As we get closer to June you might see a lot more public figures posting the hashtag #WearOrange to their social media accounts. June 2nd is National Gun Violence Awareness day, and dressing in orange has become a signifier of the movement to end gun violence ever since a group of Chicago teens asked people in their community to wear the color in honor of a friend who had been shot and killed in a park near their high school.
The victim was 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, and her friends wanted to honor her with orange because it is the cautionary color hunters wear to protect themselves from friendly fire in the woods. That act of remembrance happened in 2013, and since then Wear Orange has become a movement, with a lot of celebrity backing. Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, Susan Sarandon, Russell Simmons, Jason Bateman and many more have all pledged to wear orange.
Another member of that collective is Julianne Moore, who is a council member for the group Everytown for Gun Safety, which sprung out of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Moore has also written an essay for Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter about the need for better gun control measures, and appeared in a video called “We Can End Gun Violence” with President Obama, a host of other celebrities, and survivors and family members of shooting incidents across the country.
We may live with a lingering fear of terror in the backs of our minds, but as the above visualization shows, the number of Americans who die every year from guns vastly outpaces victims of terrorist attacks.
Data Sources: https://www.vox.com/2015/10/1/9437187/obama-guns-terrorism-deaths (using numbers from the State Department, the Justice Department, and the Council on Foreign Relations' Micah Zenko)
Music: Emancipator - Shook (Mobb Deep/Sigur Ros)
Written and Produced by: Gabriel Reilich
Graphics by: Jake Infusino
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.