Scott Durkee

Calendar

2008-04-30T20:29:00.000-05:00

New calendar below.

Tulsa Area AutoCAD Civil User Group Meeting February 7, 2008

2008-02-06T16:56:00.000-06:00

Passing on this information from Anita Nicely of TAACUG (Tulsa Area AutoCAD Civil Users Group):

"MEETING NOTICE"
Tulsa Area AutoCAD Civil User Group Meeting
Thursday, February 7th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Event: Tulsa Area AutoCAD Civil User Group Meeting
Date: February 7th, 2008
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Place: Le Bistro Deli, Mall 31
Address: 5970 E 31st St, Suite J

You are invited to attend the February 2008 meeting of the Tulsa Area AutoCAD Civil User Group.

We will be discussing the results of the survey that we have been sending out.

If anyone has not clicked the hyperlink and taken the survey, please do so now:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5LaBSw6vQ0AVqiKfrh3krg_3d_3d

The purpose of this meeting is to decide on a meeting place, time, day and week of month. What we want to accomplish with this group. What we want to focus on as a group.

Bring all of your ideas and experience. It’s important for everyone to attend, and be heard about the direction we want this group to follow.

DIRECTIONS:
Exit the Broken Arrow Expressway at Sheridan and 31st St., then go north 2 blocks to the intersection of 31st St. and Sheridan Rd. Turn left, or west, go approximately 1 block. The Shopping center is on the south side of 31st St. just west of Sheridan Rd.

Access for this meeting will be through the entrance on the north side in the middle of Mall 31, facing 31st Street.

CAD Mgmt: Future Design Tools

2008-01-18T17:46:00.000-06:00

CAD Managers and potential Chief Innovation Officers (see Scouting for CAD Managers) spend a lot of time on day-to-day tasks, but they also have to be looking to the future. The recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas provides a good opportunity to look at some consumer electronic trends and extrapolate those trends into tools for professional design. Many of the products shown will be available within the next five years, so it's reasonable to look for potential design tools from these products.

I remember drawing a doodle many years ago (probably all the way back to the late 80's) of a "Designer of the Future". What I envisioned at that time was someone in motion - moving on to the next task, communicating on the go with a large roll under their arm. At first glance it looked like a set of 30x42 prints, but it wasn't. What I wanted to portray was a device that was both a monitor and a digitizer that rolled up for portability and rolled out for use. On it our "future designer" would be able to work on their drawings, roll it up, and move on to the next task. I haven't seen this device yet, but I think we're getting closer. Electronic paper, thinner displays, multi-touch screens - just take those ideas and fast forward to the future.

So, if anyone out there does put together all the pieces of my "future designer's tool" be sure to send some royalties my way. And don't forget to make an 11x17 version.

PC Magazine's coverage of CES 2008 http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,2806,2235882,00.asp

PC Magazine's photo blog of CES 2008
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2245608,00.asp

DL.TV's Episode 211 "We are off to CES 2008" http://dl.tv/2008/01/dltv_ep_211_we_are_off_to_ces.php

DL.TV's Episode 212 "We have products galore from CES 2008" http://dl.tv/2008/01/dltv_ep_212_we_have_products_g.php

DL.TV's Episode 213 "Day Two of CES 2008" http://dl.tv/2008/01/dltv_day_two_of_ces_2008_cover.php

DL.TV's Episode 214 "Wrappin Up at CES 2008" http://dl.tv/2008/01/dltv_episode_214_wrapping_up_a.php

DL.TV's Episode 215 "A Look Back at CES 2008" http://dl.tv/2008/01/dltv_ep_215_a_look_back_at_ces_1.php

Fujitsu’s Fabric Laptop
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=222845&s=27838&a=222837&po=106,00.asp?p=y

Fujitsu’s Fabric Laptop
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=222845&s=27838&a=222837&po=108,00.asp

MS Surface http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=222845&s=27838&a=222837&po=206,00.asp

TAUG Jeopardy and Christmas Party Dec 20, 2007

2007-12-19T12:09:00.000-06:00

Passing on this information from TAUG (Tulsa Autodesk Users' Group) President Greg Silva:

"MEETING NOTICE"
Thursday, December 20, 2007

Hi Fellow TAUGies:

The "Third Thursday of the Month" Meeting time is rolling around again.
Pass around and/or post this notice to let your friends know.
If they would like to be on the email list have them email me.

