Waterman Torsade

＊一代名作 Gentleman 的先河

Torsade，法文的字義是 "螺旋"。顧名思義，這枝筆最典型的外型特徵就是帶著螺旋扭轉紋理的縱向細切面；但是也有非螺旋版本，在我收到的外盒上有手寫的 "faccette oro" (金色切面) 字跡，這應該是當時筆店對於這種款式的稱呼。

筆身有長短之別，依 "筆夾會遮蓋筆蓋下端的商標" 來推論，長版本應該才是原始設計。為何推出短筆身版本的真正用意不明....

(左：螺旋、短筆身，右：直條切面、長筆身)

如前一篇 Waterman Man 44 所提及，因為有零件流用的急就章作法，這個年代的產品規格相當紊亂。Torsade 的 18K 金筆尖大小有別 (甚至有見過鋼尖，可能是零售商店自行更換)。兩種筆尖的尺寸差異，等同於下一個世代的領銜作品 Gentleman vs Lady。

 

  (由上而下：Lady Charlotte, Exclusive, Torsade, Gentleman, Man 200)

＊朝通用規範靠攏

Waterman 一直是卡式墨水匣的倡議者。雖然 C/F 得到不錯的市場反應，但是居於領導地位的 Parker, Sheaffer 並不願跟隨 Waterman 的規範，紛紛推出自有規格。現今 international cartridges 大概在 1960s 成為不想綁定專屬規格諸廠商的共識，而 Waterman 也從善如流，放棄了自己在 1953 年的設計 (卻也使得 C/F converters 因為停產而水漲船高)。

Torsade 可以搭配現今的絕大部分通用貯墨器，因管徑差異會有些許搖晃，但使用上並無問題。

 

  (由上而下：Lady Charlotte, Lady Patricia 筆舌抽出/搭配 Kaweco converter,

   搭配 1960s 原裝貯墨器的 Torsade, 搭配現代通用貯墨器的 Torsade)

＊筆舌

若說 Man44 沒有達到 Man100 的成就高度是由於筆身配重、氣密設計等等因素，Torsade 遠不及 Gentleman 的原因則是多了一項：相當原始的筆舌。

 

毫無特色，就是一枝塑膠射出成形筆舌。充其量就是有導墨的毛細溝槽，除此之外要說它是 "五臟俱全的雖小麻雀" 恐怕都還過譽了。鰭片的間距粗疏而且邊緣圓滑，因此引納溢墨的性能大打折扣。將墨水導至尖片的溝槽僅有一道，倘若此處有沉澱堆積就容易影響供墨。快速書寫時，短處更加明顯，飛白時有所見。

而 Gentleman 的筆舌則是....

  

這是 Waterman 應用得最廣泛的一個自有零件。自 Gentleman 起，這枚筆舌也成為眾多款式的核心。前端兩道溝槽的平衡設計有較好的容錯率，溝槽中段與梳形鰭片結構合一，使得這塊區域的緩衝容量相當大，概念上與 Parker No.30 類似，這正是往後 Gentleman 流利出墨性能的根源。

之所以可以斷定這個設計受 Parker No.30 影響，因為在 Torsade 與 Gentleman 中間還有一個罕見的型號：Watermina，採用的筆舌就是縮小版的 Parker No.30

 

(從右至左：Torsade, Watermina, Gentleman, Man 44)

  Watermina 的筆舌仍然是硬橡膠材質，無法射出成形、鰭片是由刀具切割而成，

  量產的成本較高。Gentleman 將鰭片結構融合簡化，自然是更有效益的設計。

  Gentleman -(直系)-> Man 200 -(直系)-> Exception Slim

  |

  +-(扣在筆舌上固定的小型尖)----> Executive -(直系)-> Exclusive

  |                          \

  |                           \-> Ladies (Agatha, Charlotte, Patricia)

  |

  +-(搭配鋼尖的簡化版筆舌)-> Graduate/Allure, Reflex, Laureat, Harmony, Expert

＊Waterman 的 "P-51A"

P-51 Mustang 是公認的二次世界大戰傑作機種。然而它並不是以石破天驚之姿登場.... 因為發動機性能限制，初期 A 型的高空作戰性能很有限；直到換裝了 RR Merlin 60 二級增壓發動機之後才一飛沖天。

優秀的筆尖並未在 Torsade 之上發揮完整的潛力，直到新款自有筆舌在 1970s 設計完成，才真正展現出一流風範；而 Gentleman 身為搭載此零件的首作，自是具有里程碑的意義。

雖然性能受限於過於簡陋的筆舌；Torsade 以獨有的外觀設計、日後大放異彩的筆尖，仍有值得令人駐足一觀的長處。螢燭末光自是無以與日月競暉之處，但是在屬於它的某個時空之中，仍然發散過自有的一道光芒。

