$2.50 a Day, Frame CD, Embroidery Journal & How to Walk

#56 of 10+1 Things | Abu Dhabi

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⚡ Welcome to #56 of 10+1 Things!

Thanks a lot to everyone who bought me coffees($1 or ₹75) last week!

I had a rather uneventful week post last week's long walk. I went for a couple of bike rides and strength training is coming along nicely. For gym, I'm pretty comfortable with the exercises, but I might hire a personal trainer (PT) for a month or two. Everyone whom I have talked to, irrespective of their experiences, has told me that a PT helps them push that extra last 10% which results in most of the gains and also is a great accountability factor.

Also, I had the luck to sign a new client - that's the highlight of the week! One thing with freelancing is that you become a one-person company that handles everything including sales, marketing, design, development, testing and so on. I have slowly started to curate some resources which I found useful here - feel free to contribute!

One more thing: I'm trying to improve the tagline/description of my newsletter. The current one goes like this: "11 interesting stories handpicked by a curious human's algorithm." I wrote this many years back when curator economy was a buzz word. I think it needs a refresh.

I came up with this - what do you think?

11 interesting finds, curated weekly by a curious human!

I would love to hear your thoughts! Reply to this email or comment below.

Without further ado, here are 10+1 Things that I thought were worth sharing this week:

💻 Blogging with Friction

This month’s IndieWeb Carnival’s topic is the “Importance of Friction,” and my piece, Blogging with Friction, reflects on moving from WordPress to Hugo. While WordPress was easy to use, it felt repetitive and uninspiring. Hugo brought challenges that made blogging more creative and rewarding. From customizing the design to finding new ways to solve problems, the effort turned my blog into something truly personal. Embracing these challenges has made blogging more meaningful and enjoyable. It’s harder, but that’s what makes it worthwhile.

📝 One Man Armies

I came across this short article on One Man Armies—a reminder of what one person can achieve with focus and determination. The author proves the point with examples like Antonio Gaudí, who spent over 40 years on the Sagrada Familia; Marie Tharp, who mapped the Atlantic Ocean floor in the 1950s despite significant challenges; Markus Persson, who built Minecraft in just 2 years; and Linus Torvalds, who started Linux in 1991 and laid the foundation for an operating system used worldwide today. It’s incredible to think that groundbreaking work, whether in art, science, technology, or architecture, often starts with just one passionate individual dedicating their time.

I really loved this post and want to curate a list of One Man Armies. If you have any suggestions, let me know—I’ll add them to the list with credits!

🌀 Peanut Butter Spinner

I found this interesting post where Chris Dieringer made a DIY peanut butter spinner because he wanted a “set it and forget it” solution unlike the other options on the market. His device gently rotates the jar using a small motor and a 3D-printed case, powered by a USB adapter. After about 20 minutes, it redistributes the oil enough to make manual mixing much easier. While it’s not perfect, it works well enough to eliminate that annoying oil layer on top. All materials, including the CAD files for the 3D-printed parts, are available on his blog. It’s a clever and practical project for anyone who loves natural peanut butter but hates the hassle of mixing it!

🌡️ Heat Pumps, Hooray!

I came across Heat Pumps, Hooray!—an interesting guide and calculator that breaks down everything you need to know about heat pumps. It’s a simple and clear way to understand why these systems are more efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly compared to traditional heating and cooling. What really stood out was how they can save money on utility bills while significantly reducing carbon emissions. The calculator even lets you estimate your savings and environmental impact based on your own home. If you’ve ever wondered whether a heat pump is worth it, this guide makes the case pretty compelling!

💽 Frame CD

I was browsing through Kickstarter and stumbled upon an interesting project called the CoolGeek MusicFrame M1. It’s essentially a CD player that doubles as an art frame, which is pretty unique. The design is sleek, with a transparent acrylic frame that makes the rotating CD look like a piece of art in motion. I think they missed an opportunity with the name—it could’ve been something like “FramePlay” to emphasize the fusion of music and art. It doesn’t have built-in speakers, so you’ll need external ones, but it supports Bluetooth and AUX, which is a nice touch. Definitely a cool way to revive those old CDs while adding some style to your room!

