An awful lot of stuff that was thought up by SF writers has proven to have a basis in ‘real’ scientific thought. The whole idea of parallel universes, for instance, a staple of science fiction. Actually, ancient fortune-telling devices like the i ching used the same ‘technique’. “Should I take the job or not?” “Should I go on that overseas trip?” “Should I go into this venture with my friend?” When there two (or more) alternatives, it depends on what you decide, because there’s another version of your reality where the opposite road was taken, and so on, and on, ad infinitum. Lots of scientists believe in it, now. Didn’t used to …
Pivoting to engineering critique: Best envision first bridle and reins for steering capability and a collar rigging to prevent that mid-strap from slipping back to become a flank strap resulting in the first ever rodeo bucking event.
I love looking at old science magazines that have articles speculating what the future will look like. Some came close. One magazine more than a hundred years ago anticipated video chatting and — of course — flying cars. We’re FINALLY getting close to the flying car or something close enough.
Sounds like the kind of conversation Iain Banks said he had a lot. Literary types were always assuming he wrote science fiction just to make money and give him leisure to write his “real” (i.e., literary, modern-day) fiction, when he said if anything it was the other way around. Fortunately, he was very good at both.
Reminds me of a brilliant radio skit by John Finnemore. An inventor uses an old horse box (U.S. “horse trailer”) as the enclosure for his time machine. Back in Medieval times, a man he encounters is not impressed by the idea of traveling through time but is utterly fascinated by the idea of a horse box.
“The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was the genius!” —Sid Caesar (1922-2014) American comedian
It was probably oxen that first pulled carts. As for the axle and round, if you want to believe the theories about Egypt, they supposedly drilled perfectly round holes, perfect jars so an axle and wheel should not have been a problem. Odd how they went so long without wheels. Seems that knowledge along with lifting 100 ton rocks must have been forgotten. Or just maybe ones long before the Egyptians did the stone work and building. 50-100 thousand years earlier.
I watched a Nova in which scientists and engineers were discussing what would actually be possible from Star Trek. One man said that warp drive would never be possible. There are many examples throughout the centuries when have people have said that something would never happen, but it did. That’s because visionaries didn’t listen to them and made things happen. This is why I think that someday, space ships will have warp drive, because somebody is going to figure out how to do it.
C 10 months ago
The origin of justifiable homicide
rmremail 10 months ago
You know, there’s no point in inventing the wheel if you haven’t invented the horse first.
Doneaver 10 months ago
I agree with her, she obviously knows the science part of that, the imagination not her thing.
Erse IS better 10 months ago
Eh. Critics are part of the reason that you have to PAY people to create for public consumption.
Bilan 10 months ago
Did the wheel come before the axle or were they both invented at the same time?
Ratkin 10 months ago
Two days ago it was inventing the lamp before electricity. Get a new joke or learn to coordinate your daily and Sunday ones better.
Enter.Name.Here 10 months ago
It isn’t rocket science. It’s rock science.
keenanthelibrarian 10 months ago
An awful lot of stuff that was thought up by SF writers has proven to have a basis in ‘real’ scientific thought. The whole idea of parallel universes, for instance, a staple of science fiction. Actually, ancient fortune-telling devices like the i ching used the same ‘technique’. “Should I take the job or not?” “Should I go on that overseas trip?” “Should I go into this venture with my friend?” When there two (or more) alternatives, it depends on what you decide, because there’s another version of your reality where the opposite road was taken, and so on, and on, ad infinitum. Lots of scientists believe in it, now. Didn’t used to …
dot-the-I 10 months ago
Pivoting to engineering critique: Best envision first bridle and reins for steering capability and a collar rigging to prevent that mid-strap from slipping back to become a flank strap resulting in the first ever rodeo bucking event.
cdward 10 months ago
I love looking at old science magazines that have articles speculating what the future will look like. Some came close. One magazine more than a hundred years ago anticipated video chatting and — of course — flying cars. We’re FINALLY getting close to the flying car or something close enough.
William Bednar Premium Member 10 months ago
DaVinci’s grandad, 1000 times removed.
A Hip loving Canadian... 10 months ago
She might have a point, while he’s busy creating SF, who’s doing the hunting and gathering? This isn’t a feeding gig after all.
brazilnutcandies 10 months ago
This fellow is a hard core futurist. People rode horses approximately 2000 years before they ever harnessed a horse to anything like a cart/chariot.
HOTLOTUS1 10 months ago
yeah. INVENT THE HORSE. there’s a statement
Znox11 10 months ago
Any “woke” comments?
DaBump Premium Member 10 months ago
LOVE IT!
Count Olaf Premium Member 10 months ago
Amazing. A prehistoric Sharpie.
Zebrastripes 10 months ago
The beginning of the Huns…
rugeirn 10 months ago
What’s happening on the wall is not literature. It is art. Tell the literary critic to go fetch the art critic.
poppacapsmokeblower 10 months ago
Ah, the first Science Fiction! Hurray!
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member 10 months ago
Nobody appreciates a visionary until someone does.
evsxrk 10 months ago
Sounds like the kind of conversation Iain Banks said he had a lot. Literary types were always assuming he wrote science fiction just to make money and give him leisure to write his “real” (i.e., literary, modern-day) fiction, when he said if anything it was the other way around. Fortunately, he was very good at both.
198.23.5.11 10 months ago
Genius is never appreciated in its own ancient time.
And which came first,Donald Trump or the lie?
mistercatworks 10 months ago
Reminds me of a brilliant radio skit by John Finnemore. An inventor uses an old horse box (U.S. “horse trailer”) as the enclosure for his time machine. Back in Medieval times, a man he encounters is not impressed by the idea of traveling through time but is utterly fascinated by the idea of a horse box.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 10 months ago
“The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was the genius!” —Sid Caesar (1922-2014) American comedian
mindjob 10 months ago
The first wheels were probably solid. Spokes didn’t occur until much later
T... 10 months ago
What are wife’s for if not to stiffle creativity? I ask you…
leemorse9777 10 months ago
It was probably oxen that first pulled carts. As for the axle and round, if you want to believe the theories about Egypt, they supposedly drilled perfectly round holes, perfect jars so an axle and wheel should not have been a problem. Odd how they went so long without wheels. Seems that knowledge along with lifting 100 ton rocks must have been forgotten. Or just maybe ones long before the Egyptians did the stone work and building. 50-100 thousand years earlier.
Lola85 Premium Member 10 months ago
I watched a Nova in which scientists and engineers were discussing what would actually be possible from Star Trek. One man said that warp drive would never be possible. There are many examples throughout the centuries when have people have said that something would never happen, but it did. That’s because visionaries didn’t listen to them and made things happen. This is why I think that someday, space ships will have warp drive, because somebody is going to figure out how to do it.
wildlandwaters 10 months ago
At least he has the horse and cart in the right order!
jvscanlan Premium Member 10 months ago
First time science fiction became real science
Fuzzy Kombu 10 months ago
And thus began World of War Chariots…I mean, of Warcraft.