Posts

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...
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
I was in Kansas City, Missouri earlier this week (I was there 39 hrs and 26 mins wheels down to wheels up). We had a big product launch, something like 50 new products, just for North America. As part of the celebration we had Charlie Daniels perform. I thought it was great. I got to meet a lot of our dealers. I was struck by the fact that I saw absolutely no graffiti in KC, MO. None. I got my FAA medical renewed yesterday. I am good to go for another 2 years. Sunday, I will be solo'ng around North Atlanta. There really is nothing like the feeling of being alone in the air. Saturday, I am hiking my next section of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Monday, I am flying down to Jacksonville, FL to visit my Mom and Sister. The picture of the traffic officer: Some people just need their picture taken.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
Today was an exciting day. I bought some laps in a Winston Cup car at Atlanta Motor Speedway. That was a real hoot. Now that I have had a few hours to think about things I know I could have picked my line better and really optimized. You definitely get going fast, especially since it is only a 1.5 mile tri-oval. You are almost always in a curve.The banks are 25%. They are so steep you can certainly fall down them if you are walking. I understand that I got it up to at least 140 MPH. The car had a lot more to give. When I watch the video I feel like a cat watching a bird out the window. I am grabbing the desk and my breathing changes... what a hoot! It was a great experience. I might do it again. The guy with the Gen 3 T-shirt is Randy Baker. http://www.speedtech500.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136&Itemid=118 After my racing thing I went and toured Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Little White House" in Central Georgia. That was great too....
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
I did some tree cut-up in NY over the weekend. In addition to ripping off barn roofs and taking out bridges the storms (a couple months ago) did some damage to trees as you might imagine. This tree has a diameter of 40 inches. I had to borrow an old fashioned crosscut saw to finish the cut off since my largest chainsaw has only an 18 inch bar. Man that is hard work using a hand saw. I need to really appreciate things like chainsaws. There is a lot of firewood in that oak. I think I have a few beams as well for the barn. It was 111 degrees in Wichita the other day. Man, that is hot. Here a few pics from the air taken recently. Not in order, Speedsville, NY; Berkshire, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Atlanta, Ga; Ithaca, NY.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
Life in Northern Atlanta. If you substitute the car for a small airplane in this pic it would hit the national news. I am glad I am flying to stay away from wrecks like this one. Aviation is so much safer. I did a nice emergency engine out (simulation) the other day (required). I picked a great spot. My flight instructor had a good laugh when I told him the engine out field strongly reminded me of landing in Greene NY. I wish I had a pic, but I was busy. Clear the trees, towers, hills, and wires and you have it made. I won't trade any of my sweaty palms (anywhere) for anything.
3 comments
Read more
-
Image
Time moves fast. It moves faster as you get older. Maybe it is as simple as the ratio of your entire experience vs. recent experience or maybe it it is something different. I went for a hike today. I hiked the next section I hadn't hiked on the Appalachian Trail. Reaching for the calculator, I have discovered that I will finish the entire trail at my current rate in about 22 years. The forest was very quiet today only speaking with occasional squirrels, a grouse, occasional other birds and a couple of hikers. I am getting better at hiking. Today's hike was a short 8 miles with some very serious vertical. I rested quite a bit and spent 4 hours on the trail, ready for a lot more. There was a cat that lives at the Hawk Mtn. shelter. That was a nice treat. Of course the cat (with several names in the register. I accepted "Bagel" as the cat's name) was a bit friendly. The cat enjoyed some of my ham and cheese. I enjoyed the cat and conversation with a hiker. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cortland NY Airshow and the Farm

-
Image
I was up in NY for the weekend. The weather was pretty nice. We fished in the farm pond and had large mouth bass and fresh eggs. It really shouldn't be called fishing in the pond. It is more like catching. We didn't get any of the whoppers that are in there, but we got some nice ones. DJ got a lot of mowing done. The fields are looking good. I don't get tired of driving up on top of the hill in the jeep and looking down the valley. Pictures don't do that one justice. We went to the Cortland County Airfest. They had a C-54 which was the primary aircraft used in the Berlin Airlift. It was inspiring. The dog and the rooster get pretty close. They both avoid eye contact with each other, though.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
Prague was excellent. It was nicer than I thought it was going to be. No matter what your impression is about Prague, it is the place for "Pils" (the term taught to me by my brother's expatriated Czech friends) and the original Budweiser (Budvar). It is a great place for global convergence. The city is a bit like Venice, a bit like Amsterdam, but mostly it is like Prague. The big joke is when you are in a restaurant and you ask for the... "Czech." Most folks are very capable with English downtown. There are casinos, museums, blue-light, all in downtown and a whole lot of history (including recent important history). I spent time in the National Museum (well worth every second). It also occurred to me that my meeting attendees list sounds a little like the beginning of a interesting joke. You know, "an Englishman, five Finns, a Dutchman, three Germans, a Frenchman, a Scot, two Danes and an token American walk into a Bar..." We had a great meeting. ...
Post a Comment
Read more