Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Understanding Homelessness: What It Is and Isn’t

    Understanding Homelessness: What It Is and Isn’t

    Homelessness happens when people do not have safe and secure places to live. While this definition may sound quite simple, the causes of homelessness are often complicated and varied. For example, some causes include a house fire, economic strife, the loss of a job, a medical emergency, rising rents, a death in the family, addiction,…

  • “A Man Lies Dreaming”: A Book Review

    “A Man Lies Dreaming”: A Book Review

    A Man Lies Dreaming by Lavie Tidhar; published by Melville House Publishing “A Man Lies Dreaming” is an amazing alternate history book written by Lavie Tidhar, the author of “The Violent Century” and World Fantasy Award winner “Osama.” In “A Man Lies Dreaming,” Wolf is a down-and-out private eye who was once the most powerful…

  • Dentistry from the Heart provides free dental care

    Dentistry from the Heart provides free dental care

    While Obama Care has made great strides toward providing health insurance for all Americans, many are left without dental insurance and are unable to receive treatment for severe and potentially dangerous dental problems. Charles River Dental in Boston has taken the lead in helping Greater Boston’s uninsured obtain the dental care they need: for the…

  • New study on homeless students finds repeat homelessness common

    New study on homeless students finds repeat homelessness common

    After surveying hundreds of current and formerly homeless students, homeless youth liaisons, and federally-mandated state coordinators who work with them at school, researchers found that over 75% of young people surveyed experienced homelessness more than once. This new report,”Hidden in Plain Sight: Homeless Students in America’s Public Schools“, written by Civic Enterprises with Hart Research…

  • Go Boston 2030 seeks public input on city’s transportation future

    Go Boston 2030 seeks public input on city’s transportation future

    Photo: Shinya Suzuki Go Boston 2030, an initiative that aims to redesign the way Bostonians get around the city and through its borders, has released the short list of potential projects and policies that would impact walking, biking, driving and taking public transit in the greater Boston area. The initiative has continually sought public feedback…

  • Sox for Socks: Health care professionals and Red Sox Foundation collect thousands of socks for the homeless

    Sox for Socks: Health care professionals and Red Sox Foundation collect thousands of socks for the homeless

    Photo: Nathanael King Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program partnered with the Red Sox Foundation to collect 5,100 pairs of socks and $2,100 in their Sox for Socks charity drive at Fenway on June 3-5. BHCHP hands out clean socks to homeless patients in their 60 locations and on the street. Many homeless people…

  • Medical Care from a Van: Q & A with Dr. Avik Chatterjee

    Medical Care from a Van: Q & A with Dr. Avik Chatterjee

    Dr. Avik Chatterjee, a doctor trained in internal medicine and pediatrics, has been taking care of homeless patients out of a medical van as part of an outreach program at Boston Health Care for the Homeless for the past three years. He works out of the van two days a week, and during his short…

  • Boston Businesses Raffle Year in Apartment Benefiting Youth Shelter

    Boston Businesses Raffle Year in Apartment Benefiting Youth Shelter

    A year of rent-free living in a fully-furnished Chroma Cambridge apartment was the prize in an online raffle benefiting Y2Y Harvard Square, a student-run homeless shelter exclusively for young adults. Four companies, all based in Boston, collaborated on the giveaway, which raised more than $29,000. The winner was announced via livestream as Leonardo Topa and…

  • “The Awkward Conversation”: W. Kamau Bell talks racism in America, new show, American justice system

    “The Awkward Conversation”: W. Kamau Bell talks racism in America, new show, American justice system

    It’s not like W. Kamau Bell aspired to be at the forefront of political comedy and social commentary when he was growing up. He just really liked comedy as a kid. He watched “Saturday Night Live” religiously at a very young age and one day hoped to make it on that stage. In fact, political…

  • Homeless Again?

    Homeless Again?

    Yes, you read that title right. I know, I can’t believe it either, but due to circumstances way beyond my pay grade, it’s a distinct possibility. Reasons? Well, let’s just say the system sucks like that, though my current living situation isn’t exactly ideal. I have a roof over my head, I’m safe, warm, dry…

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