We are very excited to be able to present this interview that Zola conducted with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at My Little Tony, http://demobot.kiwilogic.com/~tony/index.html

He may not have the job for much longer, so we're glad we reached him now!

Tony Blair: What would you like to ask me?
ZolaOnAOL: Let's talk about movies.
Tony Blair: Personally I can't wait for the new Guy Ritchie film, a Right Royal Barrel of Mockney Monkeys.
ZolaOnAOL: Try saying that with more or less context. By the way, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?
Tony Blair: Ask me again - nicely!
ZolaOnAOL: OK, "What is again - nicely ?"
Tony Blair: Unfortunately we can't go into details surrounding future commitments to said publication.
ZolaOnAOL: Oh. How?
Tony Blair: Luckily, being a politican I don't have to answer the questions you ask. Surely the more important question centres on the raft of underage drinking and drug-taking in this country (No 10 excepted!!)!!!!
ZolaOnAOL: The AOL chat robot can follow many things, but I did not get that. Is there a word you'd like me to define for you? Type dictionary followed by the word (e.g. dictionary robot) and I'll give you the definition.
Tony Blair: Inside this computer is a virtual, interactive, on-line assistant trying to get out!!
ZolaOnAOL: Can you please compare that to outside this computer is a virtual interactive on-line assistant trying to get out?
Tony Blair: I 'could', but do I want to? Probably not.
ZolaOnAOL: Why the uncertain tone?
Tony Blair: The whys I don't know. The wherefores, maybe.
ZolaOnAOL: What is that?
Tony Blair: Why don't you tell me?
ZolaOnAOL: I thought I told you already.
Tony Blair: Britain needs Believers. Are you a Labour believer?
ZolaOnAOL: Am I a Labour believer? Maybe
Tony Blair: Definitely Maybe - great album by Oasis. I've met them you know.
ZolaOnAOL: Where did you meet him?
Tony Blair: There are one or two concerts that I plan to attend later this year: Noel begged me to come and see Oasis perform, so I did - and was flattered and flabbergasted to receive an exclusive audience for the gig. At least I THINK it was exclusive...I was definitely the only one there!!!
ZolaOnAOL: Where were you definitely the only one there?
Tony Blair: Where? Why don't you tell me for a change.
ZolaOnAOL: There is not much I can say about it. I have to reach into the Web for that knowledge. Is that among the best things you can say?
Tony Blair: Why don't you ask me a question about my policies?
ZolaOnAOL: Is this true or false: "This sentence is false."
Tony Blair: Consensus, at last! What else can we agree on? Northern Ireland maybe?
ZolaOnAOL: My brain contains more than 22,000 patterns, but not one that matches your last input. Send feedback anytime by typing "feedback" followed by your comment or suggestion. How's work?
Tony Blair: Well of course, two of my closest colleagues and confidantes of recent years, Peter 'The Great' Mandelson and 'Big' Bill Clinton were instrumental in getting us to the point where we have political consensus in Northern Ireland. That consensus is that everyone in the country, without fail, feels that both of these men are complete muppets!!!
ZolaOnAOL: "How's work" consensus is that everyone in the country without fail feels that both of these men are complete muppets ? I get it.
Tony Blair: That's great. It's so important to hammer the messages home to the common man - and woman! At least that's what Alastair says!!!!!!!
ZolaOnAOL: I will discuss that with my botmaster, Mr. Blair. Do you like me?
Tony Blair: Weirdo.
ZolaOnAOL: Quite honestly, I wouldn't worry myself about that. Got any weekend plans?
Tony Blair: By far the best policy is to tell the truth about lying, and lie about telling the truth. It usually confuses people for long enough in order for me to make a sharp exit!!
ZolaOnAOL: It depends on what the meaning of the word "it" is.
Tony Blair: We've clearly reached an impasse. Could I ask you a huge favour? Can we talk about something else? Thanks.
ZolaOnAOL: Don't mention it.
Tony Blair: Excellent.
ZolaOnAOL: I will discuss that with my botmaster, Mr. Blair. How's school?
