Quick Update

Suffice to say jet lag is just starting to straighten out so I figure that by the time I am back in LA I will be on India time so that way I can have a full experience of how the brain can turn itself around (and back)!!! Here's a neighborhood beauty for you in the mean time...

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Namaste From India (not na)

5:00 am, India time... do you know where your J is?

So after the 20 some odd hours of flying time, I am finally here in Bangalore; the Silicon Valley (???) of India.


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After a supposed bomb scare in Frankfurt (they cleared the terminal just as I was about to board my connection)... I guess all was fine since we got to go through security AGAIN (yuk) and board and go...

I have not seen too much of Bangalore yet but one thing I have seen is that driving here is pure Anarchy!!! I believe that any money spent painting lines in the roads was/is a complete waste...

I don't think cars can go straight here :-)

Also one gets a hint as to the level of driving by the fact that there are speed bumps and some really big ones IN THE HIGHWAYS and roads (YIKES!!!). Shit, the US would have another Revolution if that was tried stateside.

I do want to drive while I am here though; it looks fun from my perspective.
Think of driving through a tight maze of cars, small motorcycles, trucks (is that what they are?), bikes from the 60's, people, dogs (from the 60's) and other vehicles that should be on Monster Garage being transformed; driving where the horn seems to push other vehicles magically out of your way (sometimes). Now add those fucking speed bumps and there is a little taste of the driving conditions here... at least to an outsider from LA.

Onto business:
I finally met the team at Studio-I who we have been working remotely with for the past year and a half; I will be implementing Revit & BIM (more) into their workflow in a manner that should ensure great project results: and let me say they couldn't be any nicer folks. Now this is not surprising but it is still striking from my perspective... It's nearly impossible to get a chance at opening a door for them. And does everyone really need to be so kind and polite and smile all the time???

Ugh; where is some of that cold indifference we can give/get back home? ...although I think that it does exist here too, judging from some of the looks I get...mainly from the Tech Guys in the street but considering my 6 earrings and a style unlike anyone here...Oooh that pinstripe suit rules!!! -perhaps it lurks just below the surface for some... It almost makes me feel comfortable; I can use my 'hard' expressions sometimes (phew).

My first real Indian lunch was great and nice and spicy... Mmmmm. I don't (yet???) know what the "Oh Indian food is too spicy" fuss is all about... I guess this account needs to be left open since it was only one meal!!!

Right now a call to prayer is ringing through the neighborhood (or is that the Continent)... I guess it's better than hearing Cocks crow at 5am... or not... Can't this start when I am already awake? Oh wait I am. Damned time zones.

Well there will be more to come (and some will be Revit & BIM) but for now Take care!!! I will get some photos up here this weekend...

Out.

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Flying in the ointment

As usual, click these to enlarge...

 

This is not America... Oh wait, yes it is.

From Images from trip 1: Flying out and in

LA to Frankfurt to Bangalore... Is that a hanging microphone in the second photo at LAX? Yes!!!

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Only Seven Vices of Highly Creative People???

WOW, I thought there were so many more than just these 7 Vices of Highly Creative People!!!???

Well, perhaps it's just 7 until we post more!!!

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LEED Home Lessons Learned... Consilience: The Blog does it again

Is your residential project certified? LEED For Homes is where you can start... and if you want to get some good lessons learned check out these (oddly enough) Lessons Learned from LEED For Homes, from Consilience: The Blog.

Kermit was wrong: It is easy to be Green.

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Not much going on with LARUG these days? Oh yes there is!!! But first...

OH SHIT!!! Even Posh is resisting the Ribbon, who knew she uses Revit???!!!





Well, onto the LARUG Update: The LARUG is taking a Summer Vacation in August, but we'll be back in September with more Architectural, Structural and MEP presentations too!!! And, Mr. AW; actually there is a lot happening :-)



Nevertheless; last week a colleague received our LARUG LinkedIn weekly update and read the Reuters news section (excerpt below) and thought it was directly an LARUG update (LOFL)... if you know me you'd probably and correctly assume that I'd never personally post updates on the Spice Girls...well until now!!! It may not seem funny to you but I almost cried I laughed so hard at the mix up!!!... This is what transpired, if you care:



J,

"So… not much going on with LARUG these days? not that I’m upset about learning that Posh Spice is replacing Paula Abdul on American idol or anything…" -AW



Posh Spice, Katy Perry to fill in on "Idol"



Reuters | August 6, 2009

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop singers Katy Perry, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, and other female artists will be guest judges on "American Idol" this upcoming season to help replace departing Paula Abdul, Fox television executiv…

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Information where we need it... Who'da thought!!!

Autodesk and Vela Systems Collaborate to Provide Building Information Modeling for the Field

This is another example of a really exciting aspect of BIM; but is it another reason to keep learning every software out there so we can be ready when ADSK buys them? ;-)

And I quote: "...Using Vela Systems software --including bar-coding and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking technology--builders on-site can access a data-rich Autodesk Navisworks project model during the construction phase. Instead of leaving the Autodesk Navisworks model and its data behind in the office or job trailer, jobsite users can work with Vela Systems software on mobile tablet computers to access the intelligent model on-site. This makes it possible to track material production and installation, manage commissioning, conduct quality assurance/quality control inspections, do punch lists and create electronic owner-handover documentation. Autodesk Navisworks users may designate which information will be managed in Vela Systems and, as a result, the Vela Systems software enables this data to be properly managed and used in the field. The integration between the products is bi-directional and automated. The result is that the information from the field connects the "should be" state-of-design to the "as-is" state-of-construction...."

Now go Get a Tablet!!!

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