I can’t recall whether I’ve ever called attention to this interesting essay here or not:   https://averroes2.blogspot.jp/2016/04/failed-19th-century-attempts-at.html?m=1   Truthfully, I can’t even remember who or what brought it to my mind today.     Read more

    “Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.”  (William James)     Read more

One of my favorite bad movies, years ago, was the classic 1970 spaghetti Western They Call Me Trinity, which features a hopelessly inept group of Mormon pacifists (including two beautiful girls who furnish the movie’s love interests) as a central (and comic) element in the plot.   But, it seems, the film’s depiction of Mormons wasn’t absolutely one-hundred percent accurate.   Illustration:   You may be aware of a brawl that erupted during a game between the Washington Nationals and the Devil’s own team,... Read more

    It seems to be Steve Smoot Day:   http://www.plonialmonimormon.com/2017/06/book-review-embracing-law-reading.html   It also happens to be Brigham Young’s birthday; he’s 216 years old today.   Happy birthday, Brother Brigham!     Read more

    http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2017/05/some-theorists-suggest-a-strange-unknown-supermassive-object-may-exist-at-the-heart-of-galaxies.html   There is, however, as yet no evidence whatsoever to suggest that it’s Kanye West’s ego.     Read more

    The redoubtable Stephen Smoot takes a look at a critique of the Book of Abraham that has had rather more effect than its poor quality merits:   http://tarikdlacour.blogspot.com/2017/05/answering-letter-to-ces-director-7.html?spref=Facebook&m=1   For my own quite hasty 2014 response to the overall Letter, see here.  I keep thinking, given the impact that the Letter has had on too many vulnerable and unfortunate victims, that I should respond further to it.  But, candidly, I found reading it so exasperating, found the arguments of the... Read more

    Behold the future, if such tyrannical acts as this one — in East Lansing, Michigan — aren’t resisted:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865681103/Catholic-farmer-ousted-from-Michigan-market-over-same-sex-marriage-views.html   “Michigan City Targets the Viewpoints of Family-Owned Orchard”   “Freedom is lost gradually from an uninterested, uninformed, and uninvolved people.”  (Thomas Jefferson)   If you’re interested in helping with this and similar cases, here’s one way:   “Stand with us”     Read more

    I’ve looked forward to publishing this column:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865681107/Near-Eastern-languages-in-ancient-America.html   If Brian Stubbs is right, his work is of enormous historical importance.   Please take a look at the two reviews for which I provide links.  They’re accessible online.     Read more

    “Tell me what you like and I’ll tell you what you are.” John Ruskin     Read more

    There are some interesting surprises in these findings, thus far — with regard to skin pigmentation, for example:   http://www.newsweek.com/egyptian-mummy-dna-study-suggests-close-ties-middle-east-europe-617767   Thanks to Cody Quirk for drawing my attention to this article.     Read more