Articles On Information

And Yet Another Keyboard Facelift

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNbLkRwQh0kR00SzOfAZlIN_Q5pQoS5ZWpYSIEaZJnWVqnqzDk9k3ri5qGSPdo_hMezZWbHzMRmSfFDvYggIGJVnrgq9otYL2HoypLA-z9XAkfityNtR1D3G4xt9dMStVpBQmQ6a-PxI/s1600/IMG_5510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNbLkRwQh0kR00SzOfAZlIN_Q5pQoS5ZWpYSIEaZJnWVqnqzDk9k3ri5qGSPdo_hMezZWbHzMRmSfFDvYggIGJVnrgq9otYL2HoypLA-z9XAkfityNtR1D3G4xt9dMStVpBQmQ6a-PxI/s320/IMG_5510.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Picture Is Worth Two Words</td></tr></tbody></table>I recently scored an awesome, stealthy, and gloomy looking set of key caps for my mechanical keyboard. I'm pretty much over the "white key caps on black keyboard" look, primarily because white key caps tend to become brown gunky dirty key caps in just a few days regardless of the cleanliness of the user. Accordingly, I decided to replace my <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/2012/09/another-keyboard-facelift.html" target="_blank">white ninja key caps</a> with a set of dark gray key caps that should do a much better job at hiding the finger gunk that collects over time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy8O963x339eX-JPvjyvTL5hbPdRDRaUtdnJ6sgwmPvaSRzR5cBQp7GpyWzpim6EN3CNCUf6chiTu6ibw6a3sdL4DmZCpKCA94sO1NsguY-TeaT4DdMnzIhk_gd2vNR_MjH9ScxBJAeA/s1600/IMG_5509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy8O963x339eX-JPvjyvTL5hbPdRDRaUtdnJ6sgwmPvaSRzR5cBQp7GpyWzpim6EN3CNCUf6chiTu6ibw6a3sdL4DmZCpKCA94sO1NsguY-TeaT4DdMnzIhk_gd2vNR_MjH9ScxBJAeA/s200/IMG_5509.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />These new key caps are made of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which is a preferred material in many keyboard geek circles. PBT key caps are durable, tough, provide a nice finger feel, and can be dye sublimated to create permanent legends that never wear off. The color and white balance are a little off in the pictures; the key caps are actually dark gray with black legends, and they look stellar on my black Filco keyboard. I really like the subtle and sophisticated look of my keyboard with these key caps. Plus, the new colorway of my keyboard matches the color scheme of this blog (at least as of the date of this post).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNAuTPyJHkEUJTT7rroP40YXiYcabkcz4MYyYcGGPd7p3O2EiEQpakDs3dREGHXywggqQhpKcyUxEMBf5Gtz5_9GpdVOfBPs94BH3koUY3tqf0Aw-HJCdSjRde6BFqWxCa1VTaR2DFGc/s1600/IMG_5559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNAuTPyJHkEUJTT7rroP40YXiYcabkcz4MYyYcGGPd7p3O2EiEQpakDs3dREGHXywggqQhpKcyUxEMBf5Gtz5_9GpdVOfBPs94BH3koUY3tqf0Aw-HJCdSjRde6BFqWxCa1VTaR2DFGc/s200/IMG_5559.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I really need to stop buying sets of key caps. I now have four complete sets, but I have only one compatible mechanical keyboard. Hmm, maybe I should acquire three more keyboards? It would be a shame to let those extra sets of key caps go to waste.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy24bTIfElrsQFjkneqRg0cnnjQUlW6lNS1r0vib9C4epZdgT7zh5FRkfR1Mn-_fc3TA6cLjgZ18tL3iFxbKTyxpVgJbnF_EfzT2RUWFemHQVu5mHHTNk1rk2t-Qz_tnMSH7XbFSJRX_0/s1600/IMG_5561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy24bTIfElrsQFjkneqRg0cnnjQUlW6lNS1r0vib9C4epZdgT7zh5FRkfR1Mn-_fc3TA6cLjgZ18tL3iFxbKTyxpVgJbnF_EfzT2RUWFemHQVu5mHHTNk1rk2t-Qz_tnMSH7XbFSJRX_0/s200/IMG_5561.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />

And Yet Another Keyboard Facelift

A Picture Is Worth Two Words I recently scored an awesome, stealthy, and gloomy looking set of key caps for my mechanical keyboard. I'm ...

