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

 

Matt Gemmell
As a site member of mattgemmell.com for a little while now, it’s been exciting to hear how things have been coming along with Matt’s novel — even gaining a sneak peek on the odd occasion. That all pales now though, with the recent official announcement and cover reveal.

Summing things up in one quote is probably best left to those who now what they’re doing, so I offer you this from the author:

A scientist is drawn into a race against time to prevent an impending disaster that will claim millions of lives. His allies are an elite covert special forces team, but their adversary is a ruthless man with an unnatural ability, who seeks to hasten the cataclysm.

I for one am excited to soon have my hands on the finished product, and if the above sounds like something of interest to you, sign up to be notified the minute CHANGER is available (later this month) through the following link:
Announcing CHANGER

 

Stephen Pressfield
What follows in the quote below sounds like a description of many a blog post sitting in my unpublished or drafts folders in Ulysses:

For years I dove in on Page One, put my head down and started hammering keys. That’s not always a bad idea. Sometimes it works. But what usually happened for me was I’d get halfway through before it hit me that I was totally lost. Or I’d finish completely only to realize that I basically had to tear the whole house down and start over.

Of course there is no comparison between this blog and the significant projects Mr Pressfield speaks of. Nonetheless, I’ve also admonished myself with the title of the post on more than a few occasions as well:
Writing Wednesdays: “Just Write the Damn Thing!”, Part One

 

The Cramped
The Cramped offers a few ideas for indexing your notebooks.

Mine is your typical date, page heading/topic and page number on each line in the first couple of pages of a notebook. Numbering is on the bottom right corner of every right hand page, beginning at 1 and increasing in two’s (I’m not sure why I thought that would be of interest to you however in the context of the link felt compelled to share).

I also highly recommend INDXD, the web service for keeping track of it all:
Some Indexing Methods for Notebooks

 

jimseven
Having always enjoyed James Hoffmann’s writing on coffee, this was an immediate sign up to receive the newsletter.

While there’ll definitely be more of a business slant to it, I don’t think this will be exclusively written for business owners, not by any stretch. The premise is more that I think there’s inspiration and interest in a variety of  fields connected to, or outside of, coffee. I believe that those of us working in coffee industry are in a place where we need to be challenged and inspired.

Issue one is out, and yes, I enjoyed it. Recommended if you have an interest in coffee and think you might enjoy reading about it (and topics around it) from an industry leader:
A new newsletter

 

European Coffee Trip
Of course it is very different for those working in the industry, however there is a lot to be said for simply going out and enjoying a cup without too much analysis.

When I am in Italy I actually enjoy drinking espresso with sugar. Although it is not a great quality, it has that Italian taste that I kind of enjoy. I am not searching for the best espresso, when I am there. It’s part of the culture I enjoy, just being in an Italian espresso bar, watching the culture and drinking the espresso, without having to analyze it too much.

Some thoughts on this and a few other things from another industry leader:
7 Questions For Tim Wendelboe

 

MistoBox
The big catering sized coffee tin is generally a bit of a disappointment in most offices.

If you want to take your coffee to the next level in your office, the name of the game is still finding an easy, convenient solution that isn’t too fussy or too expensive, but still makes really damn tasty coffee.

For me, the solution is an Aeropress with sealed pre-ground doses from home each morning. I’m pretty happy with the results, and a grinder in the office probably mightn’t necessarily work in many of cases:
Ask Seth! Brewing Coffee in your Office

 

ScotchWhisky.com
Of course it’s about what’s in the bottle, however I’m not immune to being drawn in based on looks alone (am I really that shallow?). Of course a purchase isn’t guaranteed from that point – but that’s often budgetary rather than aesthetically driven.

To get to the point – I like it:
Glen Grant overhauls brand identity

 

Best Fountain Pen
Whenever you read a review of the Pilot Kakuno it’s all about the great nib — and rightly so.

This nib lays down a flawless line and the fine nib is just what the doctor ordered for people who actually want a fine line from their fine nibs.

