Reddit mentions: The best pens & pen refills

You’re very welcome! I’m going to try to answer the first question the best I can, but it’s a bit out of my area of expertise. From my experience, if your pen is skipping with writing, the two things that I can think of is that the cartridge may not be inserted all the way or the nib is not alined correctly. The first one is an easy fix, as you just press on the cartridge a bit and make sure it’s snapped all the way in, but the second one is a bit more difficult to deal with. It requires more knowledge of how the pen works, etc. The easiest way to tell is if you look hold the pen at a 45 degree angle, nib facing towards you and the metallic/writing side facing down. Look to see if there is anything that is even the slightest bit out of line. If something is out of place, that could be the problem. The easiest way to fix it is to contact customer support from the pen company. There are other ways to try to realign them, but that goes way over my head at the moment. I’m trying to figure it out, but it takes some practice.

Now for an area I’ m a bit more familiar with. As for another pen after these, here’s the subreddit’s Holy Trinity of Starter Pen Recommendations:

You have the Pilot Metropolitan which runs around $15. It comes in a medium or fine nib and the pen body is made from metal. You can get them in a plain silver, black or gold or they have a retro pop collection with more “wild” colors. It comes with a black cartridge and a rubber converter if you want to fill it using ink from a bottle.

Then there’s the Lamy Safari. This one retails at about $37 but from a quick search on amazon, you can get it for around $20. This one’s made of plastic and comes with a cartridge. If you like the Safari but want one that’s made of metal, look into the Lamy Al-Star. It’s usually $10 more, but I found this one for the exact same price on amazon as the other Safaris. If you want to use ink bottles with either of these pens, you’ll either have to refill the cartridge or buy a converter. The converter is much easier to fill from a bottle with but reduces your ink capacity a little bit. Safaris come in a lot of different colors and special edition colors and nibs range from EF to B.

Finally, there’s the TWSBI ECO. This is right around the $30 mark. Instead of taking cartridges, the pen has what is called a piston filler. You hold the pen nib deep in a bottle of ink and turn the end of the pen and it fills for you. It has a large ink capacity because of this. This type of pen is also called a demonstrator because it has a clear body that you can see the ink move around in. It’s very cool. Another thing people love the TWSBI For is that you can take the entire thing apart and easily clean/replace parts. TWSBI nibs are pretty good too, and they come anywhere from EF to B and also carry a 1.1 stub, which is something similar to the flat calligraphy nibs on the speedball there. TWSBI also makes the TWSBI GO and I’ve heard great things about it but I have not personally used it, so I can’t say much about the differences between the go and the Eco. I think it’s mainly the filling mechanism (twisting the end of the pen on the ECO vs a spring loaded press of the button on the GO.)

Out of these three, I’d recommend the TWSBI ECO because the piston filling mechanism is really cool, you don’t have to worry about a converter, the nib is great, and I love the look of the pen. (However, I might be slightly biased as this was my first pen, lol.) I got a Safari recently and absolutely love the way it writes. It’s a fun, functional pen. I’ve used the Metro before and it’s a great pen when used with cartridges but I haven’t had good luck with the converter, sadly. When choosing a nib size, I’d recommend a F or M. I started with an EF pen and now almost all my pens are M nib. The broader the nib size, the smoother it writes as it lays more ink down when writing. The finer nibs (EF and F) have a bit more feedback but work better with smaller handwriting. I’d start somewhere in the middle depending on which experience you think you’ll like (F if you have smaller handwriting, M if you write larger and want it to be smoother). If you like the stub/flat nibs, don’t be afraid to get it in a 1.1 nib.

Now, here’s a few other recommendations outside the main three that come to mind when asking for a starter pen/are newer to FPs and want something else to try.

The Platinum Preppy runs anywhere under $10 and has a really good nib and in many different colors.

The Moonman M2 is a great eye dropper fill pen and has a really sleek design. It runs anywhere from $12-$20z The one I had before I lost it (oops) was a great writer and I really loved it. However, be warned that the QC isn’t the best with the nibs so you can get a good one or a not so god one. They also have a newer model, called the C1 which is really cool. I have this one and I really like it, but, again, you might get a bad nib. They also only come in one nib size (I think) so you can’t really choose what size you’d want sadly.

My last recommendation for you is a different type of Fountain Pen: the Pilot Parallel Pen. These are for calligraphy and you can get some really cool effects from them. They come with a little lettering/info book too so you can learn some basic styles with the pens. They come in 4 different nib sizes, and each pen costs around $10, but I attached amazon’s set of the 4 pens which you can get for $24 instead of around $40. These aren’t conventional FP’s, but are awesome if you really like calligraphy.

I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with this! Happy writing and happy pen browsing!

A thinner pen on the cheaper side, hmm. Any of the Paper Mates line in fine point work very well for the pricepoint. There's the 100RT, 300RT, and 500RT/550RT, and the 700RT. I've had a hard time finding the 700RT in fine point (.7), but I believe they do make it. The RT stands for retractable by the way, if that makes a huge difference. I tend to lose caps easily so I prefer all my pens in retractable. The Pilot B2P in fine point (.7) and the Pilot "Better Ballpoint" fine point both use the same refill, but I prefer the B2P, which writes incredibly. All of the ones I just named have a pretty thin body to them as well. If you wanna spend a couple extra dollars I always feel the Zebra F-701 is an absolute must for every day carry. It's got a super heavy feel to it and you can snip down most thin refills to fit into it. The refill that comes in the 701 is okay, but not the greatest, although I would still recommend it. It's all metal, even the grip which is metal. I'm a tense person too and grip my pens tight and I love the feel of the 701. That's just a few to look around on the internet for. I'm super particular about my pens so if you get to try any of those and are looking to go in a different direction youre always welcome to message me. I'm not into fountain pens at all, basically just the cheap stuff, and with a little ingenuity you can combine some cheap parts to make some pretty nice stuff. As far as how it looks, if you check any of those out and like/dislike certain looks I could probably help there too. A super cheap pen you can get by the dozen is the Bic "Soft feel" which I personally love the look of but dont be fooled, the "soft grip" isn't all that soft but it writes okay for a "by the box" pen. The last one I could say off the top of my head is the Pentel RSVP in a fine point. It has a cap unfortunately, but it really does write well, looks super basic, and I'm sure they make a retractable version I haven't seen. Gimme a sec and I can link you to some that I mentioned.

Edit - Links: Ill keep updating.

Retractable Pentel RSVP in black (.7) - Pentel RSVP Super RT Ballpoint Pen, (0.7mm) Fine Line, Black Ink, Box of 12 (BX477-A) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079Q9VZ4F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PUPIDbP272DEN

Zebra F-701 (.8) - Zebra 29411 F-701 Ballpoint Stainless Steel Retractable Pen, Fine Point, 0.8mm, Black Ink, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TWPIDb0QM0M7H

Bic Atlantis Exact (.7 but writes way thinner) - BIC Atlantis Pen 0.7mm, Pack of 3 - VCGNP31-AST https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F6B60UG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VXPIDbKTK07BB

Pilot B2P ballpoint (.7 but again seems thinner. Careful though, they make a B2P gel so make sure you read descriptions and check packaging if possible) - Pilot Bottle-2-Pen (B2P) - Retractable Ball Point Pens Made from Recycled Bottles (5 Count) Fine Point, 2 Black Ink/2 Blue Ink/1 Red Ink, Refillable, Comfortable Grip (32614) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZYF26G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JZPIDbFKEPGTP

Pilot "Better" ballpoint (.7, uses the same refill as the B2P) - Pilot Retractable Ballpoint roller pens, Black & Blue colors Fine point, 10 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CJCY6P5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_20PIDbH8JHY61

Paper Mates RT 300 (can find in .7 pretty easily) - Paper Mate InkJoy 300RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point, Black, Box of 12 (1951360) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EB4IZN4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_M2PIDbSHMC6V6

Paper Mates RT 700 (have only been able to find in 1.0 but pretty sure there's .7's out there. To me it's kinda girly looking but you can swap it into a Paper Mates Flexgrip Ultra which has a nice, classic look

RT700 - Paper Mate InkJoy 700RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point, White Barrel, Black Ink, Box of 12 (1951347) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EB4KBVI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_C5PIDb4JEMV5Q

Flexgrip Ultra (not Flexgrip Elite, unless you like that one better) Paper Mate Flexgrip Ultra Stick Medium Point Ballpoint Pen, 12-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IE6H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_T6PIDb5KPA4T3

Bic "Soft Feel" (only been able to find in 1.0/Medium but I'm sure they make a fine as well, though I heard it's not great) - BIC 8373971 Soft Feel Retractable Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Black, 12-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IE82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_E7PIDbBCG8T5R

Give me your thoughts when you have time or if I missed any you wanna see.

Brush pens are difficult, I didn't intend for you to learn to draw with one, I apologize.
Peter Han is the original creator and instructor of the "Dynamic Sketching" class that is popular for many artists learning today. The creator of Drawabox.com, "Uncomfortable", studied under Han and created the curriculum of Drawabox to be based on Peter Han's instruction, but more simplified and rigid for brand-new students. Both Han and Uncomfortable urge students to learn in pen.
It builds line confidence ,and urges you to think before placing something down. As you build line confidence and critical visualization, you rely less on the guess-work of pencil drawing, and digital-with-undo.
So, better to start off that way and force your brain to catch up, I think.

As for pens, I've been enjoying Tombow hybrid brush pens.
https://www.amazon.com/Tombow-62038-Fudenosuke-Calligraphy-Drawings/dp/B01M71S9DU/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=tombow+brush+pens&qid=1570844600&sr=8-5
They're not actual brushes, more like miniature marker pens. They create very fine lines, like a fineliner, but when you press more firmly you can get some shape to your stroke.

Otherwise, Pigma Micron 08's and Faber Castell .05's are both good and recommended often. Drawabox even sells sets of its own personally recommended pens.

If you want to browse recommendations, check out Jake Parker's blog page, the creator of Inktober:
https://www.mrjakeparker.com/tools

I love Jake Parker, he has such a great temperament. He founded SVSLearn.com with some other great children's book artists, and they have a lot of good instruction.

I'm personally working through the curriculum that I created. I've done Proko's Figure Drawing course, Drawabox up until Lesson 7, and Marco Bucci's "Understanding and Painting the Head".
Now that I've created the curriculum, I will be going through Drawabox again but paying for critique to make sure that I have the best evaluation of my skillset before moving on to more difficult things.


And to answer your original question again, I don't think either medium would hamper your growth. Digital allwos some nice conveniences, like laying down perspective lines really quickly and being able to try out painting without a mess.
But physical is still just as valid, and I still prefer going physical. Dynamic sketching at the zoo with some pens and markers is tons of fun, and I do think it requires the most thoughtful process.

so r/calligraphy is really helpful. YouTube ideas of “brush pen calligraphy” is also really helpful. I recommend buying yourself a nice brush pen or two off Amazon or from Michael’s. The company Tombow makes the most popular ones. You can PM me at any time if you have any questions about what brush pens to buy, but I recommend starting off by buying brush pens, googling “brush pen calligraphy guide” and just getting started practicing! It’s REALLY easy once you train your hand. All it is is a matter of muscle memory teaching your hand when to press the brush pen down for thick lines and how to lighten your grip on the pen as you make upward strokes. The more you look at examples and practice practice practice the easier it’ll get because your muscle memory will retain how to write letters with different levels of pressure.
I can link you to the pen I used in this photo: Tombow 62038 Fudenosuke Brush Pen, 2-Pack. Soft and Hard Tip Fudenosuke Brush Pens for Calligraphy and Art Drawings https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M71S9DU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kSEKBbVJSVZD5

Only $5 so very affordable for 2 of them. They’re both the same pen but one of them has a more stiff brush tip and one has a more soft brush tip, so you can play around with both and see what works best for you.

Ask r/calligraphy for tips and post your work there to get some constructive criticism to keep improving! If you go to my post history you can see that I once had some pretty shaky calligraphy. But that was back in March. In only a few months, I’ve improved a lot. It’s a pretty easy hobby to pick up and comes in handy to make any letter, or notes, or sign, come out gorgeous :)

Good luck! PM me if you have any more questions. Please don’t hesitate to. It’s reddit that got me into r/bulletjournal which in turn lead me to calligraphy so I want to pass on the favor to other redditors as well. Reddit has introduced me to so many cool hobbies! I’d love to do the same to other people who are curious.

Does she like to do paintings, pen drawings, hand-lettering, markers, tape, collage, or just a vanilla bujo, etc? There are sooo many ways to do a bujo so it's hard to recommend something general that she'll like but doesn't have yet haha. I'm going to assume she either likes to do hand-lettering or marker drawings since she was trying a Tombow blender.

If she mostly writes or does ink drawings - Copic or Micron multiliners in different sizes. The Pentel Pocket Brush is also very good for getting interesting lines down on line art or to combine with watercolor painting, but I don't recommend it as a hand-lettering pen.

Do you know what kind of pen she usually does her normal writing in? A lot of bujo-ers have kind of a favorite brand of cheap-ish pen that they like to use (Muji being one of the more popular ones). If you do, you could get her a fresh package.

If she likes to use markers - well, Tombows are pretty much the de facto bujo marker, even if the blender isn't too good. If she already has some, you could maybe take a peek at her collection and see if there are any colors she doesn't have but might like. For coloring, I also like Brushables markers because they're very pastel/soft, and Zebra Mildliners for highlighting stuff.

If she likes doing paintings and pasting them into her journal, you could get her some watercolor paper.

If she likes using decorative tape, you can find the washi tape aisle at Michaels and pick out some stuff.......but honestly it's way cheaper on Amazon. You can also try looking for flake stickers on Etsy, there are SO many options there, too!

If she likes hand-lettering, my favorite brush pen is the fudenosuke.

She may also like some small rubber stamps (for dates or tiny decorative details like floral wreathes), or stencils (especially for dates or circles).

My absolute most favorite pen to just write with day to day is a Lamy Safari fountain pen, if she's interested in that kind of thing (although that's a very expensive path to go down lol).

The one item that I would be willing to get for pretty much any bujo-er, without knowing their current collection of supplies or what they like to do, would be the fudenosuke pen (they sell it at Michaels, too). They're not refillable, so even if she already has this pen she'll likely need a replacement before too long.

Lol. It kind of depends. There are a lot of variables. I'll list out a few options for you.

• Pilot Metro - This is one of the gold standards in fountain pens right now. Pilot doesn't fuck around when it comes to making nibs. Out of the box this thing should write like a dream. If you're getting the one linked, you'll also want to do yourself a favor and get yourself a piston converter for the pen. Unless you don't plan to ever use bottled ink. In that case you can buy cartridges to your heart's content and be just fine. so in total, your cost of entry is like $20-ish.
  
  
• TWSBI ECO - This is, in my opinion, the highest bang for your buck option in entry level pens. I love demonstrators. Having the clear barrel so you can see your ink sloshing around is sweet. The nibs are pretty decent, and the piston filling mechanism is awesome. If you're writing all the time, the huge ink capacity means you'll be able to write a lot with it before you need to re-fill. Cost of entry here is roughly $30.
  
  
• Jinhao X450 - Every time I've used one of these super cheap Chinese fountain pens I've been incredibly pleasantly surprised. The nibs are actually pretty decent. There's some issues with quality control on some of them. Weird things like loos caps or loose grip sections or loose converters inside could potentially make for a less than great experience, but you can find lots of these on ebay, like 10 for 5 bucks. You'll have to wait a few weeks to get them from China, but they're great for being able to take with you and have 0 worries of breaking or losing them. Cost of entry is roughly $5
  
  Those are the 3 pen models I personally recommend, although if you ask around you'll also find people recommending the Lamy Safari/Vista/Al-star (same model, different materials). It's not a bad pen, I've owned a couple and like them, but they're in the price range between the Metro and the ECO, and the ECO and Metro are so much better that I don't feel comfortable recommending the Safari over either of them, unless you have a boner for German engineering, haha.
  
  In terms of ink, there's so much stuff out there that there's really no place to start in terms of explaining it. I'd be happy to send some samples your way, though, if you were interested in getting started.
  
  The biggest favor you can do for yourself when you get into fountain pens is to buy yourself some quality paper to write on. It's a night and day difference between shitty standard copy paper and a nice fountain pen friendly notebook.
  
  One of my favorites is the Black n' Red. Writing on it is smooth, and there's no bleeding or ghosting of ink, and if you get some ink that does some cool stuff, this paper will let it do the cool stuff.
  
  Please feel free to PM me or even reach out to people on r/fountainpens if you have any questions. We'd be more than happy to help you get started!

