Meditations of the Machine

Given the limits of bipedal locomotion, it always surprises me how obsessed the Japanese are with two-legged robots. Granted, the market there is focused on human interaction and caring for the elderly and disabled: Japan’s population is aging fast and their birthrate is extraordinarily low so they need friendly androids as receptionists and nurses.

But why put a humanoid robot on the moon? … Ah, yes. I see. Because it would be cool as shit.

Filed by webmaster at 9:46 pm under Robots
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For some time, my friend Christopher and I have been infatuated with the song “Tokyo Storm Warning” (Track 3 on the Elvis Costello and the Attractions album Blood and Chocolate). For the longest time, we thought one of the lines was “Japanese got Jesus robots tellin’ teenage fortunes, for all we know and all we care they might as well be Martians”—which we agreed was really a cool line. Later, we were disappointed to learn that the line is actually “Japanese God-Jesus robots…” which seemed decidedly less cool and a little nonsensical.

Until now… (Click here for a short explanation or here a cheesy video.)
You gotta love Japan.

Filed by webmaster at 8:35 pm under Robots
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