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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Meta
Category Archives: Morality
Change Control
How even modest measures to ameliorate problems in NYC face resistance; How religious certitudes from Alito and others will not end well. Still under the weather, but let’s try a couple items from today’s NYT, about perhaps the broadest issue … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Evolution, Morality, Social Progress
Comments Off on Change Control
Politics as Fantasy, as Competing Stories
Three topics for today. The Hunter Biden verdict this morning, and how conservatives explain it to fit their conspiracy theories; Religious dimwittery about installing the Ten Commandments into schools; and Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito’s presumptuous allegiance to Christian godliness … Continue reading
Liberalism and Its Discontents
David Brooks on how authoritarians have momentum, because liberalism doesn’t appeal to people’s needs for a higher metaphysical meaning; Biden and Trump: appearance and reality; Double standards at Fox News about Butker and James; Republicans about Trump: loyalty vs. principles; … Continue reading
Expressions of Tribal Morality
NFL player Harrison Butker’s expression of tribal morality, and responses; Mike Johnson wants to boycott Target because of his fear being caught there when the Rapture comes; Moron Jesse Watters; a GOP Rep’s claim of proof, but lack of proof, … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Morality
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Stupid Lies
Trump’s stupid lies; How conservatives do not trust people to make their own decisions; Heather Cox Richardson on how we got here; A Republican who boasts about cheating homeless people; On a positive note: Ali Velshi on NPR this morning. … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Epistemology, Morality, Politics
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A Table of Moral Polarities, Initial Take
I’ve been making notes over the past month for a table of moral polarities, in order to align and summarize some of the concepts and the many news examples I’ve compiled lately. Recall how I’ve mentioned that certain attitudes, especially … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, History, Meaning, Morality, Philosophy, Science, science fiction, Uncategorized
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Friday 10 May 2024
A round of assorted items collected on the web the past few days. Here’s that item about what universities are for, that I couldn’t find the other day. The Atlantic, Derek Thompson, 8 May 2024: No One Knows What Universities … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Morality, Politics, Psychology
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Illiberalism, and the Wood Age
“Illiberalism” and its history in the US; How perhaps the “Stone Age” is perhaps better described as the “Wood Age” — how science can update stale conclusions; How some “smart people” hold noxious conspiracy theories too; Kristi Noem would have … Continue reading
Posted in History, Morality, Philosophy, Politics
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Ideology, Principles, and Fantasy
How Project 2025 is based on misconceptions; Heather Cox Richardson on Trump’s plans and how many people seem to welcome them; Slate on how Trump waffles on the abortion issue; And how Arizona’s repeal of the 1864 abortion ban undermines … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Morality, Politics
Comments Off on Ideology, Principles, and Fantasy
How Rugged Individualists Cannot Solve Global Problems
A note about my trip tomorrow to Austin; How Mike Johnson characterizes Republicans as “rugged individualists,” yet who can still not get along to solve actual problems; How Trump’s policies would increase inflation, and his fans haven’t noticed; More about … Continue reading
Posted in Morality, Personal history, Politics, Psychology
Comments Off on How Rugged Individualists Cannot Solve Global Problems