Love Sketching?

Every BIM-guru I know starts by sketching rather than staring at a computer screen. Perhaps there something immediate and emotively satisfying about a sketchbook and pencil that is difficult to recreate. Even when faced with a bunch of parametric rules, it’s wonderful to figure out a question with a pencil before you propose an answer with a bunch of reference points, lines and planes (and the odd paramatized void is still pretty useful, Mr. Jezyk). 😉

I’m not saying that I don’t lovelovelove the fantastic Wacom display that I’ve been using in preparation for the next Mastering Revit book. It more a matter of portability.

So there’s this. And I’m blown away:

Congrats Wacom for continuing to think outside of the box. While so many other companies are trying to ape the iPad, you guys come along and do something really original. Yes – there are other paper/pen input devices. But the addition of layers (!) and vectors (!) are going to allow designers far more flexibility than just capturing rough data – like being able to scale up a drawing with no loss in like quality.

And from the overview it looks to be Mac and PC compatible.

The bad news? Eddy’s birthday has already passed for the year…so close!

Happy Friday, You Giant Cock

One of these images is a photograph of Rob Charlton, Chief Executive of _space group.

The other is a Giant Cock.

I could really use your help figuring out which is which.

This past spring, we put a call out for images as possible covers for either the 2012 Essentials and Mastering books.

Our promise?

Finally (very important) – if one of the shiny new renderings you submit is selected for the cover art – expect some really cool piece of hardware, software, something to show up on your doorstep about the time our book hits the shelves (exactly what is to be determined…but we’ve got a few great ideas!).

So guess what happened?

The guy that submitted the image was the Project Manager. So we (finally) sent a shiny, new AppleTV to him as thanks. It arrived this week.

The Project Manager decided (in fairness) to give the shiny bit of Apple to someone else – the BIM Guy that actually rendered the image (coincidentally, on his own time and after a lot of hard work to prove that Revit could be used to create compelling visualizations – hey – point proven!).

So PM tells BIM guy that he’s going on holiday and he’ll leave the hardware on his desk for BIM guy to pick up.

BIM guy goes into work but can’t find it. It’s not on PM’s desk. Where could it be?

Turned out that before BIM Guy could pick it up, Chief Executive got wind there was new Apple Goodness in the office, somewhat or somehow related to the Essentials cover. Chief Executive then informed the PM that the rendering used for the book was created by the company, therefore (insert giant illogical leap of reasoning here) the AppleTV didn’t belong to him.

The AppleTV belonged to the company.

PM argued with the Chief Executive. It rightfully belonged to the PM and was a gift given to him. And he wanted it given to the BIM guy. BIM guy had worked for the company for the past seven years and would be leaving soon to start his PhD. PM wanted BIM guy to have it.

Chief Executive would not be convinced. The AppleTV belonged to the company. And to drive home the point, Chief Executive had the IT Department install the AppleTV in his office and hook it up to his iTunes account.

So this is where I’m confused. One of the images is Rob Charlton, Chief Executive of _space group, who has a shiny, new AppleTV in his Chief Executive office. The other is a picture of a giant cock.

Which is which?

Happy Friday, you Giant Cock.

One More Thing…

Chin up dude. You drove an Aston Martin to work.

 

Back to School (2011)

Update on the annual back to school photos!

2002 – Preschool

2003 – Kindergarten

2004 – First and Preschool

2005 – Second and Kindergarten

2006 – Forgot to take pictures – close enough. 🙂

2007 – Kindergarten, Second and Fourth

2008 – One, Three, Five

2009 – 2, 4, 6

2010 – Third, Fifth and Seventh

2011 – Fourth, Sixth and Eighth.

Last year of middle school for Harrison – and first year of middle school for Milly! Note to self: next year Harrison wears a different t-shirt!

 

Program Management Integrated with BIM

The August 2011 meeting of the New York City Revit Users Group featured a presentation by Greg Schleusner of the firm-wide BIM leadership team at HOK. Greg demonstrates how the use of BIM-based program management tools such as dRofus can support and improve the project delivery process. The discussion focuses on the benefits of adequately documenting program requirements and then comparing those to an evolving design model.