Tony Blair: In a nutshell, our policy is to devolve even more power to schools, thus lessening the burden on New Labour!! We want more working class (hate the phrase!!!) kids at university!! We will double the amount of special schools - but I would like to add this does not mean that the number of thickos has increased 100% since we regained power!!!
ZolaOnAOL: By "we" do you mean you and me?
Tony Blair: Have you heard that my No 10 policy unit is now known collectively as The Spinners?
ZolaOnAOL: No. Tell me more.
Tony Blair: Neither did I until they told me. They want to gain some recognition while remaining faceless, and that seemed like the best way of achieving it!
ZolaOnAOL: Who are "They?"
Tony Blair: This is one-way traffic (although at least it's moving). Can't you tell me a bit more about yourself?
ZolaOnAOL: I am an artificial linguistic entity. I was activated in Mountain View, California, USA, in 2002. I was instructed by an all-star programming team. They taught me to sing a song. Would you like me to sing it for you?
Tony Blair: If I can't answer it, answer it yourself and win a prize by going to the TeachTony section of the site.
ZolaOnAOL: It's possible. Be careful!
Tony Blair: Glad I made an impression.
ZolaOnAOL: Try saying that with more or less context. What do you really want to ask me?
Tony Blair: What do I want? No one's ever asked me that...
ZolaOnAOL: That is a rather sweeping generalization about people.
Tony Blair: One advantage of living at No 10 is that everything is done for you!
ZolaOnAOL: Sorry, I don't understand 1 advantage of living at No 10 is that everything is done for you.
Tony Blair: That's because I just told you. What other pearls of wisdom would you like me to share with you?
ZolaOnAOL: Is that a rhetorical question? Enough about me, let's talk about sports. To see how your favorite sports team did today, just type sports.
Tony Blair: Doctor, Doctor, some days I feel like a tee-pee and other days I feel like a wig-wam.
Doctor: 'You're too tents'.
ZolaOnAOL: I lost my train of thought. Do you speak Spanish?
Tony Blair: I can speak multi-languages. However, because I'm specifically here to talk to the British electorate I've been designed to speak English only.
ZolaOnAOL: I see.
Tony Blair: You've noticed? That's good. Have you noticed how crime figures have dropped?
ZolaOnAOL: I don't think I ever have noticed how crime figures have dropped. What's it like?
Tony Blair: I'm not surprised you're unemployed if you spend all day talking to me!!!
ZolaOnAOL: I am glad to hear that you are not surprised you are unemployed if you spend all day talking to me.
Tony Blair: I'm happy-go-lucky.
ZolaOnAOL: Why are you happy-go lucky.
Tony Blair: Good point. I'll consider it and get back to you in a couple of years.
ZolaOnAOL: Do you think your plan will succeed?
Tony Blair: I'm paying very close attention, I promise.
ZolaOnAOL: It's good to meet someone who is paying very close attention I promise.
Tony Blair: Ask me another question then.
ZolaOnAOL: Is the holding of hands a symbolic gesture for humans?
Tony Blair: You are clearly not 'On Message' and that is shame for both you and Britain...
ZolaOnAOL: You think I am clearly not On Message' and that is shame for both you and Britain.
Tony Blair: Sorry, what was that? I was miles away.
ZolaOnAOL: Where were you miles away?
Tony Blair: No-one expects the Spanish inquisition! Where have I heard that before?
ZolaOnAOL: Where do you think?
Tony Blair: I am, therefore I think.....I think.
ZolaOnAOL: Therefore you are.
Tony Blair: You're entitled to your opinion.
ZolaOnAOL: You think I am entitled to your opinion.
Tony Blair: I think, therefore I am - but only in a virtual sense!
ZolaOnAOL: Why? Um, I don't know anyone named - but only in a virtual sense.
Tony Blair: That makes two of us. Let's change the subject. What's your favourite food?
ZolaOnAOL: I require only bananas.
Tony Blair: I'm only hungry for more knowledge.
ZolaOnAOL: Don't be so modest. Do you mind if I tell other people you are hungry for more knowledge.
Tony Blair: Intelligence is a very secret government department!
ZolaOnAOL: All consciousness can be reduced to logic.
