Sam has big plans for the future. They all seem to involve robots. I'm cool with that.

While Daleks are not *technically* robots, as they do have a small organic component, that doesn't keep Sam from considering them to be one of the coolest forms of (evil) robots around.

Speaking of robots with an organic component, while Daleks are firmly from the realm of science fiction (and evil), research on bridging the gap between organic brains and robotics has made great strides recently. Last summer researchers at the University of Reading constructed a robot with a brain of cultured rat neurons. Their work will help science better understand how networks of brain cells create complex animal behaviors and may result in better treatments for Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, stoke and other forms of brain injury and disease.

This summer researchers at the University of Zaragoza in Spain announced the results of their work to create a human brain controlled wheelchair. The work has some way to go, but represents a definite advance in the field. And to assuage the concerns that these scientists are bringing about our New Robot Overlords, it's worth passing on this quote from Javier Minguez, the lead researcher on this project:

"The most satisfying thing about these technologies is that we’re doing something useful for society. Everything you do is a little step forward for humanity."

Go SCIENCE!

Back to Sam and his robots.... A couple years ago, Jo bought me a very cool remote control Dalek for Christmas. Yes, really. What can I say, I married a quality woman! Sam has since claimed the Crimson Exterminator for his own purposes. Like demanding breakfast which is what proceeded the following picture by about 20 minutes.

For now, robots play a major part in Sam's playtime, his art and many of his conversations, even an appearance on YouTube. Who knows, perhaps someday he will join the ranks of researchers making "little steps forward for humanity."