Zero Gravity

When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.

The Russians used a pencil.

When your taxes are due again--enjoy paying them.

 

[FWIW, I'm told by reliable sources that the story is totally false. The Fischer Space Pen (the zero-gravity pen referred to in the item) was not developed with tax money, and in fact has made a significant profit. Another reason to view all internet forwards with great skepticism. Funny and True are usually unrelated - unless you're this guy. -FunnyMan]