(no subject)

Somehow we spent half of class today discussing how the Federal electoral system worked and the other half talking about manuscripts. We made minim puns (sort of) and looked at the progression of the English language over centuries. We also did some writing, but not a lot.

I love my Wednesday writing class, but they do test my knowledge! Fortunately, in my misspent youth, I was a scrutineer (very low level student politics has a lot to answer for - high level student politics might have even more to answer for, but I didn't get involved) and when I moved to Canberra I discovered the tally room and the joys of watching the national vote count happen live. It's not as exciting these days, now that the numbers aren't flipped over manually and the pollies don't rub shoulders with all the journos and with us hoi polloi, and the queues are miles long to get into the tally room, so I haven't been recently. Anyhow, this seamy past meant that I could explain how the Senate ticket works and how the House of Reps people are voted in and how we get our Prime Minister. I could explain donkey votes, too.

And poems were written. They ended up being contemplative, concerning what a country would be like where one had the option not to vote.

(no subject)

My list for today contains 24 things and all but 8 are crossed out. Also, I did one whacking great thing before teaching and forgot to put it on the list at all. I'm thinking of taking bets on the remaining items. I want to give up and eat dinner and then waste the rest of the evening...