Get Strong!!!

Simpson Strong Ties anyone?
Simply click the image!!!


Happy Everything!!!

Did you AU

Troy Gates clued us into that AU Video, via his Twitter postings and I spotted a glimpse of a Gensler model in it... A 632 Meter building!!! More can be found by clicking HERE, for the World Architecture News.com article (Look for more photos there as well)...

And if you need more AU (and we all do; don't we?)... Autodesk University's YouTube presence can be found RIGHT HERE!!!

View Ranges Explained

Thanks to Paul Aubin for creating this tutorial and posting it free, about a month ago, it's quite thorough and clear. It's from his Mastering RAC 2010 DVD (See the image link)...
I would add one bitty thing necessary in my opinion: Plan Regions... I sent him the following comment:

"...Great video, nice and clear/thorough but I have a comment/clarification... you said that "the only way" to get the specialty equipment to show up was to raise the cut plane... Slightly misleading & not so... As you know one can use a plan region, to get specific objects to show up distinctly from the overall view range..."

Nit-Picky I know; and since I haven't seen the whole DVD series perhaps he covers those elsewhere; I just thought they should have been mentioned at that time as well... BUT, as I said this is a great tutorial for Reviteurs of all ages...

Why Subscribe? Because it's got advantages!!!

As we have discussed previously (HERE) you will want to again check ADSK Subscription... If, in fact, you subscribe that is. Below are embedded videos from ADSK illustrating the additions.

Advantage Revit!!!


And two more...


Thanks ADSK

Los Angeles to Chicago A new way to fly

At least a new way to design... is coming. The only question may be: When will it hit our desks, not just Autodesks'?

Autodesk Project Chicago - LEEDs Visualization Tool from Tom Wujec on Vimeo.

Trick? Revit into Saving To New File...

So in this post: Save To New File... we spoke about getting views out to new files, from the right click... There seems to be a what appears like a trick to fake Revit out when that choice is unavailable (greyed out): While it seems more like the views that have this availability are related to Drafting (and schedule) items...

By simply placing a Detail Line in an RCP or Plan one can (magically) save out views (the choice becomes available)... It actually works quite nicely, even though it's baffling... AKA: status quo for Revit... :-).

Don't forget to delete the Detail object(s), once finished saving the view(s) out as new files!!!

Save to New File...

I got this question from a colleague and thought it appropriate to post my reply herein...

Q
Does anyone know why the "Save to New File..." sometime greys out? It has stumped us.
A
Because this is how Revit is designed… :-(
RCP, Plan, 3D, Section, Elevation views are project specific and based on internal levels or housed in other system/project specific views.

Some, but not all views can be saved as (or transferred to) external project files; the ones not specific to built in system view families can be, as they are either 2D or parametric/informational.

Views with the "Save to New File…" functionality from a Right-Click:
Drafting Views
Keynote Legends
Schedules
Sheets

Here are a few links illustrating the functionality and procedures (an unknowing thanks to the posters of these!!!)...

From Hagerman.com

From RevitZone

A U Get off of my cloud...

A colleague sent these from AU Beijing...I like the colors!!! Thanks HY.



Happy everything... Gobble Gobble.

Three Axiums Toward Revit Zen: Get The Edge!!!

I am pleased to say that the first of my "Toward a Zen of Revit" articles has been published in and featured on the cover of the Fall 2009 AUGI AEC Edge.

You can download the Hi-Res PDF Here or click the images for the Enhanced Online Interactive Format. Pages 49 to 51 especially rule!!! ;-) The Subscribe link at the bottom of this post provides more download options as well (low-res PDF, etc.)... Great for the Holidays!!!

AUGI | AEC EDGE Fall 2009
Click on the image below to launch the current issue in enhanced online interactive format. If you would like to download a pdf version, click the link(s) found on the left. We hope you enjoy this latest creative product from your friends at AUGI.

Want to be notified when this page updates? Click the subscribe button below. The next time the page changes, you'll be among the first to know! Subscribe

Enjoy the whole issue that includes the following authors: Paul Aubin, Bob Bell, Sean Burke, Erik Egbertson, Tannar Frampton, Chris Fugitt, Ted Goulet, Bruce Gow, David Harrington, Debasish Karmakar, Karen Kensek, Jonathan Landeros, Anthony Mason, Phillip Miller, John Morgan, Michael Partenheimer, Behzad Sanikhatam, Todd Shackleford, Chad Smith, Scott Womack and alphabetically last, but not least, Jay B. Zallan.

