moveable type, the steam engine, the integrated circuit, the nuclear fusion reactor, sliced bread…
all are fine fine inventions… definitely testaments to the brilliance of the men who invented them.
But you know what truly boggles my mind? The single device more fascinating than any other….
the hand held mechanical can opener… Pure GENIUS!!!
What about the pop top soup can, which renders above device redundant?
Or the more compact but more difficult can opener on a swiss army knife?
well, the electric can opener makes the mechanical one redundant as well. That isn’t the point. I’m talking about the brilliance and the elegance of the design here. Plus the manner in which it works… turn crank here, can spins and opens over there… Sheer genius, I tell you….
Can openers
Have you ever checked out David Macauley’s The Way Things Work? That book makes me think the same thing about almost any mechanical device. It’s targeted at children around age 12, but this 29-year-old still thinks it kicks ass.
Re: Can openers
I have seen that book…. in fact, I’ve seen it recently but I can’t remember where. I wonder if Mike has it. If not, I might have to get a copy. It’s definitely cool.
More fascinating than the sewing machine? (I didn’t think so.)
yes…. much cooler than the sewing machine… I’m not saying the sewing machine isn’t cool… it just doesn’t have the exqusite elegance of the can opener.