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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Chicago, Micro Excavators, Cats, Fish and Dirty Trucks

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I was in Chicago for a couple of days for work. I got a pic with an unavailable micro-excavator. Big contrast with the largest earthmoving equipment in the world that Komatsu makes.

My truck got so incredibly dirty from the trees and other pollen this spring. I had to finaly wash it. I only got the top layer off with the soapy power washer. It will take several sessions. The paint is coming off the service body. It was shot with a topcoat by the upfitter in Ohio where I bought the truck. The primer from Knapheide (the service body manuafacturer) looks like it held up great. I am looking to get the truck repainted. I bought it new in Columbus Ohio in 2017 and it only has 30k miles (most of them highway between the my farm in NY and Duluth GA.)

We stocked Canary Lake with new fish. About 10k fish flew into the lake off the delivery truck. We have a healthy lake and we grow some large fish.

Angie and I went to a Cat Show in Gwinnett county. It was a smaller show than the other show we have been to a few times. It was nice to see the beautiful cats and the care they receive.

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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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