It is often said that the unknowns in the business or financial worlds are the most dangerous elements. Likewise, our approach to certain issues, whether they are unknown or not, is a key factor that will determine a success or failure.

In my travels this last week, I visited an “S-Bridge”, constructed on The National Road around 1824 or so just west of New Concord Ohio. At first glance, the bridge (which were numerous at the time) seems an odd-fit, and is peculiar looking at best. But, when its design is understood, the bridge and what it accomplishes, becomes crystal clear. Continue reading →

Plans- as they pertain to the building trades, there’s not much else is there? Everything begins, continues, and ultimately goes back to… the plans and specifications.

Plans and Specs, Plans and Specs. We say it and we hear it day in and day out. I’m sure that there have been sub-contractors and superintendents who have contemplated standing in front of train! If only… if only they would never again hear – Plans and Specs. Continue reading →

This time of the year, in many respects, can be the MOST hazardous for drivers, especially for truckers- who often travel from one extreme to the next. Until it is summer, we are very often faced with cold temperatures at night and warm ones during the day.

If you combine this with storms and precipitation extremes of many areas in April and May, you could wind up with some unexpected conditions. While it may be sunny and beautiful in many locales, you can very quickly encounter winter or stormy driving conditions well into the summer months depending on your location! Continue reading →

I have begun what will be my first and hopefully greatest work. That’s right, I’m joining the throngs of “writers” out there, and am penning my own masterpiece- my first Novel. I’m a little over halfway done with a first draft according to input from a couple of my editor friends, and that’s exciting! But, I have been trying lately, perhaps a bit to much, to try and “turn the story” towards it’s ending. As a result, I’ve been struggling a bit with 500 words a day or maybe a sentence re-work here and there, and my process has slowed over the last week. I think that SOME editing along the way might be helpful to keep the story on some kind of pathway. Others, including Steinbeck, say to just write and then edit when it’s time to edit. And really, who am I to argue with the likes of Steinbeck? The man was an expert writer and my literary hero!

He gives us 6 tips for writing and number 2 says to “write freely” and edit later… Well, maybe I should try that. Still, I’m a little bit of a grammar Nazi, and when something isn’t correct, I feel the need to go back and correct it! I’ll do my best to try and get past that. Continue reading →

When speaking of the Black community in the United States- many people, even some in the Black Community, may only know of the NAACP, or perhaps some the efforts of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. This goes double for White America, who know next to nothing of some of the struggles faced within the Black Community or of the many organizations that have lined up to assist.

We have found a list denoting the top 10 organizations that are actively helping out in the many areas that have been neglected for far too long. Continue reading →

            Went to a baseball game the other night. Yep, loaded up in the ‘ole family mobile, and headed up north, up to Indianapolis. Went to the Indians game; had pretty good seats too, Row “S”, seats 12 and 13, behind the Indians dugout. It was the third, and probably the last, baseball game of this year that I’ll be able to go to. It being later on in the year and all. 

            At the last minute, my little fella was unable to go. Sometime 10 year old priorities can change at the drop of a hat, though I really can’t understand what could be more important than a ballgame. So instead of my boy, I took an old friend along to the ballpark. Well, the game started at 5:00 pm, so we left Seymour around 2:30’ish, I really don’t like to be late. No, I like to have plenty of time to mess around, get a bit to eat, find a parking space, and still beat the crowd. That being said, I took a wrong turn off of I-70, and burned up my “messing around time” getting turned back around, and heading in the right direction. Well, I finally got my bearings straight, and found my way to the parking garage. 

Continue reading →