Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Jonathan Ive

Jonathan Ive is renowned for being the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Computer, including the iMac and iPod. As a kid, Jonathan was always interested in the construction of objects as a child, and a fascination with taking those objects apart, and with that knowledge, he applies it to the design of Apple computers.

Ive helped design the iPod.

After attending school in the south of England he moved North to study art and design at Northumbria University. He graduated with first class honours having created a pebble-shaped concept for a product to replace cash and credit cards as his final year project. Later, in 1990 Jonathan moved to London and co-founded his own design studio with Martin Darbyshire called Tangerine. Working as Tangerine, he commercialised his design skills, creating products ranging from hair combs and power tools to televisions and ceramics.

In 1992, Apple became a client of Tangerine, and so Jonathan moved to California to join Apple's design team as a full-time employee. This meant Jonathan could finally have more influence than he originally had as an external consultant. However, at the time, Apple was at it's lowest, with Steve Jobs out of the boardroom and with the patent dispute with Microsoft. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, Ive was an important part of this change, and under the new management, Ive was promoted to Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, and it began a period of unrivalled creativity and innovation which continues to this day.

The iMac G4 represents the "new age" in Apple computers.

Ive helped in the launch of the radical and visually stunning iMac G3 in 1998, which is regarded as the birth of the "new age in Apple." This brought Ive to the attention of the entire world. After that, from the iBook to the PowerBook, all of Apple’s products were met with amazement and wonder, and became instant masterpieces of product design, which has spawned and inspired countless imitations.

Everyone has influences, and Ive is no exception. While he doesn't have human inspirations, he credits his influences to three things: nature, honesty, and music. Many of the products Jonathan has created at Apple are directly influenced by natural objects. For example, the iMac G4 was taken from a sunflower, and the Pro Mouse which was inspired by a droplet of water. The natural influence can be felt in all Apple products, as it is what makes them friendly and relatable. Ive often talks about "honesty" in the materials. This is seen in the design, which is has no extra features that are not needed. In addition, Ive loves music, and has often spoken about the massive sound system in the Apple design studios and his own musical choices. The Macs Ive designed have always had an important musical element to them, whether they be the iPod, or the Mac's speaker system.

The iMac G4's inspiration is the sunflower.

Works cited
  • Who Is Jonathan Ive?
  • JonathanIve.com
  • Jonathan Ive: More Valuable to Apple than Steve Jobs?
  • Tuesday, May 5, 2009

    Invisible Car running the blogs

    Article link: Invisible Car running the blogs

    This article links to another article called "Artist creates invisible car" which shows off an artist who painted a car to match the background.

    I thought this looked so cool! I mean, obviously, it's not perfect, but it's close! And it looks really great, and it really does blend in!

    Bodhi of Work

    Article link: Bodhi of Work

    This article showed a couple of works from the Bodhi Gallery in East London, which has works from 50 up-and-coming print artists.

    I've always admired illustrators and painters because I will probably never come close to accomplishing what they have. I love the detail in this shown work, for example. Just amazing.

    Strangers and friends

    Article link: Strangers and friends

    The article was about the difference between marketing to strangers, and marketing to friends, and the fact that there is a big difference between the two, because it influences everything.

    I totally and completely agree. I treat strangers politely and with as much respect as they give me, but with friends, I can be more relaxed and joke around more. I can totally understand that picking between the two marketing techniques can change and influence the entire process.

    Saturday, May 2, 2009

    Said Why Eggs? exhibition: 26 Alphabets by 26 Artists

    Article link: Said Why Eggs? exhibition: 26 Alphabets by 26 Artists

    This article displayed 26 different alphabets by 26 different artists.

    The one displayed was my favourite, because I love putting things in order, and since this one was in a different order than the others, it really stood out.

    Three neat pieces of transforming furniture

    Article link: Three neat pieces of transforming furniture

    This article had three videos which showed furniture that could "transform." This one was my favourite:



    It's so cool! And I love how easy they made it look in the end, but it must've taken a lot of work to get right.

    Sunday, April 26, 2009

    In the Penthouse, a True Garden Apartment

    Article Link: In the Penthouse, a True Garden Apartment

    This article is about two Yale professors, Joel Sanders and Diana Balmori, living in an apartment in Lower Manhattan, and turning it into an experiment of sorts on how nature reacts with architecture. They also teach a class together called "Interface" about integrating architecture and landscape design.

