Saturday, January 01, 2005
Ahead of Time
The new year has arrived sooner than we thought (by a few millionths of a second or so), and apart from compassion there is certainly no reason to be unhappy should all your family and friends be safe and in good health.
It is quite amazing how proximity to those we care about can provide such comfort. I suppose it depends on how you define proximity, or perhaps on how much faith you have in the technologies available to get us to those people should it be necessary.
For instance, I trust that my health, energy and legs can get me to most family and friends should it be required. I also love driving and am familiar enough with a vehicle & gas engine that getting to anyone over land certainly doesn’t worry me (especially since I know some people who are willing to kill for oil to keep the motor running). Sailing or flying does not bother me either, but sails and jets are just a bit less familiar so I worry a bit more when they are my only tools to decrease the aforementioned proximity and thus increase my own personal comfort.
Is this proximity issue solved when you own a jet? I know that getting around
San Andreas is a lot easier when you have a jet and parachute…
For me, the weirdest part about all of this is that I don’t have to be in line-of-site to be comforted by these people. During the Christmas holidays I spent one evening at home alone and was thrilled that so many people I admire were nearby. Tonight may be another quiet night, but for some strange reason I cannot rest as easy -- even though the same people are just as safe and happy (if not safer and happier) now that they’ve returned to their homes.
-Blammo- that’s a lot to handle after a long night of ringing in the New Year. Right now I’m sitting down flipping between “Suzuki Speaks” (a documentary about the future of our planet and our interconnectedness) and “The Rose Bowl Parade” (grow flowers, cut flowers and build a pretty float for your sponsors). I wonder how many Rose Bowlers know that air pollution helps preserve fresh cut roses? (
PDF, 360KB)
Lastly, all this writing about jets during David’s kick-ass show made me think of something I read a while ago about how the exhaust from planes (
contrails) effects the atmosphere by crystallizing and shading some areas (lowering temperatures) or rising and blocking uv rays and heat in others (raising temperatures)
Regards,
J.
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