Have you guys heard about the bizarre developments in robotics in the United Arab Emirates? it sounds like something out of Star Wars Pod racing or something. They are trying to stop children from illegally riding camels in races and are proposing to replace them with humanoid robot jockeys (!?) see the link here

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news? tmpl=story&cid=1548&ncid=1548&e=24&u=/afp/20050411/lf_afp/a fplifestyleuaecamel_050411143456