Shis issue: (Y Scientists warn ‘Question your decisions’ (Y Loser parents still living at home with adult kids ( Douglas does fashion And more! Been told you're too funny? Contact: Sharon Miki, Humour Editor M4 humour@theotherpress.ca www theotherpress.ca Adopt-A-Pylon » Pylon and traffic cone overpopulation yields new campaign Elliot Chan Opinions Editor M opinions @theotherpress.ca ince the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver’s pylon and traffic cone population has quadrupled. This sudden boom has caused concerns for many, as these “safety” markers have literally overcrowded our urban streets, highways, and pedestrian walkways. Such escalation in pylon population has urged many to act. The crisis paved the way specifically for Adopt-A-Pylon, a company with the philosophy that pylons deserve a home, they deserve care, and, most importantly, they deserve to be treated like giant megaphones for children and drunken passersby—that is what they are really meant for. Fun! Homeless pylons and traffic cones have caught the attention of Devon Détourer, founder of Adopt-A-Pylon. “Seeing all those innocent cones treated in such a way is disgusting,” he said in an exclusive interview with the Other Press. “We should feel ashamed. We drive by and we look at them with distain and pretend like there aren't a thousand of them just living in the streets, cold and wet... and most of all forgotten. Pylons are a reflection of our society. And Russia is laughing at us right now.’ Deétourer is urging British Columbians to band together and open their homes and wallets to traffic cones. “Each : night—on your drive home— : just grab a pylon from the street : and take it back. Give it some : love; after all, we all deserve love. : : If each person does this, there : won't be anything stopping us : from getting to where we want to : : go, and we all want to go towards : : a happy future.” : Recent Adopt-A-Pylon : supporter, Beatrice Oliver said, : “We ignore it, plain and simple. : We think that pylons and traffic : cones are there to make our : lives terrible, like garbage cans : or fire hydrants. We get angry : because the government spends : taxpayer dollars buying more : and replacing the old ones. Is : that how we treat stuff? As soon : as they break we buy anew one? : : Ask your grandma how she feels : about that logic, ask your pet : goldfish, or ask your stepson. : Adopt-A-Pylon’s initiative is easy : : to grasp, just like pylons. You : : take one home, you change its : life forever, you give it a reason to : : be. Pylons are not obstructions, : they are life changers.” The trend has made its way : through Commercial Drive and : all the way to Kitsilano, but has : yet to gain traction in less pylon- : : liberal areas such as Burnaby : and the Tri-Cities, where heavy : highway construction and urban : : growth has bred more pylons. Port Moody resident : Fitso Chung spends many : hours working as a labourer : alongside pylons, traffic cones, : and even some wet floor signs. : He understands that there is a : problem. : “They're the hardest workers : : on the team and the lowest : paid,” said Chung. “While I’m on : ..pylons deserve a home, they deserve care, and, most importantly, they deserve to be treated like giant megaphones for children and drunken passersby— that is what they are really meant for! : break, they’re there. While I'm : in the porta-potty, they’re there. : I don’t know if Adopt-A-Pylon : will change the social stigma. | : think what they need is a union. : Pylons are not second-class : citizens. I believe adopting them is a step forward, but the road is : long and we have a long way to ” go. The pylon population is : projected to increase by another : 28 per cent by the end of 2016, : but the support for Vancouver’s : forth-largest majority (behind : hipsters, yuppies, deadbeats, : and tech entrepreneurs) will : undoubtedly increase as well. : Which offers hope to people like : Détourer and those participating : in Adopt-A-Pylon. “We'll find a way,” said : Détourier, “and pylons will : help us. I understand that not : everyone is a born pylon-lover, : but give ita chance. Sign up : today or do it anonymously and : see where it takes you—maybe : to Maple Ridge, maybe to North : Delta.” Now Trending: Move over selfies and belfies » The ‘elfie’ or ‘elbow selfie’ is the latest in self-absorption Sharon Miki : waves on our touchscreens: _: beautiful elbow isa beautiful Humour Editor, : the “elfie.” : elbow—from any angle.” humour@theotherpress.ca : The elbow selfie, or : Indeed, supporters of the : “elfie,’ is, by definition, what : elfie movement are praising t may soon be “power off” happens when someone takes the trend for its raw, real, for Insta-sensations like Jen : @ photo of their own elbow : realness. Selter (the Instagram star who and posts it online. g “Nothing is more : beautiful to me than a woman made the “belfie’—aka the “The great thing about : : that isn’t afraid to show off her butt selfie—a Vanity Affair) : the elfie is that it’s just so : asa new movement in the : now,’ explained elfie star, : elbow—sans Photoshop... if whole “taking pictures of : Sarah Jones. “People can : you know what I mean,” said yourself” craze is making big : stand at weird angles to make : Joe Franco, an avid supporter : their butt look good, but a : of the trend.