Month: January 2016

Wiser Web Wednesday

/ Pete Denison / 2 Comments

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

The Pen Addict
I’m unsure of the exact percentage of fountain pen users for whom Rhodia paper is a staple, and it’s often the dot pad at that. Regular Pen Addict contributor Jeff Abbott outlines the details that make these a favourite of many.

I can certainly vouch for these easy to use, fountain pen friendly, tear off-and-scan sheets of great, reliable paper.

A great review, however I suspect many of you knew a little about these already:
The Rhodia DotPad Notepad Review

 

The Pen Habit
I don’t have any pens from the Edison Pen company in my collection, something I hope to change one day. This one is certainly a beauty.

It is, of course, silly to buy a pen solely for the filling system inside, but acquiring one of the Edison Pen Company’s pump fillers has been on my list for a while.

Or perhaps it isn’t so silly — either way, no judgement from me:
Pen Review: Edison Pen Company Menlo

 

Nibcreep
When a post starts as “a cautionary tale” and contains:

“How hard can it be?” you think to yourself. “The tines are steel, I should be able to bend them back if I’m careful” you think to yourself.

…you just know it’s not likely to end well, and I guess it didn’t. A hard one to read, though no doubt much harder to write:
How to ruin a vintage pen in less than 2 hours

 

The Finer Point
Jenny reviews an interesting looking pen, the Ateliea Brass Pen, the lovely patina upon which will further develop with increased use.

Although I do like the look and design, it is probably not for me, and I would be a little concerned about the cap — definitely be one of those stand it on its end so it doesn’t roll away scenarios:
Ateleia Brass Pen

 

That One Pen
A great post from Todd as he continues down the road to a short list of loved and well-used pens. One thing I do see from the list of pens and pencils in this post is a reasonably common theme: a lot of people like them, they are recommended fairly frequently, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to develop a collection around them.

I understand that some of these writing tools may be the single greatest pen or pencil you’ve ever tried. I’m just saying that they don’t work for me and, in some case, I’m actually disappointed that they don’t. All I know is that they don’t work for me and I’m moving on.

The concluding paragraph I’ve quoted above is a timely reminder that reasonably widespread popularity (which I’m not suggesting is unwarranted with this list) simply does not equate with individual fit and contentment.

Here’s to our differences:
I know what I like

 

Pens! Paper! Pencils!
If you haven’t to date, please read the initial post by Ian, and the reply from Pilot UK for context (links to both in this post).

Although there still appear to be some lingering questions:

This wasn’t a boilerplate response, it was an email from a real person who took the time to respond to my questions in a thoughtful and considered way.

The following of course is spot on — if no-one cared for the pens Pilot produced, no-one would be bothered asking in the first place:

I wrote the original post out of frustration but also out of affection. Pilot make great pens and I wish they were able to sell them here for a reasonable price

Looking forward to any further information (and more reviews and drawings). Nicely done Ian:
My Thoughts on Pilot UK’s Reply About Availability and Pricing

 

The Clicky Post
Looking at my own collection here beside me, the word “conservative” would not be out-of-place in an overall description — certainly as far colour is concerned.

Judging by the great images in Mike’s post, the finish on the Starburst Galaxy brings a little brightness and sparkle, yet isn’t overly “blingy”, and wouldn’t look out place on my desk here at all.

Well, how about that:
Sailor Sapporo (Pro Gear Slim) Starburst Galaxy – Music Nib

 

The Specialty Coffee Chronicle
For the first time in 21 years, the coffee tasters flavour wheel has been updated, with some lofty goals indeed:

The foundation of this work, the World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon, is the product of dozens of professional sensory panelists, scientists, coffee buyers, and roasting companies collaborating via World Coffee Research (WCR) and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). This is the largest and most collaborative piece of research on coffee flavor ever completed, inspiring a new set of vocabulary for industry professionals. This groundbreaking new tool will shift the way our industry thinks about and utilizes coffee flavor.

