Monthly Archives: February 2024

Progress, and Regression

Posted on Thursday 22 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Progress: This afternoon the US has landed a spacecraft, albeit unmanned, on the Moon, for the first time in over 50 years; Regression: the religious mindset behind the Alabama IVF decision; more examples of the ambitions of the Christian nationalists; … Continue reading →

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In her soft wind I will whisper

Posted on Wednesday 21 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Paul Krugman on how people see what they believe, despite evidence, regarding Tucker Carlson and his visit to Russia; Robert Reich on how Trump, and Putin, are not leaders; they’re thugs; About selective memory among conservatives about the economy under … Continue reading →

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Black Shapes Gather in the Distance

Posted on Tuesday 20 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Items from the fringe, many related to my comments at the end of yesterday’s post. How Christian nationalists plan to use a second Trump administration to infuse their policies into all aspects of government; How conservatives claim to “disagree” with … Continue reading →

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Looking Up Instead of Down

Posted on Monday 19 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Two pieces today about how humanity is progressing, in its understanding of the world and in its social progress, rather than regressing, as conservative movements around the world are striving to do. Richard Dawkins on science as a jewel in … Continue reading →

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More Behaving Badly

Posted on Sunday 18 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Robert Reich on Trump, ever the con artist; David French on the warping of American life by MAGA threats of violence; Trump doesn’t realize he’s the cause of US demise; The informant who inspired the Republican Biden investigation has been … Continue reading →

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Astronomy and the History of Common Knowledge

Posted on Saturday 17 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

How far away are the stars? and How has the cosmic distance records progressed over time? My speculations about how people throughout history have perceived the size of the world; Veritasium’s person-on-the-street interviews reveal that many people have no clue … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, science fiction | Comments Off on Astronomy and the History of Common Knowledge

Evidence Maximalism, Pluralism, Seasonality

Posted on Friday 16 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Charlie Warzel on how everything on the Internet can be taken to support one’s preconceived ideas, given motivated thinking and confirmation bias, amplified by the Internet; David Brooks on pluralism as a solution to democracy’s ills, the opposite of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Comments Off on Evidence Maximalism, Pluralism, Seasonality

A Big Picture vs. Daily Trivia

Posted on Thursday 15 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

An overview of 75 years of American history, by Robert Reich; Fringe items about Republican racism, who’s the traitor, the Taylor Swift conspiracy theory, assertions without evidence, the nanny state, moral certitude, and Fox News. I think many of us … Continue reading →

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Catching Up on Items from Facebook, about Conspiracy Theories and Religion

Posted on Wednesday 14 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

“If you don’t know how anything works, everything looks like a conspiracy.” The conspiracy theory about Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl, which seems not to have happened, today; Facebook posts about American accents, how the Bible and Quran contain … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology, Religion | Comments Off on Catching Up on Items from Facebook, about Conspiracy Theories and Religion

Peculiar Trends

Posted on Tuesday 13 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Why are Gen Z views splitting by gender? Complex answer; Why are Republicans more likely to suffer hearing loss? Simple answer; Shorter items: Trump doesn’t understand NATO; about that Super Bowl commercial fueled by the Christian right; whether there’s a … Continue reading →

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