The Puck Stops Here
Hello World,
Happy Friday! Some place in this great big world, people probably consider this the beginning of Columbus Day weekend, because according to the calendars, Monday marks the observance of Columbus Day. I pass this along only for those people who might be interested in what is turning into a sadly arcane and overlooked holiday, since in most of the country, Columbus Day has been relegated to the also-ran category of neglected observations, like Arbor Day and Armistice Day. Most businesses have long since given up Columbus as a reason for a day off, and even in New York, where they love a good party, the Columbus Day parade is a pale imitation of its more famous cousins in March and November. Seriously, without the green beer and media circus over the gays marching, this is just another walk in the street.
One good thing that happened this week was the return of actual professional ice hockey in actual professional ice hockey rinks, with actual professional ice hockey teams and players wearing actual and recognizable professional ice hockey uniforms. Of course, none of those players were on the same teams as when last we saw ice hockey two years ago, but only the small-minded and captious would point that out, rather than be grateful and delirious just to have hockey back at all. They also took advantage of the time during the hiatus to change some of the rules and standards, in an effort to make the game more competitive and exciting for the fans. For instance, they replaced the outmoded concept of fallible referees with small flying robots, who zap the offending players into a parallel universe to pay the penalty for their infractions. Oh wait, that was actually one of Bill's suggestions that wasn't implemented under the new system yet, so I guess we still have that to look forward to.
Last weekend was a sad time for most of the fans of the boys of summer, especially those of us whose teams would not be continuing with post-season play, as it was the end of the regular baseball season for another year, and more's the pity, I'm sure. In a perverse twist, the Mets picked the last two weeks of the season, after they had already been eliminated from the wild card race, to play some of the best baseball of the year and put together a winning streak that might have made all the difference earlier. In fact, many of the divisional races were crowded and exciting, some being decided at the very last moment. But still, it's sad to see the season that began bright with hope in the spring, come crashing apart on the shoals of October.
Speaking of things crashing apart, Bill said the other day that this new storm Tammy was the 17th named storm of the season, the most since 1995. Anyone can tell you that T is the 20th letter of the alphabet, so as far as I'm concerned, the people involved in this hurricane-naming hogwash had some 'splaining to do. Here's what I found out, courtesy of the handy National Geographic web site, and it turned out to be a lot more interesting than I expected --
==================================
For every year, there is a pre-approved list of names for tropical storms and hurricanes. These lists have been generated by the National Hurricane Center since 1953. At first, the lists consisted of only female names, however, since 1979, the lists alternate between male and female.
Hurricanes are named alphabetically from the list in chronological order. Thus the first tropical storm or hurricane of the year has a name that begins with "A" and the second is given the name that begins with "B." The lists contain names that begin from A to W, but exclude names that begin with a "Q" or "U."
There are six lists that continue to rotate. The lists only change when there is a hurricane that is so devastating, the name is retired and another name replaces it.
Hurricane names for 2005: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma.
==================================
By my count, Tammy is 19 on the list, but I'm sure the weasels at the NHC have some trite rationalization for why Tammy was the 17th named storm of the season, instead of 19, as it should be. After all, they made up the whole idea of naming storms in the first place, and they can just go ahead and make up the rules as they go along, and there's nothing that anyone can do about it. They're not elected by anybody, so they can't be voted out or anything. Although I would have to say that I would be in favor of that, and if you're thinking that I won't be sending any Christmas cards to the NHC this year, you'd be right. And I have to tell you that I think Lee is about the most ridiculous name for a storm, because it could easily be a girl or boy name, and if you only have six lists to alternate, that means you only have to come up with a whopping THREE boy names that start with L, and I think anyone could do a whole lot better than Lee, for crying out loud.
While we're on the subject of natural disasters, I love this capsule review from the "Best Bets" section of our newspaper's TV listings --
=============================
"Landslide" There's more to a disaster movie than
cool footage of stuff collapsing, burning or sinking;
it needs characters worth caring about and at least
one worth hating so that he can be killed off.
This one doesn't.
=============================
Ya gotta love it! Meanwhile, Bill had to pass along a request he received for a Sneaker Keeper sign from a woman representing some place that called itself SOS Playland Services. He read my mind when he said, "I hear you! Would you trust your child in an 'SOS' Playland?" Honestly, who comes up with these ideas?
Just when you think you've seen it all at work, along comes this order from our Phlebotomy Lab for a computer workstation that they describe on their purchase requisition as a "BALT Totally Adjustable Mobile Workstation 30x24x27 52H." I see they've entered the mystical Fourth Dimension in our Lab, and although I've never personally seen any four-dimensional furniture, I admit that I'm somewhat wary of wandering over there to check it out. After all, that last dimension might be poison ivy, for all I know, and I certainly don't need any more of that.
After dinner, we found racks of Christmas cards on sale at CVS, so anyone could tell that we're coming up hard on Ramadan, not to mention, the Jewish New Year. Pretty soon, the gift-giving frenzy will really be upon us, because after all, what is Veteran's Day without presents? (Don't answer that!) Everyone knows that I'm nothing if not helpful, so if your search for the perfect gift leads you in the direction of some four-dimensional furniture, feel free to contact our Lab for the details. Tell them Christopher Columbus sent you.
