Tied bundle of handwritten letters with stamps, fountain pen, ink, and stationery
Homeschooling

Podcast Episode: Letters And Prints In A Digital World

Pip: The Fabulous Scientist is a blog where someone writes about data and science โ€” and also, apparently, about the radical act of licking a stamp.Mara: That's fabulousgrass, and this episode covers two ideas that turn out to be quietly connected: why handwritten letters still hold something digital messages can't, and what it finally took… Continue reading Podcast Episode: Letters And Prints In A Digital World

Amber fountain pen on open journal labeled "JOURNAL & OBSERVATIONS," with handwritten reflections and a book and ink bottle nearby
Life, Shopping, Homeschooling, fountain-pen, reviews

Fountain Pen Review: Hongdian N1 with Long Blade Nib (A Happy Orange Surprise)

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist A few days ago, I ordered several fountain pens from abroad. Some were the latest colorways of the Jinhao 82, which I plan to include in a few โ€œpenablingโ€ kits. I also ordered one pen for myselfโ€”the Hongdian N1โ€”because its unusual nib had piqued my curiosity. If you havenโ€™t… Continue reading Fountain Pen Review: Hongdian N1 with Long Blade Nib (A Happy Orange Surprise)

ink swatches
fountain-pen, Homeschooling, Life, reviews

Musings While on A Sick Day – Also the Best Time to Swatch New Inks

I have a sore throat and a mild fever today. I also have body aches that only a massage from my personal therapist would have been able to fix, if only I were in Quezon City, near her. I usually get a massage twice a month, but the weather has been really bad over the… Continue reading Musings While on A Sick Day – Also the Best Time to Swatch New Inks

Boys in shirts on a gritty Philippine street
Life

The Children on the Jeepney

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist I normally take a jeepney to work. Partly because it is the cheapest way to get around, and partly because I genuinely enjoy riding with the locals of Muntinlupa. There is something about traveling with people from here that I find comforting. They seem more laid-back, more easygoing, and… Continue reading The Children on the Jeepney

Coping with Depression, fountain-pen, Health, Life, Local Travel, reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

Strawberry and Chocolate in Fountain Pen Form: A Delicious Pairing of BENU Neapolitan Ice Cream and Kobe Chocolate Strawberry Ink

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Some fountain pens I bought because they write beautifully. Others I bought because they were made locally and I love to support local businesses. And then there are the pens I buy simply because they remind me of childhood favorites. For me, that pen has always been aย BENU. If… Continue reading Strawberry and Chocolate in Fountain Pen Form: A Delicious Pairing of BENU Neapolitan Ice Cream and Kobe Chocolate Strawberry Ink

fountain-pen, Homeschooling, Life, Shopping

My Personal List of 5 Amazing Fountain Pens That Cost Less Than $50 Each

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist One of the biggest misconceptions about fountain pens is that you need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy a great writing experience. While premium brands certainly have their charm, the truth is that some of the most enjoyable pens in my collection cost less than a family dinner… Continue reading My Personal List of 5 Amazing Fountain Pens That Cost Less Than $50 Each

Group of people examining and discussing fountain pens around a table
fountain-pen, Life, Local Travel, reviews, Shopping, travel blog

If I could bring just five pens on a pen meet, which ones would make the cut?

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist If you asked me a year ago whether I could attend a pen meet with only five fountain pens, I would have laughed nervously while quietly stuffing fifteen pens into my bag "just in case." Yet here I am. I'm attending a local pen meet later this month and,… Continue reading If I could bring just five pens on a pen meet, which ones would make the cut?

fountain-pen, Geology Data Science, Homeschooling, Life, research, reviews, Shopping

Jacques Herbin Emerald of Chivor: The Ink That Got Away (Until It Didn’t)

I've wanted Jacques Herbin's Emerald of Chivor ever since I fell down the fountain pen rabbit hole. You know how it goes. One minute you're buying a perfectly sensible fountain pen for note-taking. The next minute you're staring at ink swatches online at 2:00 in the morning, convincing yourself that your life would be significantly… Continue reading Jacques Herbin Emerald of Chivor: The Ink That Got Away (Until It Didn’t)

fountain-pen, reviews, Shopping

Inky Review: The Troublemaker’s Butterfly Dream

Troublemaker Inksย is one of those Filipino fountain pen brands that quietly sneaked into the global pen community and created a good international following. Founded in Cebu as a tiny hand-mixed ink studio, the brand became beloved for its experimental shading, sheen, and shimmer inks that look less like office supplies and more like bottled weather… Continue reading Inky Review: The Troublemaker’s Butterfly Dream

fountain-pen, Life, reviews, Shopping

Discover the Hongdian M2: A Pocket Pen Review

Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Pocket fountain pens are a dangerous rabbit hole. You start with โ€œI just want something small for my pocket,โ€ and suddenly youโ€™re comparing faceted caps and arguing with strangers on the internet about converters. You also end up collecting so many in different colors like I did with Wancai… Continue reading Discover the Hongdian M2: A Pocket Pen Review