Whoops, Politics Happened

            I generally try to keep politics out of my blog posts. Sometimes I wonder why and quickly remind myself it’s because that’s one of those topics we’re not supposed to talk about. Politics and religion. It’s too easy to upset people. Besides, that's not what I (or my blog) is about.

            Unfortunately, right now, Canadian politics are frustrating me so much that I can’t get them off my mind. I’ve just spent the last half hour trying to find something else to talk about, but my mind kept circling back to this.

            Canadian democracy. How it’s supposed to work vs how it actually works.

            Let’s pretend for a moment that Canada is much smaller than it is. Let’s say there are ten cities governed by one body. The government is supposed to be representative of what the people want, so each city sends one person in to represent them. This person is elected from a selection of candidates, each of which presents their ideas on how the country should be run. People vote for the person who they feel best represents their ideals whoever wins becomes part of the government.

            We now have a government made up of ten people. Those ten elect one of their members to be their chairperson and spokesperson. That person doesn’t have much more power than the rest; they’re just in charge of keeping the meetings running smoothly. The ten of them discuss issues, vote and deliver their decisions.

            That’s how it’s supposed to work, only on a much larger scale. That’s where it starts to fall apart. The first problem is that there are too many cities, so the country is divided into districts. Each representative now represents far more people, too many for them to possibly get to know everyone personally.

            The second problem is that, even separated into districts, there are still 338 representatives. That’s a whole lot of people who have to agree upon one spokesperson, the Prime Minister, from amongst themselves, or to come to any decision for that matter.

            The solution? The candidates arrange themselves into parties, networking themselves with people with similar ideals and working together to earn a victory. They pre-pick who will be the Prime Minister if their party if their party wins more seats than the others.

            The idea is solid and it worked to a certain extent, except for the part where three major parties rose to the top. With these three parties playing tug-of-war over the majority of votes, a problem began to arise. Each party obtained loyal supporters, who will vote for them no matter what. Then, in the middle, there are the swing votes – the people who like to believe they are more politically informed and will vote based on the issues.

            But, rather than voting for the individual they want to represent themselves, they vote for the party and the Prime Minister they think will do the best job. In fact, most Canadians don’t even realise they’re supposed to be voting for their local representative rather than the Prime Minister – or that those representatives, if they win, aren’t supposed to follow the Prime Minister blindly.

            While the representatives are supposed to vote based on what they believe is best for the country and for the people they represent, as part of a party they are expected to follow the pack. If their party wants an issue voted on one way, that’s how they’re expected to vote. With all the pressure, how many will actually vote against their party if they believe their party is wrong?

            So, what we end up with is a room full of people elected by the swing votes. Those people mostly vote in pre-determined ways. Now, if we have a minority government (going back to the ten representative example) with one party with four representatives and the other two with three, we see a government that functions mostly as it should. There is an even distribution of views and so changes are only made if two of the parties agree. Not as much happens, but more Canadians are happy.

            On the other hand, with a majority government (say, five, three and two representatives) the party in power can do pretty much whatever it wants. The only thing to stand in their way are the few representatives willing to go against the flow.

            Of course, this is where things start to get really messed up. All it takes to get voted in is to have the most votes in your district. This means if 35% of the people vote for you, and the majority of the votes are split between your opponents, you still get in.

            And so starts the dirty politics. The focus shifts from sharing your great ideas for the country to making your opponents look bad. It won’t work for all their supporters, but you just have to sway them enough to keep the votes split between them. As long as you don’t look as bad as they do, you can win with 34% of the voters behind you – less, if your district has smaller parties and independent candidates to absorb more of your opponents’ votes.

            Here, we come to Canada’s greatest problem. We have one right-wing party, two major left-wing parties and a further two less substantial left-wing parties. The vast majority of Canadians voted for left-wing parties, yet we ended up with a right-wing majority government. How? Because with four left-wing parties to choose from, the single right-wing party just had to keep their loyal supporters, win a handful of the swing vote (using manipulative fear tactics to scare them away from the opposition), and make the other parties split the vote.

            The worst part is that the left-wing parities perpetuate the problem. In their struggle to rise to the top, they further split the vote. The majority of Canadians are sick of our right-wing government and our Prime Minister who thinks he should be allowed to do whatever he wants. Our left-wing parties know this, so they are fighting harder than ever to win, knowing that they have the support of the country.

            Yet, they are further splitting the vote. They are even helping the right-wing party by attacking their left-wing fellows on petty details when they should really be teaming up. All it would take for them is for them to work together a little – to have some candidates drop out of key swing districts so the vote won’t be split. Then we’d end up with a government we’re at least reasonably happy with.