WHERE: BITS Center - Tulsa Technology Center, Lemley Campus, 3638 S Memorial Dr
WHEN: Thursday, December, 20 2007, 6:30 PM
TOPIC: TAUG Jeopardy and Christmas Party

Please RSVP to greg.silva@taugok.com so we can make sure we get enough food.

Annual Membership fees are
Single $20.00
Corporate $50.00 good for 4 members
Our year runs from Sept 2007 to May 2008

Please check out the new web page
http://www.taugok.com/

Next Month's Meeting: Thursday, January 17, 2008

Robert Green's CAD Manager Survey

2007-09-06T09:39:00.001-05:00

Please take a couple of minutes to complete Robert Green's CAD Manager Survey. He should have some very interesting data to share with all of us when the results are compiled. Unlike Lynn Allen, he didn't ask me to promote it, but I am because it will help the whole CAD Manager community if your experience is included.

And don't forget to come back here and answer the "Your first AutoCAD version?" poll.

AutoCAD Poll: Your First AutoCAD Version

2007-09-04T00:22:00.000-05:00

This poll will close when the next version of AutoCAD is released.

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Autodesk Updates & Service Packs

2007-09-02T23:08:00.000-05:00

By now I hope you've heard about Service Pack 1 for AutoCAD. Here is a quick list for several Autodesk update and service pack pages. Please let me know if you know of others.

AutoCAD www.autodesk.com/autocad-updates
AutoCAD LT www.autodesk.com/autocadlt-updates
AutoCAD Raster Design www.autodesk.com/rasterdesign-updates
Autodesk VIZ www.autodesk.com/viz-updates
AutoCAD Map 3D www.autodesk.com/map3d-updates
AutoCAD Civil 3D www.autodesk.com/civil3d-updates
AutoCAD Land Desktop www.autodesk.com/landdesktop-updates
AutoCAD Architecture www.autodesk.com/archdesktop-updates
Revit Architecture / AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/index?siteID=123112&id=2334435&linkID=9273944
or go to www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecture, select “Product Download” and then select “Updates”
AutoCAD MEP www.autodesk.com/buildingsystems-updates
AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite www.autodesk.com/buildingsystems-updates

You'll notice the "pre-2008" names are used in several of the URLs, but these pages do include 2008 updates.

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Autodesk Trial Downloads

2007-08-30T16:14:00.000-05:00

Most Autodesk software is available as a 30 day trial which you can request from your Autodesk Reseller, but many of these same trials are also downloadable. So if you need a few weeks to get under the hood and take one of these products for a test drive, then here you go (just make sure you have a wide lane on the information superhighway because some of these are monster truck sized downloads). FULL DISCLOSURE: Once again, these links are personalized for the Autodesk Reseller I work for, so if you are in our territory you will probably be contacted by them.

AutoCAD Civil 3D
AutoCAD Architecture
AutoCAD MEP
Revit Architecture
Revit MEP
Revit Structure

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Resource Center Tutorials

2007-08-30T15:48:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of tutorials for Autodesk products on the web. I hope you are already taking advantage of many of them. I'm not going to get into a learning style debate here. Nor am I going to try to list all of the tutorials available. But I wanted to make sure you add the following tutorials to your toolbox. These are all from the various Resource Centers I described previously. FULL DISCLOSURE: Please note that these links are personalized for the Autodesk Reseller I work for, so if you are in our territory you will probably be contacted by them.

AutoCAD Civil 3D Tutorials by Lucy Kuhn

AutoCAD Architecture Tutorials by Amy Fietkau

AutoCAD MEP Tutorials by Armundo Darling

Revit Architecture Tutorials by Amy Fietkau

Revit MEP Tutorials by Armundo Darling

Revit Structure Tutorials

P.S. And for you subscription customers - don't forget to have your designers work through the Subscription Center tutorials.