8:21 AM

Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen (Part 2)

This is a follow up to my <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/2012/11/pelikan-m205-blue-demonstrator-fountain.html" target="_blank">initial post</a> about my recently acquired Pelikan fountain pen. In the previous post I mentioned that the M205 is a piston fill pen, and I admitted that the ink filling routine was pleasant and fun, which really tells me that I need to get out more often. What about the ink itself? For my first ever "fill a pen with ink from a bottle" experience, I used Sailor Jentle Ink (Sky High color). It comes in a cool little glass bottle:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvcEKqfpkC873R6Eby59WVfnLW5xBfVGKGylBGkrDErKBm9IOI1XThYjzFbaVHfxQBzw4arVk2XKCwXpHygpw2AIaG72ZAhGTLlFmMbk-UTBO7okpak6iF8XGa6FzQRw1_qt1TzHNJiM/s1600/20121004_006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvcEKqfpkC873R6Eby59WVfnLW5xBfVGKGylBGkrDErKBm9IOI1XThYjzFbaVHfxQBzw4arVk2XKCwXpHygpw2AIaG72ZAhGTLlFmMbk-UTBO7okpak6iF8XGa6FzQRw1_qt1TzHNJiM/s200/20121004_006.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I would say that Sky High is a bright blue color. Brighter and lighter than what I would call a "standard" blue. The next picture shows a more accurate representation of the actual color.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtXS6sV8TfMq-iSmxe_qwVSu4ILwfqZT3iADLyvySNHm3tqAon-YSpnvFsYBd3ZguOx8V8RD0DlFZxasVQwLDCdLfEbekU5ZuV3safZe7xJemJ5VABRDJ2NHhnCQGSJKcDUL46XGvQb0/s1600/20121004_012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtXS6sV8TfMq-iSmxe_qwVSu4ILwfqZT3iADLyvySNHm3tqAon-YSpnvFsYBd3ZguOx8V8RD0DlFZxasVQwLDCdLfEbekU5ZuV3safZe7xJemJ5VABRDJ2NHhnCQGSJKcDUL46XGvQb0/s200/20121004_012.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />Still interested? Read on after the jump. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.600000381469727px;">[Edit: jumps are silly; removed it]</span><br /><br />The bottle contains some brilliant Japanese technology, too. You might say "ink is ink, there is no technology in ink." That's a fair statement. However, Sailor's bottle includes a well-designed apparatus that improves the ink filling process. Thankfully, Sailor provides instructions on how to use this inventive and complex bottle of ink:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ0DRDcTmu6u237oX1uXp4YGgsUGztZ2XBAewgqf2ZOCfjTCfgwrNDK6hMaf-6AlYRf22Mfa7DtW06PLTPm9JJOgAoKAsoUmES8mjtcmrFgqFf4XxvDIohbgRAtfdENS4wyr6RJH4hqI/s1600/20121004_005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ0DRDcTmu6u237oX1uXp4YGgsUGztZ2XBAewgqf2ZOCfjTCfgwrNDK6hMaf-6AlYRf22Mfa7DtW06PLTPm9JJOgAoKAsoUmES8mjtcmrFgqFf4XxvDIohbgRAtfdENS4wyr6RJH4hqI/s200/20121004_005.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I don't read Japanese, but the diagrams seem easy enough to understand: (1) turn bottle clockwise; (2) shake bottle; (3) look at bottle; (4) fill pen. This doesn't make any sense, but a quick online translation of Sailor's website is extremely helpful: "We have been well received and installed a reservoir to gentle for fountain pen ink bottle. Buildup of ink, reservoir by tighten the cap, undo the bottle upside down, we inhale it. Conventional but it may be difficult to suction the ink in the bottle will be a small amount, by attaching a reservoir, it is possible to inhalation no waste the ink in the bottle can be underneath." Thank you, Sailor, you've been helpful.<br /><br />I did a writing sample the day after I got this pen, which was about a month ago. Since that time, I've concluded that the paper in my Moleskine notebook sucks for the extra fine nib on the Pelikan M205. The pen and ink work much better on other types of paper. I've also tried a couple of other ink samples in the M205 thus far (Diamine Oxblood color and Pelikan Edelstein Onyx color), and have had no problems or issues with cleaning the ink reservoir, refilling, ink flow, etc. This pen is a keeper (at least until Christmas), and I'm eager to twist, flip, and inhale the Sailor bottle when the ink gets underneath. LOL.<br /><br />Here is the writing sample that I created using the M205 inked with the Sailor Jentle Sky High ink:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-iNwLw-LaAEyGbU012XTvZuYqVbg_-mC_k5FeYcbW9FCeIzc9aNAKyxW_rxQThSgkdXbqutqMOC8GzqMGBBN77RxBESol3DII41CIPwjA-R9Sdb4FCsrq5dcW-meAr6cTpU__hPm6a0/s1600/20121005_Pelikan_M205_Sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-iNwLw-LaAEyGbU012XTvZuYqVbg_-mC_k5FeYcbW9FCeIzc9aNAKyxW_rxQThSgkdXbqutqMOC8GzqMGBBN77RxBESol3DII41CIPwjA-R9Sdb4FCsrq5dcW-meAr6cTpU__hPm6a0/s200/20121005_Pelikan_M205_Sample.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>

Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen (Part 2)

This is a follow up to my initial post about my recently acquired Pelikan fountain pen. In the previous post I mentioned that the M205 is a...

5:18 PM

Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen (Part 1)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1dxVVg8HWt5m-TqfYNIbqEnN7zq4Cka7U5LqUszGI72ExKKmSWOLW2-SnmwJ5mGZqNbghkzsNAm6Hcxw5dUsQAWt0rbgHDEVeQ_U7x4lpxTvpom3_4vLblHoBF_sVOigRNZRbZ3DzSc/s1600/IMG_5584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1dxVVg8HWt5m-TqfYNIbqEnN7zq4Cka7U5LqUszGI72ExKKmSWOLW2-SnmwJ5mGZqNbghkzsNAm6Hcxw5dUsQAWt0rbgHDEVeQ_U7x4lpxTvpom3_4vLblHoBF_sVOigRNZRbZ3DzSc/s200/IMG_5584.JPG" width="200" /></a>The title says it all. I broke down and bought a "next step above entry level" fountain pen. I was going to use  "impulsively" as an adverb to modify "bought," but nothing could be further from the truth in this case. Seriously, I must have spent 40+ hours looking at different pens, reading online reviews, adding and subtracting pens from various online vendor shopping carts, talking myself out of it, back into it, and out of it again, etc. I guess you could say that FPAD (fountain pen acquisition disorder) has settled in quite nicely here.<br /><br />The first picture shows how the Pelikan M205 Blue Demonstrator eye candy is initially revealed to its lucky owner. The presentation is not too shabby (although I'm not really a packaging geek, so meh whatever). The hard shell case and silky taupe colored bed resemble a coffin, with the pen lying in state.<br /><br />On to the details. This pen has an extra fine nib and it fills via an internal piston mechanism, which is visible through the translucent blue body. As far as I know, this blue demonstrator version is identical in form and function to every other Pelikan M205 pen, regardless of color. Dimensions, specifications, and a number of very good reviews of this pen are available elsewhere on the Internet. In fact, I read <a href="http://dizzypen.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/pelikan-m205-blue-demonstrator/" target="_blank">this review</a> and <a href="http://penanddesign.blogspot.com/2012/08/pelikan-m205-review.html" target="_blank">this other review</a> before making my purchase, and I thank those writers for their helpful insights.<br /><br />My quick review and two cents: the pen is smallish and lightweight, but still feels like a high quality instrument; the nib is noticeably broader, wetter, and smoother than the extra fine nib on my Lamy Vista; the nib is more flexible (springy) than the nib on the Vista; the piston filling mechanism is very cool; and I love the design and look of the pen. I'm a sucker for see-through things, and I generally like all things blue, so I really couldn't resist this one.<br /><br />So . . . here's a picture of the uncapped pen before I filled it with ink:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscqXGT2Aoh2vXfob1udF6FxNwQZHTlJkPsApl3GcS4q2uc6a3-ni_o2fhiJ1k56lIjH6X3F1lQfOqi37GR-n_74x-b-t_Ni9bD7M1SZkTO0p1xQiN1xE48YD81Fe4IkfmSdTq1o9GZmc/s1600/IMG_5586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscqXGT2Aoh2vXfob1udF6FxNwQZHTlJkPsApl3GcS4q2uc6a3-ni_o2fhiJ1k56lIjH6X3F1lQfOqi37GR-n_74x-b-t_Ni9bD7M1SZkTO0p1xQiN1xE48YD81Fe4IkfmSdTq1o9GZmc/s200/IMG_5586.