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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Meta
Monthly Archives: December 2013
Two Interesting Articles
Adam Lee looks at the current political climate and what may be coming next. The Rising of the Sun The cause of these convulsions is privileged distress on a massive scale, as white Christian conservatives realize they’re losing their power … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Psychology, Quote at Length, Religion, Uncategorized
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Sin against mankind
Back to reading that A.C. Grayling book, and can’t resist documenting for the record this passage that Grayling quotes by one W.K. Clifford: It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence. If a man, … Continue reading
Posted in Book Notes, Philosophy, Religion
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Links and Quotes about that Duck guy
I’d never heard of him or his show, until this past week. The controversy exposes a deep rift in American culture… which has always been there, I realize. Those of use who are forward looking, progressive, like to think the … Continue reading
Yesterday’s Favorite Song
Didn’t have a chance to post until today. Another track from the new Moby album.
Posted in Music
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New Ten Commandments
Came across this recently, The New Ten Commandments which strikes me as eminently sensible and admirable. This is from a blogger named Adam Lee, who posts at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism and who’s published a book by the same name. He makes a … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Religion, Ten Commandments
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Hitchens and the Speculative End of Religion
There have been several online articles in recent days about Christopher Hitchens, author of god is not great [lower cases intentional], who died just two years ago. Jerry Coyne checks in on rival takes on Christopher Hitchens, both on Salon, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Thinking
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Awe
Here’s a story that’s gotten some attention this past week — reports that when people look at awesome scenery, like the Grand Canyon, they are more inclined to attribute them to God (whatever that means). www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-hutson/awe-increases-religious-belief_b_4423247.html The emotion of awe … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy, Religion, Thinking
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Aggressive Atheist Steps Down
Interesting article by Martin S. Pribble, whose blog I’ve noticed from time to time, which post has been repurposed by Slate.come http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2013/12/why_i_m_quitting_the_online_atheism_community.html Faith overrides knowledge and truth in any situation, so arguing with a theist is akin to banging your … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Religion
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Getting Along without Knowing
Interesting interview with Patricia Churchland, UCSD ‘neurophilosopher’ in Slate today, originally from New Scientist, about the dismay some people feel at the notion that, to quote the interview’s intro, “our hopes, loves and very existence are just elaborate functions of … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy, Psychology, Science, Thinking
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Today’s favorite song: Wake Me Up
Only just now saw the video; responding to having heard the song half a dozen times on KCRW and KROQ this past week.
Posted in Music
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