Have you ever seen a ship being launched? There it sits on dry land, propped up by
wooden beams -- "a ship out of water," as they say. A ship out of water is a silly thing. It
can't go anywhere; it's useless. But then, someone smashes a champagne bottle across the
bow, and somebody else knocks out the supports. With a groaning and a splintering, the
ship slides down the greased ramp and enters the water with a tremendous splash. The
bow sinks down deep, then flies up high, propelled by its natural buoyancy. After a few
violent, back-and-forth motions, the craft rights itself.
