Election Day is here. There’s no more time left. Sometime soon—either by Tuesday night, or a little later this week, we will know who the next president of the United States will be. The time while we wait for those results is going to be pretty stressful for most people, and I’ll admit it, the news media doesn’t exactly make it feel more chill with their Steve Kornackis, polling data from men named Nate, and that damned New York Times election needle.
For those of you haven’t experienced the mental anguish brought on by the election needle in years past, let me explain. The NYT introduced a dashboard with a needle, and as election results come in it teeters towards the candidate who is getting the most votes. This will happen until all votes are counted, and the needle will get more accurate as time passes. It is a visual tool that I am sure some people find helpful, but for those of us who have adopted doomscrolling practices, it is more like an anxiety incubator.
This year, the needle may not even be functioning like it normally would, as the New York Times Tech Guild has gone on strike. Tech workers at the newspaper keep the needle functioning in real time, so if anything goes wrong they won’t be on hand to fix it. The workers on strike have asked readers to respect the picket line by not using the cooking app or playing the games, like Wordle or Spelling Bee. That means you can still support the strike and look at the election needle.
But, if you don’t want to deal with that dashboard of distress, Thrillist has compiled a list of six other needles around the world that you can look at instead. These ones don’t move right or left at all. So, take a break from trying to intuit the outcome of this election and take a look at these giant ass stationary needles, whether they are towns, towers, isles, or canyons.
Seattle, Washington
The Space Needle was completed in 1961 and is 605 feet tall.
Needles Canyonlands
Moab, Utah
This natural land formation is in Canyonlands National Park in Elephant Canyon. You can find exact information on how to get there and hike the area on the National Parks website.
Cleopatra’s Needles
New York City, New York and London, England
You might know these as the obelisks in London and New York City. And it is true, but before they were separated these Egyptian obelisks were known as Cleopatra’s Needle. They were made in Heliopolis back around 1425 BCE. You can learn more about visiting the New York needle at the Central Park Conservancy website.
Needles Highway
Custer State Park, South Dakota
This 14-mile stretch of the longer South Dakota 87 highway is considered the one of the most scenic highways in the US. You can plan your visit to the iconic road and Custer State Park on the Custer State Park Resorts website.
Needles, California
Needles, California
Located in the Mojave Desert region of Southern California, this town has fewer than 5,000 people and sits on the Colorado River. It is home to the Havasu National Refuge and calls itself a “jewel of the desert” according to the city’s official website.
The Needles
Isle of Wright, United Kingdom
The Needles are three stacks of rock protruding from the English Channel off the western tip of the Isle of Wright. The site is a tourist attraction, offering chair lifts, boat trips, and stand up paddle boards. You can learn more about The Needles and plan your visit at the official website.
