Happy Summer Solstice (June 21)

• Summer Solstice: longest day and shortest night of year

Angkor Wat: equinoxes and solstices were encoded into the ancient architecture

The marvels of ancient Angkor

The best place to be this morning is in the former Khmer Empire, modern Cambodia, in the center of one of the largest ancient cities in the world at the Buddhist-Hindu temple at the center of it, Angkor Wat. (Wat means monastery complex or vihara).

• Almost 9,000 tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat – ASEAN Digest

The second-best place to be is in the middle of New York City at the holy site of "Manhattanhenge" where signs of intelligent life must have built a megastructure aligned with the astronomical objects in the visible sky, possibly with extraterrestrial assistance.

Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)

Some say massive structures like the "Empire State" Building were in fact pre-Mud Flood architectural feats being taken credit for by modern builders with widely circulated photos of men eating lunch in precarious worksites as if that were all the proof needed.

LONDON, England — As the sun rose Saturday on the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, a crowd erupted in cheers at Stonehenge where the ancient monument in southern England has clocked the summer solstice over thousands of years.

• Summer solstice arrives, marking longest day of year
• What is 'Manhattanhenge' and when can you see it?

Best Angkor Wat, Cambodia, sunrise and sunset viewpoints (pinterest.com)

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Sun also rises, not earth moving

The orange ball crested the northeast horizon behind the Heel Stone, the entrance to the stone circle, and shone its beam of light into the center of one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments.

The solstice is one of the few occasions each year when visitors are allowed to walk among the stones, which are otherwise fenced off.

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  What did the ancients know and practice?

  The miracle of Newgrange, Ireland, eclipses Stonehenge (like Adam's Calendar, Africa)...so that's why we've never heard of it. Newgrange (Irish Sí an Bhrú [1]) is a prehistoric monument in County Meath, Ireland, placed on a rise overlooking the River Boyne, five miles (8 km) west of the town of Drogheda [2]. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic Period, around 3100 BC [3], making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Newgrange is the main monument in the Brú na Bóinne complex, a World Heritage Site that also includes the passage tombs of Knowth and Dowth, as well as other henges, burial mounds [which are a kind of stupa], and standing stones [3]. Newgrange consists of a large circular mound with an inner stone passageway and cruciform chamber More

The crowd gathered before dawn at the World Heritage Site to mark the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, beating the heat during the U.K.'s first amber heat-health alert issued since September 2023.

Temperatures later topped 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) in Surrey, 80 miles (128 kilometers) east of Stonehenge, the hottest temperature recorded in the U.K. so far this year.

About 25,000 sun devotees (sun cult worshippers) and other revelers -- including Druids, pagans, hippies, locals, and tourists -- showed up, according to English Heritage which operates the site.

More than 400,000 others around the world watched a livestream. “This morning was a joyous and peaceful occasion with the most beautiful sunrise," said Richard Dewdney, head of operations at Stonehenge. “It is fantastic to see Stonehenge continuing to enchant and connect people.”

Stonehenge was built [and constantly re-adjusted] in stages 5,000 years ago on the flat lands of Salisbury Plain approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of London.

The Sky People built mound-pyramids to the sun

[A few decades ago modern cranes and equipment were used to set up a pile of fallen stones, aligning them to their current positions; those photos were then forgotten, though they still exist, and everyone assumes ancient Druids built what is seen today 5,000 years ago before modern explorers stumbled onto the site. The walk from the carpark to the erected stones used to be lined with sandwich boards explaining the artificial evolution of the site with many adjustments over time, not one permanent setup millennia earlier.]

The unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2,500 B.C. Sunrise at Stonehenge draws druids, pagans and revelers to celebrate the summer solstice

• Cave painting in South Africa captures 280-million-year-old extinct animal, leaves researchers in awe

100,000 feared dead in Burma, Bangkok

Myanmar earthquake aftershocks: massive destruction in Burma, Thailand, and China, people trapped
(Wild WeatherUS) March 30, 2025: A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar), killing at least 1,700 people [with many left unaccounted for], injuring thousands, collapsing buildings as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, and prompting urgent rescue efforts amid ongoing aftershocks and a deepening humanitarian crisis. #earthquake #myanmar #bangkok

(The Sun) Woman pulled ALIVE from earthquake rubble after being buried

Fierce 7.7 earthquake hits Bangkok, Thailand, Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)

(The Sun) Devastating 7.7 Myanmar (Burma) quake death toll surges as new footage emerges

What is the Buddhist Southeast Asian Peninsula?

