Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Visa, Mastercard, AmEx to start categorizing gun shop sales

    NEW YORK (AP) — Payment processor Visa Inc. said Saturday that it plans to start separately categorizing sales at gun shops, a major win for gun control advocates who say it will help better track suspicious surges of gun sales that could be a prelude to a mass shooting. But the decision by Visa, the…

  • Maine officials blast California group for designating lobster as whale-killing seafood

    Maine officials are ripping the recommendation of California-based nonprofit Seafood Watch to try to save whales by stopping fishing for lobster. The group argues that lobster fisheries in American and Canadian waters use vertical lines that can entangle the endangered North Atlantic right whales. “Seafood Watch determined that current Canadian and U.S. management measures do…

  • Gustavo Arnal, Bed Bath & Beyond CFO, was named in fraud lawsuit before falling to his death

    Bed Bath & Beyond’s chief financial officer who fell to his death Friday in New York City had been accused of orchestrating a “pump and dump” scheme to inflate his company’s stock price, according to a lawsuit. Gustavo Arnal, 52, as well as billionaire investor Ryan Cohen, are listed as defendants in the lawsuit that…

  • Jackson water pressure better, work continues on treatment

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A treatment plant at the center of water woes in Mississippi’s capital city made “significant” gains overnight and into Saturday, Jackson officials said. According to a news release, the O.B. Curtis Water Plant’s total plant output increased to 86 pounds per square inch, approaching the city’s goal of 87 PSI or…

  • Some states could tax Biden’s student loan debt relief

    MINNEAPOLIS — President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan could lift crushing debt burdens from millions of borrowers, but the tax man may demand a cut of the relief in some states. That’s because some states tax forgiven debt as income, which means borrowers who are still paying down student loans could owe taxes on…

  • Most Americans still not ready to buy electric vehicles

    Most Americans are still not persuaded to buy electric cars despite the federal government’s multi-billion dollar push to promote the vehicles. A majority 54% of American adults think electric cars are not practical, compared to 28% who say they are practical for most drivers, found the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey. Broken…

  • Snapchat cutting its workforce by 20% as pressure grows on social media businesses

    Snap Inc. said Wednesday it is reducing its workforce by approximately 20% and overhauling its business to cut costs and compete as American social media companies face challenges from competitors, regulators and users’ diverted attention. Snap owns the social media platform Snapchat, which became popular by showcasing images and videos and featuring vanishing messages. As…

  • Ancient Egyptian artifact as much as 3,000 years old seized by customs in Memphis

    An ancient Egyptian artifact that could be up to 3,000 years old is now in the custody of top men after being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Aug. 17. The shipment was between a European dealer and a private American customer. The seizure occurred at the port in Memphis, Tennessee, a…

  • N.Y.’s highest court to hear Harvey Weinstein appeal

    NEW YORK — New York’s highest court has agreed to hear an appeal from Harvey Weinstein over his 2020 rape conviction. A spokesman for the Court of Appeals said Wednesday that oral arguments would likely be held sometime next year, after the decision to hear the case was granted Aug. 19. Weinstein was convicted in…

  • Gaza militants hold parade after latest battle with Israel

    RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Dozens of Islamic Jihad militants displayed life-sized replicas of their rockets during a parade in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in a show of defiance after three days of heavy fighting with Israel earlier this month. The flare-up left 49 Palestinians dead, including the militant group’s top two commanders and…

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