This post is similar to my post about the watches: I really like Field Notes products, but I'm not entirely sure why. Evidently a lot of other people do too because they are selling very well. I'm also surprised that innovation can come to the notepad industry: for years you could get functional, but boring pads. Ah HA! There is a clue: for me, these are not boring, so why? There is a retro feel to them: something like the 1940s retro. I like the simplicity (!) and the natural or more rugged feel. The font is cool. The whole thing reminds me of camping -- FIELD notes -- duh matt. Anyway, it's an example of symphony -- everything works together -- and high concept, high touch -- the thing evokes positive thoughts and emotions. They just look like the would be awesome to use. OK, I'm going to get some!

Awareness Test

My roommate found this on YouTube...it only takes a minute and really makes you think.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

Grades & Success?

OK, this is not so much about innovation, but it is about life. Do good grades predict success? The answer is pretty loud and pretty clear: NO! They don't predict much, except future grades. Interesting that we spend so much time on them here at ND, huh? There is a ton of research on this subject (check out the "About" portion of our website for some links to this research). This is an entertaining blog on the subject.

Newest and best eco building

The California Academy of Sciences just opened this new building which may be the greenest building in the world. I like the looks of the thing, but the way this building works is even more amazing. The level of both innovation and design that went into it puts it way on top of my WOW list. There are tons of reviews of the building [here's one]. For example, the roof is a field or lawn with over 1.7 million native plants that insulate the building, capture rainwater, and provide a 2.5-acre habitat for butter flies, hummingbirds, and other critters. Inside, you can see the outside from almost any location and shredded blue jeans insulate the walls. And there are 60,000 photovoltaic cells along the roof's edge to provide electric power. Even tearing down the old building was an exercise in greenery: The 12,000 tons of old steel & concrete were recycled.