Ben Matasarhttp://matasar.org/blog/lifeBen Matasarhttp://matasar.org/blog/lifeben@matasar.orgCopyright 2007 Ben Matasar
PyBlosxom http://pyblosxom.sourceforge.net/ 1.4.2 8/16/2007
2007-11-07T06:00:00ZElection day in Oregonhttp://matasar.org/blog/2007/11/06/49_502007-11-07T06:00:00Z2007-11-07T06:00:00Z<p>It's election day in Oregon. I miss doing GOTV, and wish everybody the best at the <a href="http://busproject.org/">Bus Project</a>. I'll edit this post throughout the evening with my thoughts.</p>
<p>Based on <a href="http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/elections/2007-11/results.shtml">this</a> I would say two things right away:</p>
<ol>
<li>49 looks promising</li>
<li>50 has no shot.</li>
</ol>
<p>It's becoming fairly clear that 49 looks good and 50 is doomed, as I look. This is not deep analysis.</p>
<h3>Counties</h3>
<p>Secretary of State page: <a href="http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/other.info/clerk.htm">County elections offices</a></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/elections/2007-11/results.shtml">Multnomah</a></li>
<li><a href="http://web3.co.clackamas.or.us/elections/updates/November2007.htm">Clackamas</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/at/election/results/nov07.htm">Washington</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www1.bakercounty.org/EResults.nsf/electionresults11062007?OpenFrameset">Baker</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.co.benton.or.us/admin/elections/results.php">Benton</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/Assets/Dept_2/PDF/Nov%20first.pdf">Clatsop</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Going to stop now, it's basically over. Oregonlive is <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/politics">blogging</a>.</p>
I may never understand marketinghttp://matasar.org/blog/2007/01/22/ups_postalservice2007-01-22T08:00:00Z2007-01-22T08:00:00Z<p>UPS has a new series of commercials which are fine except for one
thing: they are set to music by the Postal Service. Why would UPS
want me to think constantly about the Postal Service during their ads?
It has to be on purpose, but it doesn't make a lick of sense to me.</p>
New job, and observations about Canadahttp://matasar.org/blog/2007/01/07/canada2007-01-07T08:00:00Z2007-01-07T08:00:00Z<p>I haven't posted anything about this to the blog yet, but I took a new
job in Vancouver, Canada at Smallthought systems. Our product,
<a href="http://www.dabbledb.com/">Dabble DB</a> was one of my favorite Web
applications almost from the moment it came out, and I am thrilled to
be working on it and with Smalltalk. The transition to another city
and country has been difficult. I like Vancouver a lot, and I like
the job and my coworkers, but I find myself missing my friends and
family at home, and of course my girlfriend Ariel.</p>
<p>Some observations about Canada, in no particular order:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Prices are confusing between the sales tax and currency
exchange. At home, I know what things cost and what it means,
and in Canada it's just different enough to confuse me. The US
dollar is on the upswing again, which makes it even more
confusing.</p></li>
<li><p>Canadians are as nice as people say. I am accustomed to being
uncommonly nice, but this is not true here.</p></li>
<li><p>Canada is much more progressive than the US in general of
course, but there are some of the same political problems. I
read a letter to the editor in a local weekly which was all
about how HIV is not a real virus, implying that the AIDS
epidemic had supernatural causes. It just shows to remind me
that there are crazy people in every country.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I'll try to keep posting as more exciting things happen. Please come
and visit! You can reach me at <a href="mailto:ben@matasar.org">ben@matasar.org</a>.</p>