by Sean Orr | Hmm, Smyth: I like dogs and cats too, but what about the poor, disabled people? I don’t know whether Smyth was inspired by Spotlight or not but I’m glad he woke up and joined the rest of the journalist (sic).

Christy Clark government takes on staff from Harper’s and Alberta’s ousted Conservative ranks. It’s high time the Liberals took a page from Donald Drumpf and changed their name.

Schadenfreude of the day: Airbnb-Craigslist rental scam dupes Vancouverites out of $1,000. So now that Airbnbs are outnumbering rental properties, people are actually flipping them? Genius.

Aaaand here’s yet another article about how shitty it is to be a renter in Vancouver: Low-income renters have it harder in Vancouver than anywhere else in Canada.

Robert Pickton book removed from Amazon amid outrage, investigation. Wherein it will now be a collector’s item on the black market. But what about the part where we should listen to what he has to say?

Related: Date With a Devil.

Business Improvement Districts Ruin Neighborhoods. I’ve been saying this since the Mount Pleasant Soma Uptown BIA tried to ban panhandling.

Today in I know you are but what am I: A falling Star: No cash in its dowry, declining revenues and no obvious marriage prospects. I can’t believe I read this whole article; so smug and spiteful it makes me never want to read a newspaper ever again.

So because of the budget last week I had to axe some pretty cool stories. Like this one: Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart wore same suit for 15 months and nobody noticed. And yet my band mates get all grossed out when I wear the same jeans for a paltry two week tour. Pfft.

And this one: West Vancouver is giving people flags to cross the street. I kind of like the new direction VanMag has taken. Welcome Max Fawcett.

I Saw You of the day: I drank your wine. I can totally relate to this.

Honour Bound: Binners Hook.

Bonus: Meet the Internet’s Most Rebellious Underground Rap Queen. YVR reprezent.