Big Phones
A few years ago phones were getting smaller and smaller to the point that they were hard to read and the idea of a phone/watch ala Dick Tracy didn’t seem too far away. In the last few years we’ve seen the trend in phones go the other direction, to the point that one handed texting and app control is just about impossible. The Phone/Watch has now evolved to become one of the myriad of phone accessories that are accessed via Blue Tooth or other means. My wife, Dr. Rebecca Berger, wears ReSound hearing aids which are wirelessly linked to her phone for streaming music and even cooler, making the phone work to isolate conversations in restaurants. (No, not other people’s conversations – the conversations at our table! Less repeating for me… though no less repeating for her…)
Phones continue to get thinner, but they are getting larger and larger screens. Great for watching videos, but that’s not why I have a phone nor how I use it most of the time. The last go round I got a new Droid Razr Maxx replacing my previous Droid Razr Maxx that I loved. Even though the increased size is minor, it’s enough to make it almost impossible for one handed use. My thumb just won’t reach that far!
So though it pains me to admit this, maybe Steve Jobs got it right with the size of the original iPhone… At least that’s what this article at Quartz posits. The rise of the tablet has caused this and I’ve already opined on why I think that’s a step backward here. I am pleased with the Swype feature for texting and typing on my phone (Something sorely missing from Apple products), but any additional growth in screen size will make this a two handed operation. That’s not what I want in a phone. I want a phone that I can put in my pocket.
As with most trends, there will probably be ups and downs over time. I hope functionality wins out or at least “optionality”… so I can have a phone that does what I need at a size that doesn’t split pocket seams and cause thumb strain…
Source: Dick Tracy Image from www.pmag.com
Source: Thumb Reach picture from www.qz.com
Source: Thumb Strain picture from www.hartchirocenter.com
Culver Wellhead Protection Map
Map of Town of Culver wellhead aquifer area
I received the handy-dandy map to the right in the mail from the Town of Culver the other day along with a letter from Dave Schoeff, Culver Town Manager, talking about various procedures for protecting the well water for Culver’s municipal wells. All of it was a good reminder as ground water contamination isn’t something that people think about on a day to day basis. I doubt many people think about where the municipal tap water comes from beyond the faucet to which it is attached. I doubt many people really looked at the map either. Aside from the weird abbreviation for street “Str.” and the random dashed line area floating above the Lutheran Church property, two other things struck me. First being that the aerial photography for the base map is old. Construction began on Culver Garden Court in 2011 and it is not shown in the photograph. The second and more interesting thing pertinent to recent discussions is that the 10 year protection line extends very close to the current Culver Zoning Boundary.
Hopefully this will be added to the list of reasons why Culver should be allowed to extend their Territorial Authority per the Comprehensive Plan. Any decisions about development in these zones should be considered against the backdrop of wellhead protection along with all the other factors. If that is the 10 year line, then the 15 year line is farther out yet, not to mention some of the locations being considered for another well might have aquifer areas even farther out. Add this to your file Dave!
Little League 2014
Easterday Construction has always sponsored a Little League team. We always ask for Easterday Green shirts and they try and accommodate us. The team is pictured to the right. I hit the organizers up about including names with the plaque. Some of those kids may work here someday and it would be fun to see the tie-in. Ha!
Constitution Day 2014
I’ve yet to hear mention on the news today that today is Constitution Day, otherwise known as Citizenship Day. Hopefully it is still discussed in our schools.
Our Constitution remains one of the most succinct documents of its type and despite being written centuries ago, it continues to hold the guiding principles that have made the United States great. That’s why it is disheartening when our leaders, those sworn to uphold it, disparage it. The most notable case of this that jumps to mind is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg‘s comment during the reorganization of Egypt that, “I would not look to the US constitution, if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012.”
Take a moment today to remember the 39 brave men who signed that document in 1787. Their courage and commitment should be celebrated.
If you are interested in additional links and comments I’ve made on Constitution Day, use the search bar to the right.
