just in the off chance

...anyone is looking for (or knows someone who is looking for) an IT job in western Massachusetts, we'll be having an opening shortly -- I think the ad goes out officially this weekend. Working for the state has drawbacks, mostly in terms of pay, but some great benefits: not just the ton of vacation and quirky little paid holidays (Bunker Hill Day) but stability AND a pension plan. Ping me directly if interested.

short-lived new favorite toy

(letter sent today)

Dear Automoblox folks,

I discovered Automoblox minis in a local toy store about a month ago and immediately fell in love. I bought one, brought it home, and decided it was just about the coolest toy I'd seen since legos. My oldest daughter agreed and promptly stole it from me. To keep the peace I returned to the store and bought a second one, and all was good.

Last week, at the urging of my daughter, I purchased one of the full-size Automoblox, the C9R. It has the same excellent quality and sharp design sense (I'm a sculptor and I work primarily in wood, so I care about the aesthetics of things a bit more than I should) and we were both very excited about it -- until I took off the canopy and discovered the little man and woman inside.

Mind you, I have no objection to the people themselves. What bothered me (and bothers me more the longer I think about it) is that while either or both of the people can be removed from the car and played with, they are not interchangeable within the car -- relegating the woman figure permanently to the passenger seat. While my older daughter is mature enough to have a discussion about the sexism of that design decision with, my younger children are not. I am deeply disappointed and, in this day and age, surprised. Not just boys play with toy cars and not just men drive real ones, and I wish your product reflected a fairer understanding of that reality.

With Sadness,

Suzanne