Petroski

Henry Petroski wrote “the essence of engineering is to construe every limiting aspect of existence as a remediable malfunction”.

Comixology and the future of connected commerce | FactoryCity 2009

Mr. Petroski is a professor of engineering and of history at Duke University.

An Inventive Hollywood Star Henry Petroski 2011

But in the meantime I 've tasted some of the most intriguing and delicious wines in recent memory, some of them bracingly fresh and floral, like Petroski' s '09 Giana, a Viognier/Chardonnay blend; some incredibly rich and opulent, like Mr. Schoener' s 2005 Scholium Project Cena Trimalchionis, a honeyed nectar made from Sauvignon Blanc infected with botrytis, or noble rot.

Napa Jay McInerney 2010

As Petroski The Pencil says, Thoreau did find a better way to separate out pure graphite particles from ore, but while he may have experimented with a way to get lead into the pencil by drilling a hole in a solid cedar cylinder, that technology utlimately never worked.

Thoreau’s Pencil - Paper Cuts Blog - NYTimes.com 2009

Having plumbed the depths of the pencil, Petroski turns his attention to some smaller engineering.

The Lensman's Children Fred Kiesche 2009

Having plumbed the depths of the pencil, Petroski turns his attention to some smaller engineering.

Archive 2009-01-01 Fred Kiesche 2009

As far as Queenan is concerned, the true wrongs of the world are being perpetuated by the good professors at Duke University, the secret cabal no doubt headed with clandestine memos dispatched by Petroski and the handshake known only to a handpicked few.

Joe Queenan: Incurious Harbinger of Death : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits 2007

I'm all about design, ever since Henry Petroski showed me how much thought goes into even the simplest objects.

Crying In My Beer, Eating Salty Pretzels 2005

And it's convenient, adds Petroski, whose current stylus of choice is a Pentel mechanical pencil with 0.5-millimeter, refillable lead.

The Ten Most Important Tools For Work 2006

"There was talk that when computers and e-books came in, it would be the downfall of the book," Petroski says.

The Ten Most Important Tools For Work 2006