A handsome piece of deformity.

PART I

For better or worse, the Canadian federal election has come to a close and the Liberals are sitting snug as a minority government. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Don’t misconstrue that last comment as one of derision, however. Loaded with negative connotations though it may be, dislike the Liberals much as I do, I still consider them the lesser of two evils… by far. I’m grateful that constituents of Eastern Canada had more sense than those of Western, as the Conservatives did very well for themselves west of Ontario; that Canadians opted for the Canada they know, flaws and all, rather than pursue the social agenda-cum-electoral platform offered by the Conservatives, a platform that was described recently as a “legal minefield” on a variety of constitutional grounds, brings me a sense of relief. Mind you, I would have preferred that Canadians drop both the Liberals and the Conservatives in favour of the New Democrats, though I am pleased that the number of NDP seats elected affords the party a certain amount of power.

Prior to voting yesterday afternoon, I made certain to carefully investigate the platforms of each of the three largest parties (that had candidates running in my constituency, mind you) in the weeks and months predating the election. My mind was made up after a few evenings of digging through the political rhetoric, and was confirmed beyond question after completing this survey, as compiled and hosted by political watchdog Politics Watch.

PART II

Only tangentially related to the above paragraphs (in that it deals with similar subject matter but has a different focus… but I digress…): know thy enemy. People who vote without investigating the issues raised all each party are fools, woefully yet willfully ignorant of the world around them. You may agree with and appreciate the ideas represented by Party X, but compared to what? Do you even know what Party Y and Z stand for? Juxtapose, people, juxtapose!

Even worse are those people who vote blind, unaware of the beliefs of both Party Y and Z in addition to those of X. Speaking with a co-worker today, she mentioned that her father voted for a local candidate based solely on the fact that he (her father) was friends with him (the candidate), and that he (her father) really had no idea what the candidate stood for or even what party he was a member of. Folks, seriously: when you vote, you aren’t voting for a person. You’re voting for an idea — the word made flesh, if you will — and the personality, appearance, and tap-dancing talents of the avatar are utterly irrelevant. Look past the fashionable exterior and search for function; seek substance over style.

Voting may be a right in Canada, but it is also a privilege. It deserves to be taken very seriously.

This hastily constructed post was brought to you by memetic theory, caffeine, and elation at the prospect of summer.

Quick note: have enabled comments on the site. Figured it apropos given Saturday’s announcement. :)

Saturday night, not-so-regular Saturday… now that the respective families have been informed (simultaneously, no less, thanks to the ingenius and subtle machinations of m’love and I), I’ve no reason to obfuscate the truth any longer.

It’s my pleasure to announce that Amy and I have announced our intentions to be wed. We are, as of this day, engaged.

To say that I am thrilled would be an understatement of gross proportion.

I chalk my silence up to self-inflicted separation anxiety as I prepare myself for the great migration to Chris’ domain. Figure if I ignore Blogger long enough, my leaving it behind to gather dust won’t hurt as much.

Or something absurd like that. See, now I’m just rationalizing my silence… and on a public page, too. Waste of space. Nothing to say. Honest!

In other news, and in direct contradiction of my having nothing to say, especially on the topic of exciting things, let’s talk about Cex. Cex rules. Thanks to Metafilter, I’ve found a musician who writes songs similar to those of Cex. Same quirky-and-off-the-wall antics and everything. Check him out here — Songs to Wear Pants To. Hell ya.

Beyond that, I’m keeping my cards breasted… for now. :)

“…any ballerina can play pinochle while bubble-living with mating rituals, but it takes a real cyprus cab driver to mulch living abstraction.”

Love, I send a raspberry to thee. For someone so excited about so many things, you’ve sure been quiet here.

Nyaaaah.