    I think this is great. Not only does it give your home a unique look, but sometimes I feel as if nature is slipping away as more buildings are built throughout the world, and it's just amazing to know that there are people are working to integrate plants and buildings together. Plus I've always loved the way vines looked on brick.

    My only problem is that all these plants no doubtably need a lot of care, and I personally don't know that many gardeners who take care of a lot of plants, who also have full-time jobs to go to.

    Core-Toon: Process Map

    Article link: Core-Toon: Process Map

    This article showed a cartoon done by a user named lunchbreath.

    I LOVED this. It was hilarious, and yet it reassured me that my college life will last a little bit longer, even if the cartoon is false.

    Shoes designed in two parts, for a perfect fit, no matter the style

    Article link: Shoes designed in two parts, for a perfect fit, no matter the style

    This article was about a new company called Skins. I think what happens is when you buy "Skins" shoes, you buy the "inside," which always fits, and then you can buy different "outsides." that will fit over the "inside."

    I frankly think this is a bit ridiculous. It just sounds like you're buying more for less, but okay, I guess I can see the appeal.

    Monday, April 20, 2009

    Sparkle and Glow


    Article link: Sparkle and Glow

    This article is about a brother and sister, named Eric Cohler and Jennifer Cohler Mason, who went shopping for a show called Holiday House, which promotes breast cancer awareness and research.

    That shopping trip they went on sounds like a blast! I would love to visit Holiday House, it sounds like a really festive, happy place.

    Design Tide Tokyo 2008: Video Drive-By: Ben Sato

    Article link: Design Tide Tokyo 2008: Video Drive-By: Ben Sato



    This video shows artist Ben Sato and his design of a chair with four different setups. I think this is the coolest idea! I love multi-functional objects.

    Thursday, April 16, 2009

    Jonathan Ive

    Jonathan Ive is renowned for being the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Computer, including the iMac and iPod. As a kid, Jonathan was always interested in the construction of objects as a child, and a fascination with taking those objects apart, and with that knowledge, he applies it to the design of Apple computers.

    Ive helped design the iPod.

    After attending school in the south of England he moved North to study art and design at Northumbria University. He graduated with first class honours having created a pebble-shaped concept for a product to replace cash and credit cards as his final year project. Later, in 1990 Jonathan moved to London and co-founded his own design studio with Martin Darbyshire called Tangerine. Working as Tangerine, he commercialised his design skills, creating products ranging from hair combs and power tools to televisions and ceramics.

    In 1992, Apple became a client of Tangerine, and so Jonathan moved to California to join Apple's design team as a full-time employee. This meant Jonathan could finally have more influence than he originally had as an external consultant. However, at the time, Apple was at it's lowest, with Steve Jobs out of the boardroom and with the patent dispute with Microsoft. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, Ive was an important part of this change, and under the new management, Ive was promoted to Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, and it began a period of unrivalled creativity and innovation which continues to this day.

    The iMac G4 represents the "new age" in Apple computers.

    Ive helped in the launch of the radical and visually stunning iMac G3 in 1998, which is regarded as the birth of the "new age in Apple." This brought Ive to the attention of the entire world. After that, from the iBook to the PowerBook, all of Apple’s products were met with amazement and wonder, and became instant masterpieces of product design, which has spawned and inspired countless imitations.

    Everyone has influences, and Ive is no exception. While he doesn't have human inspirations, he credits his influences to three things: nature, honesty, and music. Many of the products Jonathan has created at Apple are directly influenced by natural objects. For example, the iMac G4 was taken from a sunflower, and the Pro Mouse which was inspired by a droplet of water. The natural influence can be felt in all Apple products, as it is what makes them friendly and relatable. Ive often talks about "honesty" in the materials. This is seen in the design, which is has no extra features that are not needed. In addition, Ive loves music, and has often spoken about the massive sound system in the Apple design studios and his own musical choices. The Macs Ive designed have always had an important musical element to them, whether they be the iPod, or the Mac's speaker system.

    The iMac G4's inspiration is the sunflower.

    Works cited
  • Who Is Jonathan Ive?
  • JonathanIve.com
  • Jonathan Ive: More Valuable to Apple than Steve Jobs?
  • London Design Festival 2008: Video Drive-By: Designersblock: Nosigner's BentoBox

    Article Link: London Design Festival 2008: Video Drive-By: Designersblock: Nosigner's BentoBox



    This video is about a designer named Nosigner who created a new type of bento box called the Sumi.

