A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future

Posted on August 1, 2026 by JMN

On June 24, 2026, the academic summit on the topic of “Extreme Heat” scheduled to be held in London, England at the London School of Economics Shore Library was canceled due to extreme heat.

(c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.
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4 Responses to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future

  1. Sue Grey-Smith's avatar Sue Grey-Smith says:
    August 2, 2026 at 6:33 am

    Oh yes, it’s ironical – and yet some people still don’t ‘believe in climate change’. The operative word is ‘believe’ of course – disregard science, observations, data, facts, etc.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • JMN's avatar JMN says:
      August 3, 2026 at 3:21 pm

      It seems like climate change denial is of a piece with a suite of others, such as: denial that Trump lost in 2020; denial that men actually landed on the moon; denial that Covid was real; denial that vaccines work; denial that the Holocaust occurred; denial that the “races” are equal; denial that Brexit was bad, etc. When someone holds one view, that person tends to hold them all. It’s all faith-based. I keep trying to recall a tenet of logic or dialectic that says something like: What needs no proof needs no refutation. I think it asserts that belief is a closed circle impervious to reason and observation, therefore impossible to argue with and a fool’s errand to refute. It seems faith-based groups are susceptible only to charismatic leaders (such as God!) who can pull them one way or another. We need some leaders who veer toward the center and not rightward, Sue! Where are they?

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      • Sue Grey-Smith's avatar Sue Grey-Smith says:
        August 4, 2026 at 12:38 am

        Yes where are they? We seem, as a species, to be retreating away from all that the Enlightenment has brought us, away from science and facts. It is very strange, a consequence of fear perhaps? People hate change, but humans are, of all species, the best at adapting and changing and creating new technologies. So, it’s a conundrum, but it is so alarming when so many people become ‘deniers’ and actually ‘liars’. You are so right about the impossibility of trying to refute the dogma of deniers. Thank goodness I can read your posts, Jim!

        Liked by 1 person

      • JMN's avatar JMN says:
        August 5, 2026 at 2:00 pm

        I’m grateful for your attention, Sue.

        Liked by 1 person

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