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It provides some satisfaction of eliteness both over those who wouldn’t pay even that much (the price angle) and over those who buy the MontBlanc (the “actually knowing what you’re buying angleâ€).
True. I just need a good quality pen. Prestige is not important. But it needs to be BIG.
So, they might drive an older Mercedes or higher end Volvo, but it was usually because it was a solid car, not for the prestige value.
Volvo sedans are too small though. They need something much bigger than the S80. Older Mercedes are solid, but they do need some TLC.
It's better to buy pens second hand. Especially the celloid pens. So pretty!
From a practical standpoint. I have Chinese made fountain pens that I've bought for $1 or $2, they're easy to use and don't clog up or bleed. The main problem is that the nibs are too stiff.
I was given a cute little restored Esterbrook. Really nice until it started leaking. It's not big though.
I am amused by Joe Shmoe's example of the couple born into well-to-do families. Rich people can do whatever they like. These days, tastefulness is not necessarily a mark of upperclassness. As a matter of fact, uppers tend to have a coarse taste. Only the upper middles strive to be cultured and tasteful. Somewhere I read that the current ruling house in UK had a reputation for philistine taste. The old Duke of Kent, who died in an air crash in 1942 (or 1943), was the only exception: He was the only tasteful, cultured person in that clan. PoW may be another reasonable person. I don't know.
But that couple might not have come from the upper families. Yes, their respective father/mother was rich or struck it rich. But you know les nouveau riches tend to marry poorly, for they didn't have a choice. Sadly, the poor genes from the spouse side have a 50-50 chance to leave discernible marks on the children.
As I said over and over again, conspicuous consumption (or a pretentious imitation thereof) is no longer the mark of an upper class; it probably never was a mark of a hereditary upper class.
It’s better to buy pens second hand. Especially the celloid pens. So pretty!
Have you tried Pelikan?
I use only rollerballs because I am too lazy to maintain fountain pens.
Requiem,
I prefer your approach to the ones espoused by others. Do what you like and what suits you. Leave it to the others to ape you. Trust me, they will.
Peter P,
I'd say go with a low end Schaffer or Mont Blanc. Odds are, you'll only use it occasionally for signatures, so you just need enough bling to impress the other person. Actually, you probably don't want Schaffers because they're too pretty for conservative business uses.
Pelikans are nice, but I like Omas better.
(please note that I can't afford any of these, this is all gawking value)
Also Requiem,
I was in the market for a fountain pen, to (re-)practise and enjoy handwriting. What do you think would be a good pen for around $100? Does Waterman makes a good pen? I don't care about the brand image. The pen will stay at home. One does not travel with a fountain pen. I've had my share of inked shirts back in my school days. Besides, when in need, you can always borrow a MonBlanc from a rich man.
Peter P,
My normal pens are Pilot G-2s. They're definitely worth the 75 cents or so I pay for them. I don't like anything cheaper since they tend to bleed, clot, and cramp my hands.
Odds are, you’ll only use it occasionally for signatures, so you just need enough bling to impress the other person.
I just need a pen to write down my intuitions at home. I will not carry a pen with me... or it will be lost in a week. If I want to impress someone at the restaurant, I would just order 4 dishes. :)
I was in the market for a fountain pen, to (re-)practise and enjoy handwriting. What do you think would be a good pen for around $100?
See if Retro 51 works for you. Also, try LAMY.
My normal pens are Pilot G-2s. They’re definitely worth the 75 cents or so I pay for them. I don’t like anything cheaper since they tend to bleed, clot, and cramp my hands.
Are those gel-ink pens?
Well, they are classy people in the only way that really matters -- they are very nice.
But before meeting them, I always bought into the strereotype that people whose families have been rich for a long time are quiet about it. They don't feel the need to engage in ostentatious displays of wealth because they don't have to impress anyone, etc. Obviously, that's not true.
Are there any problems I should be aware of?
Drop some water on the writing and see if the ink dissolve. This may not be a big issue though.
Peter P,
If that's a concern, maybe this would work for you.
http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=2&p=40958&cat=4,104,53210
Joe,
Being nice to people, yes. Truly nice to people. Not being nice because you want a favor from them. Being nice to people, truly nice from the bottom of your heart, because this is the way you have been treated all your life and you treat others likewise.
