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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 is mid-week. Busy as usual. I bought a bird cam for my bird feeder. The reviews said that it was good for retires. Maybe that is why I bought it. The technology seems sound. The manual is terrible. I have to decide if I go with it or replace it with a halfway decent remote control camera instead. I don't have a single decent picture to post with it yet. Maybe that answers my question. I am back in Illinois this week and NY this weekend. The weather in Atlanta has been very wet. I got a photo today from a colleague with snow in Southern Brasil (shown below). Sim, meu Portugues aulas continue. For a minute a while back I thought everything might have been perfect. I remembered George Carlin's bit that says something like "Wait.. here it comes. Heree it comes... * ... Holy shit its gone!" (ed) It is that "time" thing again. I took a test on CSM about Russia. It was pretty tough. I was a bit ashamed with my score. The good news for today is that I am...
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Today is cleanup day. I had a neighborhood party at the house again last night. There were more people than last time and some new faces. I really like my house and neighborhood in Atlanta. There are definitely some characters in my neighborhood. We had a beer tasting of several beers from Brazil, Russia and Belgium. Earlier this week I was in Wichita, Kansas. The flight back was a classic with delays, some short, some long. They all add up. Even though it is only a 2 hour flight from Wichita to Atlanta it is mentally tiring. It is depressing when you can see your car out the plane window on final approach and it takes an hour to get to it. ATL is usually a very fast airport, sometimes not.
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Time for a refresh on this great song. Encyclopedia Galactica entry
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I am back from Moscow after a great trip with many many photos to sort through. The pic with me with the US flag is at the US Ambassadors reception at his residence in Moscow (Spaso House). That is where I had my July 4th backyard BBQ this year. I brought Potato Salad. Very cool. Other pics show Putin's ceremonial residence at the Kremlin Lenin's tomb in Red Square Soviet space shuttle "Buran" in Gorky park. World's largest cannon "Tsar Cannon" Russian river boat Soviet exhibition center fountain www.vvcentre.ru/eng/
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This week is exciting. I have a mission. I am the self-appointed designee to get American Style Potato salad to Russia in time for back yard BBQs. The logistics are challenging, but I think with special attention and a detailed supply chain action plan the effort will pay off. Potato salad is a bit like democracy. It must to be brought in from America. Someone has to do it! The other thought is that the smell of American Potato Salad will surely draw Edward Snowden out of the "in transit area" in the SVO airport as I pass through. If he does not emerge drawn towards the smell of fresh Walmart potato salad he is surely not in the airport. Proof!
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Some writings from France. Notice the universally understood symbology for Croissant. It is probably ISO standard icongraphy. Perhaps the "Le Mutant" associated with a Butcher is a new spin on edgy marketing. And I have no idea about the furry sexy animal thing endorsing the French version of Fanta Orange. Curiously, I did find myself strangely compelled to try some "Orangina". I appreciated the English Menu (actually not really, Je ne suis pas un enfant.) But $18 for a single crummy hot dog! Give me a break. I have added a US hot dog ad for balance.
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Some pics from Normandy/Brittany and Paris. Great time. In Order: Angie in Mont St Michel, Bayeux Cathederal, Rouen France, Rouen France where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, Exploring tunnels in Etretat France, Etretat France, Etretat France, Mont St Michel, Mont St Michel, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery, Halleys Comet on tapestry from 1066, Eiffel tower (duh), Arc de triumphe, Etretat France.
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