Category: Weather

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Weather

The 2008 Hurricane Season: Familiar Names

Every 6 years the National Hurricane Center recycles names in alphabetical order for Tropical Storms and Hurricanes. So Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, and Edouard – we’ve seen you all before – in 2002. We’ve even seen Fay, Gustav, and Hanna before in 2002. None of those storms were rather significant back then. In fact Gustav was the only Hurricane of the bunch – a Category 2 storm that eventually made landfall way up in the Canadian Maritimes. We’ve probably seen the last of both Fay and Gustav. I’m thinking that both of those names will be retired early next year and replaced with all-new names for the 2014 season. Fay and Hanna were actually born during the Spring of 1997 when Fran and Hortense were retired following the 1996 season. Gustav was used in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008. In its 5TH incarnation it will probably be retired due to the damage that it caused and its mere notoriety all along the upper Gulf Of Mexico coastline (particularly the New Orleans area).

—> DID YOU KNOW that prior to the 1979 season only female names were given to Tropical Storms and Hurricanes ?  Equal Rights !

And then there’s Ike – a name that’s never been used before. That’s because ‘Ike’ replaced ‘Isidore’ following the 2002 season. Isidore was the costliest and 2ND strongest hurricane of the 2002 season. It was retired following the season (along with Lili).

It remains to be seen whether or not Ike will be retired after this season is over. It will be retired if it causes a lot of damage and / or kills a lot of people. We’ll know for sure within the next 7 days.

Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best. Be safe.

Categories
Blogging Politics Sports Weather

Blatant Promotion

GREETINGS on a Thursday night as I watch the final moments of the NFL season-opener featuring my Washington Redskins up against the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Up next John McCain gives his long-awaited acceptance speech as the Republican National Convention comes to a close.

TOMORROW on the big blog be sure to check out my special report on how Hurricane Ike actually got its name. We’ve never had an ‘Ike’ before. Why is that ?  Then stick around for another fresh new ‘Friday Night Blogroll Review’ featuring my favourite blog entries of this past week.

If you were looking for the ‘Thursday Night Internet Hoax Hall-Of-Shame’ earlier tonight then look no further. After 31 editions over the past 31 weeks it’s taking a well-deserved break. That’s right. The most successful weekly series here on this blog (by far) is now on temporary hiatus. Look for it to return at a later date.

That’s all for tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow – or the next day – or whenever. Until then REMEMBER THIS !

Train Station Patio
Train Station Patio
Categories
Commerce Driving Music Shopping Travel Weather

Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts

Now Hear This. It’s On My Mind (Pure Energy):

1.  Tropical Storm Fay flooded Florida from Key West to Tallahassee, Hurricane Gustav brushed us aside this past weekend en route to the U.S. Gulf Coast, and now we’ve got Tropical Storms Hanna, Ike, and Josephine lined-up across the Atlantic. I’ve never been concerned with Hanna. She could disrupt plans further up the Atlantic coast of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Ike could be flirting with the southeastern Bahamas and the north coast of Cuba on Sunday and Monday as a Category 2 or 3 Hurricane. I’m watching Ike closely. You should too.

2.  Yesterday an 18-year relationship ended. I’m talking of course about my relationship with State Farm Insurance. They insured all 4 of my cars during this time-period. Effective yesterday morning at 12:01 AM GEICO became my automobile insurer. Hail to the gecko !

3.  Why do I not shop for clothes at Hollister ?  It’s because I’m not 18-years-old, I don’t surf the wild waves totally bodacious dude, and the strong SoCal smell of that place frankly makes me wanna sneeze !

4.  Michael Jackson recently turned 50-years-old, and he stated that ‘the best was yet to come’. I doubt it. He was cool 25-years-old. He was still cranking out the hits 15 years ago. The best came and went. It’s as clear as “Black Or White” (my all-time favourite song of his).

5.  Florida City (where all of the food is) is the fastest-growing city in Miami-Dade County this year as far as property values are concerned. In fact it’s one of only three cities in the County to show any growth at all this year amidst the current economic slowdown. Read all about it.

Categories
Computers Driving Food Sports Television Weather

Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts

1.  Category 1 Hurricane Gustav made landfall earlier this afternoon in southwestern Haiti very near that country’s capitol city. I am forecasting it to eventually intensify into an extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida on Labor Day Monday and Tuesday. If you live anywhere between New Orleans and Panama City Beach then I would start preparing now. Don’t panic. Prepare.

2.  I ate a MASSIVE Lunch at this place late this morning. As usual it was a ton of great food – hot and plentiful – with excellent customer service. If you don’t know the Beef’s then you just don’t know what’s good for Lunch !

3.  I’ll be driving well over 800 miles from this Thursday morning through this Sunday afternoon. That’s the most driving that I’ll be doing in nearly 18 months – since March 2007 when I drove to and from north of Atlanta Georgia !  Back then I was paying between $2.40 and $2.70 per gallon of gas.

4.  I’m constantly watching cable television on my sparkling new desktop computer system. My favourite part of it all – pausing LIVE TV and then resuming it when I feel like it. I now know this – A 30-minute TV show recorded on my hard drive takes up 1.87 GB of space. That’s nearly one-fourth of one percent (0.25%) of my entire hard drive !

5.  I didn’t watch the Olympics at all. I got caught up on previously-recorded television shows on VHS and DVD. In addition to my 3 VHS VCRs (‘Andrew’, ‘Barney’, and ‘Charley’) I also have my DVD recorder (‘Danny’) as well as my new HP computer (‘Eddie’). I know. I’m weird. Who isn’t ?