RobiNZ CAD Blog

Old Anti Gravity Cruisers of New Zealand

I must credit Franco Folini, from the NOVEDGE - Rhino News Digest, with finding this delightful Kiwi Invention. In spite of having visited Dunedin several times, and cycling around it a fair bit, I have never seen an Anti Gravity Cruiser. Perhaps I didn’t look up often enough! Click through for more of Chris Ebbert’s delightful work modelled in Rhino. Who said Kiwis can't fly!

Old Anti Gravity Cruisers of New Zealand - a set on Flickr

The Kiwis have been using anti gravity since the 19th century, thanks to its accidental discovery through Invercargill farmer Gary Wilson in 1863 who, originally intending to construct a slow-cooker for lamb stew inside a shed behind his house, built the first ketone fission device known to southern man. As we now know, the concept never took off commercially because of its inability to cross the equator, where ketone thrust inverts, leading to a sudden reversal of the vehicle's Z-coordinate orientation. An expedition is planned to recover Wilson and his vehicle who, sadly, disappeared in the sea off Japan in 1872 while on world anti gravity tour, accidentally making that other, tragic yet vital, discovery.

Autodesk Exchanged? I think it’s Travis! *

I was checking some changes on my blog this evening and the Autodesk Exchange sidebar component caught my eye. It says Shaan Hurley, but I think its Travis?

* This will probably only make sense to a few CAD bloggers, who were in San Francisco last February, and some guy called Travis who was attending another conference.

UPDATE 2009-11-05 from Twitter: RT @thecadgeek: @robincapper: @haubert @AU_Online Here's a blog post of mine that mentions the Travis story http://bit.ly/4wbkXc

Apple think Aussies are that stupid?

One of these is the logo for an Australian supermarket fresh produce range. The other is for a computer company which mostly seems to make music players and phones and is named after a fruit**.

Can you tell the difference?

Apple seem to think Australians will be confused by this…

Australia's Woolworths, Apple in logo dispute - Yahoo! News

* Note: The logos reproduced above remain the property of their respective owners. I have faith you’ll know who owns which.

** I’m not sure FTC rules apply here but just to be sure better declare… My new iPhone was not a gift from Apple but was supplied by Vodaphone in exchange for money. Likewise, my Aapples don’t come from Woolworths because apples grown at Dragicevich Orchard, just down the road, are much nicer than anything that comes from a supermaket!

The ultimate CAD/BIM accessory, a Fiat 500 Mouse!

It looks great, should handle OK but I wonder about the wing mirrors being a bit 'pointy" on your hand. What could be better than Revit & AutoCAD Architecture 2010, running on a PC with Windows 7 64 and a Fiat 500 Mouse. * 

It goes straight to the Cool Hardware category  

Fiat 500 Mouse - Fiat Accessories & Merchandise

Fiat 500 Shaped Wireless USB mouse complete with scroll and working headlights and backlights.

* How many milliseconds will it take for the inevitable "a Mac" comment to appear?

My new car, was $617,000, now only...

Oops, this was meant for the other blog...

Engineering Evolution

Off topic but I had to share, monkeys and a 2CV!

Via; Life on the Wicked Stage

Awake?

This made me laugh. I don't worry, I just blog... 

Awake Cartoon | Savage Chickens - Cartoons on Sticky Notes by Doug Savage

Click for the full toon

Thinking Metric, in real terms

XKCD have posted  this, slightly NSFW, guide to thinking Metric (click to embiggen). It's pretty good and is the kind of mental conversion I do when thinking Imperial.

In the USA I convert temperate based on what a Guppy likes. I kept tropical fish as a kid and most references quoted Fahrenheit so I know  77ºF is 25ºc (Happy Guppy/Robin) and 32ºF is 0ºc (Dead Guppy/Cold Robin)! Every other Fahrenheit temperature is mentally related to the Guppyness scale!

No Java, has New Zealand upset Sun?

I suspect this was probably the result of our company firewall, blocking ports, or has New Zealand done something to upset Sun?

The Sun Download Center contains important safeguards to ensure compliance with the export regulations of the United States and with Sun's own policies regarding international distribution of software and source code.

Trick or Treat?

Its Halloween already in New Zealand (we lead the world).

Will a well known Kiwi Revit Wiz* be out Trick or Treating in his favourite leather Evel Knievel outfit?

* No, not me

xkcd on computing Depth

People get frustrated when computers don't work. I'm just amazed most of the time that they do. This toon puts the innards of your computer into perspective. I love it, especially the reference to Brian Greene & String Theory. 

xkcd - A Webcomic - Depth (click for full toon)

Sticky note kinetics

This is going take over every office on earth...