Sounds like fun! I'll have to do this later

1.) Something that is grey: Pelican Gray Nail Polish. (on private WL)

2.) Something reminiscent of rain: Shower Curtain is a barrier between the bathroom tiles and cascading, rain-like, waterfall that flows from the showerhead. (on dream WL)

3.) Something food related that is unusual: Candy Mold. Chocolate frogs, anyone? (on under $5 WL)

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!): Ice Cream Maker. No ice cream for me because I started keto last week. My friends and family would benefit from this when I make them some delicious ice cream. (on dream WL)

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!: The Knife of Never Letting Go. It's book one of the Chaos Walking trilogy, which has rave reviews. Apparently it's a dark, dystopian book full of suspense. (on high priority WL)

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!: Laser Finger Beams (not on WL)

7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...): Westside Warrior Nail Polish. Lions, which are really big cats, are warriors of the jungle. (on under $5 WL)

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it: Origami Star Paper. I like folding these, but once I make them into stars, I literally have nothing to do with them. There's jars of them all across my house and all I can do is look at them (on under $5 WL)

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?: Song from Iron Man 3 Soundtrack. Everyone should see it because Iron Man + Tony Stark + RDJ = <3 (on digital WL)

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.: Spin-the-shot. If zombies attack, I would need to be drunk, so this would come in handy for some last minute fun before I turn into a brain eating zombie. Let's face it, I'm not surviving a zombie attack... (on $5-$10 WL)

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals: Coconut Oil. Everyone on the keto subreddit raves about this stuff. Being a newbie to this lifestyle, I feel that if so many people had great results using this oil, that it would help with my goals. (on $11-$25 WL)

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items: Anti-stress face mask (not surprisingly, found on my add-on WL)

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?: Globe Bar. I would feel like a super cool James Bond-esque spy who would have a secret room hidden behind a bookshelf. Plus I love alcohol and globes. (on dream WL)

14.) Something bigger than a bread box: Desk Easel. (on $11-25 WL)

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball: Earrings. (on private WL)

16.) Something that smells wonderful: Pink Punch Baby Lips (on add-ons WL)

17.) A (SFW) toy: Kindle. I would consider this a techie toy. (on dream WL)

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school: Fun Colored Pens. (on add-on WL)

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be: Paints. My current obsession is painting! (on $11-25 WL)

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand: Mug. I love love love this literature mug. I not only love the varying typography all over it, but I think that there are some really striking first lines of literature. (on $11-25 WL)

BONUS

1.) Real name: PM sent

2.) Made in Oregon: Handwarmer Mug

Edit: raffle phrase - fear cuts deeper than swords

Bags

• (1) [Filson Medium Field Bag](http://www.filson.com/products/field-bag-medium.70232.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/field-bags&fmetaProduct=1019): This is my usual every day bag, and I rarely leave the house without it. After a long search for a bag last year, I decided to buy the Filson (and get it shipped from the US); I'm glad I did – the quality is fantastic, and it looks practically the same as it did on its first day.
  
  -or-
  
  
• (2) [Filson Briefcase Computer Bag](http://www.filson.com/products/briefcase-computer-bag.70257.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/briefcases&fmetaProduct=1019): If I ever take my MacBook Air with me outside of the house (usually to some work at a coffee shop), or if I go on a flight, I'll take this bag. It's rarely used in comparison to the Field Bag, but it's worth a mention nonetheless.
  
  Gadgetry
  
  
• (3) [iPad (third generation) - Wi-Fi and 4G](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00746V5DY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00746V5DY) with (4) [Byrd & Belle felt pouch](http://www.byrdandbelle.com/product/ipad-kindle-sleeve-gray-wool-felt-and-brown-leather), and (5) red leather Smart Cover: The iPad has been an integral part of my EDC since the original iPad. I seem to be getting more and more done on the iPad – whether it's emailing, writing with Byword or reading news with Reeder.
  
• (6) [iPhone 4](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041E5G32/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0041E5G32) with (7) [Sena Tan Leather pouch](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X9ZJSS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003X9ZJSS)
  
• (8) [13" MacBook Air](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWHZP4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005CWHZP4) with (9) [Byrd & Belle felt pouch](http://www.byrdandbelle.com/product/macbook-air-sleeve-gray-wool-felt-and-brown-leather)
  
• (10) [Fujifilm X100](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RS864/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0043RS864) with [Leather Case](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MME698/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004MME698): I used to own a Canon 7D, but its size is so unwieldy for me in practice, that it ended up not being used. Instead, I've swapped it for the X100 – sure the lens is fixed, but I mainly used a prime lens with the 7D anyway; the APS-C sensor is a boon, especially for the camera's small size. The software is a little finicky, but the cassis and build quality is fantastic.
  
• (11) [Etymotic HF3 Earphones with Mic with pouch](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YTROIU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003YTROIU)
  
• (12)[ B&W P5 Headphones](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IHUHGE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003IHUHGE): If I have the rare inclination to listen to music (I usually listen to podcasts) and am happy to take the additional hassle compared to the HF3s, I'll sometimes use the P5s. The design and construction is amazing and the audio quality is great, although the leather pads do get a little hot after a while on my ears.
  
• (13) [Amazon Kindle 4](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051QVESA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0051QVESA): Reeder and Instapaper are great on the iPad, but the Kindle is much better for novel reading. The iPad 3's new screen is on par (if not better) than e-ink, but the Kindle's much smaller size and weight is a necessity for prolonged periods of reading.
  
  Accessories and Miscellaneous
  
  
• (14) [Cocoon GRIT-IT! Organiser](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HU27UW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002HU27UW): This incorporates, (15) [Studio Neat Cosmonaut Stylus](http://www.studioneat.com/products/cosmonaut); (16) Barclays PinSentry card reader; *(17) Zebra F-701***; **(18) iPad SD Card Reader; (19) [Griffin USB Mini-Cable Kit](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003T5KXJQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003T5KXJQ); (20) [USB Battery Pack](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000UH46YY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=coffee-coffee-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B000UH46YY)
  
• (21) Polo Ralph Lauren Leather Card Holder
  
• (22)[ Seiko SNK809 Automatic watch](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SSUQFG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002SSUQFG) with [Hirsch Liberty leather strap](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002ZJIVNW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lawrencemurga-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002ZJIVNW)
  
• (23) Keys including [True Utility Cashstash](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JUDJBG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002JUDJBG), [LaCie 8GB Key](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D2AZ0Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004D2AZ0Q) and Barclays Cycle Hire key
  
• (24) Hand Sanitiser
  
• (25) Passport
  
• (26) Screen Cleaning Cloth

Couple of quick thoughts on this, the Preppy suggestion is a good one, and pens that are nice, plastic is fragile, especially the caps, but if taken care of, these are great pens.

Now, for a cheaper start, to see if you like the methodology of note taking in different colors, since not all like it. The Pilot Varsity https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA multi-color pack is great for this, but I would recommend the Thornton's https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E68AKTC multi pack. I believe they are the same basic pen, nib, etc. However, I think the Thornton's is a nicer disposable pen that looks a little better.

With this choice, you can get a selection of colors to try and refine what you want in a note taking system. Do you want 2-4 colors or do you like having 6+ colors. Once you get a good idea of your use, you can refine what pens you want to carry with you and the colors you prefer. I personally like 6-8 colors for note taking.

Finally, another cheap option are some of the chinese pens that come in colors, the Hero 007 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-ship-Hero-Pen-007-Dark-tip-Vintage-Ultrafine-Schoolchild-pen-Handwriting-calligraphy-free-nib/32567244662.html, the Jinhao 599 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/JINHAO-599-Student-14-Color-fine-nib-Fountain-Pen-New-Free-shipping/32648562107.html or https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Jinhao-599-Student-fashion-Color-Medium-and-fine-nib-fountain-Pen-New-Give-Family-leadership-student/32668993830.html are good options, especially if you like the Safaris.

Hope this helps some.

OK, that is the basic, clean package. There are a lot of pens that will meet your needs, as others have said, the Pilot Metropolitan is a really nice pen, and will work very well, it is a solid win, and is recommended a lot because it is a very nice starting pen. Good looks and writes well.

Alternatives that would be good are the Nemosine Singularity medium or fine nib (I would avoid Extra Fine for a beginner). If you like the shape, the Lamy Safari is a pen a lot of people like, I don't think they are the best, but they are well regarded and reviewed.

There are others, Parker IM, Cross, etc. I also really like a lot of the chinese pens, but really think you might want to get down the road before jumping in on those in general. The only exception might be the Jinhao x750, but it is a larger/heavier pen.

Get a converter with whatever pen you buy (the Pilot and Nemosine come with converters, the Nemosine has a nice screw piston converter).

Now, get some ink. You are pretty good on budget, so if you want to go all out, get some Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi. This is an expensive ink, but one of the nicest inks you can get. It is a luxury to use, and the bottle is exquisite. If you get this ink, you have hit your budget.

A little less expensive ink, but really good, get some Noodler's Black, EEL Black, or X Feather (if planning to write on really bad paper).

Hope that helps, you will get a nicer kit than the package above. If you want to add a journal/sketchbook Pentalic works well with fountain pens for cheaper than some of the other brands.

LAASR is right... but, if you gotta a job and you gotta get it done you have to start somewhere now, no time for years of experience. I have been there and here is my suggestion.

Look at some great casual script fonts. Start typing out the words you need, do your kerning, spacing, sizing your capitols up a bit, give yourself a nice start. Now print out a ton of what you have in a very light gray. Buy some fun brush pens and mark over what you have produced. Practice line quality make each letter unique. Now save a few of the pages you like scan them in and use pieces from each sketch that you like and Frankenstein something together. You may need to go through the same steps again. Once you have something you really like take it into illustrator, trace it and clean up the vector.

People love a hand drawn feel, and short of becoming the master of a handful of styles I have used this technique with a fair amount of success.

one of the fonts I used recently for a similar look

Pens 1 2

1. I used to go camping a few hours north by this pretty river with my family every summer. I really loved it. I loved swimming in natural bodies of water (it's just so different then swimming in a pool) and I was the type of kid that never wanted to get out of the water. I also loved looking up and seeing the stars every night. I adore camping but I haven't been in the longest time. Now that I'm an adult, I've been talking with some friends about taking a camping trip to Yosemite and I really hope we can manage to make it happen, I've never been to Yosemite and I think it would be a lot of fun.
   
   
2. I don't have anything great. Though camping makes me think of smores, and what do you need to make smores? CHOCOLATE OF COURSE. Also I think something about writing in a notebook or on paper instead of a computer is really nice. I used to go to girl scout camp every summer and I remember sending home nice handwritten letters to my friends and family, [so here are some pens!] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U9TEEA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3QFC3MEUS1ELO&coliid=I1K9ZOTZI8U069) When I end up taking my Yosemite trip that I talked about, I definitely plan to send lots of postcards!
   
   
3. If I didn't have a load of work to catch up on I'd be taking a hike right now :(, but this summer I hope for lots of outdoor time. And I hope you have a wonderful trip with your family :)

For hand pain and fatigue, fountain pens are good too. For most of them their own weight is enough to make them write so you barely have to grip them or press down. And there are a zillion ink colors that are fun to choose from. An inexpensive but good one is the Platinum Preppy...it’s like $4, comes with a large ink cartridge and the cap seals really well so it never dries out (just checked and the Preppy seems to be stupidly overpriced on Amazon right now, it should be cheaper at Jet Pens, Goulet Pens, Vanness, or any other site that has fountain pens). Pilot Metropolitan and Lamy Safari (Safari is pretty much the most counterfeited pen ever and there are a lot of fakes on Amazon so I’d order elsewhere) are pretty good “beginner” fountain pens too, if you want something that looks a little nicer but still isn’t too insanely priced. TWSBI Eco has a good reputation too and holds a TON of ink but it’s easy to put back together incorrectly if you’re the tinkerer type who has to take everything apart. Finer nibs will put down less ink and are less likely to bleed or feather on cheap notebook paper. Nib size isn’t really standardized, though, so there’s a lot of variation between brands.

I try to keep a fountain pen, a rollerball (NOT a ballpoint) and an extra-fine Sharpie in my bag at all times so I can write on just about any surface without killing my hand. Personally, I think ballpoints are the devil and I avoid them whenever possible.

If you need a pencil, fat ones like Pilot Dr Grip are more comfortable for me than skinny ones. I’m accident-prone and always breaking thin lead so I’ve started using sketch pencils with huge 5.6mm lead. I have one of these that I found on a good sale but there are lots of cheaper options. There are some good 2mm or 3mm lead pencils out there too. I got a pack of really generic cheap Chinese 2mm pencils a while back that are surprisingly comfortable to hold for as skinny as they are. They have a lead sharpener built into the back clicky cap thing so you can keep it sharp without having to hunt down any specialty sharpeners.

If I have to use skinny pen/pencil or a ballpoint, I modify my grip to make it less awful. This is how I hold pens that kill my hand if I try to hold them normally. It’s not a perfect solution but it keeps my hand from cramping up and my fingers from bending back as much for a quick note or signature.

This got really long, sorry. I get a little too excited about stationery things...

I use 3:

• Zebra F701 I love this pen. It's $5, is near-100% steel, has a click that is very quiet, has an incredible pocket clip, has great filing near the tip for grip. The entire thing comes apart, and you can tinker with it or take it apart/rebuild it as much as you like. I like the way they write - not too heavy, not too light. They leave a very small mark on the other side of notebook pages, but compared to some gel pens like the Pilot G2, it's nowhere near as bad. The ink cartridges are disposable, but you can buy replacements online. They last a very long time. Over the past 4 years, I've carried and used this pen all day, 5 days of the week. So far, I've gone through 3 (Most still work, but have some aspect of them that is broken, such as the threading wearing from excessive fidgeting or something). It's also worth noting that I have a habit of spinning my pens and fidgeting with them, so there's a huge increase on the frequency that i drop/slam my pens into the ground and the amount of wear-and-tear the threading experiences compared to a regular user. The pen itself, by the way, feels incredible - not just as in how it feels physically (very smooth), but I like the weight distribution for spinning it.
  
  
• Pentel Graphgear 500: This is the pencil I use. It's about $6, and comes in 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm versions. If you buy bulk (~8 pencils, I think?) you can save a couple dollars per pencil. I prefer pens to pencils, but when I need a pencil, I always go with this. It's pretty standard for mechanical pencils, but one neat feature is the eraser - the eraser is not exposed on the back, there's a cover that you must remove to access it. This is something I really like - it makes the pencil look nicer, and you aren't pressing on an eraser to get more lead out the front. You can buy replacement erasers, for when it runs out. Note that this pencil is a bit front-heavy (the front is metal, while the back/center is lightweight plastic), and that the tip is a tad bit sharp (comes in handy for opening plastic packages, but I've never had it stab me by mistake). My #1 issue with this pen is that the pocket clip tends to come loose and fall off after awhile - this is a big issue for me, because I carry my pens/pencils in my pocket. Because of this, I'm considering other pencils, or maybe finding some way to hot-glue the pocket clip on? It's a shame, because I otherwise love this pencil.
  
  
• Pilot G2. This is a pen, you can buy a dozen for $1 each. It's gel, and writes bold. I use this when I want to write in bold. I also use this when I write a full page of equations in regular pen, then have space on the sides that I want to use- the bold nature helps separate it from the other equations on the page. This is the pen that I keep as backup for if my main pen somehow fails, and it's the pen that I let other people borrow (since so often we both forget to return it / get the pen back).
  
  I also have a fisher space pen. It's cool, but I find it is kind of small and easy to lose, so I just keep it at home and only use it at my desk.

Before starting, you should settle on a nib width that you are going to use. A lot of time people choose Medium because they think it's middle of the road and they often leave unsatisfied because it isn't. The line width you get from normal writing utensils tends to be more of a Fine on a fountain pen. I find it hard to get good handwriting with a medium nib whereas a fine is a lot easier.

Now at £10 here are some options:

• Pilot Varsity: Ready to use pen made by Pilot. I've never seen anyone complain about the way it writes, and it already comes with in inside it. You also get your choice of nib Cons? It's a disposable pen and isn't that pretty
  
• Platinum Preppy: Very similar but actually takes cartridges. You can choose your nib. I think you'll have to buy the cartridges separately.
  
• Baoer 801: Fine nibbed Chinese knockoff pen. Mine writes very well. Comes with fine nib. You'll probably want bottled ink. Section scratches easily but at the price I don't mind.
  
• Baoer 388: Very popular Chinese Sonnet knockoff. Mine writes very well. You'll probably want to use bottled ink with this one. Medium nib only.
  
  There are plenty of other Chinese pens out there, and you could go search them and find one you like too. I'm partial to Baoer pens: for me they have written better than any other Chinese pen. A lot of people recommend Jinhao pens, but their nibs run wide and they dry out a lot quicker when left sitting.
  
  As for bottled ink, I would suggest it for the Chinese pens because they come with the converter that is used to fill from the bottle. The inks I would recommend for you are:
  
  
• Parker Quink Black - my go-to black when it comes to inking any pen up.
  
• Waterman Serenity Blue - good generic blue. maybe a little light.
  
• Waterman Mysterious Blue - A darker, off blue
  
• Any freaking Waterman ink, I've heard good things from them. Tender purple? go get it. I suggest Waterman inks because they are cheap in the UK and very fountain pen friendly.

Well, everyone has different preferences, but I'd suggest getting one with pictures (this is lovely and very popular - she might find her friends have got it also, if they color) and one with patterns, (don't have this one personally, picked it at random) so she can decide which she likes to color more.

Fine tip markers like Staedtler, and a set of decent but not top-of-the-line pencils like Prismacolor would be a good start. If that's more than you wanted to spend, a smaller selection would probably be fine, or a cheaper good brand such as Staedtler Noris colors which I personally love. Oh, and get her a pencil sharpener and eraser as stocking fillers :)

[edit for links] - not linking the Staedtler Noris colour pencils because I'm in the UK and am not sure the Amazon.com ones are exactly the same.

I'm still a newbie too so don't take my word as anything other than a fellow person learning too, but I've recently gotten the Pilot Metropolitan (a fountain pen)

Amazon has one for around $10 https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW (that's medium nib, I prefer a fine nib for writing small such as a dot journal, and medium for larger writing such as lined paper or unlined).

My local pen guy calls it "absolutely the best pen under $100, bar none" and "don't bother buying another pen until you save up $120-150 and can afford a gold nib", so for $10-15 that makes it a super easy way to get into writing with one.

Why use a fountain pen? With a cartridge they're hassle free but regardless of ink supply they're very nice to write with. Almost no pressure required at all, a very simple and smooth glide over the paper. Easy to hold and you can hold it reverse to get an even finer line (at the cost of losing some of the smoothness of the glide).

Plus if you get into it, you can replace the disposable cartridges with a converter that lets you actually suck up from a bottle of ink and do it the old school way, and there's something "zen" or meditative about using great paper, a great pen, and treating writing practice as a form of mindfulness practice. But maybe that's just me :P

EDIT: On the total other side of the spectrum, if fountain isn't for you, I used to make cheaply rigged Mont Blanc rollerballs. The rollerballs are better than ballpoint (but not as smooth as fountain). I would buy Mont Blanc rollerball refills for like $7, and G2 Gel pens, and then one could cut a little bit off of the end of the Mont Blanc rollerball refill and place it into the Gel pen case after removing the gel ink. http://www.instructables.com/id/Save-$200-in-2-minutes-and-have-the-worlds-best-wr/ http://www.instructables.com/id/Mont-Black-Mont-Blanc-Hack-fitting-the-new-Mon/ That would get you a very high quality writing experience for cheap I bet

Oh god. Okay. I feel like I've been preparing for this post my whole life (or at least since I found these awesome things on amazon):

• Tuscan Whole Milk
  
• Fresh Whole Rabbit
  
• Uranium Ore in a Can
  
• The 2009-2014 Outlook for Wood Toilet Seats in Greater China -- Amazing read! Riveting!
  
