Normal

Yesterday I was struck by a paradoxical site. An Autumnal looking stream that has practically dried up. A week ago the river could be seen, and the rocks, and stones. Last night, during a group run what I saw was yellow leaves sitting on still water, with no water flowing.

Water is still pooled in certain spots but it is still so dry, with no rain, no fog, and barely any clouds, that this Autumn feels like Summer. It’s warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirts. Some people still cover up, but you don’t need to. Summer isn’t finished yet.

Last year I walked five point two million steps, which is both a lot, and yet normal, for me. What makes last year so curious is that I didn’t feel to walk that much. I walked for one and a half hours, rather than two to three hours. My loops became shorter, but I also cycled some weeks so my step count was low.

The fact that I did walk five point two million steps goes some way in explaining why certain driver behaviour has become toxic to me. I don’t think that it’s only about driver behaviour. It’s also about having to keep my shoes clean. When I didn’t worry about dirtying my shoes, if I saw a car coming towards me, I could walk into the mud, to safety, and then continue on my walk.

I started writing a post, but felt that it was too negative so I stopped, and now I’m writing this one. I want to explore the way in which Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Reddit are still front and foremost on The Guardian Website, as well as many others.

As I write this Twitter has become x.com. Reddit has had several weeks of protests and Facebook reached over three billion users. The paradox, with Facebook is that it’s the most unpleasant “social network” I know. I find Facebook and Instagram deeply unpleasant to use.