Although there is considerable overlap with the previous version, perhaps some new descriptors to our “tasting notes” are imminent:
Reinventing the (Flavor) Wheel: Industry Collaborates to Identify Coffee Flavor Attributes

 

World Coffee Research
Following on from above, further background on the World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon can be found here, including a 50 page PDF document, which:

identifies 110 flavor, aroma, and texture attributes present in coffee, and provides references for measuring their intensity.

What do you mean there’s no way you’re downloading and reading that?:
World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon

 

The Brooks Review
If there was one sentence that probably sums up my experience with OnmiFocus, this would be it:

I found an app that doesn’t make me feel like I am filling in forms when I want to create a simple task.

For me personally, this is a classic case of “it’s not you — it’s me”. As most who have used it will tell you, Omnifocus is a great app, and I (happily) spent a considerable amount of money to get set up across my Mac and iOS devices.

After two years of intermittently thinking “there must be a better way to do this that I haven’t found yet”, it was time be open to other options.

There is probably a more lengthy post about this, however needless to say, 2Do suits my way of thinking, working, and tracking tasks. Here Ben Brooks outlines the reasons behind his move:
Moving to 2Do

 

Tim Nahumck
Further to last week’s Macdrifter link regarding Drafts app for iOS, a nice reminder about the app’s capability to handle “Action Sets” of similar actions — a sort of sub menu if you will .

When you have finally created the Action Sets you want, and if you run them frequently, consider making an Action Key for your Enhanced Keyboard row. If you assign an Action Set to a Key, you will be able to bring up the Action Set menu quickly for manipulation.

The more you know the more you can do:
Using Action Sets in Drafts

 

John Scullen
Here John outlines the use of the Solarized colour palette with some OmniGraffle stencils.

Far more attractive diagrams await:
Create stunning diagrams with these free OmniGraffle stencils

 

The Daily App
The final in a three-part (links to one and two in the post) series by Graham Spencer, looking at the happenings behind the scenes in the first two months of his “The Daily App” site, which, incidentally, features all sorts of apps (Mac, iOS, Apple Watch and TV) in a brief one-a-day format.

There may be many apps featured you either have or are aware of, although eventually one might come along that will be a real find. It couldn’t be simpler to follow along on Twitter or Facebook (RSS and email subscription options as well).

Back to the reason for the link. In this particular post, Graham shares his workflow for collecting apps, planning and posting the featured apps to the site.

Interesting if you are into that sort of thing (raises hand):
Two Months of The Daily App: Behind The Scenes

 

MindNode News
An announcement from the developer of MindNode, which now offers task support:

Mind Maps are a great way to kick off a new project and Tasks are often a major part of this workflow. MindNode now offers native Tasks support. You can turn any child node into a task and check off completed tasks directly on the canvas.

It appears the app will also support export of your tasks to Apple’s Reminders app, and keep the completion state in sync. Given MindNode is my mind mapping app of choice, this is certainly a handy addition:
Tasks in MindNode

Wiser Web Wednesday

/ Pete Denison / Leave a comment

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

The Finer Point
Not the first time I’ve heard it, though I do like the idea of a photo a day as part of a journaling approach. If I ever managed to do so, digitally via Day One would be the way I’d probably go.

A nice idea here though for placing a physical copy in the Hobonichi Techo, along with a couple of other noble aims for 2016 as well:
New Things for 2016

 

The Fountain Pen Quest
Indeed it is:

It’s a lot easier to avoid impulse purchases when I have so many good pens to chose from and can only use one fountain pen at a time

Although not the focus of the article, again some serious numbers pop up in posts such as these as far as collections go —indicative in part of how long other enthusiasts have been in this game:
Fountain Pen Contentment

 

Pens! Paper! Pencils!
I’ve enjoyed seeing Ian’s drawings on the PPP blog and also Instagram for some time now. I would also be happily guided in my choice of pencils, were to find I had some sort of ability in this area, and was inclined to pursue it. Sadly, the former is not the case, and heavily influences the likelihood of the latter.

One other thing, the image under the Selection heading is a simple one, though one of the best I’ve seen in a while — fabulous:
Guide to Pencils for Drawing

 

The Gentleman Stationer
Funny how we get caught up in our own day-to-day inks. Well, that and the fact I tend to go for long periods without buying any new ones to try.

