The Pen Addict 343/transcript - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 11:53, 22 June 2026
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	'''Myke Hurley:''' Uh-oh.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Uh-oh.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I just want to throw this out there because there's been some things that have popped up in the ~~Penn~~ community. And I don't have any affiliation with DC. And I know Bob Johnson, the longtime promoter, has not endeared himself to a lot of people over the years for various decisions he's made. But right now, he's in the midst of trying to save the Pen Show from getting stolen out from under him. What? So, I just want to bring this up. I don't have all the details. And there's a lot of information out there. But basically, last year, when, you know, two years ago, how bad it went, right? Mm-hmm. That was the terrible show. And then he took on someone to help him with this year.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I just want to throw this out there because there's been some things that have popped up in the Pen community. And I don't have any affiliation with DC. And I know Bob Johnson, the longtime promoter, has not endeared himself to a lot of people over the years for various decisions he's made. But right now, he's in the midst of trying to save the Pen Show from getting stolen out from under him. What? So, I just want to bring this up. I don't have all the details. And there's a lot of information out there. But basically, last year, when, you know, two years ago, how bad it went, right? Mm-hmm. That was the terrible show. And then he took on someone to help him with this year.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Excuse me. Last year. And so, that person, his name's Glenn Bowen, helped him out. And then this year, Glenn has tried to basically usurp him, took over the mailing list, got people to send Glenn money directly, took a recreated website, all these things without Bob's approval. So, this is all you need to know for right now. And this is really all that there is out there.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Excuse me. Last year. And so, that person, his name's Glenn Bowen, helped him out. And then this year, Glenn has tried to basically usurp him, took over the mailing list, got people to send Glenn money directly, took a recreated website, all these things without Bob's approval. So, this is all you need to know for right now. And this is really all that there is out there.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Bob still runs the DC Pen Show. He's in charge. Any payments should be going to Bob Johnson. The ~~PennCentral~~.com website has been reverted back to its original bad state, and Bob knows it. But Bob has put his contact information, including his phone number, front and center on that page.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Bob still runs the DC Pen Show. He's in charge. Any payments should be going to Bob Johnson. The PenCentral.com website has been reverted back to its original bad state, and Bob knows it. But Bob has put his contact information, including his phone number, front and center on that page.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' That's probably a bad idea, but fine.		'''Myke Hurley:''' That's probably a bad idea, but fine.
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	'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, this is a real mess.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, this is a real mess.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah. Like, I'm not going to, like, CSI this to death. But you should just know that anything related to the DC Pen Show that you have questions about needs to go through Bob Johnson and ~~PennCentral~~.com. You know? So, like, attendees, it's not going to affect you, really, that much at all. But you should know when you're looking at information that until there's even more clarity comes out that you should focus on ~~PennCentral~~.com, a new Instagram. That's ~~Penn~~ Central. So, you know, I just feel like it's a word of warning that people should be made aware of. And, you know, that's kind of all there is right now. It's just a super weird situation that none of us are involved in directly. But it affects, like, travel and planning and businesses and things like that when you're trying to deal with this. So, a bunch of shenanigans going on with the DC Pen Show. And we're just trying to make sure everyone, you know, is playing it safe with their money and who they contact and what the right thing to do is right now. So, get in touch with Bob if you're a DC Pen Show vendor. That's who you should be conducting business through. And I'm sure this podcast will get me some nasty emails in the inbox over the next week. So, I look forward to those.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah. Like, I'm not going to, like, CSI this to death. But you should just know that anything related to the DC Pen Show that you have questions about needs to go through Bob Johnson and PenCentral.com. You know? So, like, attendees, it's not going to affect you, really, that much at all. But you should know when you're looking at information that until there's even more clarity comes out that you should focus on PenCentral.com, a new Instagram. That's Pen Central. So, you know, I just feel like it's a word of warning that people should be made aware of. And, you know, that's kind of all there is right now. It's just a super weird situation that none of us are involved in directly. But it affects, like, travel and planning and businesses and things like that when you're trying to deal with this. So, a bunch of shenanigans going on with the DC Pen Show. And we're just trying to make sure everyone, you know, is playing it safe with their money and who they contact and what the right thing to do is right now. So, get in touch with Bob if you're a DC Pen Show vendor. That's who you should be conducting business through. And I'm sure this podcast will get me some nasty emails in the inbox over the next week. So, I look forward to those.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't know. Well, when people are trying to stage a coup, they don't exactly think clearly. Yeah, okay. So, we'll see. I don't know. Most people don't know what an internet radio show is anyway. So, we're probably good.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't know. Well, when people are trying to stage a coup, they don't exactly think clearly. Yeah, okay. So, we'll see. I don't know. Most people don't know what an internet radio show is anyway. So, we're probably good.