• LIVE UPDATES: Myanmar-Thailand earthquake live updates: Over 1,000 dead, officials say (ABC News)

How is Bangkok NOW? Day after earthquake, March 29, 2025 🇹🇭 Thailand

Up to 100k feared dead in devastating Myanmar quake as Bangkok declared ‘disaster zone’

(The Sun) Burmese monks squat down during shaking as they watch nearby building collapse

(The Sun) March 28, 2025: Myanmar (Burma) Earthquake death toll "up to 100K" as Bangkok, Thailand, declared "disaster zone."

(PBS) Buildings collapse as 7.7 quake rocks Myanmar and Thailand

(Sky News) What made Myanmar (Burma) earthquake so powerful?

• Buddhism in Myanmar
• Buddhism in Thailand
• Buddhism in Southeast Asia

Videos show water gushing from a rooftop pool and a high-rise building collapse as a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar (Buddhist Burma) and Thailand. Up to 100,000 are feared dead with dozens still trapped under mountains of rubble after skyscrapers, religious buildings (golden temples), and family homes crumbled to the ground. Read more: thesun.co.uk/news/3410922...

Meanwhile, Israel bombs Beirut, Lebanon

#TheSun #News #Myanmar  Subscribe to The Sun: @thesun. Get The Sun's latest news, exclusives, sport, celebrities, showbiz, politics, business, and lifestyle. Read The Sun: thesun.co.uk. Facebook: thesun. X: thesun. TikTok: thesun. Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: 1633225139. #TheSun #News #myanmar #thailand

• The Sun, March 28, 2025; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Who is Kamala Harris really?

The REAL Story of Kamala Devi Harris

(Johnny Harris) Oct. 28, 2024: We've looked at DJ Trump, and now here's "The Rise of Kamala Harris, Explained." Who is this Ka-ma-la Harris (no relation), and what does she believe?

To learn how to register to vote in each state, click here: vote.org/voter-registration. Check out all sources for this video here: docs.google.com/document/d/1M...

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 INTRO
• 05:51 CHILDHOOD [White father or Black?]
• 08:15 CAREER
• 11:25 PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR
• 13:45 THE SENATE AND RUN FOR PRESIDENT
• 17:16 VP HARRIS
• 24:02 WHAT NEXT?

Check out new channel with Sam Ellis - Search Party: @search-party Listen to and license our music here: https://linktr.ee/chromaticmusic Get access to behind-the-scenes vlogs, scripts, and extended interviews over at johnnyharris on social media.

• Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want to see covered? Submit to the Tip Line: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

Poster about maps: https://store.dftba.com/products/all-... Custom Presets and LUTs [what we use]: https://store.dftba.com/products/john... The music for this video, created by in-house composer Tom Fox, is available on our music channel, Chromatic. Follow the link to hear this soundtrack and many more: / @chromaticbytomfox Watch my videos ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/johnnyharris.

ABOUT: Johnny Harris is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and contributor to the New York Times. Based in Washington, DC, Harris reports on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe, publishing to his audience of over 5 million on YouTube. Harris produced and hosted the twice Emmy-nominated series Borders for Vox Media. His visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways.

Press - NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/op... NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion... Vox Borders: • Inside Hong Kong’s cage homes NPR Planet Money: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/10721... where to find me - Instagram: / johnny.harris Tiktok: / johnny.harris Facebook: / johnnyharrisvox how i make my videos - Tom Fox makes my music, work with him here: https://tfbeats.com/ I make maps using this AE Plugin: https://aescripts.com/geolayers/?aff=77 All the gear I use: https://www.izharris.com/gear-guide my courses - Learn a language: https://brighttrip.com/course/language/ Visual storytelling: https://www.brighttrip.com/courses/vi...

Sponsor/partner: Ground News gives 50% off their Vantage plan approaching the 2024 US election. Go to https://ground.news/johnnyharris to get 1 year of full access at half price to see through partisan spin and misleading narratives in the final stretch to Election Day. Cut through the campaigning and the rhetoric.

