on dunder and blixen

one of the more terrifying things, in my opinion, is lightning. and i'm convinced that this area must sit directly below jupiter's perch (see video for area footage on the subject).

but tell that to my husband, and he'll comfortingly remind you that you're irrational. because statistically, your chances for a car wreck or cancer trump lightning by far. he's right in that comparative context. but there are facts about storms that lightning-brave folks often aren't aware of or ignore:

• while death is a possibility, hundreds more suffer life-debilitating injuries: memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, numbness, dizziness, and weakness


• location and personal behaviors are sufficient variables in likelihood for harm


• lightning causes more deaths than do most other natural hazards (e.g., hurricanes and tornadoes)


• lightning is the cause of nearly 10,000 forest fires every year in the united states


• property damage caused by lightning can total over $2 billion a year and lightning hitting a home (or a tree nearby the home) can render home electronics useless in a second flat
  

that's my lightning PSA. the more you know, the less you glow¹.

1. sorry, that was punful².
2. sorry, that was worse.