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 got out on the Appalachian trail again Saturday. I do better and better each time. Backpacking is definitely different than walking. I am looking forward to crossing the North Carolina and Georgia border. It will be a while yet. There are some grueling hills getting into the Appalachians. North Georgia is really a very nice place.

I have been getting messages from all over the world with concerns about Hurricane Irene and the Farm. We will probably get less damage than he have in the several storms over that last year that went unnoticed by the rest of the world. In one of those storms in the past year, my neighbor was telling me how someone knocked on his door telling him his barn roof was in the middle of the road.

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LavaCon 2026 and the future.

-
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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We are planning my Mom's memorial service for Sept 12 in Rochester. Angie and I did some flying, tested out the new alternator and com 2 radio. I didn't realize until I looked at the pic turning final that the gyro had precessed that bad. It has been a problem. (Look at compass in the inst panel and look at the mag compass on top of the inst panel.) We also went for a drive in the Honda and got a bit sunburned. I have been organizing my shop in the basement. I way underestimated how much time and effort that takes. I have bought a number of new tools recently. The tree is MY orange tree that I started from an Orange seed from an Orange in my lunch in 1997. I have almost killed that tree many times. It loves to be outside in the summer here. I have trimmed and trimmed that tree over the years. The tree has been through a lot. I guess I have too. The bowl of figs is from our fig tree in the front yard. They are ripe now. Perfect.
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Upper Peninsula Michigan and Auction Win Outcomes

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I was up in Wisconsin and the UP (upper peninsula) in Michigan. It was a lot of driving after launching/landing in Appleton WI. I got an item off the bucket list by driving across the "Mighty Mac". Altough it was built in the late '50s. It is still the longest suspension span in the Northern hemisphere. It is a crazy long bridge with a crazy long suspension span. It was good to see the bridge in context of the seemingly endless forests of Northern Wisconsin and Michigan. The culture in the two haves of Michigan are noticibly different as you might expect. Great time meeting with folks both in WI and MI. The tractor I won in auction, seems to have paid off. This time I beat the odds. It was a really good deal. I have the "no-key, non-running, may have hydraulic problems, unknown hours" -auction win, running well with minimal cost and time. I have some more tweaks, maintenance and minor fixes but the major risks are gone.
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Google News I will be moving my server host soon. The place I am using now could screw up anything. That is the reason I have not posted anything (seemingly) for quite some time. The name of the crapper server hosting company is IQuest Hosting. They just plain stink. They bought out the service I was using. Now because of their screw ups I am moving. Avoid "http://www.iquesthosting.com/"
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