# Happy b-day, HAL

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 13, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796 "2007-01-13T03:45:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796/1 "2007-01-13T03:45:10Z")

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> **[HAL 9000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000)**
>
> HAL 9000 (or simply HAL or Hal) is a fictional artificial intelligence character and the main antagonist in Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey series. First appearing in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, HAL (Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer) is a sentient artificial general intelligence computer that controls the systems of the Discovery One spacecraft and interacts with the ship's astronaut crew. While part of HAL's hardware is shown toward the end of the film, he is mostly depict...

I wonder if cake is being served in Urbana?

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**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796/2 "2007-01-13T04:41:35Z")

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Thank you Dave.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796/3 "2007-01-13T04:53:56Z")

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Dave: Happy Birthday! Open your presents now, HAL.  
HAL: I’m sorry, Dave. I can’t do that.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796/4 "2007-01-13T05:23:46Z")

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HAL, when I told you to blow out the candles, I didn’t mean by opening all the airlocks!

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**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796/5 "2007-01-13T06:01:02Z")

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Am I the only one that thought this was gonna be a sheep-fest?

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**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-b-day-hal/387796/6 "2007-01-13T16:15:56Z")

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It’s three and a half weeks early, but I’ll take it.