Conscious Evolution: Dr. Lipton, G. Braden

Conscious Evolution with Gregg Braden and Dr. Bruce Lipton (tcche.org)

How can embracing wisdom lead to evolution?

Conscious Evolution is possible. Learn how. Unlock the power of our human consciousness to reshape our destiny in this exclusive program.

Dr. Bruce Lipton's groundbreaking research in cell biology has shaken the world of biology.

Coupled with researcher Gregg Braden's exploration of ancient wisdom and modern science brings an understanding of evolution.

Rise: European concert tour (tcche.org)

Most importantly, their close friendship has created this event to help audiences better understand and change the interconnectedness between us and the world.

What is TCCHE? "The Conference for Consciousness & Human Evolution" creates life-changing events and online training programs from internationally renowned speakers and bestselling authors to enhance and empower our spiritual journey: TCCHE.org

• 'Remarkable': Supplement may slow breakdown in high-risk Alzheimer's cases (Newsweek)

Embracing wisdom can lead to evolution

Who altered this book for genocide?

(TCCHE) What happens when a brilliant scientist trades her microscope for ancient wisdom? Dive into the captivating story of Sarah, a San Francisco researcher who discovers that true fulfilment lies beyond scientific breakthroughs.

This thought-provoking article reveals how embracing wisdom can revolutionize our lives, offering insights that prompt our transformation journey.

There used to be so many ET gods.

A few years ago, in the heart of San Francisco, Sarah, a brilliant and accomplished scientist, found herself at a crossroads. Despite her numerous accolades and groundbreaking research, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing — a deeper purpose and understanding that her scientific pursuits alone could not fulfil.

During this time of introspection, she stumbled upon a text that would set her on a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. It echoed the words of this Christian scripture: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” (1 Corinthians 3:19), reminding Sarah that true wisdom lies not in the accumulation of worldly knowledge but in the awakening to a higher truth.

Intrigued and inspired, Sarah embarked on a quest to unravel the mysteries of wisdom and its role in her personal and spiritual growth. More

When I was a [fake] billionaire (VICE)

Andi Schmidt, VICE; Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Ashley Wells (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

What I saw as a fake billionaire | Fakes, frauds, and scammers

(VICE) May 9, 2022. Andi Schmied pretended to be a billionaire to infiltrate New York City’s most exclusive and expensive [high rise apartment] homes, which only cater to the unbelievably wealthy and privileged. Touring homes that cost up to $85 million, she wanted to see and photograph how the 1% of the 1% lives in one of the most iconic and expensive megalopolis cities in the world. To do so, she had to transform herself from an artist into a convincing billionaire almost overnight. But while snapping 25 penthouses she discovered a world of high rise apartments sitting empty in a city facing a severe housing crisis.

Check out the VICE World News playlist for global reporting not found elsewhere: youtube.com/playlist...

Watch more like this:

• How I Stole $2.8 million as a Teenager
• How We Staged a UFO Hoax [so people will disbelieve in them]
• My Wife Hired a Hitman So I Faked My Death

Click here to subscribe to VICE: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE

ABOUT: VICE claims to be the Definitive Guide to Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, its immersive, caustic, ground-breaking, and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet, and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world never known to have existed. Welcome to VICE.

• Man claims winning $2 billion Powerball ticket sold in Altadena, California was stolen, sues jackpot winner (ktla.com)

Things follow their nature to arise and fall

Ajahn Lee via Ven. Sujato, Ellie Askew, edited/expanded by Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

I'm wasting away like Pink Floyd

For people to be happy or sad, skillful or unskillful, all depends on the heart.

The heart's in charge. It's the most important thing to be found in our body. Why? That's because it's lasting and responsible for all the skillful and unskillful things we do.

As for the body, it knows nothing of pleasure or pain, happiness or sadness. And it's not at all responsible for anyone's skillful or unskillful karma (actions). Why is that? That's because the body isn't lasting. It's empty.

 

To say that it's "empty" means that as soon as it's deprived of breath (prana), its four properties [the Four Great Elements, which are actually properties or qualities of matter] -- earth, water, wind, and fire -- separate from one another and return to their original nature.

 

The parts coming from the earth property return to be just earth, as they originally were. The parts coming from the water property return to be just water, as they originally were. The parts coming from the wind and fire properties return to be just wind and fire, as they originally were.

