The First Memorial Day Celebration: Freed Slaves Honor Union Soldiers (Repeat)

The First Official National Memorial Day Commemoration Memorial Day was created to remember and honor the 600,000-800,000 soldiers who died in the bloodiest military conflict in U.S. history — the Civil War. In 1868, the commander of the U.S. Army, officially proclaimed May 30 as Decoration Day “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died … Continue reading The First Memorial Day Celebration: Freed Slaves Honor Union Soldiers (Repeat) →

“How do I prosecute a food shoplifter, who is a poor Nazi death camp survivor?”

"Court Case Friday" As a young D.A. I was assigned to prosecute a unique shoplifting case. A poor elderly woman walked into a grocery store and stuffed dozens of canned goods into her coat and dress.  She made no effort to conceal what she was doing. The bulges in her clothing were obvious. She left the … Continue reading “How do I prosecute a food shoplifter, who is a poor Nazi death camp survivor?” →

“Trees” – “Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree”

"Poetic Wednesday" Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) is an American poet. He was killed in action, at the age of 32, in the Second Battle of Marne in the final days of WW I.  “Trees” is his most popular poem. TREES I think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree. A Tree whose … Continue reading “Trees” – “Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree” →

5 things we can learn from our Christian cousins

Sunday Sermon Learning from each other We Latter-day Saints never claimed to have a monopoly on truth. There is much we can learn from our Christian cousins, and there is much they can learn from us. (See: "20 Distinctive Beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," londonedition.net, Oct 3, 2021) We also … Continue reading 5 things we can learn from our Christian cousins →

Tales from Edinburgh Graveyard (“Graveyard Shift” “Dead Ringer” “Saved by the Bell”)

"Fun Facts Saturday" Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It is a beautiful, ancient, and fascinating city. It is my second favorite city in the word. (Of course, my namesake London is first.) Famous Castle and Ancient Graveyard The most prominent site in Edinburgh is the massive castle built atop a volcanic hill in the … Continue reading Tales from Edinburgh Graveyard (“Graveyard Shift” “Dead Ringer” “Saved by the Bell”) →

Traffic Ticket Case DNA Solved a Cold Case Murder

"Court Case Friday" Body Burned and Dumped by the Side of a Road In 2009, a burned body was dumped overnight in an office parking lot in Irvine. Police Sketch of Murder Victim The victim was an African-American female, in her mid-20’s.  Because the lungs were smoke-free, it was clear that the body was burned … Continue reading Traffic Ticket Case DNA Solved a Cold Case Murder →

“Too Blue” — A Depressing Poem about Depression

"Poetic Wednesday" James Mercer Langston Hughes (1901-1967) is one of the most famous African American poets. Having been disabled by a severe bout of depression, I somehow found this poem comforting - but then, I am weird. (As they say: "Neurotics build castles in the sky, psychotics move in, and psychiatrists charge rent.")            TOO … Continue reading “Too Blue” — A Depressing Poem about Depression →

Materialism and the Myth of the “Eye of the Needle” Gate

"Sunday Sermon" The Root Sin of Materialism Henry David Thoreau (1817-1861), American philosopher, and author of Walden Pond and Civil Disobedience, proclaimed: “For every thousand hacking at the branches of evil, there is one striking at the root.” One of the major “root sins” is materialism - “building treasures on earth,” “having our hearts set … Continue reading Materialism and the Myth of the “Eye of the Needle” Gate →

Wedding Glitches: The “Cursed” Rings

"Fun Facts Saturday" Wedding Ring Tradition Wedding rings date back 3000 years to Ancient Egypt, then to Ancient Greece and Rome, then to Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern Europe. Generally, wedding rings were mostly worn by women. During WWII, men started wearing weddings rings in remembrance of their wives back home. Rings were placed on the … Continue reading Wedding Glitches: The “Cursed” Rings →

Heartbreaking Case of the Christmas Tree Thief

"Court Case Friday" As a young D.A. I was assigned to prosecute a 15-year-old for petty theft.  He stole a Christmas tree from a lot. It was very late on Christmas Eve. A young man walked into a Christmas tree lot just before closing. He looked at the few scraggly remaining trees.  Suddenly, he grabbed … Continue reading Heartbreaking Case of the Christmas Tree Thief →