dODDS and ENDS

New Page: Autodesk SEEK and Other Links

When we present at events and such we always talk about the value of Autodesk SEEK as well many other sites that we use often. So I have added a new page to the site that I encourage everyone to use The new page contains links for Content Creation Sites (family creators) as well as User Developed Content Sites like Revit City.

SEEK Info and Links: http://doddsandends.typepad.com//blog/seekinfo.html

What is Autodesk SEEK? Autodesk Seek is a web service that allows designers — architects, engineers, students — to search and find manufacturer-specific or generic building products and associated design content. This content could include 3D models, 2D drawings, and specifications. From here you can use the I-Drop tool to quickly insert Revit, DWG and other file formats directly into your models or drawings. Oh yeah, did I mention that its all free?

Give it a try. We will try to keep the page up to date and add others as we come across and check them out.

Concrete and the Human Body

Happy New Year Everyone! Hope that the holiday season did not pass by as quickly for you as it did for me? But I think every year it seems to just zoom by. It did not help that I spent a great deal of time in the hospital with a family member. But while hanging out in the hospital and watching the Price Is Right on TV (because as I learned there is nothing on during the day) I saw a man with my favorite t-shirt on “nothing tips like a cow” (as noted in an earlier post). Funny how strange little things like that make a boring moment turn into great laughter!

Something that I found even more interesting was the surgery itself and the link back to the built environment. Let’s start off by saying all is well now, but the short story is my family member had an infection in his prosthetic knee joint and it had to be removed. Ouch, to say the least! Then the Doctors decided to leave the joint out for three months until the infection cleared up.

At this point one would normally ask what you put into the space where a knee should be. Good question! The answer is good ole fashion concrete. You know the stuff we use to build slabs and buildings with. They just mix it up in the Operating Room and then add some antibiotics then pour it into the space where the knee used to be. Then off you go with a knee brace to keep it all in place.  You can actually walk on it somewhat.

Who would have thought that concrete would find its way inside the human body? I have to say I am truly amazed!