• A Million Random Digits -- the textbook no student should be without!!!
  
• UFO Detector -- It's so amazing, you'll want to anally probe yourself!
  
• Everybody Masturbates -- Best reference manual and an amazing children's book!
  
• BIC Pens for Her -- Not to be used by men or your penis and testicles will immediately invert themselves and transform themselves into a vagina and ovaries!!!
  
• Moon People -- The greatest book of our time. Quite possibly. Follow the adventures of Dale Courtney - I mean, David Braymer - and his lady friend Cheral and his escapades as 1st Science Officer on the Lunar Base 1 Mobile Base Station
  
  Make sure you read the comments on these amazing, once in a lifetime products!!!
  
  edit: Aww shoot, I just saw you meant for realz. I got nothing, sorry. But still, you'll have a good laugh!

A little late to the game, but I have a couple of cents on this topic as well. I own Tombows, the Faber Castell's mentioned below, as well as Pentel Sign Touch Pens, and Kuretake Fudes. I think a lot of the commenters hit the nail on the head re: Tombows. They can be tough to use and hard to control transitions from thick to thin lines. In my experience, this has less to do with the flexibility of the nib and more about the type of head the pen uses. Tombows have a pretty large fiber brush head, and it's not as "springy" as some other pens. This means when you let back on the pressure, you have to really gauge how much pressure you need to reduce to get a thinner line. A lot of pens with a smaller head, especially felt tipped pens, will be a lot more forgiving in terms of pressure variation.

If you do want to get some smaller pens, the FC are decent. They have fantastic color transfer, but I feel like they're scratchier than some of the other options that I have, and also a tad bit more expensive. I really like the Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pens. The head is a tiny bit smaller than the FC pens, so you won't be able to get quite as thick of a downstroke. If you want something more comparable in size to the FCs, Kuretake Fudebiyoris are pretty similar and also writes a bit smoother.

That said, I think it also depends on what you're going for. If you want consistent lettering early on, a felt tip pen with a smaller nib is your best bet. However, because they're so much easier to control, I find that if I use those exclusively for a while, the quality of my lettering deteriorates. Tombows force you to really learn to control your pressure. If your goal is to perfect lettering with all types of pens (felt, brush, watercolor, etc) and with all sorts of nib sizes, I think using Tombows to practice with is the best option.

This is the stuff I have on me most of the time. I’m a grad student and as you can see, I’ve been lurking here for quite a while. I’m basically an /r/EDC stereotype at this point.

• Saddleback wallet
  
• bullet space pen
  
• Nitecore p12 flashlight (winter . . . short days)
  
• Ruger SR9c (winter)
  
• Sig p938 (summer)
  
• Spyderco delica (summer)
  
• Benchmade 950-1 rift (winter)
  
• carmex
  
• phone
  
• keys
  
• N82 IWB holsters
  
  *Thoughts: I used to carry a FourSevens QT2A (I think?) and it fit in the pocket much better but was obviously much dimmer than the p12. I think i'll go back to a smaller flashlight next winter. I've also carried a Benchmade 707, 275, and several 556 styles. Of all of them I liked the 707 the best but I tend to give away my knives to anyone that takes interest and the 707's price had gone way up when I went to buy another one.
  
  The p938 is, of course, much easier to carry than the SR9c but I can't hit shit beyond 10 feet away and it only holds 6 rounds. Luckily the odds of me needing to hit someone more than 4 feet away are effectively zero. I kind of regret buying the Sig but it'll do for another summer or two. I highly recommend N82 holsters because they are so damn comfortable and secure compared to most others I've tried. The Saddleback ID wallet is amazing if you never need to carry cash, and I've not found a better pen for my pocket than the Fisher space pen. I also like to buy the space pens in bulk so I can give them away to people who take interest.

>This is interesting.

Yes!! This is one of my favorite subjects. Jodi Pfarr has an excellent video explaining how dominant and minority groups interact. I wish I could show it to you but it's kept under lock and key by a third party publisher. I'll try to sum it up as best I can. I'm going to go into some issues that are pretty hot right now. Know that I use these just as examples and I don't want to open a debate about their specifics.

The dominant group and minority groups have equally valid narratives built through their perspectives. Those perspectives are world views built through socialization. For example, I'm perceived as white and therefore experience white privilege in the ways articulated in that Invisible Backpack article I linked in my previous comment. That doesn't mean my experience is less valid, it just means I've been treated differently just because of my skin color in a way that's very different than the experiences of people of color.

Growing up, I saw the police as upholders of justice in the neighborhood. All my interactions with the police were positive except for that one speeding ticket, and heck, I totally deserved it.

However, people of color, particularly certain races, often have a very different experience with the police. Any African American person likely has a story of a time when they or a person they know was unjustly harassed by the police for no reason other than the color of their skin. Many have a very different experiences and conclusions on whether or not the police are trustworthy. Take a look at this graph about perceptions of the investigation of Brown's death in Ferguson:

http://www.people-press.org/files/2014/08/8-18-2014_03.png Source article here

Look at that racial division. Majority white people trust the investigation. Majority black people don't. They see the prevalent racism in the police force we're never exposed to. They understand what it's like to be singled out for their race by the police and their humanity disregarded in a way that people who are white will never understand from a first person perspective. We can hear/read about it, but we'll never truly experience it, so we'll never have that same world view.

Again, these worldviews are all equally valid, but our own isn't a good make up of the big picture. Author John Steinbeck traveled to a city with another author friend of his and both wrote about their experiences. When the trip was over they compared essays and Steinbeck remarked that if he didn't know better he'd swear they visited a completely different place. Both were correct, but only a partial view.

When you talk about minorities and dominant groups, things get even harrier. By definition, the dominant group gets all sorts of invisible backpack bonuses. One of those bonuses is being seen as "normal". The dominant group is the "norm" and the minority group is the "other". There's toys for kids and toys for girls, there's vitamins and women's vitamins, there's bic pens and bic pens for her, etc.

The dominant perspective/worldview is also what's presented as normal. This is a very complex issue that spans many social science fields from sociology where studies examine dominant view impacts on statistical trends of a group, sometimes as large as a country population (for example in one study students were primed by being reminded that they are female did more poorly than the control group of female students who were not primed), to psychology where the dominant view impacts are studied in an individual who may internalize the dominant view or come to reject it.

So when it comes to social movements you're looking at a social minority group, who has realized there's a social problem they want to change. They recognize it because it's intrinsic to their experiences as a minority group, yet the dominant group doesn't have that perspective. What often happens is the dominant group becomes reactionary to minority group voices. "I've never seen that before!" when said in a normal voice by a single individual becomes a massive wave that smashes into the minority group. It's the dominant group's responsibility to listen, not speak to the minority group and take in what they say as an equally valid conclusion that stems from vastly different experiences that they will never personally experience. In order to understand someone else you have to temporarily suspend your own world view and listen. This is the core of a lot of Pfarr's work.

At this point you might ask, "well shouldn't the minority listen to the dominant group's views too? That's what a discussion is all about, right?" The answer is that they've already heard the dominant narrative over and over on a daily basis, either as a constant hum in the background or being screamed from many mouths in the foreground. Due to the nature of being a dominant group, their voice is always so loud no matter how softly each individual tries to speak. In contrast, the minority group's voice is so small even if individuals are screaming at the top of their lungs. So it's the dominant group's responsibility to suspend their worldviews and take the time to listen without comment.

An example of this comes from a book a federal government employee wrote about his time working with a local Native American tribe. He came in with the expectation that they would get moving on the project of mutual land management as soon as he arrived. To his surprise no one from the tribe was remotely interested in working with him or even talking to him. And whenever he did get someone talking they gave him an angry rant about all the ways they've been manipulated and exploited by white people and the US government. Our author was initially hurt, understandably, and would try to explain that he wasn't responsible for their suffering. To his further surprise their reaction was complete rejection. He found a few tribe members who would talk to him more openly and tried to explain that before moving forward, past grievances had to be addressed. The local tribe had been hurt too many times by white people and the encroaching government to trust the next white guy who shows up with a big smile and nice sounding promises. Before moving anywhere forward, they needed to know he was going to listen to them, know their perspective and history of exploitation and suffering (which so many others never cared to learn), and know that he would keep every promise no matter how seemingly insignificant. Once our author began listening, instead of giving his own views, and building up trust a little at a time he started getting somewhere. It took him years to build the relationships he needed to perform his job effectively and writes about how frustrating it was, especially at first when he was enduring many people's painful memories and anger directed at him. Through it all he writes that it was an invaluable experience and he learned to appreciate the opportunities of honesty and openness that were shared with him. He gained a much better understanding of the people he was hired to work with and through that relationship was able to act as a respected intermediary between them and the government. His experiences show how important it is for someone of the dominant group to listen to the minority group, hear what they have to say, and take it as a valid and true perspective equal to their own. This is key for social progress. Some background info, his five predecessors didn't last a year and very likely all his initial discussion points were bad echos of the last five failed attempts.

TL;DR Here's where I answer your question building on stuff I said previously. Sorry I wrote a book but I wanted to build up some key points first.

>So, if I'm understanding correctly, despite the dominant group's larger numbers, the unacknowledged privileges which they hold hurt their credibility and therefore their opinions are, objectively, not as extreme as they appear? Hopefully this analogy isn't too ridiculous, but are you basically saying that if I have an apple and an orange, I could say that the apple isn't as apple-y as the orange is orange-y because the apple grew in different conditions? Is that another oversimplification? I'm aware I do that from time to time.

So to specifically answer your question, both dominant and minority groups are equally credible, but as the dominant view is the norm, only the minority view hasn't been heard. The minority group is also in the disadvantaged position so they should be the ones to determine the problem and solution. To use your example (which is an oversimplification but that's okay, we'll roll with it) apples are equally apply as oranges are orangey but both live in a society where apples are everywhere! Oh not when it comes to population numbers, then they're about 50/50, but you see apples posted all over billboards and filling the grocery store aisles. There's just a little corner here and there for oranges and when ever they pop up, some apples always ask why that space wasn't used for more apples. Government is comprised of 75% apples and being an apple gives you a bonus at work. And when oranges try to talk about getting more orangey things, many of the apples tell them things are just fine they way they are. See, those apples have no idea what it's like to be an orange stuck in a world made for apples. In order for the oranges have the same opportunities at life as the apples, the apples need to listen to the oranges frustrations and sufferings and then make what changes they can to include more orange voices.

That was a silly extended metaphor (it might just float around as some copy pasta) but I hope it helps.

A good set of pens is really fun for creative types. Pentel SignPens (either these or these) are fantastic. Sakura and Stabilo make great ones as well. I like previously offered highlighter ideas and love my new see-through ones that I linked there. Also what about a set of sketch pencils?

What about some paracord and accessories for making guinea pig leashes? There are tons of sites that tell how to make them, she might be into it.

I also just recently got a little more into makeup and found an AMAZING set of cheap makeup brushes as a starter set - These and I'm actually getting them for my 18 yo niece for Christmas.

Best of luck!

1. Benchmade 771 - out of production, 154CM blade - aluminum handle w/ Axis lock
   
   
2. Kenneth Cole wallet - very slim and usable for a front pocket wallet.
   
   
3. Tissot PR-50 - also out of production but similar watches are available for the same price. Check for a "sapphire" crystal. It is much more scratch resistant than the "mineral" glass crystals out there.
   
   
4. Leatherman Squirt P4 - a handy multi-tool with: blade/file/pliers/screwdrivers/bottle opener/reamer/etc.
   
   
5. United Defense Pen - a solid and affordable aluminum "defense" pen. When paired with a Fisher Space Pen refill - it writes everywhere: upside down, in freezing conditions, under water, always moves smoothly, etc.
   
   
6. Illuminati Titanium AAA light - because titanium is cool and 115 lumens is bright from a single "AAA" light. This one is using an Energizer lithium battery for extra run time (over an hour on high - way longer on lower settings). For comparison, a regular 2D Maglite is only about 50 lumen.
   
   
7. Zippo lighter - it's a "Zippo". If you need one they are time honored and reliable.
   
   
8. Titanium rings - 40% lighter than steel, just as strong, and 100% more unique.
   
   
9. Titanium clips - Looks like they are out of the Ti McGizmo's.
   
   
10. Custom engraved tag: $25.00 total, I had to have 5 tags made (to make the minimum) so I gave out a few gifts since I only wanted two (I added friends' numbers for their tags). I don't remember the name of the engraving company unfortunately. Some pet stores (Petco) have machines that do single engravings for "pet tags" that would work perfect for a keychain i.d. and only cost around $5.
    
    
    Edit: If anyone is curious, everything looks pretty much the same after three years except the Squirt's anodizing is a little chipped up. Black leather dye, Lexol leather conditioner, and polishing compound helps to maintain the shiny look. Also maybe don't put your Benchmade in the washer/dryer - that is hard on the bead blast finishing and also really aggravating when you realize it is not just a metal button from your jeans making the noise.

These:

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

Are a great way to get into fountain pens. They're disposable, cheap enough to throw away, but good enough (as long as you don't let them dry out) to write comfortably until they're empty. They do have a larger/looser stroke than she may prefer, though.

http://www.amazon.com/uni-ball-KuruToga-Mechanical-Starter-1751934/dp/B0026ICM1E

Hands down one of the best mechanical pencils you can get. You won't see too much a difference writing in cursive, but it's a whole 'nother world for block/print script.

Rhodia and Leuchtturm make some of the best notebooks. If you've got cash and aren't averse to leather, Levenger makes a great disc-binding system that costs maybe $150 to get into. Staples has the Arc system which is compatible, and is maybe $20-$40 to get into.

Good luck!

For what it's worth, I think the LT1917 has become a standard because the original Bullet Journal web page sells them under their brand.

As mentioned here, LT1917 is 80gsm, which is relatively thin and makes a lot of pens bleed through and ghost. For more information about bleeding, ghosting, and general comparison between notebooks I recommend watching Which Notebook is the Best for Bullet Journaling?! (skip to 11:00 to see the comparison chart). I prefer Scribbles That Matter which is thicker (100gsm) and feels smoother to write on. My next purchase will probably be a Midori with 120gsm or a Rhodia to try them out.

One of the core principals of Bullet Journalism is that there are no hard rules. While it comes with some guidelines, you are free to use it however you see fit. Which means that there are no predefined pages. So for the most part you are going to be drawing the layouts. And this is why a Dotted paper helps because you can use the dots to draw your own layouts. You can checkout Pinterest for inspiration. The community uses the term "spreads" to signify two-page layouts used for all sorts of things.

As for pens, many recommend the Sakura Pigma Micron for good reason. While I use them for more "serious" work, when it comes to EDC I would highly recommend the Muji 0.38mm Fine Point Gel Pens. Unlike the Microns, they are not felt tip (which is why I wouldn't use them for EDC) but very sharp ball point pen with great consistency. A lot of people swear by the Pilot G2 0.38mm Ultra Fine Point but personally I wasn't pleased with them.

Finally, regarding the things you want to track, as I mentioned earlier, you can simply define the layouts of each page and track whatever you wish. A lot of the spreads you see from the community are really intricate. You can find a variety of them from very crazy daily layouts to minimal ones. It's all up to you.

Having said that, if drawing your own layouts daily seems like a lot of work (a lot of people actually spend a few hours planning them beforehand), then you might want to consider a more traditional Planner instead. As mentioned ITT, the Nomadic Planner has good paper (125gsm), weekly and monthly pages as well as lined and blanks for notes and the rest.

There is a whole universe of things to consider (and I'm more than happy to geek out about it), but I'd say just start with whatever. Don't think about it too much. Most of the negatives are personal, so while LT1917 doesn't work for some, it might for you. You'll figure things out as you go.

Okay, sweet. So, one of the cool things about fountain pens is their customization to how you want to write. Do you like writing small and precise? Get an EF or F nib. Do you like cursive-looking writing? Get an italic nub. Do you like sexy line variation? Get a flex nib.

My point is that I would get one of the two most recommended starter fountain pens so that you won't be stuck with an experience you don't like having spent $50 on a design or nib size that doesn't suit you: the Lamy Safari or the Pilot Metropolitan. After the first few pens, you'll have an idea of what you really like in a fountain pen. These pens are both inexpensive, relatively high build quality, and nice writers. I started with a Lamy Safari EF as my first pen and I still use is regularly because it is a nice pen, despite it being inexpensive. But I think you can look around Youtube or Google some reviews on the two and see which one looks more appealing to you. I personally recommend the Lamy Safari because it has a "tripod" grip that helps beginners position the pen so that the nib is in the right orientation. See the Safari here. The Metropolitan is also a nice pen. So again, whatever you think looks cooler.

Fountain pens can be refilled through disposable cartridges or through filling mechanisms that take up ink from a bottle.

My first bottle of ink was Noodler's Black.

And to refill the Safari, I had to buy a converter.

I started using fountain pens around 5 or so months ago, and my bottle of the same ink is still going strong. (Although I have bought tons more other colors. :D).

I wrote a slightly more extensive "beginner fountain pen guide and why you should use fountain pens" comment on another post, and I'll link that here if you want to read it.

