Robot Olympics

            On Wednesday morning I finished adjusting my translation of “Le régiment des mal aimés” (The Regiment of Broken Hearts) by Boris Vian. I’ll upload it to Christian’s Translations tomorrow to begin the editing process towards publication. That might take a week. 

            I worked out the chords for the first two verses and choruses of “Monna Vanna et Miss Duncan” by Serge Gainsbourg. The verses have the same chords and the choruses match each other, so all that’s left to work out is the instrumental break between the second chorus and the third verse. 

            I weighed 85.8 kilos before breakfast. 

            I received an application form from the registrar’s office for a general undergraduate grant. Filling it out took all morning because I had to find out the monthly amounts for my three pension payments, the GST, the Ontario Trillium, and the Toronto Housing Allowance, and then multiply by eight. I had to calculate all my expenses such as rent and groceries for each month and multiply those by eight as well. Then when I finished the application I saw that it required two signatures and so I would have to print them, sign them, photograph them, and then convert them to pdf. 

            For lunch, I had Ritz crackers with five-year-old cheddar and two breakfast sausages, and a glass of raspberry lemonade. 

            I took my filled-out application form out on the deck where it was brighter, pinned the pages down with thumbtacks so they wouldn’t flap in the breeze, and photographed them. But then I realized I’d forgotten to sign the two pages that needed signatures and so I had to redo those. 

            In the afternoon I rode to Long and McQuade to buy three each of the E, B, and G strings. When the counter guy asked how’s it going I told him I had the “E, B, G, Bs” I went into the Long and McQuade electronics store two doors down to look at microphones. I asked about the wireless clip-on or lavaliere mics and learned that they require a wireless system that costs $900. He said that’s why most people that use them just rent them when they need them. I asked about USB mics and there are none for clip on mics unless I use an interface. So it would be about $200 for a wired clip-on and then another $200 for the interface. They have a USB mic that would fit on a stand like the one I have for $220. 

            When I got home I dug up my Shure microphone and plugged it for the first time in the mic hole in the back of my new computer with the 3.5 mm adaptor. I tested it in the voice recorder and compared it to the Samson USB mic that my daughter gave me. The Shure microphone had a clearer sound but lower volume than the USB mic. The USB mic was louder but with a bit of a hum. My Shure SM58 has been the most popular vocal mic in the world since 1966 and is the industry standard. It had static on my old computer but it sounds clearer on the new system. From what I’ve read online mics plugged into the mic hole on a computer have a better-quality sound than USB mics. I think I’ll go back to Long and McQuade tomorrow with my Shure mic to ask again how to improve the recording with it. 

            I weighed 85.2 kilos at 19:00. 

            I had a poached egg, four breakfast sausages, warmed-up naan, and a beer while watching two episodes of Astro Boy. 

            In the first story, Astro Boy is preparing to compete in the Robot Olympics. His main competition is a big robot named Humbug Number 1, and a beautiful female robot named Rocketta. At first Astro Boy wants to back out of the competition because he received a call threatening Dr. Elefun if he competes. But Elefun tells him that if one gives in to threats then bad people will be able to control the world with threats. 

            On the first day, there is a race around the world with part of it done by running, part by flying, and part by swimming. Astro Boy is ahead the whole way with Rocketta and Humbug second and third. Humbug’s owner plots to sabotage Astro Boy by having him attacked under the ocean by a giant robot octopus. But Rocketta helps him to destroy it and he is back in the race. Astro Boy crosses the finish line thinking he has won but he is told that Humbug crossed it twenty minutes before. But neither Rocketta nor Astro Boy saw Humbug pass them. Despite Humbugs mysterious advantage, Astro Boy ties with him by the end of the day. 

            The last day of the competition always has a surprise contest. They are told first to race to get a big bucket of water and then come back to learn the surprise mission. Astro Boy is ahead but on the way back he sees a forest fire and he stops to help put it out and to rescue the animals. Rocketta does the same but Humbug keeps on racing. When Humbug is first across the finish line he is told he is in last place. The surprise competition was the forest fire. Humbug is not even in third place because his brother Humbug 2 confesses that he switched places with Humbug 1 to jump ahead and win the first race. 

            In the second story, a train of nuclear submarines is carrying goods across the ocean when it is attacked by a powerful robot bird named Dunder. He destroys the train but spares the mother ship and tells the crew that he will destroy more if Astro Boy does not meet him. Later he attacks a supersonic plane, and then destroys several buildings. Each time he demands to meet Astro Boy. 

            People are starting to think Astro Boy is a coward but although Astro Boy wants to meet Dunder, the robot bird never says where he will be. Then Dunder comes to Astro Boy’s house when he is not home. Astro Girl tries to fight him but she is no match. Dunder finally says for Astro Boy to meet him at the Oceanside Power Plant. 

            Astro Girl is repaired but she asks Dr. Elefun to give her boot jets like her brother. He says no but when she starts crying he gives in. At the power plant, Astro Boy fights with Dunder. In addition to being strong, his wings can produce hurricane-force winds that send Astro Boy back. 

            While they are fighting Astro Boy asks why he wants to destroy him. Dunder says his creator Dr. Akal told him to. 

            Astro Girl shows up with her new jets and Dunder attacks her. Astro Boy saves her but his rocket boots are damaged. But now Astro Boy holds onto Astro Girl and uses the power of her jets to fly. While holding onto each other they outmaneuver Dunder. He gets his beak caught in the ground and then Astro Boy hits him hard. Dunder retreats but tells Astro Boy to meet him at Akal’s house in the land of Dogo. 

            Astro Boy gets new rocket boots and learns that they are Astro Girls because she gave hers up for him. 

            In Dogo, Akal worships the Goddess of Notsu. Dunder is beginning to question why he has to destroy a good robot such as Astro Boy. Akal announces to his followers that Astro Boy will be a sacrifice to Notsu. He knows Astro Boy is secretly in the crowd. Astro Boy beats Akal’s men and tries to catch Akal but he is behind invisible and indestructible plastic. 

            Dunder attacks but Astro Boy tunnels through the floor. He leads Dunder up where the air is thin so he can’t use his wings to make wind. Astro Boy has the advantage now and beats Dunder, blinding him. They crash into the temple and destroy it. Akal says he’s been a fool and will change. Dunder is dying and so Astro Boy asks Akal to tell Dunder that he defeated Astro Boy, so Dunder can die happy.