Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Triple Cross: How bin Laden’s Master Spy Penetrated the CIA, the Green Berets, and the FBI–and Why Patrick Fitzgerald Failed to Stop Him Now there is an interesting title. Perhaps there is even some truth to it. No doubt it should provide many hours worth of material to gnaw on. So how about a review?…

The above is queen Sophia of Spain from Barcepundit. And of course below are our American lovelies. H/T Susan in the comments at Classical Values for the Queen of Spain. Original idea suggested by Judith Weiss on Facebook Cross Posted at Power and Control

In what I think was understatement, Glenn Reynolds observed that the 88-year-old nutjob who murdered a guard at the Holocaust Museum doesn’t fit the narrative. That is certainly true. (Rand Simberg explains why in far more detail.) But like many nuts who are out there, the shooter’s views are inevitably going to overlap with convenient…

I don’t agree with all the prescriptions presented. However, his outline of the problem is good for some critical thinking. The secret word is Terawatt. But a terawatt is only a rate of delivery. To be really useful it has to be ready to go when you need it. That would be terawatt-hours. And terawatt-days.…

H/T Suggested by Judith Weiss on Facebook Cross Posted at Power and Control

While shopping for aquarium stuff the other day at a PETCO store, I happened to see ferrets for sale. They’re very cute, friendly, and inquisitive animals, and for people who want a pet but who are allergic to cats and not allowed to have dogs, they might be just the ticket. It cheered me to…

No, I’m not talking about Americans voting away their own freedom. The latest bizarre twist of democracy consists of voting for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Los Angeles. In case you didn’t know it, Los Angeles, aka Tehrangeles, is one of the biggest Iranian cities in the world, perhaps the biggest outside Iran. According to Wikipedia, metropolitan…

I have always liked China Grove as a good test song for Rock ‘n Roll speakers. If the mids and highs are good and the bass line thumps clearly I like ’em. This cover of China Grove is pretty durn good. Especially the instrumental portion. Another one I like for testing is Marshall Tucker’s Fire…

I see the Democrats know how to put a woman in her place. H/T Judith Weiss on Facebook. Cross Posted at Power and Control

I just don’t know where to start. So how about I try to start with the beginning. Mike Huckabee wants to move the the “mushy middle” out of the Republican Party. Some argue that Republicans have lost Congress and the White House because they’ve turned the party over to social and religious conservatives, driving away…

The last time Coco had a late-night interaction with a wild animal, she awakened me by barking at a bat which had gotten between a window screen and the bedroom window. Well, Coco seems to be on a roll. Last night as I was getting ready to go to bed, I let her out for…

When I saw the title of Senator Bernie Sanders’ piece — “Health Care Is a Right, Not a Privilege” at Real Clear Politics, I was irritated, because I disagree wholeheartedly. But when I clicked on the link, expecting a philosophical explanation to dissect, I found nothing except a bare and unexplained premise that rights are…

Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death The author of this book is Paul Driessen. And just who is Paul Driessen? Driessen received his bachelor’s degree in geology and field ecology from Lawrence University, JD from the University of Denver College of Law, and accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America. Driessen is…

“Without energy” is about 6 minutes 45 seconds into the video. Topics covered: Water vapor amplification – models vs data. Polar regions and polar bears Glacier melt Sea Ice Sea Level Dangerous Weather Energy Is Life Here are the other parts of the video: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 – above video…

Maybe it’s just because I live in Ann Arbor, which is a very left wing place, but driving around earlier reminded me of yet another reason I prefer the right wing to the left wing. By “prefer,” I don’t mean which “side” I’m on politically so much as whom I find less offensive. (To the…

I don’t think this move by Congress is going to go over well. WASHINGTON – Despite a less-than-rousing reaction from the Obama administration, House Democrats are considering a new tax on employer-provided health benefits to help pay for expanding coverage to the uninsured. Several officials also said an outline of emerging legislation envisions a requirement…

Normally, I don’t blog much on matters involving people’s personal appearance. But occasionally I can’t resist temptation, and there’s always the exception that proves the rule. So, after 24 hours of self-deprivation, I am no longer able to resist the picture of first ladies Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama that launched a photo caption contest.…

If you are fan of the original Star Trek with Wm. Shattner you absolutely have to watch this video. Don’t argue. Just watch it. You will be glad you did. Cross Posted at Power and Control

And you were hoping for something about a sexually themed massager? We have those, but that is not what this is about. This is about electrical motors for home and industry. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has approved an amendment May 20 that creates a NEMA Premium motor rebate program. During committee work…

We have added at least a trillion dollars to our national debt and the accomplishments for that spending are worse than if we had done nothing. Where is the Do Nothing Congress and the Do Nothing Presidency when you need them? If only they had put the effort into raising the price of electricity while…