[OT] [I mean totally OT] Re: What can you "new"

[Sean Kelly]

Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
> Sean Kelly wrote:
>> Christopher Wright wrote:
>>> Walter Bright wrote:
>>>> Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
>>>>> My list:
>>>>>
>>>>> - wheel
>>>>> - fire
>>>>> - smelting metals
>>>>> - writing
>>>>> - arithmetic
>>>>
>>>> But humans had fire 20,000 years ago! I think fire goes back a lot 
>>>> longer than that. I also suspect that simple arithmetic is innate, 
>>>> although a numbering system is not (see Mayan and Roman number 
>>>> systems).
>>>>
>>>> Wouldn't the wheel be useless to a hunter-gatherer tribe?
>>>
>>> If they are nomadic, wheels allow an individual to carry much more 
>>> equipment. This allows them to store up surplus food more easily and 
>>> safely. This in turn safeguards them from famine and allows for 
>>> excess food to diversify roles in the community to a greater degree. 
>>> Additionally, it means that the writing equipment that you supplied 
>>> gets used, and the texts don't get tossed as soon as they move.
>>
>> I don't buy it.  Most foods would spoil too quickly for this to 
>> matter, the wagons would be slow, wheels would need repair, etc.  If I 
>> were in a nomadic tribe I wouldn't do more than pile stuff on the back 
>> of a Mule.
> 
> When did you tame the mule??? :o)

Hey, you'd need one to pull the wagon anyway :-)  I'm just ditching the 
slow, easily breakable heavy thing.