I tend to get wrapped up in a concept or idea for a little while and then either research it to death or move on to something else. Here are some things I've been thinking about recently:
- Fundamental indexing In normal stock index funds, the fund owns more stock in companies that cost more, and less of companies that are cheaper. That assumes that expensive things are better, and not being actively manipulated or pushed up by overly enthusiastic crowds. Fundamental indexes buy more of companies that are doing better financially-less debt, more income. It looks like the RAFI fundamental index can outperform a traditional index fund.
- Tablet Weaving : An ancient way of making thin bands of cloth with cool patterns, like belts or shoelaces or decorative trim. Wikipedia link
- The ethics of trading oil futures A future is a bet on the future price of a commodity that is traded on a public market, like wheat, gold, or oil. Theoretically, buying a future should increase the price of that commodity, which 1:Encourages other people to use less (demand down) and 2: Encourages producers to make more (supply up). People using less oil is good, companies digging up more oil is bad. We know the entire food system and economy is currently dependent on oil, that new oil is not being discovered, and that the price of oil is far less than its real value. So it seems that the price has to go up, and therefore buying futures (perhaps through a fund that constantly buys and sells (ladders) futures) is a good idea. But is that just prepaying Exxon to go dig up dirty oil sands somewhere?
- Tool libraries Borrow tools when you need them, instead of having them take up your time and living space. Would be fun to have one nearby, but is it worth the effort it would take to make that happen?
- Military use of bicycles I like bikes. Military forces have used bikes since the mid 1800s, and modern folding E-bikes have been used by special forces.
- Sea level rise It's real, it's coming, it's going to be significant, and we aren't ready.
- Chinese wheelbarrows Typical wheelbarrows use a wheel on one end to take part of the load, but you're still carrying a lot of weight with the handles. But Chinese wheelbarrow has one big wheel with the load centered over it, so the operator has no weight to lift, and can move hundreds of pounds long distances over narrow trails and messed up roads. Link to article about Chines wheelbarrow at Low Tech Magazine