Also, the classic essay "I, Pencil"

> I am a lead pencil—the ordinary wooden pencil familiar to all boys and girls and adults who can read and write.*

Writing is both my vocation and my avocation; that's all I do.

You may wonder why I should write a genealogy.

http://www.econlib.org/library/Essays/rdPncl1.html

I believe this is related: http://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toast...

Very interesting. Makes me think if there is any knowledge or technology that we lost in the process? Is there something we knew but don't know anymore?

Amazing! I never knew you could smelt tiny amounts of ore with a common household microwave!