This Will Blow Your Mind
WATCH THIS for the awesomeness of Richie Havens, who died today at 72.
Earth Day
The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970, with 20 million people participating in support of environmental protection. This massive display of civic engagement led to the formation of the EPA, the Clean Air, the Clean Water, and the Endangered Species Acts. Now that’s power. How do we harness this again?
Illustration by Alex Nabaum
What It Takes to Make Change
For the last 4 years, I’ve been involved in the campaign for immigration reform. On Monday, I was in D.C. meeting with Senator Dianne Feinstein, who will play an instrumental role as any legislation moves through Congress. For the first time in a generation, there is real hope for change. But we stand at this moment, only because immigrants who aspired to become Americans never gave up. After each heartbreaking defeat, they organized harder. Yesterday was a dispiriting day for gun safety advocates. And I deeply share their frustration. But meaningful change, whether political or personal, takes audacity and perseverance. Don’t just get mad. Get busy.
Poster from the flat files
What Are You Reading?
During the last 48 hours, I crisscrossed the country and finally got the chance to catch up on back issues of The New Yorker. As far as a magic ring, I wear my mother’s wedding band.
Pay Day
It’s tax day, and I’m ready to honor my commitment.
As promised, here’s the winning entry for our contest, What’s Your Splurge? Continue reading »
How Many Shoes Can You Fit Into Your Carry-on?
On a plane ride to Italy for a ten-day vacation, the chic woman sitting beside me altered my packing habits. She had only a modest carry-on for her month abroad, while I was about to wait 45 minutes in the Rome Airport for overstuffed luggage. That was three years ago, and I’ve rarely checked a bag since then. But the biggest challenge is always the shoes, which I contemplate now getting ready for a micro trip to D.C. What are your packing habits?
Giant Gym Shoes by Claes Olderburg is part of a show at MoMA.
Cause and Effect?
I’m not sure why I was so late to the party, but last month, I finally started digging into Downton Abbey. I binged through 3 seasons in a few weeks and couldn’t stop talking about it to everyone who’d already seen it. I was also terrified of finding out the plot, and tiptoed around the internet, which was near impossible for me to do, as I’m such a media hound. Miraculously, I managed to get through the final episode without any spoilers. I’m grateful to friends who showed such restraint. And I’ll try and pay it forward, so as not to cause any unseasonably bad weather.
Cartoon by Sarah Lazarovic
Moving the Dream Forward
What did you do this week to force the issue?
Last chance to win a copy of the best book you’ll read this year.
Artwork by Shahir Zag
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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR is a guide to surviving, thriving and sometimes just getting through a single day. Created by Wendy Braitman (more…)
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