What are you glad was invented?

[debm55]

dishwasher

[brewens]

1. The programmable coffee maker. One of mankind's greatest inventions. I rarely forget to set

mine up before bed.

[debm55]

2. Yes those are great

[badhair77]

3. Garage door opener

Especially when it’s raining. The older I get the heavier that door has become.

[debm55]

5. And snowing here. Yes I really like mine

[bucolic_frolic]

4. gardening spade

Unfortunately, they're not manufactured anymore

[debm55]

7. Maybe you can get one at a garage sale. Hope so

[femmedem]

6. Running water.

Second choice: antibiotics.

[debm55]

8. Yes to both.

[Emile]

9. TV remote

[debm55]

10. Yes, going to the tv to change channels was a pain.

[beemerphill]

11. Toilet Paper

[debm55]

18. True

[samnsara]

53. make sure its two ply..no more see-thru scott!!!

[Walleye]

12. GPS, I am very directionally challenged

[debm55]

19. True and especially for husband

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Insecticides. 100 years ago, ants, bedbugs, centipedes, fleas, roaches, termites infested every home

.

Spiders too.

.

[debm55]

21. Yes

[FSogol]

14. Flush toilet. N/t

[debm55]

23. Yes and indoor plumping

[hlthe2b]

15. portable shiatsu massagers...

My muscles ache!

[debm55]

24. Hope it works

[sinkingfeeling]

16. Dishwasher.

[debm55]

25. Me too

[Aristus]

17. Artificial lighting.

I really gained an appreciation for it when I was in the Army. In the field, out on maneuvers, under tactical conditions when flashlights and other sources of artificial lighting are prohibited, the darkness can be a little soul-crushing, especially on moonless nights. Having to do everything by feel and hearing. There were several times when getting up in the mornings, and we're talking 3am or so, to get ready for a day of training in the field, I had to shave, get dressed, pack away my night stuff, prepare my weapon, and find my way to the command post in absolute, impenetrable darkness. It really puts flicking a switch and getting warm, welcoming lighting into perspective.

[debm55]

26. Didn't know that. Had to be very hard. can see why you appreciate lighting, thank you for your

service,

[electric_blue68]

46. Woah. If I think about it - it makes difficult, but perfect sense for those conditions!

Ty for your service, and the description of this aspect I wouldn't have generally have thought of.


Come to think if it - not being casual about it - you could show it authentically in a dramatic movie, or TV show but the screen would actually gave be totally dark, and just have sound.
Probably been done for a few seconds, minutes in some stories on the big, or little screen. I've probably "seen" that some where.

[Aristus]

48. Even movies and TV can rarely replicate those conditions.

"Dark" in a lot of TV shows and movies is just the same level of light, only blue. Either that, or they're portraying a "dark" night somewhere, but there always seems to be a bright-white floodlight just off camera in defiance of anything that appears in nature, so the audience can see the action. And I get that. Pitch black screens are not why people are watching. But it's awfully misleading as to what a dark, moonless night is actually like.

[electric_blue68]

52. Oh, sure! That's why they can't "show" it! ....

And with a screen it"d be just black in front of you vs all around you!

When a friend and I had our sleeping bags out in Monument Valley - we were lucky we had the full moon.
You could well imagine what it would have been like with no, or a new moon.

[303squadron]

20. Not invented, "discovered"

A good friend of mine had an interesting take on the question; "If you could go back in time to any era, when would that be?" He replied, " Any time after the discovery of anti-biotics. "

[debm55]

27. True and vaccines also

[zanana1]

22. Electricity

[debm55]

30. Yes,

[Polly Hennessey]

28. Washing machine. Specifically, a Maytag agitator.

[debm55]

31. Perfect choice.

[usonian]

29. Besides personal computers ....

The usual "guy" mix of WD-40, duck tape and vise-grips.

The cellphone, because there were too many times when a family member was hard to find, like Mom showing up at the airport and I couldn't find her for what seems forever.

I especially like computers, not just because I made a living using and supporting them, but because (almost) all the world's knowledge was placed on my desktop or laptop, a youngster's dream come true.

[debm55]

33. usunian , thank you for your guy mix an personal computers. The world completely changed with that

[keithbvadu2]

32. Electricity

[debm55]

34. Got that right

[Ohio Joe]

35. Condensed Soup

I love soup... All kinds of soup. Is condensed better than home made? Nope. But... It can be pretty damn good and it's ready fast. I'm glad to have a huge variety of soup at the ready, cheap and easy to make

[debm55]

39. Thank you , Joe. Yes, when you are in a hurry it is pretty good. I like tomato with my grilled

cheese sandwiches.

