Michael

Favorite Pen Missing

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Thanks to Wirecutter (a review site) I found and bought a Uni-Ball Jetstream, well a pack of three. I’ve used them ever since – like in my daily Morning Pages (20+ so far) and everywhere else. Now two of the three are missing.

How much do I love these? Enough that I’ve purchased over 70 refill ink barrels. I’ve been using the same pens all this time. Write, write, write, pen goes dry, peel open a packet of ink, swap it out, write, write, write again. Many of those were ordered from Japan. Because, well why not? And I would get nice thank you notes with them.

And to think, they were recommended in 2013 and they still are today. And for much of the same reasons.

We interviewed experts with thousands of hours of experience testing stationery, and subjected their favorite pens to nearly 70 professionally picky Wirecutter staffers, to affirm that the Uni-ball Jetstream is the best pen for everyday writing. It’s easy to find in stores, it writes smoothly on most paper, and it’s affordable enough that you won’t be heartbroken if someone permanently borrows it.

Wirecutter Review

You can find them at JetPens while you geek out on writing instruments. (like here or here) Or, ahem, Amazon. Check on their review of ballpoint pens – which has a list of pens recommended for different uses: professional, student, eco-friendly, colored. This list goes on. AND they have information. You know why you’re buying whatever. See Below:

But for your pen that is recommended for everyday use, here’s what they say:

The Uni Jetstream is our favorite ballpoint pen, and a perennial best seller. Its low-viscosity ink is some of the smoothest, darkest, and most consistent ink we’ve encountered in a ballpoint pen, and a pleasure to write with. In addition, the Jetstream is available in several versions so that anyone can find a style they like. Unusually for a ballpoint pen, its tip sizes range from a super-fine 0.38 mm to a broad 1 mm and it comes in 13 vibrant ink colors.

JetPens Review

I’d say I’m going to miss them. But if I don’t find them in the places we’ve used them I’m buying another set of three.

About Time – Copyright

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It now takes 95 years for copyrights to expire. That means music from 1924 is now freed up. You can listen to and do what you want with works from then. Consider this piece, a very familiar piece.

As a treat, this version is a remixed version of the oh so familiar Rhapsody in Blue. The original version here. There are some differences to what you’ve heard. Visit the version on YouTube to read about them.

For more items released from copyright coverage, visit Open Culture. They’ve got information on other movies, novels, plays, and other creative works. Or consider Wikipedia pages for more literature, music, film and artworks published in 1924.

Tea and Tea? Tea and Milk?

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We have this teapot set. But wait, what is it a pair of? We’re not sure, heck, we don’t have an idea and neither does Google.

What do you think?

Yes, I do like the red on red coloring also.

It Is Quiet Here

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If you are reading this you are special. Because nobody reads this on most days. That is OK. This is written to write things. Whatever “things” might be getting written. You cannot write without writing. So I write to make my writing better.

It is quiet here. Where I can write. To hear myself. To make what I do write, when I have something to write, comprehensible. I do not always have something to write. And so I come up with something to write.

It is quiet here. I can write without people interrupting. I can write and wonder if I’ll write (or should that be “wonder if I will”?) about hearing aids, or meeting someone for PCT talk, or Camino de Santiago, or well whatever. Come on back, I’ll be here.