Monthly Archives: April 2023

How About a Conservative Resistance Against Globes?

Posted on Tuesday 11 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics for today: A flat-earth judge ruled against globes in public schools… or did I imagine that? Perhaps I’m confusing it with the mean-spirited rulings in Texas about abortion and in Florida about everything; Republicans in Missouri want to defund … Continue reading →

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Enid Blyton via Sarah Bakewell

Posted on Monday 10 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

I mentioned Sarah Bakewell in my post of March 29th, for two reviews of her new book on the history and meaning of humanism, Humanly Possible, a very long book on one of my primary interests, but so long that … Continue reading →

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The Latest Political Outrages and Shenanigans

Posted on Saturday 8 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s topics: Conservative outrage (so easily triggered) against Bud Light; Anti-democratic shenanigans in Tennessee, and the backlash; and how Tennessee places last among all states on democracy, and crushes dissent; About Republican indoctrination; MAGA’s worst week ever; How Medicare expenditures … Continue reading →

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Math, Literature, and Maps

Posted on Friday 7 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s topics: A curious new geometric shape; The connections between math and literature; A new perhaps better map projection of the world NY Times, Siobhan Roberts, 28 Mar 2023: Elusive ‘Einstein’ Solves a Longstanding Math Problem, subtitled “And it all … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics, Narrative | Comments Off on Math, Literature, and Maps

Theory of Mind, UFOs, and Music

Posted on Thursday 6 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Three items today. Do Chatbots have a “theory of mind”? Probably not. Why fascination about UFOs has lingered; my own brief fascination with them when I was 13; and David Brin’s current take on them; How music does not “mean” … Continue reading →

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Rules of Law, and Gods, and Politicians

Posted on Wednesday 5 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics in this post: How MAGAites think their god (Trump) is above the law, with wise insights from John Scalzi; how Republicans want the dumbest parents to control school curricula; the link between white supremacy and anti-abortion politics; how owners … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on Rules of Law, and Gods, and Politicians

Trip Report: LA to Attend Michael & Honey’s Wedding

Posted on Tuesday 4 April 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

This past weekend Y and I drove down to Los Angeles to attend his younger son Michael’s wedding. (Thus the absence of daily posts here for five days.) It was our first trip out of town in 3 1/2 years, … Continue reading →

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