LEED Conversation

Great comments!!! That was the point of my questioning LEED...getting thoughts shared...

Nice comment, Thanks Tim

A wholly unrelated image from Bangalore. Oh and...

Tim said... (In regards to the post: Does being Green have a very un-Green cost to it?)

I agree that LEED doesn't necessarily result in a building that uses "significantly less electricity or have significantly lower greenhouse-gas emissions," the point system allows designers and developers flexibility in how they approach incorporating "green" practices which often allows less than perfectly green results.

However, as a LEED AP, I've taken the approach that the LEED rating system is more of a discussion starter than a definitive guide to going green. Many of my clients have only been open to reducing the heat island effect, incorporating recycled materials, and having onsite solar panels, because of the LEED point system. No commercial developer wants to reduce parking capacity, but it is a relatively easy LEED point to achieve. Pervious paving systems require maintenance and building commissioning costs money, but the benefits of keeping water out of the municipal storm water system, keeping pollutants onsite, and having a properly tuned HVAC system shouldn't be undervalued.

No rating system will ever be perfect, but as a way of having dollar conscious developers begin to change their thinking, I think it's the best thing we have.

Friday, October 23, 2009 7:59:00 AM

Quite a talented goat!!! Ride on...

Does being Green have a very un-Green cost to it?

Green Mamba image from Ryan Photographic, found at Play it Green

From the Queens Crap post: The LEED Conspiracy -Queens' Green Crap??? How 'bout the Bronx too??? Oh well...

..."There is no justification for USGBC claims that LEED Certified commercial buildings are using significantly less electricity or have significantly lower greenhouse-gas emission associated with their operations than do conventional buildings," wrote Oberlin College researcher John Scofield in a paper... So why is LEED so popular? Well, it lets politicians cloak themselves in the garb of environmental activism without upsetting real-estate interests..."

Oh Crap!!!

I thought it was just an opinion of mine that LEED ratings were a corporate marketing tool before they were something to improve a buildings' environmental impact. From the time that I took a LEED class and learned that in fact one can get LEED points for choosing less than green approaches and sometimes must choose active, polluting systems over actually passive, green solutions just to earn their points. I guess good publicity has a cost to it? Or does being Green have a very un-Green cost to it? Could the Prius really be worse than a Hummer? Depends on what one believes...

To have real world data to support that opinion is oddly satisfying and pretty fucked up, especially if the information is indeed proven & true. Shit, now I want it to be false!!!

Green is green and standardized ratings don't necessarily have anything to do with it; We can be responsible without ratings; the real question may be will we...?

Sign Up for my Autodesk University 2009 Courses

Hope to see you there...

From Programming to Presentation: Planning With Autodesk® Revit®Architecture

• • Primary Speaker: Jay Zallan

  • Class ID: AB322-4
  • Class Information
  • Class Type: 90-Minute Class
  • Expertise: Intermediate
  • Industry: Building
  • Primary Track: Architecture and Building Design
  • Primary Software: Revit Architecture
  • Other Software: Revit MEP, Revit Structure

  
  

  Class Audience

  Architects, urban planners, and designers

  Class Description

  Learn how to create outstanding Planning Projects in Revit Architecture. From single client T.I. to large scale Planning and Urban Designs, you will learn proven concepts and techniques for creating high-quality Revit projects. We will cover several ways to efficiently integrate Planning requirements with downstream project designers and production teams. Learn how to setup projects and templates so you can prepare documents and presentations that are at once detailed, clearly informative, and convincing for your clients (not to mention downright beautiful). You may have new additional services after you leave this class! By applying the concepts of this course, you will be able to smoothly transition your existing techniques into a more powerful workflow and will be better suited to manage both large views, as well as large numbers of views.

