Casting Votes in the Federal Election

Every time another election rolls around, we Canadians start to grumble.  We complain about the cost of the election, the ridiculous amount of money spent on obnoxious campaign ads that are nothing more than mudslinging contests.  We complain about taking time, yet again, to go cast our vote for another politician we don’t trust anyway. 

Elections Canada reported a 58.8% voter turnout at the October 18^th, 2008 Federal Election.  That is the lowest turnout since the September 29^th, 1898 referendum vote which had a 44.6% turnout.  In the 2006 election, 64.7% turned out and previous to that in 2004, 60.9%.  Better, but not much.

Call me simple, but wouldn’t the addition of the ability to vote online solve a few problems?   I’m aware that the immediate concerns are security and the ability of hackers to upset the counts.   Yet we bank online, we shop online, we submit our taxes online, there are databases utilized for policing and all levels of government and the list goes on.  So make it secure!   I think you’d find a significant change in those voter percentages if you saved the voters the hassle of going to polling stations.  If the polling stations provided computers to cast votes electronically the entire process would be faster and more efficient.  Re-counts not required.  Think about the green effects with the paperless system, the statistical reporting advantages, and the decrease in staffing requirements.  Most importantly, there would be more votes.  With all the advances in technology, why are we still casting votes with pencil and paper, and counting votes by hand? 

The Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the 40^th Election states that we spent $288.2 million for the election which includes a $57.9 million reimbursement to candidates and parties.  Eliminate the reimbursement completely and perhaps the candidates and parties would spend their campaign money more carefully.  Perhaps voters might even feel a little better about having to cast their vote again.  A little.

Those are my immediate thoughts on the process of election, which in reality make no difference.  The only difference I can make is with my vote, which will aid in putting a candidate into office where he or she can effectively hide behind their party without having to bother with thoughts of their own. 

Every girl should have a Duckman

Duckie, the laughable, lovable, dependable and secretly lovestruck best friend of Molly...in 1984's teen hit, 'Sixteen Candles'.

And it may have taken him 20 years to come clean...but it turns out I had my own Duckie.....

My Duckie was still a little mad at me for never noticing that he had the worlds biggest crush on me.  I remind him that he could have asked me on a date, for example...that may have tipped me off.  He always carries on about never missing a single one of my track and field practices...blah, blah, blah...  Whatevs...  :)  


Bottom line is, I always counted him among my favourite people...he was so funny, and I just loved being around him.  When he moved away, the school halls got much dimmer for me.


Then along comes Facebook...and old friends become new friends again!  (insert that choir of angels and open the heavens)  And this is when my Duckman came clean.  He loves me. He looooves me.  He thinks I'm awesomesauce.  He loves his wife and kids more...but he loves me too!


:)


The last year, I have found that he is still the same old Duckman, just waaay not shy anymore.  Although, I think if he thought for one minute that I wasn't allergic to married men, the cuddling, make out and spanking offers would be few and far between.  meh... He knows it makes me laugh.


It's peanut butta jelly time...it's peanut butta jelly time...


In the summer, Duckman absolutely thrilled Saminator and Red when he hung out with us.  Duckman happens to be a Flight Engineer for the Canadian Armed Forces... he's a soldier!!!  Woooooaaahhh!!  The boys thought they had died and gone to heaven!  They were slightly intimidated at first, you know...big dude with gun n'all..but Duckie is tremendous with kids and they had themselves a favourite Uncle Duck in no time. 

We went to the Hamilton Warplane Museum.  What an experience when you have a personal tour guide :)

But no summer day is complete without a trip to Port Dover, and that famous Arbour Dog.  We were enjoying said culinary delights at a picnic table, when Red decided he did not want the slice of pickle that was on his hotdog.  So he picked it up and tossed it...  It landed squarely on the eye of Duckman's cool man sunglasses with a squop...and it stayed there.  Big tough seasoned armed forces Duckman didn't flinch..and both boys froze...  Until they glanced at their very immature mother...  I had tears rolling down my face as I tried to contain the laughter.  Come on brother...a pickle in the eye?  That's some funny shit dude!  


My Duckman :)


He seems to have assumed the roll of my guardian, big brother, shoulder to cry on...  I'm not sure how I could ever  express to him just how much he means to me.  What a blessing, a true true friend he is.  And I hope he knows that I'm always there for him too.  Just not for that.


He spent a half an hour on video call with me tonight, making me laugh, and talking me out of the bluesy mood I had settled into...all lameass boy nonsense of course...  He says someday, some lucky guy is going to see me just the way he sees me.  Now isn't that the best shit you ever heard?  Huh?  And also, he threatened to lay a beating on the guy that hurt me.  Not THAT rocks!  :)  


Cause this guy, would do some damage....

Oh yeah...don't mess with the Awesomesauce...Duckman has her Six.  


....Or is that Nines...  I dunno...  I never said I was cool...


But I don't have to be...cuz I have me a Duckman.

Speaking Canadian eh?

People are people are people...and what insults one, is funny to another.

When my friend from England was over for a visit last year, he would often lose me with his rapid fire lingo and quirky British sayings.  Now, we both speak English..but my ear was simply not tuned in to that heavy accent...  I'd get this blank look on my face and he'd say 'ye didn't gitta word didja luv'...and then me...uhhh no...could ya try again but slower...or try that again in Canadian please?  And we'd laugh.

A gentlemen of Eastern decent was on the phone with me at work..and I couldn't understand a word he said, he accent was so heavy.  The more I asked him to repeat himself, the more agitated he became and the heavier his accent became.  I apologized, and told him that his accent was very heavy and asked him to speak a little slower, and he quipped one word answers..which I understood.  He hung up with me and called my coworker to complain that I was racist.  WTF...

I suppose we disagree on the definition of racism...what can I say...

Now we all know in the English language there are many words that sound the same but have different meanings.  It's been a long time since grade school..but I think that's called a homonym...right?  Whatevs...

The introduction of different languages puts quite a spin on this..and the outcome can be hilarious...

I took this picture on my home from work on Friday....

I wonder how good business is?

Meh...

I'm gonna grab my tuque and head out for a beer eh...and any of you hosers that don't laugh can take off eh...