What scares me is that the jury didn't question the nebulous concept's that Apple claims is theirs. Once of the patents for the Macbook is 'a rectangular plane with a wedge shape'. This constitutes their reason for a patent and anyone copying this will be sued. It's scary.

While the ruling is sad for anyone trying to bring a unique product to market I'm more concerned with the intelligence of the jury that does not question the judge or laws that allow for these types of insane copyright patents.

Pete,
I used to make physical models back in architecture school for small architectural firms. It helped pay for many of my own school models and books. You might want to contact a university near you that has an Architecture or Interior Design program and find out if any students would be willing to moonlight for you.

Not sure what the going rate these days is, but I used to charge hourly with the agreement that I get to keep the scraps. I provided the client will all the receipts and packaging so they knew that I didn't buy more than was needed and had them buy the materials for me.

Good luck.

I've got a few questions about organic farming:

1. What makes the farming organic, if the soil they are planting in draws its water from the ground aren't all the pollutants that have seeped into the groundwater affecting the soil? If most farms draw their water from aquifers, how does one make sure they can still call their food organic.

2. The fertilizer that they use, how is it organic. My understanding is that calling anything organic fertilizer is basically a fancy term for animal feces.

3. How does one propose to feed a country of more than 100 million people with organic food if they don't have the land to grow the food.

4. Produce by its very nature is a product of stable and predictable weather. How will they compensate for the global warming that is affecting all aspects of this planet. (now before we start a discussion on whether global warming is real or not, let's just assume we all agree that it's real for this question).

5. What does one replace engineered pesticides with?

6. Is there a universal consensus as to what can be labeled organic.

Now that we have a 18 month old baby, my wife wants us to feed her organic food. I have no problem with it but still can't get a solid answer as to what constitutes organic. I'm not familiar enough with this concept other than what I hear from various people so I'd love to get some education on this topic.

Hey 8-year-old me, I just watched NASA land a giant rover on Mars on my wireless pocket computer. You’re going to like it here in the future.

Just think how many kids around the world this will inspire. I hope I'm alive to see them do even greater things.

I think this is a great idea. Finding good sources of help with projects is tough enough, but having this network will certainly be a good pool to choose from.

Like I said I can pull plenty of pictures of left-wing nuts with crazy signs from the intertubes also, that doesn't explain anything. If your argument that the Tea Party is violent and racist comes from pictures off the internet then I feel sorry for you. Your information gathering skills seem to be relegated to cut and paste. I thought you'd have a better argument about the scary horrible Tea Party that doesn't include random pics of fringe elements of one party.

I don't see anything that is racist in those pictures or anything that calls for violence. Its the right of every citizen to protest, peacefully, about the actions of the government. I don't recall you or any other libbie getting offended when Bush was equated to Hitler or call vile names. I could dig up a million pictures also about crazy left wing nuts but that doesn't serve any purpose other than to perpetuate lies about the rational minded opinions of either side.

@solo said:

Yup, this is the Tea party view, and the reason why we will never have universal healthcare (feel free to call it socialized medicine), but it's a brilliant idea to take hard earned money of the people to start illegal wars and support dictators right?

Proud to be in agreement with the Tea Party and I never said I agree with the wars or supporting dictators. But believe what you will.

Maybe if we meet someday I'll buy you a beer or two and argue politics and in return you can tell me all your rendering secrets.

@solo said:

Hmmm, that would be a commendable remark had it been true, look back at all our disagreements, notice that I am not unbiased (I am a hard asses atheist liberal), your views are definitely extreme right of center. If I was to assume (something I do very often) I'd say you are absolutely not liberal and despise Obama. Now I do not understand with your opinions why the conservatives do not represent your views, are they not conservative enough for you?

It's the term liberal I usually don't agree with. Libbies believe government is the answer to everything and that it's ok for the gov't to take peoples hard earned money and give it to people who have not earned it. That gov't is responsible for putting food on your table, educating your children, and having a say in how much money you are allowed to make.
I also love how libbies use the word 'extreme' the moment someone doesn't agree with them. Most of our disagreements have to do with your view on religion. I happen to be religious but that doesn't make me a right-wing nut, again proof that you have the mentality of 'you're either with us or against us'.

@solo said:

@o2bwln said:

@solo said:

Tom is being facetious, lol, Rush Limbaugh is an idiot right wing-nut of note, most sane folk ignore him, however a large percent of the American population listen to him and believe his crap.

Kinda like the clueless clown occupying the White House who believes that the private sector is doing fine and that individuals don't really build business on their own.

I take it you are a Rush fan-boy then, we have a winner.

I think the man's a moron, but it goes to show the limited grasp of thought you have about political opinions. Just cause I don't agree with your political views doesn't automatically make me a part of the other party. Most free thinking individuals don't associate themselves with either party. Both of the parties are filled with idiots and if you're a card carrying member of either then you're part of the vast lemming group.

Biggest reason the US didn't switch to the metric system was that the automotive industry would have to re-tool all its equipment and retrain its employees, not a small task. So they made sure their lobbyists kept the status quo.

I typically use 1/8"= 1'-0" for large building plans and 1/4"=1'-0" for all my residential projects.

@solo said:

Tom is being facetious, lol, Rush Limbaugh is an idiot right wing-nut of note, most sane folk ignore him, however a large percent of the American population listen to him and believe his crap.

Kinda like the clueless clown occupying the White House who believes that the private sector is doing fine and that individuals don't really build business on their own.

It's nice to see that personal drive and initiative are still alive in today's youth...

Good Lord an architect 'designed' that monstrosity!! Ugg, my sympathies go out to you

Mike,

Did you design the house or just do the renders?

Reason I ask, if you're just doing the renders then I don't have much to say. Looking forward to seeing the final renders. But please convince the client to get rid of that entrance up front. Two completely different styles that do not tie into the overall facade at all. Makes the facade look tacked-on. Sorry for the critique but using a pseudo-french/english style with quoins mashed with a greek/roman column at the entrance needs to be thought out more.

I love American Football and follow it passionately. I am also a rabid fantasy football fan. Having said that I'd never let my kids play it at any organized level for fear of concussions or other long term undetectable injuries.

Unfortunately, like any sport, as long as there is lots of money involved many parents will let their kids play it on the hopes that one day they'll make it big. My town is filled with parents who push their kids hoping to score a scholarship. I'm tempted many times to ask them to push them this hard academically but I think I'd get shot for suggesting logic.

I'm in the process of deciding on a new rendering program and while I like VRay they sure don't make it easy to learn or purchase.

I signed up to the vray forum (chaosforum) but can't post, I tried to download a manual and can't find one. Now I'm all for helping small businesses but as a small business owner myself, I feel I'm having to do all the work for a product that doesn't seem complete. I work hard for my money and I want to feel that the vendor that wants it should at least try to earn it. I don't have the time to hunt all over the internet for snippets of tutorials or pdf's for a product that should include a manual.

Sorry for the rant, I like this program but can't in good conscience give my money to a company that doesn't seem to want to meet me half-way with product literature or service.

I'd buy Solo a beer or two for his renderings alone.