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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I have finally got around to blogging. The bakery is coming along. The plumbing is done and the electric needs to get finished. The heat-hood for over the ovens goes in Monday. The project is a little behind, but not too bad.

I got in a battle with the folks that sold me the water heater for my solar system. They sold me the wrong unit, one without a heat exchanger. That of course wouldn't do me any good. So, I bellied up several hundred more dollars, disconnected and returned the non-exchanger model. I pick up the new one, get it home and wouldn't you know it. It was damaged in shipment. So I am waiting on a new one. Man, this has been a while getting the system done. The end is in site however. Just some insulation, wiring, and a few fittings and it will be ready for testing. I have been using so little fuel oil for water-heat now. I will be down to almost nothing with this system.

I got 1600 lbs of coal. That will last me the rest of the winter. The furnace has yet to come on this winter except for testing. I still have to move a bit of firewood around too.

Amy the cat had a nice Christmas. I was reflecting on how much I enjoyed Christmas in Antarctica. It was pleasant without all the hype and over the top stuff we live with in the US.

Interestingly we had a strange occurrence on Christmas eve at about Midnight. The dog started barking a lot down in the basement and carrying on. In looking out the window, someone was parked down at the end of the driveway and after a couple of minutes they drove away. Out here we don't get a lot of traffic especially late at night. It was pretty upsetting. What did this person want? I was thinking, where is the shot gun and feeling a bit trespassed. After a day or so thinking about it I started to feel a bit ashamed. The only plausible reason they stopped was to admire and perhaps photograph the bucolic scene. The snow covered ground, smoke coming from the chimney and one tasteful string of lights on the wreath on the red and white trimmed barn. I sometimes forget these things.

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Anonymous said…
Look at the pheasant hanging around the turkeys. That's pretty funny!

GM
4:15 PM
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LavaCon 2026 and the future.

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