Legal and Illegal Builds

Jamie Beard's talk on Stressing The Elements looks in detail at how Lego bricks are meant (and not meant) to fit together.

Sushi Towels

Why are these Sushi Towels not actually available for purchase?

Steepest streets of SF

Current thinking puts the steepest street in San Francisco (Bradford above Tompkins) at an insane 41% grade. That makes Lombard street look flat.

RPGCast - Episode 382: "Alex Fuller Lacrosse"

Take a break from PAX East 2016 for some gentle RPG sound waves. Anna Marie confesses her obsession with rebuilding the moon. Alex confesses his plans to win all the sports. And Chris confesses that can't do anything right when it comes to giant gothic spaceships.

RPGCast - Episode 381: "Shoreleave in the Rift"

Alex and Anna had to rescue Chris from the Rift to do this week's show. After their daring efforts, Alex tells about his deep love for roguelikes. Anna Marie illuminates how she'll soon need rescuing of her own from the world of Bravely Second. And Chris reveals that he was rescued only to die, again and again and again.

Great Scott! Quantum Break is just brilliant

Mario and Luigi. Master Chief and Cortana. Sonic and Tails. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Of all the video game duos, you cannot forget: Ratchet and Clank.

She raised millions for the cystic fibrosis breakthrough she needs

The dynamic between Emily Kramer-Golinkoff and her mother, Liza Kramer, is unique. They're not just mother and daughter, but also two executives working on a multimillion-dollar venture.

Royal Bank of Canada defends practices after being named in Panama Papers leak

RBC is one of several institutions named in documents leaked to expose activities in offshore tax havens, but the bank says it has procedures in place to detect and prevent tax evasion

Body found on Burnaby trail after reports of shots fired

A man's body has been found on a Burnaby trail Monday.

Where is Trudeau government heading on China?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is undertaking a major internal review of Canada’s relationship with China, cautiously considering steps that include launching free trade negotiations and helping up to 100,000 Canadian students study there. T

B. C.'s ice cream lovers and makers despair over vanilla bean price hike

A global vanilla crisis has turned B.C.’s tastemakers into a bunch of bean counters. Vanilla beans, the withered wonders behind the staple flavouring found in kitchens worldwide, are a labour-intensive crop requiring hand pollination, precise harvesting and a lengthy curing process.

Blessed are the Tax Evaders

In the debate about the Panama Papers everyone seems to hold it as self-evident that the British government is a good cause, and that declining to pay it taxes is equivalent to stealing from the poor box. 

Far from being a good cause, entire government departments in Britain are working for the triumph of evil, or behave as if they were. Depriving them of revenue is one of the few constraints on their capacity for malevolence, along with a free press, independent juries and some other things that I don't remember right now. 

Their ID cards scheme, for example, was shelved for lack of money. If it weren't for heroes like Jimmy Carr and the Starbucks Corporation, we would by now be queuing up to be fingerprinted and have tracking chips implanted in our foreheads. 

Blair took us to war in Iraq, Afghanistan and some other places that I don't remember right now. No doubt he would have liked to start some sh*t in other lands, but he couldn't because we were broke. If it weren't for heroes like News Corp and the Arctic Monkeys, we would probably now be at war with Chechnya, or some bloody place. 

Paying taxes to the British government is no better than buying South African grapefruit during the apartheid regime. Whenever I say that, it starts a row, but the truth is the truth. 

Not long ago, Google executives were hauled before a select committee to justify why they don't pay much tax in Britain. Our dim, resentful MPs took it as read that Google had behaved in a way of which it should be ashamed. But what is so special about Britain that anyone should donate it money if they don't have to? 

Google has a duty to maximise returns to its shareholders. One of its biggest shareholders is Norway's state pension fund. Why is it better that Osborne should get his paws on this money rather than its rightful owners, the Norwegian pensioners? This is wealth created by other people's brains and energy, owned by Scandinavian codgers, and they feel entitled to wet their beaks. It is simply monstrous.  

I do my bit to keep money out of their clutches, in my own small way. For example, whenever I return to Britain from abroad I always bring back cigarettes to sell. I like to think that, over the years, I have saved the lives of half a dozen Arabs by doing this (and earned myself literally tens of pounds!) 

But as well as biffing the residents of hot, dusty places, does Her Majesty's Government not provide us with schools and hospitals? It does, up to a point, but you could say as much for Hezbollah and Kim Jong-un. And that have plenty of money to pay for these things already, if they had the slightest notion of how to go about it. 

Perhaps if we gave them half of our GDP, rather than a piffling 40%, we could have functioning trains, and school children who can speak French? You can believe that if you like, but it doesn't seem awfully plausible to me. 

