The Tragedy of Tucson - A sign of the Times?

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If you listen to the news media you would think the political pundits, those on the lunatic fringe of the liberal and conservative movements, were responsible directly and indirectly, for the terrible crimes committed in Tucson.

The murder of six people, and injuring of 14 more including a critical brain injury to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), is another example of mass murder incited by the television celebrities with their endless stream of on air words of hate, according to some of the many experts we hear.

Gabrielle Giffords

Ironically the only names of the personalities mentioned in the media are conservatives, not members of both lunatic fringes.

There is no question this is a senseless act of violence that should not be tolerated. But if we are going to fix the cause of the problem then we better know the cause, and it sure isn't conservative celebrities.

Christina Taylor Greene, 9 year old victim

The shooting of our federal elected officials, presidents, senators and representatives in truth is not a very common occurrence and happens a lot less than the media would lead us to believe. Since the adoption of our Constitution on September 17, 1787, over 223 years ago, there have only been five attempts to shoot our Congressional representatives, compared to 20 attempts on our presidents.

While four presidents have been killed, three representatives and two senators have been killed. Since we have 536 people every year in those elect positions that means thousands of people have been elected and served over the years yet the total dead and injured is only around 15 in 223 years.

alleged gunman Jared Lee Loughner

In most cases mental instability was the cause, not some partisan obsession. The shooting of Gabrielle Giffords is a classic case of the mental disorder behind most attempts of this nature. Anyone who is attempting to make this into a partisan issue, or claims it is the result of partisan rhetoric, may be far more interested in promoting themselves and their cause or trashing an opposition cause like conservatives, then telling the truth.

That, of course, is the problem in America. There are all kinds of versions of events, but only one can be the truth. If our cultural obsession with violence is considered, which is far more likely than partisan politics, then much might be to blame for what happened.

Just over 50 miles from Tucson is Mexico where over 31,000 people have been killed, not injured, in the past four years in the drug wars. These mostly innocent people have been caught in the crossfire of drug lords fighting over the US drug market. That means over 21 people every day for the past four years have been killed along our border with Mexico. Our young people are being desensitized to murders because of this sea of blood flowing to our south.

Look and the video and internet games glamorizing murder and war that occupy the seemingly endless hours our youth are surfing the net. The latest research says for the first time in our history the average time Americans now spend on the Internet has equaled the time they spend watching the endless TV that also glamorizes murder and war, an astounding 13 hours a week. That means we all spend 28 days a year (at 24 hours a day) on the Internet and another 28 days watching TV. How about 15% of your life is spent on the Internet and watching TV?

By allowing our youth access to the Internet and television, not to mention the selection of movies being produced to capture the coveted teenager and young adult markets, we have desensitized an entire generation of Americans to murder and war and we wonder why some kids are mental cases?

The Giffords case is another result of a cultural deviation yet even a Second Amendment defender like myself can see the need for some common sense fixing of our deficient laws. Rapid fire ammunition clips and automatic weapons used to be banned and should be banned once again. They are not the weapons of responsible citizens but serve only to increase the rate of killing.

No mental case determined to be a threat to themselves or society should be allowed to buy or own guns yet under the current state and federal laws unless they are certified by a court as mentally incompetent they can easily buy firearms.

Schools, the military, doctors and many other groups know of people including youth that are mentally incompetent. Both the military and a college knew the guy who shot Giffords was likely nuts but no competency hearing had been held though one had been requested. Why not require the military and schools to report mental cases to law enforcement so they can be included on a national data base? If they try to buy a gun they should have to prove mental competence through the courts.

We owe our time in this matter to praying for the recovery of the 14 injured and the souls and families of the 6 murdered. Then we need to devote time and energy to fixing the laws so their ambiguity will not lead to future victims.

A final note about Arizona. Regardless of the perception of Arizona resulting from the immigration, drug wars and this shooting, the State of Arizona is a wonderful place with some of the nicest people in the nation and Tucson is a desert gem.