1. Baron Fig Squire Click Ballpoint Pen (Charcoal) https://www.baronfig.com/products/squire-click
   
   • originally bought a Squire, but I didn't like the rollerball cartridge
     
2. Tactile Turn Stainless Steel Shaker https://www.tactileturn.com/store/stainless-steel-mover-shaker
   
   • hefty pen, feels very good in the hand
     
3. Tactile Turn Anodized Aluminum Shaker (Black) https://www.tactileturn.com/store/anodized-aluminum-mover-shaker
   
   • lightweight compared to the steel version
     
4. Pilot Axiom (Matte Black) http://pilotpen.us/brands/axiom/axiom/ (with Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity Ballpoint Black Ink Refill http://pilotpen.us/categories/refills-ink/dr.-grip-center-of-gravity/)
   
   • the clickie button has a handy indicator on top to show when the pen is retracted or not
     
5. Fisher Zero Gravity Space Pen (Matte Black) https://www.spacepen.com/zerogravitypenmatteblack.aspx
   
   • my favorite space pen, very solid click, good clip, and the grip section has a slight 3 sided shape to it
     
6. Fisher Cap-O-Matic Space Pen (Matte Black) https://www.spacepen.com/M4Bnon-reflectivemilitarymatteblackcap-o-maticpen.aspx
   
   • my least favorite space pen, slim but hate the click action and the clip
     
7. Fisher Bullet Space Pen (Matte Black) https://www.spacepen.com/400B.aspx (with 1/4" rubber grommet for pocket friction https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BO9DSA/)
   
   • perfect for EDC pocket carry, the rubber grommet keeps it from slipping out when sitting down
     
8. Makerset Field Pen Compact (Brass) https://makersetco.com/products/field-pen-compact?variant=5459314278431
   
   • mmm brass
     
9. Makerset Field Pen Compact (Stainless) https://makersetco.com/products/field-pen-compact?variant=5459642548255
   
   • these are cute little pens, very smooth click action
     
10. Makerset Field Pen Compact (Black DLC) https://makersetco.com/products/field-pen-compact?variant=5459642581023
    
    • if you see residue under the clip, it's the clip wearing off on the DLC (diamond like coating), not the other way around!
      
11. Sharpie Pen (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B66DXU/
    
    • couldn't find these on Sharpie's site anymore?
      
12. Sharpie Pen Retractable (Black) https://www.sharpie.com/pens/retractable-pen?sku=SHRetractablePenBlackFine
    
    • very long click action, fat barrel with a rubber grip that catches on everything
      
13. Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Retractable Marker (Black) https://www.sharpie.com/markers/classic/retractable?sku=SHRetractableBlackUltraFine
    
    • I like these for using with Rite in the Rain notebooks, they write very smoothly on that paper and don't bleed (although they can't write while wet like space pens)
      
14. Pilot G2 07 Fine (Black) http://pilotpen.us/brands/g2/g2/
    
    • can't beat a classic G2, need to get the mini version

I have a nice selection of fountain pens, and they're lovely. I enjoy using them immensely, and they make great gifts! Perhaps you should show her the price range of higher end fountain pens?! Watch her head explode. Good thing you like fountain pens, and not high-end automatic (mechanical) watches!!

If you haven't used a fountain pen before, you want something inexpensive and disposable to try out, the Pilot Varsity fountain pens are actually quite good (and cheap):

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Varsity-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA/ref=sr_1_4

For something a little nicer looking (but still really inexpensive), check out the JinHao fountain pens (China). Here's an older review: http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/131552-jinhao-x750-review/

Just keep in mind that you do need to clean out the ink periodically, and you definitely want to clean them out if you're not going to use them for a while.

The JinHao fountain pens are sold on eBay. Here are two examples:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/jinhao-x750-fountain-pen-blue-and-black-Medium-nib-new-free-shipping/312719179069

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JINHAO-X750-FOUNTAIN-PEN-Black-shimmering-sands-Medium-NIB-new-free-shipping/140641723784

Good luck!

From top to bottom:

Fisher Space Pen - $18

Popular, cheap, writes anywhere and on almost anything.

The Pen Project (originally from Kickstarter) - $60 (I paid $30)

Uses the Fisher Space Pen cartridge, milled out of aluminum. Backed this project on Kickstarter but didn't really like the pen's design - little too thick and didn't like that it used the Fisher cartridge.

Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pen - $52.50

Awesome EDC pen, writes extremely well, lightweight, cap posts to the pen, overall just a great EDC pen if you like fountain pens.

Ti Pocket Pro (also originally from Kickstarter) - $75 (I paid $65)

My newest addition to the collection... just got this a couple weeks ago. Accepts over 80 refills but ships with a gel-ink cartridge that writes similar to the G2 pens. Love the rich, smooth ink and the design of the pen. Made out of solid titanium.

Okay here are some suggestions

1. Wallet. I have not ordered it yet but [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P4Y9EW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28SBX2GB3VZCT) cigarette case could work.
   
2. Knife: [Spyderco tenacious] (http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1370136756&sr=1-1&keywords=spyderco) is $32 and a little more than 3 inches or the [Spyderco ambitious] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MMSDHO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) which is a baby tenacious with a 2 1/4 inch blade and $29.
   While they are not tactical opinels are really nice and are near $10 and come in lots of sizes.
   
   
3. Pens: I have a [zerbra 701] (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80) and a [Fisher space bullet pen] (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-Bullet-400/dp/B000095K9D/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1370136956&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=fisher+space+ben). For the money the zebra is excellent, the bullet pen is nice but there is a tutorial on how to mode the zebra to take space pen refills which is the best of both.
   
4. I know you got the wave but I suggest getting a small mt like a sak or a leatherman ps4 or micra. The victorinox classic sd is good and about $10
   
   Also with all the stuff you want to carry, It might be wise to invest in a maxpediton micro pocket organizer which is about $15
   If you got any questions just ask.

Zebra F-701: Nice weight and grip, and the ballpoint isn't bad. I recommend to mod it to be even better.

Fisher Space Pen: The cream of the crop when it comes to ballpoint inks, Fisher pens are really nice. There's lots of variety, so check around for the style you like.

Baoer Skywalker: is a good not-knockoff of the Montblanc Starwalker. I have one, and with good ink in it it's a nice pen. The clip is a little flimsy but I like it, nice and heavy.

Jinhao 599: Heavy and solid pen, but a little cheap feeling at times. It's a rollerball, so I don't know if it takes ballpoint refills.

Vktech Tactical Pen: I have one of these and it's very solid but lightweight too. The ink it comes with is garbage, but it fits any standard Parker refill. I have a Parker gel refill and it writes great. There are lots of other "tactical" pens out there made of steel and aluminum, but this is the most affordable option.

Hope that helps!

Just a few notes:

• Chromebook fits 90% of my needs, and I find myself using it more than my Macbook. It's got Ubuntu running on it for any "real"/offline work. Got it on ebay for a good deal (~$220)
  
  
• I have a Leatherman Juice CS4, but I found it to be too large to fit in my jeans. The dime is a much better fit for me.
  
  
• The flash drive acts as a secondary computer, it's got Liberkey on it.
  
  
• The Skilcraft B3 Aviator multipen is the best pen multi pen i've used yet. Barely any rattling, solid brass, has red & black ink & a pencil (Perfect for any student). Would definitely recommend it over the Zebra Sharbo X.
  
  
• Moleskine's got my school notes, homework, and other random bits throughout the day.
  
  
• I've had the Sansa for a good 3+ years and it still holds a good charge (15+ hours). I've got Rockbox running on it.
  
  

Okay, so I used an Expedition for a while doing some research in the sticks of Nicaragua and I tried a number writing implements (all with limited success, they all smudged a bit). If you use a pencil, I think it is best to use lead that is quite hard, since that won't smudge as much. Those also happen to be good for EDC, since they tend to have better point retention. A Staedtler Wopex is a good option, if you don't mind the weird, rubbery feel. But basically any pencil will work (including mechanical pencils) as long as the lead is fairly hard. Like /u/lightinthedark suggested, you can use a bullet point to make it more carry-able. I also use pencil caps, which are great as long as they're metal.

If you do want to use a pen, I had good luck with a ballpoint. Any basic ballpoint works pretty darn good; I used the FN one for a while (which is a Bic Clic). If you go for anything fancy it'll probably smudge, although I also used a space pen for a hot minute. Those don't hold up to being lost in warehouses though.

there are some pens made to accommodate common gel pen refills like the uniball and g2 refill.

I think there are some in the same price range as the jotter, maybe the zebra? but maybe not.

They are thin stainless steel.

But there are other much more impressive and expensive ones too. The tactile turn is pretty awesome, 7 times the price of the jotter though.

I would look for an all metal click pen like the jotter, in the same price range as the jotter, that is compatible with the g2 refills.

I really like cheap but functional. It will write just as well as a $70 tactile turn.

here's a zebra for $8, there are different models but I don't know what refills they take, the zebra gel refills are excellent anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Stainless-Retractable-Pen/dp/B002L6RB80

I'm traveling right now! Currently sitting at my gate in the airport, waiting for boarding to begin. I'm very excited to be heading on vacation!

While studying, I like to have something playing in the background. I like to put something light-hearted on, such as Easy A or Bridesmaids. A funny movie is something that can help you relax if you need a break or is something to use as white noise. In terms of study help... color coding always really helped me. I don't know if there's any science behind it, but it definitely helped me with some anxiety associated with testing.

Idiocracy is an awesome movie. It's hard to describe why because it's just sooo good in all respects. I probably like it so much because I totally agree that we're going in that direction... BRAWNDO!

Who needs revision?! Not me! nervous laughter

I use and carry a Fischer Space Pen simply for how little space it takes up in my pocket. And, for a ballpoint, it writes pretty well and consistently. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it and have used it quite a bit. I will say to definitely buy the color/style you really want, be sure you’ll have this thing on you quite a bit if you buy one.

As for the pen that I actually use the most, I love Sharpie fine pens like these: https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Plastic-Point-Resistant-1742663/dp/B001B66DXU/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1549391560&sr=1-4&keywords=sharpie+pen

While a little pricier for a disposable pen, I find that they last for a good amount of time, the ink quality is fantastic and dries very quickly. I’m a lefty, so this is great for me so that I don’t get an inky-pinky at work. I can’t say the same for the Space Pen, as much as I like it, as it’s still a pressurized ball point.

I prefer pen and paper. Writing by hand has always helped me retain more knowledge and memory than typing, and there's actually some science to back this up.

>According to a new study, Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer of Princeton University and UCLA Los Angeles respectively, students who write out their notes by hand actually learn more than those to type their notes on laptops. Over the course of several experiments, Mueller and Oppenheimer tested students’ memories for factual detail, conceptual comprehension, and synthesizing capabilities after half of them took notes by hands and the other half took notes by way of computer. Students who used laptops cranked out more words than hand-writers did, but the hand-writers ended up with a stronger conceptual understanding across the board.

This, plus I find the tactile feel of the pen moving and creating across the paper to be a deeply satisfying and somewhat spiritual experience.

I use a simple Black n' Red spiral notebook (LOL that Amazon price) because I find it easier to let loose and write down anything that comes to mind. The fancy journals I've purchased in the past always ended up unused because I was too anxious and self-conscious about marking up the pretty pages with thoughts that didn't seem "worth it." If you're going to start journaling on pen and paper, I strongly recommend starting with the simple route. Spend the money on something fancy when you're more comfortable with journaling.

I also strongly recommend ditching ballpoint pens if you're serious about paper journaling. Gel and fountain pens let you get your thoughts out much faster and with less pain. I use a Uni-ball Signo UM-151 and Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen. Again, I don't like to get too fancy with my journaling. It's more important to get the words out than fret over the tools.

As for what to write...write whatever resonates with you no matter how scattered or silly or unformed it may seem. Don't get self-conscious about it. Just get the words out.

Knife: definitely something more beefy than the Leek (while it is a beautiful knife you may want something more rugged I like the Ontario rat 2 or the fixed blade Rat 3 I also like this gerber "survival knife"
Light: that's a great light good pick
Multitool: This gerber is my favorite, they've taken me through two deployments overseas and still run like a champ
Pen: Space pen for sure

Just practice writing small! I've changed my handwriting on a whim just by doing this for half a page of regular notebook paper. I used to do it all the time in high school; I could never decide if I wanted to write my lowercase A's like "a" or "α", so I'd just write whichever one I wanted my handwriting to look like repeatedly until my hand got used to the motion.

I've recently sized down my handwriting as well in a similar way. Basically I've just been using a regular college-ruled notebook and when I take my notes in class, I make a point to make sure my letters are only 1/2 of each line because it's a lot easier to read (more white space between lines makes it feel less jumbled imo).

As someone else suggested, the dotted, grid, or lined notebook might help you quite a bit. But I would still practice in another notebook first (like don't go out and buy a $20 notebook immediately) to practice in, because it's probably going to look really messy until your hand gets used to the new way of writing.

I'd also suggest using a thinner pen if you aren't already. My favorite for general note-taking is the Pilot G2 Ultra Fine Point, though the Extra Fine Point (.5mm instead of .38mm) works well too. You can also find some pretty cute pens if you look on Korean and Japanese-themed websites (like Blippo), as they have many .35mm pens for pretty cheap.

First off, many of these things are intentionally cheap, because I do tend to break and/or lose things, so... Here goes.
All have Amazon links, because that was what was easiest.


Jewelry:

• Elder Scrolls Imperial symbol arrowhead necklace - I made this from scrap a while ago for a basic metal-arts class.
  
  
• Kris knife necklace - Got this at a Renaissance Fest last year, and I also like wearing it.
  
  
• UP by Jawbone (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A17IAO0) - Really great sleep tracker, plug-and-sync
  
• Fitbit Flex (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGO0Q9O) - The de-facto fitness tracker, wireless sync
  
  
• Pebble watch (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BKEQBI0) - Simple smartwatch
  
  
  Right front pocket:
  
  
• Frame-lock box cutter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016KHW2W) - Was using a frame-lock knife, to open boxes. Replaced it with this, been happy since.
  
  
• Precise V5 RT (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E6A9M8) - My favorite ball-point pen. Looking forward to the arrival of a Lamy Al-Star fountain pen.
  
  
• Zebra M301 0.5mm (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BLC7FG) - Great intro engineering pencils.
  
  
• Galaxy S5
  
  
• Chapstick
  
  
• Pentel plastic eraser (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q4HQVU) - For the larger-than-one-character mistakes.
  
  
  Left front pocket:
  
  
• 4-in-1 screwdriver (similar to http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014KMDZ0) - Thin profile screwdriver. Awesome. Clips away in a corner and you can forget about it until you need it.
  
  
• Streamlight MicroStream (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00143JZ08) - Tiny little flashlight, amazing little clip. Clip it in a corner and forget it until you need it.
  
  
• Mighty Wallet (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036FN60W) - I keep it relatively thin in contents, and it's amazingly thin by itself.
  
  
• Sennheiser CX300IIs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EZYMF4) - Some of the best little cheap earbuds. I have over-the-ears for desk-work, but these can go with me easily.
  
  
• Yubikey Neo (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LX8KZZ8) - For my 2FA needs, both on the phone and PC. I use it with LastPass.
  
  
• Spare AAA Battery
  
  
• 12" baton (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHDLF8E) - For self defense, since I stopped carrying a knife, and it's more actually useful for defense than my old knife was anyway.
  
  
  Wallet highlights:
  
  
• Band-aids - I chew my cuticles and pick at scabs. Bad habit. Nice to have these around.
  
  
• Bottle opener - Got this as swag from a startup I used to work for.
  
• Sewing kit - For emergency mending
  
  
• Guitar picks (I like http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D0CGC)
  
  
• Safety pins
  
  
• Handcuff key
  
  
• Handcuff shim - Nice when handcuffs aren't double-locked; sometimes easier to manipulate than the keys.
  
  
  Left back pocket:
  
  
• Field Notes graph-ruled notebook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CQT2KU) - reasonably durable, cheap notebooks.
  
  
  Not shown:
  
  
• Keysmart Extended key holder (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXQQNC6) - Nice to keep my work keys from jangling around
  
  
• Car keys

1. Uni-ball Signo 207
   
2. Rite in the Rain "Tactical" Memo Book - Not sure what makes it tactical. It's squared, not ruled?
   
3. Black Diamond Positron 'biner - So sad, my last one lasted me a couple months shy of 20 years, and it got left in a hotel room, and they wouldn't ship it (with all my keys and junk) back to me.
   
4. Loyalty cards
   
5. PNY 16GB "Sport" Flash Drive
   
6. Nite Ize Red LED Squeeze Light
   
7. Name tag from a dearly departed pet
   
8. Keys - House, mailbox, and one I never remember what it's for
   
9. Keys - bike, fire safe
   
10. SecurID fobs for work
    
11. Jaybird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones - As a hands-free, they are sort of noisy for the other party, but they're great for running, rowing, and just normal wear
    
12. HTC One w/ unlimited data plan so I never run out of music when running, rowing, just walking around
    
13. Wedding ring - Titanium w/ dinosaur bone, meteorite, and a bit of gold to make it look schmancy
    
14. CRKT M16-12ZER - I like orange. Recently picked up an M16-12ZLEK because it was on sale, might swap them in and out
    
15. Wallet
    
16. Casio PAW5000-1 Atomic Tough Solar Analog Digital Watch - I like orange, didn't want just digital, and admittedly the ABC sensor was total gadget fetishism
    
17. Fenix PD32 - because I gave the Surefire E2DL to my wife for walking the dog in the evening, because it's wet-crunchy-noise-making stabby bits are longer and sharper.
    
    The only real difference between this and the Not-At-Work Edition is the addition of a Springfield Armory XD Sub-Compact 9mm in bi-tone, a Crossbreed Supertuck holster (don't hate; I have had it for about 6 years, and my clips are actually from Theis Holsters because I got Kydex clips initially, and by the time I decided that metal was a better choice they had those crosses all over them), and the subtraction of the fobs for work.

