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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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Here is a link from the dry valleys. I understand that the dry valleys are set up as a hot spot in the summer. Technology civilizes things. Lake Vida Here is blog by an Antarctican Dishwasher Antarctican Dishwasher
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I have all sorts of questions about Antarctica. Do I need to carry a wallet? What should I have in the wallet? Do they measure me for ECW or do I need to have my measurements and just try stuff on? What about the physical exam? The physical exam is my last real hurdle. Will I pass? I am scared thinking about it...but I am confident I am physically fit enought winter over, easy. My offical offer has not come in the mail yet. It is supposed to be here in the next couple of days with instructions. I am so excited. I am telling/asking work tommorow. The cats out of the bag soon. What is it like to have the sun up all the time, no nighttime, more importantly to me...no sunrise or sunset. I do suspect McMurdo is just as they say, like a mining town and all that entails. What do I need to bring for clothes? What are the showers like? How is the food? How much of an opportunity is there to spend money? How cold will it feel? How windy will it be? How many places will I visit. How far from...
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I am learning how to use the new camera. Although the GUI for both the camera and download software seem somewhat unconventional it will come together. I never much enjoy learning a new GUI. It all seems like a waste and very fleeting, not to be useful long term. One of the nice features is the ability to pre-stitch photos together in the camera. Yesterday, I did firewood, car brakes, mower deck, organized/sort auction stuff, got supplies, and few other things. Bonnie, among other things, gathered a bunch of berries.
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I bought a new digital camera. The thing has so many features. All I want is to be able to take some photos, jeepers. I ended up with a Canon SD 700is. I was looking for a small, hi res cammera. I will still be using the good old Sony Mavica but this one is a lot more mobile. It fits in a small pocket and with a 2 gig card I will be able to put hundreds or thousands of photos on it without screwing around. I ran in the corporate challenge the other night. I finished the 5k in 25:30. The cool thing was that I did not push my heart rate to maximum. Although it was not what you would call relaxing, it was not stressful. I am going to be getting my time down, but it is going to be a fair amount of work to do it. I think if I keep my work out routine consistant It will come. It just takes a while. The weather is supposed to be great this weekend. My list is long. The lawnmower mower deck is broken, the Bobcat tire has a hole, llama house needs leveling, the fence needs straightening, fi...
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I am currently in between my trips out into the forest. I yanked the trunk you see off its perch with the jeep so I can drag it to the house and cut it up for firewood. It is a nice maple that is going to light coal just fine. When I was back there I found some very interesting (understatement) mushrooms (actually, it is fairly common for me to see a mushroom I have never seen before back there.) These photos have not had the color altered in anyway.
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The weather has been unusual. The extended forecast was calling for thunderstorms everyday for about 10 days. The forecast has been pretty much right. Things are great. The realities of life are something to enjoy right now for the most part. I really slept in this morning. I got up at 7:30. I should have been rested and I know I am now after I finally get the mental wake-up cloud cleared. Friday night I went to a great auction in Cinncinatus, NY. It was an estate for a guy who collected everything, but mostly unusual tools. So if you can imagine a collectible tool auction and the crowd that would gather discussing what the tool actually was could be quite a hoot. "Some kind of puller" was the defacto answer. It was a good brain tease for some really weird "yankee" tools. I bought a big box of files and rasps, a Geiger counter, misc. hardware will all sorts of things ($1 a box) and I got the light fixtures for the outside of the barn (I was not about to be outbi...
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I received the call from Alan at RPSC. I am primary for senior com tech for 2006-2007! I will have the written offer and physical exam instructions in the mail in less than two weeks. I am going to Antarctica!
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