Comments on: The New Yorker on the Blackwing 602 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 01:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Mladen Kalinic http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209957 Mladen Kalinic Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209957 I personally prefer sticking my finger in some mud and writing with it on something white. All technology should be brought down to the level everyone can understand I personally prefer sticking my finger in some mud and writing with it on something white.

All technology should be brought down to the level everyone can understand

]]> By: stuck411 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209603 stuck411 Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209603 Growing up I'd see a pencil or two like this in parent's desk. My mom used to be a school teacher and I think it was from the days she did the school's yearbook/newspaper back in the 1950s. As a little kid I thought it was a cool artist's invention. Her pencils had a brush at the end where the eraser would be. Draw out your picture in pencil, then flip the pencil over to paint it in with the brush. Kind of like those drill / head driver combos for your electric drill. Mom had to go ruin the illusion with a demonstration of how it would brush off the scraps left by the thick gummy rubber eraser. Definitely not as cool. Growing up I’d see a pencil or two like this in parent’s desk. My mom used to be a school teacher and I think it was from the days she did the school’s yearbook/newspaper back in the 1950s. As a little kid I thought it was a cool artist’s invention. Her pencils had a brush at the end where the eraser would be. Draw out your picture in pencil, then flip the pencil over to paint it in with the brush. Kind of like those drill / head driver combos for your electric drill.

Mom had to go ruin the illusion with a demonstration of how it would brush off the scraps left by the thick gummy rubber eraser. Definitely not as cool.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209226 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209226 <blockquote>Blackwing pencils are the new vintage typewriter. What's next -- artisan chalk?</blockquote>You're not an artist, are you?

Blackwing pencils are the new vintage typewriter. What’s next — artisan chalk?

You’re not an artist, are you?

]]> By: Kristopher Spencer http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209173 Kristopher Spencer Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209173 Blackwing pencils are the new vintage typewriter. What's next -- artisan chalk? Blackwing pencils are the new vintage typewriter. What’s next — artisan chalk?

]]> By: valdis http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209111 valdis Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209111 No. Never.   :wq!  is probably the single most dangerous thing in vi.  The problem is that the write and quit commands are queued - so if the write fails (disk full, USB storage not plugged in right, etc), the q! will still execute anyway and you lose all your changes. It's amazing how many vi users I've had to point that out to over the years.  Mostly other sysadmins - and if we're in a situation where I'm reading over another sysadmin's shoulder closely enough to catch the idfference between :w :q  and :wq!, we're probably working on a bad problem - one where :w has a high chance of failing... No. Never.   :wq!  is probably the single most dangerous thing in vi.  The problem is that the write and quit commands are queued – so if the write fails (disk full, USB storage not plugged in right, etc), the q! will still execute anyway and you lose all your changes.

It’s amazing how many vi users I’ve had to point that out to over the years.  Mostly other sysadmins – and if we’re in a situation where I’m reading over another sysadmin’s shoulder closely enough to catch the idfference between :w :q  and :wq!, we’re probably working on a bad problem – one where :w has a high chance of failing…

]]> By: Brad Gake http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209040 Brad Gake Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209040 yep, you're right, I love the Tombos.    BTW the original Blackwings still sell for good money on ebay- about $20 each! yep, you’re right, I love the Tombos.    BTW the original Blackwings still sell for good money on ebay- about $20 each!

]]> By: MB44 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1209003 MB44 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1209003 It was just a joke about eccentricity. Don't take me too seriously, because believe me, I don't deserve it. It was just a joke about eccentricity. Don’t take me too seriously, because believe me, I don’t deserve it.

]]> By: Adam Fields http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208988 Adam Fields Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208988 :wq! :wq!

]]> By: Matt Thompson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208970 Matt Thompson Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208970 :wq All Hail Vi! :wq

All Hail Vi!

