Quite true. For example, while I'm fond of Mozart, I certainly wouldn't consider him the greatest innovator in music. Jacopo Peri, whom few people could identify, is arguably a greater one; ditto Johann Stamitz and Giuseppe Torelli.

While it's true that Shakespeare's exact birthdate is unknown, it is highly likely to be 23 April, 1564. Cervantes was born on 29 September, 1547. Drake, okay, no one knows. But his sponsor, Elizabeth I--arguably one of the greatest innovators of her era--was born on 7 September, 1533. Any one of those has had greater historical impact, in my opinion, than Bob Dylan. True, they've had 400 years to prove it, and he hasn't, but I think in 400 more, Cervantes and Elizabeth I will be seen as more innovative still.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"