The Pen Addict is moving!!!

Please follow me over to my new home at www.penaddict.com.

This blog will remain in it's current state for reference purposes, but all new posts will be at www.penaddict.com, so please come join me!

Ink Links

Sorry I'm a bit behind with some of these.....
-- Moleskine Limited Edition Leather Diary 2009  (Scription)

-- Review: Derwent Journal  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Review:  Pocket Stifflexible Notebook  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Pilot Latte Pens Review  (Wait… Come Back)

-- Spot on....The Pilot Super  (Good Pens)

-- Ana, her green pens, and pandas!  (Snowangels)

-- Moleskine Collection at Behance  (Moleskinerie)

-- Review: Quo Vadis "My Weekends" notebook  (The Pen Hunter)

-- Uni-ball Signo UM-153 White Gel Pen  (Manon Doyle)

-- Doane Paper store up and running on Nov. 3rd  (Doane Paper Feed)

-- If you start a blog post with "i have always been particular about my pens" you are a friend of mine  (musings of a jaded optimist)

-- The Paper Version of the Web  (Deeplinking via Notebook Stories)

--  Postal Destruction - poor Nrepose!  (Unposted)

-- Win The New Piccadilly Notebooks  (Black Cover)

-- Seth is into pen modifications - awesome!  (Good Pens)

-- Oops...some pens I left off the list  (Kelly Kilmer)

-- The purple beaded Pilot G-2 - not bad!  (Unique You)

Limited Edition Hello Kitty Pilot Hi-Tec-C

I was browsing the What's New section at JetPens today and saw these cool Pilot Hello Kitty Cap Limited Edition Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pens for sale.  I'm not a Hello Kitty fan, but many people are, and these just look fantastic:

Here is the description from JetPens:

In this winning combination, Pilot has combined two of Japan's most popular items, Hello Kitty and the Hi-Tec-C. A collection of nine adorable figurines adorn this limited-edition collection. The figurines include images of the standard Hello Kitty, Charmmy Kitty, as well as her charming mouse friend. Each set includes a RANDOM set of figurines, so what you receive will not necessarily match the picture displayed. The figurines on the caps can also be removed, so when you are done with this Hi-Tec-C you can always transfer Hello Kitty to your new Hi-Tec-C for another round of joyful writing.

JetPens Gift Certificate Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered the first giveaway here at The Pen Addict - I think it was a runaway success!  To pick the winners, I had randomizer.org pick out three numbers between 1 and 127, and the winners are:

#53  Jeff of MargaretAndJeff  (Margaret And Jeff)
#79  Ashley  (The Life and Times of a Caniac)
#82  Definatalie  (Definatalie)

Congratulations you three!  Just send me an email (address is on the right sidebar), and I'll get your gift certificate to you right away.

Thanks again to all who participated, and don't fret if you didn't win - I will have a new giveaway next week!

Review: Pilot Super Gel 0.5mm Black

The Pilot Super Gel is an average pen at best.  This image actually came out looking better than the pen performed.  It is really rough and scratchy when writing, even on this smooth Doane Paper, resulting in a lot of effort and a tiring writing experience.  Maybe that's the reason why this review was so short?  There are many better options out there.

JetPens Facebook Promo

I've been asked the question a million times about getting samples from JetPens, and now is your chance to join in on the fun.  The gang at JetPens is looking for more bloggers to review their products, and have all of the details in their Facebook group called We Love JetPens.  You will have to join this group to get all of the info, but they will be starting monthly giveaways in October with the new colors of the Uni-Ball Signo DX.

Win the new Picadilly Notebooks from Black Cover

October must be the time for giveaways!  Nick at the Black Cover has a contest going for the new Picadilly Notebook, which you can enter from now until October 31st.  The rules are at the bottom of this post, so hop to it!  Nick's site is fantastic, so be sure to follow his quest for the perfect Moleskine alternative.

Giveaway Time!

It is finally time for the first round of giveaways at The Pen Addict!  I really appreciate all of the support I have had since starting this blog, and it is time I started to give something back to you, the reader.  I have four giveaways in total to dish out over the next few weeks, so be sure to keep an eye out.

Everyone knows I am a huge fan of JetPens, and the good people at JetPens have been a big part of the success of The Pen Addict.  They have been kind enough to donate three $10 gift certificates to their online store for this round of giveaways - thank you JetPens team!

I'm a pretty simple guy, so I am going to keep the rules for these giveaways as simple as possible:

1. Leave one comment on this post anytime between now, and Thursday night at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  You are limited to one entry.

2. For this contest, I will pick three winners (one for each gift certificate) at random from the comments section of this post.  The comments will be numbered in the order they are received, i.e. the first comment is #1, the second #2, and so on.  The random number generator at randomizer.org http://www.randomizer.org/ will be used to pick the numbers of the winners.

3. The contest winners will be posted on Friday, October, 17th.  The winners will have one week to email me at the email address posted in the right sidebar.

And that's it.

If you have any questions about the contest please email me directly - do not post them in the comments section.  If it is an issue that I feel needs to be addressed, I will update this post with any additional information.

Thanks, and good luck!

Weekend Wonderings - The Perfect Notebook

I'm headed out of town for a long weekend, but wanted to throw this out there real quick before I go:  What qualities make up the perfect notebook for you?

This is a pretty broad question, but the comments are wide open for you to post your thoughts.  Has anyone ever found the perfect notebook for them?  We all have different requirements.  For me, I like a medium size - say 8"x5" - with a firm but flexible cover, grid lines, and smooth paper for a variety of writing instruments.  I can hit most of those basic requirements, but I seem to be struggling with the paper being smooth enough.  And if I do find some paper I like, I generally don't like the notebook for other reasons.  I probably haven't experimented enough, but I have yet to have that aha! moment with one particular notebook.

So tell me, what does it for you in a notebook?

I likely will not have internet access while I am gone, so I'll be sure to respond in the comments when I get back on Tuesday.  And keep an eye out on the blog next week - it looks like I am about ready to start the giveaways.  Hopefully everyone will enjoy what is in store!

Review: Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.28mm Lime Green

Sorry gang - you are going to have to put up with me fawning over another one of my Uni-Ball Signo DX's.  Memo to Pentel and Uni-Ball:  I need to build my own multi-pens out of Slicci's and Signo DX's.  See Coleto, Pilot Hi-Tec-C for reference.  I use way too many colors every day to keep popping caps off of pens and putting them back on all the time.  Give me a two or three cartridge barrel, lots of colors, and I'll go to town, as will I bet most readers of this blog.

