Address Book fields have "_$!<" crazyness!

[beta user]

on my iPhone the fields appear normal:

mobile
work
home

etc etc.

but on my powerbook, the address book fields are all sandwhiched with a weird "_$!<" thingy which is so annoying! so it appears:
_$!<mobile>!$_
_$!<work>!$_
_$!<home>!$_

etc etc.

i can only painstakingly change it one address at a time, using the "custom" option and then typing in "mobile".

this is so frustrating! any help on how to eliminate this from the address book app? there's GOTTA BE A BETTER WAY

 

[jasunto]

you said powerbook, you running tiger?

 

[beta user]

yes, i think so. it's a power book g4 and it's OSX. this means tiger right?

you said powerbook, you running tiger?

yes, i think so. it's a power book g4 and it's OSX. this means tiger right?