[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Let's discuss the concept of empathy fatigue, particularly in the context of diminished sympathy for Americans contracting Covid. This topic came up in a recent article I wrote, where part of the title was “ignorant and proud of it”. This phrase, reminiscent of Mencken, is far from compassionate. It reflects …
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Ask A Genius 683: Pandemic Literature
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: You mentioned reading a book yesterday and shared some initial thoughts. What are your further impressions after reading more of it tonight? Rick Rosner: I'm now about two-thirds through the book, and it seems to be divided into two major parts. The first part covers events from 15 years ago, …
Ask A Genius 682: History of Rick’s House
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Can you share the history of your house? Rick Rosner: Sure. Earlier, off tape, you asked about the room I'm in, probably noticing the different acoustics. I'm in the dining room of our house, built in 1966 when homes still had traditional layouts like a living room, dining room, dinette, …
Ask A Genius 681: Michael Lewis
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Can you tell me about the book you're reading and its author? Rick Rosner: Sure, I'm nearly halfway through a book titled 'The Premonition' by Michael Lewis. He's a well-known nonfiction writer, famous for 'Money Ball' and 'The Blind Side', which inspired the Sandra Bullock movie. Lewis has a knack …
Ask A Genius 680: Being Spry
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How do you feel physically at your age? Do you feel spry? Rick Rosner: Yeah, I'm 61 and two-thirds years old and, unsurprisingly, I deal with various aches. I often wake up with back pain, which seems to be a constant, albeit minor, discomfort. My age shows in some ways, …
Ask A Genius 679: “Don’t Look Up”
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Can you tell me about the TV show 'Succession'? Rick Rosner: Alright, so 'Succession' is playing in the background because my kid is binging on it. It's a show that really delves into dark themes, featuring a cast where nearly every character is unpleasant in their own unique way. Essentially, …
Ask A Genius 678: Absence of Metanarrative
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Do you believe the absence of overarching narratives is enabling the rise of political and social demagogues? Rick Rosner: Yes, I strongly believe that. In America, as I've repeatedly observed, the Republican Party has found it easier to influence less informed individuals. This strategy has led them into a corner …
Ask A Genius 677: Apex Species?
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Do you believe humans are the apex species, and what framework do you use to define 'apex', especially considering nature's indifference? Rick Rosner: For many millennia, humans didn't consider themselves part of nature. We believed we were superior, divinely created to rule and be better than all other entities. This …
Ask A Genius 676: Omicron and January 11th, One Year
[Recording Start] Rick Rosner: Today, January 11th, 2022, marks a significant moment in the ongoing Covid pandemic. Just over a year ago, on January 8th, 2021, we witnessed the peak of a massive winter wave of Covid cases, both in the US and globally. This wave was the deadliest yet. In the US, the situation …
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Ask A Genius 675: Just Wars and Personal Grievances
[Recording Start] Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Do you see a connection between the philosophical concept of just wars in history and the personal decision to appropriately retaliate against someone physically? Rick Rosner: Absolutely. I spend a lot of time contemplating revenge, especially considering the annoyances from people and the general atmosphere of grievances on platforms like …
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Rick Rosner 