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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Monthly Archives: May 2024
Living By Stories, Not Reality, Part 2
A New Yorker review of a new book about human origins; Robert Reich on how Americans don’t understand the reality of Trump and Biden; Short items about the Pope, and fundamentalists beliefs in the evil nature of human beings; how … Continue reading
Posted in History, Narrative, Psychology, Religion
Comments Off on Living By Stories, Not Reality, Part 2
Most Humans Live by Stories, Not Reality
Books by Gottschall and Rosenberg, and how history is just a bunch of stories; A couple notes from the fringe; Beck’s “We Live Again”. I’ve mentioned more than once the truism that “history is written by the winners.” I just … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Music, Narrative
Comments Off on Most Humans Live by Stories, Not Reality
Climate Change and Conservative Denial
Like any journalist or storyteller or blogger, I am alert for items with thematic connections. Here are two, or three. About climate change and conservative denial. NY Times, today’s front page, 19 May 2024: Mexico City Has Long Thirsted for … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Science
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Rules for Storytelling
Vatican updates rules for identifying miracles; Some conservative Christians, dealing with gender wars and their own kids identifying as gay, are bowing to reality. If storytelling, more than we realize, drives the human experience — if people understand only through … Continue reading
Posted in Narrative, Psychology, Religion
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Liberalism and Its Discontents
David Brooks on how authoritarians have momentum, because liberalism doesn’t appeal to people’s needs for a higher metaphysical meaning; Biden and Trump: appearance and reality; Double standards at Fox News about Butker and James; Republicans about Trump: loyalty vs. principles; … Continue reading
Expressions of Tribal Morality
NFL player Harrison Butker’s expression of tribal morality, and responses; Mike Johnson wants to boycott Target because of his fear being caught there when the Rapture comes; Moron Jesse Watters; a GOP Rep’s claim of proof, but lack of proof, … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, conservatives, Morality
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Keeping Things In Perspective
How Biden is less unpopular than leaders of other major nations; How 17% of voters blame Biden for the end of Roe (that is, many voters are not paying attention); and how I think many voters select a presidential candidate … Continue reading
Robert Reich on Red vs. Blue
Robert Reich on red vs. blue states; Shorter items about the eagerness of Republicans to kill people (not just dogs); MAGA blaming Biden for Red Lobster; Red states anxious to discriminate against LGBTQ students; a pastor who apparently truly thought … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Politics, Religion
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Stupid Lies
Trump’s stupid lies; How conservatives do not trust people to make their own decisions; Heather Cox Richardson on how we got here; A Republican who boasts about cheating homeless people; On a positive note: Ali Velshi on NPR this morning. … Continue reading
Posted in conservatives, Epistemology, Morality, Politics
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Fundamentalist Simplicity and Autism
A fundamentalist preacher who denies that PTSD, OCD, and ADHD, exist; A New Yorker article about how psychiatric labels reinforce behaviors; and how I think autism is a condition, not a disease. Here’s a short item about a fundamentalist that … Continue reading
Posted in Psychology, Religion
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