This past Tuesday, I went to the Washington Post’s Free to State event, a series of in-depth panels and interviews about the state of the 1st Amendment and free speech in America. It was a lot of fun, especially as I worry that I’ll lose some expertise as I transition from grad school to a job adjacent to but not quite in my field. I left feeling more myself. The first panel was excellent. It brought together Susan Herman, president of the ACLU, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of the nonprofit PEN America, and Jesse Panuccio, the Acting Associate Attorney General and third in command in Session’s Justice Department. They discussed legal…
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Earth Day 2018 Theme: End Plastic Pollution
The theme of this year’s Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd, is to end plastic pollution, which coincidentally falls during a news cycle focused on the issue. The Queen of England, albeit more of a celebrity figurehead than anything else in modern times, banned single use plastics from all the royal estates, and the BBC plans to follow suit by 2020. Both were responses to the BBC series Blue Planet II which showed the volume of plastics that have found their way into the ocean and the stomachs of the creatures that inhabit it. Meanwhile, In the US, we’re still dealing with Scott Pruitt, head of the EPA, wasting…
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Finding Superpowers with Mari Andrews
“Like many of you, I follow Mari Andrews on Instagram,” the introduction began to a chorus of chuckles. It’s true, many of Mari’s fans found her through social media and that led to a book deal and book tour and me sitting in Sixth & I surrounded by a crowd of mostly 20-somethings with amazing fashion sense. Mari Andrew’s fame is the product of new technology, but her advice and writing is timeless. Her illustrations and writing draw hundreds of thousands of followers because they’re so relatable and comforting. It’s good to know that someone else feels or felt what you do; it makes the world feel more welcoming. Her…
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It’s Time We Framed Environmental Issues as Health Issues
To an activist, the benefits of reversing and protecting against climate change are evident. The environment is one of the most purely intersectional issues, touching a myriad of social and economic issues as well. However, problems that are perceived to be coming in the future, are largely invisible, and dealt with on a macro scale are hard for people to be conceptualize. How can one person face the insurmountable problems facing the planet, when they have daily and personal problems to address? Furthermore, even many environmentalists pick their battles — you may compost, but if you buy red meat, you are furthering deforestation and greenhouse emissions. You might use reusable…
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Reflection on the Poetry and Life John Ashbery
I was recently tasked with writing a speech to commemorate someone for class, so I tackled one of my favorite poets, John Ashbery. Far from an expert on his work or poetry as an art, I still want to take a moment to reflect on his work, life, and that of postmodern poetry as a whole. Observing the ebb and flow of American culture from Warhol’s Factory to a President’s Twitter through the eyes of a poet is an enviable position, and one uniquely fit for the late John Ashbery. Ashbery’s work spans seven decades of tormenting critics with avant garde poems with sometimes puzzling structure and embedded with wit,…
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Sustainable Gifts for Someone with a Capsule Wardrobe
What are you supposed to get someone who adheres to a “less is more” ideology and resists fast fashion trends? I know I’m probably hard to shop for because I’m such a killjoy with my environmental and workers’ rights advocacy. But fear not, for alas, there are options. I recently found out about Synergy Organic Clothing which specializes in wardrobe stables that are versatile, sustainable, and affordable for what they are. Full disclosure, because you know I love transparency, Synergy sent me some clothes to review + a $50 gift card to giveaway (check my Instagram!). However, know that I wouldn’t work with a brand unless I truly liked their…
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The Best Fall Nail Polishes are Also 10-Free
I used to only buy Deborah Lippmann nail polish because I thought they were the epitome of luxury polish, boasting 5-free formulation and green tea extract (does that do anything?)to condition and protect one’s nails. Then, while scrolling through Into the Gloss, I found mention of Sundays Studio which makes nail polish that they recommended for pregnant woman due to their lack of potentially harmful ingredients. If it’s good enough for a pregnant woman, it’s good enough for me, so bookmarked the page and came back when I had money to spend on high end nail polish (This is not cheap). I dove in head first and bought four classic colors…
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This Throwback Mobile Game is Inventive and Enthralling
I wasn’t playing videogames in the 80s (I wasn’t alive yet) but I know the forefathers of the RPGs I play now were text-based, choose-your-own-adventure type games. Strip down the visuals and fighting from modern games, and at their core, they’re storytelling devices. That’s why I loved playing Open Sorcery, a text-based RPG in which you play as a magical firewall, in a world in which magic and technology are indistinguishable. I heard about this game on the Cybertwee Facebook group, which is a constant source of cute techy content; it’s like cyberpunk’s cuter, younger sister. Joining was one of the better decisions I’ve made. The premise is based around…
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The Prettiest Night Serum Ever
I’m switching up my skincare routine, and I’ve been really impressed with Herbivore Botanicals so far. Their packaging is mostly glass, which is much easier to recycle and has a smaller footprint than plastic, and their ingredients are primarily plant-based and certified organic. I don’t shy away from ingredients made in a lab (even if it comes from a plant, it’s still a chemical, and not necessarily sustainable) but I do appreciate their focus on paired down yet effective formulas and a supply chain that relies on organic farms. All of their products are made in the USA in small batches and are cruelty free, so they pass my test…
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Milk Makeup’s Solid Toner is a Travel Essential
I know I know, everyone has already freaked out about this but I want to join in the chorus. I love Milk because it’s an independent brand whose items are cruelty free, preservative free, and made in the USA. They also do a lot of work to further the acceptance of gender nonconforming individuals and the use of makeup as an extension of the self, which is the definition of beautiful. I’m also obsessed with matcha, a traditional Japanese tea made from finely ground tea leaves, so it was an obvious choice that I try this TSA-approved toner. This is incredibly easy to use. It’s very creamy, and has almost…
