by Sean Orr | B.C. First Nations ask China to raise human rights with Harper. Add to this that we’re putting Foreign Trade Zones on our farmland and that our intelligence agency does not “use evidence revealed due to torture except that it totally does“, our Sensational Reverse Land is complete (oh, and if you liked that Red Dwarf reference, check out this remix I made for you guys).

Speaking of backwards: Living in the city vs. the ‘burbs: What’s better? If there was any sense to economics, the cost of a bigger house and a longer commute would end up being way more expensive than a fancy, brick loft in Gastown just a block away from where you work.

Human-rights complaint by advocates for B.C. homeless dismissed. Only because Pivot refused to call any witnesses, the very same marginalized people they want to protect. Dragging a homeless person to court is like dragging a drunk to the drunk tank. Sorry. Bad example.

B.C. to overhaul justice system. Instead of esteemed and practised judges, a panel of BC’s hottest entertainers will be handing out prison terms – and all for charity! The whole thing will be available on pay-per-view, hosted by Tom Larscheid.

Who says the CBC never produces anything entertaining! Canada Reads judge accuses authors of terrorism, lying on popular CBC contest. Celebrating Canada’s diversity; or rather the occasionally totally racist and inappropriate, xenophobic wildcard that is Quebec…

Quebec MPs shun jubilee medal. Actually, that’s pretty cool, just don’t tell my loyalist roots that.

The Province wants to know if you had sexual intercourse that resulted in fertilization of an egg during the hockey playoffs: Canucks playoff babies: Do you know of any being born? Mind your own fucking business, you creeps.

Does Great Scenery Kill an Arts Scene? Yeah, just look at the Group of Seven and what Alongquin Park did for them. Absolutely nothing.

Then again…Generation X writer encourages innovation in Vancouver. “We’re at our worst when we ape the conventions of other places.” I guess that’s why all he does is ape the conventions of this place. Maybe his next public art work will just be a massive sign with his quote, “you can’t attach a ski hill to an email.”

Local company Lanefab is just finishing up the city’s first “net-zero” solar powered laneway house, and we’re all invited to check it out. Take a few minutes to eyeball the open house this weekend.

The ‘net-zero’ house produces all of it’s own power; producing extra electricity in the summer, and drawing on that stored power at night and during the winter. The house recycles waste heat from the shower drain water, has a 500 gallon rainwater tank, triple-glazed windows and doors, and 95% of the lighting is provided by high efficiency LEDs.

Props to Lanefab for dealing in awesomeness.

Saturday, February 11 + Sunday, February 12 | 12-4 | E.57th & Vivian St. in Vancouver (2733 E.57th).

by Sean Orr | Dick Tater: Cancelling Stephen Harper play raises concerns over censorship. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister heads to China today to talk trade, energy, and how to impose censorship upon a willing democracy. “You guys don’t have to get all totalitarian. Just be subtle about it…you know, appeal to their darkest fears”.

Right-wingers are less intelligent than left wingers, says study. “Result of article: More self satisfied back-slapping on left. More scepticism of perceived liberal bias in academia on right. Net gain: zero.” – Scout contributor David Grieg

Meanwhile…In a tough job environment, why are journalism schools growing across Canada? Why are students still applying? I ask myself this everyday.

Time to start offering disincentives? City incentives have done little for affordability. But I thought “the market” would take care of everything!?

Banana Tan to ban teens: Surrey council considers ban on teenage tanning. They are teenagers and they live in Surrey. Don’t take away the only glimmer of light they have.

Speaking of light (or lack thereof): Olympian Clara Hughes describes her ‘spiral of darkness’ in mental illness campaign, writes goth record of same name. I’m sorry, but why does it have to be sponsored by Bell? Anyways…sure, “let’s talk”. Let’s talk about Rypien, Boogard, and Belak.

B.C Superbowl ads cost causing controversy. Oh, come on, Dix! Think about the demographics. The Liberals reached the exact people The Liberals wanted to reach; bored, ex-urban, middle-aged, slightly conservative white dudes. It’s probably the only efficient use of money that I’ve ever seen from them.

The best thing The Province has ever done: Animation: How to spot an environmentalist. God save Dan Murphy.

Cool Thing I Want: Encyclopedia of Commercial Drive by Jak King.

by Sean Orr | Is Canada Ignoring Signs of a Coming Economic Collapse? I feel like I’ve been yelling at a brick wall for the past 7 years…

Funny/not funny: Muslim man: My workplace quip made me a terror suspect. “What’s wrong with saying ‘Bomb’ on an airplane?”

Something stinks: Delta councillor ‘horrified’ with port’s view on farmland. They hate it. They hate the smell. And they hate that it’s not a parking lot filled with shipping containers from China.

Y is for Yawn: Open letter to the Baby Boomers from Generation Y. I thought we were called Generation Next. Anyways, whatever. I mean, who cares?

Ho vs. Hooker: Vancouver billionaire guilty of confining woman. Oh I see, it’s just a “bad date” for an otherwise decent gentleman. Meanwhile, bad dates for dozens of women in the DTES and up north remain unsolved or could have been solved earlier. Shame.

Police tactics making Victoria unsafe for homeless people. Good to see Jamie Graham using the skills he picked up here in Vancouver.

Who let grandpa on the computer again? Editorial: Anti-sugar crusaders should just butt out. The mixed metaphor in the headline just adds to the article’s sense of angry dementia.

Yes, they were from Surrey: “Intoxicated” bus riders arrested after alcohol stolen from North Vancouver restaurant. I guess that’s one thing chain restaurants are good for.

Bonus: The Man who Lived on his Bike

I love this short documentary. My neighbourhood is in it, even though it really isn’t. 9 Businesses depicts – yup – nine new businesses in the once mighty city of Detroit, which is still struggling to find some semblance of a renaissance after several decades of decay. While the parallels between the declines of Motown and the DTES aren’t perfectly aligned (far from it), the individuals profiled in the film most certainly are. The resemblances are uncanny. They share the very same goals, inspirations, and vocations of those who’ve recently set up shop in and around the DTES. They’re all cooks, craftsmen, designers, bakers, creatives, and such – all young, independent, and bereft of wealth, but eager nonetheless to inject some awesomeness back into a city they love. And the consequences for them are the same, too. They’re either welcomed as restorers of an urban fabric long ago rent asunder or scoffed at as the foot soldiers of gentrification, even though the realities on the ground are defined more by nuance and instance than the black and white of absolutism. Anyway, it’s worth watching if you can spare six and half minutes.