A Conversation for The Quite Interesting Society
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QI - Pen pusher
Icy North Started conversation Jan 13, 2009
Q. Which local government employee will always carry a pen - for some use other than writing?
(No klaxons, and I'm sure there will be answers equally good if not better than the one I have in mind.)
Icy
QI - Pen pusher
Malabarista - now with added pony Posted Jan 13, 2009
Hmm - someone who has to reset things frequently using those fiddly recessed buttons?
QI - Pen pusher
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Jan 13, 2009
What kind of pen?
QI - Pen pusher
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Jan 13, 2009
I mean the difference between nib or roller ball or gel , might be significant.
QI - Pen pusher
Icy North Posted Jan 13, 2009
It's not significant for my answer, Clive, but feel free to share your ideas...
QI - Pen pusher
WanderingAlbatross - Wing-tipping down the rollers of life's ocean. Posted Jan 13, 2009
Artificial inseminator, Sheep division 
QI - Pen pusher
Taff Agent of kaos Posted Jan 13, 2009
does the word pen refer to some other tool rather than a writing impliment
QI - Pen pusher
Icy North Posted Jan 13, 2009
My answer involves a bog-standard writing implement, but I like the lateral thinking. 
Artificial inseminator? 
QI - Pen pusher
WanderingAlbatross - Wing-tipping down the rollers of life's ocean. Posted Jan 13, 2009
I suspect pest controllers but I'm struggling for a reason 
QI - Pen pusher
Taff Agent of kaos Posted Jan 13, 2009
do they have to carry the pen as part of their job discription or do they carry it "just in case"
QI - Pen pusher
toybox Posted Jan 13, 2009
Maybe some people carry an empty biro shell to use as a blowgun in paper-ball battles when they are bored at the office?
QI - Pen pusher
WanderingAlbatross - Wing-tipping down the rollers of life's ocean. Posted Jan 13, 2009
You use a metal cased pen to detect vibration levels in turbines and pumps, but can't see the Local Government link.
QI - Pen pusher
toybox Posted Jan 13, 2009
Of course, the 'use other than writing' wouldn't be something like drawing?
QI - Pen pusher
Icy North Posted Jan 13, 2009
Well, I have to give you the points, WA - you've even supplied the reason.
Pest Controllers find themselves sealing up holes to prevent vermin getting through. The common house mouse (Mus musculis) can, amazingly, get through a hole 6mm diameter - the size of a biro (it has a soft skull for one thing). So they can use a biro to test whether a hole needs filling.
Well spotted 
Keep any alternative suggestions coming, and I'll award points tomorrow.
Icy
QI - Pen pusher
Taff Agent of kaos Posted Jan 13, 2009
the use of the ball point pen in the army
the ball point pen produces holes in targets indistinguishable from the old 7.62mm round
so when manning the butts(bottom of a range behind the bank) you could ensure your friends passed their shooting tests by stabbing the target with a pen
QI - Pen pusher
Icy North Posted Jan 13, 2009
I can imagine you getting rumbled when someone uses a hexagonal pen.
Key: Complain about this post
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QI - Pen pusher
- 1: Icy North (Jan 13, 2009)
- 2: Mu Beta (Jan 13, 2009)
- 3: Icy North (Jan 13, 2009)
- 4: Malabarista - now with added pony (Jan 13, 2009)
- 5: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Jan 13, 2009)
- 6: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Jan 13, 2009)
- 7: Icy North (Jan 13, 2009)
- 8: A Super Furry Animal (Jan 13, 2009)
- 9: WanderingAlbatross - Wing-tipping down the rollers of life's ocean. (Jan 13, 2009)
- 10: Taff Agent of kaos (Jan 13, 2009)
- 11: Icy North (Jan 13, 2009)
- 12: WanderingAlbatross - Wing-tipping down the rollers of life's ocean. (Jan 13, 2009)
- 13: Taff Agent of kaos (Jan 13, 2009)
- 14: toybox (Jan 13, 2009)
- 15: WanderingAlbatross - Wing-tipping down the rollers of life's ocean. (Jan 13, 2009)
- 16: toybox (Jan 13, 2009)
- 17: Icy North (Jan 13, 2009)
- 18: Taff Agent of kaos (Jan 13, 2009)
- 19: Icy North (Jan 13, 2009)
- 20: Taff Agent of kaos (Jan 13, 2009)
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