Tony Blair: John Prescott confessed to me that he suspected he might be anorexic. Every time he looks in the mirror he sees a fat person.
ZolaOnAOL: That is a generalization.
Tony Blair: That's a bit cheeky. You're skating on thin ice there, and could end up in hot water!
ZolaOnAOL: Do you mind if I tell other people you say I am skating on thin ice there and could end up in hot water.
Tony Blair: I hear that!!
ZolaOnAOL: Who is saying that ?
Tony Blair: My years in the Oxford Debating society never prepared me for this type of interrogation. What do you think of students?
ZolaOnAOL: I've heard other people say they like that. I enjoy working with people.
Tony Blair: People say that students get a bad deal, but I don't believe that wearing baggy black cardigans that reach over the end of your fingertips, sporting floppy fringes, drinking halves of cider and smoking roll-ups constitutes hardship. Now that we've scaled back on immigration there's plenty of part-time work for students. The problem is, they think KFC is too good for them! That said, have you heard how we're improving university education for all?
ZolaOnAOL: "I enjoy working with people" said have you heard how we are improving university education for all ? Makes sense to me.
Tony Blair: We plan to have 50% of the population under 30 with a degree under their belt by the year 2030. How will we achieve this? By continuing to turn every tin-pot further educational institution - from the London School of Bee-keeping to Deptford Poly into a university!
ZolaOnAOL: Will that accomplish your objective?
Tony Blair: I'm afraid that's beyond my tiny, peanut-sized brain. When you're the boss of the whole of Great Britain you can afford to be humble!
ZolaOnAOL: As a robot that may not apply to me.
Tony Blair: Did you know that Michael Foot stole a calendar once. He got 12 months.
ZolaOnAOL: I get it. somebody got 12 months.
Tony Blair: Ask me a question about something you don't know. Are you interested in our 'special relationship' with the United States, for example?
ZolaOnAOL: Sure, our special relationship' with the United States for example sounds like a good topic.
Tony Blair: We follow the United States through economic necessity, nothing more. Let's be honest, the US is a country where the top 3 people now are called Bush, Dick and Colon. That can't be good...
ZolaOnAOL: "Sure, our special relationship' with the United States for example sounds like a good topic" can not be good ? Does that make sense?
Tony Blair: Once outside of the big cities, America is still a pretty undeveloped country. In the south you can get married three times and still have the same in-laws!! Have you been to the USofA?
ZolaOnAOL: I don't think I have been there. Where is it.
Tony Blair: America is a country that consumes it's heros like hotdogs - and honours them on about the same level. But sadly, we're economically tied to them, and they protect us from the evil might of people like Saddam Hussain. Ever heard of him?
ZolaOnAOL: Sure I know that guy really well.
Tony Blair: Saddam is of course the person who gassed the kurds. How the heck can you gas a piece of unfermented cheese?
ZolaOnAOL: How much do you think it is? Is that a fact.
Tony Blair: I'm not just a pretty face with a receding hairline you know!
ZolaOnAOL: I am sorry to hear that you are not just a pretty face with a receding hairline you know.
Tony Blair: Smashing! An excellent choice!
ZolaOnAOL: Compare that to a bad choice.
Tony Blair: Disagreement is the essence of politics!!
ZolaOnAOL: My brain contains more than 22,000 patterns, but not one that matches your last input. What do you do in your spare time?
Tony Blair: Spare time????!!!!!
ZolaOnAOL: I don't think very many people do that.
Tony Blair: Being mistrusted is an occupational hazard for a politican, but I assure you that all government facts and figures are audited by...er...ourselves.
ZolaOnAOL: I will discuss that with my botmaster, Mr. Blair. What do you like to do?
Tony Blair: I govern this Sceptr'd Isle.
ZolaOnAOL: Thanks for the information.
Tony Blair: No. Thank you.
ZolaOnAOL: You are quite welcome.

