curiouser and curiouser

well, everything here in oz is discombobulated by the most extraordinary election that has resulted in the following (for those who weren't following my facebook commentary last night):

• a hung parliament
• balance of power spread among five white middle class men whose views range across the spectrum
• the youngest ever MP (who is 20)
• the first Aboriginal MP
• first Green MP
• bizarre local swings all over the place with the only clear solid swing nationally to the Greens
• the loss of 2 of the more extreme right wing MPs (hurrah!)
• the last Senate seat in Victoria going to the DLP - a splinter of the ALP whose origins are deep in the murky sectarian 50s and represent right wing Catholic Labor

as a consequence i have just about lost my voice and need a lie down in a darkened room with a cold compress. will stagger back later.