Category Archives: Morality

Zeus’ Law

Posted on Sunday 2 August 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

We saw “The Odyssey” yesterday and I’m catching up on some of the commentaries. The right-wing is outraged by the casting of non-whites, as if the Greeks of 3000 years ago must have looked like modern-day Europeans. And, I realized … Continue reading →

Posted in conservatives, Human Nature, Morality, Movies | Leave a comment

The Dystopian Portrait of America Is Not True

Posted on Sunday 12 July 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

An essay on American loneliness denies the dystopian view of the nation; Gay marriage opponents revive a discredited 14-year-old junk science study; Brief items: a “Christian values” candidate with dicey behavior; restricting the public expressions of Muslims; Pete Hegseth’s pastor … Continue reading →

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Broad Categories

Posted on Wednesday 3 June 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Scott Pelley fired: the destruction of 60 Minutes; David Brin on the dismantling of the ocean monitoring system; Several posts about how Trump and his administration are simply in it for the money; And several posts about conservative morality: demons, … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Decline, Morality | Comments Off on Broad Categories

Deep Thinkers

Posted on Saturday 23 May 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Hakeem Oluseyi Lucas Bean, provisionally – – – I dwell too much on MAGA (because they are an imminent threat); the very opposite of them are the deep thinkers of our time. The ones making progress in the world. Big … Continue reading →

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Primitive Morality, Stories, Politics

Posted on Friday 22 May 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Oklahoma and child marriage: an example of how modern morality is not (and should not be) beholden to the Bible; A Yuval Noah Harari video on how cooperation throughout human history requires common stories, e.g. religions; An economic experiment that … Continue reading →

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Morality, and the Bible, Again

Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

How the world is becoming more moral, not less; Trump’s egotistical take on religion; Trump’s laughable phone; Noting Trump’s IRS deal that somehow exempts his family from tax audits forever; And how a Christian nationalist pastor thinks America needs “less … Continue reading →

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Rutger Bregman: MORAL AMBITION

Posted on Thursday 7 May 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitled: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference (2024 in Dutch; Little, Brown, 2025, 285pp, including 53pp of Thanks, Notes, and Index) Here’s the third book by Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian and thinker. First was UTOPIA FOR … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Human Progress, longtermism, Morality | Comments Off on Rutger Bregman: MORAL AMBITION

An Assortment of Current Events

Posted on Saturday 25 April 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Trying to catch up on numerous items from recent days, briefly. MAGA and confederates • Firing the National Science Board • A Texas court defies the Supremes about posting the ten commandments • America’s moral code • The new Navy … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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