Before marijuana became legal, California voters passed an initiative allowing possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes. The voters intended to relieve the suffering of elderly citizens with glaucoma, help increase the appetites of those undergoing chemotherapy, and so on. The goal was compassionate care. However, there were no limits in the law. Almost all … Continue reading Medical Marijuana: The Bogus Cases
My World’s Religions professor and favorite philosophy professor was a practicing Buddhist. He shared this short, but profound, story with us. This is my version. In ancient India, an old holy man was granted a rare audience with the Buddha. The holy man entered the sacred temple and walked past the marble columns of the great hall … Continue reading Buddha’s Advice: “Next Time, Take the Boat.”
“Pitch and Pay” Quarantine In Bristol, England, where I serve my LDS mission, there is a “Pitch and Pay Lane” and the ruins of a “Pitch and Pay Wall.” During the plagues, the city and docks of Bristol were centers of fifth and disease. The country farmers refused to come near the place, but the … Continue reading Pandemics — Historical Tidbits
Euclid, the ancient Greek, is “the Father of Geometry.” Thus, the school course is sometimes called, “Euclidean Geometry.” The story is told that Philip, King of Macedonia, hired Euclid, to tutor young Alexander the Great, his son. Alexander found Euclid to be a demanding teacher and mathematics to be a difficult subject. In frustration, Alexander demanded a … Continue reading Euclid Tries to Teach Geometry to Alexander the Great
The miracle of raising the dead is one of the rarest and sacred miracles. During his mortal ministry Jesus raised several people from the dead. Of course, these miracles foreshadowed the greatest miracle of the universal resurrection. Christ also promised that his prophets and apostles would also have the power to raise the dead. Here … Continue reading Raised from the Dead: Wilford and Phoebe Woodruff
The great key to long term success is grit and perseverance. “Endure to the end.” “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” There are countless examples of success through endurance and grit. Here are a few of the most famous ones. Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln is perhaps our greatest president. He kept … Continue reading Great Examples of “Grit” — The Key to Success
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! The Irish Reputation for Music, Poetry, Dancing, Drinking and Fighting My Irish ancestry allows me to comment on Irish folks. The Irish are known for many wonderful things like music, poetry, and dancing. But they also have a reputation for drinking and fighting. “Drunken Irish” and “Fighting Irish” are common phrases. In fact, … Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day Mayhem: Irish vs. Iranians
Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, was famous for his love of knowledge and wisdom. The story is told that one day, a young man approached Socrates and asked for wisdom. Socrates said, "Come, follow me." The youth followed Socrates as he walked to the edge of the sea. The young man followed Socrates into the water … Continue reading Socrates: Do You Want Wisdom as Much as You Want Air?
The miracle of raising the dead is one of the most exceptional and sacred miracles. During his mortal ministry Jesus raised several people from the dead, including, the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5: 22-42), the widow’s son in Nain (Luke 7: 11-17), and Lazarus (John 11: 1-46). Of course, these miracles foreshadowed the greatest miracle … Continue reading Raised from the Dead: Matthew Cowley and the New Zealanders
I presided over a traffic court trial of an 18-year-old charged with speeding in a residential area. The officer was a motor cop doing radar enforcement. Radar and Lidar Traffic Enforcement Training First, some background. In California, in order for police officers to use radar (radio waves) or lidar (laser waves), they must complete a specialized … Continue reading Traffic Case of the Speeding Spit
The London Edition 