Every now and then I’ve seen airport arrivals boards showing only the blue screen of death – This time it was somewhere new. I walked past about 10 gates to find the arcade, only to find new evils lurking inside those tall 1980s style video games.

Depressed at my inability to crash up some cars while waiting for a flight (curious how there are never flying games at airports), I wandered into the restroom. After washing up, I found failed technology #2.

There’s nothing sadder than a spring that’s lost its nerve.

Staring at the broken spring, hands wet at my sides, face dripping onto my once pretty shirt, I found a new longing for those tempermental autodetecting hand dryers. And yes, dear friends, at this moment of great moisture reduction need, there were no paper towels to be had.

I guess at least in this case it’s obvious things are broken – with those autodetect things, trying oh so hard to be smart, you never know if you’re doing something wrong, if they’re broken, or just teasing you.

Still wet, I wandered into the nearest Starbucks, ignoring the strange stares of baristas and customers (Is he just sweaty or does he have the plague?), and consumed a half dozen napkins to dry myself off.