The Jet Journal
Curiosity is the whole job. I love to travel, meet people, and take things apart until I understand how they really work — the same instinct that finds what's actually wrong with a system instead of just the symptom. This is where I write down what I learn along the way.
From the editor
Travel, people, and straight talk.
The Jet Journal is written from the road as much as the attic. I love to travel, meet people, and dig into new things — a record heat wave in Washington, the highest point in Arkansas, a 74,000-square-foot travel center rising off I-30, a crawlspace in Bryant. Wherever I go, I ask a ton of questions, then write down what I learn: the stories, the history, and the practical stuff that saves you money and keeps somebody from ripping you off.
It's also where we chronicle NOHM — a private, secure home-service network our team is building to make getting help at your house faster, cleaner, and harder to scam: homeowners, landlords, and vetted local pros on one platform. Meet NOHM →
Featured · Field Notes · August 8, 2026
The Moab Expedition, Vol. II: What the Desert Gave Me Instead
I planned four days of Utah trails. I got wildfire smoke, a night hike I had no business taking, and two hours of stillness under Delicate Arch. The full field report — the smoke-red sun, Fins N' Things, a swamp cooler made of bedding, and a sunrise my body woke me up for. With photographs.
The archive
More from the Journal
Field Notes · July 28, 2026
The Moab Expedition: Four Days to Come Home Different
Before the trip: putting the phone in a drawer and driving into the Utah desert. Not to escape the work — to come back to it with a quieter heart. The plan, the mission, and why a man who fixes air conditioners is telling you about a desert.
Read →Know Your System · July 25, 2026
R-22, R-410A, R-454B: How to Tell How Old Your AC Really Is
The refrigerant in your outdoor unit is a hidden birth certificate. Our timeline — R-22 to R-410A to R-454B and R-32 — shows how old your system really is, and what it means for the repair-or-replace call.
Read →Consumer Protection · July 20, 2026
Wall Street Is Quietly Buying Your Local HVAC Company — Here's Why It Matters
Private equity is rolling up thousands of neighborhood HVAC companies and leaving the same name on the truck. How investor ownership quietly changes the incentives — more 'replace it,' more upsells, higher bills — and how to tell who really owns the company on your driveway.
Read →Field Notes · July 18, 2026
Who Invented Air Conditioning? The 1902 Spark That Changed Everything
On July 17, 1902, engineer Willis Carrier invented modern AC — to protect paper, not people. The Brooklyn print-shop problem that gave the world air conditioning, and why we (a proud Carrier dealer) think it still matters every Arkansas summer.
Read →Field Notes · July 18, 2026
The Highest Point in Arkansas: Mount Magazine & the Science of Staying Cool
2,753 feet up on Mount Magazine it was a breezy 85°; back home in the valley, 90-plus and sticky. A childhood drive to Sequoia, why elevation cools the air, and the one machine that's your 'elevation' at home.
Read →Buyer's Guide · July 15, 2026
Ranking the Best and Worst AC Brands (2026): An Installer's Honest Take
Everybody googles this before they buy. Carrier's my #1, American Standard and Trane a hair behind — and the truth nobody tells you: the installer matters more than any badge on the box.
Read →Consumer Protection · July 14, 2026
Why a Brand-New Amana Can Choke on Your Old Ductwork
The equipment isn't the problem — the pipes are. What static pressure does to a high-efficiency system, why some brands punish bad ducts faster, and the one calculation to demand before you sign.
Read →Field Notes · July 14, 2026
The Day I Shook Hands with Lawrence Taylor
September 2, 2025 at the Little Rock Touchdown Club: a capacity crowd, a Jet cap, and the most feared defensive player who ever put on a helmet. The career, the handshake, and what full speed teaches every trade.
Read →Field Notes · July 14, 2026
Two Rings, One Handshake: Meeting Jimmy Johnson
One week before LT, a Razorback national champion came home to Little Rock. The 1964 team, the Herschel Walker heist, back-to-back Super Bowls — and what a coach's standards teach every trade.
