All That Glitters

J. Herbin Special Edition Ink -- Stormy Grey.

My go-to gray ink has always been Noodler's Lexington.

In an odd day epiphany I realized I like gray ink because it
looks like pencil. (But that's just me.)

The announcement about Herbin's newest special edition came
out late last year and the ink quickly sold out.



The attraction -- ?



GOLD.

The ink has real gold flecks suspended in the fluid. This lays down a line with an extra special glitter.












Other online reviews suggest a broad nib might be the best instrument
for this ink. I tried a watercolor brush, Q-tip, Lamy - fine and broad nib. The
swab showed the most gold, but even the fine nib showed the gold. If one looked
closely.

At first this warning worried me --



I didn't completely fill the reservoir, but I have left the ink in the pen for over a week now. I gently rock the pen back and forth a couple of times before I start to write and so far ... no clogs and the gold shows up.

I used a Lamy Safari for the test. I don't know if I'd be so bold with a more expensive pen.

A 50ml bottle costs $26. This ink continues to sell out quickly.




UPDATE - March 12th.

I kept Stormy Grey in the Lamy Safari (fine nib) since I first posted this and had no trouble at all. I do give the pen a good shake to get the gold dispersed before writing.

But use your discretion. I assume that scary warning is there for a reason.


Photos with Nikon 5200 + Micro-Nikkor 60mm. Paper - Moleskine and Pentalic Paper for Pens.

EPISODE 86: In Which, I Give Up

Three years ago I bought a Noodler's Ahab fountain pen with a flex nib called Ivory Darkness. It was cheap.

It was pretty.

It was cool.

It turned out to be a huge pain in the ass.

I have pages and pages that look like this -- where I'm trying to get the pen started or restarted.

Pages and pages in my journal where I write -- Ahab is behaving today. But, alas, even more like this -- I can't get this &^%$! pen to work right.

Of course, there is help on the internet.

I followed instructions and videos. Adjusted the nib, adjusted the feed. Tried it without the little feeder tube and with. Wet ink. Dry ink. Prayers to the Ink Goddess.

Crossed my inky fingers and hoped to write.

No joy in Inkville.

I saw a post on the Fountain Pen Network suggesting Ahab troubles might be cured by abandoning the flex nib. Turn it into a regular fountain pen.

Aha!

I have thrown this pen away and rescued it from the trash twice. I couldn't bear to give it up.

It was pretty.

It felt nice in hand.

I bought a new nib and a new feed. Heat sealed it via video instructions and ... voila ... until the cartridge converter threads gave up the ghost, and so did I.

I'd been "adjusting" this pen for three years.

Three.

And although it had qualities I liked, eventually, pain-in-the-ass trumped pretty.

Especially when I have pens that are dreams with which to write. Sailor, KawecoSport, Waterman, even the cheap Lamy is a no-trouble implement.

So, the Ahab gets one more page in my journal.

Movie Time

 

This month I've seen the following movies.

The Maze Runner

The Equalizer

The Drop

Cold In July (DVD)

Gone Girl

The Judge

Maze Runner -- not bad. Gamerish, which is a description not an insult. Nice effects. Good monster. The obstructive force/character was such a cliché, I almost counted his lines to know when we would be done with him and could move on with the story. Pretty tame considering they could have gone Lord of the Flies and didn't. But, I'll pass on the sequel. You're only a teenager once, I guess. Box Office = $76,339,821.

The Equalizer -- Denzel seems a very precise actor. No surprises here, but not a bad afternoon at the movies. The showdown in a Home Depot-like store was a nice change. Comes the Zombie Apocalypse, let's hole up there. Box Office = $70,160,373.

The Drop -- Go see this in a theater while you still can. James Gandolfini's last film and the always amazing Tom Hardy. Lovely film making, takes some time to let the audience gather clues, which creates tension and suspense without anyone jumping out of the shadows wielding a bloody chainsaw. Box Office = $10,499,451. Seriously, go see this. Support a smart film.

Cold In July -- This one has already tanked and it is the best of the bunch. I'd heard about it and was planning to see it. Never arrived in my local theater, but there it was as a DVD rental. Nothing in this film is expected. You won't see this plot unraveling. And then, Don Johnson strolls in at the top of the second act and steals the movie out from under Sam Shepard. Rent this. It's great. Box Office = $423,223.

Gone Girl -- I read the book and hated the ending. 

Let's take a moment and mourn "The Hollywood Ending." What was wrong with those anyway?

