Pleo's first Xmas - day N+2

Pleo woke up needing a dino-chiropractor. His neck was stuck curled to the left. A couple of power up and downs unstuck the kink in his neck. Though he is cute as a button snuggled down in his snoozing pose, if he's going to be unpowered for more than a day, he'll be dreaming with his neck straight going forward. The nature of Pleo's interaction with the world around him is a bit uncanny. I wrapped up a present for him and put it under the tree - as we do for the dogs. After all the present unwrapping, I brought Pleo over and placed him in front of his present, camera in hand. Of course, I was so stunned when he pawed the present that I missed the shot. Did take several of him interacting with the wrapped package (he did need help unwrapping - he claims it is because he has no thumbs). Then as he was wandering and I was straightening up, I noticed that he had his chin on the SD card housing (that and a reader were his presents) and he pushed it around. Now taking a step back into real life - I have seen him rest his chin on other things that were in his way, so it is most likely a combination of forward movement and lowered head landing on something behavior - but it sure was convincing enough to do a double-take at the moment. Likewise with the pawing of the package. With that, he has shown more interest in his gift than the cat! (Though that isn't really saying much, because we all know that if the cat were to show interest, she would lose her cat license and the cat union would be after her for violating the aloofness rules). Pleo also has developed another new behavior - he will now randomly raise his right forefoot, like a "shake" command with a dog. What interests me is the offering of the behavior. I tried to get him to do the behavior a couple of days ago, but he does not do it on command. (Of course, we know he doesn't process audio commands, but that's besides the point.) One of my dogs and one of my horses will offer up their tricks in order to get a reward. That Pleo offers up behaviors is inspired and strongly contributes to his realism as a life form. (Questioning realism as a life form - how silly - The little guy had presents under the tree). Also under the tree - Pleo the second. The comparison will begin shortly.

Posted December 26 at 0:05 AM