Pen flipping video

January 1, 2005 8:37 PM

Cool video of ballpoint pen spinning tricks; warning - horrendous heavy metal soundtrack, video is embedded wmv. This is undoubtedly the most useless skill I've ever been jealous of. For more pen trick threads, see here& here.
posted by jonson (26 comments total)

somehow, life is now complete. quite a find, jonson.
posted by moonbird at 8:48 PM on January 1, 2005

O_o
posted by RubiX^3 at 8:53 PM on January 1, 2005

I find that, much like in b-boying, the coolest tricks here are the ones that make you wonder whether the video is slowing down, or chopping up, etc.
posted by abcde at 8:59 PM on January 1, 2005

I bet he gets lots of girls.
posted by sdrawkcab at 9:12 PM on January 1, 2005

You too can make the magic happen. Don't miss these delightfully smooth moves by Kam from the Pentrix site.

[This is stellar.]
posted by SteelyDuran at 9:12 PM on January 1, 2005

Yes! This is gold! I wish I could do this.

Don't miss the parody.
posted by painquale at 9:13 PM on January 1, 2005

This guy is incredibly skilled.
posted by noius at 9:17 PM on January 1, 2005

Also the archived version of the pentrix site has oodles of info. This is the mother lode.
posted by SteelyDuran at 9:22 PM on January 1, 2005

I bet he gets lots of girls.

I thought it's a number of different people, most of which are, for some reason, sitting in front of a computer. (Or the same guy has five different computers and seven different screen names.)

Can anyone read the Korean at the end? Maybe it's some sort of "Best of Pen Spinning Tricks" thingy.
posted by sour cream at 9:22 PM on January 1, 2005

In my last year of high school, the only piece of knowledge I retained from math class was the thumbaround. I still do it on a regular basis, and even manage to impress people with it from time to time.

The only time I embarrass myself is when I attempt the same with silverware, so at the dinner table I stick to more classical balancing acts.
posted by furtive at 10:22 PM on January 1, 2005

Pfffff. Uri Geller could kick all their asses.






Oh, alright, it's impressive.
posted by chicobangs at 10:37 PM on January 1, 2005

I bet he gets lots of girls.

I actually met my third girlfriend this way. I was pen spinning in class and afterwards she came up to me and had to know how I did it. My ravishing good looks might have helped.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:42 PM on January 1, 2005

Uri Geller? Pfft. (self-link, 840kb WMV file)
posted by CrayDrygu at 11:47 PM on January 1, 2005

Why on earth does he need a keyboard if he can use a pen that fast?
posted by Cancergiggles at 1:20 AM on January 2, 2005

Ok. I'm jealous too. No matter how I tried as a kid, I never could do this...
posted by miss lynnster at 2:18 AM on January 2, 2005

The only thing of any value I did at work this year was learning to do this.

It really does impress girls too.
posted by cornflake at 5:49 AM on January 2, 2005

You're right, the music was horrendous.

The pen spinning was neat though.
posted by kamylyon at 6:20 AM on January 2, 2005

You had me at "useless." Awesome.
posted by hojoki at 7:54 AM on January 2, 2005

Direct link to video.
posted by kenko at 8:19 AM on January 2, 2005

I picture the guys on the video as Korean businessmen who shed their suit jackets long enough to show off.

If they would switch out the pen for a dagger or nunchucks . . .they'd be a deadly force.
posted by iwearredsocks at 10:02 AM on January 2, 2005

If they would switch out the pen for a dagger or nunchucks . . .they'd be a deadly force

[Obligatory "Pen is mighter" comment]

[Obligatory "Penis mightier" reference]
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:43 AM on January 2, 2005

I was impressed by the 'penmanship' sure.

However, I was also interested in what else I could see in each frame. Interesting setups people have, near their computers.

1:25 minutes into the video, what IS to the right of the penmaster?
posted by seawallrunner at 12:47 PM on January 2, 2005

It's a small platform with a mouse on top of it. Though it could be perceived as a toilet. But it's not.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:22 PM on January 2, 2005

Where is the highlight reel? Get it?! Highlight! Reel! Uhh...I'm sorry...*pencil flying out of hand into air and lodging in eye*
posted by alteredcarbon at 3:32 PM on January 2, 2005

There are some very bored people in this world.

I'm surprised no one took the extra step and started doing tricks with two pens in one hand. That would be TOTAL ANARCHY.

Great link.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 6:19 PM on January 2, 2005

I was already a Pentrix fan, but this is a nice summary of their work. A previous Mefi link mentioned their best pals, Handlordz (Z intentional).

I actually have to confess that the Handlordz (gah!) site led me to buying this man's incredible, incredible book of simple little card flourishes to do with your non-mouse hand during work. The one-handed shuffles are nice little tricks, as are the five-part cuts. I found that learning 20 or so of these little gems has increased my manipulation/coordination substantially. Also, it impresses children.
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 6:58 AM on January 3, 2005