Category Archives: Music

Can You Hear Me?

Posted on Sunday 29 June 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Robert Reich reminds us of the three branches of American government, and how, in plain site, Trump is attacking two of them; How Donald Trump doesn’t align with William McKinley so much as William Jennings Bryan. Bruce Springsteen’s “Outlaw Pete”. … Continue reading →

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This Is What Will Be

Posted on Thursday 26 June 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

How right-wing violence has become normalized; How perhaps “totalitarianism” is better word than “authoritarianism” for what is going on; How Republicans trying to roll back same-sex marriage are fighting a losing battle, cf. that Stephen Prothero book; A psychiatrist explains … Continue reading →

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Girls and Boys and Evolutionary Psychology

Posted on Thursday 19 June 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Apparently there’s a worldwide shift in preference for baby girls over baby boys, reversing an age-old bias; The article cited doesn’t explain the evolutionary rationales for these shifting preferences, but I will; And Sophie’s Choice; And it reveals reasons why … Continue reading →

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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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