopped minting pennies and is starting to pull them out of circulation to be melted down.

Smart move.  See > SEC OKs Plan To Devastate Copper Market, Economy « Dealbreaker: Wall Street Insi...

And in the way of old people, I have begun hanging onto the wires and cords of every defunk piece of electronic junk.that I send away to the recycle center.  Thought I might try some wire art crafts. :):

 

by EmmaZahn 1/7/2013 - 12:53 pm (re: acanuck)

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