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Sorry I haven't been around in a while. Just plain been working a lot more lately.

Without going into some long diatribe at this point, I will politely say that I disagree with portions of Mike Hart's recent blog, "Resolution Repercussions."

You all might agree. Who knows? Go leave a comment if you wanna. I appreciate the views of the folks I work with and think it would be boring if people all had the same views as me.

Jackie Parks article, "Finding Dull Delightful" is a great tour through parenting when kids get sick. Just this week, Parks' kids were sick. So were mine. We bonded. It's a parent thing I'm sure those of you who are parents share with lots of folks.

I wrote a commentary on the Margaret Kern-Brothers statement. I put it on my personal blog, Paperback Writer, just because I thought it was a little too personal for a straight-up ABC blog. It discusses feelings when you have an unsupportive family. Her, as a daughter of a killer with a deadbeat dad. Me, as an artist who isn't supported either by family other than my immediate family of kids and friends.

You can comment on any of those blogs or this one, or just read, or whatever. You know how it works.

Nick, ABC23

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How soon will robots replace our children and pets?

By N.L Belardes, ABC23

It was a surreal moment. I stood at Wired Nextfest in the dark lights of the Exhibition Hall near a table lined with robots, computers and people. I’d just watched the life-like Hanson Robotics boy robot twitch its simulated facial muscles and stare wide-eyed into the direction of all the people gathered around.

It was a robot zoo. Or maybe a birthing center like the kind you see in hospitals with large windows so you can peer in and see what life has just created.

As I started to walk away amid the buzz and whirl of sound and sight I heard a woman coo. Sure, there were a lot of parents and kids around, but this was weird. It was like the kind of coo you would hear from someone doting over another person’s baby.

I had a camera with me but I just froze. I couldn’t even take a picture because I thought I might ruin the moment. I suddenly felt like I was staring right into the face of one of the greatest ethical dilemmas our society will soon face. The woman’s own face contorted into a look of coddling pleasure. She looked in her mid-40s, with shoulder length brown hair. She was expressive. Zeno, the revolutionary robot friend in the shape of a boy was being talked to in motherly fashion. The woman said something like, “Oh, I think you are so handsome… oh yes I do, look at you… you are adorable…yes you are!”

She responded to every blink, turn of the head, and open-mouthed grimace the toy robot made.

Sure I’ve seen Blade Runner a million times. It’s a cult classic that includes life-like robots that may or may not be friends to the creators who developed them. Some of the robots are child-like.

Or AI. Remember that Spielberg flop of a film? It might be time to dust it off, watch it again, and dive into the ethical issues of robots in the image of man, albeit a little man, a kid.

Innocent, right?

I remember meeting the concept developer for AI. He was living right here in Bakersfield. We spoke about the artwork involved, the robotics. The same guy had done all the ideation for Terminator. Nice robot man-killer designer turned friendly fluffy AI designer of all robots friendly to humans: stuffed bears, prostitutes and yes, little boys that can replace the idea of a real boy. Pinocchio in reverse.

That idea isn’t as far-fetched as you think. While I’d love to sit here and type a wonderful piece about how all Americans have perfect family values, that just isn’t the case.

And it’s not even a family value issue when discussing moral ethics and whether we as a society should allow life-like robots to replace our children and our pets.

And let’s not forget your cars, jewelry and whatever else you’re obsessively attached to. How hard would it be to be attached to a robot that only cost the amount of a Wii, and that talks to you, wanders around your house, and calls everyone by name it sees with its camera eyes?

And expressive through simulated skin movements. And intuitive.

And no dog poo to clean up, and with its own heat source so that it’s not so cold and lifeless as a Robosapien. And you never have to turn it on or off. And you control it wirelessly. 802.11b friendly as it maneuvers through your house, suddenly, and without warning, a part of your family.

I ask you once again, how soon will robots replace our children and pets?

Watch the videos.

Related Article: "Future Technologies Move Into Reality-Driven Phase
Wired Nextfest 2007 Reveals User-Friendly Future."

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Thanks to Bakotopia.com I posted a this story on a new ABC23 blog titled Nick 2.0 and mentioned on my morning on-air segment.

Excerpt:

Of course there's ethnic diversity among the firemen of Kern County. But does the giant mural of firemen in downtown Bakersfield represent such diversity?

Pride, safety, heroes. That's what I first thought and that's what I still think when I see the giant mural across from Bakersfield's downtown fire station on 21st and F streets. I've passed by the mural countless times and peered up at a photo collage designed to spark pride in the community's 130-year history of firemen.

But then I was in a discussion with someone at Bakotopia.com about a concern with the mural. It wasn't a concern about firemen themselves. We all know they're heroes. They save lives. I'm sure they take a lot of heat. Pun not intended.

What was brought to my attention was the lack of ethnic diversity in the photo.

I suddenly realized that being dual ethnic myself that I was blinded by the grandeur and pride instilled in the artwork. It's not a bad piece of artwork.

But we're talking about a giant billboard that our community views everyday.

For some reason I instantly thought of Tony's Pizza on California Avenue. Now, Tony's Pizza is a shrine to local firemen. Walk into the restaurant and you get a sense that firemen in Kern County are a multicultural, diverse society of people. You'll see actual firemen inside the restaurant chowing down on pizza. You'll see photos, paintings, and you'll feel a sense of pride. You won't feel brown, black or white. You'll just feel cozy and no longer hungry after a great meal.

(read the full article on ABC23's Nick 2.0 Blog)

KNZR 1560's Ralph Bailey came into the ABC23 studios shooting from the hip Monday night.

Although he personally finds nothing wrong with women breast-feeding in public, he still called women boobs for not complying to the will of uncomfortable people who might express their distaste of hungry babes feeding off mommies in public.

My stance? I take Jackie Parks' side in the Two-Minute Take youtube video that I attached. I don't think there's anything wrong with a mother feeding her child in public.

There's more nudity on Cartoon Network.

Apparently an ABC23 viewer took Jackie Parks' side to an entirely different level. You will have to hear/watch that for yourself.  Warning: language. (second video deleted per request of Bakersfield.com)

Original post, "Local Applebee's Supportive Of Nurse-In."

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Although Baketown is bashing the poor kid who is crossing mountains by foot for love as just being an unemployed loser, I'll just go ahead and take the dreamy approach that love supercedes employment opportunities, welfare checks, and corporate offices.

Love is just what it is. You can't put an employment price tag on it. In most movies do you care about the love story or about whether both characters are employed?

We live in a society (and county) where people lose jobs, pick up the pieces, and move on. Sometimes people don't have jobs. Doesn't mean they're going to stay down and out at all. Personally, I think Staker's commitment to his journey is showing a great work ethic.

I've been unemployed before and in love. So what? Big deal! Besides, CNN keeps begging us for video, so I think people are appreciating this story... and Bakersfield.com covered it as well. Great job!

Now that I vented, have a look at the TRAVEL JOURNAL I've put together. I'm calling Staker every few hours to ask him about the latest, then posting on the original story.

It's a great love story whether you agree or disagree with all the employment crap...

- Nick, ABC23