LJ's `Great Wall'

Question: which took longer to build, the Great Wall of China or The Local Center in Lake Jackson?
Answer: can't say yet, they're still building The Local Center.

When it's finished, though, the structure looks to be a nice addition to the moribund downtown of LJ.

Still, it seems as if the building has taken an inordinately long time to build. The reason, to us, seems obvious. The builders are using Third World construction methods to build it. Specifically, they're constructing the building brick-by-brick, or, more specifically, cinderblock-by-cinderblock. Now, that construction method is still widely used in North America, so the builders of The Local Center are not alone in employing such old-fashion methods.

Still, for everyone's edification, it should be known there are much better and MUCH FASTER ways to erect buildings. Instead of stacking one cinderblock on top of another, one can use pre-cast panels of concrete.

Here's how.

We realize that the old ways die hard, but The Local Center could have been built in less than a week using this method. Really.

Meanwhile, we notice that an engineering and automation specialty company is going to move into the old post office building on That Way, which should put to rest, finally, the rumor that the building would house Lake Jackson's first gay bar.

Attention

R.E.M. is making a comeback. Check it out.