            Since both major left-wing parties want to alter the electoral system so that more votes actually count in the end result of elections, they would only have to do this once. Then they could work together to implement the better voting system they’ve promised and Canadians will actually end up with governments the majority of them are happy with.

            Well, as happy with as is possible.

            I’m just tilting at windmills, though, aren’t I? All I can do is shout out to my fellow Canadians and encourage them to vote. You all know who not to vote for – although, I suppose if you’re voting for them already, nothing I say is going to change that (and, for those people, I want to assure you that I’m not saying the right-wing should be out of the government. Everyone deserves their representation. That representation should just be proportional to what the people want, and that is not a majority right-wing government.)

So, really, this is for the 9 million Canadians who didn’t vote in the last election because they thought they wouldn't make a difference.

            Vote. Because this is probably the most important election in Canadian history and you can make a difference.

Click here to find the charity anthology containing a couple of my short stories.

If there's any subject you'd like to see me ramble on about, feel free to leave a comment asking me to do so.

Making the Best of It

            Today brought a relaxing end to a busy weekend that could have been a lot worse. Looking back at it, it’s really hard to believe that – in spite of unexpected problems – Colleen and I took everything that happened in stride.

            Saturday was the day of the Royal Medieval Faire, one of the events we’ve been selling our chainmaille at since we started Ringcrafts. For me, it was a 16 hour work day, starting with a 5am alarm so we could get to the park in time to set up our tent, table and wares.

            The weather was looking rather iffy, and we fully expected it to be raining when we arrived. To our delight, it wasn’t (two years ago we had to set up in the rain – it was awful). In fact, the day was looking far better than we expected.

            Little did we know, the rain had adjusted its schedule to visit us later. The festival was going very well and was in full swing when the deluge hit. The rain poured down. Luckily, our tent held out – as it has in the rain before – with only one spot dripping inside. Thankfully not on top of anything (or anyone – since people came in to get out of the rain). The bad weather didn’t last too long and we were able to relax a stop fretting about how long the tent could withstand the onslaught.

            Next came the wind. Not too bad, at first, but getting worse. It got to a point where we had to take down parts of our display that kept blowing over. It was frustrating, but that’s just part of outdoor shows (one of the reasons we do so few of them). Besides, it was close to the end of the day.

            Then came the clean-up. We’re fairly efficient at packing up usually, but being outside always throws in snags to slow us down. Firstly, there’s taking down the tent added to everything else and this time around it was a disheartening task – because of when the rain came, it was still wet, meaning we’d have to set up the tent again (soon) so it could dry out properly. Next, there was the wind that started blowing over displays the moment the chainmaille wasn’t weighing it down. Then we had our newest problem – the wind flipped our tent right over, breaking one of its joints.

            Well, there wasn’t anything we could do about it, so we just kept packing up – although it slowed us down even more. It ended up being a day where we the first to arrive to set up and the last to leave. Still, it could have been worse. We could have had to set up in the rain and had it falling and windy all day. The tent could have flipped during the festival instead of after. The day’s sales were good, in spite of the weather, and we even traded some products with another vendor.

            So, we went home in high spirits without fretting about all the problems that had happened. After all, there was nothing we could do about them.

And today turned out to be a sunny day, so in spite of how tired and sore we were, we put up the tent first thing in the morning to dry – using a bandage to hold together the broken part. Then, since it just happened to be there and with the weather so nice, we decided to spend the afternoon just relaxing and hanging out in the tent with my sister-in-law, all of us working on various writing and art projects (there was also this orange fuzzy caterpillar climbing all over the tent that provided ample entertainment). It felt like a mini vacation.

            So, in spite of all the troubles, we went with the flow and everything turned out fine in the end. It makes me wonder why anyone ever bothers getting upset by anything. The past can’t be changed, after all, so all you can do is make the best of it.

Click here to find the charity anthology containing a couple of my short stories.

If there's any subject you'd like to see me ramble on about, feel free to leave a comment asking me to do so.

Surprises

Of Dice and Glen is a story being written following D&D 5th Edition rules and using Minecraft as the battle mat (and to set the scene). Each of the two writers control their own characters and share the job of Dungeon Master (controlling the environment, story, monsters and background characters). As a result, neither of us has any clue of what's going on or where this is going. So, let's have fun!

This story is split between episodes being posted on the second Monday of every month. You can find the first episode here and the previous episode here.


Of Dice and Glen Episode 5: Surprises

“Shaddar!” Luna cried, watching the nasty wound inflicted by the second foe.

