A bit more on that recent report suggesting that, as a matter of fact, religion may actually not “poison everything”:   “How Faith-Based Groups Power the U.S. Economy”     Read more

    My wife and I saw Sully a few days ago, and I concur with this review by John Podhoretz:   http://www.weeklystandard.com/hanks-and-eastwood-bring-the-right-stuff-to-sullys-tale/article/2004445   I recommend it.  It’s a good film.   It didn’t make me feel any better about insurance companies, though.   Last week, we discovered a very slow leak in some of our plumbing that had, it turned out, already done considerable damage in rooms on two floors.  We had an insurance person come over, and our insurer... Read more

    This, I think, is a serious article that goes far beyond the quite obvious problems of Mr. Donald J. Trump as an individual.  It merits a reading, if you can access it:   http://www.weeklystandard.com/donald-trump-cannot-save-our-republic/article/2004461     Read more

    Alden Weight called this disturbing item to my attention.   It involves Rina Shah, a Republican of Indian background who is the communications director for Evan McMullin’s independent presidential campaign.   Warning:  It’s vile.  And, although the worst words have been bleeped out, it’s not difficult to know what they were:   http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/09/21/a-trump-supporter-left-a-racist-voicemail-for-a-mcmullin-staffer-so-the-candidate-made-it-an-ad/     I won’t say that such hateful, bigoted, and essentially tyrannical sentiments represent most Trump supporters, let alone all of them.  I know many people... Read more

    My Thursday Deseret News column for this week is now up:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865663001/An-ancient-American-book-dismissed-as-a-fraud-proves-to-be-genuine.html     Read more

    An article in The Hindu, entitled “Fluttering Black Beauties”:   http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fluttering-black-beauties/article9131920.ece     Read more

    https://priceonomics.com/why-do-tourists-visit-ancient-ruins-everywhere/     Read more

    Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.  (C. S. Lewis)   One cannot be humble and aware of oneself at the same time.  (Madeleine L’Engle)     Read more

    I’m really pleased to see this richly deserved recognition come to my friend, colleague, former department chair, and former dean, Van Gessel:   https://news.byu.edu/news/byu-humanities-professor-commended-foreign-minister-japan       Read more

    A powerful, powerful video message based upon Elder Patrick Kearon’s remarks at the April 2016 conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:   https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/refuge-from-the-storm     Read more