On 2007-05-21 19:34, Michael Baker wrote:
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300°C.

The Russians used a pencil.

On 2007-05-21 16:35, Doug Higley wrote:
Oh yeah. It's an oldy for sure. But where have all these thought provoking little stories gone? All we get now are boring sex jokes and outrageous improbable set ups. blat. Will Rogers come back!

On 2007-05-21 20:04, LobowolfXXX wrote:

Quote:

On 2007-05-21 19:34, Michael Baker wrote:
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300°C.

The Russians used a pencil.

Great story, but false. When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they had nowhere near $12 billion to spend on EVERYTHING, let alone ANYTHING. The entire NASA budget was $500 million in 1960. By 1965, it had increased...to $5.2 billion.

The Americans, like the Russians, used pencils, but broken leads were frequent, and a safety risk in zero gravity; an entrepreneur, not NASA, developed the zero-gravity pen. His name was Paul Fischer, and he spent a little over a million dollars on his pen -- again, nothing like $12 billion. In December, 1967, NASA bought 400 of them...for three bucks each. Prior to 1968, lead pencils were used on all Mercury and Gemini flights (as well as all Russian flights). The Fischer pens were more dependable...and quite a bargain at three bucks a pop.

On 2007-05-21 20:37, Josh Riel wrote:

Quote:

On 2007-05-21 16:35, Doug Higley wrote:
Oh yeah. It's an oldy for sure. But where have all these thought provoking little stories gone? All we get now are boring sex jokes and outrageous improbable set ups. blat. Will Rogers come back!

What's wrong with sex jokes and outrageous improbable set ups?
They are basically all I got.

On 2007-05-22 15:33, LobowolfXXX wrote:
Here's a tangentially-related anecdote...a friend of mine was a professor of philosophy at a local university. He served on a board or two over the years, and really tended to not enjoy board meetings. One such meeting had dragged on for quite some time, and they were only about halfway through the agenda. The next item was what to rename a class formerly called "Religion, Mysticism, and Witchcraft," which had suffered declining enrollment over the past few years. My friend is about 6'6", 350 pounds, but very soft-spoken. He speaks rarely and quietly. After listening to people go back and forth for about 15 minutes, checking his watch periodically, he decided to contribute to the discussion. When the surprised chair of the meeting asked for his input, Richard said, "Why don't we call it 'Alternatives to Knowledge'?"