“I have a respect for manners as such.  They are a way of dealing with people you don’t agree with or like.” Margaret Mead (1901-1978), American anthropologist     Read more

    An interesting article:   https://www.quora.com/How-will-humans-look-10-000-100-000-years-from-now/answers/1980442   It seems that, in eye-color as in other regards, I’m not only exceptionally desirable but quite innovative.  In a very real sense, I represent the hope and promise of things to come.   Of course, as the late great Danish physicist and 1922 Nobel laureate Niels Bohr once famously observed, “Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.”     Read more

    Thanks to McClain Bybee for alerting me to this article:   http://www.outsports.com/2016/9/13/12905930/byu-ncaa-north-carolina-gay-lgbt   41 ¶And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.  42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,  43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he... Read more

    I won’t spoil the suspense for you.   But please don’t neglect the supporting statistics.  They’re quite interesting:   https://wallethub.com/edu/happiest-states/6959/   Thanks to Charles Steinman for calling my attention to this item.     Read more

    In the Interpreter Foundation’s 179th posted scripture roundtable, Cassandra Hedelius, Martin Tanner, and Bruce Webster discuss Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Lesson 35, which is focused upon Helaman 13-16:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-179-book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-lesson-35-repent-and-return-unto-the-lord/     Read more

    “When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.” Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)     Read more

    An intriguing idea:   http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/13/embattled-christians-push-for-homeland-in-middle-east.html   I’m very sympathetic.     Read more

    I need to have a look at this:   Mormon Heavenly Mother featured in Deseret Book best-seller   I’ve actually written on a related topic, more than once.  Here, for example:   “Nephi & His Asherah”   And, in a fuller and more satisfactory form (to me, at least), here:   “Nephi and His Asherah: A Note on 1 Nephi 11:8-23”     Read more

    Somebody called my attention to this article yesterday, I think, and I’m sorry, but I failed to make a note of who it was.  Thanks to him or her, in any case:   http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/online-trolls-are-psychopaths-and-sadists-psychologists-claim-9134396.html   My personal experience tallies with what the article reports.  I no longer attempt conversation with such folks.  I stopped participating at certain sites because it was simply pointless and frustrating to do so.  Also, like most sane people I won’t comment on religion-related... Read more

    The latest installment of my weekly Deseret News column has appeared:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865662459/The-LDS-Church-will-never-have-the-worlds-universal-approval.html     Read more