>> I used the first 2 NOR gates to build a simple monostable
>> that turned on or off a low frequency oscillator made up
>> by the 3rd and 4th NOR gates.

Such circuits are famously susceptible to various outside influences
and the BEAM robotics folk attribute near magic (living-system like)
properties to very similar circuits.  For instance, if you're flashing
an LED at the output, the amount of light shining ON the LED can
change the behavior of the circuit (the BEAM magic consists of
maximizing these outside influences...)

BillW
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