Happy to help! What's your budget? I'm on mobile - let me see if I can grab links to what I would recommend based on what you want to spend


Edit: these are the markers I have and I love them. A bit pricy but worth it if it's in your budget: http://www.amazon.com/STD334SB20A6-Staedtler-Triplus-Fineliner-Pens/dp/B0007OEE7E
(There is actually a bigger set you can get from JetPens.com I think)

For a coloring book, I have a couple I like:
This one (and the other ones by this author/artist) is great: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1780671067/ref=pd_aw_fbt_229_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0C8DWW0SZ6WKWXY2EX4N


This one also looks nice. I don't have it but one of my friends does: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1941325122/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=61DETogR%2BIL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C100_&refRID=1NJH3VAEG30BFHGYWTF4

Just a few comments/suggestions :)

I would recommend the Pilot Metropolitan as a starter, for around the price of the Plasir it is very reliable, smooth writer, and much easier to clean. If you do buy the Plasir, you will also need to buy a convertor to use bottled ink, where the Metropolitan comes with one included.

The Jinhao is a copycat of the Lamy Safari, a good starter, but know that people either absolutely love or hate the style of the grip.

The inks you picked out are good, although to start I really recommend getting a Goulet sample pack so you can try similar colors before committing to an entire bottle, which will last quite a while.

Hope this helps! I love helping new people explore the world of fountain pens :)

Assuming your microns are the fine liner type and not the brush pens, you should get on the brush pen train!

This one is really nice and popular.

This one is nice too and would be more like what you're used to with the microns, but with a softer tip so you can vary the line weight easily.

I could be wrong, but i'm pretty sure both of these are waterproof. Playing with water soluble ink and a water brush is a lot of fun too and doesn't require much to try out. Something like this (but try to find just one for cheap.. you don't need a bunch) plus random non-waterproof pens you probably have around the house and you're good to go.

How much are you looking to spend on a pen?

I do not personally own one, but I have heard a lot of good things about the Zebra F-701 as an EDC pen. Also it's like $5.

I carry a Fellhoelter TiBolt (because titanium) and I absolutely love it, but it was quite an investment and at the moment they're hard to obtain. It takes any parker-compatible refill and it will literally last a lifetime.

Prior to my purchase of the TiBolt, I carried a Karas Kustoms Render K in the Pilot G2 cartridge variation, which happens to be my favorite pen cartridge. The build quality is pretty damn good, but my only gripe is that the threaded cap doesn't attach to the back of the pen very well when you're writing with it. I imagine that the other Karas Kustoms pens are put together with the same build quality.

I'm 28, in the Navy, and here's what I'm usually carrying.

Maxpedition Pocket Organizer

NM Flag patch

Old coin given to me a while ago

Sparrow's Tuxedo Pick Set It's a great set, and a cool thing to learn. The linked set has a different case, I guess they don't do the leather cases anymore. I also had them put rubber handles on mine when I ordered, makes all the difference.

USB cord that came with my phone

Tekton 4" adjustable wrench

Zebra pen. Forgot which specific one...you probably know it though, it's one of the popular choices on this sub. My main pen I keep in my breast pocket, the Fisher Bullet. That's the best pen I've ever had, hands down.

Fine point Sharpie

Rite in the Rain notebook. It's ok. I much prefer Field Notes Expedition which I also keep in mind that breast pocket. Just wish the pages were perforated.

Streamlight Microstream. Awesome little light, and the AAA battery it takes lasts quite a while.

Chapstick

ThermoWorks surface thermometer. Sorry, can't find a link. My buddy gave me this last Christmas. Comes in real handy in the field, to see if my JetBoil is too hot to put away. Also, I dunno, I can tell you if stuff is hot or cold or whatever. Neat.

• I <3 these pens for writing!
  
  
• I'd love this if I win, please!
  
  
• Write On!
  
  
• I did all of the above, so I hope you consider me. :D
  
  
• I'd love for you to send me a postcard! I can send you a postcard too if you'd like as well.
  
  
• Thank you for this contest, I did have fun with this! I love writing.
  

You might try Staedtler technical pens, or Copic Multiliner SP markers. Both are extremely fine points - the Copics can go down to .03mm, but only in black, I think.

This set of Staedtler pens has pretty much every conceivable color you'd ever need to do panel lining: http://www.amazon.com/Triplus-Fineliner-Pens-Metal-Assorted/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416452707&sr=8-1&keywords=staedtler+triplus+fineliner&pebp=1416452711877

They also just started selling these precision Q-tips, which when soaked in rubbing alcohol will take care of your excess pigment pen ink. Just run 'em across the line, and if you run into situations like those vents, the end is pointy enough to get in there. http://www.amazon.com/Q-Tips-Cotton-Swabs-Baby-170/dp/B00604MRLA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1416452785&sr=8-4&keywords=precision+q-tip

If you don't wanna sink $10 on a 4-pack and they don't have them next to the Q-tips at your grocery or health and beauty store/drugstore I'll happily send you a package if you cover for the cost.

Hello! I got really into handlettering last year. What I did was buy some Duel Brush Pens and this set. The Duels are thicker strokes than the Fudenosuke ones. I recommend this beginner set as well, it even comes with a little workbook. Maybe start with just that to kind of dip your feet in a little. There are some good sites out there for practicing, I like Show Me Your Drills. They have printouts and daily practice sheets and such. I also highly recommend getting a pad of tracing paper from Michaels to place over the practice sheets, if only because it gives you endless room to keep practicing the same lines if you're so inclined and also the paper is much easier on the pens themselves. I also found Instagram a huge help. Looking through hashtags like #handlettering #brushpen #moderncalligraphy and related ones have SO many examples of different styles and plenty of videos where you can watch people writing to kind of get the hang of it! If you have any questions feel free to ask! I dove deep down the rabbit hole on this subject haha.

These are the greatest pens in the world.

The whole Pilot G2 line is amazing. But I particularly love the .38 ultra fine pens. I love a fine point tip. It's so precise and it writes so smooth. if I could only write with one type of pen for the rest of my life this would be it. I love it so much.

Also. If you really want to start doing this (yay!) I recommend adding these to your wishlist as your starter pens. They are the best for cheaper fine tips, and the colors are so bright. Mix these with a variety of black pens until you find one you like the most... Personally, I am still trying out new black ones, but Pilot G3 makes for a really nice pen for a cheaper end one.

Sorry, I just care a lot about this.

Also, things you can add to your wishlist if you don't want to just go out and buy a bunch of this stuff:

• A compass to draw beautiful circles
  
  
• Rulers - I have two I use the most, and both are cork-backed
  
  
• A protractor!
  
  
  If you do just want to go buy this stuff, everything is on sale right now at walmart and target for back to school, so this is a good time to start :)
  

I gotcha on this one! I just went through the exact same thing. I had been using a Pilot G2 .38 and loving it. Wanted it to be portable and metal.

You'll have to switch to frixion. Doesn't write quite as nicely as the G2 but it's close. Plus frixion is erasable.

Pilot FriXion Ball Slim Retractable Erasable Gel Ink Pens,Extra Fine Point, - 0.38 mm - Black/Blue/Red Ink- Value Set of 3 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00G2TH1PK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d8OTCbJWZZZXJ

Get a Fisher bullet and toss the childishly thick cartridge. And then put in the cartridge from the frixion.

Fisher Space Pen Bullet Space Pen with Clip - Matte Black, Gift Boxed (400BCL) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0002ZQB4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_H9OTCbCJ782R4

You'll need to add something to the end of the Fisher pen to ensure the cartridge is pushed out....I used a wooden dowel.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have questions.

If you are looking to start calligraphy I would highly recommend just taking the plunge and purchasing some cheap calligraphy pens. They aren't super expensive and while you can just do faux-calligraphy with a ball point pen I have found that there is something about having a dedicated pen that makes me so much more motivated. If you are interested in Gothic calligraphy I personally love the Pilot Parallel pens for their ease of use and portability. Good luck on finding something artsy to do!

edit: grammar

Chairs that cost $1000+ are not out of the norm at all.

Think of it this way: if you are a working professional in a white collar job, and you have to spend 6+ hours a day sitting, it makes a lot of sense to buy a chair that you are comfortable in. People pay ten times as much for things they use ten times less (e.g. cars).

It's a principle that I apply to much of what I own. As a student, I use just a couple of things really often:

1. Keyboard
   
2. Pen
   
3. Notebook
   
4. Backpack
   
   For each of those I have spent a significant amount of time and money figuring out what makes the best tool for me. Because they are the tools I use the most, they had better be of good quality. They are, in order:
   
   
5. DAS Professional Model S
   
6. Pilot G2/Uniball Stick Fine Point
   
7. Moleskine Ruled Notebook A4
   
8. Timbuk2 Q Backpack
   
   All of those are more expensive, but they make working and doing what I do a joy. If they are going to be my tools, then they are going to be good.
   
    
   
    
   
    
   Also, I'm really sorry if that came off as highly pretentious. I realize now that my not have come across the nicest. Oh well, I've typed it out, I can't back out now!

you can get these big thick spiral bound sketchbooks at dollarama, load tf up on those, they're great. aside from that, you can generally go cheap on most comic supplies. steadler HB pencils are fine, a nice gum eraser, and some sharpies of various widths. If you're feeling ambitious and have an arts store near-by you can get some inexpensive faber-castelle felt tip pens for fine lines, .5mm should be fine. And This! this pen is awesome and super versatile.

Oooh, depends on what you're looking for, my friend! However, all my starter pens were under $35 with my favorite being the Pilot Metropolitan ($15). It writes very well and it's a great starter pen!My next suggestions would be: LAMY Safari Pen and TWSBI Eco Demonstrator. These are fun, come in fun colors or can be see-through which is neat cause then you can see the ink!

Also take into consideration nib sizes (Fine being thin lines and more tactile, and Medium+ having thicker, "wetter" lines). 🎆🎇

This pen is my current favorite

And this pen

This one is my number 2

Not sure on exchange rates but this one is really nice as well

I love a good pen, I have large hands and i prefer to take notes for class by hand instead of typing them out.

That's a fine choice. I love F-301s, but now that I have my F-701, that's all I use. Yeah, its a little more expensive, but the barrel is thicker and the grip is better. Even though the two pens come with the same ink cartridge, the F-701 writes better because it feels better in my hand.

I've been using the Parker Jotter with an ink refill for a Fisher Space Pen (which includes an adapter) and I've found it to be a wonderful combination. The fisher space pen is a bit too small and slippery for me to use comfortably, and the Jotter has (in my opinion) a better aesthetic and a very satisfying click. The space pen refill writes very smoothly, the ink is indelible, and is much nicer to use than the standard Parker ink.

If you're really looking for a more minimal aesthetic, check out the pens sold by Muji. They are rather cheap, as well. That store in general tends toward a minimal aesthetic so they are worth checking out for other goods too.
Edit: This pen by Muji seems to be a pretty close fit to what you described. To my recollection, there's no branding on any of their pens.

You can’t go wrong with a Fisher Bullet Space Pen. However, the clip doesn’t like thicker material and it’s best to keep it in a pocket slip of some sort if kept loose in pocket.


I recently picked up two of theseKetalon Rohk on a buy one get one free deal. They are my new edc and great pens, but to be honest $32 for one pen is pretty pricy. If you can catch another sale I would definitely recommend them.

Some come with cartridges or converters, but you can always buy those separate.

• The Pilot Petit1 would definitely have originally had an in ink cartridge, but if you've lost it you can eyedropper the pen easily by putting silicone grease on the threads and just filling the body of the pen with ink.
  
• Lamy Al-Star uses Lamy cartridges/converters
  
• IIRC, Pelikano Junior & the Rotring Core should both use Standard International, which isn't quite as standard as you'd hope, but I would guess the inexpensive Jinhao converters will work.
  
   
  
  Congrats on a diverse set of nice starter pens :)

Tombow Dual Brush is great ‘large brush’ for beginners. I would say first do lots of practice with small brush pens and then move to ink and nibs. Tombow Fudenosuke ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M71S9DU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2pv3AbQ543M8T ) or Pentel Sign Pen ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EN0HCH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_qGOz3EhHHfH49 ) are great small pen options. And when you feel ready for upgrade, hunt 513 nib and sumi black ink would be great.
Nibs - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BYT4DE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rtv3AbPZNAD77
Pen Holder - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BYU1BI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Utv3AbJBGTJV4
Sumi Ink - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AMLR8M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.tv3AbBVQG8T2
Hope this will be helpful!

Amen OP. I'd struggled with the craft of writing until I started writing by hand.

​

I love the way it forces me to rewrite. As in not being able to just delete a word or two and continue on, which makes the page look messy. I stated rewriting sentences, just to change a word, and rewriting paragraphs just to change a sentence. It made it all flow so much better.

​

My hand writing was laughably terrible just a few years ago, but one year and almost 300,000 words later it's actually respectable - I get compliments on it all the time.

​

I also find it helps with writers block. If I can't figure out what to write next, or if I don't like what I wrote, but don't know how to fix it, I just go back and start rewriting, just working on copying the same words as neatly and carefully as I can. And before you know it, I'm off again.

​

OP, others, what do you write with? I'm a huge fan of the Sharpie fine point.

Starter: Lamy Safari with some cartridges.

I have this pen at work and use cartridges rather than a converter to save time and prevent potential catastrophes of filling them. If you like the fountain pen in the GIF, TWSBI Vac 700, should be a great second starter or you can get a converter; just know you'll need bottled ink.

My favorite ink right now is Pilot Iroshizuku, lines are clean for most of my foutain pens, it dries decently fast and is easy to clean out of the pen aswell.

Here's some things I like that I've ordered for myself that would be good in a gift box.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009E6J52U/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_4 The super sticky notes

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00016AU3K/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A017459625RX007BJKRR6 KAva Stres Relief Tea

http://www.amazon.com/International-Arrivals-Neon-Gelly-Sticks/dp/B00FFIIFH2/ref=pd_rhf_sc_p_img_5 Gel Hilighters

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FDR47E/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_6 (I love these gel pens)

And I'd add a bunch of notecards, empty folders, maybe some advil, and a cute badge holder.

I most certainly do, especially if you have any friends who like fps and ink: Pilot Blue/Black in the 'coke bottle'. You can get this for around $22.00 for 350ml (you read that right) and that is for a remarkably good ink that is even fairly waterproof. If you split the bottle with friends, you can end up with the absolute best ink value on the planet. I got into this ink because pen restoration people I know use it, and they use a lot of ink and it can't be a problem ink. Give it a look.

The items I can think of right now that I've bought pretty much because of this subreddit:

1. Zojirushi Travel mug - I use this as my office coffee mug. I fill it up in the morning and if I get sidetracked then it's still hot hours later.
   
   
2. Saddleback Pocket ID Wallet - simple and gets the job done
   
   
3. Weber One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill - I love this grill.
   
   
4. Red Wing Iron Ranger 8111 (amber color) - the first 3 weeks I thought I made a huge mistake but now they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.
   
   
5. Fisher Space Pen - I've had to stop other people from pocketing it. My wife tried to take it because she likes the way it writes.
   
   
6. [Kershaw Skyline Knife] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CZBDF8) - I'm not into putting a lot of money into a pocketknife so this fits the bill nicely.
   
   
7. ToiletTree Heavy Duty Nose and Facial Hair Trimmer - my previous nose trimmers felt like it was ripping the hair out by the root. This one I don't feel anything and it's very well made
   
   All of these I would buy again.

Nice, a cool uncle!

I would recommend either Zig calligraphy markers or a Pilot Parallel Pen. Both are cheap enough to mess around with while still being legitimate tools. I would definitely recommend broad edge over pointed pen because PP takes a lot of time and effort for good results and I know when I was 13 I would've just wanted fun things to mess around with.

The only thing is I would not recommend highlighters to practice with due to their angled chiseled tip. Most calligraphy markers have straight chiseled tips, like most real calligraphy tools I'm aware of.

Happy shopping!

Absolutely. Warning: if it tursn out that you relaly like fountain pens it is a deep dark hole of spending as there are so many great pens out there.

If you want to get your feet wet and not invest too much I suggest the Pilot Metropolitan. This pen's msrp is 15 (but lower on amazon) and can be found at wal-mart and staples. It is made of a brass body (so it has some heft), has a fantastic japanese steel nib (japanese nibs run on the small size for line width), and even includes a converter (easy way to use bottled ink) and a cartidge of ink. It is the quintisentional introduction fountain pen and exceeds the quality of pens 2-3x its price. It comes in black, gold, silver, and purple.

Now I know any people prefer to side on the buy it for life side and jump in with a more expensive item, but it is important to figure out what size nib you like and a japanese mdeium is seen as a nice overall starting point. After that I would suggest you check out /r/fountainpens to see reviews for pens like the lamy 2000, twsbi 580, pilot custom 74 and so on.

While fountain pens are cool, their ink is even cooler. There are hundreds of colors available and can even be bought in samples that are cheap (but enough to last for 2-3 fills of your pen). The most popular retailor for ink is gouletpens.com

WORK

PowerTank Retractable Pen All-Angle All-Weather Wet Surface… Standard quick draw go-to pen for the last 5 years

Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen Recently got into fountain pens so I use this when I can to sign stuff or have time to take decent notes

Silver Sharpie for writing on dark surfaces

Pocket Level for leveling anything from pictures to 80” monitors and in between

Retractable Sharpie for permanent marking/writing everywhere else not covered by the previous items

Telescoping Magnetic Retriever

My First Pencil for temporary marking… large size for durability and novelty

House Keys, Personal Truck Keys (98 F150), Work Truck/Van Key (what is this thing), Building Keys

Fitbit Charge HR

Large Rubber Band because you just never know when you might need one… and I pop myself if I get a craving for something I don’t need lol

A little Cash, Our Energy Management Policy (our VP will randomly ask to see it and if you have it on you, you may get to be off the rest of the day, get a meal or gas gift cert, movie tix, etc.)

Vicks Inhaler, Every Man Jack chapstick

1/8” Allen Wrench

ThorFire throwaway LED Flashlight for quick peeks, or if the larger one’s battery dies

BP Rewards Card (Filling the work truck a couple times a week gets me a few cents off my own gas… shhhhh), Work Visa, License, Insurance, Carmike Rewards Card because you never know when you may wanna catch a flick.

Nitecore MH1C Rechargeable LED Flashlight… found this baby up in the ceiling and fell in love (once I read the manual and figured out how to work it.)

Zippo Spectrum Lighter… Don’t smoke but I love fire and Zippo’s even more. I have 16 right now but this is my throw around EDC.

