Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Kevin Boyce’s life unraveled in a matter of days. What began as a stubborn “flu” after a tick bite in April 2024 became a medical free fall: crushing headaches, relentless vomiting, then sudden neurological decline. Doctors finally identified Powassan virus, a rare but vicious tick-borne infection that attacks the brain. Kevin never recovered; the swelling…

Trump’s pledge turned tariffs into a kind of political lottery ticket: endure a little trade war, then cash in on a $2,000 reward supposedly paid by foreign governments. In reality, the burden landed on American businesses and consumers, while the revenue stream proved too thin and volatile to sustain anything like a universal dividend. Families…

Sirens, tape, and flashing lights have now become the backdrop to a family’s worst nightmare. The young man whose body was pulled from the trunk is being remembered not as a victim, but as a son, a friend, a coworker who never deserved such an end. In living rooms and on street corners, people whisper…

Trump’s $2,000 “tariff dividend” is less a finished policy than a political bet. He has raised expectations with specific dollar figures and an informal deadline, yet his own officials admit they still don’t know who qualifies, how often it would be paid, or whether it would even arrive as cash. Early sketches from Treasury hint…

Ilhan Omar’s stance exposes the agonizing collision between moral conviction and political urgency. By saying she believes Tara Reade while still supporting Joe Biden, she is not pretending the allegation doesn’t matter; she is insisting it does, yet choosing what she sees as the lesser of two evils. For her, defeating Donald Trump is a…

Growing up in an orphanage with Lila, I always dreamed of building the family we never had. When she died, leaving behind five-year-old Miranda, I couldn’t let her return to the system. I adopted her, giving her “stability, love, and a home she could rely on.” Parenting wasn’t perfect, but all the “bedtime stories” and…

Look closely at Wendy’s blue collar and you’ll see it: the soft curve of an “M,” the hint of an “O,” the return to “M” again. “MOM,” tucked into the folds of a little girl’s blouse. It isn’t a marketing gimmick or a design flex. It’s Dave Thomas’s quiet tribute to the women who gave…

Why Hard-Boiled Eggs Turn Green and How to Fix It Have you ever cracked open a hard-boiled egg, only to find the yolk sporting a mysterious green hue? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Let’s uncover why this happens, whether it’s safe, and how to prevent it. The Green Yolk Mystery Why do bright yellow yolks sometimes…

Jimmy Cliff, the magnetic reggae trailblazer and actor whose voice defined joy, rebellion and survival through classics like “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get it If You Really Want” and “Vietnam,” has died at 81. He poured pure soul into every note, creating some of the most unforgettable songs in reggae history. But now,…