The result? I’ve not used any of these, however have heard good things both here and elsewhere. Yes, they’ll go on the list, though I cannot guarantee when I might get to them:
My Five Best Fountain Pen Inks for Everyday Writing

 

Pen Economics
I recall a robust debate with my senior high school economics teacher about this principle, the main thrust of my argument (in attempting to refute the notion) being that each subsequent Golden Gaytime ice cream was in fact better than the previous one. Although my argument was probably a bit thin and I may have embellished the number of Golden Gaytimes I could eat, I thought I made some pretty compelling points (loved those ice creams).

Onto matters more relevant:

The underlying problem seems to be a classic case of what economists call diminishing marginal utility. That’s a technical name for something we all experience, and it’s so common that it’s baked right into our most fundamental tools. It refers to how we find ourselves less and less satisfied with each additional purchase of something.

In reality, there are probably many perspectives on this, and personally I am fairly liberal with my definition of collector or user, and would suggest most of us are both:

But, at least for those of us who are pen users rather than pen collectors, we reach a point where each new purchase isn’t any more exciting than the last one. They’re still great pens, still pleasant to use, but that level of excitement and pleasure has diminished somewhat. And once you’re past that point, it becomes something of a downhill road.

Something like this may work for you, or it may not, however if you are quite content with your collection and how you manage it, don’t overthink it:
Capping Your Collection

 

Fourfiftytwo
Another example of some Hobonichi Techo goodness:

Putting the drawings and text in before I journal is really helpful in getting over blank page syndrome. I don’t find myself stare at the page, afraid to ruin the pristine blank space, overwhelmed by expectations for what could be written

Some more fantastic images in this post too:
How I use my Hobonichi Techo

 

The Pelikan’s Perch
A great review of a fantastic looking and equally well performing pen from Pelikan.

With the Grand Place and the Vibrant Blue on the horizon, I think Pelikan is really showing that they can turn out some truly stunning pens. I only hope that the company will pace itself and not saturate us with too many of these high-end beauties in such a short span of time.

If Pelikan cannot pace themselves then I guess its up to each of us:
Review: M800 Burnt Orange (2015)

 

MacStories
Some new, or perhaps simply new to you (or me) apps for 2016.

I might poke around Airtable, and Liquid Text looks an interesting way to view sections of long documents (also recently mentioned on an episode of Mac Power Users as worth considering).

Box? I’ve been increasingly using this for storing documents in PDF format over the past 6 months or so, though I suspect it is due to the free 50GB in my account (one of those early sign up bonuses some time ago) rather than any collaboration features. That said, it seems equal to Dropbox in terms of sync and app integration, and I like the interface a little better.

Whatever you might be looking for, a few more apps for your consideration:
New Apps for 2016

 

Macdrifter
A fairly common comment by those who use the iOS app Drafts:

What about words? Where do you go if you have something to write? I’m sure a lot of people worry about where they want the words to go before they decide how to even start writing. This is a waste of attention. The most important part of writing is the act of writing, not the act of processing. This is why I start almost everything in Drafts for iOS.

This app deserves inclusion primarily because the linked post is a good one, but also because each Wednesday’s links on this blog are put together via the Drafts web capture template — set up to give me the source, title, URL and any highlighted text with simple tap of the share sheet button on my phone or iPad.

Captured information is appended to one of three current notes: Pen, Coffee, or General. Once the gathering is complete, the note in its entirety is either pasted into Ulysses (iPad) or sent with one tap to nvAlt on my Mac, depending on where I’ll be for the final clean up.

Simply an app that never gets old — or most likely fully utilised for that matter:
Getting Drafts Right For 2016

 

Scotchwhisky.com
A wishlist from the editors at scotchwhisky.com for the new year, of which this is one:

Let 2016 be the year where blends fight back. They are fascinating, and flexible; they are the product of amazing creativity, they have history, yet they are never talked about with any of the same reverence or detail that is applied to malts.

I second that motion:
New Year’s Wishlist

 

Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine
Reading these articles always reminds me of how lucky I am to live where I live.

