At the back of the class in science lessons, I used to daydream of being some world shaking scientist, understanding the textbooks dry prose well enough that I

At the back of the class in science lessons, I used to daydream of being some world shaking scientist, understanding the textbooks dry prose well enough that I could wrest secrets from Mother Nature, like Einstein, Newton, or the woman who first rubbed two sticks together (#). Today I realise my actual place in the natural order - I am the guy sitting reading my newspaper as the headline announces "Oxford recluse announces three laws of motion, explains planetary orbits. Horoscopes changed forever! Orange coloured Carrots bred for new King!" Our society is irrevocably entwined with its technology. We need brilliant minds to move us on, like nuclear bombs shoved out the back of a spaceship. But we also need a cheering section - people who will read about astounding advances and be amazed by creation itself and by our ability to investigate and understand it - and yet to appreciate the effort it took to create a headline just for today. So I raise my pipe, cross my slipper-shod legs below my knitted cardigan, lean back at my breakfast table and say "well stone the crows, those boffins have done it again. My tax dollars well spent I say" (#) why not a woman. Friction fire lighting needs a lot of effort - she was probably just working off frustration at being the only one doing cave-work yet again while Ugh is off with the boys.