Mark R. Kelly
» Founder in 1997 and site-runner for 20 years of Locus Online (Hugo Award winner in 2002). Founder in 2012 and still site-runner of sfadb.com (Science Fiction Awards Database). Retired in 2012 after 30 years as a software engineer for a certain rocket engine factory.
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Recent Posts
- This Much is Reality… and This Much is Fantasy
- The Anticipation of Unintended Consequences
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- The Overton Window of Deviance
- Shocked, Just Shocked
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- Here’s a New One: Terrain Theory
- A Little Knowledge… Is a Dangerous Thing
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- There Is Always Long Term Progress and Short Term Retreat
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Category Archives: Religion
Trust in Science, Bertrand Russell, and Religious “Truth”
An item about restoring trust in science, which doesn’t say very much except to improve education; A reading from Bertrand Russell, about religion, morals, and science; How a religious thinker thinks historians should only tell history that is “inspiring and … Continue reading
Posted in Epistemology, Philosophy, Religion, Science
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Another Gloss on Philosophy
I think I mentioned this book before. It’s a compilation of rough summaries of twelve general topics, from American Studies to World History, with literature, music, philosophy, religion, science, and others in between, written for people who worry that their … Continue reading
Posted in Cosmology, Philosophy, Religion
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Obsolete Laws, Morality, and Beliefs
The world is changing, and conservatives deny this by appealing to values of a simpler past. How Republicans are resorting to obsolete laws — the Comstock laws, the 1864 Alabama ruling — to enforce their morality upon everyone; How the … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Religion, science fiction
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How Humanity is Hobbled by Tribalism
I do have a general scheme in work, for which all of these items are supporting evidence. (And how this really does relate to science fiction.) A rogue GOP congressman who spouts unsupported conspiracy theories; How RFK Jr. supporters rationalize … Continue reading
Imagine Prioritizing Truth Over Being Right
Here’s an amazing notion: there are some people who would rather find the truth, than be right. These are the scientists — some of them, anyway. This concerns Daniel Kahneman, whose death I noted a week ago here. NY Times, … Continue reading
It’s Time for Another Round of… Stupid? Or Cynical?
Stupid or Cynical: Republican/Christian conservatives respond to the coincidence of Easter and Trans Recognition Day; Some MAGA claims are just delusional, example from Steve Bannon; Robert Reich on Trump’s 5-step fascist plan; And how conservatives reject the idea of lab-grown … Continue reading
Nuclear Families and The Bible
I could probably spend every day compiling six or eight or ten of the most egregious examples of MAGA/Trump craziness, but I am trying not to. Let’s try a more substantial piece today. (I was busy with a family dinner … Continue reading
Ancient and Modern Morality, Examples
David French and Stephen Breyer on originalism; Short items about how Trump is out of his mind (from Robert Reich), his “blood bath” comments, and his threat to shut down the media; Jamelle Bouie on how the election isn’t about … Continue reading
OnlySky, Religions, Cults, and the Crazies
The end of OnlySky; What the difference between religions and cults is; Items about the crazies: Hillary’s acid, executions, God’s law, and how vaxxed people are inhuman. * Alas, the end of OnlySky, which might have been called a safe … Continue reading
Alternative Realities? Or The Twilight Zone?
Political links as views into an alternative reality, or perhaps the Twilight Zone; Michelle Goldberg about Mark Robinson; Peter Wehner about how Christians support a morally depraved ex-president; hypocrisy in Alabama; two pieces about Christian nationalist Matt Schaefer; Short items … Continue reading
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Culture, Politics, Religion
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