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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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It's Friday. I got back from Brazil this morning. I am in the office in the afternoon. Although the flights to and from Southern Brazil are long there is only one hour time difference. That helps a lot. The economy in Brazil is booming by 2010 standards. It has been about 17 years since I was there last. (actually, I felt like this is where I left off) A lot has changed. The food is as good and in likelihood better. There is no understating the food experience of a real Brazilian Churrascaria. They cook different kinds of meat on these swords and carve it at your table as you instruct. The variety and quality is great. The coarse rock-salt laid on the meat is multi-colored very much like Brazilian gemstones and the society itself. It is a wonderful place. I got a bit of a VIP treatment for the photo in the kitchen at one of the best Churrascarias in all of Brazil (Nabrasa in Porto Alegre). I am hoping I can get fish (and eggs) on a sword next time. That would be perfection. Of co...
"A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one's own path, not chasing after the dreams of others." -- Chin-Ning Chu, Strategist There is huge opportunity for search. Will you be trained by google or not?
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I am back in Atlanta, Duluth actually. The way airline security is setup at ATL it is a pain coming back from overseas. You have to go through security of some kind three times. So, with Atlanta being my final destination after returning from overseas I have to get searched. What I mean is that when I arrive home I have to go through security just like I was getting on a domestic flight. I had to surrender a water I purchased in the secure area at Heathrow airport before I could leave the Atlanta airport. It is not so much the surrendering the already-checked water, it is the glare you get from the Homeland Security bots. Nobody likes the glare. The situation exists largely because of the pre-homeland security layout of ATL. It is uncomfortable coming "home" and having to get security-searched (In addition to customs) just to leave the airport. I stayed in an old manor house in England. It was nice and quite reasonable for someplace less than 30 minutes from Heathrow. It is...
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I had my meetings in Berkshire England. Not only was I in Berkshire, I was in East Berkshire. It was a bit different than East Berkshire, NY (which I am very familiar). There are mostly paved roads and fewer mobile homes. They also seem to have a Government (albeit historical). I had an absolutely delightful breakfast this morning. The first thing on the menu was poached egg on haddock. It's true. I was very pleased, they seemed to know I was coming. In Finland I had fish at every meal that I was in country. Just to make sure I didn't just have fish in my diet (for nutritional needs), I managed to buy a can of Bear Meat in Helsinki. I left part of me in Finland. It is a great place. I have a lot of stuff to do in Europe. I will be back in a few weeks. I see Munich on my schedule now, but I have a lot more things to do in other places in England, France, Finland, Germany and elsewhere. Building a global team really turns me on. I am doing a good job of managing the long ...
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I am in Jyväskylä Finland. It is almost 11:00 at night and the sun is still well up. It is a bit like Antarctica in that regard. I seemed to have missed Rally Finland by just a few days. It is very pretty and nice. I am off to Berkshire England tomorrow.
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I got up in the air today. I flew from Gwinett County Airport to Winder airport. It was good. I did about five landings. Visibility was very low. Legally I need at least three miles of visibility which is very difficult. Once the horizon disappears it is totally different flying if you ask me. I countered the counteroffer on the lake property. We will see how it goes I guess.
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Things are going great. I have an offer in on a house on Lake Lanier. I may get the deal going (picture follows) for the future Winter place, but I am looking at another one on the Lake Saturday after my flying lesson. Although I am a bit lonely, there are all sorts of connections I can count on. My Sister came up from FL for a visit. I joined a fitness center today (even though work and the apt complex have fitness centers). It was only 10 bucks a month. I was paying 40 a month in Greene NY. It is nice to have an exercise place that is not work and not home. I gave myself a busy schedule for the next couple of weeks. Sunday I am off to Finland, second half of the week in England. The week after it is Brazil. One of the interesting things about my travel is that I get out into the non-metropolitan areas. I should have some great pics and stories. I am looking forward to some Scandinavian fish and especially some Brazilian steak house food. It has been a long time! Most of all I...