From: benlizro@ihug.co.nz   
      
   Yes, on this day in 1943, László and György Bíró got the US patent for   
   their amazing new device. They were refugees from Hungary via Argentina.   
      
   I prefer pencils (see 30 March). But I might celebrate ballpoint day by   
   burning a few. Once you get them lit, they drip gobs of burning plastic   
   and give off toxic smoke. Very festive.   
      
   There's a chapter on Biro in Philip Dodd's book _The Reverend Guppy's   
   Aquarium_, which I enjoyed more than I expected. It also covers   
   eponymous folks like Jules Léotard, Adolphe Sax and Roy Jacuzzi. Really   
   gives you an idea of how much work is involved in perfecting an   
   invention which gets your name into the dictionary.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)