The myth of NASA's expensive space pens
Kottke says that this story gets "trotted out every time some large organization introduces some complex, bloated, over-engineered product or process".<p>And then he gloriously "debunks" the myth, framing NASA as the unfairly labeled neerdowell.<p>The inference is that today's news on gov't waste is also potentially a "myth".<p>The reality is that Kottke's post is a red-herring.<p>What's the 2nd result on Google for "Space Pen"? It is, of course, the snopes page describing the "hoax".<p>And have you seen any major (or minor for that matter) news organizations today using the example of the "space pen" as an indicator of government waste?<p>No.<p>So in fact what we have here is a little allegory delivered in a neatly wrapped package to instantly defuse further investigation, and let us all go back to our armchairs.