A very short but fascinating discussion, using pivotal photographs, of some of the most important developments in the history of astronomy:   http://nautil.us/issue/32/space/these-astronomical-glass-plates-made-history   I saw the observatories atop Mount Wilson virtually every day of my life until I went away for college.  And my parents took me to visit the observatory at Mount Palomar when I was still a child.  It was only years later that I really began to comprehend their significance for the history of... Read more

    Huh.  Great minds think alike, I guess.  Or something like that.   I just now came across this item, which tallies remarkably well with the Hamblin/Peterson column that appeared in this morning’s edition of the Deseret News:   http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2016/01/21/catholic-heroes-of-science/     Read more

    A rather eccentric but nonetheless positive little piece about Mormons, written by an atheist:   http://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/ten-commandments-of-mormon-appreciation     Read more

    Another weird and not very comforting parallel:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430206/donald-trump-muqtada-al-sadr     Read more

    When you’re transporting drugs, it might be wise not to be on them at the time.   Still, hallucinatory paranoia can have amusing results, as here:   http://www.eastidahonews.com/2016/01/two-men-using-pot-call-the-cops-and-turn-themselves-in-heres-911-call-that-you-will-have-you-shaking-your-head/     Read more

    In the wake of the spectacular 2 Nephi 2, it’s easy to pass over the next few chapters without paying much attention to them.  After all, 2 Nephi 9, another very popular and rich chapter, is just ahead.   But that is to do these chapters something of an injustice.  There are, for example, a number of interesting things about 2 Nephi 4, today’s reading.  I’ll briefly mention three of them:   1.   In 2 Nephi 4:2, Nephi reflects upon... Read more

    This is great fun.   The video is just under three minutes long.  Watch it to the end, where the bride and groom themselves get involved:   http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/life-style/76144011/Passionate-wedding-haka-brings-bride-to-tears   Some will be able to tell that this is obviously a Mormon couple, married in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.   We didn’t have a haka at our wedding.  Did you?  At this point, I regret the omission.     Read more

    The most recent installment of the regular Hamblin/Peterson column for the Deseret News is up:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646012/Two-men-of-faith-and-science.html     Read more

    “My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that, and I intend to end up there.” Jalal al-Din Rumi (d. AD 1273)   Read more

    Ben McGuire delivered this paper at the 2001 FAIR conference (now FairMormon):   http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/fair-conferences/2001-fair-conference/2001-nephi-and-goliath-a-reappraisal-of-the-use-of-the-old-testament-in-first-nephi     Read more