# So what's the deal with the "Galactic Alignment"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399 "2012-05-29T00:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/201 "2012-06-26T07:22:34Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > Are you claiming that the Puma Punku site could not be reproduced with modern technology? Not the technology at the time, but modern-day technology? That was my question - you claimed “certain ancient structures … that we don’t know how to replicate the stuff with our modern technology”, and I’d like to know what structures you were referring to. Maybe I remembered wrong, but in the video they should have interviewed a guy. ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/202 "2012-06-26T07:29:00Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > I can’t believe I am going to weigh in on this but I have read the whole thing and actually followed a bunch of the links, so here we go… > > 1.There will absolutely be a cosmic alignment of some sort on Dec 21 2012, and it will be a huge deal, Major event not a doubt in my mind.( that is if we are correct on syncing ) > > 1. The Maya were amazing astronomers and brilliant calendar makers. They understood things that we are only recently able to understand and their understanding of the scale of time was way beyond what was contemporary. > > This is super huge if you are an Ancient Maya(AM), has about zero meaning for the rest of us, except the chance for a little humility on the modern worlds part, more on that in a sec. > > Alignment. Yep it is going to happen but unless you are AM astronomer you probably don’t know what to look for, modern example, the debate as to beginning of Ramadan. > > Big Deal. Are you kidding me, hell yeah, we are starting a new Batun(sp?). “We are going to out party 1999, come on that was a millennium, this is a whole calendar reset” but only if you are an AM > > Amazing. Not really and absolutely, Calendars serve several important functions, a few being; basic time keeping, agriculture and culture. Almost all terrestrial calendars use the same basic unit the Year appx 365 days, so almost every calendar is easily synced, some math might be needed. Agriculture requires us to subdivide our year so we know when to plant, there are some convenient markers that are easily measured without complex instruments, although writing helps, the moon cycle and equinoxes. You now have the tools to use a correctable calendar, you can begin with a small circle of stones and a stick and refine from there, in a few generations you end up with something far more complex, through observation, and this is where culture plays a huge part. A calendar tells you when to pray, what to eat, when to worship, who to worship, when to work, when to sit idle, when/what to remember, when to give etc. besides all the agricultural timing. Something in AM culture made it important to think in the long scale/long cycle so their culture evolved the Long Count Calendar. I have no idea what would make anyone think on a scale of 52,000 times their lifespan, but obviously they did, how many lifetimes did that take? Kudos to the AM for their awesome math and observational skills, but does this matter to us, not a bit. A big calendar event aligning with an equinox, it would be weird if it did not. Think about it or convert 12.21.2012 into an Islamic of Jewish calendar and go into a number frenzy over that, because the year date is irrelevant. In fact it is rather arbitrary, virtually no one believes JC was born 12.25.0000 and no one cares because where you start is completely unimportant, it is just a reference point. > > Humility. Us moderns IMO have a tendency to think we are smarter than the ancients were, that because they knew less than we do they were not as smart, this is just flat out wrong. Modern Humans have been just about the same for at least 100,000 years(general consensus everyone?), same people same motivations and desires(generally). They also lived in a modern developing world, albeit more slowly. Oh lets have an example, go down to your local Home improvement center, go to the tool section, look for the measurement devices, pick up a water level, oogle that amazing piece of technology, invented at least 5000 years ago, probably used it while building the Pyramids of Egypt, in all that time all we have done to improve that tool is better materials and a digital readout, same friggin tool. > More Humility. Ancients built the same way we do now, it was just harder and took longer, they planned for this. Look at the castles and churches of Europe, some of them took hundreds of years to build, the guys who drew up the original plans knew their great grand children would still be working on it, oh BTW, does anybody know who built the Empire State Building(no google fu), but everyone knows The great Pyramid of Cheops, yep the people who do the work rarely get the credit. Some things never change. If there was a plaque with the builders name on it, it was in small type. > > Just a little more of this… > Scene) > Puma Punku, our jewel in the green desert, transition stage between 2nd and 3rd construction stages, in the market place, early evening > > (Enter Bob) > > Narrator: “Bob is in trouble, the Temple walls are separating and the King is displeased, Bob’s great great grandfather learned how to make the flat exact stones of the first Temple and his family has been the builder for the king ever since, to keep his head and his childrens jobs, he needs a solution in 5 or 10 years. He paces the marketplace to clear his mind.” > > (Enter Jim) A jeweler > > (J)“Bob come here I want to show you something in my shop” > > (B)“Sure Jim I need the distraction, I have had a bad day” > > (J)“More trouble with the wife? I have something for that.” > > (B)“Not that, she doesn’t know about the GF yet, what did you want to show me?” > > (J)" You know the shiny jewelry I make out of the rocks around here, by melting, well I wanted to make some more complex shapes but the Metal, that is what I am calling it now by the way, wasn’t stiff enough to keep its shape so I found a different rock that that made metal too, but it was an ugly color and brittle. So I mixed them and check this out" > > Jim displays a small T shaped piece, silver/copper colored and hands it to Bob > > (J) “I made the shape in the wet sand and poured the metal in, awesome eh’, try to hurt it, you can’t break it” > > (B) “Wait you poured it into a hole that was T shaped? Why cant I bend this, it is the size of a small twig, is this magic?” > > (J) " Please don’t accuse me of sorcery, I have enough problems, with the wife dead and the boys in the army, and the unmarriable daughter at home, oy vey, I hope to make enough from this Metal to buy her a dowry and marry that wretched girl off" > > (B)(DING) “Er Jim you know, eh you think you can make shapes inside stone? Because this kinda looks like the shape of the wood blocks my Grandfather used to hold the original Temple blocks together, you remember I told you about watering against rot as my first Temple job” > > (J) “Yes I can make them in stone, I tried it out on those bad blocks you gave me from the cutters shop, I was just about to show you, funny thing I have to break the stone to get them out” > > Lights fade > > The End > > I know that is completely hypothetical, but problems are made to be solved, if you still need proof, while you are in the tool aisle… Look at the hatchets and axes > > We have never needed the intervention of the gods/aliens/angels etc, we have used what mankind has always done when something needs to get done, ingenuity and hard work. Don’t make it complicated > > **CAPT** Send me a video of someone replicating Puma Punku. