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I just hope this thing doesn't get TOO smart, though. Because it really wouldn't be good if machines started taking everyone's jobs. The robot's not the only one the school's getting free labor out of, though. They got the local prison to make furniture for our classrooms. And I'm not trying to complain or anything, but the rear legs on my chair in Social Studies are a good six inches shorter than the front ones.

不过啊，我就希望这玩意儿别变得太聪明了。 要是机器抢走所有人的工作，那可真不是啥好事。 不过话说回来，学校薅免费劳动力，可不只薅机器人这一个。 他们还找当地监狱给咱们教室做家具呢。 我也不是要抱怨啥啊，就是我社会课那椅子后腿比前腿短了足足六英寸。

Some of the inmates write their names on the furniture they make. And a guy named Justin carved a note on my desk that makes me sad every time I read it. Please ask my mom to call me. —Justin. K. Sometimes they'll even draw pictures on the furniture. And someone sketched out a whole escape plan on the front of Mr. Rask's desk, which the school had to paint over.

有些犯人会把自己的名字刻在做的家具上。 有个叫贾斯汀的家伙在我桌上刻了句话，我每次看都好难过。 求求你让我妈妈给我打电话。 ——贾斯汀 好。 有时候他们还会在家具上画画。 还有人在拉斯克老师的办公桌正面画了一整张越狱计划，学校不得已把它盖住刷了层漆。

MAY Wednesday It turns out the steps the school's been taking to save money haven't been enough, because now they're looking for ways to MAKE money. And Principal Bottoms's first idea was the Platinum High Flyers Club. The Platinum level is like the regular High Flyers Club, but the big difference is that you don't have to get good grades to be a member. You just need to be willing to fork over $12.99 a month.

五月 星期三 原来学校之前攒钱的种种招数都不够用，所以他们现在开始想办法赚钱了。 博顿斯校长第一个点子就是白金高飞俱乐部。 白金级和普通高飞俱乐部差不多，但最大的区别是，当会员不用拿好成绩。 你只要愿意每个月交12.99美元就行。

Or you need to have PARENTS who are willing to pay the membership fee. And Stephen Birch is lucky his folks make a ton of money in their construction business, because with his grades he had no chance of earning his way in. I tried to convince MY parents to sign me up for the Platinum level, but when my mom said I could join if I'd be willing to give up my monthly video game membership, I decided to drop the whole idea.

要么，你得有愿意帮你交会员费的爸爸妈妈。 斯蒂芬·伯奇运气真好，他爸妈做建筑生意赚了一大笔钱，不然就他那成绩，根本没资格进来。 我试着说服我爸妈给我报白金级，可我妈说，想入会就得放弃我每月的游戏会员，我就干脆打消这个念头了。

I'm starting to rethink that decision, though, because the perks in the Platinum level are way better than the free version, starting with the premium seating. Principal Bottoms has a brother who owns a used furniture store, and he sold a bunch of leather recliners to the school at a steep discount. Those things tilt all the way back to a lie-flat position, which makes things pretty uncomfortable for the people who sit behind them, especially during tests. The kids in the Platinum level also get premium snacks, like popcorn and full-size candy bars.

不过我现在又开始后悔当初的决定了，因为白金级的福利比免费版好太多了，首先就是优等座位。 博顿斯校长有个哥哥开二手家具店，他给学校低价卖了好多皮躺椅。 那些椅子能完全往后放平，这可苦了坐后面的人，尤其是考试的时候特别难受。 白金俱乐部的孩子还能拿到优等零食，比如爆米花和整根的大糖果棒。

So I'll bet the regular High Flyers feel dopey about their tiny bags of peanuts now. The Platinum High Flyers don't even have to be in the classroom if they don't want to be. They each get a special Platinum Pass, which lets them go wherever they want whenever they want.

所以我敢说，那些普通高飞会员现在肯定觉得拿那一小袋花生太不划算了。 白金高飞会员不想待在教室里的时候根本不用待。 他们每个人都有一张特别的白金通行证，想去哪儿就去哪儿，随时都能走。