Compact fluorescents (CFL’s) are supposed to save a lot of energy and last longer. They do cost more than incandescent bulbs, so they should last longer. Personally I don’t find they last as long as regular bulbs in many cases. I recently read an article that suggested they last longer if you wait 15 minutes before turning them back on again. That doesn’t work so well in a bathroom or any room that gets used frequently. I often forget something and go right back and turn the light on again. I try really hard to turn off lights when I leave a room, and maybe mine aren’t lasting so long because I’m constantly turning them off and on! Some brands are slow to brighten up enough to see. Sometimes when I’m looking for something, I might be better off using a flashlight because of the time it takes to be bright enough to see. I could also be getting brands that aren’t as reliable, or simply a bad batch. I have some that last and last, and others that fail too soon.

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Construction for Hoover Dam started in 1931 (some sources say it began in 1930), and was completed in less than 5 years- 2 years ahead of schedule, and well under budget. It is listed as one of the top 10 construction achievements in the 20^th century. A national historic landmark, it stands 725 feet above the Colorado River. With 17 generators it produces 4 billion kilowatts of electricity a year.

It attracts more than a million visitors a year and is located in Black Canyon, 35 miles outside of Las Vegas. They have two tour options that both sound quite interesting. They have some age and mobility restrictions, so it is good to call ahead and make sure which tour will work best for your group.

Due to all of the traffic crossing the current bridge, they are building a new bridge to help alleviate the current bottleneck. The bridge looks quite impressive, and is an amazing construction feat by itself.