Thursday's two (wildly different) things
There's a moment on this morning's Native Land podcast where co-host Andrew Gillum goes to grab a statistic about the national debt from the U.S. Treasury website, and remembers in real time that he should look elsewhere since we can no longer rely on our old primary sources.
Today's ideas are brought to you by the idea of being your own primary source. As usual, take what you need, leave the rest.
Item 1: Requires a printer
DOGE has your personal data. Want to demand access to it? U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin is encouraging all U.S. citizens to join him in filing a formal demand. ➡️ Print out the Privacy Act Request form and mail it in. Then you can sign up for ongoing updates on this topic from Raskin's office. (Hat tip: reader and technology leader Amy.)
Item 2: Requires a pen
I keep meaning to sit still and meditate, really I do. And I keep meaning to finish an actual book. But most often these days, motion is essential for me to clear my head and get to a contemplative or clear-headed place.
Maybe that's why I am drawn to the sketchbook exercise that Sophie Lucido Johnson wrote about this week. ➡️ Scroll down to the second item here, Lynda Barry's "triangle diary" instructions.
Johnson says "It has you slow down to consider the landscape of the world you inhabit. You are not a floating person. You are connected to all kinds of things you often take for granted."
Related: You do not have to consent to being flooded (2/10/25) and a meditation prompt (1/24/25, Item #2).
