Schools across the United States are phasing out cursive handwriting, making it a hot topic of debate among educators, students and researchers.
So, CNN has responded with a brilliant series of articles about handwriting, all linked to a “cultural census” the network is taking that asks everyday people to submit samples of their own handwriting for review and public display.
(Look below to see what we’re doing to encourage our readers to participate.)
Staples is trying to make ink pens cool to kids with its new series of back-to-school promos.
And the huge office supply store is using Rico Rodriguez – Manny from the hilarious TV show ‘Modern Family’– to help do it.
In case you don’t know Manny, he’s the 11-year-old son of Jay and Gloria Pritchett on the hit ABC show about a complicated, hapless and good-hearted family from Southern California. Manny is wise beyond his years, a budding poet who drinks coffee and wears dinner jackets, and usually falls victim to his own attempts at being a suave ladies’ man.
He’s also one of the funniest and most popular characters on the show, which makes him the perfect pitchman to sell pens to kids who probably don’t use them much otherwise.
The Staedtler Triplus Ball is a stick pen with a difference. The triangular barrel is ergonomically designed, it is claimed that it provides an effortless writing experience. I had difficulty taking the cap on & off. I found this was probably because I hadn’t placed it in line with the triangular sides.
This pen does have a rubberised grip along the length of the barrel, unlike many other basic ballpoints that just have a see through plastic case.
We’ve been seeing reports of a new pen design from a UK company, and it looks brilliant to us.
The Turtle Pen is a retractable pen, of sorts. But, instead of depressing a plunger to advance the writing point, the user pulls the bottom of the pen and lets it recoil. That’s what makes the “turtle head” tip on the other end pop out for use.
Then, just a slight twist of the barrel locks the pen into the open position.
When given a choice I will usually choose to write with a medium point. That said I do like to break free from routine & show my spontaneous side from time to time, so here is my take on the Rotring Tikky Rollerpoint.