Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Microsoft gains double-clicking patent

    This one stumped Kevin Drum, and me too, but the Beast of Redmond has been granted a patent for double-clicking. Jaysus.

  • The Religious and Psychological Sources of Islamic Terrorism

    Two excellent essays in the latest edition of Policy Review. Shmuel Bar writes one on the religious sources of Islamic terrorism, while Michael J. Mazarr writes a piece on the psychological soures. Both are worth a look.

  • US and France: We still need each other: Felix G. Rohatyn

    Felix G. Rohatyn, United States ambassador to France from 1997 to 2001, has another piece in the IHT on transatlantic relations. Another appropriate piece to be reading on a day like today… I have seen France at its most tragic in 1940, and I have seen it at its best in later years. Although there…

  • Knowledge as Power

    Bruce Berkowitz reviews John Keegan’s latest book, “Intelligence in War: Knowledge of the Enemy from Napoleon to al-Qaeda.” Berkowitz’s conclusion: Keegan can draw upon a lifetime of studying armed conflict, and the facts of battles from ancient times to recent times fall readily to his mind. Alas, Keegan’s strength is also his curse. His approach…

  • Human nature

    Human nature is universally imbued with a desire for liberty, and a hatred for servitude. Caesar, Gallic Wars.

  • D-Day and anti-Americanism: It's hard to love a savior

    Josef Joffe, editor of Die Zeit, has written a piece in today’s IHT. He decries the levels of anti-americanism prevalent in Europe today, while hoping for an improvement in transatlantic relations. I agree with his criticisms of anti-americanism: Perusing the European media from Madrid to Munich in the wake of the Abu Ghraib scandal, one…

  • Posts

    No posts of late, have been a bit busy – will be back posting now.

  • Trife thieves

    “Trife thieves” is a less known song from Bizarre’s “Attack Of The Weirdos EP” and a good example of Eminem’s collaboration with Bizarre.

  • Nathan's studio: maybe a chance to listen to his music soon?

    Two persons are really important in Eminem’s eyes: his little daughter Hailie and his little brother Nathan.

  • Emceeing and magic

    Would Harry Potter be interesting in the public’s eye if he wasn’t gifted for magic? Honestly, I don’t think so. He’d appear as an annoying teenager who is complexed by his physical appearence. His scar and his glasses would make him look disadvantaged in front of an average teenager.

Got any book recommendations?