Gerber Superknife

TAC Force Throw away assisted opening knife

RFID Access Badge

Medical ID Bracelet… recently diagnosed with Diabeetus and put on Xarelto after a huge blood clot (PE)

3x5 Index Card Daily Work Order Checklist, needed supplies, random notes/measurements/numbers

/r/KaizenBrotherhood 30 Day Challenge Checklist

Leatherman Rebar MultiTool… work buys these (bless them) and I usually break them enough to need one every 1-2 years. Had one model or another since my 18th birthday (36 now) and just found out they will actually repair them for free so I will have to round up some older ones and send them off. Once they are retired they wind up in a glove box, random tool bag/box, in the recliner, on my desk etc, anywhere I might need one and I am not in my work clothes.

NOT PICTURED

Folding Wood Rule

Motorola XPR-6300 Radio

iPhone 6 in Lifeproof Fre Case with Nite Ize Steelie Magnet on the back and $20 inside... used to take picture

*added phone

Yeah agree with most people here. I was gifted these staedtler pens and loved them: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens, .3mm, Metal Clad Tip, 20-Pack, Assorted (334SB20BK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jpOFDbNTXVM7W

Gift card for shoes for places like Clark's (need comfy shoes because we're on our feet all day). Or food- Starbucks, Trader Joe's, etc. Nice headphones.

Honestly though, during those stressful breakdowns just moral support is what's helpful. And.. it sounds like she's doing a lot. Not sure that it's all necessary, she could probably drop some stuff if it's affecting her mental health.

Diamine, tons of colors and are affordable (especially in Europe) many colors are dupes of more expensive inks out there. They likely make ink for other companies that sell ink but don't have ink manufacturing capabilities, like Akkerman. They have a lot of great colors, but their water resistance is generally low.

​

Noodler's would be the ton's of colors and affordable US company but he's a 1 man show so people don't have much faith in him combined with his political views he's one of the more controversial company/people in the fountain pen world. He seems to experiment with inks and ink properties so he has some interesting water resistant colors and UV glowing colors out there.

​

I like water resistant inks so I'm a fan of Pilot Blue and Blue Black, Platinum Blue Black, Platinum Classic Iron Gall series, Platinum Pigment ink series, and Sailor Nano-pigment Seiboku and Souboku.

​

If you're looking for great bang for buck blue ink, I would buy a 350ml Pilot Blue Black bottle for 20 something dollars. But you'll need another bottle to put that into, so either an empty bottle or another bottle of a nicely shaped Pilot Blue Black.

The Staedtler Triplus Fineliner is my all time favorite. I'm all about porous point pens because they don't smear and for whatever reason make my handwriting infinitely better than any other pen. I followed a bunch of study blogs on tumblr when I was in school and all the people that had the best handwriting and cutest notes swore by these pens. I especially love how many colors they have and the convenient carry case that turns into a stand.

I started with these Fudenosuke pens, which are super cheap on Amazon. If you're looking for a wide variety of color, but still a pretty easy-to-use pen, check out these as well. The trick is to find a pen that has a stiffer tip. The softer brush pens are trickier to learn on, but it can be done. I like the black Fudenosuke pens because they are pretty similar, but the blue one has a harder tip and the green one has a bit more give. It should be able to help you transition into using softer brush tips!

There are tons of great options, the Parker Jotter I can definitely recommend. I've never had any leakage issues with the stock ink cartridge it came with but I also normally switch it out for a Fisher Space Pen refill.

Other good metal pens that aren't too expensive might be a Cross Click which is my current edc with a Fisher Space Pen refill in it which is great for signing receipts and quick things like that. I use it at work to give to customers to sign their receipts.. I like it because it is skinnier than the Parker Jotter, however, it is easier to accidentally click in your pocket whereas with the Jotter you have to use an intentional amount of force to click it.

Another one (or two) would be the Fisher Bullet Space Pen or the Cap-O-Matic Space Pen. The bullet is really quite compact and the Cap-O-Matic is a regular sized pen.

And if you're really worried about ink leakage in your pocket then you can get something like a Lamy Swift which has a mechanism so that when the tip of the pen is extended, the pocket clip retracts which makes it impossible to clip onto your pocket. One thing to keep in mind with the Lamy Swift is that it comes with a rollerball refill which is incredibly smooth but it puts out more ink than a regular ballpoint so it has a longer drying time and can smear on receipt paper.

Would you like some recommendations?

Check out the Pilot Metropolitan. It's clean and polished looks are so smooth and inoffensive, and the silver or gold will go really well with a tie clip. There are no obvious logos on the pen, and it's rounded smooth edges are easy on the eyes.

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW

Get the fine point. It writes beautifully, too :)

Another favorite of mine to use with a silver tie clip is the Cross Bailey. It has a black lacquer body and a silver trim.

http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Bailey-Lacquer-Fountain-AT0456-7MS/dp/B0089TV8UA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ACQRBCFWBTMS04MFDG2

That's just to get you started. Generally, try matching your pen with your tie clip and cufflinks. Also, if you keep it in your pocket tip-up then you won't have any problems with ink leaking out of the pen. It also becomes a conversation piece, if you have to pull it out of your pocket to use it for writing.

Have gold and silver cufflinks, and a gold tie clip? Wear a red or gold tie, and this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D04KDE?psc=1

I never used baron fig, but I've used tomoe river paper. I love the
Pilot Precise V5 RT Retractable Rolling Ball https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDW4BZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OG2FybW075H1E but it might be on the inky side that it will dry quick but leave shadowing on the other side of the page.
Another love is Uni-Ball Signo 207 Retractable Gel Pen https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FDR47E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jL2Fyb3PXX1K1 but gel ink can get smudgy if you don't let it dry.

Also when looking at pens, keep in mind point size. I like medium to fine because I'll write small, but you'll want larger if you write big.

> I really want to start using them, but they're so expensive!

There are several really good starter fountain pens for ~$30

Pilot Metropolitan

MUJI Aluminum Fountain Pen

Would be two that I would recommend. The second I have experience with, it has a lot of feedback but is still pretty decent. I haven't used a Metropolitan but it has a very good reputation.

Mom! Mom! MOM! Can I get this pen refill converter I cant use my new fountain pen without it please mom please please please I reeeeeally need this! You wanted me to work on my handwriting and I'm trying but I have to have this to be able to use my pen and it's almost out of ink. I know I just got it but I've used it so much it's really almost out of ink! No you can't see it, I left it on my desk. Mom I can't find it, I can't show it to you but can I pleeeeeease get that? Pretty please with sugar on top!

My awesome new fountain pen really isn't that close to being out of ink, but I will need a refill converter when it is ;P

For your use, a notebook would be a lot better for the note taking part. I recommend this one, along with one of these.

As for the browsing reddit and general internet use, the 7 is pretty awesome. I love mine so far.

I'm pretty much in the same boat, except that I'm a real man so I use ultra fine point pens. :-P

I've had my Nexus 7 for just a couple of days now and think it is great. For the price point, it utterly trounces the Kindle Fire (which is getting passed down to my niece shortly). The screen is lovely, the UI is far more polished, and I'm generally enjoying using it quite a bit more. I suspect it'll get a bit better, too, as it is Google's flagship tablet right now.

I don't have a lot of interesting or really cheap stuff :/ but it's worth a shot! :) gifting is fun!

Magazine featuring my favorite band

Calligraphy brush pen!

Calligraphy pen :)

Not OP but another avid fountain pen enthusiast, and having owned a few $100+ fountain pen, my most used pen hands down is the Pilot Metropolitan, a great pen for pretty much anyone, at the humble price of $12. And not to mention its made of brass, so it is BIFL quality.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91107/dp/B009X9Z2FW/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen&qid=1562300808&s=gateway&sprefix=pilot+met&sr=8-4

I have a few Pilot Metropolitans. A black one with a medium nib was my first one, and I still use it as my daily driver. It's about $12 currently on Amazon, so if I were you, I'd start with that.

^^Ninja ^^edit also be aware that fountain pens are different from dip pens (I assume that's what you meant by drip pen? :) ). Fountain pens can be used for art projects, but they're mainly for writing. And also DON'T PUSH ON THE NIB unless you're sure it's a flex nib! Pens like the Noodler's Konrad or Noodler's Ahab are flex nibs, so you can push on them to get a thicker line. (Sorry if that was a little confusing!)
^^
Good luck!

Happy, happy birthday! :) Are you feeling 22?

<$5 Earrings (Cosmetics WL)
<$4 Pens (Nursing School WL - under more buying choices)
<$3 Eye Shadow (Cosmetics WL)
<$2 Sunflower Seeds (default)
<$1 Decal (default)

Thanks for the contest! You are aweΣ!

I started over winter break, so sometime in January, and I used this workbook by Margaret Shepherd to teach myself :) I wrote this with the [2.4mm Pilot Parallel] (http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Parallel-Calligraphy-Cartridges-90051/dp/B002RJLS0S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395198034&sr=8-2&keywords=2.4+pilot+parallel) I got it from my awesome 100th Exchange Extravangza Santa, /u/niashux, last week! I absolutely adore it!

How about yourself? Do you write calligraphy? :)

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

I need these pens because I love to doodle! And doodling is just so much more fun when it's in color. School starts next week, so I have a lot of doodling ahead of me. Please make my doodles colorful. :)

Oh here's an idea for mixed media. Tomoe River makes fountain pen friendly paper that is super thin, and a lot of artsy type people I know of in the community have recommended it.

Incidentally, you don't necessarily need card stock for paper to be good enough for fountain pens. You can use this HP 32 lb Premium Choice Laser paper for fountain pen friendly stuff.

I think the cheaper budget option pen is the Platinum Preppy. If you want to use it on almost any paper, you'll want it in extra fine or fine.

It's really good I actually recommend a pen for you to use for inking, it's actually considered a calligraphy pen but it's the TomBow brush tip set, one is softer than the other but still firm enough to make really thin strokes or broad strokes here's a link below but these are cheap and perfect for illustration and lettering, archival ink, lettering styles and composition, these are all things you have to be interested in to get further in being a comic book artist. I've had similar aspirations pm me if you got any questions I might be able to help.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M71S9DU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_fmB-BbWGZMN8Z.

In my experience as long as you use it at least semi-frequently maintenance is minimal. Plus when you do clean it it’s a breeze. I’m new to fountain pens and cleaned my pen for the first time two days ago. All you do is take apart four pieces and let them soak in water for a while. Put it back together which is extremely simple and boom your done. I heard great things about pens like the pilot metropolitan or Lamy Safari , which only run you about $15! They even make Disposable fountain pens that come in packs of 5! So if I were you I’d give one of those cost effective options a shot and if you like it go from there.

I'm replying to you so people who may be interested have a place to start:

My favorite fountain pens for beginners that are super cheap are Pilot Varsity. They're disposable and you can get a pack of them for pretty cheap on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

They can also be brought on planes (I know--I just flew with one and it didn't leak). It's seriously a huge difference to write with a fountain pen vs ballpoint or felt or gel or whatever.

Warning: I'm a pen freak. I love pens for some reason.

My favorite pens!

these pens, because colors!

and sharpies for making labels!


They make taking notes 1,000 times better! Plus, all my professors now know me by my colored pens :)

Back to cool :)

I just bought some basic Spencerian copy books off of Amazon, along with some pilot varsity fountain pens. I think it was less than $25. So far I am really enjoying it!

I've been thinking learning it with someone else would be awesome, to try to stay accountable on practicing. Interested?

Edit: The books and the pens if anyone is interested.

Colorific pens!!! my favorite dinosaur is the pterodactyl!!! That is the nice dinosaur in the Magic Tree House series my kiddo likes :) Thanks for the contest!

The best is the [Zebra 701] (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410206849&sr=8-1&keywords=zebra+701), stainless steel case.

It's a fine point, writes smooth, and has a nice weight to it. It also has refillable ink reserves so you won't have to buy another one, just refills.

Edit: If you like to [flip/spin] (http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/100838/pen-spinning-o.gif) pens to keep your hand busy when not writing, it's balanced well for that too.

I'll interpret "guy stuff" as "EDC stuff".

• A Flowfold Minimalist slim wallet
  
• A Zebra F-701 stainless steel pen with a Fisher Space refill so it can write anywhere. This isn't a "tactical" pen by LE/TSA standards, but is a solid stainless steel tube, if you know what I mean.
  
• If you prefer something smaller, a Fisher Space Bullet Space Pen and/or a Zebra Mini mechanical pencil TS-3.
  
• You might also want something to write on, and a 3-pack of Field Notes, Pitch Black Edition in Dot-Grid isn't a bad choice unless you're into fountain pens, in which case you'd be better served with a Clairefontaine or. Rhodia pocket notebook. (They will feather fountain pen ink less, resulting in finer lines.)
  
  Bonus item: This isn't under $30, but $45 wil buy you a Leatherman Skeletool, which is one of the most universally useful items I own.
  
  Edit: "EDC" stands for Every Day Carry. To paraphrase the /r/EDC sidebar, EDC means the essentials that I carry a daily basis. Things that I either use every day, or want to have with me in case I might need them. Sorry for the confusion, /u/ForgottenEcho and /u/Sanctitas.

Thank you for that suggestion. I’ll have to look for those.

Sorry the Fudenosuke are made by Tombow not Pentel. This is the two pen set of one hard one soft. The soft is very similar to this is what I have from Pentel IMO. The hard is not quite as hard as Cocoiro but close. It’s also a fine point compared to Cocoiro’s extra fine. I love Cocoiros too tho!

I just bought some Artline Stix. They’re a little more firm than Tombow dual brush but I manage to mash those too. Starting to think I need to try nibs instead lol.

Haha, pretty much. Heavy glass soda style bottles. 11.83 ounces so nearly the same as a can of soda. Inked up forever for $22!

https://www.amazon.com/Ink-350ml-INK350BB-japan-import/dp/B001P35A74/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500500408&sr=8-1&keywords=pilot+350ml

They're not fancy inks but I keep over 20 pens inked so I use primarily safe and simple inks these days... and I just love the flow and feel of Pilot's inks.

YAY! :D let me think.... I'll add things to this post as I think of them.

Bed Caddy

Bed Risers

Hamper

This Book (my cousin got it for me when I started college way back when, and it really has a lot of good advice)

Storage

Dry Erase Calendar

Small Room Safe

Dorm Security

Command Strips

This amazing food/beverage station

A freaking PURPLE fridge

Brita

Make pooping in a shared bathroom less embarrassing

This photo display

An electric kettle

Also a planner! I like to make my own and use different colored pens to differentiate between my classes! If you want the template I use for my planner, I can send you a link to it! :D

A few things I would probably get.

• Flash light always comes in handy. I noticed you didn't say anything about one. I streamlight is a great brand with nice seemingly durable lights. You will probably lose it before it shits out on you or breaks. I prefer the stylus pro or the microstream (difference between the two is microstream is shorter. It's penlight size makes it easy to slip in and out of your pocket.
  
  
• Always carry a good pen. Zebra makes decent pens. If you want to stretch your gift card further, you could get the f301 but I really prefer the f701, it's just a nicer pen. There is also the space pen if you ever feel you need to write something in zero gravity. If "tactical pens" are more your thing, you have plenty to choose from
  
  
• saw you were looking at a cheapo fixed blade. If you were to get any "cheapo" fixed blade at all, seriously consider mora. You can read more about mora in this post, but I assure you that you will not find a better fixed blade for the price.
  
  
• You have anything to carry your beverages in? Nalgene bottle or camelbak for water, thermos for hot beverages.
  
  
• Get you a nice rum cake or whiskey fudge

The Jetstream is a great choice. Another great one that my lefty friends like is the Sharpie Pen -- it dries instantly and does not smear (these: https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Pens-Fine-Point-Black/dp/B001B66DXU/ )

Pilot's line of basic colors (Black, Blue-Black, and Blue) are among some of the best standard colors ever.

I'm a fan of Pilot Blue-BLack: https://www.amazon.com/Ink-350ml-INK350BB-japan-import/dp/B001P35A74

It's $23, but per mL of liquid, it's great (about 6 cents per mL).

It behaves well on cheap paper, is reasonably water resistant, shades, and flows well.

The pen shown in OP's photo is the Zebra F-301 which I carry and like very much. I didn't know Zebra made a full stainless steel version but I found the Zebra F-701 on Amazon and it looks pretty sweet. Thanks for the tip!

By the way, I currently own a Jeep and don't have any Benchmade folders either but have been lusting after a Benchmade Griptilian 551 for quite a while.

Bwah ha ha ha ha, it actually mentions the Bic pens. If you haven't clicked that and read the reviews, you're in for a fucking great time. Dragging extrordinare.

But seriously:
>Women, Nooyi suggested, “don’t like to crunch too loudly in public. And they don’t lick their fingers generously and they don’t like to pour the little broken pieces and the flavor into their mouth.”

Speak for yourself, bitch. she says as she licks her fingers and belches for good measure

Not trying to get you sucked into the fountain pen hobby (maybe I am) but this pen is under £10. The Pilot Kakuno. It comes in various colors, and a medium or fine point. And it comes with an ink cartridge so it's ready to use right when you get it. Or The Platinum Preppy, I have one of these and it is great.

There wasn't a Sir Steve, but I found a cool looking Sir John pen.

My favorite mechanical pencil was this Pentel Side Fx. I used it every day in high school and some of college. Then one day... I sat on it. He looks fine, the front piece still screws back on. But on the inside, he's cracked and the lead won't come out anymore. Still kept him.

Pilot Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen, Black Barrel, Classic Design, Fine Nib, Black Ink (91111) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KRPFD96/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ClLyCbE11EHDE (comes with converter, and personal favorite)

Pilot Kakuno Fine-Nib Fountain Pen, White Body Soft Blue Cap Body (FKA-1SR-SLF) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOOBU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_emLyCbX5CXBY8 (takes con-50 converter)

(25 u.s. dollars) Pilot Explorer Fountain Pen Gift Box, Fine Nib, Gray Barrel, 1-Pack, Black Ink (12271) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KBSLWCZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9mLyCbABH6FRS (get con-40 for this one, or syringe and refill cartridge)

Platinum Fountain Pen, Preppy, Fine Nib, Black (PPQ-200-#1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H0CEM4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lrLyCbFE357BE (just get an o-ring and eyedropper convert this one)


For all the pilots get the refill cartridges at Staples cheaper than online.

