http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34211549     Read more

      “Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day.  You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” Ralph Waldo Emerson     Read more

    My father would have celebrated his 102nd birthday today.  But, unfortunately, he’s been gone for slightly more than twelve years now.   I miss him enormously, and I think of him every day.   I’ve been thinking of him today.  There are so many stories I recall that might illustrate his character and personality.   But here’s one that represents what he called his “Norwegian sense of humor”:   He had a good friend by the name of... Read more

    The internet is a place where rumors can be presented as fact, anonymous accusations can be leveled and spread publicly without the slightest evidence to back them, and unethical actions can be made up out of whole cloth and freely (though falsely) imputed to named individuals.   I’ve been a victim of this sort of thing for many years.  Most notably, but not solely, at the hands of the dedicated defamer whom I’ve labeled my “Malevolent Stalker.”  ... Read more

    Even less so, in other words, than you may have assumed:   http://news.discovery.com/earth/north-american-continent-isnt-as-solid-as-you-might-think-150914.htm     Read more

    I may have shared this comedic masterpiece with you before now, but, if I already have . . . well, it’s so darned funny!  Although it’s much shorter, I think it ranks with Hugh Nibley’s Sounding Brass and The Myth Makers as a satirical send-up of some of the theories proposed by people who’re desperate to explain Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon away:   http://www.jefflindsay.com/oneday.shtml   Who says that cynical anti-Mormons should have all the laughs?... Read more

    You may perhaps have heard of the “Faith Counts” effort that’s been undertaken by a coalition of religious organizations (prominent among them the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).   “Faith Counts” recently conducted its first video competition.   If you have just two minutes, you can watch at least one of the videos here:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/faith-counts-video-contest-winners   They’ll provide you with some good material for reflection.     Read more

    I met the Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi some years ago when she came to lecture in Salt Lake City.  She’s impressive, and remarkably brave.   http://real-leaders.com/its-our-turn-as-women-to-teach-men-what-islam-is-really-about/   (Thanks to Jabra Ghneim for calling this item to my attention.)     Read more

    John 12:9-11   Clearly, according to the gospel of John, the raising of Lazarus was the immediate catalyst for the arrest and execution of Jesus.  The miracle was simply too obvious and far too spectacular to ignore.  The Jewish leadership may not have believed it to have been a genuine miracle — they most likely didn’t — but they knew that a very great number of their fellow Jews did.  It was creating a very volatile situation.  ... Read more

    If you think your boss is stupid, remember this:  You might not have a job if he were any smarter.     Read more