OT tragicomedy

[Ramapriya]

Excerpt from Colombo Times...

On 26th Dec '04 early morning several hrs before the catastrophe
happened, Honolulu Tsunami Monitoring center have been trying to call
our Meteorological Dept. monitoring center in Palekelle and Colombo but
failed. They also got in touch with presidents' office however it was
informed that she's out of the island on a private vacation.

Finally they called Prime minister's secretariat, but Prime minister
was out on his morning walk. Thinking at least it's best to keep him
vigilant on this, the Honolulu officials left the message with the
person who picked up the phone to inform Prime minister that there's a
Tsunami coming from Indonesia.

On prime minister's return, the operator told prime minister about the
call, said T. Sunami from Indonesia is arriving in 2 hrs. Prime
minister promptly took action to send a delegation to Katunayake
Airport with name boards ' Welcome Mr. T. Sunami - Indonesia'.
Ramapriya

[C J Campbell]

"Ramapriya" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Excerpt from Colombo Times...

The only problem I have with this story is that I don't see how it could
have happened. Why would the operator write down T. Sunami? The Hawaii
Tsunami Center would not have pronounced it that way. I also wonder why the
Tsunami Center would call the Prime Minister and not some disaster relief
agency in Sri Lanka. I suspect that this is an urban legend, possibly
started by the PM's political opponents, that got picked up by the
newspaper.

[Cub Driver]

On 7 Jan 2005 05:14:32 -0800, "Ramapriya" > wrote:

>T. Sunami from Indonesia is arriving in 2 hrs.

Thank you for that! Is it really true, or is this an internet hoax?

If true, it reinforces my belief that renaming tidal waves as tsunamis
was a really really stupid thing to do. We all knew what a tidal wave
was! And I bet the secretary of the prime minister of Sri Lanka knew
also.

Anyhow, the secretary would never have erred in thinking that Mr. T.
Wave was arriving in two hours ...


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

Hm. I Googled T Sunami and discovered that this post actually came
from Sri Lankan Net and was published under the category of Sri Lankan
Jokes: http://www.sri-lankan.net/?PG=JOKE&ID=143


On 7 Jan 2005 05:14:32 -0800, "Ramapriya" > wrote:

>Excerpt from Colombo Times...
>
>On 26th Dec '04 early morning several hrs before the catastrophe
>happened, Honolulu Tsunami Monitoring center have been trying to call
>our Meteorological Dept. monitoring center in Palekelle and Colombo but
>failed. They also got in touch with presidents' office however it was
>informed that she's out of the island on a private vacation.
>
>Finally they called Prime minister's secretariat, but Prime minister
>was out on his morning walk. Thinking at least it's best to keep him
>vigilant on this, the Honolulu officials left the message with the
>person who picked up the phone to inform Prime minister that there's a
>Tsunami coming from Indonesia.
>
>On prime minister's return, the operator told prime minister about the
>call, said T. Sunami from Indonesia is arriving in 2 hrs. Prime
>minister promptly took action to send a delegation to Katunayake
>Airport with name boards ' Welcome Mr. T. Sunami - Indonesia'.
>Ramapriya



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Jay Honeck]

> Hm. I Googled T Sunami and discovered that this post actually came
> from Sri Lankan Net and was published under the category of Sri Lankan
> Jokes: http://www.sri-lankan.net/?PG=JOKE&ID=143

Nice to see that sick humor isn't solely the realm of Americans...

(Actually, the sickest humor seems to be British...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Andrew Sarangan]

I did not know what a Tsunami was until this incident, and I am sure I am
not the only one. It is possible that the story may be partially true, but
I don't believe it entirely.


Cub Driver > wrote in
:

> On 7 Jan 2005 05:14:32 -0800, "Ramapriya" > wrote:
>
>>T. Sunami from Indonesia is arriving in 2 hrs.
>
> Thank you for that! Is it really true, or is this an internet hoax?
>
> If true, it reinforces my belief that renaming tidal waves as tsunamis
> was a really really stupid thing to do. We all knew what a tidal wave
> was! And I bet the secretary of the prime minister of Sri Lanka knew
> also.
>
> Anyhow, the secretary would never have erred in thinking that Mr. T.
> Wave was arriving in two hours ...
>
>
> -- all the best, Dan Ford
>
> email (put Cubdriver in subject line)
>
> Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
> Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
> the blog: www.danford.net

[jim rosinski]

Cub Driver wrote:

> If true, it reinforces my belief that renaming tidal waves as
tsunamis
> was a really really stupid thing to do. We all knew what a tidal wave
> was! And I bet the secretary of the prime minister of Sri Lanka knew
> also.

Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird hemisphere-dependent
words that depends on where the event occurs. Just like "typhoon" in
east Asia and "hurricane" in North America. So I don't think it's a
renaming. If one of those things hits California it'll probably still
be called a "tidal wave".

Jim Rosinski

[Flyin'8]

>Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird hemisphere-dependent
>words that depends on where the event occurs. Just like "typhoon" in
>east Asia and "hurricane" in North America. So I don't think it's a
>renaming. If one of those things hits California it'll probably still
>be called a "tidal wave".

