All time best invention, what do you think it is?

I think all inventions are based on natural observation plus a lot of trial and error. The wheel, for instance, didn't just appear one day--it was developed and perfected over millenia. Same goes for the development of metals, without which we would not have the hammers, saws, adzes, chisels and countless other tools needed to build the beautiful churches and domestic buildings that are featured in this great website. My contention is that someone at some point in time about 8,000 years ago figured out a way to create copper metal from ore--the rest is history. But you've got a point--perhaps metal smelting is drawn out over too long a development time to be considered an individual invention.

As far as recent far-reaching aha! inventions, I am particularly fond of the teabag!

And easy to get fired up no doubt...

Bob, I read your post and have been ROFLMAO ever since!!

I think we need to rename this thread, somehow it seems to have a permanent self destruct button! Lol