Read →Field Notes · July 14, 2026
The Gold Jacket Handshake: Meeting Tim Brown
The third Hall of Famer of the season came to Little Rock wearing the jacket. Mr. Raider, the first receiver ever to win the Heisman, and the quiet superpower of showing up for sixteen years.
Read →Field Notes · July 14, 2026
The People's Coach: Meeting Sam Pittman
The Touchdown Club season opener, a handshake with the head Hog, and no idea it was the last summer of the Pittman era. A tribute to the trenches — where everything is actually decided.
Read →Field Notes · July 10, 2026
I Was in D.C. for the Hottest July 4th Ever Recorded
103° air, 113° heat index, a 107-year-old record gone. What that kind of heat does to your heart, your sweat, and your sleep — field notes from the owner.
Read →Local Landmarks · August 13, 2026
Wright's Barbecue Lands in Benton — and the Pitmaster Used to Sell HVAC Parts
Moberg smokers, an all-oak fire, pitmaster Chase Faullin's 112° pit room I refused to fix — and pit crew member James Roach, who left the HVAC supply counter to get back to his dream of cooking.
Read →Local Landmarks · July 10, 2026
Behind the Brisket: What It Takes to Cool the Benton Buc-ee's
Arkansas's first Buc-ee's opens August 17 in Benton — 74,000 square feet held at a perfect 72°. The engineering math: roughly 300 tons of cooling, a rooftop fleet, and a war on humidity.
Read →Consumer Protection · July 9, 2026
How to Spot an HVAC Scam in Central Arkansas (2026)
The real tricks shady operators use when your AC dies in the heat — the upfront-deposit trap, phone-photo diagnoses, high-pressure pitches — and exactly how to protect yourself.
Read →Savings · July 8, 2026
Arkansas HVAC Rebates & Tax Credits (2026): How to Save on a New System
What actually pays in 2026 — Entergy Arkansas programs and manufacturer promotions — plus an honest look at the federal tax credits that ended after 2025. Source-cited.
Read →Technology · July 8, 2026
AI in Home Services: What the Data Actually Says for Arkansas Homeowners
A source-cited, hype-free look at AI in HVAC and home services — smart thermostats, predictive maintenance, Entergy's thermostat program, and the Central Arkansas broadband gap.
Read →Maintenance · March 18, 2026
Arkansas Spring 2026 HVAC Prep: Get Ready for Hot Summer
Why March is the CRITICAL month for AC tune-ups before Little Rock's brutal summer heat arrives. Same-day appointments still available!
Read →Industry News · March 18, 2026
2026 Refrigerant Regulations: What Arkansas Homeowners Need to Know
R-410A phaseout is happening NOW. Learn what R-454B means for your AC system and when you should care.
Read →Energy Savings · March 18, 2026
Little Rock Electric Rates Rising 8%: How to Cut Your AC Costs
Entergy Arkansas rate increase hits May 2026. Proven strategies to reduce cooling costs by 25-40% this summer.
Read →Seasonal Maintenance · March 18, 2026
Arkansas Pollen Season 2026: Your AC's Worst Enemy
Pine and oak pollen are coating outdoor AC units across Central Arkansas. Here's what you need to do THIS WEEK.
Read →Buying Guide · March 18, 2026
Heat Pump vs Gas Furnace: Best Choice for Central Arkansas?
Arkansas winters are mild but unpredictable. Here's the honest truth about which heating system makes sense for your home.
Read →Home Services · March 17, 2026
How to Choose a Trusted Plumber in Arkansas
Finding a trustworthy plumber shouldn't be a gamble. Learn what to look for and meet Wells Plumbing, a NOHM-verified partner we personally trust.
Read →Need a hand instead of an article?
Same-day service across Central Arkansas. A real person answers — day or night.