September 2019
We’re an eclectic bunch at team Razor.
Each month, we’ll share with the world a flavour of what’s caught our attention and influenced our thinking and conversations in the office.
Chloë F
I’ve just finished a book called The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold. Each chapter is a biography of each of his five victims. Crucially, she puts the flesh back on their bones. Her premise is that they’ve been undermined and disrespected by the passage of history which has focused on the mystery of the Ripper and labelled his victims as merely sex workers (in fact, only two of them were). The picture she paints of the squalid, desperate lives of these women is fascinating. And of course, truly tragic.
Gem
There’s something so satisfying about an old item of clothing or a piece of furniture being given a new lease of life; even more so now that waste reduction is such a hot topic. Sadly, I don’t have a shed at home to potter away in but I’m making more of an effort to repair or repurpose smaller items around my flat. One of the happiest hashtags I follow on Instagram is #TheRepairShop and, if you’ve ever watched the TV show, you’ll understand why I find it so heart-warming. I could wax lyrical about this programme but I’d encourage you to read this recent Guardian article about it instead. If you’ve never watched an episode, do give it a try. It’s wonderful.
Jill
It’s been back to school for me, this September, to (re)learn German at CityLit. I let my near-fluency slide over the last *ahem* years but it’s all slowly coming back to me thanks to a brilliant tutor. CityLit has such a great adult education curriculum; I learned to sew there and briefly dabbled in a spot of Russian. I can’t recommend going back to school at CityLit highly enough!
Kate
I know I’m late to the party but I was totally blown away watching Hamilton a few weeks ago and I’ve been chewing everyone’s ears off about it since! As a theatre lover, who wouldn’t usually opt for a musical, I was sceptical; but Hamilton is hands down the best show I’ve ever seen! I love how surprising, witty and clever it is and I truly admire Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ability to bring a (potentially dull) historical story to the stage in such a sensational way. I’ve still got the soundtrack on repeat!
Kenny
Inspired by our recent Razor VR experience in East London, I’ve become engrossed in the hypothesis that we’re living in a simulated reality. Elon Musk is probably the most highbrow believer and puts our chances of living in ‘base reality’ as one in a billion. According to this hypothesis, it’s far more probable that we’re living in a simulation. This idea has blown my mind!
Lindsay
We’ve turned to board games at home in a bid to watch less TV. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders is a big hit and proving to be quite addictive. We’re really enjoying putting on different character accents and solving crimes! (Editor’s note: Pleeease bring this game into the office, Lindsay!)
Nikisha
I’m interested in how food and drinks can be modified to help benefit the environment. Soy products have been on the rise in recent times, but we now have a tastier game changer…the love of my life; chocolate! Swiss chocolatier, Barry Callebaut, unveiled a new recipe that includes the entire cocoa fruit (cacao) as opposed to just the beans. Typically, 70% of the fruit is wasted during the chocolate-making process and, as we seek lower sugar content and less harm to the environment, this seems like the perfect solution – one that could also enhance juices, smoothies, deserts and bakery products. I really hope this trend catches on!