In article <1115396234.469785.257980@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>, garrison@efn.org writes:>
TOP 10 INVENTIONS> Bicycle - 59%> Transistor - 8%> Electro-magnetic induction ring - 8%> Computer - 6%> Germ theory of infection - 5%> Radio - 5%> Internet - 4%> Internal combustion engine - 3%> Nuclear power - 1%> Communications satellite - 1%
Conspicuously absent in this list is the invention of ball bearings, which make bicycles effective. Ball/roller/needle/whatever bearings also play a significant role in the manufacture and distribution of all kinds of stuff, including bicycles.
Maybe what we generally describe as a bicycle is just a support system - a human/ball bearing interface. Or is that just too "quantum" a way of looking at it?
Clocks and chronometers are also conspicuously absent from the list. But in a lot of ways clocks are our bosses, so maybe they're not so popular.
Beer is a pretty good invention; it provided a means of keeping potable water from going bad during long sea voyages.
I'd think birth control would be a fairly popular invention (or set of inventions,) too. And the self-cleaning oven.
cheers, Tom
-- -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
"Tom Keats" <tkeats2005@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:asag5d.s77.ln@bud.garden.local...> In article <1115396234.469785.257980@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,> garrison@efn.org writes:>>
TOP 10 INVENTIONS>> Bicycle - 59%>> Transistor - 8%>> Electro-magnetic induction ring - 8%>> Computer - 6%>> Germ theory of infection - 5%>> Radio - 5%>> Internet - 4%>> Internal combustion engine - 3%>> Nuclear power - 1%>> Communications satellite - 1%>
Conspicuously absent in this list is the invention> of ball bearings, which make bicycles effective.> Ball/roller/needle/whatever bearings also play a> significant role in the manufacture and distribution> of all kinds of stuff, including bicycles.>
Maybe what we generally describe as a bicycle is just> a support system - a human/ball bearing interface. Or> is that just too "quantum" a way of looking at it?>
Clocks and chronometers are also conspicuously absent> from the list. But in a lot of ways clocks are our> bosses, so maybe they're not so popular.>
Beer is a pretty good invention; it provided a means> of keeping potable water from going bad during long> sea voyages.>
I'd think birth control would be a fairly popular> invention (or set of inventions,) too. And the> self-cleaning oven.>
cheers,> Tom>
-- > -- Nothing is safe from me.> Above address is just a spam midden.> I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
\snip>Conspicuously absent in this list is the invention>of ball bearings, which make bicycles effective.>Ball/roller/needle/whatever bearings also play a>significant role in the manufacture and distribution>of all kinds of stuff, including bicycles
Clocks and chronometers are also conspicuously absent>from the list. But in a lot of ways clocks are our>bosses, so maybe they're not so popular.>
Beer is a pretty good invention; it provided a means>of keeping potable water from going bad during long>sea voyages.
The original post specified:the most significant innovations since 1800. Beer and clocks are older than that.
Bicycles and ball bearings can be traced back to the 18th century.The celerifere and velocipede existed in the 1790s. Philip Vaughan applied for a ball race patent in 1794. It wasn't until 1862 that precision ball bearings could be mass produced and 1861 before pedals and cranks caught on.
The outstanding value represented by my bicycle is that it costs me thirty bucks taxi fare to the LBS and back. (OCB!) Not many trips like that and the bike pays for itself. -- zk
"Jim Smith" wrote: It is absolutely the best word ever. You have got to add it to your vocabulary or you will die. Do it now or you will never forgive yourself! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That sounds to me like "high pressure."
LioNiNoiL_a t_Y a h 0 0_d 0 t_c 0 m 7 May 2005 04:14:14 [ permanent link ]
Cam wrote:
Beer is responsible for the civilization of mankind. Without> fermentation it is not possible to get enough nutrition from> grain to survive efficiently. Before beer man was a nomadic> hunter-gatherer. After the invention of beer (soggy grain)> we were able to settle in one spot and raise crops. That was> the dawn of civilization and for that I thank beer every day.
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." -- Dave Barry, "Dave Barry's Bad Habits"
Beer is a pretty good invention; it provided a means> > >of keeping potable water from going bad during long> > >sea voyages.> >
The original post specified:the most significant innovations since> > 1800. Beer and clocks are older than that.> >
Beer is responsible for the civilization of mankind. Without> fermentation it is not possible to get enough nutrition from grain to> survive efficiently. Before beer man was a nomadic hunter-gatherer.> After the invention of beer (soggy grain) we were able to settle in one> spot and raise crops. That was the dawn of civilization and for that I> thank beer every day.>
Cam.barr@beer.com>
Come now, a little bit of charity, please! I'm sure the fellow meant that *lager* beer is the second-best invention since 1800. Really, what charms would summer hold were it not for bottom-fermented beers?
"Raymond Lillard" <rlillard@sonic.net> wrote in message news:2Mvge.70$W51.1483@typhoon.sonic.net...> Cycle America wrote:> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4513929.stm> > Last Updated: Thursday, 5 May, 2005, 07:10 GMT 08:10 UK> >
Bicycle chosen as best invention> >
The humble bicycle has won a UK national survey of people's favourite> > inventions.> >
Listeners to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme were invited to vote> > in an online poll looking at the most significant innovations since
1800.>
I know nothing of the "You and Yours" program, but I'd bet> most anything I own, that its listeners do not represent a> cross-section of the UK population. This shouldn't be taken> as a sign of an enlightened populace. Maybe there is some> hope though.
