Tag:Tips
Culver Boys & Girls Club Auction
Easterday Construction Co., Inc. was a sponsor for Friday night’s Culver Boys & Girls Club event. Becky and I attended and, as usual, had a good time.
It is impressive to see the amount of effort put into decorations and other accoutrements for the event. I know from personal observation how much time and effort board member Carol Zeglis puts into the event and I’m sure she is not the only one.
Fletcher Cemetery Veterans Memorial Dedication Announcement
This is a project from last year. We relocated the Veterans Memorial Monument to a new base with a plaza and pedestal bases for additional markers. We donated the installation of a new flagpole including the new concrete flagpole base. If you can’t attend this memorial dedication, please remember our veterans in your own way.
Tax Freedom Day 2015
Today is National Tax Freedom Day for 2015. Fortunately for those of us in Indiana, ours was back around the 18th of April, so this week’s paycheck is ours!
When I was reading this, I ran across this article talking about how poorly Americans did on understanding the U.S. Tax code. I think I got 80%, but I’m going to agree with the article in saying some of the questions were a bit tricky. I knew what they were talking about at least, though maybe not the specifics.
If you choose to read the article, check out some of the comments as well. There was an interesting argument thread between the Taxed Too Much crowd and the Taxes Pay For Benefits group. I tend to lean toward the former, but the latter made a few good points.
Happy Tax Freedom Day!
Image Source: Tax Foundation
Solar Roadways
Artist’s rendition of downtown Sandpoint, Idaho – Home of Solar Roadways Graphic design by Sam Cornett
I ran across this site for Solar Roadways the other day. This is a pretty cool concept if they can get it off the ground. The basic concept is to “pave” roads and sidewalks with durable solar panels. Not only would they generate electricity, theoretically paying for themselves, but also have benefits:
- Lighted Pavement Markings, which would be below the surface. They would never need to be “restriped” and would be visible at night.
- They would have internal heating elements to melt snow in the winter time.
- Power street lights, stop lights, etc.
- They could post emergency messages or warnings.
- Include sensors that could alert motorists to problems down the road.
It seems like there are lots of possibilities if this works out. It’s conceivable that every home could have a driveway from this material as supplemental power.
The company is generating funds from a Federal Highway Grant as well as crowdfunding. (Linked at their site.) Check them out. They have a lot of cool pictures… some conceptual and some actual prototypes.
Image Source: Solar Roadways
A Sense of Place
Becky often gives me grief about not turning things off when we’re out somewhere. When I walk through a parking lot I am looking at the lane layout, the slopes, the drainage structures and drainage patterns. When we’re sitting in a restaurant or someone’s home, I’m looking at the details of how the trim was completed, the lights that were used and the lighting patterns that were created. I can usually tell whether someone else was thinking of these things or whether they where haphazardly done. A lot of these things I file away for future reference and they will appear in some incarnation in a future project if it’s something I liked. I’ve always believed the adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
