“Debts”   This seems to me as apt an occasion as any to append something that I originally posted back in September 2013, under the title of “The Middle Eastern Texts Initative: Farewell and a Retrospective.”  I frequently run into retellings of the saga of my departure from the Maxwell Institute that are as inaccurate as they are confident.  Accordingly, in an effort to preserve the historical record from malformation — it might otherwise take on a permanently distorted shape,... Read more

    This isn’t from the Onion:   http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senior-gop-officials-exploring-options-trump-drops/story?id=41089609   From my perspective, of course, ’tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.   I expect ABC’s reporting is correct, though, and that Mr. Trump isn’t actually thinking of dropping out of the race.  He is, after all, a supremely egotistical man.   But it’s not impossible that he is.   For one thing, Mr. Trump may not be especially interested in actually being president:   “Trump Reportedly Tried to Convince... Read more

    Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. Frédéric Bastiat     Read more

    I want to start posting things against Hillary Clinton.  I really do.   But there’s just so much to say about The Donald!  Every single day, he makes ridiculous, ignorant, silly, crass, offensive, and revealing comments.  I can’t even keep up with him:   “Trump vs. the Khans”   “The Trump Campaign Keeps Digging, and Digging, and Digging . . .”   And did you see his recent dismissal of the lady with a crying baby?  And his... Read more

    This situation was adroitly handled.   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    We caught a very entertaining production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing here last night.  They played the comedic scenes with Beatrice and Benedick really broadly — the scenes with Dogberry, Verges, and the night watch are inescapably and hilariously broad already — and the audience loved it.  (So far as I could tell, the theater was full.)   We have loved our many years of faithful attendance here at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  I commend the Festival to... Read more

    You may want to postpone your plans for that Jovian vacation until you can find more suitable clothing:   http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/health/jupiter-great-red-spot-heat/?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool   Fortunately, while it’s an excellent site for extreme sports, there is no evidence whatever that year-round residents of Jupiter are particularly fashion-conscious.   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    In this extensively illustrated article, Philadelphia magazine tours the newly completed Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple:   http://www.phillymag.com/property/2016/08/01/a-first-and-last-look-at-the-new-mormon-temple/   Posted from Cedar City, Utah     Read more

    I’m sorry, folks, but, in my judgment, this man is simply unfit to be president of the United States.  Independently of concerns about Hillary Clinton and questions about Gary Johnson, he is simply unworthy of the office.   “Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: ‘I’ve Made a Lot of Sacrifices'” “Trump’s Vulgar Admission: Avoiding STDs Was ‘My Personal Vietnam’ With ‘Few Uninfected’ Women” “Khizr Khan, and the moment American Muslims have been waiting for” “VFW Slams Trump... Read more

    An interesting question:  Why can’t we remember?  Or do we actually remember, but simply can’t retrieve our memories?   http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160726-the-mystery-of-why-you-cant-remember-being-a-baby   Posted from Cedar City, Utah   Read more