In high school my awesomely nerdy older sister once told me about buckyballs, perfectly linked hexagonal carbon rings in the form of a hollow sphere (twenty hexagons and twelve pentagons – like a soccer ball). These stable molecules were named for Buckminster Fuller because of their resemblance to his geodesic dome structure.

I wasn’t terribly interested in science at the time, but I did (and still do) have a strong interest in both geometry and unusual names. I frequently follow trails of words or names that interest me simply because they sound funny (like Cy Twombly and Dan X. Solo (see previous entry)) or alliterative or strike me as most probably interesting. My interest in the name Buckminster Fuller led to an eventual obsession with all things dymaxion—houses that sit on masts, three wheeled cars ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxion_car ), geodesic domes—whatever. I frequently can be found repeating that I wish Buckminster Fuller was my boyfriend (joke!) when I’ve had too much to drink. Interest in Fuller eventually led to my discovery of The Whole Earth Catalog…because much awareness of Buckminster Fuller’s  (sometimes outlandish, admittedly—housing deposited by dirigibles!! Strange yet inspiringly fantastic)designs and writings espousing his supreme dedication to improving humanity’s living conditions, was spread through this amazing publication.