The most weirdly funny piece of news lately has been the story of euro banknotes that tear themselves apart into the thin air. Money comes out of the cash machine all right, but after a while, starts to decompose. Berlin police have been CSIing these problem banknotes and come to the conclusion that they were predisposed to sulphuric acid.
Whether this has been deliberate or result of a spilling battery inside certain cash dispensers, is not yet clear. The prospect of an artistically motivated intervention is captivating, at least to my imagination. So far around 1500 contaminated banknotes have been reported - typically of 50 euro denomination. Consumers need not worry, as long as more than 50% of the note remains, it can be exchanged in a bank.
If this is intentional, I have to commend the saboteurs for creative approach. Then again, one must keep in mind that 75000 euro is petty cash compared to what the members of former techno band KLF accomplished in 1994. After paying their taxes they packed their money into a suitcase and flew off to the Scottish whisky island of Jura. There they casually burned one million pounds sterling and filmed it on 16mm.
Related links:
Experten rätseln über Brösel-Euros
Brittle euro notes baffle Germans
The K Foundation burn a million quid
KLF - The Documentary
Update:
BBC Video: Mystery of crumbling banknotes
Update 23.11.2006:
Just got a comment from a friend, whose message had been stuck in instant messaging limbo for nine days. Independent has the news that decomposing originates from banknotes that were "used to portion out and snort designer drug known as crystal meth". 20 and 50 euro notes are said to be perfectly proportioned for this. In contact with sweat, methamphetamine becomes corrosive. Towards the end of the article, a German professor also shares his findings about drugs and banknotes across Euro currency zone.