And Finally . . .

The best of Reuters Oddly Enough this week.

"And Finally..." The best of Reuters Oddly Enough this week. From our web show studio in New York, I'm Chad Ruble.

It seems like every year robots get more and more intellegent. And this year, they're actually showing potential for emotional intelligence.

"You can teach me how to walk, but can you teach me how to feel?" Straight out of a Stephen Speilberg movie comes the Heart Robot. Created by the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, this vulnerable looking bot has the unique ability to respond to the humans he encounters. He has a breathing belly and beating heart that slows when he's calmed, and he'll grasp your hand if you reach out and touch him. I can only imagine this technology will one day be used to lull us into a false sense of security before we are enslaved by our cute-robo masters. "I must terminate Sarah Connor."

Our next story features a dancer who's almost as good as my Arnold Swartzenegger impression. This beautiful and elegant performer has been mesmerizing audiences across Japan.

Mainly because "she" is actually a 16-year-old boy. That must make him popular with the high school bullies. In fact, Taichi Saotome has become an enormous star of the stage, especially to his ever-growing female fan base. So that's how you get girls! Dress up like one! Just like in "Bosom Buddies." I shoulda known.

And finally on "And Finally" We often showcase the cute and the cuddly. But this week, we've got enough to last the rest of summer. In Germany this week, Siberian tiger cub "Antares" made his debut. O.M.G. That cat is C.U.T.E. I can barely take it. And judging by the press turnout, he's already on his way to becoming a zuper-star. Keep your nose clean "Antares." We've seen too many adorable child stars end up in rehab. So, lay off the catnip.

Also in Germany, four orphaned baby geese have been adopted by a Swan couple in the romantic Eastern German town of Fuerstenberg. Wow. Between this, the other cute animals, and that Heart Robot, this might be the cutest episode of "And Finally" yet! That is, until I tell you how the geese came to be orphaned. Nah, on second thought, let's just keep it cute.

Also in Germany, whoa! Three for three this week? Better look out, Knut! The Germans are just crankin' out the cuties! This time, its a baby Sea Lion named Volker, who, like Knut, also resides at the Berlin zoo. Hmmmm. A marketing ploy, perhaps? Well, whatever the reason, this li'l guy sure comes as advertised. Tiny, timid, and tremendously cute. OK, that's enough. If I see one more cute animal, I might explode. NO! Not the baby black howler monkey! I warned you.

See ya next time.