Any fountain pen knowledge I have came mainly from this "Ask Slashdot" topic:
http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/03/10/05/171257.shtml
Pelikan, Rotring, and Lamy seemed well-thought of (as writing instruments in general).
I thought Rotring only made graphic pens…
They also make very nice mechanical pencils and multi-function pens.
And I’m not even a Boomer, just on the leading edge of X.
I beg your pardon Sir.
And I’m not even a Boomer, just on the leading edge of X.
I beg your pardon Sir.
We should consider someone a boomer only if he has Pluto in Leo.
I also believe the more one matures -- I mean the older one gets, hopefully but not necessarily -- the less one is susceptible to social and societal pressures. Young folks are impressionable and always out to impress others.
I've just checked out the prices on celluloid pens, insane! I guess I'll try to get a bit more life out of my Esterbrook before trading it in something fancier.
Surfer-X,
I just found that according to wikipedia, I'm a generation-Xer. It's really weird and disorienting. But what the hell, I'm in good company.
I’ve just checked out the prices on celluloid pens, insane! I guess I’ll try to get a bit more life out of my Esterbrook before trading it in something fancier.
You should be able to get a new Pelikan 400 for well under $200.
I just found that according to wikipedia, I’m a generation-Xer. It’s really weird and disorienting. But what the hell, I’m in good company.
Pluto in Virgo or Libra?
Most of the time I usually have a 20 cent papermate, since I rarely have any thought worth writing down with a fancy pen.
Since I use only ballpoint/rollerball the refill is more important than the pen.
What? Astrology is not my strong suit. But I’m a Leo.
Me too! I like Leos
SP,
"Most of the time I usually have a 20 cent papermate, since I rarely have any thought worth writing down with a fancy pen."
Somehow, I really doubt that. Luckily, the value of the idea need not be commiserate with the value of the pen used to record them.
That slashdot article that Requiem forwarded has good words for Namiki and Lamy. A Namiki has a gold nib for $100. Presumably, gold nibs result in very smooth writing. I do wonder, however, if older models have better craftsmanship. Is it realistic to get a good, used pen for $20-50?
MontBlanc is a little like Rolex. Rolex isn't accurate. But I think it's very solid and robust. So it serves a purpose, in addition to the aethestic one.Of course, the best thing is to never wear a watch, if you could afford the leisurely life.
Speaking of architectural design for multiple generations, here is a house I looked at a few weeks back.
The layout, especially the granny area on the level downstairs, is well thought through, accommodating the topography very well. Most granny quarters I see are depressing, if I were to be put into one of those, I would definitely feel like being tucked under the armpit by my kids.
It is located in the foothill area of Cupertino so the view is also very nice. If you are interested in designing your future home for in-laws, it is worth a look.
Is it realistic to get a good, used pen for $20-50?
Old pens carry the energy of the previous owner. It can be good or bad. Caveat Emptor.
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Readers of the FT will be familiar with the (newly expanded) Lex Column. Today's featured an interesting little bit on US housebuilders, and its relation to the US housing market.
The column goes on to mention:
Toll is considered a bellwether indicator. Why? Because it markets upscale homes to a sophisticated clientele. Sentiment has grown so negative on Toll that their recent guidance further cutting earnings forecasts actually triggered a relief rally. The market capitalization of Toll is less than the value of all its land and inventory.
Or is it? The problem is that the only potential buyers for construction projects in-progress are other builders, who are similarly depressed for the same reasons. This kind of "vicious circle" is hard to break and usually causes an overshooting of reasonable valuation.
But before you jump in to buy undervalued REITs or homebuilder stocks, keep in mind that this may just be the beginning. The entire sector is trading at about 5.5 times ever shrinking earnings estimates. But (and this is a big but), direct costs are skyrocketing, general inflation is increasing, rates are rising, and industry consolidation is probably nowhere near done. Lex's conclusion: it will be increasingly difficult for these builders to defend returns as capital costs soar. Result, more downside probably left.
Why on earth do we even care? We're sure to hear from at least one Troll that "New Home Starts" don't matter, or that homebuilders aren't relevant, or that "sales of existing homes" is the only game in town. My answer: perhaps, this time, everything is different and we've entered a great new economic paradigm where leading indicators no longer lead. Or, the correction is well underway.
--Randy H
#housing