I continue to raid my son’s stationery drawer every now and then:
Pilot Kakuno Review Fine Nib

 

From the Pen Cup
An awesome lady with an awesome-laden jar. I’m really enjoying these Pens in Real Life posts Mary is putting together:
Pens In Real Life: The Jar of Awesome

 

Pen Economics
Another brand analysis — this time looking at that just about everywhere brand that is Lamy. To be honest I cannot recall looking much further than the couple of 2000’s I have in my collection (which I do love) as far as the premium end is concerned:
Brand Analysis: Lamy

 

The Hyperpessimist
Further to the link above, a viewpoint from a resident in Lamy’s home market, Germany.

I really liked the Safari back then and I also like my Lamy 2000. But their other premium pens? I am completely at a loss why these exist.

In the context of all this, I’ve had to search what the “other premium pens” in Lamy’s lineup actually are (and I say that merely through a lack of knowledge rather than inferring anything else). I suspect this might not be uncommon though.

But I disagree on the cheap segment. So far, Lamy does not have anything to fear from the Pilot Metropolitan (or it’s european variant, the MR) or TWSBI Eco in its home market, Germany.

Another interesting read:
Lamy From Their Home Market

 

Too Many Inks
In my books there is no one more deserving of some ink samples to play with — or should I more correctly say review. David does a great job in providing us with the very first look at a new ink release from Bookbinders Online, adding to their Snake Ink range introduced earlier in the year.

Being in the market for a nice red, I’m certainly interested, and after all, one can never have too many inks can they?
Three New Bookbinders Snake Inks

 

MacStories
Despite the fact this is a free app (now with increased features through in-app purchase), I’ve yet to give it a run, which is something I plan on rectifying soon.

LiquidText 2.0 can export every excerpt and note as plain text, which I should be able to import in Ulysses to start writing.

Hmmm…sounds interesting from someone who’d now about such things:
LiquidText 2.0 Brings Support for Multiple Documents

 

AFR.com
Having used Guvera as my main music streaming service for the past 6-8 months, I’m hoping things are looking up, as recent changes have seen much of my preferred music drop off the service for some reason or another.

The streaming platform has 14 million users in 10 countries, but unlike most subscription businesses, Guvera’s revenue strategy is focused on brands advertising on the platform, rather than subscribers.

In relation to the brand advertisements, Virgin mobile is a heavy one, however part of my love for Guvera (other than supporting an Aussie based startup) is the bonus 1GB of mobile data I receive each month for using the service as a Virgin mobile customer.

Interesting times ahead in a pretty competitive market:
Music streamer Guvera raising up to $100 million through ASX listing

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

 

Gorgeous.Ink
With a few Pilot Custom series pens sitting safely in my collection (many among my favourites), I would be lying to say the 823 won’t join them at some point in future.

…this filling system has seals that shut off the ink flow to the feed when the finial is screwed home. When writing more that a paragraph, the user must unscrew this finial approximately 2 mm to allow ink to pass by the internal seal and into the feed.

I’d agree with the conclusion of this great post from Paul, and in keeping with that theme — who’s going to pick one up for themselves? Anyone… anyone…?
Pen Review: Pilot Custom 823

 

Three Staples
The latest Field Notes Colors edition comes under the Three Staples lens.

Overall a unique and cheerful edition that reminded me once again that there’s never a dull moment in COLORS. But too many less-than-ideal features, like perforation, impractical body paper colors, and no ruling (my least favorite kind) make me place Sweet Tooth towards the bottom of my Field Notes ranking

Certainly a visually impressive edition, however as Jinnie concludes, it comes with a combination of features which certainly won’t suit everyone:
Field Notes Colors: Sweet Tooth

 

Too Many Inks
Queensland’s favourite ink collector again raises a nib after the scorer ticks over another milestone. This time a Ton of Noodler’s inks.

The post also includes some nice featured images of special editions taken from the ten by ten “grid of champions”:
One hundred bottles of Noodler’s ink

 

Pens! Paper! Pencils!
Ian takes a look at the music nib variation of the popular Platinum 3776.

I’m able to use this for day-to-day writing, which is not something I can say about other music nibs I’ve tried.

