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Move the Chains

Tom Landry’s Gridiron Blueprint for Motivating Players, Crafting Clear Goals, and Driving Teams to Cross the Goal Line Together Now!

Discipline is the huddle where leadership begins. Before the snap, you look eleven men in the eye and translate confusion into one crisp count. Players may not love wind sprints or film sessions, yet they crave the victory those drills deliver. My job was to draw the play so clearly they could picture the end zone before the ball left the ground. At night, we face the stars and remember that every pinpoint once steered a voyage we!

Motivation follows clarity. I never asked a player to run a route he didn’t grasp. I tied every tedious rep to Sunday’s scoreboard. Show a guard how his pull opens daylight, and he digs harder in August heat. Align unwanted effort with desired result, and reluctance turns into purpose by halftime.

Then comes execution. We broke big goals into first downs: ten yards, chain crew moves, and huddle again. Leaders in any field should signal progress that teammates can measure in real time. Praise a well-run slant, correct a blown audible, and reset the clock. When people sense steady yardage, they fight for final inches, and the scoreboard answers loudly and accurately!

Walk rows today, ask one question to spark curiosity, share a tool that eases toil, leave hand, trusting tomorrow’s harvest grows richer through care!

Utilities Slam Phantom Data Centers With Big Fees

Dominion and Appalachian Power demand up to 80% of deposits as utilities battle phantom AI data-center requests clogging interconnection queues.

Virginia utilities rattled the cloud sector by proposing rate classes that require new data centers to pre-pay 60-100% of their contracted power and heftier study fees. Dominion’s plan covers 80 queued campuses near Ashburn, where requests already exceed the capacity of the grid room. Officials say deposits will purge “phantom” AI projects that clog interconnection lines.

Builders flinched: Mortenson froze a 120-MW shell and shifted crews to a hospital, while DPR warned Roanoke electricians their start dates now rest on tariff clarity. About $600 million in prefab switchgear is on hold, and land brokers report skipped option payments across Data Center Alley.

Developers decry a brake on innovation, yet analysts expect copycat rules from Texas to Minnesota and see U.S. data center starts slide 15% in 2026. Steel mills and HVAC shops may pivot to airports and chip fabs freed by the slowdown, and utilities insist households shouldn’t bankroll wires for projects that never pour foundations.

Subway Surge: $186M Boost Powers SAS Phase 2

MTA okays a $186M AECOM-HNTB pact to manage Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, speeding up TBM bids and oversight for the $7.7B East Harlem extension by 2032.

On March 26, the MTA board approved a $186.6 million project-management pact with an AECOM-HNTB team for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2. The deal allows staff to vet designs and stage bids for three contracts: extending the Q line 1.8 miles to 125th Street, linking to Metro-North, and adding ADA stations at 106th and 116th Streets in East Harlem.

The JV mobilizes this summer, refines 30 percent of plans, and prepares a $3 billion tunnel-shell tender for September. Utility relocations have already shifted water and fiber, and launch boxes for the twin 22-ft TBMs should be ready for a 2026 start. MTA says tighter oversight can keep costs near the $7.7 billion budget.

About 14,000 job years and climate-controlled platforms are promised by 2035, yet critics note the $4.3 billion-per-mile cost and a separate $250 million design vote the same day. Chair Janno Lieber counters that robust management will prevent repeat Phase 1 delays and vows to provide quarterly dashboards, allowing riders to track each tunneling dollar in real-time.

CA Code Makes Heat Pumps Default in New Homes 26

California's 2025 code mandates the standardization of heat pumps. January 2026 permits demand for electric HVAC and water heating, so builders quickly retool their specifications and supply chains.

California’s Energy Commission voted to adopt the 2025 building energy code this month, making heat pumps the prescriptive default for space and water heating on every new permit filed after January 1, 2026. Gas isn’t banned, but any choice of furnace or tank heater triggers costly envelope trade-offs and blower-door proof, nudging almost all builders toward electric.

KB Home quickly switched to 16-SEER2 heat pumps and hybrid water heaters, estimating a $5,600 hit but reclaiming $2,000 in 45L credits and gaining a marketing edge. Fresno subs say orders jumped 40 %, and Rheem will double output in the Carolinas while staging units in Stockton rail yards for spring slab builders’ budget conduits and subpanels.

Gas utilities warn that peaks could soar 30% in the Sierra, yet CEC models show owners saving $220 per year, and the rule aims to reduce 5 million metric tons of CO₂ by 2030. Wood Mackenzie predicts that 80% of California houses will ditch gas outright in 2026, and Arizona, Colorado, and New Jersey are drafting parallel codes, which are expected to be in effect by 2027.

The Importance of Safe Handling of Broken or Cracked Tools

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk focuses on safely handling broken or cracked tools. Damaged tools can fail unexpectedly, leading to serious injuries.

Why It Matters
Using cracked or broken tools can cause cuts, punctures, electrical shocks, or flying debris hazards. Ensuring tools are in good condition protects the safety of everyone.

Strategies for Safe Tool Handling

1. Regular Inspections:

   • Always inspect tools before use, checking for cracks, splits, loose parts, or damage.

2. Immediate Removal:

   • If you find a damaged tool, immediately tag it "Out of Service" and inform a supervisor.

3. Never Use Damaged Tools:

   • Never attempt to fix or modify damaged tools; temporarily replace or repair them properly.

4. Proper Storage:

   • Store tools securely to prevent damage from impacts, moisture, or improper handling.

5. Report and Replace:

   • Always report damaged equipment and ensure replacements are readily available.

Discussion Questions

• Have you encountered incidents caused by damaged tools?

• How can we better manage tool inspections?

Conclusion
Safe tool use depends on regular checks, immediate reporting, and prompt replacements. Always handle tools responsibly.

Inspect tools to stay safe!