Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • The scars that pull you apart

    They expected me to find somewhere Some perspective, but I sat and stared Right where you left me — Right Where You Left Me, by Taylor Swift While listening to Taylor Swift’s “Right Where You Left Me” on my way back from work, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and meeting strangers’ eyes, I started thinking about…

  • ‘A Summer Abroad’: The time I met a famous dog

    Erin Choi’s column “A Summer Abroad” pieces together recollections from her pilgrimage back to Korea. Korean heat is the kind of heat that makes you feel like you’re being steamed. Sweat doesn’t evaporate. Everything bogs down, slow and soggy, and in the absence of air conditioning, I was basically debilitated. Summer afternoons at my grandmother’s…

  • Tracing family history through waterlines, Bhumikorn Kongtaveelert’s ’25 art offers hope and preservation amidst climate uncertainty

    “Your Good Heart Knows How to Swim,” Bhumikorn “Bhu” Kongtaveelert’s ’25  mixed-media solo exhibition, was on display at the McMurtry Building this past week. The show is a timely and powerful example of how the climate crisis can be a source of artistic inspiration. As climate change continues to wreak havoc, “Do something” has become…

  • Life lessons from the NBA playoffs

    The Milwaukee Bucks, widely projected to win the 2023 NBA championship, just lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs on April 26. After the series-ending Game 5, I posted on Instagram that I was heartbroken, and I made crying sounds while watching the Bucks lose in overtime. But what stunned me into silence…

  • Sunnyvale’s ‘Next to Normal’ successfully explores mental illness through theater

    Content warning: This article discusses mental illness and suicide. It also contains spoilers for the musical “Next to Normal.” Sunnyvale Community Players’ latest production of “Next to Normal” is nothing short of amazing. The show, which opens a powerful dialogue on mental health, was strengthened by impressive casting and nuanced character relationships. The musical centers…

  • Rob Kapilow and Tony Yun ‘make Debussy great’ at Stanford Live

    My dad has one of the strangest airplane routines I have ever encountered. On international flights, sometimes 10 or more hours long, he’ll listen to a single song on loop while doing work on his laptop. His recent favorites include Shakira’s “Try Everything” (from “Zootopia”) and Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.” More than anything else, my…

  • ‘The Literature of the Absurd’: Nothing to be done

    “The Literature of the Absurd” is a reflection on prominent authors in the Absurdist tradition — Beckett, Camus and beyond — and the ways in which their writings can intertwine with life in sometimes surprising ways. “What do we do now?” “Wait.” “Yes, but while waiting.” “What about hanging ourselves?” “Hmm. It’d give us an…

  • New Music with Nick: ‘NEVER ENOUGH’ by Daniel Caesar

    Welcome to “New Music with Nick.” In this column, I will be reviewing some of the most notable new album releases across various genres, focusing on hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Join me in exploring the ever-shifting landscape of the streaming era.  Daniel Caesar: “NEVER ENOUGH” (April 7, 2023) The long-awaited return of Daniel Caesar…

  • Marijuana and melodies: Willie Nelson celebrates early birthday on the Farm

    Willie Nelson closed his performance at Frost Amphitheater on Monday in classic raspy tone, singing “Happy birthday to… me!” The birthday ballad was timely: Nelson turns 90 years old this Saturday. The tune was reminiscent of Nelson’s 1984 rendition of “Happy, Happy Birthday Baby” with fellow country star Dolly Parton. Although cowboy sightings may be…

  • ‘Annie in Paris’: A night in Sacre Coeur

    This column is about my study abroad experiences from Paris, France. I’m trying to shed light on incredible opportunities to encourage more students to study abroad, as numbers have dipped with the pandemic. Kate, I say, breathless, ecstatic that she finally answered the phone on the fourth try in two minutes, you have nine minutes…

Got any book recommendations?