tech ronin

This Election 2004 Map is Consoling

I'm very disappointed that Kerry did not quite pull out a victory. Not surprised, but disappointed. I'm consoled that it was very, very close. And this map is not only interesting but feels better than the red and blue ones. Compliments to Jeff Culver who made the map and boingboing who made it available.

The red and blue state maps are deceiving. Big picture, the cities voted for Kerry and the rural areas voted for Bush. Rural areas have low population density. So even though the geographic area looks like a bush landslide when you look blue and red, the population counts almost dead even. Half the country for Bush, half for Kerry. Here's the more microscopic red/blue county breakdown compliments of USA Today:

I like that a big hunk of Southern Texas voted for Kerry, for example. When you look at the county level in shades as Robert Vanderbei did, it starts looking better again - even better than by state. There's a lot of blue on this map!
My wish for this country for the next four years is that all the great grass roots efforts that emerged this year will remain active and grow stronger and not only turn the tide in 2008 but protect the environment, curb big business excess and do damage control in the meantime. Rolling over at this point is not an option.

Even though Cheney claimed a mandate. They didn't get a mandate and if the opposition party had been quiet, they might have really had one.

Treo 650 vs. Sidekick II vs. Blackberry

These are three great devices. They appeal to users who want a QWERTY keyboard. My guess is that the Sidekick II is the best QWERTY keyboard available in a cell phone. And the Treo 650 keyboard is said to be considerably improved and thus a very good QWERTY keyboard - just not as good as the SII. The third QWERTY device that comes to my mind is the Blackberry which was the first excellent QWERTY phone.

Which of these should you get? Choose based on which of these fit you. I think they break down pretty clearly like this:

Sidekick II

• Affordable Device - Amazon has them available for -$25
• Best Keyboard
• Trouble-free
• Simple

Treo 650

• Palm Platform lots of apps
• Hi Resolution 320x320
• Touch screen
• Easy as is, but power-users can trick it out.

Blackberry

• Great Push Email
• Excellent keyboard
• Trouble-free
• Simple

I was reading about the Sidekick II at Amazon for less than zero dollars at Operation Gadget. I thought about it and realized that I can't give up my Palm device for a limited set of software and smaller screen. I would still want to carry a Palm device and the Sidekick II is large. I don't want to carry it and a Palm Zire 72, Tungsten T5 or Zodiac 2. I can't give up the high rez screen and I don't have to with the Treo 650 coming out real soon now.

But, a vast number of more normal folks who don't want to fuss with software, but like having a way to type out emails or instant messages will be quite happy with the Sidekick II. It doesn't have Bluetooth, but many of us know how much hassle that can often be to get to work. It won't be as good for websurfing, but how many of us do that often on a PDA?

The Blackberry is an afterthought for me because I'm not hooked up to an Exchange server where I could take advantage of the Blackberry's greatest feature. I had a demo from a guy I know who loves his Blackberry. It looked great as a device you don't have to think about. It just works.

My friend did feel the need to carry a "regular" cell phone too, though, because he didn't feel like the T-Mobile service he got in the Healdsburg/Santa Rosa area was adequate for his needs. Basically, he was using the Blackberry as an email device and simple phone and datebook organizer. That was all he needed.

Geeks and Palm fans should go for the Treo 650. That's me.

Don't forget to vote

Even better, you might want to read up or talk to a friend whose opinion you respect who is knowledgeable so when you are in that good old voting booth, you know more than just name recognition on some of those nice sounding propositions and local elections. So far, I've got my best friend who has researched many sources to come up with her full voting list - San Francisco resident. Here's what she gave me:

Sources:

• THE SF Women's Political Committee
• Bernal Hts. Democratic Club
• Official Labor Neighbor Slate Card - AFL-CIO
• Independent Voters' Guide
• Steven Krefting's recommendations: My neighbor who is an old Sierra Club director and Leftie & Property Owner
• Affordable Housing Alliance

National

• Kerry
• Boxer
• Pelosi
• Leno

State Props

• 1A Sequestor Revenues: yes
• 59 Public Records: yes-all
• 60 Primaries: yes
• 60A Property Sales: yes
• 61 Children's Hosp: yes-all
• 62 Primaries: no
• 63 Mental Health: yes-all
• 64 Limit Biz Laws: no-all
• 65 Funding Mandates: no-all
• 66 Three Strikes: yes-all (the Schwarzenegger ad is inaccurate)
• 67 Emergency Med: yes-VERY mixed
• 68 Gaming: no-all
• 69 DNA: yes-VERY mixed
• 70 Gaming: no-all
• 71 Stem cell: yes-all
• 72 Health care: yes-all, especially labor

SF Props

• A  Housing: yes-all
• B  Historical Pres: yes-all
• C  Health Care: yes-all
• D  City Charter: no-very mixed
• E  Survivor Benefits: yes-all
• F  NonCitz School: yes-all
• G  City Health Plan: yes-all
• H  Candlestick: no
• I   Creates dept: no
• J  Inc. local tax: yes-all
• K  Biz increas tax: yes-all- BIG TIME
• L  Hotel tax: no - BIG TIME
• N  Out of Iraq: yes-all- BIG TIME
• O  Policy on Prop J: yes-all
• AA  Bart Seismic: yes-all BIG TIME

Board of Supervisors, District 9

• Tom Ammiano x 3

School Board

• Wynns
• Kane
• Mar
• Hiles

City College

• Berg
• Marks
• Ramos
• Rodis

Now, all we need to do is read up a little on our local ballots so we know what these people and propositions are about. It is possible to feel really good casting your vote.