Pellerin: A safe, crack-free sidewalk is as hard to find as a Labubu toy
Article content
You ever seen the meme that says, 'The Printer that Simply Worked and Other Fairy Tales'? I feel the same way about sidewalks that aren't ugly death traps.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Columnist Bruce Deachman recently wrote about Ottawa sidewalks that are too often 'obstacle courses, pot-holed nightmares for strollers, walkers, the elderly and the absent-minded, with, in at least one case that I recall, utility poles growing out of them.'
Article content
I like Bruce a lot but he's way too nice. In addition to what he mentions, there are cracks and craters everywhere that sometimes, after a few years of badly twisted ankles and toppled wheelchairs, get patched up with grossly applied asphalt, leaving us with the ugliest urban patchwork of bricks, concrete, dust and bitumen ever invented. With ungodly amounts of weeds growing every which way.
Article content
Sidewalks are a useful transportation design element, provided we make them wide and smooth enough (except for the tactile patches marking intersections for the disabled) so that they can provide safety for all humans, not just those who are young and nimble enough to jump over cars.
Article content
Article content
On busy streets, sidewalks also serve to hold 'street furniture' such as bike racks, trees, newspaper boxes and benches so weary commuters can sit (ideally in the shade) while waiting, and waiting, for the transit bus — no, not that one, the other one that comes after the one that inexplicably failed to show up.
Article content
Article content
Sidewalks are a great idea in principle but for some reason in Ottawa we have thoroughly muffed the execution. Sidewalks that are just right and well-maintained are rarer than those Labubu toys, which, for those of you who don't currently live with a Gen Zer, are sort of like this season's 'Tickle-me-Elmo' — that one doodad without which your favourite representative of the target demographic will not feel complete.
Article content
Labubus are small, round plush toys with monster faces and bunny ears. They are, I am assured by the internets, the hottest thing in the history of ever. They're from a series called The Monsters and what's interesting about them is that they are sold in sealed plastic bags inside a closed box and you don't know which one you're getting until you open it up.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ottawa Citizen
07-08-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Pellerin: A safe, crack-free sidewalk is as hard to find as a Labubu toy
At the risk of sounding desperately uncool talking about things I'm too old to understand, I dream of living in a city where normal non-cracked and non-weed-infested sidewalks are easier to find than the latest Labubu. (Yes, I'll explain what those are. Gather around, gentle readers, it's time for Auntie Brigitte's Story Hour.) Article content You ever seen the meme that says, 'The Printer that Simply Worked and Other Fairy Tales'? I feel the same way about sidewalks that aren't ugly death traps. Article content Article content Article content Columnist Bruce Deachman recently wrote about Ottawa sidewalks that are too often 'obstacle courses, pot-holed nightmares for strollers, walkers, the elderly and the absent-minded, with, in at least one case that I recall, utility poles growing out of them.' Article content I like Bruce a lot but he's way too nice. In addition to what he mentions, there are cracks and craters everywhere that sometimes, after a few years of badly twisted ankles and toppled wheelchairs, get patched up with grossly applied asphalt, leaving us with the ugliest urban patchwork of bricks, concrete, dust and bitumen ever invented. With ungodly amounts of weeds growing every which way. Article content Sidewalks are a useful transportation design element, provided we make them wide and smooth enough (except for the tactile patches marking intersections for the disabled) so that they can provide safety for all humans, not just those who are young and nimble enough to jump over cars. Article content Article content On busy streets, sidewalks also serve to hold 'street furniture' such as bike racks, trees, newspaper boxes and benches so weary commuters can sit (ideally in the shade) while waiting, and waiting, for the transit bus — no, not that one, the other one that comes after the one that inexplicably failed to show up. Article content Article content Sidewalks are a great idea in principle but for some reason in Ottawa we have thoroughly muffed the execution. Sidewalks that are just right and well-maintained are rarer than those Labubu toys, which, for those of you who don't currently live with a Gen Zer, are sort of like this season's 'Tickle-me-Elmo' — that one doodad without which your favourite representative of the target demographic will not feel complete. Article content Labubus are small, round plush toys with monster faces and bunny ears. They are, I am assured by the internets, the hottest thing in the history of ever. They're from a series called The Monsters and what's interesting about them is that they are sold in sealed plastic bags inside a closed box and you don't know which one you're getting until you open it up.
