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Summer Storms Move In
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Spotlight: Does it seem that there are more
natural disasters during the summer? Maybe it's just perception, but the incidence of
tsunamis,
earthquakes and
wildfires seems to increase when the temperatures rise. In fact, the most devastating natural summer disasters are usually
tornados,
floods and
heat waves.
Hurricanes also begin in the late summer and spin their way into autumn. On this date in 79,
Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the towns of
Pompeii and
Herculaneum. And in 1992, Hurricane Andrew swept through Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas, causing record damages and leaving some 55 dead.
Quote: "The summer day was spoiled with fitful storm;
At night the wind died and the soft rain dropped;
With lulling murmur, and the air was warm,
And all the tumult and the trouble stopped." — Celia Thaxter
Question of the Day: What is the difference between a hurricane warning and a hurricane watch?
When a hurricane watch is issued for your part of the coast, this indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and proactive measures should be initiated — especially those actions that require extra time, such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
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Blue
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Word of the day: blue law
U.S. statute regulating work, commerce, and amusements on Sundays. The name is said to derive from a list of Sabbath regulations published (on blue paper or in blue wrappers) in New Haven, Conn., in 1781. Throughout colonial New England such laws regulated morals and conduct. Most lapsed after the American Revolution, but some, such as prohibitions against the Sunday sale of alcoholic beverages, remain on the books in some areas.
(© Britannica Concise Encyclopedia)
There are so many colors in the rainbow, and many of them have been moonlighting as parts of phrases that give them a whole new meaning. This week we'll take a look at some of them.
Today's History:
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The White House
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Today's Birthdays:
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Cal Ripken, Jr.
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- Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986): Argentinian writer, Ficciones
- Mason Williams (70): musician/writer best known for his guitar instrumental, "Classical Gas"; rocker Ken Hensley (63) was also born on this date
- Mike Huckabee (53): former governor of Arkansas who made an unsuccessful run for US president; other politicians with this birthdate include William Wilberforce (1759-1833), René Lévesque (1922-1987), Joe Manchin (61) and Bob Corker (56)
- Cal Ripken, Jr. (48): baseball hall-of-famer
- Rupert Grint (20): Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies; also, actors Kenny Baker (74), Stephen Fry (51), Steve Guttenberg (50), Marlee Matlin (43), Dave Chappelle and Carmine Giovinazzo (both 35) and Chad Michael Murray (27)