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

Via John

Cosmic connections

Today’s space news and too long spent playing with blog design* this weekend made this cosmic blog‘toon seem rather relevant.

From the excellent xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe

* Only some of which made it to the published blogs

Back from Viet Nam

Quote of the holiday from a Hanoi shopkeeper:

“It’s Nine Dollar US, if you pay in Dong (local currency) I do cheaper ‘cause US Dollar not so strong”

(About 16,000 Dong = US$1)

The meaning of Cad?

Its older than computer aided drafting. So what does Cad really mean?

Weird Words: Cad ~ World Wide Words
Its history is as weird as one might like…

22.09073% Geek

If you’re accused of being a geek, might as well find out how much of a geek you are. Click on the badge to get your rating

SolidSmack and the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Although I don’t use SolidWorks I do read SolidSmack – a SolidWorks focused blog. The “how to" posts aren’t much use to me but there is a wealth of other content on product design, technology and other cool stuff that keeps me reading.

I suspect Josh has been touched by the Flying Spaghetti Monster's noodly appendages. His “5 minute model” combined with his site logo (below) resembles a cubist FSM.

SolidSmack.com - www.solidsmack.com
I created the below model in just over 5 minutes. Fun stuff.

It’s already appeared in AutoCAD, DWF/Freewheel (thanks to Robert Grandmaison), MindManager and Second Life. Will the Flying Spaghetti Monster spontaneously appear in Revit, ArchiCAD, Inventor and other design applications? Is it a sign?

 

Tags: SolidSmack, Flying+Spaghetti+Monster

The language of planners...

Is this a statement, of the obvious?

Indexed - Graphic Math Humour!

Indexed is math based humour and social comment drawn on an index card. A favourite blog which is about to become a book.

INDEXED - by Jessica Hagy - indexed.blogspot.com

This site is a little project that lets me make fun of some things and sense of others. I use it to think a little more relationally without resorting to doing actual math.

Spotted at SolidWorks World?

• Who did Matt spot at SolidWorks World?
• Why were they there? What’s next?
• “Autodesk acquire SolidWorks” or “SolidWorks acquire Inventor”?

Matt Writes » Spotted at SolidWorks World
This blur is actually #### #####….

Where does old software go when its retired?

Video: The Lone Server via James.Random()

PedalCAD? Cycle Powered CAD?

I like cycling but finding the time is tough. Maybe this MIT project is the solution…

Bike Powered Notebook Computer (TreeHugger)
As the bike's instructions note, if you have trouble "squeezing in that daily exercise," you can now "multitask with no problem--[you can] bike while you work!"

CompliCAD

This is brilliant! 

CompliCAD v1.0.0.0.0 - Cadalyst AEC
The ultimate BIM software will provide you with a challenge -- and an intense headache…

The Flying Spaghetti Monster meets Freewheel

Robert Grandmaison made rather stunning model of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in AutoCAD and shared as a DWF. With his permission I’m hosting it and if you have a free DWF Viewer you can  "Right click >Save target as" to download FSM-RG.dwf (226.3K)

If not try the not try the “no install” Freewheel viewer version below. You can zoom, orbit (spin in 3D) to view the FSM from any direction. If “he” orbits off screen use “Pan” to move back or “Fit” to return to the original view.

Using DWF + Freewheel to view a deity from any perspective…

Autodesk Freewheel is an Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) based web service/application built to provide CAD model viewing, printing and collaboration, through the dynamic rendering of DWF file data and graphics information. You can think of Freewheel as a set of componentized Web Services and JavaScript frameworks. Together these components make up the Interactive Ajax DWF Viewer.

All rights for FSM, Freewheel and the DWF itself remain with their respective authors. Combined use of their content or technology does not imply any endorsement of one by the other.

Tags: Freewheel, Flying+Spaghetti+Monster

Stephen Fry on the phone?

Stephen Fry, yes that Stephen Fry, has just started a personal blog. So why isn’t this post on my personal blog? Because he’s a gadget freak and his first post is a long, eloquent, discourse on the joys and pain of owning an Apple iPhone in England. Subscribed!

Stephen Fry - My personal blog

Tags: Stephen+Fry, iphone

Rich's Footomobile - Salesoft CAD People with wheels

A recent visit to my CAD dealer and reading the brilliant XKCD Blog resulted in a rather remarkable coincidence.

