SEPTEMBER 8th - A Full Life's Work


(Some NSFW Language--but it's all in a delightful Scottish Accent)

On this day in 1930, Richard Drew’s invention of 3M’s (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing) Scotch Tape was first sold to a prospective client. Drew invented the transparent tape by developing a process to add an adhesive to cellophane. The name of the product has a bit of a back story as well. Apparently DIck wasn’t happy with some early incarnations of the masking tape he invented, and shouted to send the tape back “to those Scottish bosses of yours and tell them to put some more adhesive on it!” Because apparently the Scots were pejoratively known for being “cheap.” I did not know that. The only thing I knew was that Ewan McGregor didn’t like being Scottish and that William Wallace was 7 feet tall and could shoot bolts of lightning from his arse. I guess I was too enamored by the accent. In any case, transparent tape is a rather useful little invention. Where would Christmas presents be without Scotch Tape? Not wrapped, that’s where. At least not wrapped with any kind of precision or skill. Every present would look like it was from your drunk Uncle Chester who used to steal used basketballs from the local YMCA and put them in a grocery bag. But with Scotch Tape, presents became beautiful works of art. AKA a pain-in-the ass. What’s wrong with getting a ball in a bag? Uncle Chester knew what was up. Who wants to spend 30 minutes getting paper off their Tickle-Me Elmo? They just want that bad boy opened up, so they can tickle that little bastard. Maybe that was a bad example. What would you do with that ripped 20 dollar bill if you didn’t have Scotch Tape? Dick Drew has literally saved your money. Dick Drew also did not stop after masking tape and transparent tape. He continually looked for ways to make 3M’s products better. He’s had tape go to the moon. To the moon. And if that isn’t impressive enough he also just taught you that the Scottish were cheap. Dick Drew--saving money, going to the moon, and perpetuating stereotypes. That’s a full life’s work. Right up there with Bill Gates and Neil Armstrong.

This day has been Marked.

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