Category Archives: Narrative

More About Stories v. Reality

Posted on Monday 9 January 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Yet another item about that anthology of historical essays. Plus items about pandemics, bestseller lists, wokeness in the military, the attraction of conspiracy theories, and violence on TV.

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Myth America

Posted on Sunday 8 January 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today in the papers, both an op-ed about and a review of a new book called Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past, edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer, published by … Continue reading →

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Mysteries, Stories, and Science

Posted on Monday 26 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

I like mysteries, once in a while, but I don’t trust them. They are too often contrived, “too clever by half” as the saying goes. Their narratives double back and re-interpret, like lawyers who revisit a set of testimony and … Continue reading →

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Christmas Stories

Posted on Sunday 25 December 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Over Friday and Saturday evenings we watched Miracle on 34th Street for the first time in a couple decades. (I’m not sure if Y had ever seen it.) After such time goes by, you see things in a film or … Continue reading →

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Stories People Tell

Posted on Saturday 26 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Why pecan pie is quintessentially American; how Thanksgiving is supposedly about free enterprise vs. communism; why people don’t believe crime rates are down in big cities; how the TV show Yellowstone appeals to the conservative narrative about big government; why … Continue reading →

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SF Links: Stories and Crashed Spaceships

Posted on Tuesday 15 November 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Two notable items today from the Tor.com website. About stories; about crashed spaceships (loosely).

Posted in Narrative, science fiction | Comments Off on SF Links: Stories and Crashed Spaceships

Recent Headlines, 7 Sept 2022

Posted on Wednesday 7 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Busy with things including the heat. For now headlines from the past few days, lightly commented. I’ve skimmed them at best; some I will revisit and comment further. About not following your gut; the past 150 years of human history; … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Human Progress, Links & Comments, Narrative, Psychology, Social Progress | Comments Off on Recent Headlines, 7 Sept 2022

More about Alternate Realities

Posted on Friday 2 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Republicans, Democrats, and alternate realities.

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Randy Olson, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A NARRATIVE

Posted on Monday 1 August 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This is an interesting book that I’m disappointed by only because it’s not the book I wanted to read. That is, not the author’s fault. An interesting, useful, book nonetheless. (University of Chicago Press, 2015, trade paperback, 260pp) Olson’s book … Continue reading →

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Greatest Fictional Deaths

Posted on Friday 22 July 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Slate posted this long list and several sidebar articles/interviews on Wednesday. (I’m guessing they compiled it a while back and waited for a relatively slow news day to post it.) Slate, Dan Kois, 20 July 2022: The 50 Greatest Fictional … Continue reading →

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