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	'''Myke Hurley:''' Can I just say, I love that people do this. So, like, by and large, I don't like it when people, like, randomly tag me in photos. When it's like, oh, it's a giveaway. Tag seven friends. Like, please don't do that. Like, I don't need that.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Can I just say, I love that people do this. So, like, by and large, I don't like it when people, like, randomly tag me in photos. When it's like, oh, it's a giveaway. Tag seven friends. Like, please don't do that. Like, I don't need that.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' See, let me stop you right there. I tell people, I haven't really gone out there and said this, because I don't like that idea of the giveaway, right? I don't like those Instagram giveaways. Yeah, I think it's not. The tag, retweet, follow, all those things. I tell people to go ahead and tag me because I hate them. And that way, they don't have to feel guilty about tagging someone that it's going to annoy. Anyway, so anytime you want to do those Instagram giveaways where you have to, like, tag people and do all this, just throw ~~Penn~~ Act in there. I couldn't care less. All right, throw him in, but don't throw him in. Yes, because I'll never run one of those type of giveaways on Instagram, because that's too much work for somebody to do all that mess.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' See, let me stop you right there. I tell people, I haven't really gone out there and said this, because I don't like that idea of the giveaway, right? I don't like those Instagram giveaways. Yeah, I think it's not. The tag, retweet, follow, all those things. I tell people to go ahead and tag me because I hate them. And that way, they don't have to feel guilty about tagging someone that it's going to annoy. Anyway, so anytime you want to do those Instagram giveaways where you have to, like, tag people and do all this, just throw Pen Act in there. I couldn't care less. All right, throw him in, but don't throw him in. Yes, because I'll never run one of those type of giveaways on Instagram, because that's too much work for somebody to do all that mess.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' It's interesting, because, like, I don't like, I hate them, and so don't want to see them. But you hate them, but don't care about seeing them.		'''Myke Hurley:''' It's interesting, because, like, I don't like, I hate them, and so don't want to see them. But you hate them, but don't care about seeing them.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Well, I want to make our listeners' lives easier, because there's some good giveaways they should enter, and if they ever feel, and someone, a lot of people won't enter because they're guilty about the tagging people part, right? It puts people in a bind. So I'm just saying, throw ~~Penn~~ Act in there. Why are you making me feel bad? I do not care. Like, I literally do not care.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Well, I want to make our listeners' lives easier, because there's some good giveaways they should enter, and if they ever feel, and someone, a lot of people won't enter because they're guilty about the tagging people part, right? It puts people in a bind. So I'm just saying, throw Pen Act in there. Why are you making me feel bad? I do not care. Like, I literally do not care.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' Hmm.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Hmm.

