Entries from January 2010 ↓

Video game adaptations of movies have almost always been a little lacking in the quality department. Usually rushed money-grabs hoping to ride on the coattails of a film's popularity, very few of them ever seem to recapture the magic and thrill of the source material. I mean, there are a lot of very good reasons why Atari buried the E. T. game in the middle of the New Mexico desert.

But we do like a good retro mash-up around these parts, and these video game box mock-ups from Australian graphic artist Robert Penney are pretty fantastic. I can almost hear a much younger version of myself whining at my mother for a copy of "Avatar: The Game". "But look, mom! Aren't the graphics awesome?"

You can check out the full set, including Cloverfield and Snakes On A Plane, at Penney Design's tumblr. Anything you'd like to see done up in the old Atari style?

Your local convenience store may not accept bills larger than $20, but once upon a time you could have paid for your gum with a nice fresh $10,000 bill. What’s the story behind the large-denomination bills that the government used to issue?

What big bills has the U.S. issued?

In 1928, the federal government overhauled its system of printing banknotes. It shaved about an inch of length and just under a half of an inch in width off of the bills and issued the new smaller bills in the $1 to $100 denominations with which we’re familiar. However, the Treasury also issued larger denominations. They featured William McKinley ($500), Grover Cleveland ($1,000), James Madison ($5,000), and Salmon P. Chase ($10,000).

Who the heck was Salmon P. Chase?

His name might not be as familiar as those of the Presidents featured on the other big bills, but once upon a time Chase was a big wheel in American politics. Chase, a mid-19th century politician, served as Chief Justice of the United States, spent stints as Ohio’s governor and senator, and was Lincoln’s first Secretary of the Treasury.

Nice resume, but how did Chase end up on the $10,000 bill?

He was in the right place at the right time. When the federal government started issuing greenback notes in 1861, Chase, as Secretary of the Treasury, was in charge of designing and popularizing the new currency. The politically ambitious Chase had to pick a portrait subject for the first $1 bill, and he chose…Salmon P. Chase.

Although putting his face in everyone’s pocketbooks never propelled Chase to the presidency, when the Treasury started issuing the new $10,000 bills in 1928 they put Chase’s portrait on the obverse to honor the man who helped introduce modern banknotes.

Even if you don’t have a $10,000 bill Chase’s name might still be in your wallet. Chase National Bank, the forerunner to Chase Manhattan Bank, was named in his honor.

Why on earth was the government printing such giant bills in the first place?

Believe it or not, it wasn’t just to save space in fatcats’ wallets. When the Treasury started printing these giant bills, their main purpose was making transfer payments between banks and other financial institutions. Before sophisticated wire transfer systems were fully developed, it was apparently easier and safer just to fork over a $5,000 bill to settle up with a fellow bank. Once transfer technology became safer and more secure, there really wasn’t much need for the big bills anymore.

What’s the largest denomination of currency the U.S. has printed?

That would be the Series 1934 $100,000 gold certificate. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing only made these notes during a three-week stretch during December 1934 and January 1935. Even the few plutocrats who had that much cash during the Depression couldn’t carry one of the $100K bills, though. They were only used for official transactions between Federal Reserve Banks, and the Treasurer of the United States only issued them to Fed banks that had an equal amount of gold in the Treasury. The note featured a picture of Woodrow Wilson.

Are any of these bills left in circulation?

There sure are, but don’t expect to find a $500 bill the next time you make an ATM withdrawal. The Treasury announced on July 14, 1969, that it would quit issuing the $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 notes immediately, since the bills were so sparsely circulated. It’s not like the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to stop the presses, either; the bills hadn’t seen an actual print run since 1945.

When the Treasury discontinued the bills, they rapidly fell out of circulation. However, a few are still lingering; as of May 2009, there were still 336 $10,000 bills at large. At the same time, Slate reported that there were also 342 $5,000 bills and 165,732 $1,000 bills still floating around.

If they’re out of circulation, can you still spend them?

Although the Treasury is no longer issuing these bills, according to the Fed they’re still legal tender. So yes, although it would probably raise some eyebrows, you could walk into Best Buy and plunk down a $1,000 bill to pay for a new plasma TV.

That wouldn’t be the smartest move, though. Most of the high-denomination bills that are left in circulation are in collectors’ safes, and at auction the bills tend to fetch prices that far exceed their face values. For instance, a pristine $10,000 bill can command a price as high as $140,000 on the open market.

What happens if you bring one of these big bills to a bank?

If you put it in your safety deposit box, your bill will be safe. Chase Bank actually acquired one of the $10,000 bills in its currency collection when a deceased customer’s family found the bill in her deposit box and traded it for $10,000 in cash. Deposit the historical loot into your checking account, though, and it’s bad news for the bill. You’ll get the cash deposited in your account, but since the 1969 order to stop distributing these bills, Fed banks have been pulling the notes from circulation and destroying them whenever they are received.

