Machine invasion occuring

Human influence is declining in the world today. Our population is on the rise, but we are surely becoming extinct because of our own creations.

Machines and computers, as far-fetched as it sounds, are gaining fast on us. Computers talk to us on the phone. Machines give us our food. The world is sliding toward inanimate domination.

Cal State Long Beach is no exception to this trend. The Voice Response Registration has been around for a few years now and we are pretty fed up with the abomination. Even if you succeed in getting the computer to pick up the line, you still have to listen to the extremely polite voice tell you that all the classes you needed to graduate are not available or were cancelled.

Another symptom of this trend is sitting innocently in the University Student Union. Right across from the Candy Counter is a new machine flashing red LED lights in hypnotic patterns-The ExpresStop Music Sales Center.

This sparkling new plastic box spits out CDs. Just slide your credit card through the slot and out comes your music. Nice, simple, easy and succinct, it's even reasonably priced.

This is the semester for the Automated Revolution, it seems. Not only can we now buy our music from machines, but soon we'll be able to file our grad checks, get our transcripts and find out about our grades from a computerized Information Kiosk that will be built in the Administration Building.

This world is ruled by the bottom line - a financial one. If a machine can do the job, forget the person who used to accomplish the task. Businesses don't have to pay a machine after the initial purchase. Machines don't need sick days or vacations, they just need an occassional repair. Pretty soon, someone will probably come up with a machine that can accomplish this task.

Where did the man go that once upon a time sold us our newspapers and chatted with us about the day and asked us how we were doing? In his place we have metal and plastic boxes. Put your coins in and get the merchandise you want. But what if you want a conversation?

Jobs are being lost, people. It's small now, but it's scary when you think about how many things are becoming automated, and realize that this is a growing trend: airline tickets, food and drinks, music, video rentals... you can even get a divorce just by going through a drive-thru, courtesy of a machine in Arizona.

You have to wonder when it will end... and how it will end for us.