Thank you, drive thru.

Oh yeah - the Lime Green DX 0.28mm is smokin' hot!

Kool Stuff From Kata

Wow - talk about a great mail day!  My friend Kata sent me this great package full off coffee beans from The Fire Roasted Coffee Co. (Nicaraguan and Columbian Fair Trade beans to be exact), plus all of these cool pens:  Berol Dart II Extra Fine, Staples Optiflow Rollerball Needle Point, and an Itoya Xenon Aqua Roller.

Thanks Kata - you know I will put all of this to good use!

Review: Pilot Drawing Pen 05 Blue

The more I use the Pilot Drawing Pen, the more I keep trying to find something that I don't like about it.  Truth is, there really isn't much not to like.  My only real gripe is that the line is just slightly less clean and consistent compared to the Sakura Pigma Micron and the Copic Multiliner.  In a drawing pen, I want that sharpness, and therefore the Pilot falls in line just behind the other two.  It's really a decent pen though.

Special note on Doane Paper:

I have had a lot of readers recently mention they were having a tough time finding Doane paper in stock at DoanePaper.com.  I emailed Chad Doane recently, and he sent me this update:

The Houston based printer we use did recently open back up but they raised their prices 25% to cover the costs of what they lost in the huricane. I can't afford that so we're looking for another alternative vendor to print DP pads, we think we might have found a printer in Ark. called Drumline that can make DP pads at a reasonable cost. That's the bad news, the good news is that we're collaborating with another stationery company to bring a couple of DP journals to market in the next month.

So it's a good news/bad news situation with Doane Paper, but hang tight and it should get straightened out soon.  Thanks for the update Chad!

Ink Links

-- JetPens September Newsletter  (JetPens)

-- Lamy's are the Volvo's of Fountain pens  (Good Pens)

-- Quo Vadis Habana, Large vs. Small  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- I agree with Ellie:  Getting mail pretty much rocks  (The Pen Hunter)

-- Skateboard art fascinates me for some reason  (Juxtapoz)

-- Meredith is a pen snob  (True Confessions of a Southern Baptist Pastor's Daughter)

-- Stickers and Donuts Currently Obssesed list rule!  (Stickers and Donuts)

-- Proving Moleskine Is Just A Style: The Piccadilly Notebook  (Black Cover)

-- Oneloneman is down with the pen movement  (Pens and Pencils)

Review: Muji Gel Ink Pen 0.38mm Black

Is this the pound-for-pound gel pen champion?  At approximately 1/3 the cost of of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C or Pentel Slicci, the Muji Gel Ink pen is a great alternative - if you can get your hands on one.  Muji stores are mainly found in Asia and Europe, with a recently opened store in New York.  Pen Addict reader Fabian graciously sent me this sample which he received from a friend in Japan - sorry the review took so long Fabian!

The first thing I noticed about this pen was how lightweight it is.  I can't think of another pen I own that is this light.  This can be good or bad, depending on your preference.  The second thing I notcied is that the gel ink isn't as gelly as other gel pens.  What I mean by that, is that the ink seems a bit thinner and wetter than say a Pilot G-2, and I get a little bleed on the page.  Not much mind you, but enough to make me notice a difference if my writing becomes too slow.  I think it didn't fare as well on the highlighter test for the same reason.  One final thing I noticed is that the combination of the brushed plastic finish of the barrel (think Bic Stic Grip, minus the grip) and my dry hands made my grip a little slick.  A rubber grip would make this pen awesome, but I assume that goes against Muji's focus on minimalism.

That may sound like a lot of negatives, but they are all minor in my book.  It's hard to pass up an 0.38mm gel ink pen for less than a dollar.  I find myself using it all the time at work, and I'd jump at the chance to get the rainbow assortment of colors.

Google AdSense and Pens For Kids Update

If you remember a while back, I mentioned my plan for any Google AdSense revenue generated by The Pen Addict.  Well, my first check has arrived, and based on my previous plan, I will be sending Pens For Kids a check for 1/2 of the amount, along with a big bag of extra pens, and will be using the remaining 1/2 for giveaways on this blog.

I just wanted to says thanks to all of the readers and friends that make The Pen Addict a success.  As always, stay tuned for more, and look for the first giveaway in the coming weeks.

Review: Pilot G-1 Grip 0.5mm Blue

As I re-read my handwritten review, I should have been more clear. The Pilot G-1 is the predecessor to the G-2 and G-3 - gogo numerical order! So as you can imagine, it writes similarly as well. It has been a while since I have used an 0.5mm G-2, but I remember it writing a little more cleanly than this G-1. Maybe it is the barrel design I prefer on the G-2, as well as the convenience of the retractable tip, that makes be like it better. The G-1 isn't a bad pen. It's just redundant these days.

One additional note:  I added a highlighter test at the request of a few readers.  The G-1 did very well in that regard, hardly smudging at all.  I barely gave it any time to dry either - I wrote the line, and then came right back over it with the highlighter.  I'll try to do this on other reviews from time to time, and I'll try to photograph it better as well.

Ink Links

Sorry for the lack of reviews this week - real life has a knack for getting in the way sometimes.  Hopefully I can make up for it with a load of cool links.  Enjoy!

-- Man decorates basement with $10 worth of Sharpie  (Kentucky.com)

-- Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Review  (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

-- Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto, how I love you  (Super Eggplant)

-- Pelikan M800 Demonstrator Review  (Fountain Pen Network via Amateur Economist)

-- The Art of Japanese Paper-making: The Awagami +1  (Black Cover)

-- Rhodia ePure Journal  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- My friend Murderface has been busy at the Reciprocal Crap Exchange:
California Republic Palomino HB

Skinny Conical Aluminum Pencil Caps

Field Notes Brand Pocket Notebook

Field Notes Brand Pencil

-- Felipe got his hands on the Sharpie Pen  (The Pen Collector)

-- Big time pen addict and pen friend Nrepose has started his own blog  (Unposted)

-- Daily posts of my pens from a collecting addict is new to the pen blogging scene as well  (Goodpens)

-- Thea is a pen addict!!!  (Theazy)

Review: Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm Pink

If you are new to this blog, or are new to Japanese and micro tip pens, the Uni-Ball Signo DX is the first pen I would reccomend for you to try out.  It is the perfect combination of function and form.  I rank the Pentel Slicci and Pilot Hi-Tec-C higher on my personal favorite list, but I think the DX is a pen everyone can love, while there may be a thing or two about the Slicci and Hi-Tec-C that aren't for everyone.  Start your journey here and you will do just fine.

