Category Archives: History

Feeding Voters a Fantasy World

Posted on 12 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

The most alarming thing I’ve learned in the past decade is how so many ordinary people are not smart, not well-educated, are susceptible to political ideology and religious zealotry, and are driven by ideology and zealotry to try to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, History, Politics, Science | Leave a comment

Living in History

Posted on 22 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

We’re living through the hottest month and year in history. And it’s only going to get worse; Wondering why Trump fans adore him despite his incoherency and insincerity; And how conservative objections to LGBTQ books in a San Diego library … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, History, Psychology | Leave a comment

Human History and World History: Two Perspectives

Posted on 2 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Carl Sagan on human history as “a slowly dawning awareness that we are members of a larger group” and how conservatives counter this; Peter Turchin about his theory of world history and how he identifies the US as a plutocracy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Human Progress | Leave a comment

Climate Change, Founding Fathers, UFOs and Scientific Literacy

Posted on 3 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics today: Insurance companies, whose business depends on understanding risks, are taking steps to acknowledge climate change and its threats, even if many ordinary people still don’t “believe” in climate change; How the “founding fathers” were woke, compared to the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Music, Science | Leave a comment

Moving Toward One Kind of Science-Fictional Future

Posted on 25 May 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Working from home vs. commuting, a slow social trend we thought might be temporary, but which may be inevitable, and for the good. I have a laptop connected to two big monitors, but otherwise this photo is apt. My cat … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Human Progress, Technology | Leave a comment

The Western Tradition

Posted on 20 February 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two related items today. Florida’s idea of a Christian, Western tradition that students should be tested to, instead of SAT; and a professor’s debunking of a “grand narrative of Western Civilization”, via a book review at PW. Hemant Mehta, Friendly … Continue reading →

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