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Happy Solstice

This was the oh-so-spiritual scene at Stonehenge at sunset today. Frankly, I find it preferable to the elderly hippie cosplayers they usually feature in these things. As the Evening Standard put it:

For many thousands of years, Stonehenge – England’s ancient prehistoric world heritage site – is visited over the summer solstice as a place of worship and celebration.

Individuals, or those in a group, assemble at this ancient site to conduct their own ceremonies or celebrations – the only stipulation of which being that they are respectful and tolerant of others around them.

As respectful and tolerant as you can be in the dry-land equivalent of a public swimming pool in high Summer.

Whatever. The exact time varies. I couldn’t work out if that article was this year, but whatever year it was:

In the UK, the longest day begins at 4.43am and ends at 9.21pm, which means that in Britain, we will enjoy 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight on June 21.

The solstice itself is the exact time the sun shines over the Tropic of Cancer, which this year will be at 11:07am BST.

Which makes it tomorrow, but there’s some dispute whether to observe it on the 20th or the 21st, so…you know. Follow your conscience.

Comments


Comment from ExpressoBold
Time: June 20, 2018, 10:05 pm

Looks reasonable…
~
From one of the Oracles of Knowledge:
Summer solstice 2018 in Northern Hemisphere will be at 6:07 AM on Thursday, June 21
~
Oh, and that is EDT, here in the Disunited and Politically Toxic States…


Comment from Deborah HH
Time: June 20, 2018, 11:38 pm

It does not feel like summer to me, but I’ve got the workin’ at the car wash blues.


Comment from Ric Fan
Time: June 21, 2018, 1:05 am

Ugh. That explains why it is so damn bright in the AMs. 5:30 am and it is like noon. I prefer cover of darkness.

Last nite was woken up by a police helicopter. Apparetly, there was a riot after the vigil for a dead rapper. Im pretty far from it so dont know why they were over me. Each time he circled my room shook. Cant believe they wd riot over this guy. smh


Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: June 21, 2018, 1:17 am

Okies – now what the hell is an ‘airing cupboard’?


Comment from Deborah HH
Time: June 21, 2018, 11:39 am

There’s so much limestone in my area—I can’t believe someone hasn’t built a replica Stonehenge.

My favorite weatherman called the arrival of Summer at 05:07 this morning in San Antonio.


Comment from Wolfus Aurelius
Time: June 21, 2018, 4:11 pm

Longest day of the year?

They’re all too long here in Da Swamp, with Daylight Saving and hot yellow sunlight.

I’d prefer the shortest day, except here it’s likely to be almost as warm. Gahhh.


Comment from Anonymous
Time: June 21, 2018, 5:15 pm

Well at least please stay away from the drunken hedgehogs:
https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/18/inebriated-hedgehogs-spend-night-in-captivity-after-overdoing-it-on-advocaat-7642012/

}:-]


Comment from Steve Skubinna
Time: June 21, 2018, 5:56 pm

Pretty good considering that nobody knows for sure what Stonehenge was built for and how it was used. Doesn’t stop a gaggle of would be Aleister Crowleys from making up their own ancient and mystical bullshit though.

As far as I’m concerned Spinal Tap is the final word on the subject.


Comment from Ric Fan
Time: June 21, 2018, 8:11 pm

I thought Stonehenge was for orgies? They would have wild sex for procreation purposes. (I wonder about the “scientists” who come up with these explanations.)

Oh, it’s National Smoothie Day, so go out and have a smoothie. They’re delish.


Comment from Monty James
Time: June 21, 2018, 9:11 pm

“As far as I’m concerned Spinal Tap is the final word on the subject.”

Skubinna’s right. I’m going to start calling the solstice “Tapfest”, and on this day will watch the movie and sing the songs, in accordance with old well-established tradition. Happy Tapfest, everyone, and may your glove smell good.


Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: June 21, 2018, 9:23 pm

I heard I can buy picture postcard at this site? You know, the ones from Paris?

Nudge nudge

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