Author Archives: Mark R. Kelly

Stomping the Floor and Deafening Applause

Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s see how my thesis of yesterday might inform some of today’s news. How Republicans don’t want to solve problems, they want to stomp the floor to protest people they feel threatened by; How Republicans define crime; Shifting the goal … Continue reading →

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Savannah Morality and Conservative Values

Posted on Monday 26 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Thinking about the morality of primitive humans living on the Savannah, tens of thousands of years ago — apparently the basis for conservative morality unto this day; How DeSantis, authoritarian, is worse than Trump; How MAGA women reject modern options … Continue reading →

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Trip Report: Preservation Park and the Locus Awards

Posted on Sunday 25 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

No blog post yesterday; I was busy from about 2pm to around 8pm attending one day of the Locus Awards Weekend (this link might expire soon) in downtown Oakland, about 10 miles down the hills from our house.

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Summer Solstice; Reality and Illusions

Posted on Friday 23 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

The summer solstice is a consequence of basic facts about the Earth and the solar system, which apparently few people understand; Another example of how debates are usually pointless, including political debates; Another take on the false idea that people … Continue reading →

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Debate Is Not the Way to Do Science

Posted on Thursday 22 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Because debate is all about winning an argument toward a preconceived conclusion, not trying to identify truth. Vox, 22 Jun 2023: Joe Rogan wants a “debate” on vaccine science. Don’t give it to him., subtitled “How to have better conversations … Continue reading →

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Primitive Priorities of Survival: The Conservative Mindset

Posted on Wednesday 21 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

There’s something going on with the conservative mindset that isn’t what they say it is. Salon, Amanda Marcotte, 21 Jun 2023: “Too stupid to know better”: MAGA eats up Trump’s idiot president defense, subtitled “Evangelicals, in particular, feel a flock … Continue reading →

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The Biggest Thing Conservatives Believe That Is Wrong

Posted on Tuesday 20 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

That there was a golden age. NY Times, Adam Mastroianni, 20 Jun 2023: Your Brain Has Tricked You Into Thinking Everything Is Worse

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The Understanding of Human Nature, and Its Relationship to Science Fiction

Posted on Monday 19 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s a draft of another essay trying to summarize my take on science fiction and my provisional conclusions on the topics I’ve been reading about over the past couple decades.

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The Broadest Possible Terms

Posted on Sunday 18 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s return to yesterday’s item from OnlySky, which strikes me as a way to expand one of my key themes. In fact, perhaps we can build one of my hierarchies to begin with the most basic conception of what science … Continue reading →

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Today’s Links

Posted on Saturday 17 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Only time today for a few quick links, which I may or may not expand upon in future posts. OnlySky: The methadone of the people, subtitled “As long as the human condition is characterized by suffering, the vulnerable will seek … Continue reading →

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