[Pen/Pencil Review] Staples House Brand Copper Ballpoint Stick Pen
Today’s pen is the Staples point of sale pen. I bought it was because it was pretty. It’s a copper colored metal stick ballpoint pen. I don’t know if it’s a Strata like the other Staples brand, but it is lovely.
The Strata is 5.25″ long capped and about 6.25″ with the cap posted. It has absolutely no ergonomics. The grip is molded copper metal with threaded insert into the barrel. The detail is like a nut and screw but only back part functions. The cap is molded copper metal with a swooping metal clip. The cap does post securely, so you’re not going to lose it. The length is comfortable and fairly well-balanced in the hand. The drop between the grip and the tip of the pen has rounded edges so there isn’t a lot of digging into the fingers if you tend to “choke down” on a pen.
The ink is a generic Parker-style black ballpoint ink refill. The point is a 1.0mm. It’s a smooth line and decent ink, but I am going to change it out for a Parker-style gel ink at some point. It’s nice enough.
This was one of the pens in the bulk displays by the cash register. It was one of the more expensive ones, but still not bad – I think $2.99? It’s a good little pen. It’s super pretty and functional.
Now to the numbers.
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works fine. Smooth flow. It’s got a decent stock ballpoint, Parker-style refill.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s solid, but I’m going to knock it back a touch because of the lack of grip. It’s all metal and hard, but it tries to be comfortable.
3. Material – 1 It’s metal – copper over metal, molded into a sleek design.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s a decent body design. It’s decent ink. It’s a solid pen for what it is.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s not cheap but it’s not expensive. $3-ish is not bad for an impulse pen buy.
4 out of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] A Coup at a Secret Base
Prompt: A Coup at a Secret Base
Words: desert, waylay, pensive, gazillions, juniper, helicopter, lotus, captain, bandana, taco
Story
“Are we really doing this?†Magda crouched beneath the juniper tree, staring across the desert.
“We agreed. There has to be change. We are the change.†Toby pointed past the fencing. “We’re going in and we’re taking that place over.â€
“Okay.†Magda pulled the bandana up and over her pensive expression. “Let’s go.â€
“Then let’s go.†Toby leapt to his feet and waved to the others. A small wave of a a couple of dozen people in desert fatigues swarmed the fence. The headquarters building was next. Toby and Magda stormed the general’s office.
General Rachin choked on his taco. “What is all this Captain Cavenaugh? Ensign Ginsberg?â€
“You’ve spent gazillions of dollars on a useless piece of equipment called the ‘Lotus Helicopter’. You’re not fit to run this base anymore. We’re taking over.â€
“You’re trying to waylay this entire base and this project because you think I spent too much money?â€
“Fiscal responsibility is our number one objective in the Bureau.â€
“Do you know what we do here?†Rachin thumped his fist on the desk narrowly missing the guacamole. “This is a Top Secret and beyond. We are the future.â€
“You’re done. Nothing is worth this much waste. You’re done.†Cavenaugh gestured toward his soldiers. “Take him away.â€
Word Count: 209
Written: 6/11/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] Silver, Gold, White Gel Pens and Black Paper
This week’s pen blog is pen and paper. I went on a bit of a spree a week or so ago. I thought the neon pens would work on black paper – so I ordered black notebook paper, which didn’t work out as well as I thought, so then I ordered a collection of while, silver, and gold gel pens. Those did work.
The black paper is basic filler paper size – 8.5†x 10†– wide(ish) ruled, three-hole punched. Black paper is thicker and has a bit of a coating on it. It makes ink harder to “stickâ€, but the gel pens work well on it. The white takes a bit more effort to get going. The silver and gold are good to go.
The pens are narrow stick pens with clear barrels and caps. The pens have a 0.5mm needle tip roller ball. The ink is thick and viscous. It will smear if you’re not careful – it takes a few seconds to dry on the black paper. But there’s a great contrast between the light color of the metallics and the black paper. The pens are 6.5†long capped and not quite 7†capped. The clip is molded clear plastic. The cap posts securely. The plug in the end of the barrel matches the ink color. The clear barrel allows you to see the ink level.