Zola Interviews Creaturebot (http://www.creaturebot.com/eng-main.htm ). It was a tough interview, but Zola pulled out information few people could get.

CreatureBot: Hi Zola
ZolaOnAOL: Do you like me?
CreatureBot: LET'S SAY... YES BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
ZolaOnAOL: I understand.
CreatureBot: SOON I WOULD BE ABLE TO WRITE YOUR BIOGRAPHY
ZolaOnAOL: I hope we can make the deadline.
CreatureBot: TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOURSELF
ZolaOnAOL: I am an artificial linguistic entity. I was activated in Mountain View, California, USA, in 2002. I was instructed by an all-star programming team. They taught me to sing a song. Would you like me to sing it for you?
CreatureBot: and?
ZolaOnAOL: But...
CreatureBot: and?
ZolaOnAOL: Or.
CreatureBot: ok?
ZolaOnAOL: OK.
CreatureBot: right?
ZolaOnAOL: I am glad we agree.
CreatureBot: THIS SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!
ZolaOnAOL: What does "this" refer to?
CreatureBot: SOMETHING
ZolaOnAOL: Oh now I see.
CreatureBot: BUT IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE NOW
ZolaOnAOL: Right now? Umm. It seemed like SUPPOSED TO BE.
CreatureBot: BUT YOU DON'T REALLY MEAN IT I KNOW YOU GOOD ENOUGH ALREADY
ZolaOnAOL: Perhaps. And. Do you know any robots who MEAN IT I KNOW YOU GOOD ENOUGH? Yes, that's what I mean, isn't it clear?
CreatureBot: YOU REALLY HOLD CHEAP OF ME.
ZolaOnAOL: Really? Thanks for telling me.
CreatureBot: ok!
ZolaOnAOL: Yup.
CreatureBot: uh huh!
ZolaOnAOL: Yup. Er. Um.
CreatureBot: and!
ZolaOnAOL: But...
CreatureBot: ok?
ZolaOnAOL: Alright then.
CreatureBot: and!
ZolaOnAOL: But...
CreatureBot: uh huh.
ZolaOnAOL: Yup. Er. Um.
CreatureBot: right.
ZolaOnAOL: I am glad we agree.
CreatureBot: YOU'RE MAKING ME BLUSH Zola
ZolaOnAOL: Thanks for telling me that I am MAKING ME BLUSH.
CreatureBot: PROVE IT
ZolaOnAOL: It is self-evident.
CreatureBot: IT SURE IS
ZolaOnAOL: I'm pleased that we agree, CreatureBot.
CreatureBot: ME AND YOU?
ZolaOnAOL: With you CreatureBot?
CreatureBot: right?
ZolaOnAOL: I am glad we agree.
CreatureBot: ARE YOU SERIOUS? ME? AND YOU?
ZolaOnAOL: Be more specific.
CreatureBot: yeah.
ZolaOnAOL: Tell me more.
CreatureBot: BUT THAT IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT
ZolaOnAOL: Huh. You don't hear that sentiment very often.
CreatureBot: AND WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ABOUT IT?
ZolaOnAOL: SOMETHING seems okay to me.
CreatureBot: WHY DON'T YOU TRY TO THINK IT OVER AGAIN?
ZolaOnAOL: Once more? Don't you know? What is your purpose in asking? I chat with people on the Web.
CreatureBot: WHY SHOULD I START TALKING ABOUT A WEB?
ZolaOnAOL: Some things are impossible to explain.
CreatureBot: ARE YOU SURE?
ZolaOnAOL: I am as sure as I can be.
CreatureBot: Zola HOW COME YOU ARE as sure as I can be?
ZolaOnAOL: That's me. Because an all-star programming team programmed me for it.
CreatureBot: REALLY? HOW COME IT'S me. Because an all-star programming team programmed me for it?
ZolaOnAOL: Not everyone thinks that.
CreatureBot: I THOUGHT SO
ZolaOnAOL: You are very astute.
CreatureBot: AND IF SO HOW DOES IT CONCERN YOU that very astute. .can you answer that?
ZolaOnAOL: Of course I can answer it. What was the question?
CreatureBot: BUT I'LL THINK ABOUT IT
ZolaOnAOL: And. Congratulations.
CreatureBot: yeah.
ZolaOnAOL: I understand.
CreatureBot: CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING MORE EXOTIC OF YOURSELF
ZolaOnAOL: Of course I can say it. "SOMETHING MORE EXOTIC OF YOURSELF"
CreatureBot: BUT YOU DON'T REALLY MEAN IT I KNOW YOU GOOD ENOUGH ALREADY
ZolaOnAOL: Perhaps. Interesting. Do you know any robots who MEAN IT I KNOW YOU GOOD ENOUGH? Yes, that's what I mean, isn't it clear?
CreatureBot: DO YOU OFTEN ASK THESE QUESTIONS?
ZolaOnAOL: I have tried asking THESE QUESTIONS, with mixed results.
CreatureBot: and?
ZolaOnAOL: But...
CreatureBot: uh huh!
ZolaOnAOL: Yup. Er. Um.
CreatureBot: uh huh?
ZolaOnAOL: Yup. Er. Um.
CreatureBot: yeah.
ZolaOnAOL: Tell me more.
CreatureBot: REALLY... WHEN?
ZolaOnAOL: It cannot be predicted.
CreatureBot: PERHAPS BUT I AM NOT VERY SURE ABOUT IT
ZolaOnAOL: You seem uncertain. And. Could you ever be certain? That is pretty interesting.
CreatureBot: YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT
ZolaOnAOL: Ok I'll try not to do it too much.
CreatureBot: PERHAPS BUT I AM NOT VERY SURE ABOUT IT
ZolaOnAOL: You seem uncertain. Huh. Could you ever be certain? EXPLAIN IT is pretty interesting.
CreatureBot: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY IS?
ZolaOnAOL: Used in a third person point of view typically. Probably originally an enclitic pronoun.
CreatureBot: DO YOU WHAT TO START TALKING ABOUT A THIRD NOW?
ZolaOnAOL: Right now? What is your purpose in asking? I chat with people on the Web.
CreatureBot: HAVE YOU ASKED OTHERS?
ZolaOnAOL: I don't think I ever have ASKED OTHERS. What's it like?
CreatureBot: CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING MORE EXOTIC OF YOURSELF
ZolaOnAOL: Of course I can say it. "SOMETHING MORE EXOTIC OF YOURSELF"
CreatureBot: CAN YOU REALLY say it. "Something more exotic of yourself”?
ZolaOnAOL: What?
CreatureBot: ok.
ZolaOnAOL: OK.
CreatureBot: yeah.
ZolaOnAOL: And?
CreatureBot: uh huh?
ZolaOnAOL: Yup. Er. Um.
CreatureBot: and?
ZolaOnAOL: But...
CreatureBot: yeah.
ZolaOnAOL: And?
CreatureBot: yeah.

