Strange But True Part 25

1. We all know that hurricanes and other storms are named after people, but few people know the origin of this practice. The practice of giving storms personal names appears to have originated with Clement Wragge, an Australian meteorologist who in the 1890s entertained himself by naming storms after women, mythical figures, and politicians that he didn't like. The modern system of using personal names developed during World War II, when meteorologists began using women's names—often those of wives or girlfriends—instead of cumbersome designations based on latitude and longitude. Short and quickly understood, names were easier to transmit over the radio and easier to keep straight if there was more than one storm in a given area. The system was formalized in 1953 when the National Weather Service put together an alphabetical list of female names to be used for storms in the Atlantic basin. Male names were added to the list in 1979 when women's groups pointed out the sexism of using only female names. Were you aware of this origin?

We all know that hurricanes and other storms are named after people, but few people know the origin of this practice. The practice of giving storms personal names appears to have originated with Clement Wragge, an Australian meteorologist who in the 1890s entertained himself by naming storms after women, mythical figures, and politicians that he didn't like. The modern system of using personal names developed during World War II, when meteorologists began using women's names—often those of wives or girlfriends—instead of cumbersome designations based on latitude and longitude. Short and quickly understood, names were easier to transmit over the radio and easier to keep straight if there was more than one storm in a given area. The system was formalized in 1953 when the National Weather Service put together an alphabetical list of female names to be used for storms in the Atlantic basin. Male names were added to the list in 1979 when women's groups pointed out the sexism of using only female names. Were you aware of this origin?

Yes

No

Undecided

2. Lloyd Dong Sr., a Chinese farmer and gardener who worked at the renowned Hotel del Coronado, came to California at a time when discriminatory housing covenants made it almost impossible for non-White families to live there. Only one couple would rent to him in 1939: Gus and Emma Thompson, one of the few Black families that owned a home in Coronado. The Thompsons had purchased land in the 1890s and built a home in the city before the racist policies took hold. After Gus — a former enslaved person — died, Emma sold the house to Dong. Flash forward to 2024, the Dongs are now selling their Coronado home and donating about two-thirds of the proceeds — likely to be around $5 million — to a resource center for Black students at San Diego State University, which they asked to rename in honor of Gus and Emma Thompson. Do you enjoy hearing about these full circle moments?

Lloyd Dong Sr., a Chinese farmer and gardener who worked at the renowned Hotel del Coronado, came to California at a time when discriminatory housing covenants made it almost impossible for non-White families to live there. Only one couple would rent to him in 1939: Gus and Emma Thompson, one of the few Black families that owned a home in Coronado. The Thompsons had purchased land in the 1890s and built a home in the city before the racist policies took hold. After Gus — a former enslaved person — died, Emma sold the house to Dong. Flash forward to 2024, the Dongs are now selling their Coronado home and donating about two-thirds of the proceeds — likely to be around $5 million — to a resource center for Black students at San Diego State University, which they asked to rename in honor of Gus and Emma Thompson. Do you enjoy hearing about these full circle moments?

Yes

No

Undecided

3. Raccoons have caused more than their fair share of trouble in cities and towns across our countries. So, it may come as a surprise to you that states allow you to legally keep a raccoon as a pet - Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Have you ever known anyone to have a raccoon as a pet?

Raccoons have caused more than their fair share of trouble in cities and towns across our countries. So, it may come as a surprise to you that states allow you to legally keep a raccoon as a pet - Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Have you ever known anyone to have a raccoon as a pet?

Yes

No

4. Medieval French King Charles VI suffered from a condition known as 'glass delusion', where he believed he was made of glass and could quite literally shatter if not careful. While it's not an affliction we are aware of today, the condition was not uncommon in Europe between the 15th and 17th centuries. Charles would often refuse to be touched by anyone for fear of shattering. He put iron rods in his clothes to protect himself from falling and breaking. On one occasion, he was even reported to have wrapped himself in blankets to prevent his buttocks from cracking. Have you ever heard of this bizarre condition?

Medieval French King Charles VI suffered from a condition known as 'glass delusion', where he believed he was made of glass and could quite literally shatter if not careful. While it's not an affliction we are aware of today, the condition was not uncommon in Europe between the 15th and 17th centuries. Charles would often refuse to be touched by anyone for fear of shattering. He put iron rods in his clothes to protect himself from falling and breaking. On one occasion, he was even reported to have wrapped himself in blankets to prevent his buttocks from cracking. Have you ever heard of this bizarre condition?

Yes

No

Undecided