Rat Brains

Hmm, there have been a lot of rat-brain stories lately...
No, really, there have been a lot of stories about experiments done with rat brains. First, there was the story about the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/07/rat_brain_flies_jet/">scientists in Florida who got a rat brain to pilot an aircraft</a>. Then, there was a story about <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/16/rat_brained_android/">the android run by a rat brain. </a> But, when I got really got me thinking was when I saw this article about how <a target="_blank" href="http://www.newsisfree.com/iclick/i,67270165,1439,f/">rats can tell the difference between two languages.</a>
Taken separately, they don't seem like a big deal, but, what happens when you combine them together into a single package? How long before we see these freakish things on the battlefield? Truth is stranger than fiction. But, you know what? A science-fiction author predicted this kind of thing back in the early 80's. Yep, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.joecliffordfaust.com/">Joe Clifford-Faust</a>, author of "Company Man". He didn't get much attention back then, I thought, but he sure seems right on the money with his predictions. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?