Seen in Hong Kong:

It’s a nice touch to let you know how long it might take to get through the terminal. On the other hand, if you’re really tired you might just give up now.

Seen in Incheon Airport, South Korea:

Absolutely impossible to photograph… the passport control lines at Incheon airport near Seoul, S. Korea. It’s usual in many countries for there to be a line dedicated to processing airline crew members quickly, and for officials to also take the handicapped, families with children, and VIPs through there occasionally when the line is empty.

This one’s funny, though: the lane on the right is marked for Diplomats and Crew (with a symbol indicating also Handicapped). The lane just left of it has a large LCD display which seems to indicate that Investors (and the handicapped) should line up there. Hm. Special treatment for investors?!  :)  If only it said “Inventors”, instead.

Seen at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona:

seen in Jerusalem:

Subverting the subversive.

“they shall beat their swords into plowshares paintbrushes”

Seen in Hong Kong:

An emergency exit sign in the Hong Kong airport. The little guy in the picture may not make it in time…

Whoddathunk?

(left, sign imitating the Bar Ilan trademark; right, an authorized Bar Ilan taxi sign) 

Taxis in Israel are required to be registered with the Ministry of Transportation, but they are essentially individual operators. Taxi “companies” are made up of independent drivers who pay a monthly fee in exchange for being included in the dispatch system of that company, plus the right to display the company sign in the front windshield.

In the last 15 years, that company sign has become more important, imparting a sense of trust and accountability. Many Israelis — and even more tourists — avoid non-affiliated taxis, for fear of inadvertently hailing an unregistered or unsafe taxi.

It’s not unusual for drivers unassociated with a company to have a one-off sign printed for themselves, with their name (or “company” name, like “Shema Yisrael Taxis”) and phone number on them. The theory is that the person hailing a taxi is likely to see only that there is a sign, not will not see what is written on the sign until after the taxi has gotten quite close, and the implicit agreement to take the fare is made. For the most part, that is quite true.

This is not especially about Arab vs. Israeli drivers, since many reputable taxi companies include both Arab and Israeli drivers (examples include Davidka Taxis and Rehavia Taxis).

One of the two largest taxi groups in Jerusalem is Bar Ilan taxis (they enroll Israeli drivers only). They are easily distinguished by a trapezoidal orange sign reading “Bar Ilan”, under which is the taxi call number, then the office phone number. Recently, they have also added flags on their roofs.

I have a couple of times seen a taxi using the sign of a defunct but reputable company. Today, though, I rode in a truly “counterfeit” taxi (click on image above for greater detail). The yellow trapezoidal sign reads:

Bar Alon Taxi

01

[cell phone number]

The sign clearly is meant to imply membership in the Bar Ilan group. Also, despite the imitative “BS”D” on his sign (an acronym for “with the help of Heaven”, common on documents of religious Jews), he was clearly an Arab. The driver also did not have the taxi owner’s and driver’s ID information posted in the car’s interior — a violation of the law.

Update:

According to Bar Ilan Taxis, the matter has been previously reported, and is under investigation by the police.

Seen in Tel Aviv:

Here’s the current leader in my files for Worst Exterior Elevator Signage. How long does it take for you to figure out how to get to the office you are visiting?

The irony is that there is a very good user interface design company here… I guess the building management didn’t hire them.

Seen at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York:

I collect elevator interfaces (especially bad ones), but this elevator at JFK wins the international prize for most confusing interior elevator buttons.

I participated in the very exciting MobileMonday Global Summit* in Helsinki this September.

Arriving fairly early, I went to take a drink of water in the main hall.

Hm. I’d say this warning label pretty well killed my interest in having anything to do with this water dispenser. The caution has destroyed the utility of the whole, in this case. (I can say that because this was, after all, Helsinki. In Israel in September it is still hot enough that thirst will overcome squeamishness.)

Still, it’s interesting that the warning label was invisible from the front.

*Did you spot my brief appearance as an extra near the beginning of the video?

[via Aisle One]

A great ad campaign concept. Of course, in Israel, everyone thinks they’re tough enough to park that way (a side effect of mandatory draft). So much so that it is actually formally sanctioned (pictures taken just up the street from my home):