I went to school at the University of Arizona, was treated in the same University Medical Center as Congresswoman Giffords, befriended the elders of the Hopi nation in Arizona long ago, have been on archeological expeditions with the National Park Service around the Grand Canyon and return to Arizona every chance I get.

What has happened recently should not reflect on Arizona or the many and diverse peoples living there. Drug wars, illegal immigration and inadequate laws are all our problems, in every state.

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Prajna Design & Construction - the Wizards of Preservation & Innovation

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For nearly 30 years a handful of architects and builders from the University of Kentucky have been pioneering work in the environmental and recycling fields, since long before the days of Al Gore and those trying to capitalize on the hard work and tireless dedication of people like the Prajna gang.

In fact not since my days working on environmental projects from Keep America Beautiful in 1967 to designing solar energy systems built by PPG, Phillips, Goodyear and Dow Chemical in 1976-78 have I seen such persistent dedication to the cause of our future as evidenced by these characters from Kentucky.

Most people would never have occasion to meet them were it not for the Internet as they represent many of the gems of America, those who do their thing to help make people safer and happier while never seeking the fortune and fame of their more ego driven associates.

Garry "Rasta Man" Murphy on right

A more unlikely cast of futurists and "green" pioneers you will never find. Led by the "Rasta" man Garry Murphy, a Kentucky native who toured the world (at least Europe) while a student hitchhiking to places I would never go. Then foregoing offers from design companies to pursue the American dream, working for yourself in order to live up to your own standards and principles.

Murphy, Irish with a twist of the Caribbean including the dreadlocks, is the most laid back designer and builder you will ever meet. I first met him when I learned he was going to marry my sister in the Bahamas and I went to the wedding. Was that an eye opener.

Later, back in Kentucky where his Prajna business was located, Garry blew every stereotype of a Kentuckian away. Maybe it was because he was trying to be green years before it became popular? It was certainly the Irish part. However, dreadlocks on an Irishman was not what my Irish Grandfather ever mentioned.

Perhaps it was his fascination with history, philosophy and ancient cultures. His circle of friends seemed to include everyone from horse racing kingpins to oddball artists. Murphy never met a person he would not try and help. Still, I was stuck with him as a brother in law because my sister married him and it was one of the best decisions she ever made.

Garry is one of those rare souls who loves challenge, loves saving the environment, and believes we should all be able to live in harmony. Well maybe everyone except the teams playing against his beloved UK basketball ad football teams. He is not radical, does not expect everyone to agree, and is tolerant of anyone with opposing opinions. He really should be in politics.

The following story about Garry Murphy and Prajna appeared recently in the Lexington, Kentucky Herald Leader newspaper. No better tribute from a truly independent source could sing the praises of Prajna and Murphy. I have seen work by this most unusual group everywhere from million dollar apartments in NYC overlooking Central Park to the Bahamas to the Kentucky backwoods and those of you in need of renovation or new construction would do well to check out these Wizards of Preservation and Innovation at their website, http://www.prajnadesign.com/ and be green.

From bus shelters to visitors' centers, Prajna builds environmentally friendly

By Andy Mead at 12:00am on Dec 27, 2010 — amead@herald-leader.com Modified at 3:49am on Dec 27, 2010

Prajna Design & Construction was responsible for much of the the interior and exterior woodworking on the Bernheim Visitor Center, which won a national award for its environmental impact. The company used recycled fir and cypress lumber from pickle vats for the exterior trim and siding. About 14 species of native lumber was used for the interior wall paneling, and various species of lumber reclaimed from a demolished Jim Beam barrel house was used for the interior trim. MARY MURPHY/ PRAJNA DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION INC.

TROY — David Whittmer interviewed at two architecture firms as he was finishing his degree at the University of Kentucky.

The process showed him that he didn't want to work in an office.

"I just like building," he said. "And I didn't want to get old and fat and wear a tie."


Instead, he and business partner Garry Murphy live a tieless existence, running a successful design-and-build company out of a 19th-century grist mill in a corner of Woodford County.

