Get well, Norm

We are all going to miss seeing the Saturday columns of Norm Cukras. He and I go back to his earliest stories. I have always admired his originality and abilities of meeting new people and telling of his travels.

Please, write again once in a while, Norm.

I enjoy being a newspaper columnist and I am very pleased when those who read this column mention how much they enjoy the articles. Several times there have been disagreements with what I have written with letters to the editor; the majority of those have been when I have dibbled into politics and/or religion neither of which I am no scholar. When those letters appear I am reminded that my writings are read by far more than my circle of friends.

As difficult as coming up with a weekly column is, I enjoy the notoriety and will continue to write as long as the editor will permit.

Ancient History

What have we built in modern times that will outlast the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Egypt which were built four thousand five hundred or more years ago? Even Boulder Dam cannot last that long unless it is maintained constantly and does not give into rust and corrosion of the steel reinforcing rods used to give strength within its massive concrete pouring.

Egypt has recorded history that goes back to 3,000 B.C. From what I have heard, there is no recording device in today's technology that can last more than a carefully maintained few hundred years. Carved stone engravings can be preserved for millennia but our history is not being preserved in the fashion Egyptians used in the pyramids, Obelisks, and tombs.

Success of the Pharaohs

Ancient Egyptians and their after death beliefs prevailed longer than any other civilizations have, more than 3,100 years until their decline and Rome took over their weakness in 31 BC with the romance of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra succumbing to the Romans that would eventually allow Rome to becoming the Roman Empire which lasted only slightly more than 500 years. Egypt and Saudi Arabia appear to have prevailed but wars in the Far East between other nations continue today.

The African continent holds much ancient history and is believed to be the original birthplace of mankind from where all civilizations migrated to other parts of the world at one time or another. It is perhaps why stories told of the history of the peoples and geology of that continent fascinates us in search of our beginnings and perhaps an answer as to how humans evolved.

Grave robbers

What right does anyone have to open up the tombs of the ancient? Even today Egyptians and scientists are discovering buried peoples and mummified remains and being disturbed in the name of science or history. Why are they not guilty of grave robbing and desecration of the dead?

King Tutankhamen's mummified remains and his enormous gatherings of gold and wealth are being paraded around the world. Those who first discovered and opened his tomb are believed to have been cursed and died because they disturbed his long sleep.

Sign of the Times

A sign was spotted in a Tennessee town reflecting the plight of the merchants.

Public Notice: "Due to recent budget cuts, the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil, plus the current state of the economy, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off."