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Autodesk Resource Centers

2007-08-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

Autodesk has created Resource Centers for several of their Infrastructure and Building Solutions products. These Resource Centers include FAQs, Whitepapers, Customer Stories, Tutorials, and Trial Downloads/Requests. Here are some quick links:

AutoCAD Civil 3D www.autodesk.com/experiencecivil3d101

AutoCAD Architecture www.autodesk.com/aca-resource

AutoCAD MEP www.autodesk.com/amep-resource

Revit Architecture www.autodesk.com/ra-resource

Revit MEP www.autodesk.com/rmep-resource

Revit Structure www.autodesk.com/str-resource

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: VIZ 2008 Essential Skills Tutorials

2007-08-22T20:31:00.000-05:00

There is a nice online tutorial for Autodesk VIZ 2008 at http://download.autodesk.com/us/viz/Essential_Skills/index.html. Please note that there is a recommendation at the bottom of the menu to use a resolution higher than 1024x768.

When I first ran the tutorials I saw a pleasant introductory screen and waited for something to happen...

...nothing happened.

I tried running it again and got the same non-results. I was running at 1280x800, but apparently that wasn’t good enough. So, if you want to view these tutorials, you’ll need a higher resolution or you can use the following workaround.

Look in the lower right hand corner of the screen. See that “100%” with the magnifying glass next to it?

Select the down arrow to open the menu and select “Custom…” A value of 90 worked well for me.

Happy VIZ tutorialing!

Ogres Make the Best CAD Managers

2007-08-17T23:39:00.000-05:00

Lessons learned from Shrek: Why do Ogres make the best CAD Managers?

1. Ogres will do anything to protect the slimy, infested swamp they call home.
2. Ogres don't have to be right as long as they win the argument.
3. Ogres have a superhuman ability to listen to talking donkeys all day.
4. One word - "Layers".

Ad: Shrek - The Story So Far (Shrek 1 & 2 Full Screen / Shrek 3D - Party in the Swamp)

Non-CAD: SCIFI Drive-In

2007-02-01T22:33:00.000-06:00

Any SciFi fans out there? You can watch some classic SciFi movies online at www.scifi.com/drivein/. The list includes The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916 version), Le Voyage Dans La Lune (maybe the first SciFi movie - notable image is the spaceship in the eye of the moon), Metropolis, and Menace from Outer Space (3 combined episodes of the serial Rocky Jones, Space Ranger).

Unless you are trying to multitask while watching these (yeah, right), I recommend that you expand the Flash Player:

then in IE, go to "View>Full Screen" (or [F11]), and then right click on the remaining IE toolbar and select "Auto-Hide."

Enjoy!

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Autodesk Design Review Free Download

2007-02-01T08:54:00.000-06:00

Celebrate Autodesk's fiscal new year (Feb 1) with a gift from Autodesk.

Autodesk Design Review (formerly DWF Composer) is now a free (formerly US$99-199) download from Autodesk.

View, Measure, and Markup your 2D and 3D designs with Design Review.

Go to www.autodesk.com/designreview and select "Download" from the menu on the left.

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Notebook

2007-01-30T20:25:00.000-06:00

Get a notebook and carry it with you everywhere. I’m not talking about a notebook computer (though that would be nice). I’m talking about a good, old-fashioned, spiral notebook with lined paper. You can invest in a nice Day-Timer® or similar system, but if you are innately a “problem-solver” you will feel “restricted” by this type of system. To you, any system eventually needs to be improved. So a Day-Timer or similar system may not work for you right now. And stop using sticky notes, “while you were out” pads, backs of envelopes, etc. That system isn’t really working either, is it? Get a notebook that is easy for you to keep up with and write in anywhere. And when I say carry it everywhere, I mean everywhere. I’ve actually had a people follow me into the restroom and start talking to me about a project.

You’re going to use your notebook to list the tasks that need to be done, track the things you do, and summarize meetings and conversations. Let me get really specific. Every night, make a task list for the next day on one half of the page (imagine the page has two columns, draw a line, whatever – I’m not going to get that specific). Prioritize the top three things that have to be done. Now, during the day, keep track of what you actually do in the other column. Keep looking at those top three priorities for the day and use whatever time you can to accomplish them.

