The Washington Post brings to our attention David T. Fagan, father of eight and author of Guerrilla Parenting. (link) There are people you disagree with, but respect or like. There are others who share many opinions with you, yet still irritate you. I see value in how Fagan describes the rearing of his children: instilling self-reliance and industry, willingness to chart an independent path, not idolizing formal education, but he annoys me, and the most compact explanation why is that he is a salesman.

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h/t Dan Peterson

Speaking truth to power.

Preach it, brothers.

Michelle Malkin catalogs some murders, attempted murders, and foiled murder plots by radical Islamist U.S. citizens right here in the U.S.

Did you see them on the nightly news? Did you read about them at the time in the headlines of your daily (online or hard copy) newspaper? What was the Bamster’s response to them?

Most or all of the ones she catalogs were before ISIS was in the headlines.

“God the Father and the Holy Ghost are not to be portrayed in meetings, dramas, or musicals.

“If the Savior is portrayed, it must be done with the utmost reverence and dignity. Only brethren of wholesome personal character should be considered for the part. The person who portrays the Savior should not sing or dance. When speaking, he should use only direct quotations of scriptures spoken by the Savior.”

Dance?

Am I the only one morbidly curious about what sort of Mormon Roadshow From Hell precipitated that rule?

The First Amendment prohibits federal establishment of religion and protects the free exercise of religion. America’s Founders viewed the Establishment Clause narrowly and the Free Exercise Clause broadly, a combination that allowed for robust religious freedom and an active role for religion in public life. Judges who have felt free to impose their own values, however, have consistently reversed that order, interpreting the Establishment Clause broadly and the Free Exercise Clause narrowly. The result has been a continued diminishing of religious freedom and an increasingly muted role for religion in public life.

Thus Orrin Hatch.

The other day I cleaned a large surface with denatured alcohol and wore a blue nitrile glove on the hand holding the soaked rag. The next day I had a small spot to clean and didn’t bother with a glove since small amounts of skin contact with alcohol are not harmful; we often use isopropyl alcohol to clean skin. This led to musing on the concept of denatured alcohol. Denatured alcohol is 90% ethanol, an alcohol so mild to the body that people drink it. Drinking ethanol, while not acutely toxic, is still a problematic thing, so its distribution is controlled by law and heavily taxed. Ethanol is so useful for other things though, like fueling cars or cleaning, that it is worthwhile to have a way to distribute it in a form unsuitable for beverage consumption. So it is “denatured,” rendered unfit for drinking by mixing into it poisonous substances, traditionally methanol. Because ethanol is harmful to individuals and society, we make it safe to use freely by rendering it too toxic to ingest.

So, the LDS Church has released a four minute video explaining, and displaying, the garments and robes of the holy priesthood used by those endowed in LDS temples. (link) This probably reminded many of the publication in 1912 of James Talmage’s book The House of the Lord. David Rolph Seely explains:

On 16 September 1911, the Salt Lake Tribune published an account of certain individuals who had secretly taken pictures of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple and who had attempted to sell them to the church. The headlines read: “Photographs secretly taken of Mormon Temple’s interior; sent for sale to Church chief. President replies: Church will not negotiate with thieves and blackmailers.'” (more…)

“The first person to have their reputation completely destroyed worldwide via the Internet.”

The obvious point is that it wasn’t the Internet the ruined her reputation, but her actions. Gennifer Flowers became a household name before the internet age, and she slept with Bill back when he was a measly governor.

If there’s anything historically unique about the era of Ms. Lewinksy’s…uh…service in the White House that made the story much bigger than it otherwise would have been, it was the emergence of sexual harassment as one of the pressing issues of the age during the early 1990s. You remember, Bob Packwood, Tailhook, the Clarence Thomas hearings, the movie “Disclosure.” No sexual harassment awareness raising > no Paula Jones lawsuit > no depositions about who Bill was having “relations” with > no perjury > no Starr report > no impeachment. The push to get rid of lecherous bosses was clearly a good thing, to a certain extent. But considering the sanctimony of the Thomas hearings and the “Year of the Woman” baloney that the Dems ran on in 1992, it’s amusing how quickly it backfired on them, not that they would ever admit it.

As viewed from a Soviet launch facility.

Humanity has changed much of Nature for the better. Dogs and cats often get along and serve us in their own way. Horses bear us around (they were not always capable of that, even in biblical times) and cattle provide milk and meat. Likewise, we have sheep, goats and pigs that are little like their wild counterparts. But some of the most interesting change, is seen in the vegetable kingdom.  Nature is no ideal Eden without Adam & Eve making improvements.

t/p  James Kennedy Monash   blog 

Watermelon and Corn

Peach

This is to keep some links handy.

Old Testament and Related Studies (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 1) (Hardcover), Hugh Nibley. ISBN: 0875790321.

Enoch the Prophet (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 2) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley (Author), Stephen D. Ricks (Editor). ISBN: 087579047X

The World and the Prophets (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 3) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley. ISBN: 087579078X

Mormonism and Early Christianity (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 4) (Hardcover), Hugh Nibley, Todd M. Compton, Stephen D. Ricks. ISBN: 0875791271.

