Clipmarks | arifsali's Comments

Researchers decode thought

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:58:20 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: “In one of our early studies, we showed people words representing tools and words representing buildings,” Mitchell said. “We found that we could train our model so that it could successfully distinguish new tool words from new building words.” Having developed a model able to categorize objects correctly approximately 90 percent of the time, the team sought to determine the effect that viewing an object as a picture, as opposed to viewing an object as a word, has on a person’s brain activation patterns. The team therefore trained their model on fMRI data collected from subjects looking at pictures, and then tested the model on fMRI data collected as subjects read corresponding words.

“The accuracy was almost the same,” Mitchell said. “The fact that it doesn’t matter whether we use a word or a picture means that we are really capturing the neural activity associated with the meaning of an item, and not just the [item’s representation].”

Clip Source: thetartan.org

Researchers at CMU have developed a computer-based model designed to decode the patterns of neural activity within the human brain.

Their model is not only able to differentiate between a person’s perceptions of different physical objects, but is also able to predict the brain activation patterns associated with new, untested objects.

The knowledge acquired from this research may lead to an increased understanding of certain neurological conditions. “With these techniques, we can ask how a person with autism, for example, represents a concept like ‘friendship,’ ‘parent,’ or ‘love,’ and compare that neural representation to those of typical people, in order to see what is different,” Just said. “It is amazing to think that the [required] technology was not even available 10 or 15 years ago,” Mitchell said. “But now we can use it to study questions that people have been interested in for thousands of years.

Tags: brain, neuroscience, neural correlates

Sarah Says She's Ready To Lead... Nay Sayers Be Damned

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:58:52 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: We'll see what happens come Thursday night.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

House Defeats Wall Street Bailout Bill

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:56:30 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Unbelievable lack... I think they're seriously looking at reaching 0% approval. What a joke Pelosi and this Congress is.

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

House Defeats Wall Street Bailout Bill

Stocks spiraled downward as much as 685 points on Monday as a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street ended in defeat in the House of Representatives.

House leaders held open the vote as they tried to sway reluctant lawmakers to support the plan, which failed 205-228. Arm-twisting continued even after the vote clock expired. One member, retiring Republican Rep. Jerry Weller, did not vote.

"We did our part," said Hoyer of Maryland. "As I said on the floor, this is a bipartisan responsibility and we think (Democrats) met our responsibility."

But many lawmakers continued to oppose the plan for a variety of reasons, including the massive price tag that would expand the national debt, and GOP members said their constituents were calling 10-1 in opposition to the bill, which had been described as too much government intervention. Of 235 Democrats, 140 supported the legislation. Of 199 Republicans, 133 opposed it.

Tags: usa, economy

Finland wants all of its citizens in the internet

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:21:33 GMT

clipped by: darkduskx

Clip Source: technology.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca

Finland has unveiled a broadband strategy that aims to deliver ultrafast download speeds to every household by 2016 in order to boost national economic productivity, with the government footing one-third of the bill.

The Finnish government on Thursday said it would foot one-third of the cost of building a fibre-optic cable network in areas that are underserved by commercial internet service providers. The government contribution will make up about 67 million euros ($102 million) out of the total 200-million-euro ($303 million) budget for the project.

The aim is to provide all homes in Finland, including those in rural areas, with download speeds of at least one megabit per second by 2010, with a ramp-up to 100 megabits by 2016.

Finland's government sees high-speed internet access as essential infrastructure that will allow the country to take a global edge in competitiveness and productivity.

"We are strongly committed to developing an information society

Palin: "Only Flag in My Office" is Israeli

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:45:35 GMT

clipped by: blueridge
clipper's remarks: So which "country first"? This is why she is McCain's running mate, as she bows to the neocon-Israeli agenda.

Seriously, for those who defend her no matter what she does or says, blindly, what do you think of this statement which smacks of blatant flattery? You must conclude that she either (1) was mistaken in what she said (i.e. "she did not really mean that"), so she is unable to speak intelligently, or (2) she does mean it and therefore puts American and Alaska interests under that of the state called Israel and its militant Zionist agenda.

Clearly she was trying to flatter and impress Peres, which is of course a form of lying for personal benefit, and not very Christian. Truly Palin is "AIPAC approved" and is a sycophant of the neocon agenda that McCain (and Lieberman) push. TRUSTWORTHINESS is something that has been lacking in Washington, and it appears that Palin is no "reformer" in that regard.

(Again, not claiming that Obama is worthy either. He is not).

Clip Source: www.nysun.com

Palin: 'Only Flag in My Office' Is Israeli

PALIN: 'ONLY FLAG IN MY OFFICE' IS ISRAELI

President Peres of Israel yesterday met for the first time with Governor Palin and with Senator McCain, who called the veteran Israeli statesman "my old friend." The warm handshake and exchange of broad smiles occurred during an international gathering known as the Clinton Global Initiative, hosted by President Clinton. "I wanted to meet you for many years," Ms. Palin told Mr. Peres, according to an aide to the president. "The only flag at my office is an Israeli flag," she was quoted as saying, "and I want you to know and I want Israelis to know that I am a friend."

Tags: sarah palin, israel, mccain, neoconservatives, zionism

The Real McCain video # 2 The Media is covering this up..!

