In past articles in which your participation was not only requested but also helpful and humorous, I did not give the answers to questions which I have posed to you; so this article is the fourth of a series to do just that — along with links to the aforementioned articles…
Answers to Past Articles — Part 5: US Airways Magazine, Fan Feeback, and Highway Signs
…and the links are embedded in the titles of each section as well as within the sections themselves; so please click on the links in each section to take you to the original article.
Also, a feature has recently been added to this particular series of articles: the Favorite Answer will usually be the correct answer by a reader of The Gate — along with a Favorite Comment from the same article which I found to be funny or informative.
What is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 21
I decided to participate in a short survey to earn some Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles from The Opinion Terminal — you can find out more information pertaining to The Opinion Terminal by reading this article, as well as how to earn 400 Mileage Plan miles — which was estimated to take five minutes to complete pertaining to what magazines were looked at or read by me within the most recent six months…
…and I noticed that the magazine of US Airways was offered as one of the choices — which is quite bizarre, as the final part of the consolidation of the airline with American Airlines occurred on Saturday, October 17, 2015.
Favorite answer by shawn humason: “The prose is a bit odd. ‘Looked into’ is better phrased as ‘looked at’. ‘Check the box below the magazine’ really mean to check the box below the magazine logo or name.
“I really doubt US Airways magazine is still in print.
“Not really an error but more accurately, maybe put ‘which magazines have you read, looked at, or masturbated in front of…..Penthouse…’”
Favorite comment by beachmouse: “That same survey also asks about ESPN magazine, which folded in 2019. That particular third party survey company that uses SSI/Research Now to find people to take surveys for them has never been great about deleting dead publications- it probably messes up their grid layout or something if they try.
“I’ve also had other third party survey companies ask if I was a part of Virgin America’s or Continental’s frequent flyer program in the past 2 or so years.”
What is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 22
When the Atlanta Braves hosted the Philadelphia Phillies at what was then called SunTrust Park, “Fan Feeback” appeared on the giant screen.
Favorite answer by Carl WV: “Feeback”
Favorite comment by bob: “A fine fiasco feeback finds me in, as ‘a reliable source’ (my fiance, 100% Georgia born and raised) says it’s just cute marketing by SunTrust about returning certain fees back to the customer, like out-of-network ATM charges…whatever. I’ll risk being banished to the sofa, but my feedback is their feeback is wrong”
What is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 23
As I was driving eastbound along Mississippi State Highway 12 in Starkville, I noticed a road sign which caught my attention; and I immediately pulled my vehicle over onto the grassy area off the shoulder to take a photograph with my camera: as commanding general of the United States Army, Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army towards winning the Civil War against the Confederate Army — and Mississippi was part of the Confederacy; so hosting a presidential library of Grant in that state seemed rather weird.
Favorite answer by Denise Cosper: “People would probably wonder why the Grant (Union general who took Vicksburg) library is at Mississippi State University.
“I’ve been there. (Former MSU faculty.) The facility and the collection are fantastic!”
Favorite comment by Justin L.: “This was going to be my guess as well. I actually filmed the historian interviews in Starkville for this library (technically, I did the audio, but you know what I mean). The interviews were FASCINATING! I haven’t visited the completed museum…was only there for the taping…so I hope the finished product turned out well, and I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it, Denise.”
What is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 24
Something was not right with this commercial, which caught my attention: when the female driver asked for directions to Interstate 70, I saw the sign on the left in the background for New York State Highway 100, which is in Yonkers. The number 100 is in a New York state highway shield — and as I am originally from New York, I immediately recognized the oversight.
I have been at the eastern terminus of Interstate 70, which is in Maryland. The highway then goes through Pennsylvania before heading further west — and it never crosses the border into the state of New York.
The video of the commercial was since changed to private status. Perhaps Progressive Insurance — the company which the commercial was advertising — took it down out of embarrassment for the error?
Favorite answer by Pete: “The highway shield in the background places them in New York State, but I-70 doesn’t go anywhere near New York State?”
