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Google Glitch in Firefox Shows Error: google.ac.i(document.f,document.f.q,”",”")
By Tim Gross - Internet Business Blog | September 11, 2008
In the “everybody makes mistakes” department, I just pulled up Google using Firefox 2 and there’s a glitch on their homepage, part of the HTML is visible on the page:
google.ac.i(document.f,document.f.q,”",”")
Looking at the source code, it looks like it’s may be missing a closing left paranthesis bracket farther down the string.
The glitch isn’t visible in my IE, only Firefix, but: Update: I’ve gotten multiple comments from visitors here that the are seeing the glitch in Internet Explorer 7, and that they’re still seeing the problem (it’s about 2:30pm Pacific, Sept. 12), even though I stopped seeing it late last night.
. As someone who fiddles with everything from Web Design/HTML to scripts, etc, it always cheers me up a little to see a company with unlimited resources have a simple problem.
Hey, at least it’s not me! 
Here’s a screenshot:
…Of course, the irony is that this post I’m making just screwed up MY page on the right-hand side of the screen. Under “Recent Posts”, the error string in the title is sticking out to the right of the blog layout. The horror!
-Tim
Topics: Oops (Bad Move) | Trackback URL
September 12th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Hey Tim,
I use IE 7 and the Google Glitch IS visible & has been all day (11th) and now we’re into the wee hours of the 12th. Go figure. Had no idea what it was… glad to see that you had an idea of what it is…
September 12th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Hmmm, I have IE 7 also and the error wasn’t visible on mine… Also, I only saw it 9/11 night, not earlier that day, and you say you saw it all day the 11th, so whatever was going on it must be a little more random.
…Also, when I Googled that string of characters last night, there were only 4 results, this morning there are 673 (most of them duplicates), so it looks like that character string snuck its way into a bunch of different websites.
(I don’t see it anymore in Google on the 12th a.m.)
September 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
thanks for the info; it’s sept 12th, I just had some type of update take place and now I’m seeing it too. Have you already notified the appropriate people ? (I’m not really knowledgable about how to do this myself).
September 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
the glitch is also for IE7 not just firefox so u got that wrong. lol every time i go to google i see that unless i press refresh but i have no idea wat i means XD.
September 12th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Hey Tim,
As of 2:30pm (PST) on the 12th it’s still there! I Googled it and found 569 repeats on various websites. Like you said there were only 4 yesterday. Just a thought… it appears that some folks have attached ot to their websites? On occasion when following it - it almost appears as an advertisement to get you to come look at their respective websites, etc. My assumtion is based on the fact that there is no mention of the rogue code, just the website. What a great way to capitalize on a tiny error by a mega co.!! Awesome marketing tool! Or plain little error? Or maybe it just found its way there?? Either way, I’m ready for it to leave. I will keep checking back. Thanks Tim.
September 12th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
-Not that people wouldn’t try that, but I don’t think so, I think that error string is just appearing on those websites long enough for Google to re-index them with the error visible.
I THINK this must not be too wide-spread of an issue, or there’d be more noise about it online… so we’re just the lucky ones.
September 13th, 2008 at 10:26 am
13th of Sep… Still see it on my ie7.
It seems to appear on the Google Home Page.
Any clue?