LavaCon 2026 and the future.

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LavaCon is a conference now going on 25 years. Its always fun at conferences where folks collaborate on what the future holds. This year I drove to Charlotte NC from Duluth GA to attend. I used the Tesla in Full Self Drive. I went park-to-park without touching the wheel for over 200 miles. It's crazy. I don't think most people understand how well it works. Lots of nay-sayers still, but it really does work. Be on guard, but enjoy. I spent some of my time "driving" while conversing with Grok as part of my daydreaming. I was discussing with Grok an idea I have of building a West system (cold molded) old style barrel-back runabout maybe 20 feet long- all varnished Mahogony. Of course this boat would have an exotic 12-cylinder engine under a transparent engine hatch between the twin cockpits. We discussed the designs, available actual study plans and pre-lofted design documents for the hull. We also discussed the best engine (perhaps a BMW N73) coupled with a Velvet Dri...
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The vehicle is a .... well uh, I'm not sure, but it is specially designed for....uh... Antarctica! Notice the name on the vehicle. Almost all the vehicles get a name. The rigger truck is called "Rigger Mortise". There are pickles (forklifts) called heckle and jeckle. The names go on and on.

Some detail oriented folks noticed fans and open windows in some pictures I have posted. Today you can see both. I am at lunch on a particularly nice day in town. The palm was added for an added touch. The cool drink is a typical Antarctican cool drink, water in a Nalgene bottle. The local custom for the cool drink is usually served frozen, often solid. I have an insulator for my Nalgene bottle with a few chemical hand warmers ready to help keep it liquid. Interesting enough it is very difficult to melt water from snow if you don't have a little water to start the process (when it is colder than 20 below out). The water actually will get a nasty burned taste. This is absolutely true.

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LavaCon 2026 and the future.

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Image
LavaCon is a conference now going on 25 years. Its always fun at conferences where folks collaborate on what the future holds. This year I drove to Charlotte NC from Duluth GA to attend. I used the Tesla in Full Self Drive. I went park-to-park without touching the wheel for over 200 miles. It's crazy. I don't think most people understand how well it works. Lots of nay-sayers still, but it really does work. Be on guard, but enjoy. I spent some of my time "driving" while conversing with Grok as part of my daydreaming. I was discussing with Grok an idea I have of building a West system (cold molded) old style barrel-back runabout maybe 20 feet long- all varnished Mahogony. Of course this boat would have an exotic 12-cylinder engine under a transparent engine hatch between the twin cockpits. We discussed the designs, available actual study plans and pre-lofted design documents for the hull. We also discussed the best engine (perhaps a BMW N73) coupled with a Velvet Dri...
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