]]> By: Adam Fields http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208927 Adam Fields Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208927 C-x C-s C-x C-c.  There, I just ended your emacs war. C-x C-s C-x C-c. 

There, I just ended your emacs war.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208911 dculberson Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208911 Oh no!!  Not an EMACS war!  Those are endless and deadly. Oh no!!  Not an EMACS war!  Those are endless and deadly.

]]> By: hassenpfeffer http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208862 hassenpfeffer Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208862 My fingers have Emacs built into them after 20 years. Most of my professional work is sourced in XML and formatted via XSL. I refuse to get involved in the Holy Wars between the Cult of Emacs and the Cult of vi; the two tools are equally useful to different groups of people. I think your preference largely depends on which editor you first trained on. My fingers have Emacs built into them after 20 years. Most of my professional work is sourced in XML and formatted via XSL. I refuse to get involved in the Holy Wars between the Cult of Emacs and the Cult of vi; the two tools are equally useful to different groups of people. I think your preference largely depends on which editor you first trained on.

]]> By: Mujokan http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208850 Mujokan Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208850 Who is Mister Jalopy, your imaginary friend? Who is Mister Jalopy, your imaginary friend?

]]> By: Pickleschlitz http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208808 Pickleschlitz Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208808 Most current animators use Tombo, but the old guys all used Blackwings. I still have a few boxes given to me as a Christmas gift by Virgil Ross. Most current animators use Tombo, but the old guys all used Blackwings. I still have a few boxes given to me as a Christmas gift by Virgil Ross.

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208756 SedanChair Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208756 These weren't even on my radar (I'm a Pentel 209 type of guy) but now they are. These weren’t even on my radar (I’m a Pentel 209 type of guy) but now they are.

]]> By: ogvor http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208743 ogvor Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208743 Hmm, I guess this means the New Yorker's famous fact checking only applies to the print edition? Or did they not try a google search for Boing Boing+blackwing? Hmm, I guess this means the New Yorker’s famous fact checking only applies to the print edition? Or did they not try a google search for Boing Boing+blackwing?

]]> By: studio602 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208704 studio602 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208704 Glad to hear you enjoyed them.  http://pencils.com/blog/ Glad to hear you enjoyed them. 

http://pencils.com/blog/

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208678 teapot Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208678 Look what he's unleashed! Look what he’s unleashed!

]]> By: Ambiguity http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208635 Ambiguity Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208635 Scribus is cool, but Emacs? Seriously? I used to do all my writing in Emacs (and then usually set it in LaTeX), but then I said to myself: do I really want to be a dinosaur? That's when I saw the light. I use VIM now... Scribus is cool, but Emacs? Seriously?

I used to do all my writing in Emacs (and then usually set it in LaTeX), but then I said to myself: do I really want to be a dinosaur? That’s when I saw the light.

I use VIM now…

]]> By: Matt D http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208568 Matt D Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208568 I'm not much of one for Simpson quotes, but: "I knew the dog before he came to school" I’m not much of one for Simpson quotes, but: “I knew the dog before he came to school”

]]> By: Brad Gake http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208543 Brad Gake Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208543 These are big in the animation community.  I think Glen Keane uses them. These are big in the animation community.  I think Glen Keane uses them.

]]> By: hassenpfeffer http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208539 hassenpfeffer Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208539 MB, every profession has its quirks and its practitioners have their favorite tools. I do my professional writing almost exclusively in Emacs, then pull it into LibreOffice or Bean if it needs minor formatting, Scribus if it needs extensive formatting. My personal writing is "best," IMO, if I use a very fine-pointed felt-tipped red pen on narrowly ruled or graphed yellow (legal-pad-style) paper. Yes, I do have OCD, but these are the things that have earned me a very good living over the past 20 years (things such as Scribus and Bean obviously having coming along more recently). Laugh away. MB, every profession has its quirks and its practitioners have their favorite tools. I do my professional writing almost exclusively in Emacs, then pull it into LibreOffice or Bean if it needs minor formatting, Scribus if it needs extensive formatting. My personal writing is “best,” IMO, if I use a very fine-pointed felt-tipped red pen on narrowly ruled or graphed yellow (legal-pad-style) paper. Yes, I do have OCD, but these are the things that have earned me a very good living over the past 20 years (things such as Scribus and Bean obviously having coming along more recently). Laugh away.

