The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. . . .  Of course I do not  here speak of that beauty that strikes the senses . . . I mean that profounder beauty which comes from the harmonious order of the parts, and which a pure intelligence can grasp. Henri Poincaré   Posted from Cedar City, Utah Read more

    A helpful article from the Economist:   http://www.economist.com/news/science-brief/21660968-our-second-brief-scientific-mysteries-we-ask-whether-world-might-make-more-sense   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    Helen Condon called my attention to the item above, from a Facebook site called The Cultural Hall.  I don’t know, otherwise, to whom I should give credit.   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    I’ve seen this claim a lot over the years, and quite a bit, especially, in the past few weeks.   I understand where it’s coming from, but it seems to me misguided.   First of all, I would like to know who, exactly, “the Church” might be.   We don’t have a professional clergy or clerical caste, separated from the laity by years of divinity school, a distinct job choice or professional career path, celibacy, priestly vestments, or residency... Read more

      It would have been difficult to make this up.   And I assure you that I didn’t.   If you want to see the proof of that — please be warned that, predictably, coming as it does from every family’s first choice of role models, Miley Cyrus, it’s somewhat crude, unattractive, and raunchy — have a look here:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/422377/miley-cyrus-taylor-swift-interview-guns?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    Since the Church published the photograph of that seer stone a couple of weeks ago, there’s been a whole lot of public Angst about the inaccuracy of some Church art.   I’ll likely have a bit more to say about this general topic, but, in the meantime, here’s a partially relevant little piece that I published back on 25 June, before the latest controversy flared up:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631371/From-Darkness-unto-Light-takes-a-fresh-look-at-recovery-publication-of-the-Book-of-Mormon.html?pg=all   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    One of the great advantages of regular attendance at the Utah Shakespeare Festival — one of many — is that, because of the Festival’s determination to work its way through the Shakespearean canon, one is able to see relatively uncommonly-performed pieces, and, eventually, all of them.   Tonight, we saw a strong performance of “Henry IV, Part Two.”   It’s definitely not among Shakespeare’s greatest plays.  But parts of it are very good, indeed.   It’s mostly not... Read more

    Luke 18:1-8   Perhaps the main point of this little parable — which is a favorite of mine — is to encourage patience in waiting upon the Lord.   But it’s very human, in its way.  Even in dealing with earthly matters, persistence will often be rewarded.   Posted from Cedar City, Utah       Read more

    Emperor Joseph II:  Your work is ingenious. It’s quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that’s all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:  Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    Just back from a superb Utah Shakespeare Festival production of Sir Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus.   David Ivers, one of the two artistic directors of the Festival and a perennial audience favorite here, was powerful as Salieri.  Tasso Feldman was surprisingly affecting to me as Mozart, given the fact that I’ve never liked the play’s portrayal of the composer.  We had seats front row and center (for the first time), and being up close gave us an excellent vantage... Read more