The problem with the way architects usually work, Whittmer said, is that they design something and hand it over to someone else to build, minimizing their interaction with both the client and the finished product.
 Eschewing that route, he and Murphy, along with Martin Richards and John Yadack, formed a company called Prajna Workwerks soon after graduating in the early 1980s.

Prajna is a Sanskrit word meaning intuition. The "werks" spelling suggested German craftsmanship. The group also adopted a Japanese symbol that has various interpretations, including "master carpenter."

Yadack died in a car crash in the late 1980s. Richards retired. The company evolved into Prajna Design & Construction, which more accurately reflects what it does.

Murphy and Whittmer, now in their early 50s, have completed hundreds of projects in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, New York, Florida and the Bahamas.

Their largest job was the woodwork in the visitor center at Bernheim Arboretum and Forest in Bullitt County, the first building in Kentucky to receive a platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certificate from the U.S. Green Building Council.

One of the smallest jobs is Gardenstop, the bus shelter on Euclid Avenue in Lexington that was dedicated this fall. Like the Bernheim building, it is environmentally friendly to the point of having plants growing on its roof.

Murphy and Whittmer are often called on to do a woodwork portion of a larger building or renovation, such as the timbers in the entry to Gray Construction's headquarters on East Main Street (as well as work on such Gray projects as the Bernheim visitor center and remodeling work on houses belonging to members of the Gray family). They also worked on the interior of Tomo Restaurant in Chevy Chase.

They have built six or seven houses from design to finish.

In northern Franklin County, they tore down an 1850s tobacco barn and built a house for Hanna Helm, a retired state employee.

The house was finished in the fall of 2009. In talking about it, Whittmer and Murphy can speak in detail about the fine oak, ash, beech and old-growth poplar that was in the old barn.

Helm, who boasts that "I live in a work of art," noted that the company also did the stone work that is an important part of the house.

She chose Prajna to design and build her dream house because it had earlier built a house for friends of hers.

"They were the only people I knew who were still friends with their contractor after the house was built," Helm said. "There were no contractor horror stories."

Murphy and Whittmer pride themselves on their relationships with clients, all of whom are invited to an annual Fourth of July party at the mill.

They also take obvious pride in their level of workmanship, and in reusing wood that in many cases already has had a long, full life.

Much of the interior of the Bernheim visitor's center, for example, came from old cypress pickle barrels that had been in a Heinz factory in Ohio.

The wood used in the Gardenstop bus shelter came from a variety of sources, including the Morton's Row buildings on Upper Street that were demolished for the stalled CentrePointe project.

The idea for Gardenstop was to make an environmentally friendly shelter that would draw the eye away from the towering new power poles that were erected to supply UK, said Yvette Hurt, who is with the Art in Motion series of shelters.

When a panel of judges were put together to consider the dozen and a half proposals for Gardenstop, Prajna was a unanimous choice.

"They just totally, totally understood the concept and then took it even further than we could imagine," Hurt said.

Friends of Murphy and Whittmer have pointed out they were green long before green was cool.

"We have a reputation for using old wood because we've always done that," Murphy said. Early on, the decision might have been for "economical reasons because we could get it cheap."

They also were pioneers in talking about things such as designing a building to fit its surroundings and using passive solar energy.

Prajna has kept ties with UK's architecture school over the years, doing jobs for some of the professors and occasionally conducting workshops.

Every few years, someone will graduate from the school who, like Whittmer and Murphy, don't want to follow the standard architect's path. They often find their way to Prajna, which usually has a crew of three to six people. They make up a new generation that suggests Prajna's efforts will continue for many years to come.

One of the more recent arrivals, Jay Moorhead, started working there a week or two after graduating in 2005.

"I love it," he said. "One of the best things about the job is the relationship with clients. It's not just a business; we're making friends."

Murphy and Whittmer brought electricity years ago to the rambling old mill that houses Prajna.

Most of the building is a large wood shop. They have created a small heated area that is used as an office and a place to store chemicals that could freeze.

There's a computer used for job-cost estimates, but it is not connected to the Internet.

