Growing a Brain in Switzerland

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,druck-466789,00.html

A network of artificial nerves is growing in a Swiss supercomputer — meant to simulate a natural brain, cell-for-cell. The researchers at work on “Blue Brain” promise new insights into the sources of human consciousness.
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But — has there been mental activity?

The newborn “Blue Brain” surprised the designers with its willfulness from the very first day. It had hardly been fed electrical impulses before strange patterns began to appear on the screen with the lightning-like flashes produced by cells that scientists recognize from actual thought processes. Groups of neurons started becoming attuned to one another until they were firing in rhythm. “It happened entirely on its own,” says Markram. “Spontaneously.”

Prosecutors Fired for Not Backing Bush

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Prosecutors Fired for Not Backing Bush
WASHINGTON (AP) - Eight federal prosecutors were fired last year because they did not sufficiently support President Bush’s priorities, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ former chief of staff says in remarks prepared for delivery Thursday to Congress.

Separately, the Justice Department admitted Wednesday it gave senators inaccurate information about the firings and presidential political adviser Karl Rove’s role in trying to secure a U.S. attorney’s post for one of his former aides, Tim Griffin.

In a letter accompanying new documents sent to the House and Senate Judiciary committees, Justice officials acknowledged that a Feb. 23 letter to four Democratic senators erred in asserting that the department was not aware of any role Rove played in the decision to appoint Griffin to replace U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins in Little Rock, Ark.

Iranians parade captured navy woman in a hijab | the Daily Mail

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

Iranians parade captured navy woman in a hijab | the Daily Mail

Kidnapped British servicewoman Faye Turney was forced to cover her head with an Islamic hijab in the first video released by Iran since she and 14 comrades were seized last week.

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This is absolutely ridiculous. Disgusting fucktards. Those pieces of shit need to be castrated and beaten for psychically raping this woman.

New Drive Afoot to Pass Equal Rights Amendment - washingtonpost.com

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New Drive Afoot to Pass Equal Rights Amendment - washingtonpost.com
Federal and state lawmakers have launched a new drive to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, reviving a feminist goal that faltered a quarter-century ago when the measure did not gain the approval of three-quarters of the state legislatures.
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Although more states are considering ratifying the ERA now than at any other time in the past 25 years, activists still face serious hurdles. Every statewide officeholder in Arkansas endorsed the amendment this year, but the bill stalled in committee last week after Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly came to Little Rock to testify against the measure.

In the 1970s, Schlafly and others argued that the ERA would lead to women being drafted by the military and to public unisex bathrooms. Today, she warns lawmakers that its passage would compel courts to approve same-sex marriages and deny Social Security benefits for housewives and widows.
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WTF? What in the hell is wrong with that woman? That’s part of what equality is you dumbass. And yeah - the bathroom and benefits claims are ridiculous.
Oh yeah - shame on you Arkansas - that is absolutely pathetic.