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Pen and pencil myths

First Pluto. Now this? Everything I knew to be true is crumbling.

Pen and pencil myths:

There’s a popular myth that NASA spent “millions” of dollars developing a pen for astronauts to use in the weightless environment of a space ship — while their sensible Russian counterparts were happy to use the low-tech pencil. Alas, for all its appeal and plausibility, this is not true. Initially, astronauts and cosmonauts were both equipped with pencils, but there were problems: if a piece of lead broke off, for example, it could float into someone’s eye or nose. A pen was needed, one that would defy gravity, write in extreme heat or cold, and be leak proof: blobs of ink floating around the cabin would be more perilous than a stray pencil lead. A long-time pen maker named Paul C. Fisher patented the “space pen” in 1965 (which he had developed at the cost of a million dollars, at the request of but not under the auspices of NASA.) NASA bought four hundred of them at $6 each, and, after a couple of years of testing, the pens were put into space.

That is from Kitty Burns Florey, Script & Scribble: The Rise and Fall of Handwriting.

The Grass is Always Greener (and Thicker)

Feeling good about yourself? Well, never read your alumni magazine. No matter how good things are going for you, someone else's life is far better. 


Hella proud that you buttoned your shirt correctly the first time? Yeah. Well someone else that sat in the same lecture hall as you did, just found a cure for cancer. 

Some Like It Crusty

There's something about a crispy, toasted sandwich with gooey melted cheese that simply makes it better. With a cheap panini press (you can pick one up for $20), you can turn your boring sandwiches into restaurant rivals. The sandwich above was oatnut bread with a drizzle of olive oil on top, mozzarella cheese, salami, hot capicola and slices of green pepper. Try it out next time and let me know the results.

151 Prophet

He managed to simultaneously talk to everyone and no one at all. Sporting a black Kangol cap and dress clothes, the Prophet sat in the back of the 151 loudly proclaiming his views.

"Men marrying men," he started, "that just ain't right."

"Women marrying women..." he trailed off.

"How does that even work?"

No one on the bus, including the coterie of nurses fresh off their shift from NWM, attempted an explanation.

As he stood waiting for the 151 to squeal to a halt and the rear doors to whip open, he gave his final blessing.

"Sooner or later we all gonna leave this earth."

And sooner rather than later, he departed the 151.

The Case of the Missing Case (Or The One That Got Away)

I like to think that I take a little something away from every hoodrat I date. But this one took something from me. It's one of those lessons you continually try to learn in life and swear that there won't be a next time.

She was a nice girl in the beginning. They all are. It's only a matter of time before you find out their real self. Our courtshit started off so innocently before ultimately ending with a more aggressive than passive series of text messages.

Our story starts like all good stories, we had met on the interwebs. We saw a movie for our "do you match your profile picture" first outing. It probably wasn't the best sign that I was thinking about the girl I was meeting the next night while I was at the cinema. Thankfully for me, telepathy isn't as widespread as iPhone 5 rumors. After a dance lesson in the park--not a euphemism--we parted ways.

Trails and Trees

Trails and Trees:


Star trails seen from near Miskwabi Lake in Haliburton. 90 minutes exposure made from combining 18 five minute exposures taken from 12:20am to 1:45am.

Thoughts On Genius

Thoughts On Genius: "

via my girl, Smaggle

"

Think Free

Think Free: "


Shuter and Church Street.

That Last Thing

"And I said, 'That last thing is what you can't get, Carlo. Nobody can get to that last thing. We keep on living in hopes of catching it once and for all." 
— Jack Kerouac (On the Road)

Cine quote

 I'd literally be more comfortable in the back of a Hot Wheels right now.
-Love and Other Drugs

Moon Watching in Red

Moon Watching in Red: "


Toronto Beach.
"

Fiesta!

There are a few things I'm good at in life: cooking and rallying people.

Today marked the culmination of two of those life skills. The slideshow below documents the first potluck at my office. I took on the protein (chipotle-marinated chicken) and my co-workers brought the fixins.

Naturally, the fiesta led to a siesta.

Sunday in New York

Good Read about Life

29 life lessons learned in travelling the world for 8 years straight: "

Sorry for Apologizing

I was reading the May 30th issue of The New Yorker after dinner--stop judging me--and managed to read "Futurism" in its entirety. For those that know me and my proclivity toward literary-induced narcolepsy acknowledge this inspirational achievement.

The article is here.

If I read these issues faster you could read more than the abstract. Or you should subscribe.

Things I Remember Good

When it comes to personal factoids connected to people I meet, I am unbeatable. I will store most information you tell me--anecdotes, childhood memories, favorite things. If only I could use this skill professionally...

Advance Review: Friends With Benefits

As sung in Rookie of the Year, love is lovelier the second time around. Or in my case, free movie screenings are better the second time around. Last week I attempted to see Friends With Benefits but didn't get to the theater in time to beat out the other frugal JT fans to secure a seat.

Arriving at the theater a mere two hours ahead of the scheduled showtime I was confident I would get to see the flick this time.

For those that have seen No Strings Attached, this movie will seem awfully familiar--a salacious premise where two young and attractive people meet and decide to forgo the legwork of a relationship and just be sex buddies. You may ask yourself "Where's Natalie Portman?" Having seen both, this former film student would deem Benefits the superior flick. They share a lot of plot points, but Benefits is more upbeat summer fluff. Plus, it just so happens to be in theaters later this month.

Dear Fork

Dear Fork: "

Daily Present

This was taken at the Buddhist temple in Chinatown.