There is a certain pattern to elections. The days come and go and within only a few days some patterns seem to appear. Generalities. Themes. Motifs, even. So far in this one the main theme I see is that the Liberals have not collapsed through their own sheer incompetency. I think we all had suspected they might. That is victory in itself. Next, Stephen Harper is trying to be nice and, in doing so, is showing more confidence than his prior chippy habits allowed - though sooner or later it might cloy. Third, faction and gridlock rules. And a fair bit of ho-hum. Something is really going to have to break for anyone to get momentum. Frankly, I think the Tories have a plan to do just that after a quiet first third, a initial phony campaign. But what? What can it be? You will just have to wait.

Other news on Day 6:

• Great jab against Dion by Jack(!) - where's that green revenue going?
• I don't understand how a rabid decentralizer can claim that his opponent's policies are a risk to national unity.
• Stephen Taylor joins in the Conservative apology-fest...but I still can't quite make out what May said.
• Grits dump embarrassing advocate of violence.
• Yet another Conservative apology, reports the Edmonton Sun.

• Boston mulls over something quite extraordinary: secret government.
• I love complex time wasters like "Where's George?"
• Were you aware that the Duchy of Courland played a part in the colonization of the American?
• A short but useful collection of early 1980s video games - Star Castle! Star Castle!!!
• I really should have gone to this dinner.