Blinker - Android Hero | The Starset Bulletin
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Blinker - Android Hero
Dear readers,
If you were to visit the small fishing village of Reine, Norway, you would mostly find an ordinary town full of ordinary people living their lives. Parents waving their children off to school in the morning, businesses blinking on lights, and lines of commuters shuffling by on their way to work are all a part of the everyday bustle of most small cities. This last Saturday, October 17th, however, the town threw its first ever Android Day in honor of Blinker, the local robot-turned-hero-turned-celebrity. People dressed up in all kinds of techno-gear and attended a parade through the middle of downtown that lasted nearly two hours. There were floats, a marching band, two singing tropes, and a special carrying wagon for Blinker himself. Food trucks sold hot dogs and candy, and all the local businesses were open with discounts for anyone dressed up as a robot. All in all, it was a day of merriment for everyone involved.
The story behind this day began almost a year ago exactly, when Blinker’s owner, Carter Anders (age 75) purchased him from the online site OroroAndroid. Blinker was a “discount” model, due to an error in manufacturing that left him with one fully functional eye, and one eye that continually shuts on and off. This error led to Blinker’s name, as Anders says that Blinker always looks like he is signalling a right-hand turn. Anders also attests that Blinker’s malfunctioning eye has never caused a problem with his work. Blinker is a Senior Assistant android, designed to help elderly patients maintain their independence at home. Anders has owned three other similar androids in the past, and they have all always done similar tasks such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, and providing physical assistance for any strenuous movement Anders has to take.
Anders had owned Blinker for about three weeks when his heroic story unfolded. Anders took his young great granddaughter (Ingrid, age 6), for a walk along the Reine Fjord. Blinker followed along behind them, in case Anders should need any assistance. As they had many times before, Anders and Ingrid stopped partway to feed some local ducks a handful of frozen peas. On this fateful day, Ingrid, ran excitedly up to the top of a small cliff along the lake and tripped at the edge, falling five feet to the icy waters below. Anders shouted for help immediately, unable to reach Ingrid himself. Nearby passersby immediately began to approach, but Blinker was faster than all of them. The android leapt into the water, grabbed Ingrid’s small body, and carried her safely ashore, where she was able to be treated and later made a full recovery. Blinker, however, was not designed for water usage, and shut off due to damage a few minutes later. In honor of Blinker’s heroism, the family had the android repaired and upgraded to be able to handle water exposure better in the future. Sadly, the android’s memory was not able to be recovered, so he has no memory of the incident that led to his fame.
The android now enjoys a privileged position within the town of Reine, not only on his own special Android Day, but even throughout the rest of the year. Portraits of the heroic android are hung throughout the city, and he and Anders enjoy benefits such as preferential seating, free drinks and appetizers at some restaurants, and lifetime free repairs and upgrades at their local android depot. Anders’ family says that they consider Blinker a member of the family, the little robot who proved his love and loyalty in his heroic sacrifice.
With all my love, Rosalae Rovath of the Starset Bulletin
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