Ay, ay, ay, robot

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto: A United Nations report is warning about the potential threat posed by “killer robots” that could make life-or-death decisions without input from human controllers, including guard robots developed by electronics-maker Samsung. The Samsung robots are controlled by humans but have an “automatic mode.”

Until the U.N. drafts some actual Robot’s Rules of Order, we recommend speaking only in soothing tones to your smartphone.

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Now that’s a Growler: Australia announced that it is ordering a dozen Boeing EA-18G Growler advanced electronic warfare aircraft. The modified F/A-18 Super Hornet jets are used to jam enemy radar and other electronic devices.

Actually, Australia thought it was just ordering a dozen growler jugs of Foster’s lager for a barbecue, which explains why it asked Boeing to throw in some buckets of ice.

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“I would have never believed this would happen to me”: Troubles for Kevin Hulten, aide to Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, have deepened with the discovery of sexually explicit photographs on a county computer that he used. Hulten has balked at resigning, attaching conditions to his departure.

That, and he needed time to put the finishing touches on his letter to Penthouse’s Forum.

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