My weekly collection of the provocative, intriguing, or curious, in a world where the house is falling down. The contextual, the cultural, and other things that catch my eye. 

Image: by Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0.

  • Napping is a political act. “Rest isn’t something you need to earn. When I want to lay down and take a nap, that’s a calling,” says nap activist Tricia Hersey. To be clear: we’re not talking Google-style nap pods. Medium: registration may be required.
  • California is about to outlaw the gig economy. Well, near enough. And since California always goes early with new social regulation, other states, and other countries, will follow. New York Times, registration required. Related: How social platforms and activists are helping casualised workers.
  • In praise of law. A place where words matter, and promises, once written down, have consequences. A fine short blog post.
  • Nightclubs are shutting down, everywhere. The reasons: gentrification, the financialisation of housing, noise regulation, different tastes in entertainment, and the economics of festivals. Almost everything, in other words..
  • We need biomaterials to work. Core 77 profiles four designers who are innovating from waste.
  • Trump doesn’t completely work as Julius Caesar. But this Slate podcast about the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare’s play is full of good things. (41 minutes).

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“The whole world’s at sixes and sevens, and why the house hasn’t fallen down about our ears long ago is a miracle to me.” (Thornton Wilder)