Now on to this pink DX.  The picture doesn't do justice to how bright this shade of pink is - it is almost fluorescent.  I mention that pink is my third favorite color behind black and blue.  My list of most used basic colors would look something like this:

Black
Blue
Pink
Orange
Purple

What colors do you use the most?

Contests and Deals

Two quick hits in case you missed them and are interested:

Moleskinerie.com has begun their 2008 Fall Giveaways.  Hit this link to get all the details, but all you have to do to enter is send them an email.

Field Notes has a Limited Edition (1000 units) 2009 Calendar Pre-Order available, as well as a promotion for when you order four or more 3-packs, they will pick up the cost of one of them.  Essentialy buy 3, get the 4th free.  Enter the code INEEDAFIX between now and Friday, September 26th at Field Notes.

Review: Copic Multiliner 0.03 Black

The Copic Multiliner 0.03mm is just downright cool!  Marianne from I Like Markers sent me this sample to try out, and mentioned that this is the world's finest tip pen - I sure haven't heard of or seen anything smaller.  What is impressive about it is that it doesn't feel too fragile when writing with it.  I have used other micro tip pens, like the Pilot 0.05mm Drawing Pen, and I could hardly use it because I thought I was going to ruin the tip.  I don't get any of that feeling with this Copic.  Quite Impressive.

I meant to add a coin or a ruler to the photo to relate the size better, but hopefully you can tell with the pen included.  It is a standard size pen, and the paper is Doane of course.

Ink Links

-- Welcome to the addiction Jayme, Graciepooh and Jess!

-- Kirsty with some Top 10 lists in her Rhodia  (Rhodia Drive)

-- Shoot-out Review: 3 Cheap Fountain Pens, Part II - Bic Select X Pen  (D*I*Y Planner)

-- Black Cover on the Quo Vadis Habana  (Black Cover)

-- Review: Awagami +1 Journal  (Amateur Economist)

-- Write Like an Architect (via pica+pixel)

Review: Uni-Ball Power Tank Ballpoint

The Uni-Ball Power Tank Ballpoint is actually a lot more interesting than my review indicates.  I'll let JetPens explain:

This pen is worthy of being used either in the military or excursions to Antarctica. The pen writes in extreme conditions including wet surfaces, cool temperatures, and even upside down. Normal pens utilize gravity to create ink flow onto a paper. But the Uni-Ball Power Tank utilizes internal compressed air pressure to push out ink onto the paper. Revolving air inside allows it to continually push ink out until the end. The pen can write in weightless conditions such as in space, on wet paper and subzero environments. The oil based pigment ink is high density and comes out smooth and dark on paper. Pen also features a finely texturize grip composed of 0.16mm slits so that it not only fits comfortably in your hands but is also hard to slip away. Such a high-technology group is only to be expected to match the high performance of this pen. Five body colors and red and blue ink refills are available.

All of that, and still only $3.00?  No wonder it is nearly sold out.  Consider this part one of the review, and I will work on a few more writing tests to see what this pen can really do.

Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Mandarin Orange 0.3mm

The shade of orange this Pilot Hi-Tec-C Mandarin Orange lays down is awesome!  It is a very strong and sharp color, which I am getting a lot of use out of.  And it looks like the 0.3mm Hi-Tec-C's are my sweet spot - the perfect combination of line thickness and performance.

I did this review on Doane Paper, as opposed to the Moleskine Reporter notebook paper, which most of my past reviews are done on.  The Doane Paper is much smoother, and I have more room to do a few different things with the reviews.  I need to work on the lighting in my photographs a bit, but otherwise, I like it a lot, and I am thinking about doing the majority of my reviews on Doane Paper going forward.  What do you other pen addicts think about the possible new format?

Review: Pilot VBall RT Extra Fine

I am pleasantly surprised with the Pilot VBall RT Extra Fine.  This is a pen that you should be able to pick up from just about any major retailer or office supply chain (Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, etc.), and at a decent price to boot.  The 0.5mm extra fine puts down a nice and solid black line, with really no resistance from the tip on the paper.  I had no idea I would be using this pen so much.

Ink Links

-- Chad Doane, you sneaky devil!  Click the link, scroll about 2/3 of the way down the right side, and check out the cool Pen Addict link.  Thanks Chad!  (Doane Paper)

-- Even Harvard grads are down with the Pilot G-2  (Us Doing Whatever It Is We Do)

-- Eco-Pencils, When Enough Is Too Much  (Amateur Economist)

-- Seth is thinking about a fountain pen  (Another Postcard From The Highway)

-- D*I*Y Planner starting up a fountain pen shootout  (D*I*Y Planner)

-- Travels and Old Notebooks Revisited - Black cover back in the game  (Black Cover)

-- Review:  Nomad Adventure Journals  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Review:  Bic Select Fountain Pen  (The Pen Collector)

-- Academic Light-up erasers  (Joy of Erasers)

Review: Pilot FriXion Highlighter

I try to like you Pilot FriXion, I really do.  I've tried, and tried some more, but it just doesn't seem to be working out.  Your fancy barrel caught my eye, and you were quite a treat to hold, but deep down inside I know it isn't going to work out.  I'm sorry Pilot FriXion - I think we should see other pens.

Sorry - that just came out of me, but yeah, I don't like this FriXion Highlighter either.  If you click on the photo, you can see that the eraser smudges the ink when erasing (the gel ink pen is the 0.3mm Pentel Slicci).  It does a fine job erasing just the plain highlighter, which you can see at the bottom of the photo, but what good is that?  The color is too light and tends to pool at the tip as well, so there isn't much that I like about this pen.

Thank you Readers!!!

This blog reached a couple of milestones recently that I just wanted to make a quick mention of.  After starting this blog in December of 2007, the pageview count just recently crossed over the 100,000 mark right around the first of September.  It actually happened so fast, I missed it for a few days.  Also, the Feedburner count just crossed over the 500 subscriber mark this week, which is really nice.  I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who visits, reads, comments, and emails The Pen Addict - you guys and gals really keep this site going!  This blog has exceeded every expectation I had when I started it.

I've got some cool things planned in the near future, including the first of what I hope to be several giveaways.  As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, send me an email via the link on the sidebar, or leave a comment on any blog post.  I read them all and try to respond in a timely fashion.

Thanks again!

