IROS - 2014: ChicagoIROS 2014 marked our triumphant return to the Windy City. Dedicated readers of these McDonald's pages will remember that we last visited Chicago in 2008. On that visit, we made a new friend who is called Earl. It was a wonderful surprise to find Earl behind the counter when we arrived. Some friendships simply stand the test of time. Years can pass, but when you meet again, it seems you were never apart. Such is our friendship with Earl. | |
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| Yes - this is the rock and roll McDonald's. Behind us, you can see the large electric guitar that fronts the Hard Rock Cafe, along with the the welcoming Golden Arches. | Friends reunited! Earl seemed not to remember us at first, but I'm pretty sure that was just an act to cover the sadness brought on by our six year absence. |
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| Trying to recapture the joy of that 2008, trip, but sad not to have Howie's favorite Martin with us. | Just as in 2008, this is a very secure McDonald's. If you look oh so very closely, you'll see Howie in the video monitor, as well as at the counter. Two Howie's, same one-Howie price! |
St. Patrick's Day - 2014: Our first telepresence visit to McDonalds, with Shamrock ShakesYes - these photos were indeed taken simultaneously, while we were on the phone with one another! In our line of work, we come to know all of the modern technologies. | |
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| Howie at CMU, with loads of his students - the coming generation of robotics researchers. | Seth, at UIUC, alone. Well, not copletely alone, thanks to the larger-than-Seth cardboard McDonald's All American basketball player. Probably there's whiskey in that Shamrock Shake to help drown the sad loneliness. |
February 2014: Howie visits U. Illinois! | |
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In February, Howie visited UIUC to
give a lecture in the
IMSE Hot TIME Symposium: Applied Geometry, Topology and Networks.
He stayed in the Howie suite at our place, met our cats,
and found time for a little excursion to our local McDonald's.
Just a few weeks later, I would return alone to this location
for the St. Patrick's Day remote photo shoot.
In the photo to the left, if you look closely, you may catch a glimpse of Wendy's reflection in the McD's doorway. Her reflection is the one holding the camera. The photo below captures Howie musing... but delicious milk would be so much more delicious if it were blended into some sort of Irish milkshake... hmmmmmmm.... |
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