A rowing-machine revelation from earlier this morning, seemingly synthesising yesterday’s post here and Wednesday’s essay at Worldbuilding Agency:

Conspiracy theory is what happens when structural forces start strongly affecting people who have not been (sufficiently) educated in such a way as to enable them to recognise structural forces.

Saw a dentist this morning, for the first time in just under two decades. Was pleasantly surprised to find that the only interventions indicated are one filling and a fairly hardcore session with the hygienist.

“I was expecting worse news after so long,” I said—particularly given I was a smoker for three in every four of those years without dentistry.

“You drink läsk?” he asked. “You know, fizzy drinks?”

“Hardly ever.”

“Eat godis?”

“Nope.”

He shrugged. “If everyone lived this way, I would be unemployed.”