A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

On Instagram Angst And Creating Refugees In Order To Save Refugees

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by Sean Orr | Perhaps the biggest turn of events in this election has been a dead child washing up on a beach halfway around the world. Not missing and murdered women here at home, not child poverty, and not the economy. Just one evocative image. Is it hollow and hypocritical, or do we just spring into action whenever there’s a striking image involved? Was 71 dead refugees in a van not enough, or did we really just learn that Syrians have kids, too?

Thomas Mulcair took the high-road and avoided assigning blame, while Chris Alexander “suspended” his campaign. As Chris Green reminds us, “there is no such thing as a suspended campaign under Canadian law. This is just bullshit fed to people who get their news from American TV…”

Vancouver hero Sean Devlin was arrested for wearing ‘Aylan Should Be Here’ t-shirt at Stephen Harper event. Not politely escorted off the premises. Arrested.

Meanwhile, Harper, with crocodile tears in his robot eyes, says military action needed to address root causes of refugee crisis. Did he read his teleprompter wrong? Military action is the root cause of almost all refugee crises. Mind blowing.

He also said Canada has “the most generous immigration and refugee system in the world.” Adrienne Arsenault does a fact check.

And Jason Kenney breaks out the old chestnut “Trotskyite anarchists” to refer to Harsha Walia’s report on immigration. What is this? The ‘30s?

Twitter account of the day: Conservatives of FB. Unwittingly followed by real Conservative MPs. Shades of “I heartily endorse this event or product…

Back at home: West Vancouver condos do their part to save water. I’ve been doing my part, too. I’m only showering once a week. I mean, I used to do that, and I still am (there’s probably a Mitch Hedberg joke in there somewhere). Perhaps the most telling part of that article however is, “West Vancouver is one of three municipalities in the Lower Mainland equipped with water meters to measure individual home usage…” Hmm.

I love this so much, and not just because I am starting a pickle company called Brine Adams: Kelowna man boasts world’s largest cucumber. Here are some excerpt of the best news article I’ve ever read in my entire life: “Yes, it’s a fruit”, “it just decided to go straight”, and “slugs were starting to lick at it”.

Hipster Barbie Is So Much Better at Instagram Than You. “20% of Vancouver’s Instagram accounts boiled down into one” – Scathing commentary by noted curmudgeon Bob Kronbauer. Lol.

YELPer of the day: Shila “Food is my passion…be warned.” B.

Bonus: This band made a documentary about pretending to go on tour with Arcade Fire.

On Ken Sim’s So-Called “Swagger” and ABC’S Class War

Sean Orr is back from his hiatus with a rundown of the local headlines that have been running on a ticker tape through his mind over the past six months...

On Post-Election Recuperation, Platform Paradoxes and Refund Communities

In his latest read of the local news headlines, Sean Orr finds irony in "safety, affordability, and sustainability", and shouts out a bunch of amazing local organizations working on the frontlines.

On Running for City Council, Playing Whack-a-Mole with Homelessness, and the Public Washroom Deficit

In his latest read of the local news headlines, Sean Orr finds a park ranger with a grudge, a gross misuse of air quotes and Tripadvisor slander.

On Living in a City Preoccupied with Street Cleaning, Chandeliers, and Campaigns Against the Homeless

In his latest read of the local news headlines, Sean Orr hones in on the recent Langley shootings, and the ongoing criminalizing and dehumanizing of the homeless population.