As the Crow flies

1. What is the shortest distance between two points?
2. A straight line?
3. But how straight is that line?
4. If we think about the proverbial crow, flying in its straight line, its course is certainly straighter than ours, following the meandering footpaths.
5. But, if you look at it carefully, from the side, it rises and falls with each wing-beat.
6. So the crow's straight line could be improved upon.
7. What if I were to tell you that I can find a line which is "straighter" than a straight line?
8. Following my new line, planets become closer than they were.
9. Much closer