thenorphletpaperboy: The World is Flat (Socially)

thenorphletpaperboy: The World is Flat (Socially):       ARKANSAS                                                                     By                       Richard Mason     ...

The World is Flat (Socially)

      ARKANSAS

                                                                    By

                      Richard Mason

                                 The World is Flat (Socially)

My hat’s off to Tom Friedman and his business focused book THE WORLD IS FLAT. I think Mr. Friedman makes a great point of how goods and services are being bid, contracted for, and the work done by freelance workers around the world. I’ve published over 20 books and 19 of them have been handled by a great self-publishing service in Australia called BWM Books. They   get the cover work done in Pakistan. Yes, if you want a subdivision in Norphlet plated out, you can put it on freelancers.com and get bids from all over the world to do the work. That’s great, but I want to focus on the social aspects of a ‘flat’ world.

In 1965, Vertis and I were living in Benghazi, Libya, and I had built up enough vacation days for us to spend a long weekend in Athens, Greece. East African Airways had a route from South Africa to Athens that stopped to refuel in Benghazi, and if you didn’t mind boarding at 3:30 A. M. you could fly nonstop to Athens in an hour and a half. We decided to spend our 5th wedding anniversary there and leaving Libya at 3:30 in the morning was a no-brainer. Our wedding anniversary is January 17, so it was cold in Athens when we arrived, but we jumped right into trying to do everything possible in the few days we were going to be there. Of course, we hit the Archeological Museum first and then late in the day, when we were ready for dinner, we asked the desk clerk where he would go for dinner. He seemed surprised that so called “rich” Americans would eat where Greeks would, but since we really weren’t “rich” we weren’t about to stop at a fancy tourist restaurant. He gave us directions and after walking deeper into the old city, we found the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. We walked in and the Greek customers seemed surprised, but not as surprised as we were when the waiter handed us an all Greek menu. However, the waiter just smiled and motioned for us to come to the front display case where it was to point and pick our dinner. Well, looking around, if we were from Mars, we couldn’t have been more noticeable. Yes, we stood out, and the next night when we ventured deeper into the old city and stopped in a large Greek restaurant with live Greek music. Well, not only did we standout, but every person in a nearly full restaurant was dressed in black. Of course, that was the night Vertis decided to wear all white, but even if we had been wearing black, we would have stood out. Greek clothing and ordinary American wear was miles apart.

             That’s not the case today. A few weeks ago we were on a driving trip through western Greece on vacation, and stopped in Patas, a Greek town well away from Athens. Vertis and I walked across the street from our hotel to have a light lunch at just an ordinary local place with counter service, and an all Greek menu. Of course, we were lost as a goose trying to read Greek, but after help from a waiter, owner, and a customer, we dined on lamb k-bobs, fries, salad, and drinks for under $12. However, the lunch was an open display of how the social world has become flat. First the clothes: if you had picked up the crowd of locals who came by while we were eating and dropped them in the Dallas, Texas Galleria shopping mall they would have blended right in with torn jeans and all; and not only the younger ones. After we started really taking notice, we were amazed. But the clothes were only part of the social scene we noticed. Virtually, every customer held a cell phone and seemed glued to it, the television featured a random selection of American fare as American music blared background music. The USA has clearly dominated the social world, and whatever is hot fashion-wise or leading the music charts dominates the tastes of nearly every European and West Asian person. America culture is so all encompassing that there is no second, third, etc. It’s an all American social imprint on the rest of western culture, and that social style is rapidly encompassing the rest of the world. Of course the root of the influence is the American internet that now pervades every country in the world, and our lifestyles are being copied worldwide. That social scene, combined with the use of English as the language of trade and tourism, puts even a stronger American imprint on the rest of the world. If a Japanese and a Greek converse, it’s in English, etc.

Well, it’s obvious, that for better or worse, our country has a tremendous worldwide influence on the social life of the average person. However, it seems to me, it is impossible for that influence to just be regulated to the social aspects of life. American internet, cell phones, and movies are penetrating every corner of the world, and I think, not only is the penetration commercial, but the democratic values of United States are having a global influence that goes far beyond just social, and with all our wrinkles, it makes the world a better place to live. As Thomas Freedman noted in his book, it also makes the world a safer place to live. You are not going to war with your major customer, so the deeper the world becomes dependent upon the United States for commercial and intellectual items, the safer we become, and the less conflict we will have in the world.

thenorphletpaperboy: We're Booming Again!

thenorphletpaperboy: We're Booming Again!:              ARKANSAS                                 By                      Richard Mason                                   ...

We're Booming Again!

             ARKANSAS

                                By

                     Richard Mason

                                  We’re Booming Again!

