City of Gold, Cow Magnets, How to live a Good Life & Selfie Rats
#47 of 10+1 Things | Abu Dhabi
Hello World!
It's been more than a year since I last published my newsletter. A lot has changed since then—I've lost a friend, left my job, got married, moved to a new city, and finally, I feel settled enough to have the headspace to start publishing again. So hello again! My name is Rishikesh, and if you're new here, you can read more about me here. This newsletter is where I share 11 interesting things I've encountered over the week.
If you no longer resonate with the content or find it strange, please feel free to unsubscribe—things change, people change, and that's just how the world works, I guess. I feel a bit rusty writing after a long time, so bear with me!
Also, I'm now living in Abu Dhabi (UAE), so if you're visiting the city or live nearby, feel free to message me!
Without further ado, here are 10+1 Things I thought were worth sharing this week:
✍️ My Blog is my Greatest Art
One thing I’ve been working on lately is revamping my blog and moving away from WordPress. It was a lot of work, but I’ve finally done it, and it’s probably one of the things I’m most proud of. In this post, I reflect on the journey and explain why I believe my blog is the greatest art I will ever produce.
P.S.: The blog has some Easter eggs here and there, including some funny pages. A good starting point would be the Useless Button.
🎒 Long-term Travel Gear
I came across this Long-Term Travel Gear List by Peter Bhat Harkins, where he curates an evolving collection of practical, durable, and lightweight gear. From backpacks and cameras to tiny, often-overlooked items like rubber bands and a sewing kit, this guide offers insights into what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose gear that fits your needs.
💭 How to live a Good Life
I read this insightful article by Ralph on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, where he explains that true happiness comes from living a virtuous life, both intellectually and morally. According to Aristotle, true happiness is about flourishing and fulfilling our purpose, not just experiencing pleasure. It's a thought-provoking read on the timeless question of how to live well.
Happiness is not a feeling of pleasure. Happiness is the pursuit of excellence.
🧲 Cow Magnets
I randomly came across this fascinating article about cow magnets—tiny magnets that are fed to cows to prevent hardware disease. Basically, they attract and hold any metal objects cows might swallow, like nails or wire, which helps protect them from internal injuries. It's a simple yet clever way to keep cattle healthy, and I found it pretty interesting.
💬 Most Humbling Moment
Ask HN discussions often reveal deeply personal and insightful experiences. In an interesting thread, people shared their most humbling moments, with stories ranging from learning to swing dance for the first time to forgetting to press record. This discussion contains some real gems worth reading.
I felt badass riding my motorcycle super far, but wherever I went, there was a greater badass riding along. Some of these travellers were on much longer journeys, on much smaller budgets, on a much worse bikes, riding off road all the way, camping every night. Some were on bicycles, going around the world under their own power. I was just a rich tourist with a great bike who slept in hotels.
🗾 Land Use in Netherlands
A very interesting visualization by Koen van Gilst highlights land use in the Netherlands, where each hexagon represents a fraction of the country’s land, with the color signifying what the land is used for. Some striking insights emerge, such as the fact that the Netherlands has more solar panels than the entire continent of Africa, yet solar parks occupy only a tiny portion of the map. With 54% of the land used for agriculture, followed by 17% for urban areas and 14% for nature, this visualization opens up a fascinating discussion on how to balance the country’s growing needs for housing, nature preservation, and sustainable agriculture.
🍝 Zadna Rating
I recently came across the ‘Zadna Rating’ system in Abu Dhabi, and I found it quite fascinating. It’s a straightforward system where restaurants, cafes, and food outlets are given a grade from A to F based on hygiene and food safety standards. What’s even more interesting is that there’s a smartphone app available, so you can quickly check the rating of a place before heading out. Surprisingly, I’ve come across some upscale spots with B or even C ratings! It definitely adds a new layer of consideration when dining out.
🤰 Salt in the Womb
A powerful piece from Grist and Vox explores the alarming impact of rising sea levels on reproductive health in Bangladesh. The article highlights how women in low-lying coastal areas like Satkhira are suffering from severe health issues due to saltwater intrusion in their drinking water, from menstrual irregularities to complications during pregnancy. As climate change intensifies, this issue could spread to other coastal regions worldwide.
🎨 Selfie Rats
This week I'm exploring an interesting art installation by Augustin Lignier, where he trained two pet rats to take selfies using a mechanism that dispensed sugar every time they pressed a button. Inspired by B.F. Skinner’s behavioral experiments, Lignier's "Selfie Rats" project humorously mirrors the addictive behaviors fostered by social media, where randomized rewards keep users hooked. Over time, the rats started snapping pictures for fun, offering a playful yet critical commentary on how attention and pleasure are commodified in our digital age.
Every time they (the rats) push the button, they have dopamine in their brain and then it records the exact moment they were touching it, I was fascinated by this.
📚 City of Gold
I’m currently enjoying reading the book titled City of Gold: Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism by Jim Krane. I heard about it from Derek Sivers on a podcast, and I’m loving every bit of it. It offers a fascinating glimpse into Dubai's transformation from a small, dusty village into a futuristic metropolis shaped by capitalism, global investment, and visionary leadership. The way Krane delves into the history of the ruling family, the booming economy, and the challenges the city faces today makes it a captivating read.
If UAE recognized second-class residents as citizens, foreigners could take control of Dubai, perhaps declaring it an independent city-state. It’s not far-fetched.Dubai is not a genuine city. Yet. It’s still an unfinished collection of buildings.95% of its inhabitants are temporary. Dubai’s expatriates are like nannies raising a rich kid. They’re responsible for his well-being and accomplishments, but they’ll never get ownership.
~ Resurfaced using ReadWise, a FREE service for book highlights.
▶️ Flip Disc Displays
A fascinating video of a flip disc display caught my attention this week. These displays, over 80 years old, flip between two colors and offer high readability, a long lifespan, and a soothing sound when they flip. Learn more about it here.
That’s 10+1 Things for the week.
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See you next week!
With Love,
Rishi
"After awhile you could get used to anything."
― Albert Camus
and he’s back!
So glad you are back! Fantastic and thought provoking as always. Maybe I’ll finally pick my website back up 😁