Likely, but not correct. Tidal Waves are large waves caused by normal
tides. Tsunamis are waves caused by geographic changes on the ocean
floor.
Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA

[Wizard of Draws]

On 1/8/05 5:04 PM, in article
om, "jim rosinski"
> wrote:

>
> So I don't think it's a renaming. If one of those things hits California
[snip]

We can only hope it aims for Hollywood. <g>
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino

Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.wizardofdraws.com

More Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

[jim rosinski]

Flyin'8 wrote:

> >Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird
hemisphere-dependent
> >words that depends on where the event occurs.

> Likely, but not correct. Tidal Waves are large waves caused by
normal
> tides. Tsunamis are waves caused by geographic changes on the ocean
> floor.

I wasn't certain of my original words, but this I'm sure is wrong.
Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary gives as a synonym for tsunami:
TIDAL WAVE. And defines "tidal wave" as: "an unusually high sea wave
that sometimes follows an earthquake". And "an unusual rise of water
alongshore due to strong winds". Tidal waves have nothing to do with
tides.

Jim Rosinski

[Peter]

Flyin'8 wrote:

>>Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird hemisphere-dependent
>>words that depends on where the event occurs. Just like "typhoon" in
>>east Asia and "hurricane" in North America. So I don't think it's a
>>renaming. If one of those things hits California it'll probably still
>>be called a "tidal wave".
>
>
> Likely, but not correct. Tidal Waves are large waves caused by normal
> tides. Tsunamis are waves caused by geographic changes on the ocean
> floor.

That's the distinction made recently, but it wasn't so clear formerly.
My 1963 Funk & Wagnalls gives the definition of tidal wave as:
"1. Any great incoming rise of waters along a shore, caused by
windstorms at sea or by excessively high tides. 2. A tsunami.
3. A great movement in popular feeling, opinion, action, etc."

And under tsunami it mentions that it's sometimes also called
a "tidal wave."

Webster's in 1913 gave the following for tidal wave:
"n : a huge destructive wave (especially one caused by an
earthquake) [syn: tsunami]"

But I agree that an earthquake induced ocean wave hitting
California would now be categorized as a tsunami.

[Jose]

> Tidal waves have nothing to do with
> tides.

Actually, true tidal waves have everything to do with tides, and can
be huge (and come in twice a day). When the incoming water from the
tide is focused in an inlet of the proper shape and orientation, the
resulting pile of water can get very high. It happens twice a day and
is called a tidal wave.

Jose
--
Money: What you need when you run out of brains.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Roger]

On 7 Jan 2005 05:14:32 -0800, "Ramapriya" > wrote:

>Excerpt from Colombo Times...
>
>On 26th Dec '04 early morning several hrs before the catastrophe
>happened, Honolulu Tsunami Monitoring center have been trying to call
>our Meteorological Dept. monitoring center in Palekelle and Colombo but
>failed. They also got in touch with presidents' office however it was
>informed that she's out of the island on a private vacation.
>
>Finally they called Prime minister's secretariat, but Prime minister
>was out on his morning walk. Thinking at least it's best to keep him
>vigilant on this, the Honolulu officials left the message with the
>person who picked up the phone to inform Prime minister that there's a
>Tsunami coming from Indonesia.
>
>On prime minister's return, the operator told prime minister about the
>call, said T. Sunami from Indonesia is arriving in 2 hrs. Prime
>minister promptly took action to send a delegation to Katunayake
>Airport with name boards ' Welcome Mr. T. Sunami - Indonesia'.

Tsunami is the common term over there. It's been used almost
universally for some years. Tidal wave would also be some what of a
misnomer, but the English speaking part of the world still uses that
term in some areas.

Also according to the program on Discovery channel tonight they didn't
even know if there would be a Tsunami but only thought there might be.
They did say their efforts to locate any one was unsuccessful. Only
when reports started coming in did they know for sure there was a
Tsunami associated with the quake.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>Ramapriya

[Roger]

On 8 Jan 2005 14:04:47 -0800, "jim rosinski" >
wrote:

>Cub Driver wrote:
>
>> If true, it reinforces my belief that renaming tidal waves as
>tsunamis
>> was a really really stupid thing to do. We all knew what a tidal wave
>> was! And I bet the secretary of the prime minister of Sri Lanka knew
>> also.
>
>Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird hemisphere-dependent

Although Japanese in origin it is an old and almost universally used
term.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>words that depends on where the event occurs. Just like "typhoon" in
>east Asia and "hurricane" in North America. So I don't think it's a
>renaming. If one of those things hits California it'll probably still
>be called a "tidal wave".
>
>Jim Rosinski

[C J Campbell]

"Jose" > wrote in message
. com...
> > Tidal waves have nothing to do with
> > tides.
>
> Actually, true tidal waves have everything to do with tides, and can
> be huge (and come in twice a day). When the incoming water from the
> tide is focused in an inlet of the proper shape and orientation, the
> resulting pile of water can get very high. It happens twice a day and
> is called a tidal wave.

