I will Believe the Book of Mormon as history when...

[_Yoda]

P.S. When my friends and I -- yes, I did and do have friends -- saw the bell tower of the San Gabriel Mission collapse in the old disaster flick Earthquake, we rejoiced. Not because we were anti-Catholics -- several of them were Catholics -- but because it gave us hope that maybe our high school had perished along with Lorne Greene and several of the movie's other stars.

I would say it's a pretty normal reaction to want your High School crushed. No school for a while! LOL

Southern Cal and Northern Cal are almost like two separate states in a lot of ways because the state itself is so huge!

My brother is going back to LA in a couple of weeks.

I didn't realize how much I missed CA until I was able to be "home" last month. They don't have decent Mexican food in NC. I think I ate Mexican almost every day I could get away with it while I was there. :)

[_Daniel Peterson]

Southern Cal and Northern Cal are almost like two separate states in a lot of ways because the state itself is so huge!

That's true. They're similar, but not identical.

I've spent some time in Northern California (including a couple of weeks at Stanford just out of high school) and a couple of months at the Graduate Theological Union, adjacent to UC Berkeley, just after I joined the BYU faculty, but, obviously, not nearly as much time as I've spent in the Southland.

My brother is going back to LA in a couple of weeks.

I just realized a few weeks ago, with some horror, that this may be the first year in my life (apart from the middle of my mission to Switzerland) that I haven't spent at least one night in California. It really bothers me, and I'm thinking about ways to rectify the situation. I've been to the Middle East several times, and to several states (including Washington and Oregon on the Pacific Coast), but not California!

I didn't realize how much I missed CA until I was able to be "home" last month. They don't have decent Mexican food in NC. I think I ate Mexican almost every day I could get away with it while I was there. :)

I used to have cravings for Mexican food in the middle of the night in Switzerland, and even toyed with the idea of writing to the Mexican embassy for help. I never did, and the cravings were usually gone by morning. One day, though, I found a restaurant in Zürich that offered enchiladas with mashed potatoes and gravy. Somehow, it seemed that they hadn't quite caught the vision. (These days, though, there is some reasonably good Mexican food available even in a few of the smaller towns in Switzerland. Progress!)

[_harmony]

I just realized a few weeks ago, with some horror, that this may be the first year in my life (apart from the middle of my mission to Switzerland) that I haven't spent at least one night in California. It really bothers me, and I'm thinking about ways to rectify the situation. I've been to the Middle East several times, and to several states (including Washington and Oregon on the Pacific Coast), but not California!

Well, finally... a logical explanation for the weird weather patterns this year.

[_Daniel Peterson]

It's well known that my unparalleled size affects weather patterns wherever I go. Fortunately, the seismologists at Caltech keep track of my whereabouts via the Richter Scale and factor that into meteorological predictions.

[_harmony]

It's well known that my unparalleled size affects weather patterns wherever I go. Fortunately, the seismologists at Caltech keep track of my whereabouts via the Richter Scale and factor that into meteorological predictions.

I wasn't thinking of size. I was thinking of the the eternal sunshine that follows you around.

I think I'm very hurt and insulted. When have I ever referred to your size? That was not well-done of you, Daniel. I've never been one of the crowd that ridiculed your Krispy Kremes (I hate them, actually. They make my teeth hurt. I can't understand the fascination that some people have for them, but they're a danged good fundraiser for some of my volunteers) or anything else to do with your person. Unless you think chocolate syrup and whipped cream is an insult? In which case, I withdraw the visual.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I wasn't thinking of size. I was thinking of the the eternal sunshine that follows you around.

Well, there is that.

I think I'm very hurt and insulted. When have I ever referred to your size? That was not well-done of you, Daniel. I've never been one of the crowd that ridiculed your Krispy Kremes (I hate them, actually. They make my teeth hurt. I can't understand the fascination that some people have for them, but they're a danged good fundraiser for some of my volunteers) or anything else to do with your person. Unless you think chocolate syrup and whipped cream is an insult? In which case, I withdraw the visual.

It's to your credit that you haven't joined in with those, here and on the so-called "Recovery" board, who've commented on their exaggerated fantasies about my girth. I didn't intend to include you among them, and apologize for perhaps seeming to have done so. You've never stooped that low.

Incidentally, I loathe Krispy Kremes, and haven't eaten one in a very long time.

Oh, and by the way, I came across this gem by sheer dumb luck yesterday:

A FAIR guy named Dan
03/17/2006 - by Mister Scratch

There once was a FAIR guy named Dan;
He couldn't find his ass with both hands!
So, shaking his head
He burped and he said,
"These donuts go straight to my can!"

http://salamandersociety.com/limericks/

It seemed relevant here.

[_Mister Scratch]

Oh, and by the way, I came across this gem by sheer dumb luck yesterday:

A FAIR guy named Dan
03/17/2006 - by Mister Scratch

There once was a FAIR guy named Dan;
He couldn't find his ass with both hands!
So, shaking his head
He burped and he said,
"These donuts go straight to my can!"

http://salamandersociety.com/limericks/

It seemed relevant here.

LOL! An old classic. It brings tears of laughter to my eyes to read it again.

Oh, and by the way, what "sheer dumb luck" led you to this? Were you googling my screenname, Dan, or your own?

[_Daniel Peterson]

You seem to tear up pretty easily.

Oh, and by the way, what "sheer dumb luck" led you to this? Were you googling my screenname, Dan, or your own?

I googled "Scratch most substance ever," and it led me right there.

[_Nightingale]

What really surprises me, honestly, is that some of the most vocal and persistent critics, some of whom throw in very personal comments, appear to be LDS. I can't quite wrap my head around that. I have felt awkward in stating opinions on the boards that don't back up fellow Christians, or Christianity in general even, as there is a sense that one should support one's own group (although I don't adhere 100% to that thinking as toeing party lines can really make a mess that never gets cleaned up).

But when I first read that Mr. Scratch was LDS, I nearly fell over. No offence but that really shocked me. I thought he was Numero Uno Critic in these parts. Lately, around here at least, if Mr. S wasn't duelling with DCP, what would keep DCP occupied? I see his biggest "critic" as being a member of his own church (along with at least one other). Why is that happening? I can have disagreements or differences of opinion (especially re doctrine and its interpretation) with fellow Christians but I don't go after them publicly. I don't mean I'm in favour of cover-ups. I just wonder why this is happening? Does Mr. S not have that fellow feeling for another member, does he not see apologetics as a viable part of his church, is he just goofing around or what? I would think that "critics" can take a vacation and just leave Scratch to it.

Or am I badly mistaken and Scratch is not LDS?

Another aspect of this is that I am fascinated by members who have so many issues and arguments against the church they belong to but yet they remain part of it. I couldn't do that. I just wonder how others can. Maybe it's me that's not looking at it right.

[_Gadianton]

does he not see apologetics as a viable part of his church

Well Nightengale, I don't want to put words in Mister Scratch's mouth, but I don't think I'm being to bold when I say that, no, Mister Scratch does not see apologetics as a viable part of his church. ;)