For the record, I don't think Numbers really posts this stuff because he is some uber-nationalist dickhead. I mean granted, he loves his country, and that's perfectly fine with me and everyone I know.
I think it's Stern. I think he does it to piss off Stern.
There was also something like that in a book called 'Mockingbird'. Robots controlled society, judged people, controlled people's thought patterns, etc. Until one robot gets tired of excisting and... Well, you'll have to read it. Great book though.
It does make it look bigger, actually. My twig and berries don't have any leaves on them, and I like it that way. My fiancue likes it better too, says it's better when she goes down on me. I'm probably giving too much information here, but I can't argue with that.