In short, these climatic, economic and political factors have snowballed into a perfect storm of influence dissuading young Salvadorans from the pursuit of a life in coffee farming

For many on this planet, it is just a constant struggle, and it is not hard to see why it appears there would be little hope in sight:
El Salvador’s Coffee Industry at a Crossroads

 

Cafe Culture
An amazing story. What started with this:

In March 2011 a seedling was planted 1,900 metres above sea level on a mountain on the west range of Los Farallones de Cali, Colombia.

It was the first of 18,000 seedlings to be planted on what would come to be known as Finca Las Nubes, “the farm in the clouds”.

Culminated in something pretty special late last year for the tireless workers of that particular coffee farm in Colombia:

Sasa called “time”, and with that simple word began to deliver the same performance to the workers and owners of Finca Las Nubes as he did to the WBC judges just three months earlier.

Australia’s 2015 World Barista Champion, Sasa Sestic continues his relentless drive to promote specialty coffee, and more importantly, recognise those who produce it:
Sasa Returns

 

Handground
No, I don’t expect you to read (let alone apply) all 47, however there are some interesting and helpful tips here for manual brewing based on the Speciality Coffee Association of America’s 7 Pillars of Coffee Preparation:
47 Tips to Make Pour Over Coffee Like a Barista

Third Wave Wichteln 2015

/ Pete Denison / Leave a comment
2016-01-18 tww_logo

Image courtesy Third Wave Wichteln

Scrolling through the thirdwavewichteln hashtag on Instagram and Tumblr or in the Facebook group of the same name, I see packages of specialty coffee continuing to finally reach their intended destinations around the globe.

Bon(n) voyage!

Bon(n) voyage!

It is the second time I have participated in the Wichteln, and my parcel containing a bag of Washed Ethiopia Dumerso roasted locally by Coffee Supreme made its way successfully (confirmed via the social media pages noted above) to Bonn, Germany. I may have also thrown in a bag of the same coffee (this time Natural Process) roasted by yours truly — something I wouldn’t probably describe as a “bonus” necessarily, in the hope the recipient might enjoy comparing the two. Thankfully, Facebook tells me both were well received.

2016-01-18 tww_reanimato frontIn return, I was lucky enough to receive some superb Costa Rican coffee: Divino Niño, from ReAnimator Coffee Roasters in Philadelphia, USA — a little more on this below.

If you have not heard about Third Wave Wichteln, it is a global specialty coffee exchange which occurs each year in December/January, where, at random (after signing up) you are matched with a recipient to send your coffee to, and your name given to another (different) member to receive some in return.

I think most of us know the principle — from Wikipedia:

Secret Santa is a Western Christmas tradition in which members of a group or community are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift … and is known as “Wichteln” in Germany. “Wichteln” is what a “Wichtel”, a wight, does, a good deed.

I wrote a few thoughts down about the nature of the online communities many of us are involved in after last year’s exchange .

Unfortunately for some, the programme does not quite reach a 100% completion rate (now with over 2000 members around the world taking part). Through the vagaries of international postage, customs, and also perhaps a little misunderstanding in some cases about what constitutes an appropriate coffee to send, the Facebook feed is also home to a few criticisms of the programme.

Just a couple of things on this point. There have been some calls within the Facebook group for the organisers to provide the email addresses of the assigned sender to those still waiting, where it appears the coffee is lost or indefinitely held up somewhere.

To their credit, the organisers have repeatedly confirmed they will not take this course of action, citing a priority on members privacy, and reaffirming the programme is based on trust. I applaud them for this stance and strongly agree on both points.

In my view (and yes — easy for me to say having received great coffee each year so far), entering into a programme such as this must be based on giving (isn’t that in keeping with the spirit of the season in the first place?), with an expectation you are more than likely to receive in return.

Whether by global exchange or within your office, we’ve all been the recipient of the random joke. You know, you carefully decide on an appropriate gift for the random pool, and then find yourself on the receiving end of the completely useless novelty shop item meant to give everyone a good laugh. Very unfortunate, but it happens — and bear in mind that was the giver’s intention. In the case of the Wichteln here, I’m sure the coffee was sent with the utmost of good intentions, and for some reason beyond the control of the gift giver, simply never arrives — again unfortunate but hardly the fault of those involved.

