[lbo-talk] Re: urban truth?

[frank scott]

"They employ incredibly sophisticated technologies to
solve a trivial problem - just like in that old anecdote about the US
and
Soviet space programs trying to solve the problem of zero gravity
obstructing the working of conventional writing instruments (pens and
ball
pens).  Americans spent millions of dollars to invent a ball pen that
works
in zero gravity.  The Soviets used a pencil."

sounds true, but i always thought it was from the urban legend dept.

did it really happen?

please, please?

fs