Comments on: Toynbee Tiler Unmasked?

Toynbee Tiler Unmasked?

ericb — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:53:46 -0800

A Philadelphia house painter may have the answers to the mysterious Toynbee tiles found embedded in asphalt around the world. [previously discussed - 1, 2, 3]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Justin Duerr, who stars in the upcoming documentary 'Resurrect Dead,' about his search for the Toynbee, "...says he's pretty sure that he knows who the tiler is....The tiler's name, according to Duerr, is James Morasco, and he died in 2003. To continue the mystery though, Morasco's widow denies that he was involved with the mysterious street markers." [via]

By: ericb

ericb — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:54:53 -0800

*search for the Toynbee tiler*

By: ericb

ericb — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:56:53 -0800

"I don't believe there's a lone gunman,' Duerr said.

By: Elim

Elim — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:04:46 -0800

But, its all just Batspit insane enough to be true, sn't it? This would and SHOULD make a great epic film!

By: Mr. Six

Mr. Six — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:14:35 -0800

I always think about Ray Bradbury's Toynbee Convector when I see the tiles.

By: SenshiNeko

SenshiNeko — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:20:29 -0800

Earlier MeFi thread on Toynbee tiles from 2002.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:40:56 -0800

Man, as much as I'm on the internet I still miss a lot of stuff. I had no idea about this. Thanks!

By: roboto

roboto — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:54:52 -0800

Qual o significado da mensagem: Toynbee ideas in cine 2001 ressussitar morto sul planeta Jupiter?

By: kalimac

kalimac — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:05:43 -0800

Oh my God, I grew up next door to James Morasco! We moved when I was eight, so I don't have a clear memory of the man, other than that he'd had the surgery described in CityBeat - he had a hole in his throat and could talk, but it was very deep and rough. My sister and I called him Jimmy, and spent quite a bit of time playing in his (beautifully-kept) backyard. He was tall (well, to a little kid), and always seemed to be older than God Himself. I had no idea he was so well-known! His widow is a very sweet woman, and was always kind to us, as was Jimmy. I've moved across town, but I walk by a Toynbee tile every day on my way to work. It's amazing to think that Jimmy might've started it...

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:11:26 -0800

Also to continue the mystery, the tiles have appeared after his death.

By: Turtles all the way down

Turtles all the way down — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:20:01 -0800

A meme, pronounced "meem,' Thanks for that, but uh, how else would you pronounce it?

By: sluggo

sluggo — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:21:09 -0800

"meh-meh", perhaps? Great stuff - I need to see if any toynbee tiles are still in Detroit.

By: BillsR100

BillsR100 — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:24:51 -0800

I love these things.

By: Creosote

Creosote — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 17:52:39 -0800

Also to continue the mystery, the tiles have appeared after his death. Yes, well, crop circles have continued to appear in British cornfields years after the last Aldebarian probes departed for the home planet.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:12:34 -0800

I meant to point out that the conclusion drawn to in the post is pretty flimsy considering they've popped up after the guy died and in different countries.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:05:48 -0800

the conclusion drawn to in the post is pretty flimsy considering they've popped up after the guy died and in different countries. Still holds up, though, if you figure he got a little help from the Jupiter realm. A meme, pronounced "meem,' Thanks for that, but uh, how else would you pronounce it? If you speak French, the first few times you see the word you'll automatically think "memm," as meme is the French word for "same."

By: parallax7d

parallax7d — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:15:06 -0800

I always thought it was pronounced mem, maybe that's mon francais kicking in.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:21:14 -0800

meem? That's how everyone else has been pronouncing it? I've been saying memm all the time.

By: Samizdata

Samizdata — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:36:44 -0800

I'm a meem-er too. I just thought of "gene" when I said it.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:22:37 -0800

They are repaving the street in front of my house this summer, I've got to think of a good motif to implant in the fresh pavement.

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 22:03:14 -0800

James Morasco, and he died in 2003 I've been a fan of this meme for a long time. I hope Mr. Morasco is enjoying his Jupiter.

By: absalom

absalom — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 22:07:32 -0800

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you for this. The tiles have had me enthralled since I first heard about them!

By: Mcable

Mcable — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 04:08:12 -0800

Does anyone know of a site that catalogues the location of the tiles?

By: Mcable

Mcable — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 04:09:32 -0800

D'oh! just realized it's the second ling.

By: Termite

Termite — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 04:44:42 -0800

What's the opposite of a meme? A yo-yo.

By: steef

steef — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:35:55 -0800

Flickr clusters. ("Piss orgies of joy?" What's that about?)

By: Biblio

Biblio — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:57:53 -0800

Maybe a meh-meh is a meme that you hate. "Ceiling cat? Yeah, I've seen that meh-meh." The tiles, however, are MEEMS. I love this kind of stuff.

By: cedar key

cedar key — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:54:13 -0800

"Guerrilla Art" at it's best.