There's No Such Thing as Bad Publicity
Public space belongs to everyone: you, people you know, people you don't know, and people you'll never know. And that mystery is magical. Anything can happen because everyone is invited. Who are these people, why are they there, and what are they passionate about and good at? And how are they an integral part of your home, even if you've never met them before?There are enough potential spectators and collaborators in urban public spaces to make things worth doing. When everyone is bringing their ideas and making things happen where everyone else can see them, that's exciting. In most of the world, you have to search this stuff out, but in the city, people are putting it right out there, for you, on your walk to the subway."Protest" is too strong a word for what I do. Protesting is often pedantic and polarizing and shortsighted. I'm not interested in getting in people's faces; I want to encourage, not insist. In fact, much of my work is meant to blend in with its surroundings and rewards observation.Perhaps the best way to describe what I do is to say that I create prototypes for transforming the city-my home-into a more livable place. Whether that's art or design or engineering or activism or pranks, I don't know or really care. In the end, my ideas are intended to engage and inspire.Eppink is an artist who uses the city as his canvas, not for graffiti but for art that interacts and informs the urban environment in unexpected, often hilarious ways.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
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.