I don’t like to double-post, but this was too funny that I had to share it with those of you who don’t read my blog. The other day I was flipping through the local daily magazine that they pass out in the Metro and came across the following ad looking for medical testing participants:

I looked at it, chuckled, and a wide smile grew on my face. I had seen a picture of those two before a couple years ago, but they were not smiling. I got home and consulted one of my Onion books and confirmed my suspicions with the following article:

I’m still chuckling. It is just too funny that the pharmaceutical company chose a photo from the same set of stock photographs.

With both my winter and summer semesters over, all I have left is a few projects. I am also going to have to pay for my previous semester.

Instead of finishing the work I have left and paying debts, this morning, I decided to take my bicycle out and for the first time this year, I didn’t use it to go anywhere specific. I went to the Old Port and passed through downtown at lunch hour. It looked really good with the sun shining and everybody outside. Seeing very old people with cell phones is not something I see often.

In the Old Port, as I was looking at a map, I saw this guy who was slowly falling asleep on the bench.

Usability is about giving users good experiences. It applies to products you may buy, web pages you may visit or indeed why not newspapers. Unfortunately the latest redesign of the Montreal Gazette seems to miss out from many points of view.

Let’s forget for the moment about the articles that cannot be read without taking the newspaper apart. There’s one simple test that any newspaper should be able to satisfy. That’s an easy way to find any article. You would think it’s easy. Just put a page number on each page. That’s probably as old as newspapers themselves. If the newspaper splits into sections then perhaps a combination of a letter and a number is even more understandable. Well for some reason, the Gazette designers have decided they can do better. Rather than calling the second section in the newspaper Section B, it’s called Extra A. So in the menu at the front anything appearing on that second section front page is listed as appearing on Extra A. It’s not B1 presumably since they don’t show that anywhere. However the pages behind it are labeled B2, B3 and so on.

They’ve also applied the same principle to Page Not H9 (which is Gardens Special Section), Page Not I1 (which is Take 5) and Page Not J1 (which is Books). I can’t understand why they haven’t applied the same principle to every section of the newspaper .. indeed to every page of the newspaper. However my opinion probably doesn’t count. I’m only a reader.

Earlier tonight was the first YULblog at the new location. Eventually I will add everyone’s names with links, but for now I need some sleep. Interesting change. Pluses and minusses on both sides. Here’s everyones responses:

So last night in the news on Radio-Canada & CTV they talked about this new campaign. And today it was in newspapers like The Gazette. Which campaign is this? It’s the jaywalking breakdown campaign brought to you by the SPVM!

In Montreal jaywalking is really everywhere. Sometimes people cross the street and don’t even look! There have been 10 pedestrians killed in car accidents since January 2006. And I bet many more have been injured!

Often at a crossing there is the little white man light, then the little blinking red hand light, and finally the full red hand light. Personally I thought you could still cross when the hand was blinking, that you just had to hurry! But nope! It means you have to stop and wait for the next little while man light! It does make sense. And when it’s the normal green-orange-red stoplights then we have to follow the same rules as cars, stopping at orange-red. And not hurry through! Otherwise it’s a 37$ fine! Today I saw a man getting one of these fines. He wasn’t too happy. Actually he couldn’t believe he was getting fined for jaywalking. The police were also handing out information pamphlets and talking with the pedestrians.

Stoplight on at the corner of Sherbrooke and St-Urbain, photo by Christelle.

I’m not saying that I never cross on a red light. But I do agree that it is dangerous and perhaps I should wait for the good traffic light before crossing a street… But it is so tempting when I see not one car coming and the way is completely free!

When I saw this, it reminded me of Christelle’s post a while ago.

The Bloggers have spoken, 92% of them simply can’t imagine La Cabane without Julie and 61% would rather have our monthly meetings at Laika. Patrick has reserved the new section on the left side.

See you tonight at 8 PM. I hope that my meeting in Quebec city doesn’t run for too long.

I’m in Quebec city about to go out for dinner with some colleagues. Maybe one of the writers will take over from me. If not, it looks like Patrick is planning the same thing.

If they win, then I will know that it was all my fault.

[update] Just got back and it’s 1-1 with 8 minutes left. Do I keep watching? Will you burn me in effigy if Montreal loses?

[update 2] AH FUCK!

By the way, where is it?

There is a strange smell in Montreal today! I noticed it this morning in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood and now in Rosemont/Petite-Patrie too! So it seems it’s not just one part of the Island. Did you smell it too? What is it?? Is that the smell of Spring??? If so, Spring stinks!!!!