Iterate Weekly - Issue 57
This week we're looking at tiny houses that generate electricity, digital flash cards, an update on the Stoic standing mat, Dennis Rodman NFTs, and Substack's new recommendations!
Welcome to issue 57 of Iterate Weekly!
Just a reminder that you can always reply to this email or leave a comment on the web version. I read all of them, and I appreciate the feedback, questions, and insights from all of you.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Tiny Houses That Generate Energy
This story really could fall under the tech or environment category. The “tiny house” movement has been gaining momentum for several years, but what if your new abode could also generate extra power to help pay for themselves?
That’s exactly what’s happening with these new homes created by a San Francisco startup called Cosmic. They’re creating new all-electric tiny homes that are designed to pump energy back into the grid and alleviate some of your energy costs.
Many of these secondary structures are being placed in backyards or adjacent to a main house. Once outfitted with solar panels, the houses from Cosmic can generate electricity to store in their large-capacity batteries. Electrical needs of the main house can then be fulfilled by the juice being stored in the backyard dwelling. It creates a electrical ecosystem that can cut down on your electrical bill while also creating an amazing looking guest house/office/whatever in your backyard.
The houses themselves start at 350 square feet and are built on a “chassis” similar to a car model. The batteries and solar panels are designed to seamlessly fit into that frame with some customization options for each home.
Right now they are in the prototyping phase but plan on having homes for purchase by this summer. Pricing will vary a bit depending on options and energy costs, but expect to fork over at least $150K to get one of these setup in your yard. It may seem like a steep price for such a small place, but the innovation and design on these appear to be top-notch.
While it may not be the answer for everyone, it’s a great step to solving two big problems: a lack of housing, and a dependence on traditional fossil fuel to power our homes.
🎓 Education
Use Digital Flash cards for Better Recall
Take a look at this short video from Barbara Oakley Ph.D and IDoRecall. I’ve long been a subscriber to Barbara’s wonderful “Learning How to Learn” (aka Cheery Friday) newsletter that highlights advancements in techniques for teachers and lifelong learners in general.
You may have been the type to create flash cards when cramming for an exam in high school or college, but when was the last time you used this technique? This idea of “retrieval practice” is easily the best way to build up those connections to help new ideas stick in your brain.
The next time you have to remember some important data for work or school (or you’re just trying to get better at pub trivia or Jeopardy!) write out some flash cards. And if you prefer to keep things digital, IDoRecall has an intuitive system to let you input information so you can study on their website or app.
While it’s great to just search for information online, memorization and retrieval should not be a skill that we take for granted!
♻️ Health & Environment
Stoic Standing Mat Update
A few months back, I wrote about my new Stoic standing mat. Now that the product has graduated from Kickstarter and can be purchased outright on its website, I thought I’d give an update on how I’ve been using it.
Initially, I received just the Stoic base along with the “Flathead River Rock” and “Redwood Forest” inserts. These have been great to stand on and the variety of the terrain keeps me (literally and figuratively) on my toes all day.
But the second shipment brought some additional customization features. I now have two “Bed of Nails” inserts that act as a sort of massage while standing all day. It’s certainly not as painful as the name implies, and really helps with blood-flow in the feet while upright for long stretches.
The divots between each nub also act as an indentation for the several accessories that were also found in the second shipment. Playing with little balls and widgets with your toes may sound ridiculous, but it feels great for your feet while also unleashing some mental focus as well. Finally, I’ve also been loving the different balance beam options that fit into the center of the Stoic. It lets you stand on a flat plank or several ridged inserts to test your balance while massaging your feet.
And if you’re thinking to yourself, “Chris, you’re insane, I’m not paying $600 to stand on artificial rocks all day while I work!” that’s totally understandable. As a rebuttal, may I present you with the much more affordable DIY version of the Stoic standing mat?
🛍 Grab Bag
Dennis Rodman NFTs
There isn’t a whole lot to explain here. Dennis Rodman is getting into the world of NFTs.
While this may seem like a cash grab for “The Worm” to wiggle his way into the world of web3, I actually admire the artistic creativity here.
For those who aren’t basketball fans, Dennis Rodman really changed the idea of creating an image and having individualism in the world of professional sports. His hair styles were unlike anything ever seen before on the NBA hardwood.
Nearly 30 years later, NFT junkies can relive the creativity and scratch their nostalgic itch for a piece of late-90s Americana. These pieces will initially cost around $175 USD (but already seem to be sold out) and are available at the appropriately named Rodman’s Barbershop.
💬 Quote of the Week
“This life is like a swimming pool. You dive into the water, but you can't see how deep it is.”
- Dennis Rodman
✉️Content Recommendation
Substack Recommendations
A slightly different recommendation this week. Rather than giving one specific piece of content, I wanted to highlight a new feature to help you discover new content on Substack.
Substack is encouraging creators to highlight other creators that they admire on the platform. These may be similar newsletters, long-form articles, podcasts, you name it.
So you’ll see on the Iterate homepage that I’ve complied a list of some of the folks our there that I recommend you check out. If you like what I’m doing on my publication, there is a pretty solid chance you’ll like what they’re creating too. Check them out here.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
Thanks for covering Hello Universe as your Substack recommendation, Chris! 😃