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />The end of the piston plunger is clearly visible inside of the body of the pen. Next up is a picture that shows the mama pelican and the baby pelican on the end of the cap. My daughter said "aww, that's so cute" when I showed this to her:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJWuTJhYU1Z92ceWZFYAXwaCldjUaokzy44WzDlEmPwTSzWAToIWDK7UqB1MbQMFUZqisy9kru-M2em-xBRoCZAqSwn8O326FOZ6nfniAA5H-dDZiHuiDH68RzpnHSBYgDp2FW2247_w/s1600/IMG_5585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJWuTJhYU1Z92ceWZFYAXwaCldjUaokzy44WzDlEmPwTSzWAToIWDK7UqB1MbQMFUZqisy9kru-M2em-xBRoCZAqSwn8O326FOZ6nfniAA5H-dDZiHuiDH68RzpnHSBYgDp2FW2247_w/s200/IMG_5585.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I believe that the clip is designed to emulate a pelican's beak. I've never paid any attention to water fowl rhamphotheca, but it sure does look beakish to me:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9kBm7FYrxiArhoR8XdG7fbif5GfTKMc4z72lcYtk0OhrwhZKwIqSTSo-Ri4j2JGmpteAtwjq75I8Bl6kcJlnaHJSZLldohXSO06hZpuE8UzatmwjV1wrUR8bxj-k0qrZuKTSxGXPiJk/s1600/IMG_5589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9kBm7FYrxiArhoR8XdG7fbif5GfTKMc4z72lcYtk0OhrwhZKwIqSTSo-Ri4j2JGmpteAtwjq75I8Bl6kcJlnaHJSZLldohXSO06hZpuE8UzatmwjV1wrUR8bxj-k0qrZuKTSxGXPiJk/s200/IMG_5589.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />I like how you can see the nib and other innards even when the pen is capped. It really does look cool, and I can't believe that I'm actually writing sentences about how nice a pen looks. Yeah, so after staring at the pen and soaking in all of its awesomeness for a few hours, I decided to actually use it! This being my first non-cartridge fountain pen, I must say that I was geeking out a bit about the piston filling experience. Indeed, actuating the piston mechanism and watching the blue ink (of course I used blue) rise into the ink reservoir was something to behold. Well, not nearly as cool as the entry, descent, and landing of the Curiosity earlier this year, but still pretty cool. Here is a picture of the pen all inked up and ready to write:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6fxbT4AMIH65QOOZmKp1ZgozMXg1Edh60vgABSScNXtfLSg65NjF0pkdrY_u70GkWGJiiYUQq3WC2jGxmKPTrw470_7SkqZc-5t6R3yxCAg9Uj-gTiMFwIkiNrsC3a5q0tJcF5yY584/s1600/IMG_5591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6fxbT4AMIH65QOOZmKp1ZgozMXg1Edh60vgABSScNXtfLSg65NjF0pkdrY_u70GkWGJiiYUQq3WC2jGxmKPTrw470_7SkqZc-5t6R3yxCAg9Uj-gTiMFwIkiNrsC3a5q0tJcF5yY584/s200/IMG_5591.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />If you look closely at the nib, you'll see yet another pelican. And the word "Pelikan." The designers at Pelikan are not shy about branding and trademarking.<br /><br />As I mentioned above, the Pelikan M205 is a very smooth writer even though it has an extra fine nib. This particular extra fine nib is actually broader than what I expected; I prefer the line width of my Lamy Vista extra fine. If Pelikan made an XXF nib, then I think this would be nearly perfect for me. I'll make a follow up post soon, with a writing sample and some comments about the ink I used. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the writing and piston actuation experiences.

Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen (Part 1)

The title says it all. I broke down and bought a "next step above entry level" fountain pen. I was going to use "impulsively...

6:23 AM

Socks?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYHR14iftsWCq3aRBWzbZvyT83889DOeJNesi8PKeG69EaHKSMdBxEu1Ove8rt3C0DhyphenhyphenCIyaD_YTtYCvL1j50nHg67OmSRyMrDhHMbY5tuxvpLAkP_moYzHgqNIZz6FRyWfk9WvRGXnQ/s1600/IMG_5438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYHR14iftsWCq3aRBWzbZvyT83889DOeJNesi8PKeG69EaHKSMdBxEu1Ove8rt3C0DhyphenhyphenCIyaD_YTtYCvL1j50nHg67OmSRyMrDhHMbY5tuxvpLAkP_moYzHgqNIZz6FRyWfk9WvRGXnQ/s320/IMG_5438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This may be hard to believe, but I hate shopping in brick and mortar stores. I especially hate driving and walking around in search of something specific, only to return home empty handed. Window shopping? I hate the concept. On the other hand, I'm more than happy to make online purchases after I've determined exactly what I want, exactly where to go (have I mentioned that Amazon Prime is the Devil?), and exactly how much I'm willing to spend. In fact, most of the items showcased in this blog were purchased online. One exception is shown in the picture. Socks. More specifically: New Balance Enhanced Dry Low Cut socks in medium size. My pathetic, ridiculous, and disturbing story continues after the jump. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.600000381469727px;">[Edit: jumps are silly; removed it]</span><br /><br />I should explain a couple of things. First, my feet like to be comfortable. They don't like thin, cheap, and generic socks. They don't like socks that have a huge protruding seam that interferes with the digits, and they don't like ill-fitting socks that tend to clump, bunch, and fold near the digits. Second, I've always favored crew length socks for some reason. Maybe because I wear pants to work, or because I'm punk rock and don't give a damn, or because I'm getting old, or because I'm clueless. Whatever: I like comfortable crew socks that fit. Sue me.<br /><br />Although I admit to a certain level of cluelessness, I'm aware enough to realize that long socks + shorts at the gym = kook. I don't want to look like a 73 year old Galvinized Motorolan at the company exercise facility. Instead, I want to wear venue-appropriate footwear when I'm at the gym and when I'm wearing shorts. Fair enough, let's go buy some socks at the mall. A simple task.<br /><br />Some time ago I picked up some "quarter length" New Balance socks at the local sporting goods store, and my feet were happy. Naturally, I went back to the same store with a focused and targeted plan of attack: (1) go to the store; (2) head directly to the sock department; (3) find the same socks; and (4) buy them. I even wore a pair of the old quarter length socks to help me with item (3). A simple task, right? Not really. I couldn't find the same socks, and, trust me, I conducted an extensive search for them. No big deal, I found a suitable equivalent (New Balance "No-Show" socks) and picked up eight pairs. I returned home, tried them on, "decided" that I liked them, and then MARKED THEM with a thick black permanent ink pen (this is a necessity in my household). That was a mistake.<br /><br />Day One with the no-show socks was a little stressful, perhaps because I wore jeans before going to the gym, and my tender ankles were exposed to the chafing denim. That was definitely a contributing factor. The primary reason, however, was the automatic retraction feature of the socks. They kept sliding down my heel to the point where I said "those socks need to be pulled up a bit." With crew length socks this is a non-issue - just yank the ends of the socks up to your knees and you are golden. With no-show socks? Not a simple task. In fact, I had to remove my shoes to gain access to my trendy no-show socks. What a hassle.<br /><br />Day One ended with the realization that returning the PERMANENTLY MARKED yet sill brand new socks was out of the question. A setback for sure. No big deal, I merely had to continue my quest for socks (soquest?) the following weekend. Back to the store, where I found some low-length socks by New Balance. This time I only got a few pairs because I wasn't completely sold on them. Long story short, I liked them and they didn't slip off of my feet, so I returned to the store the following weekend to pick up additional pairs. Sold out. At this point I was ready to buy any generic, ill-fitting, product with protruding seams just to complete the task, but I forged ahead. I finally settled on a few pairs of the socks you see in the picture. These are pretty good, too; I'll keep them. That said, I still haven't marked them up yet.<br /><br />All this for socks. Socks?

