Supercomputer achieves “intelligence” equivalent to that of cats

Via the Independent:
[T]his week researchers from IBM are reporting that they’ve simulated a cat’s cerebral cortex, the thinking part of the brain, using a massive supercomputer.  The computer has 147,456 processors (most modern PCs have just one or two processors) and 144 terabytes of main memory – 100,000 times as much as your computer [...]

Mao’s plans were only five years long

So how terrifying will Glenn Beck’s hundred-year plan be?
Now, I’m not comparing Glenn Beck to Mao. I’m not. I’m just asking questions. Like: Isn’t it simple math, that if you take 70 million–the number of people killed under Mao’s regime–and multiply it by 20–the scale by which Beck proposes to expand Mao’s plan by–don’t [...]

How many Republican talking points are in a given sample of Palin-speak?

Via Fox “News” (for the record, no more news than MSNBC “news”):

I believe that I am [qualified to be president] because I have common sense, and I have, I believe, the values that are reflective of so many other American values. And I believe that what Americans are seeking is not the elitism, the kind [...]

Repost: Suicide Prevention Walk TONIGHT

Via an Active Minds handout:
In correspondence with Active Mind’s [sic] Mental health and Illness Awareness Week, there will be a Depression/Suicide Prevention walk this Friday 11/20 at 6pm. Dress warm and come out to the front of Lalumiere. Any proceeds will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Active Minds. Come help support [...]

13-year old Somali girl stoned to death for being gang-raped

Via the BBC, which also has a seven-minute radio broadcast:
Amnesty International has condemned the stoning of a 13-year-old girl in southern Somalia. The human rights organisation claims the teenager was stoned to death after her father informed the authorities that she had been gang-raped. She was reportedly accused of adultery and the stoning, in front [...]

In memorium

Today is the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

I love the smell of grass roots in the evenin’!

Tonight was Common Ground Wisconsin’s big hearing on foreclosed homes in the Milwaukee County War Memorial from 7 to 9 PM. The hearing was specifically about the over 10,000 filed for foreclosure homes in Milwaukee County. 1,348 homes are bank owned. Two thirds of these homes have been subject to building code violations. When the [...]

The right dialogue?

Today, the Tribune ran a transcripted debate between Mike Mulroy of MU Collge Republicans and Kristen Jones, chair of the College Democrats on the broad question, “How do you feel about the health care reform bill?” On print–I don’t know what their tone was like in real life–both appear civil, and stake thoughtful positions. However, I wonder if it’s the debate we [...]

Suicide Prevention Walk tomorrow

Via an Active Minds handout:
In correspondence with Active Mind’s [sic] Mental health and Illness Awareness Week, there will be a Depression/Suicide Prevention walk this Friday 11/20 at 6pm. Dress warm and come out to the front of Lalumiere. Any proceeds will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Active Minds. Come help support [...]

Nice Jewish Calendar

Apparently there is a “Nice Jewish Guys” calendar out there for all you Semites and Semite-lovers. Instead of depicting half-clothed, provocatively posing Jewish men, it features your everyday, fully clothed, posing normally, Jewish Joe Schmoe.

The creator, Adam Cohen said he found guys to pose for the calendar,
through Craigslist – just wrote “Are you Jewish?” and [...]