Lehi in the Desert, the World of the Jaredites, There Were Jaredites (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 5) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley (Author), John W. Welch (Editor), Darrell L. Matthews (Editor), Stephen R. Callister (Editor). ISBN: 0875791328.

An Approach to the Book of Mormon (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 6) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley, John W. Welch. ISBN: 0875791387.

Since Cumorah (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 7) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley, John W. Welch. ISBN: 0875791395.

The Prophetic Book of Mormon (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 8) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley. ISBN: 0875791794.

Approaching Zion (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 9) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley (Author), Don E. Norton (Editor). ISBN: 0875792529. A very popular book among Nibley fans.
 

Here are some books about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. (Written from a faithful persepctive.)

Doubleday edition of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Hardcover). ISBN 038551316X. This is a recent, but not the current, official edition of the Book of Mormon, without footnotes, and it has no index. Has a pronouncing guide, and a brief reference guide in the back.

Original 1830 edition. paperback. ISBN: 0976402513.

By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion (Paperback) Terryl L. Givens. ISBN: 0195168887.

By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion (Hardcover) Terryl L. Givens. ISBN: 019513818X

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (Paperback) Richard Lyman Bushman. ISBN: 1400077532. I like this book. It’s written from a faithful perspective, and from a scholarly perspective that makes it palatable for non-members to get an even-handed and non-proselyting delivery of the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. If you (LDS or non-LDS) have an intellectual curiosity about the history of Joseph Smith and the early church, this is the book for you.

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling [Deckle Edge] (Hardcover), Richard Lyman Bushman. ISBN: 1400042704.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 1: 1832-1839 (Hardcover)
Dean Jessee (Editor), Ronald Esplin (Editor), Richard Lyman Bushman (Editor). ISBN: 1570088497.

On the Road With Joseph Smith: An Author’s Diary (Paperback) Richard Lyman Bushman. ISBN: 1589581024.

The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition (Paperback) Grant Hardy (Editor). ISBN: 025207341X. This book is the 1830 edition (no break-down into verses), typeset in a way that makes for easy reading, and sets aparts the quotes. The “reading appearance” makes it more of a regular read as opposed to “reading scripture.”

The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition (Hardcover) Grant Hardy (Editor). ISBN: 0252027973.

The Book of Mormon Movie – Volume 1 – The Journey. Most of it is cheesey and unprofessional, but it’s a landmark. Some of the scenes are real groaners, but this movie was a major step taken in dramatizing the Book of Mormon. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying this for historical purposes. And, there are actually a couple good scenes in it. ASIN: B0002ER5VQ. Also look for it on ebay.

The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction. (Paperback) Terryl L. Givens. ISBN: 0195369319.

Book of Mormon. Facsimile Reprint of 1830 First Edition (Hardcover). ASIN: B000HP2QQY.

Book of Mormon: 1830 Replica Edition (Leather Bound). ISBN: 0929753208.

The Book of Mormon – The Earliest Text. Edited by Royal Skousen. ISBN: 0300142188. “Royal Skousen has single-handedly brought the textual analysis of the Book of Mormon to a professional level on par with the finest classical and biblical scholarship. This volume is the culmination of his labors, and it is the most textually significant edition since Joseph Smith’s work was first published in 1830. It takes us back to the original manuscript (as best we can reconstruct it) and sometimes beyond, to the very words that were first spoken by Joseph Smith to his scribes.”-Grant Hardy, from the Introduction. == Completely redesigned and typeset by nationally award-winning typographer Jonathan Saltzman, this new edition has been reformatted in sense-lines, making the text much more logical and pleasurable to read. Featuring a lucid introduction by historian Grant Hardy, the Yale edition serves not only as the most accurate version of the Book of Mormon ever published but also as an illuminating entryway into a vital religious tradition.

Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide (Hardcover) Grant Hardy. ISBN: 0199731705.

Joseph Smith, Jr.: Reappraisals After Two Centuries
Reid L. Neilson (Editor), Terryl L. Givens (Editor). ISBN: 0195369769.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1: First and Second Nephi (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 0884946320.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1: First and Second Nephi (Paperback) Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 1590385233.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2 (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 088494655X.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2: Jacob through Mosiah, by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet (Paperback). ISBN: 1590385241.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3 (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 0884948072.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3: Alma through Helaman (Paperback) Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 159038525X.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4 (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 0884948188.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4: Third Nephi through Moroni. (Paperback) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet and Brent T. Top. ISBN: 1590385268.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon [4 Volume Set] (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ASIN: B000XMKWW6.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon (4 Vol. set) I-IV (Paperback) Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ASIN: B0022WZALS.

It’s no mystery why a world that rejects the nameless virtue would reject heroes. At first glance, its no mystery why that same world would embrace celebrities. (more…)

One kind of creativity is making unexpected connections. Wodehouse excelled at this kind of creativity. I just read where Fink-Nottle, on a vegan diet, started weeping at a sunset, because the color reminded him of a nice, underdone slice of beef.

Most of my creativity comes to me second hand. Providence makes the connections for me. “Look on this picture, and on this,” Providence says, and all I have to do is look, and think. (more…)