VeraSage

A Plug for Social Capital

Ed Kless - 02/27/2009

Of the three types of intellectual capital (human, structural, and social), the most misunderstood and even maligned is social capital.

Last week a news story hit the local papers in Dallas — A small meteor had impacted somewhere south of Dallas. (Full article here.)

Two scientists set off for their journey about 3 a.m., which was originally going to lead them to Fayetteville. The team decided to make a quick stop at the Czech Stop in West to grab a kolache.

“We had our NASA and UNT gear on and the employee behind the counter asked if we were there because of the thing that shook their walls,” DiLulio said with a smile. “A customer approached us and said ‘it was as loud as a train.”

DiLulio at that point knew they were traveling along the right path. The team decided to continue chasing the Fayetteville site at sunrise and search.

Starr said they spent about 2-3 hours searching, but decided to head back to West because they were certain it was closer to the explosion.

DiLulio said they stopped at a truck stop in West to buy some batteries from his metal detector. While they were inside they came across the McClennan County sheriff and some deputies.

“I wanted to interview everyone, so I asked him if he received a lot of reports,” DiLulio said. “One of the deputies said it happened right by his house. The sheriff told him to take us there.”

Starr and DiLulio decided to search the gravel road first before looking on the private property. Starr said the two were driving slowly when they noticed a black grayish rock.

No offense to the esteemed scientists, but Fayetteville and West are about 150 miles from each other.

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They should have paid more attention to the social capital they obtained in West at the Czech Stop. BTW - Their kolaches are the BEST!