I am guilty of considering the shifting of the Earth's crust, that force that ripped Africa from South America and slipped an ocean in between, as something that happened long ago. But of course it is not; the altering of geography is an on-going process, a remarkably slow moving kaleidoscope of cause and effect, with only infrequent ripping involved.

And while it is interesting to know that Boston was once where the Sahara is today, it is far more wondrous to contemplate that, given patience, it will return. Maybe not with the Big Dig fully functional, or with J. D. Drew playing right field, but under the circumstances, wouldn't it be wise to begin to develop a better understanding of that part of the world?