h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

{[j'au]}

Rithmatic the+ rythmn method

Writing+ rubbers
Reading =+ape recordings

The dewey decimal system +ten digits
Spell checkers+ cussedness
Apathy +smileys
Sleeping tablets+ soft beds
Stimulants (coffee and cocoa)
Post 42+post 41 postee
A nome de plume+birth certificate
Not necessarily in that order

[MTG]

[GDZ]

Any update on young Gummo, d'E?

[BB]
How can it be the 3rd led already

Inventions (in no particular order)

The Wheel
The stirling engine
The heatpipe
Steel
reinforced concrete (could be controversial that one)
LED's

and of course the microprocessor without which this list wouldn't have happened.

Inventions:

1. the bit. This one's symbolic of horseback riding, which made the rapid spread of civilization possible. They've tentatively dated the invention of the bit back to about 5000 BC, somewhere in the southern steppes of Russia. It seems to predate both Greek and Persian civilizations.

2. The transistor.

3. Pi, as in 3.1416...

4. the printing press

5. antibiotics

6. the plow

7. pottery

8. electricity

9. recording music and voice

10. steel

Nothing systematic about that list, just what I came up with after sitting and thinking. Velcro is definitely number 11.

*insert primal scream of rage at missing the crossover*

Courtesy
*off to read backlog*

Great scribing PW.

The list (no particular order):
Mathmatics
Language (written/spoken)
Plastic
Silicon transister
Printing press
Great Pyramid
Wheel
Agriculture
Medicine
Apollo Program

Courtesy

One might argue that mathematics are not invented, but discovered.

I'll return after I've called all my people in England who want to say happy birthday

Inventions that changed the world. My approach is to go for the absolute fundamentals rather than later/modern items that are just extension fo previous ideas. This caused quite some debate between Ag and myself as we went through the lists. I guess it could certainly be argues that some of mine are pre-human...

My list in order of possible occurence (very roughly):

Communicating complex ideas (ie, covers language, mathematics, pictures, etc.)
Creating tools (right from basic flint axes to computers the concept is the same)
Doing/creating things for pleasure (ie. art, music and such like)
Shelter (allowed better survival and led onto much more things like...)
Settling into communities (ie. sharing resources, skills also allows for agriculture)
Trading (uses both communication and communities to work for us)
Making records (yes, an extension of the first one - but an essential leap forward & covers printing etc.)
Transport/travel over water (not sure if it was sail or oar first)
Medicine (in all forms)
I know we're not 'allowed' fire - but my suggestion would be: The use fo fire to extract stuff from ore/change one material to another.

PS. Ag thinks I'm being too clever for my own good : )

I'm banking the fires to argue whether language can be considered an invention. I think language came with the basic human package, like walking upright and having temper tantrums.

Please remember the rules, too -- consider the wheel as already there.

No-one has mentioned digital watches.

Inventions - off the top of my head:

Writing
Printing
Gears
Anaesthetics
Calculus
The Internet

I dunno - I do remember my father saying that the measuring rule was a masonic trade secret for centuries - therefore:

Open science, the empiric method and peer review
Soap
Cooking (to kill the bugs, natch)

.... 9. That's enough I think.

Another thought - if you could have any mutation you liked, what mutation would that be?

Ben

PS - nice scribing PennyWhistle

And Kelli - next time you go up to Yorkshire let Z and me know - we can be your Local Neighbourhood Internet Wierdos (we are good at that!) and you can show us off to J's parents if you like!

How many different sizes of size 5 girls clothes are there, and size 6 boys?


Yeah, just took the kids clothes shopping. Had C try on a pair of size 7 shorts, too big so I figure the size 6 would work but, I didn't have him try them on. Guess what? You guessed it, I have to take them back as they too are too big.

Kids clothes sizes infuriate me, if I go buy a pair of pants for myself, I know that a 32 waist/ 30 length is what I need and they always fit. Kids however, one pair of pants C has is size 5, another is size 7, they both fit him perfectly! What is up with that?

I don't know about that. Whenever I buy a new pair of Levis I always spend at least an hour trying on every pair of 34/33s, 32/34s, 33/32s, 33/33s, 33/34s and 34/32s that I can get my hands on, until I find one that fits.

Top 10 inventions, in no order:
1. the tin can
2. the can opener
3. ink/paint
4. glass
5. thread
6. batteries
7. the shovel
8. the refrigerator
9. the oven
10. the

Jersey Gummo is still limping, but putting more weight on his paw than he did yesterday. I didn't call the vet since he seems to be improving, but if he's still limping tomorrow I'll definitely make an appointment. No swelling, no bleeding, no more yelping when I manipulate his paw. I think he'll be OK.

GDZ, dearest, its something that every woman learns to live with. Different manufacturers makes different sizes and mark them the same. Shopping with the BF was a revelation...what do you mean, you don't need to try that on? Well, if it's a 16.5 34/35, that means it fits me. No need to try it on.

I have jeans that are 12s that fit, and jeans that are 14s that don't. Go figure.

My top ten inventions (Lil, this is completely unfair to do to a historian, you know) in no particular order:

writing
the printing press
the guillotine
the internet
personal computers
OCLC/Dewey decimal system (although I prefer the former)
google
steel
antibiotics
moving pictures (8 mm to digital)

Im a pretty standard size when it comes to trousers. Though I have to get the next size up for jeans in one shop. I vary over 5 sizes for tops though!

I really shouldnt have drunk 2 cups of coffee because now im not tired!

Might go and have a cigarette and see if that helps!

Isn't nicotine a stimulant too?

It is true that men's dress shirts, in the US at least, are very precisely measured and you don't need to try them on. But with all the plastic wrap and pins it would be really difficult to try them on anyway (I think there are on average 12 pins in each shirt).

But Levis are nuts. I hate buying them.

Probably!

It does make me sleepy though!

Ive had my nicolteen and now im feeling slightly tired!

Might go to bed soon.