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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It has been cold and crappy here in Duluth. It got down to 30 degrees F last night and cloudy. I seem to have forgotten how much the weather can affect your mood, maybe when I was in NY I blocked it out of my mind. Even though it is the middle of winter we still have planted flowers here. It is good to remember to look at them. Since I spend a lot of my time in South it only seems appropriate that I go on a Skiing trip up North somewhere. It is in the works.

I am trying to catch up on house work and related chores over the holidays. I am going through everything deciding to keep or save and what to do with "stuff". It can be difficult to decide what to do with stuff. Sometimes it seems you are being disrespectful or something.

I have also been spending my down-time catching up on "Vice Guide to Travel" and David Choe's "Thumbs Up" Episodes on YouTube. Very entertaining. Life without fear or filters.

I have an interesting mix of travel lined up for the first third of this year. Brazil, Finland, Netherlands, Phoenix, Kansas, Missouri, Rhode Island, New York and a few other places to be sure.



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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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