I’ve toyed with Revit on my own in the past, but it wasn’t until I joined a firm that uses it exclusively that I really began picking it up. As with other work related programs, with Revit using it in “real world” settings helps you get the hang of it. For me, the most helpful way of learning new programs such as Revit is to deconstruct tools and already built components. Once I’ve gotten familiar with families and projects by figuring out how they work, I use them as a base for new families. I also find Internet searches on discussion boards, search engines and YouTube, very helpful as well. And of course having hands-on reference books help with background information.

In just under a month I felt comfortable attempting to carrying out most task on Revit. After using Revit Architecture daily for about six months, I have become fluent in designing models as well as creating construction documents. I don’t miss using Autocad for the most part. In actuality, I find myself wishing for Sketchup functionality more than Autocad.

My biggest concern with moving to Revit was having to know how to constructed the entire building at the beginning of design due to everything being connected to create a live 3D model. But as I became more familiar with the program, I realised you are still able to work and develop “space holders” in the design until you’re able to move forward.

Using a BIM program such as Revit has actually helped me conceptualize designs and turn them into real designs at a much faster rate. This is one of the benefits of having a 3D computer model. It’s easier to see how a spaces work together, I can have a realistic visualization of the roof and/or ceiling intersecting with my elevations. Its 3D! but using actual building components (as long as you put them in correctly).

Since the industry is moving towards it, you might as well get on the train now.

Its been a while, the Texas winter is in its last weeks. I hope!

I knew the Topsy Tuvry was good but I did not think this would happen.  My new balcony doesn’t get that much sun light at all, in fact it hardly gets any attention from me. After not watering this pot for at least 2 months, I was surprised to see a little tomato on it.  Even with the snow and heavy winds its still hanging on.

WOW the summer has came and gone, I am looking forward to the long fall weather!

Over the summer my relatives wanted to host a party and thought that would be a great time to update the back porch.  I figure it would be a great project for me to work on.  Designing, landscaping, and a workout all wrapped up in one.

Most of the products we used were purchased from a big box store, and two local gardening shops. Unfortunately, one of the local family stores went out of business as we were wrapping up. I did most of the labor, and with the temperature averaging 95+,  it usually was during the morning hours.  Working during the evening was bearable temperature wise, but since the property is in a wooded area, there were to many irritating insects.

One of my good friends does remodeling and I always get on his case about not taking “before” pictures, and what do I do,  forget to take the “before” pictures. But I was able to get some really good after photos.  Hope you enjoy.

Besides being a talented young artist your probably witnessing an inspiring architect if they play with these things. (not in any specific order)

1. Legos

2. Simcity

3. Paper Dream House

4. Lincoln Logs/ Blocks

What are some other things you find that inspiring architects play with?

Do you have a very slow or buggy laptop? If you do, chances are you have limewire or some other p2p software installed on it.  P2P sharing software such as Limewire cause many headaches to end-users, and also to publishing companies. Given the recent loss against the RIAA, Limewire will likely be shutdown soon, or heavily revamped with a fee, like it’s predecessor, Napster.

My uncle took his slow buggy laptop to place like Geek Squad and the first thing the Technician told  him was, “You have Limewire on here, that program is bad news”.
Limewire is bad news for a couple of reasons. For one, it can damage your computer in many different ways. You can unknowingly download and install viruses, malware, spyware, and all the likes. Secondly, it can be extremely difficult to figure out just what caused the problem or symptoms. Some virus scans and programs simply aren’t able to find the stealthy hidden “extras” that you Limewire acquired programs come with.

In the last few weeks I have cleaned two laptops that had been mangled in the presence of Limewire. One had typical symptoms; painfully slow operations and blocked updates. The other would only boot in safe mode. There were other minor problems that may not have been inflicted by Limewire, but they allowed a way for these issues to alter files on the laptop.

Whats the remedy?

In a case like this the easiest way to fix these infected laptops are to restore it to the original factory settings. With most new laptops this is very simple you don’t even need to use any cd’s. In many cases you can do it right from the boot screen (on the compaq, when the computer is loading up select f11) and it will assist you through the progress.

But make sure you back up your documents, pictures, media and other personal things to a disk or storage drive.  Also make sure you have the product information and setup files to any programs you installed after obtaining the laptop. It’s also good practice to back up those things periodically.  There’s one caveat to this remedy – when backing up your files, try not to back up the infected files!

This dynamic duo of radish is a freak of nature,  I didn’t know their stems could be so tall, and thick. They are even blooming flowers.

The baby suga watermelons are getting ready to start growing, they may need a new pot, and they will need some hey. I only grew these because the seed pack said they would be small.

The basil plant has been pluck a few times, but it’s hanging in there.

Wow, the Topsy Turvy is impressive. as of today its has 5 tomatoes growing and the bag is not even full of dirt (its half full).  Even the pot that has a tomato plant is producing tomatoes already.

The evening sun ray’s have been pretty good to these plants.

The Capital MetroRail here in Austin has been in service for almost a month now so today I decided to see what it is all about.  I even took my daughter along for the ride to make a family outing out of it.  She has ridden the Subway in NYC a few times and remembering the experience only fueled her excitement for this trip.  As we were waiting at the station, she constantly asked me “Where’s the train??”

We started our trip at Highland Mall Station and took it to the Downtown station then back.  We went in the Afternoon, so it wasn’t crowded at all.  In fact, there were only about 7 other people besides us going south bound towards the city.   One passenger told a group of us on the train, that in the morning its packed with riders and their bikes.  We also noticed that the return trip had a lot more travelers.

MetroRail has more of an Amtrak vibe verses the Subway. The ride was smooth and quiet, it was on street level so the view was more scenic.

Two things I think really need attention – the schedule and parking.  I don’t understand why the schedule starts out in the middle of the line  in the afternoon.  And with regard to parking, there needs to be more parking areas, or at least better parking related signs. At some stations I didn’t see any visible station parking lots.

It’s also hard to understand why there were so many delays, unless it was the trains themselves.   Without many riders, seems like delays would be a non-issue.

The overall experience was pretty good.  If you are in the Austin Area try it out, even if you don’t plan to use it everyday.   I can see it becoming a more permanent fixture in Austin as time goes on with a lot more people riding it.

A few weeks ago I bought a small tomato plant from the supermarket and decided it was time to use the “Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter”, I purchased the year before.  So far I am pleased, the plant is growing faster than other plants on the balcony.  It also already has two flowers blossoming, with more on the way.