OPINION
I was amazed recently to find out that one of the citizens of Pilot Point had no idea that there was a Holiday Inn Express and Suites coming to Pilot Point.
The negotiations for this started five or so years ago.
A contract with the city of Pilot Point was executed on March 18, 2022.
With all the resources of information available, how does a citizen of this city not know about a hotel coming to town?
It made me think of all the ways we can get information these days and how quickly it can be found.
The first way, a long established way, is word of mouth or the grapevine.
It makes me think of the midnight ride of Paul Revere and how the word was passed that the English were coming.
Over history though, the grapevine method was, basically, a human's only source of information.
Over time, mankind developed a writing system.
It wasn’t a system used by the common man, but a system that could be used between governments, religious orders and people of wealth.
Once education became available to everyone, we all were able to communicate what was happening in our world.
I remember letters that my grandmother would send to my family.
She talked about her birds in the yard or about a visit from a relative, how they were and what was going on in their lives.
She always ended her letter with 'no news.'
George Washington would send dispatches to his other officers explaining battle movements, positions, etc.
The mailing system though actually started in Egypt way back in 2400 BCE, when the pharaoh would send dispatches of his decrees.
The first publicly accessible mailing system was in Paris in 1653.
The first printed newspaper was in 1605, reporting the news and information to the residents of its area.
The development of railroads meant information could pass easily along its routes, either through passengers and the grapevine or the newspapers it would carry.
The first passenger railroad ran in England in 1825 and in the United States in 1830.
Then came the telegraph and Morse code in 1844. With the speed of sound, information could be sent from city to city.
Next came the telephone with the first twoway transmission on March 10,1876. We could call up a neighbor or family in another town and let them know of current events in our area; births, marriages, deaths and political events.
The teletype goes active in 1910, and, in 1920, it would print on paper.
The Pilot Point Post-Signal could get news of events in New York or Timbuktu within seconds of it being typed.
Yes, the Post-Signal was in operation then. Don't know if they had a teletype machine.
Radio was available in 1920 for public broadcasting.
Television was introduced in 1939 at the World's Fair in New York City. Fax machines were available commercially in the 1960s.
Next came personal computers in 1975.
This development has brought us within moments of information. We can look up information on Google or other engines and have the information back within seconds.
The email system was birthed in 1971 and available to the common citizen in 1976.
The internet was developed in the mid-1990s.
Pocket-sized cell phones were available in 1989.
The first text message was sent in 1992.
Our local cities have board and council meetings on a monthly basis.
You can attend in person, or they are recorded on audio/video and can be watched live or at a time of our choosing on our laptops, cell phones, etc.
Our world has grown so much smaller with the invention of so many resources.
We can turn on our televisions, radios or phones and find out exactly what's happening around the world or right in our own little town.
This local paper covers our Ranch Cities with the current news, what's happening around town and is available online, in print or both.
A quick scan will let you know of the items that you want to know about.
All of this is to say that I am amazed to hear that there are folks who have no idea what's happening in their world with so many resources available.
Happy reading!
Cindy “Mama C” Faris is a Pilot Point resident, and she is offering life advice for any who want it. She can be reached at cynthiafaris47@ gmail.com.
