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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Recent Posts
- The Deep History Key to the American Political Divide
- MAGA Art Slop; Ignoring the Data
- Yuval Noah Harari: UNSTOPPABLE US, Vol. 3
- The Mathematics of Beauty
- Faith Excuses Everything; Process Models Accomplish Things
- Understanding Reality; the Capability Immaturity Model
- Understanding vs. Blaming, Bad-Faith Arguments, Religion as Rank Tribalism, and Short-term vs Long-Term Thinking
- Arthur Brooks and Gary Snyder: Meaning and Wilderness
- Little House on the Prairie, and Presumptions
- Tearing Down, and Tricksters
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Meta
Category Archives: Politics
About the Appeal of Stories
How the great books appeal both to literary standards and our lizard brains; With my speculations about the appeal of science fiction; July 4th. The Guardian on how the US is a global citizen gone rogue; how the stain on … Continue reading
What Is This About Democratic Socialists?
Jonathan Chait thinks they’re bad; Jerry Coyne echoes his animus; Robert Reich sees a different trend, more exciting than democratic socialism; While Paul Krugman thinks “most of us are social democrats”, which seems to exhibit the way these words are … Continue reading
The Conservative Ethos: Tribalistic, Xenophobic, Autocratic
How the Supreme Court repeatedly gives Trump the license to discriminate (never mind “all men are created equal”); Robert Reich on the Court’s decision to let Trump fire officials in government agencies whenever he likes; Robert Reich on how the … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Culture, Politics, Racism
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The Arrogance of the Devout
Texas inserts Bible readings into public school instruction, only some of them related to literary works; Adam Roberts reviews Disclosure Day, with insights similar to my own; Gubbins: Dismal turn-out for Trump’s rally; right-wing paranoia about Dems. – – – … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Movies, Politics, Religion
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Human Nature and American Self-Esteem
Another story about a European loving his American experience, and also how Americans need this kind of validation; Brief items about Trump Derangement Syndrome, the demonization of Anthony Fauci, how Christian Nationalist candidates should conceal their agendas, and why there … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Human Nature, Human Progress, Politics, Psychology, Racism
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Memories of Green
Trump’s surrender; Trump can’t sell his lies in Versailles; Why people see scientists as oddballs; Vangelis’s “Memories of Green.” – – – Some of us have memories of the before time. Before all this. The Bulwark, Jonathan V. Last, today: … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Lunacy, Music, Politics
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America’s Continued Decline
Michelle Goldberg on the garish spectacle at the White House; Will Leitch about its absurdity; Conservatives are trolls; US science is also in decline; Paul Krugman’s theory of the vulgar class; And music: Hans Zimmer’s “Chevaliers De Sangreal”, a great … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Lunacy, Music, Politics
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Practicalities and Prejudices Trump Principles
The voters who believe that Trump defends their values; The DHS head is happy to throw out the Constitution in order to fight the minuscule number of voter fraud cases; Trump’s UFC fight reveals his violent worldview; The problematic latest … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Lunacy, Politics, Racism
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The Destruction of American Scientific Research
Deport 106 million illegals?? More misunderstandings or lies about how California elections works; More about how experience, knowledge, and talent are being marginalized by the current US government; Items about 60 Minutes; Activity today: a brief jury duty experience (posted … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Politics, Science
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Tear-Downs and Demons
Trump’s cancellations, which I can’t keep up with; How Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will impact public schools; How UFOs are interpreted by the religious as demons; Preisner’s “Silence, Night & Dreams” – – – I’m not sure I’m keeping up … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Lunacy, Music, Politics, Religion
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