No More Blogging Today

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I took a very quick look at some of the late data and I don't see any reason to make a substantial change to the forecasts below.

Plus, I'm so excited about the Shockers'* Final Four game I don't think I could write anything intelligent on the blog. I may tweet @usweatherexpert during the game.

Full storm coverage as things develop tomorrow.



* To answer a question from last night: Wheat is "shocked" analogous to corn being "husked." Thus Nebraska Corn Huskers and Wichita State Wheat Shockers.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 6, 2013 at 3:44 PM

    The pre-mechanical era method of harvesting wheat: 1. "Reap"(cut)the stalk of wheat near the ground with a scythe. 2. Bundle the long stalks into "sheaves" (remember the Sunday School song, "Bringing in the Sheaves"?). 3.Gather the sheaves into "shocks", i.e, stack a number of sheaves together vertically, with grain at the top and one or two sheaves horizonally across to top to shed rain. The purpose of "shocking" was to allow the wheat to dry out before thrashing. 4. Once appropriately dry, the wheat was "thrashed", typically by "flailing" with a hinged wooden flail. (May the "Shockers" "flail" Louisville!)

    In contrast, "husking" corn (or "shucking") is simply the process of removing the outer leafy green husks from an ear of corn.

    "Wheat shockers" were field workers who gathered the "sheaves" into the "shocks" for drying, an apt historical link for the WSU tradition.

    Our common usage of "shock" or "shocker" has the connotation of a sudden powerful jolt or impact, but that is far removed from the ancient process of "shocking" wheat.

    Still ... May the WSU Shockers "shock" Louisville! (In the modern sense, of course!)

    (Off topic: Is it fair to recall the impertinent KU chant: "Huck the Fuskers"?! Shocking!)

    ReplyDelete

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