Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

I took valuable time out from work to turn on a dilapidated TV that still receives local programming, and watched this morning’s events. Sure enough (and despite the joint flubbing of the Oath of Office), we have a new president. I normally wouldn’t have paid too much attention to a flub like that, except that…

Israeli President Shimon Peres (what a nice name – Shimon) says that Obama’s desire to talk to Hamas and Iran will make no difference. President Shimon Peres said Tuesday that he wasn’t worried about US-President elect Barack Obama’s intention to talk to Iran and perhaps Hamas. “I don’t believe they will get what they want…

Europe is hurting from the economic slow down but Spain is looking at a depression. Falling exports will hit Germany hard. Europe’s largest economy is also the world’s biggest exporter and will likely shrink 2.3 percent this year, it said. German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said this chimed with Berlin’s own figures. A sharp German…

Congress has recently passed a law that will destroy a lot of small businesses and will prevent thrift stores from selling products for children. If someone you know volunteers at a thrift store or crochets baby hats for the crafts site Etsy or favors handmade wooden toys as a baby shower gift, you’ve probably been…

There’s already a huge ongoing government intervention in the economy. Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, “Dad burned dinner, let’s get the dog to cook.” From a pre-mortem on the failed Obama Presidency by P.J. O’Rourke. Cross Posted at Power and Control

I’m so out of it that I missed Danica Patrick’s beaver last year. Danica is a local girl from Roscoe, Illinois, about 10 miles from where I live as the crow flies. A little longer if the beaver swims the Rock River. And you know what else I missed? Danica was in the Sports Illustrated…

Government fiat can no more create moral health than it can create economic health. Smaller more restricted government is the only way forward. We should look to the “success” of the California Republican Party and work to solve moral issues in the same place that economic issues need to be solved. The private sector. Cross…

It seems that both Hamas and Israel have declared unilateral truces independent of each other. However Hamas keeps firing rockets at Israel. Gaza terrorists continued to attack southern Israeli civilian areas on Sunday afternoon, despite the fact that the Israeli unilateral cease-fire had already been in effect since early that morning. Naturally the Israelis have…

Sorry to be such a poop lately, but not being near a computer when I work as well as too busy to get online makes blogging difficult. Needless to say, I have not watched television, and other than glancing at newspaper headlines I have not had time to keep up with current events. Yes, I…

A huge reservoir of natural gas has been found 80 km (50 mi) off the Israeli coast. Three massive gas reservoirs have been discovered 80 kilometers off the Haifa coast, at the Tamar prospect, Noble Energy Inc. announced on Sunday. The Tamar-1 well, located in approximately 5,500 feet of water, was drilled to a total…

Israeli Prime Minister Olmert says: “All the world agrees that Hamas’s arming must be stopped,” he continued, stressing that now, after the operation, the entire world understands “that Hamas is Iran’s Gaza branch.” It seems I misread the Prime Minister’s words. I promise to do better next time. Cross Posted at Power and Control

Mr. Obama’s big problems so far have been his relations with corrupt politicians. I think it will be a continuing problem with his new administration. However, his biggest problem is that the Democrat Party is prone to strangling the economy. A case in point his his nominee for energy czar, Carol Browner. She is also…

An interview with Mira Awad and Achinoam Nini about the state of Israeli/Palistinian relations with interludes of them singing together the Beatles’ We Can Work It Out. The two young ladies will be appearing together in the Eurovision song contest whose purpose is to promote dialog through cultural exchanges. The choice of the ladies to…

And how will it be sold? “The violence in Mexico is caused by the guns flowing South.” I have often said to gun owners that the biggest threat to them is drug prohibition. They were never much interested. I think their interest is going to rise. Cross Posted at Power and Control

El Paso City Council member Beto O’Rourke says ending prohibition is looking like one of the more attractive solutions to the violence along the Mexican border. His representative in Congress DemocratSilvestre Reyes said in effect: we don’t want no stinkin debate. the El Paso city council voted 8-0 to express solidarity with its sister city…

Have you ever wondered if the German National Socialists were really right wing? Well now you can find out by reading the Readers Digest Condensed Version of The Road to Serfdom which is downloadable at no cost from a link at the page. You should use the Save As function and title the file The…

Misha Glenny author of McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld has this to say about the drug war: In the past two years, the drug war has become the Taliban’s most effective recruiter in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s Muslim extremists have reinvigorated themselves by supporting and taxing the countless peasants who are dependent one way…

Richard Cowan says “bad journalism” is responsible for marijuana prohibition. Actually I will go farther. It is responsible for the whole drug prohibition mess. However, we are starting to get some examples of good journalism. Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune is one of them. “Man found dead with hands severed.” “Prominent Juarez lawyer, son…

A protest against Israeli operations in Gaza was called off because not enough Palestinians showed up. RAMALLAH – It’s quiet in Ramallah. At the northern entrance to the city, not far from the mall, a new fountain spouts water. Next to it lies a sign in English: “Gaza under fire.” But it seems the Gaza…

Iran’s ally Syria has called for a cease fire in Gaza that accepts at least part of what the Israelis wanted. Syrian President Bashar Assad called on Israel to cease its military operation in Gaza immediately, while simultaneously demanding that Hamas cease its fire towards Israel. In an interview with the BBC network Assad warned…