“Rumors that the sun is out at Santa Ynez are without foundation,” the radio said. - John Brunner

Finally, Rex returned to the podium and Norman wondered why in this allegedly streamlined modern age it always took hours to get through a commemorative or celebratory function. Why couldn’t someone programme Shal to work out a condensed version, equally formalised but completed in five minutes?

Governments don't change things," she said. "Only time does that.

I think," Chad grunted, "that if he [Shalmaneser, the computer] really is intelligent nobody will recognise the fact. Because we aren't.