Architects today use computers for their designs, but Murphy and Whittmer still make small-scale models when the mood strikes them. Murphy describes their work as "designosaurs."

Other than going too long without health insurance and waiting too long to begin saving for retirement, they have no regrets about the career paths they chose.

On a recent rainy day, Whittmer was explaining to a reporter that the floors of the mill aren't even, and that has to be taken into account when building something.

"On the other hand," Murphy said, "there are days when you hear the rain and the creek's running and you look out the window ..."

Whittmer finished his thought, "And there's no place better to work."

Read more about Prajna Design & Construction at Prajnadesign.com

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/27/1579279/from-bus-shelters-to-visitors.html#more#ixzz1AN3GlI00
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Obama Myths - Why do they persist? America's Most Famous Undocumented Worker?

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After two years of being president you would think people would stop believing he is not eligible to be president yet as recently as yesterday the first ever reading of the Constitution by the new House of Representatives was disrupted by protestors shouting out that Obama was not an American born president. Up to 25% of Americans still wonder if Obama was born in America.

Why in the world are there questions after two years in office?

First of all there is no doubt his mother was American and his father was not. The fact she was just 16 at the time he was born makes records difficult to assess. His father was from Kenya. Obama spent four years living in Indonesia. Still that does not disqualify him from being a naturalized US citizen.

What is confusing is that the State of Hawaii has been reluctant to make available his birth certificate. Why is that confusing to some? Because there is an alternate birth certificate from Kenya with allegedly official verification from the Kenya government circulating on the Internet.

In fact, there is far more unofficial verification that he was actually born in Kenya than records of being born in Hawaii yet the Hawaii birth certificate states he was born in Hawaii. It would seem the media, FBI or Congress would have investigated this matter thoroughly if there was any doubt as to his eligibility to be president but stranger things have happened recently.

This story presents are all the alleged documents I could find relating to this matter. Is there evidence that Obama was born in Kenya rather than Hawaii? Which birth certificate is right, the Kenya or Hawaii certificate? If these documents were reviewed by the government, media or any reliable body what was their final conclusion? Even if he really was born in Kenya does that make him ineligible to be president? Remember, his opponent John McCain was born in Panama to US military parents.

Once and for all this persistent myth should be debunked so it is not a background issue in the upcoming 2012 elections. We have more than enough valid issues facing us in the elections and should not be caught up in speculation. What do you think?
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Obamaville January 7 - Where do we go from here?

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After several weeks of treatment in Kentucky for an as yet undefined ailment that nearly left me helpless 2010 has been quite a forgettable year.  Still we had elections that left heads spinning in Washington, there was a lame duck congress that did not act lame at all, Obama and the Republicans made peace at least long enough to give us the tax cuts we already had along with a few other goodies, and for a time things have been almost normal in our nation if not the world.

Since the beginning of the new year the White House staff has been gutted, Obama has appointed an insider from his public enemy number one, Wall Street, as his new chief of staff, and he is out to make peace between the president and the business community.

I don't know about you but I still remember Obama was financed by Wall Street in the last campaign while spending almost $1 billion getting elected and since he was elected only the executives on Wall Street seem to be benefitting during the recession with billions of dollars in bonuses.  I guess the media forgot all about that.

No one in the new era of the enlightened US capitol from the president to congress to the media is talking about campaign finance reform needed to stop special interests from continuing to control Washington with their millions of dollars in campaign contributions.  We have a long ways to go to return government to the people.

The politicians all talk about creating jobs, and I guess after three years of a terrible recession and the midterm election debacle that is a good thing, but why did it take so long for them to figure it out?  Once again the liberals are on the outsided looking in as the nation again regained it's conservative leaning mid ground.  That means MSNBC has to change their tone to get good guests.

Some trends are a little unnerving like the average American now watches 34 hours of television a week.  Maybe that explains why we are sicker and fatter than ever.  Add to that the addiction of youth to the computer, IPad, cellphone, texting, social networking, and all the other electronic distractions from reality and one wonders if their radiation soaked brains will survive long enough for them to ever collect Social Security.  Maybe that crisis isn't such a crisis?