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/203 "2012-06-26T10:53:06Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Send me a video of someone replicating Puma Punku. First, send us a video of someone trying and failing to do so. ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/204 "2012-07-01T03:32:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > First, send us a video of someone trying and failing to do so. I have. Duh. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/205 "2012-07-01T07:20:21Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Send me a video of someone replicating Puma Punku. Send me a video of someone replicating the Empire State Building. Nope? That proves it was built by aliens. Or, just perhaps, you don’t comprehend “burden of proof.” (I originally said “The Eiffel Tower,” except that there may very well be video of the construction of the replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. Which, come to think of it, I’d actually enjoy seeing such a video!) ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/206 "2012-07-05T15:30:58Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Send me a video of someone replicating the Empire State Building. > > Nope? That proves it was built by aliens. > > Or, just perhaps, you don’t comprehend “burden of proof.” > > (I originally said “The Eiffel Tower,” except that there may very well be video of the construction of the replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. Which, come to think of it, I’d actually enjoy seeing such a video!) I dunno, try this: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG5z03iwsEw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG5z03iwsEw) I’m sure there is some documentary on how it was built. The information on how it was built is already official, documented, and validated, so it’s not the same as Puma Punku. It’s amazing how much logical fallacies supposedly smart people make in their arguments. Also, I never said Puma Punku was made by aliens. I said the ancients made it with technology better than our own. This could mean a bunch of things. Aliens, time travelers, or maybe the ancients had more knowledge than we give them credit for (which would open the door to many other questions and mysteries). Either way, it is mysterious and something to look into. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/207 "2012-07-05T17:23:00Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Also, I never said Puma Punku was made by aliens. I said the ancients made it with technology better than our own. Specifically, you claimed: > [@garbonzo607](#): > > It’s not proof of ancient aliens, but that we don’t know how to replicate the stuff with our modern technology does provide reasonable fuel to the debate. True, you didn’t claim aliens, but you did claim that “our modern technology” could not reproduce something, presumably Puma Punku. Not ancient technology, but modern technology, with diamond saws, laser measuring and leveling tools, and computer-controlled milling tools and such, could not reproduce some carved rocks. I suspect that quite a few modern-day masons and stonecutters will disagree with you. You may wish to watch these videos: > **[Hulu + Live TV: Stream TV Channels, Shows, News & Sports](https://www.hulu.com/live-tv)** > > Switch from cable. Get Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, now with Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads). Stream Live TV channels, shows, news & sports online. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xFcMWUeRePw?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque While not about Puma Punku, they do discuss how to cut granite (which is harder to cut than the red sandstone at Puma Punku) using similar ancient methods. There is a paper here about Inca stonecutting methods: [http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/990027?uid=3739808&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100897250761](http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/990027?uid=3739808&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100897250761) Unfortunately, it’s not public-access, so you’ll only be able to see the preview page. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/208 "2012-07-05T19:47:33Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > Specifically, you claimed: > > True, you didn’t claim aliens, but you did claim that “our modern technology” could not reproduce something, presumably Puma Punku. Not ancient technology, but modern technology, with diamond saws, laser measuring and leveling tools, and computer-controlled milling tools and such, could not reproduce some carved rocks. > > I suspect that quite a few modern-day masons and stonecutters will disagree with you. > > You may wish to watch these videos: > > [Stream Live Sports, News, TV Shows, and Movies | Hulu + Live TV](http://www.hulu.com/watch/23357) > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFcMWUeRePw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFcMWUeRePw) > > While not about Puma Punku, they do discuss how to cut granite (which is harder to cut than the red sandstone at Puma Punku) using similar ancient methods. > > There is a paper here about Inca stonecutting methods: > > [http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/990027?uid=3739808&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100897250761](http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/990027?uid=3739808&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100897250761) > > Unfortunately, it’s not public-access, so you’ll only be able to see the preview page. Thank you **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/209 "2012-07-11T13:28:36Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > Specifically, you claimed: > > True, you didn’t claim aliens, but you did claim that “our modern technology” could not reproduce something, presumably Puma Punku. Not ancient technology, but modern technology, with diamond