The Mindbender in time
June 18, 2025
When I roll out of bed each day, one of the first things I do is brush my teeth. I can’t imagine any other way.
A new poll asked people if they brush their teeth before or after breakfast, and the most popular answer was AFTER.
All I can say is: YUCK.
But as we say on the radio show: People . . . are different.
Let's get on with the countdown.
Along with today's Mindbender you get these bonus stories:
One trait to make you happier
The least-expensive hobbies
The #1 source for “news”
But first, today's Mindbender:
If they could go back in time and do it all over again, one in six adults said they would learn (blank).
I'll have a clue coming up.
One trait to make you happier
Everyone is searching for a way to be happier.
Well, a study from the Netherlands may have stumbled onto the secret. And they say it works regardless of your age.
They found that having a trusting attitude not only makes you happier, but leaves you feeling more satisfied with life.
And they say it’s a feedback loop—trusting people makes you happier, and being happy makes you trust people more.
To clarify, they mean trusting in people, not institutions.
You can read about it here.
The least-expensive hobbies
Summertime is here—well, officially this Friday—and you might be looking for a fun new hobby to pass the time.
Ah, but hobbies can be expensive. Are there some that are cheaper to get into?
Someone asked the internet, and the responses included:
- Bird watching. There are several apps, and many of them are free.
- Origami. Again, plenty of instructional videos on YouTube.
- Reading. Hey, just grab a library card and your books are free.
Someone else mentioned collecting brochures. They said, “I collect brochures from visitors centers, hotels, museums, and so on.”
Okay, maybe not ALL the ideas were sexy. 🤣
Here's a clue for the Mindbender:
Living in the key of life.
The #1 source for “news”
Where have you gone, Walter Cronkite? (Google him, kids.)
A study found the number one place where Americans get their news today is . . .
Social media.
That’s right, your over-filtered “influencer” has become our top news source.
However, the trend that’s quickly surging to replace social media as that source is generative A.I.
Chatbots like ChatGPT are increasingly being used to follow day-to-day news.
And now, the answer to today's Mindbender:
What would they go back and learn?
How to play a musical instrument.
It’s one of my regrets. I’m in awe of people who have mad musical skills.
As a kid, I think I got pretty good on the kazoo.
That'll do it for today's Mindbender. Thank you for being part of The Club.
Enjoy your day!
Dom
Playing music is supposed to be fun. It's about heart, it's about feelings, moving people, and something beautiful, and it's not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can't teach you that other stuff.
Do you like creepy, short fiction? Dom’s got ya covered.
Similar in some respects to Stephen King’s early work, people have discovered the warped mind of Harlan Plumber. That’s the pen name Dom uses when he’s writing dark/horror fiction.
In the collection called “Wednesday, and Other Dark Tales,” you’ll be treated to Dom’s dark side. We’ve all got one; he just sometimes lets it loose to write.
PLEASE NOTE: These stories are NOT for kids, and they’re available ONLY AS AN EBOOK. No paperbacks for this, at least for now. When you order your copy (for only $2.99), please be sure to enter your email address. That’s how it will be sent to you.
Get your copy here.