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 think I may be growing new taste buds here in France. The food has been great of course.

I also had another treat. The Massey Ferguson Museum at the plant has the original lead tractor "Sue" that Sir Edmond Hillary used on his drive to the South Pole. I had seen pictures and had read about it. It was totally unexpected to see it there. It was good. I met one of the original members of the team that made that famous third traverse to the pole when I was on the ice. It must have been a good tractor. http://www.fofh.co.uk/articles/pole.htm

Tonight I am in England where the tractor was made.

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