For your reference.

Conservatism is for parents, workers, and other people with real lives who are too busy to rationalize utopia. (more…)

Perhaps you noticed the waxing crescent in the evening sky and thought, “Less than two orbits to go!” And perhaps you have given some thought to the eyewear you will favor for observing the annular solar eclipse on the afternoon of Sunday, May 20.

(more…)

How much ammunition is ‘enough’?

Richard Clarke is in touch with his inner Cassandra.

At last, scientific proof that homework does little good until late in high school.

Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope after all.

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO throws her support behind Mitt.

It’s a heavy blow, but I plan to vote for Mitt anyway.

The nature of the relationship btween the Mulekites and the Lamanites became a little clearer to me recently while reading the Book of Mormon this year.

In Omni verses 12 and 13 we read that the 1st King Mosiah led some of the Nephites out of the land of Nephi, took them on a journey and discovered the land and people of Zarahemla. Mosiah and his people then joined up with the Zarahemla-ites, also known as Mulekites. Mulek, son of Zedekiah King of Judah, was the principal of that group of immigrants (Mosiah 25:2, Helaman 6:10).

At that point, the Nephites had already had a long tradition of wars with the Lamanites.

It finally occured to me that since the Nephites were “new” to the Mulekites, so also were the Lamanites.

In Omni 24 we read that by the time the first Mosiah’s son Benjamin is king, the combined Nephites/Mulekites have had a war with the Lamanites.

In this, I see the beginning of the resentment between the Mulekites and the Nephites, in that the Nephites in effect brought the Lamanites upon the Mulekites. In spite of the fact that the Mulekites (Zarahemla-ites) rejoiced over the Nephites bringing the Brass Plates (the Old Testament up through the time of Jeremiah), and a presumed restoration of the Hebrew language, along with a presumed restoration of Hebrew and Egyptian writing, the fact remains that had the Nephites not come to Zarahemla, the Lamanites would likely not have discovered Zarahemla and would have left them alone.

To me, this explains in large part why Mulekite dissenters and King-men were not reluctant to join or make league with the Lamanites later on in the Book of Mormon. The dissenting Mulekites likely saw the Lamanites as the Nephites’ enemy, not their’s.

All of you Mormon chess history enthusiasts will recall our last discussion of Johannes Zukertort, a leading chess player of his day, and his sojourn among our people in 1884. He tangled with some Pratts at the Alta Club, jawed with President Taylor, and then decamped for San Francisco.

I’ve since heard from GM Stuart Conquest, former British champion and a Zukertort authority. He’s written about his efforts to restore the final resting place of Zukertort in Brompton Cemetery, London, which has fallen into disrepair. The undertaking is done with the support of the Polish Heritage Society of the UK (he was a Pole), but he also needs our help. Mr. Conquest’s very interesting report, with pictures, is in Chessbase here.

It would be nice if Mormon chess fans could take an interest in Zukertort and contribute to this effort in recognition of the interest he took in us. Please contact Mr. Conquest at sconquest@hotmail.com if you’re inclined to do so.

Another signature Obama accomplishment.

I’m rather fond of the place. The Nullarbor Plain reminds me a lot of my home planet.

The gospel may be beautiful, but it ain’t pretty.

Let us suppose that you in your wisdom bought 8 helium balloons for oldest daughter’s 8th birthday. Let us also suppose that your daughters have decided that this is a new family tradition for every birthday. It will be rigorously observed, they decree, if you love them.

Let us suppose that you do love them. (more…)

to one hundred bucks an hour? (more…)

I’m sorry to say Ross Perot may be a distant relative.

Not that I have reason to boast. Half my family tree are meddling bugs.