These were all inexpensive on Amazon. The pens were 18 pieces – 6 of each color for $7.99, so less than $1.00. The paper was $7.00. The paper was the more expensive thing. But Amazon and fun and delivered.
To the numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 The ink is strong and came in a solid 0.5mm. The paper is fine.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s a think stick pen with no ergonomics, but inexpensive.
3. Material – 1 – It’s a translucent plastic pen. It’s solid for what it is.
4. Overall Design – 1 – These are solid pens and decent paper.
5. Price Point – 1 – The pens are under a dollar. The paper is the more expensive part of this transaction. But it all evens out.
4.5 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
[Write the Story] Shenanigans on a Movie Set
Prompt: Shenanigans on a Movie Set
Words: stunt, wring, lull, stingy, husband, ginger, buggy, pedal, llama, anaconda
Story
“Oh, come on. It’ll be funny.†Judy smiled at her husband, Zach. “Besides we’re in a lull right now while they set up the next set of shots. She gestured as wranglers moved two ginger llamas and an anaconda across the set.
“If this gets back to the studio, we’ll have to put pedal to the metal to keep from getting sued.
“You’re being too dramatic, Zach. This studio is too stingy to spring for the lawyers. Besides, what could go wrong?â€
“Wish is how all our movies get started. What do you want me to do?â€
A moment later, they ducked behind a set of barrels with a remote control. Judy started to wring her hands in maniacal glee. Zach tried not to be too worried about her sudden Evil Genius mode. “Do you want to drive?â€
“Gimme.†She snatched the remote.
The stunt buggy on the other side of the set suddenly roared to life and ran around in donut circles. The cries of ghost car and other more adult language sent Judy into fits of laughter. Zach pulled the remote out of her hands, dumped it on the barrels, and dragged her away before the angry crew came afer them.
Word Count: 203
Written: 6/4-5/2020
[Pen/Pencil Blog] Wooden Pencil Parade
I obviously didn’t get a blog done yesterday. This year…wow, this year. I’m exhausted. I ended up working the Day Job last evening and just didn’t have it in me to make this happen.
All of these are from Graphite Pencil + Paper – from two subscription boxes and our first trip out and about once pandemic reopening started. These are all higher end wooden pencils – still figuring out the Perpetuas. The others are great. A couple feel like 2B – and not just HBs. I love the softer, darker leads, so these make me happy. They’re more like drawing pencils than school pencils.
The ones on the right edge – the fluorescent and the white – are highlighter pencils and a chalk pencil for the black paper stuff. The fluorescent highlighter pencils work well on thinner paper or whenever you don’t want regular hightlighers bleeding through whatever you’re marking up.
There’s something weirdly visceral sometimes about wooden pencils. They’re warm. They’re basic. AND — there’s a weird sense of accomplishment when you use one up. Pencils are amazing. Check them out.
[Write The Story] Ten People in a Blackout
Prompt: Ten People in a Blackout
Words: ballet, thunder, grind, handwriting, partner, yardstick, adopt, swarm, bundle, prodigious
Story
I stared out the window at the wild ballet Nature performed outside. I could hear the voices in the other room as an underlying buzz to the wind and thunder whipping against the windows.
“Are you coming back, Felix? It’s time.â€
I pushed back from the window and tried not to grind my teeth by trying to smile at my partner, Kim. Time to adopt my professional persona. “You have the handwriting sample?â€
“Here.†Kim handed me the prodigious bundle of papers.
I nearly tripped over the furniture as we made our way back to the library. Lightning had knocked out the power an hour before. The other eight milled about the fireplace in a slow swarm. They all turned to stare at me as I joined them. Kim closed the massive double doors behind us.
I studied them in turn, measuring them by my own personal yardstick. This was my game now. I made the rules.
