Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Artemis, and the Weirding of American Religion

The Artemis mission, the dark side solecism, the flat earth crazies; Paul Krugman echoes my thoughts from yesterday: will America as we knew it end Tuesday? The weirding of American religion, what with claims of teleportation and demons; Brief items … Continue reading

Posted in Lunacy, Politics, Religion, Space | Comments Off on Artemis, and the Weirding of American Religion

Skiffy Flix: The Thing From Another World

This is a 1951 black & white science fiction movie set in the Arctic, and it’s one of the most famous of the 1950s science fiction films. (This original version has been eclipsed over the decades by a 1982 remake … Continue reading

Posted in science fiction, Skiffy Flix | Comments Off on Skiffy Flix: The Thing From Another World

Eve of Destruction?

Trump’s profane threats to Iran; US politicians respond; Seeing resurrection everywhere, in cycles of life and death; Trump killed easy tax filing software to appease big business; Review of a book about how capitalism conquered the world and may destroy … Continue reading

Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Lunacy, Music, Politics | Comments Off on Eve of Destruction?

God-Botherers

Ross Douthat and Bart Ehrman debate about the evolution of human morality; I’m not completely on board with either of them, and have a better explanation; Examples of the religiously besotted: who think Christ is the King of America; who … Continue reading

Posted in conservatives, Religion | Comments Off on God-Botherers

Psychics and Literacy

If psychics are real, why hasn’t even one shown up to find Nancy Guthrie? Pete Hegseth keeps blocking military promotions for blacks and females; And he’s holding a Protestants-only Good Friday service; Big Think on the persistence of intuitive superstitious … Continue reading

Posted in conservatives, Human Nature, Politics, Religion, Supernatural | Comments Off on Psychics and Literacy

Yuval Noah Harari: NEXUS

Subtitled: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI (Random House, Sept. 2024, xxxii + 492pp, including 88pp of acknowledgements, notes, and index; but no bibliography) This is Harari’s fourth big book, following SAPIENS, HOMO DEUS, … Continue reading

Posted in Book Notes, History, Human Nature, Technology | Comments Off on Yuval Noah Harari: NEXUS

American Priorities under MAGA

Reactions to Trump’s speech last night about Iran; And how his cult defends him no matter what he does; They imagine outlawing the Democrats; The oxymoronic Trump library; How Trump’s case against the 14th amendment did not go well before … Continue reading

Posted in conservatives, Human Nature, Politics | Comments Off on American Priorities under MAGA

The New Space Race

Today’s launch of Artemis II, and my background supporting the space program; A revelation about Bill Warren’s KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES! Noting the popularity of Project Hail Mary; Noting a GoodReads list; Radiohead’s The Gloaming. – – – So America’s … Continue reading

Posted in Music, Politics, science fiction, Skiffy Flix, Space | Comments Off on The New Space Race

Grasping Reality, or Not

Robert Reich on how Trump thinks he’s winning, but isn’t; Matt Gaetz thinks the US Army is engaging in an alien hybrid breeding program; How some pardoned Jan. 6th rioters have engaged in crime sprees; Paul Krugman wonders why Trump’s … Continue reading

Posted in conservatives, Music, Religion | Comments Off on Grasping Reality, or Not

Education Conservative Style: Robots

Conservative ideas of education: replace teachers with robots; Takes on Stephen Miller, white supremacists, Trump voters, college Republicans, taking away the car keys, and Pete Hegseth by Tom Nichols and Paul Krugman; Radiohead: “I Might Be Wrong” – – – … Continue reading

Posted in conservatives, Music, Politics | Comments Off on Education Conservative Style: Robots