The Obamacare program to control health costs has already brought us health insurance increases from 18% in Iowa to 59% in California while escalating rates for medical treatment and drugs continue unabated.  In response to the massive increase in health insurance premiums since the beginning of the New Year Obama's Secretary of Health and Human Services now admits there is nothing the president can do about it.  So why are we spending $1.3 trillion for Obamacare if we can't control the costs?

Oh we have a long ways to go to solve health care, along with pension problems in government, particularly states, getting out of two wars, beginning to address the housing crisis, overcoming the recession, bringing honesty back to government and business, and a host of other issues.  That is why I will continue reporting on the good, bad and ugly while trying to find real hope in our future.

More than anything else we need the truth and truth is what I seek in the sugarcoated world of politics.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all God's Children

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OUR HOLIDAY GREETING FOR YOU

For all people of the world we offer prayers and hope for world peace and wish you happy holidays for (Christian) Christmas, (African) Kwanzaa, (Hispanic) Las Posadad-Noche Buena-Navidad, (Jewish) Hanukkah-Rosh Hashanah, (Persian) Yalda, (Islamic) Eid al-Adha-Muharram, (Buddhist) Rohatsu, (Hindu) Sankranti, (Celtic) Winter Solstice and (Chinese) New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Feliz Navidad y Felices Fiestas

Joyeux Noël et joyeuses fêtes

Buon Natale e Buone Feste

Frohe Weihnachten und frohe Feiertage

Vrolijke Kerstmis en Gelukkige Vakantie

Καλα Χριστουγεννα και καλες διακοπες

Feliz Natal e Boas Festas

И Рождеством Христовым праздники

メリークリスマス休暇で幸せ

聖誕快樂，節日快樂

This is Rockefeller Center in NYC which could be seen from my office above it on 5th Avenue.

From the Coltons Point Times -- have a great, safe and loving holidays....

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A New Dawn Over America - Obama Now Needs Evan Bayh

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Well someone seems to have gotten the message from the disgruntled voters in the midterm elections and that someone includes President Obama, the Republican leaders, and even some Democrats. The message, cut the partisanship, work together, and give us back our government.

The result has been the most productive Lame Duck Congress in history as the spirit of bi-partisanship resulted in the stunning passage of tax cuts, extension of unemployment benefits, Continuing Resolution to fund the government, passage of Don't Ask Don't Tell, ratification of the START Nuclear Arms treaty, approval of the 9-11 health fund and who knows what else might be accomplished in just two weeks.

No one expected such a remarkable performance by leaders in Washington although I did predict the bills would all get approved just after the election, but I am the eternal optimist who believes our system of government will always prevail in the end.

Obama has set a great pace since suffering the humbling debacle last November which goes to prove he is more of a pragmatist than a partisan. Maybe, with the new Republican House taking office after the first of the year, he can continue to govern from the center and all will be well in America. If he falls back into his partisan mode which prevailed the first two years and nearly paralyzed the nation it will be a tough two years.

Good government has always been the art of compromise though our current leaders seemed to have forgotten the lessons of history the last two years, but if Obama can never lose sight of the will of the people he could become a formidable candidate for re-election.

Which leads me to my two year old campaign to get Obama to appoint Evan Bayh, the retiring Senator from Indiana, as his new chief of staff. The day after Christmas Bayh turns 55, a remarkably young age for such a highly regarded retiring Senator who is one of few people in Washington to be well respected by members of both political parties and the media.

Everything Bayh has done and stands for is exactly what Obama needs in the person leading his White House operations, managing his policy initiatives and working with what will be a likely restless divided Congress. Evan Bayh would be the perfect antidote after two years of the Rahm Emanuel take no prisoners management style. There would be no foul mouth expletives, no threats against political opponents, no attempts to steamroll Congress like we saw during the first two years.

Bayh is imminently qualified in terms of class, knowledge, communication skills, understanding people and knowing how to encourage bi-partisanship. No one in the Obama administration brings the same quality of assets to the table. The popular Bayh, if named chief of staff, could almost guarantee the re-election of Obama because Bayh is really that good.