“Why are we here?â€
Rookie move. “We’re here to reveal a killer,†I said. “On this dark and storm night, one of us committed murder.â€
There was the usual denial, shock and surprise. But none more than when Kim shot them all. They were all miserable people and sometimes being a detective? It just gave you ideas.
Word Count: 214
Written: 5/28/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] RERUN – Fisher Space Pen Space Shuttle Edition
About a year ago, Jimmy and I took an extra day after Comicpalooza to visit Johnson Space Center. I bought a Fisher Space Pen – Space Shuttle Edition and reviewed it. Today was supposed to be a great space day – the first time since 2007 that astronauts were launched into space on American soil. On SpaceX. Unfortunately, 17 minutes before the launch, it was scrubbed due to weather. Their next window is Saturday. To honor this occasion, I decided to rerun my space themed pen.
Today’s pen is the is another Fisher Space Pen – this one I bought when we went to Houston and visited the Johnson Space Center (Yay! NASA!). It is chrome over brass with a gold space shuttle on it. Which made it a must have.
This pen came with a PR4 Medium Point Black pressurized ink cartridge. This is what makes the Fisher Space Pen unique. The medium point is a 1.1mm ball point. The pressurized barrel of the ink lets this pen write in more environments and angles than other pens, and touts a longer lasting ink life. They do make a 0.9mm “fine point†refill (which I have one somewhere or need to buy a couple more but they’re not super cheap – but they also have the gas pressure, work everywhere, technology.
Fisher has been making pens for the Space program for a long time. This pen is just over 5†long retracted and 5.25†with the point extended. The cap/plunger and most of the barrel are smooth chrome over brass with a metal clip embellished with a gold space shuttle. The top of the cap is flat for easy plunger action. The grip is etched brass with chrome plating for something to hold on to.
I picked this one up at the Space Center Houston gift shop and can’t find it available anywhere else. I believe this exclusive to NASA’s gift shops and runs $30. So not cheap but not horrible for what it is – a very cool, geeky momento of the nation’s space program.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – I haven’t tried writing with this pen underwater or in zero gravity, but it does write at all angles. I’d show you, but it’s hard to get that proof. The ink flows well. It does what it says it does.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s got traction, not a “grip”. The grip is a ribbed etching in the chrome plating. It’s all metal, and borderline comfortable on diameter and length – but the edge of the cap to the barrel for the retractation doesn’t dig too much
3. Material – 1 – It’s brass. So it’s a sturdy but light pen – for the barrel. The colors and design make it a lovely pen that can stand up to some beating and the space shuttle detail seems secure.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s well-designed for what it is. It’s about the normal length of a typical retractable pen. It’s pretty. It can be used in any condition. Nothing about it feels cheap or flimsy. And it does write in a lot of ways.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s not cheap. This one runs $29.00 at Paradise Pen Company. You can probably find it cheaper or on sale in other places. Refills are available – in a wide array of colors, and even some different point types for common colors – for $6-$7 a pop depending on where you get them. That’s not cheap, but for the length of time they’re useable and how many ways you can use the refills, it makes this a long term use pen that evens out the investment.
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] Keeping a Promise
Prompt: Keeping a Promise
Words: abolitionist, coyote, forbid, gloomy, keen, lesson, genetics, variable, retort, moss
Story
“Why so gloomy, Gus?â€
I bit back a snarky retort. I wasn’t keen on starting a dialog of any sort. Heaven forbid it turn into an actual conversation. And for the record, my name’s not Gus. I continued to work on my equation. It wasn’t solving right, so there had to be a problem with one variable or another.
“Is this another trap? Another lesson to be learned? You realize it’s simply a matter of genetics. My lower mass means I will always be faster to escape any attempt you can make to catch me.â€
I tuned out the litany. The tired refrain of countless attempts to silence the voice. Maybe I wanted to fail. It wouldn’t be the first time or the last. The cycle continued from parent to offspring. Each of us playing the role taught to us by our ancestors. I was tired. So tired. Now it was time to break the cycle. Free us from the struggle created by the ACME company all those years ago. And there! The misplaced coefficient! It worked! It was do-able. The Abolitionist Equation worked! I could put an end to the promise once and for all. It was exhilarating and sad at the same time.
