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Jonathan Allen's avatar

Just thought of another invention that freed women: Charles F. Kettering's invention in 1911 of the electric starter for automobile engines. It eliminated the need for hand cranking which requires a lot of muscle and can be dangerous if not done correctly.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

OK. we'll add it to the list.

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Jay Weedon's avatar

You might also have added vacuum cleaners.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Uh OH. it speaks to my cleaning regime that vacuums are further down on my list.

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Jay Weedon's avatar

The MP shot is quite Hopper-esque!

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Yes. I look to hopper for cityscape composition. Alive Neal for portraits.

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Jonathan Allen's avatar

The two inventions you named would seem totally unrelated, but I agree with your conclusion.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Yes.

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Susan Forste's avatar

From a New Yorker's perspective, that looks like a luxurious laundromat. So big! And open late.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Yes, and clean. Also you can pretty much leave your laundry, go run errands, and the clothes will be there when you get back. Ah, luxury living (Full disclosure, I have a washing machine at home, which I consider a mark of affluent-enuf living.)

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Sarah Albert's avatar

I'd put birth control at the top of that list!

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Oh yes. We belong to the only generation of women in the history of the world which, for an all-too-brief moment, was able to have sex without fear or pregnancy, serious disease, or disapprobation. Then came the diseases of AIDS and frog-marching fundamentalism. And now, even birth control seems to be threatened.

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Edie Shedd's avatar

Hope they don't wash their tampons!🤪

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

yes, hope it doesn't come to that.

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Alison Underhilll's avatar

Great shot of the Elm and Court Streets laundromat- reminds me of an Edward Hopper.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Yes, Hopper is my inspiration for cityscape composition; Alice Neal for portraits. Painters get to arrange life exactly as they wish; photographers must take what life offers and work with it. But now, we have AI, so let's see.

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