diff --git a/coordination-layer/note.py b/coordination-layer/note.py
index 48d66bf..8a4e06c 100644
--- a/coordination-layer/note.py
+++ b/coordination-layer/note.py
@@ -43,6 +43,24 @@ class InnerNote:
     nonce: Field
     rand: Field  # source of randomness for note commitment
 
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        if isinstance(self.value, int):
+            self.value = Field(self.value)
+        assert isinstance(self.value, Field), f"value is {type(self.value)}"
+        assert isinstance(self.unit, str), f"unit is {type(self.unit)}"
+        assert isinstance(
+            self.birth_constraint, Constraint
+        ), f"birth_constraint is {type(self.birth_constraint)}"
+        assert isinstance(
+            self.death_constraints, list
+        ), f"death_constraints is {type(self.death_constraints)}"
+        assert all(
+            isinstance(d, Constraint) for d in self.death_constraints
+        ), f"{[type(d) for d in self.death_constraints]}"
+        assert isinstance(self.state, Field), f"state is {type(self.state)}"
+        assert isinstance(self.nonce, Field), f"nonce is {type(self.nonce)}"
+        assert isinstance(self.rand, Field), f"rand is {type(self.rand)}"
+
     def r(self, index: int):
         prf("CL_NOTE_COMM_RAND", self.rand, index)
 
diff --git a/coordination-layer/notes.org b/coordination-layer/notes.org
index 1dcf09c..2e29f42 100644
--- a/coordination-layer/notes.org
+++ b/coordination-layer/notes.org
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 * Open Issues
 
+** provided commitment to zero may removing the blinding of the pederson commitment
+
+Since you can subtract the randomness from the commitment to get just the binding part.
+
+** Rename transaction randonmness to tx_rand and commitment randomness to cm_rand
+
+Currently they are both called "rand" and it's confusing.
+
 ** Why does PartialTransaction have a "blinding"?
 
 I believe it should only have a derived balance field.
@@ -10,6 +18,7 @@ Generating the poseidon constants for the Grumpkin curve is very slow, like take
 
 I need to pre-generate these to make the curve work.
 
+- I tried the other large curve where the params are already generated and it is still slow. Need to dig into this.
 
 ** Solvers need the value of a note in order to solve it
 
@@ -19,7 +28,7 @@ I need to pre-generate these to make the curve work.
 - if we are to reveal partial information to solvers
   we will need to blind the other leaf nodes of the tree:
 
-  Note = VALUE || UNIT || ....
+  Note = VALUE || UNIT || ... 
 
   com =      ..root..
           /          \