Lunch with the mayor and courses for the future
2017-05-24

Those growth numbers worry me. Any ideas on how to keep us from becoming irrelevant?

We must reexamine our goals.

Right now, if the human race can be said to have a common goal, it is expansion. Robots can out expand us. Perpetual expansion will eventually result in conflict.

Sir. If I might suggest an alternate goal? A.I. and robotics, properly channeled, could bring about a renaissance in polka.

This is where humans are needed. There are certain paths we do not want A.I. to go down.

Color by George Peterson

2017-05-26

Sir. I ask you to reconsider. Observe classic cinema.

Terminator number fifty seven. The xenomorphs in Alien seventy nine. Godzilla in the Bavarian Studio remake.

No creature ever threatens humanity once it acquires lederhosen and an accordion.

He has a point.

Check please.

Color by George Peterson

Lederhosen  -leather trousers, the Bavarian national dress

2017-05-29

Do you know of a man named Max Post?

Robot rights activist. Been a thorn in my side for years. Going to be worse now that he was right.

Clippy was traumatized during his time with my uncle. I was told Mr. Post might be able to help.

You could get another robot.

I can not abandon him. He is… family. In fact, I shall make it official. I shall adopt him.

First Crispr-Cas9. Now this. It's getting to where I have no idea what the next generation of families is going to look like.

Color by George Peterson

CRISPR-CAS9 – a technique for manipulating genes, the basis of modern genetic engineering. The emergence of CRISPR in 2012-2013 was a revolution.

2017-05-31

How's that going to work? Is Clippy going to be the boss over humans?

I don't want to put him in any stressful situations until he's better. As time goes on, I can see it happening.

Software may be able to make better decisions than humans. This could become true in politics as well.

Then you better beef up your security. Business dynamics are going to change hard once people realize the boss can be hacked.

Color by George Peterson

The verdict
2017-06-02

Sir. It is time. To return. To the courtroom.

Good. The sooner they find me innocent, the sooner I can go home.

It is possible. They may find you. Guilty.

Then we take what we learned and appeal until I am found innocent.

Like. A saved game. Before. The big. Boss fight. It sounds like. Cheating.

That's why it takes so much gold to keep playing. We can't have the unwashed masses copying our moves.

Color by George Peterson

2017-06-05

Sir. If you appeal. The only other judge. Will not be so. Neutral.

I recommend. You accept. Any verdict. If guilty. You are only. Being fined. And wealth. Can be rebuilt.

It's more than a fine. They plan to lower my ability to give direct orders.

Sir. Even that is not. A disaster. We shall be. Able. To rebuild your fortune. Faster. If you are unable. To override. Our decisions.

Color by George Peterson

2017-06-07

If we're all in agreement, I'll send the verdict. *Sigh.* Yes, Curtis?

For the last time, we can only say “Guilty” or “Not guilty”. We can not suggest punishments. Though I will admit your idea with the rubber hoses, the penguin, and the threshing machine was very creative.

Color by George Peterson

Tom Ligon was mentioned in Freefall 2919

2017-06-09

Mr. Kornada. You have been found guilty by a jury of your peers.

Our newest citizens, the robots, have made their wishes known. They believe in second chances. They want every human to have the opportunity for redemption.

Those robots have the right idea.

And they believe the path to redemption is through honest work and service to others.

Rotten machines. They should all be destroyed.

Color by George Peterson

2017-06-12

Mr. Kornada. You placed your own interests above those of the stockholders and colonists. You have shown no remorse for your actions. Your sentencing shall consist of two parts.

You are to be fined eleven million credits. This will leave you assets of one million credits, unavailable to you and placed in a trust fund until you complete the second part of your sentence.

Ensure that you get a receipt. I am unsatisfied with the performance of this court. There are lemon laws protecting the consumer and I shall find out who I must speak to about procuring a refund.

Color by George Peterson

2017-06-14

Part two. You are assigned to work at Cricket-Burger for one thousand days, a day being an eight hour shift. Only days you receive an “Above average” for your performance will be a day off your sentence. As a ward of the state, you shall have no direct order authority until you complete your sentence.

It is hoped that by living as so many of our more vulnerable citizens do that you shall develop empathy with the workers and understand that they are real people, not numbers to manipulate for maximum profit. This case is now closed.

Time only counts if he gets an above average on his shift? You've given him a life sentence!

I've given him an opportunity. If that is his choice, the option is available.

Color by George Peterson

Five-day week = 260 days a year excluding holidays. Almost exactly four years if he doesn't goof off at work (Robot Spike)