the next level

you can tell that BC is different from the rest of the western provinces by the shape of its electoral districts. while alberta, manitoba, and saskatchewan all have lots of straight lines, BC's divisions are all twisted along rivers and the ridges of mountain ranges. the prairies were all plotted out by the CPR, and today's boundaries still run along those old lines. BC was never plotted. you can trace its geography by its riding boundaries.

i had a lengthy discussion about STV today, and it reminded me to finally get my citizens' assembly materials organized. my wealth of information will be worthless if it is not digestable.

in regards to my political future at SFU, i'd been waiting to get advice from two smart people with no connection to the situation but with some interest in my future and records of success in a field i have interest in. the unanimous vote is for me to run for senate and finish my degree. i'll be more flexible once i have a degree done, and might as well speed up the process. if i feel like stepping back into student politics, i can always do an MA at SFU and get back into the swing of things. with a seat on senate, i'll still have a hand in civil society. i may end up like moe sihota or sheila copps, and go back to 'journalism'. i'm excited to be flexible. senate is a marginal committment in comparison, and i'll be able to be a student, rather than an administrator/bureaucrat/occasional advocate. if i take 3 courses per semester, i could be done by fall 2007.

that said, i had an incredibly good week at work.

here's the other trout lake.