Have you ever wondered why half dollars, quarters, and dimes have rough edges (called Reeding) but nickels and pennies don't? I doubt it, but here is the answer anyway.
All money used to be in coin form, and each coin was made of a precious medal. Originally people could just trade the raw medals, but this was risky because there was no standardization of quality in the medal, plus you needed to bring a scale with you to business deals in order to know how much money you were getting. This was burdensome, so around 700 BC countries began making coins that had a fixed amount of quality and weight. This worked for about 10 minutes, then dirty thieves found a way to cheat the system. Early coins were made by pounding a piece of medal with some kind of hammer, shaping it, then stamping it with whatever emblem was appropriate for that denomination. The process was less that an exact science, so each coin turned out a little different. Tricky people began to shave the edges of the coins, melt the shavings into new coins/blocks of medal, and put the original coins back in circulation. These coins would circulate until someone weighed them; If you were the unlucky guy who tried to use a shaved or clipped coin, you were going to have a bad day.
This went on for about 2000 year until someone got the bright idea to ask Da Vinci to get involved. He thought about it while taking his afternoon constitutional and invented the milling process. Milling allowed us to make coins that were exactly alike and highly detailed. This also made it possible to add Reeding. With a hundred or so little notches on it's edge, it would be very obvious if someone tried to shave or clip the coin. Reeding was one of the first anti-counterfeiting and vandalism deceives used on effectively on money. Thanks to Leonardo, countries could now make money and guarantee it's value.
Fast forward a bit. It's now 1793. The United states has declared it's awesomeness to the world, and now it's time to printing money. Dollar coins, half dollars, quarters and dimes were made of either silver or gold. Pennies were made of copper, and nickels... well you probably can guess. Reeding was placed on any coin with silver or gold in it, where as copper and nickel coins weren't worth the effort.
In 1900s the United States decided that since we were now a super power, there was no need to keep putting valuable medal in our coins. By 1965, most US coins were made of common medals and had no intrinsic value. Instead coins, and dollars, now have their value defined by the strength of our national economy. (I'm sure this seemed like a good idea at the time.) So why do we keep the reeding on our coins if there is no need to protect the medals they are composed of? Because we want people to think that their money is actually worth something, like in the good old days. It's a tribute to times past. Of course now that you know what it's there for, those rough edges will probably serve as a reminder that your money isn't worth the material it's made out of. Sorry to ruin your world.
Some fun coin facts:
Coin: Number of Reeds:
Dime 118
Quarter 119
Half Dollar 150
Silver Dollar 189
Susan B.'s 133 (I'm guessing her dollar gets less because she was a woman. They were sexist times.)
5.04.2012
5.03.2012
A dirty expression made clean again
I haven't written anything for a couple weeks. Most of my time has been taken up trying to get enrolled in another degree program, but I'm back for a bit, so enjoy.
I don't know if you ever heard the expression, but it was popular with the older generations: "It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!" Now before anyone assumes I'm being crass, let me explain. Until today I thought this was some weird old people form of vulgarity. At one point I even asked my uncle about it. He told me it had something to do with the brass monkeys on the Heidelberg bridge in German. (It is worth noting that my uncle spent most of my childhood telling me lies for fun. Once he talked my 8 year old cousin into kissing said monkey on the behind because it's the German version of the blarney stone.) It turns out there is a real story behind this odd euphemism.
When sailing ships where the kings of the oceans, they used to get themselves into fights. It could be with ships from waring countries, pirates, or the occasional sea monster. Sailing ships generally had two types of weapons - swords and cannons. Since using swords meant that you were being boarded, cannons became the weapon of choice. The problem: cannon balls were heavy, and liked to roll around. If a cannon ball got loose on the deck there would be a 30lb ball of iron rolling at your ankles which would most likely ruin your morning. Sailors found that the best way to avoid cannon balls rolling around was to stack them pyramid style on top of a metal plate called a "monkey." This plate had a bunch of divots in it to keep the cannon balls from moving. Since iron is prone to rusting, most ships went with brass monkeys. Brass is awesome; it doesn't rust much and when it tarnishes hipster pirates could take pictures of it to feel artsy. The only bad thing about brass is that when it gets cold, it contracts. If it was cold enough, the contraction in the brass would collapse the pyramid and send the cannon balls rolling hence coining the phrase, "it's cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey!"
