The first thing I usually do when I get to work is to check my email, check my tweets and App.net posts, and see what’s new in the pen/pencil/paper blogosphere. The biggest news to blow up my inbox was the launch of The Cramped, a new blog by Patrick Rhone!

I’ve been a big fan of Patrick since I discovered the Minimal Mac blog, and his sadly-now-defunct podcast, Enough. He’s a writer by trade, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing his postings and interacting with him a bit on App.net, along with some other people like Harry C. Marks of Curious Rat, and other analog-writing-friendly tech-saveurs.

From his blog’s welcome post:

If you are the sort of person who appreciates nice paper, a decent pen, a well-crafted notebook, a solid pencil, writing and receiving handwritten correspondence, beautiful handwriting, or the clicky-clack of a dependable typewriter, you have come to the right place. The Cramped is a site dedicated to the pleasures of writing with analog tools (the name is purposefully ironic).

He also has some guest contributors in the works, and perhaps a podcast, too. Exciting! And boy, do I like that pencil in his logo. Check out his blog when you get a chance.

Oh, and some housekeeping

If you are a regular Woodclinched reader who come to the blog rather than via an RSS reader, you may have noticed a re-theming! I’m definitely not dead set on this design, but I’ve been trying some out lately to see if I can find something new. I’d love any feedback you all might have, good or bad. Feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email or a tweet.

Stay tuned in the next few days for a review of — gasp — a mechanical pencil!