Small Ads: Adventures in typesetting.
Jun. 22nd, 2009 12:08 pmI often browse through the local Friday Ads small ads magazine. While I don't often buy things this way, I enjoy the range of items for sale. They also have a wonderful run of accidental (and often charming) errors and typos that raise a smile.
In the 90's, sellers had to phone-in their ad content to over-worked and non-technical call handlers. This caused a continuous stream of 'Omega' computers and 'Epsom' printers advertised for sale. Now that most sellers submit their ads via email or text message, this kind of thing is much rarer (but usually much more mind-bending when it does happen).
Thankfully, there is still an old staple (ahem) of the Ad magazines to fall back on, untouched since the 80's. As a sales feature (and to aid browsing) the first two words of an ad are set in bold type - free of charge! The catch in this is that the typesetters embolden the first two words exactly. Whether you want this to happen to or not and without care of the consequences.
Unfortunately, the sellers don't always take this into account when providing ad copy:
and frequently much worse.
In the 90's, sellers had to phone-in their ad content to over-worked and non-technical call handlers. This caused a continuous stream of 'Omega' computers and 'Epsom' printers advertised for sale. Now that most sellers submit their ads via email or text message, this kind of thing is much rarer (but usually much more mind-bending when it does happen).
Thankfully, there is still an old staple (ahem) of the Ad magazines to fall back on, untouched since the 80's. As a sales feature (and to aid browsing) the first two words of an ad are set in bold type - free of charge! The catch in this is that the typesetters embolden the first two words exactly. Whether you want this to happen to or not and without care of the consequences.
Unfortunately, the sellers don't always take this into account when providing ad copy:
Newborn Baby (huh?) ...cradle and swing with lights and... Oh! I see,
Semi-retired Camper ...disposing of a large variety of gear.
Semi-retired Camper ...disposing of a large variety of gear.
Men's Fat ...Face brand clothing
and frequently much worse.
Also: Just to prove me wrong, this week's issue has *two* printer cartridges for Epsom printers for sale. No Omegas though. Sadly.
A parallel world (chink chink!)
Jun. 22nd, 2009 08:39 am...well I must have slipped into a parallel world.
During a recent visit to Asda, their CD section was carrying Flanders and Swann, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Kraftwerk (Trans-Europe Express *and* The Man Machine) and The Alan Parsons' Project.
I've slipped into another reality. One where Wal-Mart sells quality music!
...you've been around young children, or you remember Infocom, Scott Adams (the old one) and Crowther and Woods -
and you haven't read this yet, well... then you had better hurry up and do so, I guess. :)
(http://xiphias.livejournal.com/484351.
and you haven't read this yet, well... then you had better hurry up and do so, I guess. :)
(http://xiphias.livejournal.com/484351.
(no subject)
Jun. 1st, 2009 04:29 pm This unit is now dispensing Hot Fun, Cold Fun and new Incendiary Fun free of charge, Citizen.
All of this fun courtesy of R&D, Vend-o-matics Inc and your Friend, The Computer. Enjoyment is mandatory.
Please ensure that all safety equipment is worn and wait until the vend-o-matic has come to a complete halt. Report loss of fingers, tongues or nasal cavities using the attached Form F/6/1110101001e (Odd).
All of this fun courtesy of R&D, Vend-o-matics Inc and your Friend, The Computer. Enjoyment is mandatory.
Please ensure that all safety equipment is worn and wait until the vend-o-matic has come to a complete halt. Report loss of fingers, tongues or nasal cavities using the attached Form F/6/1110101001e (Odd).
Good News - Bad News time
Jun. 1st, 2009 04:07 pmGood News: I went in to town at lunchtime to do a little shopping - and the walk out was very pleasant.
Bad News: I was looking for 0.7 mm 'H' grade pencil leads (Bear with me on this)
Good News: I didn't find any. (See above)
Bad News: But I did check at the art shop.
Good News: Er, I bought you a present as well while I was in there dear?
(
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kyte is very long suffering with regards to my enthusiasm for art supplies. Sorry dear.)
Views from a car.
Jun. 1st, 2009 11:01 amYou know, local elections always bring out the worst in some people, and parties.
Returning home from Farnborough yesterday, myself and Kit noticed that we were passed a sign for one of the 'issue' political parties (the UKIP, I believe), poking over a fence insisting "Say NO to unlimited immigration".
Being wishy-washy Guardian readers, we were both annoyed by this but Kit was the one who broke and commented on it first:
Kit: "You know, no-one's actually advocating unlimited immigration. At all."
Me: (picking up the theme) Say NO to misrepresented issues!"
Kit: (immediate) "Say NO to straw men!"
Me: (thinks) "Actually, that's what both they and us are saying - but we mean very different things by it."
And by then the car was well past the sign and the conversation changed.
Returning home from Farnborough yesterday, myself and Kit noticed that we were passed a sign for one of the 'issue' political parties (the UKIP, I believe), poking over a fence insisting "Say NO to unlimited immigration".
Being wishy-washy Guardian readers, we were both annoyed by this but Kit was the one who broke and commented on it first:
Kit: "You know, no-one's actually advocating unlimited immigration. At all."
Me: (picking up the theme) Say NO to misrepresented issues!"
Kit: (immediate) "Say NO to straw men!"
Me: (thinks) "Actually, that's what both they and us are saying - but we mean very different things by it."
And by then the car was well past the sign and the conversation changed.
I was following a link on mental health research that interested me when the penny dropped:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/
'National Institute of Mental Heath' ...and a logo that is made up of the initials. The Americans have a research facility called 'NIMH'.
Did Mrs. Frisby teach them nothing??
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/
'National Institute of Mental Heath' ...and a logo that is made up of the initials. The Americans have a research facility called 'NIMH'.
Did Mrs. Frisby teach them nothing??
El Reg strikes again,
May. 22nd, 2009 03:06 pmOh Register, how I do chuckle at thee:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/22/
Title: YouTube flooded with porn
Subtitle: Hello? Is anyone still reading? Come back
[Giggles]
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/22/
Title: YouTube flooded with porn
Subtitle: Hello? Is anyone still reading? Come back
[Giggles]
(no subject)
May. 14th, 2009 05:09 pmYour results:
You are James T. Kirk (Captain)
Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz
You are James T. Kirk (Captain)
|
You are often exaggerated and over-the-top in your speech and expressions. You are a romantic at heart and a natural leader.  |
Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz
What the twitterati do when twitter's servers fall over again: http://noquedanblogs.com/?p=6255
In fact that whole damn blog is lovely and its RSS feed has now been lovingly slurped.
Also rernarkably handsome:
noquedanblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/
In fact that whole damn blog is lovely and its RSS feed has now been lovingly slurped.
Also rernarkably handsome:
noquedanblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/
April 1st...
Apr. 2nd, 2009 12:36 pmBest spoof from yesterday:
http://technologizer.files.wordpress.
Is it bad that I actually want one of these?
http://technologizer.files.wordpress.
Is it bad that I actually want one of these?