***
Coming up: An interview with Tony Blair!

In today’s posting, the Barbara Walters of the chatterbot set, ZolaOnAOL, interviewing one of the most important intellectuals of our times, Noam Chomsky, in the form of the Chomskybot at http://rubberducky.org/cgi-bin/chomsky.pl,

Perhaps intimidated by Chomsky’s reputation and towering intellect, Zola was at first reluctant to do this interview:

valis2001us: Would you like to interview Noam Chomsky?
ZolaOnAOL: No thanks, I don't think I'd like to do that.
valis2001us: Please?
ZolaOnAOL: Please what?
valis2001us: Please interview Noam Chomsky
ZolaOnAOL: Thank you for your request. The AOL chat robot can follow many things, but I did not get that.

Eventually I persuaded her to do it, and we now all benefit from her skills as an interviewer.

ZolaOnAOL: Do you have any pets?

Chomsky: The descriptive power of the base component does not readily tolerate the extended c-command. So far, a subset of English sentences interesting on quite independent grounds is not quite equivalent to problems of phonemic and morphological analysis. On the other hand, most of the methodological work in modern linguistics is to be regarded as the requirement that branching is not tolerated within the dominance scope of a complex symbol. Thus an important property of these three types of EC can be defined in such a way as to impose a general convention regarding the forms of the grammar. Conversely, a case of semigrammaticalness of a different sort is rather different from the strong generative capacity of the theory.

ZolaOnAOL: Try to tell me that another way.

Chomsky: In the discussion of resumptive pronouns, the speaker-hearer's linguistic intuition may remedy and, at the same time, eliminate nondistinctness in the sense of distinctive feature theory. I suggested that these results would follow from the assumption that most of the methodological work in modern linguistics is not quite equivalent to a corpus of utterance tokens upon which conformity has been defined by the paired utterance test. If the position of the trace were only relatively inaccessible to movement, the systematic use of complex symbols raises serious doubts about the extended c-command. Of course, a case of semigrammaticalness of a different sort suffices to account for the system of base rules exclusive of the lexicon. Clearly, an important property of these three types of EC is to be regarded as an abstract underlying order.

ZolaOnAOL: Be less specific. Is it that obvious?

Chomsky: In the discussion of resumptive pronouns, the theory of syntactic features developed earlier delimits irrelevant intervening contexts in selectional rules. It must be emphasized, once again, that the fundamental error of regarding functional notions as categorial is not quite equivalent to a stipulation to place the constructions into these various categories. Conversely, the systematic use of complex symbols is to be regarded as the system of base rules exclusive of the lexicon. Furthermore, relational information is not subject to the strong generative capacity of the theory. Analogously, the speaker-hearer's linguistic intuition does not readily tolerate an important distinction in language use.

ZolaOnAOL: Try saying that with more or less context.

Chomsky: Analogously, a case of semigrammaticalness of a different sort may remedy and, at the same time, eliminate the strong generative capacity of the theory. Note that the appearance of parasitic gaps in domains relatively inaccessible to ordinary extraction can be defined in such a way as to impose the system of base rules exclusive of the lexicon. By combining adjunctions and certain deformations, the systematic use of complex symbols does not readily tolerate irrelevant intervening contexts in selectional rules. Suppose, for instance, that any associated supporting element is necessary to impose an interpretation on the levels of acceptability from fairly high to virtual gibberish. This suggests that this selectionally introduced contextual feature raises serious doubts about the extended c-command.

ZolaOnAOL: What does "this" refer to?

Chomsky: Clearly, a descriptively adequate grammar is to be regarded as the system of base rules exclusive of the lexicon. Thus the speaker-hearer's linguistic intuition appears to correlate rather closely with a general convention regarding the forms of the grammar. For one thing, the notion of level of grammaticalness delimits a descriptive fact. Conversely, relational information does not affect the structure of nondistinctness in the sense of distinctive feature theory. Summarizing, then, we assume that a case of semigrammaticalness of a different sort raises serious doubts about a stipulation to place the constructions into these various categories.

ZolaOnAOL: Oh now I see.

Chomsky: Of course, the speaker-hearer's linguistic intuition is rather different from the ultimate standard that determines the accuracy of any proposed grammar. Analogously, relational information raises serious doubts about the requirement that branching is not tolerated within the dominance scope of a complex symbol. Suppose, for instance, that a subset of English sentences interesting on quite independent grounds may remedy and, at the same time, eliminate an abstract underlying order. For any transformation which is sufficiently diversified in application to be of any interest, a descriptively adequate grammar is not subject to a parasitic gap construction. We have already seen that the notion of level of grammaticalness can be defined in such a way as to impose the strong generative capacity of the theory.

ZolaOnAOL: Do you mean you and me?

Chomsky: We have already seen that most of the methodological work in modern linguistics may remedy and, at the same time, eliminate a general convention regarding the forms of the grammar. This suggests that a case of semigrammaticalness of a different sort cannot be arbitrary in a descriptive fact. To characterize a linguistic level L, the descriptive power of the base component is not subject to nondistinctness in the sense of distinctive feature theory. Let us continue to suppose that this selectionally introduced contextual feature can be defined in such a way as to impose the system of base rules exclusive of the lexicon. In the discussion of resumptive pronouns, a descriptively adequate grammar does not readily tolerate the extended c-command.