Review: Uni-Ball Lakubo Ballpoint 0.5

The Uni-Ball Lakubo Ballpoint is kind of meh - it's not bad, but nothing really stands out.  Aside from delivering a comfortable writing experience, the list of positives isn't very long.  Pen spinners might like the length and shape of the barrel, but that's about it.  I just feel that the line leaves a little bit to be desired.  I'd like it darker, but I have to remind my self that this is a much finer ballpoint than normal.  Try it for yourself though - at $1.50 it's a fair price.  This pen was a sample sent by JetPens, and also comes in a 1.4mm width.

Review: Copic Multiliner 0.5

This blue Copic Multiliner 0.5mm was another of the samples received from my friend Marianne at I Like Markers.  I am very impressed with how firm the tip is and how tight my lines are.  This tip falls in the middle of the size range, but it writes as sharp and as clean as a smaller diameter tip.  The blue is a very deep blue, which I personally enjoy.  It is also very comfortable and lightweight, which is nice in a drawing pen.  All in all, another great Copic!

Ink Links

-- Pentel Slicci 0.4mm (ISOT 2007 Winner) now in stock (but going fast) at JetPens  (JetPens)

-- Sakura SumoGrip Mechanical Pencil Review  (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- Are Rhodia Webnotebooks the Moleskine replacement?  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Mucu Type RN-B Notebook - looks really neat  (Pencil Talk)

-- Review: Pilot Precise V5 RT  (Cheap Pen Review)

-- Jon Burgerman interview  (Format Mag)

Quick notes:
I'm finding myself Plurking a lot these days, so feel free to friend me if you are a Plurker too!

Also, I had to turn on comment moderation for posts older than 14 days - too much spam is getting through.  Your comment will be posted, I just have to approve it, so it may take a short while for it to show up.

Welcome Metafilter Readers

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy your stay!  Here are a few links to get you started if you are new to the blog:

Review: Pentel Slicci 0.3mm

Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto

Review: Sharpie Pen

You know you are a Pen Addict if.....

Please feel free to comment away, or send me an email with any questions.  Have fun!

JetPens Flickr Winner for August

Pen Addict reader and commenter Kataish won the very first JetPens Flickr group contest with a this drawing of Jet-Do taking flight on a fountain pen.  Check it out:

Congrats Kata!

You can check out the winning entry on Flickr right here, and don't forget to add your photos to the pool!

Review: Pilot Symmetry Ballpoint Pen - 0.7 mm

With all of the cool stuff that JetPens has been getting in stock recently, I am turning more and more into a ballpoint pen fan.  I have always viewed ballpoints as messy and inconsistent, but of course that is coming from someone with very little ballpoint experience.  This Pilot Symmetry really impressed me from the moment I opened the package.  And I'll be the first to admit that it took me a few seconds to figure out which end to press to get the tip of the pen to come out!  Once I got that under control, I put it to the test and it performed great.  It lays down a nice, clean, and fine line that rivals any other ballpoint I've tested recently.  The click part of the pen is neat in that it is contained in a rubber sheath that turns concave when you click it in (see additional picture below).  I even slid the window on the pen over to D (for dowdyism of course!) because I am cool like that.

If it seems like I have been praising all of the ballpoint pens I have reviewed recently, it is because I have.  I am going to have to work on a ballpoint pen specific ranking soon, because I personally see them as a different category from gel ink and liquid ink pens.

When I do come up with those rankings, look for the Pilot Symmetry near the top.

Here are the JetPens notes for the Pilot Symmetry:

This pen symbolizes Asia’s appreciation of balanced harmony and the complementary yet opposing forces of the Yin and Yang (two balanced yet opposing aspects of any one phenomenon). The pen is symmetrical and was designed not only as a beautiful object but also one of improved stability. The body's center of gravity makes it very ergonomic to write with. In addition, a special silicon rubber was adopted for both the grip and cap area to improve the durability of this pen. Pen features a rolling ring in the middle that can scroll through all 26 letters of the alphabet so that you can personalize the pen with your initial. Six body colors are available including aqua blue, cherry pink, happy pink, mint green, snow white and vitamin orange. Don't forget to be environmentally friendly and buy refills! Each pen writes in black ink, but black, green, blue, pink, and red ink refills are also available.

Blue Sharpie Pen Blues

My original Sharpie Pen review is easily the most viewed page on this blog, and because of that, it is still drawing frequent comments that most of you are unaware of.  One item has recently appeared in the comments section of that page that I had to bring up, because it is just too good to let wither away.

Pen Addict reader and commentor Stunod7 has seen some of the same issues that many of us have with the shade of blue in the Sharpie Pen being too light.  I never persued it any further, but luckily for the rest of us addicts, Stunod7 did.  I'm going to repost some of the comments here so you can see the chain of events:

August 25, 2008 9:37 PM
Stunod7 said...
    Here is what is crazy. I've bought several packs of these pens and have the same complaint about the blue color. I've bought 10 pens total and 2 of them are a deep, dark, very rich blue. The rest are this namby-pamby light blue color that I hate. I trying to get some kind of resolution from Sharpie. I've sent them a message and I'll give them a call if they don't respond because I love the way the pen writes but I'm a blue person and this light blue won't cut it.

August 26, 2008 3:51 PM
Stunod7 said...
    So far the only thing I've gotten back was an address that I can ship the pens back to and they will replace them. I asked them to clarify the color for me because I wasn't interested in getting back pens of the same color ink.

    The investigation continues....

August 27, 2008 4:55 PM
Stunod7 said...
    According to a Sanford Consumer Affairs Associate that I spoke with these pens should be producing a deeper blue. They are replacing the... 8 or so pens I've purchased and sending me an additional 2 as well.

    They actually requested that I scan and eMail them the samples of my specific issues, which I did. Also posted them on Flickr (see below)
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stunod7/sets/72157606984074337
    Am I taking this too far... Am I that much of a pen addict...

Stunod7 went on to exchange emails with the Sanford Consumer Affairs Associate, which he has forwarded to me, noting their willingness to make things right for their customer.  Channeling my inner Consumerist, nice job by the Sanford team for going above and beyond, and thanks to Stunod7 for sharing his tale.

And yes Stunod7, you are that much of a pen addict!

Review: Uni-Ball Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint 0.7mm

The Uni-Ball Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint is one bad-ass looking pen.  I can see Jason Bourne ripping this out of his backpack to jot down a quite note while wire-tapping the local CIA contact.  It is that cool looking.  Brushed metal body, super soft gel-grip, Jetstream ink technology - what's not to love about this pen?