It sure isn't representative of typical Americans.
Listeners to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme were invited to >>> vote in an online poll looking at the most significant innovations >>> since 1800.>>
I know nothing of the "You and Yours" program, but I'd bet>> most anything I own, that its listeners do not represent a>> cross-section of the UK population. This shouldn't be taken>> as a sign of an enlightened populace. Maybe there is some>> hope though.>
I used to like it when it was on once a week and could go deeply into > issues, but now that it is every weekday, it skirts the "must fill up > the time" boundary.>
It was an easy victory for the bicycle which won more than half of >>> the vote.>
Much as I like the bicycle, I feel the transistor has benefitted society > far more. It may sometimes feel that the bicycle is ubiquitous, but the > transistor surely is.>
I would stick with the bicycle. Too much time is being blown by transistor driven entertainment, HDTV, Playstations, sitting in front of a computer (guilty here) or trying to cram more computing power in a car than should ever happen. Bill Baka
Mike Jacoubowsky 12 May 2005 10:36:05 [ permanent link ]
It was an easy victory for the bicycle which won more than half of the >>> vote.>
Much as I like the bicycle, I feel the transistor has benefitted society > far more. It may sometimes feel that the bicycle is ubiquitous, but the > transistor surely is.
The transistor is a device, whereas the bicycle is an application. Of course the transistor, as a fundamental building block of nearly(?) everything technological, is more important, or perhaps more worthy of being called the "best invention" in that comparison. But comparing apples to apples, what would you say of a comparison of the transistor vs the wheel?
"Richard Brockie" <use@reply-to.address> wrote in message news:1185d40c0s211b@corp.supernews.com...> Raymond Lillard wrote:>>> Listeners to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme were invited to vote >>> in an online poll looking at the most significant innovations since >>> 1800.>>
I know nothing of the "You and Yours" program, but I'd bet>> most anything I own, that its listeners do not represent a>> cross-section of the UK population. This shouldn't be taken>> as a sign of an enlightened populace. Maybe there is some>> hope though.>
I used to like it when it was on once a week and could go deeply into > issues, but now that it is every weekday, it skirts the "must fill up the > time" boundary.>
It was an easy victory for the bicycle which won more than half of the >>> vote.>
Much as I like the bicycle, I feel the transistor has benefitted society > far more. It may sometimes feel that the bicycle is ubiquitous, but the > transistor surely is.>
-- > R.>
<> Richard Brockie "Categorical statements> <> The tall blond one. always cause trouble."> <> rmbusenet@brockie.org.uk
Wed, 11 May 2005 21:54:10 -0700, <1115873647.484421@news01.syix.com>, bbaka <bbaka@syix.com> wrote:
Much as I like the bicycle, I feel the transistor has benefitted society >> far more. It may sometimes feel that the bicycle is ubiquitous, but the >> transistor surely is.>>
I would stick with the bicycle.
Me too. The bicycle and the technology that enabled its production also facilitated powered flight and so got us into space.
Too much time is being blown by >transistor driven entertainment
Transistors sound edgy, lean, and hazy compared to vacuum tubes' mellow warmth. Transistors were a disaster for hardcore audiophiles. -- zk
It was an easy victory for the bicycle which won more than half of the >>>> vote.>>
Much as I like the bicycle, I feel the transistor has benefitted society >> far more. It may sometimes feel that the bicycle is ubiquitous, but the >> transistor surely is.>
The transistor is a device, whereas the bicycle is an application. Of course >the transistor, as a fundamental building block of nearly(?) everything >technological, is more important, or perhaps more worthy of being called the >"best invention" in that comparison. But comparing apples to apples, what >would you say of a comparison of the transistor vs the wheel?
Almost apples to apricots. The wheel got us to the point where transistors could be invented, or discovered. The bicycle itself is a sideline, a useful and pleasurable diversion on our path to ...?
The humble bicycle has won a UK national survey of people's>
favourite>
inventions.>>>
Listeners to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme were invited to>
vote>
in an online poll looking at the most significant innovations since>
1800.>
I know nothing of the "You and Yours" program, but I'd bet>>most anything I own, that its listeners do not represent a>>cross-section of the UK population. This shouldn't be taken>>as a sign of an enlightened populace. Maybe there is some>>hope though.>>
As a bike-riding Brit the result certainly surprised me. Not sure what> the sample size was. 'You and Yours' (and BBC Radio 4 generally) has> I'd guess a predominantly middle-class, 30 years old upwards audience.> I don't think you'd find a similar result if a wider class and age> range was polled. I've never felt that the bicycle was held in the same> high esteem in Britain as in our European neighbours such as Holland,> Belgium and France.>
Buy a short wave receiver and discover a whole new world exists out there. They also give the real world news before it gets watered down and censored for release to our radios and televisions. I get a lot from BBC, radio Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and others when they are in the English mode. There are also times they set aside for music from their own country, usually instrumentals and quite relaxing. Running an antenna is not that hard either. I have a collection going back to the 30's, most with tubes, but real radios that would give some new transistor models fit trying to keep up. Experience the world from a different point of view. Warning, we are not that popular these days, in contrast to what Fox, et al, will tell you. Bill Baka
