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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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Back from Europe again

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I am back from Europe. I am looking for a new car as the other guy's insurance has finally admitted 100% liability. The other driver was a loud mouth and figured if he kept whining somehow the insurance company would apply partial blame to me. It was very clear, the police report, my witness, his bad driving. I am getting some more firewood as it is getting into the 50s at night here in Duluth. The traffic in Brussels was epic, both the driver techniques and the roads and control devices are astonishing for the developed world. I thought driving like what I saw was reserved for Africa. Driving is Paris is much easier than Brussels. The "No Turn" signs were at a fork in the road. And who on earth knows how to interpret these traffic lights. People passing on the left or right just as if everyone was walking through a airport terminal. Crazy.
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Fall is very nice in Atlanta. It is just starting to come on as fall now; the leaves are just starting to change. I took these pics the other day thinking that "I live in a city now". This is at a mall in Buckhead, an affluent part of Atlanta about 20 minutes from my house if there is no traffic. Traffic can turn it into an hour+ trip. I remember some written inspirational advice I read many years ago. It said something like "Some point in your life, live in the Country and also live in the city." I guess I have. I am off to Belgium and France in a bit. Many meetings. Tonight is my regular Thursday night Portuguese Class. I am making progress, slowly. Understanding your personal learning style is important. Understanding your learning style for other languages is... well different.
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I suppose a lot has been going on. I got in a car wreck the other day, my Skua is toast. Some guy in a BMW pulled into me across stopped traffic. He got a ticket. We both got wrecked cars. I am thankful there were no injuries. I have actually been enjoying yard work. That has got to be a first time in my life. It is definitely hard to kill things here in Georgia. It just keeps growing. Last weekend we heard quite a racket out back. Going to look, there was a helicopter hovering right off the dock over the lake. (conspiracy theory)----> My first thought was that I was glad the helicopter was not a black one. It was a police helicopter, however. If you look really close you can see the camera man in the back seat with a camera towards us. Don't worry, Angie is safe!! We may cross continents, and political spheres, we are doing what is natural and right!
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I made my first trip ever to the scrap yard and dump since I have been in living in Georgia (3 years). Both scale/yard experiences were a lot more polite than my lifelong experiences up North. Prices are good for scrap non-ferrous, still. It is a good process here except for every transaction they take your picture ...by law... cataloging potential criminals. Overall, I don't mind, because I am not a criminal. Translation: "Its the Weekend!" Thanks to an Angel this is how I started my weekend!
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Pruning is very personal. --Charles Dowdell
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I went flying "solemente" yesterday. I didn't take any pictures. It was very windy/gusty. When it gets like that the flying is absolutely a full time job. Taking pictures aren't on the agenda! My throat was bit dry after I got the plane home safety. Building skills... safely! I had to buy these huge cutlery wall hangings today. They are cast aluminum. If I have a giant extraterrestrial stop by for dinner I am ready to host! I am not usually buying such adornments for my home. I like the regression-factor these huge implements afford. My sister likes to remind me that us Dowdell's (as kids) were very insistent that our toys were all to be in the same scale during a play session.
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Wednesday evening in my back yard in Duluth. We are moving into the best time of year for the area.
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