I don't know if you ever heard the expression, but it was popular with the older generations: "It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!" Now before anyone assumes I'm being crass, let me explain. Until today I thought this was some weird old people form of vulgarity. At one point I even asked my uncle about it. He told me it had something to do with the brass monkeys on the Heidelberg bridge in German. (It is worth noting that my uncle spent most of my childhood telling me lies for fun. Once he talked my 8 year old cousin into kissing said monkey on the behind because it's the German version of the blarney stone.) It turns out there is a real story behind this odd euphemism.
When sailing ships where the kings of the oceans, they used to get themselves into fights. It could be with ships from waring countries, pirates, or the occasional sea monster. Sailing ships generally had two types of weapons - swords and cannons. Since using swords meant that you were being boarded, cannons became the weapon of choice. The problem: cannon balls were heavy, and liked to roll around. If a cannon ball got loose on the deck there would be a 30lb ball of iron rolling at your ankles which would most likely ruin your morning. Sailors found that the best way to avoid cannon balls rolling around was to stack them pyramid style on top of a metal plate called a "monkey." This plate had a bunch of divots in it to keep the cannon balls from moving. Since iron is prone to rusting, most ships went with brass monkeys. Brass is awesome; it doesn't rust much and when it tarnishes hipster pirates could take pictures of it to feel artsy. The only bad thing about brass is that when it gets cold, it contracts. If it was cold enough, the contraction in the brass would collapse the pyramid and send the cannon balls rolling hence coining the phrase, "it's cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey!"
4.06.2012
Some things I didn't know about taxes
Everyone these days is talking about taxes and what the Government can do. I'm not going to take sides in that debate right now, but here is a quick/depressing look at history.
1776 - 1861: NO TAXES! That's right, no income tax. Our founding father truly loved us so much that they didn't want to subject us to government based thievery.
1862 - 1872: Abraham Lincoln had to pay for the civil war, so he made a 3-5% income tax. In 1872 when the war was paid for, it was repealed.
1873 - 1912: NO INCOME TAXES!
1913-1916: Income taxes are reinstated and rise from 1-17% in 4 years.
1917-1920: taxes (for the upper class) range from 67-77%! I don't know the exact number for the middle class, but I'm sure they are equally upsetting.
1921: President Harding comes to office and drops tax rates down to 56%
1923 - 1931: More republican presidents drop the tax rates down to 24% on the high end.
1932 - 1939: Due to the Great Depression, the IRS hikes the upper class tax bracket to 63%, then later to 79%
1939 - 1945: Due to WWII, a couple things happened here. Taxes were raised to 81-94% to cover war costs, and they also began requiring employers to take money out of pay check before they make it to the employee.
1945 - 1963: Taxes drop to 81% for a few years, then back up to 91%.
1964 - 1980: Taxes drop to 77%, then to around 70%
1981 - 1988: RONALD REAGAN! Say what you will about him, but here is what I know - this president dropped taxes from 70% to 28%!
1989 - 1996: Under Bush #1 and Clinton taxes go back up to near 40%. So much for "No New Taxes."
1997 - 2012: Bush #2 brought it down to 35% where it remains today.
I don't know about you, but I cannot fathom the idea of paying 94% in taxes! Can you? Well here is a thought for you: The only things stopping this from happening in our lifetime are the people we vote into office. So take a look at people's tax plans before you vote, or the people that you vote for might be taking money from your pocket!
1776 - 1861: NO TAXES! That's right, no income tax. Our founding father truly loved us so much that they didn't want to subject us to government based thievery.
1862 - 1872: Abraham Lincoln had to pay for the civil war, so he made a 3-5% income tax. In 1872 when the war was paid for, it was repealed.
1873 - 1912: NO INCOME TAXES!
1913-1916: Income taxes are reinstated and rise from 1-17% in 4 years.
1917-1920: taxes (for the upper class) range from 67-77%! I don't know the exact number for the middle class, but I'm sure they are equally upsetting.
1921: President Harding comes to office and drops tax rates down to 56%
1923 - 1931: More republican presidents drop the tax rates down to 24% on the high end.
1932 - 1939: Due to the Great Depression, the IRS hikes the upper class tax bracket to 63%, then later to 79%
1939 - 1945: Due to WWII, a couple things happened here. Taxes were raised to 81-94% to cover war costs, and they also began requiring employers to take money out of pay check before they make it to the employee.
1945 - 1963: Taxes drop to 81% for a few years, then back up to 91%.