Of course, there are other potential pitfalls to depositing a big bill, like blowing your cover when you’re on the lam. Last February, three teenagers in Texas Township, Michigan, swiped one of their parents’ safes and drove to Birmingham, Alabama, with their booty. Their downfall came when they tried to change an antique $1,000 bill from the safe at a bank. The police nabbed the thieves after a call from a suspicious teller.

So there was never a real $1 million bill?

Nope, but that doesn’t mean that people haven’t tried to make one. In 2004 woman in Covington, Georgia, tried to pick up a $1,675 tab at a local Wal-Mart with a forged $1 million bill featuring a picture of the Statue of Liberty. Police quickly arrested her. It’s hard to say what’s more ludicrous: trying to pass off a million-dollar bill or thinking that Wal-Mart would just fork over $998,325 in change.

Someone gave me a fake $1 million bill as a joke…was that illegal?

As long as you don’t try to spend it or deposit it, you’re in the clear. Gag makers and some religious and political groups have printed novelty $1 million bills for decades. In 1982, these novelty bills came to the attention of the Secret Service, which ruled that since there wasn’t a real $1 million bill, these joke versions weren’t technically forgeries or violations of any laws.

What about the opposite of these bills: the elusive $2 bill?

Although you don’t see the $2 bill all that often, it’s still a circulating denomination of American currency. According the U.S. Treasury, there are over $1.5 billion worth of $2 bills currently circulating around the world. However, since the bill changes hands less frequently than other denominations, it’s not printed as often, either. The Treasury hasn’t whipped up a batch of twofers since 2003.

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An AP investigation has found that, barred from using lead in children's jewelry, some Chinese manufacturers have substituted cadmium -- which is more dangerous. The AP tested one piece of jewelry that was 91% cadmium by weight. The heavy metal is a known carcinogen and is used in rechargeable batteries, pigments, electroplating and plastic. Children can ingest the cadmium by sucking or biting on the jewelry. They do not need to swallow it.

From the AP:

To gauge cadmium's prevalence in children's jewelry, the AP organized lab testing of 103 items bought in New York, Ohio, Texas and California. All but one were purchased in November or December.

The results: 12 percent of the pieces of jewelry contained at least 10 percent cadmium.

Some of the most troubling test results were for bracelet charms sold at Walmart, at the jewelry chain Claire's and at a dollar store. High amounts of cadmium also were detected in "The Princess and The Frog" movie-themed pendants.

"There's nothing positive that you can say about this metal. It's a poison," said Bruce A. Fowler, a cadmium specialist and toxicologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the CDC's priority list of 275 most hazardous substances in the environment, cadmium ranks No. 7. In case you're wondering why these tests have not prompted a recall, the AP says that there are no restrictions in cadmium in jewelry (only painted toys), and its perfectly legal to sell it -- unlike lead which is now heavily regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The AP says jewelry industry veterans in China say "cadmium has been used in domestic products there for years."

You can read the full AP report here.

Toxic metal in kids' jewelry from China [ABC7]

Check out Polish Lego fan Maciej Drwiega's 1:13 truck models -- the blue and black truck is a Kenworth K100 Aerodyne, the red one is a Kenworth W900 LongNose, and the truck with the crane is a Jelcz 315. Drwiega puts so much care into researching and crafting his models that they can be confused for the real deal at thumbnail size. [via the Brothers Brick]

More:

• Death by LEGO
• Ignite: "The Secret Underground World of Lego"
• LEGO tank has full interior detailing

The man who went through security the wrong way, disrupting airline traffic at Newark and thus nationwide, was neither a terrorist nor a dumbass, as we had speculated last week. He was a romantic fool who wanted a kiss from his girlfriend. Okay, maybe that falls under "dumbass."

At worst, the suspect, Haisong Jiang, will receive 30 days in jail.

On Saturday, some of Mr. Jiang’s roommates described him as a “romantic” now trying to secure a lawyer after the dizzying turn of events. His actions might have seemed innocently romantic to him, his friends said. But the incident was yet another lapse in airport security that frustrated harried travelers in the wake of the failed plane bombing on Christmas and incensed one New Jersey lawmaker over the leniency of Mr. Jiang’s potential penalty.

That's the thing. Life isn't a romantic comedy.

A ‘Romantic’ Now in Trouble Over an Airport Kiss [NY Times]

If you’re reading this post, you probably love trivia and game shows as much of the rest of us _flossers. So chances are you’ve watched at least one episode of Cash Cab on Discovery Channel, right? And chances are you’ve wondered whether it was rigged or not.

Well, the short answer is no, it’s not rigged. The more complicated answer is: eh, sometimes sorta. Mixed in with my narrative below, you’ll find seven, first-person accounts I scooped off the Web to give you a clear understanding of how the show, er, rolls.

First of all, the cab is a real, licensed cab. While host Ben Bailey is actually a comedian, he HAS taken and passed the New York City cabbie exam and is a licensed cab driver. The money he hands out isn’t real, but if contestants win, they’re sent a real check after the show airs. (This is probably done for tax purposes so the network and the IRS can track the money, legally.) After the contestants agree to be on the show, a production assistant gets in and sits shotgun. He/she helps Ben along the route, though the questions are fed into Ben’s earpiece as he drives.