Don't have to be wasted, but it helps

There's nothing about them that's "woman" or "man," "good," or "bad." This is why we're taught, Rupam aniccam: "Physical form is radically impermanent."

Rupam dukkham: It's hard to bear. Rupam anatta: It's impersonal, not-self, empty, and doesn't stay under anyone's control.

[This third characteristic of existence is perhaps the most important] because even if we try to forbid form from growing old, growing sick, or dying, it wouldn't behave in line with our wishes or commands.

[Why is that? By its very nature] it has to fall in line with the processes of building up and wasting away (incessantly rising and falling) in accordance with the nature of natural formations. This applies to everyone.

You can lead a monkey to the mat...but you can't make it meditate

Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly, Ananda M., DMI; Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (Huff Po Rise)

(JuBu Jewish-Buddhist Beastie Boys doing their smash hit "Brass Monkey" as a video)

Think you're tricky? But I'm trickier!

Monkeys are funny things. In the jungle gym between my ears, there is a fierce and tricky battle raging. It is full of cunning and such slyness that it is difficult to comprehend its parameters.

I tell my monkey, "Cool it! Settle down." It smiles with its big banana teeth then reaches behind for I don't want to know what to toss at me. Then it laughs and laughs and laughs as I threaten, "Why you...!" And it runs away to the jungle cave of consciousness.

(Huff Po Rise) Buddhist monk Yongey Mingyr Rinpoche explains How to Train our Monkey Mind

I have to stand at the edge of the jungle try to reason it to come out. "I'm not mad, Mr. Monkey. Come out. C'mon. Here monkey-monkey!"

After a long time, long after I've asked, it might emerge to do its mischief or rest contented in the canopy.

"Wait till I get my hands on you, you simian..." I think quietly to myself. But it can hear me. It has very good hearing. Whatever I say above a whisper it hears clearly. It may even hear sub-whispers. Oh, monkey, will you ever learn?!  CONTINUED

Sunrise at the Top of the World

CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Associated Press (AP, Feb. 2, 2017); Nat'l Park Service (nps.gov) 

Love is in the air: Couple watches sun rise in front of summit of Haleakala volcano, Maui, Hawaii,1/22/17, one of the main park attractions despite morning temps in the 30s (AP).

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Sunrise visitors overload Maui peak, leading to restrictions

High in the beautiful Hawaiian wilderness

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - Well before dawn each morning, throngs of tourists from around the world make their way to Maui's tallest peak, a dormant volcano, to see what Mark Twain called the "sublimest spectacle" he ever witnessed.
 

Selfie time on top of the world! (AP)

They drive up a long, winding road through the clouds to an otherworldly, lava-rock landscape at 10,000 feet. Then they bundle up and take their place for a dazzling daybreak show.

"Just the sunrise from the top of the world -- it's pretty remarkable and incomparable," Julia Grant of Mission British Columbia, Canada, said on a recent visit after watching the sun peek out from the horizon and saturate the sky in endless shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Webcam/Multimedia: View Haleakalā crater conditions via summit webcam, videos.

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Crowds gather to wait for Surya/Sol (AP).

Over the past year the sunrise view from atop Haleakala -- Hawaiian for "House of the Sun" -- has been attracting over 1,000 people a day. The result, officials say, was a logjam of cars spilling out of the parking lots and onto the road, creating a safety hazard, and footsteps trampling sensitive habitat.
 

The view above the clouds (AP)

To address the problem the National Park Service this week started requiring reservations and limiting the number of vehicles to the available parking spots, potentially cutting in half the number of early-morning visitors.

Sunrise viewing has long been popular at Haleakala, one of the main attractions at Haleakala National Park, despite morning temperatures that often dip into the 30s.

Red soil and lava rocks dominate the summit and only a few hearty plants have adapted to the harsh, high-altitude conditions. The peak also is home to the nene, the Hawaiian goose, and colonies of spiders that feast on bugs blown in from the surrounding wilderness. More
 

A rare and sacred landscape

(NPS.gov) This special place vibrates with stories of ancient [indigenous] and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place: renew your spirit amid stark volcanic landscapes and sub-tropical rain forest with an unforgettable hike through the island backcountry. More

Andrew Basiago & the Hawaiian Dolphins:
Joan Ocean, Dr. Salla, Corey Goode, Jean-Luc