1964 - 1980: Taxes drop to 77%, then to around 70%
1981 - 1988: RONALD REAGAN! Say what you will about him, but here is what I know - this president dropped taxes from 70% to 28%!
1989 - 1996: Under Bush #1 and Clinton taxes go back up to near 40%. So much for "No New Taxes."
1997 - 2012: Bush #2 brought it down to 35% where it remains today.
I don't know about you, but I cannot fathom the idea of paying 94% in taxes! Can you? Well here is a thought for you: The only things stopping this from happening in our lifetime are the people we vote into office. So take a look at people's tax plans before you vote, or the people that you vote for might be taking money from your pocket!
Another assumption I had wrong.
Even though they are not outlined in The Constitution, there
are a couple of rights that I assume are unalienable facts. Today I found out
that on at least one of these things, I am wrong.
I was under the assumption that unless you have committed a crime,
a warrant has been issued, or there is a clear and immediate life-threatening
emergency no one is allowed to enter a locked vehicle without the consent of
the owner. Today however, I watched a tow truck driver break into someone’s car
to straighten the wheels out. I called two different police departments to ask
about this and both of them told me that this was legal, although no one could
tell me where this is found in the VA law books. So I did some research.
First off lets look at one of the laws about breaking into a
car:
§ 18.2-147. Entering or setting in motion, vehicle, aircraft, boat,
locomotive or rolling stock of railroad; exceptions.
Any person who shall, without the consent of the owner or person in
charge of a vehicle, aircraft, boat, vessel, locomotive or other rolling stock
of a railroad, climb into or upon such vehicle, aircraft, boat, vessel,
locomotive or other rolling stock of a railroad, with intent to commit any
crime, malicious mischief, or injury thereto, or who, while a vehicle,
aircraft, boat, vessel, locomotive or other rolling stock of a railroad is at
rest and unattended, shall attempt to manipulate any of the levers and starting
crank or other device, brakes or mechanism thereof or to set into motion such
vehicle, aircraft, boat, vessel, locomotive or other rolling stock of a
railroad, with the intent to commit any crime, malicious mischief, or injury
thereto, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, except that the foregoing
provision shall not apply when any such act is done in an emergency or in
furtherance of public safety or by or under the direction of an officer in the
regulation of traffic or performance of any other official duty.
The problem – Every law I could find about entering a
vehicle without permission has this simple catch: INTENT TO COMMIT. I’m
certainly hoping I missed something, but I could not find a single instance
where it was punishable to simply enter a locked car without permission. You
have to show intent to commit a crime. Since tow truck drivers are not
intending to commit a crime (one hopes), and they did not damage the car in the process, it is argued that this does not apply to them.
So what does the Law say specifically about tow truck
drivers entering your car? NOTHING! I read the entire section of law regarding tow trucks today
and not once does it even discuss entering the vehicle. But it does show some
other concerning facts:
Prior Convictions:
According to § 46.2-2814.1, no person can be denied
the right to be a tow truck driver simply because they happen to be a felon,
unless their conviction is directly related to theft of cars, or sexual assault.
But if you’re a murderer, art thief, con
artists, or arms dealer you can still have a job, which allows you to break
into people’s cars.
I’m hoping to talk to some other legal
peeps and get to the bottom of this, but until then…
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU!
There is some light at the end of this
tunnel. I did find one law that is actually in your favor: If you get to a tow
truck before he tows your car away, he legally has to give it back and can only
charge you $25. If he tries say no, here is the law.
§ 46.2-1231.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this section, if the owner or representative or agent
of the owner of the trespassing vehicle is present and removes the trespassing
vehicle from the premises before it is actually towed, the trespassing vehicle
shall not be towed, but the owner or representative or agent of the owner of
the trespassing vehicle shall be liable for a reasonable fee, not to exceed $25
or such other limit as the governing body of the county, city, or town may set
by ordinance, in lieu of towing.
4.04.2012
More than 13 hours is illegal!
While researching something else (I'll post it sometime soon), I ran across this little gem of knowledge: In the state of Virginia (and many other states) it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle more than 13 hours a day. (This includes any time you spent driving in other states.) So lets says Rachel and I go on a road trip to see my mother in Iowa. On the way back to VA, If I start driving and go for 8 hours then let Rachel drive for 4 hours while I sleep, it would still be illegal for me to finish the drive since there would be more than 5 hours of driving left.
