February 28, 2005 04:34 PM

Broken: Air Canada sticker

Paul Schreiber points out an unfortunate spelling mistake on an Air Canada sticker.

Broken: Yahoo Personals ad

Tobin Lam writes:

This ad seems to imply that people aren't always truthful in online personals.  It looks like that woman is claiming to be a man seeking a woman.

February 26, 2005 12:01 AM

Broken: "The Eye" in Compupic

Mike Mesenbring writes:

"I was fooling around with the preferences on Compupic Pro 6.2, a photo-viewing program.  One of the preferences, however was strangely and unexplainedly disturbing..."

[Yes, I know there may be a reason for this. It's "broken" because it *sounds* unsettling.]

February 25, 2005 12:01 AM

Broken: Francis X10 switches

Daniel Brown writes:

The Francis Francis X10 I purchased for my wife a year ago has been a pretty decent espresso machine... with one major flaw.

Every control switch on the front (one for power, one for the pump, and one to create steam for frothing) all share one flaw. Their default position is UP.

You'll notice in this photo that the switch on the far left is on in the down position. It took me 6 months to get accustomed to this convention.

February 24, 2005 12:01 AM

Broken: Illegal electrocution

A classic broken sign, photographed by Steve Jurvetson. See the original post.

How do they collect?

February 23, 2005 12:37 AM

Broken: eBay ad

Joey Seybold points out another bad example of search engine advertising. Searching Google for "leprosy" brings up an eBay ad:

Leprosy For Sale
Low Priced Leprosy
Huge Selection! (aff)
ebay.com

Broken: Included batteries

Robert Lee writes:

I am in Iraq, and my mom recently purchased a set of binoculars with a built in digital camera. "Pretty kewl," I thot; however, Hammacher Schlemmer have a neat little marketing tool, they send you batteries with your purchase along with a little feel good message about their company.

As you can see in the picture with the batteries (and the marketing script) they are AA. But the camera requires AAA. This is broken. Next time forget the feel good stuff and just send the right batteries! Now I've wasted time reading the marketing stuff AND I STILL NEED GO TO THE PX!

February 22, 2005 12:31 AM

Broken: Searching MSN for a URL

For more fun, try searching MSN for www.thisisbroken.com.

Thanks to Ari Becker.

Broken: Restaurant website

Daniel writes: "Village 247 is a restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. But look around the site and you'll soon discover that nowhere in the entire web site is the restaurant's address, hours, or any sort of contact information other than a phone number at the bottom of the Catering page.

You'd think that an address and directions would be one thing a restaurant would need to put on their web site. It's even more important than the menu!"

February 21, 2005 12:13 AM

Broken: Page-not-found error

Carina Zona writes:

This has to be the worst page-not-found error ever.  First, it's a news site which has already expired an article that's only 5 days old.  It doesn't even offer the option of registering or paying to see the article. Instead of display a standard error message or a user-friendly explanation, it spits out this startling request to "restart site".

Closer inspection of the page only yields another baffling clue: the title "HTML/OS  Restart Page" implies that not only the web server will be restarted but a whole operating system!  Bizarre.

February 20, 2005 10:36 AM

Broken: User interfaces in new cars

In Dumbing Down Over-Engineered Cars (reg. required), the New York Times reports:

With even economy cars now loaded with features that beep or blink at their owners, many drivers have reason for frustration. Most car owners are not even aware that the remote doesn't have to make a loud noise every time it arms the alarm, that the automatic seat and mirror adjustments can be turned off or that it is possible to disable the irritating feature that automatically locks all the doors. In theory, these "conveniences" can all be adjusted or canceled... the process is rarely intuitive.

February 18, 2005 12:28 PM

Broken: Japanese warning signs

The Japanese Warning Signs site shows a collection of well-designed pictorial warning signs. They're a mixed bag of well-designed and, frankly, a bit obtuse.

Thanks to Boing Boing.

Broken: Windows search box

Bryan Klimt asks: "Which folder do you think I should search in?"

February 17, 2005 12:57 AM

Broken: Logitech's "special price"

This Logitech digital pen has a suggested retail price of $99.95, but a "Special Price" of $99.95! Get it while it lasts!

Thanks to Daniel.

February 16, 2005 10:54 AM

Broken: Arby's sign

Edward Carlson writes: Some friends and I found this sign at the local Arby's. How could someone misspell that (on a computer), and then frame it?

Broken: Obfuscatory language

The Golden Bull awards are given "for the year's worst examples of gobbledygook."