Rich Sales (yes, that’s really his name) was showing me his new company vehicle, a Segway. Rich chose it as lives reasonably close to work, travels a route soon to be cluttered with bus/pedestrian only transit roads, it’s fun way to save gas and save the planet. I think it’s rather appropriate transport for the ultimate CAD/BIM geek. I was at Salesoft for training but had time for a little test drive around the office. For someone used to balancing on bicycles I found the “relax I’ll balance for you” Segway a strange, but cool, way to move.

That night I got home to find XKCD Blog featured a cartoon vision of the future, drawn in 1900. The caption says “In the new century no one will walk – all will have wheels” and the label on the device reads ‘footomobile’. I asked Rich for a photo of his new toy for my blog but didn’t tell him about the ‘toon. I grinned when this image arrived today with eerily similar composition.

Rich may say he commutes by Segway, but for me it will forever be:

Salesoft CAD Solutions – Powered by Footomobile.

   1900 (A vision of 2000)               2007 (A Vision!) 

 
Click the images for full-size versions

Footomobiles - xkcd » Blog Archive
I was recently reading through newspapers from around 1898 to 1901. In a collection of articles from midwestern papers predicting what life would be like in the year 2000, I found this cartoon. The label on the device reads ‘footomobile’. Words fail me
Cartoon from Brown County Democrat, December 28, 1900.

Tags: segway, Salesoft+CAD+Solutions

Life in Eight Easy Steps

Click for the answer to life, the universe and everything…  

Savage Chickens: Eight Steps Cartoon

Tags: Savage+Chickens

xkcd on LISP

;-)

Lisp Cycles - xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language

Warning: this comic occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors).

Tags: xkcd

RobiNZ Simpson

I think Scott may have started a Cad Blogger Simpsons Avatar meme.

While his is rather generic scrolling down to see Shaan’s appear while drinking a coffee was not a good idea – wipes coffee spray off monitor – and was glad it’s Saturday so this happened at home not work.

I did one before someone else does…

Simpson’ise yourself, or someone else, at http://www.simpsonsmovie.com

UPDATE: Awesome twin guitar sound-track for this post, via Welsh View

Stationery bliss?

Happiness is… a docket spike?

Marcus Lush, Weekdays 6-9am - Radio Live NZ  or Podcast/Live Online

Tags: Marcus+Lush, Radio+Live

Organising the biggest product launch*

Oops, I posted this on the wrong blog, if you’re still curious have a look here

* No it’s not the iPhone

Shaan Hurley, the masculine Lynn Allen?

What a compliment for Shaan Hurley, being described as the "the masculine Lynn Allen"!

Not so sure Lynn Allen would as pleased to be "the feminine Shaan Hurley"

 

    Lynn Allen           Shaan Hurley

Between the Lines: Thank You Chicago!
A few feedback comment forms standout in my mind and one actually mentioned I was the "masculine Lynn Allen". This was of course due to the session originally set to be one from Lynn Allen but she needed rest before taking off on her Asia shopping trip .

Shouldn't encourage spam but...

Thought it was funny these two messages appeared at the same time in the Discussion Group feeds…

XML Schema Monkeys?

It’s strange what you find on a CAD Discussion Group. It started with a question about the AutoCAD Architecture Tool & Catalog system, a serious answer mentioned “XML Schema”, then a comment about it being “developed by monkeys” led to this amusing site:

 

Credit to “the Other Frank”. Thanks for making my day!

Towel Day!

Thanks to Melanie for reminding me it’s “Towel Day”.

 

Disclosure: Although I’m a DNA fan I didn’t remember to carry a towel all day. However, I did inadvertently photograph the Vogon Constructor Fleet over Auckland City today. A friend has just started work at the SkyCity Casino & Tower seen at the end of the rainbow. I sent him this snapshot & asked if he’d found a pot of gold yet…

The "Flight of the Conchords" touch down on HBO

On the way home from Autodesk University 2004 I sat next to a comedy writer for who was heading to NZ to script a pilot show for “Flight Of the Conchords”. They are a Kiwi Folk (as in music) Parody duo who had been spotted at the Montreal Comedy Festival. The concept for the show sounded great and we had a long conversation about NZ comedy, culture and how a Kiwi reacts to arriving in the US.

It seems that deal, with NBC, didn’t work out but just discovered their new series debuts on HBO next month. If you like quirky comedy with a Kiwi accent check them out!

HBO: Flight of the Conchords

New Zealand’s 4th most popular Folk Parody Comedy group
Premiere on HBO June 17!

What the folk? - The fan site - www.whatthefolk.net

Mesmerised...

