September 2006
September 30, 2006 12:03 AM
Jack Moffett writes in:
My daughter just received a software game called "Disney Princess: Magical Dress-Up" for her birthday from a friend. As soon as she unwrapped it, we checked to make sure it was Mac compatible. As you can see in the picture, the box clearly indicates that it is indeed Mac compatible, and lists the system requirements. The disc was also printed with a label indicating that it will run on a Mac.
Later, when I inserted the CD-ROM, there didn't appear to be any Mac files, let alone an installer, on the disc. I checked the installation instructions printed on the back of the envelope the disc was in, which said to run the Mac installer. I checked their support site, which also said to double-click the Mac OS X installer found on the disc.
Perplexed, I sent an email to their support address. Below is the response I received:
Dear Jack,
Thank you for writing.
The disc for The 2004 Disney Princess Collection was rebuilt to exclude
the Macintosh side. Even though the Magical Dress-Up CD is labeled as
being compatible with both OS's, it is only compatible with Windows.
This issue can be remedied by getting the Macintosh compatible version
of the program. Once we confirm that you have the new version, (PC Only)
we will send you out the Macintosh compatible version free of charge to
you. To provide us with that information please note the serial number
on the top side of the disc.
Unfortunately, there was nothing resembling a serial number on the disc.
When a product is updated, its packaging should be updated as well!
Posted in Web/Tech
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September 29, 2006 12:03 AM
Ian Chard submits a picture taken on a First Great Western Link train between London and Great
Malvern, UK:
Presumably those not fortunate enough to be travelling in first class can get stuffed in case of an "emergeny"...
Posted in Travel
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September 28, 2006 12:03 AM
Elizabeth Perry submits a picture taken on Interstate 84 in New York and writes:
While the company may boast that they are "Not Just Concrete..." it looks as if they forgot to fill in the entire form when they requested a sign.
Posted in Misc
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September 27, 2006 12:03 AM
Michael Dwyer points out:
Costco sells a Laptop wedge pillow. I can see all kinds of uses for a wedge pillow, but a laptop stand is not one of them.
First of all, the ergonimics are totally wrong. The photos shows a recipe for carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Secondly, no laptop should be operated while sitting on a padded surface. You will cover the cooling vents and your laptop will overheat and eventually shut down, if not become damaged.
Posted in Product Design
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September 26, 2006 12:03 AM
Jade Wu submits a picture taken in Las Vegas, Nevada:
I saw a huge electronic billboard in Las Vegas was showing a Microsoft windows calculator.
Maybe the operator was asleep and didn't realize what was being shown in the sign.
Posted in Signs
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September 25, 2006 12:03 AM
Vincent Maurin points out:
The text on this parking ticket machine near Luxembourg Airport says - "Press the green button," but there is no green button.
At least there is only one button, so its not that confusing, but they should have just input the text to display "Pressez Bouton" which means "Press the button" instead of "Pressez Bouton Vert," which means "Press the green button."
Posted in Misc
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September 23, 2006 12:03 AM
Creed Combs submits a screenshot taken from Officedepot.com's website:
The picture on this page is definitely a surge protector and not a Cat 6 cable like the site describes.
Posted in Web/Tech
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September 22, 2006 12:03 AM
Yet another example of something that doesn't need to be called an experience.
The sales book of Neorest, a toilet manufacturer, promises "an experience beyond words."
Posted in Misc
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September 21, 2006 12:03 AM
Chris Barr writes in:
I went in to pick up my bicycle today from this bike shop and saw this printed paper sign that says - "Please ask staff for help."
Right under that
text is braille, but the braille is printed on
paper that has no variable texture, therefore making the braille unusable.
Posted in Signs
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September 20, 2006 12:03 AM
C.D. Tavares submits a picture taken in New Port Richey, Florida:
I took this picture of a place named "Percision Auto Body."
As a general rule, if you give your business a name implying competitive superiority, using words such as "precision," it's often more persuasive if you can avoid misspelling them.
Posted in Place
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September 19, 2006 12:03 AM
A reader named Jonathan submits a picture taken in Taipei, Taiwan:
I knew that luxury designer names were being knocked off for bags, but who knew that people were using luxury designer's names for dental clinics as well!
Posted in Just for Fun
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September 18, 2006 12:03 AM
Alex Barrett submits a picture of a sign taken in Anoka, Minnesota:
So...what? Only unauthorized personnel are allowed?
This is a completely undoctored photo. I've seen this sign nearly every day for five years when I drive home from work, and it still makes me laugh. The fence is guarding a few military vehicles at the Army Reserve Center in Anoka.
Posted in Signs
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September 16, 2006 12:03 AM
Jon Beattie writes:
Getting the Windows CE boot screen at 30,000 feet is a little broken.
Posted in Web/Tech
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September 15, 2006 12:03 AM
Susie Wyshak points out the Walgreens knock-off of Airborne, the popular fizzy vitamin pill.