One of the 2004 winners was British Airways, for "NOTE – CANCELLATIONS – BEFORE DEPARTURE FARE IS REFUNDABLE. IF COMBINING A NON-REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A REFUNDABLE FARE ONLY THE Y/C/J-CLASS HALF RETURN AMOUNT CAN BE REFUNDED..."

February 15, 2005 02:03 PM

Broken: Rose sign

Timely with Valentine's Day yesterday, Pat Dostick writes:

The sign is located on PA Route 11 in Berwick, PA, in front of a business place called the Second Hand Rose.

Broken: Bright Starts packaging

Nate Addink writes:

The attached pictures show the back of the packaging for a vibrating teething ring (made by Kids II Inc.) I bought for my daughter.  Apparently even when you only have 1 battery in a device, it is still possible to mix old and new batteries, or alkaline and rechargeables.

February 14, 2005 12:37 AM

Broken: Parking lot signs

Dave Sheets writes: This one was taken at one of our favorite burger joints.  Unfortunately, the signage isn't nearly as good as the burgers!

February 12, 2005 07:05 PM

Broken: Citibank UK toy keyboard

From Boing Boing: Citibank UK banking makes you less secure, won't work for disabled people.

February 11, 2005 10:09 AM

Broken: (Follow-ups)

Followups on...

- the photo ban in Chicago's Millennium Park: original post, and today's update on the story.

Update Feb 18: yet another update from Boing Boing.

- the Web user who was arrested for using the Lynx Web browser: original post, and today's update on the story.

Broken: Wrist brace tag

Anders Gjersoe writes from Norway:

This is my wrist brace, that I bought for use in sports when my hand and wrist need some support... playing basketball etc. It works well; however, the laundry tag clearly states that it should not be washed in water warmer than 95 degrees. Now, my perspiration would be exceeding that temperature when wearing this item. Clearly, it is not meant to be used by any person that is not hypothermic!

February 10, 2005 05:42 PM

Broken: HP PC "hibernate" feature

David A. writes:

My Hewlett-Packard laptop has a really nice Hibernate feature- except when the battery goes low.

It seems to think that whenever my battery meter hits 10%, I want it to give me the "Critical Battery!" warning, and promptly hibernate. Even if I plug it in before it hibernates, it staunchly refuses to stay on.

You'd think that Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom, could code a small line of software that cancels the Hibernate command when it's plugged into the wall.

You'd think.

This broken item annoys me repeatedly - especially when I'm finishing a project for a class that begins in only ten minutes, and I want to have it done and printed, but can't because it takes way too long to wait for the hibernate, then the reinitialization.

Sorry, Microsoft and HP. This is broken.

Broken: Keyboard design

Victor Zeiser writes:

I wonder who came up with this amazing design, putting the power button right next to the enter key. How many times have I shut my computer off by mistake with only the slip of a finger?

February 9, 2005 05:00 PM

Broken: WinAmp message

Jesse Quiambao points out this annoying typo in the WinAmp uninstaller: "Not all files were not removed."

Broken: Jimmy Dean tag line

Suffice to say:

"The eggs come from real chickens, the cheese comes from real cows, and the sausage comes from Jimmy Dean."

Whole commercial is recounted here.

Thanks to Phoebe for the pointer.

Broken: Safety belt strap warning

Tim Hunter writes:

I noticed this "informative" label on the safely belt shoulder strap while riding in a Ford 15-passenger van. None of the 15 passengers could figure out what it was trying to tell us.

[Don't sit on a pillow while reading the phone book? -mh]

February 8, 2005 12:33 AM

Broken: CD player buttons

George Lane writes:

My Audiophase CD player (model CD156) has a squarish "play" button and a pointed "stop" button.  This appears to have been done for asthetic reasons, but I can't count the number of times I've pressed "stop" thinking it was "play," because on tape players and other media playing devices I associate the ">" shape with going rather than with stopping.

February 7, 2005 09:47 AM

Broken: Photo ban on public sculpture

This article reports that, in Chicago's new Millennium Park, it's illegal to take pictures of "The Bean" sculpture... because it's copyrighted. In a public park, built with taxpayer money. Huh?

(Thanks to Cory for the pointer.)

Broken: Fedex error message

Seth Godin, originator of the idea for this site, points out a problem with the Fedex website.

The error reads, "To continue, please address all comments in red below." But there's nothing in red.

Broken: Single-headphone pad delivery

Michael Moore writes:

I have a nice pair of Sony headphones but the earpads had been deteriorating, so I decided to replace them. I ordered the item in the picture, paid my $2.50 shipping on a $6 part (sigh) and waited for it to arrive.

