They only shot the monitor, so all they lost was the ability to display the visual of Sweetheart. They should still be able to hear her, and she should be able to see and hear them, and all the rest.
But that raises the question – what kind of library computer has a microphone and webcam? And where actually are they? (I suppose they might be built into the monitor, but typically they’re cheaper as discrete addons, and we’re talking government spending.)
Google AIO computers. They are super common, especially in low-cost, low-performance applications like offices (and libraries).
On one hand they are not very friendly to upgrades and repairs; on the other hand, they’re great for an elderly person who is intimidated by components and cables.
University library dude here from a very poor state.
Almost all of our computers are Dells (can’t cite model off-hand) that are essentially laptop guts built in to the LCD display. Plug in the keyboard, mouse, and power and you’re off to the races. Most connect to the campus WiFi. Very inexpensive. And they have webcams with a nice little sliding plastic dingus (official term) to block them if so desired. Some might call it a shutter, but we have declared it to be a dingus. So mote it be.
One raygun blast and yeah, they’d be toast. Dunno about a Steve or Kylegun, though. Lewis gun and you’d probably take out several.
And we do have public computers, used to have six but now we have three: social distancing, donchaknow. But you gotta pay $5 at the cashier’s office for an account, unless you already had a public patron card for the Spring semester, in which case we’re comping you for the Fall since Spring was cut short. But that $5 does include 50 pages of printing: you have to pay in advance because we’re not handling cash any more.
They’re in Silicon Valley here. The library probably gets donations of “outdated” computers from high-tech firms that are better than what 90% of us are using.
It’s not exactly the same, but here’s a horribly outdated all-in-one computer that actually looks kind of like the one in the first panel. It even includes a built-in camera.
Maybe it’s not smoke. Maybe it’s heat distortion. Or maybe it’s cartoon scent lines, depicting the smell of ozone. Or maybe it’s just a small tear in the fourth wall. (Goodness knows the characters poke enough holes in that thing already.)
Gerbils are desert rats, nothing to do with trees – they’re adapted to arid environments. They are burrowers, “gopher” isn’t really that far off the mark.
You come in so supreme, in the extreme
And all on the firing line.
You’re single, you’re a gerbil, and you’re fine.
You’re not gophers or squirrels, you’re not a girl.
Alternate universe shine.
You’re single, you’re a gerbil, and you’re fine.
You’re a genius, you’re no pet.
We fell in love from the time we met.
You had some tricks, right up your sleeve,
And, ooh, in my pants, you would not leave.
You came out from your schemes, I fell for your charms,
Now
You’re single, you’re a gerbil, and you’re fine.
—from “You’re Sixteen,” Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman, sung by Johnny Burnette and also Ringo Starr.
I was hoping this guy might be someone from the Kansas base that’s gone rogue, but I guess not.
This is NOT the time to be flirting, you.
Is that a ray gun?
Well, it’s not a gerbil inseminator.
I know right? If you’re going to steal Mad Tech, you should go with top shelf inseminators and not bottom shelf lasers.
They work better than steve guns or kyle guns.
Think I’ll stick with the Lewis gun.
Touche’.
Librarian: Shhhh!
Okay, so fridge moment…
They only shot the monitor, so all they lost was the ability to display the visual of Sweetheart. They should still be able to hear her, and she should be able to see and hear them, and all the rest.
But that raises the question – what kind of library computer has a microphone and webcam? And where actually are they? (I suppose they might be built into the monitor, but typically they’re cheaper as discrete addons, and we’re talking government spending.)
Google AIO computers. They are super common, especially in low-cost, low-performance applications like offices (and libraries).
On one hand they are not very friendly to upgrades and repairs; on the other hand, they’re great for an elderly person who is intimidated by components and cables.
University library dude here from a very poor state.
Almost all of our computers are Dells (can’t cite model off-hand) that are essentially laptop guts built in to the LCD display. Plug in the keyboard, mouse, and power and you’re off to the races. Most connect to the campus WiFi. Very inexpensive. And they have webcams with a nice little sliding plastic dingus (official term) to block them if so desired. Some might call it a shutter, but we have declared it to be a dingus. So mote it be.
One raygun blast and yeah, they’d be toast. Dunno about a Steve or Kylegun, though. Lewis gun and you’d probably take out several.
And we do have public computers, used to have six but now we have three: social distancing, donchaknow. But you gotta pay $5 at the cashier’s office for an account, unless you already had a public patron card for the Spring semester, in which case we’re comping you for the Fall since Spring was cut short. But that $5 does include 50 pages of printing: you have to pay in advance because we’re not handling cash any more.
They’re in Silicon Valley here. The library probably gets donations of “outdated” computers from high-tech firms that are better than what 90% of us are using.
It’s not exactly the same, but here’s a horribly outdated all-in-one computer that actually looks kind of like the one in the first panel. It even includes a built-in camera.
https://hothardware.com/news/new-averatec-aio-pc-features-hd-video-playback
Clearly, the laser gun emits smoke after being fired just because it looks cool. (Mad tech often works that way.)
Maybe it’s not smoke. Maybe it’s heat distortion. Or maybe it’s cartoon scent lines, depicting the smell of ozone. Or maybe it’s just a small tear in the fourth wall. (Goodness knows the characters poke enough holes in that thing already.)
I assume you two are referring to the splash pattern emanating from the monitor. I would interpret that as shattering glass.
I believe the polite term is “tree kangaroo rat thing”
Gerbils are desert rats, nothing to do with trees – they’re adapted to arid environments. They are burrowers, “gopher” isn’t really that far off the mark.
True, but the tree-kangaroo comparison has stronger precedent in-universe, as evident for example in the last strip on this page.
Y’know, even if the screen is out, the computer part will still go on working. It’s just a monitor.
Gopher is close to gofer.
Before saying that you’re not one, you should count the number of times you’ve complained that you are much smaller than the item to be retrieved…
I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed gerbil-Artie.
I do believe the A-Sig goon is getting confused in that last panel. More than usual, I mean.
It looks like he’s sniffing Sergio’s hair…creepily.
All Sergio needs to do is throw his head back really hard and break the guy’s nose, then grab the gun.
You come in so supreme, in the extreme
And all on the firing line.
You’re single, you’re a gerbil, and you’re fine.
You’re not gophers or squirrels, you’re not a girl.
Alternate universe shine.
You’re single, you’re a gerbil, and you’re fine.
You’re a genius, you’re no pet.
We fell in love from the time we met.
You had some tricks, right up your sleeve,
And, ooh, in my pants, you would not leave.
You came out from your schemes, I fell for your charms,
Now
You’re single, you’re a gerbil, and you’re fine.
—from “You’re Sixteen,” Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman, sung by Johnny Burnette and also Ringo Starr.
Sweet!
Love this one!
Gopher, Gerbil, two syllables, starts with a ‘g’. Giraffe, Goshawk.
What’s the difference?
“Girlfriend” starts with a G…
“There was a girlfriend of the gerbil, Sweetheart was her name-o….”