I recently found out that my local library has a subscription to some company from which I can download audio books. My phone has a 2 GB memory card so I can download and listen to over 100 hours at a time. I have been listening to various books now for about a month. Here are a few to which I have listened: Christianity and the Crossroads, Ben Hur, Atlas Shrugged and The Screwtape Letters. I have a more complete list of my books on goodreads.

It is nice to listen to a book while I am driving or doing things in the lab. I often work alone so it is a nice comfort. 

I am reading the classic Atlas Shrugged. It is so very appropriate to the politcal world today. I have long thought that we have subsidized socialist europe and if it had not been for us they would have long ago collapsed and then risen back up stronger than ever. 

There is a moment in the book where one of the newspaper type characters utters "Money is the root of all evil". First this is a misquote which should truly read "the love of money is the root of all evil." Another character responds brilliantly. That may be found here. Why do we accept the false premises put forth in most of the media?

I think the story is exceptionally well constructed. The plot twists and is capturing. I like the tension and the way truth is correctly painted for the reader. Those who operate with truth on their side are calm while those against them use ridicule and guilt. Which will we listen to now? 

I like reading stories about my ancestors. This one written by my great-great grandfather, James Humphries, I find interesting.

I, James Humphires, was born on the twenty-eighth of March eighteen-thirty two in the town of Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, England. My father’s name was Giles Humphires and my mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Love. They had born to them ten children, as follows: John, William, George, Charles, Deborah, Thomas, James, Thurza, Jobe, and Matilda. I was the seventh child and I can truthfully say that my parents were good honest people. I shall scarcely say anything of my early life, but when I was nine years of age, though young, I labored and boarded and clothed myself ever after. In my early teens I was somewhat given to roaming until I was eighteen years of age, then I wanted to see the extent of this little world, so I made up my mind to go to Australia.

Australia then was very young and the government wanted volunteers to settle the country. Just my chance, but... along came an obstacle, they only wanted married people. I was only past eighteen and not married so I applied for passage and went to courting a young lady, just past sixteen years of age. I told her of my intentions and we both soon agreed on one point, that was to go. I was nineteen years of age on the twenty-eighth of March, eighteen-fifty. That August of the same year we were married. In one week from that time we left home for the far off country, never to see father, mother, brothers, or sisters again in this life.

We were three months on the water. We landed in that far off country about the first of December, eighteen-fifty. We had just six shillings in money to start through the world with. We prospered pretty well, but in eighteen-fifty-four along came the Elders preaching Mormonism. I accepted also my wife, and were baptized the fourth of November, eighteen-fifty-four. In the beginning of eighteen fifty-five, I was called with eight others to go to Zion, and was to be ready in April. Me and my wife and two children (George William, born eighteen fifty-one and Eli, born eighteen fifty-three) were ready and soon on the ocean.

When we had been out three days I was ordained a teacher. There were about thirty-five Saints from different parts of Australia, and I can truthfully say I did my duty as a teacher to the best of my ability. When we had been at sea four weeks, my wife was taken very sick, the baby had to be weaned, it was taken sick. They, the baby and it’s mother, were sick for four weeks. But when being at sea five weeks, the ship sprung a leak. The captain put down two large pumps, and they never stopped night or day for five weeks. It got so bad after five weeks, and we were near the Sandwich Islands so we had to call in, but on entering the ship was very low and it began to sink, but we were all saved. All the money I had in the world was a copper cent; I spent it for my sick baby, but by morning he was a corpse. We fixed him up the best we could and took him up into a volcano hill and laid him away, which is the hardest thing to do in my life.

Most of the little company had money, and the next ship that came along took the passengers for California. Me and some others stayed there. I stayed eight months. After being there six months, my wife began to prove unfaithful. I labored hard when I could find work. When being there eight months, me, my wife and little boy shipped again for California. We reached California in about two weeks, having a very rough passage. When being there about two weeks, my wife apostatized, and taking the little boy, went back to the Sandwich Islands, got married to the one she loved, and they went then to Sydney.

