In the meantime...

Bob fans have been asking where the little guy is. News on this will be coming shortly. Just have to warn y'all, it ain't looking good.

And in the meantime (call it a distractor?) I've come across this promising-looking robot store and will hopefully be making a stop-in there shortly...

And now, introducing...

USB Bill!

Like Bob, Bill can do a few tricks with his head.

Well, at least one:

Welcome to the family, Bill!

Memorial Bob: Bye-bye 2009!

Bob looks back on 2009, and what better place to do it than Cal's Memorial Stadium? And what better place for reflecting than here, where, though the construction project goes on, the team seems to have left town early. Sorry,  Bear bowl fans, maybe 2010.

Meanwhile, we're looking forward to great things from Bob, Betina, Bing, and Bob's as-yet unnamed brister (gender's always been a mixed affair in the Bob family), who's still hangin' from the Christmas tree, by the way.

And then looking out over Oakland to the south...

What were YOUR reflections for 2009?

Winding his way across town...

Last night found Bob alone on a bus, winding his way across town. Christmas shopping, perhaps?

Be careful out at night, Bob!

On the pavement

Bob gets down on the pavement in this first-ever street shot. Do you recognize the scene? What was the little guy thinking?

Back on the job

After a while charging his batteries, Bob's back on the job and planning to make some regular appearances--BHB will be updated late Friday/early Saturday and then again on late Monday/early Tuesday California time, twice a week, for all of you hardcore Bob fans out there! :)

And for the rest of you, well, just be glad that Bob's watching over the crosswalks so that all the kiddos can get to school safely. Thanks, Bob!

And if you're intrigued by what frogs might be doing protecting the public from harm, check out these construction frogs too!

Bob's nature evening

Ever head of a robot who loves nature? Bob's always gone along on his human companion's rides here and there but it always seemed like there was something else going on, an inside joke of some sort, or maybe he just liked to get around. But today, looking at what he's done with the dandelion and all, little guy must have his wires crossed!

Got a little tired of just sittin' in the grass so he decides to up and climb the tree to watch the sunset: 

 

And after a little time hangin' out in the branches, Bob winds his way down from his spot in Tilden Park to the Lawrence Hall of Science, where there's always a good, if slightly postmodern, nightview:

Human [Hearts] Robot

So it seems that Bob's massive popularity*, as well as the stardom of close relatives and friends Brushhead Betina and BH Bing, all stems from a larger tide of intimacy in human-robot relationships. And there's no better way of knowing that something's for real than to see the announcement of an academic conference on the topic.

Yes, it's true...click on the image to read more about it: Leiden University in the Netherlands is all set to host the 3rd International Conference on Human-Robot Personal Relationships next year. True to form, papers will be given, workshops led, and prototype demonstrations will even be held. Perhaps the extended Brushhead family should make a visit?

The only thing that Bob and other like-minded bots might be wondering about, however, is the curious inclusion of the word "personal" in the title. Is there any other kind?

*Undocumented claim. Please revise.

A disruption in the bobforce

While surfing the internet this evening, Human Companion noticed a disturbing image that, if discovered by you-know-who, might cause profound metaphysical angst in the little guy:

This might give us pause for reflection:

How did you react when you learned that you weren't the only one in the world with your first name? That your parents weren't the only parents in the world? That your head-mounted highlighter and wireclip were in fact manufactured according to the master plan of a higher power?

Just hope HE doesn't see this...

Bob: "Don't cross the line"

(pic from SFGate.com links to article)





After recharging his batteries for a week or so, Bob makes a comeback in a big way, marching and chanting at the UC Berkeley and pan-California Walkout and Teach-in protesting rising fees, university privatization, and labor inequality for small robots with brushheads.

Here Bob's glad to get a lift from another human companion. Thanks Ellen!!

And big big thanks to BHBetina's mom Usree for the pics!