I learned a new word today: Encyclical. Apparently it’s a letter from the Pope to the Catholic church, or the bishops, giving a personal treatment on some topic. Just thought I’d mention it, since I’d never heard of it, and the stories I read were taking it for granted that I knew what it meant.
Apparently, the new Pope likes sex. Who’d thunk it? Update: Turns out it’s in that Pope-y kind of way after all. Well, you can’t win all the time.

(From Toothpaste for Dinner)
So here I am in Ohio again! This time it’s just for a day, so I didn’t bring my camera with me. The trip is just too short — don’t think I’m going to get a chance to photograph anything.
So how ’bout them election results eh? To be honest, after I got home from watching Mr. and Mrs Smith at Cam and Melissa‘s place (short review: fun, close to no plot, doesn’t take itself seriously, tons of action, 7/10), I stayed up for another two hours reading about the election, so when I was driving to work this morning and flipped on the radio, I actually had a moment of shock when I didn’t hear anyone talking about the election. Oh yeah, I’m in the States. That’s not to say I haven’t heard about this election in the States so far. The Daily Show mentioned it (before the final results, even!). I saw it on a headline on page two or three of local Sarasota daily today, the Herald Tribune (not sure this is the same article I saw in the physical paper). And the special CNN feed for airport televisions had a brief, 10 second mention of the result, saying “Canada is taking a turn to the right, electing the Conservative party in a minority parliamentary government.” Suppose that’s better than nothing, but barely a head in the airport lobby moved when the news was announced.
Well, let me tell you. I am here in Columbus without a jacket. What a mistake! It’s 37°F (27 with windchill), which, in metric, translates to effing freezing. At least, compared to the 83°F I was experiencing two days ago in Sarasota. Geez. The front desk woman at the hotel commented on my jacketless state, and when I mentioned I was from Florida, she’s like “Oh, don’t rub it in!”. Then I said, “Don’t worry, I’m from Canada, I know what you’re going through.” Except, I don’t think it ever got this cold in Victoria. 🙂
That’s all for now! Going to dinner.

And so last night Canada elected a Conservative minority government. Voter turnout was up over the 2004 election, but it would be hard not to (that election brought out just over 60% of the electorate and a dismal 25% of the 18-24 year-old market). CBC: Voter Turnout up.
CBC: Election Quickfacts: Interesting facts and figures about the campaign
Although the NDP didn’t win in the riding I voted for them in (Saanich-Gulf Islands), they came in second, and, overall, the party has a lot to be proud of in British Columbia, gaining 5 new seats. What I find strange is, these seats were previously Conservative, or, in one case, unoccupied. That means the NDP must have somehow become appealing to Conservatives, but the entire NDP campaign was focused on the Liberals. Weird. Perhaps someone can shed some light on this? CBC: Three-way battles give NDP big gains in B.C.
Anyway, I’m thankful the Conservatives only have a minority government. (Though, if you live in Alberta, don’t bother having a different opinion: CBC: Tories sweep Alberta, tightening grip on Prairies). I’m having troubles figuring out what, exactly, the NDP and Conservatives are going to work together on. Mind you, to be precise, I suppose Layton said the NDP will be “looking for ways to co-operate”, not “co-operating”. We’ll see though — perhaps there are ways to work together I just haven’t though of.
I’m also quite amazed, given the amount of crap that’s gone on in the election, with the amount of grace the now-former Liberal leader and Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin stepped down with. He gets my respect for that. CBC: Martin to quit as Liberal leader, describes ‘privilege to serve’.
It’s going to be an interesting next few years in Canada. We’ll see if Harper sticks to the more moderate image portrayed in the campaign, or if it was a front in order to avoid disturbing the electorate. The Tyee: Has Harper Really ‘Evolved’?