[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Could you elaborate on the situation regarding Trump and his SAT scores, as it actually happened? Rick Rosner: Trump was enrolled at Fordham University at the time and aspired to graduate from a more prestigious institution. According to a book by Trump's niece, his sister was assisting him at Fordham, …
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Ask A Genius 660: Omicron Don Juan
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: Alright, let's talk about Omicron. It's way more contagious than the Delta variant, which itself was more contagious than any previous variant. Despite high vaccination rates, like in England where over 90% of those eligible have had at least one dose, they're still seeing record-breaking numbers of new cases. As of …
Ask A Genius 659: The Other Holidays
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: So, let's talk about holidays. The ones that nobody seems to object to, particularly those summer-ish holidays in the US, are quite likable. You have Memorial Day towards the end of May, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day at the beginning of September. Memorial Day and Labor Day kind of …
Ask A Genius 658: The Shitty Holidays
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: Alright, some holidays are definitely more enjoyable than others. Take the winter holidays, for example: New Year's, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Christmas, at least, is based on a historic event, the birth of Jesus. However, most historical scholars, to the extent they acknowledge Jesus' existence, agree he wasn't born on December …
Ask A Genius 657: Evolution and AI with Human-Like Capabilities
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: I agree with the notion that everything, whether it has evolved naturally or been developed intentionally, represents an ordering of the world. There was a significant period in human history, which could be termed the biblical era, where humans were perceived as distinct and superior to the rest of creation. Prior …
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Ask A Genius 656: Rick’s Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: Before we start, I want to clarify that my understanding of AI and machine learning is quite basic, as I've never taken a formal course in these subjects. However, as we discussed last time, eight years ago AI wasn't a common term in most people's vocabulary, though it has now become …
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Ask A Genius 655: Best of All Possible Worlds in Worlds
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: Alright, in our previous discussion, we touched upon the concept of the best of all possible worlds, leading to the idea of alternative worlds. Imagine worlds where dinosaurs survived and built civilizations, or universes only a tenth of our size. The scope of these differences varies widely. However, when discussing possible …
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Ask A Genius 654: IC and Statistical Logic
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Here's a thought: existence is a characteristic of entities that are real, which makes perfect sense. So, when we say the universe exists, we're grounding it in statistical logic. This is a foundational aspect of informational cosmology. Within this framework, I had an insight... Rick Rosner: In recent months, I've …
Ask A Genius 653: The World We’re Leaving Our Children and Grandchildren
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: I find the concept of intergenerational relationships and ideas quite appealing, as most of my acquaintances are of your age or older. For you, what does it mean to have influences from one, two, or even three generations prior, whether in intellectual terms or familial connections? Rick Rosner: My initial …
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Ask A Genius 652: Science Fiction Ruts
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What are some common ruts in science fiction? Rick Rosner: Discussing the usual pitfalls in science fiction, one can find a plethora of tropes online, notably on TV Tropes, which serves as a kind of encyclopedia for clichés in TV shows, movies, and books. It's an excellent starting point for …
Rick Rosner 