I say again — treat the Wichteln as a programme of giving and you really can’t go wrong. Stock up over the holiday season on your favourites, or from roasters you have not tried before and get stuck into enjoying those coffees. If your package from across the world drives? What a bonus, otherwise forget about it and it will be a nice surprise when it does land on your doorstep.

Oh… the coffee itself?

2016-01-18 tww_reanimator_backAn absolute delight, with some handy advice on brewing parameters from the ReAnimator barista and trainer via Twitter who sent me the coffee as well (thanks again Greg!). Yes — it really isn’t hard to connect with those whom you have sent to, or received from, once the exchange is complete.

2016-01-18 tww_iced_filterThe Divino Niño certainly lived up to its promise, a sweet, juicy brew, perfect through the V60, in the Aeropress, and on a particularly hot Brisbane summer day, an iced filter which possibly even outshone the other two. I most definitely consider myself a very fortunate recipient.

If getting involved in something like this is of interest to you, visit the website, where there are some specific, yet straightforward instructions on the type of coffee to send and how to send it.

I’ll certainly be signing up again next December and will be looking forward to sending some coffee to a lucky recipient across the globe — and I’m pretty sure I’ll receive something special in return.

Pilot Decimo Capless Fountain Pen

/ Pete Denison / 1 Comment

In taking an active interest in the pen community, it is hard not to notice the enthusiasm surrounding capless fountain pens, the majority of which centres around the Pilot Vanishing Point. Admittedly I too have looked longingly at online retail sites, clicking around the various models and options available in the capless segment of the market.

image

Until a few months ago, I had not even tried a capless pen, nor come to the conclusion I would be happy spending the money to obtain one. What had caught my eye however was the Pilot Decimo, a slightly more slender and lighter version of a capless fountain pen compared to the Vanishing Point. Also made by Pilot, with an 18k gold nib, the same capless mechanism and very similar design — there was a lot to like about the prospect of owning one.

After deciding to go with a Decimo at some point in the future, lo and behold what should turn up in my letterbox but the very Decimo you see in the accompanying images, and the subject of this review. A very kind friend of the blog sent a pre-owned, though no longer used Decimo for me to try, correctly thinking I might enjoy it, and was also interested in my thoughts on the pen itself.

Look and Feel

First and foremost, as I’ve mentioned, my impressions come to you from someone who has not owned nor used a Vanishing Point, and I would therefore keep that in mind as I go about my merry way with this post. Upon reading a little more, I did come across a very helpful comparison piece between the Decimo and Vanishing Point by Michael over at PigPog.

image

As you can see in the accompanying images here, the Decimo I have been using is a black model with silver trim. Not an uncommon combination in my collection, and a preferred one over black and gold. Overall, the look is fairly understated given the colour, however the capless nature of these pens provides a little unique edginess. Something a little out of the ordinary if we are talking traditional fountain pen “looks” at least.

The overall design I would say is generally well-balanced, however one aspect I have never quite taken to is the elongated knock at the top of the pen, though understandably necessary given its required travel to present the nib for writing. The clip of course is down on the grip section — the usual position for a capless pen, and I will comment more on this below when discussing my writing experience. I would note the metal clip is quite long and slender, and can be a little tricky to get over certain fabrics. This, combined with the overall length of the pen at times results in a fairly high “resting place” when clipped.

A little asymmetry exists between the lengths of the top and bottom halves of the pen, however from a visual perspective the relative length of the clip balances the placement of the double joining rings, which sit to the higher side of the centre of the barrel. As for markings, and in keeping with the look of the pen, a small Pilot Japan at the centre rings, and Decimo on the clip are all you will find.

In discussing the look and feel of any pen, clearly the overall balance when the pen is in your hand is an important consideration. Without a cap, there is of course no choice to make regarding whether to post or not. However, that also removes any chance you have of playing around with the overall balance of the pen — not simply length, but weight distribution. The overwhelming majority of my pens I use without posting, however there are a couple which sit on the “lighter” side of the weight spectrum where I do post the cap. They are also a little shorter than some of the others with the Pilot Prera and Sailor Pro Gear Sapporo (or slim) coming to mind.

