Last night, driving in northern New Mexico, we experienced one of the more magnificent sunsets that I’ve ever seen.  (Unfortunately, we weren’t in a position to get any good pictures.)  We had just passed through a small area of thunder and lightning, and then the clouds were illuminated in deep oranges and reds by the setting sun.   Anyway, in that, umm, light, here’s an interesting illustrated article, very short, about unusual clouds:   http://www.realclearscience.com/lists/unbelievable_clouds/six_amazing_clouds.html   Posted from Santa Fe,... Read more

    There are some beautiful interior views here, as well as some very nice exterior shots:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/open-house-begins-for-the-indianapolis-indiana-temple   We have good friends who live quite close to the new temple, and they’re understandably thrilled.   Posted from Santa Fe, New Mexico     Read more

    You might imagine that this is a satirical piece — perhaps from The Onion — making fun of the intolerant new non-judgmentalism that’s given our nation gay “marriage” and increasingly forbids us to regard anything, ever, as abnormal:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/421108/vampires-identify-study-discrimination   However, it’s no joke.   (Thanks to Nicol Sorenson-Legakis for bringing this to my attention.)   Posted from Santa Fe, New Mexico     Read more

      First of all, a food tip:   We ate in El Charro Loco in Moab.  Most Mexican restaurants are pretty much indistinguishable.  But this one has a flavor all its own.   My wife and I shared some wonderful chiles rellenos stuffed with meat, raisins, and pineapple (her order) and (my order) green pork enchiladas. Unusually good.   Our son had what he reports to have been an excellent dish—the “Vallarta fajita”—already mingled with beef, chicken, chorizo,... Read more

    According to my parents, I was supposed to have been a nice, churchgoing Swiss housewife.  Instead I ended up an opinionated psychiatrist, author and lecturer in the American Southwest, who communicates with spirits from a world that I believe is far more loving and glorious than our own. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross   Posted from Santa Fe, New Mexico     Read more

    Geoff Biddulph has a nice piece about how the reading of the Church’s letter on same-sex marriage played in his ward:   http://www.millennialstar.org/discussing-the-churchs-letter-on-same-sex-marriage-in-a-conservative-ward/   His experience with conservative members of the Church is also mine — and I count myself among them.  Although we’re supposed to be racist, anti-science, homophobic bigots, consumed with hate and fear, we don’t really seem to match the image that’s been cultivated for us.   How was the letter received in your ward?... Read more

    Looking from Dead Horse Point yesterday evening across to the igneous La Sal Mountains, surveying various strata representing hundreds of millions of years of geological history, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude for the internet:   Were it not for the efforts of several anonymous internet commentators, who’ve insisted on the matter over many years now, I would never have had the slightest clue that I’m a young-earth creationist who hates science and fears scientists.   I’ll always be... Read more

    You’re probably aware that the marvelous Egyptian-born actor Omar Sharif [عمر الشريـف‎] died a few days ago.   He starred in two of my very favorite films.  Films by one of my favorite directors, Sir David Lean.  Films that really must be seen on large screens to be fully appreciated.   Only in the 2004 Viggo Mortensen movie Hidalgo, though, did Western audiences have the opportunity of hearing him speak beautiful classical Arabic.     Here’s an informative article... Read more

    Luke 12:13-21   A very similar sentiment (against boasting or too-confident anticipation of tomorrow) is expressed at James 4:13-16:   Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is... Read more

    As somebody who is acutely aware that not all births go well, I’m especially delighted at the Church’s significant participation in this work:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/motion-graphic-lds-charities-provides-neonatal-resuscitation-training-around-the-world   Posted from Moab, Utah     Read more