It finally shows up yesterday and guess what? Only one pad! For some inexplicable reason Sony only sells single pads. Last time I checked most humans have two ears. Of course nowhere on the item description do they explain you'll want to order two. So I'm ordering again, paying another $2.50 in shipping, and hoping for no more nasty surprises.

[That's what you get for ordering "PAD ASSY." -mh]

February 6, 2005 07:49 PM

Broken: Complex technology in modern cars

The New York Times reports that high-tech cars are so complex that "not only are glitches annoying, their root causes can be hard to find."

Broken: MSNBC's lack of date

Robert Tolmach points out that this MSNBC article displays no date for the news story. For a news site, that might be a good addition to the template.

February 5, 2005 08:52 PM

Broken: Furniture sale

I know a good sale when I see one - over at [link to site removed] they're selling [a certain brand of] bookcases for 100% off.

    Price:

    Retail Price: $1,211
    Your Price: $0
    You Save: $1,211 (100%)

Something tells me, though, that this is broken.

Update Feb 6: The webmaster of this unnamed site complained about all the attention his site was getting from this post - so I've removed any mention of it. Dang all those incoming prospective customers! Also, the price is no longer listed at $0. -mh

February 4, 2005 12:24 AM

Broken: Software sales copy

Julie Stanford writes:

Here's an example of how to scare people from buying your product in the effort to sell it.

This picture is from the home page for "Federal Money Retriever" software that helps you find government grants (www.fedmoney.com). Based on the text in the area I circled in red, I am led to believe that before buying this software I first have to do some soul searching to figure out if I am worthy enough to use this software, or if in reality I am a big loser who is never going to be succesful in getting a government grant and so should stop now and just settle for a trailer down by the river.

February 3, 2005 11:42 AM

Broken: (for fun) cake error message

Jon Cates points us to the Blue Cake of Death.

Broken: Honda CRV warning light

Beth M. writes:

At the end of last week my 'check engine' light came on in my Honda CRV. I've had two friends who drove a few miles with this light on and burned up their engines. So I called my dealer on my cell phone to ask what I should do, and ask if it was safe to finish my trip to daycare and home. He told me it was probably safe to drive, but I finished my trip and didn't drive the car again until I could get it to the dealer for diagnosing.

Lo and behold, the problem was that I hadn't tightened down my gas cap after I got gas.

So my proposal to Honda is this - have a 'check engine' light for catastrophic things, and a 'you have a small problem' light for those non-critical warnings. Jeesh!

Broken: Days Inn shower handle

Kris writes:

I was initially confused by this warning in the shower at a Days Inn in Tucson, AZ.  Actually come to think of it, I am still confused.

[And how is this a "scald guard"? -mh]

February 2, 2005 12:51 PM

Broken: Connecticut emergency broadcast test

Contrary to the scrolling banner on Connecticut TV screens, there was no need to evacuate the entire state.

Broken: Call-center hold audio

Paul Roub writes:

So you call XYZ Co's customer service line. You get through the 9-level menu tree, and it's on-hold time. "Your call is very important to us. Please hold, and you call will be answered by the next available operator."

The music starts playing. Kenny G. Luckily, your mind quickly tunes that out, much like my nose used to when I worked on a garbage truck. You get on with your work while you wait, headset in place, speaker on, or phone cradled on your shoulder.

30 seconds pass, and there's silence followed by a voice. You snap to attention, losing track of your work. "Your call is very important to us..." Ack. Now back to Kenny G. Begin to regain focus on your work.

"You call is very important to us..."

This repeats so many times that when a *real* person finally picks up, it takes a second to realize you should pay attention now.

This is broken in so many ways. Why on *earth* do they do this? Leave the music on, that's enough to let us know you're still there. If you want to interrupt me to tell me what my expected response time is, great -- then shut up unless that prediction changes. Otherwise, you're making my wait seem much, much longer than it actually is, by depriving me of any meaningful way to pass the time, and forcing me to maintain low-level attention with no reward.

Broken: (For fun) Halsteel nail warning

Peter Provost writes, "This photo is from the back of a box of Halsteel nails."

[Hint: Read the Supplemental Warning, which begins, "Do not shoot nails through any part of your body."]

February 1, 2005 12:11 AM

Broken: Cereal package labeling

Matt Haughey writes:

I learned this morning that cereal packages sometimes don't have the name of the cereal on the side, so if that side is facing out, it's hard to find your food in the morning. Where is Life cereal in this photo?

I posted a blog entry about it.