saws, laser measuring and leveling tools, and computer-controlled milling tools and such, could not reproduce some carved rocks. > > I suspect that quite a few modern-day masons and stonecutters will disagree with you. > > You may wish to watch these videos: > > [Stream Live Sports, News, TV Shows, and Movies | Hulu + Live TV](http://www.hulu.com/watch/23357) > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFcMWUeRePw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFcMWUeRePw) > > While not about Puma Punku, they do discuss how to cut granite (which is harder to cut than the red sandstone at Puma Punku) using similar ancient methods. > > There is a paper here about Inca stonecutting methods: > > [http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/990027?uid=3739808&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100897250761](http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/990027?uid=3739808&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21100897250761) > > Unfortunately, it’s not public-access, so you’ll only be able to see the preview page. I may have misspoke. What I mean is that they were able to do it when we can’t without using modern technology. Did you watch the video? You ask me for one episode and when I give it to you you don’t watch it? Also this theory does predict the future, so that it can be tested. Based on ancient writings it predicts that there will be some sort of light saber type sword that can cut through almost anything but need some sort of energy source. So like a light sword. This is based on ancient writings. I may upload a clip of what they are trying to say. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/210 "2012-07-11T13:59:56Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > I may have misspoke. What I mean is that they were able to do it when we can’t without using modern technology. But we could; pretty much all ancient construction techniques have been studied and understood. We don’t have the time, labor, or interest in rebuilding those structures using those techniques, but we could. This is Van Daniken’s _Chariots of the Gods_ all over again, and it’s just as racist and insulting. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/211 "2012-07-11T14:07:32Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Dang! I just realised my north fence post aligned with the Horsehead Nebula a few hours ago. And I missed it. :smack: > > The cats been acting weird ever since. Out of all this, your post is the only one worth replying to. So… you’re cats are OK, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/212 "2012-07-11T17:36:10Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > But we could; pretty much all ancient construction techniques have been studied and understood. We don’t have the time, labor, or interest in rebuilding those structures using those techniques, but we could. This is Van Daniken’s _Chariots of the Gods_ all over again, and it’s just as racist and insulting. Racist? o.O Then tell me how they did it. Did you watch the damn video for pete’s god damn sake? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/213 "2012-07-11T17:54:30Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Then tell me how they did it. Did you watch the damn video for pete’s god damn sake? :smack: I did, but not today. Which claim do you wish to discuss? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/214 "2012-07-11T17:58:08Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Racist? o.O Yup. It’s basically saying those simple backwards folks couldn’t have been smart and inventive without outside help. There’s no way they could be clever and resourceful. That’s the basis of Von Daniken’s ideas and it’s the same with yours. ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/215 "2012-07-19T02:02:45Z")
Guys, watch s3ep13 “Aliens and the Secret Code” and TELL ME there is not something credible here. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/216 "2012-07-19T03:03:00Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Guys, watch s3ep13 “Aliens and the Secret Code” and TELL ME there is not something credible here. Is this [the show](http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Ancient-Aliens_22941/season_3/episode_13/) you are talking about? > [@](#): > > Megalithic monuments linked together by electromagnetic energy… Prehistoric ruins arranged across vast distances in straight lines… And advanced mathematics carved into landmarks more than 5000 years ago. Were ancient man’s spectacular structures built by humans alone? Or do they bear evidence of being designed–and interconnected–by otherworldly visitors? And is that the show that is able to connect aliens with the Founding Fathers, the Undead, Gods & Heroes, and for all I know, my pool man and Rover, the Wonder Dog? Yeah, that’s some fantastic shit, man. Want another toke? ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/217 "2012-07-20T00:09:56Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Is this [the show](http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Ancient-Aliens_22941/season_3/episode_13/) you are talking about?And is that the show that is able to connect aliens with the Founding Fathers, the Undead, Gods & Heroes, and for all I know, my pool man and Rover, the Wonder Dog? > > Yeah, that’s some fantastic shit, man. Want another toke? Watch that episode and see. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/218 "2012-07-20T01:24:17Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > Watch that episode and see. I did. It’s utter nonsense. Hollywood is not reality, man, it just sells movies. Mundane explanations don’t put bodies in seats, but wild speculations do. Or sell books, as von Daniken did so successfully. ---
**Author:** ![garbonzo607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@garbonzo607](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garbonzo607)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/219 "2012-07-20T04:53:15Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I did. It’s utter nonsense. Hollywood is not reality, man, it just sells movies. Mundane explanations don’t put bodies in seats, but wild speculations do. Or sell books, as von Daniken did so successfully. That’s not a counter. Respond to the points brought out in the video. Like the different ancient sites being in exact lines, exactly on the opposite site of the world, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399/220 "2012-07-20T05:12:19Z")
> [@garbonzo607](#): > > That’s not a counter. Respond to the points brought out in the video. Like the different ancient sites being in exact lines, exactly on the opposite site of the world, etc. It’s absolute crap-misinformation, misdirection, speculation, distortion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-the-galactic-alignment/623399.md?page=12)