sailing the fingers of the dragon

There is, in fact, a lot to be happy about in this election. Linda Duncan not only re-elected, but with a margin of votes more than ten times as wide as last time (5000+ versus ~460 in 2008). Elizabeth May, Canada's first Green Party MP, elected. The Bloc destroyed, meaning - for now, at least - that we no longer have a party in Parliament whose mandate is to split the country apart. And, of course, the NDP leaping from 36 seats to 103 and forming the Official Opposition for the first time. All of these are things to celebrate.

But I can't quite get over the majority government thing. I can't quite believe that Canadians decided what Steven Harper needed in his life was more power. And I haven't looked at all the ridings, but several of the decisive ones in Toronto, etc, appear not to be a case of vote-splitting but of Liberal support swinging firmly to the right. I guess the election of Rob Ford should have suggested some things to us, but... really, Toronto? Really? And among the most unbelievable stories of the night, Bev Oda won re-election? Bev Oda, who is emblematic of the lackadaisical attitude towards 'truth' in Harper's government? How?

I've been so used to frequent elections over the past few years that it's only just sinking in that we won't have a chance to fix this for four years. We won't go back to the polls till 2015. That is... a long time for things to change in.

There is a fabulous collection of Olympic Relay photos here, which make me even more aware of my desire to spend more time travelling through Canada. It's so pretty, you guys.

They are all worth looking at (especially the one at Niagara Falls, wow), but here are a couple of my favourites from Alberta.

The prairies, with the Rockies in the background:


The World's Largest Dinosaur, in Drumheller, wearing the red Olympic mittens:

So, I spent way too much money on comics yesterday (in my defence, I hadn't been in for three or four months), and really, I just have to share this for you. I'm mostly reading The New Avengers because, hello, Spider-Woman, but. I think I forgive Bendis for a lot of things, now.

(in the fine tradition of scans_daily - Context is for the weak!)



It is funny on so many levels.