Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

SPAM, the iconic canned meat created by Hormel Foods in 1937, has been a pantry staple for generations. But what exactly is it—and what does the name mean?Though the true origin of the name remains unclear, popular guesses include “Shoulder of Pork And Ham” or “Specially Processed American Meat.” Interestingly, the name was suggested by…

As I was driving home through a rainstorm, heart heavy from losing both my job and my fiancé in the same week, I spotted something that made my world stop. A little girl on a school bus was banging on the back window, her face twisted in terror. Without thinking, I chased the bus down,…

The quetzal is recognized as one of the most beautiful birds in Mexico and Central America. It holds significant historical and cultural value, as it was closely associated with Kukulkan in ancient times. The Mayans called it Q’uk’umatz, “The feathered serpent.” Along with this phrase, they shared these images of a quetzal in flight, captured…

A 14-year-old boy named Andrew Roberts tragically died after going missing during a group trip to Hidden Valley Lake in Lake County, California. Last seen around 4:15 p.m. near Big Beach, Andrew told friends he was headed to the pool but never returned. Search teams, including K9 units and dive teams, combed the area, and…

At first glance, this bathroom seems completely ordinary. It has everything you’d expect a sink, a bathtub, neatly hung towels, a mirror, and all the usual fixtures. Most people take a quick look and assume everything is in order. But there’s a small, subtle detail that’s easy to miss, and it throws the whole setup…

I was driving home, weighed down by the worst day of my life my fiancé called off our wedding last week, and I’d just lost my job. As rain poured down, my phone buzzed again. It was Mom, worried about the storm. I told her I’d be home soon, though inside I felt shattered. Then,…

Kristin Pitzen, a teacher at Newport Mesa School District in Orange County, was removed from her classroom after a viral TikTok showed her removing the American flag because it made her feel “uncomfortable.” She joked that students could instead pledge allegiance to a pride flag hanging in the room. In another deleted video, Pitzen said,…

A high school softball celebration post ignited a national debate after Riley Gaines—former NCAA swimmer and advocate for single-sex sports—reposted it with a pointed comment: “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.”Olympic gymnast Simone Biles fired back: “You’re truly sick… Straight up sore loser.” Biles accused Gaines of bullying…

Once dismissed as beyond repair, a crumbling 1887 house stood silent, its walls sagging and its soul forgotten. But where others saw ruin, one person saw potential—a quiet invitation to revive what was lost. They embraced the challenge with vision and heart, determined to bring life back to the forgotten home. What began as a…

Many people choose diet soda thinking it’s a healthier alternative to regular soda because it contains no sugar and fewer calories. However, research suggests that artificial sweeteners like aspartame in diet soda may actually do more harm than good. When you consume these sweeteners, they can trigger insulin spikes that increase hunger and cravings—not just…