    Wow, I love this. I love lunch boxes and containers and boxes of all shapes and sizes, so this really appealed to nearly everything I love. I also really like the fact that it comes with its own holder and handle. That is just really cool.

    Max Lamb at Design Miami

    Article link: Max Lamb at Design Miami


    3rings >> Max Lamb at Design Miami from Jacob Slevin on Vimeo.

    This video features designer Max Lamb, talking about his work. I like the white, bronze chairs, and I like the idea of his Delaware bluestone furniture, but I'm not a huge fan of black rubber while I'm sitting at my dining table.

    Friday, April 10, 2009

    Cookie / Made in England

    Article link: Cookie / Made in England

    This article highlighted works by Simon Cook (or Cookie, apparently).

    I think his overall work looks really fun and entertaining! I really like the retro texture-y feel to some of his works, but the amazing cleanness they all give off at the same time. Amazing!

    Hook and Go skeletal shopping cart



    Article link: Hook and Go skeletal shopping cart

    This article is about "a contraption called the Hook and Go, 'the smart cart for the urban shopper,'" which "seems like a good idea as gets rid of the cart part, folds into a compact shape, and will hold 70 pounds of hanging bags when unfurled."

    So perfect; it would certainly get rid of the shopping cart stealing problems urban cities might have. But then where will the homeless get one?

    Sunday, April 5, 2009

    Aaron Tang's disappearing stairs


    Article link: Aaron Tang's disappearing stairs

    This article shows off work done by Aaron Tang, which he describes as "an element of a wall that allows passageway to another environment when opened and restricts passageway when closed."

    I think the picture makes it look really cool, but a video of him would be better. Well, despite that, I think it looks really cool, and that his description is pretty genius.

    Folding Skate Deck - A Concept Board

    Article link: Folding Skate Deck - A Concept Board

    This article showed some designs for a "folded skateboard" concept that was shown here.

    I think these skateboards look really cool! I like that people have their skateboards on their backpacks, but a folded skateboard also sounds like a great, more compact idea.

    Thursday, March 26, 2009

    Presenting MouthOff: iPhone App Of The Day



    Article link: Presenting MouthOff: iPhone App Of The Day

    This article is a video that gives a review on an iPhone app called "MouthOff"

    I thought this was an extremely creative and individual app, as well as a cute video displaying its features and just how generally cool it was.

    Friday, March 20, 2009

    Nokia Headset Comp Winners


    Article link: Nokia Headset Comp Winners

    This article shows off the winners of the Nokia Music Almighty Headset Competition, which started sometime last year and ended early this year.

    I love the creative idea of some of these headphones, especially the one on the right. In a way, it's extremely geeky, but at the same time, it's incredibly beautiful.

    Tom Gauld’s sketchbooks


    Article link: Tom Gauld’s sketchbooks

    This article shows a couple of pages from Tom Gauld’s sketchbooks. Tom Gauld, according to the article, is one of the UK’s best illustrators.

    I love looking at sketchbooks, because they're so personal and individual and creative. They also get me in the creative mood!

    Monday, March 16, 2009

    Sid’s Faces


    Article link: Sid’s Faces

    This article is about a drag queen named Sid and the photographer, Nat Poole, who decided to take pictures him. Poole says that "I was attracted to Sid because he stood out from the usual drag queens. Instead of impersonating a woman like most drag queens, Sid has an unconventional style, one that seems in a sense, genderless. This notion of portraying one’s self in many forms, none of which are predominantly male or female, is where he perfectly linked to my interests, which are to do with looking at identity and representation."

    I thought Sid looked amazing, and I'm really glad Poole recognized his individuality enough to photograph it. They're amazing!

    What does better mean?


    Article link: What does better mean?

    This article by Seth Godin attempts to explain what "better" means by saying, "And since I like them better, they are better. [...] You don't get to decide what's better. I do."

    I completely agree. "Better" is not only subjective, but it's also time relative and culturally sensitive. One person cannot decide what's "better" for a group of people.

    Tuesday, March 10, 2009

    Milan Design Week 09 Preview: feiz design studio


    Article link: Milan Design Week 09 Preview: feiz design studio

    This article features designs by Khodi Feiz, all of which will be on display in multiple locations this month in Milan. The article says that "First is a new Palma series chair developed for Offecct, followed by a complete family of coffee products called 'giannina family' for Giannini."

    I really like the design of both of these; both the chair and the coffee products really give off a futuristic feel to them, which I love.

