The 1 thing you must do, see, or hear this week
THE 1 ANIMATED MINI-MEMOIR
"War Games" is a delightfully quirky 3-minute video by Seattle filmmaker Heather Arment about her unconventional Pennsylvania upbringing. A blend of childlike digital animation and "This American Life"-style narrative, it's the story - both hilarious and heartbreaking - of her childhood obsession with guns and war games. A misadventure with a rabbit made her retire her weapons forever and, years later, to pitch the story to the WGBH Lab, which sponsors a call for short videos. See it at http://lab.wgbh.org/open-call, under War Stories. - LINDA MATCHAN
THE 1 FIRST LOOK AT A MAJOR CULTURAL PLAYER
Want a sneak peek at the work of new American Repertory Theatre artistic director Diane Paulus? Check out her spin on the Shakespeare-inspired musical "Kiss Me Kate," premiering Saturday at Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, N.Y. (An easy five-hour drive.) Paulus, whose reputation rests on doing traditional theater with a pop edge, says she asked her design team, "What if Madonna were doing an Elizabethan number on her next world tour?" glimmerglass.org - MEGAN TENCH
THE 1 WAY TO REMEMBER GEORGE CARLIN
Back in 1999, I asked George Carlin why he kept performing when much of his audience had become the venture capitalists he despised. "My purpose is not to change anything," he said. "This country could explode tomorrow and I'd just move to Ireland." Like Lenny Bruce, he had a distinctive voice. If you want to mourn properly, pick up "The Little David Years: 1971-1977," a seven-disc set of old standbys and rarities from the days when comedy records mattered. - GEOFF EDGERS
THE 1 DOSE OF GORGEOUS MELANCHOLY
Happiness is overrated, which is something singer-songwriter Aimee Mann knows. Sadness can be beautiful, redeemed by lilting melodies and canny rhymes. She doesn't bother with even a hint of token cheer on her strong new album, "@#%&*! Smilers," a hook-filled paean to loss and bitter regret. Go ahead, drown in it for an hour. - MATTHEW GILBERT
THE 1 PERFECT PREP FOR THE RETURN OF "MAD MEN"
Are you suffering withdrawal from the smoke-filled offices of the Sterling Cooper advertising agency? The series returns to AMC on July 27 but you can prep for the trip back to the time of Brylcreem, cone bras, and repression with the swellegant soundtrack that includes tunes from Ella Fitzgerald (left), Julie London, and Rosemary Clooney. - SARAH RODMAN
THE 1 KAFKAESQUE EXPERIENCE
Why, singing "Happy Birthday," of course. Thursday marks the 125th anniversary of Franz Kafka's birth. Before blowing out the candles remember to make a wish (to turn into a beetle, perhaps?). - MARK FEENEY
