It sets the standard for the everyday writing utensil.

What is yellow, long and pointy at the end? Although you may think it's a bus with a fork taped to the hood, it's actually a pencil. It must get pretty boring around my house, but writing a review about such a dull, lifeless and ordinary desktop object sounds a whole lot better than explaining 10 different ways a bed is used for or watching the paint on my house dry and flake off, so I guess this'll have to do. We don't really use a pencil and gasp at the great build quality of these wooden sticks, but they play an important role in how we write, like they have set the standard on what to write with.

When you look at this pencil, the design is old-fashioned but if it ain't broke, it doesn't need fixing. This hexagonally long pencil, meaning that this has six sides, comes in at about nine inches long and 3/8ths of an inch wide. Made in Ticonderoga, New York, you know that this is made in the USA (as it says so right near the tip), the same town where the Ticonderoga Paper Factory is. Apart from the yellowness is green trim. All letters, numbers and the eraser end is in green. We are aware from the pencil that this is a Dixon Ticonderoga pencil, with the numbers 1388-2/HB written after that. I don't know what it means either so I don't think it's that important. And we are reminded once more that this is a "soft" pencil. After numerous tries to bend it with no such luck, I believe it must mean that the "lead", or graphite that they use now, is softer than in other pencils.

I especially do not like the idea of such a small (1/4") eraser occupying the end of these pencils. It's rare to see a pencil under three inches with an eraser still usable. The only times I've seen such pencils were when the pencil sharpener wasn't working correctly causing uneven lengths of cedar wood (what the pencils are made of) around the graphite tips. That's why some genius invented an eraser pen, with the one function to work as an extended eraser once your precious pencil lost its own.

Sharpening the pencil is easy. When inserted into a pencil sharpener, manual or electric, the graphite sharpens quickly and cedar surrounding it stays at a uniform length. That is, there is no wood up to the tip but rather about 1/3" behind it, much like what a pencil should have. One word of caution; you should only push on the pencil lightly when sharpening or else the "3 inch pencil" turns into reality. Okay, that was nineteen words, but you got the idea.

Once sharpened, it's really easy to write with. You should wrap the fingers on your hand around the pencil much like you would a pen (what is there to say about a pencil?). You don't have to push hard on the paper to get what you want to write written down. It takes about 1 to 2 pages before you should sharpen again,the former when you press down hard. When writing really lightly, I found that it can last up to three pages; about a page and a half is pretty average if you press moderately.

So Scott, how well does it erase?

Good question! I found that the harder you press the more graphite stays on the paper. When erasing, you get a normal amount of pink "dirt" on the paper, but it's not excessive. When pressing hard, I was able to erase about 60% of the writing, but nearly 100% when writing really lightly. Then again, these erasers should only be used when absolutely necessary.

A recap of what I've said, taking out all the silly jokes and other fillers to take up space about a pencil:

Pros: Writing with the pencil is easy and you have a good grip when held correctly. Erasing, if written dark or light, is greatly effective. Sharpening is even better as it's easy to get a nice sharp point. The normal and old design of the pencil is highly effective and not a bother when using.

Cons: Eraser should be bigger.

Even though pencils are relatively safe, you can get hurt easily by pencils when used improperly. In third grade I had one in my desk during class. When I leaned forward, the pencil, which was coincidentally pointed at me, poked me in the chest. Last year, a similar thing happened when doing homework in my bedroom. I fell half asleep when the pencil, still in my bed, poked my back. I don't know what it is about me as last month I cut my thumb on a shampoo bottle, trying to get it open.

Other things you can do with these pencils:

*When the darts to your dartboard are missing, make sure you have a few extra pencils handy.

*When going out drinking at a bar, use it as a makeshift tire pressure monitor and deflate all your tires to remind you that you ain't driving home tonight. If it was someone else's car you did it to, you're probably already drunk.

*Have a friend hold each end of the pencil while you practice some of your board-breaking skills you learned in karate class. If you miss the pencil during a karate kick and hit him/her instead, apologize.

*If you bite your fingernails, use the sharpened end to help you with picking up loose change and opening a soda can.

*When your family cooks noodles for dinner and you forgot to buy the chopsticks...

*When you're bored and you have a ruler with a hole in the middle, try to see how fast you can spin it. Make it a competition. If you don't have a ruler, you already know it's 9" long.

*Chew on it. Adding bite marks to a perfectly aerodynamic design adds to the look and lessens drag, perfect for when throwing the pencil through the air for target practice (see first tip). Wood gives you more fiber as well (not sure if that's really true). Make it a part of a complete breakfast.

*If you absolutely have nothing to do, tape a pencil to each of your fingers with the pointy end a little farther out and try to type.

Overall, a pencil is a pencil, no matter how you describe it or how you use it. They are yellow and that's about it. Although it's something that is not flashy, modern or groundbreaking, we take pencils for granted as they are mainly good for use on quizzes, tests, written drafts, drawing, pretty much what may need erasing from time to time. While it seems as if I've only picked on and poked fun of (pun not intended) the pencils, I really am glad there is such a thing. I wouldn't be able to do the things I do in school without them, and so I rate these four stars. They have remained a staple of how we write today (staples; there's something I could write about next) and, even though they are something we love to hate, are still used widely across the world. A box of ten Ticonderoga soft #2 pencils can range between $.99 to $3 depending on the store.

And the only thing I'm pondering about is this: How exactly do they get the graphite inside the pencil without cutting the pencils in two?

Competition

Now are there actually other types of writing utensils challenging the pencil? Yes, and there is a few utensils that take pencil ideas as well.

Most common now is mechanical pencils. They usually come in packages of two with a small plastic container filled with either .5 or .7 mm graphite. Clicking a small button placed where the eraser is or on the side deposits the graphite out the tip. I found that these work better then pencils as you don't sharpen these and they last longer, although you must have lots of graphite with you in case you used it all up. believe me, it's hard to find another person with the right size graphite. There is no point that dulls down either, so that's a good plus!

Another option is erasable pens. They have the quality found in normal pens but, like the name says, you can erase the ink. I found that erasing the ink leaves traces of writing on paper more often than normal pencils. Plus, it removes the purpose of a normal pen; to make writing permanent.

In conclusion, the pencil is the right way to go unless you need permanent writing for important stuff (writing checks, etc.). The pencil is the easiest to write with but I'd rather prefer the mechanical pencil for durability and pen-like feel.

(And to think I lasted an entire review without making any #2 jokes).

~Scott