Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Car Hits Power Pole

Posted on Thursday 24 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Short post today, since as I was sitting down to write it, an hour and a half ago now, the power went out. This was around 4:20pm. I sat and read a book. Power back about 5:40. Car hit power … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Personal history, Politics | Comments Off

Notes About the Real World

Posted on Wednesday 23 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s look at some non-political items today. Three critical thinking tools used by Daniel Dennett; Eight principles of lifelong learning from an astrophysicist; Adam Lee on our solarpunk future — technology that exists now, but isn’t widely distributed; Scientific American … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Human Progress, Science | Comments Off

It Has to Make Sense, Somehow

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Robert Reich wonders how this race can still be tied, and reflects on bullies; With relevant items about Charlie Kirk, and Russian operatives, and a scamvangelist; An extensive guide to Trump’s lifetime of scandals; A video about the actual integrity … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Politics, Religion | Comments Off

How Plagues Are Caused by the Tolerance of Left-Handed People

Posted on Monday 21 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Why are Gen Z men going back to church, and women leaving? It’s always about the search for meaning; About friends and family who’ve been lost to MAGA madness; Hurricanes are caused by being left-handed — er, by porn in … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Lunacy, Politics, Religion | Comments Off

Factory Settings

Posted on Sunday 20 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

The idea of “factory settings” as describing base human nature, and how some people can transcend them; A woman wonders if religion is the only way to instill her child with “scaffolding for spirituality and morality” (answer: no); Richard Dawkins … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Morality, Politics, Religion | Comments Off

Good Questions, Interesting Answers

Posted on Friday 18 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

David Brooks wonders, Why isn’t she running away with this? Adam Gopnik wonders why even his opponents don’t recognize the extent of Trump’s villainy; Jill Filipovic wonders why NYT softens headlines about Trump; David French wonders if Trump’s policies make … Continue reading →

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What It Means to be Fascist

Posted on Thursday 17 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Robert Reich’s take in five points; AlterNet’s John Stoer’s take; How Trump can claim anything — now he’s the “father of IVF” — and his fans will believe him. Robert Reich, 17 Oct 2024: Trump’s closing argument: full-throated fascism Recalling … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Lunacy, Politics | Comments Off

Out of Commission

Posted on Wednesday 16 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

More examples of Trump as the rambling, incoherent traitor; How people trust Trump on the economy because he oversimplifies things, and conservatives don’t do complexity or nuance; Thomas B. Edsall on Trump’s appeal to racists; A Florida Republican who thinks … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Politics, Religion | Comments Off

Doomscrolling

Posted on Tuesday 15 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Is MAGA a disease like violence is? Depends on your terms, and ideals. Items about Musk, Trump’s lie-industrial complex, and why Trump is doubling down on racism. – – – Three weeks to the election, yada yada, polls tied, yada … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Lunacy | Comments Off

Education and Focus

Posted on Monday 14 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Education is now the best predictor for how someone will vote; Why Trump’s supporters don’t believe his threats (they’re focused only on their particular concerns); How Trump wants to lie in real-time without being fact-checked; Paul Krugman suggests that Trump’s … Continue reading →