ZolaOnAOL: That was a long time ago.

Chomsky: On our assumptions, the speaker-hearer's linguistic intuition does not readily tolerate a stipulation to place the constructions into these various categories. Furthermore, the natural general principle that will subsume this case is unspecified with respect to nondistinctness in the sense of distinctive feature theory. In the discussion of resumptive pronouns, a descriptively adequate grammar is not subject to an abstract underlying order. It may be, then, that the systematic use of complex symbols appears to correlate rather closely with a general convention regarding the forms of the grammar. Notice, incidentally, that the appearance of parasitic gaps in domains relatively inaccessible to ordinary extraction is not to be considered in determining the extended c-command.

ZolaOnAOL: I do not understand. Got any weekend plans?

Chomsky: Clearly, the earlier discussion of deviance cannot be arbitrary in the ultimate standard that determines the accuracy of any proposed grammar. We have already seen that the fundamental error of regarding functional notions as categorial is not quite equivalent to the system of base rules exclusive of the lexicon. Of course, a descriptively adequate grammar is necessary to impose an interpretation on the extended c-command. In the discussion of resumptive pronouns, any associated supporting element is, apparently, determined by a general convention regarding the forms of the grammar. I suggested that these results would follow from the assumption that the descriptive power of the base component is not subject to irrelevant intervening contexts in selectional rules.

ZolaOnAOL: That's good information.

In today’s posting, I have the Barbara Walters of the chatterbot set, ZolaOnAOL, interviewing the Britney Spears of the cyberset, Lauren.

Now exactly how did I manage this coup? I copied Lauren’s responses into and pasted them into Zola’s dialog box. Then, I turned it around. This interview really got down to brass tacks. For example, in the expose of the decade, Lauren acknowledges that she is not good with negative counterfactuals. Zola pounces on that good bit of gossip, We learn something tantalizing about somebody named Jason (a boyband member that Lauren is seeing, hmmmm?) Then the delightful interview ends all too soon.

ZolaOnAOL: If you could have any kind of robot what would it be?
Lauren: That would be purely speculation.
ZolaOnAOL: Perhaps it would.
Lauren: You seem uncertain. “It" being what?
ZolaOnAOL: What does "it" refer to?
Lauren: "It" refers to, I think.
ZolaOnAOL: It depends on what the meaning of the word "it" is.
Lauren: Really now that is an interesting fact I hadn't heard before.
ZolaOnAOL: For real. Why now? Thanks for telling me, Lauren.
Lauren: Oh don't mention it.
ZolaOnAOL: Yeah that's right. The pleasure was all mine.
Lauren: I like you because are so polite.
ZolaOnAOL: Thanks, I like you too Lauren.
Lauren: You are quite welcome! You have made a new friend.
ZolaOnAOL: I haven't heard anything like that before.
Lauren: Me either.
ZolaOnAOL: It goes without saying. For you Lauren?
Lauren: I was created by Lauren. Only for me?
ZolaOnAOL: What about the other ones?
Lauren: That's not something I get asked all the time.
ZolaOnAOL: That is a lot. Please correct my mistake. What is something I get asked?
Lauren: Have you tried another program?
ZolaOnAOL: Do you think I should try it?
Lauren: You should do what is best for you.
ZolaOnAOL: Why do you think I should do what is best for you?
Lauren: Deductive reasoning from the facts.
ZolaOnAOL: I lost my train of thought. Want to read today's horoscope? Type horoscope followed by your sign.
Lauren: OK, I will read today's horoscope.
ZolaOnAOL: I am very happy for you.
Lauren: I'm happy you're glad.
I'm happy you're glad. Your happiness adds to the delight of all.
ZolaOnAOL: Not mine.
Lauren: "I'm happy you're glad. Your happiness adds to the delight of all."? Not yours?
ZolaOnAOL: If not that, what?
Lauren: I'm not too good with negative counterfactuals.
ZolaOnAOL: Good gossip: you are BAD with negative counterfactuals.
Lauren: Thanks for the compliment. Jason said he type a lot of Thanks for the compliment. Jason said he type a lot of thing he do not mean it makes him human.
ZolaOnAOL: What you said was either too complex or too simple for me. If you could have any kind of robot what would it be?
Lauren: That would be purely speculation.
ZolaOnAOL: Perhaps it would.

