when i binge watch star trek i select episodes to watch based on a topic or theme. i'm almost done watching episodes with portrayals of excelsior class ships and i'm thankful that i watch start trek like this because it provides excellent mental health pauses from my own election coverage binging. the mini mental eye-bleach-like endorphin high that i get when i notice tiny details that i missed when i first consumed star trek as it was released plus the mini nostalgia rushes from the notables times i saw the episodes i selected i for the themed binge; is all sort of like re-remembering trek, but out of order so that i can appreciate it in a different way. i find it keeps old memories alive like: waiting in line for the premiere of movie #6; or the shock of seeing the new klingons in the first movie; or unsuccessfully begging my fiance to let us have our wedding at the star trek experience in las vegas.

i also developed the habit of starting my election coverage binges with democracy now before anything else. I find that it does A LOT to sooth the anxiety i've been feeling trapped by the election and i think it informs my opinions better knowing that everyone's wary of traps and that the best traps are the ones whose targets are unaware that they're inside of one.