Daily Archives: May 16, 2026

Quote, Unquote

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The church that Joseph Smith set about building was almost achingly American. He held up the Constitution as a quasi-canonical work of providence. He published a new sacred text, the Book of Mormon, that centered on Jesus visiting the ancient Americas. He even taught that God had brought about the American Revolution so that his Church could be restored in a free country—thus linking Mormonism’s success to that of the American experiment. And yet, almost as soon as Smith started attracting converts, they were derided as un-American.
~ McKay Coppins via The Atlantic

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Erik Kurilla was born
on this day in 1962

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Michael Erik Kurilla – United States Army general who was appointed the 15th commander of United States Central Command – was born on this day – May 16, 1962.

General Kurilla holds an aerospace engineering degree from the United States Military Academy. Additionally, he earned an MBA at Regis University as well as a masters in national security studies from the National War College.

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Krist Novoselic was born
on this day in 1965

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Krist Anthony Novoselic — the American musician and political activist who co-founded the rock band Nirvana — was born on this day — May 16, 1965 — in Compton, California.

He is a graduate of Washington State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences.

While best known as the bassist for Nirvana, Novoselic has remained active in both music and civic life following the band’s dissolution. He formed several subsequent musical projects, including Sweet 75 and Eyes Adrift, and currently plays in the band Giants in the Trees. Outside of music, he is a prominent advocate for electoral reform and has served as the board chair of FairVote, a non-profit organization dedicated to voting rights and fair representation.

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