Okay, so far, all I’ve told you is how to use up more of your precious time each day making lists and taking notes. Now let me talk about why you want to do this – because you don’t know what you don’t know. If you are going to be successful in accomplishing your goals, you need to know what they are and head toward them with your daily tasks. If you want to spend time accomplishing those goals, you will need to identify how your present time resources are spent. Once you know what the largest time wasters are you can work toward minimizing or eliminating them. The daily task list and time tracking takes discipline, but the result is more focus (and at first, more frustration) on your priority tasks and more information for defining improvements. For example, if you are daily restoring files from backup media, you probably have some training and procedure issues to do. If you are clearing paper jams in the plotter every two to three days, you probably need to make a support call, etc.

Tell me about your time management tools. Let me know what you’ve tried, what’s worked, and what hasn’t worked.

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: LinkedIn

2007-01-18T23:58:00.000-06:00

I registered at LinkedIn.com recently. Guy Kawasaki had a couple of great posts about them so I decided to give it a try.

Fellow CAD Bloggers and CAD Managers, please get connected at LinkedIn.

Guy's posts about LinkedIn :
Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn
LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover

5 CAD Related Things You Don't Know About Me

2007-01-13T01:06:00.000-06:00

After I retrieved Ward Romberger's email from my spam folder, I almost put it back. But, in the spirit of “community” I’ll go along with the game. So, “5 CAD related things you don’t know about me”...

1. I got started with AutoCAD after graduating with a BS in Computer Science. I hadn’t found a programming job yet, so I enrolled in some drafting classes. I took a CAD class which consisted of the professor handing us an “Introduction to AutoCAD” book and pointing to the computer. I was hooked. When I took the second class, the professor handed us an “Applying AutoCAD” book, pointed to the computer, and said, “If you have any questions, ask Durkee.” Thanks, Dr. Beckham.

2. During this same time, my brother-in-law heard that I was getting interested in CAD. He had a friend at church that was using AutoCAD, so he arranged for me to meet with him. So, I drove from Oklahoma City to Dallas/Fort Worth and met with Matt Nations of Institutional Interiors for a few minutes. Then he handed me a book, pointed to the computer, and said “see you in the morning.” I spent that night working through most of the book and then met with him for a few minutes the next morning to discuss how this AutoCAD thing could really be used. Thanks Matt and Jim (my brother-in-law).

3. The beginning of my first “real” job went something like this… I was at a couples Bible study and overheard someone across the room say “…AutoCAD…” I’m normally very shy, but like I said, I was hooked. I went and asked him about it. He was an engineer at an AE firm and said they were hiring. I went and interviewed with Jimmy Mock and Jim Shelton for the project they were hiring for. They showed me some bluelines and asked if I could read them. They were as-built drawings for a Federal Government client. The job was creating AutoCAD files from those bluelines on the night shift. They handed five of us the bluelines, pointed to the computers, and said “see you in the morning.” Thanks Richard, Jim, and Jimmy.

4. When AutoLISP was released I got really excited. Okay, maybe not excited, but much less reserved. We started writing routines to help us speed through the as-builts. When the first phase of the project ended, the deliverables included a custom menu system for the COE to keep the drawing up-to-date. They moved us from nights to days and put us to work in various discipline departments. I did some work for Civil and Structural until my former night supervisor, Mike Ogden, and Jimmy Mock convinced the powers that be that my talents would be better used writing LISP and menu code. Thanks Mike and Jimmy.

5. Sometimes I get a little obsessed with work. Okay, maybe retentive is a better word. I remember one time soon after my daughter was born we were going through some intense training on a plant design package called PASCE. As a result of the brain cram during the day and the sleep interruptions at night, I remember having the groggy realization one night that the reason my daughter was crying was because her GTYP wasn’t set. Thanks to all of you former PASCE users out there – you’re the only ones who probably understood that one.

6. (A bonus since number 5 was vague.) I am probably the only CAD blogger with a son whose initials are CAD. No, it wasn’t intentional. Yes, the son was, but the CAD part wasn’t.

Now let’s see if Ralph and Joel are willing to join the game.

New Blogger Format

2006-12-27T00:56:00.000-06:00

I've been struggling with the new blogger format tonight. The new blogger template tools are very easy to use, but I had a lot of custom coding in my old template, so I've been doing lots of copy/pasting into the new template elements. I know that the TenLinks news feed is not working yet. Please let me know if you have difficulty finding anything else.