Favorite comment by Bob: “First impression, he is standing in a ‘no standing’ zone.
“What is factually wrong when viewing the entire commercial? He is pointing the lost driver northbound onto NY-100, sending her away from I-70. Granted, even by the most direct route, I-70 (at Baltimore) is some 220+ miles southwest of the spinner’s location in Yonkers, but that’s only a minor detail, right?
“What is artistically wrong? They forgot to change the NY Hwy 100/Fort Hill routing sign, given how much they changed (digitally?) the street names and the CVS, Nathans, Wells Fargo, etc., signage and storefronts in that strip mall.
“Actual filming location was at 6 Chisfield Street in Yonkers NY, or lat-lon 40.9758438 -73.8322144, if anyone is inclined to see how heavily they retouched the location. Google streetview link for the filming location: http://www.google.com/maps/@40.9758438,-73.8322144,3a,75y,38.65h,75.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdNUqmX0A50max1Ftto_4uA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
“(Side note for any of my fellow production continuity geeks, they forgot to change Famous Footwear’s store sign in the ‘Dad’ version of this commercial series, but did alter FF signage in the ‘Competitor’ version; fun fact, both of those commercials were filmed in the parking lot behind CVS, only 300 hundred feet east of this photo’s location — and this reply reminds me I was wrong to think @Brian had too much time on his hands for finding these various photos, when obviously it is I who has too much free time, LOL.)”
What is Wrong With This Photograph? Part 25
This is the first — and only — time no reader of The Gate guessed the correct answer as to what is wrong with this photograph; but one reader came rather close.
The typeface used on the sign for the word EAST is an artificially condensed version of ITC Franklin Gothic Book; while ITC Franklin Gothic Demi was the typeface which was used for the number 182 on the sign.
Only the word DETOUR conforms to the standards of the Federal Highway Administration of the United States as outlined and detailed in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Please click here for an excerpt of the manual which pertains to the use of the Highway Gothic typeface, which is formally known as the FHWA Series fonts or the Standard Alphabets for Highway Signs.
This is how the highway signs should have appeared, using the proper typeface — although the arrow should be modified but was not:
Ironically, the official highway typeface which I used for the roughly modified photograph was given to me by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
I am well aware that the Clearview typeface has slowly been replacing the Highway Gothic typeface in the United States. I intend to write about that in a separate article in the future here at The Gate.
Favorite answer by Bob: “You are on US 82, the pictured temporary traffic control guide sign indicates Florida 182 East is being detoured along the same section of highway, and you found something wrong with this TTC sign. Got it.
“From what I can see in the photo, you are not at or approaching an intersection, nor did you say there is an intersection immediately behind you, so the arrow is pointless (no pun intended) per Part 6 (Temporary Traffic Control) of the FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, 2009, as amended Good catch!
“To a lesser degree — since MUTCD establishes that arrow ought not be displayed in the first place — the arrow was printed askance, being at a slight angle, and the arrow’s sign width is less than the guide sign it is placed under.”
Favorite comment by George: “The arrow sign appears to have four holes drilled in it at 90 degree angles, allowing it to be mounted so that it points up, down, left, or right. That’s not right. It should always be mounted in this orientation, but the arrow should point left/right if it were a left/right sign.”
Summary
More answers to past articles will be forthcoming in future articles; and answers to past articles in the What is Wrong With This Photograph? game — which have already been answered — include:
- Answers to Past Articles — Part 1: Muffin Flavor, Beverage Machine, Pickle, Map, and Steak
- Answers to Past Articles — Part 2: Airport, Lounge Sign, Fish Sandwich, Bed Bugs, and Airplanes
- Answers to Past Articles — Part 3: McDonald’s, Lavatory Door Sign, Ice Cream, and Speed Limit Signs
- Answers to Past Articles — Part 4: Noodle Noddles, Gasoline Prices, Traffic Signs, and How Many Spices?
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs ©2018 and ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
