The relationship Mindbender
May 11, 2026
Time to give a shout-out to the latest MB Club members who upgraded to the Premium verson.
Big thanks to:
Lydia W., Vicky V., Sherry B., Michelle, Janet R., and Erin M.
Also a big thank you to Jeannette Y. for upgrading her Big Fat Words account.
Your generous support helps to keep this machine running, and I truly appreciate you and all the other Premium/Paid supporters. ❤️
TODAY’S MINDBENDER
When it comes to relationships, 22% of people say no matter what, they would never do this.
I’ll have a clue coming up.
NOTE: If you haven’t discovered the Mindbender on YouTube, you’ll find today’s version here.
Oh, baby!
The list of most popular baby names from last year has been released, and for the second year in a row, Olivia and Liam were #1.
I thought it might be interesting to see how much has changed over the last 20 years. For girls, it hasn’t been nearly as big of a shakeup as it has been for boys.
Four of the top seven names given to girls today were also in the top ten in 2005.
For boys, not a single one of today’s top ten was even in the top 15 back in 2005.
In fact, numbers three and four didn’t even crack the top 100 back then, Oliver and Theodore.
Here’s a link where you can check out not only last year’s list, but check any name going back decades. Yes, you can see how popular your name was in the year you were born.
Maybe you SHOULD worry
A novelty hit from the 1980s instructed us to “don’t worry, be happy.”
Ah, but what if worrying could help you live longer? It seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, where we’re told that anxiety and stress can be killers.
Turns out, it depends on what kind of anxiety you have. If it’s the “right” kind, it actually helps you live longer.
The right kind is known as ERIS, which stands for Emotional Reactivity and Internal Stability. It means being cautious and anxious without being a nervous wreck.
Folks with ERIS have a 35% lower risk of death. They tend to exercise and not smoke, and they generally eat healthier.
Researchers think this kind of anxiety is simply a basic survival instinct. As long as you’re not neurotic about it, I guess.
Your Clue For The Mindbender:
If at first you don’t succeed . . .
I’ll have the answer coming up.
Stooping to a new low
It wasn’t long ago we were all marveling over how low gas prices had fallen. People were showing pictures of gas for under $2 a gallon. Remember those days?
Today, it’s already over $5 in some parts of the mainland. My son lives in Hawaii, and he says in his neighborhood it’s now over six bucks.
With those prices, it’s no surprise the criminals are stealing gas again.
Only this time, they’re really being jerks. Some thieves are actually drilling into vehicle gas tanks to drain them.
So not only are you out the high-priced gas, but now you’ve got expensive repair bills on top of that.
What’s left to say?
The Answer For Today’s Mindbender
What will 22% of people never do when it comes to a relationship?
Get back together after a breakup.
I’ve done it.
And Shalamar had a hit record with “The Second Time Around.” Check out the video here.
I like the song. But that choreography? Hmm. 🤭
(Shalamar, by the way, was the launching pad for singer Jody Watley, who had several solo hits in the 80s, like this.)
If you haven’t checked them out yet, the Mindbender mailers are now also YouTube videos, which I host.
Find today’s version here, and be sure to subscribe!
Dom
Give me that baby, you warthog from hell!