Nip and Tack
48 Peacock Lane was breathing comfortably. Structural anesthesiologists were monitoring it, and the surgery crew moved in.
“Anything major?” Jim asked the lead surgeon as he assembled a reciprocating saw.
“Nah, just light touchup work. Some rotten siding. Cosmetic stuff.”
“It’s a new world.” Jim shook his head. “Sometimes I wish houses hadn’t gotten so smart.”
His phone vibrated. A message from his own house across the street.
That’s edificist, it said.
Hey, I was kidding. When had its sensors gotten so good?
“Better go soothe some ruffled shingles,” he said. “Otherwise, it’ll be cold showers for a week again.”
The Green-Walled Treehouse 
Language… @_@
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haha. 🙂
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Smart homes will soon dictate if we are allowed home early from work. we will be locked out until our allocated entry time.
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I know you meant to be wry but there’s a scary truth to what you said.
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Love the title, and how the graphic pairs with Dale’s photo that looks so much like Brooklyn Heights. Really like the line…better go smooth some ruffled shingles. 🙂
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Thanks, my friend. Yeah, I liked that line too. 🙂
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It’s nice to like something you’ve written.
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A delightful whimsy
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Funny clever story.
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I can’t help but giggle at the “edificist”! Who’d a thunk the houses would get into the “ists” and “isms” that inundate our lives already. This was a fun one, David.
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Thanks, Dale. I love throwing in quirky little touches like that.
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You do it so well
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Very clever and interesting. I want to read more!
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Thank you! I appreciate your comment.
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Good story….that could be all too real 🙌
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I really enjoyed your play on words. But if made me kinda queasy. Who knows what’s in the future of our AI world?
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Funny dialogue in your futuristic story, David. Fun graphic also.
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Dear David,
Smart phones, smart houses…a little too much AI for me, thank you. Good story though. Love the title.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Glad you liked it. Yes, too much AI isn’t always great.
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Love the way you make this sound so natural, when it’s actually scarily unnatural! The title is particularly inspired.
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Thanks! It’s funny, I couldn’t think of a good title so I asked Chat GPT for some ideas. Its weren’t bad but not particularly inspired. It doesn’t its best but technology will never be as creative as humans, I’m guessing.
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Clever and hilarious! Edificist 🤣
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Thanks! 🙂
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