Computing hardware is composed of a series of binary switches; they're either on or off. The other piece of computational hardware we're familiar with, the brain, doesn't work anything like that. Rather than being on or off, individual neurons exhibit brief spikes of activity, and encode information in the pattern and timing of these spikes. The differences between the two have made it difficult to model neurons using computer hardware. In fact, the recent, successful generation of a flexible neural system required that each neuron be modeled separately in software in order to get the sort of spiking behavior real neurons display.

While this is exciting (1) I've heard it all before and (2) there are more things a'happenin in the brain than these can model.  

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

Haredi leaders expressed fury on Saturday night with the Jerusalem Municipality's decision to allow a large Christmas tree to be displayed next to Jaffa Gate at the entrance to the Old City.

The city issued a permit to a private individual to set up a tree for three days last week. The permit ended on Thursday and the permit-holder removed the tree.

"It's an awful thing that there was a Christmas tree at the opening of Jaffa Gate," City Councilor Shmuel Yitzhaki (Shas) said.

22 Grad in Biarritz, 15 in Stuttgart, and not only the Rhine is high. Here's the Spree in Berlin

Minus 40 in Moskau.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

please,
let there be peace and joy
for all

Re: Christmas Eve Open Thread (4.00 / 5) Good old Alex. I had the pleasure of seeing him live 5 times and he never disappointed. He had the greatest stage presence I've ever seen, he absolutely commanded a stage. The band were anonymous, even Zal Cleminson, clown makeup and all, barely registered; all eyes followed Alex as he prowled the stage, owning it and all our attention. He was the best. He was The Man. And this was the best thing they ever did. keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 05:14:25 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve Open Thread (none / 0) Video not available in "my" country. 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 04:58:00 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (4.00 / 4) My mum always makes a ham, but this year has completely excelled herself, it is dangerously delicious. It is also raining consistently so hopefully the nearby river won't rise too high keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 03:47:55 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 0) the river rises. Next door's garden is now mostly puddle, and they're about 40 - 50 cm below us. the bottom of the garden, which slopes away, is under water in a way we haven't seen since they fixed the river drainage. fortunately the rain appears to be tailing off keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 06:37:18 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (4.00 / 8) It's ham in Finland. Turkey is rarely seen. Here in Porvoo it's been snowing all day in a winter wonderlandish sort of way. I've been out doorstepping to local friends, sampling sherry and what have you. But drama often intrudes upon idylls: my designer friend Ristomatti and I went to call on to the pink house of a business visionary of our joint acquaintance, and they were just leaving to the hospital where the visionary's father-in-law had already been given last rites. As we walked back in the fading light, the snow coming down in large floating flakes, the warm, glowing  candlelit windows of snug wooden houses making twilight bluer, we pondered this drama and mortality in general. One does, doesn't one? But then we got back to Julle, a mastiff with the volume and awkwardness of a motorbike and sidecar, but twice the weight, who can be intimidating about his desire to be scratched and petted. He also likes to sit on your feet, which is like having a 5 stone sack of spuds dropped on your toes. And then we were all laughing again. You can't be me, I'm taken by Sven Triloqvist on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 10:44:04 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 0) Yea, I read about a couple of fatal car crashes on the guardian website. It's terribly sad this time of year keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 10:53:55 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 1) Thanks for the lovely imagery. Truly. I'm living for lovely imagery lately. 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 04:59:40 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 0) Sorry to hear that your lovely cheese course didn't see the light of day. But that's the thing about the cheese course. The best laid plans of men and meal oft go astray. Too much good food, drink and frivolity ensues and sometimes/often/usually the cheese offerings may never happen. But I do love good cheese. Actually, I was just beginning to learn about and become acquainted with different and interesting cheeses when I moved to Finland. Back in SF one of my real favourites was Humboldt Fog. It was a goat cheese, and mighty tasty. Now I'm starting a new love affair with Gouda, which to me has a rather tart aftertaste that I rather enjoy. And I like the act of scraping it off. Doing something useful, with a tool that works, and reaping the benefits. Before that, it was what my Mom served and what I grew up on. Very sharp cheddar on Ritz crackers and (not blue cheese) but roquefort stuffed into celery stalks. Typical 50s LA-style pre-dinner snacks. by sgr2 on Thu Dec 27th, 2012 at 02:22:29 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 1) Last night was 'Spinal Tap' night: introducing the Singing D to a rock and roll morality play. The cheese board came out and was decimated. Vindication! The Morbier lasted barely 5 minutes. Aaaah - the cheese slicer, an implement that Finland introduced to me. In fact I'm thinking at this very moment of a slice of Black Label on a homemade light pumpernickel - with butter. Earlier tonight we assassinated a nice Swedish blue spread on Swedish Ginger Thins. Well worth fighting over the last ones. You can't be me, I'm taken by Sven Triloqvist on Thu Dec 27th, 2012 at 02:36:38 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 0) Speaking of morality plays, I saw my first viewing of 'Midnight Cowboy' a few months ago. What a weird ass film that was, but memorable. All I can say is that Texas sure looked like Texas, and Jon Voight sure looked young. Glad to hear your cheese offerings were a success. by sgr2 on Fri Dec 28th, 2012 at 10:51:21 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Cheddar (none / 1) I'm not sure I could watch Midnight Cowboy again. For a start, I have a personal beef with Harry 'extremely annoying' Nilsson and I wish I'd punched him on the nose when I had the chance, and that ponce Richard Perry. Gor blimey - having  his afro trimmed as he produced from behind the Harrison. Brothel creeper. But I digress. For me, the talents were fighting each other with performance, so that the actions and reactions came from different spaces. Of course, this might be a function of drug-raddled low-life intercourse in the NY of the time - which I had visited contemporaneously, but hadn't witnessed. It's Schlesinger's fault. Oscars notwithstanding. You can't be me, I'm taken by Sven Triloqvist on Fri Dec 28th, 2012 at 03:18:07 PM EST [ Parent ]