Although things may evolve in future, at the current time this is a key philosophy in the pens I own — there must be some element of everyday usability to make them worthwhile:
Platinum #3776 Music Nib Fountain Pen Review

 

The Gentleman Stationer
An enjoyable read and great overview of the world of nib customisation.

When you walk away from an appointment with a nib technician, you should have a pen that writes perfectly for you and your writing style.

Depending on your access to a nib technician, there may be some blind experimentation occurring with an online order, though I think on most occasions the results are positive:
An Introduction to Nib Customization

 

The Finer Point
Although I’m always happy to share samples of them here, as far as any attempt to make a go of the Bullet Journal system myself is concerned — the answer is a resounding no.

Some impressive pages here, however I just couldn’t do it myself. Hats off to those who can and do:
My First Steps into Bullet Journaling

 

From the Pen Cup
What can I say about this one?

Makes me want to go shopping:
Pens In Real Life: Taking the Gross Out Of Grocery Shopping

 

The Odyssey Online
Bethany Hargrove with a view on the daily life of a service industry worker, and the not so clear boundaries and customer expectations within it.

People in the service industry are getting paid to talk to their guests. It’s a crude description, but it’s true. I’m on the clock, and I most likely wouldn’t talk to you otherwise. My job is to be nice to people

True enough no doubt, though I can’t help but think some customers would make those dollars a little harder-earned:
Boundaries In Hospitality: Well, It’s Complicated

 

Daily Coffee News
If you’ve seen the recently updated coffee taster’s wheel (contained in this link), it may look just as overwhelming as the previous version.

With 116 identified attributes, the Taster’s wheel would seem to be a confounding prospect to anyone who doesn’t cup coffee professionally

Simplifying things quite a lot, I think the Drinkers Wheel is a great idea.

By contrast, the Drinker’s Wheel is remarkably simple, offering only six primary attributes: Nuts, Chocolate, Floral, Sweet Fruit, Bright Fruit, and Spices and Herbs

Providing some guidance towards the broader flavour groupings, and once mastered, should serve as a stepping stone to some of the more nuanced flavour profiles of the larger wheel:
This Coffee Drinker’s Flavour Wheel from Belgium is an Interesting Marketing Idea

 

Fika: to have coffee
What’s not to love about a documentary featuring a way of life in which coffee is an integral part?

Whether it’s with friends, family, or simply a great pen, blank page and potential – I think the Swedes have this one figured out:
The Series

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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 enjoyed this piece on vintage pens, as I can see myself eventually looking in that direction as my experience continues to grow within the hobby.

Posts such as these will be infinitely helpful when that time comes:
Vintage Pens for People Who Think Vintage Pens Are Scary

 

The Desk of Adam
Back in my school days, mechanical pencils were certainly in heavy use in the classroom, with rOtring providing most of the supplies for my grade 9 and 10 tech drawing class.

Since then, my desk hasn’t seen the likes of a mechanical pencil very much at all. Great reviews such as these might lead to me reconsidering that situation:
rOtring 600 Mechanical Pencil Review

 

The Finer Point
The Zebra Sarasa Clip remains a staple in my desk drawer at work, where often the paper and/or situation may not be conducive to my favourite fountain pens.

Anything below 0.5mm tends to be a little fine for me, and the Sarasa has been a go-to for quite some time now:
Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.5mm Review

 

Pens! Paper! Pencils!
Ian with a great review of what can certainly be described as a very striking looking writing instrument.

Somehow though what I feel when I’m using this pen is that it’s going to create its own history. It’s going to write millions of words, it’s going to create it’s own story, it’s going to write trivial nonsense (as it did while it was with me) and it’s going to write some words that will be very important in some people’s lives

I’m also probably not the only one picturing Ian’s slightly trembling hand ever so delicately placing the pen on that scratch-inducing mosaic table for the photograph:
Yard-O-Led Grand Viceroy Victorian Fountain Pen Review

 

Alt. Haven
I mentioned in a recent review of the Lamy Nexx and Pelikan Pelikano entry-level pens I didn’t think those two necessarily looked as such. The Twist – to me at least, probably does, which of course doesn’t exclude it from being a great pen for the intended purpose.

