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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» Previous Views from Medina Road (2010-2013)
» Blogspot Views from Medina Road (2003-2010)-
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- Clueless, Stupid, and Cruel
- Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan: SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS
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- Stupid vs. Evil
- Whiteson & Warner, DO ALIENS SPEAK PHYSICS?
- Clown Shoes, and Republican Obsequiousness
- Certainty is the Enemy
- Malcolm Gladwell, THE TIPPING POINT
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Meta
Category Archives: Science
Five Planets Visible in the Sky
I missed seeing that greenish comet that was visible in the sky a few weeks ago. The latest sky event being discussed in the media — at least on TV and on websites — is a fairly rare conjunction of … Continue reading
Last Questions and Possible Answers, 1
When I was browsing through several John Brockman books a few weeks ago, I decided to buy the last one he published in that series, from 2019. It’s called The Last Unknowns, and instead of gathering answers from many contributors … Continue reading
Posted in Book Notes, Philosophy, Science
Comments Off on Last Questions and Possible Answers, 1
The Latest from Steven Pinker
Today, a long interview with Steven Pinker about ‘progress’ despite human nature; about the value of rationality; about looking at data and not headlines to understand the state of the world; about cancel culture; about the perils and inevitability of … Continue reading
Posted in Human Progress, Psychology, Science, Steven Pinker
Comments Off on The Latest from Steven Pinker
Progress, Happiness, Economics, and Morality
Items about the reality of progress and hope that humanity overcomes the effects of climate change; the latest world happiness index in which the US ranks 15th; Robert Reich busting myths about how the wealthy right justify their wealth; and … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Morality, Psychology, Science
Comments Off on Progress, Happiness, Economics, and Morality
The Poetry of Reality
Items about Daylight Saving Time, Tucker Carlson, Biblical Errancy, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Richard Dawkins Salon, Nicole Karlis, 12 Mar 2023: Why sleep scientists think Standard Time is best, subtitled “People love the extra hour of sunlight at night, but … Continue reading
Modern Science and Literary Wisdom
and Human Nature and Its Biases and Rationality and The Two Cultures and Consilience. Gregory Feeley, in a friends-only post on Facebook three days ago, linked the two items below and and made some generalizing comments about them.
Friday Quick Items
About that mask study; about the lab leak theory; and the volume of social media; and about the length of nonfiction books. NY Times, Zeynep Tufekci, 10 Mar 2023: Here’s Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work
Basic Principles: Passages from Shermer
In the closing pages of Michael Shermer’s new book, he quotes Jonathan Rauch’s list, from his book The Constitution of Knowledge, about social rules for turning disagreement into knowledge. Shermer expands upon them, and for one of them provides a … Continue reading
Posted in Book Notes, Morality, Quote at Length, Science
Comments Off on Basic Principles: Passages from Shermer
Assorted Links, early March
Politics, The Crazies, Science and Culture, Religion Jeff VanderMeer (and a coauthor) on DeSantis and students in Florida; David French on cancel culture and the now two Overton Windows; Amanda Marcotte on Republican hypocrisy; MTG’s confused timeline; bills to outlaw … Continue reading
Leftover February Links, 2
Science, Culture, Politics A 3-D map of near space, and errors in film and TV science fiction, and a novel; 11 recent scientific breakthroughs; a Lunar time zone. When reading went silent. Ron DeSantis’ freedom crackdown, and a question about … Continue reading