Then I was alone in the world, in a strange land, no friends or acquaintance. I only had twenty dollars so I took my blankets and went sixty miles into the mountains for work. I got work making shingles, and did pretty well, worked for four months, and then my face was set Zion-ward again. I shipped to San Pedro, ower California. It was then one hundred and twenty miles to San Bernardino. I tied my blankets together and tramped it. I stayed in San Bernardino, then there was a call made by Brigham Young to come to Utah and fight for Johnson’s army. I worked and got two horses, and just as I was ready to leave, Spaniards stole all I had. I had two acres of fenced land, I sold that for two hundred and fifty dollars. I again tied my blankets, but hired out to drive a herd of goats; just two of us crossed the desert, about five hundred miles by foot. We were in the desert three months. We reached the forks of the road, just west of the Mountain Meadows. My companion took the meadow road and I came down the Clare Canyon.

I came on foot alone through where St. George now is, and then through where Washington now is, and over the Black Ridge, where I found an Indian trail and came to Cedar City and on to Parowan on the third day of April, eighteen-fifty-eight. I stayed there all summer, not being satisfied. I again found a friend indeed, a stranger, he took me in and gave me work all winter. Then I came to Salt Lake and while there I was ordained a seventy. I then came on to Ogden, Utah.

From the time I left my home in Australia to the time I got into Salt Lake was three years and eight months. After being in Ogden for a time I married again, a young lady on the twelfth day of May, eighteen-sixty-one. Her name was Dorothy Malissa Allen. We were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake.

In the fall of eighteen-sixty-one there was a great call by President Brigham Young to settle the Dixie Country. All of my wife’s folks were called. In the spring of eighteen-sixty-three I was on the road for Dixie, a volunteer for that country. In two and a half years in a row people had to eat cane seed flour and broom seed flour and each was twenty dollars a hundred pounds, to be paid for from our future crops.

I had to work very hard on ditches and roads. Ditch tax was five to ten dollars per acre. After living in Virgin City for about three years, I was appointed sexton; soon after I was appointed secretary of the United Order. In eighteen eighty-four I was set apart as ward clerk, on account of George Isom’s death. In eighteen eighty-six I was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Apostle Francis M. Lymon. I labored as ward clerk for twenty-three years without receiving one cent. The next two years I received thirty-five dollars one year and forty-five dollars the second year. The wards were broken up and I was set apart as Presiding Elder, not receiving any pay and I am still sexton, not during thirty-five years as sexton did I receive one dollar.

Now I am seventy-nine years of age. Last year I lost all my crops with frost. We have had nine children, five sons and four daughters, born to us as follows: James, Joseph William, Charles, Edward, Sarah Elizabeth, Thurza, Mary Matilda, John Allen, Deborah Ella, and Franklin Love Humphires.

August 24, 1916

I have been very sick several days. Today I am very sick. It seems my last days have come now. I want to ask our children, one and all, if I am taken, I beg you one and all to look after your Mother. Do not let her want, do not make a slave of her, she labored and suffered for you. Now my wish is that your Mother’s last days be her best days. I may yet live, live or die, may the blessings of God rest down on you all.

From, Pa
Amen.

(He never wore glasses and wrote a good free hand. He was never bedfast. Uncle Joe was there the evening before he died and he was sitting in a chair and talked freely and fluently. He died the sixth of September, nineteen twenty-three in Hurricane, Washington, Utah.)

When John Wesley ordained a Dr. Coke to preach in America his brother Charles wrote in reply.

How easily are bishops made
By man or woman’s whim!
Wesley his hands on Coke hath laid,
But who laid hands on him?

From where did John get authority? Is authority needed? If not, then anybody could baptize any other or speak in the name of God. Disorder would then follow (and it has). God is a god of order and this is not His way. He has given his authority to man and it is passed by the laying on of hands from one to the next. It can not be picked up by any other means.

This is the line of my authority (omitting myself and my father)

Wallace Reed Johnson ordained by Earl Wayne Hanks ordained by George Franklin Richards Sr. ordained by Joseph Fielding Smith ordained by Brigham Young ordained by Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris ordained by Joseph Smith ordained by resurrected Peter, James and John whoe were ordained by Jesus Christ during His earthyl ministry.

In May of 2006, I had occasion to be vear Washington D.C. I had visited there as a kid and toured many of the sites. I love learning about people long ago and their history so for me D.C. is a fascinating place. 

This time I spent a day walking all over the town. I went to the mall and into parts of the Smithsonian Museum. I saw the castle and took several pictures of it. I thought my daughter would like to know that there is indeed a castle in the U.S.A. I stood in front of the White House. Which is almost a castle. I would some day like to take a tour and see the splendor that is therein. I would like to see how the ruling class lives out their lives. 