So my advice to you: If you are ever stopped by a cop and asked how long you have been driving don't say anything more than 12hrs or he can details you till 24 hours have past from the first minute you started driving.
Here is the law if you want to see for yourself:
§ 46.2-812. Driving more than thirteen hours in twenty-four prohibited.
No person shall drive any motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth for more than thirteen hours in any period of twenty-four hours or for a period which, when added to the time such person may have driven in any other state, would make an aggregate of more than thirteen hours in any twenty-four-hour period. The provisions of this section, however, shall not apply to the operation of motor vehicles used in snow or ice control or removal operations or similar emergency situations.
No owner of any vehicle shall cause or permit it to be driven in violation of this section.
4.02.2012
Feel like a techie and write one line of code!
Okay I'm sorry about all the computer posts, but this is something I learned recently and it brought so much joy to my world that I have to share it.
If you've been a mac user for any amount of time you have probably learned two thing:
1. Your mac lets you do the same action, a hundred different way. This lets you customize your computer to behave how you think it should behave.
2. Sometimes these options can drive you crazy.
Let me posit a scenario: You open your documents folder, and it appears in the mother of all beautiful views, column view. (if you prefer any other view, this trick will work for you as well but you should know that everything you're doing is wrong.) But then, you double click a folder on your desktop only to find it opens in the evil Icon view!
If you are a good person in right standing with God, this sort of chaos can drive you crazy. There are a few ways of fixing this problem, but here is the quickest one I have found:
A) While in Finder, click Command+Shift+U.
B) Your Utilities folder should have opened. Double click on the program AppleScript Editor. If you have never opened this program before, don't get scared. It will be okay.
C) In the top box type the following all in one line:
*If you are not a column view user, you can propagate your sin by replacing column view with list view, flow view, or icon view.
D) Hit Compile. This will make some words change colors and check to make sure your code is good. If there are any problems make sure you typed it correctly.
E) Then hit Run.
Now every folder under your user name will be the same view! (This does not change your applications folder, or anything in your system library. Unfortunately those require a bit more effort and I don't want to get into right now)
If you've been a mac user for any amount of time you have probably learned two thing:
1. Your mac lets you do the same action, a hundred different way. This lets you customize your computer to behave how you think it should behave.
2. Sometimes these options can drive you crazy.
Let me posit a scenario: You open your documents folder, and it appears in the mother of all beautiful views, column view. (if you prefer any other view, this trick will work for you as well but you should know that everything you're doing is wrong.) But then, you double click a folder on your desktop only to find it opens in the evil Icon view!
If you are a good person in right standing with God, this sort of chaos can drive you crazy. There are a few ways of fixing this problem, but here is the quickest one I have found:
A) While in Finder, click Command+Shift+U.
B) Your Utilities folder should have opened. Double click on the program AppleScript Editor. If you have never opened this program before, don't get scared. It will be okay.
C) In the top box type the following all in one line:
tell application "Finder" to set the current view of the window of every folder of home to column view
*If you are not a column view user, you can propagate your sin by replacing column view with list view, flow view, or icon view.
D) Hit Compile. This will make some words change colors and check to make sure your code is good. If there are any problems make sure you typed it correctly.
E) Then hit Run.
Now every folder under your user name will be the same view! (This does not change your applications folder, or anything in your system library. Unfortunately those require a bit more effort and I don't want to get into right now)
3.31.2012
Let me google that for you...
Someone told me about this the other day and I thought it was brilliant. Do you ever have someone, say your boss, ask you a question and you think to yourself, "Why don't you just Google it? That's what I'm going to do." Well now you can answer their question and get your point across all at the same time.
Step one: Go to http://lmgtfy.com/ It will look like Google. Don't be alarmed.
Step two: Type in your question in the field and hit enter.
Step three: Copy the link it created at the bottom of the page.
You can now email this link to the person that asked you the question, and it will send them to a video that shows how to type their question in Google. I wouldn't advise doing this to anyone who takes themselves too serious and is your employer, but I'm sure you'll find a situation where it is applicable.
Step one: Go to http://lmgtfy.com/ It will look like Google. Don't be alarmed.
Step two: Type in your question in the field and hit enter.
Step three: Copy the link it created at the bottom of the page.
You can now email this link to the person that asked you the question, and it will send them to a video that shows how to type their question in Google. I wouldn't advise doing this to anyone who takes themselves too serious and is your employer, but I'm sure you'll find a situation where it is applicable.
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