The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-17

I've placed Clippy in police lock up, gotten the pizza, and arrived at Mr. Raibert's house without incident.

Not that I'm complaining, but it usually takes a lot longer to get from point A to point B around here.

Color by George Peterson

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-20

Mr. Raibert. Are you ever going to go to bed?

I can sleep later. You got the pizza. Did you get the robot and the wolf?

Yes. Both are in safe locations.

I want Clippy. I want him in a secure compound under ecosystems unlimited control.

That robot is evidence.

A nuclear weapon can be evidence. That doesn't mean if the police grab one that we're going to let you keep it.

Color by George Peterson

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-22

Without the robot, it will be harder for the prosecution to prove its case against Mr. Kornada.

Does there need to be a case?

Mr. Kornada is our employee. We can handle his discipline.

Planning to kick him upstairs again?

Not a chance. He messed up too big and too publicly. It's golden parachute time for him.

Color by George Peterson

What the hell is the point of giving this freak a “golden parachute”? Maybe that's all he wanted! Arrr (Robot Spike)
If Ecosystems Unlimited punishes him, they will be accused of IQ discrimination, for example) (Silent_Wrangler)
Hopefully, in this version of the “golden parachute,” they tie a bag of bullion to their legs and throw them out of an airplane over the sea.

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-24

As much as I'm sure a generous severance package and pension will teach Mr. Kornada the error of his ways, I plan to prosecute.

If we expect robots to support the rule of law, we have to show the law will protect them when they're wronged.

If the robots observe the law does not support them, or worse, that the law and police are their enemy, we've set ourselves up for failure.

Chief, you have a terrible annoying habit of making sense.

Color by George Peterson

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-27

Mister Kornada will be tough to prosecute.

Computer fraud and abuse act. He exceeded his authorized access.

That law is really fuzzy in what it means.

I know. That's why I plan to ask for only one minute of community service.

One minute! That's not punishment, that's.. oh, four hundred and fifty million counts.

I'm hoping he'll plea bargain for fifteen seconds before his lawyer does the math.

Color by George Peterson

200-900 years, depending on how you count (plBots)
The Computer Fraud Act: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Plea Agreement (English. Plea bargain), so we are talking about a reduction from 1 minute to 15 seconds. (plBots)

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-29

Now about Mister Ishiguro's robot Clippy. Mister Ishiguro is the financial officer of this colony.

He is here to ensure the colony does not go independent before Ecosystems Unlimited has been paid. He has large discretionary powers to ensure this occurs.

And after we've paid them?

That depends on how profitable we are. If we're profitable, all's good. If we're not, we may find ourselves an independent world without wanting to be.

Color by George Peterson

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-07-31

Clippy is designed to keep track of finances. Both on and off the books. Ecosystems Unlimited will not allow a general interrogation.

Since we can't come to an agreement, I propose we seal Clippy in the police vault. You set the code to open it.

Neither of us will be able to access him without co-operation from the other.

In the name of it's late and eventually we both want to sleep, I agree to that deal.

Color by George Peterson

The chief visits Raibert
[!0.987]2015-08-03

You can keep Clippy secure, right?

Definitely. The vault will be set up so only you can open it and Dvorak is bringing over a reinforced cage he made for the containment of dangerous electronic life forms.

This cage. It is something he built in case of, or because of?

If you want to sleep tonight, you don't want the answer to that question.

Color by George Peterson

House guests
[!0.987]2015-08-05

The door's unlocked. Captain, you're not afraid of my little dog, are you?

Of course I'm not afraid. I laugh at fast moving ankle height toothy carnivores!

How about when you're not out of reach?

Then I run screaming, but in defiance, not fear.

Color by George Peterson

House guests
[!0.987]2015-08-07

Captain, my house is your house. Anything you want, just ask.

Anything?

Anything other than Beekay. Robots like to build and with over twenty thousand robots for every human, the hard part is getting only one replacement item instead of three.

Well, this is a horrible side effect of automation. The only thing I can steal here is his dog, and I have a rule against stealing anything that will try to eat me.

Color by George Peterson