The Decimo weighs in at just over 21 grams with a full ink cartridge, and when in your hand for writing, feels even lighter. Despite this rather long-winded discussion on weight and balance, I probably should say that I did not find any of this a problem. The overall feel when writing is testament to the balance, design and construction of the pen. Simply put, if you want a heftier feel, this may not be the pen for you, with a Vanishing Point the obvious option should that in fact be the case.

In summary, despite my comments about the asymmetry, and if I had my choice there may be a couple of things I would change — do we really want every pen in our collection looking the same? Of course not. Even if I had (and of course I do not) twenty black and silver fountain pens, I’d like them to show design, size and symmetry differences (whether subtle or overt), which, upon looking at the ones I do have — they generally do.

Specifications

Courtesy of Jet Pens

  • Model: Pilot Decimo Capless Fountain Pen
  • Material: Metal
  • Mechanism: Retractable; push button knock
  • Clip: Metal; on grip section of pen
  • Weight: 0.8 ounces (21 grams)
  • Diameter: Grip 9.9 mm
  • Diameter: Max 12.0 mm
  • Length: Retracted: 13.9 cm / 5.5 inches
  • Filling Mechanism: Converter, Cartridge – Proprietary
  • Grip Material: Metal
  • Nib Colour: Silver
  • Nib Material: 18k Gold (Rhodium-Plated)
  • Tip Length: 7.3 mm

imageThe filing mechanism in the Decimo is from what I understand identical to the Vanishing Point, accomplished either by converter (CON 20 or CON 50 compatible) or Pilot ink cartridge. The pen comes with a metal cap to protect the cartridge from the knock mechanism.

Some of the more competitive pricing on the Decimo can be found at Engeika, with the current listing at the time of writing $US101.70. It is also on Rakuten at a similar price.

Writing

As you’ll note in the list of specifications above, the Decimo comes with an 18k gold nib, and boy is the medium on this particular pen smooth. This nib impressed from the moment the ink primed and ran onto the paper. It is silky smooth, yet firm enough to hold its consistency when powering through a rapid set of notes.

 

image

There have been no hard starts, skips or any other issues with the nib. It has always performed as expected and on demand, even if left for extended periods “nib out”.

The nib has a degree of softness or give, with a small amount of line variation with changes in pressure, however a pen such as this does not really require an amazing amount of line variation, nor is it why you would buy one.

imageOn to the clip position, which is placed down on the grip section of the pen. Annoying, invisible or somewhere in the middle? Whether you are considering a Decimo or the Vanishing Point, with a capless pen of this type, a decision needs to be made about the clip, and whether it will be a hindrance to how you hold the pen for writing. If possible, try to test one out prior to purchase, at least for a more informed choice.

You may be lucky, and not even notice the clip at all. If you are like me, it is noticeable, though not what I would call annoying. Certainly, your grip and nib rotation is very much determined for you, however with a great nib such as this one that is not really a problem. A good tip I came across in reading a little on these pens, is to hold one of your standard pens upside down with the cap on and see how you find the clip in relation to your grip. At least it will provide some reference point for how you might fare here.

image

In summary, looking at my overall writing experience, I would say the Decimo is very good. I wouldn’t go so far as exceptional, and the reasons for this are not something I could specifically put my finger on. The nib itself is fantastic, though it did take me a little while to get used to its smallish size.

Probably the best way to describe it is that I simply find it a little difficult to get into a good rhythm with this pen. I suspect it is not one thing on its own, but a combination of the size, weight and yes, possibly something to do with the clip. When I pick it up it just takes a little while for things to flow, and it doesn’t feel quite as natural compared to some of the other pens in my collection.

Upon reading the paragraph above on its own, it would be easy to conclude I am not very fond of this pen, which isn’t really the case. I have been happy to pick it up on many occasions when there are others sitting next to it, I feel it just makes me pay a little more attention, and reminds me I’m writing with the Decimo rather than just writing.

