Interoperability is Cool

Who says it’s not hip to be “OPEN?” Have a listen to this diddy and be sure to check out the new database of software with IFC import/export capabilities.

RIP Steve Jobs | 1955-2011

How easy to criticize something. How difficult to make something. How much more difficult to make something beautiful and how uncommon to make a difference.

Job Opening

Let’s see if Netflix CEO Reed Hastings can make it out of the company before the screen door hits him.

• Strike One: Raise prices too fast too soon and without believable explanation. Lose 1 million customers.
• Strike Two: Walk away from negotiations with 1st run content provider Starz.
• Strike Three: Further confuse your customers by splitting your business into separate content delivery models.

Result? Piss off your customers long enough and you’ll eventually piss off your share holders that don’t like watching their investments fall by nearly 50% in 8 weeks.

I predict more hemorrhaging is on the way. Usually the only thing that’ll slow the bleeding it is announce the person that keeps driving into the ditch has been told to let go of the wheel and get out of the car.

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.

 

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

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

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!

Resistance is Futile

Dear Anaheim, Oakland and San Diego,

Go ahead and install the deadbolts on your doors, buy extra ammo and stock up on PBR…while supplies last.

See you in Cali!

 

Monthly Single Posted

July’s monthly single has been posted! “GD Woman” is the title track from 2011’s “Freeborn” CD. Rip. Mix. Burn. Share. Link. Just play it LOUD!

Download link at the bottom left: http://about.me/flattires

And yes – the highbrow among us may be go faint at the knees or scowl disapprovingly at the more base and visceral – but I’ve got news for ya:

1. In his day, Shakespearean theatre was considered to be melodramatic spectacle for the masses. So was Mozart.
2. Spend all your life sweating over a hot processor in the name of Architecture and you’ll find there’s no CTRL+Z on the side table next to your deathbed.
3. Pick up a guitar and try to make it sound like the first four bars (or any of the ripping solos) of this single. Don’t forget call me when your fingers stop stinging.

And why do we love BIM? Because whatever lets you have a beer (or whatever your drink of choice) with friends at the end of the day is really what matters. Work harder – but work smarter. And laugh at all the rest.