Whether the need to write by hand is an ingrained generational habit or a rich and rewarding cognitive process, to handwrite--or not--is still one of the great watercooler debates among people who, uh, write for a living. As Simon Fodden at Slaw.ca puts it, there's writing and there's writing.

Which may explain why TUL Pens invented the marvellously funny Dr. Gerard Ackerman, Graphologist. The gag here is that you write on a piece of paper “I need a new pen.” And then, under the guidance of the good doctor, you analyse your own handwriting, in order to discover how it reveals your personality.

The thing is wonderfully done. Using Flash, Ackerman pontificates at you and dead pans some really funny lines. This is the sort of advertising that is a real treat to encounter. Makes me almost want to place an order for some of their pens. I think retractable pencils might make sense… or perhaps the gel ink ones…