[Polly Hennessey]

45. Tomato soup for me with lots of crushed saltines sprinkled on top.

[keithbvadu2]

36. Certain things helped expand society and civilization.

Electricity, trade, printing press, railroads, communications, energy, automobiles, airplanes, gov't, religion, the arts, and much, much more.

Some have been used and misused such as gov't and religion.

[debm55]

40. Yes, there is good use and misuse of many inventions. Thank you for reminding us.

[Ocelot II]

37. Air conditioner, garage door opener, dishwasher,

iPhone, vacuum (not that I use it much), super glue, the printing press, the internal combustion engine, vaccines, the cathode ray tube, the microchip, duct tape, sails, shoes, the Keurig, lenses for glasses and telescopes, the cat door (allegedly by Isaac Newton), scissors, shampoo, I could go on and on...

[debm55]

42. Yes, to all. You have named some really good inventions that are hard to live without. Thank you.

[Mad_Dem_X]

38. Air conditioner!

I couldn't make it through the summer without it!

[debm55]

43. Yes, it was 91 here Saturday. So nice to have AC. Thanks

[no_hypocrisy]

41. Indoor plumbing

[debm55]

44. You are so right on that--outhouses, using rivers to wash colthing and yourself. Not for me. Thanks.

[Bobstandard]

47. Penicillin

Because of which many of us are still here.

[debm55]

49. Yes, the discovery of penicillin was lifesaving for many of us. I read though,through the years it

was overprescribed and lost it's bacteria killing effect. I just used it a couple of weeks ago for an abcess tooth. At one time people died from that. Thank you.

[CommonHumanity]

50. Favorites and inventions (aka fantasy inventions)

Oh my God...love the question.

I have been compiling a mental list of my favorite inventions for years. They're mostly related to running
my goat farm where day in and day out I marvel at the wonder of useful objects. I love, I mean LOVE, these objects.

Number one on my list:

****The Wheelbarrow******

Two major runner ups would be zip ties and duct tape. I used to joke that my entire business was held together by duck tape and zip ties.

And now on a tangential topic: I love thinking up funny inventions and would-be businesses. I would love to hear if others have funny invention and business ideas.

Funny invention #1 The FLYING FORK

You know when you're in a restaurant and having a hard time deciding between the enticing choices? You know when you're at the deli counter looking a a ton of prepared salads and sides? Did you ever wish you could just sample a few bites before deciding? Kind of like the ice cream store where you can get small spoon samples of several flavors before deciding. Would you like to do the same in restaurants? Wouldn't you like to know what they're eating at neighboring table and if it is good? Enter the FLYING FORK. It's a fork you launch from your table to your neighbors plate. It discretely and quickly lands on their plate, grabs a quick sample and returns to your table with the goods. Brilliant, right? Okay, not brilliant, but I think it is pretty damn funny.

Funny(maybe even viable) business #1 MAIL ORDER BLACK SNAKES (I believe the particular black snake I have in mind is the Northern Black Racer)

Where I live there seems to be a cooper head under every rock. I always have several large round bales of hay stored in our hay garage and lately the rodent population has multiplied like the rats they are. On the tails of the rodents, came a copper head. We used to have a docile nonvenomous black snake. Being territorial, he kept the other snakes away as well as making quick work of rodents. Don't know where he went, but would love a whole tribe of them to take up residence. Enter the mail order snake! Raise snakes, box 'em up with adequate supplies for the journey and off they go. Woe to the UPS person if the packaging fails (actually I'm sure there is a way to make sure the packaging is secure). One year we had a terrible fly problem at the feeding area and I learned you can order predator flies online, hence the idea of mail order snakes.

[debm55]

55. I like the idea of mail order black snakes. Have you looked into a place where you could buy them. A

place that would sell the eggs. I forget the name but there are School science stores that sell such things for the classroom. Or someone at the local Grange may Know or even have a male and female to give you. The flying fork--with Covid my food places have taken out all salad buffets and serve yourself. You could open up your own side business for black snakes. Some people do it with worms to decompose food. Good luck on finding your snakes and your goat farm.

[Cracklin Charlie]

51. Pasta!

I’m gonna eat a twisted up pile of spaghetti tonight!

[debm55]

56. YES. Did you know it was invented by the Chinese?

[Cracklin Charlie]

63. They best not come over expecting me to share.

That won’t be happening.

[debm55]

72. Oh Cracklin, the Chinese eat their noodles with veggies and fish, pork and chicken. I can see you

with a big plate with sauce and meatballs? Am I right?

