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The BBC reports:
The clock on the facade of the building housing the Bolivian congress in La Paz has been reversed. Its hands turn left and the numbers have been inverted to go from one to 12 anti-clockwise.
Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca dubbed it the "clock of the south". He said the change had been made to get Bolivians to treasure their heritage and show them that they could question established norms and think creatively.
"Who says that the clock always has to turn one way? Why do we always have to obey? Why can't we be creative?", he asked at a news conference on Tuesday. "We don't have to complicate matters, we just have to be conscious that we live in the south, not in the north," Mr Choquehuanca added.
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Bolivia Congress Clock Altered to Turn Anti-Clockwise
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Frankfort, Kentucky, makes it against the law to shoot off a policeman's tie.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 27 2014, @05:43AM
It's not even close to a new idea. I had professor in college who kept a counterclockwise clock in his office. The thing worked fine and told correct time.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by anubi on Friday June 27 2014, @06:49AM
On those old "Telechron" clock movements that became so popular in the 50's, where for the first time homeowners could use the timing on the power line to keep accurate time, most every one I had seen was symmetrical and if you put the thing back together with the coil assembly upside down ( quite easy to do ), the pole pieces got reversed and the clock ran backward as well is it would have run forward.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday June 27 2014, @06:58AM
These are under 7 bucks on the wed, under 12 for a quality one.
I suspect its news because an official landmark clock was altered.
Heck, these things seldom get maintenance, let alone redesigned.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by sudo rm -rf on Friday June 27 2014, @09:16AM
As does the clock in my local pub. It still feels strange when you arrive at 2am and leave at 10pm.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 27 2014, @12:50PM
Yeah, twenty hours of drinking really can mess with your perception. ;-)
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 27 2014, @10:35AM
It's not news because someone built a counter-clockwise clock. It's news because it's an "official government clock" and because they have a highly placed government official actively encouraging the people to question authority. Can you imagine Big Ben being rebuilt to run counter clockwise? I think it's refreshing to see an actual, physical demonstration not to assume "the way things are" is the way they have to be. Considering that much of government function seems to be getting people to shut up and go along with the crowd, having someone encourage the "sheeple" to think for themselves is even a little shocking.
I suppose you could take the cynical view that it's really just some local official demonstrating his tyrannical power using a sophomoric prank, but I rather prefer the "Question Everything" explanation.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 27 2014, @05:32PM
[cutting sarcasm] Yes, because your professor's office is equivalent to the wall of a nation's congressional building [/cutting sarcasm]