    1 Hour Design Challenge Highlight: Earbud Speakers!


    Article link: 1 Hour Design Challenge Highlight: Earbud Speakers!

    This article shows a result of a design challenge: earbud speakers done by the username "DC-Design" on Core77's forums.

    I thought these were very clever! I wonder how he got them to work?

    Friday, March 6, 2009

    Asus' nifty keyboard interface



    Article link: Asus' nifty keyboard interface

    The article features the Eee Keyboard by Asus that gets rid of the number pad and replaces it with a touchscreen.

    It looks so cool but kind of unnecessarily. And $600 retail for a keyboard? Eeesh!

    Hyuh Jin Lee's ID with a twist


    Article link: Hyuh Jin Lee's ID with a twist

    The article links to a portfolio by Hyuh Jin Lee but shows off two of his works.

    I particularly liked the "Dr. Hard Drive Bag" because it's cute and hilarious! Plus, it's extremely creative. I wish I had thought of that!

    Monday, March 2, 2009

    Things to remember on a job interview


    Article link: Things to remember on a job interview

    Although short, this article links to a much longer article about job interviews, and tips that the writer witnessed after watching 28 various interviews captured on hidden camera. Here are the 22 tips he came up with:

    1. Cover letters are worthless
    2. 10 seconds to sell or say so long
    3. Be on time
    4. Cell phone off
    5. Know the company, and why you want to work there
    6. Bring resumes
    7. Bring a notepad
    8. Dress in a clean conservative manner
    9. Profiles to private
    10. Don't make jokes
    11. Don't babble
    12. Don't badmouth a boss
    13. Don't flirt with the interviewer
    14. Don't play with your face/hair
    15. Don't mention your spouse's job
    16. Have good eye contact
    17. Honesty (sometimes not) the best policy
    18. Have goals
    19. Have accomplishments
    20. Have passion
    21. Ask Questions
    22. Send a thank you note

    A way to give your stuff wireless IDs

    Article link: A way to give your stuff wireless IDs



    This article is about a Parisian company that is creating a product called Mir:ror, which is a device you can attach to your computer that can tag household items such as car keys and paperweights, and make them interactive.

    I think this is a really interesting idea! It seems very cool, and convenient. However, I think it would even better if they could somehow locate my objects, like if I don't know where my keys are, or if I have misplaced my cellphone.

    Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Book Review: Imprint, by Daniel Eatock

    Article link: Book Review: Imprint, by Daniel Eatock

    This article is reviewing the book Imprint by Daniel Eatock.

    I honestly have no idea what the review is trying to say, but after reading it, I'd like to at least check out what the book is about, because hearing about the pictures, and circles and projects has me wondering what the book is about.

    Stackable apartments. Um...what?


    Article link: Stackable apartments. Um...what?

    This article is about a Sky Village, whose "main concept is centered around a system of individual units that can be stacked in various configurations to maximize available space and allow for easy structural changes in response to market demand," and goes on to explain:
    If a retailer wants more space or if the village needs more office or residential units, "pixels" can be easily added to reconfigure the structure. Each pixel is about 60 sq meters and they all are arranged around a central core. The inclusion of retail, restaurants, and offices in a residential development allows people the ability to live where they work and play, making this in a true village, albeit a vertical one.

    Though the article is a bit skeptical about how this will work, I'm excited about the idea of it! It sounds very futuristic, and appealing. Even the renderings look like we're living in the future.

    Thursday, February 26, 2009

    Saint-Etienne Design Biennale 2008: Citrus Clock, by Anna Gram'

    Article link: Saint-Etienne Design Biennale 2008: Citrus Clock, by Anna Gram'

    This article is about a lemon powered clock.

    I thought the idea was great; spending money on lemons has got to be less than batteries or electricity. I wonder, though, if the lemons run out of juice and you have to put another lemon on there, do you have to set the clock all over again? Because that would be such a hassle.

    Bringing in the Exterior Decorators

    Article link: Bringing in the Exterior Decorators

    This article is about a curator named Hugo Martinez hiring street artists and a design team to renovate and decorate his apartment.

    This is such a great idea! I love that he is offering his own home open to the public, so that people can see the result of the outside being in. I also love that he himself is an inspiration to street artists, so that naturally, he would be open to the idea of having his home decorated in the same way.

