Sit on it.

July 2, 2004 2:12 AM

Pen spinning is very cool. Have a look at Pentrix, with guides to help you learn, videos of some very nice looking variations, basic tricks and combinations. A word of warning though, trying these things in an open environment may well annoy your fellow humans; but this may be the only distraction for the bored and restricted office worker.
posted by ed\26h (16 comments total)

My second post in a few days. I feel like a MetaSexual.
posted by ed\26h at 2:14 AM on July 2, 2004

Wow, this is an awesome link. I can't do anything yet, but I promise you, I will become the pen spinning master.
posted by whoshotwho at 2:33 AM on July 2, 2004

Given that it's your second post wouldn't that make you a Meta(bi)Sexual ?
posted by daveg at 4:54 AM on July 2, 2004

Previous pen spinning discussion.
posted by rushmc at 5:31 AM on July 2, 2004

While one's perceptions cannot always be thought of as a valid authority of truth, I'm sure this showed nothing before.
posted by ed\26h at 5:38 AM on July 2, 2004

More fun with idle hands: poker chip tricks.
posted by delapohl at 6:38 AM on July 2, 2004

A bit of advice: It's not a good idea to practice this at work, if they've taken away your cubicle walls.

Just speaking from experience...
posted by JonahBlack at 6:59 AM on July 2, 2004

thanks for posting this again.
I tried it for a while after the first post to get the hang of it, but never did.
now I'm reminded of my lack of skill.
posted by Busithoth at 7:12 AM on July 2, 2004

If you like this stuff, I recommend Demetri Martin.
posted by the cuban at 7:22 AM on July 2, 2004

I have 360s pretty wired. 720s sometimes. They look cool.
posted by ed\26h at 7:27 AM on July 2, 2004

I'm pretty sure you have to master the 360 to get an undergrad degree in engineering.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 7:36 AM on July 2, 2004

I looked for, but didn't find, the "trick" that everyone in my high school did, which is flipping the pen up in the air so that it rotates 180 degrees, falling back into the same position, and repeating same about twice a second for the entire class. It wasn't something that most of us concsiously "learned" to do so much as just started doing it, as though your hand noticed the other hands doing it and put in the effort to learn it for you. The habit became so thoroughly identified with our school that the alumni association gave out pens as a premium for fundraising.

And yeah, thanks for re-posting this, because when I read the original thread I was still waiting for membership to re-open so I could, someday, post.
posted by soyjoy at 8:39 AM on July 2, 2004

I'm pretty sure you have to master the 360 to get an undergrad degree in engineering.

Yeah, or be a dictator.


posted by ed\26h at 8:45 AM on July 2, 2004

This was a prerequisite to being on the varsity debate team. I wish I'd had instructional videos back in the day...

Great post!
posted by Fezboy! at 9:02 AM on July 2, 2004

Thanks to peer pressure in my high school, I can do this with a tennis racquet even. [/feeling superior].
posted by of strange foe at 10:53 AM on July 2, 2004

This was a prerequisite to being on the varsity debate team.

No kidding. Is there anyone who was on the debate team who didn't do this?
posted by SisterHavana at 1:26 PM on July 2, 2004