Wow, what a week! If what we received during opening weekend of MAD is any indication of what’s to come, El Dorado will never be the same! Yes, we’re booming again, and the long anticipated grand opening of MAD was certainly worth waiting for, and the folks, who worked night and day for weeks on end, have hit a home run. The opening ran smoothly, considering the huge task of having a quadruple venue of restaurant, cabaret, amphitheater, and music-hall all having simultaneous grand openings. I can only marvel at how the team pulled it all together, and their effort moved El Dorado up, from being just a stop to buy gasoline, into a world-class destination.

If you had talked with some of the thousands who attended the five day grand opening, which by the way, had the largest  group of top entertainers together in the state at one time, you would have marveled at how many of the attendees came from, not only out-of-town, but out of state. And after the entertainment spectaculars, the ones I talked with, will carry back rave reviews to Shreveport, Dallas, and Jackson, etc. “We’ll be back!” was the overriding theme I heard from the dozens I interviewed.

Yes, there were a few minor wrinkles, but that’s to be expected, and until you put on a production of that magnitude, it’s really impossible to predict every item that would smooth things out. However, as an overview, I was shocked at how smoothly most all of the attractions ran. Without a doubt, the GRIFFIN MUSIC HALL will become a must Mid-South stop for many of the top flight entertainers in the country. Personally, after seeing the stage lighting and sound, in the Griffin, I can’t wait to attend one of the many Broadway Plays that will be lining up to perform there.

I especially liked the variety of entertainment on tap for the grand opening, and looking ahead at the acts to come, MAD will have something for everyone, and not only just something, but top quality acts. If you want to be entertained by some of the best in a variety of entertainment fields, look no further than MAD.

Of course, since Phase One of the entertainment complex is such an overwhelming success, the forthcoming addition, MAD PLAYSCAPE, which will be the largest, innovative, and attractive children’s play area in the state, will greatly add to MAD.

Well, we’ve been served up a grand opening week, which whets our taste for more of the same top quality entertainers, and make us anticipate Phase Two. Wow, the addition will include The MAD ART GALLERY, a top of the mark three level art museum, with a possible connection to Crystal Bridges. Just think of how many more visitors will be attracted when this state-of-the-art museum opens with world class, quality art. But I saved the crown jewel for last: Yes, the fabulous 1929 RIALTO THEATER will be totally renovated and returned to its original splendor, but with added modern acoustics, lighting, and seating. Upon completion, the Rialto will once again be a venue combination of live music and drama entertainment.  Add that to the already runaway success of MAD, and then include MAD FARMERS MARKET in the amphitheater area, and you will have to stretch your mind to fathom the impact the whole package will have on our city.

Get ready folks, it’s only going to get better and better! 

But I would me amiss if I didn’t mention one of the sparkplugs who moved the project forward, and couldn’t be with us for the grand opening; Edwin Alderson.  Edwin is fighting a serious illness, and those of us who know Edwin, are pulling for him to kick it, and to rejoin us at MAD. 

thenorphletpaperboy: Why I Sent The Check

thenorphletpaperboy: Why I Sent The Check:          ARKANSAS                  BY            Richard Mason                                                      Why I Se...

Why I Sent The Check

         ARKANSAS

                 BY

           Richard Mason                          

                          Why I Sent the Check

Portland, Texas, (a bedroom community of Corpus Christi) August 2^nd, 1970

7:00 A. M.

“Hey, Vertis, there’s a tropical storm in the Gulf, and they have just named it Celia…looks like it’s heading this way.”

“How strong is it?”

“Well, it’s getting close to seventy-five miles an hour, which will make it a hurricane.”

“Do you think we should leave? Maybe drive up to San Antonio?”

“No, I don’t think so. Right now the forecasters are saying it might even weaken by the time it hits the coast, and be nothing more than a good rain. I’m going on to work, but I’ll plot up the co-ordinates and let you know what it looks like at noon.”

Noon, August 2^nd

 “Well, it looks about the same as this morning, and the track is still heading our way.”

“Richard, we have two babies to think about. Are you sure we shouldn’t leave?”

“No, I’m not, but let’s wait until tonight to decide.”

7:00 P. M., August 2^nd

“I have some good news and maybe a little bad news.”

“What?”

“The National Hurricane Center says the storm is likely to weaken until it is barely a hurricane. That’s the good news, and the bad news is that we’re right in the projected path.”

“Richard, trying to get these babies in the car and go anywhere is next to impossible. If the storm is just seventy-five mile per hour, it won’t be a big deal, and we sure could use a little rain.”

“Yeah, I’ve talked with Reinemunds and they’re staying, and everybody in the Six Hundred Building downtown said they were staying, so let’s just put the kids to bed and see what happens tomorrow.

9:00 A. M. August 3^rd

“Richard, they’re saying Celia may be strengthening in the warm water near-shore, and the first strong winds are going to start by noon.”

