The color of money
Melissa Marsh of WXII called an hour ago to interview me (or someone) about our front page Saturday in which we reproduced a photo of a real dollar bill and a five-dollar bill to illustrate a story about the increase in the minimum wage.
Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Federal statutes prohibit the reproduction of paper currency at its real size and color.
I admit I didn't know. I've been schooled now by our advertising department, which is much more familiar with this as advertisers seem to want to reprint bills in their ads on occasion.
The Treasury Department has not knocked on our doors yet, but as I told Melissa, we'll cooperate with the investigation. (I did understand what sources mean when they say to me, "Slow news day, huh?"
Comments (6)
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Newer versions of software, like Photoshop, have disabled the ability to scan US currency into the software for a couple of years. Pretty stunning that they can even do that, geek speaking. Trying to stay a step ahead of counterfeiters in the digital age must be daunting. We'll visit you in the big house, John. Does orange look good on you?
Posted on January 8, 2007 7:42 PM
Whatever you do, don't assign Lorraine Ahearn to do an article about this case! You'll be branded a racist and locked out of your office...
Posted on January 8, 2007 11:08 PM
I cut mine out of the paper and succesfully bought two boxes of Girl Scout cookies with it. Those seven-year olds are such suckers!
I'll share the windfall with you, John. Do you like the thin mints or the peanut butter ones?
Posted on January 9, 2007 12:29 AM
I cut mine out of the paper and spent it at Skip's Barbeque Palace over on East Market Street. You don't think I would actually give that clown five dollars of my own; he already takes enough of money through tax dollars.
Posted on January 9, 2007 8:06 PM
I just got a call from an agent with the Secret Service, who wanted to make sure that I was clear on the regulations on reproduction of currency. I am. He was nice and professional and did not lead me away in handcuffs.
So no orange jumpsuit for me.
Posted on January 10, 2007 12:14 PM
Ah, sorry you didn't get busted John. From the sounds of things you probably could have used a little break from the everyday routine.
I personally have considered robbing a bank, not for the money, but because I can't afford a vacation. My plan is this, as soon as I get processed in, I'm going to spit on a guard and get solitary. They give you paperback books. I could stand to be alone for a while. But then I figured I'd get stuck doing laundry or working in the prison kitchen, so it would hardly be any change at all!
Posted on January 11, 2007 8:16 PM