“The
first of a thousand and one confusing
things about weather is: why wind
from a storm doesn’t come from the
direction of that storm. The second is: why high pressure doesn’t blow outward and directly into low pressure (like air from a
balloon does), into the surrounding
atmosphere. The explanation is
that we are used to measuring things
with earthly “yardsticks,” whereas the laws of space make things look illogical.
To us, the horizon is flat, but from
the moon, I guess that horizon looks
pretty round.”
Note:
Eric Sloane's inquiries, explanations and, most of all, his remarkable artwork (not shown here, but in other recent posts)
concerning weather science and our place
in the ordered/disordered universe, enlighten and ennoble us. The excerpt above is taken from the Cyclonic Storms chapter of his superb Book of Storms (Hurricanes, Twisters & Squalls).
But
tonight, sitting here in the teardown ruins of USA today in virtual company of three pencil-neck
millionaire tv pundits -- a liberal plus two flanking conservatives -- jawboning pseudo-provocatively about Obamacare (the liberal's punchline/coda, which went down smoothly among the group,
I'm sorry to report, was essentially "but this
doesn't affect any of us, so who fucking cares?") forced me bed contemplating that hoary Chicago lyric:
"Does anybody
really know what time it is?
Does anybody really care?"
The horizon appears flat,
illogical, hopeless (period). I long for the long view, the magical moon view, and sometime
once again, possibly, a good
night’s sleep.
