Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Again, No Kings

Posted on Saturday 28 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Noting the rallies held today, bigger than those last time; Pieces today about how MAGA is entering the ‘acceptance’ stage of death, and how there’s no way to redeem Trump’s dismal second presidency; Who are the 100 million people Bovino … Continue reading →

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Reading and Introspection

Posted on Friday 27 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Assessing American literacy, and the claim that being able to read a New York Times article puts you into the “hyper-literate educated elite”; How Trump doesn’t read, at all. How powerful tech oligarchs think introspection is dumb; The new homophobia … Continue reading →

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What Is American Exceptionalism, Really?

Posted on Thursday 26 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Lydia Polgreen on how the problem isn’t Trump, it’s America; David French wonders if America is so rich, why are Americans so miserable? Faith that climate change isn’t real; Short items: that classic poll against Arabic numerals; how people who … Continue reading →

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Skiffy Flix: Invaders from Mars

Posted on Wednesday 25 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

This is a 1953 film that holds special significance for me since it was likely the first science fiction movie I ever saw, even if I saw it only in part at the time, which would be 1965 or 1966. … Continue reading →

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Can I? Must I?

Posted on Wednesday 25 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

RFK Jr. illustrates the hypocritical standards of conservative motivated thinking: “Can I believe it?” (one example is fine) vs. “Must I believe it?” (no amount of evidence will do); David Brin ridicules NASA’s new plan to build a Lunar base; … Continue reading →

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Bobby Azarian: THE ROMANCE OF REALITY

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitled: How the universe organizes itself to create life, consciousness, and cosmic complexity. (BenBella Books, June 2022, 306pp, including 26pp of acknowledgements, notes, and index) This is the third of three books I read this past January, all with vaguely … Continue reading →

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Again, Living in History

Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

This isn’t about Trump or MAGA per se. I suspect most people don’t realize how we’re all witnessing historic shifts in American and world politics in the past few years. What many of us are not noticing will be written … Continue reading →

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Morality Wars

Posted on Monday 23 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Widely reported today. Mediaite, 22 Mar 2026: Trump Declares ‘The Death of Iran’ — Then Brands Democratic Party America’s ‘Greatest Enemy’ in Stunning Post “Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly … Continue reading →

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Skiffy Flix: It Came from Outer Space

Posted on Sunday 22 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Returning to our ongoing series. It Came from Outer Space is a 1953 film directed by Jack Arnold (who did some similar movies in the same era) and based on a story treatment by Ray Bradbury (not a published short story). … Continue reading →

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What It Means to Think That God Is On Your Side

Posted on Saturday 21 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Concerning Hegseth, Trump, and Rubio; Also, how do religious sects decide when to reinterpret their scripture? Items about 100% approval, teleportation, church/state separation, and uncounted COVID deaths; FBers compare reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death to Trump’s reaction to Robert Mueller’s … Continue reading →

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