TRAFFIC & WEATHER, TOGETHER

Molecules of gas move in what is called Brownian motion. The movement of any given molecule is random; there is no way to predict where it will go. Nevertheless, the movement of a given quantity of gas is entirely predictable, always flowing from higher pressure to lower. This is the traffic pattern of Dushanbe. While traffic as a whole flows in predictable directions, e.g., in the suggested direction of travel, the movement of any particular vehicle is entirely random and unpredictable: it will slow to a crawl to navigate bumps; it will make U-turns without warning in heavy traffic; it will swerve to avoid potholes but not to avoid pedestrians; it will weave and jockey, travel in the oncoming lane or stop in the middle of the street for no apparent (and possibly no existing) reason. Yet, eventually, the passenger in such a vehicle will arrive at her predetermined destination.

This is the rainy season in this part of the world. It makes weather forecasting easy. For example, as I sit at my desk and look out over the rooftops, I can accurately predict the weather: if I cannot see the mountains, it is raining. If I can see the mountains, it is going to rain!