A little reward is nice from time to time. If you're looking to give yourself a cycling treat, check out the road to Bali. It's a there-and-back excursion of about 10K from the Guandu bridge to the Old Street and the big Bali sign. It's definite...

I don't know how much roads cost to build. $5 million per mile? No doubt, it depends on the road.
But it's clear Taipei City has spent a bunch of money on the riverside paths around the Tamsui river. They're in fantastic shape.

This is surel...

Article originally posted in Nov. 2015 on the Fountain Pen Network. The nibs were part of a group buy that took place on the forum.

The Ambitious Nib group buy proved to be a real treasure trove and a great experience personally in trying out d...

I needed to visit someone at the cemetery, so I pointed myself up Xingyi Road.
It's a mostly gentle climb through the upper parts of Tianmu and then into Beitou and the lowest corner of Yangmingshan park.

The road has quite a few cars and is...

A vintage Aurora 88 has been on my grail list ever since I first encountered pelahale’s landmark video paean to this pen, HeartBreaking Pens of Staggering Genius. Naturally, I set my sights on an original 88 in Nikargenta.
The Aurora 88 is intr...

I had a bad feeling this morning getting ready for my ride.
I broke my favorite sunglasses. Snapped the frame right in half when attempting to change the lenses.
Once on the road, I was sure a second dog was going to jump out after the first. ...

I'll admit it. I haven't gotten my legs back. Far from it.
Today I decided to throw myself a hill. An easy one. The easiest one I know in fact: Jiannan Road.

Jiannan Road starts off Sec. 2 of Zhi Shan Rd in Shilin and heads over the hill to ...

In his recent book, James Comey was pretty gentle in his treatment of Donald Trump. He likens Trump's approach to governing to a mob boss, but doesn't make the point with much force.

"As I found myself thrust into the Trump orbit, I once agai...

The WriterShelf Import tool lets you import a blog archive to WriterShelf as a batch process. The tool lets you:

The Import tool currently supports the Moveable Type Import / Export format. If your platform supports other formats, please cont...

Part of the pleasure of vintage pens is thinking about what it was like to experience the the golden age of fountain pens.
The drawback is it’s an impossible task.

NOS (new old stock) and vintage pens in near-unused condition is a game for f...

Chinese pens continue to impress. It’s clear manufacturers are investing in improving their products to grab market share.
The Wing Sung 618 is an excellent case in point. Bottom line: this is a terrific pen and, at under $8 on Taobao, a great ...

Whether they come from yourself or others, expectations can be oppressive. The chance to escape from existing patterns is the perfect way to inject new energy into your writing. That's what pen names offer. 
A change in perspective lets you exe...

Summers coming up, and the excitement of having 2 whole months off is exhilarating for almost everyone! But when the excitement settles down, have you ever noticed just how bored everyone gets during summer since there is nothing to do? Well, no m...

The playoffs have been epic already. It’s hard to believe the finals are finally here.

For the Warriors, getting past the Rockets was a monumental achievement. The struggle of the accomplishment itself vs. living up to expectations brought th...

Okay, lets be honest; we all have a small slight problem (maybe not so small) when it comes to how much TV, Netflix or movies we watch. I mean, its not just entertainment, its a lifestyle, right? Well, I'm not going to go too much on why watching ...

The PenBBS 308 is a pen designed by fountain pen lovers. People who know their stuff. For me, it's an instant classic.

This is the series that everyone has been waiting for.
 
A tremendous amount of ink has been spilled and words broadcast about this match-up.
 
How will the Rockets, a team purpose-built to defeat the Warriors, fare when it comes time to play?...

Most of us don't begin studying for our final exams until either a few days or THE day before the big test. Reason is? Who knows. Scientifically, it is proven to be less effective when cramming for a test just moments before taking it, but since t...

Everyone wants long lashes, they are not only a sign of good health, but they are very very pretty. Naturally, it makes sense for people to want to grow them out. 

So, where should you start? The internet is full with solutions, but it’s import...

1. Eat More Fruits and VegetablesI love carbs as much as the next person, and there have been occasions when I've traveled on a bus even out of my way to get meat on a stick. But research shows that eating a rainbow of fruits and veggies provides ...

Staying focused is a challenge for many people as in the world we live in today, distractions from technology, people, and just the environment is inevitable. But in order to succeed in life, having focus over the things you do are very important....

Everybody has some sort of room for improvement when it comes to awareness- either of self and of surroundings. Here are some simple steps that everyone can take to improve themselves. 
Step one: Start recording how you spend your time and money-...

Round 2 of the Warriors 2018 playoff campaign starts Saturday. The first two games will be on the Dubs home court and then off to New Orleans for games 3 and 4.
How will the Warriors match up against Anthony Davis, one of the top players in the...

Romantic Music is a period of music that started between the late 18th century and early 19th century, and was a big part of the Romanticism movement for literature and art that took place in Europe in the second half of the 18th century. Bef...

We all have flaws and imperfections that we have to work on, and one of the biggest questions for everyone is how? 

There are so many things one can do for self improvement. But I think the first step of any self improvement is to recognize wha...

All of us want some sort of thrill and adventure in our lives, because without it, life would just be so boring! But whats the fine line between being adventurous and being outright stupid? 

This is a problem so many people struggle with, as th...

The consensus is that the Warriors will win their first round match-up against the San Antonio Spurs.  Some say it will take 5 games. Some say 7.
Nobody, except maybe the Warriors themselves, see a sweep like last year, when the team beat the Por...

There are so many different temptations out there for everyone, whether it be food cravings, impulses to buy things, desire to quit something, or any other material item or idea that you really wish you could get/do. But most of the time, it's not...

This was a pen I was prepared to like. At $12, it's a bargain. Its small size, however, will keep it from becoming a personal favorite. But for some folks, this new Delike wood fountain pen can be a real winner.

I love the wood. After my positi...

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