What's in the street
Live from Ukraine, he came on the radio directly after the local news, which included a segment on the giant pothole that had developed overnight on a main street in the centre of Winnipeg. He had been on air a month ago, and he ended that interview by saying he hoped he would still be alive the next day. He did survive and now we were hearing from him again. A former judge and lawyer, he was coming to us in real time from a town in Ukraine to provide an on-the-ground update on his situation. It was compelling; he pulled no punches. He said it was “surreal” to hear that potholes make the news in Canada while where he is — fighting for his country and his life — there are dead bodies lying in the street. Surreal indeed. So much these days is hard to bear, impossible to absorb, really, so his words struck me and have stayed with me. Because, while potholes can do significant damage to vehicles, the chance of the driver or passengers dying as a result of hitting one is, of cour...