Conversation with a Robot

 

Today I worked on campus, and at lunchtime Hardingfele and I went on a walk and then went to see the two new robots in the newest building on campus. They can converse with you, in a manner of speaking. We asked them all sorts of dumb questions (me: "what's your sign?" robot: "I don't have a zodiac sign, but I'd like to think I'd be a fun one like Gemini." Gemini? Shudder! AI really is evil!), and at one point it sounded like it said something in German, so I asked if it spoke French. It said no, and when I said, "But you speak German?" it asked if I remembered what it said in German. I said "Nein," but it asked what I was counting, so Hardingfele said, "Specific gravity." It asked if this were for physics or engineering, so she said, "For pee," and I translated, "For urine composition," but the robot politely ignored that. Then I asked if the robot could sing. It said no, unfortunately, but what would I have wanted it to sing? For some odd reason the first thing that popped into my head was "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, but before I could say anything, Hardingfele hollered, "Smoke on the Water!" and I said, "No f--king way! That's what I was going to say!" The robot completely ignored my swear and cheerily said that great minds think alike, so I added, "And dirty minds think aloud." Hardingfele said, "We have to get back to work now!" and the robot said, "Have a good day!" I hope nobody is making a transcription of our conversation with the robot...

Then I got a bill for a routine appointment I'd had online, and insurance covered nothing. I called to find out if that was because it was an online appointment, but they told me I don't have insurance. I said then who am I paying all these premiums to? Hopefully we can get this all figured out - I sent them a copy of my insurance card.

We had a Union meeting at six, and I usually get home about fifteen minutes before that, so I figured I'd have some time to change into play clothes and get settled before the meeting. Of course today the shuttle was really late picking me up, so I was already late for the meeting by the time I got home. I hadn't eaten yet, so I muted myself and turned off my camera to have a bite to eat, and just after I finished eating, there was a knock at the door. I almost ignored it, but I did get up and open it, and it was our downstairs neighbor with a Red Tasseled Hat for me and one for Travalon!

Here I am wearing Travalon's hat. He said I look like Dumb Donald from Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.

Here he is for reference.

Travalon will not be wearing his at the protest, but I'll wear mine. Maybe I'll take that grad student's idea and switch between this hat, my plaid tam with the Red Tasseled Hat pin, and the Contrarian hat. Keep the baddies on their toes!

Jilly Moose sent me a photo of the moose she needle felted.

This is a craft form I know nothing about. I know a lot of people who crochet, including my current boss and the woman who works with Hardingfele and goes to our church. Good thing I don't know how to knit or crochet, or I'd probably have even more hats than I do now.

Famous Hat