I had breakfast with Hank this morning and we were discussing the last day of the school week. He wanted us to come to school to watch his swim lesson and then take him for an outing. I am known to “yank his chain” and told him to send me a smoke signal if he changed his mind. He got the best puzzled expression on his face. The topic of communication got me pondering – there is so much instantaneous communication today that it is virtually impossible to know who or what is important. The smoke signal takes us back to critical communication. Signals are one of the oldest forms of distance communication. They were used to transmit news, signal danger or gather people in a common area. In ancient China the guards on the Great Wall warned of impending attack by signaling from tower to tower and could cover 470 miles in just a few hours. Not unlike today, abuse of smoke signals is responsible for the fall of an eighth century dynasty. The King had a habit of fooling his warlords with false warning beacons reportedly to amuse his beautiful concubine. When an attack did occur no one came to the aid of the King. Crying wolf has a long history of unplanned outcomes. Polybius, a Greek historian, invented a complex system of alphabetical smoke around 150 BC. The “Polybius pair” is the precursor to today’s cryptography and steganography. My first thought was Native American people used smoke signals. If the smoke came from half way up the hill, all was well – if it came from the top of the hill, danger. Interesting that the smoke signal is still used by the Papal conclave; white smoke indicates a new Pope has been selected.
So I suppose we have come a long way from starting grass fires to cell phones – tweeting, e mailing, facebooking, and media overload occupying every waking moment. In 1967, The Tremoloes hit the charts with “Silence is Golden”, the star crossed lover could not find a way to communicate with the girl of his dreams. They followed up that same year with “Here comes my Baby”, again trying to find a way to communicate with the girl who “never walks alone and was always talking on the phone.” I find myself not wanting to listen to the news while still addicted to my cell phone. I was hoping there for counseling for those of us who would like to enjoy a bit of silent time in this crazy world. Turns out there is some support for the mental and physical well being from simply walking in the forest.
No cell phones for the next 30 minutes. Relax and enjoy your surroundings. Mike