Good (cheap) ink brands are noodlers, waterman's, diamine, and Parker.

Also r/fountainpens is a good resource.

Regular pens

Tombow Airpress 0.7mm Ball Point Pen, Full Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047Z24IU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-xLyCbH5FAXT9 (pressurized can even write upside down)

Zebra F-701 Stainless Steel Ballpoint Retractable Pen, Black Ink, Fine Point, 2 Pack (29411) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0141DN1CA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SyLyCb6MJMDZ4

Pilot FriXion Ball 0.7mm Erasable Gel Pens, Fine Point, Black Ink, Pack Of 6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019OZVV6I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XzLyCb98B993R (erasable)

Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Gel Ink Pens, 0.7 Millimeter Metal Tip, Assorted Colors, 6 Pack (BL77BP6M) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012G9VNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NALyCbV2QVSTV (disposable cheaper at Staples to)

Parker Jotter Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Black Ink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017D5WXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UBLyCbX0J93DW (Again Staples)

Anyone else can and should add on to this if you want to.

The Zebra F-701 and Zebra F-402 aren't exactly tactical, but they are pretty heavyweight and write really well. They take cheap refills too. I have the F-701 and the weight and sturdiness are great, however I don't really write that much, just come class notes and such.

i asked my brother for these. i also own an assortment of these in a bunch of different colours. and these black ones. I got most of mine from Curry's which is a store here in Canada (I don't know if they ship elsewhere, sorry!) but I know Michaels has brush pens as well :) I always tend to check out instagrammers to see what pens they're using. This woman uses a wide range of them, it says what the pen is in the comment of the vid. If you're looking into learning how to brush pen she also sells worksheets. Have fun!! If you have any other q's lemme know

My favorite one is from the amazon website itself, by an "MRA" named "Johnny Tubesteak". It made me lol pretty hard:

1.0 out of 5 stars Being a dude just got suckier, August 28, 2012

By JohnnyTubesteak - See all my reviews

This review is from: BIC Cristal For Her Ball Pen, 1.0mm, Black, 16ct (MSLP16-Blk) (Office Product)

What do men have left? Today's women are voting, getting paid to do work, and now WRITING?!? At the bar the other day, my wife asked for a beer instead a wine cooler. My buddy heard that there are female golfers in many parts of the country, and most clubs let them play on the same course as the men. At an intersection the other day, I saw a woman in the driver's seat, and not because she was sitting on a male driver's lap. As if men hadn't been stripped of everything good already, BIC steps in and piles on by encouraging women to learn to write, just like their male counterparts. WTF, BIC?

Guys have so little as it is. Sure, we can stand while we urinate, but standing is a lot of work, and it's rarely as fun as it sounds. And Just For Men hair dye is marketed as a product strictly for guys, but my cousin used it on a female dog once, and it colored her hair just fine.

In a world of girl-only bras and tampons, guys are left with nothing of our own. Thanks for nothing, BIC.

How about a Zebra F701 and add a Fisher Space Pen refill. The pen body is well built and pretty cheap and the refill is literally good enough to write in space. For something more classy you can get a Parker Jotter which also fits the space pen refill but has a pretty good refill itself.

I would say it depends on where they are going. The safest answer is to get them Fisher Space Pens and Field Notes Expedition Editions.
 
The space pen will write anywhere, upside down or high/low altitudes because of the pressurized refills.
 
The FN Expeditions are plasticish paper that is water, rip and acid proof. They come in a 3 pack so 2 packs would be best.
 
If they are not going anywhere crazy, simple Uni-Ball Signo 207 is a perfectly fin and inexpensive pen. And you can get them at a store usually.
 
Then as far as notebooks go i would still go with Field Notes, their regular notebooks would work fine.

These marker/pens are really nice and much cheaper on Amazon than in a store
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007OEE7E?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Also I got a silk pillowcase, it's fantastic
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWWTACZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_bC3knUz3X1ttx

And these boots are pretty nice
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSJYJ75?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Hello everyone!

I had been wanting to post my edc for school and felt since the semester is almost over, now would be a great time. I am a computer science major and have been carrying this with me for several months now. Also, pls excuse the obvious line down the middle - i merged two seperate pictures together. So here is my edc from L>R, T>B.

1. [Dell Inspiron 13 5000 2-1 Laptop - upgraded to ssd] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KPJBNK/?coliid=I1GW25Q5H1PRGC&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
2. [Portable 2K Monitor] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDDG3WJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
   
3. [Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8"] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DXVKQU6/?coliid=I30KIDP5OPIEAJ&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
4. [Samsung Galaxy Tab cover] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013LKLDQ0/?coliid=IBT2WKWKJ8WCV&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
5. Degree deodorant/body spray
   
6. [Five-Star 1-1.2 inch Zipper Binder] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COHAJQW/?coliid=I3AJVWHYPKUKIP&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
7. [Cliffnotes Statistics book] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764563882/?coliid=I3KQKEY8MUDSYT&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
8. [Weekly Planner] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWF2VS9/?coliid=I3NPS8L0T44MB6&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
9. Snack
   
10. [Maglite Mini LED Flashlight] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HFBR1O/?coliid=IPIZ47DZ3YAQK&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
11. [Dell Power Companion 18000 mAh battery] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PC9HG0Q/?coliid=I3TOCRL4ALQLZB&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
12. Laptop power brick in two parts
    
13. [Samsung 64 GB 3.0 flash drive duo] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013UHK0TK/?coliid=I1GCQN4CLWL20T&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
14. [Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG7MZP0/?coliid=I13DJEPDK4W4K6&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
15. [Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UBGU4PY/?coliid=I1Q8LPNTWUYWM9&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
16. [Fisher Space military pen] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NXDFC8/?coliid=I2EJ6P9U4BUWZ4&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
17. [Skilcraft B3 Aviator multifunction pen] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KKPGHQ/?coliid=I2TE4MXP76ML33&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
18. [Portable tablet/phone/switch stand] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZAYH58/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
19. Downy Fabric dewrinkler spray
    
20. Portable Lysol spray
    
21. Work/School ID
    
22. [Portable CPR face shield] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011MIQX4/?coliid=I1O45DFTMWUHAV&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
23. Various single use medicine
    
24. [C++ Pocket reference] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596004966/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
25. Microfiber towel
    
26. [3 in 1 threaded usb cable] (https://www.walmart.com/ip/3-1-Lightning-Cable-USB-C-Cable-iHaper-Apple-MFi-Certified-chrging-Sync-Cable-1m-Nylon-Braided-Bulletproof-Material-High-Speed-Sync-Quick-chrge-iPhon/102599920?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227256658686&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=304459247725&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-545878314906&wl5=9026166&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=102599920&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8_PfBRC3ARIsAOzJ2uoI0nzcc7TDGxqiTgIZxVjy0Jibd5ZS05gnXVFp2umPPzJpor5KyjIaAoNxEALw_wcB)
    
27. [Mini usb charging cable - plus the usb transfer cable that came with calculator] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UY57VDK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
28. [Micro usb Cable] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTXZ3U8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
29. [Mini HDMI - HDMI cable] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P2KH178/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
30. [TI-84 PLUS CE Graphing Calculator] (https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Instruments-TI-84-Graphing-Calculator/dp/B00TFYYWQA/ref=lp_2530606011_1_4?srs=2530606011&ie=UTF8&qid=1543362147&sr=8-4)
    
31. Sunglasses
    
32. [Vectron charging case for LG Bluetooth headphones] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LF4W9DA/?coliid=I7NGM5OCPFXW7&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
33. [Not pictured - LG Tone Platinum Bluetooth Headphones] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6K7K02/?coliid=I1N2LPPTGNOIHY&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
34. First Aid Kit
    
35. Lip Balm
    
36. Portable sewing kit
    
37. Tic Tacs
    
38. Purell
    
39. [C# Pocket reference] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1491988533/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
40. [Backpack cover] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01449GWW2/?coliid=I1M6ZTRJINMZ9L&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
41. [Umbrella] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8APXQM/?coliid=I19IFY33R4OGH8&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
42. [Not pictured - Swiss Digital TSA friendly backpack] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H5CRRPF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
    I do carry all of this with me. It's not too heavy as I've tried to minimize the weight of the items I did decide I wanted to carry.
    
    Some bonus pics are below:
    
    [Backpack loaded will all the above] (https://imgur.com/XRBubGH)
    
    [Another showing the strip that reflects light - one of the reasons I purchased it] (https://imgur.com/lkirjJf)
    
    [The Headphone case w/ the headphones] (https://imgur.com/UQFNF53)
    
    [Inside of Five-Star Binder for those curious] (https://imgur.com/aVPxA2l)
    
    [Bulit in organization in the backpack] (https://imgur.com/m0KAvOa)
    
    [The reason I carry the extra monitor/keyboard/mouse/etc] (https://imgur.com/n6QRldz)

Bic Pens for HER (they're normal pens)

"BIC Cristal For Her has an elegant design - just for Her! It features a thin barrel designed to fit a women's hand. It has a diamond engraved barrel for an elegant and unique feminine style. "

Read the reviews, they are hysterical.

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/dp/B004F9QBE6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

/r/calligraphy
/r/penmanship
/r/handwriting

/r/fountainpens is neat but be aware you will not be able to do this kind of writing with a fountain pen. You also won't be able to do what many people think of "calligraphy" (german style lettering that has thick and thin parts) with a fountain pen.

If dip pens are a little scary for a beginner, try getting the Pilot Parallel calligraphy pen. Very simple like a fountain pen, dead cheap and you'll be able to do lots of calligraphy with them.

However, dip pens are super cheap and fun to play with. You can get a nice nib, nib holder and ink for $20 on Amazon. Calligraphy is a very cheap hobby to get into.

Edit: Post is rotated 90 deg, left to right & top to bottom doesn't make sense anymore.

Left to right, top to bottom:



Pens & Tools (I rotate my pocket pen & keep the rest in my bag. Logic dictates when to and which tool to carry.):



Leatherman Supertool Original with sheath - It's crazy to think, but this was retired before I was born. Several of my family members used to work in hardware stores so occasionally these things are found lying around brand new.

Leatherman Juice CS4 - Great little tool, it fits in my pocket without any notice.

Zebra F-701 .7 Black - Great look & feel but it writes like shit. Anyone know a good refill that fits?

Pentel EnerGel .7 Black - Incredibly smooth & bold, not too big a fan of the look.

G2 .38 & .7 Black - G2s, nuff said.

Uniball Signo 207 .7 Black - Comparable to the G2, but it has a metal clip.

Did you notice I pit the EnerGel in here twice? - Because I didn't

Frixion Erasable .7 Black - Ink is really sort of grayish, but it still beats white-out.




Everything Else:



Panasonic RP-HJE120-K IEMS - Perfect for people who are afraid of breaking or losing their buds. I wrap them around a binder clip and attack it to a belt loop with a carabiner.

Keys, Bottle Opener, PNY USB Drive - The flash drive has lubuntu on it. The opener is exclusively for mexican corner store drinks.

Best Made Co. Pocket Notebook - This isn't exactly the one I have but it is the closest I could find.

Dollar Store Notepad - It was 3 for dollar. Would you not buy it?

Dockers Trifold Leather Wallet - Not even close to the one I have, but still the closest they still make.



Not included: School ID, Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (Direct picture quality complaints to Samsung except for the lighting, that's just because I suck.)

This gif ...... this gif is the gif that made me buy my first fountain pen. The Pilot Metropolitan. /r/fountainpens will tell you this is the first pen to get. I also have a decent amount of nibs ( what you see here ) I even have this exact one.

That was about a month ago. Maybe 2. Best part about fountain pens and ink is that it is VERY CHEAP to get into. And if you use it and buy a fucking book you can improve a great deal. You will be busting out lines of beauty and cumming in your pants when you see how much fucking ink can be dumped out of a dremeled out ebonite feed in the Noodler's Ahab Flex.

I'm off to make capital P's. Gooood^byyy^eeee

Triplus Fineliner all day erryday. They're even finer - .3 mm. I discovered them when I was taking Japanese classes when I was in college the first time. Beautiful. I got them because they're great for writing kanji in small notebooks, but I use them all the time. And so many colors! I like to color code my notes (and pretty much everything else) so they're perfect.

OH my god, the struggle is real.

This is one I was able to find:

https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Chart-Notebook-Gelding-Publishing/dp/1502718111

However I never bought it. We didn't do a lot on smith charts, I wish I'd had more opportunity.

​

My favorite notebooks:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MP9D5AG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Why:

1.) F-ing graph paper

2.) Thick pages. I like colored markers for notes, like these: https://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Triplus-Fineliner-Assorted-334SB20BK/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Staedtler&qid=1570659385&s=office-products&sr=1-2

The thick pages doesn't allow (as much) marker bleed and the notebooks hold up for a long time.

3.) F-ing graph paper and thick pages.

I started off with a Lamy Safari and have now bought 3. They are wonderful and last. They aren't a trophy pen but if you are a student and want to take pride in your work then this pen can take the beatings a backpack will give. After you are sure you like the pen I would suggest getting the refill converter so you can use bulk ink instead of the little cartridges. What kind of writing do you want to do with it? There are different nibs (tips) for different thicknesses/feed rates.

Item to help me accomplish one of these things

Of course, I'd have to post the poems in my blog for 40 days. This would be an accomplishment, as I am a seasoned poet, with 4 self-published chapbooks out, a longtime poetry blog, and have been featured at numerous poetry/writing events. However, I've had a bit of a hard time writing lately...okay, for the last few years since being in school. My mind just isn't in it. And it needs to be, or my gift is wasted.

I will need lots of these

These guys always inspire me!

I have a list of things I wanted to do for 30 days...maybe 40 days won't be so bad?

Some of the things on my 30 days list:

Go 30 days without:

Eating meat

Wearing makeup

Swearing

Wearing shoes

Go 30 Days:

Write a poem every day

Send a letter to a friend via snail mail

Drink more than the recommended amount of water

/u/n_reineke , /u/G0ATLY , /u/Yokuo ...what do you guys think?

Think I could go 40 days with any of those?

After your suggestions my current amazon cart for her is:

Calligraphy: A Beginner's Guide to Pointed Pen and Brush Pen Lettering

Hand Lettering for Relaxation: An Inspirational Workbook for Creating Beautiful Lettered Art

Strathmore 300 Series Drawing Pad, Medium Surface, 9"x12" Glue Bound, 50 Sheets

Rhodia No.16 A5 6 x 8 1/4 80 Sheet, Dot Pad.

Tombow 56191 Advanced Lettering Set.

Pilot Parallel Pen 2-Color Calligraphy Pen Set, with Black and Red Ink Cartridges in 2.4mm Nib size and 3.8mm Nib size with extra 12 assorted colors cartridges and 12 black cartridges. I assume the cartridges are not dependent on nib size as that would be infuriatingly stupid. Only dependent on the brands pen circumference? Correct me if I am wrong on that.

Hopefully that's pretty comprehensive but as far as speedball goes these are the texts I've found:

Speedball Textbook 24th Edition for $8.67.

Speedball Textbook: For Pen and Brush Lettering, 20th Edition for $113.35.

The Speedball Textbook, a comprehensive Guide to Pen and Brush Lettering, 23rd, Twenth-Third Edition for $51.01 new.

Did you have a specific edition in mind? A lot of the ones I'm seeing on amazon vary greatly as shown above.

My normal EDC (not including cell phone, car keys and CCW as they all cost more than feasible for this situation) is a multitool/knife, flashlight, wallet, watch, pen and bandanna.

Multitool: Leatherman Squirt PS4, $28.75 Not the biggest or baddest MT out there, but it will do pretty much every EDC task I can think of needing to do.

Flashlight: [ThruNite Ti5, $15.95](
https://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Compact-Penlight-Output-Firefly/dp/B014SGM234/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1478977407&sr=8-12&keywords=thrunite) Hard choice between this and the Streamlight Microstream.

Wallet: Big Skinny Metro, $19.99 Carried Big Skinny wallets for years. Only recently switched to Recycled Firefighter, just for a change in pace.

Watch: Casio Calculator, $14.99 The ultimate nerd watch.

Pen: Zebra F-701, $4.63 Best damn pen I've ever used.

Bandanna: Rothco Solid Black Bandanna, $5.87 Any cotton bandanna will do, I just picked this one because it was solid black.

The grand total is: $90.18. The remaining $9.82 will buy me a six pack of mid tier craft beer.

I quite like the design, feel, and quality of Caran D'Ache. If you like, you can get their pen and pencil to look like a matched set. They're high quality instruments but don't cost anything near the overpriced fluff.

I also really like the Zebra F-701, which is even cheaper. It's more substantial than the F301 which I also like a lot, and keep around me everywhere. But the F-701 I keep in the same spot at my desk. Also available in both pen and pencil

A pen like this falls under both Art Supplies and Writing!

It's also my $10 item on my artsy wishlist :p

An awesome $5 gift would be this eBook!

Thanks for the contest! I really really want it!

You can find it on Amazon. The price tends to fluctuate around $20 from the looks of it. I got mine when the price dropped to $17.

As far as multi-pens go, I'm really impressed by how slim the Skilcraft is. The rotate-to-change component mechanism is fun to play with, and it's solidly built with a metal construction (weight is comparable to rOtring) and very nice matte black finish. Overall though, I would say it's a bit of a jack of all trades that doesn't fully excel at anything except being very convenient and portable. The pen components write pretty well, but nothing mind-blowing. I definitely prefer my EnerGels. The mechanical pencil experience is average, though the click is very unsatisfying because of how unsteady it is. However, the component is retractable (since it's a multipen), so that's a nice bonus.


You can also check out the Clutch Situation review on YouTube.

