Walk the Long Road Without Stopping

Confucius’s Lessons for Leaders Seeking Steady Progress, Harmonious Teams, and Lasting Excellence in all Endeavors

The Master said: A journey of ten thousand li begins beneath the feet. So a leader begins within the heart. If thoughts are turbulent, followers taste unrest; if thoughts are clear, they drink serenity. Therefore, Polish intention is used as one sharpens a blade quietly at each dawn. Words follow intention; deeds follow words.

The Master said: To govern others, first align them, not by force but by example. Stand like the north star, unmoving, and let their compasses settle. Ask each to speak what they know; a river of wisdom swells from many springs. When harmony arises, effort feels light as air. Reward candor, correct gently, and trust the music of diverse voices.
Yet the Master warned: progress is slow as shadow across a sundial. Do not cease.

Each small step carves a path for the next generation. Share food with the weary, clarify milestones, and celebrate upright conduct. When night descends, examine yourself; if fault appears, amend it before sleep. Thus, the path extends beyond your years.

Take one mindful step, hear one voice, and polish a true intention. Let each act show care; by dusk, your example guides others toward their steady stride.

Google Taps Geothermal for $1.8B Reno Data Hub

Google breaks ground on $1.8 billion geothermal-powered data-center campus outside Reno, tying five wells to 300 MW of AI capacity and 5,200 build jobs

Google began grading a 640-acre sagebrush flat near Reno–Tahoe Industrial Center on May 3 after signing a 20-year power-purchase deal with Ormat to tap subterranean steam only three miles away. The project will erect three hyperscale halls and a 35-megawatt battery park, bringing 300 MW of net-zero compute online in 2028 to feed Gemini AI and Cloud customers across the West.

Turner-Kiewit crews drive 4,600 steel piles this week while drillers case the first 450-degree F production well. Next spring, the peak workforce will reach 5,200 craft workers to set 48,000 tons of structures, string 40 miles of fiber, and install 18 industrial heat-recovery chillers that slash water draw by 90 percent versus desert cool-tower designs. A closed-loop system will return spent brine to the reservoir, protecting the Truckee River.

Nevada awarded $105 million in abatements tied to a 25 percent apprentice quota, and Washoe County expects $2.1 billion in new assessed value. Economists forecast 400 permanent tech jobs plus 1,100 indirect roles, while Ormat plans to expand its Steamboat field by 120 MW so the project runs on pure geothermal even during heat waves. Analysts say the groundbreaking proves big tech can marry 24/7 clean power with rapid AI buildouts amid tightening grid constraints.

The third arch is seated on the new Portal North rail bridge

Portal North hits milestone: final 515-ft arch floats into Hackensack River, locking $1.9B project on track for 2027 service and 15% faster NEC trips

A 515-ft steel arch slid up the Hackensack at dawn, capping the trio for the new Portal North Bridge. Skanska-Kiewit crews eased the 6,200-ton frame into bearings while Amtrak and NJ Transit leaders watched from a tug. The float-in pushes the $1.9 billion fixed span past two-thirds complete, set to retire the balky 1910 swing bridge.

Crews will weld deck steel, tension tie rods, and pour a dual-track concrete bed rated 90 mph. River barges slip below the 50-ft clearance while commuter trains cross the old span. Laser prisms flag rail movement over an eighth inch, and nightly barges haul scrap to a Newark recycler, avoiding daytime truck jams.

The job supports 4,600 union jobs and should cut NEC delays by 15 percent once one track opens in 2026 and both in 2027. A $926 million federal grant, state bonds, and an RRIF loan cover costs, with bonuses for early handover. Crews will reef the old bridge piers after trains shift. Riders said today’s arch drop showed the old choke cracking.

Robot Printers Finish First 3D-Home Suburb in US

First 100-home 3D-printed neighborhood wraps in Texas; buyers rush as Lennar & ICON say robot walls cut waste 30% and trim framing crews four-fold

ICON’s Vulcan robots printed the final wall course at Wolf Ranch this week, completing the first 100-home 3D-printed community after twenty months of layer-stacking near Austin. Lennar calls the milestone a template for mass production amid a labor crunch. The 45-ft-wide gantry pumps ICON’s Lavacrete mix in scalloped ribbons, yielding monolithic walls rated to 220 mph winds and R-25 insulation.

ICON clocked walls in 27 hours, trimming framing crews from eight carpenters to two tablet-wielding techs and cutting waste by 30 %. The builder said that the remaining three- and four-bedroom models list from $445K to $610K; 64 % are already under contract after a weekend drone-tour drop. ICON touts 50-year walls.

City inspectors are prepping new shear and telecom specs while D.R. Horton pilots rival printers and JPMorgan funds a 500-home follow-up near Phoenix. Analysts say if the thick concrete shells ride out the forecast La Niña hurricanes, 3D robots could grab 5 % of U.S. single-family starts by 2028.

The Importance of Recognizing Confined Space Hazards on Construction Sites

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today's toolbox talk covers the recognition of confined space hazards. Confined spaces like maintenance holes, tunnels, or storage tanks pose serious safety risks.

Why It Matters
Confined spaces can contain hazardous gases, low oxygen levels, or other dangers, leading to serious injury or death if not properly managed.

Strategies for Recognizing Confined Space Hazards

1. Identify Confined Spaces: Mark and communicate confined space locations and associated hazards.

2. Pre-entry Testing:

   • Always test air quality for gases and oxygen levels before entering confined spaces.

3. Use Appropriate PPE:

   • Utilize proper respiratory equipment, harnesses, and safety gear as regulations require.

4. Assign Attendants:

   • Station trained attendants outside confined spaces during entry to monitor safety conditions.

5. Implement Rescue Procedures:

   • Develop and practice emergency rescue procedures before work begins.

Discussion Questions

• Have you encountered hazards in confined spaces before?

• What additional measures can we implement for confined space safety?

Conclusion
Identifying confined space hazards and following safe entry procedures ensures everyone's safety.

Be aware, enter safely!