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During an internet outage this evening, I went out to one of my local Walmarts and came away with triplets. A set of Norcom composition books, one each from the US, Mexico, and Vietnam... http://i.imgur.com/qFkKf7S.jpg Mexico top left, Vietnam top right. I put them through their paces with different pens, inks, and nibs. The results speak for themselves, I think... http://i.imgur.com/bO1mX62.jpg http://i.imgur.com/oGnWhHj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tIXdXWt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DWmcLXp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/5uaWfXm.jpg http://i.imgur.com/xUax6ZE.jpg The Vietnamese book far outperformed the American and the Mexican books. At 88 cents US, the Made in Vietnam Norcom composition book is an absolute bargain. (And it's a bit obvious what album I was listening to while doing these tests, hmm? )

I have no need for more paper. I have no need for cheap paper. I have lots of paper. It's probable I have a paper problem. Evidence of that came during my ~quarterly trip to WalMart today. While in the paper aisles looking for myndology flashcards, I stopped to check out the cheap notebooks. I found two to try out. Below are photos, including a hand-written mini review. The red circle on the last image is where ink bled onto the next page (but you can't blame it, I was flexing). The review is of the blue one on the left. I'm not sure I want to write in the green one for review purposes - I kinda like it and may want to use it for some other purpose. As soon as I come to my senses, I'll do some writing and take some photos. (The green one cost $1.97 and is hard-bound. The quality was far more variable than with the blue style notebook, to the point where I think it would be hard to find one as good as what I got. It was made in Brazil.) http://www.paradoxcommunity.com/vps/nbf.jpg Back sides http://www.paradoxcommunity.com/vps/nbb.jpg Writing in the blue one / review: http://www.paradoxcommunity.com/vps/compwriting.jpg Reverse of the page (show through & understandable bleed from where I flexed the Visconti - red circle on the right side are the two little dots where it bled onto the next page): http://www.paradoxcommunity.com/vps/compreverse.jpg And there you have it. We can add Colombia to our list of places which sometimes make cheap nice paper.

If you use composition books for your writing enjoyment and want a sturdy leather cover to protect your composition book, try Renaissance Art's leather cover for $39 (http://www.renaissance-art.com/catg172/category.aspx). I have ordered their customer book covers and found their leather to be of excellent quality - thick, soft, and bomb-proof. I am saving my pennies to get one with an added pen loop and extra pocket for loose papers. It is the only place I know that will customize your covers. If you prefer Moleskine or other journals, Art can make you a cover for them as well.