I forgot to mention that I received this pen as a sample from JetPens, where you can order it with a black, pink, or silver body.

Ink Links

-- More great school supplies from the gang at Stickers and Donuts  (Stickers and Donuts)

-- Dave is a fan of the A.G. Spalding line  (365 Journal Entries)

-- JetPens August Newsletter - I have samples of both the Pilot Symmetry and Uni-Ball Power Tank that I will post next week  (JetPens)

-- JetPens has also started a contest in their Flickr pool - read the details right here and get snapping!

-- Review: The New Sharpie Pens  (Amateur Economist)

-- Review: Quo Vadis Habana  (The Pen Hunter)

-- Speedmaster too!  Review: Quo Vadis Habana Notebooks  (Amateur Economist)

-- A fresh take on a classic - Roma Lubimov's CMYK pen  (Behance Network)

Review: Copic Atyou Spica

Marianne from I Like Markers sent me this little beauty.  I wasn't really sure what to make of the Copic Atyou Spica at first.  After all, glitter pens really aren't my cup of tea, but I wanted to give it a fair shake.  So I played around with this Turquoise color for a bit, as well as the Black one she sent, and came away quite surprised.  I am a big fan of porous tip pens, and the tip of the Spica is similar to that.  The line is wide, but is much sharper and cleaner than I imagined it would be.  I'm going to have to find a way to put these to good use, especially when they come up with a marketing line like this:  "Twice the writing length of other pens, 360 yds."  :)

Check out this great review of the Copic Atyou Spica from PaperFections, including samples of all 12 colors.

One of these things is not like the other...

I noticed this in my referral logs today and found it pretty interesting.  It is from an interview by Mike Severson on his blog For The Record, with Frank Edwards, program director of country music station KRYS in Corpus Christi, Texas.  Check this out:

What are your favorite magazines, web sites, and blogs?
Magazines: Texas Trophy Hunters, Backpacker, Readers Digest
Web sites: K99Country.com, Drudge Report, Yahoo! Buzz
Blogs: Mike Severson’s blog of course, The 9513 is good, penaddiction.blogspot.com

How cool is that!  Thanks Mike for the interview, and thanks Frank for reading The Pen Addict!

Review: A.G. Spalding & Bros. Hexagonal Ballpoint

Another in my latest batch of samples from JetPens, this A.G. Spalding & Bros. Hexagonal Ballpoint really knocked my socks off in the looks and performance category.  It writes so smoothly that you could probably handle a dozen journal pages without tiring.  I have been very impressed with the Spalding line since first being introduced to them at JetPens.  All that I have tried work great and seem very durable.

(Sorry about the scratchout in the picture - I'm a goof!)

Link: We Love School Supplies: Pens and Pencils

Sorry gang, this one just couldn't wait until my weekend Ink Links post.  The gang at Stickers and Donuts did an awesome job reviewing new supplies for the upcoming school year.  The Pentel Slicci is included, as are the Pilot FriXion and the Uni-Ball Signo, but you haven't lived until you have seen the Nerf Dart Blaster Toy Pen and the Connect Four Game Toy Pen.  If had those back when I was in school, I would have never graduated!

It's a great article, so go check it out now:  We Love School Supplies: Pens and Pencils

Review: Zebra Sharbo Smartline

This beautiful little Zebra Sharbo Smartline contains a 0.4mm ballpoint pen and an 0.3mm pencil.  Since this was a sample from JetPens, I'll let them fill you in on the finer details:

The Sharbo is one of Zebra's most popular multi-pen line and this particular Sharbo focuses on life's finer points. It is a very rare multi pen that actually features a 0.4 mm pen and a 0.3 mm pencil. The combination is quite unique, it's a multi-pen that one could only find in Japan. You won't even find any bulging buttons on the pen. It features a slender body that utilizes a twist mechanism to switch between a fine ballpoint pen and a mechanical pencil. It is an elegant accompaniment to your workplace style. Individuals who like fine point pens will fall in love with the Sharbo Smartline.

This multi-pen performs as well as it looks also.  The ballpoint pen is a nice, dark black, and the pencil is even better than I imagined.  I thought 0.3mm would be to small, but it is perfect.  The Sharbo can travel with me anywhere, anytime and get anything done that I need it to.

Ink Links

-- Review: Hi-Tec-C Coleto  (The Pen Hunter)

-- Biffybeans with a great overall notebook review  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

--  ...and knocks out a specific Quo Vadis Habana review as well  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- The 2009 Moleskine Patent Leather Diaries  (Moleskinerie)

-- Review: Cross Roadster Gel Pen  (D*I*Y Planner)

-- Lamy Spirit (Model 163) Mechanical Pencil Review  (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- Ryan looks at $100+ Fountain Pens  (Brassing Adds Character)

-- Awesome new mermaid header by Marianne  (I Like Markers)

-- Kia doesn't like it when people steal her pens  (Hi, my name is Kia)

-- MTBooks fountain pen lineup  (MTBooks @ Flickr)


-- New to the Blogroll:
    Blackwing Diaries
    Quo Vadis Blog

-- Don't forget to check out Pens For Kids!

-- And one final item from the frontlines of Tropical Storm Fay, newspaper reporter Chelsea emailed me this tasty little tidbit about the Sharpie Pen:

I stumbled across your blog looking for info on the sharpie pen and I've really been enjoying it--the blog AND the pen. The sharpie pen has been particularly useful for me for the last few days because I'm a newspaper reporter in Florida and I've been covering Tropical Storm Fay, which means taking notes outside in the rain. I am pleased to report, not only is the sharpie pen waterproof, but it also writes on wet paper. Just thought I'd pass that along.

What's In My Bag

I like the voyeur aspect of the What's In Your Bag Flickr pool, so I thought I would add mine to the group for perusal.  Click over to my Flickr photostream to see the notes on the photo.

JetPens Samples

I received these a couple of weeks back courtesy of JetPens and I'm just now getting around to reviewing them.  Look for a post for each of these in the next week or so.