Socks?

This may be hard to believe, but I hate shopping in brick and mortar stores. I especially hate driving and walking around in search of somet...

7:27 AM

Click Clack Skull

I'm happy to report that I recently acquired a limited edition Click Clack skull key cap for my mechanical keyboard. Yay! This is a big deal . . . just ask any keyboard enthusiast. You see, for reasons that I don't completely understand, Click Clacks are very highly sought after, collected, and traded among the seedy underground deviant population of mechanical keyboard geeks. I love the little skull key caps as much as the next guy, but some people are downright obsessed with them. Anyhow, this particular Click Clack skull is a deep orange color, and it's a good match for the Halloween season. I think I'll use it as my ESC key for the rest of this month. Trick or treat!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5szzU-68gXqDED3nL_Uwn8c224op-lsvlXSNlGic63qYlLyYylwrcGc5hR1ACNNbIQW6vKxHIGAK5Au2QSN1OFBB4e6TJK5jWXf1rFL2OdYkfGPXi2Sl6ep4QCTbGhoKjRvKH6kvyvnA/s1600/IMG_5578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5szzU-68gXqDED3nL_Uwn8c224op-lsvlXSNlGic63qYlLyYylwrcGc5hR1ACNNbIQW6vKxHIGAK5Au2QSN1OFBB4e6TJK5jWXf1rFL2OdYkfGPXi2Sl6ep4QCTbGhoKjRvKH6kvyvnA/s200/IMG_5578.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9FQQ06VJIuGGfw5GxBnPc3ifJ0RooR_Ic03Qyn2ufNQ3e-tuk0ouvnD_KJ0Z2T9FMNIO1by83w8bvNxkQfyQRXRzulu_ikM62a4_qw-G7ww92JltuP0XayJ1g4ssPE6HYU2x1ATaJ6k/s1600/IMG_5577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9FQQ06VJIuGGfw5GxBnPc3ifJ0RooR_Ic03Qyn2ufNQ3e-tuk0ouvnD_KJ0Z2T9FMNIO1by83w8bvNxkQfyQRXRzulu_ikM62a4_qw-G7ww92JltuP0XayJ1g4ssPE6HYU2x1ATaJ6k/s200/IMG_5577.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />