Construction seasons
The old joke in northern climates was that there were two seasons: winter and construction. Highway departments would plan their work in stages they could complete “before the snow flies”. […]
Engineering education
Practice makes permanent
Whether competing in the Olympics or playing a musical instrument, expertise takes years of practice to develop. “Practice makes perfect” according to the old saying, but is it true? Unless […]
The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know
“The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.” Who first made this observation? Many attribute it to Aristotle, others to Einstein. Anyone who studies any subject in […]
Technical writing through the looking glass
In teaching technical writing, I often quote Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. That may seem strange until you realize that Charles Dodge, who […]
Rendering an engineering opinion
To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, states regulate the engineering profession. We’ve discussed previously what it takes to obtain a license as a Professional Engineer. Public […]
What makes a good explanation?
One summer I visited some Norwegian friends who lived near Stockholm. The husband and their two-year-old son took me to the airport for my return flight. There, Håkon eagerly explored under […]
“Good enough” is best
Advertising for luxury cars and watches would lead you to believe that a never-ending quest for perfection is a good thing. But in real life, perfectionism can only lead to […]
Sustaining the commons
We’ve discussed the tragedy of the commons, an economic theory that dates back to Aristotle: “What is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.” It […]
What engineers should know about acceptance testing
At the ACI spring convention, the Hot Topic session focused on acceptance testing of concrete. Someone pointed out that we’ve been having the same discussion for the last 40 years. […]
Choose your battles
For 19 years I had an orange tabby, known formally as Fridtjof den dristige*, who defended our territory as only an orange tabby can. Orange tabbies have a reputation as […]