You could make a case for the rich paying more tax so that the poor pay less, but there's zero chance of that happening. It is more likely that a rich man shall pass through the eye of a camel with a millstone hanged about his neck, as it says in the Bible. Any extra money they wring from the wealthy will just vanish into the Treasury's bottomless pit, never to be heard from again. The poor won't have their taxes cut in our lifetimes under any realistic scenario. 

So I looked into the idea of paying taxes, and decided it was not for me. 

Q&A: Vancouver breakthrough group Dear Rouge talks Juno Awards glory

Vancouver dance-rock duo Dear Rouge was named the Breakthrough Group of the Year this past weekend at the Juno Awards celebrations in Calgary.

Villanova tops North Carolina 77-74 on Jenkins' buzzer-beater

Kris Jenkins spotted up and swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer Monday night to lift Villanova to the national title with a 77-74 victory over North Carolina — one of the wildest finishes in the history of the NCAA Tournament.

Dental care should be part of basic health care: UBC study

All Canadians, especially low-income Canadians, should have dental care as part of their basic health care, a new study by the University of B.C. concludes.

Christmas Day cocaine importer gets five years in jail

A U.S. citizen convicted of importing cocaine into Canada on Christmas Day 2014 will be spending several Christmases in a Canadian jail.

UPnGO workplace activity program launched in B. C. before nation-wide rollout

Vancouver — A program to get workers up and moving while on the job has rolled out in British Columbia, and it will be stretching the legs of employees across Canada by the fall. UPnGO with ParticipACTION was launched Monday by federal Health Minister Jane Philpott, B.C.’s Minister of Health Terry Lake and Elio Antunes, […]

Crown urges 12.5-year sentence for drug-fuelled fatal stabbing

A B.C. Supreme Court jury found Trudy Gail Hunter, 62, guilty of the November 2013 second-degree murder of Christine Docherty, 61.

Judge orders edit of documentary criticizing Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver  — A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ordered a filmmaker to remove about five minutes of video from a documentary that criticizes the Vancouver Aquarium. Judge Jeanne Watchuk granted the aquarium an injunction and has instructed Gary Charbonneau to remove 15 video segments from the hour-long film within seven days. The aquarium is suing […]

RCMP failed to pay former B. C. agent for risky work, lawsuit claims

A man who claims to be a former agent for the RCMP is suing the force for allegedly failing to pay him for his clandestine activities. The man, identified in a lawsuit only as Agent E,  says that from 20o1 until late 2014, he worked under the RCMP to provide investigative services in the areas […]

Smartphone surveillance led to sting against accused drug smugglers

Mail exchanges and surveillance show that two B.C. men acted as a broker and a courier for an international drug-smuggling ring, the Crown alleges. The trial for Matthew James Higgins and Hernan Osvaldo Veloso began on Monday in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. Higgins is charged with one count of conspiring to traffic ecstasy […]

Five unforgettable Masters moments

Five memorable moments in the history of the Masters Tournament, which will tee off for the 80th time on Thursday in Augusta, Ga: 1935 Sarazen’s 5-wood: In the final round of the tournament in which the nines were reversed for the first time, Gene Sarazen holed a 235-yard 4-wood for an albatross at the par-five 15th […]

A look at offshore accounts used to hide wealth, avoid taxes

TOKYO - An investigation published by an international coalition of more than 100 media outlets, based on 11.5 million records of offshore holdings, details how politicians, celebrities and other famous people use banks, law firms and offshore shell companies to hide their assets.

Canada’s oil dealmakers just had their best quarter in 20 years, but don’t let the numbers fool you

Investors snapped up $8 billion in share offerings in the first quarter, but the numbers mask the reality that only a select group of top-tier firms were able to entice the markets

Putin's spokesman denies involvement in offshore accounts

MOSCOW - The spokesman for Vladimir Putin has dismissed suggestions that the Russian president is involved in an offshore account scheme as a smear likely motivated by "Putinophobia."

Oil companies create lakes ‘from scratch’ to try to replace destroyed fish habitat in north Alberta

Government regulations require oil companies that destroy fish habitat to replace it, and some are now doing so by creating new lakes and stocking them with fish

B. C. man's underwear gag for his wife leads to modelling gig

Brendon Williams freely admits his paunchy belly and bushy-black chest don't qualify him as typical chiselled male-model material.

Canada’s head bureaucrat makes mental health in the workplace a top priority

Ottawa has faced rising mental illness among employees over the 10 years. Mental-health, driven by depression and anxiety, accounts for nearly half of all health claims

Snowbirds to begin preparations this week in Comox for 2016 air show season

The Canadian military’s Snowbirds and CF-18 Demonstration Team will soon arrive in Comox to prepare for the 2016 air show season. The Snowbirds arrive on Thursday, April 6th, and the Demonstration CF-18 will arrive on Thursday, April 12th, according to local media.

