Sealed behind the crown molding of my kitchen, for inspiration and spiritual protection, is one of these guys:

I have a show of my photos opening this Saturday. The show is called "101" and features photos of various kinds of everyday objects, including robots. It's based on my "thing of the day" project, which some of you may remember. The show is at Halo Salon, 1919 3rd ave, Seattle, and the opening is this Saturday at 7:00 pm. Please come one and all. Not only would I like to see you and appreciate the support, but I'm very happy with the way the photos have turned out and I think you will very much enjoy the assorted robots, vegetables, tools, utensils, miscellaneous doodads, and other Things.

A robot playing theremin (and check out the uh drum machine). Gnarls Barkley theremin jam (nice MPC work too there). and some dude playing video killed the radio star (dude, turn the theremin on first). Bonus: video killed the radio star on upright bass, mandolin, and harp (warning: no theremins or robots). Bonus bonus: star trek/simpsons mashup on theremin, rhodes, and funnel.

  "Would you tell me, sir," the simulacrum said, "what a man is?" ...
  "A man can be defined as an animal that carries a pocket handkerchief. How about that? Mr. Shakespeare didn't say that."
  "No sir," the simulacrum agreed. "He did not. ... Now, you've defined a man as an animal which carries a pocket handkerchief. But what is an animal?"
  "I can tell you you're not," Barrows said... "An animal has a biological heritage and makeup which you lack. You've got valves and wires and switches. You're a machine." ...
  "Then what, sir, is a machine?" the simulacrum asked Barrows.
  "You're one. These fellows made you. You belong to them."
  The long, lined, dark-bearded face twisted with weary amusement as the simulacrum gazed down at Barrows. "Then you, sir, are a machine. For you have a Creator, too. And, like 'these fellows,' He made you in His image. I believe Spinoza, the great Hebrew scholar, held that opinion regarding animals; that they were clever machines. The critical thing, I think, is the soul. A machine can do anything a man can -- you'll agree to that. But it doesn't have a soul."
  "There is no soul," Barrows said. "That's pap."
  "Then," the simulacrum said, "a machine is the same as an animal." It went on slowly in its dry, patient way, "And an animal is the same as a man. Is that not correct?"

-- "We Can Build You", Philip K. Dick

My mom and I used to have this same basic debate. I don't think I ever convinced her.

From Christianity Today: top ten movie robots of all time. I'd definitely put Pris and Roy in there, probably at the expense of Johnny-5 or the Iron Giant (but I didn't see either of those movies, so who can say). I really want to see Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla now though.

We've all heard of a murder of crows and a pride of lions, but what's the name for a bunch of robots? I propose a cog. Anyway, here's a goddam cog of robots.

Josephine and I decided to go for a nice drive today, and pack a picnic lunch as well. She, of course, did the lunch -- club sandwiches with ham, cheese, egg, and bacon (all it was missing was the rich creamery butter!), fresh cherries, and little tiny chocolate cheesecakes. We headed out 522 (aka Lake City Way) toward Monroe, where we picked up 2 going toward Stevens Pass. We followed that to Index, where we turned off onto Index-Galena Road. Driving 2 is nice, though there were a lot of cars out today. Index-Galena Road is really nice, and if you follow it for about ten miles, you cross over the river, and after that there are a bunch of places to stop and get down near the water, and a few campsites with picnic tables.

We also brought along part of Josephine's early birthday present, her new toy Marvin:



As much as is possible for Marvin, he seemed to enjoy himself, hanging out with both me and Josephine, having some lunch, shooting at the wildlife, and generally cavorting.


Brain the size of a planet, and they expect me to enjoy throwing rocks into a river?