However the moulded grip is extremely opinionated. It insists loudly that there is only one right way to hold the pen. You either have to conform or suffer trying to shoehorn the pen to your own writing style. The triangular grip on the Lamy Safari is way easier to handle in comparison. I do not write with the traditional tripod grip and the grip section bothered me greatly.

I would say I have a standard sort of grip when writing, and even I often find myself fine tuning my grip as I go — even with something like a Lamy Safari. Not sure how I’d go with the Twist¹:
Review: Pelikan Twist

 

Sprudge
An outline of the proposed merger between the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA):

What both groups propose is a hybrid organization, one that hopes to expand opportunities for education, professional development and leadership training, as well as an expanded calendar of events.

With questions raised about the real benefits to the respective membership bases, it will be interesting to see the final outcome.

As simply a keen non-industry observer, probably about the only thing I can offer is an appropriate acronym, which mathematically works quite well – SCA(A+E):
The World’s Largest Coffee Trade Organizations Want To Unify

 

Observer Business & Tech
I must admit at times I’ve wondered, though probably not enough to actually ask the question of people toiling away at my favourite cafe.

Two gentlemen decided to do just that, and wrote about the answers:
What Are People Working on in Coffee Shops?

 

ABC News
Coffee may be involved, however this programme has more to do with the great people behind organisations like Mission Australia (many of whom are volunteers) than the beverage.

Mission Australia programme manager Sarah Brown:

Unfortunately we lost some funding down in Brisbane, so we brought the van up here as a great opportunity for us to support our clients

It’s easy to forget the difficulties organisations such as these face in obtaining funding for the great work they do:
How coffee is changing the lives of the long-term unemployed in far north Queensland

 

The Specialty Coffee Chronicle
I like the idea of this “palate training” process. Sometimes I feel the flavours whose names escape me might just be helped by exercises such as these. That said, perhaps “a little fruity” might just continue to suffice:
The Importance of Exercise: Palate Development

 

Huffington Post
What sort of effects are you faced with in kicking a caffeine habit? Everything you’d expect really.

Although I can suggest a relatively easy way to avoid them, a piece on said effects here:
What Happens To Your Brain When You Quit Coffee

 

FlowingData
Although of course you may interested in the average, per person daily consumption of various foods in the American diet since 1970.

For me, the presentation of… well … flowing data caught my eye:
The Changing American Diet

 

Ulysses Blog
There is a lot to be said about getting down those ideas somewhere, whether related to your novel or not.

If it’s a dumb idea it doesn’t matter. If it’s a lost one it does.

Upon reflection, unfortunately most of mine sit firmly in the former of the above categories:
Ten Things You Should Know About Writing a Novel With Ulysses, by David Hewson

 

Academic workflows on a Mac
Although I don’t use TaskPaper myself, there are plenty who do, and seem to love it. This sentiment only seems to be growing with version 3.

Most visibly, it allows to collapse or expand items as well as focus on specific projects in the side-bar, thus acting as an outline and not simply a linear task list.

Tempting indeed:
TaskPaper 3

 

The Brooks Review
Upon reading and listening to concerned voices about Apple’s position in the AI/Big Data realm, I found myself shaking my head thinking: Nah, I don’t agree with that. Why exactly? I’m not one hundred percent sure.

I think however, it is probably something like this:
Avoiding BlackBerry’s Fate

 

Evolving Economics
Make of this what you will:

Today I want to muddy the waters. Not only is the “we can save the world” TED talk angle that tends to accompany behavioural science stories boring, but this angle also ignores the problems and debates in the field.

I have attempted of late to read a little outside my usual sphere of content. To that end I have been ably assisted by a kind reader providing some audio content for my listening pleasure as well.

More of this reading will likely find its way here on the occasional Wednesday:
Bad Behavioural Science: Failures, bias and fairy tales

 

1. Incidentally — I can bust a move; here I’m talking about the pen in the review. Just to be clear ↩︎

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