If the president really wants to heal the country then he should name Evan Bayh his chief of staff.

As for the politicians in our nation's capitol, I believe the people have given them a chance to govern over all the people but if they slip back into their old ways of partisan bickering and dog fights, then the people will replace them. Main Street is hopeful, but will not stand for more of the same.

Republicans cannot move far to the right and succeed. Seeking a limited government with a balanced budget does not mean forgetting about the real needs of the people nor placing the needs of special interests above the people. Democrats must avoid forcing the agenda too far to the left as well since America is the great melting pot, and that means stick to the middle.

Much remains to be done. Tough budget decisions lie ahead. We still have 150,000 of America's finest fighting in two wars around the world and we should pray for thir safety until they are home. The economy is starting to recover but many pitfalls lie ahead. Our international standing is in need of repair. Over 31,100 Mexicans have died the past four years in our drug war.  In short, we have a long ways to go.

The last two weeks have been delightful to watch as our government actually acted like, well, a responsible body representing the people. What a joy to see. The surging stock market and increasing optimism of the people was the reward. Keep it up and more rewards will come. Let us hope we have seen the beginning of a new era of responsible government and pray that it stays that way.

Our leaders represent all the people all the time, not just the special interests that pour money into their campaigns. They forgot that the last two years. Maybe they will remember it this time. If so, then we have all been given the greatest Christmas gift possible, the gift of HOPE for the future of America.
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St.Clements Island Maryland Colonial History - The Rest of the Story

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Maryland and the nation owe a great deal to the brave colonists who ventured across the Atlantic in 1633 and landed on St. Clements Island in early 1634. St. Clements Manor, established within a couple of years, remains the oldest continually settled chartered community in colonial America.

The following series of articles gives the latest research and solves the enduring mysteries about the colonial days in England and Southern Maryland giving a fascinating glimpse into the lives and politics of the colonial era.

Thursday, October 26, 2006
Where in the world is Coltons Point?
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2006/10/where-in-world-is-coltons-point.html

Thursday, April 17, 2008
THE MIRACLE OF ST. CLEMENTS ISLAND
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2008/04/miracle-of-st-clements-island.html

Saturday, March 21, 2009
Scenes from Coltons Point
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/scenes-from-coltons-point.html

Friday, July 10, 2009
St. Clements Island and Manor - Four Centuries of Uninterrupted History
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/07/st-clements-island-and-manor-four.html

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
St. Clement's Island Prehistory - Part 1.
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/08/st-clements-island-prehistory-part-1.html

Monday, August 24, 2009
St. Clement's Island Prehistory - Part 2
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/08/st-clements-island-prehistory-part-2.html

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Histories Mysteries - The Journey of the Ark and the Dove
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2009/09/histories-mysteries-journey-of-ark-and.html

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Histories Mysteries - Next King of England (Prince William) Shares St. Clements Manor, Maryland Bloodline
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/01/histories-mysteries-next-king-of.html

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Histories Mysteries - The Landing at St. Clement's Island in 1634
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/04/histories-mysteries-landing-at-st.html

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Happy Equinox, Solstice, Lunar Eclipse and Druid Day of Celebration

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There is magic in the air today with the rare convergence of a stunning lunar eclipse falling on the same day as the equinox, the Winter solstice.  How rare you might ask?  Well the last one was in 1638, 372 years ago, and the next will be in 2094, 84 years from today.

It is the time when Druids rule the Earth, King Arthur has consolidated the English under one king, and Merlin the Wizard protects the first king to bridge the pre-Christian and Christian cultures.  Now that would take a mighty powwerful Wizard.

I journeyed to England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in search of the ancient Celts and found them at Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Edinburgh, the Giant's Causeway and Newgrange, the ancient Irish tomb where the sun hit the center on the equinox.  I stood in the center of that tomb.

So today I celebrate magic, good magic that is, and the Celtic days of the Druids when all that was needed was provided without electricity, cell phones, television and computers.  How did we ever survive?
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