  Key Learning

  • Create Master Plan presentations in Revit
  • Create design options to manage multiple concepts
  • Create advanced schedules, parameters, and calculated values for programming verification
  • Input, manage, and analyze programming data through schedules
  • Establish baseline standards for future planning projects
• 
  

  • Coordinating Autodesk® Revit® Models: How to Become a "10"

    • Primary Speaker: Jay Zallan
    • Class ID: AB208-2
    • Class Information
    • Class Type: Unconference
    • Expertise: All levels
    • Industry: Building
    • Primary Track: Architecture and Building Design
    • Other Tracks: CAD Management and IT, Customization and Programming, MEP Design and Engineering
    • Primary Software: Revit Architecture
    • Other Software: Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Streamline, Revit Structure, Revit Systems

    Class Audience

    Revit users of all disciplines and management

    Class Description

    Real-world projects require real-world solutions, and coordination between multiple models is imperative. What to setup and what to ask for—these will be the base concepts explored in this not-to-miss unconference session.

    Key Learning

  • Work better with in-house Revit models.
  • Work better with consultant teams
  • Setup protocols to ensure useful BIM data
  • Predict what works and what won't
  • Clearly stabilize model integration and sharing

Watch out All you other marts!!!

Doing research of sorts I came upon this marketicle (marketing/article?) and found some interesting enough coincidences (with life...oh, and BIM) to post...Some of this seems familiar...Hmmmm...

"Spreadmarts and Spreadsheet Hell – Part 2 of 2

• Last week we wrote about the reason for the existence of Spreadmarts, and the problems, costs and risks of doing business in this way.
• This week, we talk about a solution for reporting, planning and analysis without Spreadmarts and without the risks. A solution that delivers on the much discussed but seldom realized “one version of the truth” and one that still gets the day-to-day job done …

The People Remedy
One very common dynamic driving spreadmarts is a lack of communication and trust between business and IT. The business doesn’t adhere to the architectural standards and processes designed to support its long-term interests, while IT doesn’t move fast enough to meet business needs. Both business and IT need to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses and realize the mutual rewards of synergy.

A Technical Remedy
It’s important to remember that spreadsheets (not Spreadmarts) are an important part of any organization’s technology stack. Problems only arise when spreadsheets are used as data management systems that house corporate data for decision making – reporting, planning and analysis. The technical remedy is to manage and store data and logic centrally in a uniform, consistent fashion and let end-users access this data using spreadsheets and other client access tools. It’s the best of both worlds. IT collects, integrates, and validates data … The Business analyzes, identify trends, creates plans, and makes decisions. The presentation layer is separated from the logic and data.

Walking the Talk
This is easier said than done. Implementing a solution that resolves the Spreadmart nightmare is rather elusive. More often than not, it’s a lack of a technical remedy that rules out the people remedy.

Take budgeting for example. While most believe it is a crucial element of financial management, it is often described as burdensome and time consuming. Line managers typically see little benefit from their budgeting effort. In many cases, this is because the underlying budgeting technologies are simply spreadsheets and email.

What if these line managers had a budgeting solution that eliminates the well documented problems associated with spreadsheet hell? A system that significantly reduces the time spent rolling-up, checking and correcting the numbers. A system where each line manager will also have their financial results, a dashboard of relevant corporate goals and their own KPI’s to refer to at the time of entering budgets..."

BIM can get that way if we don't watch it... Or is that the point? To get our projects running efficiently?

The New Phone Books are here!!! The New Phone Books are here!!!

OK, so it's not the the new phone books but it is the Revit 2010 Web Update 2!!!
BTW; if you didn't get that reference then perhaps watch The Jerk.

Before I quote from the ADSK RAC list:

Get your fav flavor of RAC WU2 here

Get your flavor of RST WU2 here

Get your flavor flav of RME WU2 here

AUTODESK® REVIT® ARCHITECTURE 2010 Update Enhancement List
Improvements made in Update 2 build (20090917_1515):

Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2010 Enhancements

• Annotation objects no longer disappear when panning a view that spans two monitors.
• Improves stability when switching between Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software and Google
• Earth™ software.
• Improves the modification behavior of hosted sweeps (i.e. gutters) attached to joined roofs.
• Improves stability and performance when modifying walls.
• Improvements to shared nested families.
• Improves stability when modifying masses.
• Improves design option rules adherence for walls in different design options and worksets .
• Family and type information can now be read in Autodesk® 3ds Max® software from an FBX® file
• exported from a non-English version of Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010.
• Improves stability when adding views to sheets.
• Improves stability when making a design option primary.
• Improves stability of printing views in wireframe mode.
• Shadows will no longer be cropped when a view is printed or exported to a DWF™ file.
• Subscription notifications are now available from InfoCenter.
• Improves stability when reading IFC files.
• Improves stability when opening a project with an inserted TIF image and when importing a TIF image.
• ViewCube® navigation tool and the navigation bar will now display correctly after unlocking the
• computer.
• Improves stability when removing panels from the ribbon.
• Improves stability when cancelling a move, delete or copy command.
• Improves performance of view renaming and the Workset dialog.
• Mass floor schedules will now update when a level is renamed.
• A form element that has a divided surface applied to it will now be correctly generated after a copy, paste, or move.
• Improves stability when exporting to DWG.
• Dimension and spot elevation values will now display correctly in a dependent view.

Autodesk® Revit® API 2010 Enhancements

• Improves stability when subscribed to a DocumentOpened event.

But First: The Big Picture

Click here for the whole brochure.

Autodesk LandXplorer. F*^!!! yes, I say!!!

You can plan on it.
-Dr. Pun

No real need to say more... yet.

Watch the videos: Autodesk LandXplorer

Old News New to Some: Revit on MAC Supported (at last?)

Revit on MAC has been available and working for a couple of years now using Bootcamp and/or Parralels (links below), but guess what?

Well, I'll tell you; ADSK now 'supports' Parallels...officially!! CLICK ME

So if you use a MAC then this may be the news you've been waiting for; or if you just need an official word on the support possibilities now available to us then this article is for you too.


Just consider that Bootcamp is a solution to virtualization and may be recommended, depending on how you want to work.

Do you want to use your whole MAC for Revit or just parts of it?

All = Bootcamp

Part = Parallels

Best = Both

Or you can use a PC and ignore all of this...

A few perceived cultural differences from a Los Angeleno InDia

Some perceived cultural differences from a Los Angeleno InDia and traveling there. First off I saw some smoking "fish tanks" in Frankfurt, Germany, in the airport,where smokers can close themselves in and puff away... the warnings from nation to nation obviously vary yet of the few I've seen the US has the least scary of all; The following are some offerings (partial credit: Wikipedia)

USA:
* SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide. (1985-)
Moderately scary if one isn't ignorant of the problems with Carbon Monoxide...

GERMANY:
My favorite:
o Raucher sterben früher - Smokers die sooner.
A bit more scary.

INDIA:


CIGARETTE SMOKING KILLS and SMOKING CAUSES CANCER with a picture of lungs with a red blob in one
Way to bottom line it!!!


Fucking odd that the "less developed" country has the most honest and clear smoking warning...

On to the next one: Shaking one's head yes and no.

I showed my ID to get into the office park, while InDia and the security guard kinda shook his head side to side (close to how we shake for no) but really he was just (quickly) tilting his head side to side, not so much turning it, so I asked the folks in the office and as they laughed they said that basically means yes, or it was a general acknowledgement (that's a no as a yes to me) so now I must check to see if the people I am teaching are saying that they understand me or not (they do find it funny too I think)... It took me about a week and a half to get that unconsciosly...

Next... Dogs.
InDia there are a lot of what we in the US might all stray dogs, and can be found in most all the streets (yes some people have dogs as pets and I am told they act like dogs all over the world... I just see the strays so we'll stick with them, plus it's fun)... Anyways the strays InDia could not care very much less for humans or human interaction; they nearly completely ignore people, cows, cars, etc. Squish... I saw one run into a bicyclist, both going a bit fast... and one run over by a taxi driver... doggy got up as far as I saw though...probably laying in that hole in the dirt street's cool surface...

Shit that's a change; dogs in the streets back home would try to force their demeanor, good or bad on everyone around them in many cases... Pretty nice of the street dogs here (India) to ignore us, since they probably don't hit the local Beverly Hills dog groomer too often.

More? OK: Fire Ants.
I live in LA and being a Chaparral ecology, bordering on desert one can find Fire Ants, especially in said deserts. If you have ever been near these critters you know they can search out any animal, even people and when they do there are usually nasty and painful (for a month) bites to follow... Well InDia has Fire Ants ALL THE FUCK OVER, yet they, like the street dogs, seem to not give a second thought to people., let alone want to climb on people and bite. Hmmm, can these be Ants looking for good Karma? If so they get my vote!!!

