Counterflows #50: Universal Creative Income, Vaccines for Digital Nomads, NFTs Explained
Your offbeat guide to distributed work and borderless living.
Welcome to the Counterflows newsletter by Lauren Razavi. These emails are where I share the best links about distributed work and borderless living each week. Want to support what I do? Forward the newsletter to a friend or buy me a virtual coffee. PS: My first book, Global Natives: The New Frontiers of Work, Travel and Innovation, is available for digital pre-order now.
Hi friends 👋
Today's email is the 50th edition of the Counterflows newsletter. That makes it a good moment to reflect on what I’ve learned so far and start planning ahead for the next 50 editions.
To do that, I need your help: Will you take part in my first-ever reader feedback survey? I’ve kept it super simple: there are only five proper questions, and three of them are multiple choice.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can share.
-Lauren
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🇦🇪🧑⚕️ Dubai Lures Digital Nomads With Promise of Free Vaccines (Globetrender)
Despite rising Covid-19 cases, Dubai is throwing more weight behind its 12-month visa scheme for remote workers. In addition to paying no income tax, all UAE residents (including nomads who take up the newly-launched visa) will receive vaccinations free of charge—whatever their age or health status.
🇨🇭🛂 The Swiss Lawyer Helping Governments Get Rich Off Passports (Bloomberg)
This fascinating longread (~15 mins) deep-dives into the island nations with “citizenship by investment” programs and the murky global industry that surrounds them. Essentially, wealthy people can buy second passports—even if they’ve never set foot in the country granting them—to enjoy visa-free travel to more destinations.
💰💡 The Case for Universal Creative Income (Li Jin)
Investor Li Jin argues for universal creative income grants funded by tech platforms. She says this would result in more meritocracy, inclusivity, and diversity in the maker community by giving emerging creators a better chance of establishing an audience for their work. I tend to agree.
🎬 🎨 NFTs, Explained (Johnny Harris)
Multimedia journalist Johnny Harris demystifies Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), the crypto trend that has taken the art world by storm in recent months. This YouTube video (~17 mins) looks at the story of NFTs so far, how the tech works, and their future potential—all in Johnny’s engaging explainer style.
👔🌇 The Rise and Fall of Canary Wharf (Wired)
The switch to remote work is a challenge for major global cities like London. Workers and residents alike are leaving in search of better access to nature, affordable housing markets, and a slower pace of living. This story examines the history, present and future of East London's once bustling business hub, Canary Wharf.
✈️🌿 Gen Z's New Favourite Pastime Is “Airport Culture” (VICE)
What do young people's offline social lives look like these days? According to VICE, the latest Gen Z craze involves eating hash-laced edibles and hanging out at the local airport. It seems that Gen Z prefers hallucinogens and liminal spaces, rather than getting black-out drunk in noisy pubs and nightclubs.
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