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:02:01 GMT

clipped by: TJColatrella

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: mccain, tax cuts, iraq, msm, patraeus, bush, republicans, palin

Are you sure you want to eat that McDonald's hamburger?

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:10:29 GMT

clipped by: Lexica

Clip Source: bestwellnessconsultant.com

I teach a workshop titled Healthy Choices for Children. It's a class for parents seeking solutions to how to improve the way they eat. It's about the alternative food market, organics, and the top ten food additives to avoid and why, menu planning and more. It's a 3 session fabulously informative interactive class.

Below is my absolutely favorite prop.

This is a hamburger from McDonalds that I purchased in 1996.

That was 12 years ago.

Note that it looks exactly like it did the very day I bought it.

The flecks on the bun are crumbs from the bun.

The burger is starting to crumble a bit

It has the oddest smell.

People always ask me - what did you do to preserve it ?

Nothing - it preserved itself.

I marvel at how McDonalds has infiltrated our entire world. A hamburger here tastes exactly the same in China or some around the world place.

It's cloned.

Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Do me a favor and share this.

Tags: food, nutrition, chemicals

Wall Street Angers U.N.

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:09:23 GMT

clipped by: debbyski
clipper's remarks: They are royally ticking me off too.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

UNITED NATIONS — Wall Street and the Bush administration’s record of financial oversight came under attack at the United Nations on Tuesday, with one world leader after another saying that market turmoil in the United States threatened the global economy.

“We must not allow the burden of the boundless greed of a few to be shouldered by all,” said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil in an opening speech that reflected the tone of the gathering.

When banks and hedge funds hand out fat bonuses, they are all willing to gloat about their success, Mr. Sarkozy said, “but when there are deficits we don’t know who is responsible.”

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

She also seemed to express a certain exasperation that the United States was now asking Europe for help, after inflicting damage on the rest of the world that could have been avoided.

If I Were To Win The Powerball Jackpot Saturday...

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:34:06 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Would I even bother to celebrate? Where would you put the money, given the current economic woes, which are getting darker not brighter. Remember that there are limits on the exportation of cash (can't hedge with Euros) and a massive gold or silver buy could cause a run-up in the market. I suppose international mutual funds are the best bet. Your thoughts?

Clip Source: powerball.com

$ 200 Million
$ 101.1 Million Cash Value

McCain seeks to delay debate to focus on economy

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:26:04 GMT

clipped by: dewitte

Clip Source: hosted.ap.org

NEW YORK (AP) -- Republican John McCain said Wednesday he is directing his staff to work with Democrat Barack Obama's campaign and the presidential debate commission to delay Friday's debate because of the economic crisis.

In a statement, McCain said he will stop campaigning after addressing former President Clinton's Global Initiative session on Thursday and return to Washington to focus on the nation's financial problems.

McCain said he wants President Bush to convene a leadership meeting in Washington that would include him and Obama.

"If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted," McCain said. "We cannot allow this to happen."

McCain said he has spoken to Obama about his plans and asked the Democratic presidential nominee to join him.

Tags: mccain, delay, debate, crisis

beaten because he didn't want to spy for the USA

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:50:37 GMT

clipped by: jimbo1000
clipper's remarks: I can't find the words

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

Detained, Beaten, and Tortured In Name of 'War on Terror'

Sami al-Haj, an Al Jazeera cameraman, was beaten, abused and humiliated in the name of the war on terror. He tells Robert Fisk about his struggle to rebuild a shattered life

The TV cameraman, 38, was never charged with any crime, nor was he put on trial; his testimony makes it clear that he was held in three prisons for six-and-a-half years - repeatedly beaten and force-fed - not because he was a suspected "terrorist" but because he refused to become an American spy.

"We know you are innocent, you are here by mistake," he says he was told in more than 200 interrogations. "All they wanted was for me to be a spy for them.

Tags: torture, war on terror

Lost Land of the Jaguar

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:29:14 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

Wildlife documentary from the bbc showing an expedition to guyana in south america. They reveal the amazing animals lurking in the jungle.

[Video]

Tags: bbc, animals, documentary, south america

Firefox or ie???

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:54:34 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: yes, love Firefox, esp. its add-on...

Clip Source: www.sembeo.com

Pakistani Pres Drools Over Palin

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:26:33 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: (shaking my head)

Clip Source: nymag.com

"You are even more gorgeous than you are on the [TV] … Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you!" Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari to Sarah Palin yesterday. [LAT]

"Google got me to Gitmo"

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:25:26 GMT

clipped by: arifsali

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

The Authors@Google program welcomed Mahvish Khan to Google's New York office to dicuss her debut book, "My Guantánamo Diary".

"Google got me to Gitmo," is the first line of the book, a young woman's odyssey as she enters the world of Guantanamo Bay Cuba as a translator for the teams of laywers defending the detainees there. Mahvish Khan is an American lawyer, born to immigrant Afghan parents in Michigan. Determined to bring the due process of law to the people imprisoned at Guantanamo, she volunteered to translate for the prisoners. She spoke their language, understood their customs, and brought them Starbucks chai, the closest available drink to the kind of tea they would drink at home. And they quickly befriended her, offering fatherly advice as well as a uniquely personal insight into their plight, and that of their families thousands of miles away.

[Video]

Tags: google, book, afghanistan, united states