Inaugural Revit Users Group Bangalore (RUGB)

Here are a few small images from the Inaugural RUGB or Revit Users Group Bangalore, that I started in an effort to gain some Revit Karma points!!! The night was a success with a better than expected showing for a meeting where there was but a limited prior notice. With the help of folks at Studio-I (and the new RUGB Chairman; Alagu Chendur Murugan Pannir (Murugan to his friends) alagu.murugan@studioi.co.in), the night was hosted by and at Venkataramanan Associates, (just say Venka - Tara-Manan) who provided a great location and hospitality with food and refreshments in traditional Indian fashion -after the meeting... (dinner is late night typically!!!); Shanti and the whole staff at VA was great and I loved the flowers, thanks again!!!

Also supporting this and lending help was Amarnath and S. Venkatesh of Kruthi Computer Services; along with Vinayak Suresh Shanbhag of Autodesk India Thanks for the book!!! (See this post for my history with Vinayak (pronounced Vin-Eye-Ak).

Needless to say it went really well and I will be lending any support that Murugan and the others need (or want); to see that the RUGB continues to happen regularly; and one day BIM will be to the World what it already is for some of us.

So is anyone here from India? (No I didn't say that)


This is how we do a Revit Users Group, a Revit Users Group, a Revit Users Group, This is how we do a Revit Users Group -in -Bangaluru... (if you sing that in a manner like the kiddie 'round the mulberry bush song you'll catch what I was going for)


Murugan is second from the right, in the front row...


Nice turnout!!!


Implementing Revit is both Macro and Micro... Assess, Plan, Create, Validate!!!


Why yes I'd like to enjoy some refreshments; thanks!!!


Thanks again to all who helped and all who came by!!!

MythBusted? BIM/CAD is no panacea for lacking experience

Images from the Gommateshvara Statue I visited yesterday... and some of those 650 steps that I am about to mention (yikes on the calf muscles today)... As to this post: CAD/BIM may have even helped the builders of this (get the steps even, etc ;-) -though I doubt it) but their vision and know-how needed to be there first!!! I salute all of their bloody knuckles!!!

Yes, it's the world's largest monolith, they say...
And I am so glad it' take's navigating over 650 steps up through /over solid Granite...

DId I mention barefoot? Since it's in a Temple... well, in and at the top of a Temple built into a solid Granite/Shist outcropping of the Sub Continent.


Phew, finally at the top, and only 20 minutes to get there.


Tools are to use; Not to be...

CAD, BIM and the like are simply tools and in my opinion ones that can magnify ones abilities or lack there of, in a given field. (I really don't know how I am not making any juvenile comments about tools right now... Oh well... :-)

If an Engineer or Architect or Designer or User isn't worth their salt then no tool can save them. For instance; if a designer can't design within the budget, well, that is an HR problem, not a software problem. BIM/CAD tools just do what we tell them and if we don't have experience and know-how to guide us then it will surely show... I have heard some say that is "the problem" with Revit (and other BIM tools -that "users need to know construction methods" before being able to model correctly, furthermore junior, inexperienced staff can't be simply thrown into all levels of the BIM... PROBLEM??? I think that's one of the best things. If an "Architect" doesn't know how to build a building or at least the fundamentals of construction methodologies then I question the term Architect being appropriate I think they should not necessarily have primary project development/input responsibilities without the foundation of know-how, experience, etc... if a person needs to learn then great let them and help them learn -but don't think that just because they can draw pretty pictures that "look like" buildings that what you'll get out the other side "is" a good building; if they are in BIM with lacking know-how and experience that lacking can surely rear it's head.

ARCHITECT:

• Main Entry: ar·chi·tect
  
• Pronunciation: \ˈär-kə-ˌtekt\
• Function: noun
• Etymology: Middle French architecte, from Latin architectus, from Greek architektōnarchi- + tektōn builder, carpenter — more at technical master builder, from
• Date: 1563

1 : a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction
2 : a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking architect of American foreign policy>

The following quote is from a Popular Mechanics interview of Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman. Thanks Jon!!!