FBI X-Files 歸檔文件中遺失的對話紀錄

"Mulder, 你在哪裡？"
"Scully, 我現在在台北市"
"台北？做什麼？"
"我發現了一種很奇妙的舞蹈動作，現在正在追查它的原因"
"Mulder, 你知道.... X 檔案已經被關閉了，不要再追這種事了"
"不，這跟外星人無關....而且外星人跟這個比起來簡直是小兒科，這邊有一種叫做行政命令的玩意，可以操控人們跳奇妙的舞...."
"Mulder, 那是他們家的事，跟我們無關"
"Scully, 我好像在那群小孩子之中看到我妹妹了"
"Samantha? 你不是說他被外星人綁架?"
"聽我說，Scully.... 行政命令，我剛剛跟你說了，這東西比外星人還強，行政命令綁架比外星人綁架還厲害多了。我現在相信是行政命令綁架了 Samantha，使得她一直在小學裡跳花博舞"
"哎.... 好啦，那你一個人在那邊又能查出什麼東西？"
"我偽裝成市政府員工，現在正在...."
"等等，偽裝？"
"聽我說，台北人對美國人很友善，都當成自己人；他們還選美國人當議員，你不要擔心。"
"可是你不會說中文。"
"我有找過 AIT 的朋友。他告訴我說，在這個地方你只要大聲朝對方吼 '你不愛台灣'，他們就會因為厭惡或者恐懼而停止找你麻煩。那個朋友教我用國語和台語講這句話，我練得很熟。喔，還有一句'階得係愛逮完啦'，哈哈哈！"
".... 好吧，你剛剛說你正在做什麼？"
"我現在正在收集植物的樣本。這邊的品種看起來都很普通，但是比對報價之後，價格翻了好幾倍。這一定有什麼不尋常...."
"Mulder, 這聽起來其實跟以前那些幕後有政府介入的案子有點像，你真的確定這跟外星人無關？"
"Scully, 我百分之百確定.... 從那些外星人的行為中觀察得到智能，可是.... 搞出這些行政命令的傢伙沒有。"

originally posted on BirdNest BBS, 16th September 2010

Sailor Young Profit

比起其他筆廠，Sailor 筆尖用的合金鋼偏軟。這造就了它比較豐富的筆觸反應，但是對於下手重的人而言，則是需要多一層的謹慎。以前 Trident 這款號稱可以任何角度書寫的筆就有這樣的毛病，由於筆尖太過於複雜、結構強度並不好，所以相當容易變形；原本可以 360 度書寫的筆會逐漸耗損到剩下 240 度、120度，原本設計上的特點蕩然無存，反而比傳統的單片單槽筆尖更不堪用。

國中時代寫壞過太多枝 Sailor，導致往後對它一直興趣缺缺。進入網路時代之後，紙筆不再是跟朋友聯絡的工具，實用性能不再是唯一考量，才重新找了這枝入門等級的筆，看看二十年來 Sailor 的演化。

筆桿上有一些絹印的花紋，樣式風格相當接近傳統日本漆器的裝飾。雖然是機具量產，不過仍然算是精緻。筆夾則是  Sailor 平價筆款一貫的高彈力，顯然是為夾緊襯衫口袋的用意，也看得出這枝筆的市場定位。AS 樹脂的筆身相當輕，所以運筆並不費力，可以很專注在筆觸的控制。

原先的筆尖並不太順，邊寫邊調了大概兩星期才有令人滿意的表現。然而，調好之後的水準相當傑出，較軟的筆尖不像傳統鋼尖一樣死硬，而出墨量很適合自己的書寫速度。輕量的筆身使得在寫長豎的時候更容易駕馭，不容易因為控制不當而劃歪。

適合書寫速度中等的人，充上濃淡層次明顯的墨水 (例如 Noodler's Traditional Blue) 相當能彰顯這枝筆的長處。

春夜博麻雀莊序

夫天地者，萬物之墻墩，光陰者，百代之籌客。而浮生若夢，輸贏幾何？古人秉燭夜博，良有以也。況場東召我以新局，上家假我以入張，會方城之桌枰，行勝負之樂事。群季俊秀，皆為滿貫，吾人掩牌，獨慚濫聽。連莊未已，台數轉高。開門牌以補花，先槓刻而吃順。不有自摸，何伸鬱氣？如為詐和，罰依各家台數。

Alpha, in the album "Albedo 0.39"

Possibly the most famous title among Vangelis' "metaphysics works" (including Heaven and Hell, Albedo 0.39, Spiral and China. Except Beaubourg, because I cannot comprehend his impromptu style). Among other tracks in this album, Alpha outstands with its unique sense of confidence. Starting with mythical suspicion, and finally turning out a brave triumph theme. However, the title name is ambiguous, and this interfered for people to understand it.

