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How We Got to Now

Years ago, I had an acquaintance tell me that of the people she thought of, I was the one most likely to have been a pioneer. This is probably due to my penchant for planning and preparedness and for having lots of gear. But little did she know. Because if you know me well at all, you know I'm all about the comforts of 20th and 21st century life. I've said many times that if there were one person or group of people I could meet when I get to heaven, it would be whoever invented central heat, central air, and indoor plumbing.

Which leads me to my new TV obsession, a PBS series called "How We Got to Now". If you haven't been watching it, you are seriously missing out, because it is the definition of "must-see TV". It's hosted by a guy who writes about ideas and innovation, and takes the viewer through some of the great innovations that changed human life and history. Things like how we got to central heat, central air, and indoor plumbing, and what impacts those had on human history. Pretty "Hedy" stuff (which is my attempt on a pun - you'll need to catch the episode on the actress Hedy Lamarr to truly get it).





The thing is, as they point out frequently in the series, all the great ideas and revolutionary inventions aren't so much the result of one person having an a-ha moment, but by lots and lots of thoughtful, hardworking people, who take ideas and build on other people's efforts, and work hard over many (and sometimes many many) years to bring them to fruition. Which speaks a lot to the process of inspiration, and learning line upon line, etc., which is a Gospel Doctrine lesson waiting to happen.

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