Category Archives: Culture

Last Questions and Possible Answers, 4

Posted on 28 November 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

This is my fourth and likely last post, following this one in March and this one in June, and this one eight days ago, in which I consider the John Brockman book The Last Unknowns, in which he gathers deep … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Culture, Human Progress, Philosophy, Religion, Science, science fiction | Leave a comment

Last Questions and Possible Answers, 3

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

This is my third post, following this one in March and this one in June, in which I consider the John Brockman book The Last Unknowns, in which he gathers deep unanswered questions about “the universe, the mind, the future … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Culture, Evolution, Human Progress, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Religion, Science | Comments Off on Last Questions and Possible Answers, 3

Things that are True about the World, despite Human Intuitions

Posted on 12 November 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

After three posts about that Jonathan Rauch book, let’s post some items about conclusions made by the reality-based community. Veritasium on Euclid’s Fifth Postulate, and how there is more to reality than human intuitive thinking; Neil de Grasse Tyson on … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Mathematics, Science | Comments Off on Things that are True about the World, despite Human Intuitions

UBI, Shopping, and San Francisco

Posted on 16 October 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Another take on the idea of “universal basic income”; About conservative supermarket shopping habits; San Francisco’s ranking among world cities. Another take on the idea of “universal basic income,” the counter-intuitive (and anathema to conservatives) notion than the government simply … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Culture, Economics | Comments Off on UBI, Shopping, and San Francisco

Numerous Items From Recent Weeks

Posted on 9 October 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How the worldwide migration crisis is about civil wars and climate change, but also about the internet and smartphones; How the Luddites were not what we think, and why it might be appropriate to be one now; About the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on Numerous Items From Recent Weeks

Murdoch, Azarian, Reich, and Scientists

Posted on 22 September 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items today: The retirement of Rupert Murdoch, who became wealthy by degrading American politics and appealing to many Americans’ worst instincts; Republican hypocrisy example: John Fetterman vs. Lauren Boebert; with a classic definition: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Politics, Psychology, Science, Social Progress | Comments Off on Murdoch, Azarian, Reich, and Scientists

Today’s Items about Politics and Culture

Posted on 21 September 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Is the attempt to impeach Biden an example of tit for tat, or something else?; How attendees at the Dreamforce conference this week didn’t recognize the right-wing media depictions of San Francisco, and other cities, as ‘hellholes’. Here’s a piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Politics | Comments Off on Today’s Items about Politics and Culture

Morality and Corruption

Posted on 18 September 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How society is becoming more moral, not less; How the press covers politics; Quick takes on the Republican Party as a racket, and the laughable impeachment of the Biden family as “corrupt” by supporters of Trump and his family. OnlySky, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Morality, Politics | Comments Off on Morality and Corruption

Odds and Ends from Recent Weeks

Posted on 11 September 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today I’m catching up on numerous items from recent weeks that I want to note even though I haven’t had time to thoroughly read or comment about them. A couple of them, at least, I will revisit, because I need … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Meaning, Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on Odds and Ends from Recent Weeks

Community, Conservatives, and Cynics

Posted on 6 September 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A round of assorted links from the past couple weeks. The yearning for community, and how the churches are failing that yearning; Adam Lee on the Supreme Court and how conservatism is focused on privileging wealthy, white, male Christians; Thom … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Religion | Comments Off on Community, Conservatives, and Cynics