⁉️Small Questions

I was browsing through Tildes and came across this interesting discussion where people shared small questions they wanted to ask but felt weren’t worth a full topic. The thread was filled with quirky and thought-provoking ideas that sparked lively conversations. A few that caught my attention were:

• If you could magically shoot two liquids from your index fingers, what would they be and why?

• Why do people who know how hard parenting is willingly choose to have more children?

• How can I keep my glasses from sliding down my nose?

• What is the best way to peel a melon?

📚 How to Walk

This read is probably the aftereffect of my last week's 12-hour walk, but I enjoyed reading How to Walk by Thich Nhat Hanh this week. It’s a small (<120 pages) book that offers simple yet profound insights into mindful walking. I loved how it talks about turning every step into a chance to slow down and be present. The way it’s written feels so calming, and it made me want to enjoy even the smallest walks more. It’s part of the Mindfulness Essentials series, and this one’s a good pick—you can just grab it, read a chapter here and there, and come back to it whenever you feel like it.

Love this quote from the book:

“When we walk, we can walk for our ancestors and future generations. Maybe they had to walk with sorrow; perhaps they were forced to march or migrate. When we walk freely, we are walking for them.”

~ As always, resurfaced by Readwise, - helping me remember everything I read for FREE!

Last Week’s Read: The Pleasure of Finding Things Out

🧶 Embroidery Journal

I’m not sure if this can be called a visualization, but Sophie O’Neil has created something truly unique: an embroidery journal. Every day, she stitches a small icon that represents her day—whether it’s pancakes from breakfast, bunny ears for organizing an Easter egg hunt, or a frowny face for a tough day. 2024 marked her fifth year of this creative journaling, and she’s now embroidered over 1,800 icons across her projects. From big milestones like buying a house to everyday joys like walks and baking, her work beautifully captures life’s moments, one stitch at a time. It’s such a thoughtful and inspiring way to reflect on the year!

🍛 $2.50 a Day

I stumbled upon this fascinating experiment by an engineer who challenged himself to eat on just $2.50 a day for 46 days—and I couldn’t stop reading. He didn’t just stretch his dollars; he turned meal planning into a system. For example, he made over 60 cabbage rolls for just 41 cents each, freezing them for weeks of easy, delicious meals. He planned his shopping around sales, tracked every ingredient to the gram, and even found creative ways to use scraps and leftovers. Along the way, he learned to make luxurious meals like crispy pan-fried salmon and homemade ramen while sticking to his budget. His big takeaway? With smart planning, anyone can eat well for less—and maybe even have fun doing it!
Oh, I love the internet for gems like this!

🐻 Abandoned weather station

Credits: Dmitry Kokh

This week, I’m exploring an incredible photography project by Dmitry Kokh, who captured polar bears inhabiting abandoned Soviet-era buildings on Kolyuchin Island. During a 2021 expedition, Kokh stumbled upon this surreal scene, with bears peeking through broken windows and roaming the derelict structures. Using a low-noise drone, he photographed them up close without disturbing their natural curiosity. The resulting images are both stunning and thought-provoking, showcasing how nature adapts to the spaces humans leave behind. Kokh’s work beautifully highlights the resilience of wildlife in a changing world.

🎬 Fluid Pendant

Had some fun watching this video by Mixtela, where he makes a cool gold-plated pendant that simulates fluid motion in real time. It’s a mix of clever design, electronics, and metalwork, and the result is something that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. You can check out more about how he made it on his blog!

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That’s 10+1 Things for the week!

Which one was your favourite this week?
Leave a comment or reply to this email.

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I also have an AMA section on my blog where you can ask me any questions. Plus, I'm available for a chat during my Unoffice Hours.

See you next week!

With Love,
Rishi

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
- Albert Einstein