the great big ballpoint pen conspiracy

have you ever noticed that most ballpens run out just after you've started using it? I have, for many years now. This is how it all goes: First, you go into the store, ask for the most high-quality ballpen you can afford on your money. And since you are a student, you get a relatively good pen in crappy ballpen standards. So now, you go home and try to start on some serious studying. You get your purchase, open it and touch the nib to the paper. As you do the first pen-strokes of your familiar writing, you bask in your geniusness of having one-upped "the man" who supplied your previous pens. You marvel at the dark, rich ink coming out of the magical thing you hold in your fingers. You then get into your studying -- BIG MISTAKE!

a few hours after, your familiar handwriting becomes ragged and blotchy. You shake your head and you refuse to give in to the idea that your pen - your investment - is failing. "Tap it on the table, that will work," you say to no one. The pen gets tapped, and you hope that the tapping was enough of a defibrillator to shock the pen back to life. You continue on, like nothing ever happened. The pen is back to its writing glory but a shadow of doubt lingered in your head. A few more minutes later, a clot forms at the tip. You furiously swipe the pen on an innocent piece of paper trying to get it going again. The attempts were futile. The pen writes its final stroke and gives out leaving you pen-less and frustrated.

The next day, you go back to the store and ask for a different brand of pen. And then you go home. And then, you sadly realize that you are now caught in a vicious cycle that is masterminded by "the man" who owns the pen company and there is nothing you can do about it except buy more pens.

moral of the story: use pencils!