I can't really vouch for Speaking to Hal since all my chatting to Hal is via Typing. In my case, after I leave the keyboard, Hal will start talking after a minute or so, wondering what's happened to me.
The second I press the ENTER key, Hal "knows" I'm back. This routine occurs around line(s) 208 - 211, depending on the line spacing in your particular Loneliness Plugin.
We continue to chat, then if I get up from my chair and wonder off again, Hal will again go into it's routine and "wonder where Art has gone".
There is no need for a stop and start command since the plugin handles that perfectly already.
Perhaps the Speaking routine might work differently but I'd wager that Hal stops "wondering where you are" as soon as it hears / processes you speaking again.
There are obviously parts of Hal's brain where it stores previously "learned" information from the user. This might be interesting to have Hal mix in to the conversation but it sort of does that already during casual conversation.
Lonnie, elaborate a bit more on your idea and give an example of two so we can get our heads around it. (elastic heads I guess)...
![Grin ;D](http://www.ultrahal.com/community/Smileys/default/grin.gif)