Filled with renewed determination, she quickly stowed the ineffectual dagger and flattened her hand, somehow managing to make the simple gesture threatening. Goblin-searing flames sprang to life and she hurled the handful of fire straight at the ugly face.

The goblin’s expression contorted in fear as it watched the molten ball of death hurtle toward it. As if in universal response to Shaddar’s earlier comment about interior incineration, it sucked in a breath to scream just as the fire met its face. There was a deeply unpleasant sound like a cross between sizzling flesh and a death choke.

Then there was only a tiefling and a dragonborn standing in the forest.

Snarling back the pain, Shaddar gave a grateful nod to Luna. Sheathing his swords, the white dragonborn retrieved the rope hanging on his backpack. Fastening a lasso, he draped the loop over the hole in the ground which, on closer inspection, went into some underground stone structure. There were some hinges in the stonework that was all that remained of a trapdoor.

“In case the kobold heard,” he rasped by way of explanation, ignoring the freely flowing blood from the wound inflicted by the goblin.

“C’mere, yah great scaly martyr,” Luna said and reached for the wound in the dragonborn’s ribs, that, on closer inspection, was littered with flecks of rust.

“I’m fine,” Shaddar muttered. “Keep it down.”

Eyeing him narrowly, she spread her feet wide, bracing herself with a stiffened tail, balled both hands into fists and opened her sharply-fanged mouth as wide as it would go. Gesturing pointedly, she slowly filled her lungs with air, then nodded to his wound, black eyes steely and unyielding.

Shaddar raised a scaly eyeridge, not concerned in the least about Luna’s threatening stance. He was amused more than anything, and a little touched by her concern.

“Fine,” he said, deciding to humor her. “You can take care of the scratch as long as you don’t make noise.”

The scratch, she mouthed, mockingly, but moved forward and gently laid her hand on his injury. Speaking as quietly as she could, the tiefling cast her healing spell. Soft, white light glowed from her palm, spreading to encompass the entire slash in the golden-white covered flesh. The scales that made up the dragonborn’s natural armour shivered, moved and reshuffled themselves to seal the wound.

“That’s a neat trick,” Shaddar said, examining his shoulder in surprise. “You gotta teach me that some day.”

He smiled up at Luna. “Thanks.”

The rope hanging into the hole quivered and shook.

“Neat trick?!” she whispered harshly, stopping abruptly as the rope began to boogie.

The kobold’s lizard-like head popped out of the hole and the creature froze when it saw the two strangers standing there.

Shaddar quickly tightened his lasso around the kobold, covered its mouth with one hand and hauled the creature out of the hole.

As the creature came out of the hole, its bucket of dirt fell from its hand, landing beside just shy of Shaddar’s foot.

“You any good with knots?” the dragonborn asked Luna.

“Stand back, dragon-face!”

The tiefling took the rope in both hands and began coiling it around and around the clawed hands of their newest enemy.

“You are going to answer our questions,” Shaddar said to the kobold, keeping his hand clamped over its mouth. “If you lie or make any attempt to get help, you die. If you understand, nod.”

Trembling, the kobold nodded.

Shaddar slowly removed his hand, ready to clasp it over the kobold’s mouth again at a moment’s notice.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Digs! We digs!” the kobold said, squinting in the sunlight that was so harsh to its eyes.

Nodding, impressed, Luna assumed an expression of permanent “yeah, what he said”.

“Why?” Shaddar pressed.

“Goblins say so,” the kobold replied.

“I wonder if our friend here would be more helpful if I gnawed on one of his fingers,” put in the tiefling.

The kobold stared at Luna in terror. “I tell truth! I tell truth!”

“What are they looking for?” Shaddar asked.

“I no know, boss no say,” the kobold said.

“Eh, too bony anyway...” Luna muttered, turning away in disgust, tail lashing low in the grass.

“Kobo?” a goblin voice called from the hole. “What take so long? Kobo?”

Shaddar slapped his hand over the kobold’s mouth before it could make a sound.

Luna froze, eyes flicking to the hole automatically. A devilish gleam came into her eyes and she crept over to the bucket of dirt the kobold had dropped.

“I-I... Coming! Had to make a pile!” she screeched, in imitation of their prisoner, casting an apologetic glance at Shaddar as her voice failed entirely.

There was a pause and from the top of the hole they could almost hear the effort of the goblin thinking.

“You sound strange… Gritgut? Hardtoe? Yous fooling me? Not funny. Da boss get mad if work slow. Send kobo back!”

In response, Luna shook the bucket and allowed dirt to sift back down the hole.

