Most Important Tools

[KMaurer]

Forbes Magazine has been doing a series on the 20 most significant tools in human history, based on a reader poll and a panel of experts. They've been working up the list toward number 1. Here's how the list reads thus far:

#20 - The Chisel
#19 - The Fish Hook
#18 - The Level
#17 - The Telescope
#16 - The Pot
#15 - The Scale
#14 - The Candle
#13 - The Needle
#12 - The Lathe
#11 - The Watch
#10 - The Saw
#9 - Eyeglasses
#8 - The Sword
#7 - The Rifle

http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2005/08/23/technology-firearms-rifle_cx_de_0823rifle.html

Ken

 

[SgtUSMC8541]

#1 - The United States Marine

 

[Cross-X]

The atomic bomb

 

[Nickle]

#1 - The United States Marine

Add Army Sergeant, and we could make it #2. I do believe #1 would be the rifle. A Marine or Soldier without a rifle is useless.

 

[dwarven1]

Sorry, guys... #1 is the hammer.

When I started working at Sears as a repair tech, on my first day the shop foreman got me a bin full of tools from the stockroom. He handed me a 16 oz rawhide mallet and told me that it was the most important tool in the toolbox.

I thought he was kidding.

He wasn't.

Without the hammer, we don't have any iron tools, bronze tools, knives, guns... I wouldn't be surprised to find the anvil on that list, too.

Ross

 

[SgtUSMC8541]

#1 - The United States Marine

Add Army Sergeant, and we could make it #2. I do believe #1 would be the rifle. A Marine or Soldier without a rifle is useless.

I am a Marine Sergeant and I AM A WEAPON!!!!!!! [twisted] [twisted]

 

[Nickle]

I am a Marine Sergeant and I AM A WEAPON!!!!!!! [twisted] [twisted]

Not much good without your M40A1 or M40A2, are you?

Now how does that go?

"This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

Without me, my rifle is worthless, without my rifle, I am worthless."

etc, etc, etc.

 

[SgtUSMC8541]

Ummmm, it's eithere an M40A1 or A3. No A2. Or an M82A3.

Yes that is the rifle creed, but that is just to make the rifle gods happy. So you are implying that if my bang stick goes down I am no longer a threat to the bad guys? I think not. A rifle is a rifle. A stick is a stick. A hand is a hand. It is what I DO with them that makes it a weapon. Hence, I am a weapon.

 

[Nickle]

Yeah, I know. All I need is a CEOI (or ANCD), a map and a radio, preferably a SINCGARS. I don't need no steenkin gun, that's what Fire Support is for.

And I'm just a Maintenance Puke. Hell, the past few years, my assigned weapon is an M9. We don't have M4's yet, and we turned in all our M3A1's. Of course, my real weapon is a Ma Deuce, sitting on a 56 ton recovery track.

 

[dwarven1]

Hence, I am a weapon.

Not to pour cold water on the testosterone-fest, guys, but the thread is about the most important TOOLS. Not weapons.

Personally, having known folks from all 5 services, I'd be the last one to suggest that they need a rifle to be a weapon.

Ross

 

[Nickle]

Yeah, back on track. Ross, you are right, hammer has to be there somewhere near the top of the list. A lot of tools are useless without it.

 

[SgtUSMC8541]

I've been called a "tool" once or twice [lol]

I can see how the hammer is #1. Makes sence.

 

[Admin]

If they are going to call a watch or Eyeglasses a tool , then maybe they will consider the Wheel as #1.

 

[dwarven1]

A watch IS a tool - you use it to measure time. For starters, it greatly increased the accuracy of navigation by the stars (along with a sextent, of course).

Ross

 

[Admin]

that still doesnt explain eyeglasses.

ETA: and wheels were used to grind corn.

 

[dwarven1]

that still doesnt explain eyeglasses.

You don't wear glasses, do you, Derek? I can explain them real easily... they let otherwise vision-impaired folks SEE.

I'd be legally blind without them.

Ross

 

[Admin]

The list is Tools, not a medical aids

 

[Moderator]

hum...
Wedge
Pully
Laser
Kegerator
Sprocket
Rope
Chain

 

[SiameseRat]

I'd have to vote for the Axe. It's both a weapon and a tool, and, Ross, you can use the blunt end as a hammer

 

[cdkayak]

I think one of the top will be a lever. I was also thinking about the pully but TYPEO1313 beat me to it.

 

[dwarven1]

I'd have to vote for the Axe. It's both a weapon and a tool, and, Ross, you can use the blunt end as a hammer

True, SR, and an axe is a valuable tool, but I still stand by the hammer. There are a LOT of different types of hammer... and you can make LOTS of other tools with a hammer (and an anvil and a forge, of course).

Ross

 

[Lynne]

Speaking as a former tailor (well, I guess I still am, I just can't practice my trade anymore), I'm waiting to see scissors.

Let's face it, without sicssors, we'd be nude.

Easy Darius, easy. [lol]

 

[SiameseRat]

Speaking as a former tailor (well, I guess I still am, I just can't practice my trade anymore), I'm waiting to see scissors.

Let's face it, without sicssors, we'd be nude.

Easy Darius, easy. [lol]

Well, we could use knives, but what about the needle? That should be on the list, too. Easier than an awl and a punch, ya know?

 

[Lynne]

Speaking as a former tailor (well, I guess I still am, I just can't practice my trade anymore), I'm waiting to see scissors.

Let's face it, without sicssors, we'd be nude.

Easy Darius, easy. [lol]

Well, we could use knives, but what about the needle? That should be on the list, too. Easier than an awl and a punch, ya know?

Ya got a point there, SR. Okay - Sewing implements.

 

[cdkayak]

Needle was on there, at #13.

CD

 

[Admin]

I was always partial to Loin Cloths myself.

 

[Lynne]

Needle was on there, at #13.

CD

You're right, it was. okay - back to Scissors.

And Derek luv - some of us on this here board DO NOT have bods for loin cloths. [lol] [lol]

 

[hiram_Abiff]

STONE. Should be no.1 As this what they use to start fire. And from fire...

Dinner is served!

 

[SiameseRat]

Needle was on there, at #13.

CD

You're right, it was. okay - back to Scissors.

And Derek luv - some of us on this here board DO NOT have bods for loin cloths. [lol] [lol]

OOPS hehe so I skimmed a little...

And Derek, since I still like to imagine (though seeing pics to the contrary) that you're this 50something balding fat guy, a loin cloth just isn't what you need [twisted]

 

[Lynne]

Needle was on there, at #13.

CD

You're right, it was. okay - back to Scissors.

And Derek luv - some of us on this here board DO NOT have bods for loin cloths. [lol] [lol]

OOPS hehe so I skimmed a little...

And Derek, since I still like to imagine (though seeing pics to the contrary) that you're this 50something balding fat guy, a loin cloth just isn't what you need [twisted]

Actually, I'd pay to see Derek in a loin cloth...from the pics I've seen. [lol] [lol]

(Are you blushing yet D?)