Please note the Safari doesn't come with a converter so if you don't plan to use cartridges (it comes with one) you will want to add a Lamy Converter to your order.

As for inks, any quality ink will work fine in your pen. Brands often mentioned in [/r/fountainpens ] include Noodler's, Parker, Daimine, Iroshizuku, Parker, and Sheaffer. Noodler's is generally considered one of the best values as its price per ounce is among the lowest. All of these inks should be available on Amazon. GL with your purchase!

You're buying waterman ink and a $15 pen in this equation which is absurd. Cheap pens need to compared to cheap pens.

Let's say you buy a $2 Jinhao from eBay, free shipping, in an EF nib, including a converter, and then buy this $22 350 mL blue ink from Amazon.

It's 7 times the ink for twice the price, which is 3.5 times the value on ink. Plus, in an EF, you're writing a line more comparable to the .05 line of normal cheap pens, while putting far less ink down on the paper, which could mean that you use half or even less of the ink than you described. That 350 mL bottle would last forever. And the total cost for basically a lifetime of writing is $24.


The lie we tell ourselves is that we can save money by buying the pens and inks we WANT to use. We don't, it's a fantastic waste. But at its core there is truth to the economic upside of a refillable pen.

Here is a link to the Etsy book that I started lettering with! I started lettering about 1 year ago after purchasing this book from Etsy. It comes with the best beginner pens to practice. It shows you multiple ways to write each letter so you can find your own style.

The pen i'm using in this video is the Micron 08. The glitter gel pens are the Pentel Sparkle Pop Gel Pens.

My FAVORITE small brush pen is the Tombow Fudenosuke hard tip.

Yes, get a pretty fountain pen or felt tip that makes writing fun! I like le pen, varsity disposable fountain and sharpie's calligraphy pens.

Sure. This pen is amazing ergonomically and hella cheap (shaped much like rotring with knurled grip and stainless steel construction), BUT: it has two drawbacks. One is the awful stock ink that smudges, and the other is the plastic clicky that squeaks. So, several posters took it upon themselves to remedy these problems.


Firstly, everything on the pen is metal except for one part of the pen; the retractable "clicker" - weird, right? The plastic parts make it squeak whenever you bring the pen in or out. Thankfully, another zebra pen DOES have the metal clicker! The rest of the pen's construction is not much to write home about, but that's unimportant. You just need that metal clicker construction.


Secondly, the ink. The stock ink is pretty bad and is prone to smudging. Once again, thankfully, the fisher space pen insert will fit once you remove a small plastic part at the front of the f-701.


An anon that I think posts here made a walkthrough of the mod process here, so if you follow it you will yourself become the very owner of a Space Zebra F-7401!


This will leave you with a great fully metal pen that also has an ergonomic knurled grip and that makes use of the pressurized space ink!

I felt the same when I first started. I'm still not the best but with lots of practice, Ive learned to love it! I haven't quite perfected using the Tombow Duel brush pens but I really like using just the Tombow pens with a hard or soft tip! You can find there here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M71S9DU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_35HDzbY161A1C hope this helps :)

My suggestion is to buy a Pilot Metropolitan, which comes with both a cartridge and a converter so you can try both out. I would also suggest getting a bottle of a basic, workhorse ink. Something like Noodler's Black would be a good option, a nice saturated black that is waterproof and behaves pretty well on cheap paper.

1. You NEED this Disney Mickey Tuxedo Bath Rug. You can't be just stepping out of your bath with drippy toes onto a cold, hard floor. Nooooo, that will never do. Allow Mickey to cushion your steps in comfort and to dry those toes in full formal tuxedo style!
   
   
2. These pens would be mighty fly.
   
   
3. Have fun choosing, and enjoy whatever it is. Thanks for the contest!

The point that stuck out to me was when she said no one really asks how a character like nathan drake represents men where as all female characters are asked about their representation of women.
I've never really thought about either gender irl representation, just like I've never thought about irl representation of comic book characters, or characters from novels or movies. I watch/read/play to escape reality where I can put myself into the protagonist and save the world or even just matter in a significant way in that world for a bit everyday, when in reality I'm so insignificant to not matter except as a demographic to a marketer.
To be honest I think marketing pink pens for girls much more insulting then anything I've seen in video games. I'm a woman and pink everything or flower everything bugs me more then tit physics in video games.
All that being said I really like the interview format. Keep up the good work TB.

Zebra F-701. Great pen, stainless steel. Nice balance and writes great. Plus its $5.

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410233699&sr=8-1&keywords=f-701+zebra

I'm curious about the pricing too (I also saw it was $120 when you commented). I looked up the cost of the things listed.

• Gerber Dime green/black - $16.02 new on Amazon
  
• Zebra F-701 pen - $7.20 new on Amazon
  
• NarwhalCo pens set of 2 - $11.95 new on their site
  
• 2.5" ratchet bit extension - about $4~ new on Amazon (counting out the other bits included in that listing)
  
• ARES 1/4" micro bit ratchet & mini bits - $14.42 new on Amazon
  
• Small length of black Gorilla tape - less than $1 worth of a full 1-pack price new on Amazon
  
• Glasses/screen cleaning cloth - comparable to $1.50 new on Amazon from a 6-pack
  
• Length of FireCord - less than $1 worth of a full 1 roll price new on Amazon
  
• Bic Mini lighter - about $1.39 new on Amazon from a 5-pack
  
• Sim card removal tool - about $0.50 new on Amazon from a 10-pack
  
• Kingston 32gb microSD card & portable USB reader - $20.94 new on Amazon
  
• CountyComm "Industrial Strength Survival Food Grade Tin" large topo design - $3.45 new on their site
  
  In total that's about $83.37 USD all new prices. Most include free shipping if purchased from Amazon. I did not include possible cost of that leather holster because the post currently does not say the leather holster is included or not.

I agree. For a long time I used these and I really like their slender shape. They have the same innards as the one posted by dbzpsycho1 above.

I recently switched to the all metal one that he posted. I bought two of them on Amazon and I refill them as needed. Even though they're slightly thicker they are indestructible which is great!

For those that missed it, (only recently discovered this myself, but had a great laugh from it). http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/dp/B004F9QBE6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417968102&sr=8-1&keywords=bic+for+her#customerReviews

My suggestion is to get:

Pilot Metropolitan, you can also get a fine tip if you want that.

A Pilot Con-50

And finally, some Parker Quink.

I'd probably use the converters because they are less prone to leaking, and you can always get new ink in case you want another color.

A 2oz bottle of ink will likely last you around 9 months if you are writing a fair bit daily and don't spill any, though I've managed to go through one in 3 months, due to writing a novel.

If you want blue ink too, you can get some Blue Quink

Lamy also makes some great ink for cheap in Blue, Black and Turquoise

Also look at Noodler's Bernanke Blue penaddict || officesupplygeek and Bernanke Black ikonhand. Both are extremely quick drying and the nice, solid inks.

Edit: For an inexpensive pen, I would look at the Nemosine Singularity, Pilot Metropolitan, or if you want something really inexpensive and that still writes well, maybe something like a Jinhao x250, x450, or x750. (The Pilot and the Nemosine are much lighter in weight, so I think they make for more comfortable writing pens for longer sessions, personally. But the Jinhao pens actually write quite well.)

For real. I have an ex that commented on a FB post I put up of a really entertaining listicle of the "masculinity so fragile" variety. And he got all butthurt like "isn't this just generalizing about men? wouldn't this be offensive if it was about women?" And I'm like no, dude, it's about toxic masculinity. Men should find it funny too. Just like, as a woman, I find it funny when people mock pens for women. Not everything is about you.

Leftie here. The best solution I’ve found is Noodler’s Bernanke Blue (or black, I think) ink. It dries almost instantly on every paper I’ve tried.

The Lamy LH nibs don’t seem to work for me because the flow is too heavy for my writing speed (i.e. I write slow and they seem to flood ink), but my leftie SO loves them.

Edit: Noodlers Ink 3 Oz Bernanke Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YL1466?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Also requires: Lamy Refill Converter (Z24) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DVXWRI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yqxKAbCKKQQ4Z

Bask in the glory of the greatest pens ever, The disposable fountain pen that works better and lasts as long as actual fountain pens

Can't really pick just one, but I figure you'd rather see more interesting things people carry than fewer, so here some are in order of "if I had to pick one":

1. Fisher Bullet Space Pen - with clip, carry in coin pocket
   
2. Chicobag Micro - I'm annoyed they don't make it in black anymore in case mine, which I've been using fairly often/heavily for years, finally gets a rip. Heck maybe this should be #1, I'd be ok with another pen.
   
3. Nightcore TIP
   
4. Nite-ize Ahhh s-biner+bottle opener to carry items like giant car key fob, garage clicker, and the above flashlight on my belt loop so that they're not attached to my keychain stuffed in my front pocket. The bottle opener is surprisingly great. (I actually purchased a 10x-price Corter Bottlehook very recently to "upgrade", and the bottle opener is bad, so it's in a drawer.)
   
   I should do an updated EDC post sometime...

Hi! I can’t speak for the quality of those specific pens but I think Pentel is a good brand. I can say that their sign brush pens are very nice quality. I got mine from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EN0HCH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sXXUDbPVEZ6T6

These are different than the felt markers because these are basically smaller brush pens.

Sharpie pens are the best. I write a LOT for work, and it's so enjoyable to write with. Doesn't bleed through the paper, yet still gives a nice, confident line. Not to mention you can get one for under $1.

Edited to add: Amazon link

Oh! If you're interested in Pilot's Blue Black, on Amazon there's a 350mL version in a glass bottle imported from Japan that works out to be great value for money. Here

Any will work! Right now I'm using a Lamy Safari pen. You can buy green ink cartridges or you can get converters to refill with any ink you'd wish. Lamy sells their own green ink but there are plenty of other options on amazon.

ALTERNATIVELY: I find that the converters don't hold enough ink, so once I've used up the default cartridge that comes with the pen, I wash it out and refill ink myself with a narrow-nosed syringe. Any kind will work as long as the tip is smaller than the opening of the ink cartridge opening, though you may spill some ink on your hands. I use this because no pokey-bleedy.


just remembered UK... so:
Lamy safari - amazon UK
green ink cartridges
converter
Green ink (Waterman, not Lamy, works fine)
syringe

Happy hunting!

You could start with disposable colors. http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

Then move on to the others mentioned earlier. If ink color is interesting, join ink drop from Goulet pens. 5 new ink color samples every month. But you will need a pen with a converter at that point. I don't always clean my ink completely as it is nice sometimes to see the transition of colors. Careful though, some inks don't play well together. Hope she enjoys it. PM me if you have any questions.

Fisher Space Pen refills come with an adapter that fits on the back so that they can fit into any pen that takes Parker-style refills. So you have lots of options if you'd like to go that route.

Or, if you'd like pens that are designed for the Fisher Space Pen refill specifically, here are some options:

Original Astronaut Pen: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-AG7-Original-Astronaut/dp/B0015ZP2AC/

Fisher Space Pen Bullet: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-Bullet-Clip/dp/B0002ZQB4M/

Fisher Space Pen Bullet - Brass: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Brass-Bullet-400-RAW/dp/B00KQSMAYU/

Machine Era Field Pen - Original: https://www.machine-era.com/collections/pens/products/field-pen-stainless

Schon Design Classic Machined Pen: https://www.schondsgn.com/collections/pens/products/classic-machined-pen?variant=7245842087982

The Easy flow 9000 is very good as stated by another redditer, however I personally like the fine space pen refill which comes with an adapter to fit parker pens.

A little higher on the price range you mentioned but I've enjoyed the Pilot Precise V5 line of pens. They come in a variety of colours, pack sizes, and they're fine pointed which I fine handy in my line of work where I have to take a lot of notes in a day.

Pilot Precise V5 RT Retractable Rolling Ball Pens, Extra Fine Point, Black Ink, Dozen Box -26062

sweet! Fisher Space Pen SPR4F Black Fine Point Pressurized Refill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Z7WVZK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BxVACb0Q9KC8B

i love the idea of having my bullet-style space pen for EDC, but I’m really excited to make it actually happen with the fine point refill.

If you're using them in poor conditions: Fisher Space Pen, or a pen that will accept a Fisher refill. I carry this Parker Jotter because it matches my Hero 100 Flighter, equipped with this Fisher refill.

However, just saying you want a ballpoint pen is a pretty big request. Gel, rollerball and ballpoint pens are all... ballpoint pens. Different ones will come with different inks.

Uniball Jetstreams are good, as are Pilot G2s. Personally, though, the Retro 51 Tornado is an absolutely fantastic pen. It's more expensive by a wide margin than the Jotter. It's a much thicker pen, though, so if you have larger hands it's much more comfortable than a Fisher or Parker. And, unlike a lot of pens out there, the refills are both fantastic and affordable.

So. I would say: Get a Jotter and slap a Fisher Space Pen refill in it. Then, if you want to get another nice ballpoint, get yourself a Retro 51 Tornado. Then get a fountain pen. Avoid Zebra. I love my G-301s, but goddamn, those refills are expensive and don't get any mileage at all.

This may be a trigger rabbit hole for some but I absolutely stand by my day-to-day work pen. Pilot Precise V5 RT. It's a thing of beauty; writes a sharp black line, comfortable grip, retractable so I can click it incessantly. They may not last a lifetime like fountain pens or whatever, but they blow my standard office's pens out of the water.

1. [Pens 2.78] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U9TEEA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I19H22AN4GNZDT)
   
2. [Row Counter 3.49] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LHJXS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I14936QDCI9PVF)
   
3. [Peeler 4.48] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041BV0B2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I1ODM1MEFABTZ7)
   
4. [Coffin Box 5.30] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017R7DQO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I1P5F2ZEZ412A8)
   
5. [Lotion 6.22] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UTK76C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3SBJB5RE7GN4X&coliid=I18C5UFNH5ZAL2)
   
6. [Eye Shadow Base 6.03] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030O9LYY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I3GJQPN6EDDVTD)
   
   Meets the 25 minimum requirement Codename Duchess
   
   Thanks for the contest! Feel free to sub other add-ons from my list if you see fit.

+Maxpedition E.D.C. Pocket Organizer

+Sharpie w/Chisel Tip

+Zebra F-701 Metal Pen

+Chris Reeve Large Sebenza w/Gabon Inlay

+Fenix ALB-20 Snap Hook modded: bottle opener delete

+Olight I3E EOS

+Gerber Shard

+Leatherman Squirt P^S4

+Fenix UC35 v2.0

+Leatherman Charge+

+Visine Advanced .8fl oz

+AKG ear buds

+Burt's Bees Wax Honey Lip Balm

I carry a The North Face "Router Transit" (second generation) that holds a BE RED CROSS READY FIRST AID KIT, Hinderer XM-18 3.5" Wharncliffe w/CPM-20CV, Eagle Eyes X1R "warm", a [Kindle Paperwhite](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLPWYB7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UlF1CbK87E6JV], Just Wireless 6,000 mAh Power Bank, ZEBRALIGHT H600Fc MK IV, TG Plasma Lighter, a couple Sarah Glove Emergency Disposal Ponchos and a small toiletries bag with Tylenol, toothbrush/paste, mouthwash and deodorant.

This is my daily carry, everywhere I go. I have a much more complete "Bug Out Bag" with a full change of clothes in the back of my truck. I would like to add a dedicated pry bar and maybe a fixed-blade knife to my bag but other than that feel pretty complete. Suggestions?

I use these they are .38-I love them. I'm especially enjoying the green ink one.

I'm a grad student and I write a lot, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert ;)

I'm planning on buying a TIHK for a friend thats going into vice. I think its always smart to have on you regardless if you are plain clothes or uniformed. Also a good pen like Zebra 402 or 701 is always a smart choice. They are nice enough to use but affordable enough to lose. Good hinged cuffs for off duty use and a low profile carrier is nice too. I don't know the laws and polices for officers in Queensland though.

http://tihk.co

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-402-Retractable-Ballpoint-Pen/dp/B004WOAJP6/

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80/

I love the way the flamed titanium wears! All the little snail trails give it a ton of character. Yeah, I lost the pen and a sebenza at the same time. They were both in a pocket slip I made, and the slip slipped right out of my pocket without me knowing. Bad day lol. Here is a link to a fine point black refill

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-SPR4F-Pressurized/dp/B000Z7WVZK

Platinum preppy is another great, inexpensive pen that performs like a champ. (imo)

Amazon

Thanks! Honestly, the pen I write with the most is the Pilot Precise V5 RT. It's been my favorite writing tool so far but the grip, while comfortable, tends to hang up in the inside of my pockets. The Jotter is my go-to pen for portability.

Thank you for the reply. I have some questions if you don't mind.

> Staedtler pigment liners ($20)


It looks like there's fiber tipped and metal clad tipped ones. I think the metal ones would hold up better, but I really have no experience.

http://www.amazon.com/Triplus-Fineliner-Pens-Metal-Assorted/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425349204&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=Staedtler+pigment+liners+%28%2420%29

http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Triplus-Color-Fiber-323SB20P/dp/B000KJP7HM/ref=pd_sim_op_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0FXXXBGH2Q80QP3C0VXY

What's wrong with spiral pads? I was thinking something I could fold over or just lay flat completely would be better especially since I'm left handed.

Thanks again for your time and help!

THIS ONE is on my Amazon wish list. If it's good enough for pilots, should be good enough for us!

This is one of my favourite WTF - I mean who needs 55 gallons!

Also I love the shear ridiculousness of this steering wheel table

And one of the other stupid thing is pens specifically for her read the comments for all of these - they are funny!

As far a gift - surprise me if I win :)

Yeah, my demonstrator's held up nicely (despite being banged around more than a little), but the reports I've heard of the opaque Singularities breaking led me to making it a stay-at-home pen, just to be safe.

If you want a really fine line, check out the Sailor HighAce: thinnest line I've ever seen.

There's also the Pilot Metropolitan, of course. Medium nibs are on sale on Amazon right now, and a Pilot M is going to be both smooth and roughly equivalent to an F/EF western nib.