Smart Crow!

Crows can often be taught to talk (mimic really) human speech. But any midwest farmer can tell you that's not where their intelligence ends. They are incredibly clever birds! Just watch this one!

AutoCAD 2015

Today (27-Mar-2014) is the official release day for AutoCAD 2015! All restrictions on the beta testers are lifted, and for those of you on Subscription be sure to check your account now for the available downloads.

AutoCAD Civil 3D and many of the verticals will be released in the weeks ahead. But for those who like to get an early jump on the newest stuff (and we know who we are!) the basic version of AutoCAD (and LT) 2015 is now ready for you to install, play with, and provide feedback. Be sure to use the Autodesk Community Forums if you have questions or need help.

I'll have more to say once I get mine up and running. Enjoy!

Patamap

Have you ever been told you have a "tin ear"? Or maybe you feel like you have no ability to make music? Can you only carry a tune if you have a radio? But even then you get static on it? (roughly quoting something my Dad used to say...)

Well, if you answered "YES" to one or more of the questions above, you have to see this.

Patamap.

Let the page load. Nothing may seem to happen, but type in your name anyway. It may be just about the coolest thing you've seen... in a few minutes.

Springtime

Friday Night Movie

... is not a movie tonite - but it's just as much fun.

This is West Coast Swing at its best. I used to watch this woman with her former husband dance and often win at dance festivals when I was into this sort of thing. And if and when I still do dance, this is the type of dance I enjoy the most... when I can find a partner who knows it. There aren't many where I live unfortunately. WCS is easily done to many blues songs as easily as swing or a lot of country tunes.

Doesn't it look like a lot of fun! When you get a partner who knows it, it really is!

Wordless Wednesday

Virby & Guest

A Shameless Limited Artwork Plug

I'm a fan of artwork... especially limited lithograph or well conceived screen prints. And I'm somewhat particular about what I like, or will actually frame and hang in my house. So I don't buy much, or much very often. What I have however is quite nice. The last few years during free time at the Las Vegas Autodesk University trips I've scoured art print shops and have found a few things. But a couple years ago I got wind of a guy from London named Tom Love who was funding interesting things on Kickstarter and I knew right away he was in my ballpark taste-wise. He was in the process of doing things I'd spend money on.

His latest project is really up my personal (aviation) alley. It's a limited print set of vintage luggage tags from the old PanAm days. Tom's work is always first rate, on great paper, perfectly printed, well priced, produced in small limited runs, and individually signed and numbered. Delivery, as far away as London from me here in Hawaii has always been well packed in sturdy tubes, and protected with wrapping paper. And if something is damaged in shipping replacement is guaranteed.

As of today Tom's project is about 50% funded and halfway done with the funding period. Personally I'd really like to see this project go forward as a couple of these prints would look great framed and hung in my renovated airport engineering office. :) So if you're even remotely interested please consider committing for a print, two, the whole lot of six, or just the postcards. Every little bit will help!

To help... visit Tom's Around the World -Six Limited Edition Prints funding page on Kickstarter. The funding period ENDS on April 3!

UPDATE 3-Apl-14: The project got funded!!! Yea! So everyone who supported the project *will* be getting what they signed up for. In my case I funded all six posters plus a set of postcards. These will look really cool once I frame and hang them in my airport office. I can't think of any artwork down there that could be more perfect!