The English language is the only language I know, and ISA国际影视传媒檝e been using it all my life, yet I still find it, at times, confusing, convoluted and even mind-boggling.

For weeks the news talked about SA国际影视传媒渄ropping the writSA国际影视传媒� and people SA国际影视传媒渢hrowing their hats in the ringSA国际影视传媒� and they even had the dates pretty well figured out, but they never really explained what the idioms they used meant. So, on the big day, I tuned in to watch and see what all the excitement was about.

They called it breaking news despite the endless hours, days and weeks they had been talking about it. Perhaps they need a new definition for what is SA国际影视传媒渘ewsSA国际影视传媒� and what is SA国际影视传媒渂reaking news.SA国际影视传媒� Seems to me it was SA国际影视传媒渙ldsSA国际影视传媒� and it had broken weeks ago. It had broken so many times, it was hard to believe there was anything left to destroy.

It turns out a writ isnSA国际影视传媒檛 what you might expect. The prime minister goes to see the governor general (GG) at her government-provided villa, for maybe a light lunch or a tea. They chat for a bit and then he says, SA国际影视传媒淥h, by the way, I want to hold an election.SA国际影视传媒�

The GG calls her staff and instructs them to send a letter, called a writ (for some obscure reason) to all 338 electoral districts across this great land and tells them to get busy because there will be an election in 37 days. Not very exciting. In this case, we're looking at a federal election on April 28.

I was hoping they might make a show of it and drop the writs from a helicopter, shoot them from a cannon or at least have a band playing. Instead, there were a bunch of reporters shivering in the cold, trying to fill the time in until the writ was dropped and the politicians from various parties could start talking about it. It was pretty much the same old, same old. Not the sort of stuff to wow or impress voters.

I think they really need to rethink this and make it more unique, Canadian and exciting. While they are at it they could also think about reforming the system a little, making it fairer and more in keeping with the times SA国际影视传媒� at least dub in a decent soundtrack.

As for the expression SA国际影视传媒渢hrowing oneSA国际影视传媒檚 hat into the ring,SA国际影视传媒� it simply means they are running in the election. I think it needs some improvement. When the election is called, all the candidates should meet at the local electoral office, where a magic ring has been installed. The candidates literally throw their hats in the ring and the one who gets closest to the centre gets to speak first about how thrilled they are to be running. Although most donSA国际影视传媒檛 actually run SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 another idiom that could use a little glorification.

There are also parachute candidates. That describes someone who doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 live in the riding they are running in and may have no real ties to it, but they often get put in a riding, so the party has a candidate running there.

Yes, politics can be a rather strange business. Maybe Health Canada should do a study on what elections do to people's mental, spiritual and physical health and well-being because I am sure a lot of people get headaches listening to endless political speeches and debates.

Here is another idea: SA国际影视传媒淣one of the aboveSA国际影视传媒� should be an option on the ballets, and if none of the above wins the election, so be it. True, your riding wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have an MP in Ottawa but if the wages, perks, benefits, travel costs and even the pension for that MP would instead go to the local food bank or other charities in the riding, some might consider this as a viable option. It might be something worth considering.

There should also be a big countdown clock or app to keep track of the time left until election day and another one keeping track of election costs. One creeps down and the other goes up at a dizzying rate. The countdown has now started till election day.