So what about the contestants? Well, basically about ½ of them are pre-screened and about ½ are actually randoms off the street. In fact, if you look closely at the credits at the end, you’ll notice the line: “Some contestants have been pre-screened prior to their appearance on the show.”

So let’s tackle those contestants first. Here are a couple excerpts from first-person accounts — actual contestants talking about their experiences, most found over on Yelp.

Contestant #1

Basically, I was interviewed in Union Square Park for a show called “Show Me New York”, which would feature New Yorkers of all walks of life talking about their favorite spots in the city. Awesome, right??? I wasn’t sure why that show required a trivia quiz in the interview (maybe they didn’t want anyone stupid on-air?), but I aced it. After 2 weeks of emails with the producers, I got my film date. My friend and I waited for a cab, which we were told would take us to Century 21 downtown, where we were going to film our segment. Except, when the cab pulled up….the obvious happened…

…I’m episode 45 if anyone is interested.

Contestant #2

I, too, was picked up in Union Square to be in this show! Same scenario as [contestant #1] and we had to fill out this ridiculously long survey which obviously meant nothing since it was fake. Alas, we frickin lost one block away from our destination and we didn’t even think to use our street shout-out! I’m telling you, it’s easy to say ‘that’s so easy, I could have been on the show”, but when you’re in that cab and those lights are all over the place and Ben Bailey’s staring at you to answer the question, 30 seconds is just NOT enough time! I got a stupid shirt for playing (and losing) and every time I wear it to the gym someone has to comment. They say “hey! you were on the show! did you win??”. And I always answer: I’m wearing this shirt. What do you think?” Guess that’s the closest I’ll get to being a celebrity – I’ll take it! :-)

Contestant #3

My husband and I were recruited for a “smart” tourism show to talk about our favorite places in New York. They told us to get in a cab and meet them at the destination. Lights came on and you know the rest. Unfortunately, my husband and I disagreed on an answer. I deferred to him because I thought he was an expert on the subject, and my answer came from a dirty joke. Turns out I was right and he wasn’t and out on the curb we went.

My street shout-out? We happened to pick someone who started cursing out the crew like a crack addict. Ben Bailey said that had never happened before. I don’t know if this ever aired.

Contestant #4

I was on the show and although we had fun it is a scam! I met a rep after responding for an on-camera role for a “travel show” and after passing a current events oral exam (20 questions) I was told that I was what they were seeking. I was then informed that I was going to receive a call that would direct me to a location where I would be expected to speak about. At that point I knew something wasn’t on the up and up but I figured what the hell…nothing ventured – nothing gained. Then they threw me an even weirder curveball, I was asked to bring one to two additional people along. When I inquired why – especially after they wanted to know my depth of topical news etc., they said that more people helped the shot. Being a NYC radio talk show host and on-camera host I was getting more leary {sic} about going through with a situation that got more bizarre by the day but I did. My plan was to simply tell them NO THANKS or go scratch depending on how funky the scenario was if I decided to pull the plug. My buddy and his girlfriend accompanied me and we did very well (1 wrong answer and we gambled on the grand prize and lost : (

Yes, I was disenchanted over the misrepresentation but I had some laughs and it made for compelling content…or at least that’s what others told me. Buyer…or respondents BEWARE. ;

Contestant #5

So then what about the randoms who aren’t pre-screened? There are many people out there talking about how they were picked up by the Cash Can, but the best example I could find was from a redditor, who had a lot to say, answering questions from other redditors. You can read the whole thread here, but below are some excerpts:

Yes, I couldn’t tell it was the Cash Cab, but there was a 10 minute period after he hit the lights where they stopped, a PA came and talked to me, told me the rules, I signed a waiver, and continued, but that’s entirely cut out. I had the chance to opt out, but I don’t know if they would’ve still driven me. My guess is no.

Contestant #6

This person was very excited to be on.

Cash Cab is REAL!!! I was on it yesterday!!! I can’t say if i won or lost, but BEN ROCKS!!!

Contestant #7

Another blogger raves…

My friend Kristian and I found ourselves stepping into quite a surprise today. I won’t give away the details, since I want the show to remain successful, but hot sh*t was it a fun time!

And we won! We really did. There were a few close calls, of course. In fact, we got the first fucking question wrong! I was not pleased. But, in the end, we walked away with quite the pocket full of pennies. We even won the video challenge / double-or-nothing question at the end and doubled our score! I don’t know when our episode will air, but rest assured, America’s favorite bald spot will be seen on the Discovery Channel before too long. We couldn’t have done it without the help of my friend Brian aka Taco Bull. He was our “lifeline” and he answered a question correctly for us!

Anyone have any experience with the show? Feel free to tell us about it below!

If you liked this post and want to keep up with all my writing, be sure to follow me on Twitter: @resila. And be sure to follow @mental_floss too for the latest on all our great content and amazing facts, 140-characters at a time.

(Hat tip: TheHighDefinite)

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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