What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

We have three bank holidays in May. I’ve booked the other two off as well, so a four day week month for me.

Not all of those will be annual events, mind you.

Nevertheless, let us enjoy what we can.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Time to slow down and start regulating AI research just like we do life science research.

In principle, I agree. I see two huge hurdles:

1) legislation will always be slower than technology. By the time a law passes a legislature of any democracy that is worth of that name, new methods outside of the scope of the legislative act and new techs are already implemented.
2) whoever does not regulate will dominate the AI field especially as scientists will inevitably move towards deregulated (or mildly regulated) nations. No powerful country will allow that.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Not all of those will be annual events, mind you.

Nevertheless, enjoy let us enjoy what we can.

Agreed. The ‘event’ that triggered the third has only happened the once in my lifetime. But I’ll be skipping the ‘event’ entirely.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Agreed. The ‘event’ that triggered the third has only happened the once in my lifetime. But I’ll be skipping the ‘event’ entirely.

As will I.

I daresay that if my mother was still alive (and compos mentis, or, in full possession of her faculties), she would have been following events with some interest, and watching the coverage, - probably some of the highlights, rather than live, truth to tell - not so much out of any love for the institution itself, but, out of interest to witness an historical event.

 

[Clix Pix]

The Washington Post has been putting out various articles over the past little while related to all of this stuff, and today's was an interesting one about the mystery of the "Boy King" who never made it to his coronation..... I daresay many Americans are not familiar with some intriguing elements of British history, so this was a good piece to have available on the last day of April as we head into a new month and a new era.

Fascinating tale, really, especially when we realize that now some of that mystery could be solved if permission were granted from On High to do DNA testing on the bones of two young children which were found in the Tower back in the fourteenth century and which have been carefully preserved and resting in peace ever since.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The Washington Post has been putting out various articles over the past little while related to all of this stuff, and today's was an interesting one about the mystery of the "Boy King" who never made it to his coronation..... I daresay many Americans are not familiar with some intriguing elements of British history, so this was a good piece to have available on the last day of April as we head into a new month and a new era.

Fascinating tale, really, especially when we realize that now some of that mystery could be solved if permission were granted from On High to do DNA testing on the bones of two young children which were found in the Tower back in the fourteenth century and which have been carefully preserved and resting in peace ever since.

If memory serves, they disappeared in the 15th century (1483) and their remains were found sometime during the reign of Charles II (1674, the 17th century), but, yes, a grim story, evoking the sort of gruesome delight that thrills (and horrifies) children (at least, it did to me when I read about it as a child).

Actually, I recall spending a full day in the Tower of London when I was a student, it was so fascinating and there was so much to see and explore and mull over that I could hardly tear myself away.

My mother had advised (remembering the queues from when she had visited as a young woman), arriving before they were scheduled to open, - and taking the time to enjoy exploring it, which is exactly what I did. An extraordinary place.

 

[Clix Pix]

If I ever get to London, probably unlikely at this point in my life, I would be fascinated by visiting the Tower of London and of course a whole lot of other sites....

Thanks, SS, for providing more (and more accurate) details than I had in my post.....math is not my strong suit anyway and I always run into trouble figuring out and correctly naming time periods (centuries) vs actual dates falling within those centuries. Whatever and whenever it happened to those young boys, something was not right. I think most people believe that the bones are those of Edward the Boy King and his brother. Whatever the actual answers are, this is truly a tragic and mystifying story. In our lifetimes it would be amazing if finally definitive answers could happen with regard at least to party of the mystery if DNA testing could at least identify for once and for all, those to whom the bones belong..... But then again that could open up a whole new can of worms......

Over here across the Big Pond, many Americans are more-or-less vaguely and generally familiar with British history, may even think that they are gleaning some perceived insights from Shakespeare's plays -- but for many that's as far as it goes, which is a shame, given the very rich history of the United Kingdom.....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If I ever get to London, probably unlikely at this point in my life, I would be fascinated by visiting the Tower of London and of course a whole lot of other sites....

Thanks, SS, for providing more (and more accurate) details than I had in my post.....math is not my strong suit anyway and I always run into trouble figuring out and correctly naming time periods (centuries) vs actual dates falling within those centuries. Whatever and whenever it happened to those young boys, something was not right. I think most people believe that the bones are those of Edward the Boy King and his brother. Whatever the actual answers are, this is truly a tragic and mystifying story. In our lifetimes it would be amazing if finally definitive answers could happen with regard at least to party of the mystery if DNA testing could at least identify for once and for all, those to whom the bones belong..... But then again that could open up a whole new can of worms......