Overall Use

It is clear from the overall popularity of the Vanishing Point that capless pens are indeed in demand. As far as use cases are concerned? Personally I find the Decimo to be a great office note taker, particularly for jotting down a quick note, marking up printed documents, or a quick initial or signature, and the ease of the capless, push button mechanism can take a lot of the credit here. Of course, as handy as the mechanism is, the pen still needs to write well, and as I have mentioned above, Pilot certainly has that one covered with this beautiful 18k gold nib.

A couple of aspects I am still not quite comfortable with, or perhaps more correctly put — used to, involve two polar opposites, which are carrying the pen around and storage. The storage is a silly thing really, in that I continually find the Decimo in my pen cup nib down (retracted of course), as I am used to placing pens in there based on “knock up” rather than “clip up”. An issue? Not at all, I simply thought I’d mention the extreme challenge I face every single day when placing this pen in a cup(!).

Carrying the pen is another matter, and is something that makes me a little nervous. Although the reality of how the knock mechanism works essentially renders my concerns needless, I still cannot get them out of my head.

imageWhen I say carry — a good proportion of this occurs in the side pocket of my trousers or jeans, and I have this nagging, uneasy feeling I will somehow engage the knock (by not removing the pen before I sit down for example) and well… you know the rest. I say these concerns are probably unwarranted for the reason I have already stated earlier in this post — the length of the knock, and therefore the corresponding distance of travel to produce the nib is a large one, and something very unlikely to occur by accident. Perhaps I simply need to invest in a pen loop for whichever notebook I am also carrying at the time.

Signing Off

Given the similarities between the two it is perhaps a shortcoming of this piece in that I do not own, nor have I used the more popular Vanishing Point capless fountain pen from Pilot. That said, I am only able to use one pen at a time, and as a capless fountain pen in its own right, the Decimo is a great writing instrument. My favourite one? On that question I’d have to say no.

It is relatively unique in both design and function, with the push button knock working elegantly and effectively, and the 18k Pilot medium nib simply a joy to write with. Although to my eye and taste I wouldn’t describe it as my most attractive pen (a knock button half its current length would be nice, yet in a spectacular functional compromise, would fail to produce the nib), there is a certain elegance in the overall design, asymmetry and proportions of the Decimo that are somehow just right.

For shorter writing sessions or quick notes, it is just about spot on. When in the zone and powering through multiple pages of a longer draft, I’d more likely pick up one of my other pens.

On the question of Vanishing Point or Decimo? That is up to you, however would appear to come down to simply size and weight, notwithstanding some differences in colours and construction materials. To me, a capless pen is functionally about utility and usability, and on that count perhaps the lighter the better, however should also put your mind at ease when it is in your carry. I can certainly see the Decimo as part of my pen rotation moving forward, and suspect it will see its fair share of my desk bound office note taking load.

Wiser Web Wednesday

/ Pete Denison / Leave a comment

Wiser Web Wednesday – a semi-regular link to posts of interest from around the web, by those far wiser than myself:

 

Pen Economics
After this week passing the one year mark for the site, some more insightful commentary from Dr Deans on the nature of competition in that fabulous market that is fountain pens:

But I’d say that growth in the popularity of pens, and better economic education of the community, is likely to lead to more and better-discerning consumers. As long as that continues, I think we’re likely to see brands becoming more competitive and better deals for buyers.

I also think a better-discerning consumer is not stuck in a buy, buy, buy mentality. Better deals and better decision-making would seem to be the killer combination:
Competition in the Fountain Pen Market

 

Relay FM
Canvas, a new podcast hits the airwaves on Relay FM:

Hosted by Federico Viticci and Fraser Speirs, Canvas is a podcast all about mobile productivity. Armed with iOS, Federico and Fraser will be walking through workflows, exploring the best apps for the iPad and iPhone and helping users solve problems.

Upon listening to the tone and approach of the first episode, I am looking forward to what is coming on this show. Do I need (or even want) to get really geeky with iOS? Do I use iOS for tasks simply to show they can be done? Neither on both counts.

