Insert floppy disk into robot brain, ominous hum means KUKA’s Windows 95 is pleased for the time being. Commence remainder of startup process ritual including cage vacuuming, bandsaw blade tensioning, and log rolling. KUKA humming continues. Cue ambient reggae music over bluetooth speaker (sometimes play Enya for others). Both hands on controller, wait for clicking sound, signal to move to start position. KUKA does its early morning dance to intimidate the DAEDALUS 3d printer.

Ear plugs in, log slicing begins, all music drowned out by bandsaw, some good looking bacon today. Wood snow seems to be piling up, ash ashes thickening the warehouse air. Dust collector decides to end millenia long alliance with KUKA. BC and I drive to every hardware store in Ithaca, but find nothing. Call Sasa. We agree, as many have done before, on the noblest approach to finding a replacement: Craigslist. Find farmer man who has one, drive an hour there, plug check, drive an hour back. BC still mourning old dust collector, helps me swap old for new, then zip-tie stitch everything back together.

Day is essentially over. Want to end on a high note. Continue slicing same log, dust collector not as strong as predecessor, but it has spirit. Sudden flash of light, then popping. This is how it all ends. The team is frantic. Bandsaw cuts through its own power cable, but KUKA is unaware that wood log ≠ butter, and drags fixed assembly to unfixed territory. Should probably cry but tears are bad with electricity. We all decide to throw in the non-absorbent brown paper towel for the day.

Next morning Leslie brings donuts, and we sweep yesterday's dust under the rug.

— Alexander Terry [Wood Team Member, M.Arch ‘19 at Cornell AAP]