Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

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

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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 | Comments Off on Rules for Storytelling

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 | Comments Off on Fundamentalist Simplicity and Autism

A Table of Moral Polarities, Initial Take

I’ve been making notes over the past month for a table of moral polarities, in order to align and summarize some of the concepts and the many news examples I’ve compiled lately. Recall how I’ve mentioned that certain attitudes, especially … Continue reading

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Friday 10 May 2024

A round of assorted items collected on the web the past few days. Here’s that item about what universities are for, that I couldn’t find the other day. The Atlantic, Derek Thompson, 8 May 2024: No One Knows What Universities … Continue reading

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