]]> By: procrastinet http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208531 procrastinet Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208531 I absolutely loved a cheapish Muji ballpoint I got at JFK airport.  Then I lost it.  But my point stands. I think it's this guy, though they don't show all their pens online: http://www.muji.us/store/stationery/pen-pencil/polycarbonate-ball-point-pen-with-rubber-grip-0-7mm.html I absolutely loved a cheapish Muji ballpoint I got at JFK airport.  Then I lost it.  But my point stands.

I think it’s this guy, though they don’t show all their pens online: http://www.muji.us/store/stationery/pen-pencil/polycarbonate-ball-point-pen-with-rubber-grip-0-7mm.html

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208498 Rob Beschizza Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208498 Brian, you may be pleased with my forthcoming Amazon referral-pimping piece, "Top 10 Low-End Ballpoint Pens" Brian, you may be pleased with my forthcoming Amazon referral-pimping piece, “Top 10 Low-End Ballpoint Pens”

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208465 Donald Petersen Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208465 I had some black plastic retractable ballpoints that said U.S. Government on the side as a kid.  I think I got them from my aunt who worked in the State Department. Cool they weren't, but by God they wrote.  The last one crapped out nearly twenty years after I got it. I was reminded of them when I toured the Pentagon a couple years ago and saw all those sturdy, black Ma Bell-era telephones. I had some black plastic retractable ballpoints that said U.S. Government on the side as a kid.  I think I got them from my aunt who worked in the State Department.

Cool they weren’t, but by God they wrote.  The last one crapped out nearly twenty years after I got it.

I was reminded of them when I toured the Pentagon a couple years ago and saw all those sturdy, black Ma Bell-era telephones.

]]> By: Brian Huntington http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208453 Brian Huntington Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208453 There are some recurring topics on BB that I get annoyed with. Pencils is not one of them. Do I write with a pencil? Never. Do I understand this obsession? Yes. And I love it. I wish one of the editors was obsessed with lower-end ballpoint pens.   There are some recurring topics on BB that I get annoyed with. Pencils is not one of them. Do I write with a pencil? Never. Do I understand this obsession? Yes. And I love it.

I wish one of the editors was obsessed with lower-end ballpoint pens.  

]]> By: MB44 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208440 MB44 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208440 Oh my god this is fantastic. I'll be taking my pencil to him on foot. Oh my god this is fantastic. I’ll be taking my pencil to him on foot.

]]> By: MB44 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208430 MB44 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208430 I still refuse to write on paper with anything except for my sharktooth- tipped, mammoth bone using reconstituted dinosaur blood as ink. I know, I know, it sounds particular but I am just so creative and quirky that I can't help it. I still refuse to write on paper with anything except for my sharktooth- tipped, mammoth bone using reconstituted dinosaur blood as ink. I know, I know, it sounds particular but I am just so creative and quirky that I can’t help it.

]]> By: tempbot http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208420 tempbot Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208420 If you're willing to pay a lot for a pencil, make sure you get it sharpened by a professional: http://www.artisanalpencilsharpening.com/ If you’re willing to pay a lot for a pencil, make sure you get it sharpened by a professional:

http://www.artisanalpencilsharpening.com/

]]> By: Pickleschlitz http://boingboing.net/2011/09/08/the-new-yorker-on-the-blackwing-602.html#comment-1208409 Pickleschlitz Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116837#comment-1208409 The new one tends to smudge a bit more as your hand drags across it than the old one. The new one tends to smudge a bit more as your hand drags across it than the old one.

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