“You right, he coming,” Shaddar said in goblin, nodding his approval to Luna.

There was another pregnant pause, then the rope started shaking again.

Standing back a half pace, Luna switched out her scimitar and dagger for her druid’s staff. She grasped it tightly, crouching slightly, black eyes fixed on the hole with malevolent glee.

Seeing Luna’s plan, Shaddar smirked and nodded.

Soon, the goblin’s head poked out of the hole, a suspicious snarl on its ugly face.

Grinning, Luna swung at the ugly head with all her might. There was a splintering crack as the staff squashed one of the goblin’s ears into the side of its head.

The head flicked sideways suddenly and the goblin howled in agony. Even as its world spun, the shocked creature tried desperately to cling to the rope, but its hands were too tingly for it to keep its hold. With a desperate scream, it fell back into the hole. It struck bottom with a thud and was silenced.

“Dead?” Shaddar asked the tiefling.

For answer, Luna dropped the bucket down the hole and waited.

There was a squelchy, muffled thud. Then silence.

“Yep!” she grinned at her companion.

“Well done,” Shaddar said with an approving grin. He turned his attention back to the kobold, uncovering its mouth. “How many more are there?”

The kobold, trembling, squeezed its eyes shut. Its lips and fingers wiggled.

“Threes or tens?” it said uncertainly.

Normally, Luna wasn’t one for praise or accolades. It’s very difficult to get anything except a standing ovation from a tree, minus the ovation. However, the grin and words of approval struck her unawares and her triumphant grin faded to a quiet and slightly puzzled smile. Maybe this dragonborn was a creature to trust...

“Think harder!” the tiefling threatened the kobold, holding her deadly staff a little higher.

“Seventeenthrees of dem!” The kobold said desperately, shying away from the demon girl.

Shaddar sighed. “I don’t think it can count.”

“Ok... “ she tried again, slowly. “Him, me, you. Any more than that?”

“Yus!” the kobold said.

“How many more?” Shaddar asked.

“... some.” the kobold said, its scaly nose crinkling. “Dat all I’s knows, I swears to Kurtulmak! Lets I go now?”

“Sure,” Luna said, comfortingly. “Here, let me get you some dried meat. You look a little hungry.”

Turning to her pack, she retrieved her scimitar and slashed it swiftly across the kobold’s throat.

The kobold’s eye’s flew open for a moment, then glazed over as its blood gushed out through the fatal wound.

“Luna!” Shaddar gasped, aghast.

“What? That’s all it was going to tell us and now we have one less enemy to fight. I even reassured it before it died. It might be evil but it never chose to be. It was way too stupid to choose anything.”

Shaddar’s gold eyes shifted from Luna to the tied kobold, still oozing blood. He had to admit, she had a point. He just had to look around at the slashed trees to know that setting this evil creature free was never really an option. Still, killing it while it was tied up, not even able to defend itself… it didn’t feel right.

It was already done, though. Nothing could be done to change that. He would simply have to keep a closer eye on Luna if they took any more prisoners.

Nodding morosely, he retrieved his rope from the dead kobold.

Discover what happens next in Episode 6: Into the Darkness

Click here to find the charity anthology containing a couple of my short stories.

If there's any subject you'd like to see me ramble on about, feel free to leave a comment asking me to do so.

A World of Their Own

            It’s here! A World of Their Own was released last Friday and I now have some writing published! So, run on over to Amazon and buy a copy (Kindle or paperback – whichever you prefer).

            Now, I’m not just telling you to buy this book because my short stories are in it (we all know that’s reason enough), but there are short stories from a bunch of other amazingly talented authors, too! I haven’t finished reading all the stories yet (silly me, I put it off to long and as a slow reader didn’t give myself enough time to finish them all before writing this), but I have to tell you there are some great stories to be read. The best part about an anthology by a group of authors like this is that you get to sample lots of writing and if you love a writing style enough you can seek out more of their books. With so much variety, there's something for everyone.

            But wait, there’s more! All profits from every book sale go to the World LiteracyFoundation – so not only are you bringing wonderful stories into your own home, you’re helping to spread literacy around the world. How cool is that?

            I’ll leave you to it now – after all, I have some more reading to get done (and so do you).

            ... Okay seriously, brain, what’s with all the parentheses today? (I dunno. Seemed like a good idea at the time.) Stop that. People are staring. (Here, we’ll make up for our weirdness with some pretty artwork from the book.) Deal.

Click here to find the charity anthology containing a couple of my short stories.

If there's any subject you'd like to see me ramble on about, feel free to leave a comment asking me to do so.