By naming it Wal-borne instead of Air-borne, it seems to remind us that there are lots of germs floating around at Walgreens.
Posted in Misc
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September 14, 2006 12:03 AM
M.cara submits a picture taken of a McDonalds sign in North Branford, Connecticut:
The local McDonalds redecorated and were exciteded about their new
look.
The walls are a different color and the tables
have been moved around, so the "new look" is not that dramatic and probably doesn't warrant a "whoa".
Posted in Just for Fun
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September 13, 2006 12:03 AM
A reader submits a picture taken in Rome, Italy:
I saw this broken schedule screen at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome.
Looks like one out of three schedule display is lazy and doesn't want to stand upright.
Posted in Travel
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September 12, 2006 12:03 AM
Erik Dahl submits a picture of a sign taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
"Left lane must..." Do what? What must the left lane do?
Luckily for me this is on my commute to and from work, so I know what I need to do.
This is a very confusing intersection, there is a bridge, a tunnel, and several hills. If you make a wrong turn it is going to be awhile before you can turn around. I see people get it wrong at least once a week, and I'm only going through the intersection 5 times in a week.
Posted in Signs
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September 11, 2006 12:03 AM
A reader named Mike writes in:
Included with my credit card bill from Wells Fargo was one of those side-tear
envelopes where you tear off one side and slide the contents out. The
other three sides remain sealed, to ensure that the text printed on the inside of the envelope cover is unreadable.
As you can see from the red box around the section titled "Extended
Protection," towards the bottom of the image, this program will "extend your original manufacturer's warranty on
eligible purchases made entirely of on your enrolled credit card up to 12 additional months on eligible warranties of 3 years or less" and then at the very bottom of the page, there is text that refers the reader to "See Important Disclosure
enclosed for more details."
Well that Disclosure is printed on the *inside of the back cover of the envelope!*
The "important disclosure" can't be seen unless you
rip apart the envelope, and most people would have already thrown away
the envelope after opening it and removing the contents!
What's even more broken is that the terms and conditions exclude
"damaged, non-working goods" ... Isn't that the whole point of a
warranty? So what's the value of the "extended protection" included in the program?
Posted in Misc
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September 9, 2006 12:03 AM
Ben Sjoberg writes in:
I was trying to remove an annoying signature that is attached to all outgoing messages from my BlackBerry.
A search on the Verizon web site gave me a seemingly simple solution: click the Options button.
I follow the link and log in, however the Options button is nowhere to be found:
I called Verizon tech support, and they gave me the same instructions about the Option button. After the representative realized that there wasn't such a thing, I was forwarded to level 2 tech support. Apparently they had recently changed their system, but the instructions hadn't been updated yet.
Posted in Web/Tech
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September 8, 2006 11:43 AM
Adam Clare runs the anti-TIB, a site that shows what's going right in the world. Nice work.
Link: ThingsAreGood.com.
Posted in Not broken
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Mickey Mellen submits a picture taken in Smyrna, Georiga:
Our local Target just revamped the entire inside of their store. It took months, and it looks great.
However, a few days ago, they resurfaced the parking lot and painted new stripes, which made the parking angled. The cart corrals (which are as wide as one parking space) are laid straight - not angled. As a result, each cart corral chews up four parking spaces instead of just two, making for less parking.
Posted in Misc
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September 7, 2006 12:03 AM
Brit Indrelie spotted the "Fifth Third Bank" in Traverse City, Michigan.
Would that make it the fifteenth bank?
Posted in Just for Fun
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September 6, 2006 12:03 AM
A reader named Michael writes in:
I received this picture in an e-mail promotion from Financial Times magazine.
The text elsewhere in the message says "Life in the Fast Lane Instant Win Game" and "Enter now for a chance to win a 1-day dream driving experience courtesy of World Class Driving."
They mention Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin next to their promotional graphic -- but they actually show a picture of a Ford.
I guess "Want to drive a Ford?" doesn't have the same ring to it.
Posted in Advertising
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September 5, 2006 12:03 AM
Jack Mueller writes in:
I was at the Marriott Pyramid North in Albuquerque, New Mexico and it was a little cold in the room, so I went looking for the thermostat. Finally I found it in the closet.
Notice that the closed door lets little or no ambient air in so the thermostat cannot sense when to turn on or off.
Posted in Misc
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September 4, 2006 12:03 AM
Trevor Holloway submitted this picture of a sign in McLoud, Oklahoma.
Posted in Just for Fun
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September 2, 2006 12:03 AM
A reader points out:
I got this interstitial page when logging on to my Chase credit card account. The only option is to go to my account page, which is what I asked for in the first place.
I'm glad that the Chase site is giving me the option to not see this page again, but why did it show me this page to begin with?
Posted in Web/Tech
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September 1, 2006 12:03 AM
Brad Dosland points out a label that appears to read, "Never had no trans fats, never will."
So, does this fancy baguette have no trans fats or has it never had no trans fats?
The double negative certainly indicates a proud legacy of fatty bread!
Posted in Food and Drink
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