As I sit here, shivering in my little place, I was reminded that, for the third year in a row, the Weather Channel decided to name winter storms just as hurricanes and typhoons are named. And, for the third year, millions are asking "Why?!?" Anyway, as I sit here, feeling winter storm Bozeman draw closer, practically breathing down the back of my neck, I decided to share this year's list with all of you. I'm sure you'll want to comment on a few.... Astro Bozeman Cato Damon Eris Juno Kari Linus Marcus Neptune Octavia Pandora Quantum Remus Sparta Thor Ultima Venus W Xander Yuli Zelus Okay, gang, tell me what you think!!!

Interesting that many if these were characters from various animated series.

Beware of storm Jun-o, and storm Marc-us... at least there isn't a storm Joe/Jason! Maybe you should evacuate to Center Neptune for storm Neptune...

Some of those names sound pretty harmless to me, but personally, I'd rather stay away from names like 'Quantum', 'Pandora', 'Thor' or 'Ultima'. (especially quantum. Or least of all, quantum. Depends on the aftermath. I mean, a 'quantum' storm could happen on such a small scale none of us could even notice, but if the effects of small scale were to be translated to big scale, I'd rather run. But can you even do it? I mean, fullerenes behave the way they do because they're just carbon molecules, and the same goes for Planck constant and I don't think Lorentz transformations would apply at all, since we all only know this kind of universe and nothing else, but- eh, I'm confused) 'Eris' is no good as well. Putting that aside, winter storms have names as well? It's... it's still autumn, right? Am I missing something? I feel pretty confused.

Don't feel bad, Victoria -- this is strictly the Weather Channel's thing, not the National Weather Service; it's nothing official. In fact, there are problems with this idea -- for one thing, what happens when two or more weather systems combine? For instance, what would happen if Juno forms over Washington state, catches up with Damon and Eris, and merges with them? Would that become a newly-named storm, or would it retain one of the other names? And, as you've pointed out, it's still autumn in the northern hemisphere. It's just that the United States is getting winter weather -- as I'm typing this, enough snow has fallen outside to make the view outside my window really pretty...though I wouldn't want to be in it right now! (And it's not normal for my area to have this kind of weather right now!) Anyway, when I first saw this list, the first thing that popped into my head was: So, will Linus be carrying a security blanket?

Let's hope the Belgian weather service will not start naming the storms here...one alphabet will not be enough! Although to be honest, it's still quite warm, for November... Anyway, to come back to the matter at hand...I feel sorry for storm "W" -- couldn't they name it "Wolverine", for example?

Originally posted by Daniella T Anyway, to come back to the matter at hand...I feel sorry for storm "W" -- couldn't they name it "Wolverine", for example?

The first "W" I thought of was George W....you know, the guy who served two terms as POTUS....couldn't say "nuclear" to save his life....

Originally posted by ElectricWhite -- for one thing, what happens when two or more weather systems combine? For instance, what would happen if Juno forms over Washington state, catches up with Damon and Eris, and merges with them?

Oh... oh my. That sounds strangely romantic, and I'm a person who read two romance novels in her entire life and thoroughly hated them both. (Pride and Prejudice doesn't count)

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by Daniella T Anyway, to come back to the matter at hand...I feel sorry for storm "W" -- couldn't they name it "Wolverine", for example?

The first "W" I thought of was George W....you know, the guy who served two terms as POTUS....couldn't say "nuclear" to save his life....

Oh yeah - that actually makes sense, to name a storm after him...

Originally posted by Daniella T

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by Daniella T Anyway, to come back to the matter at hand...I feel sorry for storm "W" -- couldn't they name it "Wolverine", for example?

The first "W" I thought of was George W....you know, the guy who served two terms as POTUS....couldn't say "nuclear" to save his life....

Oh yeah - that actually makes sense, to name a storm after him...

Now that you've said that, I suppose we could've had one named after Mitch McConnell (he'll become the Senate Majority Leader when the next session of Congress meets)....the thought of a winter storm that makes no progress is simply dreadful !

Originally posted by Victoria

Originally posted by ElectricWhite -- for one thing, what happens when two or more weather systems combine? For instance, what would happen if Juno forms over Washington state, catches up with Damon and Eris, and merges with them?

Oh... oh my. That sounds strangely romantic, and I'm a person who read two romance novels in her entire life and thoroughly hated them both. (Pride and Prejudice doesn't count)

That comment had to skulk around in my partially-frozen mind for a little while before I was struck by a thought: Victoria, are you going to start posting WEATHER PORN?