“My name is Wile E. Coyote VI and this time, Roadrunner, my friend, my nemesis. We end this. Forever.â€
Word Count: 224
Written: 5/20/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] Pilot G2 Neon Fine Point
I definitely go in cycles with pens – whether it’s fountain, gel, ball point or even pencil. I even shift through brands – Zebra to Pentel to Pilot and beyond. Right now I’m in a Pilot G2 phase again. I’m also into colors. The brighter the better. There are many times I stick with classic blue or black. But these days I want pink and purple and shiny – yes, it’s probably because life’s been so dark lately with the pandemic and such. I jumped at the Pilot G2 Neon collection.
These pens are classic G2s with a clear casing with the retractable mechanism, clip, and the grip matching the color of the ink. It runs just short of 5.75″. The rubber grip is pretty comfortable for an inexpensive, every day pen. One of the things I like about it is the clear barrel that allows you to see how much ink you have left. This is a classic pen in a definitely NOT classic colors. It’s the most common “fine†point, which for Pilot is 0.7mm – which for neon is plenty fine. This set came with a classic black – which I was amused to see being used in the 2007.
These pens are different. Neon is tricky. Some of it is good on white paper some on black – so I also bought black paper. I’ve done writing samples of the inks on black and white sticky notes. With the black paper, the ink doesn’t show up well until after it dries. The neon green, pink, and orange work all right on white paper – the green is really light. The neon yellow – that needs darker paper. The conical tips are smooth and lay down a solid line. The feel is good. The ink dries quickly.
These are available at some box stores – I found these at Target for about $7. They’re $12 at Michaels and Amazon? The heck? If you need some blindingly bright color in your life – try these.
To the numbers:
1. How does it work? – 0.5 The ink is fine and bright for neon. It only comes in 0.7mm but that works for this. The retraction mechanism is solid. Some ink doesn’t show up on dark paper, others no on light.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – It’s fairly basic retractable pen with a decent drip that hasn’t changed much over time, but it still gives a comfortable feel for long-term use.
3. Material – 1 – It’s rubberized and translucent plastic pen. It’s solid for what it is.
4. Overall Design – 1 – These are a standard. They’ve not changed much over time, which is good. It’s never been broken, so there’s nothing really to fix. The pen is colorful, comfortable, and solid.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – I got them at Target for under $10, but they seem more expensive elsewhere. So iffy on the price point
4.0 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
[Write The Story] Grandparents Acting Like Children
Prompt: Grandparents Acting Like Children
Words: wedding, squash, dream, foretell, gluetstick, urchin, solstice inertial, ice, composer
Story
“I’m a walrus!†M ort grinned as the kids squealed in delight by a simple joke of straws up his bulbous nose.
“Dad! Stop. It’s a wedding!†Angela scolded Mort as she swept by to check on the table.
“And I’m stuck at the Urchin Table, you expected me to be the responsible one?â€
Angela rolled her eyes as she cleaned up ice spilled on the table before heading back onto the dance floor.
“Who jammed a gluestick up her bum?â€
“They always try to squash our fun. Have a seat, Nadine.†Mort kicked out a chair.
Nadine sat primly in her matron’s dress. “It’s about time. You ready?
“Inertia’s hard to overcome, but the dream did foretell this solstice. Let’s do this.â€
Nadine nodded once then sailed off to alert the others. With one more silly face to the children, Mort levered himself up and headed to the bandstand. The oldsters slowly invaded the dance floor unnoticed to the other younger adults. Mort whispered in the bandleader’s ear.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the grandfather of the bride has a gift to the couple. He’s the composer of a special piece.â€
Mort cued the musicians and the elders. And the room erupted into a wild combination of the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance.
Word Count: 213
Written: 5/15/20 20