So, being bored in Plano, Tx, I ran across this article for the most important tools.
1. Knife
2. Abacus
3. Compass
4. Pencil
5. Harness
6. Scythe
7. Rifle
8. Sword
9. Eyeglasses
10. Saw
11. Watch
12. Lathe
13. Needle
14. Candle
15. Scale
16. Pot
17. Telescope
18. Level
19. Fish-Hook
20. Chisel
An interesting list, but really is missing some things and by their criteria, has some things that I don't think should be in here.
We decided to exclude the traditional list of "simple machines," which includes the lever, pulley, wheel and wedge, since most other tools employ some form of simple machine--a hammer is basically a lever, and an axe is essentially a wedge.So if the axe is essentially eliminated because it's just a wedge, why is the knife, sword and chisel listed? And isn't a sword just a big knife? And, why isn't a watch considered a complex machine if a windmill is? Last I looked a watch was more complex than a windmill.
We tried where possible to limit the list to handheld or easily portable objects, eliminating most heavy machine tools, like hydraulic jacks.
We also decided to eliminate complex machines capable of essentially running themselves. That means things like cars, windmills and computer networks don't qualify.
The missing item that irked me the most was the stirrup. Personally, I think it has had a far greater impact on society than the harness.
They list the watch (chronograph) and compass, then leave out the third piece that made the other two originally so important, the sextant. Real navigation requires all three.
2 comments:
Here's a question... Can anyone be anything BUT bored in Plano, TX?
You're not far from the giant Bass Pro Shop. Head over there. They have a brewery resteraunt attached. The brew is so-so, but the Buffalo steaks are fantastic.
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