Mike Smith (Illustrator)

6 Comments

1. Halfie
   Posted August 5, 2014 at 8:53 am | Permalink

   Mike, would it relieve a tiny bit of the guilt if I told you that it’s not smoke, but condensation (i.e. water) caused by the surrounding air rushing to fill the vacuum caused by the plane’s rapid punching its way through? Even as planes get “greener” they will still create condensation trails.

2. Simon
   Posted August 5, 2014 at 9:35 am | Permalink

   Alas, John, a ‘greener’ plane still causes untold damage, and not just in terms of CO2/fossil fuels. Pure greenwash to think anything else.

   Mike reminds us that whilst discussing green issues/climate change isn’t trendy, or cool, or in the headlines, it is still there, still a big problem. Still ignored.

3. Mike
   Posted August 5, 2014 at 7:06 pm | Permalink

   I was definitely aware that I probably wasn’t using the right word ‘smoke’! Interesting to know what it actually is though. I could’ve googled it before drawing but then it would’ve made me look more knowledgable than I am.

   This little episode made me wonder why I felt the need to talk about it rather than just say it was a plane. The fact is that I know my kids and everybody’s kids are going to pay for our inability to rein ourselves in. I guess it was a pathetic attempt to absolve myself of blame by saying ‘I know this isn’t good but there’s nothing I can do about it.’

   Incidentally, originally this was part of a bigger story I sent to a publication but they rejected it.

4. Daniel Weir
   Posted August 5, 2014 at 7:16 pm | Permalink

   I think I need to have words the publisher in question – rejected . . . shakes head baffled. You could have gone down a different route entirely and told him that they’re chemtrails laid down by the government to mess with our minds. If you want to have a greater understanding of your own sanity then have a look at Youtube and the hundreds of conspiracy theorists talking talking about chemtrails – my word . . . DWx

5. Ian H
   Posted August 7, 2014 at 10:47 pm | Permalink

   Mike, if in a month’s time you want to reflect on another contemporary debate, you can do the Scottish referendum and reuse the last frame. : o)

6. Mike
   Posted August 8, 2014 at 9:06 am | Permalink

   Yes — somebody else noticed that! It’s obviously infiltrated my subconscious.

   On the issue of the rejection — I think it was on grounds of quality rather than content!