"Fun Facts Saturday" Rodents are everywhere To paraphrase my hero Ben Franklin, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes … and rats.” Exeter Cathedral Cat Door (Exterior) Rats are a plague Rats are a plague, in more ways than one. In fact, their fleas caused the Great Plaques of Europe. (The scientists … Continue reading The World’s Oldest Cat Door and the “Hickory Dickory Dock” Clock
"Court Case Friday" You should always have favorite jokes ready to pull out when the occasion arises. Here’s one of mine. Feel free to borrow it. When someone in a group mentions anything related to medicine, doctors, law, or lawyers, I pull out this joke: Me: “Speaking of [fill in the blank: lawyers or doctors] … Continue reading My Favorite (Pre-planned) Legal Joke
"Patriotic Wednesday" Deborah Sampson was one of the many women who disguised herself as a man, so she could serve in the Continental Army. She was 5’8”, which was taller than average. She enlisted as “Robert Shurtleff” in the elite Light Infantry Company of the Massachusetts Regiment. Deborah’s comrades teased her because she had … Continue reading Deborah Sampson: American Revolution War Hero
"Sunday Sermon" Paul the Apostle warned that “in the latter times,” there would be a “falling away.” This widespread apostasy would precede the restoration, the “dispensation of the fullness of times,” the “restitution of all things.” (See: 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Eph. 1:10; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; Acts 3:21) However, Paul had a more pressing and immediate … Continue reading Paul’s War with False Doctrine and Apostate Groups
"Sunday Sermon" (These are my "Bishop's Remarks" when I welcomed newly baptized members into our ward.) “In Ephesians 2:19, the Apostle Paul declared: ‘Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.’ “At the time of Jesus, the Jews looked down on the … Continue reading “Ye Are No More Strangers and Foreigners.” “Bishop’s Remarks” at Convert Baptisms (Ephesians 2:19)
"Fun Facts Saturday" Venus Rotates Backwards Planets generally rotate counter-clockwise (or “anti-clockwise” for you Brits). Venus is backward. It rotates clockwise -- the only planet to do so. Mariner 10 Photo (1974) A Venus Day is Longer than a Venus Year Venus travels around the Sun faster than the Earth. Venus goes 78,337 miles per … Continue reading Planet Venus is Weird (spins backwards; day is longer than year)
"Court Case Friday" There’s “America’s Dumbest Criminals.” There’s also “America’s Dumbest Lawsuits.” These cases don’t reflect well on the people and lawyers who filed them 1. The $67 Million Pair of Pants, Reduced to $53 Million In 2007, a Washington judge sued his dry cleaners for $67 million because they lost his pants and gave … Continue reading America’s Dumbest Lawsuits (1-4)
"Patriotic Wednesday" George Washington - Spymaster George Washington, "Father of the Country" and our "Greatest President," was a brilliant spymaster. In fact, he was a better spymaster than a general. He knew the value of information and misinformation. In secret communications, he was: “Agent 711.” Network of Small Independent Cells Washington supervised several spy networks throughout … Continue reading Gen. George Washington-Spymaster
"Sunday Sermon" General Conference Sunday 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 tells us how we should treat our church leaders: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you [church leaders]; “And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be … Continue reading “Esteem” Our Church Leaders “Very Highly in Love” – 1 Thess. 5:12-13
"Fun Facts Saturday" I drove taxis for Anaheim Yellow Cab during my first summer in law school. I interviewed on one day, and I started driving the next. By contrast, London black cab drivers take years to qualify. They must pass a Herculean test called: “The Knowledge.” The city doesn’t want passengers to wait while … Continue reading London “Cabbies” must MEMORIZE 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks
The London Edition 