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Dave Bacon is a theoretical ski bum who is also a pseudo professor. His research is on quantum computing, his scientific passions extend to everything in physics, mathematics, computer science and beyond, and his personal pleasures include making wine, playing poker, skiing, camping, and daydreaming (although not all of those at the same time.)
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You Might Be a Theorist
Category: Off The Deep End • Self: Meet Center. Center: Meet Self.
Posted on: January 26, 2010 6:30 PM, by Dave Bacon
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Comments
TOO TRUE !! I have Pilot G2 gel grip pens, and cannot function without them. I've even done desperate Staples store runs to find them :)
Posted by: Suresh | January 26, 2010 7:13 PM
I can only work with extra-fine black Pilot G2 pens. In fact, I had to leave work early one day last month after my pen died and I discovered that the supply closet only had those pens in fine tip.
Posted by: David | January 26, 2010 8:40 PM
Ha! I just put down my (black) Pilot V5, to open twitter and see this.
Posted by: Alex | January 26, 2010 8:56 PM
Sharpie Pens, enough said. Great marker pen from a quality marker company. Great dark black lines, no bleed through. Makes sketches and diagrams look real nice, as well as text and formulas. Best of all, they are available in 6 colors (in a variety pack): black, blue, red, green, orange, and purple. So you always have more colors to work with on note-taking, grading/corrections, graphs, diagrams, sketches, etc. etc. and most importantly, keeping up with whiteboard (or colored chalk) professors/lecturers. http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Pen.html
Buy them, you won't regret it.......and don't forget to give me all the credit!
Posted by: Justin Dove | January 26, 2010 8:59 PM
Sharpie Pens, enough said. Great marker pen from a quality marker company. Great dark black lines, no bleed through. Makes sketches and diagrams look real nice, as well as text and formulas. Best of all, they are available in 6 colors (in a variety pack): black, blue, red, green, orange, and purple. So you always have more colors to work with on note-taking, grading/corrections, graphs, diagrams, sketches, etc. etc. and most importantly, keeping up with whiteboard (or colored chalk) professors/lecturers. http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Pen.html
Buy them, you won't regret it......and don't forget to give me all the credit!
Posted by: Justin Dove | January 26, 2010 9:21 PM
How fitting to have an ode to these ancient writing tools on the day before the unveiling of their successor :-)
Wikipedia has a good article on mogigraphia = "writer's cramp." Anyone whose livelihood depends on a particular choice of pen, is by extension dependent on the ability to write by hand. Writer's cramp is a task-specific affliction, so we theorists are particularly at risk. It is important to take frequent breaks and observe good ergonomics, this should be taught to all undergraduates who are learning to calculate by handwriting.
Posted by: ijc | January 26, 2010 9:58 PM
oh yes, so true, so true. The Pilot V7 serves as a link between my thoughts and the paper, like no other pen can do. Alas, however, they have a tendency to splort ink all over the place on airplanes. Gel pens are better for that environment. There is a Pilot G1 pen that seems to be only sold in Europe that is really good (it's different from the G2).
Do I know way too much about this? Will I reveal even more geekiness by extending the discussion to mechanical pencils? and types of lead? and paper? what about the paper?
Posted by: ecologist | January 27, 2010 8:19 AM
I find that I particularly enjoy the uni-ball Jetstream, Red for my scribblings.
Posted by: David | January 27, 2010 8:42 AM
They're pretty pens - that shade of blue is one of the most beautiful colors IMHO (and who knows "if you see it like I do" etc!) ScienceBlogs is also the gold standard of scientific blogging. Well, what does anyone think of another outfit with the very name "ScientificBlogging" (www.scientificblogging.com, Facebook)? I haven't heard much about them.
BTW, I'm debating sci-blog netiquette in a Facebook thread: if a blogger makes a factual mistake about another person's concept (like, proposed experiment) inside of a bitter tirade, should that BO correct (like []s in main post) and not just noted in comments? I think so, anyone else? I also asked if any important/interesting ideas (significant) ever came from a blog. Link if requested, or check mine. Aside from that I don't want a continuing feud over the example in question. I want that forgotten about; and the proposal itself to be considered anew.
Posted by: Neil B | January 27, 2010 11:15 AM
Pilot's rule!!
Posted by: Perry | January 27, 2010 1:12 PM
The only downside is the failure mode for these pens causes dramatic and sometimes irreversible damage to textiles.
Posted by: Jon | January 28, 2010 1:05 PM
I seem to have started a trend for Logitech io2 digital pens within our group.
Posted by: Joe Fitzsimons | January 28, 2010 3:25 PM
My post must have gotten messed up.....
Long story short: Sharpie pens, enough said. 6 colors, no bleed through, Sharpie quality. http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Pen.html
Posted by: Justin Dove | January 28, 2010 3:59 PM
(1) I did win one of those Scienceblogs coffee cups. I love it.
(2) I like pens that I can write with while lying on my back in bed or on a beach. They used to be marketed as if by NASA, or using antigravity.
Posted by: Jonathan Vos Post | January 29, 2010 7:09 PM