New Delhi, August 19: Creativity and the Art of 404 Error Maintenance Of course you know what a 404 error message is. Those silly page not found messages you get because you probably typed a wrong url or maybe the page moved to a different location.
Normally a 404 error should read something like this - On Yahoo.com an incorrect url would get a message like this Sorry, the page you requested was not found.
Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo!, try visiting the Yahoo! home page or look through a list of Yahoo!'s online services. Also, you may find what you're looking for if you try searching below.
On other sites a 404 error may read something like this. The page cannot be found The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Please try the following: · If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly. · Open the www.midnightedition.com home page, and then look for links to the information you want. · Click the Back button to try another link.



HTTP 404 - File not found Internet Information Services But lately 404 errors have become a form of art in itself. Click on this url and you know what I mean http://www.coxar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk



Apparently this is the top url featured on Google.com if you search for the term "weapons of mass destruction". It has also been featured by popular newspapers in the world including Times of India in our part of the world. This is what the part of the page says.



These Weapons of Mass Destruction cannot be displayed The weapons you are looking for are currently unavailable. The country might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your weapons inspectors mandate......



Click on the link above to read the full page. It's hilarious. Another url you can try http://www.thispagecannotbedisplayed.com/ This page says something like This page sucks and cannot be displayed The page you are looking for sucks and is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, you may need to adjust your browser settings or it might suck.



Please try the following: · Click the http://www.namepros.com/Refresh button, or smash your computer with a large hammer. Another 404 error "I ate your Web page. Forgive me, It was juicy and tart on my tongue." Probably this page takes the cake http://www.mamselle.ca/error.html



It starts like this This page cannot be displayed because it needs some fresh air. Click on the link above to read the full text. Some other interesting pages you could visit http://www.rini.org/error2.php The popular former Iraqi Information Minister is featured on this. http://www.homestarrunner.com/systemisdown.html



Last year CNN did a story on "Webmasters get creative with '404 Error' pages" This is what the article had to say "Defunct Web pages and mistyped URLs generally deliver error messages that are as dull as dirt. But a growing cadre of witty webmasters opt to make light of AWOL Web pages. Instead of displaying the standard "404 Error File Not Found," they dole out a dose of humor instead. "



"Given that the Web is teeming with millions of dead Web pages, finding bad ones is easy. Hunting funny ones is harder, Ripley says. As the Web expands, more of us will be stumbling on links to forgotten Web pages that simply don't exist anymore, she says. Ripley considers herself the Web's only 404 aficionado. "Webmasters should take 404 error messages more seriously," she says. "If a dead Web page isn't useful, at least it could be funny." Her favorites include a 404 that lets you play Yahtzee online and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 404 haiku error message inspired by a William Carlos Williams ode to unguarded plums:



"I ate your Web page. Forgive me, It was juicy and tart on my tongue." "Remember, to err is human, and sometimes 404 messages can be divine. Don't let a 404 upset you too much. Apparently even some Web sites get pretty depressed about not being able to help you find what you're looking for." Unlimited unleashed creativity is what the web is all about. Perhaps it took just that to bring life to an apparent dead end and laughter to the surfer who stepped on a wrong page.