On a Massive Construction Project

When a city wants a pro sports team, it is often up to the taxpayers to foot the bill for constructing the arena where the city’s team will play. Many of these massive projects have been huge boondoggles in the past, with shoddy construction and illegal kickbacks resulting in a lousy building that has a short span of usefulness. As a result, many cities are almost forced to build new stadiums every decade or so to accommodate the sports franchises.

There was one city, however, that seems to have been on top of its game when it comes to building a sports arena.

First of all, the contract wasn’t put out to bid; the city merely appointed the builders and contractors they wanted (that caused a minor scandal at the time but proved to be wise later). There were four different firms hired to build 1/4 of the facility each. These four companies were almost competing to finish their sections on time and under budget–and those that did received an incentive bonus. The beautiful design of arches and tall columns gave the whole place an idea of lightness and airiness. That perception was interesting considering that, at the time it was built, it was the largest sports arena in the country, with a capacity of over 50,000 (that was a large arena at the time).

The politicians and magistrates in charge of the project were onsite daily. There wasn’t going to be any malfeasance of funds, no shortcuts would be taken on this project. And all that oversight paid off. When the public facility was opened, the city pulled out all the stops at the ribbon cutting. Bands played, parades were held, and several events were scheduled back to back to back over several days so that the public could have plenty of time to see where all their tax money went. And they were thrilled. The overwhelming consensus was that the facility was the best public arena ever built. People raved. And they marveled that it wasn’t only a sports arena. They applauded the builders and the government that oversaw the grand, massive project.

The result was a glorious, almost classical building, one that was used over the years as a multi-purpose stadium. However, as time passed, the city found that the stadium had outlived its purposes. So, it spent some time being used as a city garbage dump. That makes sense in one way, because it was a large, confined space, that would keep the trash out of the public’s view or interaction. And, over time, some people began looting the grand old structure. Luckily, the city realized the facility’s potential and took great pains to try to restore the grand old building.

And it is still in use today, at least occasionally. Today, you can still see it. In fact, millions of tourists flock to Rome today to see the Colosseum.

On a Painting Contract

There are usually two camps when it comes to paying for contract work. Some people argue that it’s always better to pay the contractor up front, but others contend that the work should be completed before payment is tendered. Then, there’s a growing third group, and this bunch sets benchmarks for work completed with payment to be given as the benchmarks are met and the work approved. I like this one the best, because it seems like a win-win with neither side in a position to take advantage of the other.

This last benchmark-type contract was the arrangement Julio made to have some painting done. He hired a man named Mike for the job. Mike and his crew came highly recommended. As Mike completed different tasks for Julio, the work was to be inspected and payment made before Mike would begin the next bit of painting. But there’s something that you should know about both Julio and Mike–each man had a terrible temper. Julio was known to berate people who worked for him. He was obscene and showed off his vast vocabulary of curse words daily, sometimes rattling off a litany of vulgarities simply to see how others would react. For a man with quite a lot of money, he had a lower-class sense of humor and coarseness about him. In addition, he was unfaithful in his sexual relationships, fathering children by several different women. Now, on the surface, this has nothing to do with paying a contractor what you owe him, but it gives you an idea of the kind of man Julio was before we get to his business agreement with Mike.

And Mike, for his part, was no prize, either. His temper was shown not to underlings or workers like Julio’s was, but, rather, for people he worked for who stiffed him on payment. He was known to threaten violence against anyone who didn’t pay him the money he knew was owed him for his work. Some rumors were out that that Mike had killed a man at one time for non-payment. No, for his own workers, Mike was generous to a fault, often paying them out of his own pocked when the people he worked for didn’t meet their promised obligations. Add to this the fact that Mike wanted the job done right. He was often late on his work because he was known for starting over. Call it OCD or whatever you wish, but the man was a perfectionist. Julio wanted the job done right, but he wanted the job done. He didn’t want to wait for Mike’s perfectionist streak to repaint and repaint and repaint.

And, so, when Mike and Julio agreed to a large benchmark painting job, you knew fireworks were bound to happen somewhere along the way.

The first benchmark was met, and Mike was paid. The second one, was met and Mike was paid. The third one was…late. Mike was repainting, and Julio yelled at him that this was a breach of the contract, that the benchmark having not been met meant that the deal was off. But Julio was pleased with what Mike and his crew had done. So, he promised to pay Mike, but still he withheld payment. So, Mike and his bunch took their buckets and brushes and ladders and left the job unfinished. Julio, realizing that he wasn’t going to find a better man than Mike to do this job, finally acquiesced and convinced the man to return to the work. And there were other hiccups along the way.

In all, it took Mike from May to September to finish the $600,000 paint job–September five years later.

But you have to admit, the painting of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo for Pope Julius II was worth the time and trouble.

On a Lucky Architect

Domenico Fontana probably doesn’t register in your mind as a notable architect, but he was the cat’s meow in the late 16th/early 17th Centuries in Rome and throughout Renaissance Italy. You’ve seen his work without knowing that it was his. Have you ever seen a photo or video of the plaza in front of St. Peter’s in Vatican City? Then you’ve probably noticed the obelisk that is in the center of that square. That was Fontana’s work. When you think about it, to have something you did in the exact center of a square designed by Bernini and in front of a church that was the work of Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael, and others puts Fontana in their league even if he’s not as well known as they are.

Cardinal Montalto became his patron shortly after he arrived in Rome. After growing up in what is now northern Italy near the Swiss border, Fontana received his training in building and discovered he had a good sense of proportionality and an easy understanding of engineering principles. He arrived in the capital of Christendom with more talent than most, and, after some successful commissions for Cardinal Montalto, his career was set.

As luck would have it, Montalto went on to become Pope Sixtus V, and he appointed his favorite architect as the new official architect of Vatican City. Fontana would add some features to St. Peter’s Basilica and some substantial changes to St. John’s Lateran church (the church the Pope is the priest of, actually). He even designed the ceiling of the Sistine Library. Yes, Domenico Fontana was at the height of his fame and power and wealth.

But, Pope Sixtus died suddenly, and Pope Clement VIII became the head of the Church. For a time, Clement allowed Fontana to continue in his post, but then the architect fell out of favor with the new Pope. He was forced to leave Rome, and he settled in Naples. A local nobleman asked the now-disgraced but former famous architect to be in charge of the design and construction of a series of canals to and around his property on the outskirts of the city. While the commission was several steps below what he had been used to back in Rome, Fontana accepted the appointment and began work. And then, luck struck him again.

You see, it was while overseeing the work on the Neapolitan count’s canals that Fontana’s workmen, digging the channels for the water to flow, that their spades hit several series of walls and buildings. Fontana ordered some of the walls to be excavated, and, as the walls were uncovered, the workers discovered paintings of incredible beauty and clarity, as if they had been painted only recently.

You see, as luck would have it, Fontana had discovered the site of the ancient city of Pompeii.

On a Doting Husband

Al loved his wife, Ines, so much and was beyond proud when she became pregnant. Ines loved Al just as much. Their family dynamic was similar to most families of their time, in 1908, in Rome. Al worked, and Ines took care of the house in the family. There was one exception to this normal division of labor, and that was that Al did much of the cooking in the family. In fact, while Ines was pregnant, Al made a point of catering to his wife’s every whim regarding whatever hankering or craving she had for food. His love was so great that he doted on Ines.

Occasionally, Al would create dishes made to his wife’s special orders. Her cravings seemed to center around dairy products. Now this point, it’s important for me tell you that Al worked with what he called “blondes.” Al’s blondes did not cause Ines any jealousy whatsoever. In fact, she encouraged his work with them. We will get back to that whole blondes situation in a minute.

Meanwhile, where were we. Oh yes. Al was making food for his pregnant wife. Ines had her baby, and, to Al’s great pride, it was a son. Of course, he named him Al, Junior. However, Ines had lost her appetite after the birth. Today, we might say she was living with post-partum depression. Anyway, Al had the great idea to combine his work with the blondes and his wife’s loss of appetite. It was a simple thing to do. All Al did was Take butter and cream and Parmesan cheese and put them over noodles. He served this to his precious Ines, and she could not believe how incredibly good it tasted.

You see, Al’s work was as a restauranteur. The family restaurant, Da Alfredo, did great business with locals, and, once he put this simple pasta dish on the menu, began attracting a large tourist trade as well.

You remember the “blondes“ I spoke of earlier? That’s what Al lovingly called his butter-filled thin noodles.

You know the dish that Al made for his pregnant wife to help her with her loss of appetite? The yummy and rich combination of Al’s blondes and his buttery cream sauce?

You call it fettuccine Alfredo.