World Views

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eViswN6 ... e=youtu.be

Obvious evidence that China is already "next century" ...
where humans may be indistinguishable from robots;
where only the highest scoring citizens will be leaders
... apparently. AI Nirvana?!

This morning's reflection ...
This system is going to self-destruct (with widespread turbulence)
because it cannot exist in a world of spiritual realities.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Obvious evidence that China is already "next century" ...
where humans may be indistinguishable from robots;

Re: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/co ... er-the-law

"Legal scholar Shawn Bayer has shown that anyone can confer legal personhood on a computer system,
by putting it in control of a limited liability corporation in the U.S."

In the future, we may adopt personal robots - not own them ...
and their gender can be real (boy, girl) or faux ("none of the above").

Rod

[Amigoo]

Obvious evidence that China is already "next century" ...
where humans may be indistinguishable from robots;

Re: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/news/7 ... ty-erasmus

"Robots could potentially be teachers, therapists, and even friends"

Interestingly, some believe that space aliens are actually advanced robots.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/1 ... sity-plan/

A "cart before the horse" solution - serving size (of all foods) is the better guide
Besides, what commerce and nutrition laws mandate a larger-than-healthy serving size?

The long-popular "More is Better" rationale seems so "last-century".

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://sputniknews.com/science/2018101 ... published/

"When an object is sucked into a black hole, the black hole's temperature should change."

Considering the size (and mass) of black holes,
the object would need to be HUGE to affect observable temperature
... perhaps akin to a python swallowing a camel.

Besides, a black hole is a vortex that is probably sucking in temperature observables
and exterior of hole may be cooler than the interior (especially, sucking hole).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/warren ... mp-attacks ,
https://dna-explained.com/2012/12/18/pr ... using-dna/ ,

"Most tribes require a specific percentage of Native “blood,” called blood quantum, in addition to being able to document which tribal member you descend from. Some tribes require as much as 25% Native heritage, and most require at least 1/16th Native heritage, which is one great-great grandparent."

While Warren's percentage of native blood (1/32 - 1/512) is less than tribal requirements and her lineage back to the teepee is not documented, it's time to "bury the hatchet" with both Warren and Trump donating to a related charity - even "Native American"

A political "Win-Win-Win" for Warren, Trump, and Native Americans?
Reasonable formula for Trump's contribution: 1/32 of a million dollars ($31,250)

Rod

[Amigoo]

More about DNA testing ...

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cherok ... itizenship

"The Cherokee Nation responded to the results of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's DNA test on Monday, arguing that 'a DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship.'"

Tribal citizenship and Indian ancestry are not the same thing ... apparently.

Rod

[Amigoo]

More about DNA testing ...

Re: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018 ... -heritage/

"Warren is actually less Native American than many white, Hispanic, and black Americans. Experts with 23andMe say the average black American is nearly one percent Native American, while the average Hispanic American is 18 percent Native American."

Maybe Warren should have publicly aligned as a different minority, like Hispanic.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/20 ... 652213002/ ,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears

"Sears, Roebuck and Company, colloquially known as Sears, is an American chain of department stores founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in 1892, ..."

Because of the age of this long-enduring American institution, Sears can capitalize (IMO) on older American's penchant for nostalgia, reorganizing as smaller stores with "nostalgia kiosks" throughout the store and decorated to highlight the nostalgia. These might include small refreshment areas, mini-museum/seating areas, self-guided videos showing how the nation changed over the years*, photo opportunities of wearing "turn of the century" clothing, whatever! * or videos showing the nation/world when you were born.

Nostalgia merchandise would be logical accompaniment to bring home this unique shopping experience.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Midnight reflection ...

"You have to be something to know what you're not."

Rod ... ...

[Amigoo]

More Midnight reflection ...
The "Myth of No One"

In our dynamic, intelligent universe, the expression "No one has ever ..."
does not prove that "No one will ever ..." and that trying is futile!
Perhaps, we just don't know about such a success ... or know
someone not easily influenced by the No One Myth.

And who started this No One Myth (NOM)?
De "NOM" of de Plume disguise?

Who knew?! This millennium proffers new festivity:
A Nom de Plume disguise party: Dress as a Nom de Plume
of published material (costume reflects story/material,
but "author" must be a Nom de Plume).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/cu ... ap-744244/

At first, digital interaction (e.g, via the internet) with a "Mica" might cause habitual assumption
that the other person in our interaction is not real until proven otherwise. And within decades,
we might then carry this assumption into real life interaction, perhaps where a peck or pinch
on the cheek (either one) elicits our necessary proof.

But laws will probably evolve to mandate obvious identity of AI genders,
lest we choose to be enlightened by their speech, behavior, or electronic hum?

Now may be a good time to become familiar with devices like this:
https://www.trifield.com/product/trifield-emf-meter/ ...
in case a parent is curious about the doll their son is dating.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saud ... ed-n922336

While intrigue, agendas, paybacks, etc. probably permeate both sides of this story,
one should not fight against 18 men where one of them is an "autopsy expert".