Over here across the Big Pond, many Americans are more-or-less vaguely and generally familiar with British history, may even think that they are gleaning some perceived insights from Shakespeare's plays -- but for many that's as far as it goes, which is a shame, given the very rich history of the United Kingdom.....

Another story - also concerning recovered skeletal remains - is that of the presumed murderer of the children, their uncle, who became Richard III.

After his defeat - and overthrow - following the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, his remains disappeared, and were recovered, most improbably, but wonderfully, in the grounds of what had been Greyfriars Priory (now a car-park) in Leicester, in 2012.

The story of the recovery of those skeletal remains, their verification, and subsequent procession and formal reinterment in Leicester Cathedral (in 2015) is an astonishing tale.

I remember watching it on TV - an extraordinary spectacle.

 

[Clix Pix]

Yes! Richard III's remains discovered beneath a parking lot -- that news made it over here, for sure! Mind-boggling, the whole thing, wasn't it? I don't recall now: did they actually do DNA testing to verify that these were indeed the bones of Richard III or was the positive identification made with other means? At any rate, this was an absolutely astonishing and more than fascinating discovery.

Moving on a bit now into the here-and-now with still another mysterious look into the past: it certainly seems to me that with the technology we have available that a DNA examination would be also something valuable (even if the answers do not shed a positive light on what went on back then, and of course that is likely going to be the outcome) to pursue with regard to those bones of those two children discovered so, so long ago..... Maybe with their identities settled for once and for all, they could genuinely rest in peace......

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes! Richard III's remains discovered beneath a parking lot -- that news made it over here, for sure! Mind-boggling, the whole thing, wasn't it? I don't recall now: did they actually do DNA testing to verify that these were indeed the bones of Richard III or was the positive identification made with other means? At any rate, this was an absolutely astonishing and more than fascinating discovery.

Moving on a bit now into the here-and-now with still another mysterious look into the past: it certainly seems to me that with the technology we have available that a DNA examination would be also something valuable (even if the answers do not shed a positive light on what went on back then, and of course that is likely going to be the outcome) to pursue with regard to those bones of those two children discovered so, so long ago..... Maybe with their identities settled for once and for all, they could genuinely rest in peace......

Yes, DNA testing had been used in this fascinating tale: Mitrochondrial DNA matched that of two matrilineal descendants - one a 17th generation, the other a 19th generation descendant, - of Richard's sister, Anne of York, for Richard himself had died without issue.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Pondering a completely unrelated topic --

The Denisovans.
They lived in a cave in Siberia that a hundred years ago was the habitation of a hermit, called Denis, so the cave was called Denis' Cave, and the prehistoric people whose remains were found there some years ago were called, wait for it, Denisovans.

They were a separate human species from Neanderthals, but closely related to both them and Homo sapiens. And, boy, were they randy buggers.
They interbred with both the Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens that were passing through on their way to South East Asia and Melanesia.

Genetic studies have shown that modern Melanesians have ~5% Denisovan ancestry, and some of those genes give those people resistance against certain respiratory diseases.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes, DNA testing had been used in this fascinating tale: Mitrochondrial DNA matched that of two matrilineal descendants - one a 17th generation, the other a 19th generation descendant, - of Richard's sister, Anne of York, for Richard himself had died without issue.

It was also a rather apt final resting place for an illegitimate King who murdered his two nephews in order to get the throne.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Agreed. The ‘event’ that triggered the third has only happened the once in my lifetime. But I’ll be skipping the ‘event’ entirely.

Instead of the "event", I would much prefer to watch Frankie Boyle's "Farewell to the Monarchy" but unfortunately I cannot access Channel 4 in Finland.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Instead of the "event", I would much prefer to watch Frankie Boyle's "Farewell to the Monarchy" but unfortunately I cannot access Channel 4 in Finland.

I’d planned to watch it, but watched a film instead. I’ll pick it up on catch up though.

 

[Expos of 1969]

I’d planned to watch it, but watched a film instead. I’ll pick it up on catch up though.

Stuart Jeffries of The Guardian gave it 5 stars but who knows.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It was also a rather apt final resting place for an illegitimate King who murdered his two nephews in order to get the throne.

Yes, it was.

Mind you, while Richard did more than enough to merit his dire posthumous reputation, it does also occur to me that it was very much in the interest of the Tudors to paint him in the blackest and darkest of hues.

Even Shakespeare (who knew who paid the bills and was very aware of the potential to be found in royal patrons) got in on the act.

Stuart Jeffries of The Guardian gave it 5 stars but who knows.

Just read his piece, thank you for drawing my attention to it; that should be worth looking at.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, it was.

Mind you, while Richard did more than enough to merit his dire posthumous reputation, it does also occur to me that it was very much in the interest of the Tudors to paint him in the blackest and darkest of hues.