    Sunday, February 22, 2009

    Three new jobs you might want to consider

    Article link: Three new jobs you might want to consider

    Here's a copy of the article, since it's rather short:
    Every company that works online today ought to consider hiring three amazing people to lead these projects:

    COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. Find and connect and lead a tribe of dedicated users that contribute to and benefit from the work you do.
    STATS FIEND. Measure everything that can be measured. Do it efficiently and consistently. Find out what metrics are important and cycle until they improve.
    MANAGER OF FREELANCERS. Find and hire and manage the best outside talent in the world. If it can be defined as a project, and if great work defeats good, seriously consider having the MOF get it done.
    With three superstars doing these jobs, it's possible you can create almost anything.

    I think that last idea, Manager of Freelancers, sounds really interesting, like, an agent for freelancing designers and artists!

    My Home, My Self: Photography as Art Project

    Article link: My Home, My Self: Photography as Art Project

    This article is about a photographer named Todd Selby who takes pictures of people in their homes. He says it's "because of his curiosity about the ways personal space reflects personality." The article also talks about the people whose pictures were taken, and describe how and why they decorated their homes.

    I think it's a really interesting subject that Todd Selby has come up with. I love relating people to the things around them, like their bed, their pets, and their friends, so this project really appeals to me.

    Friday, February 20, 2009

    HP rises to Walmart Design Challenge with packaging-reducing idea

    Article link: HP rises to Walmart Design Challenge with packaging-reducing idea

    This article is about how HP is coming up with an idea to sell laptops in laptop bags instead of a box (or other packaging), in response to Walmart's Design Challenge.

    I do love this idea, because when I was shipped to me, it was 40% packaging, 10% paperwork, and only half of it was actually the laptop. However, I think that customers would need to be able to choose the laptop and the bag, because variety is everything these days.

    Autodesk University 2008: Other things you can do with rapid prototyping

    Article link: Autodesk University 2008: Other things you can do with rapid prototyping



    This video features examples of rapid prototyping, including casting positives and the actual finished products. I know I have no idea what they're talking about here, so I'm not even going to pretend to understand, but last year, when I took my course in 3D Design, we were asked to find packaging and cast positives of it in plaster. After the cool designs from everyone in the class, I think it's always interesting to see what the positives are.

    Tuesday, February 17, 2009

    AccuWeather's YouTube Channel - Videos of weather forecasts for possible second video

    Possible second videos:
    Southeast (Raleigh)

    Northeast (NYC)

    Northeast (NYC)

    North Central (Fort Wayne)

    Monday, February 16, 2009

    Expandable bookcase design


    Article link: Expandable bookcase design

    This article is about an "expandable bookcase" design, where the bookcase can be stretched out to fit more books, or pushed in to save space.

    This is so cool! I think this is an amazingly thoughtful idea, and would be very useful if you plan on starting a library, or something. The only thing is that you'd have to leave that entire space open to the possibility of expansion, so it might look empty.

    Max Lamb at Design Miami

    Article link: Max Lamb at Design Miami


    3rings >> Max Lamb at Design Miami from Jacob Slevin on Vimeo.

    This video features designer Max Lamb, talking about his work. I like the white, bronze chairs, and I like the idea of his Delaware bluestone furniture, but I'm not a huge fan of black rubber while I'm sitting at my dining table.

    Monday, February 9, 2009

    The difference between a show and a story

    Article link: The difference between a show and a story

    Package Design: New way of evacuating the last drop of toothpaste, in search of a manufacturer

    Article link: Package Design: New way of evacuating the last drop of toothpaste, in search of a manufacturer



    This article is about a new toothpaste package design that helps get rid of the last "drop" problem.

    I love this idea, because it really is hard and frustrating to get to that "last drop" in the tube!

    Boomers Vs. Gen Yers--What I'm Learning From Students At Parsons.

    Article link: Boomers Vs. Gen Yers--What I'm Learning From Students At Parsons.

    This blog entry asks an important question: Can "Baby Boomer University" administrations effectively teach students who are from Generation Y? Here's a video that Bruce linked to:



    I think that was a very great mind opening video. I mean, I don't think all of that is necessarily true, but that might just not apply to me. Then again, 200 Kansas State University Students don't make up the entire college student body.

    Thursday, February 5, 2009

    Think London Logo


    Article link: Think London logo

    This article is about the new tourism logo for Think London. It was designed by Johnson Banks. According to the article, "The reflection shows elements from the real London skyline, whereas the upper skyline contains the new symbols." I've also included the video from the article below.