Bombardier shakes up rail division's management in Europe, splits CEE region

MONTREAL - Bombardier Transportation says the head of its Central Eastern Europe region will be leaving and his responsibilities will be split between two separate management teams.

Taste of playoffs last season motivates Toronto Blue Jays to get back

R.A. Dickey says making the post-season is a game-changer. 'You couldn’t really relate to it until you’ve been exposed to it'

Buyer beware: Things to keep in mind when choosing a home inspector

TORONTO - Today, in all but two Canadian provinces, virtually anyone can call themselves a home inspector — regardless of whether or not they have completed any sort of professional training.

Redesigned Vancouver Sun to be unveiled

Starting Tuesday, we’ll be unveiling a number of changes to The Vancouver Sun in print, and digitally on web, smartphone and tablet. These changes reflect local audience research — and shifting trends across the media landscape — that tell us what readers are reading and how they connect with us through the day.

Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman ‘loves being at the centre of everything,’ manager says

John Gibbons was not surprised Stroman was spectacular on Sunday in his first opening day start

Journeyman Jim Herman wins Houston Open to earn spot in the Masters

Herman's first PGA Tour victory came in his 106th start. He is the third player to earn a last-chance Masters berth since 2008

Kelowna tech firm guards virtual worlds from cyberbullies

As online communities come under the attack of cyberbullies, racist speech and spam, a British Columbia tech firm has developed technology to keep the trolls under the bridge.

Man hospitalized with serious injuries after weekend shooting in Surrey

Police said the victim is in serious condition but is expected to survive.

Review: Good People poignant but imperfect

Now running at the Arts Club’s Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Good People by American playwright David Lindsay-Abaire is a dark comedy about a clash between two such people in Boston — downtrodden Margaret, played by Colleen Wheeler, and successful Mike, performed by Scott Bellis.

B. C. seniors-care facility cuts entire staff over reports of chronic underfunding

A seniors-care home in Nanaimo is laying off its entire staff thanks to years of chronic underfunding by the region's health authority.

Women's pro hockey: Where one would be better than two

It’s complex times. Women’s hockey seems to be growing, but you can’t help but wonder if the fan base is becoming confused.

Finland hopes its discipline and goaltending can carry it past Canada at women’s hockey worlds

Canada can't look past Sunday's semifinal to expected final against United States

Whitecaps survive red tide in scoreless draw against Galaxy

MLS is quickly becoming the Oprah Winfrey of soccer leagues.

“You get a red card, and you get a red card. Everybody gets a red card!”

A story of rape, resistance and healing

It was the first hot day of spring, April 26, 1981. Two girls, giggling, talking about boys, shared a purloined cigarette on a wooded trail near their school in the University of B.C. endowment lands. Behind them a twig snapped. Then, the voice. “Put your hands on your head, turn around, and don’t look back.”

Canada's Duhamel and Radford win gold at world figure skating championships

BOSTON - Canada's Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford successfully defended their pairs title at the world figure skating championships on Saturday.

Effort to attract head offices to Vancouver starts to pay off

When people speak of Chinese investment in B.C., much of the conversation centres on Metro Vancouver’s daunting housing prices. Less visible is the corporate investment — both within the Lower Mainland and throughout the province — that has the potential to kickstart several sectors of the economy.

All yours, Leicester: Spurs draw hands leaders title boost

LIVERPOOL, England - On a day Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea swept to 4-0 victories in the English Premier League, Leicester was the biggest winner of them all.

Maple Leafs forward Kadri unapologetic in response to recent fines for diving

TORONTO - Nazem Kadri vehemently disagrees with the diving label he's been tagged with by the National Hockey League.

Canaccord founder Peter Brown's Point Grey mansion sells for $31.1 million

A Point Grey home on Belmont Ave. owned by Peter Brown, the founder of investment dealer Canaccord Genuity Group, and his wife Joanne, is under contract to be sold for $31.1 million.

Vancouver city, park officials mourn death of arborist

Vancouver City Hall has launched an investigation into the tragic death of long-term arborist Jody Taylor, who was crushed by a branch Thursday as he pruned a damaged Catalpa tree in Connaught Park.

No bottom in sight for Calgary housing market as prices drop 3.51% from a year earlier

Even realtors in Calgary are suggesting picking the bottom of the housing market is getting tougher and tougher in the oilpatch

Bank of Canada says mood of Canadian businesses remains ‘subdued’ as oil shock lingers

Bank of Canada’s quarterly survey found companies plan to increase hiring and investment but only modestly