Schlesinger (none / 1) This scene took place soon after the release of Midnight Cowboy. In his Diaries - 2003, Alan Bennett describes Schlesinger as "wonderfully funny, particularly about his sex life" and that, despite being "short, solid and fat", Schlesinger was "surprisingly successful in finding partners". Not invariably though. Sometime in the 1970s he was in New York bath house where the practice was for someone wanting a partner to leave the cubicle door open. This Schlesinger accordingly did and lay monumentally on the table under his towel waiting for someone to pass by. A youth duly did and indeed ventured in, but seeing this mound of flesh laid out on the slab recoiled, saying "Oh, please. I couldn't. You've got to be kidding." Schlesinger closed his eyes and said primly: "A simple 'No' will suffice." You can't be me, I'm taken by Sven Triloqvist on Fri Dec 28th, 2012 at 03:26:25 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Xmas Goose (4.00 / 5) Of course, xmas in Germany is really weird. Where else can you get one of only 100 Bukowski bobbleheads in the world? "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin by Crazy Horse on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 04:46:48 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Xmas Goose (4.00 / 4) and finally, let's remember that a whole lot more than just a few wise kings made it uptown to the Apollo to celebrate the birth of the King of Kings... on the same day Jesus was geborn. Here's one of the not so famous ones, where he moonwalks "Kickin the Gong Around" "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin by Crazy Horse on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 04:54:43 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Xmas Goose (4.00 / 2) Bukowski shoule see that from wherever he is. by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 04:54:50 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Xmas Goose (none / 1) Heh. Didn't want him for governor, but like him nonetheless. 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 05:00:15 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) I'm just thankful to have access to the internet. The rain has done for our phone line keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 05:04:15 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) It was christmas day extended... in the drunk tank. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin by Crazy Horse on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 05:20:44 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 1) It's been a memorably imbibled (I'm making up my own words) holiday period for me. 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 05:01:55 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 5) Merry Christmas afew and family! I hope all on ET have enjoyed their day. Ad astra per aspera by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 12:35:17 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) Oh I had a horrible time -  I eat too many peanuts, and too many is not a lot.  I had so many stomach problems that I thought that I would have to call an ambulance. Peanuts are very high in arginine and arginine can cause digestive distress in some people, like me -  extremely high stomach acid and extremely strong abdominal cramps Until I realized that lysine counteracts the effects of arginine, and I had some lying around. I keep forgetting to stay away from peanuts!  How stupid can I get?  Honestly, it's frustrating to be this stupid. by stevesim on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 06:32:43 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 2) That does not sound like it was pleasant.  Feel better. by Zwackus on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 06:58:04 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) Thanks.  I already do.  Except for my head, which I kept banging while repeating "why did I do that?" by stevesim on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 07:02:24 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 3) Our appetites make fools of most of us. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere." by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 01:29:38 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 5) Happy xmas to you and everyone here keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 07:04:32 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 3) and to you too Fran. Am watching shrek forever after. Laughter may be called for keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 10:17:59 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 3) Happy Xmas keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 11:19:48 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) Sure you're not getting UK telly ? that was on here earlier keep to the Fen Causeway by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 11:50:29 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) Same difference. (Vive la différence!) by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 11:54:34 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 1) by Katrin on Tue Dec 25th, 2012 at 02:23:26 PM EST

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) Picture done gone away. by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 03:44:24 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) It's still visible for me. What can have gone wrong? by Katrin on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 04:44:44 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) I don't know. I got the link out of the page source, but when I try to post it I get "MissingKeyMissing Key-Pair-Id query parameter". It's possible what you're seeing comes out of your browser cache? by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 05:13:15 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (4.00 / 2) Everything is possible with them devilish computers, I'd say. I've gone back to where I found the cats. http://twitpic.com/bomg42 by Katrin on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 05:57:59 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Xmas day Normandy (none / 0) The drive to "mom's" (Berchtesgaden to Vilshofen) was ridiculously green for this time of year. 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 05:04:54 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 1) My husband mumbled something along the lines of "in vino veritas."  That took care of the religious part of the holidays for me. 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 05:06:22 PM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) The lord she doth in wondrous ways work. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin by Crazy Horse on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 09:07:13 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) Yea verily, I chuckled at the punchline. Been there, done that. Been ruthlessly exploited by underclass tenants, etc. It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II by eurogreen on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 09:19:18 AM EST [ Parent ]

Re: Christmas Eve + Day Open Thread (none / 0) That's a great punchline. I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 26th, 2012 at 09:50:47 AM EST [ Parent ]