Big Sky, Deep Sky

Posted on Friday 2 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s an Astronomy Picture of the Day, for 2022 November 29, that shows how big some nebulae and galaxies are on the scale of the night sky, in a way that we never realize. The highlight here is “The Gum Nebula Supernova Remnant.” Continue reading →

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A Chilly December Evening

Posted on Thursday 1 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics for today: A French take on Americans; How a Narcissist Knows Nothing.

No photo from either of the two linked items here seemed appropriate, so here is tonight’s sunset. In the aftermath of a rainstorm that lasted from before dawn to about 2pm today, this sunset. It’s chilly today, the high just 47F, and a predicted low by morning of 35F.

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Ancient Apocalypse, Odds and Ends

Posted on Wednesday 30 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

The “Ancient Apocalypse” nonsense; Movie trailers; Political headlines.
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Change and Survival: A Refined Conception of Science Fiction

Posted on Tuesday 29 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

A couple items today have perhaps led me to a new formulation of the idea of “science fiction.” Continue reading →

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Extreme vs. Necessary Solutions

Posted on Monday 28 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

To the imminent destruction of the planet. Allow the human race to go extinct? Cut back on capitalist consumption? (Which would be worse?)

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Maps of the Universe

Posted on Sunday 27 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

More things in heaven and earth. As a palette cleanser from my 26th, 23rd, and 16th November posts (and many previous), here’s a status check on the latest of what human beings have discovered, through systematic investigation (i.e. science), of the actual extent of our universe.

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Stories People Tell

Posted on Saturday 26 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Why pecan pie is quintessentially American; how Thanksgiving is supposedly about free enterprise vs. communism; why people don’t believe crime rates are down in big cities; how the TV show Yellowstone appeals to the conservative narrative about big government; why good guys don’t need guns to bring down the bad guys.

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Bertrand Russell on the Philosophical Outlook

Posted on Thursday 24 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

If you wish to become a philosopher, you must try, as far as you can, to get rid of beliefs which depend solely upon the place and time of your education, and upon what your parents and school- masters told you. Continue reading →

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Some Unpleasant Political/Religious Posts

Posted on Wednesday 23 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

The haters are doubling down.

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Readings: The 8 Billion and Climate Change

Posted on Tuesday 22 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

More on the 8 Billion, from Vox. And Elizabeth Kolbert’s “Climate change from A to Z.”

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