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:57, 22 June 2026
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	'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, I came home yesterday. Like, 24 hours ago. I might be delirious by the end of the episode. You never know what's going to happen.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, I came home yesterday. Like, 24 hours ago. I might be delirious by the end of the episode. You never know what's going to happen.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' True, true. But I've heard Jet Lag Myke, and this time I think you've got him beat. I hope so. Very cool. Very cool. Speaking of getting beat, I kind of want to do that sometimes when it relates to people involved with the DC ~~Penn~~ Show.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' True, true. But I've heard Jet Lag Myke, and this time I think you've got him beat. I hope so. Very cool. Very cool. Speaking of getting beat, I kind of want to do that sometimes when it relates to people involved with the DC Pen Show.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' Uh-oh.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Uh-oh.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I just want to throw this out there because there's been some things that have popped up in the Penn community. And I don't have any affiliation with DC. And I know Bob Johnson, the longtime promoter, has not endeared himself to a lot of people over the years for various decisions he's made. But right now, he's in the midst of trying to save the ~~Penn~~ Show from getting stolen out from under him. What? So, I just want to bring this up. I don't have all the details. And there's a lot of information out there. But basically, last year, when, you know, two years ago, how bad it went, right? Mm-hmm. That was the terrible show. And then he took on someone to help him with this year.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I just want to throw this out there because there's been some things that have popped up in the Penn community. And I don't have any affiliation with DC. And I know Bob Johnson, the longtime promoter, has not endeared himself to a lot of people over the years for various decisions he's made. But right now, he's in the midst of trying to save the Pen Show from getting stolen out from under him. What? So, I just want to bring this up. I don't have all the details. And there's a lot of information out there. But basically, last year, when, you know, two years ago, how bad it went, right? Mm-hmm. That was the terrible show. And then he took on someone to help him with this year.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Excuse me. Last year. And so, that person, his name's Glenn Bowen, helped him out. And then this year, Glenn has tried to basically usurp him, took over the mailing list, got people to send Glenn money directly, took a recreated website, all these things without Bob's approval. So, this is all you need to know for right now. And this is really all that there is out there.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Excuse me. Last year. And so, that person, his name's Glenn Bowen, helped him out. And then this year, Glenn has tried to basically usurp him, took over the mailing list, got people to send Glenn money directly, took a recreated website, all these things without Bob's approval. So, this is all you need to know for right now. And this is really all that there is out there.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Bob still runs the DC ~~Penn~~ Show. He's in charge. Any payments should be going to Bob Johnson. The PennCentral.com website has been reverted back to its original bad state, and Bob knows it. But Bob has put his contact information, including his phone number, front and center on that page.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Bob still runs the DC Pen Show. He's in charge. Any payments should be going to Bob Johnson. The PennCentral.com website has been reverted back to its original bad state, and Bob knows it. But Bob has put his contact information, including his phone number, front and center on that page.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' That's probably a bad idea, but fine.		'''Myke Hurley:''' That's probably a bad idea, but fine.
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	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Like, he's getting, like, someone is trying to take advantage of him.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Like, he's getting, like, someone is trying to take advantage of him.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' So, for as much as you are aware, this isn't someone trying to scam people. It's somebody who's trying to run their own ~~Penn~~ Show instead of this one. I don't know. Okay, you don't know.		'''Myke Hurley:''' So, for as much as you are aware, this isn't someone trying to scam people. It's somebody who's trying to run their own Pen Show instead of this one. I don't know. Okay, you don't know.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' I can't say for a fact either way. But I know that Bob has the hotel contract. And if, you know, people, Bob's responsible for the show. So, Bob's the one that needs the payments for the show to get your tables. If anyone has paid Glenn, you know, Bob is going to accept that if you have proof of payment. But Glenn is in no way in charge of what's happening at the DC ~~Penn~~ Show. So, like, I don't even want to talk about this stuff, but it's become such a prevalent topic that I think it's out there. And it's the biggest ~~Penn~~ Show, right?		'''Brad Dowdy:''' I can't say for a fact either way. But I know that Bob has the hotel contract. And if, you know, people, Bob's responsible for the show. So, Bob's the one that needs the payments for the show to get your tables. If anyone has paid Glenn, you know, Bob is going to accept that if you have proof of payment. But Glenn is in no way in charge of what's happening at the DC Pen Show. So, like, I don't even want to talk about this stuff, but it's become such a prevalent topic that I think it's out there. And it's the biggest Pen Show, right?