So, I was going to the movie hoping they'd changed the ending and to see Ben Affleck's penis. This is probably a more enjoyable film experience for people who haven't read the book as the film unfolds slowly. I got a clearer picture of Amy here than I did in the book. And yes, if you watch closely, the star penis makes an appearance. Shower scene, pay attention. But Neil Patrick Harris is also fully exposed and no one is talking about that, which hardly seems fair. Box Office = $51,481,190

Note to self, don't go to movies based on disliked books.    

The Judge -- This just opened yesterday with Robert Downey Jr urging attendance to show Hollywood, movies about people can attract an audience. It's the same old story though -- cranky curmudgeon with a heart of gold vs big city dick with a heart of gold. And all they need is a family crisis for the hearts of gold to break through to win the day. Blech. This one is saved by the cast, Duval, Downey and D'nofrio -- but still, in my experience, dicks don't have hearts of gold. They don't reform. They attract others of the same kind and flourish. Making one wish to send them shopping at Home Depot. Ask for Denzel.

Just opened, so no box office yet. I went to the first showing and the audience applauded the end. Hadn't heard that in a while, so my curmudgey opinion aside, who knows.

Pencil Test

California Republic Stationers recently added a new version of the Blackwing pencil to their line. Called PEARL, it is a pencil in the style of the famous and, alas, long gone, Eberhard Faber BLACKWING 602.

This new pencil joins the Palomino Blackwing and the Palomino Blackwing 602. Their advertising says the PEARL falls between the previous two in degree of hardness (or softness, take your pick.)

Being a reasonably obsessed pencil fan, I ordered a box as soon as they were available. Wish I hadn’t.

Not that the PEARL isn’t a nice pencil. It’s an okay pencil and as aficionados of the original BLACKWING 602 are inclined, okay it not enough.

 

I did the requisite tests comparing the PEARL to the other two Palominos as well as the Palomino HB (which is a lovely forgotten option in the race to clone the BLACKWING,) a BLACK VELVET and two versions of the original BLACKWING 602 (2 and 5.)

Tossing aside the notion of exactly how many times should this particular hair be split, we are definitely in the Goldilocks realm now.

1^st came the Palomino BLACKWING which Net reviews said was TOO SOFT. My opinion, this one lays down a beautiful dark line. Carry a sharpener, soft’s not a problem. Although I noted at the time SOFT is not a quality of SMOOTH, so though nice, this pencil did not compare to the original.

Next came the Palomino BLACKWING 602. Reviews were mixed, but to my hand this is as close as one can get to the original. And that, my friends, is saying something. This pencil is not TOO SOFT. It is not TOO HARD and remarkably it is very smooth. Almost as smooth as an original EF BLACKWING 602. So close I would say, don’t pay $40+ on eBay for an original. Get 12 of these for about $20 and be happy.

And now we have the PEARL falling somewhere between the two, neither TOO SOFT or whatever. I noticed a little crumbling but the biggest difference was, this pencil is not as smooth. 

I was surprised. I changed to a better paper – from a nasty old yellow legal pad to some nice Rhodia and got a little better result, but so what.

 Do we need a middling middle grade?

Yes, it’s pretty. The white lacquer stands out. The BLACKWING style looks cool. As a reasonably obsessed pencil person, I'd say, this is one too many, close but no cigar.

The Pencil Test

 

Last night I took notes at a FEMA meeting with both. One thing Palomino has down pat is laying down a dark line. When the PBW602 first hit the paper, I thought, oh, this is smooth. The slightly larger circumference makes me not mind the hex. The point lasted longer than the Original, in this unscientific, fast scribbling notes at a meeting, test. Then I had to change to a Biro because I forgot my sharpener. oy.

So, there you have it. PBW602, a very nice pencil. The difference in the smoothest between it and the Original, while there, is negligible.

Oh, and I heard everything the FEMA guy said.  ; )

Close

Original Blackwing 602 / Palomino Blackwing 602

Just out, California Cedar's new entry into the find the perfect pencil quest - a re-inventing of the Blackwing 602.

For those of you joining our program already in progress, Eberhard Faber's Blackwing 602 woodclinched pencil topped the list of the perfect pencil (for those who don't mind a pencil not being round.)

In my search to reconnect with Black Velvet pencils, I read so much about the Blackwing, I had to give them a try.

Enter eBay, and yes, I will pay more money than a sane person would for a pencil.

Guess what? In that rarest occurrence, the hype was right. The Blackwing 602 is different. Your hand will tell the difference. Woe though, they not be round, they became my perfect pencil.

Smooth. Like writing with ice on glass.

Which is like hearing about the Titanic and booking a ticket for the next trip.

Yeah, they don't make these anymore either. (But they still can be had - for a while anyway - on eBay and places like that.)

So, the search for the perfect pencil was fini, right?

