Just moments ago, whilst sitting here in Starbuck’s cruising le’ web, I discovered that people the world over know, use, and I’m quite sure savor the phrase Shore hardness.
And suddenly everything seems so right with the world.
Ha, ha. No, but anyway, I’ve never known much at all about my grandparents on either side: except for one brief visit to our house from my father’s mother when I was six, I’ve never met my grandparents, nor or any of my uncles, aunts, cousins, or anyone like that. Tracing back my genealogical roots takes me as long as it takes to say, “Mom, Dad.” Then I’m done. That’s about all I know.
Now, thanks to the Internet, I can add to my knowledge of my forefathers that in 1930 my paternal grandfather, Albert Shore, founder of The Shore Instrument & Mfg. Co., of Jamaica, New York, invented an Apparatus for Measuring the Hardness of Materials, the original patent for which you can see here.
A bit more Internet research taught me that the modern iteration of his invention is the still-used Shore durometer. It turns out that within the world of metals testing, my grandfather set “the international standard for hardness measurement.”
The Shore international standard for hardness measurement.
Man, I wouldn’t touch that one with a ten-foot pole.
Just out: UNFAIR: Why the “Christian” View of Gays Doesn’t Work (softcover edition; Kindle edition; NookBook edition). You’re invited to check out my Facebook page, and my group Unfundamentalist Christians, the motto of which is “Above all, love.”
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
but what about a ten INCH pole?
bazinga!!
If you’re familiar with the show “Firefly,” and specifically the episoe “Trash,” then think of Wash at the end of the episode … his sputtering and semi-laugh right before he turned around and walked back into the ship.
Yeah … that’s me right now. I’m trying to say something — either witty or childish — and can’t.
I agree with Redlefty. That would be a hard act to follow; one to test your metal, for Shore, John.
It’s like you’re famous. Hey! You should write a book!
Love this!
My inner immature 8th grader is giggling horribly at the imagery of Kleenex with “Shore hardness” — I’m sorry. Really I am…
(PS…this is AWESOME.)
You have a 10-foot pole?? WOW
Good one, Lee!
LOL! You’ve Famous Ancestry. Like somebody named Kleenex, only better, eh?
LOL! You’ve Famous Ancestry. Like somebody named Kleenex, only better, eh?
Heh heh. Heh heh.
Oh man this is just so… wrong! Hahaha!
You should prop-up and stump your own family brand.
Your tag line could be "Be Safe. Be Loved. Be Shore!"
You're probably going to need a new front man. Hearing Cat laugh off-camera from the kitchen just isn't likely to ahh… work.
That Shore is interesting.
(Seriously, though: I hear ONE joke about "thy rod and thy staff" comforting anybody, and I will shut this blog down. BRIAN.)
Kill joy.
Saving that one for yourself, hey John?
LOL.
John Shore: Offending his best readers since 3:37 September 15, 2009.
Wait! I was reading this blog back then. How did I miss this?
I think we'll need your wife to come on this blog and confirm the veracity of your title
I just think it's amazing the things you can learn poking around the Internet. (Get it? Get it? Huh? Didya get the joke I slipped in there?)
Oh and John… you ARE rich… just not wealthy
Well, you know…nevermind.
It's well known that if your grandfather set the international standard for measuring rubber hardness, you're bound to be a familiy disappointment. I mean, how do you follow that? Might as well lounge in Starbucks and drink a hot one in honor of the old man.