The Myanmar hot air balloon festival (complete with detonation of a few tons of fireworks) is a new low in jaw-dropping public danger. But it's fascinating to watch. I don't have any mortality statistics on this incredible event, but just watching it - thousands and thousands of people running away screaming as nuclear-intensity bombs go off and live cinders rain down out of the sky - is compelling in an awful sort of way.
Does this distract me from the awfulness that is going on in the world? You bet it does. I don't know what else to do.
Believe it or not, this is an example of a "successful" launch. Even that looks too hair-raising to contemplate.
And the botched ones ARE a lot more fun.
