October 6, 2016

Neural networks modeled on theories of emergent learning and decision-making processes in the brain are becoming a near-ubiquitous tool in modern science, used for everything from cracking Go to recognizing gestures. / stanford.edu, The Verge

Back in May, the director of public programming at a Kansas City library was arrested in his own library, at a talk of his own organizing, after defending the right of an attendee to ask pointed, pro-Palestine questions to a US diplomat. / bordc.org

Paraplegics can “learn” to walk again with the assistance of virtual reality technology that takes advantage of the brain’s ability to change itself. / abc.net.au

Charles Mudede travels to Vancouver and re-encounters “taxi-cab racism,” for lack of Lyft and Uber. / thestranger.com

Hong Kong’s beloved Cantopop stars have dimmed, thanks to increased censorship and competition imported from the mainland. Pictured is Roman Tam, the “Godfather of Cantopop,” whose cheesy ballad “Below the Lion Rock” keeps getting Hong Kong soccer fans in trouble for singing instead of the national anthem. / BBC, republicordeath.wordpress.com

Going by recent headlines, we’re all a little “ecosexual.” And even when we don’t know it, we’re all a little implicitly biased. / Outside, The New York Times

Two reads worth reading about American intervention in Syria:

“Could the Conflict in Syria Lead to World War III?” by Paul Wood / The New York Times

“Don’t Intervene in Syria,” by Steven Simon and Jonathan Stevenson / The New York Times

“Who gives a shit about your imagined journey to self-realization in our consumerist age? Make me more empathetic or go back to Iowa, asshole.” Alex Balk writes an enjoyable brief rant against contemporary fiction: “Why the Fuck Would I Waste My Time Reading Literary Fiction If It’s Not Going To Give Me An Edge In The Mental Cognition Game?” / The Awl

“It’s normal to work under these conditions, to be threatened with arrest on one side and kidnap on the other, to have to conduct major surgery underground and constantly see buildings around us reduced to rubble. In the last year alone our hospital was targeted five times. That’s become normal.” Heartbreaking diary entries by one of the only doctors remaining in Aleppo. / New Statesman

Theranos Inc. plans to shut down its blood-testing facilities and shrink its workforce by more than 40 percent. / The Wall Street Journal

Somewhat related: Foreign recruits are apparently the best educated within the Islamic State. / lemonde.fr

“If you don’t believe in climate change, you don’t believe in facts, and science, and empirical truths.” Leonardo DiCaprio says people who don’t believe in climate change should be barred from holding public office. / The Guardian

In case you’re equally interested in the outcome of this year’s presidential election and the latest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, you may be surprised to hear that frequent Drag Race judge Lucian Piane believes Trump is more trustworthy than Clinton, whom he denounces adamantly. / The New York Times, Twitter

“When I get back from tour, I’m going to have missed three soccer seasons of hers, you know, half the school year is up and I wasn’t there for it.” Schoolboy Q on the difficulties of being a successful rapping father. / Ssense

Between 2011 and 2014, Trump spent nearly $300,000 from his Foundation’s coffers to lay the infrastructure for his presidential run, sometimes—obviously—breaking FEC rules. / realclearpolitics.com

Related: New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has issued a cease and desist letter to the Foundation to force it to stop fundraising, after the Washington Post reported that it does not have the proper credentials to solicit money from the public. / Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post

Just 10 of America’s state supreme court justices are queer (that’s.02%). / Truthout

BuzzFeed News obtains copies of three of Trump’s bankruptcy filings and the court depositions that came with them. / BuzzFeed

“This storm will kill you. Time is running out.” Florida governor tells 2.5 million peoplt to hit the road before Hurricane Matthew arrives. What’s the best way to get people to evacuate? Fear, fear, and more fear. (Photograph shows flooding in Haiti after 2010’s Hurricane Tomas passed by.) / The Washington Post, The New York Times

In case the video for D’Angelo’s “Untitled” was part of your sexual awakening, here’s the (breathy, gif-laced) write-up you’ve been waiting for. / BuzzFeed