In this case, "slice and stain" is appropriate, because the subject is dead tissue. I've no doubt they'll get plenty of information from it, but it's likely they won't find what they want.

There are other useful methods for mapping the brain. MRI and PET scans can be used. (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/health/research/10spinal.html) www.nytimes.com

Also, genechip analysis and the tried-and-true protein blot offer up a lot information. Check out the Allen Brain Atlas... (http://www.brain-map.org/)

The mouse brain is very useful as a sort of analogy for the human brain, given the homology of genes and proteins. Of course, mice lack some of the functionality that we do, but a mouse brain can be "stopped" in vivo (using difficult techniques) or a fetal mouse brain can be dissected and its tissue actually grown live in vitro. These techniques offer even more opportunities for figuring out the nuances of different parts of the brain.

And - no surprise - we still have a lot to learn about it.

I think there are easy ways to get around these issues, even for the greediest of coal moguls. Investments will have to be moved away from coal soon anyway, because demand for this raw material will decrease due to the search for alternatives, increased value and safety of nuclear energy (that could be backed by a natural gas system - a plenteous resource in the US), and government policy. Owners of oil production in the Middle East have already moved to investment in other natural resources - they saw this coming.

Coal companies could use already mined land for construction of geothermal facilities. That's an investment, a recovery, AND probably a tax break. Or they could rest on their laurels and wait for the rest of the US to completely abandon coal, thus leaving them with defunct facilities, raped land, and a hefty clean-up bill from the EPA. They've got time to make a decision, sure. But I wouldn't give them any more than 10 years to figure it out.

Unfortunately (and I think you'll agree), that's not the way the government makes decisions. Try telling Congress that content has nothing to do with it - they may even all nod their heads

But here's how it will really go down: The core idea of net neutrality will be introduced, and the original sponsor will add in some qualifications and requirements - some having only the slightest connection to Net Neutrality. Then the House will argue about it. In the process, they'll tack on legal requirements such as net ID's for everyone, taxation on internet connection, regulation of pornography and graphic content, specific business subsidies, tax incentives for free services, and $3 million for a statue of a Vietnam War soldier somewhere in Wisconsin.

I'm serious. Read the bills that come out of Congress, and you'll see why everything we hope for ALWAYS gets marred by a bunch of elephants and donkeys in a stampede.

Should we give two shits about DeMint? No. Is the democratic party going to do any better? No. Is the FCC all that reliable in administering law correctly? ...NO. How many of you even watch the four major public broadcasting networks anymore? There you go. To sum it all up, yes, we want Net Neutrality, but the federal government will never make it happen without bending us over a barbed wire fence in Alaska.

...And he's full of shit.

He's been around a while, and he knows the business:

1. Recruit new band.

2. Ride their asses with marketing demands.

3. Produce music that everyone's okay with but doesn't involve any innovation or creativity.

4. Profit!

But here's my message to all the Bonos out there: I want your ship to sink. Yes. Your music blows, because that's the way the current business model works. When we're done pirating all your crap and giving it away for free ('Cause it's not worth money.)... When you disappear for lack of a salary, a real musician will take your place.

A good musician that makes his/her own records. That's the guy I'm going to pay. ...And Bono's concerned about the film industry now, but as far as I'm concerned, they could use some reform as well.

Shouldn't this have been required when the federal government first loaned them the money? Who F'd that one up?

But while the comp is still under warranty? Let's assume that's three years, max... I don't think that's enough tar to justify their equivocation. Apple is still being ridiculous. A warranty is a warranty, and if Apple had put a clear statement in the warranty documentation at purchase, that would be fair.

No, what it actually needs is two $20,000 loans, both repaid before you even break ground.

Bricking all of Time-Warner's faulty modems for them just might be classified as "virtuous". If the end-user weighs such situations as the ones you listed against having their identity stolen, I think they'll choose the former. I'll illustrate with an allegory:

You are about to step into a cross-walk and someone bumps into you before you can walk into the road. Just then, a car goes by at 40 mph. If you happen to be visiting another city or country, it's likely that you'll check for your wallet after the interloper leaves. But after careful thought, you'll find that you're happy to have that moment of uncertainty instead of being the victim of vehicular homicide.

As an aside, it behooves me to point out that I'm biased: I think (reasonably) that Time-Warner is a fucking cesspool of a company...

Go cry about it, Shill Queen. Even while Sony pulled their greasy tentacle back from the root kit debacle, they still find ways to make war on the public for sharing their media. The PSP Go is a clear example: Proprietary retailer? Go ahead and tell me the execs didn't get a chubby over this pile of shit. And, sure, proprietary cables are everywhere, but there's no excuse for perpetuating that annoying trend.

Microsoft gets their share of abuse on Slashdot too - a lot of people here probably have a penultimate goal in life to take M$ down. So quit whining and go play with your damn Betamax.

Stanislaw Lem, "Peace on Earth"

You only have the tip of the iceberg, here. The truth of our current landscape in research is that all animal models are grossly inadequate for a complete understanding of human physiology.

Even chimpanzees exhibit millions of minute differences in gene structure and chemical pathways that add up to millions more possible reasons for experimental outcomes.

So really, every simulation is going to fall short of giving scientists a fully dependable conclusion.

Sun may have some current research that will produce valuable results down the road. Especially since they consider their stock grossly undervalued. I wouldn't be surprised to see IBM come back with another offer - they've tasted the bitter fruit of a lost opportunity before...

So, if you're a zealot from the middle, does that make you right? ...And is it right for a zealot for the middle to spread FUD in the corners?

Looks to me like both crews did their jobs well... too well.