I am a great fan of good coffee. Imagine my pleasure
when listening to a podcast to discover that coffee is responsible for the
birth of great ideas particularly early discoveries in science. This I thought
is maybe why I am so productive.
In the late eighteenth century there was an explosion
of discovery and much of this was down to the discussion of ideas between
various polymaths. Individually and collectively this was due to the influence
of coffee.
Up to that time people of all classes mainly drank
alcohol from dawn to dusk, this was because that was the only drink that was relatively
safe. We can imagine that this would have meant that the population was inebriated
most of the time, not a condition in which to make great discoveries. However
with the availability of coffee particularly to the wealthy there was an alternative
drink that had the added benefit that it was a stimulant and actually produced
ideas not suppressed them.
At the same time coffee houses came into fashion, the
coffee house was just the sort of place where ideas could be discussed. People
sat around tables and which were conducive to thoughts, conversation and the
pushing of boundaries. Of course there were other factors like the rise of
newspapers. So although this might be stretching things a little but it is an
interesting hypothesis.
An update on the milk quota changes, our local news
bulletin had an article featuring two farmers, and one thought it would be a
good thing believing that the UK had a great product based on great grass. The
other farmer was more pessimistic thinking that he would be swamped by imports.
You pays your money, you takes your choice.
The blog may be a little disrupted over the next few
days as I am travelling to South of England to clear my mother’s house and an Internet
connection could be a little problematic. I am sure that you will understand.
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