Scouting for CAD Managers - part 2

2006-12-25T20:51:00.000-06:00

The Boy Scout Motto: “Be Prepared”

When Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting, was asked, “Be prepared for what?” he replied, “Why, for any old thing.” The Boy Scout program provides opportunities for boys to prepare for many types of circumstances. First Aid skills are reinforced throughout the program. Leadership skills are exercised throughout the program as well. The boys are encouraged to try several activities which may lead to skills used in hobbies or vocations.

So what should a CAD Manager “be prepared” for? Why, for any old thing, of course. As I mentioned in my “Two Essential Skills” post, you must learn to negotiate and facilitate.

Be prepared to justify the expense of the upgrades you proposed. Be prepared to explain the benefits of subscription. Be prepared to discuss BIM with your CEO. Be prepared… for any old thing.

Can you always be prepared? No, once again we are talking about an ideal – a direction. You will still get called into a meeting and asked what you know about some technology you haven’t studied. When this happens, go back to the Cub Scout Motto and “Do Your Best” during the meeting. Then go and do the research and send a follow up email or memo to the original meeting attendees and be prepared for a follow up meeting.

“Be Prepared”

AutoCAD Poll

2006-12-19T00:25:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: A new poll including 2008 has been added here.

What was the first AutoCAD version or release you used?

Results from the old poll:

Scouting for CAD Managers

2006-09-18T22:00:00.000-05:00

No, I don't mean that I am searching for CAD Managers. What I mean is that I want to share with you some things I have learned through the Scouting program (Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts) which I continue to use in my professional life.

I am very grateful to my parents who allowed me to participate in scouts when I was a kid. There are great memories of camping and other events from that time of my life. But there are other things that have stuck with me that have become part of who I am. These are the things that encouraged me to allow my boys to be involved in scouting. And these are the things that I have tried to share with employees and coworkers.

The Cub Scout Motto: “Do Your Best”

“Do your best” is a pretty simple motto for boys in first through fifth grade, so I hope you will commit it to memory as well. My parents taught me that same idea and I hope your parents did the same for you. Their expectation wasn’t perfection. They didn’t say “Be the best,” they said “Do your best.” It’s a fairly subjective test of character isn’t it? Only you and God know whether you have done your best, and He’s keeping your secret for now.

“Do your best” is the kind of phrase that gets in your head and stays there. Have a challenge? Do your best. Have questions? Do your best. Have a decision to make? Do your best.

“Do your best” is an ideal that you can’t live up to, but it provides direction. Regardless of our personal desire to succeed, we all must overcome the urge to sit back and watch life happen to everyone else.

I highly recommend that you listen to Earl Nightingale’s “The Strangest Secret” (several times). If Nightingale is correct, and we become what we think about, shouldn’t we not only do our best but think about our best as well? When I was a CAD Manager I developed the desire to become the “CIO” of our company. Not the Chief Information Officer, but the Chief Innovation Officer. A mediocre CAD Manager does not innovate. A CAD Manager who’s motto is “Do Your Best” will innovate. I challenge you to think about being the Chief Innovation Officer at your company.

“Do Your Best”

CAD Mgmt: New Features Workshop(s) Online

2006-09-18T21:34:00.000-05:00

UPDATED September 18, 2006

CAD Managers, be sure to make these links available to your designers:

AutoCAD 2007 New Features Workshop
http://www.autodesk.com/us/interactiveoverviews/demo/autocad2007_nfw/
AutoCAD LT 2007 New Features Workshop
http://download.autodesk.com/us/interactiveoverviews/demos/autocadlt
2007_nfw/
Civil 3D 2007 New Features Workshop
http://www.autodesk.com/us/interactiveoverviews/demo/civil3d2007_nfw/
Map 3D 2007 New Features Workshop
http://download.autodesk.com/us/map3d/Map3D2007_NFW/Autodesk_NFW.html

AutoCAD 2006 New Features Workshop no longer available online
AutoCAD LT 2006 New Features Workshop no longer available online
Architectural Desktop 2006 New Features Workshop
http://www.autodesk.com/us/interactiveoverviews/adt2006/

If you find others available, please let me know and I will post them.

