Old Questions Asked Anew

For the last 3,000 years people have asked the purpose or function of the remarkable structures and landscape known as Stonehenge. National Geographic covered another investigation of the celebrated stones. The marvelous photograph of the site (right) came from britsattheirbest who, of course, cover all things honorable in Albion.

Our antecedents thought differently. Their priorities were different. They had a different perspective on their relationship to Creation than do most folks today. Yet it would be mistaken to presume them inferior, primitive, or ignorant. Nobody is going to drag a ten ton hunk of rock hundreds of miles out of boredom. Nobody’s going to hewn great stones for a mortise and tenon joint for recreation. There would be a reason – a practical, demonstrable purpose. We don’t know what it was, but there are some new ideas.

It seems that Stonehenge included, at least in part, a form of celestial calendar. It linked the cosmos to local events. That’s certainly understandable. We have situated a link to the near cosmos for our own purpose – the Phoenix robot on Mars- landed successfully May 25 (left.) We’re looking for water in permafrost and evidence of former life on our cousin planet.

In their own fashion, were our ancestors doing the same?

On The Beach

It’s a big Universe. Although it may seem that a rash of earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and floods are tormenting the planet, they are mostly local events balancing the grand system we call Earth. They have always been present. Only in “recent” times are they recorded and communicated – and that has a lot to do with us human types – we love to study and measure.

At the moment PunditGeorge and patient spouse are enjoying a rare excursion to the beach – Florida, to be sure. Alas, back home the storms rage, creating more challenges for the kids – holes punched in roofs, no power, and a bizarre flood of, well, sewerage.

Quite a contrast.

Spring Break

There’s something about lounging beneath trees in early spring when the leaves are fresh and backlit from the warming sun. From time to time it’s necessary to trek to the Cossatot river in Arkansas and satisfy a bought of spring fever and wanderlust. During a break in the recent rough weather, I got up there for a couple of cold mornings, mild days, clear skies and bright sun. Oh, and the puppies. Well, mature dogs, but young. Collared, but otherwise taking off a few days from their domicile.

Trees blown down by winter and March storms still barricaded some areas along the river – including the popular “Rock.” People traffic was zero and the cascading river over bedrock at the “Slip” where I nestled for three days provided a 24 hour symphony. Ah, a sonic massage… And, of course, the evening fire. And the dusk bat show over the river. Grilled bratwurst. So many little delights.

Lovely.