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A while back I learned that very few watch manufacturers have their own mechanism, the rest buy the mechanism and design a fancy case. So basically what most people pay for is the design and brand.

And today I learn that it is also true for most Fountain pen manufacturers.
Not sure where is the source of information, but found two links with same information: Nib1 Nib2 . It actually seem like the same source as the user name in Link2 is identical to the first source.

Shockingly, most “brand pen” like Montverde, Visconti and more are actually using Bock.

So glad my current collection has: Pilot, Platinum, Parker and Montblanc. All are in-house nibs.

While reading for the second or third time, the paragraph “CONCERNING THE PERSONAL STAFF OF PRINCES” made me think.

How come I read over and over about “how to hire”, the need for a strong staff, when Machiavelli wrote about it 500 years ago. Is it that we ignore and need a constant reminder, or is it that human nature has basically not changed and we need the reminder.

Machiavelli wrote :

The choice of staff is very important to a prince, and they are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince. The first opinion which one forms of a prince, and of his capability, is by observing the people he has around him. When they are capable and faithful, he may always be considered wise because he has known how to recognize the capable and to keep them faithful. But when they are otherwise, one cannot form a good opinion of him, for the prime error which he made was in choosing them.

As my old MontBlanc was leaking a bit, I decided to replace it. Researched, tested and decided on a Pilot Custom 823 M nib, transparent.

The nib is great, the pen is amazing. Takes time to adjust to operating it, but it is worth it. An amazing pen, and the transparency also adds to it.

My Google page has Sugihara Chiune related image and information.

Beautiful

Purchased yesterday 3 sports items from Adidas Shibuya.
It was not my intention to buy Adidas, as I always try to diversify where I spend my money and brands I use.

Walked in to “Under Armour” Shibuya, a beautiful black building. Interior was rather dark, climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Two sales staff were there, the man was very muscular and busy chatting with the female sales. “Sale” items were not clearly marked, pricing was difficult to see.

Did not feel like shopping there, so crossed the street to Adidas, a very bright spacious shop. Climbed to the second floor, Items under “Sale” were clearly marked, pricing was visible. Still had questions so asked the very helpful and available staff and ended up purchasing 3 items.

Totally different experience. Is it a company culture, shop, personnel?

And again, chance (or luck) surprises me.

An American friend left Japan a few years back and moved back to the US. Guess how surprised I was when I saw him and his family walking in the street.
Now, what are the chances of me being in the exact same place as there were on a Sunday afternoon.

Amazing!

The perfume I am using for more than 5 years is discontinued. Armani Mania which I loved so much, which has a bit of a sweet smell, but not too strong, not offensive.

Checked the new line of Armani code, but did not like them.
And it just occurred to me that perfume is one of the few items I have a strong attachment to. Is it about the smell, “My smell” ?

Now I have two options:
1. Find all Armani Mania I can find and purchase
2. Find an alternative
I guess I will go with number #2.