I have it on good authority that our robot overlords will overlook minor transgressions in exchange for a case of synthetic 10W-30.

How many "i"s in "vindication"?

I need to do a happy dance of some sort. Now we can frickin' talk about a television show.

It's strange, I like almost all the characters. Very rare for me.

which version of BG is it? having never watched any, i assume there probably is the original 70's version complete with bell bottom space suits and the revival of the late 90's early 00's...

It's the miniseries + television series c. 2003

Thought provoking. Wonder what I'd do if humanity sat on the brink of annihilation.

Actually, I remember being asked this question at my Muslim "Sunday School" many years ago.

and your answer was "i'd place a bet on humanity's destruction. a halla bet, of course."

Well, I think the intention was to promote prayer, making amends, etc. I was too busy asking if we had spaceships and other colonized planets. They dismissively said "Sure, why not?" so I created an elaborate lottery scheme, doctor/engineer/botanist/geoscientist/astronomer allocations for each ship, and repositories for storing as much information as possible about everything.

Unfortunately, safeguarding humanity was apparently not the point of the lesson.

"Unfortunately, safeguarding humanity was apparently not the point of the lesson."

Good thing you didnt go to Irshad Manji's school in Canada, or you would have been thrown out for asking such questions, even while wearing that chador all the girls were supposed to wear.

Safeguarding humanity?

Ever read "I, Robot?" Given the nature of humanity and politics, I must admit I'm to the point where I might very well side with the damnable machines. At least they'd be less whiny.

Assuming they get their oil, obviously.

All of Asimov's robot-related books are outstanding. However, in general, all of the robots are good. well, except until they invent the zeroith rule...

Speaking of Asimov, cory doctorow wrote a neat short story that plays (in part) off of Asimov's 3 laws.

I've never actually read I, Robot. Should I?

Dunno. It's a short-story collection - basically all engineering fiction, really, where a machine goes wrong in some stupid way and Our Heroes have to risk life and/or limb to fix it. Amusing enough, I guess.

Well, in a sense it was groundbreaking sci-fi in that Asimov starting pointing out that robots didn't have to be either servile or evil. Beyond mere amusement, it does ask (and suggest answers to) some interesting questions about how to control servants who are more intelligent and powerful than their masters.

Plus there's the fun commentary on faith when a certain batch of robots find religion...

i highly reccomend it.

you'd also probably enjoy his robot novels.