Buying local food, helping local farmers

Posted on September 26, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 10 Comments

There is a push going on among some aid agencies and in Congress this year to change U.S. aid policies. Until now, U.S. food aid to developing countries has usually involved sending U.S.-grown agricultural products to the affected countries. The problem is that such aid can put local farmers out of business. […]

How Much Caffeine is in Chocolate?

Posted on September 25, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 34 Comments

OK, every now and then the question comes up about caffeine and the word of wisdom. Then the inevitable discussion (which has raged on several blogs already) is about chocolate and caffeine. My business partner just put up what will hopefully be the definitive article on the subject. Since at least one […]

Uses of Looking the Part

Posted on September 25, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 5 Comments

In June, I spent a couple days at cub scout day camp. A couple hundred boys were assigned into seven groups that rotated among the various activities: BB guns, archery, scout skills, Egyptology, nature, etc. The five cubs from my pack were part of a group of thirty which included eight from […]

Reminder: marathon Friday and Saturday

Posted on September 25, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 24 Comments

OK sports fans. It’s time for the T&S virtual marathon. M* has its team ready, but I’d like to hear from our participants to make sure they’re ready to run Friday and Saturday. The rules are below.

I love to see the temple

Posted on September 23, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 6 Comments

One of my favorite things to do with my family on Sunday night is to go down to the temple grounds and visitor’s center.
My son loves to look at the reflecting pools, my daughter loves to sit in her stroller and enjoy the sites and sounds, and my wife and I enjoy the peace and […]

Why I Don’t Like the D.C. Voting Rights Act

Posted on September 20, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 23 Comments

There are three levels to my dislike of the D.C. Voting Rights Act, which was passed by the House earlier this year but was blocked in the Senate on Tuesday. This act would add two seats to the House of Representatives. One would represent the District of Columbia, and for the 111th and […]

Spencer W. Kimball on priesthood duties and inaction

Posted on September 19, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 10 Comments

One breaks his priesthood covenant by transgressing commandments, but also by leaving undone his duties. Accordingly, to break this covenant one needs only to do nothing.

Could I ask Millennial Star readers to respectfully to discuss this quotation from President Kimball?
Source: “The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball.”

‘1984,’ Orwell and religion

Posted on September 19, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 12 Comments

I haven’t read George Orwell’s “1984″ since high school, but I decided this week would be a good time to re-read it. One gets dozens of new insights re-reading this classic, but one thing that interested me, post-conversion, is Orwell’s relationship with God. Like many atheists or humanists, such as Carl Sagan in […]

Political neutrality….once again

Posted on September 16, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 35 Comments

My stake president read the Church statement on political neutrality during High Council meeting today. He reports that the Church is re-emphasizing the importance of this issue as the presidential campaign gears up.

GOP nomination process to last until the convention?

Posted on September 13, 2007 - Filed Under Any | 39 Comments

This article in the New Republic is the best analysis I’ve seen yet as to how the Republican nomination battle is likely to turn out. To sum up, it looks increasingly likely that Giuliani, Romney and Thompson will all have hundreds of delegates. If none of the candidates drops out, this means the […]

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