Not too long ago, news that IBM researchers simulated a (damaged) mouse brain on the Blue Gene/L were making the rounds. Anyway, someone gave me a link to the research report:

"... we were able to represent 8x10^6 neurons (80% excitatory) and 6300 synapses per neuron in the 1 TB main memory of the system. Using a synthetic pattern of neuronal interconnections, and at a 1ms resolution and an average firing rate of 1 Hz, we were able to run 1s of model time in 10s of real time."

Maybe trying to simulate a mouse brain is too ambitious a goal. Perhaps they should've started with lobsters instead.

Energy figures:

• IBM Blue Gene/L: 1.5 MW
• Mouse brain: 8*10^6 neurons * 3*10^-12 Watt/neuron/firing rate * 10Hz = 0.24 mW [source]

The Departed

Crap. I want my four hours back (not really sure if it actually lasted four hours, but it sure felt like it).

I heard it was based on some Hong Kong cop movie. I bet the original was better.

O filme pode ser condensado em um aforisma aprendido em meus anos de Escola Municipal Tenente José Maria Pinto Duarte (o famoso "Pintão"), na longínqua década de 80: "cagoeta morre cedo".