September 12, 2002

11:12 PM

It's big, it's bad, and it's coming your way. Beware Bonnie! No, no, wait. Hide from Hanna! Hmm, nope. Run from Rene! Geez, this naming thing isn't easy. How do you name a tropical storm? Should the name be masculine or feminine? Should it roll off the tongue with ease or be a mouthful? Are there some names you can't use? If a tropical storm was closing in on your neighborhood, what would you call it?
posted by debralee (10 comments total)

Gozer the Gozarian, Gozer the Destructor, Volguus Zildrohar, Lord of the Sebouillia.

It would have to be a really big storm, though.
posted by Ljubljana at 11:48 PM on September 12, 2002

Ljubljana: I am the keymaster. Are you the gatekeeper?
posted by Fabulon7 at 5:42 AM on September 13, 2002

heh-heh, Vivian Vance, I get it.

Here in Japan, typhoons don't get the silly names.From the beginning of typhoon season they are just numbered, Typhoon 1, Typhoon 2...
posted by planetkyoto at 5:54 AM on September 13, 2002

"You don't tug on Superman's cape.
You don't spit into the wind.
You don't pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Jim."
posted by norm at 6:48 AM on September 13, 2002

'ware the winds that gale in fall
stay close to shore and cover
lest ye flounder in the sea
from the Big Blow they call "Mutha."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:16 AM on September 13, 2002

Back when I was little, the joke went like this...

Q. Why do all hurricanes have girl's names?
A. Have you ever heard of a himmicane?
posted by alumshubby at 7:29 AM on September 13, 2002

alumshubby--I thought it was because they come on hot and wet and when it's over they take your house and your car.
posted by mikrophon at 7:36 AM on September 13, 2002

Gah! I have been waiting and waiting and WAITING for there to be a Hurricane Hilary (hell, I'd even be okay with them using the alternate Hillary spelling), and now I find out that it won't be until at least 2008? Grrr...
posted by hilatron at 9:22 AM on September 13, 2002

hilatron: 2008 seems about right. For the other Hillary, that is.
posted by dhartung at 2:00 PM on September 13, 2002

For 'R''s: Hurricane Reet.
posted by Scottk at 6:33 PM on September 13, 2002