[Cracklin Charlie]

79. It's actually "Lemon spaghetti".

Made with lemon juice, garlic, and Parmesan. Hubs gets shrimps with his, mine without. Mmmm

Prepping now!

[electric_blue68]

54. Waaaaay back- fire!😄 Closer - washing machine, phones, radio, tv, a/c, trains, cars, jets,interwebs

Waaay back (but not as far as fire) - weaving, basketry, pottery, metal smithing.


I'm all for reinventing transportation for better earth health, too.

[debm55]

58. electric, love your inventions. Can you imagine washing clothing by hand???? Thanks

[electric_blue68]

61. TY. Your dishwasher reminded me! I've managed not to have had to wash

a pair of pants (maaaaybe once) other than spot cleanings. Very rare a big sweater. No skirts either.

The very occasional other stuff, yup. That's why I always look out for "hand wash only label" before I buy. Very rare I'd get something - only maybe on the lighter weight, and smaller size type of item if I just couldn't resist. I can't think of anything off hand.


It's why I also check yarns for knitting, and crocheting, too. I've been disappeared on occasion, and not bought stuff.

[debm55]

67. I hate to say this but I was my dishes before I put in the dishwasher. Not a heavy wash, but a quick

wash.

[Sneederbunk]

57. Caller ID and VoiceMail.

[debm55]

68. Yes, saves you from the scammers.

[wnylib]

59. DU, of course. And the Internet to give DU a home.

[debm55]

69. Of course!!!! Thank you for including!

[highplainsdem]

60. Electricity. Computers. Audio and video recordings. Broadcasting.

[debm55]

70. Yes, all things we depend on, depend on electricity. Thanks highplainsdem.

[malthaussen]

62. Women. n/t

[debm55]

71. LOLOLOLOLOL

[Niagara]

64. Where do I start?

ACLU
Antacid
Ant Baits
Battery Operated Candles
Books
Central Air
Coffee
Contraceptives
CPR
Democratic Underground
Dishwasher (I hate, hate, hate washing by hand)
Gas Stoves
Honey Bee
Oil Lamps
Over the Counter Pain Relief
Power Tools
Rain X Rain Repellent
Running Water (more specifically having the ability to take showers)
Vaccines
YouTube

[debm55]

74. Niagara, Love your list, battery operated candles are a must in this house as are so many of your

inventions.

[Mr.Bill]

65. The Microwave Oven.

One of the best power and time saving devices ever.

[debm55]

75. Keeps the house cool too, instead of using the oven. I would be lost without mine. Good Choice.

[tblue37]

66. Glasses. I am farsighted, and without mine I couldn't read. Reading is everything to me.

Last edited Mon Jun 5, 2023, 08:45 PM - Edit history (1)

[debm55]

76. Glasses are great. I notice when I don't have them on, I get a headache. Great invention.

[tanyev]

73. Refrigerators.

Freezers, too, but especially refrigerators.

[debm55]

77. Yes, can you imagine bringing a huge block of ice in the house to keep the food fresh? I have a mini

freezer and I like that too.Thank you

[Skittles]

78. MICROWAVE

couldn't live without it

I have absolutely ZERO interest in dishwashers, have never used one.

[Mr.Bill]

80. When my wife and I downsized to retire in a senior mobile home park,

to a house half the size of where we were living, we remodeled the kitchen and decided we would rather have the extra cabinet space than a dishwasher. For only two people I don't think it's necessary.

[Skittles]

81. the time it takes to load a dishwasher and unload it

I could have the damn things done

and yes I did the dishes for a family of seven while growing up!

[Mr.Bill]

82. Since retiring I took on the task

of doing all the dishes in the house. Laundry, too.

No wife has ever shot her husband while he was doing dishes or laundry.

[Skittles]

85. I wouldn't know the feeling

I have long done my own laundry and dishes!*

[Mr.Bill]

86. I lived alone for about 10 years in my 20s

so I pretty much know how to do every thing around the household. She is a better cook than I am, but I know my way around a kitchen, too. She comes from a family of four girls where dad wouldn't let them get a driver's license until they knew how to change a tire and change the oil.

[Skittles]

87. yeah my dad taught me the basic car stuff

but f*** that, I have always been content to sit somewhere reading a magazine while someone else changed the oil!

[Mr.Bill]

88. I changed mine when I was younger

but I pay to have it done now.

[debm55]

83. I know, actually, I was them before I put them in the dishwasher.

[debm55]

84. I agree.