I believe you are thinking of a tidal bore. It is not called a tidal wave.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Andrew Sarangan" > wrote in message
1...
>
>I did not know what a Tsunami was until this incident, and I am sure I am
> not the only one. It is possible that the story may be partially true, but
> I don't believe it entirely.
>

If you didn't know what a tsunami was and you took the message described in
this story would you write the name as "T. Sunami", or would you write it as
"Sue Nommy"?

[jim rosinski]

Roger wrote:

> >Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird
hemisphere-dependent
>
> Although Japanese in origin it is an old and almost universally used
> term.

That isn't what I meant. Yes the term tsunami is "universally used". My
point was that whether an event is called a "tsunami" or a "tidal wave"
may depend on where the event occured.

Jim Rosinski

[C J Campbell]

"jim rosinski" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Roger wrote:
>
> > >Actually, I believe tsunami is one of those weird
> hemisphere-dependent
> >
> > Although Japanese in origin it is an old and almost universally used
> > term.
>
> That isn't what I meant. Yes the term tsunami is "universally used". My
> point was that whether an event is called a "tsunami" or a "tidal wave"
> may depend on where the event occured.

No. It depends on when you were born. If you were born before 1960, you
probably call it a tidal wave.

[jim rosinski]

C J Campbell wrote:

> > That isn't what I meant. Yes the term tsunami is "universally
used". My
> > point was that whether an event is called a "tsunami" or a "tidal
wave"
> > may depend on where the event occured.
>
> No. It depends on when you were born. If you were born before 1960,
you
> probably call it a tidal wave.

Interesting. Searches of online dictionaries don't yield evidence to
support my geographical origin-based theory. So I'm inclined to be
persuaded by your explanation. Thnx, CJ.

Jim Rosinski

[C J Campbell]

"jim rosinski" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> C J Campbell wrote:
>
> > > That isn't what I meant. Yes the term tsunami is "universally
> used". My
> > > point was that whether an event is called a "tsunami" or a "tidal
> wave"
> > > may depend on where the event occured.
> >
> > No. It depends on when you were born. If you were born before 1960,
> you
> > probably call it a tidal wave.
>
> Interesting. Searches of online dictionaries don't yield evidence to
> support my geographical origin-based theory. So I'm inclined to be
> persuaded by your explanation. Thnx, CJ.

Kids used to 'learn' a lot from comic books. Dick Tracy fought a tidal wave;
Buz Sawyer (IIRC) a tsunami. No doubt Superman has seen both.

[Cub Driver]

On 8 Jan 2005 14:04:47 -0800, "jim rosinski" >
wrote:

>If one of those things hits California it'll probably still
>be called a "tidal wave".

Not any longer! The Media have discovered the word, and the Media has
learned to love it. They roll it over their tongues like a fine wine.

The print types have probably already programmed their spell checkers
to change sue nammy to tsunami.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

>Likely, but not correct. Tidal Waves are large waves caused by normal
>tides.

Tidal wave: "an exceptionally large ocean wave, esp one caused by an
underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption ... cf tsunami:" -- Shorter
Oxford English Dictionary.

Tsunami is of fairly recent vintage in the English language (late 19th
century). It means "harbor wave" in Japanese, so in truth is no more
accurate than the English term. I suspect it got into common use as a
result of scientists' fondness for foreign words and phrases.

A large wave caused by a normal tide is a "bore" in this part of the
world. Dunno about elsewhere.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 14:09:31 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>(Actually, the sickest humor seems to be British...)

Well, Sri Lanka was formerly Ceylon, a British colony. No doubt the
coppers wear tall helmets and don't carry sidearms, and the university
students wear gowns to debates at the Union.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Roger]

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 05:54:07 -0500, Cub Driver
> wrote:

>
>>Likely, but not correct. Tidal Waves are large waves caused by normal
>>tides.
>
>Tidal wave: "an exceptionally large ocean wave, esp one caused by an
>underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption ... cf tsunami:" -- Shorter
>Oxford English Dictionary.
>
>Tsunami is of fairly recent vintage in the English language (late 19th
>century). It means "harbor wave" in Japanese, so in truth is no more
>accurate than the English term. I suspect it got into common use as a

But it is accurate. The Tsunami, or Tidal Wave if you prefer, is
almost invisible out in open water. It only manifests its nasty side
and size when it reaches relatively shallow water.

In open water you most likely would never have known the thing even
went by even at 500 MPH.

>result of scientists' fondness for foreign words and phrases.
>
>A large wave caused by a normal tide is a "bore" in this part of the
>world. Dunno about elsewhere.

I've always thought they were exciting rather than a bore. <:-))

Incidentally, I believe there are the indications of some tremendous
waves having hit the northern parts of Australia. They would be what
are referred to as Super Tsunamis with heights of several hundred
meters. I don't believe any were in recorded history though.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>
>
>-- all the best, Dan Ford
>
>email (put Cubdriver in subject line)
>
>Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
>Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
>the blog: www.danford.net