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'Nuts and Bolts' Review: The Levers That Move the World

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Re: 'Nuts and Bolts' Review: The Levers That Move the World

#11

Post by ghaff »

bena wrote: post #10
ghaff wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really?? Huh. I don't even have one at home. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be on my top 100 list.

Even if the technology has moved beyond, it doesn’t affect you, and you aren’t aware of the full implications doesn’t mean that it’s not true. Often, seemingly simple things like this open up whole new possibilities. Like shipping containers. They allow us to effectively and efficiently move goods on and off transport. Without them, whole areas of logistics simply aren’t needed.

Oh, shipping containers I absolutely agree. (The Box by Marc Levinson is well worth a read if you haven't already.) But, given that a non-trivial number of people in the world sleep on something other than a box spring mattress by choice, suggests it's not so transformative. I'm not sure how I see it opening up all these new possibilities. But I also admit to not being terribly fussy what I sleep on and have actually never owned that type of a mattress.

Re: 'Nuts and Bolts' Review: The Levers That Move the World

#12

Post by bena »

ghaff wrote: post #11
bena wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if the technology has moved beyond, it doesn’t affect you, and you aren’t aware of the full implications doesn’t mean that it’s not true. Often, seemingly simple things like this open up whole new possibilities. Like shipping containers. They allow us to effectively and efficiently move goods on and off transport. Without them, whole areas of logistics simply aren’t needed.

Oh, shipping containers I absolutely agree. (The Box by Marc Levinson is well worth a read if you haven't already.) But, given that a non-trivial number of people in the world sleep on something other than a box spring mattress by choice , suggests it's not so transformative. I'm not sure how I see it opening up all these new possibilities. But I also admit to not being terribly fussy what I sleep on and have actuall…

But even if you have a memory foam or whatever, it's likely that we don't have that unless we have interior spring mattresses. Also, we're not talking about the foundation, but the mattress itself. The box spring is the thing that goes under the mattress.

An innerspring mattress has the springs in the mattress itself.

Re: 'Nuts and Bolts' Review: The Levers That Move the World

#13

Post by ghaff »

bena wrote: post #12
ghaff wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, shipping containers I absolutely agree. (The Box by Marc Levinson is well worth a read if you haven't already.) But, given that a non-trivial number of people in the world sleep on something other than a box spring mattress by choice , suggests it's not so transformative. I'm not sure how I see it opening up all these new possibilities. But I also admit to not being terribly fussy what I sleep on and have actuall…

But even if you have a memory foam or whatever, it's likely that we don't have that unless we have interior spring mattresses. Also, we're not talking about the foundation, but the mattress itself. The box spring is the thing that goes under the mattress. An innerspring mattress has the springs in the mattress itself.

I have a futon on a platform bed and had a waterbed for years before. I've obviously used beds with springs but I've never owned one.

Re: 'Nuts and Bolts' Review: The Levers That Move the World

#14

Post by bena »

ghaff wrote: post #13
bena wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But even if you have a memory foam or whatever, it's likely that we don't have that unless we have interior spring mattresses. Also, we're not talking about the foundation, but the mattress itself. The box spring is the thing that goes under the mattress. An innerspring mattress has the springs in the mattress itself.

I have a futon on a platform bed and had a waterbed for years before. I've obviously used beds with springs but I've never owned one.

That is radically different from a innerspring mattress.

But even outside of futon mattresses, prior to the 19th century, mattresses were essentially just thicker futon mattresses. Heavy, prone to sagging, breeding ground for all sorts of vermin depending on the filling material, mattresses weren't super great.

Re: 'Nuts and Bolts' Review: The Levers That Move the World

#15

Post by throw0101b »

sklargh wrote: post #3

If you're interested in this kind of general book in this this genre; I'd also recommend The Perfectionists by Simon Winchester. It's flawed in the back third but the balance of the book is an entertaining read. https://www.biblio.com/9780062652553

Adam Savage has an interesting (45m!) video entitled "Epiphany on the Science of Measurement!" where he gets a bit philosophical on accuracy and precision (using gauge/Johansson blocks as jumping off point):

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE7dYhpI_bI

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