    I think, as an ad to bring business into London, this works really well. It's a fun little fact video giving short bullet points of what Think London does, and reasons for you to bring your business to London. While the logo is too detailed, I think it suits them pretty well.

    Wednesday, February 4, 2009

    Spacesick’s Retro I Can Read Movie Series

    Article link: Spacesick’s Retro I Can Read Movie Series

    This article is about an artist whose screenname is Spacesick, and his redesign of movies into vintage paperbacks of the 50s and 60s.

    I really love this idea. To me, it looks like those Choose Your Own Adventure! books I used to read as a kid. Like the article, my favourite one has got to be the Highlander. It's hilarious, and even though I've never seen the movie, I know "There can only be one!"

    Another Giant Trainer Marks Onitsuka Tiger’s 60th Birthday

    Article link: Another Giant Trainer Marks Onitsuka Tiger’s 60th Birthday

    This article is about the birthday of the Okitsuka Tiger brand in Japan and the ad campaign based around the occasion. An Amsterdam company called Amsterdam Worldwide designed this 1-meter long sneaker, covered in shrubbery, trees, a mountain and rivers, to illustrate the "Made in Japan" idea. Also in the article is a video, illustrating the classic myth of the zodiac race, in which 13 animals raced to the Emperor's finish line in order to gain a spot in the Emperor's calendar.

    I really liked the skill that these designers shows, not only to be able to come up with something so fanciful as a sneaker island, but also to transform that model into the basis for an entertaining movie. I also really liked the movie, because I love the Chinese Zodiac, and the story behind it, so seeing another version of the race was just a delight.

    Monday, February 2, 2009

    Narrative

    General Description
    This portable wireless device caters to the specific needs of the professional and recreational aviator. The functions that this device performs essentially aids the pilot in planning his/her course. It has a cell phone, text and video messaging, and GPS navigation. It even includes a TV-like weather channel made especially for this device, with updated wind currents at multiple heights and weather patterns that apply specifically to the user. The device also interfaces with your aircraft and will tell you your plane's status on voice command, as well has a built-in mp3 player called WingThing.

    All of the functions performed by this device exist to prevent dangerous situations from occuring, such as getting stuck in poor weather conditions, traveling too high or too close to fellow pilots, getting lost, or losing touch with someone on land.

    Scenario
    John wakes up one morning to get ready to fly him and couple friends from out of state to a party in North Carolina. Right away, he sees that there is a text message from Carmen, one of his friends. Carmen writes, in the text message, that she also sent him a video message, so he switches to his Video Messages. In her video message, Carmen tells John she is in New York City that day and gives him the address for John F. Kennedy Airport. She also gives him the address of the party in Raleigh and the airport in the city.

    Then, John calls Rodney to ask which airport he'll be at, and what would be a good time to pick him up. Rodney tells him he is in Toronto that day, and gives him the address for the Toronto airport.

    After the call, John pulls up his map and puts a dot at the Toronto Airport, the JFK airport, and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The map feature on his WingThing automatically plans his flight path for him. John then checks the weather report on his WingThing to make sure the weather is okay. He lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, so he checks the weather for Fort Wayne, Toronto, New York City, and Raleigh. The weather report says that they are all alright, so he begins to pack his things and fly out.

    Global Business "On Hold" Is What They Say At Davos

    Article link: Global Business "On Hold" Is What They Say At Davos

    This small article is about how Bruce Nussbaum talked to William Kelly, the CEO of NetJets, who told Nussbaum that business was "on hold." Nussbaum commented, saying that "It feels as if the global economy was 'on hold'" and wonders if it will "evolve into a political crisis?" Now, I don't know about you, but all of that seems so scary. I mean, I was already reluctant to enter the intimidating "Real World" but now, with the economy even worse than before, its much more terrifying to go out there now.

    What is school for?

    Article link: What is school for?

    The article is a list of things that schools do for children and their future. I particularly liked #7: "Give kids something to do while parents work" because it reminded me of what I used to do when I wasn't at school and my parents were at work, which was explore every nook and cranny of the house for something interesting. The list also made me think about what school does for me personally, and give some more thought to whether or not I should go to grad school or not.

    Fastronauts - Powered by Play

    Article link: Fastronauts - Powered by Play

    This article is about a rechargeable toy that is powered by exercise or playing outside. I think this is a great, cute idea to spark the minds of younger kids to try to get them more active. The article also says that the toy could be aged up or down; I wonder if there could be something like that for teenagers? Or even for adults?