“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.  Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.  Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.  Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts.  Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)     Read more

    Gearing up for a very big chiasmus-related event in mid-August:   https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/how-did-biblical-and-ancient-near-eastern-authors-use-chiasmus     Read more

    Perhaps, for starters, we ought to nail down what the term AI or artificial intelligence even means.   “Zuckerberg and Musk are both wrong about AI”   That seems fairly obvious, doesn’t it?  But major thinkers on the topic — or, at least, vocal opinion-holders on it — routinely don’t.     Read more

    A short but interesting little article from the always-interesting Muslim writer Reza Aslan:   Reza Aslan Argues: There Is No Divide Between Islam and American Culture     Read more

    If you’re in the area and you haven’t signed up for a tour, you may still have a shot at it:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/provo-mtc-open-house-2017     Read more

    You might enjoy watching the first video on this site, which has English subtitles:   http://ldschurchtemples.org/rome/video/     Read more

    Yet another of my angry, vengeful columns in the Deseret News, newly appeared this morning:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865685546/The-problem-of-beauty.html     Read more

    “Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the furthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness: a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say ‘no.’ But saying ‘yes’ begins things. Saying ‘yes’ is how things grow.” Stephen Colbert   “I hate cynicism – it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere.” Conan O’Brien   “We can destroy ourselves... Read more

    I’ve just ordered a copy of this new book from Robert Boylan — via AmazonSmile, of course.  I’m looking forward to it:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/1548311804/     Read more

    I’ve long suspected precisely this:   http://www.plonialmonimormon.com/2017/07/gadiantonism-as-counterfeit-temple.html   I would have to go back, however, to see whether I’ve explicitly said as much, though, or even hinted at it, in what I’ve published thus far on the Gadianton robbers.   For links to my writings on the topic, see “Gadiantonism and Organized Crime?”     Read more