h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A reminder that my journal entries are listed in date order here: A87862332, the dates on this thread have got a bit jumbled.

18th November. There's a storm a comin'...

So thank you for visiting, Storm Barney. I gather you've left the UK now you've knocked over all the bins and startled some cats. But why Barney I wondered. Luckily, I know someone who knows.

It seems the Met office and Met Eiranne got together recently and decided that the UK might need to start naming storms, because it would raise awareness of severe weather, and keep people safer. Also maybe because other countries do it and we felt left out? Anyway, this is a pilot project and they used social media to ask for suggestions.

The suggestions came in and they made choices that, by convention, don't use Q, U, X, Y and Z. Male and female alternating names, so we've already had Abigail. Clodagh and Desmond will be next.

The full list: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2015/Name-our-storms-list

I can't really see how calling a storm Nigel or Steve is going to keep people safe, or how raised awareness has been operationalised and how they plan to measure it. I suppose it will get people talking, but Storm Nigel doesn't really sound like something to be scared of! (Although, strangely, Nigel Storm does sound fearsome, especially if he brings his brother, Steve Storm!)

Anyway, just because it's lovely, it was the theme to Brighton Rock and has been in my head since I started writing this, here's the beautiful voice of Richard Hawley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjmnibuGC80

[Amy P]