Max 8: strings with missing characters in UI (reference docs, jsui, popups etc)

well I thought I'd give max 8 a go and there is a bug in the UI, where strings don't form correctly.

here is the reference panel for the plus object:

and it also occurs in the info panel:

It is not confined to the plus object-- here is the delay~ object reference panel:

It also occurs in the messages that are displayed in the yellow ribbon across the top of the window:

I have also noticed it in jsui objects that render text:

It also occurs in inlet and outlet help/info popups.

AND it's in the about max window:

I have a macbook pro 2012 with os 10.9.5
{
    "version" : "Version 8.0.6 (c36dce5) (64-bit mac)",
    "platform" : "mac",
    "arch" : "x64",
    "osversion" : "Mac OS X Version 10.9.5 (Build 13F1911) x86_64",
    "samplerate" : 44100,
    "iovs" : 512,
    "sigvs" : 64,
    "scheduler_in_audio_interrupt" : "off",
    "audio_drivername" : "Core Audio",
    "audio_driver_subname" : "",
    "license" : "permanent full",
    "machine_id" : "ecff5b76d890bc2f606054975044c7d3",
    "eventinterval" : 2,
    "schedinterval" : 1.0,
    "overdrive" : "off",
    "pollthrottle" : 40,
    "queuethrottle" : 100,
    "sysqelemthrottle" : 1000,
    "refreshrate" : 33.333332061767578,
    "schedslop" : 25.0,
    "eventprobing" : 0,
    "mixerparallel" : "off",
    "mixercrossfade" : 0,
    "mixerlatency" : 30.0,
    "mixerramptime" : 10.0,
    "videoengine" : "avf",
    "glengine" : "gl2",
    "packages" :     {
        "bach" : "0.7.9",
        "BEAP" : "1.0.2",
        "cage" : "",
        "ejies_3.11" : "",
        "HoaLibrary-v2.0.1-beta-mac" : "",
        "ICST_ambisonics_2_3_1" : "",
        "jasch objects" : "0.7.2",
        "jit.gl.hap" : "1.3",
        "Max Package Downloader" : "1",
        "Max ToolBox" : "15",
        "max-mxj" : "7.2.5",
        "Mira" : "1.2.1",
        "ml.star" : "1.1.0",
        "Node For Max" : "1.2.3",
        "Quintet.net" : "",
        "sy" : "",
        "Syphon" : "",
        "Syphon For Jitter" : "",
        "uPattr" : "",
        "Video and Graphics" : "7.2.0",
        "Vizzie" : "2.0.3",
        "zsa.descriptors" : "1.1.1"
    }

}