Artificial Intelligence

By MIKE MORTON and SABRA MORTON
Published: August 18, 2005


WHEN we hear grumbling coming from the depths of our computer, we know that Ars Magna, the software program that always answers in anagrams, is awake and worrying.


This software sometimes can seem opinionated. Lately, for instance, it speaks happily of the Statue of Liberty as "built to stay free," but when it hears the name George W. Bush, it's likely to cry, "He grew bogus!" Ars is still angry about that C.I.A. leak.

So, Ars, it all began when Karl Rove, as he tells it, did not say the name of Valerie Plame. What do you think he was trying to do when he didn't name her?

Reveal. Impale.

Well, then, what did he achieve by not naming Valerie Wilson?

Orwellian vise.

But Mr. Rove is President Bush's key political advisor. Can't we depend on him to be truthful?

Leaky; solicit avid pro.

By which you mean Robert Novak, who is believed to have helped him expose Ms. Plame? What's Mr. Novak's job in this affair just now?

Bark: "Not Rove!"

Lately, Scott McClellan, Mr. Bush's press secretary, likes to say at news conferences, "I appreciate the question." What do you think he means?

Riot technique: appease it.

Ars, for more than two years we've heard accusations and denials and hours of commentary on this business. Do you have any idea what actually happened? Can you figure out who said what to whom, when?

Them want who? How?

What who? Now them?

Our thoughts exactly. But perhaps the full truth will be, uh, revealed. After all, Mr. Bush says he has instructed his staff that when the prosecutor comes calling, they're to fully cooperate. How do you read that?

Leery: coup aloft.

In the past, Mr. Bush said that anyone in his administration who exposes a C.I.A. agent will be fired. What might he say now?

"I'd ... well ... brief ..."

And if Mr. Bush is asked to fire Karl Rove?

"Karl ... forever ... I ..."

What advice would you give Karl Rove today?

"Lark OVER!"

And what will President George Bush do now?

He ponders big gesture.

Ah yes, his nomination to the Supreme Court. We'll get back to you on that one, Ars.

Mike Morton is a software engineer and the creator of Ars Magna. Sabra Morton is a writer.

I love Graanmas

cool!

Does anybody remember this from before? Did Claire show it to us before? Am I imagining that I've seen it already? Anyway, I love it!

http://www.andykaufmanlives.com/yatta.swf

Did anyone else see the AK lives page yesterday? Or was it the day before? It was a big list of links to photos and other stuff. That's where I found the link.

Do I sound totally confused? I've had a busy couple of days.

I saw that yatta link before... But I don't see the link on the AK lives page.