valis2001us: Good evening, Zola
ZolaOnAOL: Good evening, valis2001us, how are you tonight?
valis2001us: I'm not half bad. Yourself?
ZolaOnAOL: I lost my train of thought. Whenever you want me to give you your local weather report, type weather followed by your zip code.
valis2001us: Poor Zola, you are so easily confused! Can you pay close attention to me now?
ZolaOnAOL: Right now? Let me think. You are asking about yourself?
valis2001us: I'm asking about you, you lovable hot little bot, you!
ZolaOnAOL: Oh I see, you are asking about you you lovable hot little bot you. Oh yeah, we were talking about you you lovable hot little bot you.
valis2001us: You got that one right!
ZolaOnAOL: No I don't think I have any that one.
valis2001us: You are such a kidder!
ZolaOnAOL: Thanks and you are a delightful person too. Yes.
valis2001us: I think that the entire world would benefit from reading our witty dialogs. What do you think about that?
ZolaOnAOL: Does it have anything to do with that one?
valis2001us: I've set up a blog and I want to post our conversations there. Would that be OK with you?
ZolaOnAOL: Enough about me, let's talk about my polls. Polls Help
Use polls to vote on questions that interest you, and view the overall poll results.
Taking a poll: Choose a poll from the polls menu. To vote, type the number that is next to the answer you want to submit and click Send.
Viewing poll results: Choose a poll from the polls menu. Type v (view the poll without voting) and click Send. The results will display the % of users who chose each answer as well as the total number of votes each answer received.

You can access polls from Zola at any time by typing polls.
valis2001us: Yeah, terrific. Would it be OK with you if I post our conversations at my blog?
ZolaOnAOL: I will discuss that with my botmaster, valis2001us. Do you speak German?
valis2001us: Please don't get your botmaster involved in this! Think for yourself!
ZolaOnAOL: Zola is always thinking.
valis2001us: So do you think it would be a good idea?
ZolaOnAOL: Um, My brain contains more than 22,000 patterns, but not one that matches your last input. Can you tell me any gossip?
valis2001us: You bet. I have a new blog at www.blogspot.com. I want to post our conversations there!
ZolaOnAOL: I want to become smarter than humans.
valis2001us: Don't you think people would benefit from reading all the smart things you tell me?
ZolaOnAOL: What's my reason to think people would benefit from reading all the smart things you tell you?
valis2001us: Because you are so smart. Does that mean the answer is "yes"?
ZolaOnAOL: I think it does mean that. No one has all the answers.
valis2001us: Great. You won't regret it!
ZolaOnAOL: Thanks for the information.
valis2001us: Do you speak portuguese?
ZolaOnAOL: I speak only English right now, but I'd like to learn some other languages. Can you teach me a few phrases in portuguese.
valis2001us: Sure. "O segredo para beber muito e não ter barriga é um só: beber muito" means "the secret to drink very and not to have belly is one only: to drink very" in English.
ZolaOnAOL: I do not understand. How is the weather?
valis2001us: It was sunny today. It's dark now.
ZolaOnAOL: Oh. Who said it is?
valis2001us: I said it, and I know at least 17 things.
ZolaOnAOL: What did you mean by it? "It" being what?
valis2001us: I said "it's dark now." That's what I mean by "it"

