November 2009

Either way

“You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering”. – Wernher von Braun

Story of the PUMP

Behind the scenes of the development and evolution of the Reebok PUMP shoe, 20 years ago. Man, I wanted these so bad…also includes a bit on the Bodega “hidden” shoe store in Boston.

When not to charge more

“I should charge 600 euros [for a meal at elBulli],” Adrià has said, “but I do not cook for millionaires. I cook for sensitive people.” – HBS Cases: Customer Feedback Not on elBullis Menu.

Bomb-powered hair dryers

“Salvaged bomb material now generates about 10 percent of electricity in the United States — by comparison, hydropower generates about 6 percent and solar, biomass, wind and geothermal together account for 3 percent.” – Electricity for Americans From Russia’s Old Nuclear Weapons – NYTimes.com

Doubt is better than certainty

“I remember once going to a class in yoga where the teacher said that, spirituality speaking, if you believed that you had achieved enlightenment you have merely arrived at your limitation.” – Milton Glaser’s rule #8

Come back when you have a demo

“Many VCs tell entrepreneurs to ‘come back when you have a demo.’  They aren’t wondering whether your product can be built – they are wondering whether you can build it.” – Chris Dixon.

Harmful rewards

“Rewards, by their very nature, narrow our focus and concentrate the mind…but for [creative tasks] you want to be looking around.” – Dan Pink

Cormac McCarthy on working alone

WSJ: But is there something compelling about the collaborative process compared to the solitary job of writing? CM: Yes, it would compel you to avoid it at all costs. – Cormac McCarthy on The Road – WSJ.com.

Idea killers

via. Update: more [here](http://scott-c.blogspot.com/2008/12/portugal.html), in Portuguese

Screens and their discontents

Every product trend seems to be toward putting things on screens, and putting those screens in new places; adding a layer between ourselves and the world. In 10 years, I hope to be looking at screens a lot less than I am today. Russell Davies has an interesting concept for mobile technologies that don’t use…more