I walked up to the Naval Observatory. Along the road I walked were many consulates. The security at these was very fascinating. I noticed that the consulate for Great Britain is adjacent to the Naval Observatory, in which is the Vice President's residence. I don't think the adjacency a coincidence. I had the thought that since I could not tour the White House I might be able to tour the V.P.'s. To my disappointment, the same rules apply, or so I was told at the gate after my inquiry. 

After descending from the hill on which sits the Naval Observatory, I headed for the mall again. For me, one of the most intriguing monuments is the Washington Monument. When I visited D.C. as a youth it was closed for repair and I did not get to go up it. I recall having been disappointed. 

This time, about 3 PM, I arrived at the monument hoping to purchase a ticket or ascent up the monument. I was informed that tickets are free and available each day on a first come, first serve basis. There were no more tickets. I hung my head in disgust at my own lack of preparation. I walked from the ticket booth up to the monument and after taking a few pictures. I sat on a bench. I tried to think if there were some way I could make time the following day prior to my flight out of town. There was simply not enough time. 

Suddenly, the thought struck me that someone in line might have an extra ticket. I second guessed the thought and debated the embarrasment it might cause me to ask. I soon realized that it would be no trouble to ask and that I could only lose if I did not ask. I stood and asked if someone had an extra ticket. There was a school group from Illinois that was there and one of the chaperons piped up that they may indeed have an extra ticket. She said they needed to make sure all the kids got to go up but if there was an extra I was welcome to it. I waited with them for their turn to go up and I got to go too. I was so excited and gracious. How wonderful it was to be able to go up. The down side is that I never did catch the kind lady's name nor do I recall from which city in Illinois they all came. What tender mercy I received! In fact, there were many times that day when I was the benefactor.

The structure is amazing by itself but the view from the top is incredible. I was a little let down when I was not allowed to use the stairs to go up or down. 

As a student at Utah State, I had a class called "Fundamentals of Calculus". It was a class designed to help students understand the rigors of mathematical proofs and then move on to two classes in which students prove all the basic tenets of calculus.

To study, I often used a study room in the Sci-Tech Library (which I understand has a different name now); the room had to be scheduled as it was busy especially as midterms or finals approached. I found the room handy because I could use the white board to outline proofs and then rewrite it on paper without wasting 10 sheets of paper before a final draft. This meant I often filled every little corner of the board cramming stuff between lines and vertically. So one day I was just finishing up when a group of students wanted to get started early. I packed my stuff and, forgetting to wipe the white board, left the room as several of the students billowed in. One girl, who upon seeing the white board, let out a shriek and then screamed "What is that on the board?" I grinned ear-to-ear as I walked down the hall. I am not sure I would understand even half of that anymore.

My kids like to play games and some time ago my 6yr old watched as I and his grandpa played cribbage. He noticed that we had a "peg board like that at home". When we got home he was excited to play with me. I explained the game and we played a round or two of practice. We then played.

This morning we played again. He is grasping the concept of adding to 15 and counts well, when not distracted. He is not too bad and with practice will be able to beat grandpa soon.

When is the "five second rule" null and void? I have found a few places where I use the "1 foot rule" -- if anything gets within a foot of the floor I will not, no way. Why 1 foot, because the floor is so bad your shoes get dirty. Nasty. 

The county where we live is peculiar. There are more than a few oddities. Here are three that we saw today.

First we took a load to the county landfill and encountered this sign telling us where to dump "clean dirt".

Then there were these trees at a local pond. Still docorated for Christmas several years ago. It is actually rather disgusting to look at and I am surprised the trees (there were others which I did not photograph) have not caught fire.

Also at the pond was a sign informing us to watch out for the "water owl". My six year wondered what a water fowl is. Do you see it?

Regardless of the odd sites we had fun and the kids enjoyed the afternoon with mom and dad.

My two year old often, like his siblings, demands to do things for himself. Today he thought he would change his own diaper, not just of the wet variety either. He got the wipes, a new diaper and laid down. He removed his diaper and tried to wipe himself clean. Any of you with kids can imagine what horror my wife found. Fortunately the mess cleaned up rather easily.

Then he was sitting on the couch next to me and put his face in mine and said "boo! I scare you dad?" I lied "yeah". He did it about four more times and then I answered "no". He seemed a bit dissapointed and did it again. This time I replied "yes" and he turned to my wife and said "Mommy, I scare daddy all by myself!"

What a silly bug