My supposition to the title is the shortened term of "Alpha Centauri". Some astronomers predicted that there are planets in the system, and they are believed as human beings' first step of space colonization.

Albedo 0.39 album has its gradual topics. Pulstar is the first inspiration of our efforts to contact with alien beings. Freefall hints the movements beyond earth gravity field. After that, we are approaching Mare Tranquillitatis, while the Moon is our first hop to reach the stars.
Main Sequence is the excitement of interstellar navigation.
Sword of Orion, the landmark of outer space.
Then there comes Alpha.


Both of the 2 parts of Nucleogenesis are something too complex for complete comprehension. However, I consider them as the progress of space colonization. The intense and aggressive beats in modern, synthetic atmosphere may hint the utilization of scientific devices and technologies. The dialtone in the ending phase resembles Alpha. Both of them might be signal  messages to the Earth, reporting the accomplishments.

Vangelis gaze back at the Earth with Albedo 0.39, where everything began, as the conclusion to his hypothetic space journey.
--
adapted from article originally posted on Vangelis facebook fan forum

Vangelis' works for movies, albums and compilations

Frankly, I dislike any of Vangelis' compilations. Certain melodies are better-acclaimed among others. So popular that they have appeared in multiple compilations. While, some of his works are too hard to comprehend (for example, Beaubourg, and Mask) and won't be selected anyway. However, popularity isn't a good criterion to justify greatness. Furthermore, he has put strong core essence within his every singular album, and I don't think that the essence can be dissected into parts. The compilation of shattered souls is not a whole thing.

Especially his soundtracks to movies. The soundtrack albums are not always those music actually applied in the films. They are more likely to be Vangelis' personal view to the story. He tells us the stories through melodies, something like his far ancestor Homer did with Iliad and Odyssey lyrics.

The fame to Vangelis' music for films started very early. With Frédéric Rossif, a series including L'Apocalypse des animaux, La Fête sauvage and Opéra sauvage were released as albums. Thus he has established the basis to cooperate with film workers. Shortly after, his first peak achievement comes with Chariots of Fire. In fact, this name most people referred is actually named "Titles" in official album. Besides Titles, other tracks are also appealing.

The actual "Chariots of Fire" track is loaded at side B of the album, a medley running 20 minutes and 41 seconds. This is my first impression to his story-telling music. However, that medley lacks in concrete structure, more likely to be a serial flashback of movie highlights.

Then there comes The City. This is one of my favorites, because of the skillfulness and wholeness in this album. Vangelis describes his view to city life, a complete circulation. The techniques he discovered in The City induce 2 great albums later: 1492 Conquest of Paradise, and Blade Runner (1994 release).


Through his music, Vangelis has told better Columbus story than Ridley Scott did with the film. And the noir-atmosphered music is as classical as Blade Runner movie is in its genre. Vangelis has brought the soundtrack to a whole new level. The music is not only an ingredient of the movie, but the re-creation of the movie from the composer.

That's how I feel uneasy when I heard Come To Me was inserted between Monastery of La Rabida and Light And Shadow, in the compilation Reprise. It shouldn't be like this anyway.

Well, after all, the only compilation I will recommend to everyone is The Best of Jon and Vangelis. For a collection of great songs, it's as good as it can be.
--
adapted from articles originally posted on Vangelis facebook fan forum

爛貨銘

車不在好，有捧則名；輪不必強，胡吹就硬。斯是爛貨，惟吾吸金。赤面翻顏綠，白目轉眼青。談笑有信眾，往來無專精。可以論玄學，搞 fitting。無道義之亂耳，無廉恥之勞形。山貓五四三，愚蠢鋼絲餅。孔子云：「始作俑者，其無後乎？」

異端大師傳

「大師不知何許人也，亦不詳其姓字，喜異端玄學，因以為號焉。寡慕榮利，唯汲令名。好LiteSpeed、雲豹953，不求甚解，輒有混戰，便欣然忘食。嗜單車，而性駑不能盡得，故舊知其如此，或置文搦之，造談輒盡，言多必失，既失而退，曾不吝情去留。立論窘然，不蔽風日，捉襟肘見，頭尾失顧，晏如也。嘗鼓吹『邪惡手編輪』自肥，頗喪其節，忘懷得失，不知所終。」
其自序如此，時人謂之實錄。

贊曰：管仲有言：「禮義廉恥，國之四維。四維不張，國乃滅亡。」極其言，茲若人之儔乎？信口雌黃，以博其名，馮道之民歟？王振之民歟？