"Fun Facts Saturday" “Black Death” – The Bubonic Plague Pandemics “Black Death” was the bubonic plague pandemic that swept through Europe during the Medieval period. (First Wave: 1300s. Second Wave 1500s) Symptoms: boils that secrete pus and blood, followed by acute fever and vomiting blood Duration: 2-7 days Fatality Rate: 60-90%. Total Deaths: 25-50 million … Continue reading Medieval Plague Doctors and their Freaky “Hazmat Suits”
"Court Case Friday" Fingerprint Experts A side benefit of "judging" is that I learn interesting stuff from expert witnesses. According to experts, fingerprints can last a very long time. For example, the oldest known fingerprint was 7,000 years old and came from ancient pottery uncovered in the Middle East. A fingerprint on a stamp on … Continue reading Everything You Wanted to Know About Fingerprints But Were Afraid to Ask
"Sunday Sermon" 1879 Interview Conducted by Her Son Joseph Smith III “In an interview conducted by her son Joseph Smith III in 1879, Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, expressed her faith in the restored Church of Jesus Christ, which was established in 1830 after the Prophet had translated the Book of Mormon … Continue reading Emma Smith’s Enduring Testimony of the Book of Mormon
"Fun Facts Saturday" Everyone knows that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they first set foot in America at Plymouth Rock. Wrong. The Pilgrims did not land at Plymouth Rock. Instead, with high seas and bad winds, they sought refuge inside "the hook" in the harbor at Cape Cod, near present-day Provincetown. This is … Continue reading The Pilgrims did NOT land at Plymouth Rock (Another “Brain Barnacle”)
"Court Case Friday" (Taken from court reporter transcripts) ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?WITNESS: Yes.ATTORNEY: How many were boys?WITNESS: None.ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney? ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?WITNESS: By death.ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?WITNESS: … Continue reading Dumb Lawyer Questions
"Sunday Sermon" Joseph Smith: Translator or Creator The Book of Mormon is either a divinely inspired translation of ancient scripture, or it is a work of fiction. Joseph Smith either translated the book by the “gift and power of God,” or he made it up. It is that simple. Those who knew Joseph Smith personally, … Continue reading “The Book of Mormon is the Work of the Devil”
"Fun Facts Saturday" Britain, and former colonies like, Australia, New Zealand, India, drive on the left side of the road. Left Side Drivers - Blue This goes back at least to Medieval times. Swordsmen rode their horses on the left side of the road to keep their sword, and their sword hand, closer to their … Continue reading Why the Brits drive on the “wrong” side of the road
"Court Case Friday" (From court reporter transcripts) ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks. ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work. ATTORNEY: What was … Continue reading Unpredictable Courtroom Witnesses
"Fun Facts" Tomorrow, March 15th is the “Ides of March” Many of us were forced in high school to read Shakespeare’s* play “Julius Caesar.” We remember the lines: “Beware the Ides of March!” and “Et Tu, Brute?” The story behind the play, the “Ides of March,” and the end of the Roman Republic, is fascinating. … Continue reading “Beware the Ides of March!” (March 15th) The End of the Great Roman Republic!
"Sunday Sermon" (Some of my readers have requested more lengthy in-depth articles. Here it is. For everyone else, you may want to (a) skim parts, (b) copy and paste parts, and/or (c) download the full article for future reference, talks. and lessons. -Brett) Five Sources of Adversity and Trials Most of our suffering is self-inflicted. … Continue reading The Five Sources of Suffering
The London Edition 