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.rt.com/news/407825-saudi-ro ... en-sophia/

"Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to humanoid robot"

The real problem with iCitizens (robot citizens) is that they then compete with humans
in all areas regarding the rights of a country's citizenship. Ever been sued by an iCitizen?
... or lost a job to? ... or been divorced by? ... or lost parental rights of a child to?

Positive AI behavior is first programmed, then refined by AI interaction with humans.
We might proffer neutral AI behavior that is refined by interaction with humans ...
but expect real human behavior to emerge (both positive and negative).
Unfortunately, refinement by AI still begets not a human

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/arti ... emory.html

"'When it comes to memories, multi-sensory experiences are more likely to stay in the mind, so a moment that triggers all the senses is more likely to be remembered and consolidated,' Professor Kinderman explained."

"The technique draws on the fact that memories are constructed and consolidated through multi-sensory experiences, and recommends focusing on five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can feel, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste."

This is research well-documented elsewhere that memories must be multi-sensory for lasting recall ... and probably highlights the fact that we retain lotsa information but cannot easily access it unless there are different memory paths (re: senses) to "get there from here". And memory training studies emphasize that exaggerated/whimsical sensory input can strengthen recall. However, the "5-4-3-2-1" associations may be experiential (not all people need the same numbers of things, especially considering their different sensory strengths).

"How to use the 5,4,3,2,1 memory technique" appears in this article.
("moment you would like to recall" refers to the current moment)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Speaking of numbers ...

Try $12.48 for this Squatty stepper (the anatomical science is accurate):
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/rev ... /38237061/

Notes:
1. Squattys are somewhat personal and not often shared outside the family.
2. Old outhouses provided catalogs for both the paper and the stepper.

Rod

[Amigoo]

intrigue, agendas, paybacks, etc. probably permeate both sides of this story

http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2018/10 ... jamal.html

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.wral.com/megyn-kelly-skips- ... /17944870/

Venturing an opinion without knowing the facts ...

Considering that the color black has long been associated with death, darkness, Halloween, etc., a costume with a black face does not necessarily refer to race. But as representative of a major U.S. TV network, Megyn is constrained by even the slightest allusion that "black face" associates with race. Indeed, "blackface" - not "black face" - was a common racial reference decades ago

When contemplating other colors that might be appropriately used to allude to race, it became clear that no color is inherently safe, given current societal sensitivity and immediate assumption of negative expression whenever race is depicted.
... and neither is black hair (in this style) a safe allusion:

Speaking of "societal sensitivity", networks are quick to disassociate from all representatives who seemingly "cross the line".
"Guilty until proven innocent" is now the networks' preferred perspective (right, Roseanne?)
I recall that Herod, centuries ago, disassociated in a similar way.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.wral.com/megyn-kelly-skips- ... /17944870/

Venturing an opinion without knowing the facts ...

After reviewing what Megyn said (her words, printed), I surmise that it was not her words
(which were simply stating an historical fact - I lived during those decades and witnessed
many blackfaces coming to my door as Halloween costumes), but her perceived attitude
about the subject ...perhaps condoning the current practice or defending history.

Consider how difficult it is now to costume as former President Obama:
with a "blackface" is obviously taboo, but with a white face is equally taboo!
Maybe commercial rubber masks are still acceptable (at some private parties).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.thedailybeast.com/nbc-today ... t-comments

More context for Megyn's remarks ...
and controversy bewildering because Megyn was referring to the historical past -
not voicing approval of the current pratice, even as Halloween costumes

Apparently, what's permissible as Halloween costumes is being refined
year by year, necessitating that public figures not refer to the past
where certain behavior was once acceptable to many people.

Rod

[Amigoo]

More context for Megyn's remarks ...

Re: http://www.investmentwatchblog.com/wher ... come-from/

"Even today, millions of people look forward to “being someone else” for a few hours on Halloween night."

As for the Megyn controversy, “being someone else” at Halloween now requires more sensitivity,
both for the costume and any public discussion about the costume, historical past or not.

Rod

[Amigoo]

More context for Megyn's remarks ...

Re: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/280 ... =editorial

Megyn commented in "a Today show segment where she asked why blackface was considered racist, noting 'Back when I was a kid that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character.'"

"Either she deliberately was racist in order to juice her flagging ratings, or she was too dumb to know it was racist, which is inexcusable for a newsperson."

So, here's the crux of the controversy: Megyn's rhetorical question
and reference to the historical past is "proof" that she is racist!

Rod

[Amigoo]

More context for Megyn's remarks (the lesson) ...

"Racism" is a complex fuse, evolved from decades of real (and perceived) abuse,
a fuse vulnerable to ignition by the slightest spark; then a flame fanned by the media.

Yes, Megyn should have been aware that her few sentences of rhetorical question
and reference to the historical past would be such a "slightest spark".

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/wor ... 804557002/

The debris from this crash contrasts with MH370's almost non-existent debris,
suggesting that MH370 did not crash into the ocean.

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_ ... Flight_370

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/wor ... 804557002/

suggesting that MH370 did not crash into the ocean.

... and the huge Pacific Ocean patch of floating plastic and other materials
argues that most plastic on MH370 would probably not sink into the ocean.

Rod