Post Election Malaise
This is limbo. We are in it.
I’ve been taking a break from writing my columns partially because I am attempting a media blackout which means I am not being introduced daily to new ideas, thoughts and concepts through podcasts, other columns or social media and partially because I continue to hold my breath in regards to the actual outcome of the election and that precludes me from having any thoughts beyond, “Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck!”
Of course, my alert ass readers continue to send interesting ideas via all the various means of communication these days.
My middle brother suggested a Danish television series titled, “Borgen”, which is the Danish equivalent of our Congress. After three episodes, it has not been a very good means of taking my mind off the current circumstances because it’s all about subterfuge and political mind games except in Denmark they have more than a half dozen political parties which does not paint a pretty picture of those kinds of governments.
It reminds me of the Netflix reality television series about polygamists in Utah - not the fictional show Big Love which was terrific - that convinced me that polygamy had facets to it that most teenage males never stop to consider. The show, Borgen, does not put governments with multiple parties in a good light. In fact, it feels like even more of a struggle to achieve balance.
I’ve also been doing some unscientific research having noted that over the past eight months I have not seen fewer than four cars parked at my local trailhead. I’d say the average number of cars has been eight or so. And I am talking about seven days a week. Which is exceptionally unusual. Typically midweeks would be devoid of cars.
Obviously, the pandemic has altered how people utilize their recreational time. Stir crazy families and households seem to be venturing onto the front country trails with impunity.
You may extrapolate that this will be reflected in a healthier society but I’ll hazard a guess that the increase in alcoholic consumption more than compensates for the uptick in outdoor activity. Health wise I expect it to be a ‘wash’.
The additional traffic on the trails are mainly a hassle because I like to allow my dog, Sally, to be off leash but I also want to be courteous to other hikers who are uncomfortable with dogs or hikers with small kids who are also off leash. (Kidding, parents! And Child Protective Services!)
So, these days, I spend time leashing and unleashing Sally according to the outlook on the trail. As for encounters with other canines, I leash her when the other canine is leashed, or leash her if the other canine is off leash but their owner has started to leash them, or leave her unleashed if the other owner is indifferent to leashing protocols. Sally, the once ever fearful rescue pup, is happy-go-lucky with all dogs which makes her incredibly easy on hikes. I do not have to fear an altercation of her doing.
There you go! I’ve written much about nothing when I didn’t intend to write anything at all.
I did read today about the myth of having to drink eight glasses of water a day to remain hydrated. The article stated that there has never been much serious research into it because no one stands to profit from it. It also said the original cursory research that was done in 1974 actually recommended 6 to 8 glasses. I believe the article went on to say, as of today, Britain’s NIH recommends 6 to 8 cups per day and wanted to remind people you also derive hydration through food and other beverages including coffee and tea.
All of this is a relief to me because I get way too waterlogged trying to chug that much water every single day.
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Alert Ass Reader Dan Ciske sent me a link to a short video (archival footage actually) about the inundation of Glen Canyon featuring the river runner, Ken Sleight, who was Ed Abbey’s inspiration for the character Seldom Seen Smith in his wildly popular fiction novel The Monkey Wrench Gang. The Monkey Wrench Gang was required reading for all Southwestern boaters in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It told the tale of an unlikely bunch of misfits and “dirtbags” who try to “free” the Colorado River by demolishing Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon was downstream of Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River. When the dam was finished in 1963, the reservoir Lake Powell was formed and flooded all of Glen Canyon which, like much of the southern part of Utah, was said to be spectacular. The 12 minute film doesn’t do it justice but the coffee table book, The Place No One Knew with Eliot Porter’s photographs does.
Also, The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix is well worth your time. I zipped through the mini-series which held my curiosity throughout despite the fact I never could play chess worth a damn. I could never imagine any moves beyond my initial move. I remember playing against AI long ago and being nothing but frustrated. It has a nice little twist at the end.