"...Let’s look at a staple of home-repair toolboxes: the pipe wrench. You just know it was designed by a guy who needed to get a job done in close quarters, and it was based on bleeding knuckles. The jaw is at 90 degrees to the handle, which is unlike any standard wrench. The heft of the tool, the rounded shapes of the pieces—all of these features were informed by users with years of experience in the field. And there’s a great deal of slop—loose tolerances of all the moving parts—so that the wrench still works with rust, dirt and gunk all over it. The slop also means that the more torque you apply, the more the components shift, and the tighter the jaws bite into the pipe. Sometimes slop is our friend, but I’ve never seen it on a pull-down menu."

I just love that last line!!! "Sometimes slop is our friend, but I’ve never seen it on a pull-down menu."

Small World you say? No Shit!!!

First things first: Does anyone have a Revit Detail Component for a dirt over falling-in roof they can send me?

Back to BIM; sort of.

About 4 years ago when I was a consultant with US CAD (formerly LA CAD) I went to the Autodesk SF area offices to do my Implementation Certified Expert (ICE) training & certification. It was a small class of about a dozen or so folks, one of whom was from India; he let us know during introductions that nobody in the entire subcontinent of India had the ICE certification yet. When the week long class was over and we had finally taken and passed the exams I had a chance to speak to him and him how cool I thought it was that he's now able to say that he is the only person on the entire continent that is an Implementation Certified Expert... I thought he should put that on his business card for sure :-).

Well I have seen so much already, while InDia: and we will get to that in other posts but for now I want to talk about my plans to unroll the RUG (Revit Users Group) to Bangalore; so to start; and before I flew out of LA, I contacted friends at Autodesk, as well as the local Indian (real Indian) resellers to pose the idea of me doing a public speaking engagement while I am here plus I wanted (and looks as though I am) going to get a Revit Users Group started here!!! YAAY, spreading BIM worldwide.

The Revit Users Group Bangalore or RUG-B (pronounced Rugby obviously) looks to be started next week, along with the help of Autodesk and the folks in the AEC community here. Back to that ICE story now, right?

Right!!! almost...

I am really excited to get this RUG-B going since it will help the group I am here training, at our Insource Team's Offices, I think a Bangalore RUG will get them more visibility and give them (and others) their chance to teach and learn; as well as the RUG-B will bring many other Architects and Engineers, etc. in India/Bangalore some BIM cooperation and information sharing between themselves and the larger RUG communities (and maybe a bit of BIM Karma for me and the LARUG too won't hurt): This type of thing will do great things, especially if firms here A) want to work more with firms in the States and the other nations where BIM has a foothold in AEC now (and we all know they do) and B) if they want to modernize their building process out of the (_fill in your favorite, applicable adjective here_) state that it can find itself in; I am told AEC can be a bit different from our processes ;-). Then again if people don't pay their bills to workers anyways, as it has been explained to me that can happen then why go to BIM??? Huh... Got a point there I guess??? I hope those stories are just bullshit and/or exaggerations and oversimplifications, because if they are not they/we have a long struggle to get BIM InDia.

Anyways I am still excited because I know BIM & Revit would and will work for people and firms InDia... no matter the socio-political, business climate or past practices.

So with this excitement in mind; I emailed one of the resellers I was in contact with and they in turn contacted their Autodesk colleagues and setup a meeting with me, last week...

I walked in and I heard from across the table... "Hey, you look familiar!!!"...

"No shit!!! So do you..." (I thought) ...seems no one here swears so I try to keep it professional in public... "Hey I know you and I just knew this would happen!!!" I replied.

As an aside: I was joking with another colleague before my trip and said something like 'watch, I will get there and meet the guy from India that was in the ICE class I took... -we had a good and ironic (I thought) laugh.

Well, if you haven't gotten it yet; YES!!! that was him (and yes, it's a small fucking world after all, even if it's a cheesy Disney song it IS a small world after all). The odds this happening as it turned out are 1:1!!! Vegas here I come!!! Oh I can't wait for AU2009.

So if you need an ICE certified consultant in Bangalore (and perhaps anywhere in India) call Vinayak Suresh Shanbhag at Autodesk India and he will treat you great and get your Revit BIM implementation going right.

More to come on the upcoming RUG-B, especially when it goes well!!! ENjoy another beautiful temple du InDia...

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...

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.


View Larger Map

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.

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!!!

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!!!

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.

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…