And will we ever have it again? [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1cmk9bnl0JTNBJTJGJTJGbmV3c2xldHRlciUyRmY4MmQ5NmE0LWVkMWQtNWIxNC05ZTBiLTZhYTNmNDI4ZTNjOSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee)
~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIyMDgyMFcDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) August 20, 2022 In a culture that is obsessed with work, in which even the act of rest had somehow become a thing to optimize or make productive, we need fun. Are we having fun yet? Nino Scenderini and Mel McBride at a skate park in Brooklyn.Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvamVzc2ljYS1iZW5uZXR0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) By [Jessica Bennett](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvamVzc2ljYS1iZW5uZXR0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Contributing Editor, Opinion Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Iâd begun to wonder if weâd all forgotten how to have fun. The three-martini lunch was dead. Everybody, it seemed, was detoxing or avoiding carbs, hunched over their phones or hustling so hard at work that they hardly had time to sleep, let alone relax. When they did relax, usually only after facing a severe case of burnout, even that became a thing to optimize or make [productive](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP4QlAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZveC5jb20vY3VsdHVyZS8yMDIwLzQvMTcvMjEyMDE4NzgvcXVhcmFudGluZS1wcm9kdWN0aXZpdHktc29jaWFsLWRpc3RhbmNpbmctY29yb25hdmlydXMtcGFuZGVtaWMtY292aWQtMTktY2FwaXRhbGlzbS1lcC10aG9tcHNvbj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). No longer could we simply rest or veg or do something fun or hang out; we were engaged in an aggressive pursuit of self-care, which demanded self-betterment by way of bubble baths and self-actualization, not just purposeless leisure. And then, of course, the pandemic hit, which made everything worse. Suddenly, many of us were stuck at home, without the ability to socialize, [drinking too much](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wNC8yMS9tYWdhemluZS9jb3ZpZC1kcmlua2luZy1hbGNvaG9sLWhlYWx0aC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), so sick of being with partners or roommates or children or just ourselves that we didnât want to touch or dance or, God forbid, have sex; we didnât even have anything to gossip about. Sure, there were early attempts to buck the desire to crawl under the covers â baking bread, living room karaoke, all those Zoom happy hours â but eventually, even the thought of attempting to enjoy oneself felt distasteful. How could anyone possibly have fun with all the suffering around? Wasnât the ability to have fun at all just an extreme symbol of privilege and thus something to be renounced? Things should have gotten better when the world opened back up again, but they didnât. There were new variants in 2022, war and wildfires and the loss of fundamental rights to add to our existential doom. The promise of hot girl summer came and went, and nothing replaced it, except for a heat wave â not the same thing. I started to feel starved for joy, for delight, for euphoria. I wanted to feel ⦠I donât know, alive again? And so I set out on a journey to reclaim fun. (Yes, I felt as ridiculous as I sound.) But what is fun, anyway? Oof. Turns out thatâs a complicated question. As youâll read [in my essay](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8wOC8yMC9vcGluaW9uL2Z1bi10aGluZ3MtdG8tZG8uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), this pursuit ended up being much harder than it might have seemed. READ JESSICAâS ESSAY HERE [[Article Image] Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8wOC8yMC9vcGluaW9uL2Z1bi10aGluZ3MtdG8tZG8uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [What Is Fun? Can I Have It? Will We Ever Have It Again? My quest to pin down that elusive, indefinable feeling and bring it back into my life. By Jessica Bennett](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8wOC8yMC9vcGluaW9uL2Z1bi10aGluZ3MtdG8tZG8uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjIwODIwVwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ THE WEEK IN BIG IDEAS Editorsâ Picks [[Article Image] Chantal Jahchan](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL3NleC13b21lbi1mZW1pbmlzbS1ydWxlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)
[Guest Essay I Still Believe in the Power of Sexual Freedom What early feminists understood about the importance of pursuing desire on oneâs own terms. By Nona Willis Aronowitz](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL3NleC13b21lbi1mZW1pbmlzbS1ydWxlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2JsaW5kbmVzcy1yZXRpbml0aXMtcGlnbWVudG9zYS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)
[Iâm Going Blind. This Is What I Want You to See. Itâs time to expand our definition of blindness. By James Robinson](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2JsaW5kbmVzcy1yZXRpbml0aXMtcGlnbWVudG9zYS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [[Article Image] Josh Haner/The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2NsaW1hdGUtaW5mbGF0aW9uLXJlZHVjdGlvbi1hY3QuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)
[Guest Essay Every Dollar Spent on This Climate Technology Is a Waste Subsidies in the climate bill will lock in carbon capture and storage, which will sustain fossil fuels. By Charles Harvey and Kurt House](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2NsaW1hdGUtaW5mbGF0aW9uLXJlZHVjdGlvbi1hY3QuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [[Article Image] Photos: left to right, Anne Helen Petersen; Rio Chantel](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2V6cmEta2xlaW4tcG9kY2FzdC1hbm5lLWhlbGVuLXBldGVyc2VuLWNoYXJsaWUtd2FyemVsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)
[The Office Is Dying. Itâs Time to Rethink How We Work. Anne Helen Petersen and Charlie Warzel discuss how the great retreat from office life could make work better for everyone. By âThe Ezra Klein Showâ](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2V6cmEta2xlaW4tcG9kY2FzdC1hbm5lLWhlbGVuLXBldGVyc2VuLWNoYXJsaWUtd2FyemVsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIyMDgyMFcDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that helps readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. [Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TMaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb24_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD05S1hGVSZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Games Here is [todayâs Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), [Wordle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXMvd29yZGxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). If youâre in the mood to play more, find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0S1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can [sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheW5sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Do you have feedback? Email us at [opiniontoday@nytimes.com](mailto:opiniontoday@nytimes.com?subject=Opinion%20Today%20Newsletter%20Feedback). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIyMDgyMFcDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Contact us if you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our [Help Page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) or [contact The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LVVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-tracking_unit-3) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, [unsubscribe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VnL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlL1RZL2VmMWIyYjNmYjk5ZjUzMmI0OTlkOTBjZTYzZWFmODdiYWFjZjI3YmJhN2FkMzBmMDk4M2QwMTM0NzhiZTk4MjExNDJiYTViZDZkYzk1NDFmMjZmMmJlMTE1M2E5ODJhOD9lbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnNlbmRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTFXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) or [manage your email preferences](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0S1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZW1haWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). [Subscribe to The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OVJYNzgmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Get The New York Times app](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VydmljZXMvbW9iaWxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Connect with us on: [facebook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0S8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL255dG9waW5pb24vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ueXRvcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjIwODIwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTY5ODU4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEwMTk2NCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0S9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9ueXRvcGluaW9uLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Change Your Email](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtL2VtYWlsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Privacy Policy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TlaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jb250ZW50L2hlbHAvcmlnaHRzL3ByaXZhY3kvcG9saWN5L3ByaXZhY3ktcG9saWN5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9Njk4NTgmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTAxOTY0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpi6mP-AGOdrTk6Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Contact Us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TMaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtYmVyY2VudGVyL2hlbHAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[California Notices](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHJpdmFjeS9jYWxpZm9ybmlhLW5vdGljZT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIyMDgyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD02OTg1OCZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMDE5NjQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmLqY_4AY52tOTpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [LiveIntent Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vcG93ZXJlZC1ieT90ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjBXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[AdChoices Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRk44NjP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vYWQtY2hvaWNlcz90ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMjA4MjBXA255dEIKYupj_gBjna05OlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018