Between Editions

We fooled everyone pretty good with our first installment of “Satire Wednesday.” By now, hopefully everyone realizes that Murphy Oil isn’t planning to construct a 150 story building in downtown El Dorado.

The structure, however, is very real. But it’s being built a half a world away in the United Arab Emirates.

This stunning glass tower is called Burj Dubai, and will top out somewhere over 150 stories. The actual height is a closely guarded secret. Never before has such a tower been built, and if you’re anything like me and love architecture, it’s an exciting thing to see.

I thought that everyone might like to know the real story behind the fictional Boomtown Tower. So click here for Burj Dubai’s official web site.

**NOTE** The web site is graphics intensive and may take a while to load, especially if you are on a dial-up connection.

Tourism isn’t a word that’s normally associated with South Arkansas, but it’s an important part of our economy, as numbers from the state’s tourism office show. We’ll have an article in the South Arkansas Sunday News this Sunday demonstrating just how important tourism is here.

Next week, South Arkansas will host Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and other guests as part of National Tourism Week. A special event will be held on Tuesday, May 12, at the Arkansas Welcome Center, 3315 Junction City Road. Barbecue will be provided by JJ’s; Chuck Dovish, of Traveling Arkansas fame, will be on hand signing autographs; and the state’s mobile tourism recreational vehicle will be there as well.

Beebe is scheduled to speak that evening at the Natural Resources Museum in Smackover. Hopefully these events will be very well attended. It’s important to show everyone in the state that South Arkansas can host (successfully) events like these. This is a good chance for us to shine.

It’s getting a little tiresome, all this political mumbo jumbo. Promises for this, pledges for that, but it all amounts to a bent fender on a ‘72 Buick. In other words, not worth much.

There is no way, for example, one particular candidate can change the way El Dorado does business, nor can they redirect tax money to a particular place. If elected, they can, of course, make suggestions, write proposals, and speak into their microphones at meetings in hopes that their ideas will pass muster.

It really bothers me how candidates have cute little tag lines like “I’ll change the world,” or “Vote for me because I’m the man who will bring you what you need.” These, of course, are facetious examples. I don’t want to single out any one person here.

Tip to politicians: Turn off the phony charm. Be real with voters. Don’t make promises you know are false and you know you can’t keep.

Instead of telling voters you will redirect something, say you will “work with other leaders to try and find a better formula.” At least that way you are covered. You can actually work with other leaders and try your best. You can’t do everything on your own, as your ads promise.

Another tip: No one wants to hear flowery superlatives in your speeches. They mean nothing. Adding that extra adverb just means that you spent time too much time writing your speech and not enough time figuring out how to better our state, county and city.

Keep it simple. Keep it real.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Union County and Union Parish, La. from 9:43 p.m. until around 11:30 p.m. Union County is also in a tornado watch until around 3:30 a.m., according to KNOE Channel 8 News.

 Is it just me, or has our neck of the woods become way more of a shooting gallery for dangerous weather this spring? Look to your right for information on local weather developments.

 Be careful out there, folks…