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.

A young red squirrel. Image, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The phone has completely reshaped our sense of place. Yes, everywhere is the same, says Ian Bogost in a long Atlantic essay. But everywhere is also personal.

The 30 most evil tech companies. Slate did some research, and then they ranked them. I’d love to say the top two are a surprise. But...

Women bear the weight of economic inequality. A South African perpective on a recent Oxfam report: women’s unpaid care work also excludes them from economic participation.

Saving red squirrels with biotech. The gray squirrel has driven the native red squirrel out of much of Britain. Scientists think they can use genetics to change that. Nothing will go wrong.

Marketing is killing is. But giving it up is going to be as hard as quitting smoking, says a former Saatchi director.

The museum of neo-liberalism. The founders wanted to “do a real Thatcher museum” that brings the history of neoliberalism to life. Free, registration may be required.

Orangutans are smart and self-aware. They respond to the camera, says photographer, Mark Edward Harris. But palm oil production is wrecking their habitat. (Thanks to Ian Christie).

“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)