The Monday Mix (31/01/2022)
Hi friends,
I’m late in sending this out, so I’ll get straight into it this week.
Here’s an essay I wrote this past week on what might happen to cities in the aftermath of the pandemic. Lockdowns meant that a lot of us had to work from home instead of the office. This was a big change and one that could have a profound effect in the years to come.
Will the advent of remote working mean the end of the office? It’s hard to say, but the idea that everything is going to return to normal and the office will thrive again, is misplaced I feel. More likely, a hybrid working scenario opens up where people work part of the week at home and the office. Even if this happens, it will mean a profound change for many and the way our cities are recognised.
Check out my post below and leave some claps if you’re feeling generous to help spread the word :)
Will The Pandemic Upend The Workplace and Our Cities
Should We Have More Open Borders?
Immigration is one of the hottest political topics and something a lot of people in the west would like to see less of. But are they right? Well, if this piece is anything to go by, they’re not.
It states that realising an open border policy worldwide would result in an economic gain of $78 trillion! That’s an astonishing figure but this is unlikely to come to pass due to political realities. However, as someone who has recently had their ability to work in 30 countries stripped away because of Brexit, a right I used before this was the case, I can testify to the benefits of liberal immigration policies.
Free movement in Europe is fantastic and has no doubt benefitted the region culturally and economically. This piece won’t convince everyone but the points are certainly worth considering.
How Britain Let Russia Hide Its Dirty Money
One of the many misconceptions about Britain is that’s it’s a squeaky clean place with minimal corruption. The truth is very different. That squeaky clean image is a facade behind which there’s a lot of skullduggery.
There’s a reason London is referred to as Londongrad in Russia, and it’s because it’s home to many Russian oligarchs who, rightly or wrongly, have their money flowing through the city. With the situation in Ukraine reaching boiling point, this is an interesting read on just how far Russia’s tentacles extend into the west.
What Alcohol Does To Your Body
This is a fascinating and disturbing video on the effects alcohol has on your body. It’s nearly thirty minutes long but it’s well worth watching. Especially as most of us don’t realise just what goes on inside our bodies when we drink alcohol.
Whether you like an occasional drink, drink a fair bit or don’t drink at all, you’ll find this video compelling.
Book I’m reading - We Belong To Gaia by James Lovelock
An interesting primer on the Gaia hypothesis which proposes that the earth is a living, breathing organism. It’s only a short book and has offered a lot of interesting takes so far.
Quote I’m pondering: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Cicero
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Tom