Can't comment on either of the phones you're looking at because I've got the original Motorola Droid (with the Google OS) from Verizon, but I love my Droid. The ability to have my calendar, contacts, etc. synced with my Gmail account - automatically! - has been a real timesaver for me.

Serif's PanoramaPlus X4 works well for me (http://www.serif.com/AllProducts/Software/PhotoEditing/PanoramaPlusX4.htm) - which came with my PhotoPlus X4. Serif has a free version of PanoramaPlus X4 (http://www.serif.com/FreeDownloads/), just in case you'd like to try it before you actually buy it!

I don't own stock in Serif's stuff, but I love their software - to me it's the best bang for the buck (SketchUp aside!). I've been a Serif user since the late '80's.

I've had very good luck with Seagates - in fact I have a 500gb, a 1tb and a 1.5tb, all of them external. Two are for backups and one is for everyday use.

It just proves the point that you can make numbers say anything!

Hi, Robert -

Yep ... looks better to me! Have a great weekend!

I think the white on the left and right (in the middle) is bugging me - it seems like you need something (shrubs? sky?) to soften it up.

@solo said:

Freedom?

Nah ... my wife says I have all the freedom I want - as long as she says it's okay!

I wish you both the best in your marriage!

Also, my guess is that Karl (Charly2008) is the closest to being correct - though I think the top hipped section steps back in line with the main entry to give more prominence to the entabulature gable.

But it's just a guess ...

KXI - Could you post where you found your background? That is a really nice one!

Very true - but it also shows Death Valley (in California) being under water, which probably WON'T happen since the nearest intrusion will be at the Salton Sea which is still a hundred miles away or so.

Whether you believe all of the nay-sayers about what's causing global warming or not, it IS a fact that when the sea levels rise there WILL be widespread problems with where we (as world residents) have built.

Thanks, Mike, for the post!

I also enjoyed Follet's sequel - "World Without End".

Thanks, Eric!

Thanks for both, Oli!

I received the message, too (I'm a Pro user, updated to the most current version) - clicked on the "Download" button, closed the web page, closed SU Pro, then re-opened SU and no message. It must be just an automatic tickler - a pain for Pro users, but that's all.

I think the depth of the tabletop will make it tough to grab the tools, too - especially the ones up high!

From Eric's avatar!

I love laying out Site Plans (having been taught the proper way to do it by hand by an architect I used to work for) but have never run into an "I" before. My assumption (like TIG's) was that it was the Delta.

I laid out the side and rear lines in DataCAD (my cadd of choice) and then started playing around with the radius front property line.

Based on my layout, it appears to be the angle of the arc's CHORD (between the chord and a line drawn due east).

Thanks for the challenge - this was fun!

Knowing that tfdesign was referring to the dust of demolition in the animation, I have to ask - having lived all of my life in the very seismically-callenged California (and having dealt with how to resist seismic forces all of my professional career) - how in the world do you make a lower story with lots of glass and far-spanning columns work (as the final design shows)? After what we've seen in Haiti, is this really how we (as not only architects and engineers, but also building designers) should be presenting things?

Sorry ... after spending 30 years dealing with this (and having experienced the '83 Coalinga, the '89 Loma Prieta, the '94 Northridge quakes, as well as others that aren't as notorious) it's a little personal to me.

Jeff -

Look for an architect who is well versed in residential design - particularly production housing. They understand the economics of stud spacing, reduced material waste, etc. They will also be more attuned to how residential is done (contrary to most structural engineer's beliefs, you don't build a house like a concrete-tilt-up commercial warehouse!).

You'll also want to find an architect who understands that this is YOUR house and not their personal design statement. My philosophy is that I will give the owner my opinion about their desires, but in the end THEY will be living in the house - not me!

Good luck, and be thankful you're not building this in California! Structural engineering is pert-near required for ALL residential projects now. I just completed a 2-phase addition to an existing house that increased the square footage by a whopping 427 sf and had engineering fees (structural calcs ONLY - no drawings) of $2,250. No new walls - just tucking a 2nd floor under an existing 10/12 pitched roof on existing walls and footings. $5.26/sf for the structural engineering - I wish I could get those kind of fees for the architectural!

"Jolicloud" says that it is a "super-optimized Linux".