Have you ever wondered how they name all those storms? Have you ever wanted to find out if your name could be a storm name? And who gets to name storms anyway? Well for hurricanes, you can look here for the list of names. If a storm is too bad, that name is retired. Otherwise, the names are recycled every six years.
But now, even snowstorms are being named by the Weather Channel. I don't know who said they can do that, although I guess if you try something and it catches on, that probably just encourages you to keep doing it. More importantly, where does the Weather Channel come up with names such as the Snowquester? As usual, Stephen had the answer of exactly how they determine these storm names. In what I personally hope comes next is for someone to name each day's weather so we can remember that day by memorizing the weather name that goes with it. Since it is the month of March and it was windy and blew my hair around and I saw a large rabbit, I'm naming today's weather "March Hare." Stephen had other really great weather names.
Nation, Stephen announced proudly that he is a big fan of the Civil Rights movement. In fact, he even attended the historic 1963 March on Washington while still in his mother's womb. That is one of the reasons he is so interested in the challenge to the Voting Rights Act being considered by the Supreme Court. Shelby County in Alabama is complaining that they shouldn't have to follow that law anymore because it singles out states that historically tried to block the voting rights of some people. Also, things are great now according to Bert Rein on February 27 of this year. "The problem to which the Voting Rights Act was addressed is solved." Stephen celebrated with black and white balloons. If that doesn't motivate the Supreme Court, I don't know what will.
Do you need proof? Well, four weeks ago, Mississippi made slavery illegal!
Who are these people in our Supreme Court and what are they thinking about this issue? Well, take Justice Antonin Scalia --- please. (I couldn't resist that Henny Youngman humor. Sorry.) This is what Antonin Scalia had to say on February 27 of this year:
"I am fairly confident it will be reenacted in perpetuity unless, unless a court can say it does not comport with the Constitution ... It's a concern that this is not the kind of a question you can leave to Congress ... Even the name of it is wonderful. The Voting rights Act. Who is going to vote against that in the future?"
Stephen pointed out that luckily Justice Antonin Scalia is presently on the Supreme Court.
Via satellite last night was Julian Bond, one of the founders of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP, and Civil Rights pioneer. Julian Bond and Stephen questioned whether or not racism still exists. Stephen thinks it is over with - remember his black and white balloons. Julian Bond thinks it is still with us, even saying that there are many people who are angry at Barack Obama for being president while black.
Stephen brought up some areas of agreement between Justice Clarence Thomas and Julian bond, namely they both have roots in Georgia. Yet, they had different life experiences and have different views on many topics. Justice Thomas thinks one way and Julian Bond thinks another way and Julian Bond is right.
We had what might be called a commercial break or else what Stephen called Thought For Food. We learned that Lunchables are Able to be Lunch and that the Nacho Industrial Complex has discovered the "bliss point."I won't go into the technical jargon as Stephen does, but basically it means you keep eating junk food because it tastes good, but you just can't seem to get enough to fill you up. To help us understand, Stephen had a visual demonstration.
Stephen's guest last night was Brendan O'Connell, painter of WalMarts. (My cousin used to paint WalMarts. I think the walls were usually white, so kind of boring work.) Anyway, he has painted jars of Jif on the shelf, the front of the store where the cashiers are, a woman (his wife) looking at what appears to be snack foods such as Nachos, and another product placement shot. Interestingly enough, I'm pretty sure I could afford to buy the Jif, but not the painting of the Jif.
Also, a quick note for aspiring painters. As many times as he would go to WalMart and photograph what he would then go home and paint, WalMart would ask him to stop doing that. That is why I paint trees. They never complain.
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