Even Shakespeare (who knew who paid the bills and was very aware of the potential to be found in royal patrons) got in on the act.

Just read his piece, thank you for drawing my attention to it; that should be worth looking at.

That’s the thing with history though isn’t it? It’s written by the victors. The truth doesn’t always quite match up.

 

[decafjava]

Stuart Jeffries of The Guardian gave it 5 stars but who knows.

I will give it a read this evening. Thanks!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That’s the thing with history though isn’t it? It’s written by the victors. The truth doesn’t always quite match up.

Yes, exactly.

And this tale is an excellent example of that, and - to my mind - was one of the things about the recovery of those remains which is absolutely fascinating:

For, the actual skeletal remains didn't quite match with the Tudor myth (in which Shakespeare also played a role, writing what his patrons may have wished to hear, albeit very eloquently and powerfully); yes, the remains showed that there was scoliosis of the spine, but nothing to the extent of popular imagination (who can forget the performance - and the appearance of - of Laurence Olivier when playing Richard III?).

Likewise, the extraordinary forensic facial reconstruction (using the actual skull) was similar to - but by no means identical to - the features of the well known portrait of Richard which dated from Tudor times, (which subtly exaggerated some features to convey a rather malevolent message); the differences were both striking and very instructive, and a superb example of Tudor propaganda at work.

 

[VulchR]

In principle, I agree. I see two huge hurdles:

1) legislation will always be slower than technology. By the time a law passes a legislature of any democracy that is worth of that name, new methods outside of the scope of the legislative act and new techs are already implemented.
2) whoever does not regulate will dominate the AI field especially as scientists will inevitably move towards deregulated (or mildly regulated) nations. No powerful country will allow that.

These points apply to the life sciences, but still there are effective regulations in most countries nonetheless. Thus, I think we have seriously consider regulation of AI. I think most researchers on the field recognise the need for ethical guidelines and some form of regulation, so we might as well start. FWIW I hope I am being alarmist...

Image source: link, MGM Studios

 

[scubachap]

Couple of things to add:

Richard III - there was no doubt where he was buried in the car park - he was very close to the space which had an R painted on it. Who'd have thought?

Denisovans - I've been following the developments with early humans for quite a while now - one of the most interesting things is that they're looking for DNA in the cave sediments and soil samples etc rather than just sampling the 8 isolated fossils. These samples have yielded DNA in layers for individuals where there's no other remains - giving them the ability to reconstruct the sequence of occupation and also give a decent idea of hat animals had been there too.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Chatted with Decent Brother on the phone for around an hour.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Couple of things to add:

Richard III - there was no doubt where he was buried in the car park - he was very close to the space which had an R painted on it. Who'd have thought?

Denisovans - I've been following the developments with early humans for quite a while now - one of the most interesting things is that they're looking for DNA in the cave sediments and soil samples etc rather than just sampling the 8 isolated fossils. These samples have yielded DNA in layers for individuals where there's no other remains - giving them the ability to reconstruct the sequence of occupation and also give a decent idea of hat animals had been there too.

The interesting thing (apart from the gloriously convenient and improbable location of that helpful letter "R") is how quickly - this could have taken an awful lot longer - they managed to discover Richard's remains once they started digging trenches and excavating what they found there.

 

[Clix Pix]

What's on my mind right now? I'm still mulling over the news that the very first Apple Store in the world and the US, Store #1 at Tysons Center Mall in Northern Virginia, is going to be moving to a new location (within the same big shopping mall where it has always been). This is of course good news in many ways, as the store really desperately needed to be expanded, as the place is always busy, busy, busy.....and that's good, I truly applaud this. They need more space and I know that customers and staff alike are going to really appreciate this when it happens on the day of the new store's opening.

The sentimental part of me is lingering on memories of that first and as of the moment still current Apple Store, which is where I bought my first Mac and of course its successors as time went on; where I stood in line to buy iPhones (including, yes, that very first one) and iPads and where I went when the world got the news that Steve had died.... I had to go there, was simply drawn there, and apparently a lot of others felt the same way.....

When I first watched Steve's keynote about this brand-new thing they were calling an "iPhone," my first reaction was, "eh, I hardly use the cell phone I have now, why would I want one of those things?" Well, it didn't take long for me to realize just why I WOULD want "one of those things" and so, yes, I found myself waiting in line -- number 105 or something like that -- on that Launch Day in June 2007 to buy something which was really totally new for all of us -- certainly to me! The experience was smoothly handled as we moved into the store, stated our preference, handed over our credit or debit card and were handed a bag (which I still have) containing the box with the new...mysterious iPhone. On the way out of the store I finally had an opportunity to at least see on a display table what I'd just bought. Only after spending some time with it at home later and setting it up did I fully grasp how different this was from any other cell phone, ever. It was indeed going to be a little computer and music player right in my pocket!

