Actually, most lawyers hate having to figure out what they are doing and bill for it in 6 minute increments. Much of what we do is a matter of expertise, and to try and say that instantly knowing right answer is worth nothing but 8 hours of research is worth $1,280 is bizarre and counter-productive.
And, Fortuna/Caylynn, you might as well just give up trying to persuade me you are different people. I would not believe you anyway.
Moquel Pleb
posted 01-23-01 16:37
ET (US)
55 / 75
Hmm.... most people say the classic things like Law, writing, fire etcetra... Most of these inventions come of eachother... and are all combined, in what could be the greatest thing of all.
Civilization.
I have discovered a truly marvellous signature, which this margin is too narrow to contain.
latus Pleb
posted 01-23-01 16:43
ET (US)
56 / 75
Nails and screws... I mean... think about it. One day, long ago, some person was trying to get two planks of wood to stick/stay together. And he took his hammer and banged them together as best as he could, but they always came apart. Then someone invented the nail, and boom! The planks stuck!
you know, I'm pretty sure the discovery of the fact that we can walk on our hind legs is also important...
ET FLAVIUS Pleb
posted 01-23-01 17:11
ET (US)
57 / 75
Greatest?? hehe?? Well I agree with several already mentioned ARR ..is a good one to note.
Personally.."the greatest" changes from day to day for me...like this AM..my coffee maker got the call. This would also be gender dependent..though hygiene is important, there's a noticeable split between showers and the "tub"
If we stick to a strict invention on the basis of dependency, it's the light bulb and all the variations that followed.
ET
Gustavia Pleb
posted 01-23-01 21:08
ET (US)
58 / 75
I have been thinking about this thread.
And I am not saying that my choice is the greatest, but certainly one that has had a great impact on our lives.
Television.
DaveG Pleb
posted 01-23-01 21:30
ET (US)
59 / 75
I'll have to agree with you there Gustavia---it's almost creepy just how big of an influence the media has on our lives! Whether we like it or not, most of our actions are (to one extent or another) regulated by the social standards that are set on television.
MarcusMaximus Pleb
posted 01-24-01 00:39
ET (US)
60 / 75
Just remember,
Necessity is the mother of invention...
Laziness is its father!
We men enjoy putting more work into inventing something that will reduce or eliminate the work effort that would have been required to perform the original task that is being avoided.
We're so clever that we give ourselves awards for all of that effort, too!
Jayhawk Eminence Grise
posted 01-24-01 04:25
ET (US)
61 / 75
I don't think there's that many hot showers in nature, so I dare say it's a true invention
Also there's, to me at least, a difference between something that exists in nature and 'inventing' a way to make it useful. Sure that willow bark has always been there, but it took some work to figure out it will cure a headache, quite nicely.
Apart from the shower my vote will go to 'art'.
As for the time keeping, a day is about as short as I like to divide my time. The longer periods (seasons) will help us a lot, but what did a second ever do for us? Angel Jayhawk Eyrie, Pharaoh Heaven, Caesar 3 Heaven, Zeus Heaven
heehee I can answer that ...those nanoseconds timing electron streams in my CPU is what's making it possible for me to communicate with you.
ET
Proconsul Creaticus Dania Angel
posted 01-24-01 07:00
ET (US)
63 / 75
LOL ET you took my lines
About the differences Jayhawk mentions, electricity was discovered, but mankind invented a way for producing it and found many ways for using and even store it
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the body. Pr. 16:24
Pounce the Unfortunate Pharaolympics 2000 Competitor
posted 01-24-01 07:03
ET (US)
64 / 75
The (fanfare)
BIKINI
I also believe that boredom was the mother of invention.
Pounce the Unfortunate
Child of the Djel
[This message has been edited by Pounce the Unfortunate (edited 01-24-2001).]
Jayhawk Eminence Grise
posted 01-24-01 07:13
ET (US)
65 / 75
Pounce if I remember correctly that little bit of bathing, I hesitate to use the word, suit was named so because of another invention.
People suggested it looked as much like a real bathing suit as the atol did after they dropped the Bomb...
Oh, ET, Dania, I don't thikn it matters wheter or not I know that's a (nano-)second. It would probably have worked if we didn't know what to call that time slice Angel Jayhawk Eyrie, Pharaoh Heaven, Caesar 3 Heaven, Zeus Heaven
WEll, I thought the entire world had agreed on that. There is just one and only greatest invention:
COMPUTERS
Isn't that the reason why we are here?
Orion
"Let there be light!" said God and there was light. "Let there be blood!" said man and there was a sea.
Claudia Gallica Pleb
posted 01-24-01 16:55
ET (US)
67 / 75
I vote for the old stone chopping tool. All the others come from this one.
Nutmegger Pleb
posted 01-24-01 17:03
ET (US)
68 / 75
Claudia, I thought for sure you would say "the French language", without which we would have no "lingua franca".
ET FLAVIUS Pleb
posted 01-24-01 18:09
ET (US)
69 / 75
Ah ...this could never end..
Like Angel Jayhawk..points out.."Art"...and maybe already mentioned, the printing press. For one who reads,loves and collects books, where would I be without the printed page.
ET
Gill Britannica Inactive
posted 01-24-01 18:16
ET (US)
70 / 75
How would I eat, clothe myself or have a roof over my head without the printed page? Note which necessity I put first
GovernorSimulus Pleb
posted 01-26-01 02:14
ET (US)
71 / 75
One word...
Macintosh
The Imperator Pleb
posted 01-26-01 02:44
ET (US)
72 / 75
Television.
It is very influential in pretty much everything(and no doubt will continue to be for some time).
Of course, TV is not really a new idea. The Roman "TV" was of course the games. Entertainment and the Arts(books, plays, gladiators, movies ) has been an effective means of control for centuries. There is nothing more powerful than it. Weapons can destroy and conquer something, but only A & E can RULE it.
Emperor Johnleemk Pleb
posted 01-26-01 09:06
ET (US)
73 / 75
The Computer. Where would I be without it?
Visit My Forums and My Homepage. Particularly my forums. Please!!! Pretty please!!! *grovels* Prety, pretty, pretty please??!!!
Romans 6:22-24 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Zen Ghost
(id: Angel Zen)
posted 01-26-01 09:58
ET (US)
74 / 75
Mankind's greatest invention? Maybe Language.
Zen
DaveG Pleb
posted 01-26-01 14:27
ET (US)
75 / 75
Right now, the pillow is looking pretty impressive to me.