Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Clueless, Stupid, and Cruel

Posted on Monday 16 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

The status of Trump’s war in Iran; Paul Krugman explains that America is not respected around the world; And how George Orwell foresaw this; Robert Reich on Trump’s stupidest cabinet member: Pete Hegseth; How Hegseth doesn’t understand “no quarter” any … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Lunacy, Politics | Comments Off on Clueless, Stupid, and Cruel

Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan: SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS

Posted on Monday 16 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitled: A Search for Who We Are (Random House, Oct 1992, xvi + 505pp, including 85pp of notes, permissions acknowledgements, and index.) This is perhaps Carl Sagan’s most substantial book, on the grounds that it’s through-written as a single composition; … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, History, Human Nature, Human Progress | Comments Off on Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan: SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS

The Most Dangerous Vision

Posted on Sunday 15 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

A brief post today, after a long afternoon/evening watching the Oscars. (On the West Coast, what with pre-shows, it ran from mid-afternoon to nearly 8pm.) So instead of linking news or opinion items today, let me note a nascent thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, science fiction | Comments Off on The Most Dangerous Vision

What Western Civilization is Actually About

Posted on Saturday 14 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Francis Fukuyama, responding to Marco Rubio, on how Western Civilization is more about the Enlightenment than religious faith; And Boston Globe via Steven Pinker on that Tennessee congressman’s anti-Muslim screed; Briefly noted items about Trump’s shoe tests and their Soviet … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Culture, History, Religion | Comments Off on What Western Civilization is Actually About

Movie relevance, conservative intuition, unbothered people, Paul and Heather

Posted on Friday 13 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

How A House of Dynamite, not nominated for any Oscars, is more important and relevant than any of the pictures nominated, and a great movie; Trump needs to “feel it in my bones” to make a decision, which is precisely … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Human Nature, Movies | Comments Off on Movie relevance, conservative intuition, unbothered people, Paul and Heather

Stupid vs. Evil

Posted on Thursday 12 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Robert Reich’s take on what the two US political parties think of each other, and my interpretation of conservative thinking; About Pete Hegseth and how he sees moral purpose in war as a weakness; Another item about parental rights, concerning … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Morality, Politics | Comments Off on Stupid vs. Evil

Whiteson & Warner, DO ALIENS SPEAK PHYSICS?

Posted on Thursday 12 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitle: “And other questions about science and the nature of reality” (Norton, 2025, 254pp, including 12pp of bibliography and index) Here’s a book that’s remarkable in an unusual way: I didn’t hear about it from anywhere, not in a review, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Mathematics, Science | Comments Off on Whiteson & Warner, DO ALIENS SPEAK PHYSICS?

Clown Shoes, and Republican Obsequiousness

Posted on Wednesday 11 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Marco Rubio in clown shoes; Republicans think oppressing trans kids is more important than parental rights; Trump’s delusional faith in himself; That photo of the prayer group in the Oval Office is being mocked in China; Motivated thinking sees that … Continue reading →

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Certainty is the Enemy

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

And Trump is certain about his own moral authority; And how the long-anticipated End Times have yet to appear; Paul Krugman on how Pete Hegseth is being deliberately dumb; Short items about Erika Kirk, Hegseth’s Bible reading, money spent on … Continue reading →

Posted in Morality, Music, Religion | Comments Off on Certainty is the Enemy

Malcolm Gladwell, THE TIPPING POINT

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitled: “How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” (Little, Brown, March 2000, 279pp, including 20pp endnotes, acknowledgements, and index) This was a popular and well-received book when published back in 2000, and launched Gladwell‘s book career. Most of his books … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology | Comments Off on Malcolm Gladwell, THE TIPPING POINT