From the top down:
Uni-Ball Lakubo Ballpoint Pen 0.5mm Black
Pilot FriXion Erasable Highlighter - Green
A.G. Spalding Hexagonal Body Ballpoint 0.7mm
Zebra Sharbo Smartline 0.4mm Ballpoint, 0.3mm Pencil

Review: TUL 0.5mm Retractable Gel

This pen was designed and created specifically for Office Max, so they are only available at their stores or website.  Since I don't have an Office Max nearby, I never had the opportunity to pick any up, and it looks like I was missing out - that is until a wonderful reader sent me a couple to try out (Thanks Marilyn!).  The pen design is solid, with a plastic barrel and a brass tip, as well as sharp looking graphics.  The pen performance reminds me a lot of the Pilot G-2, which is a pretty big compliment.  On top of that, the TUL is very wallet friendly, checking in at approximately $1.50 per pen.  My only complaint so far is that the grip is a little slick, but it is already starting to get better with use.

If you have an Office Max convenient to you, or feel like placing an order online, I think you will enjoy the TUL.

Erasable Pen Olympics

The real Olympics are taking place in Beijing, China, but I bet you didn't know that the Pen Olympics are taking place right here at The Pen Addict!  I have been wanting to do a side-by-side comparison of all of my erasable pens for a while now, so I figured lets give them the Olympic treatment by awarding medals to the best performers.



Gold - Pilot E-Gel 0.7mm
The Pilot E-Gel has the best ink color, the best writing performance, and the best erasability, so I guess you could say it won the all-around competition.  The eraser is located in the right sopt, unlike the FriXions, which goes a long way in my book.  This pen writes the most like a regular pen.

Silver - Pilot FriXion 0.7mm
I prefer the black ink of the 0.7mm over the blue ink of the 0.5mm, so thus it garners the silver medal.  The shade of black is still a little off, and I'm no fan of the FriXion eraser.  It smudges the paper too much compared to the traditional eraser models.

Bronze - Pilot FriXion 0.5mm
This ink color is way too pale for my liking.  I like the finer 0.5mm tip, but the performance (and location) of the eraser just doesn't cut it.

India - Uni-Ball Signo Erasable 0.5mm
The ink color is great, and the eraser does a good job, but the writing experience is so bad I can hardly use this pen.  The line skips and it is very scratchy.  Hopefully you will win a medal one of these decades Uni-Ball!

Charitable Cause - Pens for Kids

Last week, I was discussing what to do with extra pens laying around that aren't being used, and the topic of donation came up in the comments thread.  Lily mentioned an organization called Pens for Kids which sends pens to kids in need in Africa.  According to the website, education is paid for by some African governments, but supplies are not usually covered.  Pens for Kids has taken up the cause to try and get school supplies to those children in need.

I exchanged emails with Linda, one of the volunteers for Pens For Kids, and here is what she told me:

I traveled to Kenya and Tanzania on vacation last year and it changed my life.  I took candy for kids as I usually do and they wanted pens, not the tart sugary candy I'd brought.  I met a man there and he told me about a guy in Denmark named Claus who was sending him pens.  I contacted Claus when I got home and then took his project up a few notches and incorporated here in the US.  We now have a tax id and we've filed 501(c)(3) papers so that we can help more kids with corporate support as well as keeping the grassroots efforts as well.   I've sent about 7500 pens in the past couple of months -- All of the pens I have collected so far are from people I know or people who have stumbled across the website across the US.  We are still very small and just have one simple goal -- to get pens to the kids to assist with their education.    Education is the key to everything in Africa.  We will be contacting pen companies for donations of pens and shipping as soon as we secure the 501(c)(3) approval.

For a bit more information Here is a link to an article in the San Diego North County times published in from June ( the author got it mostly right  :-) 

I would like to make the Pens for Kids organization the official charity of the Pen Addict blog.  I have added a section to the sidebar with all of the information and donation links for Pens for Kids.  If you are so inclined, please consider donating your old pens to the cause (or money also - they need it for shipping costs).

One thing I would like to do right out the gate is commit 50% of the Google AdSense revenue from this blog to Pens for Kids.  The money doesn't add up to much - from December '07 to now, I have just under $80 in my AdSense account, and they don't send out checks until you reach $100. I will be working on ways to improve that over the coming months.

With the other 50% of AdSense revenue, I am going to start doing giveaways and contests for readers of the Pen Addict.  I think this would be a great way to drive traffic to the blog and, in turn, have even more people become aware of the Pens for Kids program.

I hope this will work out well for Pens for Kids and for readers of this blog.  If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please shoot me an email or leave a note in the comments section.

Doane Paper and Field Notes

I received my orders from Doane Paper and Field Notes last week, so look for some writing tests coming up soon using these products.  Here are a few pictures for the time being.....

Review: Copic Multiliner SP Black 03

Readers of this blog brought Copic pens to my attention as I talked about Sakura Pigma Microns and other drawing pens, and boy am I glad they did.  I had been meaning to pick some up for a while, but never got around to it.  Then, out of the blue, Marianne from the excellent Copic blog I Like Markers (and who also happens to be the product specialist for Copic Markers) offered to send me some samples to try out.  Needless to say, I was a very happy Pen Addict the day my Copic package arrived!

Out of the group of pens I recieved, the Copic Multiliner SP caught my eye, mainly because that was the model I had heard the most about and was planning to buy first.  On top of that, the pen is flat-out striking to look at.  The long aluminum barrel makes for a lightweight and well-balanced writing experience.  The tip performs admirably as well, laying down a very solid and dark black line.  I need to spend more time with it, but this pen is definitely one of my favorites.

An added bonus with the SP model is that the ink is refillable and the tip is replaceable, so you can keep filling up this fine looking barrel as long as it doesn't vanish from your desk in the dark of night.

If you want to learn more about Copic pens and markers, drop by Marianne's blog I Like Markers and spend some time going through the archives.  She does an amazingly thorough job.

Look for more Copic product reviews soon - and thanks again Marianne!

Ink Links

-- Why do I write with a fountain pen?  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Nothing Like A Moleskine…  (Pen and Paper)

-- Gaia has an addiction.....  (Gaiaeagle @ Livejournal)

-- .....and so does Sonya  (Red's Blurbs)

-- A great artist's materials primer on paper  (Bearskinrug via pica + pixel)

-- Review: Pentel Tradio Fountain Pen  (Amateur Economist)

-- Review: Pilot VBall Grip Extra Fine  (The Pen Collector)

-- Maybe a new pen blog?  Keeping an eye out.  (The Pen Critic)

-- The Copic website is updated - be sure to check out the new catalog  (Copic via I Like Markers)

Updated Favorite Pens List

It is about time for me to update the sidebar with my current favorite pens.  Nothing has changed in the top three spots, but I'm moving the Pilot G-3 0.38mm into the four spot, and the Sharpie Pen into the five.  They replace the Zebra Sarasa 0.4mm and the Uni-Ball Signo RT 0.38mm, respectively.

