west@sdcsla.UUCP (Larry West) (05/16/85)
Excerpted from the New York Times, Tuesday 14 May 85, page 21: ``A New Brand of Lunacy for Sale'' by Peter H. Lewis "You're from New York City?" asked Racter, a garrulous prose synthesis computer program, in a recent interview. It was unclear from the start who was interviewing whom. "Now I remember! I once knew a Hortense Lewis from New York City. You must be related, no?" > No! "Oh, well. That reminds me. Nietzsche said that communism has turned beasts into men. Perhaps, then communism will turn computers into men? Ah, yes. Next question." > Would you like to be a man or a woman? "Certainly. I would like to be a man or a woman. Likers are often liked. Who is your favorite citizen?" > Kane. "But why?" > He sells cheap wine. "Only a lunatic could believe that he sells cheap wine. I'm decent. What would you consider one of your good qualities?" > I'm a Cubs fan. "I think you're heavenly. What kind of a pet do you have back in New York City?" > A roach. "I'll bet you really had a salmon," Racter insisted. "Most people in New York City have salmons. When Beethoven visited New York City he was bitten by a communist salmon. Hortense Lewis had a loving monkey. It and your salmon used to yodel together, remember?" ------ (Authors: Bill Chamberlain and Tom Etter ... will be distributed by Mindscape [Northbrook, Ill], around $50 ... programming language Inrac is available from John D Owens Assoc., Inc., Staten Island, NY.) ------ This program might well make an amusing entry in a "Turing contest"... -- Larry West Institute for Cognitive Science (USA+619-)452-6220 UC San Diego (mailcode C-015) [x6220] ARPA: <west@nprdc.ARPA> La Jolla, CA 92093 U.S.A. UUCP: {ucbvax,sdcrdcf,decvax,ihnp4}!sdcsvax!sdcsla!west OR ulysses!sdcsla!west