SWCAMBORNE

This is some excellent research on the origin of the word henge done by David B.

Click on the photo to see a run of Paula B’s
terrific photos from the henge event.

The following is from the Online Etymology Dictionary. These references provide an historical perspective of the origin of the word.
henge  1740, noted as a Yorkshire word for structures such as Stonehenge.
hinge   c.1300, “the axis of the earth;” 1380 as “movable joint of a gate or door,” not found in O.E., cognate with M.Du. henghe “hook, handle,” M.L.G. henge “hinge;” all derived from the root of the verb hang on notion of the thing from which a door hangs.

Stonehenge
c.1130, Stanenges, lit. “stone gallows,” perhaps so called from fancied resemblance to old-style gallows with two posts, with the second element related to the verb hang. Some antiquarians suggest the notion may be of “supported in the air, that which hangs in the air” (cf. henge-clif, for L. præruptum), in ref. to the lintel stones, but the order of the elements and the inflexion is against this. An ancient name for it was the Giant’s Dance.

Below is the definition of a henge from http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/henge.htm, one of the links of the Orkney Islands’ web site. I recommend that you visit this site and click on the links for several henges in these islands.
A henge is a roughly circular or oval-shaped flat area enclosed and delimited by a boundary earthwork – usually a ditch with an external bank.
The most distinctive components of any henge monuments are its bank and ditch. Most henges have either a single ditch or a pair of concentric ditches surrounding the central area.
This is not always the case, however, with some henges having no ditch while others have three.
The soil and bedrock taken from the ditch was used to build the henge bank which generally lay outside the ditch. The sizes of the banks varied proportionally with the size of the ditches. Typically, however, they seem to have been fairly broad at the base, five metres to 30 metres wide and up to five metres high.
Access to the central area was via formal entrances through the earthwork. Most henges have either one entrance or two opposed entrances.
The alignment of henges seen in the position of their entrances is highly variable and may have been as much conditioned by local geography as by any preferred orientation. There is, however, a slight tendency for henges with a single entrance to have that entrance set in the north or north-east sector while sites with two entrances are aligned SE-SSE to NW-NNW or ENE-E to WSW-W.
The original purpose and function of henge monuments is not fully understood. Because of the arrangement of banks and ditches it is generally accepted that they are ceremonial or ritual monuments.
Henges are generally classified into four main types according to the number of entrances and ditches they have. The traditional classification is as follows:
Class I Single entrance, single bank, and, usually, a single ditch circuit.
Class IA Single entrance, single bank, and double circuit of ditches.
Class II Two opposed entrances, single bank, and single ditch circuit.
Class IIA Two opposed entrances, single bank, and two or more circuits of ditches.
Class III Four opposed entrances, single bank, and single ditch circuit.

Another Pasadena Sunrise.

Life is good.

I went to the UK to visit my relatives and specifically Rebecca who is studying abroad at St Andrews. Click here to go to the photos from my trip on Flickr. When you get there click on the detail view link on the lower left of the Flickr screen to begin looking at them with the captions.

A Great Egret visited the pond today. I took pictures and then scared him away.

Click the picture or click here to see all of the great Great Egret pictures on Flickr.

Missy the dog wasn’t getting too close to this three foot high bird.

And an odd, but strangely enlightening, time was had by all.

“The trouble with capitalism is capitalists. They’re too damn greedy.”

Herbert Hoover

President 1928-1932

From An Empire of Wealth by John Steele Gordon

live in South Pasadena.  I have ranted three time in the last week against the city of South Pasadena and the joint actions of the residents of the city.  I’m going to rant a lot more on the topic.  However I want to make it clear that in my mind this struggle is a good thing.  Individual residents of South Pasadena do not all agree with their cities actions and they often act differently as a group than they do as individuals.  See The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowieki for more information on why this is often the case
In a democracy everybody has the right to try to get the system to work in a way that furthers their own self interests.  The people of South Pasadena have done this very successfully for several generations now.  I think that by acting in their own best interests and not considering the interests of their neighbors they have gone to far.  I intend to fight back by using shame, humor, the power of the internet and whatever else I can.  Don’t take it personally!

I’d calmed down for a few years about the way that South Pasadena had been able to keep the 710 freeway from being built. But the shock of learning that they were permanently narrowing Orange Grove Avenue has spurred me back to action.

Here are some things that individuals can do to express their anger at South Pasadena for their selfish behavior:
1. Avoid shopping, dining or doing business in South Pasadena.
2. Tell other why you avoid doing business there.
3. If you are frustrated by the traffic on Fremont Street or Mission Blvd. honk your horn let them know.
4. July 10th is 7/10 is South Pasadena action day. We may need to have a stall-in or a car horn orchestra practice. Check my web site for updates.
5. Visit http://www.710gap.com/overview/204.htm and let them know you support them.
6. Forward this link to other people who have to commute through this area.
7. Email your city council person or county supervisor and let them know of your outrage.

“What you measure will improve.”

Unknown author (but still true)

A few years ago after the Pasadena City Council supported South Pasadena in their efforts to block construction of the 710 Freeway a ballot initiative was passed in Pasadena telling our the council to be quiet. Since then they have been quiet. Now it is time for Pasadena to take the next step and be vocal in favor of finishing the 710 freeway.

Orange Grove Ave in Pasadena, 4 lanes

If you live in Pasadena and feel the way I do please email your councilperson, be vocal and firm. We can push back against South Pasadena and keep access to the 110 freeway open. Orange Grove Ave. should be 4 lanes to the 110 Freeway. The 710 Freeway should be completed and the Gold Line should operate at the originally specified speed. Tell the Pasadena City Council to stand up for Pasadena and force South Pasadena be a better neighbor. Visit Close the Gap for more information.