Just the other day, I was writing about how jewelry — especially jewelry created by individual designers — can rise to the level of art, with real meaning beyond physical adornment. So thank you to Tony Cooler, who pointed out this remarkable brooch by Phyllis Bowdwin, which was posted by the Smithsonian on Instagram. The…
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Candidates Worthy of Your Support
In addition to winning back the presidency in 2020, progressives must work to flip the Senate to a Democratic majority and maintain the majority in the House. Here are some strategic campaigns you can donate to. No contribution is too small! If you can’t contribute yourself (or even if you can), share these links with…
Lipstick Icon: Hammer Thrower Gwen Berry
A huge thank you to reader Catherine, whose comment on yesterday’s lipstick post alerted me to hammer thrower Gwen Berry and her blue lipstick. Berry won a gold medal at the Pan American games in Peru over the weekend. While she was on the podium with the American anthem playing, she raised a fist —…
Take Action on Gun Terrorism: Get Out the Vote
For the fifth anti-gun-violence action of the week, let’s do something a little different! Sign yourself up with Vote Forward to write letters to potential voters and urge them to register to vote. Sign up! Vote Forward is focusing on 2019 state-level and special elections where there’s a chance to flip a seat to a…
Take Action on Gun Terrorism: Donate
So, you want to do something about gun terror, right? Did you call or message your senators today and tell them to cut their recess short, go back to D.C., and demand that Mitch McConnell allow a vote on universal background checks? I know that was my first post this week, but the great thing…
Take Action on Gun Terrorism: Your First Step
After the three most recent mass shootings by white male supremacist terrorists, we are all morally obligated to take action. If you don’t know what action to take … no problem! I’ll give you five assignments this week. Start by taking a few minutes tomorrow morning to call your senators. Why? Because the House has…
Never Again Is Now: Text “NEVER” to 83224
For the second time in a week, a building in Washington, D.C., was shut down by people protesting inhumane conditions in immigrant detention camps. #CatholicsAgainstICE took over the Russell Senate Building today, carrying photos of migrant children who have died in U.S. custody. A group of activists formed a human cross with their bodies on…
Never Again Is Now: We Locked Down ICE!
Yesterday, I went to Washington, D.C., for the “Never Again Is Now” protest organized by #JewsAgainstIce and immigrant-rights organization Movimiento Cosecha. Hundreds of peaceful activists marched from the National Mall … View this post on Instagram Yesterday’s walk from the National Mall to the ICE building. #neveragainisnow #jewsagainstice #activate #protest #abolishice #closethecamps A post shared…
20 Years Later: JFK Jr., Carolyn, and Lauren
It’s been 20 years since the Friday-evening small-plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr.; his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy; and one of Carolyn’s older twin sisters, Lauren Bessette. I was the managing editor of People magazine’s website, three months into the job after spending the previous 10 years in business news. This era seems so…
Recommended Reading: Anne Thériault’s Queens of Infamy
I’ve been scolding myself for nearly a decade (seriously!) for giving up my Thursday Book Club posts, most of which focused on the bad-ass historical women who inspire my jewelry designs. The last book-club post was the finale of my three-parter on A Distant Mirror, Barbara Tuchman’s book about the 14th century, which I posted…