Huffington Magazine Issue 80 | Page 5

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR look for ways to escape the constant distractions from technology. Elsewhere in the issue, Howard Fineman profiles a man who is trying to change the way we look at health care. As Howard puts it, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong wants “to map the molecular life of all of mankind in the service of better health for each individual.” This mapping would result in a more personalized system, one in which doctors could easily access a patient’s medical information and develop an individually tailored wellness program — a compelling idea that has captured the attention of many. In our Exit section, Bianca Bosker explores the growing number of “selfie-help apps,” which present users with a variety of ways to touch up their images before posting them on the Internet — “eyelashes can be added, HUFFINGTON 12.22.13 teeth whitened, smiles stretched, pounds shed, clocks reversed, genes fought,” Bianca writes. Of course, most don’t want to appear as though they’ve leaned on the apps to look better. Getting Carolyn points out the irony that a practice meant to offer freedom from the ego has become a ‘vanity-driven pursuit.’” caught editing a photo is “very embarrassing,” one 18-year-old girl tells Bianca. “People are hyper aware of not wanting to seem fake in their pictures. As much as they edit them, it has to come off as natural.” Finally, as part of our continued focus on The Third Metric, we go in search of tranquility in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Palmer House. Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook ARIANNA