	'''Myke Hurley:''' And at least our hope would be, by us talking about this, we are at least able to get the word out to people that might be in the situation of trying to attend, right? Right. This is a venue that you would assume a lot of relevant parties would be paying attention to, would be the hope.		'''Myke Hurley:''' And at least our hope would be, by us talking about this, we are at least able to get the word out to people that might be in the situation of trying to attend, right? Right. This is a venue that you would assume a lot of relevant parties would be paying attention to, would be the hope.
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	'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, this is a real mess.		'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, this is a real mess.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah. Like, I'm not going to, like, CSI this to death. But you should just know that anything related to the DC ~~Penn~~ Show that you have questions about needs to go through Bob Johnson and PennCentral.com. You know? So, like, attendees, it's not going to affect you, really, that much at all. But you should know when you're looking at information that until there's even more clarity comes out that you should focus on PennCentral.com, a new Instagram. That's Penn Central. So, you know, I just feel like it's a word of warning that people should be made aware of. And, you know, that's kind of all there is right now. It's just a super weird situation that none of us are involved in directly. But it affects, like, travel and planning and businesses and things like that when you're trying to deal with this. So, a bunch of shenanigans going on with the DC ~~Penn~~ Show. And we're just trying to make sure everyone, you know, is playing it safe with their money and who they contact and what the right thing to do is right now. So, get in touch with Bob if you're a DC ~~Penn~~ Show vendor. That's who you should be conducting business through. And I'm sure this podcast will get me some nasty emails in the inbox over the next week. So, I look forward to those.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah. Like, I'm not going to, like, CSI this to death. But you should just know that anything related to the DC Pen Show that you have questions about needs to go through Bob Johnson and PennCentral.com. You know? So, like, attendees, it's not going to affect you, really, that much at all. But you should know when you're looking at information that until there's even more clarity comes out that you should focus on PennCentral.com, a new Instagram. That's Penn Central. So, you know, I just feel like it's a word of warning that people should be made aware of. And, you know, that's kind of all there is right now. It's just a super weird situation that none of us are involved in directly. But it affects, like, travel and planning and businesses and things like that when you're trying to deal with this. So, a bunch of shenanigans going on with the DC Pen Show. And we're just trying to make sure everyone, you know, is playing it safe with their money and who they contact and what the right thing to do is right now. So, get in touch with Bob if you're a DC Pen Show vendor. That's who you should be conducting business through. And I'm sure this podcast will get me some nasty emails in the inbox over the next week. So, I look forward to those.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't know. Well, when people are trying to stage a coup, they don't exactly think clearly. Yeah, okay. So, we'll see. I don't know. Most people don't know what an internet radio show is anyway. So, we're probably good.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't know. Well, when people are trying to stage a coup, they don't exactly think clearly. Yeah, okay. So, we'll see. I don't know. Most people don't know what an internet radio show is anyway. So, we're probably good.
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	'''Myke Hurley:''' They haven't specified.		'''Myke Hurley:''' They haven't specified.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. The way it's worded sounds woodcase to me, and that's how I took this. I'd look at something like the Uni Mark sheet, which is a pencil that I really, really love. It's got a firm tip, still writes dark, holds the point very well. The Blackwing 602 is also in that category. If they ever come out with the Blackwing Extra Firm Core, that would definitely be something in the category. But look at something on the H side of the scale, maybe up to 2H, and you'll get a little firmer point. It'll still be reasonably dark. It's going to hold the point well. It's going to be really fine looking. I don't have anything highly specific to recommend other than those that I just did, because there's actually a pretty wide range there. The Uni Mark sheet is one I would look at towards the top of the list, and also the Blackwing 602. And then see what you think. And you say, oh, no, this is too soft, or this smears too much, whatever. And then we can look at something different. And if it's a mechanical pencil, then that's a completely different conversation. All right, Sarah says she usually goes to the Atlanta ~~Penn~~ Show.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. The way it's worded sounds woodcase to me, and that's how I took this. I'd look at something like the Uni Mark sheet, which is a pencil that I really, really love. It's got a firm tip, still writes dark, holds the point very well. The Blackwing 602 is also in that category. If they ever come out with the Blackwing Extra Firm Core, that would definitely be something in the category. But look at something on the H side of the scale, maybe up to 2H, and you'll get a little firmer point. It'll still be reasonably dark. It's going to hold the point well. It's going to be really fine looking. I don't have anything highly specific to recommend other than those that I just did, because there's actually a pretty wide range there. The Uni Mark sheet is one I would look at towards the top of the list, and also the Blackwing 602. And then see what you think. And you say, oh, no, this is too soft, or this smears too much, whatever. And then we can look at something different. And if it's a mechanical pencil, then that's a completely different conversation. All right, Sarah says she usually goes to the Atlanta Pen Show.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' Is it Uni Mark sheet or Mitsubishi?		'''Myke Hurley:''' Is it Uni Mark sheet or Mitsubishi?