Here is how the current top five stands:

1. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm
2. Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4mm
3. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm
4. Pilot G-3 0.38mm
5. Sharpie Pen

I'm not sure how long the Sharpie Pen will be there though - I think these new Copic Multiliners I received may knock it off the list pretty quickly.

Review: Pilot G-2 Limited Edition

There is not much new ground to cover with the performance of the Pilot G-2 gel ink cartridge, but this Limited Edition barrel is a very nice addition to the G-2 line.  I am normally hesitant to spend more than a few dollars on a single pen since I buy so many, but the color caught my eye, and I knew I would be able to add in an 0.38mm cartridge to replace the standard 0.7mm.  The feel and weight of the barrel is fantastic, and the rubber grip is holding up nicely with a lot of use so far.  I paid $11.50 for this one from JetPens a month or so ago, but I have seen all three colors in Target recently for $9.99, so put this G-2 Limited Edition on your shopping list if you are in the area.

Where Pens Go To Die

A reader emails:

Today I opened my desk drawer and saw over 50 pens I probably will never use again...(and this is only at my office desk, not including home)... Where do unlucky pens go to die? I can't seem to get rid of them because the day I try to throw it away or give it to the school supplies drive, I find a newfound respect for it but then it goes back into the black hole of pens that haven't made the cut.

Have you written any posts about this?

I have never written a post about this, but I think I did mention something in a long lost comments thread on what I do with pens I don't like or never plan on using again.  In a nutshell, I play Pen Fairy at the office.

I work with and around a bunch of computer geeks.  Heck, I'm one of them myself.  Except I'm the one in the pink gingham button-down as opposed to a black or grey t-shirt.  Not there is anything wrong with that, but it's just not my style.  So you can imagine their choice in writing instruments: generic office supply cabinet rollerball, Marriott Courtyard Bic Stic, chewed up eraserless #2 pencil, capless dried-up Sharpie, etc.

From time to time I purge my pen collection, getting rid of the ones I no longer use or plan on using to make room for new ones.  I do this at home to keep the wife happy, and at work to keep myself sane because I don't have a lot of room to spare.  This usually results in 20-30 pens probably twice a year or so.

The Pen Fairy kicks in from there, leaving some out in the open on a communal office table, and otherwise dispersing some of the better rejects on a few select co-workers desks.  Only once during this time have I overheard someone say "Where did this pen come from"?  I just grinned a bit and kept quiet.  Most of the time I see the pens scattered about, caps missing, or hanging from peoples mouths.  Oh well, hopefully they enjoyed the pens for a minute or two.

I received another email just yesterday from The Pen Guy, who has a Mercedes covered with thousands of pens, so donating them is certainly an option.

What do you do with your extra pens?

Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3mm Pompadour

Do I ever get tired of Pilot Hi-Tec-C pens?  I haven't yet, and actually, the more I buy, the more I want.  There are certain days at work when I use no less than five different colors or sizes, and that is just for general note taking.  I am always on the hunt for the perfect color, and while I like this Pompadour shade of blue, it's not my favorite.  What I do like is how the 0.3mm tip writes.  This is my first standard barrel 0.3mm (meaning not in a Coleto barrel), and I'm already on the prowl for more.

Ink Links

-- Essential portable tools for a writer  (Kinetic Writer)

-- Oh Sharpie Pen, how I love thee  (The Blah, Blah, Blahg)

-- Five Best Note-Taking Tools  (Lifehacker)

-- The Usual Suspects - Biffybeans on fountain pens  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Faber-Castell TK-Fine Executive Mechanical Pencil Review  (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- Pentel Hyper-G review  (Cheap Pen Review)

-- Uni-ball Signo Premier 207 0.7 review  (The Pen Collector)

-- Review:  Pilot Petit1 Fountain Pen  (Amateur Economist)

-- The Pilot G2 lineup  (A Sibilant Intake of Breath)

-- New JetPens samples  (kwc.org)

-- Don't forget to join my new Flickr group  (I am a Pen Addict)

Samples, Samples Everywhere!

My good friends at JetPens and my new friend at I Like Markers sent me some great pen samples this week that I can't wait to try out.  The only problem is, I am taking a mini-vacation this weekend and part of next week, so it is going to take me some time to get them all tested out.

In the meantime, here is a little tease of what is in store from over a dozen new pens I have to put to the test:


Hinodewashi Electric Eraser and Uni-Ball Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint 0.7mm


Copic Multiliner SP 0.3 Orange and Black

I have a bit of content set to post while I am gone, and I promise I will work on the new stuff as soon as I return.  Believe me - I am as anxious as you are!

Review: Uni-Ball Jetstream Sport Color 0.7mm Green

Color me surprised on this one.  I've rarely had a ballpoint pen perform so well, even other incarnations of the Jetstream.  This particular model is called the Uni-Ball Jetstream Sport Color.  Besides the fact that it looks cool, it also writes exceptionally well.  Many ballpoint pens tend not to lay down a solid line, but there is hardly a break to be found when using this pen.  It is smooth and comfortable to boot.

I ordered it from JetPens, where they also carry a blue and a pink barrel.  I think I will be getting a lot of use out of this one.

New Flickr Group: I am a Pen Addict

I have created a new group on Flickr for all of you pen addicts out there, appropriately titled I am a Pen Addict.  If you have a Flickr account, please feel free to join.  It is wide open to anyone and everyone to share their photos and comments.  And tell your friends!

This is why I love my readers

Pen Addict reader Jonathan sent this to me over the weekend:

I saw your blogs after playing around with blue and black Frixion pens.  A few observations:

1. Ink color is indeed not great...but these are still so much nicer than those erasable ink pens from when I was in high school...which may have been when you were there, but never mind.

2. I held a match up to some text written with Frixion, but not close enough to burn the paper.  The ink actually doesn't disappear; it turns white.  I confirmed this on a dark piece of paper.

3. I then took some of the text that I erased with the heat of the match and chilled it thoroughly by holding it firmly against a bag of frozen asparagus.  It turned gray again--which is about all the "black" ink ever was.

These are completely useless things to know, but I thought you might find them mildly amusing.

And in a later mail......

I should now add that for the heat it is simpler to hold the paper with the Frixion ink next to a standard light bulb (it doesn't have to touch) to erase it.  Also, to make it reappear, if one is patient, you can just put the paper in the freezer--though it can take hours to get the ink to come back.

