Former home of the compassionate telepath
6.24.2004,11:36
The political rant I know you've all been waiting for
and it's actaully not about who I hate or think you should vote for, just a word to the wise about our current conservative-win hysteria. Personally, just so I'm being honest, I will be voting NDP. I will not be practicing the "strategic voting" done by about 3 or so % of Canadians, because I don't think the Liberals need my help. I'm also voting NDP because I really like and support Libby Davies, the NDP incumbant MP in my riding, and because her Liberal opposition, Shirley Chan, is a racist and homophobic, who thinks that one of the biggest problems in east van is that the department of indian affairs is giving away too much money to first nations Canadians, and that's fueling drug problems. Right. Anyone who doesn't see the glaring problems with that kind of thinking, please write me right away so I can help. Okay, on to the rant (no, that wasn't it...)
For the past ten or so elections in Canada, the results have ALWAYS been within about 2% of polls done on the FIRST DAY of the campaign, which in this case would be a Liberal minority government. Why is this the case? Political psychologists suggest that it is because we often get swept up in the drama during an election campaign, and people begin to listen to election ads and saying yes, so and so is evil, or Stephen Harper's right, I deserve more tax cuts, or so on, and so during the campaign they say that their vote has changed, and that is reflected in the polls, like the ones that saw the Conservatives take the lead. Come election day, however, those same people can't actually bring themselves to vote for who they'd planned, because the prospect is just too scary. When it comes down to it, Canadians almost always opt for the status quo. Also, over 40% of partisans (that's people who belong to one party or another) in this country are Liberal, which is basically enough to guarentee a Liberal victory in and of itself, albeit a small one.
All of this said, of course it is possible that we will screw up and elect the conservatives, it's just pretty unlikely. There's a professor I've had up at UBC, and all he does is study Canadian elections and voter patterns and so on, and he's predicting a Liberal victory, so I'm on board with him, since his guess is based on a lot of study and even more elaboate phone polls.
What I'm trying to say, is let's not panic. Even if the Conservatives are elected, it will be a minority governemnt, and they will not be able to form a coalition with anyone, so if they do win it'll very likely be a 1979 Clark-style Conservative government, the kind that only lasts for a year and then crumbles and takes the party down with it.
For the past ten or so elections in Canada, the results have ALWAYS been within about 2% of polls done on the FIRST DAY of the campaign, which in this case would be a Liberal minority government. Why is this the case? Political psychologists suggest that it is because we often get swept up in the drama during an election campaign, and people begin to listen to election ads and saying yes, so and so is evil, or Stephen Harper's right, I deserve more tax cuts, or so on, and so during the campaign they say that their vote has changed, and that is reflected in the polls, like the ones that saw the Conservatives take the lead. Come election day, however, those same people can't actually bring themselves to vote for who they'd planned, because the prospect is just too scary. When it comes down to it, Canadians almost always opt for the status quo. Also, over 40% of partisans (that's people who belong to one party or another) in this country are Liberal, which is basically enough to guarentee a Liberal victory in and of itself, albeit a small one.
All of this said, of course it is possible that we will screw up and elect the conservatives, it's just pretty unlikely. There's a professor I've had up at UBC, and all he does is study Canadian elections and voter patterns and so on, and he's predicting a Liberal victory, so I'm on board with him, since his guess is based on a lot of study and even more elaboate phone polls.
What I'm trying to say, is let's not panic. Even if the Conservatives are elected, it will be a minority governemnt, and they will not be able to form a coalition with anyone, so if they do win it'll very likely be a 1979 Clark-style Conservative government, the kind that only lasts for a year and then crumbles and takes the party down with it.
6.22.2004,15:58
girl, 21, nearly throws self out of window but finishes writing paper in the nick of time
another paper down! I've just finished a thirteen page discussion of scientific popularizations and how they control the creation of new knowledge, and yes, it was every bit as exciting as it sounds. Now, gods willing, I shall return to my previously schedueled itinerary of summer enjoyment. Until the next paper comes along, that is.
That said, I think it's high time I met someone with a backyard pool, because face it folks, this weather sans pool is just ridiculous.
That said, I think it's high time I met someone with a backyard pool, because face it folks, this weather sans pool is just ridiculous.
6.10.2004,10:48
I beat the smart kids
I have a new career backup plan now: if I hate teaching and want to strangle all the kids, I'll take to the high seas as an oceanographer. But that's preposterous, you say, Sasha doesn't know the first thing about oceanography. Oh contrary, I apparently am the master of oceanography, as indicated by my score of 100% on my last midterm, where the class average was 68%. All those damned career assessment tests and crap clearly lied to me, and not a single one revealed my true calling -- person who studies all the boring parts of the ocean. That's right folks, atmospheric circulation aside, we make a point of ignoring anything interesting (i.e. organisms larger than plankton)because we leave that all for the marine biologists. dear god.
6.02.2004,14:40
I seem to be writing a paper again...
Well folks, it's official, summer school sucks. It is a beautiful sunny day outside and I am stuck in the dank, dust bowels of UBC Main Library hunting for articles on science, media, audience and orthodoxy (boolean keyword search anyone??) and *surprise* it's not much fun. I hope all of the rest of you are out playing in the sun, thereby proving that you are smarter than me.