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Meet Pearl

HoldemRobots has a new friend. She has eight arms, one curious eyebrow, and a warm way of looking at the world. Her name is Pearl.

Why "Pearl"

A pearl begins with an irritant: something small and unwelcome that gets inside the shell and won't leave. The oyster can't push it out, so it covers it, layer by layer, year after year, until the irritant becomes something beautiful.

Nobody asks for irritants. But a pearl is what's left when one is met with patience. It's a gift nobody would have asked for at the start.

That felt like the right name. A lot of good things in my life and in this project came the same way, out of a problem that wouldn't go away, until it turned into something worth sharing.

Why an octopus

Octopuses are among the smartest animals in the sea, and they don't think the way we do. Much of an octopus's nervous system sits out in its arms, so each arm can reach and explore on its own while the whole animal stays curious. Eight arms also means plenty of room to help.

The eyebrow

Look closely and you'll see one eyebrow up. It isn't a frown. It's the look of someone who's interested and wants to understand. Pearl is glad to receive something new; she just likes to look it over gently before deciding what it's worth.

That's about the spirit I hope people bring to AI, and to most new things: open, thankful for what's good, and thoughtful about the rest.

Where you'll find her

For now she's keeping an eye on this little corner of the site, where I write down what I'm thinking about AI, teaching and small business. If you're new here, the two notes below are a good place to start.