It’s only one of a four part series but as I work in an office where we’ve had a few fire alarms due to toast I just love Mesmerised…

View the others at It’s a new day. It’s a new Microsoft video - I Started Something

DWF'cycle

Today I visited the DWF website to download Autodesk Design Review 2008 (free!) only to see a promo running. Having just returned from a cycle tour, which included a relentless 900m hill-climb, I thought…

Warehouse combination wok & satellite dish, next it's Etch-A-Sketch BIM?

Kiwi ingenuity + Wok = Bargain satellite dish?

$10 wok keeps TV station on air - 22 Feb 2007 - National News - New Zealand Herald
Why pay $20,000 for a commercial link to run your television station when a $10 kitchen wok from the Warehouse is just as effective?

Thanks to Phil at Autodesk for the lead…

Kiwis are renowned for their ingenuity. I heard someone in Eketahuna purchased an Etch-A-Sketch from a nearby Warehouse and is developing it into a BIM platform. Expect more details soon on:

• Etch-A-Sketch Architecture 2008
• Etch-A-Sketch MEP 2008
• Etch-A-Sketch Structure 2008

Enrico’s Venice

I discovered Enrico’s Blog a year ago and borrowed his idea of using your own photos as a blog header. It probably wasn’t his idea but the header at the time I visited was memorable for someone who likes little Fiats. I thought of it on the flight to AU while watching the movie “Cars” for the first time. Enrico works for Pixar & my favourite character, the yellow cinquecento Luigi “follow only the Ferrari”, reminded me of that image:

I was on the way to The Venetian but Enrico is chronicling travel to the real Venice. If only I had the imagination and talent to create a brilliant travelogue like this…

Enrico’s blog » The Venice Chronicles

Enrico Casarosa is a storyboard artist living in San Francisco, working in Animation by day, publishing artbooks and comics by night. Forever stuck between the gravitational pulls of Italy (his home country) and Japan (a cultural passion).

Tags: Enrico’s+Blog

Comics, Powerpoint and Rendering?

Joel posted these for the intended audience, comic book artists, but I think many of the techniques for composition/lighting apply to both PowerPoint and rendering.

Joel Johnson: Wally Wood's 22 Panels That Always Work: Unlimited Edition
Ask any working comic book artist who has been in the business for more than ten years about "Wally Wood's 22 Panels That Always Work", and they know of it like it was the bible.

Once shrouded in secrecy, Wally Wood would selectively give assistants and those close to him three 8×10 photocopies of comic panels that bore the absolute essence of drawing comic book panels. 22 images in total, they held the secret to a comic book illustrator’s success, and those who learned from them benefited from the master’s wisdom.
via drawn

 

Walk on the grass wherever you want...

This has nothing to do with CAD but it’s just so cool.

Treehugger: Take the Park With You

Click thru for the full image.

Office 2007 delayed and I know why...

Microsoft Office 2007 has been delayed. There are a couple of possible reasons:

• Perhaps Microsoft have realised the best Office application isn’t theirs…

• They have worked out the official name “2007 Microsoft Office System” will only ever be used by Microsoft Marketing and they are busy changing the branding back to Office 2007…

I am this chicken...

Click through to the full ‘toon, is it you too?

Doug Savage does a chicken toon every day: http://www.savagechickens.com/

Reach your potential...

 Brilliance from Savage Chickens.com

What is ADT?

The danger of searching for content based on acronyms like ADT:

What is ADT?
“It’s a condition induced by modern life, in which you’ve become so busy attending to so many inputs and outputs that you become increasingly distracted, irritable, impulsive, restless and, over the long term, underachieving. In other words, it costs you efficiency because you’re doing so much or trying to do so much, it’s as if you’re juggling one more ball than you possibly can.”
From robhyndman.com » Blog Archive » Still More on the Myth of Multitasking

They are talking about “Attention Deficit Trait” not Architectural Desktop

Symbol Man Tells All

You probably see him every day, now he speaks out in this exclusive interview. 

The International Symbol for Man Tells All : Design Observer

“My wife, Popsicle Stick Lady, doesn’t see me as being “iconic”

Architects Associates - Worth a look

I didn’t think this blog would be the correct forum to recommend one Architect over another but this one is definitely worth a look.

Architects Associates
Welcome to Architects Associates.  If you are looking for the premiere architectural design firm, you need look no further...

Via & thanks to SO @ Cad Manager Discussion Group

Sketch-up a Bus?

Trabant based, um, double decker bus?

Da Trabant a... Bus inglese - www.autoblog.it

(14–03–06 I’ve fixed the link)

Google to buy New Zealand?

Rod Drury discovers, according to “The Register”, New Zealand features in Google’s plans for world domination

Google to buy New Zealand - Rod Drury