h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You write: "The name comes from the French spelling of "moleskin," from which the cover is made, and is a trademark of Modo and Modo."

Umm, er...excuse me a moment..where do you get this info from?

Truth is, that the cover is easily tearable and commonly used 're-constituted leather' which is tiny leather pieces re-stuck together. Basically just like thin cardboard or heavy paper. Kafka was incensed by such shoddy workmanship and deceit when it came to books.

The books are not the same as Chatwin used but flimsy imitations for gullible consumers of fashion and brand names. They can be made for less than 30 pence in China (where I am now on business as a manufacturer and designer of notebooks).

I don't mean to be a smarty pants, but I don't doubt there will be readers who will be grateful for the truth.

Sorry.

But "moleskin" isn't really leather, it's a type of heavy cotton which in the notebook's case was treated for durability. (That information is from the Merriam-Webster dictionary.)

And when the entry speaks of the Moleskine it's talking about the design, not the product.

I've seen the ones from China. The paper is newsprint, which has a tendency to go yellow and crumble with age, and the binding looks like glue. The Modo & Modo product is made in Italy, with acid-free paper and sewn binding.

Yes, they're expensive. But I've read about two dozen web pages and discussion forums where people are singing their praises, not because of the pretentious "literary history" but because of the convenience of the design.

"An oilcloth-covered notebook, manufactured by Modo and Modo of Italy"

This statement is COMPLETELY false. They (Moleskine Notebooks) are NOT oilcloth, and oilcloth-covered notebooks are NOT manufactured by Modo and Modo.

In my post to which you replied I wrote: "Truth is, that the cover is easily tearable and commonly used 're-constituted leather' which is tiny leather pieces re-stuck together. Basically just like thin cardboard or heavy paper. Kafka was incensed by such shoddy workmanship and deceit when it came to books."

It IS the books by Modo and Modo I am talking about!! Not only that! The books do not even have a spine lining! How pathetic is that!

I am a bookbinder by trade, and own several Moleskines, but find them too poorly designed to continue using. If no one believes me then they can try tearing the material themselves.

To say that people are singing the praises of them on a dozen websites is one of the most ridiculous pieces of comment I have ever come across. It is completely hilarious!! ( I am not trying to be rude: I really can't see how you can even mention it!) There is probably TWO dozen websites singing the praises of crack-coacaine, or Hitler's Final Solution!! Or the Bay City Rollers!! Get a grip on yourself!!

Let's face it: people like junk. Easily available Moleskines fit this category. If people like them good luck to them but let's not pretend they have anything other than a cheap imitation. As I wrote: The Modo and Modo books can be made in China (not with glue on the spine, but sewn sections) for less than US 50 cents. Perhaps people don't know there are better available. COKE is everywhere but that doesn't make is the best beverage one can toss down one's thirsty throat.

Be good, and please let's not start a thread about the Bay City Rollers...!!
-W

Dear PhairyObserver,

You wrote, above: "And when the entry speaks of the Moleskine it's talking about the design, not the product."

Actually, if you go back to the ENTRY, you will read the following: "An oilcloth-covered notebook, manufactured by Modo and Modo of Italy based on a design by a small stationer in Tours, France." In actual fact, this is the FIRST SENTENCE of the entire article!!! It(the entry) is NOT talking about the DESIGN. It is talking about the current PRODUCT "based on" the DESIGN!!!

Are we witnessing some short term memory loss perhaps...

If this is what the use of electronic technologies can lead to, god help us all...

Get a good night sleep,

-W

"This statement is COMPLETELY false. They (Moleskine Notebooks) are NOT oilcloth, and oilcloth-covered notebooks are NOT manufactured by Modo and Modo"

Kindly have a look at

http://www.moleskinenotebook.com/moleskine-design.html

http://www.moleskinenotebook.com/moleskine-about.html

The first establishes the description, which contradicts you. The second establishes the current manufacturer, which again contradicts you. I am more inclined to believe the website rather than you, because the assertions are veriable by any Better Business Bureau or trade tribunal, in which case why bother asserting a lie?

Oh, and while we're at this:

S, A
T - U - R
D - A - Y
- - Night!

S, A
T - U - R
D - A - Y
- - Night!

We're gonna keep on dancin' to the rock and roll
On Saturday Night
Saturday Night
Dancin' to the rhythm with our heart and soul
On Saturday Night
Saturday Night

Ay - yi - yi - yi
I just can't wait
Ay - yi - yi - yi
I got a date ...

At the good ol'
Rock and Roll
Road Show
Gotta go
Saturday Night
Saturday Night
Gonna rock it up
Roll it up
Do it all
Have a ball
Saturday Night
Saturday nigh - ay - ay - ay - t

So there. >

This post has been removed.

This is not an entertainment site. It is an info site. So enough of the Saturday Night nonsense...False info is no info. Those websites have false information. This is common practice amongst advertisers. Most people know this. ie., they don't expect the pretty girl leaning against the car in the photo to come with the car...

Those websites just state & offer no evidence. I do. I suggested people can try and tear the Moleskine cover themselves and then they will see that "your" website is lying.

I think that maybe you do not really care about the truth of the matter, and just want to escape from this discussion with a clean skin by trying to show that you only-quoted-the-website. But you now have defended the website against me who has offered a way to prove the truth of the matter.

I have sent an email to that website & will post the reply. Other than that I consider this matter closed.

W

So I guess 'your' website (Moleskineus) can be considered a sort of...SPAM.