“Gosh, that’s only three hours away. I’m going to put up anything that could blow around and shut the garage doors. It’s too late to leave now. We’re just going to ride this one out. Maybe it will weaken by the time it crosses Padre Island.”

Noon, August 3^rd

“Richard! I just saw a swing set blowing down the street! I wonder how strong the winds are?”

“I don’t know, but let’s get ready to put the kids in the bathroom, if the wind gets any stronger. I think that room in the most enclosed room in the house, and the kids can get in the tub. We’ll put some blankets in there with them Oh yeah, they said to run some water in a big bucket or something in case we lose water service.”

2:00 P. M. August 3^rd

“Richard, I just saw pieces of somebodies roof blowing down the street and look! There’s a whole roof! Something just hit our roof, and the house is shaking! Oh, my God! We’re going to lose our roof!”

“Get the kids and let’s get in the bathroom! Hurry! Our roof is about to go…Damn! Something just hit our roof! Oh, my God! Both of our neighbors roof are ripping off!”

“Richard, I’m so scared, and I feel so bad that we didn’t take our kids to San Antonio! What if something happens to them? I’ll never forgive myself!”

“Vertis, the house is shaking and I think our roof is about to go!  Get the kids in the bathtub and cover them with those blankets and then lie down beside the tub! Tell the kids not to move! I’ll lie down against you…and say a little prayer.”

An hour later:

“Richard, the wind is dying down! Maybe it’s over!”

“Stay, here Vertis, and I’ll take a look out the front door!”

“Come here; you won’t believe this! The radio says the eye of the storm is over Portland! The wind has completely quit blowing, and I can see blue sky.”

We’re in the front yard now, and my mouth drops open when I see the devastation on our street. House after house has been ripped apart, and out two neighbors on either side of us who had two story house have lost their entire roofs.

“Vertis, I’m going to drive down the street and see about Bill Floyd. Their house is right on Corpus Christi Bay.”

“My God,” I mutter minutes later, as I view just a few walls that are still standing including the front door. As I pull up the front door opens and Bill runs out.

“Richard, I’ve been holding my front door shut to keep it from blowing off its hinges!”

“Get in the car, Bill. It’s half time and that black wall of clouds out in the bay is heading for us! Our house is still standing.”

We’re back at my house now, and just minutes later the wind, which was out of the north during the first part of the storm is back and it’s out of the south. Bill is exhausted and collapses on the couch as we watch the wind pick up, and soon it is at full hurricane strength. Vertis is keeping the kids in the bathroom, but Bill and I are peaking out watching the storm, and we watch the debris from the first part of the storm is blowing back up the street along with anything else that wasn’t nailed down.

It has been another hellacious hour, but the wind has now slacked off to I would estimate less than 50 MPH, and is continuing to drop. Our best friends, the Reinemunds, live a few blocks up the street and on a street where the storm winds blew directly straight at their house. It takes a few minutes to dodge the debris, but when we turned the corner where we could see their house, our hearts dropped. The house is just a pile of collapsed walls and rubble. Vertis bursts out crying, and I drop my head thinking the family is either severely injured or dead. But a minor miracle has occurred---George, Marilyn, and their two girls just ran out from a neighbor’s house across the street. In the first part of the storm, as their roof went flying off George put Marilyn and the girls in the kitchen against the island, and when the wall fell it left them in a small space uninjured

7:00 P. M. August 3^rd.

At last count there are 23 people in our living room and kitchen to spend the night with us. We have no electricity, water, or gas. It will be a week before we have water and gas, and 30 days before the lights go on again.

9:00 A. M. August 4^th.

We’ve taken a drive through town and when we turned into the First Baptist Church parking lot tears streamed down our faces. Two weeks before the property committee, of which I was a member, had been disbanded and we had dedicated a new 600 seat auditorium. Celia’s winds had ripped off the huge roof, which we never saw again, and both side walls had collapsed on the pews. Only the foyer and baptistery remained.

August 5^th, 10:00 A. M.

We’re back at the church now, and our pastor as just accepted a check from our insurance company for the full amount of coverage, and our building committee has been reformed. After helping to salvage a few items from the church, we’re resting when a large semi-trailer truck pulls up into the parking lot. In big letters it says, The Baptism Men of Texas Disaster Team. In minutes the truck’s rear doors are opened and hundreds of cases of water and ice are handed out to us. It was such an emotional experience that there were few dry eyes as we hauled away what to us was precious water and ice.

It’s noon now and we join our friends the Reinemunds for lunch. We’re standing in line to receive it from a Texas National Guard unit, and I will never forget that moment when a guardsmen handed me my lunch.

That’s why I mailed the check.

Celia’s sustained winds were clocked at 130 MPH with gust to 180 MPH.

thenorphletpaperboy: Being Civic Minded

thenorphletpaperboy: Being Civic Minded:              ARKANSAS                                 By                      Richard Mason                                    ...