Monthly Archives: February 2015

Links and Comments: Star Trek and Humanism; John Cleese

Posted on Wednesday 25 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

A couple more links noticed in recent days, before I lose or forget them; my daily routine, as we settle and unpack in our new home in Oakland, will be a while getting back to have time for more considered … Continue reading →

Posted in Humanism, Personal history, Philosophy, Religion | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Star Trek and Humanism; John Cleese

Links and Comments: Oliver Sacks; A Pious American against Trains; Offending Religion

Posted on Tuesday 24 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

Another link-dump, for now, i.e. some links and quick comments, without the more considered comments I might do under normal circumstances… after another busy week of moving-in and unpacking. The great author Oliver Sacks has this moving NYT op-ed about … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Oliver Sacks; A Pious American against Trains; Offending Religion

Boyhood

Posted on Friday 20 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

I need to say something about the film Boyhood, before it does, or more likely does not (given the current prognosticators), win the Oscar for Best Picture on Sunday. I didn’t see it in the theater, but watched the DVD … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Films, Personal history | Comments Off on Boyhood

Links and Comments: Quotes; GOP and Evolution; Skeptics; Oklahoma history

Posted on Wednesday 18 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

During a busy week, this is a quick post to capture various quotes and links I’ve found in the past few days. Resources. Quote: Charles Bukowski: “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion, Science | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Quotes; GOP and Evolution; Skeptics; Oklahoma history

Once Again: Turn Away

Posted on Tuesday 17 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

Via AZ Lyrics, the last verse [updated per comment below] Turn, turn away From the weight of your own words It’s magic for the devil And betray the lack of change Once you have spoken Turn away [Update 18feb15: listening … Continue reading →

Posted in MInd, Music, Narrative | Comments Off on Once Again: Turn Away

Links and Comments: Still Climbing

Posted on Friday 13 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik, Obama and the Cruaders. Parsing faith, fanaticsm , liberalism, pluralism. Bad acts may rise from good causes: faith may never be the enemy; fanaticism is always the enemy. But faith has always been the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Morality, Religion | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Still Climbing

Links and Comments: Robert Wright on Brian Williams; Obama on Christianity; Children of Gay Parents; Republicans and evolution

Posted on Thursday 12 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

Robert Wright — author of among other books The Moral Animal (1994), one of the best books I’ve read about how evolutionary psychology affects human culture and relationships — offers his perspective, in New Republic, on how Brian Williams Is … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Evolution, Psychology, Religion, The Gays | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Robert Wright on Brian Williams; Obama on Christianity; Children of Gay Parents; Republicans and evolution

Jordan Ellenberg, How Not to Be Wrong, Post 2

Posted on Wednesday 11 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

Subtitled: The Power of Mathematical Thinking. Second post (first post here) about this fascinating book, an examination of several basic principles (linearity, inference, expectation, regression, and existence) and how they apply to every-day, real world situations, situations that are often … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Culture, Economics, Mathematics, Science, Thinking | Comments Off on Jordan Ellenberg, How Not to Be Wrong, Post 2

Links and Comments: Anti-Vaxxers and Anti-Brakers

Posted on Wednesday 11 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

First, the serious, a commentary this morning on the local NPR station in the Bay Area, KQED, by Paul Staley: Fear and Vaccines. First, I like his characterization of the internet; for those who are not scientists, science can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Lunacy, Science | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Anti-Vaxxers and Anti-Brakers

Provisional Conclusions

Posted on Tuesday 10 February 2015 by Mark R. Kelly

(Update 9 March 2015: After removing most of the post when I created a separate ‘page’ for this list, I’m restoring the original post here, to capture the original version. The page version will revised ongoingly…) Inspired by various alternative … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history, Philosophy | Comments Off on Provisional Conclusions