The simple fact of the matter is that I am away from home every workday from 7am until after 6pm, and considerably more than half of the writing, research, and general doings for this blog and many other non-job related activities occurs on iOS. A good working knowledge of what is available to do these activities goes a long way in tweaking workflows and processes without having to necessarily test out a bunch of apps myself.

I’d say this should help that knowledge pool:
Canvas

 

Agile Bits
A couple of nice updates to kick off the new year to 1Password for iOS and Mac, which I use each and every day to manage my Passwords. I’ve nothing more specific to say other than this suite of apps is quite simply the most used across both my Mac and iOS devices, and are the reason I have confidence in the strength and integrity of the numerous online accounts I have. Well, at least the integrity of my logins any way.

I suspect many reading this are already aware of 1Password, however if not, or you are looking for a better solution, I’d highly recommend checking it out:
1Password

 

Matt Gemmell
Matt’s invitation to join his site’s membership, of which I have been a paid subscriber for the past year or so, having just received weekly newsletter number 47 a couple of days ago.

Towards the bottom of the post you’ll see a testimonial I wrote a little while ago outlining my thoughts on being a member (which remain the same today).

There are numerous sites following these types of programmes, and at times it can be difficult to choose where to place your hard-earned money. I am happy with the choices I’ve made in this regard, and look forward to my “Monday nights with Matt” (because time zones) when the newsletter arrives each week in my inbox:
Site Membership for 2016

 

Perfect Daily Grind
In attempting to obtain more consistency in my espresso making at home, I weigh the dose going into the portafilter, and when I have a little more time (on weekends or if I’m running early of a morning), check the yield by weight as well. When I think about it however, it really takes no more time to weigh the output — it just seems like it does.

However that’s me. Making two espresso based drinks each morning (let’s not go into my weekend morning tally), one for myself and one for my wife. Any resemblance to what is being discussed in this article? None.

Suffice to say, I am very interested in a professional’s view on these types of things, and how they manage to achieve such feats in face of an unrelenting caffeine deprived mob first thing in the morning:
Weighing Espresso Shots in Service: Insanity or Essential?

 

Buzzfeed
As a coffee enthusiast, I am sure I am perhaps perceived as this guy.

Though I can assure you I’m not, it is just one of those things any enthusiast encounters on a regular basis, irrespective of the particular interest.

I speak with utmost sincerity when I say there really is no need to preface asking if I want coffee with “it’s not very good/it’s not what you’re used too/it’s only…”.

My reply? A simple yes, or no thanks — nil judgement applied, every time.

Unless of course, you are that guy:
When Your Friend Is A Coffee Snob

 

The Clicky Post
Vintage pens haven’t really been my thing, in part because my knowledge of them is so limited I’d have no idea where to start, nor what might constitute a good deal. That said, without going overboard on price, I guess that isn’t necessarily the whole point is it.

A nice piece from here by Mike, which I think probably highlights one of the more satisfying aspects of delving into vintage pens — the knowledge acquisition which results from digging a little deeper.

A great looking pen to boot:
My Vintage Parker 61 Jet Flighter Fountain Pen Experience

 

The Pen Haul
A thorough review of the Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen. I must admit to not having the same issues with the medium nib on my Ice Sport, which, along with the Classic rollerball are two of my favourite pocket pens.

Sometimes it is a shame when some of those pens we love so much get pushed down the list a little as more come into our collections. Perhaps its time to stick them back in my pocket again:
Kaweco Sport Review

 

From the Pen Cup
Although at present I sit in the don’t-own-and-haven’t-ordered-either camp when it comes to the Hobonichi Techo, I’m always interested to hear how others use them.

You never know, perhaps one day:
A Practice: My Hobonichi Techo

 

Eater
While I enjoy the odd glass of whisky, I must admit to not specifically keeping a sharp eye on the next big release — for financial as much as practical reasons.

Apparently Ireland is one place to cast my gaze, and I have enjoyed watching along on Twitter as the Waterford Distillery came together over the past year, culminating in the birth of a new single malt in December. Clearly we’ll be waiting a little while to taste the fruits of this particular segment of labour, however some general trends are forecast for both ‘ey’ and my preferred ‘y’ varieties in 2016:
Here’s What 2016 Will Hold for Whiskey