Mixed Signals
Any sufficiently advanced information is indistinguishable from noise
Friday 12 September 2003, 5:00 PM
Rupert Goodwins' Diary
Two days ago, we got a press release about a new, mildly clever and probably pointless technology that claims to prevent mobile phones with cameras from taking pictures in sensitive or particularly badly decorated areas. The areas in question have a small transmitter that broadcasts a "don't take pictures here" signal: the phone picks up the signal and obeys. It won't work with phones that don't have the right circuitry, and no phones do, so you can guess how quickly it'll take off.
But that's neither here nor there. The high-tech company that invented this idea chose to call it Safe Haven, and mindful of the need to protect their intellectual property in these challenging times promptly trademarked the name. The original press release therefore gave the name as Safe Haven (tm) whenever it mentioned it, which it did a lot -- being a press release and all.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the line a spell checker or other intrusive bit of nanny software got its teeth into the text of the release, and mangled it. As a result, today we get a second press release with the following classic line:
"URGENT CORRECTION:
The release from Iceberg Systems Ltd. issued to you by email on 10th September 2003 contains a repeated error. The system name, Save Haven (TM), became corrupted to read Safe HavenT.
We apologise for any inconvenience this error has caused."
Not at all, not at all.
Blaine's Diary, Day 7
Catch Tube B to Leicester Square. Stop off for quick drink at the A market. Getting very crowded in my box. Some strange people are holding up a message about a stick. Perhaps they're from SCO.
PreviousComments on this post
Can I just say.......Rupert's diary is the only newspaper worth reading at work......and having grown up in the same little village as Rupert all I can say....it must have been the water in Tamerton Creek!
Good on you Rupert.... keep up the good work.....it keeps me sane and awake sat in front of my little screen
