Mark R. Kelly
» Founder in 1997 and site-runner for 20 years of Locus Online (Hugo Award winner in 2002). Founder in 2012 and still site-runner of sfadb.com (Science Fiction Awards Database). Retired in 2012 after 30 years as a software engineer for a certain rocket engine factory.
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» Previous Views from Medina Road (2010-2013)
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- Distracted by Politics, Again
- AI Is Telling People What They Want to Hear?
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Meta
Category Archives: Human Nature
Muddling Through Somehow
Since today is Christmas Eve, yesterday must have been Christmas Adam, right? (First I’ve heard about this.) NY Times, 22 Dec 2024: Behold! ‘Christmas Adam’ Is Born., subtitled “First there was Christmas Eve … and then a new celebration was … Continue reading
Posted in Human Nature, Religion, Social Progress
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The Certitude of the Religious
David French asks and tries to explain why Christians are so cruel; David Brooks writes about his experience of faith; And Kurt Gray about misunderstanding human nature. – – – Of course I’m sure they would deny this. Passing the … Continue reading
Posted in Human Nature, Religion
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Or for Worse
We took both our cars into the indie BMW shop we’ve been going to, for routine maintenance. In my case, I needed my car to be ship-shape before driving down to LA in a couple weeks. \ Infrastructure note. In … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Human Nature, Politics, Website Issues
Comments Off on Or for Worse
The Anticipation of Unintended Consequences
Many are predicting that the new administration’s plans, especially concerning deportations and tariffs, will backfire and wreck the economy, or at least raise prices in ways they apparently cannot anticipate. But one guesses that the Republicans will not admit it … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Economics, Human Nature, Psychology
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The Overton Window of Deviance
Amanda Marcotte on how Christians seem not bothered by the immorality of Trump or his Cabinet picks; Bret Stephens on defining deviancy down; Timothy Snyder on how Trump is actually a fascist — and how fascists use narratives; David French … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Human Nature, Lunacy, Politics
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Shocked, Just Shocked
The broad trend, perhaps, is the discomfort of tribal human beings living in multicultural liberal democracies. How some people (who weren’t paying attention) are shocked that Trump is actually setting out to do what he promised to do; How Trump … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Culture, Human Nature, Human Progress, Politics, Tribalism
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Continuing Our Studies of Human Nature…
Today’s evidence. How MAGA is a gang mentality for white men who feel powerless; Adam Gopnik considers the difference between a mob and a righteous protest; (And I wonder about the American revolutionaries); Short items about Robert Reich and overereaching … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Human Nature, Politics
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Do Trump’s Voters Know What They’ve Done?
Jamelle Bouie asks if Trump Voters know what he has planned for them; Heather Cox Richardson observes how on social media Trump voters are alarmed by the implications of Trump’s polices, which somehow they hadn’t noticed before; Two more lists … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Culture, Human Nature, Politics
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Of Course This Won’t Be All Over Tomorrow
Trump’s Wild Claims, Conspiracies and Falsehoods Redefine Presidential Bounds; Trump says rallies are full while a cameraman pans over an empty arena; CNN fact-checks Trump’s final day of his campaign; When called out, Trump says never mind, I was kidding; … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Human Nature, Politics
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Ramping Up
It’s happening right before our eyes. How Trump’s 2020 Playbook is being put into action; Trump simulates oral sex in public; Jonathan M. Katz on what Trump’s team will do following the election; Robert Reich reminds us of 101 terrible … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Human Nature, Politics
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