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	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Okay.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Okay.

	'''Brad Dowdy:''' Sarah usually goes to the Atlanta ~~Penn~~ Show, but the early scheduling this year means I have to miss it. And the San Francisco ~~Penn~~ Show always conflicts with Burning Man. Since I can't go to Atlanta, I'd like to try a new show this year. While I enjoy shopping, looking at all the pens, I like learning opportunities, panels and workshops, and socializing even more. Do you have any recommendations for an alternate ~~Penn~~ Show I should check out? I'd be open to anything in North America. I feel like I answered this question, or maybe I just said it on Twitter. My two that I would recommend are probably Chicago and Baltimore. I know Baltimore is coming up soon. You may not have time to, you know, work on that travel. But both of those have great panels, workshops, classes. They have a great show. And then they have very good after hours, just socializing and hanging out spaces. At least out of the shows I've been to, I haven't been to every show in the country. Those kind of come to the top of my list. So that's what I would be thinking about.		'''Brad Dowdy:''' Sarah usually goes to the Atlanta Pen Show, but the early scheduling this year means I have to miss it. And the San Francisco Pen Show always conflicts with Burning Man. Since I can't go to Atlanta, I'd like to try a new show this year. While I enjoy shopping, looking at all the pens, I like learning opportunities, panels and workshops, and socializing even more. Do you have any recommendations for an alternate Pen Show I should check out? I'd be open to anything in North America. I feel like I answered this question, or maybe I just said it on Twitter. My two that I would recommend are probably Chicago and Baltimore. I know Baltimore is coming up soon. You may not have time to, you know, work on that travel. But both of those have great panels, workshops, classes. They have a great show. And then they have very good after hours, just socializing and hanging out spaces. At least out of the shows I've been to, I haven't been to every show in the country. Those kind of come to the top of my list. So that's what I would be thinking about.

	'''Myke Hurley:''' All right, next question comes from Jim. Jim says, I'm thinking about trying my first stub nib, mainly to see line variation and potential ink shading. I'm somewhat worried as I usually go with a fine or extra fine nib, as my handwriting looks better with a smaller nib. My questions are these. Do you have a favorite stub nib in the under $60 category? I have a TWSBI 580 ALR. What are the pros and cons of getting a stub unit for it rather than just purchasing a new pen like a TWSBI Eco? Or a stub for the Safari, although the Lamy calls their stubs italics. I would say that like stub nib TWSBI, love it. Like 100%, I would say go there.		'''Myke Hurley:''' All right, next question comes from Jim. Jim says, I'm thinking about trying my first stub nib, mainly to see line variation and potential ink shading. I'm somewhat worried as I usually go with a fine or extra fine nib, as my handwriting looks better with a smaller nib. My questions are these. Do you have a favorite stub nib in the under $60 category? I have a TWSBI 580 ALR. What are the pros and cons of getting a stub unit for it rather than just purchasing a new pen like a TWSBI Eco? Or a stub for the Safari, although the Lamy calls their stubs italics. I would say that like stub nib TWSBI, love it. Like 100%, I would say go there.