NOTE: The featured presentation starts at about 12:00 into the recording.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=27624131&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0

Complete meeting recording from NYC RUG

Adventure Time

I’ve had three calls in the last two days asking for names of experienced BIM managers looking for a change of scenery. I personally know the individuals hiring – they’re offering interesting projects and above market compensation.

One of the positions is in India and salary includes accommodations as well as staff that will cook and clean for you.

If you’re interested, please email me and don’t forget to attach your resume.

All correspondence will be kept in confidence.

Friday Reprieve #34

It’s been a while. Been busy. Sorry. But have to share this short story. I think it says something about technology and the power of accurate information. I have a much longer thought on data integrity, but i’ll save that one for later. In the meantime….

There was a knock on my door. My 15 year old daughter answered it and came back into the kitchen carrying a yellow bag.

D(aughter): Some guy gave me this bag. It has a yellow book in it. What is this?

Me: It’s the Yellow Pages. We get those every year.

D: What’s the Yellow pages? (remember, she’s 15).

Me: It’s what you’re holding. Seriously. It’s the Yellow Pages.

D: Seriously. what are the yellow pages?

Me: Ok, it’s a book of all the local businesses and phone numbers. It’s how we used to find a pizza delivery place or a restaurant or any other service. They give you one every year.

D: So, like google?

Me: Yes, like google. Open it up and look at it.

The first entry she flips to – and I’m not joking – is one called: Party and Clow Supplies. and has the number listed.

D: Dad, what is Clow? Is that something you do at parties? Like a verb? Do people Clow?

Me: I think it was supposed to be Clown supplies.

D: So, this is wrong and it’s going to be wrong for a year and everyone looking for Party and Clown supplies will see this instead?

Me: Yes.

D: This thing sucks. Can I recycle it and just use Google?

Best Building Simulations?

I just received a link to this video from Arch|Tech friend, David Light. All I can say is – wow.

The Leadenhall Building Animation

Creating Elliptical Walls In Revit

Here’s one way to get around making a series of walls in Revit that come Pretty Darn Close (TM) to being elliptical. But first, you need to take a moment and watch David Light’s version:

What’s deceptive about this (for those of you that don’t know David) is that David has a foreign accent. This gives him a voice of certainty and moral authority that is unquestionable. I (on the other hand) have no such advantage. My accent is an annoying twang that starts in New Jersey and finishes in Charlotte, NC. And I talk to fast when I get excited.

That being said, I think I’ve figured out this solution. But rather than subject (get it…”subject”…as in British subject…as in USA=1, Britain=0…oh never mind) you to my voice, I’ve added a sound track courtesy of the FLAT TIRES:

And if this solution is to the satisfaction of the Revit community, David has agreed in to buy me a beer!

Let the voting begin!

DO THE TON!

What at first glance looks rough and busted on the outside – but when you grind off the dirt and rust, it turns out to be something extraordinary and beautiful underneath – all because of an amazing group of artists?

1. The FLAT TIRES music!
2. An old CAFE RACER looking to be rebuilt from the ground up!

So it’s only fitting that the Discover Channel series Cafe Racer is going to be showcasing music by the FLAT TIRES during the second season.

It all starts tonight from 9pm-10pm EST. More showtimes here:

http://www.caferacertv.com/airtimes-show-information/

I know? Crazy right? I mean, there’s no way a guy like Autodesk CEO Carl Bass would ever listen to the FLAT TIRES. However, Carl really likes to build things. The ebony bench he designed and put on display at AU last year was really incredible.

So how do we get Carl Bass (or Lynn Allen for that matter) to ever listen to the FLAT TIRES? Well – when you can’t get through the front door, climb in a side window. Or in the case of the FLAT TIRES – climb through the television.

We don’t know exactly which episodes are going to showcase the music of the FLAT TIRES. But the producers have all their original singles as well as remastered broadcast cuts (no vocals) and word is they really dig it. And they’ve gone as far as put together a list of all the bands that will be showcased during this season over here: http://www.caferacertv.com/music/.

So sit back, tune in, pull the top off a cold one and enjoy!