Category Archives: Culture

The Outsized Perception of the Danger of Minority Cults

Posted on Saturday 26 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two pieces for today. A Salon essay that suggests that the “mainstream media” has a far wider effect on the US population than the fringe, Trump/Fox-supporting media, than most of us realize (and how that’s a good thing); and how … Continue reading →

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The Obsolete Ideal of the Nuclear Family?

Posted on Saturday 26 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two pieces about how the idealistic nuclear family beloved by conservatives has been an aberration in human history and is perhaps no longer suited for the modern world; Pondering the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and Cain and Abel; Items about Trump and … Continue reading →

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Insecurity and Inequality

Posted on Saturday 19 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A long NYT piece about the US economy, feeling bad, inequality, and insecurity; Shorter items about hearing dialogue in movies; the latest anti-woke tantrum; and that “First they came for…” poem. Here’s a big piece in NY Times, that could … Continue reading →

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Veritasium, Star Talk, Sapiens

Posted on Friday 18 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

There is so much nonsense on the web — and so much news about nonsensical, irrational people — it’s refreshing to find occasional pockets of knowledge and wisdom. I should try to pay more attention to these, and less attention … Continue reading →

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Why I Hate Pop Concerts

Posted on Monday 14 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s lead article is about those of us who dislike attending pop concerts, even of singers and bands we otherwise admire and adore; Then, about PragerU; the “lost boys” on the American Right; and Lukianoff & Haidt’s book about Coddling, … Continue reading →

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The Slow Death of Lawns in Deserts

Posted on Sunday 13 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Major item today about the slow death of lawns in deserts, especially in the US southwest; Then a few quick items, about the decline of Christianity, and Scientology’s psychological torture; And a musical piece by Ludovico Einaudi. – – – … Continue reading →

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American Fragility and the Latest Political Hijinks

Posted on Friday 11 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

David Brooks on a kind of American decline, echoing some points of a 2018 book I happen to be half-way through reading; Quick links about slitting throats, Republican credulity, and firing Democrats; John Scalzi on that Ohio ballot measure. Here’s … Continue reading →

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Needless Deaths, Groceries, and Trump vs. Jesus

Posted on Thursday 10 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

David Wallace-Wells: why do Americans suffer so many “needless deaths” than other nations?; Why groceries are expensive is not an American issue; How some Trump-loving congregants deride Jesus’ teachings as “weak”. And Hans Zimmer’s “Journey to the Line,” from THE … Continue reading →

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More About Who’s to Blame for Trump

Posted on Monday 7 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

A Slate writer responds to NYT’s David Brooks about how the “elites” are to blame for Trump culture; A David Brin post; Some quick links with comments… Phil Plait on seeing the Milky Way; And George Michael’s “You Have Been … Continue reading →

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America’s Dominance and Decline

Posted on Sunday 6 August 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Just one substantial item today, compared to the several posted yesterday. If America is so great by some economic and military standards, why is our quality of life, compared to so many other countries around the world, so poor? Concluding … Continue reading →

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