Monthly Archives: August 2023

Needless Deaths, Groceries, and Trump vs. Jesus

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

David Wallace-Wells: why do Americans suffer so many “needless deaths” than other nations?; Why groceries are expensive is not an American issue; How some Trump-loving congregants deride Jesus’ teachings as “weak”. And Hans Zimmer’s “Journey to the Line,” from THE … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics | Comments Off on Needless Deaths, Groceries, and Trump vs. Jesus

The Rule of Law, Degrees of Conspiracy Theorists, and Martin Gardner

Posted on Wednesday 9 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

If Trump’s trial is on TV, will Americans, even his supporters, accept the outcome?; How traditional conspiracy theorists are alarmed by modern conspiracy theorists; Recalling Martin Gardner’s Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science; And just noting a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on The Rule of Law, Degrees of Conspiracy Theorists, and Martin Gardner

Climate Change, Culture, the Economy, and Real Americans

Posted on Tuesday 8 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Paul Krugman on climate change as a culture war issue; Florida censors come after Shakespeare, and educators flee the state; Robert Reich is confidant that Biden will get credit for an economy “that’s better off than it’s been in decades”; … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservative Resistance, Psychology, Science | Comments Off on Climate Change, Culture, the Economy, and Real Americans

More About Who’s to Blame for Trump

Posted on Monday 7 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A Slate writer responds to NYT’s David Brooks about how the “elites” are to blame for Trump culture; A David Brin post; Some quick links with comments… Phil Plait on seeing the Milky Way; And George Michael’s “You Have Been … Continue reading →

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America’s Dominance and Decline

Posted on Sunday 6 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Just one substantial item today, compared to the several posted yesterday. If America is so great by some economic and military standards, why is our quality of life, compared to so many other countries around the world, so poor? Concluding … Continue reading →

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Saturday Updates

Posted on Saturday 5 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

More from NY Times on Republican plans to let climate change wreck the planet; Updates on stories about DeSantis slitting throats and A.P. Psychology in Florida; Another story about a Republican claiming credit for a Biden initiative that he fought; … Continue reading →

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Figuring Out Trump Voters

Posted on Friday 4 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two views to explain the loyalty of Trump voters. There was a long NYT op-ed by David Brooks posted a couple days ago and printed in today’s paper, offering an irresistible counter-intuitive thesis. And a response today by a writer … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Morality, Politics | Comments Off on Figuring Out Trump Voters

Sagan & Druyan: Propensities and Predispositions

Posted on Friday 4 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A couple hours ago I finished that Carl Sagan/Ann Druyan book I mentioned a couple days ago, and it’s remarkable how its conclusions resemble my own recent observations about how certain forms of human morality align to conservative politics, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Conservative Resistance, Evolution, Human Progress, Quote at Length, Science | Comments Off on Sagan & Druyan: Propensities and Predispositions

More on the Latest Indictment

Posted on Thursday 3 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Goofy Republican responses to the latest indictment, about Federal employees, and to the teaching of psychology; The spectacle goes on and on, as the US experiences what some are saying is the most important legal indictment in its history: John … Continue reading →

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Conservative Morality

Posted on Wednesday 2 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Items today respond to the latest indictment of a certain former president, how his supporters respond, and me trying to wrap my mind around what his supporters think morality and law and order actually is. But I have an idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Morality, Politics, Psychology | Comments Off on Conservative Morality