There was no uptick in the spam or comments, though. Still just the same sad, tired people and machines trying to sell me SEO improvements or Michael Kors handbags or Christian Louboutin shoes or what have you, with the usual mangled English compliments about how interesting my site is to try to entice me to approve the comment. LOL. I’m unsure why their crawlers think that my audience (such as it is) would be interested in knockoff designer stuff, given how seldom I write about anything fashion-related. Dudes, you need to improve your algorithms!

I’m kind of surprised the NDP didn’t do better, because I don’t think I know many people who are fond of Christy Clark.

A problem with our system here is that even though you may prefer one party over another, you have to vote for a human whom you may not like at all in order to vote for that party. Or the person you think will do the best job for your personal riding may be part of another party than you normally would vote for. And then if you vote for a third party, you’re accused of “spoiling the vote” for a person who would most likely win if there were only two parties (see also: Canada’s last Federal election).

I take some pleasure at least that Ms. Clark was unable to win her own riding. Perhaps we can keep her from getting elected even in a “safe” riding, and we can have someone better at the helm. In any case, I think Dave Eby is an upstanding guy and I’m glad he won Vancouver-Point Grey.

On another note entirely, reading US political pundits has invaded my dreams: last night I dreamt that David Weigel, who blogs at Slate currently, for some reason had to stay at my place in NYC (because, you know, I had one in this dream). He had access to all the Mac power options his heart could desire. We went out the next morning (I was still in my flannel nightie; this is a common dream theme, forgetting to get dressed and going out in my old lady ankle-length flannel nightie), and were promptly kidnapped and frogmarched into an art museum that connects to the subway. Dave just kept saying “#302.” I escaped and got on a series of escalators down to the subway, asking passersby for a spare token since I didn’t have my purse. Or, you know, street clothes. I really don’t know what prompted this whole thing, although I am generally a hospitable person. But I doubt I’m on too many people’s kidnap list. Also can’t imagine why Dave (or anyone) would let me leave the house in my nightie!

And then the cat knocked on the door and I woke up. Hope you made it out in one piece, Dave.

Some stranger reposted mine saying it would be cool if I were a nicer person and not a spelling nazi and bla bla bla.

All I’m saying is that an infographic, that you spend possibly hours conceiving, drawing and posting…why would you not double check that the words in it were spelled properly?

I know that some people think that spelling is immaterial as long as meaning is clear. And in a way, I agree. I don’t go nuts over every typo: I make typos too. I’m an imperfect human. BUT anything besides extemporaneous, throwaway tweets and such, anything that I take time over, anything I hope people will take seriously? you’d better believe that I review with respect to spelling and grammar.

And seriously? fuck people who champion mediocrity and excuse carelessness.

A relative of mine had a fit at me once, and said what difference did it make if she used a completely wrong word when I questioned her misuse. This was years ago, and I really have yet to find a good excuse for using the wrong word when the right word exists–particularly if you know it. I can dig being free and neologizing, and whatnot, but holy fucking cats, the whole point of speaking or writing is to communicate. If you are writing or speaking in a given language, then you are much better able to communicate if you follow the generally accepted rules of that language.

(Yes: poetry. Yes: fiction. Yes: exceptions.)

One day I hope to understand why attempting to be correct is perceived as elitist. It’s not about being better, it’s just about being right.