It takes practice, toward the end of the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the protagonist realized the key to flying was not paying attention, and he got good at it. The coyote never fell until he made the usual mistake: start paying attention.
By all means John Patterson should be prosecuted. Was it secretary William J. Bennett, who wanted to tell Bart Simpson a few things? Prompting Matt Groening to wonder out loud, “What’s he been smoking?”
Wow, do I feel old. I saw the originals, and the next couple generations caught the reruns. And now there’s apparently a generation that hasn’t?