On a crisp clear fall morning as I was driving north on I-405 the car ahead of me cleaned its windshield, and as it did it sprayed me.

So I did the natural thing – I cleaned my windshield – and in the process I sprayed the car behind me. I noticed that the woman in the car behind me then cleaned her windshield and sprayed the car behind her. Now, I couldn’t really see what the next car did, but this got me thinking again about chain reactions and – in a small way – the butterfly effect.

How many cars were impacted by that first dirty windshield? How much washer fluid was used on that stretch of highway? Why do we notice such things?

Please note: I’m not suggesting that “windshield spraying” become some kind of traffic game we engage to make our commuting more interesting.

Peace, dwight

windshield spraying
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5 thoughts on “windshield spraying

  • October 28, 2005 at 5:51 PM
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    Dude,

    The butterfly effect occurs in Life not just in the realms of windshield wipers but in a whole host of other areas! But I know what you mean, driving is boring, and random thoughts can proliferate mid-traffic. I sing to my banging tunes and smile at strangers, and let people out of junctions and they all have a knock-on effect. If people were more aware of the impact they have on the peopple they interact with on any given day, then they might think more carefully about they do, how they do it and who they do it to – Karma!

    Sasha

  • October 29, 2005 at 7:01 AM
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    405? Are you in the LA area?
    My first time commenting, even though I’ve been reading your stuff for quite a while now.

    A couple of years ago I took 2 parts of your dissertation with me while I was visiting my wife’s family in Korea.

    Do you still have those 4 or 5 parts here on your site?
    I am interested in finishing them.

    Keep up the good work.

    Warmly,
    John Loppnow

  • October 30, 2005 at 10:57 PM
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    It’s all about love and Jesus, dude. It was a perichoretic moment, alas a movement of the spirit. I want to dance!

  • November 27, 2005 at 12:13 AM
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    What about the guy 4 cars behind who was riding a motorcycle?

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