Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Capitulating: Obeying in Advance

Reactions to the withheld endorsements for president by LAT and WaPo from Robert Reich, Heather Cox Richardson, and John Scalzi; John Kelly’s definition of fascism; How the working class is so concerned about inflation, focusing only on their own personal … Continue reading

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Latest Shenanigans, and Others

Trump: the media are “enemies of the people”; Billionaire owners of LA Times and WaPo refuse to allow their papers to endorse Harris; Trump spells out his facist intentions; NYT says, believe him; Trump offered to pay for a soldier’s … Continue reading

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Car Hits Power Pole

Short post today, since as I was sitting down to write it, an hour and a half ago now, the power went out. This was around 4:20pm. I sat and read a book. Power back about 5:40. Car hit power … Continue reading

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Notes About the Real World

Let’s look at some non-political items today. Three critical thinking tools used by Daniel Dennett; Eight principles of lifelong learning from an astrophysicist; Adam Lee on our solarpunk future — technology that exists now, but isn’t widely distributed; Scientific American … Continue reading

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It Has to Make Sense, Somehow

Robert Reich wonders how this race can still be tied, and reflects on bullies; With relevant items about Charlie Kirk, and Russian operatives, and a scamvangelist; An extensive guide to Trump’s lifetime of scandals; A video about the actual integrity … Continue reading

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How Plagues Are Caused by the Tolerance of Left-Handed People

Why are Gen Z men going back to church, and women leaving? It’s always about the search for meaning; About friends and family who’ve been lost to MAGA madness; Hurricanes are caused by being left-handed — er, by porn in … Continue reading

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Factory Settings

The idea of “factory settings” as describing base human nature, and how some people can transcend them; A woman wonders if religion is the only way to instill her child with “scaffolding for spirituality and morality” (answer: no); Richard Dawkins … Continue reading

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Good Questions, Interesting Answers

David Brooks wonders, Why isn’t she running away with this? Adam Gopnik wonders why even his opponents don’t recognize the extent of Trump’s villainy; Jill Filipovic wonders why NYT softens headlines about Trump; David French wonders if Trump’s policies make … Continue reading

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What It Means to be Fascist

Robert Reich’s take in five points; AlterNet’s John Stoer’s take; How Trump can claim anything — now he’s the “father of IVF” — and his fans will believe him. Robert Reich, 17 Oct 2024: Trump’s closing argument: full-throated fascism Recalling … Continue reading

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Out of Commission

More examples of Trump as the rambling, incoherent traitor; How people trust Trump on the economy because he oversimplifies things, and conservatives don’t do complexity or nuance; Thomas B. Edsall on Trump’s appeal to racists; A Florida Republican who thinks … Continue reading

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