Thursday, May 12, 2005

 

Spotlight: Has anyone ever heard of a "himicane"? On this date in 1978 the US Department of Commerce declared that hurricanes would no longer be named exclusively after women. The word "hurricane" is generally used for tropical cyclones that occur over the N. Atlantic Ocean; the same storm over the Pacific Ocean would be called a "typhoon."

Quote: "It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. He that is on a lee shore, and foresees a hurricane, stands out to sea and encounters a storm to avoid a shipwreck." -- Charles Caleb Colton

Holiday: Israeli Independence Day

Today in History:

• Lindbergh baby: found dead after abduction (1932)
• coronation: King George VI of Britain (1937)
• Mick Jagger: Rolling Stones singer wed Bianca (1971)

Today's Birthdays:

• Florence Nightingale: activist nurse (1820-1910)
• funnymen: Edward Lear (1812-1888), Yogi Berra (80), George Carlin (68)
• Katharine Hepburn: Silver screen legend (1907-2003)

Word of the Day:  Saffir-Simpson Scale: the measure of the intensity of a hurricane, on a scale of 1-5. The scale is used to measure the anticipated flooding and damage to property, and is based on the speed of the wind.   (© )