History's Greatest of All Time - G.O.A.T.

[coolerifyoudid]

Episode 4: Invention Showdown - the greatest inventions and innovations of all time.

1. Printing Press
2. Light Bulb
3. Computer
4. Telephone
5. Internet
6. Automobile
7. Steam Engine
8. Radio
9. Telegraph
10. Flushable Toilet

Interesting stuff with this one and several notable absences... the wheel, television, airplane, camera, nail, concrete, steel, and not a single spot for medical breakthroughs like penicillin or antibiotics, or things like DNA and pasteurization? Some of this probably comes down to what qualifies as an invention (computer) vs. a discovery (fire).

Interested to hear what others think, particularly the engineering minds.

It's tough to consider something an invention or an improvement on an existing invention. Printing press, radio, telegraph, telephone and to some extent the internet are all improvements with communication.

I completely agree with you on medical inventions needing a spot. Stopping plagues that wipe out millions seems pretty important to me. Vaccines and aquaducts would make my list. I'd also add airplanes as a game-changer in transportation.

 

[Gonzo]

It's tough to consider something an invention or an improvement on an existing invention. Printing press, radio, telegraph, telephone and to some extent the internet are all improvements with communication.

I completely agree with you on medical inventions needing a spot. Stopping plagues that wipe out millions seems pretty important to me. Vaccines and aquaducts would make my list. I'd also add airplanes as a game-changer in transportation.

Agree. The airplane was a big one.

 

[Gonzo]

Electricity before the light bulb. Electricity is far more substantial than the light bulb. The bulb replaced candlelight. Electricity was truly innovative.

Plumbing/water pumps before the flushable toilet.

Four of them are a sequence of communication innovations
Printing press, telegraph, telephone, internet
Seems they could be condensed in some manner

I think this is where it gets into what is an invention vs. what is a discovery.

 

[Drew0311]

Not sure if anyone else is checking out this new series on History Channel hosted by Peyton Manning. Thought it'd be a colorful topic for discussion.

Episode 1: Stadium Smackdown - the greatest stadiums and arenas of all time.

1. Yankee Stadium (New York, NY)
2. The Collisseum (Rome)
3. Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
4. Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
5. LA Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA)
6. Wembley Stadium (London)
7. Comiskey Park (Chicago, IL)
8. Wimbledon (London)
9. The Astrodome (Houston, TX)
10. The Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

My kneejerk is there are easily a few "misses" here. Yankee Stadium at #1 is silly IMO. Sure there's a lot of history but as a venue it's pretty blah. I'd think Wrigley deserves a spot ahead of that and ahead of Comiskey. Three of the top four being East Coast is typical bias. And four baseball stadiums but not a single dedicated European football stadium? Old Trafford should be on this list somewhere.

Yankee stadium is so good they knocked it down and built a new stadium. How is that number 1 worthy. Not even top 50. No historical value anymore.

 

[Gonzo]

Episode 6: Toy Wars - the greatest toys of all time.

1. LEGO
2. Barbie
3. Play-Doh
4. Hot Wheels
5. NERF Ball
6. Yo-Yo
7. Transformers
8. GI Joe
9. Slinky
10. Mr. Potato Head

Unlike several of their other lists, I do think they got the #1 spot correct with LEGO. That said, I think it's a crime that Rubik's Cube isn't here, I was in middle school when that thing first came out and it took the 1980s by storm. I think it should not only be on the list, but also probably top-5. Other notable absences... hula-hoop, Tinker Toys, Cabbage Patch Kids, Tonka, Viewmaster, Etch-a-Sketch, Beanie Babies, Easy Bake.

Interested to hear what others think.

 

[mj4cy]

Someone explain to me the hype with Madison Square Garden...other than it's NYC and been around for awhile? Is it truly something I'm missing or is it famous for being famous?

 

[cytor]

There's a female Hok fan that likes the old Metrodome... especially the bathroom stalls.