Lost Horizon

With the recent disaster in Nepal, first of all the devastation is hard to comprehend. The loss of so many lives, inhabitants and rescue workers alike. Helicopters are limited in how many they can take with each trip, leaving thousands behind. I am rendered speechless. .

Thinking of the region, I was reminded of the 1937 Frank Capra movie, “Lost Horizon”. I saw it when I was young. It was very powerful with the cinematography of the spectacularly beautiful region. Hidden within the Himalayan peaks was a magical place called Shangri-la. It was very spiritual and people did not age.

In an odd way, today’s reality and the fictional movie merged in my imagination. An other worldly union.

Now on the science beat, I’m still wrangling with Bill Bryson’s book, “A Short History of Nearly Everything”, which begins with the beginning of the Universe. There are so many facts and figures, I got dizzy. Don’t worry, I was sitting comfortably. So, I switched over to reading “Packing for Mars”, by Mary Roach. This one is full of specifics on how the initial stages of space exploration began. So, there are the real live people. How and where the tests/experiments were done. I always thought it would be fun to be weightless. But there’s more to it than just floating around. Outside parameters so that there’s something to stop you. It also messes with your internal organs. Also, you need oxygen and hydration. More fun to come. I am floating back and forth between the two fascinating books.