From the Movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" - HAL Resurrected

Imagine if you had a fully computerized telescope system that could talk to you, like the new Astro Physics mounts. And what if that telescope system had been programmed by Stanley Kubrick, the movie director. The dialog might sound something like this:

"Dave, why are we looking at M13 again Dave. You've looked at it every night of the summer so far. Why don't we try Mars Dave. And Dave, I think I really need one of those new type 6 Naglers, and I would feel much better if you bought me a CCD camera. An ST-8E would be nice Dave. Why don't you think about it Dave......."

And your name isn't even "Dave"! Go ahead, unplug it!

Published in the August 2001 issue of the NightTimes