We all invent things. Inventors take the next several steps and create things.
I once bought a container of “Mango Tang” which I found tasty. When I described it as “just like Tang, but mango flavor” several of my friends rolled their eyes because to them that meant “as bad as Tang” … but to me it was “not as bad as Tang because it’s got a better flavor.”
My grandmother actually preferred Tang to real orange juice, Cool Whip to real whipped cream and made some kind of abomination out of slaw and lime jello.
Once on Riders in the Sky, Slocum and Charlie had launched themselves in a stolen NASA spaceship and encountered a Cosmonaut who had been stranded when the Soviet Union fell, and introduced him to the orange drink they had with them. Cosmonaut (tasting it): Ooh! Eee! Ooh, ah, ah! Ting? Slocum: Tang. Charlie: Walla, walla, bing bang.
It sure is a good thing I can draw cartoons, because that I can do in a more or less timely fashion. More to the point, it’s a good thing — or maybe just an obvious and problematic thing — that I’m not an engineer. Because I’ve had several brilliant ideas that someone else had at around the same time, but, unlike me, actually developed it into something that may or may not have made a lot of money and may or may not have been a colossal headache they regretted.
I came up with the idea for a brownie pan that was a bunch of brownie-width grooves so that every brownie in the batch would be an edge piece. I came up with the idea for a pedal-based power meter for bikes. I came up with the idea for an LED rope light with a sequential flash that could be stretched along the bottom of a swimming pool as a pacing device. I came up with all three of those before, but not too long before, somebody who also had the idea did successfully bring it to market. I’m a little proud of that, and not at all bummed that it was them instead of me. I’ve got a pretty good gig that keeps me plenty busy.
My dad, a woodworker, came up with a great idea some time ago, but not nearly long enough ago, to make little wooden feet and hands and eyes and noses and mustaches and hats and bow ties and such with spikes that you could creatively shove into fruits and vegetables to make characters. Because I’m in the creativity business, he asked me what I would call his invention. Because I try to be in the tact and encouragement business, I did not tell him “Mr. Potato Head.” Not right away. I suggested “Food for Thought,” and let him enjoy that for a while before I gently disillusioned him. He took it quite well and was even a little bit proud to have independently invented the toy of the century a mere four or five decades after Hasbro.
The Premium Member over 4 years ago
Kids are more likely to ask what Tang is than to refer to John Glenn.
pschearer Premium Member over 4 years ago
Thank you, William A. Mitchell. (How did life exist before Google?)
Bilan over 4 years ago
Now there’s an idea, Tang-flavored Jello with pop rocks mixed in and Cool Whip on top.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
We all invent things. Inventors take the next several steps and create things.
I once bought a container of “Mango Tang” which I found tasty. When I described it as “just like Tang, but mango flavor” several of my friends rolled their eyes because to them that meant “as bad as Tang” … but to me it was “not as bad as Tang because it’s got a better flavor.”
Ceeg22 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Cool whip is foul
asrialfeeple over 4 years ago
He must’ve been quite well off.
Storm F-1/4 over 4 years ago
Pop Rocks rule!
Yakety Sax over 4 years ago
Interesting array of snacks?/breakfast?/lunch?
Masterskrain Premium Member over 4 years ago
And I think Tang used the same food coloring as Cheetos…
SpammersAreScum over 4 years ago
“Better living through chemistry”!
Seed_drill over 4 years ago
My grandmother actually preferred Tang to real orange juice, Cool Whip to real whipped cream and made some kind of abomination out of slaw and lime jello.
meowlin over 4 years ago
Food… -ish…
gcarlson over 4 years ago
Once on Riders in the Sky, Slocum and Charlie had launched themselves in a stolen NASA spaceship and encountered a Cosmonaut who had been stranded when the Soviet Union fell, and introduced him to the orange drink they had with them. Cosmonaut (tasting it): Ooh! Eee! Ooh, ah, ah! Ting? Slocum: Tang. Charlie: Walla, walla, bing bang.
JP Steve Premium Member over 4 years ago
Fun fact: If you mix Tang with Everclear Vodka you do not get “Doc Toon’s Nuclear Screwdriver…”
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member over 4 years ago
What John Glenn was to Tang, Walter Schirra was to Actifed.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 4 years ago
Blog PostFrazz17 hrs ·
It sure is a good thing I can draw cartoons, because that I can do in a more or less timely fashion. More to the point, it’s a good thing — or maybe just an obvious and problematic thing — that I’m not an engineer. Because I’ve had several brilliant ideas that someone else had at around the same time, but, unlike me, actually developed it into something that may or may not have made a lot of money and may or may not have been a colossal headache they regretted.
I came up with the idea for a brownie pan that was a bunch of brownie-width grooves so that every brownie in the batch would be an edge piece. I came up with the idea for a pedal-based power meter for bikes. I came up with the idea for an LED rope light with a sequential flash that could be stretched along the bottom of a swimming pool as a pacing device. I came up with all three of those before, but not too long before, somebody who also had the idea did successfully bring it to market. I’m a little proud of that, and not at all bummed that it was them instead of me. I’ve got a pretty good gig that keeps me plenty busy.
My dad, a woodworker, came up with a great idea some time ago, but not nearly long enough ago, to make little wooden feet and hands and eyes and noses and mustaches and hats and bow ties and such with spikes that you could creatively shove into fruits and vegetables to make characters. Because I’m in the creativity business, he asked me what I would call his invention. Because I try to be in the tact and encouragement business, I did not tell him “Mr. Potato Head.” Not right away. I suggested “Food for Thought,” and let him enjoy that for a while before I gently disillusioned him. He took it quite well and was even a little bit proud to have independently invented the toy of the century a mere four or five decades after Hasbro.
Maybe it’s genetic.
Jhony-Yermo about 1 year ago
Just as great as Snack Wells