The Curmudgeonly Professor

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Another Routinely Spectacular Sunset in St. George UT January 26 2012

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Why Evangelicals Don't Like Mormons - NYTimes.com

According to a CNN exit poll of South Carolina Republican primary voters, Newt Gingrich, a thrice-married Catholic, won twice as much support from evangelical Protestants as Mitt Romney, a Protestant. And among voters for whom religion meant “a great deal,” 46 percent voted for Mr. Gingrich and only 10 percent for Mr. Romney.

via campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com

A plea for religious tolerance

Brigham Young Winter Home St. George UT: Photo Processed in Topaz Filter

White Saguaro Cactus Blossoms in Topaz Filter

Just a Cinderella Tale from About Classic Literature Yahoo Reader

A Little Princess is usually considered a children's book--often read by girls. But, it's one of those rags-to-riches, Cinderella stories that reminds us how quickly life can change--good or bad. Our fortunes aren't promised to us; even the most wealthy have the potential for losing it all. So there must be something more to life than what we can touch or feel; there must be something about any experience from which we can learn and grow... Then, does it matter so very much what our state in life is at the end of the day. Have we made a difference?

Although they do so much more than just that, books tug at that something we call "heart", show us ways to live--they open up ways of being and knowing and becoming. We just have to be open to the messages. And, see the results... In the book, a bakerwoman tells Sara: "I've given away many a bit of bread since that wet afternoon, just along o' thinking of you--an' how wet an' cold you was, an' how hungry you looked; an' yet you gave away your hot buns as if you was a princess." It's a bit cliche when I say that any amount of money doesn't buy happiness; but books show us how we can be most blessed by the simple pleasures in life.

via my.yahoo.com

Why Politicians Get Away With Lying - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

Maybe it’s a sign that the public has given up on honesty from presidential candidates. Instead, in a recent flurry prompted by the public editor of The New York Times, the assumption seems to be that politicians will always lie and that voters’ defense against that is fact checking by journalists.

But … why do voters let politicians lie to them? What sort of lies do people accept, and which do they object to?

via www.nytimes.com

Worth reading.

Blanket Flowers in a Topaz Filter

Pink and White Wild Morning Glories: From the Archives

Saguaro Cactus From the Archives

I just found several dozen unedited photos of Saguarao cactus blossoms from several years ago languishing on my hard drive as I tackle the monumental job of cleaning up and sorting out about 130,000 photos.  Finding lots of unexpected gems.  Soon there will be another crop of blooms and a few dozen more photos.  I never get tired of these pristinely white beauties.  Truly, the gorgeous white flower "that lasts an hour."

Palm Trees and Clouds St. George UT Jan 16 2012

Not a great photo, but I'm still learning about High Density photos.

Mesas and Utah Hill West of St. George UT in HD Color

Mesas and Utah Hill West of St. George UT in HD Black and White

Blue Blossoms along the Jordan River Trail: From the Archives 2009