Happy Friday! Some place in this great big world, people probably consider this the beginning of Columbus Day weekend, because according to the calendars, Monday marks the observance of Columbus Day. I pass this along only for those people who might be interested in what is turning into a sadly arcane and overlooked holiday, since in most of the country, Columbus Day has been relegated to the also-ran category of neglected observations, like Arbor Day and Armistice Day. Most businesses have long since given up Columbus as a reason for a day off, and even in New York, where they love a good party, the Columbus Day parade is a pale imitation of its more famous cousins in March and November. Seriously, without the green beer and media circus over the gays marching, this is just another walk in the street.
One good thing that happened this week was the return of actual professional ice hockey in actual professional ice hockey rinks, with actual professional ice hockey teams and players wearing actual and recognizable professional ice hockey uniforms. Of course, none of those players were on the same teams as when last we saw ice hockey two years ago, but only the small-minded and captious would point that out, rather than be grateful and delirious just to have hockey back at all. They also took advantage of the time during the hiatus to change some of the rules and standards, in an effort to make the game more competitive and exciting for the fans. For instance, they replaced the outmoded concept of fallible referees with small flying robots, who zap the offending players into a parallel universe to pay the penalty for their infractions. Oh wait, that was actually one of Bill's suggestions that wasn't implemented under the new system yet, so I guess we still have that to look forward to.
Last weekend was a sad time for most of the fans of the boys of summer, especially those of us whose teams would not be continuing with post-season play, as it was the end of the regular baseball season for another year, and more's the pity, I'm sure. In a perverse twist, the Mets picked the last two weeks of the season, after they had already been eliminated from the wild card race, to play some of the best baseball of the year and put together a winning streak that might have made all the difference earlier. In fact, many of the divisional races were crowded and exciting, some being decided at the very last moment. But still, it's sad to see the season that began bright with hope in the spring, come crashing apart on the shoals of October.
Speaking of things crashing apart, Bill said the other day that this new storm Tammy was the 17th named storm of the season, the most since 1995. Anyone can tell you that T is the 20th letter of the alphabet, so as far as I'm concerned, the people involved in this hurricane-naming hogwash had some 'splaining to do. Here's what I found out, courtesy of the handy National Geographic web site, and it turned out to be a lot more interesting than I expected --
==================================
For every year, there is a pre-approved list of names for tropical storms and hurricanes. These lists have been generated by the National Hurricane Center since 1953. At first, the lists consisted of only female names, however, since 1979, the lists alternate between male and female.
Hurricanes are named alphabetically from the list in chronological order. Thus the first tropical storm or hurricane of the year has a name that begins with "A" and the second is given the name that begins with "B." The lists contain names that begin from A to W, but exclude names that begin with a "Q" or "U."
There are six lists that continue to rotate. The lists only change when there is a hurricane that is so devastating, the name is retired and another name replaces it.
Hurricane names for 2005: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma.
==================================
By my count, Tammy is 19 on the list, but I'm sure the weasels at the NHC have some trite rationalization for why Tammy was the 17th named storm of the season, instead of 19, as it should be. After all, they made up the whole idea of naming storms in the first place, and they can just go ahead and make up the rules as they go along, and there's nothing that anyone can do about it. They're not elected by anybody, so they can't be voted out or anything. Although I would have to say that I would be in favor of that, and if you're thinking that I won't be sending any Christmas cards to the NHC this year, you'd be right. And I have to tell you that I think Lee is about the most ridiculous name for a storm, because it could easily be a girl or boy name, and if you only have six lists to alternate, that means you only have to come up with a whopping THREE boy names that start with L, and I think anyone could do a whole lot better than Lee, for crying out loud.
While we're on the subject of natural disasters, I love this capsule review from the "Best Bets" section of our newspaper's TV listings --
=============================
"Landslide" There's more to a disaster movie than
cool footage of stuff collapsing, burning or sinking;
it needs characters worth caring about and at least
one worth hating so that he can be killed off.
This one doesn't.
=============================
Ya gotta love it! Meanwhile, Bill had to pass along a request he received for a Sneaker Keeper sign from a woman representing some place that called itself SOS Playland Services. He read my mind when he said, "I hear you! Would you trust your child in an 'SOS' Playland?" Honestly, who comes up with these ideas?
Just when you think you've seen it all at work, along comes this order from our Phlebotomy Lab for a computer workstation that they describe on their purchase requisition as a "BALT Totally Adjustable Mobile Workstation 30x24x27 52H." I see they've entered the mystical Fourth Dimension in our Lab, and although I've never personally seen any four-dimensional furniture, I admit that I'm somewhat wary of wandering over there to check it out. After all, that last dimension might be poison ivy, for all I know, and I certainly don't need any more of that.
After dinner, we found racks of Christmas cards on sale at CVS, so anyone could tell that we're coming up hard on Ramadan, not to mention, the Jewish New Year. Pretty soon, the gift-giving frenzy will really be upon us, because after all, what is Veteran's Day without presents? (Don't answer that!) Everyone knows that I'm nothing if not helpful, so if your search for the perfect gift leads you in the direction of some four-dimensional furniture, feel free to contact our Lab for the details. Tell them Christopher Columbus sent you.
posted by El Tango Fandango @ 8:56 PM
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