50 Watts, How I Version, Rocky Map & Solar Hosting

#52 of 10+1 Things | Abu Dhabi

Content re-imagined in an impressionist style by Dall-E

First off, I messed up the scheduling feature on Substack, which is why this is delayed. Last weekend, I was in Dubai, where my wife, a volunteer with the SmartLife Foundation, helped organize a sports tournament for blue-collar workers in the UAE. It was such a joy to volunteer and be part of the event! On another note, my recent blog post, File Over App, briefly hit the front page of Hacker News—so a big welcome to all the new readers who found me through that!

As I’m writing this, I’m in the middle of packing, excited for the next couple of weeks—going home(India) is always such a wonderful feeling.

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

🗃️ How I Version my Blog?

I've been experimenting with the idea of versioning for my blog, inspired by how software tracks updates and changes systematically. Blogs evolve over time, and I wanted a way to document those changes—whether it’s fixing a typo, updating content, or tweaking the design. To tackle this, I developed an automated custom versioning system tailored for blogs, categorizing updates by type and date, and generating detailed changelogs. People have tried versioning for PhD theses, recipes, blog posts, papers, and many more, so why not a blog? It’s definitely a bit nerdy, but if you’re curious about tracking your blog’s evolution in a systematic way, give it a read!

🌐 World Grid

I came to know about this fascinating concept of the World Grid, conceived by Buckminster Fuller, through a newsletter by the Schumacher Center for a New Economics. The idea envisions a global electric grid powered entirely by renewable energy, connecting day and night hemispheres to ensure efficient energy use worldwide. It highlights how such a system could address the "Energy Trilemma"—sustainability, equity, and security—by leveraging cooperation across borders. I was intrigued to learn about ongoing regional initiatives like the Asian Supergrid and the European interconnected grid, which show that this ambitious vision is not entirely far-fetched. Fuller's emphasis on spontaneous cooperation and long-term resilience makes this an inspiring blueprint for a sustainable future.

👥 Understanding Appeal

I found this interesting thread on Tildes where people discuss things they don’t understand the appeal of, with others explaining why they enjoy them. Topics range from why people want children despite climate concerns, the fascination with spectator sports, tattoos, and giant vehicles, to pop culture phenomena like Funko Pops and Taylor Swift’s music. It also delves into broader curiosities like the appeal of reality TV, cooking with mushrooms, multiplayer games, and even why people still listen to traditional radio. An intriguing thread to explore new perspectives and understand diverse interests.

📚 50 Watts

I was fascinated by visiting 50 Watts, a blog by Will Schofield that showcases rare book covers, illustrations, and visual ephemera from around the world. What started as a simple "book blog" in 2007 evolved into a treasure trove of visual delights, featuring everything from forgotten artists to Eastern European design, curated with a deep passion for the unusual and beautiful. In 2021, he expanded his passion into an online bookstore, 50 Watts Books, and recently took it further by opening a physical shop in Chestnut Hill. The 700-square-foot space is a treasure trove of comics, children’s books, graphic novels, and international publications, reflecting his dedication to unique and visually engaging works.

I really loved these Indian mythology images from the book Basholi Paintings!

Which one did you like?

☀️ Solar Hosting

I've shared solar-powered websites before, but this one is a fascinating and detailed. Run on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with a solar panel and battery on the creator’s roof deck, this site goes offline on cloudy days and “comes back to life” with the sun. The creator describes the thrill of watching the battery power up on sunlight alone as “pure magic.” There’s even a dashboard that updates every 10 minutes, showing the current power output, battery level, and usage stats. It also features daily and hourly graphs, tracking sunlight, battery charge, and trends to monitor uptime reliability. This project explores a sustainable, local-first hosting approach, questioning whether non-essential sites really need 24/7 uptime.

Do we really need 99.9% uptime for personal websites? I don't think so.

🚲Cycling Typing

I came across a setup where Lachie Kermode combined a stationary bike trainer with a standing desk to work while cycling. Initially, it was awkward for typing and disrupted focus, but by mounting his split keyboard on tripods and angling it downward at 45 degrees, he created a comfortable setup. This allowed him to write, code, and research seamlessly during zone 2 cycling, making his workouts far more productive. He got so fluid that even this article was written on the bike.

🧱 How Buildings Learn

This has been in my anti-library for a while, and I finally decided to dive into How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built by Stewart Brand—a fascinating book by an equally intriguing author. Brand explores how buildings evolve over time, adapting to the needs of their occupants and becoming better with use. Through examples ranging from New England farmhouses to iconic structures like Chatsworth, Brand illustrates how buildings, like living organisms, are reshaped by their inhabitants. Even though it was published in 1994, it's a refreshing read that keeps you rethinking how buildings shape our lives—and how we shape them in return.

I love this quote from the book:

"Occupy a building while it's being finished or remodeled. It's worth it for the fine-tuning that your presence affords. Make sure things sit exactly where it feels best for you: counter height, fridge, sinks, etc. It should fit like tailored clothing."

~ As always, resurfaced by Readwise, a tool that let's you remember what you read!

Last Week's Read: Wild

🗾 Rocky Map

I came across this incredible map of Scotland made by Harry Young, an 85-year-old pensioner who spent nearly 30 years collecting rocks from across the country to create it. Each rock represents the place it was found, making the map both geologically accurate and visually stunning. Harry finished the project in 2020, and his grandson recently shared it online, where it went viral with millions of views. The map even includes fun details like a border flag and a nod to old mapmakers with a cartouche in the corner.

It was a bit of a relief that I hadn’t died before I got it finished and it was lovely to see it completed

🐾 Inksi

I had no idea handheld printers were even a thing until I stumbled across Inksi on Kickstarter. It’s this compact little gadget that lets you print on the go—on anything from wood and fabric to even leaves or your skin!. You can tackle big projects too, thanks to its large-format stitching feature, and the quality is seriously impressive(at least from the demos!) at 1200dpi. What a cool gadget to have if you want to add a personal touch to your stuff, especially if you’re a small business!

📸 Coincidence Project

Credits: Denis Cherim

This week, I'm exploring The Coincidence Project by Denis Cherim, a captivating photographic series that began in 2012. Cherim masterfully uses light, shadow, and perspective to capture the unexpected harmony of urban and natural landscapes, turning ordinary scenes into moments of striking balance and irony. He plays with scale and perspective to create scenes where unrelated elements come together in fun and surprising ways. His photos turn everyday moments into stories that make you look twice and see things differently.

Through the coincidences of unconnected elements I discover new places where nothing is beautiful or ugly, nothing is big or small, nothing is good or bad, it is only exciting. Suddenly duality disappears and leaves space for unity. Where there are two, there seems to be three, and where there seems to be three, there is actually only One.

🎬 Forgotten Bread Masters

I enjoyed watching this short documentary on Shana's Bakery in Goa, a century-old establishment where traditional bread-making remains an integral part of the region's culture. Having visited Goa before, I honestly didn’t know that bread played such a significant role in its heritage. The film highlights how the Portuguese influence shaped Goan cuisine, making bread a staple at every table. It beautifully captures the dedication of Salvador and his family, who continue to bake iconic Goan bread using traditional wood-fired ovens, preserving both the flavor and the tradition for future generations.

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📣 Shoutouts

• ‘Stay Curious’: Timeless ideas, curated weekly to inspire your curious mind. Straight to your inbox.

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A lot of images, but that’s 10+1 Things for the week!

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See you next week!

With Love,
Rishi

“A good writer doesn’t just think, and then write down what he thought, as a sort of transcript. A good writer will almost always discover new things in the process of writing.”
- Paul Graham