Google pencil reviews and get back to me. I'll wait.

California Cedar produced a pencil called the Palomino Blackwing, which was a nice pencil - made a nice black line but was softer than the original. They received so much feedback, they decided to take a second swing at it. (Soft and Smooth are different qualities.)

 It's too bad the Palomino Blackwing 602 will always be compared to the original Blackwing 602, because the Palomino version is a very nice pencil in its own right.

Slightly larger around, makes a dark line, not too soft, lovely lacquer (gun metal gray), serviceable eraser that is also not too soft (doesn't bother me that it's black) and it is so close in the smoothness feel to the writing hand -- well, how close is close enough?

S.W.A.G.

 I did all the unscientific, in the wind testing. The Palomino version lays down a darker line than the Original, but the Original still feels smoother to my hand.

The real problem with the Original and both Remakes is that unique, problematic eraser assembly. It unbalances the pencil until the pencil is short enough to rest closer to the hand. (I've removed the eraser from a couple, replacing with the old school red pencil tops which takes care of that problem, but lessens the coolness factor by about a million.)

Does the quest continue?

I, for one, am ready to throw in the towel.

I'm just going to love them all.

 

6/15/11 Last night I took notes at a FEMA meeting with both. One thing Palomino has down pat is laying down a dark line. When the PBW602 first hit the paper, I thought, oh, this is smooth. The slightly larger circumference makes me not mind the hex. The point lasted longer than the Original, in this unscientific, fast scribbling notes at a meeting, test. Then I had to change to a Biro because I forgot my sharpener. oy.

So, there you have it. PBW602, a very nice pencil. The difference in the smoothest between it and the Original, while there, is negligible.

Oh, and I heard everything the FEMA guy said.  ; )

The Perfected Notebook

It may be a sign of old age and/or encroaching crotchetiness, but I get annoyed when a manufacturer changes a product I've come to know and love.

Like, for example, suddenly Moleskine notebook quality seems variable.

Yes, we all groused when they moved manufacturing of the beloved favorite from Italy to China (with no decrease in price mind you.) But, our favorite little black book stayed the same.

And then, it didn't.

The paper changed. Now, I have only anecdotal evidence for this claim, but when it's your anecdote, that's all the evidence one needs.

I was at a medical conference taking notes, one fountain pen with me and the bleed through was too distracting. Had to change to a pencil.

Sailor cartridge ink. Bleed through from reverse too!

I've read how different inks react differently to the same paper. Okay, how many pens must I carry? Decided to find a new notebook.

Writer's are an odd lot. They can be funny (obsessive) about writing instruments, paper, books, the weather, whatever. Cruising stationery blogs. Yes, blogs about stationery. Discovered Rhodia Drive, remembered Clairefontaine paper and was offered a chance to review some Moleskine competition.

Rhodia Webnotebook - Blank

I compared the 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 Rhodia Blank Webnotebook to the same size Moleskine.

Rhodia - 192 pages, inner pocket, Clairefontaine brushed Vellum 90g paper, made in France.

Moleskine - 192 plain pages, acid-free paper, expanding inner pocket, company in Italy, manufactured in China.

Right out of the wrapper, the Rhodia feels like the higher quality product. The cover is thicker, feels rubberized (the description calls this "leatherette.") It's soft. In comparison, the Moleskine's hard cardboard cover feels like hard cardboard.

Moleskine is more modestly branded with a small "Moleskine" impressed into the back cover. "Rhodia" is deeply carved into the front cover.

Front and Center

I usually personalize my notebooks, so this may not matter, it's just -- hello, I know.

The elastic band closure has the same tension in both notebooks. It left a noticeable dent in the Rhodia. Purists (fuss pots) may not like their notebook so defaced.

Due to the plush cover and heavier paper, the Rhodia is slightly thicker than the Moleskine.

 

The Rhodia just fits in a case I bought for a pocket Moleskine (a long time ago from a website far, far away.)

Rhodia felt more substantial.

The paper in each is labeled "cream." To my eye, under my light source, Rhodia cream was slightly warmer than Moleskine cream.

Rhodia paper is thicker, slicker (smooth) and shiny.

Shiny? I thought, this can't be good. Will it repel fountain pen ink?

Compared to this Clairefontaine paper, Moleskine paper felt thin and rough.

Three fountain pens, ink from two companies, two pencils.

I hope one doesn't have to be an obsessed writer to enjoy the sensuality of writing with a fountain pen on really nice paper.

The fountain pen ink wrote smoothly on the Rhodia with no bleed through, no lag in drying time. The pencils, well, pencil-like on hot press paper.

I've already mentioned trouble with multiple inks on Moleskine and the paper has enough "tooth" to roughen the pencil writing.

