my floor has never been so clean

and it's all thanks to my new pet.

i am now the proud owner of a roomba irobot, and i can't say enough good things about him. despite the fact that he tried to eat my chuck taylors yesterday and once got lost under my bed and refused to come out, he's quite useful. he's my new favorite thing.

excepting the above minor issues, he's fairly autonomous. when he's finished or tired, he scurries back to his base to recharge. by placing sensors in front of off-limits areas i help him stay out of trouble, and he can automatically detect and avoid stairs as well. on top of all that, he's quieter and more thorough than my manual (read: abandoned! obsolete!) vacuum.

i predict that someday roombas will be a convenience many are accustomed to, akin to the dishwasher. it reminds me of my great grandfather, who was a collector and always needed the latest gadget. because of this he was the first in the neighborhood to have a clothes washer. although it was wooden, loud, and smelly (it used gasoline for fuel), his wife agreed it was better than the alternative: doing it herself. the invention freed her to do other more rewarding things with her time.

i'm afraid i don't use the time gained by robby - yes i've named him - as productively as i could, although last night he cleaned while i took a shower and read half a book. yay for technology!