The Dog "Ate" My CAD

2006-09-16T22:57:00.000-05:00

My last post reminded me of a time when a business friend, Ward, and I spent several days in a volley of polysyllabic words that end in “ate”. You know, negotiate, facilitate, innovate, etc. Much to the annoyance of our coworkers (my apologies to Steve and Skip), we would verbally launch these terms back and forth throughout the day: masticate, infuriate, obliterate, retaliate, etc. Sometimes we would build on each other’s latest assault: negotiate, renegotiate, etc. The battle waned, and so did the day. I must admit that my ammunition was running low, and probably my blood sugar was as well, as evidenced in the feeble shot that became my favorite term in the battle: “dinner plate”.

So, what’s the point of this post? Exercise your mind (and don’t forget to stop and take time to eat).

CAD Mgmt Toolbox: Two Essential Skills

2006-09-16T22:41:00.000-05:00

Most CAD Managers I know have (or had) very good technical skills. They could draft well, design well, and somewhere along the way they learned to “tech” (i.e., troubleshoot) well. So in the infinite wisdom of the Peter Principle, they were promoted, reassigned, advanced, laterally moved, sworn in, knighted, christened, or duped into the official or unofficial role of “CAD Manager” (see Typical CAD Manager). Now, in addition to the skills which brought them here, they must develop two essential skills not covered in a drafting class or a users’ guide.

Back in 1991, Bob Keefer, AIA and I spent some time observing the “state of CAD.” We presented our observations at the NAAUG Conference that year (anyone remember NAAUG?) We titled our presentation “CADvantage or CADastrophe” and proceeded to describe the advantages and disadvantages of CAD at that time. Tom Conti of Walt Disney Imagineering took the stage and summarized our message as “educate management” and “train users”. Well, that was succinct and pretty accurate. We could have saved everyone a lot of time if he had said that before we got on stage, but then everyone would have missed our obligatory 3D spinning logo .fli on the screen.

Some things don’t change very much. The two essential skills are the same; I just refer to them in different terms today. Have you ever tried to “educate” your manager? You might succeed once or twice, but don’t make a habit of it. Generally your effort to “educate” someone higher in the company org chart will not be well received. Instead, consider the term “negotiate”.

You’ll need negotiation skills for more than your next budget discussion with your boss. You’ll need negotiation skills when purchasing hardware and software. You’ll need negotiation skills when introducing Layer Guideline changes. And you’ll need negotiation skills whenever your attempt to innovate.

Now what about that second essential skill? “Train Users” needs some revision as well. Elsewhere in this blog I have referred to the tendency to use the term “user” as profanity. Drop the term – the “us vs. them” mentality it provokes with those “users” isn’t worth the hassle. Remember, these people are either your “coworkers” or, if you are a consultant, they are your “associates”.

It only takes teaching one class to quickly realize that you aren’t going to “train” everyone. Some adults refuse to be trained and, in my opinion, some adults (brace yourself for a totally politically incorrect statement) can not be trained. Your second essential skill is to “facilitate”. You create an environment where adults can choose to learn. You offer classes, seminars, and documentation to facilitate their education.

So your two new essential skills are “negotiate” and “facilitate”. Where are you going to develop those skills? They aren’t something you can learn in a day. You can’t simply proclaim “I am now a negotiator and facilitator”. These skills are studied and they are practiced. So, as I hope I’ve asked before – what books are you reading and who are you hanging around? The answers to those two questions will assist you in determining your next step in developing these two essential skills.

How I spent my summer vacation

2006-09-16T22:39:00.000-05:00

No, not really, but I was recently reprimanded by an old friend for letting my blog gather dust. His gentle reminder was something like (I’m paraphrasing here), “publish or die.” So, I thought I should try to add something.

I apologize for not being more frequent in my posts. Family commitments, changes at work, (constant) changes at Autodesk, Scouting commitments, etc. have all contributed to my procrastination. And let’s not forget that my blog is not a profitable venture. I don’t get paid for it. It isn’t part of my job… whine, whine, whine. If I am tugging at your heart strings, please visit some of the advertisers on the right or drop something in my PayPal tip jar at the bottom of the page.

Okay, enough of the shameless commercialism. As Pooh would say, this blog is “a Useful Pot to put things in.” So, let’s put something in it.