I just got this e mail. Does anyone know the Straight Dope on this pen thing??
"When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in 0 gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.
The Russians used a pencil.
Enjoy paying your Taxes!!!"
That one never seems to die.
our friend snopes
Got a glurge email? Does it sound like a crock of s**t? The first point of call in these cases should always be www.snopes.com. Odds are they will have already answered your question., as they have in this case. It’s a load or tripe, as most of these e-mails are.
Has anyone mentioned Snopes yet? 
Thanks
You might want to check Snopes.
Ah, they’re answered by “Snopes” already.
i heard that snopes might have the answer for this type of stuff. they also have info on 1920s style death rays.
Please. Don’t let it happen.
Hey, paul’smars that note right at the top of the forum, about using descriptive thread titles… guess what? It doesn’t apply to you.
Oh, actually, yes it does.
Snopes is your friend. Descriptive thread titles are ours.