Category Archives: Music

Knowing vs. Believing

Posted on Tuesday 10 June 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

RFK “retires” his vaccine advisory committee (because he knows better); Robert Reich on how the MAGA Inquisition will destroy American science, and Reich tries to understand why; Robert Reich on Trump’s war against California, and the central struggle of civilization; … Continue reading →

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Clooney’s Murrow; Trump Calls Out the National Guard

Posted on Sunday 8 June 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck; Trump calls out the National Guard (what’s next? Martial Law?); Louisiana bans chemtrails; Trump’s big bill prioritizes the religious right (of course) – – – First of all. We watched the live stream of George … Continue reading →

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Fareed Zakaria, Peter Wehner, Brian Tyler Cohen, and Anton Bruckner

Posted on Saturday 31 May 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Fareed Zakaria on Trump vs. Harvard; Peter Wehner on how Republican principles gave way to Trump; And so now there is justice for Trump supporters, and justice for others; “Happy Memorial Day” Brian Tyler Cohen about Trump’s confusion about “asylum”; … Continue reading →

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We’re Living in an Age of Regression

Posted on Tuesday 13 May 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

In Trump’s America, it’s every parent and child out for themselves; Who decides who’s Christian? The government? Fox News says the Qatari bribe to Trump is fine because FDR gave three planes to the Saudis… 80 years ago; Robert Reich … Continue reading →

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The Most Sublime Moment in Classical Music

Posted on Saturday 19 April 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Asimov on Heinlein, about libertarianism; More about “viewpoint diversity” in science, and how scientists react; About another stupidly doctored photo by Trump, to prove something to his dimwitted followers; How the history Trump wants to erase hold the answer to … Continue reading →

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How Trump and MAGA illustrate Fundamental Principles

Posted on Monday 7 April 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

How my posts about current politics, including Trump and Musk, are about illustrating fundamental principles; Trump simply doesn’t understand trade; David Brooks on how conservatives have changed; A Christian law-maker who thinks “critical thinking” includes teaching about God; Short items … Continue reading →

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Son of Dispatches from Reality

Posted on Sunday 16 March 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

How morality changes and can be used to build a better world, with tips about improving your moral technology; How choices and options may or may not have made us free; Music: Now on to Shostakovich; here’s Symphony #10. – … Continue reading →

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Dispatches from Reality

Posted on Saturday 15 March 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Taking a day off from political posts, for posts about reality. Or at least, the exploration of reality. Mathematicians solve a 125-year-old problem, perhaps; OnlySky’s Dale McGowan about the evolutionary mismatch between the world we evolved in, and the modern … Continue reading →

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The Usual Villains

Posted on Thursday 30 January 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

A passenger plane and a military helicopter collide over the Potomac, killing 67, and who does Trump blame? Trump’s vile plane crash press conference; David A. Graham on how Trump is just watching, not taking charge; Allan Pettersson’s Symphony #8. … Continue reading →

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RIP Wordpad

Posted on Monday 27 January 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Windows has deprecated WordPad, which makes my life more difficult; David French on a German thinker, Carl Schmitt, and the friend-enemy distinction, and how it informs current American politics; Latest thoughts from Heather Cox Richardson, about the cancellation of foreign … Continue reading →

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