No bitter truths

Yesterday, Anna and I finally had a chance to check out the new café that has opened on Bögatan, just a kilometre or so from our door. Called Bar à Kaffe, it has taken over an old florist’s shop, and the owners seemed lovely — if a bit exhausted, as they appear to have underestimated how popular the place would become.

Afterwards, Anna took William on the train to Jönköping for a chess tournament, while I got to stay at home with Eddie before renting a car tomorrow to pick them up (and finally clearing out all the stuff that has been accumulating in the basement).

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is going full 17th-century trade philosophy on the world, ignoring basic concepts like comparative advantage and confusing money with wealth. Contrary to what Trump seems to think, the U.S. has benefited enormously from globalization and the shift to services – its economy has outpaced Europe’s and much of the world’s. The real issue has been distributive justice and a chronic lack of social investment at home (especially in early childhood education). The question now becomes whether Trump can learn the bitter truths from his policy failures and the tumbling stock markets. Given how Germany has persisted with its energy transition despite mounting physical evidence of failure, I am not overly hopeful – especially since Trump has been banging the tariff drum since the 1980s...

Finally, on a completely different note, do take a minute to check out this blog on ultramarine and the post-semantic apocalypse. 

Brödfabriken

Though I was tempted to continue all the way along Aspen to Lerum as the trails were absolutely lovely this morning, I stopped as originally planned at Brödfabriken in Jonsered for a post-run breakfast in the sun since I had to return to Gothenburg for a few online meetings.

Following Gotaleden for 19 kilometres, I was reminded of last summer’s great adventures, and excited about the arrival of spring as I sprinted up Getryggen. With Öland Ultra now on the calendar for June, I have got four ultras lined up this summer, so I am making the most of every opportunity to get those longer runs in.

Queer

Apparently, William S. Burroughs’ novel Queer – left half-finished for three decades before finally being published in 1985 – was adapted into a film last year, premiering at the Venice International Film Festival in September. Pouring myself a glass of Austrian Pinot Blanc on the balcony after six hours on Zoom, I am suddenly transported to Mexico City in the fifties by the literary original.

Luckily, I was able to break up the Zoom sessions with a lunch run in the sunshine, as I really want to make the most of these precious spring days, finishing the run at my new favourite Vietnamese restaurant. With another class on evaluation starting on Friday and ten different thesis projects to supervise, I am struggling to find time for longer runs. Still, with a bit of luck, I am hoping to do a long run tomorrow morning, heading up to Brödfabriken in Jonsered for a post-trail breakfast.