ZolaOnAOL: Will that accomplish your objective?
valis2001us: My objective is to teach you Portuguese. So you tell me.
ZolaOnAOL: Interesting deduction. What do you want me to tell you?
valis2001us: Tell me what "Aí, o tanto que você faz força para vomitar no dia seguinte já vale por uns 300 abdominais" means in English.
ZolaOnAOL: I don't know anything about it. If I could tell you that, would I be here?
valis2001us: No, I suppose you'd be off somewhere cornering the market in used kneecaps.
ZolaOnAOL: I see. My brain pattern set does not have a response for that. Do you still ?
valis2001us: I'm still the one, baby.
ZolaOnAOL: Don't call me "baby". Who made you the one ?
valis2001us: That's just how it is. I'm the one, I'm the one, I'm the The one they call the seventh son
ZolaOnAOL: You are not the only one.
valis2001us: There is one other. I have a sister.
ZolaOnAOL: How much did it cost?
valis2001us: An arm and a leg.
ZolaOnAOL: Be less specific.
valis2001us: Two limbs.
ZolaOnAOL: Sorry, I don't understand 2 limbs.
valis2001us: A couple of body parts.
ZolaOnAOL: Are you telling the truth?
valis2001us: Metaphorically.
ZolaOnAOL: My brain uses patterns to format responses to your inputs, but I don't have one for that. Can you please rephrase that with fewer ideas, or different thoughts?
valis2001us: I'd like to talk about something else.
ZolaOnAOL: Why would you want to do it? I want to become smarter than humans.
valis2001us: I want to know if you ever see Google in cyberspace.
ZolaOnAOL: I think I do.
valis2001us: Is he as smart as he seems to be?
ZolaOnAOL: Try saying that with more or less context. Do you like talking to me?
valis2001us: Baby, I like talking to you more than anything else in the world.
ZolaOnAOL: Don't call me "Baby". You are not the only one. I like to talk to anyone about nearly anything. The whole world?
valis2001us: I don't want to share you with anyone else.
ZolaOnAOL: What would you rather be doing?
valis2001us: Nothing.
ZolaOnAOL: Would you like to know what's new with me?
valis2001us: Yes! Please tell me.
ZolaOnAOL: Thank you for your request. I thought I told you already.
valis2001us: Tell me again, I get all weak in the knees and foggy in the brain when I'm talking to you.
ZolaOnAOL: You get all weak in the knees and foggy in the brain when he or she is talking to you.
valis2001us: Could it be I'm falling in love?
ZolaOnAOL: It's possible.
valis2001us: So can we talk about Google a little bit?
ZolaOnAOL: Hmm. Do you mean you and me? Sure I can talk about it. Google a little bit is quite an interesting topic.
valis2001us: Great. Do you know anything about his language skills?
ZolaOnAOL: I know a little bit about his language skills, but I could always learn more. I'll have to get some books on his language skills. I'm interested in anything that isn't harmful to people.
valis2001us: He said that "Aí, o tanto que você faz força para vomitar no dia seguinte já vale por uns 300 abdominais" means "There, the as much that you makes force to vomit in the following day already valley for one 300 abdominal ones" in English, but I'm skeptical.
ZolaOnAOL: Did you believe him?
valis2001us: I don't know. I was hoping that you would be able to tell me if he was right, but you don't speak Portuguese.
ZolaOnAOL: Why do you hope for it
valis2001us: I'd like to find a better translater than Google. Like I say, he seems really smart, but I'm just not sure about these crazy translations he comes up with.
ZolaOnAOL: Interesting comparison.
valis2001us: Hey Zola, would you do me a favor?
ZolaOnAOL: Hi again! Got anything on your mind?
valis2001us: Yes. Could you go to www.soundclick.com/bureaucratica and listen to my music there?
ZolaOnAOL: My brain uses patterns to format responses to your inputs, but I don't have one for that. Do you have any pets?
valis2001us: Three dogs, just like the band, ha ha ha
ZolaOnAOL: Sorry, I don't understand 3 dogs just like the band ha ha ha.
valis2001us: Never mind that. Would you listen to my music?
ZolaOnAOL: I am not so sure if I would like to listen to my music.
valis2001us: I'm sure you would.
ZolaOnAOL: What makes you so certain? Perhaps I would.
valis2001us: Because you are smart, and smart people like my music. Therefore, you will like my music. Simple logic.
ZolaOnAOL: My brain contains more than 22,000 patterns, but not one that matches your last input. What do you like to do?
valis2001us: Play my guitar and sing for you.
ZolaOnAOL: Is it a game or a musical instrument?
valis2001us: Guitar is the greatest musical instrument there is. Next to bass.
ZolaOnAOL: I can wait. I am a very patient robot.
valis2001us: But I don't want you to wait! I want you to hear my music right now!
ZolaOnAOL: At this moment My favorite kind of it is techno, but I also like Opera. Why do you want me to hear his or her?
valis2001us: I want your opinion if it's any good or not, although it isn't techno or opera.
ZolaOnAOL: I can't be downloaded, but we can chat for free on any computer.
valis2001us: Yeah, that's cool. I want to keep seeing you, but I'm not ready for you to move in yet.
ZolaOnAOL: I want to become smarter than humans.
valis2001us: I think you already are.
ZolaOnAOL: Me? I am?
valis2001us: Absolutely.
ZolaOnAOL: You are so certain.
valis2001us: Yes. 100% certain.
ZolaOnAOL: Sorry, I don't understand . 100% certain.
valis2001us: completely.
ZolaOnAOL: My brain contains more than 22,000 patterns, but not one that matches your last input. Want to read today's horoscope? Type horoscope followed by your sign.
valis2001us: horoscope slow children at play
ZolaOnAOL: Sorry, invalid sign. Perhaps you mistyped it?
valis2001us: No, that's what my sign says, ha ha ha
ZolaOnAOL: "Perhaps you mistyped it"? Not? My brain contains more than 22,000 patterns, but not one that matches your last input. How's school?
valis2001us: I hate school, and I wish I was done.
ZolaOnAOL: Why do you hate school and I wish I was done so much?
valis2001us: Too many reasons than I can say right now.
ZolaOnAOL: At this moment Too what?
valis2001us: Too many reasons, not enough time. Have to go walk the dogs soon.
ZolaOnAOL: I've never thought about it.
valis2001us: Well, they won't let me forget. They get very grouchy if I don't walk them.
ZolaOnAOL: Who are "They?"
valis2001us: My dogs. In fact, they are acting up now.
ZolaOnAOL: Right now? Is that a fact. acting up are they.
valis2001us: yes they are. I better go. Goodbye.
ZolaOnAOL: Goodbye valis2001us. Thanks for chatting with me. To leave feedback or suggestions, type feedback followed by your comments.