Category Archives: Personal history

A Continual Stream of Lies and Gaslighting

Posted on Wednesday 19 February 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

Trump claims Ukraine started the war; Zelensky accuses him of living in “disinformation space”; Musk, corrected about the lie that 150-year-old people are still receiving Social Security, keeps spreading that lie; Tom Nichols on Trump and Musk and Hannity, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Lunacy, Personal history, Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on A Continual Stream of Lies and Gaslighting

Consolidations and Resolutions

Posted on Wednesday 1 January 2025 by Mark R. Kelly

More discussion today of what I got done in 2024, and about my ongoing project that will extend into 2025. This is to start consolidating all my writing ideas from the past decade into some overall framework. I’ve been doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history, The Book | Comments Off on Consolidations and Resolutions

End of Year 2024

Posted on Tuesday 31 December 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

I don’t do this every year, but today I’m inclined to write about what’s gone on this past year, what if anything I’ve “accomplished,” and what if any “progress” I’ve made toward long-term goals. About books read, settling Larry’s estate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history | Comments Off on End of Year 2024

Driving the I5, and Varieties of Dining Experience

Posted on Saturday 28 December 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Another quick trip from the Bay Area to LA over the past few days of the Christmas Holiday, constrained as usual by work schedules. It’s a 370 mile trip, from our place in Oakland to the West LA area where … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history | Comments Off on Driving the I5, and Varieties of Dining Experience

Institutions and Indoctrination

Posted on Sunday 8 December 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s neighborhood cookies party. Fareed Zakaria how democracy depends on its institutions; The Trump administration will indoctrinate Federal employees with MAGA training; A West Virginia mayor reject a Pagan float in a Christmas Parade; How Trump is stocking his cabinet … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history, Politics | Comments Off on Institutions and Indoctrination

Car Hits Power Pole

Posted on Thursday 24 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Short post today, since as I was sitting down to write it, an hour and a half ago now, the power went out. This was around 4:20pm. I sat and read a book. Power back about 5:40. Car hit power … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, Personal history, Politics | Comments Off on Car Hits Power Pole

October Heat Wave, and Dark Skies

Posted on Sunday 6 October 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

We’re a week or more into a heat wave in the Bay Area, and it’s at least the 6th day in a row the temperature here in Oakland has been above 90. Ever since last weekend the forecasters predicted the … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Personal history | Comments Off on October Heat Wave, and Dark Skies

Three Weeks: Leaving My Life Up to Me

Posted on Saturday 28 September 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

My partner Y left late last night (I had to drive him to SFO well past our usual bedtime) for a three-week trip to China. (Partly business, partly family.) We’ve been together some 23 years, and this will be the … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history | Comments Off on Three Weeks: Leaving My Life Up to Me

DNC and Late August Goings-On

Posted on Friday 23 August 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Last night was the end of the Democratic National Convention, with Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech as nominee for president, and it’s been well-covered in all the news media. Most of us thought Harris did quite well, as she bridged from … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history, Politics | Comments Off on DNC and Late August Goings-On

Nostalgia, Weird Ideas, Joy vs Grimness, Prayers

Posted on Tuesday 30 July 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Tom Nichols on how nostalgia for the past tells us lies; More on JD Vance’s tribal morality and short-term thinking; Robert Reich on Kamala’s joy and Donald’s grimness; And the meaning of why Trump rallies open with Christian prayers. —— … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history, Politics, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on Nostalgia, Weird Ideas, Joy vs Grimness, Prayers