Wednesday of last week (May 19th), I started by trip to Uganda. The itinerary was: Salt Lake City - Seattle - Amsterdam - Kampala. Thirty minutes out of Seattle our plane had to return to Seattle. One jet engine was leaking fuel and the crew wasn’t sure we had enough fuel to make it to Amsterdam.
The following appears on page 32 of the 2009 Lonely Planet “The Netherlands:
“The 1960s were a breeding ground for discontent and anti-establishment activity, and in the Netherlands this underground movement led to the formation of the Provos. This small group of anarchic individuals staged street “happening” or creative, playful provocation (hence the name).
LDS Church officials have recently been showing off their new “green” stake center in Farmington UT. According to Dean Davies, managing director of physical facilities for the church, the meetinghouse will be about 30 percent more energy efficient that others the standard Mormon meetinghouse. It has 156 solar panels on the building south-facing roof. The building is well insulated, uses highly efficient windows, carpet made from recycled materials, tankless water heaters, and European-style toilets that offer a choice of flush options. The heating and air-conditioning system is fully automated for optimum efficiency. Sensors will turn off lights when people are not in the rooms. Recycling bins for paper, glass, and plastics will be a first for an LDS chapel. Outside, about 70 percent of the landscaping is in rock or bark, and the irrigation system has sensors to assist with water conservation. “We want to be responsible members of the community . . . and I mean the community of man.”
Today, the public face of Mormonism is bizarre to say the least. In broadcasting you have Glenn Beck, in politics you have Mitt Romney, in entertainment you have Donny and Marie Osmond (and let’s not forget Derek and Julianne Hough). And in literature there is Stephenie Meyer.