Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for September 05, 2022

They can’t be totally ahead of their time, looks like they have BBQ tools. Or cattle prods

It’ll still work outside in the daytime.

When I was a child we had to watch TV by candlelight.

Something to confuse future archeologists.

I know just how they feel. I know how to use the Moon to preserve life on Earth about 100 000 000 years from now when the Sun’s life zone expands past us.

But, just like those poor guys in the picture, I still have to work out some minor details. Like how to move the Moon.

Is THAT the electric cord of liberty?

Just like the person who built the first telephone!

As with what was invented first… the can or the can-opener… the screw or the screw-driver… etc…

“Grog unhappy. Grog have 220v 50khz UK power but lamp has 110v 60-khz USA plug. "

Alas … to have a lamp … and to have nowhere to plug it in.

Ever wonder how it would be for an ordinary person with limited practical technical knowledge to suddenly go back in time a few thousand years? He or she would be able to describe modern inventions in broad details but be unable to tell how to actually construct them.

They would have to partner with some clever then-contemporary “wizard.” It would probably be a dangerous situation for them both, unless they could ingratiate themselves by constructing things with military or socially practical and valuable applications.

One novel that sort of describes this situation is the humorous science fiction novel “The Flying Sorcerers,” by Larry Niven and David Gerrold.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Sorcerers

No wonder. The pins on the plug are ROUND!

And a few thousand years later his invention would’ve been declared heretical.

If he rubs his feet on the carpet, he might be able to light it up.

Can’t seem to generate much interest in this one.

To paraphrase an episode of Futurama:

“Get this plug outta my nose!”

“Hey, I should mad at you. Now turn around!”

If the only tool you have, everything looks like a lamp? Even before being on the bleeding edge became a saying. Or would that be hunting with a rock? Apparently still too early to be more clever. Sorry.

A prehistoric energy crisis.

Not that much of a stretch from reality. Everyone wants an electric car. A lot of the world doesn’t have the capability to charge these new cars. Might work out in the long run, we can use the new E-cars for storage sheds or Tiny Homes? At least, the rich can have the roads to themselves again, as it should be.

Think I’m full of it? Texas power grid is struggling and California is a mess. Here in New England, a new powerline is planned to bring power South from Quebec. Unfortunately, some have voted against allowing said powerline to be built.

Wouldn’t that guy in the Porsche, love to have a wide open road to himself?

The one thing I am surprised man has not yet managed to do? Economically and efficiently convert sea water to usable drinking and farming water.

Like California asking EV owners not to plug in and charge their vehicles because there isn’t enough electricity yet, because it cannot yet be generated by any other means than those dependent on fossil fuels?

Interesting that I just made a comment on Back to BC before I read this. My comment was eerily similar to the theme of this strip. I’m a little worried about what I might think up next.

This is why so many inventors think up the same idea about the same time. They are waiting for some other element to be invented first.

Time to sculpt a power plant

Light bulb made of a bolder? Not so advanced. I’d hesitate to even call it “light”.

Good one, Wiley! Reminds me of 1970 when I sent a small electrical appliance to Australia. They unpacked it, stared at the plug, and said “what the hell do we do with this.” It never occurred to me that Aussie was on a different electrical current!! Didn’t do that one again.

These people are experts in survival in the wild, knowing the plants, animals and Nature in general.

Edison didn’t just "invent"a light bulb, He created a whole infrastructure of power plants and wiring to support it.

Many things were invented before their applications. Like, the phonograph. It’s first ‘use’ was as a dictaphone. The music thing came much later. and Post-it notes…

‘A prophet has no honour in his own country’ – take the lamp back and invent something useful. That’s called “Appropriate Technology”.

Even light bulb moments need the right timing.

Well, it’s Labor Day and 9:30 at night. Hope everyone had a nice Holiday.

Kinda like these guys?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi4YQlzOYiY

Nothing worse than being the world’s First Interior Decorator.