Another memory which I'll always cherish is when I spent a night in the mall waiting for the release of one of the later iterations of the iPhone (posted about that in the thread about the store's move) and several times before and after that I have to say that, yes, I spent a fair amount of time at the decorative railings in the walkway of the mall gazing at the storefront of the Apple Store as we waited for yet another new Apple goody to be revealed....

On the day that the iPad made its first appearance in the world, once we got into the Apple Store all of us headed to the nearest table where one of these new devices was laid out for our appreciation, I stared at the one on the table in front of me for a moment, picked it up and squealed, "it's so BEAUTIFUL!!"

Oh, but not just iPhones and iPads are part of my fond memories..... Back in 2008, I walked into that Apple Store one day to see the new MacBook Airs and after staring at one for a moment, picked it up, marveled at its light weight and slight dimensions, hugged it and knew that, yes, one would soon be mine....which indeed happened. I adored that machine!

I also love the 12" MacBook which I am hoping that Apple might bring back to life with an M-something-or-other processor. In the meantime my 2017 12" MB is still going strong......

The Apple Store has definitely been a happy place for me over the years as I've bought new machines and devices and from time to time have had an appointment at the Genius Bar for this-and-that, too.

So, yeah, lots of positive memories associated with Apple Store #1 at Tysons Corner Center...and I am already looking forward to more that will happen over time at the new, larger store!

 

[Apple fanboy]

What's on my mind right now? I'm still mulling over the news that the very first Apple Store in the world and the US, Store #1 at Tysons Center Mall in Northern Virginia, is going to be moving to a new location (within the same big shopping mall where it has always been). This is of course good news in many ways, as the store really desperately needed to be expanded, as the place is always busy, busy, busy.....and that's good, I truly applaud this. They need more space and I know that customers and staff alike are going to really appreciate this when it happens on the day of the new store's opening.

The sentimental part of me is lingering on memories of that first and as of the moment still current Apple Store, which is where I bought my first Mac and of course its successors as time went on; where I stood in line to buy iPhones (including, yes, that very first one) and iPads and where I went when the world got the news that Steve had died.... I had to go there, was simply drawn there, and apparently a lot of others felt the same way.....

When I first watched Steve's keynote about this brand-new thing they were calling an "iPhone," my first reaction was, "eh, I hardly use the cell phone I have now, why would I want one of those things?" Well, it didn't take long for me to realize just why I WOULD want "one of those things" and so, yes, I found myself waiting in line -- number 105 or something like that -- on that Launch Day in June 2007 to buy something which was really totally new for all of us -- certainly to me! The experience was smoothly handled as we moved into the store, stated our preference, handed over our credit or debit card and were handed a bag (which I still have) containing the box with the new...mysterious iPhone. On the way out of the store I finally had an opportunity to at least see on a display table what I'd just bought. Only after spending some time with it at home later and setting it up did I fully grasp how different this was from any other cell phone, ever. It was indeed going to be a little computer and music player right in my pocket!

Another memory which I'll always cherish is when I spent a night in the mall waiting for the release of one of the later iterations of the iPhone (posted about that in the thread about the store's move) and several times before and after that I have to say that, yes, I spent a fair amount of time at the decorative railings in the walkway of the mall gazing at the storefront of the Apple Store as we waited for yet another new Apple goody to be revealed....

On the day that the iPad made its first appearance in the world, once we got into the Apple Store all of us headed to the nearest table where one of these new devices were laid out for our appreciation, I stared at the one on the table in front of me for a moment, picked it up and squealed, "it's so BEAUTIFUL!!"

Oh, but not just iPhones and iPads are part of my fond memories..... Back in 2008, I walked into that Apple Store one day to see the new MacBook Airs and after staring at one for a moment, picked it up, marveled at its light weight and slight dimensions, hugged it and knew that, yes, one would soon be mine....which indeed happened. I adored that machine!

I also love the 12" MacBook which I am hoping that Apple might bring back to life with an M-something-or-other processor. In the meantime my 2017 12" MB is still going strong......

The Apple Store has definitely been a happy place for me over the years as I've bought new machines and devices and from time to time have had an appointment at the Genius Bar for this-and-that, too.

So, yeah, lots of positive memories associated with Apple Store #1 at Tysons Corner Center...and I am already looking forward to more that will happen over time at the new, larger store!

I queued up once for an iPhone launch. I was number 7 or 8 in the line. It was a fun experience, but not one I’d repeat. Clapping and high fives isn’t really for me.