Category / CIDU

by phsiii

Mystery Machine

The ever-prolific JMcAndrew asks, “What is that supposed to be that he broke?”

As someone who has used mainframe computers since the early 1970s, I recognize it as a 9-track tape drive, probably an IBM 3420. In other words, it’s supposed to be a computer, from the era when “spinning tapes” meant “computer”.

He adds that the comic is from 1984, at which point the 3420 with its open reels was still state of the art. That’s actually the year the 3480 was introduced, which used a square cartridge instead. As a 3480 looks like a dishwasher with a tape slot, much like a VCR, and you can’t see the tape spin, 3480s and their children never caught on as a way to say “Look! A computer!” in movies and TV.

by zbicyclist

Be Kind

Due to one editor being on vacation this week, we’re going to imitate the comics by repeating some classics. This one is from June 2018, by Bill

be kind

B.A.: Okay, so… a comic about the future that uses what’s already a Geezer reference (Blockbuster/VHS tapes). But I still don’t understand what the joke’s supposed to be.

Though the Cow pinch-hitting for the Squirrel does give us a passable “Oy”.

by phsiii

Not a geezer alert

billr sends:

noting, “I’m guessing some cultural reference I’m missing, or forgot (I’m an old) maybe from some movie I never watched. I know that they’ve been rerunning old comics for TMCM but I don’t see a date on this one.”

I see “2016” on the right, which actually tracks with my guess, but I leave it to the hive-mind to see if they reach the same conclusion I did.

by zbicyclist

Ewwww?

Dirk the Daring sends this in: “I had to go to the comment because I didn’t understand it, fortunately it seems to be explained there.  The old phones I get, look at the date, but the “Ewww” didn’t make much sense.”

Cleats is in reruns; this comic appeared on July 4 some years ago.

by zbicyclist

If I Had a Hammer …

Mark H. sends in this Geezer Alert. “The vintage on “This Ole House” is 1954 and “Que Sera Sera” is 1956. It’s not clear that either Arlo or Janis was born then (I picture them as in their mid 60’s now).”

I was confused by Mark H.’s comment until I saw the next day’s comic; the link he sent in was one day off for me when I clicked on it. Here’s the comic Mark H. intended. Treat either or both comics as confusing.