Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Climate Change, 8 Billion, and Religion

Posted on Thursday 17 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s items are inspired by a new Pew Survey on how religion influences Americans’ views on the environment, and by the UN announcement that Earth’s human population has reached eight billion.

Posted in Religion, Science | Comments Off on Climate Change, 8 Billion, and Religion

Andy Borowitz, PROFILES IN IGNORANCE: How America’s Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber (2022)

Posted on Wednesday 16 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

I hesitated reading this book, because I’ve seen and heard for myself over the years the vacuous platitudes of Ronald Reagan, the jejune idiocies of Dan Quayle, the conspiratorial lies of Donald Trump. So what would be gained by reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Politics | Comments Off on Andy Borowitz, PROFILES IN IGNORANCE: How America’s Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber (2022)

SF Links: Stories and Crashed Spaceships

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Two notable items today from the Tor.com website. About stories; about crashed spaceships (loosely).

Posted in Narrative, science fiction | Comments Off on SF Links: Stories and Crashed Spaceships

Post-Election Blue, not Red

Posted on Monday 14 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Context; Where we are; Connie Willis; Christian dictatorships; More MAGA than ever; Russian delicacy; Lagniappes.

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Politics | Comments Off on Post-Election Blue, not Red

Neil deGrasse Tyson, STARRY MESSENGER: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

Posted on Sunday 13 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Review: Rather similarly to a couple three other nonfiction books I’ve read lately –- Ari Wallach’s LONGPATH (review here, Jim Al-Khalil’s THE JOY OF SCIENCE (review here), and even Justin Gregg’s IF NIETZSCHE WERE A NARWHAL (review here) -– this … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Cosmology, Science | Comments Off on Neil deGrasse Tyson, STARRY MESSENGER: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

Quote of the Day: Recovering from Madness

Posted on Saturday 12 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Charles Mackay was a Scottish poet who lived from 1818 to 1889. He was the author of the book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, in 1841.

Posted in Meaning, Philosophy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day: Recovering from Madness

Yesterday’s Streetworks

Posted on Friday 11 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Posted yesterday on Facebook. To the extent that there’s a difference, apparently I should have said streetworks, not roadworks. You can look it up.

Posted in Personal history | Comments Off on Yesterday’s Streetworks

Three Interesting Books That I Probably Won’t Read

Posted on Thursday 10 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

About free markets, the fundamentals of biology, and unsustainable growth. And I probably won’t read them simply because I have so many other books to read, such as the few on a bookcase just to the left of my computer … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Economics | Comments Off on Three Interesting Books That I Probably Won’t Read

The Day After Election Night, 2022

Posted on Wednesday 9 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Short version: The Republicans won a few races, but there was no ‘red’ landslide as some, not just Republicans, had predicted. Though of course a few key races are going down to the wire, so control of the House and … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Politics | Comments Off on The Day After Election Night, 2022

Election Night, 2022

Posted on Tuesday 8 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

It’s election day in America, as they say, and for some reason this one feels especially dire. The first national election since Jan. 6th, and with so many conspiracy mongers anxious to detect voter fraud and declare victory by default. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Election Night, 2022