I was surprised to find, I could get the ink to bleed on the Rhodia.

Sometimes I sit and think. Sometimes I just sit.

Holding the pen to paper, Noodler's Lexington Gray feathered a nice round spot. Waterman's South Sea Blue and Havana Brown did not.

Moleskine

Rhodia

Rhodia is bound with eight stitches.

Moleskine bound with four.

I know from sewing my own notebooks, this means the Rhodia is the sturdier book.

How sturdy does a notebook need to be? Is it sitting on your desk, or riding in a pocket?


A web search found Rhodia prices $14.75 at Writer's Bloc. Moleskine $10.95, regularly $12.00 at Moleskines.com. There may be other, better deals to be found by more careful shoppers.

I remember the backlash against Moleskine fans who were labeled pretentious to pay $12+ for a notebook when a 99¢ spiral bound got the job done.

Enjoying getting the job done is worth some extra. The Rhodia Webnotebook is a quality analog instrument. With just a couple of cosmetic grumbles, I recommend it to anyone who has fallen out of love with Moleskine.

No More Bookstore

There's an old saying, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Road trip on Monday to Bozeman. Saw this. Thought the store was already closed, but stopped to take advantage of the sale.

Browsed a store with one third of the stock still shelved. Empty racks and fixtures-for-sale left room for a dance floor. If anyone be so inclined.

I know this is a major chain. I know political correctness dictates we support our small independent booksellers. I've shopped there, but Borders is not my favorite bookstore.* As I idled passed the last stacks, I started to cry.

Are eReaders to blame?

Did Kindle kill the bookstore?

A week before, I posted this on Twitter.

Feeling totally WIRED at the time, I used my iTouch to compare hardback prices of books I wanted to the Kindle price for same. A Kindle edition was routinely $5 to $10 cheaper.** I went home, bought and downloaded three books. Am I killing the bookstore to save $15?

Is it the end of the world as we know it?

I realized as I walked around the Bozeman Borders, we are in the middle of a paradigm shift.

According to experts, traditional publishing will survive. I hope they're right.

Will we like the new paradigm we're building?

There's one rugged individualist*** in my town who always walks around carrying bags of books.  I saw him at the coffee shop last week and thought, he could put all that on a Kindle and spare his back. Comes the Apocalypse, he'll be the only one with a library.






*Powell's in Portland, Oregon is my favorite bookstore.
**Kindle prices are creeping up though.
***That's what we call 'em in Montana.

New Lens. Same Old Puppy

Still testing the Lensbaby.

What I learned today was how much I freakin' HATE this carpet, and I've been looking at it for twenty years.

ick.

Almost got something here -

Finally this -

Still nothing to write home about.

Monkeys, Infinity, the Net and Obsession or Aren't We All A Little Odd

I think I’m sophisticated because I’m living my life like a good homo sapien.

Kinks

Originally attributed to mathematician Émile Borel, the Infinite Monkey Theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter will eventually type every book in France's National Library.

Which had something to do with probability and nothing to do with actual monkeys, works of literature or real writers.

English majors got involved replacing France’s National Library in the equation with the entire works of Shakespeare or perhaps just Hamlet.

In 2003, scientists conducted a test in which they put a computer in a cage with six monkeys and found that all the monkeys would do was type a bunch of “Ss” and poop on the keyboard.

I’ve had days like that.

Sometime later Robert Wilenski said, the Internet proves the Infinite Monkey Theorem is wrong.

If the Net isn’t contributing to a replication of great works of literature, what is it doing?

Glad you asked.

I’m sitting home, snug in my eccentricities, convinced, in all the world and God’s creation, I am the only one.

Nope.

Years ago, the company that made my favorite pencil quit making them. BLACK VELVET pencils came in numbered qualities like 2 or 2.5. They’re matte black with gold writing. They’re round. They’re smooth. They’re perfect. They are no more.

Since obsession seeks to creep upon us, not spring full-force over night, I had been buying an extra box now and then, so when the supply failed, I had a small stock. I’ve hoarded them ever since.

I’ve also tried to find a new perfect pencil. Cruising the Net to that end, imagine my surprise to discover there exists a community of Desperate Pencil Seekers who, deprived of their favorite pencil, now circle cyberspace and stationers seeking the perfect pencil replacement.

Here, here, here, and here. Who would have thought there was anyone left still using a pencil?

And, they never do, really, find the perfect replacement. Which says something about the human heart.

It didn’t cheer me up any to learn that even my obsessions are average.

That’s what the Net does.

We are not alone.

What a monkey might do equipped with the perfect pencil, is anybody’s guess.