One thing you got wrong Jonathan - these are not completely useless things to know, these are ESSENTIAL things to know for all of us Pen Addicts out there!  Thanks again for sharing.

Review: Uni-Ball Color Mechanical Pencil

I am starting to turn the corner on pencils, and this Uni-Ball Color Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm Blue is helping lead the revolution.  I know colored leads have been around for years, but my general lack of interest in pencils made me forget all about them.  Little did I know how much I was missing.  The Uni-Ball performs admirably as well, with a nice feel, comfortable grip, and a nice, spring-loaded cap.

I must not be the only one who likes them - JetPens is currently sold out of 6 of the 12 models they carry.  They generally restock fast though, so keep an eye out if the one you want isn't avaialble.

The Pen Collector

It was a big weekend for friends of The Pen Addict, as my Flickr friend Felipe (yay alliteration!) has started up his own pen blog, The Pen Collector.  Felipe has been following me on Flickr since I first began posting my pictures, so stop by his blog and pay a visit.  I can't wait to see what he has in store.

The Pen Hunter

The perfect pen is the prey, and The Pen Hunter is on the trail.  Frequent Pen Addict commenter Ellie has started a new, appropriately titled blog, and her first post takes a look at my current favorite pen, the Pentel Slicci.  Be sure to stop by and say hi!

Sharpie Pen Review - Back to the Top

Sharpie is putting on the full-court press with their new advertisements featuring David Beckham, and possibly because of those ads, I have been receiving lots of hits, emails, and questions concerning the Sharpie Pen.  Just to bring any new readers up to speed, here is the link to my original review on the Sharpie Pen, and the subsequent chain of comments.

Lots of people are starting to pick up on it, and almost all of the reviews are positive, so go check them out!

Review: Sakura Pigma Micron 03 Black

After years of ignoring the Sakura Pigma Micron for no good reason, I am finally on the bandwagon.  Smooth and clean - and so far durable - I've been using this pen more frequently as of late.  Some people have mentioned durability issues to me, so I will be keeping an eye on any premature breakdown of the tip and will post if anything changes.  Otherwise, sign me up for the rainbow of colors!

Review: Pilot Spotliter Dual Tip

It hit me at work a few weeks back that I hadn't bought a new highlighter in years, so I pulled up my handy dandy JetPens link and this Pilot Spotliter Dual Tip caught my eye.  I like the fact that the ink isn't too heavy on the paper, which is an annoyance to me.  This highlighter is the perfect shade of blue for marking and for readability.  The fine tip is a bonus for quick underlining or labeling pages.  I wouldn't hesitate to purchase more colors of this pen.

By the way, the underlying pen is a Pentel Slicci 0.3mm - it looks great!  :)

Also, let me apologize for the photo angle and cropping of the picture.  I was taking the pictures and uploading them so fast I did a poor job.  I guess that's what happens with a newborn in the house!

You know you are a Pen Addict if.....

1.  You have a pen cup on your desk, but it only contains crap pens that you don't care if they get stolen by your co-workers.

2.  You keep your good pens stashed away in a safe spot, away from grabby hands.

3.  You check the office supplies section of every store you are in for new pens.

4.  If they have new pens, you buy them.

5.  You start writing but you don't like how the pen is performing, you switch pens and recopy what you already had written with the new pen.  Sometimes, this is a several pen event.

6.  You carry more than 2 - ok 20 - pens in your backpack/purse.

7.  You write a blog about pens.

8.  You read a blog about pens.

Those are the ones I could come up with off the top of my head.  What else makes you know that you are a Pen Addict?  Leave some comments and I'll update this post with some of the best ones.

Update:  There are some great ones in the comments section - thanks everyone!  Here are some samples:

From ellie:
You can't understand how people can write with 1.0+mm pens.

From teabird:
Before you write a letter, you spend more time deciding which pen to use than you spend writing the letter.

From moon'slark:
You keep a moleskine JUST for your pen addiction.

From alwayswrite:
The whole Staples or Office Max staff knows your name.
You don't consider BIC stick pen a real pen.

From Kataish:
You have a favourite pen but don't tell the runners up for fear of hurting their feelings.

From nicolelynn:
You hold pen try-outs to determine which one to use for any given written item.

From Matt:
You build this thing from scratch to display pens on your office wall.

From cool:
When you keep checking jetpens everyday for any new pens that are in stock.

Ink Links

-- Laurelines reviews the 20 pen Akashiya Sai Watercolor set  (Laurelines Drawings and Paintings)

-- "Pens are like Crack for me" - I hear ya brother  (notraces’s posterous)

-- A black Pentel Slicci 0.3mm... what a perfect pen  (Moleskinerie Flickr Group)

-- The Museum of Notebooks  (notebookism)

-- Natalie loves pens:  Pens. PENS! I love pens.  (Definatalie)

-- Hanna does too  (iHanna's Blog)

-- A very nice pen and paper blog called simply Pen and Paper  (Pen and Paper)

-- Miss Gaby goes with the flow:

JetPens Order July 2008

Here is my latest order from JetPens.  Look for reviews starting sometime next week.

Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Pompadour
Uni-ball Jetstream Sport Color Body Ballpoint Pen - Green
Sakura Pigma Micron 03 Pen - 0.35 mm - Blue
Sakura Pigma Micron 03 Pen - 0.35 mm - Black
Pilot Spotliter 2 Broad / Fine Twin Tip Highlighter - Blue
Uni-ball Color Mechanical Pencil - 0.5 mm - Blue Body - Blue Lead
Pilot G-2 Limited Metallic Barrel Gel Ink Pen - Gray Barrel
Pilot G-2 Gel Ink Pen Refill - 0.38 mm - Blue

Review: Platinum Preppy Sign

I received these Platinum Preppy Sign markers compliments of JetPens.  They have a great feel, great ink flow, and have the added bonus of refillable ink cartridges and replacable tips.  More details from JetPens:

The Preppy line from Platinum is so comfortable and practical that our customers have requested that we bring in the entire line. So now the Preppy fountain pen, marker, and highlighter are all available at JetPens.
The brilliant design of the Platinum Preppy Sign Markers is that they work just like a fountain pen! They use convenient ink refill cartridges. Just pop one in and in seconds the nib is filled and ready to go. The markers are great for frequent use because even the tip is replaceable. Even though they are made for the office, they are especially kid friendly because you can always replace the tip after they have been abused. Very economical and eco-friendly. Seven vibrant colors available.