Hurricane Irene was a long-lived tropical cyclone of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. After forming near Cape Verde on August 4, it crossed the Atlantic, turned northward near Bermuda, and was absorbed by an extratropical cyclone southeast of Newfoundland. Irene persisted for 14 days as a tropical system, longer than any other storm of the 2005 season. It was the ninth named storm and fourth hurricane of what became the most active Atlantic hurricane season since record-keeping began. Irene proved to be a difficult storm to forecast due to oscillations in strength. After almost dissipating on August 10, it peaked as a Category 2 hurricane on August 16. Because of uncertainty in predicting the storm's track, there were initial fears of a landfall in the United States, but Irene never approached land and caused no recorded damage. One person died in Long Beach, New York, from swells up to 8 feet (2.4 m) and strong rip currents.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Irene_%282005%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1918:

Polish troops and civilians began a three-day pogrom against Jews and Christians in Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lw%C3%B3w_pogrom_%281918%29

1922:

Rebecca Latimer Felton became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate, albeit for only one day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Latimer_Felton

1977:

"God Defend New Zealand" (audio featured) became New Zealand's second national anthem, on equal standing with "God Save the Queen", which had been the traditional anthem since 1840. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Defend_New_Zealand

2012:

A remote-controlled bomb exploded on a bus in Tel Aviv, Israel, injuring at least 28 people on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Tel_Aviv_bus_bombing

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

remora: 1. Any of various elongate fish from the family Echeneidae, the dorsal fin of which is in the form of a suction disc that can take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals. 2. (heraldry) A serpent. 3. (obsolete) A delay; a hindrance, an obstacle. 4. (obsolete, surgery) A surgical instrument, intended to retain parts in their places. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/remora

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

All mortals are equal; it is not their birth, But virtue itself that makes the difference.   --Voltaire https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Voltaire