If you haven’t seen Cliff Asness’s comments, please check them out HERE.

Any man who is quoting Hayek and Bluto Blutarski while skewering our bureaucrats and calling them (in thinly veiled terms) nazis, is a guy I want to listen to and laugh with.

His satirical writing style aside, the points remain valid. Our government has hamstrung one of the key indicators of corporate malaise. Shorting is an integral market function!

Mixed reviews from all. A designer I hold in high regard said, “Its like they put the junior partner (architect/designer) on it, and he bought something from every vendor who came through the door during design phase.”

Another KIN attendee said, “I love that I can stay here and not feel like I am destroying resources.”

Hmm, so the aesthetic is a bit aspirational, but the concept is good.

From the hotel website, every room is different, but comes with:

-Cork Flooring - yep, mine had it and it was pleasant if not lush to walk on.
- iPod® Docking Clock/Radio - umm my room seemed to not have it, and the clock radio I did have was missing instructions, and despite being tech savvy, I couldn’t figure it out!

- IP Color Touch Screen Phones - in my book, HIGHLY overrated
- with Voicemail - does anyone use hotel voicemail these days???

- HDTVs with DIRECTV® - was NOT working properly in my room, I had to call the desk and be told that each chanel was off by one, and even then, it didnt function well
- Complimentary High-Speed, Secure Wireless Internet Access - yep, but not exactly high speed
- Custom Tile Walk-in Showers or - Deep Soaking Tubs - I had the shower, and it was HUGE and MAGNIFICENT, bring your friends to play!

-Dual Flush Toilets - very cool, depending on which button you depress, there is a low flow and a high flow!

- Platform Beds with CityDrem Mattresses - ok, the setup was wierd, the beds were back to back with a walk through aisle between them. That said, it is one of the most comfortable mattresses I have ever slept on!!!

- Hypoallergenic Bamboo Linens - very nice indeed!

- 10- to 13- Foot Ceilings - with cool finished concrete!

- Floor-to-Ceiling Windows - yep

- 350- to 450- Square-Foot Standard Rooms - really spacious indeed

- 830-Square-Foot Luxury Suites - apparently my budget doesn’t qualify for that

- 24-Hour Fitness Center  - adequate, nothing special

The staff was good, but not great. Specifically, I was the guinea pig for a willing but poorly trained server in the restaurant. I also have to comment on the restaurant itself. It was another horrid case of a chef going for a genre, and overreaching. I imagine someone saying that the menu had to be in accordance with the design motif. Unfortunately, sometimes the customer doesn’t want a Tuscan flatbread with blah blah and aioli… Especially when its poorly executed! Come on folks, if you aren’t a great culinary institution, at least serve decent food at a reasonable price.

All in all, the City Flats Hotel gets a “C” great ideas, mediocre execution.

So, how does this correspond with the Kellogg Innovation Network event being hosted by the fine folks at HMI?

HMI is as they describe it, an idea company. Specifically, they focus on “design that reflects studied thought on the impact of environment, including furnishings.” HMI is one of the most innovative companies around! They live and breathe innovation. From their organizational structure, to their thoughtfulness in their interactions with guests, it all boils down to being a great company, and a joy to spend time with their folks.

Day 2 of the KIN event started with a tour of the HMI Design Yard facility. We have all been on facility tours before – but I have NEVER been on a tour with as much thought put into reaching each customer touchpoint on the customers own terms. Specifically, this was manifested (I later asked about this in private) by the corporate culture in place. What do I mean? Well, the café in the entry area is staffed, but when staff walks away to attend to other duties, it becomes an honor cash box. I mean that every person encountered has a smile, and offers assistance. I mean that the executive offices are right there in the open with both visitor and employee invited in to see and chat. And of most interest to me, being in an idea business myself, that HMI has put significant thought into translating ephemeral thought, into tangible item.

After being absolutely wowed by our tour, we went into our first learning session of the day. The godfather of marketing (not my words…) Dr. Phil Kotler, who actually DID write the book (ok, it was 30+ books) on marketing, spoke to our KIN attendees on his new research and Harvard Business Review article written in conjunction with my senior partner, Rob Wolcott.

The end of the event concluded with a discussion of the group findings, and several ideas were bandied about, including a brief discussion of one of my areas of interest, prediction markets.

Todays event was kicked off after lunch with Anna Catalano the former Group VP of Marketing for BP giving a talk that focused on the different mindsets of R&D and Marketing, specifically how to overcome the differences with respect, and turning the two groups into a collaborative team.

Anna was followed by Dr. Gary S. Lynn of Spencer Trask who based his talk on his book: Blockbusters: The Five Keys to Developing Great New Products. Aside from the incredibly valuable insights, Gary is one entertaining speaker!

As a side note, Herman Miller as a firm has long been a leader in sustainability. In addition to their many other green initiatives, the campus has big red cruiser style bikes for guests to hop on and ride to their destination then leaving the bike for another rider; much like European cities and some university campuses.We need more of that in Chicago!

1. Amy and I have a new puppy! We call her the “Canine Terrorist,” as she inevitably picks the wrong time and place for her biological breaks. We shouldn’t expect too much from a Boxer puppy who is all of 11 weeks old, but its a bit exasperating when we walk her for 30 minutes, and then she comes in the door to grace us with little bombs on the kitchen floor!

2. We have decided to rent instead of purchasing right now. If you know of a nice reasonably priced 2-3 bedroom that accepts dogs in Chicago, please drop me a line.

Not so much the book…

Just not my style of prose, not to say others haven’t given it rave reviews. For the price, innovation, novelty, and support of a budding artist, I say download it and give it a go.

With my busy schedule, it just wasn’t for me. I still wish Schist all the success and luck in the world with his endeavor!

The article can be found HERE (website requires free registration, and they have an excellent privacy and email policy.)

While we at Clareo, and I personally, offset our carbon footprints using TerraPass, there are many other ways to contribute, some better than others. I have no intention of turning my blog into another paean to “green,” but the above article definitely provides food for thought and insights of which I was formerly unaware.

He is leaving 1,000 copies of his book in offbeat and fun places from London to San Francisco and on. The book is also available via his website as a free .pdf download.

While I have yet to read the book, I love his style and willingness to try offbeat ways to get it out to the public. The book now resides on my harddrive (I also love the fact that I do not need paper to consume his ideas,) and I will post a review when I finish my perusal.

Information and registration can be found HERE.

I came across a very interesting page found here, that illustrates the effects of caffeine (not to mention other drugs) on test subjects, in this case spiders. WOW! I may have to cut back my espresso consumption.