Ottawa Citizen
21-06-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Pellerin: Too much garbage? One man's trash is another man's treasure
Not to boast, but I once sold personal accident insurance door-to-door in rural Quebec. I feel this makes me uniquely qualified to find a spot for our trash now that the Trail Road waste facility is near capacity and we seem thoroughly unable to change our behaviour or think outside the garbage pail. Article content If only we'd had some warning though, eh? We might have been able to prepare ourselves: for instance encouraging people to throw out less stuff by giving them a discount on their property taxes or, say, cash prizes. Instead, we imposed a three-item limit on garbage at the curb, when 85 per cent of us were already throwing out less than that. Which is another way of saying: we did nothing. Article content Article content Article content I have written about this topic a few times, going as far back as 2021. Many others have weighed in memorably about the issue, including fellow Citizen scribes Bruce Deachman and Randall Denley. I am confident Citizen readers know we have a problem in a city where we keep adding people, and where the people we add produce garbage that gets added to the trash already produced by the people who already live here. I'm terrible at math but even I can see it doesn't add up. Why can't the municipal experts we pay to manage just this kind of problem do their job? Article content Most who live in this town are good citizens, from a refuse standpoint. We dutifully sort our blue bin items from our black bin items. Many painstakingly compost. We shun single-use plastics and unnecessary packaging. We carry cloth shopping bags everywhere. We have emergency back-up ones in the car, and in handbags, too. The problem is, there are just too many of us for our dump's future capacity and this is something that's been known for some time. Why has this problem not been fixed yet? Article content Article content Yep, in the late 1990s. First, I took a sales class that lasted two weeks. Then I started working with a mentor. That, too, lasted about two weeks. Let's just say that I knew even at age 19 that going door-to-door to sell people something was not for me. Article content Yet, in a remarkable and entirely non-ironic turn of events, that is precisely what's needed at this point in time: selling our trash to … well, anyone or any group who will take it. Article content In sales training, you learn to defeat people's objections. Like, 'I don't need this stuff,' which can be countered with, 'Oh, but you do; let me show you how.' Article content Ottawans' trash is no ordinary garbage, you know. It's what the residents of the capital city throw out. It's genuinely official trash. How often have you met this much discarded junk from a government town?
Winnipeg Free Press
12-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
How to get along when college grads move back home with parents
NEW YORK (AP) — A shaky economy. Overwhelming student debt. Few job prospects. Some recent college graduates have a burdensome mountain of reasons to move back home. For others, the choice may be easy as they seek to save money, or desire the physical and emotional comforts of family. But the familiar may feel different with the changing dynamics that come with growing up. One thing is certain: If you're a new grad or the parents of one, you're not alone in navigating new terrain. Maturity and respect among all parties is a good place to start before those packing boxes arrive. So is having a clear path forward. Consider these tips for making it all work. Set clear expectations early Richard Ramos, a parenting trainer and author of 'Parents on a Mission,' urges parents and their young adult children to break from their traditional roles. For parents, shift from authority to ally. 'You're no longer parenting a teenager. You're relating to an emerging adult. Move from 'manager' to 'mentor.' Offer guidance, not control. Maintain your home as a launchpad, not a landing strip for them to get too comfortable in,' he says. Grads, come home with humility. 'You may have a degree, but you're still under your parents' roof,' Ramos says. 'Show appreciation. Contribute to the household. Asking before assuming you can simply take shows your growth as a young adult. Honor the space they've made for you.' Drill down to specifics As a counselor and parent, Veronica Lichtenstein knows firsthand what Ramos means. Her 26-year-old son has been living at home for two years since graduation to save money for his first house. 'I've learned that clear, collaborative boundaries are the foundation of harmony,' she says. Lichtenstein has lots of practical advice, starting with a 'living contract' created cooperatively. 'His proposed terms became the starting point for negotiation. This empowered him to take ownership while ensuring mutual respect. The final signed agreement covered everything from chores to quiet hours,' she says. Common areas must be left clean, for example, and advance notice is required if he plans group gatherings. 'Emphasize that this is a temporary, goal-oriented arrangement,' Lichtenstein says. By that, she means: 'We're happy to support you for 12 months while you save X dollars.' Regular check-ins keep everyone accountable. Crystalize chores and shared resources Amy McCready is the founder of and author of 'The Me, Me, Me Epidemic — A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in an Over-Entitled World.' She suggests setting expectations when it comes to shared resources. 'If they'll be driving your vehicle, be clear about when it's available, who pays for gas or maintenance, and what responsibilities go with the privilege,' McCready says. 'Use 'when-then' phrasing to keep things respectful and direct: When your responsibilities are done, then the car is available.' If conflict arises, it's often because everyone reverts to old roles and old rules, she says. 'Pause and ask, 'Are we interacting like we did when they were 17?'' Then reset with intention. What about special guests? Parents need to decide if conjugal visits for resident adult children are something they're comfortable with. Such overnight visits with romantic partners can be tricky, McCready notes. 'If overnight visits aren't something you're OK with, it's completely appropriate to set that boundary,' she says. 'You might say, 'We're so glad you're here, and we want everyone to feel comfortable. For us, that means no overnight guests while you're living at home.'' Parents can ask to be told ahead of time if their grad plans to sleep elsewhere. Parents, be careful not to judge Eric Wood, director of the Counseling & Mental Health Center at Texas Christian University, says parents should check in on their frustrations over the new living scenario. Their graduate might feel embarrassed and worry that they're a burden. 'Don't judge, especially with the current job market and recent global events. It's important not to be critical of a graduate who must return home,' he says. 'Just like we advise incoming college students not to rush into a certain academic major, it's more important not to rush into an entry career position. Establishing a solid trajectory for a successful and happy career is the priority.' Wood said the new mantra for parents should be: Support, but don't problem solve when it comes to fully launching a grad. 'It's important for the parent or family member not to act as if they are trying to solve a problem,' he says. 'Doing so will only send a message that the graduate is a problem and could lead to conflicts.'
